**Charity registration number 1079070**
**Company registration number 3896833 (England and Wales)**
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
**ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
|**Trustees**|Dr I J Cubbin|
|---|---|
||Mr M Godfrey|
||Ms G A Ferris|
||Mr A D Roberts|
||Mr I L Roughley|
||Miss L Taylor|
||Mr G R E Jones|
||Ms V K Jones|
|**President**|Fr Robert Nelson|
|**Secretary**|Merril Grundy|
|**Charity number**|1079070|
|**Company number**|3896833|
|**Registered office**|7 Sidney Street|
||Birkenhead|
||Merseyside|
||CH41 1BF|
|**Auditor**|Xeinadin Audit Limited|
||46 Hamilton Square|
||Birkenhead|
||Wirral|
||Merseyside|
||CH41 5AR|
**WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 10|
|Statement of trustees' responsibilities|11|
|Independent auditor's report|12 - 15|
|Statement of financial activities|16|
|Balance sheet|17|
|Statement of cash flows|18|
|Notes to the financial statements|19 - 34|
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the fifteen months ended 31 March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to 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)".
## **Objectives and activities**
Established in 1991 Wirral Churches’ Ark Project, or Wirral Ark as it is more commonly known, is a charity focused on helping homeless individuals through the provision of accommodation and support. Our Articles of Association and supporting objects are clear:
_The Charity is formed for the benefit of the community. Its charitable objects (‘the Objects’) shall be to carry on for the benefit of the community:_
- _The business of providing and managing housing, including social housing, and providing assistance to help house people and associated facilities, amenities and services for poor and/or homeless people or for the relief of aged, disabled (whether physically or mentally) or chronically sick people;_
- _Any other charitable object that can be carried out from time-to-time by a registered society registered as a provider of Social Housing with the Regulator._
Wirral Ark is Wirral’s only independent homeless charity. We believe everyone has a right to a safe and secure place to live. We support hundreds of people each year who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless through providing housing from 11 properties situated across, Wallasey, Birkenhead and Prenton.
Overall our aim is to break the cycle of homelessness through our compassionate approach to homelessness and it’s many factors. Alongside our accommodation provision Wirral Ark also aims to address the root causes of homelessness, by playing a frontline role in addressing issues with substance misuse, mental health, physical health, social exclusion, low confidence and wellbeing, and distance from the labour market.
Through our accommodation, wrap around professional services and support, and a compassionate ear, Wirral Ark helps people achieve positive and real outcomes for themselves.
Wirral Ark works with Wirral Council’s Housing Options Team and Rough Sleepers Initiative. After an initial assessment has been made by the referring organisation and the individual has been referred to Wirral Ark, our team provide quality accommodation and wrap around support to help them on the road to recovery with the aim of ending the cycle of homelessness.
Working with a Case Management Worker, our specialised Nurses and our Activities Co-ordinator, clients receive comprehensive, personal support for their physical and mental needs in a safe and secure environment that nurtures independence and promotes building a better future.
People come to us from all walks of life: isolated people with mental health or drug problems, current and exoffenders, former rough sleepers and people who are begging or street drinking. Wirral Ark staff work together as a team to create a specialised and tailor made path for each client that will help them best realise their potential and lift them out of homelessness for good.
Wirral Ark provides a wide range of activities to promote physical and mental health and the building of relationships between clients and staff, other clients and the community in Wirral as a whole.
Finally, we want to educate and raise awareness for Wirral Ark’s work, and the individual and societal issues people experiencing homelessness face in the community, by creating educational content to highlight these issues and our achievements.
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **Our Mission**
Wirral Ark aims to fearlessly unite people in the fight against homelessness. We help individuals experiencing homelessness achieve their personal ambitions through respect, courage, compassion, and a personalised plan of action.
## **Our Vision**
Wirral Ark helps believes everyone deserves a safe and secure place to live and aim to reduce homelessness in Wirral by working together with our staff, residents, and supporters.
## **Our Values**
**Think Wirral Ark. Think HOME** .
**H** onest - Wirral Ark acts openly and with integrity with our staff, residents and community.
**O** pen Minded - Wirral Ark is free from judgement and bias, striving to help everyone break the cycle of homelessness and better themselves.
**M** otivated - Wirral Ark works tirelessly to provide a personalised plan of action for each resident to help better themselves.
**E** mpathetic - Wirral Ark strives to understand and respect the journeys our residents have faced and offer a caring and compassionate environment.
## **Public benefit**
Wirral Churches' Ark Project exists for the benefit of the public and its aims are stated under 'Objectives and Aims' above
## **Significant activities**
The activities undertaken to achieve the charity’s objectives are:
- The provision of accommodation in the form of a 27 bed hostel which includes the provision of meals, laundry and washing facilities;
- 7 move on houses (2 bed roomed shared accommodation);
- 9 move on studio flats in Birkenhead;
- 15 move on studio flats in Prenton;
- 6 bedroom women’s only project (shared facilities);
Wirral Ark is also part of Wirral Council’s Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI) where we offer 3 emergency beds as part of the overall provision provided by a range of partners each night.
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **Employees**
Wirral Churches' Ark Project is committed to employing well managed, well informed and highly skilled staff. Within our Strategic Growth plan 2023-2024 we positioned the value of our staff to our business as we sought to resolve the old chicken and egg debate ie which came first and, in our world, which are the most important, staff or resident ? For the avoidance of doubt in Wirral Ark the most important group of people are the staff.
At the end of March 2024 there were 34 employees (headcount) of which 19 were full-time and 15 part-time. All recruitment is done in a transparent manner to ensure fairness and the selection of the best candidate. All new staff are required to have a DBS check and are given a full induction to ensure they are ready to take on their new role.
In terms of gauging and understanding how our staff are feeling about their work, the business and our residents, we combine a range of approaches which include our Employee Forum, first meeting October 2022, supervisions, suggestion boxes, an open-door policy and an annual employee survey. In our annual employee survey, January 2024, employees told us the following:
- 100% agreed or strongly agreed that they had a clear understanding of Wirral Ark’s mission, visions & values
- 97% agreed or strongly agreed that they can see how their role contributes towards Wirral Ark’s mission, vision and values
- 83% agreed or strongly agreed that we are a better organisation than we were 12 months ago.
- 90% agreed or strongly agreed that they were happy in their role.
When asked what makes them proud to work for Wirral Ark, our employees told us:
- ‘We give people the opportunity and support to make real and positive changes in their lives, to live independently and achieve their full potential. We have a strong and passionate staff team and a good reputation in the local community.’
- ‘Providing support and making a difference in people’s lives, along with providing a pathway out of homelessness and into a safe environment.’
- ‘I have worked for The Ark for a very long time and I still love what I do, I'm proud to be part of an organisation that has a positive impact in tackling homeless issues. The organisation has a genuine purpose and drive to make things better, not just at an individual level but also for the wider community’.
Colleagues also described the business as below over the last 2 surveys:
2024 – Supportive, Caring, Compassionate and Friendly 2023 – Compassionate, Caring, Professional
Residents even think we are not too bad ! On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate our service overall? 1=Poor, 10=Excellent
2024 - 9 2023 - 8
Wirral Ark strives to create a calm, professional, driven and caring environment where our values of HOME can thrive and proposer. We will continue to strive to secure stronger and greater positive feedback from staff as we move forward. In return the business asks that all staff recognise the efforts of the organisation and respond to the messages of ‘Man in the Arena’ and to treasure what we all have. Collective ownership of how the business cares and behaves will enable us to deliver great achievements and personal success for the residents we serve every day.
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **Residents - Feedback**
Committing to the importance of staff within Wirral Ark is in turn designed to ensure we continue to deliver the best services and care to our residents. In terms of gauging and understanding how our residents feel about our work, the business combines a range of approaches which includes suggestion boxes, a formal and transparent complaints process, resident meetings, exit surveys and an annual resident survey. From our annual resident survey in January 2024 we received the following highlights:
- 93% of our residents were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service provided by Wirral Ark as their landlord.
- 98% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘I know who my Support Worker is and support is available when I need it’.
- 88% were either satisfied or very satisfied with the way Wirral Ark keep them informed about things that matter to them.
Some quotes from our residents:
- ‘In general my experience of Wirral Ark has been overwhelmingly positive since being a resident of Mary Cole House in July 2022 & then Grand Trunk. My overall health (esp. mental) has improved and I feel able and am moving on all be it with a few backward steps or blips along the way’
- ‘The support I get on a one to one level with staff really helps me to cope with certain menial tasks. In the past I would of always not do them or put them to the back of my mind. Working with staff makes me more confident to achieve these tasks.’
- ‘Fantastic Support. When I arrived at Hilltops 7 months ago I was broken, drug and drink dependent. With the support and advice of the wonderful staff I was able to slowly pull myself out of that dark hole and focus.’
Overall, if we all want work in a business like this, which is so beautifully and kindly described above residents, then it is up to us all to look after it, cherish it and make it better.
## **Resident - Profile**
Asking residents to complete a survey every year does allow us to collect profile data which can only help us to develop more appropriate and targeted services for our residents:
NB: Figures in brackets are from our last report which covered 12 months. The current year figures are for 15 months:
- 130 (128) people took up residence at Wirral Ark’s Accommodation services in the period 1st January 2023 – 31st March 2024.
- 75% (73%) of the people who took up residencies at Wirral Ark in the period were male, 25% (27%) were female.
- The average age of people taking up residencies was 41.3 years (42.1 years).
- The majority of people taking up residencies described their ethnic origin as White: British – 86% (92%) with others identifying as follows
- 5% were Black or Black British: African
- 4% were Mixed: White & Black African
- 3% were Other Ethnic Group: Arab
- 1% were Asian or Asian British: Other
- 1% were Other Ethnic Group: Other
- Beyond identifying as homeless, our residents considered their other support needs as follows: o 72% (52%) had mental health recorded as a secondary support need
- 35% (40%) had drug misuse problem recorded as a secondary support need
- 31% (12%) had offender or at risk of offending recorded as a secondary support need
- 25% (24%) had alcohol misuse problem recorded as a secondary support need
- 18% (8%) had physical health need recorded as secondary health need
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **Volunteers**
Wirral Churches' Ark Project is appreciative of the valuable contribution of all the volunteers. Some stay with us for many years, for others we are a stepping stone to employment - but whatever the reason people join and for however long they stay, they are an important part of the organisation. Volunteers are required to have a DBS check if appropriate and are given training to ensure they are ready to undertake their role.
## **Achievements and performance**
The period January 2023 to the end of March 2024 continued to be a demanding but enabling time for Wirral Ark and in particular we achieved strong progress across the following areas:
- seeking to become a Registered Provider (RP)
- seeking to become registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in order to embed our Nurses Service within the heart of our business
- launching our Strategic Growth Plan (2023-2024)
- moving all our resident management information onto one system ie Mainstay
- securing Mary Cole House Supported People (SP) contract from May 2023
## **Registered provider**
Throughout the 15-month period we continued to move forward in terms of securing Registered Provider (RP) status from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). For example, we:
- Formally adopted National Housing Federation (NHF) Code of Conduct (NHF Code of Governance already in place)
- Formally adopted Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code April 2022
- Updated a range of policies including:
- Housing Policy
- Assurance Policy
- Rent Policy
o Board Appraisal Policy
- Developed a new Strategic Risk Register
- Developed a new Assurance Map
- Built a 5-year financial forecast model
All of these pieces of work, regardless of securing RP status, are helping to build a better Wirral Ark which is more sustainable and viable in the future.
## **Nurses services**
During the reporting period we also undertook to secure CQC registration for our Nurses Service. This will bring confidence and compliance to the service which will enable us to secure on-going funding for the service from the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) whilst in due course considering future service expansion.
Fortunately, the staff involved in delivering the service are all experienced nurses who are familiar with the requirements of the CQC regime. However, it is clear to everyone that the service will need to operate within a more demanding level of overall governance than has been experienced to-date. Examples will include:
- Processes and paperwork will need to be followed and evidenced at all times
- Files, documents, evidence will need to be kept in a clear and organised manner
- Reports will need to be produced on a monthly basis
- IT systems will need to be updated and integrated with Wirral Ark
- Governance of the service will need to be brought into the working mechanics of Wirral Ark ie management, reporting, operating mechanics, performance.
- The service will need to designate:
- A Registered Manager
- A Nominated Person eg CEO Paul Hardman
- On-going audits from the CQC and quarterly contract audit with the ICB will become common place.
As with looking to secure RP status, reaching the level of organisation and performance demanded by the CQC drives better service provision for our residents which is one of the key objectives of our business.
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
Wirral Ark launched its Strategic Growth Plan 2023-2024 which is built around 4 strategic growth areas. We will describe these within this document as ‘Strategic Pillars’.
In order to deliver growth and improvement all of the Strategic Pillars must each be supported by underpinning areas of work, which in turn are delivered through a number of plans and activities.
It is important to recognise that ‘growth’ is not solely focused on increasing turnover or securing additional funding. For the most part it is directed at the growth of the business through for example, improving how we work, developing our staff, listening to our residents and celebrating our successes. It is also about the growth of the business in terms of consistently delivering on its values, our increased levels of professionalism and overall maturity.
As detailed earlier, to deliver growth each Strategic Pillar must be supported by underpinning areas of work, which in turn are delivered through a number of plans and activities. Work done by colleagues during the three stages developed the following:
|**TALENT**
**EFFECTIVENESS**|**SOCIAL IMPACT**|**STRATEGIC**
**DIRECTION**|**FINANCIAL STABILITY**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Skills**|**Understanding Social**
**Benefits**|**RP Accreditation**|**Funding Streams**|
|**Leadership**|**Living Brand Values**|**Vision**|**Cost Management**|
|**Effective Processes**
**and Procedures**|**Communications**
**(External)**|**Staff Buy-In**|**Accountability**|
|**Communications**
**(Internal)**|**Strategic Partnerships**|**Board on Board**||
||**Core Products**|||
## **Mainstay**
A key step Wirral Ark also took during the January 2023- March 2024 period was moving all our resident service information onto Mainstay which is the client management system used by all providers of commissioned services working with vulnerable households affected by homelessness across the Wirral and Liverpool City Region.
Previously our two commissioned services, Mary Cole House and Ark Angel used the Mainstay system to record all their work with residents within these projects. This didn’t include our on-going work with residents staying in Hilltops, Grand Trunk and Waterview. This hindered overall management oversight and performance improvement. However, since around July 2023 all resident services are on Mainstay which enables a range of progress and performance reports to be run monthly, quarterly and annually.
## **Mary Cole House**
From May 2023 we secured a contract with Wirral Council to deliver the Mary Cole House hostel contract for another 3 years. Unfortunately, towards the end of the tender process the Council chose to cover the 3-year period through 1 year contracts which was rather unsettling. However, it should not distract from the fact that we retained our contract through submitting a strong tender and we look forward to serving, to the best of our ability, our residents and individuals over this period.
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **Financial review**
Our principal funding sources remained our Supporting People contracts with Wirral Borough Council for our hostel (Mary Cole House) and 14 move-on units (7x2 bedroom properties) our Ark Angel project, and Housing Benefit for all the accommodation units. These represent the majority of our income. In addition, residents pay Personal Costs for items such as TV licenses and food. Together these can be considered our core income. The total number of units is 71 plus 3 emergency/assessment rooms.
Incoming resources for the 15 months amounted to £1,870,184 (£1,431,073 12 months to 31.12.22) and expenditure amounted to £1,775,771 (£1,256,016 in 2022) giving a contribution to reserves of £94,894 (£122,410 in 2022).
Unrestricted free reserves amounted to £275,529 (£230,515 at 31.12.22) and this is made up of unrestricted, undesignated reserves of £854,763 less unrestricted reserves represented by fixed assets of £579,234. Cash held in the bank at the end of the period amounted £456,914 (£390,647 at 31.12.22).
Salary costs continue to be a major expense for the charity, but this is a necessity given the nature of the business. Wirral Ark is committed to doing the best it can for ous staff particularly through tough economic times.
All income and expenditure is fully recorded and accounted for to the trustees. Sage 50 Accounts is used to record all the transactions and is the basis for the monthly management accounts that are submitted to the Board and the statutory accounts process. The monthly payroll process has been outsourced.
## **Reserves policy**
The aim of the reserves policy is to ensure that Wirral Churches' Ark Project's ongoing activities are reasonably protected from unexpected variances in income and give the charity the ability to take up opportunities as they arise. The level of unrestricted reserves is reviewed each year by the Board in the context of the financial risks associated with the various income streams, expenditure categories and balance sheet items together with the charities ability to meet them from realisable/liquid reserves. The Board are satisfied the Wirral Churches' Ark Project's current level of reserves meets that needed.
As a charity limited by guarantee, no dividends are paid.
## **Risk management**
The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure that appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
During 2023 Wirral Ark develop a new Strategic Risk Register which contains 11 risks:
|**No**|**Risk**|**Sub-Committee**|
|---|---|---|
|1|Failure toprovide Decent Home Standard(DHS) properties|Operations|
|2|Failure to meet expectations on net zero carbon/sustainability|Finance|
|3|Ineffectivegovernance / failure to complywith laws and regulation|Finance|
|4|Failure to complywith our Health and Safetyobligations|Operations|
|5|Companyis not financiallysustainable|Finance|
|6|Failure to meet safeguardingstandards and requirements|Staff & Resident|
|7|Data securitybreach|Finance|
|8|Poor dataquality|Finance|
|9|Inabilityto attract,developand retain skilledpeople|Staff & Resident|
|10|Failure to deliver services to required standards|Operations|
|11|Servicequalityfails to meet customers’ expectations|Staff & Resident|
The Board manage risk in the following manner:
- Each of the organisations 3 sub-committees manage a number of designated risks.
- The sub-committee is tasked with managing, mitigating and minimising these risks.
- Each sub-committee reports into the Board 4 times per year as appropriate on the risks to ensure the Board is fully aware and updated on all risks and the overall management and mitigation strategy.
- In addition, an Assurance Map has been created which provides assurance actions and measures against each risk. This provide the Board with confidence that evidence can be provided which supports the risk levels that are indicated.
## **Summary**
Wirral Churches’ Ark Project has had a demanding year but ultimately it has been progressive and successful. We are moving inexorably towards securing Registered Provider (RP) status which will be hugely important for the long-term sustainability of the organisation. Understanding, managing and improving the services we deliver is already taking place through having all our activity recorded on Mainstay whilst we’ve also secured our flagship Mary Cole House hostel service for 3 more years. Well done everyone !
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **Structure, governance and management**
Wirral Churches' Ark Project exists to aid the relief of poverty, in particular by the provision of accommodation and support for homeless persons or those facing homelessness. The company (Company Registration number 3896833) is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, is limited by guarantee, and is registered as a charity under the Charities Act 1960 (Charity registration number 1079070).
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the 15 months and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Dr I J Cubbin
Mr M Godfrey Ms G A Ferris Mr A D Roberts Mr I L Roughley Miss L Taylor Mr G R E Jones Ms V K Jones
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
Trustee directors are elected by a majority vote at a Trustee Meeting. Each trustee has a term of 3 years, with a maximum of 3 terms in a row ie nine years in total. This will need to be revised if we secure Registered Provider (RP) status as they only allow 6 years in total. Upon standing down no Trustee may stand as a Trustee again until a whole term has passed ie 3 years.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
## **Organisational structure**
The Board of Trustees can have a minimum of 6 members, and a maximum of 12. The Board meets quarterly to discuss plans for the charity, funding developments and current important issues affecting the business. In addition, there are three sub-committees:
1. Finance and Business Planning
2. Operations, Development and Health & Safety
3. Staff and resident welfare and engagement
The sub-committees have delegated powers from the full Board. A Chief Executive Officer is appointed by the Trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the Charity.
## **Induction and training of new trustees**
New Trustees undergo orientation to brief them on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity.
## **Disclosure of information to auditor**
Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Trustee
**Dr I J Cubbin**
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
Dated: 26 September 2024
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
## _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
The trustees, who are also the directors of Wirral Churches' Ark Project for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that 15 months.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements 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.
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Wirral Churches' Ark Project (the ‘charity’) for the 15 months ended 31 March 2024 which comprise, the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the 15 months then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the _Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements_ section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
- the information given in the trustees' report for the financial 15 months for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
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## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE MEMBERS OF WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group and the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
- 13 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE MEMBERS OF WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud**
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
- the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
- we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the group through discussions with trustees and other management, and from our knowledge and experience of charity sector;
- we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the group, including the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, data protection, anti-bribery, employment and health and safety legislation;
- we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management team and inspecting legal correspondence; and identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of noncompliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
- making enquiries of management team as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
- considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
- performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
- tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
- assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
- investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
- agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
- enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and
- reviewing correspondence with HMRC and relevant regulators.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https:// www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
- 14 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE MEMBERS OF WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
**Helen Furlong FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Xeinadin Audit Limited**
.........................
**Accountants Statutory Auditor**
46 Hamilton Square Birkenhead Wirral Merseyside CH41 5AR
- 15 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Donations, legacies and
grants
**3**
98,584
13,000
Charitable activities
Mary Cole House
**6**
515,220
359,238
Housing Support
**6**
751,964
126,454
Projects
**6**
-
-
Other trading activities
**4**
1,442
-
Investments
**5**
4,282
-
**Total income**
1,371,492
498,692
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**8**
28,958
-
Charitable activities
Mary Cole House
**7**
592,532
358,562
Housing Support
**7**
635,312
136,397
Projects
**7**
-
23,529
**Total charitable expenditure**
1,227,844
518,488
**Total resources**
**expended**
1,256,802
518,488
**Net incoming/(outgoing)**
**resources**
114,690
(19,796)
**Other recognised gains and losses**
Revaluation of tangible
fixed assets
-
-
**Net movement in funds**
114,690
(19,796)
Fund balances at 1
January 2023
840,073
953,667
**Fund balances at 31**
**March 2024**
954,763
933,871|**Total**
Unrestricted
funds
**2024**
2022
**£**
**£**
111,584
62,732
874,458
350,731
878,418
530,045
-
-
1,442
1,387
4,282
357
1,870,184
945,252
28,958
35,826
951,094
435,219
771,709
380,571
23,529
(14,404)
1,746,332
801,386
1,775,290
837,212
94,894
108,040
-
(57,378)
94,894
50,662
1,793,740
789,411
1,888,634
840,073|Restricted
funds
2022
**£**
94,355
256,330
106,696
28,440
-
-
485,821
-
231,955
135,136
51,713
418,804
418,804
67,017
4,731
71,748
881,919
953,667|Total
2022
**£**
157,087
607,061
636,741
28,440
1,387
357
1,431,073
35,826
667,174
515,707
37,309
1,220,190
1,256,016
175,057
(52,647)
122,410
1,671,330
1,793,740|
|---|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the 15 months.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the 15 months. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
- 16 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**14**
**Current assets**
Debtors
**15**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
**16**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Creditors: amounts falling due after**
**more than one year**
**17**
**Net assets excluding pension liability**
**Net assets**
**The funds of the charity**
Restricted income funds
**23**
Unrestricted funds|**2024**
**£**
**£**
1,482,780
133,326
456,914
590,240
(184,386)
405,854
1,888,634
-
1,888,634
1,888,634
933,871
954,763
1,888,634|**2022**
**£**
**£**
1,469,151
117,018
390,647
507,665
(157,243)
350,422
1,819,573
(25,833)
1,793,740
1,793,740
953,667
840,073
1,793,740|
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 26 September 2024
Dr I J Cubbin **Trustee**
Company registration number 3896833 (England and Wales)
- 17 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**Notes**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash generated from operations
**26**
**Investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Investment income received
**Net cash used in investing activities**
**Financing activities**
Repayment of bank loans
**Net cash used in financing activities**
**Net increase in cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of 15
months
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of 15 months**|**2024**
**£**
(74,235)
4,282
(35,833)|**£**
172,053
(69,953)
(35,833)
66,267
390,647
456,914|**2022**
**£**
(5,138)
357
(10,000)|**£**
186,322
(4,781)
(10,000)
171,541
219,106
390,647|
|---|---|---|---|---|
- 18 -
**WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Wirral Churches' Ark Project is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 7 Sidney Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 1BF.
## 1.1 **Reporting period**
The charity took the decision to extend the accounting reference date to 31 March 2024, to bring in line with strategic funders. The figures presented in the financial statements are for a 15 month period whereas the comparative figures are for a 12 month period.
## **1.2 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to 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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.3 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.4 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.5 Income**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
- 19 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
**(Continued)**
## **1.6 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred
## **1.7 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets costing more than £1,000 are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Freehold land and buildings 2% on cost Leasehold improvements 20% on cost Fixtures and fittings 20% on reducing balance Computers 20% on reducing balance
Freehold land and assets in the course of construction are not depreciated.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
## **1.8 Impairment of fixed assets**
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
## **1.9 Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks.
- 20 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## **1.10 Financial instruments**
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
## _**Basic financial assets**_
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are measured at transaction price including transaction costs.
## _**Basic financial liabilities**_
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## _**Derecognition of financial liabilities**_
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
## **1.11 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **1.12 Employee benefits**
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
## **1.13 Retirement benefits**
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
- 21 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
## **3 Donations, legacies and grants**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
Donations and gifts
97,570
-
Legacies receivable
1,014
-
Grants
-
13,000
98,584
13,000
**Donations and gifts**
Donations and gifts
92,258
-
Gift aid
5,312
-
97,570
-
**Grants receivable for**
**core activities**
Projects
-
13,000
-
13,000|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2022**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
97,570
62,683
-
1,014
49
-
13,000
-
94,355
111,584
62,732
94,355
92,258
59,303
-
5,312
3,380
-
97,570
62,683
-
13,000
-
94,355
13,000
-
94,355|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
62,683
49
94,355|
|---|---|---|
|||157,087|
|||59,303
3,380|
|||62,683|
|||94,355|
|||94,355|
## **4 Income from other trading activities**
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2024**|**2022**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Sale of merchandise|1,442|1,387|
- 22 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **5 Income from investments**
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2024**|**2022**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Interest receivable|4,282|357|
- 23 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **6 Income from charitable activities**
|Supporting people
Housing benefits
Residents charges
Performance related grants
Ancillary trading income
Other income
**Analysis by fund**
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds|**Mary Cole**
**House**
**2024**
**£**
315,289
29,687
2,021
43,949
480,827
2,685
874,458
515,220
359,238
874,458|**Housing**
**Support**
**2024**
**£**
126,454
599,209
73,219
-
79,536
-
878,418
751,964
126,454
878,418|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
441,743
628,896
75,240
43,949
560,363
2,685
1,752,876
1,267,184
485,692
1,752,876|**Mary Cole**
**House**
**2022**
**£**
216,515
3,491
1,625
39,815
345,325
290
607,061
350,731
256,330
607,061|**Housing**
**Support**
**2022**
**£**
106,696
422,023
52,214
-
50,104
5,704
636,741
530,045
106,696
636,741|**Projects**
**2022**
**£**
28,440
-
-
-
-
-
28,440
-
28,440
28,440|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
351,651
425,514
53,839
39,815
395,429
5,994|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||1,272,242|
||||||||880,776
391,466|
||||||||1,272,242|
- 24 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **7 Expenditure on charitable activities**
|**Mary Cole**
**House**
**2024**
**£**
**Direct costs**
Staff costs
529,094
Depreciation
20,372
Other staff costs
34,775
Premises costs
79,146
Catering
36,592
Professional and consultancy fees
6,360
Other costs
24,650
730,989
**Share of support and governance costs (see note 9)**
Support
217,212
Governance
2,893
951,094
**Analysis by fund**
Unrestricted funds
592,532
Restricted funds
358,562
951,094|**Housing**
**Support**
**2024**
**£**
208,466
23,953
4,313
278,818
284
2,098
32,673
550,605
218,197
2,907
771,709
635,312
136,397
771,709|**Projects**
**2024**
**£**
20,781
-
1,375
-
-
-
1,373
23,529
-
-
23,529
-
23,529
23,529|**Total**
**Mary Cole**
**House**
**2024**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
758,341
360,897
44,325
2,515
40,463
34,409
357,964
66,094
36,876
29,129
8,458
267
58,696
9,896
1,305,123
503,207
435,409
161,200
5,800
2,767
1,746,332
667,174
1,227,844
435,219
518,488
231,955
1,746,332
667,174|**Housing**
**Support**
**2022**
**£**
117,705
10,549
2,722
175,602
229
1,978
34,939
343,724
169,080
2,903
515,707
380,571
135,136
515,707|**Projects**
**2022**
**£**
21,008
5,391
685
342
9
2,192
-
29,627
7,552
130
37,309
(14,404)
51,713
37,309|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
499,610
18,455
37,816
242,038
29,367
4,437
44,835|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||876,558
337,832
5,800|
|||||||1,220,190|
|||||||801,386
418,804|
|||||||1,220,190|
- 25 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **8 Raising funds**
|**9**
**10**|**Unrestricted**
Unrestricted
**funds**
funds
**2024**
2022
**£**
£
Fundraising and publicity
Staff costs
22,561
31,221
Other fundraising costs
6,397
4,605
28,958
35,826
**Support costs allocated to activities**
**2024**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Staff costs
236,400
191,765
Depreciation
16,281
25,136
Other staff costs
13,343
10,661
Premises costs
45,622
24,597
Insurance
30,550
20,817
IT and telephone costs
32,562
25,965
Consultancy fees
18,005
10,239
Non recoverable VAT
30,273
20,702
Other costs
12,373
7,950
Governance costs
5,800
5,800
441,209
343,632
**Analysed between:**
Mary Cole House
220,105
163,967
Housing Support
221,104
171,983
Projects
-
7,682
441,209
343,632
**Net movement in funds**
**2024**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable for the audit of the charity's financial statements
3,150
3,000
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets
60,606
43,590|**Unrestricted**
Unrestricted
**funds**
funds
**2024**
2022
**£**
£
Fundraising and publicity
Staff costs
22,561
31,221
Other fundraising costs
6,397
4,605
28,958
35,826
**Support costs allocated to activities**
**2024**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Staff costs
236,400
191,765
Depreciation
16,281
25,136
Other staff costs
13,343
10,661
Premises costs
45,622
24,597
Insurance
30,550
20,817
IT and telephone costs
32,562
25,965
Consultancy fees
18,005
10,239
Non recoverable VAT
30,273
20,702
Other costs
12,373
7,950
Governance costs
5,800
5,800
441,209
343,632
**Analysed between:**
Mary Cole House
220,105
163,967
Housing Support
221,104
171,983
Projects
-
7,682
441,209
343,632
**Net movement in funds**
**2024**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable for the audit of the charity's financial statements
3,150
3,000
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets
60,606
43,590|
|---|---|---|
|||35,826|
|||**2022**
**£**
191,765
25,136
10,661
24,597
20,817
25,965
10,239
20,702
7,950
5,800|
|||343,632|
|||163,967
171,983
7,682|
|||343,632|
|||**2022**
**£**
3,000
43,590|
- 26 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **11 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the 15 months.
## **12 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
## **13 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the 15 months was:
|**Employment costs**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000
is as follows:
£60,000 - £70,000|**2024**
**Number**
37
**2024**
**£**
925,808
73,895
17,599
1,017,302
**2024**
**Number**
1|**2022**
**Number**
33|
|---|---|---|
|||**2022**
**£**
656,537
52,958
13,101|
|||722,596|
|||**2022**
**Number**
-|
## **Remuneration of key management personnel**
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Chief Executive Officer and the Head of Finance and Fundraising whose employee benefits for the fifteen months ended 31 March 2024 total £121,990 (12 months to 31 December 2022: £91,997).
- 27 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**14**
**Tangible fixed assets**
**Freehold land**
**and buildings**
**Leasehold**
**improvements**
**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Cost or valuation**
At 1 January 2023
1,390,627
76,009
102,295
Additions
74,235
-
-
Disposals
-
(44,377)
-
At 31 March 2024
1,464,862
31,632
102,295
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2023
-
47,744
79,014
Depreciation charged in the 15 months
29,675
18,386
5,806
Eliminated in respect of disposals
-
(44,377)
-
At 31 March 2024
29,675
21,753
84,820
**Carrying amount**
At 31 March 2024
1,435,187
9,879
17,475
At 31 December 2022
1,390,627
28,265
23,281|**Computers**
**£**
84,318
-
-
84,318
57,340
6,739
-
64,079
20,239
26,978|**Total**
**£**
1,653,249
74,235
(44,377)|
|---|---|---|
|||1,683,107|
|||184,098
60,606
(44,377)|
|||200,327|
|||1,482,780|
|||1,469,151|
Included within Land and buildings is property which was revalued in July 2022 at £1,389,000 by Byrom & Thomas , independent Chartered Surveyors, not connected with the charity on the basis of market value. The valuation conforms to International Valuation Standards and was based on recent market transactions on arm's length terms for similar properties.
At 31 March 2024, had the revalued assets been carried at historic cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, their carrying amount would have been £1,504,843 (31.12.22 £1,538,283).
|**15**
**Debtors**
**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2024**
**£**
91,829
887
40,610
133,326|**2022**
**£**
75,540
500
40,978|
|---|---|---|
|||117,018|
- 28 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**16**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**Notes**
Bank loans
**18**
Other taxation and social security
Deferred income
**20**
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
**17**
**Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year**
**Notes**
Bank loans
**18**
**18**
**Loans and overdrafts**
Bank loans
Payable within one year
Payable after one year|**2024**
**£**
-
30,122
-
13,287
104,764
36,213
184,386
**2024**
**£**
-
**2024**
**£**
-
-
-|**2022**
**£**
10,000
23,695
34,101
15,921
54,322
19,204|
|---|---|---|
|||157,243|
|||**2022**
**£**
25,833|
|||**2022**
**£**
35,833|
|||10,000
25,833|
The Bank loan represents the government secured Bounce Back Loan repayable over six years. Interest is charged at 2.5%
**19** Operating lease commitments
## **Lessee**
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
|Within one year
Between two and five years|**2024**
**£**
11,797
20,845
32,642|**2022**
**£**
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||-|
- 29 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**20**
**Deferred income**
Arising from Grants
Deferred income movement during the year is as follows:
Deferred income is included within:
Current liabilities
Movements in the 15 months:
Deferred income at 1 January 2023
Released from previous periods
Resources deferred in the 15 months
Deferred income at 31 March 2024
**21**
**Retirement benefit schemes**
**Defined contribution schemes**
Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes|**2024**
**£**
-
**2024**
**£**
-
34,101
(485,692)
451,591
-
**2024**
**£**
17,599|**2022**
**£**
34,101
**2022**
**£**
34,101
36,284
(395,266)
393,083
34,101
**2022**
**£**
13,101|
|---|---|---|
The charity operates two separate defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
## **22 Unrestricted funds**
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
|**At**
Stock condition
reserve
General funds|**1 January**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
-
840,073
1,371,492
(1,256,802)
840,073
1,371,492
(1,256,802)|**Transfers**
**Gains and**
**losses**
**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
100,000
-
100,000
(100,000)
-
854,763
-
-
954,763|
|---|---|---|
- 30 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**22**|**Unrestricted funds**|**Unrestricted funds**|||||**(Continued)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Previous year:**|**At 1 January**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Transfers**|**Gains and**|**At 31**|
|||**2022**|**resources**|**expended**||**losses**|**December**|
||||||||**2022**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
||General funds|789,411|945,252|(837,212)|-|(57,378)|840,073|
## **23 Restricted funds**
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
|**At 1**
Mary Cole
House property
The Grand
Trunk and Ark
Angel properties
Supported
Housing
renovations
Supporting
People
Night Shelter
Transformation
NHS Wirral
Other projects|**January**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**Gains and**
**losses**
**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
319,982
-
(7,271)
64,788
-
377,499
528,957
-
(10,484)
-
-
518,473
10,654
-
(4,737)
-
-
5,917
12,724
441,743
(443,416)
-
-
11,051
66,448
-
(1,660)
(64,788)
-
-
-
43,949
(32,669)
-
-
11,280
14,902
13,000
(18,251)
-
-
9,651
953,667
498,692
(518,488)
-
-
933,871|
|---|---|
- 31 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**23**
**Restricted funds**
**Previous year:**
**At 1**
Mary Cole
House property
The Grand
Trunk and Ark
Angel properties
Supported
Housing
renovations
Supporting
People
Night Shelter
Transformation
Befriending
NHS Wirral
Waterview
Project
Other projects|**(Continued)**
**January**
**2022**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**Gains and**
**losses**
**At 31**
**December**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
420,888
-
-
-
(100,906)
319,982
423,320
-
-
-
105,637
528,957
14,443
-
(3,789)
-
-
10,654
12,724
351,651
(351,651)
-
-
12,724
-
66,448
-
-
-
66,448
5,591
14,910
(20,501)
-
-
-
-
39,815
(39,815)
-
-
-
1,253
-
(1,253)
-
-
-
3,700
12,997
(1,795)
-
-
14,902
881,919
485,821
(418,804)
-
4,731
953,667|
|---|---|
## **Mary Cole House property**
The hostel building full refurbishment was funded to a large extent through grant income. The amount shown in restricted funds is therefore the value of the property relating to the grant income.
## **The Grand Trunk and Ark Angel Properties**
The Grand Trunk refurbishment was funded to a large extent through grant income. The amount shown in restricted funds is therefore the value of the property relating to the grant income.
## **Supported Housing Renovations**
Grant income received during 2020 for the refurbishment and conversion of the ground floor of the Grand Trunk carried out in Spring 2021.
## **Night Shelter Transformation**
This represents funding from Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to transform the Night Shelter and this is now incorporated into Mary Cole House.
- 32 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **24 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**At 31 March 2024:**
Tangible assets
579,234
903,546
Current assets/(liabilities)
375,529
30,325
954,763
933,871
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2022**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**At 31 December 2022:**
Tangible assets
609,558
859,593
Current assets/(liabilities)
256,348
94,074
Long term liabilities
(25,833)
-
840,073
953,667|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
1,482,780
405,854
1,888,634
**Total**
**2022**
**£**
1,469,151
350,422
(25,833)
1,793,740|
|---|---|
## **25 Related party transactions**
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the 15 months (2022 - none).
|**26**
**Cash generated from operations**
Surplus for the 15 months
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
Movements in working capital:
(Increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
(Decrease) in deferred income
**Cash generated from operations**|**2024**
**£**
94,894
(4,282)
60,606
(16,308)
71,244
(34,101)
172,053|**2022**
**£**
175,057
(357)
43,590
(21,964)
(7,821)
(2,183)
186,322|
|---|---|---|
- 33 -
## **WIRRAL CHURCHES' ARK PROJECT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE 15 MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**27**|**Analysis of changes in net funds**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**At 1 January**|**Cash flowsAt 31 March 2024**||
|||**2023**|||
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|
||Cash at bank and in hand|390,647|66,267|456,914|
||Loans falling due within one year|(10,000)|10,000|-|
||Loans falling due after more than one year|(25,833)|25,833|-|
|||354,814|102,100|456,914|
- 34 -