Lconnect
in theNorth
Annual Report
2020-2021
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EMPLOYER
**Connect in the North Annual Report 2019/20**
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## **Chair’s Report**
Hello, my name’s Vicky and I’m the fabulous chair of Connect in The North. Connect in The North is brilliant at what we do. We are fantastic!
It’s been a tough year for everybody, but we have got through it! We are still here because we are doing a good job.
The Connect in the North team has done really well selfmanaging. Self-managing is where you do it all yourself, where you don’t have a manager. You work as a team, sharing the work out. You look at your skills, see what people are good at and match them jobs they can do. So Madeleine took on the finances, Luke is good at media and websites, Sarah is good at board meetings, organising and doing all the training.
Self-management gives us more control so you can do what you need to do.
Since Covid we have run our sessions on zoom, so that people don’t feel left out. We have been able to include everyone by supporting people to go on zoom. We made an easy-read sheet and helped individual people.
You can follow Connect in the North on YouTube where we’ve got lots of videos, as well as other social media.
During lockdown I enjoyed taking part in Countdown and Bingo sessions online for our members, and Sarah did a quiz on Fridays. We also ran our training courses online, including My Life, My Way. You can read about all the other things we got up to in the rest of this annual report.
The board continued to meet on zoom, but we are looking to go back to the office soon. The zoom meetings have worked well because we’ve been able to do our work. But it’s left a massive pile of things for me to sign!
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I want to say a massive thank you to all the staff for all their hard work throughout the year, and the board of directors for working well online. I know it’s been hard, but we got through it. If it wasn’t for you guys we wouldn’t have achieved so much.
I hope we have an even better year next year. Keep up the good work and let’s get bigger and better!
Thank you for reading and hope to see you again soon for another cracking year
## Vicky Hiles
3
## **Treasurer’s Report**
It has been a different year for Connect in the North. The Covid-19 Pandemic and Cathy retiring changed how Connect in the North runs. In September 2020, Madeleine Fahy took over doing the accounts.
We used the some of the restricted employability hub money as we designed the employment Leeds website.
We bought a new laptop and a tablet so that working from home could be easier for Luke and Tania. This has slightly increased our depreciation charge.
Overall we have £112,387 total resources (including money at the bank and equipment) to carry forwards but £10,226 has to be used to complete the designing of the employment hub website and launching it during Leeds Learning Disability week June 2021.
We had £100,012 of free reserves at 31[st] March 2021 which excludes fixed assets as they cannot be spent.
In 2021-22 we plan to spend the same amount as we get in. We have been told by Leeds City Council that the Making it Happen Grant will be cut by 10% with more cuts to Making it Happen in 2022-23. We are on course to the end of June.
We are looking to make bids for other funding. Madeleine is working with Claire Welling from WYCAS to produce a 3 year budget forecast. This is so that with the cuts that Leeds City Council are making, everyone can see how Connect in the North will perform over the next few years of uncertainty.
Maisie Hirschhorn - (Treasurer)
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
2020/2021 Funds Carried forward
to 2021/22
Income £154,149 Restricted
£10,226
Spent £145,358 General (Free
Reserves)
£100.012
Fixed Assets
£2,149
Total Funds
£112,387
**----- End of picture text -----**
The full details are in our independently examined accounts for 2020/21. You can get a copy of the accounts from the Connect in the North office.
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## **Connect in the North’s Aim**
We want people with learning difficulties to have control of their own lives and equal power in the world.
We are led by people with learning difficulties. Our Board are all people with learning difficulties.
The Board listens to members to find out what would make their lives better. We make sure that our plans for future work will make the lives of people with learning difficulties better.
By the end of March 2021 we had 384 members. That is 9 more than at the same time last year.
This year has been very different because of the coronavirus which changed everything we do.
We are proud that we found new ways to keep in touch with our members and were able to keep working.
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## **Some of the things we did last year 1[st] April 2020** **31[st] March 2021**
**Annual General Meeting** The Annual General Meeting had to be held online this year because of COVID 19.
We welcomed Leanne Johns to the board and said goodbye to Mark Clayforth and Elysia Smith.
We were sad to see Mark and Elysia leave as they have brought so much to the organisation.
It was great to see the return of Leanne who had been a director from 2016-2019
After the main business we had a quiz. We also said goodbye to Cathy Wintersgill who retired after working for Connect in the North for over 25 years. It has been a year of great change.
Michael Buttery
Maisie
Leanne Johns Vicky
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## **Becoming a Self-Managed Team**
Connect in the North decided to become a self-managing team when Cathy retired.
This means Connect in the North no longer has 1 person in charge. Members of staff are responsible for different parts of the company.
Madeleine has taken over the accounts and the role of company secretary.
Sarah is responsible for supporting the board, Pass it on People and Making it Happen.
Luke is in control of the Through the Maze newsletter, websites and social media.
Tania is responsible for checking the website is up to date.
The board and staff team worked with Buurtzorg England and Ireland to make sure they could work as a self managed team.
The board asked the team trial being a self-managed team for 6 months to see if it worked. The team reported to the board every month. At the end of March the board were confident it was working well.
## **Working during COVID 19**
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At the end of March 2020 we all had to work from home.
COVID 19 brought many challenges for Connect in the North but it also brought lots of opportunities.
Organisations across Leeds were very quick to support people with learning difficulties to get online and connect with others.
We supported over 50 people with learning difficulties to learn how to use Zoom to connect with others.
We were able to work closely with our members throughout the year. Our members took part in research and focus groups.
- Research about COVID for DPO – Equality Together
- COVID impact research – Learning Disability England
- Health Easy Read Research – Leeds University
- How to involve people with learning difficulties on Boards - Grace Eyre
## Foundation
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## **Through the Maze**
Through the Maze is an information and signposting service for adults with learning disabilities, family carers and professionals in Leeds.
We have a telephone help line 0113 270 3233
The Ask Us **Drop In** service every Monday afternoon.
The Drop In runs 12.30 PM 3.00 PM
This year we have had to run the Drop In on Zoom. We also arranged private appointments with people.
**Pass it on People** meet to find out what’s going on in Leeds. They share information with people they know.
This year most the places we planned to visit had to be cancelled because of COVID 19.
We had to meet outside or in smaller groups.
When we were in total lockdown we met on zoom.
We interviewed Beckie from Leep 1, Maisie from the Skyfallers, Andrew
1 0
from the Outsiders and attended the Learning Disability Conference.
The Pass it on People have made lots of vlogs about what they’ve learnt to do in lockdown and staying Healthy and well.
They have advised on the Through the Maze newsletter and the Employment Hub.
## A . **quarterly newsletter**
This year the newsletter was a great source of information about services and events for people with learning disabilities. We included activities to do at home for people who couldn’t get online.
A **website** with information about events and services.
This year we made changes to the website to show the latest news about COVID 19 and activities people could do at home. - - www.through the maze.org.uk
## **Learning Disability Week**
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Learning Disability Week was held online this year.
Organisations worked hard to deliver lots of activities throughout the week.
This year we ran Learning Disability Pride online. Many people shared pictures showing what they were proud of.
## **Good Lives Leaders**
Tania is one of the Good Lives Leaders. They are people with learning difficulties and family carers. They visit services and talk to the people who live there.
This year we weren’t able to visit people’s homes because it wasn’t safe.
## **Being Social**
We run the Being Social Task Group.
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This is a group of people with learning difficulties, family carers and staff from different
organisations. They come together to plan how we can improve the social lives of people with learning difficulties.
It is part of the Leeds plan to improve the lives of people with learning difficulties. The plan is called the **Being Me** strategy.
This year we ran the meetings on Zoom. We found out about how all of us have adapted what we do to work with people safely. We sent out a survey to providers. 11 organisations told us what they could do to support people with learning difficulties connect with others during this time.
Kenny Hendy joined the group as the new co-chair.
## **Training for people with learning difficulties**
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At the start of lockdown we
supported lots of our members to use Zoom. We ran a timetable of fun activities such as; Countdown, 20 questions, Comedy Club, bingo and quizzes. It helped people get confident online.
We ran some sessions with Leep 1 about web safety and relaxation. We ran Friendship Training and a Web safety session for Aspire. We ran The Trouble with Sexting for People in Action.
We trained 149 people with learning difficulties online.
This training included My Life My Way, Webwise, Running your own Zoom meetings, the Trouble with Sexting and Stamp Out Bullying.
## **What’s on Your Mind**
We’ve hosted a monthly event with Asking You for people with learning difficulties to ask the West Yorkshire Police and the Health Facilitation Team questions about COVID 19
## **Rooots**
The Tania ran Stamp Out Bullying training online.
We ran sessions about being safe online and Zoom with the Rooots team.
## **Person centred thinking training in Leeds**
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We ran our person centred thinking workshops for people working in Leeds online this year. This is paid for by Leeds Joint Commissioning Service. This year we trained 152 people.
The courses we ran –
- Person Centred Reviews
- Building Friendship
- Webwise for staff
- The Trouble with Sexting
- Knowing your way around Zoom
- Hosting your own Zoom Meeting
- Person Centred Approaches to Difficult Behaviour
As well as our open courses we also ran training for –
- Aspire cbs
- Ivy Dene
- Hamara
## **Other training and work people paid us for**
- We finished the work that was funded by 100% Digital to help more people with learning difficulties get online.
- We were funded by Creative Connections to support people who are socially isolated.
## **Employment Website**
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Connect in the North were asked by Leeds City Council and The Employment Task Group to design and build an accessible employment website.
This is to help people with learning difficulties find job vacancies in Leeds.
The website will have accessible information to help people find training and courses that will help people prepare to find a job.
Connect in the North got advice and help from people with learning difficulties and professionals to help design the website and to help make sure it is accessible.
The website will be managed by Connect in the North for the first year. Hopefully some more funding will become available so Connect in the North can continue managing it. The website will be finished and be available for people to use in 2021.
www.BeingEmployedLeeds.org.uk
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## **Thank you**
Gill Crawshaw supports Vicky Hiles in the role of Conn in the North chair. Claire Welling from WYCAS (West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service) supports our treasurer. Sam Clark from Learning Disability England who had been supporting Cathy. Bill Walton for supporting Rooots.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Claire Welling from WYCAS
(West Yorkshire Community Accounting
Service) supports our treasurer.
Sam Clark from Learning Disability England who had
been supporting Cathy.
Bill Walton for supporting Rooots.
Thank you to the following for their financial support:
Funder Project or activity funded
100% Digital Digital Inclusion
Creative Connections Supporting people to be less
socially isolated
Leeds Joint Making it Happen in Leeds -Person
Commissioning Service centred Planning and Thinking
Leeds Joint Through the Maze – information and
Commissioning Service signposting service
Registered office: Bankers – Co-operative Bank Plc
Connect in the North 19/20 Commercial Street
Office 42 Sugar Mill Leeds
Oakhurst Road LS1 6AL
Leeds
–
Independent Examiners
LS11 7HL
WYCAS
: 0113 270 3233
Stringer House
: info@citn.org.uk
34 Lupton Street
Website: www.citn.org.uk
Leeds
Charity number 1078829
LS10 2QW
0113 270 6291
Company number 3127540
**----- End of picture text -----**
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## **Contact us**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
By phone 0113 270 3233
Connect in the North
Write to Sugar Mill
Oakhurst Road
Leeds
LS11 7HL
By email info@citn.org.uk
ttm@citn.org.uk
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/
CintN
www.facebook.com/
throughthemazeleeds
Twitter @ConnectintNorth
@ThroughTheMaze
Websites
www.citn.org.uk
- -
www.through the
maze.org.uk
**----- End of picture text -----**
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## **Connect in the North**
Charity number 1078829 A company limited by guarantee number 03127540
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements**
**for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Connect in the North**
## Annual Report and Financial Statements
## for the year ended 31 March 2021
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 8|
|Examiner's report|9 to 10|
|Statement of financial activities|11 to 12|
|Balance sheet|13 to 14|
|Notes to the accounts|15 to 25|
## **Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service**
1
## **Connect in the North Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: **Name Position Dates**
Vicky Hiles Chairperson Maisie Hirschhorn Treasurer Michael Buttery Leanne Johns Kenny Hendy Mark Clayforth Elysia Randall
Appointed 20 November 2020 Appointed 24 February 2021 Resigned 20 November 2020 Resigned 20 November 2020
## **Company secretary**
Madeleine Fahy
Appointed 15th September 2020
**Charity number** 1078829 **Company number** 03127540
Registered in England and Wales Registered in England and Wales
## **Registered and principal address**
Office 42 Sugar Mill Business Park Oakhurst Road Leeds. LS11 7HL
## **Bankers**
Co-operative Bank plc 19/20 Commercial Street Leeds LS1 6AL
2
## **Connect in the North Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
## **Independent examiner**
Claire Welling Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
## **West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service**
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 17 November 1995. It is governed by its articles of association last amended by special resolution on 25 June 2019. The liability of the members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding £1.
## **Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees of the charity are also the directors for the purposes of company law and are appointed by the members at the AGM.
3
## **Connect in the North Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Objectives and activities**
## **The charity's objects**
The relief of people with learning difficulties within the Leeds Metropolitan area and the North of England.
## **The charity's main activities**
We are a Centre for Inclusive Living led by people with learning difficulties. We work to make things better for people with learning difficulties. We help people with learning difficulties change their own lives through person centred planning. We run training in person centred thinking. We provide an information and signposting services for people with learning difficulties in Leeds.
## **Public benefit statement**
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular ensuring that people with learning difficulties have control of their own lives and equal power in the world.
## **Achievements and performance**
In April 2020, all employees continued to work from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All training continued online, using zoom or teams. We ran training for people working in Leeds on person centred thinking and person centred approaches to supporting people with learning difficulties. We trained 152 people, both paid staff and family carers.
4
## **Connect in the North Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Achievements and performance (continued)**
We also training 149 people with learning difficulties. Training for people with learning difficulties included Stamp out Bullying, My Life My Way, Webwise, Running your own Zoom meetings and The Trouble with Sexting.
We worked with some adults with Learning Difficulties supporting them to plan for the future. We increased our membership to 384.
In addition, we got 50 new people with learning difficulties online to connect using the Creative Connections and the 100% digital money.
We ran social activities for people with learning difficulties, which included weekly quizzes, Countdown, laughter and joke sessions and bingo. The AGM for members was held on zoom.
We ran an Information and Signposting service for people with learning difficulties. This includes running a telephone helpline, a weekly drop in on zoom, supporting people with learning difficulties to share
information online. The Through the Maze website has had over 19,208 unique visitors over the year. The website had an extra page added to it for activities to do at home.
The work continued in developing a new website called Being Employed Leeds to help more people with learning difficulties in Leeds find paid work.
In September 2020 the paid director retired and Madeleine Fahy took over the responsibility of doing the accounts.
## **Financial review**
The net income for the year was £8,791, including net income of £19,232 on unrestricted funds and net expenditure of £10,441 on restricted funds.
5
## **Connect in the North Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Reserves policy**
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £100,012.
In the light of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations' (NCVO) recommendations to ensure adequate cash flow, the board aims to build up unrestricted funds equivalent to six months' total running costs.
At 31 March 2021 the reserves equated to 7.7 months of budgeted total running costs for 2021-22. We recommend that the reserves are higher than six months as we know there will be further future cuts to our Grant and Contract from the Local Authority. We also don't know how we are going to be affected post Covid-19 and if there will be any costs involved once all restrictions have been lifted.
At the time of signing these accounts the charity has been impacted by the global Covid-19 virus. The trustees have reassessed the charity’s ability to continue for at least 12 months from the date that the accounts are approved and conclude that no material uncertainties exist that cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and UK Accounting Standards.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
6
## **Connect in the North Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities (continued)**
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
7
## **Connect in the North Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities (continued)**
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP (FRS102)), and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees:
Signed: Maisie Hirschhorn (Trustee)
Date: 17/8/2021
8
## **Connect in the North Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Connect in the North**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages 11 to to 25.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act;
- or
- 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
9
## **Connect in the North Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Connect in the North (continued)**
- 3 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- 4 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
Signed: Claire Welling
Date: 23/8/2021
## **West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service**
Stringer House
- 34 Lupton Street
Leeds
LS10 2QW
10
## **Connect in the North Statement of Financial Activities**
## **(including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
|Notes
**Income from:**
Grants and donations
(2)
Contracts
Services provided for charitable objectives
Bank interest
Donated goods
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Staff costs
(3)
Events and activities
Premises costs
Printing, stationery, post and phone
Other running costs|2021
Unrestricted
funds
£
76,477
76,116
191
365
-
153,149
99,548
3,784
16,368
5,924
3,572|2021
Restricted
funds
£
1,000
-
-
-
-
1,000
1,827
-
-
-
14|2021
2020
Total
Total
funds
funds
(restated)
£
£
77,477
98,877
76,116
76,115
191
540
365
399
-
50
154,149
175,981
101,375
118,640
3,784
6,771
16,368
16,344
5,924
4,525
3,586
3,324|
|---|---|---|---|
11
## **Connect in the North Statement of Financial Activities (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
|Notes
Professional fees
Accountancy and independent examination
Office equipment
Loss on decommissioned computer
Depreciation
**Total expenditure**
**Net income / (expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
**Fund balances brought forward**
**Fund balances carried forward**
(4)|2021
Unrestricted
funds
£
2,301
672
94
233
1,421
133,917
19,232
-
19,232
82,929
102,161|2021
Restricted
funds
£
9,600
-
-
-
-
11,441
(10,441)
-
(10,441)
20,667
10,226|2021
2020
Total
Total
funds
funds
(restated)
£
£
11,901
205
672
697
94
179
233
-
1,421
1,379
145,358
152,064
8,791
23,917
-
-
8,791
23,917
103,596
79,679
112,387
103,596|
|---|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
12
## **Connect in the North Balance sheet**
|**as at 31 March 2021**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
(5)
**Total fixed assets**
**Current assets**
Prepayments
Cash at bank and in hand
(6)
**Total current assets**
**Current liabilities:**
**amounts falling due within one year**
Creditors and accruals
(7)
**Total current liabilities**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**Total funds**|2021
Unrestricted
£
2,149
2,149
328
101,251
101,579
1,567
1,567
100,012
102,161
102,161
102,161
-
102,161|2021
Restricted
£
-
-
-
15,026
15,026
4,800
4,800
10,226
10,226
10,226
-
10,226
10,226|2021
Total
£
2,149
2,149
328
116,277
116,605
6,367
6,367
110,238
112,387
112,387
102,161
10,226
112,387|2020
Total
£
2,688
2,688
318
101,482
101,800
672
672
101,128
103,816
103,816
82,929
20,667
103,596|
|---|---|---|---|---|
13
## **Connect in the North Balance sheet as at 31 March 2021**
For the year ending 31 March 2021 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The trustees (who also the directors for the purposes of company law) acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime and with FRS 102 (effective January 2019).
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on
Date: 17/8/2021
Signed: Maisie Hirschhorn
(Trustee)
14
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of accounting**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
Additional staff expenditure of £220 in the 2019-20 financial year has been identified and the 2020 comparative figures restated to reflect this.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.
No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
## **Going concern**
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
15
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **1 Accounting policies (continued)**
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Grants and donations**
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the Donated assets, facilities or services are valued at their estimated value to the charity. This is the price that the charity estimates it would pay in the open market for equivalent items; or services and facilities of equivalent utility to the charity.
## **Expenditure and liabilities**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
16
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **1 Accounting policies (continued)**
## **Taxation**
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets costing more than £200 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt.
Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows:
Fixtures, fittings and equipment - 25% straight line
## **Pensions**
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are recognised in the year they are payable.
17
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **1 Accounting policies (continued)**
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
## **Leases**
Rents under operating leases are charged on a straight line basis over the lease term or to an earlier date if the lease can be determined without financial penalty.
18
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts continued for the year ended 31 March 2021**
|**2 Grants and donations**
2021
Unrestricted
funds
£
Leeds City Council (LCC) Joint Commissioning
76,477
LCC
-
Seeability
-
76,477
**3 Staff costs and numbers**
Gross salaries
Social security costs
Employment allowance
Pensions
Other staffing costs|2021
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
1,000
1,000|2021
Total
funds
£
76,477
-
1,000
77,477
2021
£
94,396
6,724
(4,000)
3,968
287
101,375|2020
Total
funds
£
76,477
22,400
-
98,877
2020
£
106,955
8,387
(3,000)
4,965
1,333
118,640|
|---|---|---|---|
The average number employees during the year was 11.5, being an average of 3.7 full time equivalent (2019: 12, 4.1 FTE).
There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.
19
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts continued for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **3 Staff costs and numbers (continued)**
## **Defined contribution pension scheme**
|**Defined contribution pension scheme**
Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year
**4 Restricted funds**
Balance b/f
£
100% Digital
683
Employability hub
19,984
Seeability
-
20,667|Incoming
£
-
-
1,000
1,000|Outgoing
£
683
9,758
1,000
11,441|2021
2020
£
£
3,968
4,965
Transfers Balance c/f
£
£
-
-
-
10,226
-
-
10,226|
|---|---|---|---|
## **Fund name Purpose of restriction**
100% Digital Employability hub
Seeability
To get more people with learning difficulties online To develop a website to aid people with learning difficulties in Leeds to find employment
To support people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss who are most at risk of loneliness because of the Covid19 pandemic.
20
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts continued for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **5 Tangible assets**
## Fixtures, fittings and equipment Total
|**Cost**
At 1 April 2020
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2021
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2020
Depn reversed re. disposals
Charge for year
At 31 March 2021
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2021
At 31 March 2020|£
9,002
1,115
(3,220)
6,897
6,314
(2,987)
1,421
4,748
2,149
2,688|£
9,002
1,115
(3,220)
6,897
6,314
(2,987)
1,421
4,748
2,149
2,688|
|---|---|---|
21
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts continued for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **6 Cash at bank and in hand**
|**Cash at bank and in hand**
Co-op Bank
Cash in hand
**Creditors and accruals**
Creditors
Accruals|2021
£
116,097
180
116,277
2021
£
704
5,663
6,367|2020
£
101,082
400
101,482
2020
£
-
672
672|
|---|---|---|
## **7 Creditors and accruals**
## **8 Related party transactions**
## **Trustee expenses**
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
## **Trustee remuneration and benefits**
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
22
## **Connect in the North Notes to the accounts continued for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **8 Related party transactions (continued)**
## **Key management personnel**
Only the trustees have authority at this key level in this reporting year, as in the previous reporting period.
There were no other related party transactions during this year or the previous year.
|**9 **|**Operating leases**|2021|2020|
|---|---|---|---|
||Expected future minimum lease|||
||payments over the remaining life of the
lease, analysed into the period in which|£|£|
||the commitment falls due:|||
||Within one year|1,403|1,403|
||In the second to fifth years inclusive|1,926|3,328|
23
## **Connect in the North**
## **Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
|2021
Unrestricted
funds
£
**Income**
Grants and donations
76,477
Contracts
76,116
Services provided
191
Bank interest
365
Donated goods
-
**Total income**
153,149
**Expenditure**
Staff costs
99,548
Events and activities
3,784
Premises costs
16,368
Printing, stationery, post, phone
5,924
Other running costs
3,572
Professional fees
2,301|2020
Unrestricted
funds
(restated)
£
76,477
76,115
540
399
50
153,581
117,984
6,771
16,344
4,525
3,324
205|2021
Restricted
funds
£
1,000
-
-
-
-
1,000
1,827
-
-
-
14
9,600|2020
Restricted
funds
(restated)
£
22,400
-
-
-
22,400
656
-
-
-
-
-|2021
Total
funds
£
77,477
76,116
191
365
-
154,149
101,375
3,784
16,368
5,924
3,586
11,901|2020
Total
funds
(restated)
£
98,877
76,115
540
399
50
175,981
118,640
6,771
16,344
4,525
3,324
205|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24
## **Connect in the North Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021**
|2021
Unrestricted
funds
£
**Expenditure**
Accountancy
672
Office equipment
94
Loss on decommissioned computer
233
Depreciation
1,421
**Total expenditure**
133,917
**Net income / (expenditure)**
19,232
**Transfers between funds**
-
**Net movement in funds**
19,232
**Fund balances brought forward**
82,929
**Fund balances carried forward**
102,161|2020
Unrestricted
funds
(restated)
£
697
179
-
1,379
151,408
2,173
1,077
3,250
79,679
82,929|2021
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
11,441
(10,441)
-
(10,441)
20,667
10,226|2020
Restricted
funds
(restated)
£
-
-
-
-
656
21,744
(1,077)
20,667
-
20,667|2021
Total
funds
£
672
94
233
1,421
145,358
8,791
-
8,791
103,596
112,387|2020
Total
funds
(restated)
£
697
179
-
1,379
152,064
23,917
-
23,917
79,679
103,596|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25
## **Connect in the North Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Connect in the North (continued)**
- 3 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- 4 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
Signed: Name: Claire Welling
Date: 23/8/2021
## **West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service**
Stringer House
- 34 Lupton Street
Leeds
LS10 2QW
10