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2022-03-31-accounts

Company number: 3988903 Charity number: 1081654

Voluntary Sector North West

Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Voluntary Sector North West

Reference and administrative information

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Company number 3988903

Charity number 1081654 Registered office and operational address 3rd Floor Swan Buildings, 20 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JW

Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Alison Page Chair Ed Moss Vice-chair (resigned 24 May 2022) Daniel Moxon Treasurer Sally Yeoman David Packwood Gill Bainbridge Ridwanah Gurjee (resigned 6 August 2022) Circle Steele Khansa Taha Margaret Cheshire Key management Warren Escadale Chief Executive

personnel

Bankers The Co-operative Bank plc P.O. Box 250, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT Unity Trust Bank

PO Box 7193, Planetary Road, Willenhall, WV1 9DG

Independent Christy Lau FCCA CTA DChA Slade & Cooper Limited examiner Beehive Mill, Jersey St, Manchester, M4 6JG

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022. Included within the trustees’ report is the directors’ report as required by company law.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Objectives and activities

The Charity's objects ("the Objects") were updated on 26 September 2000. They are:

To promote such purposes as are charitable according to the law of England and Wales for the benefit of the public in the North West of England by:

The area of benefit, the North West of England is defined as the ceremonial counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Merseyside.

Ensuring our work delivers our object & aims

The Trustee Board of VSNW reviews the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year in order to ensure activities remain focused on our stated purposes. The trustees established in consultation with member organisations, a Strategic plan for 2019-2022. The following four strategic aims were established:

The latter includes ensuring that we continue to ensure VSNW is a well governed and financially sound

organisation.

This report looks at what the Charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The Trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the Charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Achievements and performance

The Charity’s main activities and who it tries to help are described below. All its charitable activities are undertaken to further Voluntary Sector North West’s charitable purposes for the public benefit. We continued to carry out the work of VSNW in accordance with our mission, our strategic aims and in accordance with our strategic priorities for 2019-2022 (above).

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

This ensured that all our work was of benefit to, and reflected the priorities of, the North West voluntary and community sector and therefore the wider public in the North West.

Core Activities

The North West has always consisted of five sub regions and of a stark mix of economic success and marginalisation. Via our members and networks, we are in contact with over 40,000 groups working with communities right across the region. VSNW’s work has historically had three core elements:

Increase connectivity within the VCSE sector

Supporting and building the capacity of sub-regional VCSE partnerships is the foundation of our operating model. Our vision is to play our part in developing and/or supporting healthy, connected partnerships that deliver value for the sector in each sub-region.

We know that we have limited resources, and that this is the best way to add value, building on local

networks and relationships.

In 2021/22, VSNW provided formal support to VCSE partnerships operating in Cheshire and Warrington, Liverpool City Region, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. As Cumbria CVS provides this function in Cumbria, we have not sought to duplicate but to build links and offer a different model of support through Cumbria CVS.

In Liverpool City Region , VSNW provides secretariat support to the VS6 Partnership whose members support and are connected to the 8,600 VCSE organisations in the City Region. Laura Tilston (Research and Policy Officer), Karen Conway (Partnerships Manager) and Anna Cooper (Membership and Events Lead) played a vital role in developing the partnership’s policy, communications and engagement work. We (VS6 and VSNW) have worked hard developing effective mechanisms to connect the wider sector into city region policy and influence work, using cascaded communications, developing the VS6 website (www.vs6partnership.org.uk), holding virtual Assemblies, and using consultation surveys. Building on this model, Lottery investment started in August, allowing us to embed this model and continue to support the wider engagement of the sector in partnership with the VS6 Partnership. An important element of this was supporting the formation of an independently chaired City Region race equality VCFSE group.

In Greater Manchester (GM), the Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group (facilitated and chaired by VSNW) connects to a broad range of VCSE networks: disability, Black Asian and minority ethnic, older people, young people, LGBTQ+, faith, carers, mental health, sport, refugee, women, local VCSE infrastructure, including 10GM and GMCVO, social enterprise, and VCSE providers, with links, through infrastructure organisations and equalities networks, to the 17,000 VCSE organisations in Greater Manchester. The Leadership Group’s main bulletin has over 2,000 direct contacts. As a Leadership Group, as part of connecting to the wider sector, we use formal working groups (commissioning, inclusive economy, population health, workforce, GM VCSE mental health leaders and GM=EqAl), short term task and finish groups, focused networks (eg homelessness),

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Assembly events, consultations, and roadshow events being held with leaders in the ten boroughs.

Through Answer Cancer over 200 organisations have committed, with their staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, to preventing and tackling cancer.

In Cheshire , we have helped set up the Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership (CWIP). Formed during the Pandemic, this partnership played a vital role in sharing PPE and feeding into the national VCSE Emergency Partnership work via VSNW. This group, through the Cheshire and Warrington Community Foundation, links to the Local Enterprise Partnership as part of assessing the impact of the pandemic on local communities through CWIP’s community pulse survey. Andrew Rainsford (Research and Policy Officer) has been a key part of our support in Cheshire and Warrington.

To complement the NHS footprint, the Cheshire and Merseyside VCSE Health and Social Care Leadership Group links 60 plus VCSE Leaders from each of the 9 boroughs. This includes: CVS, VCSE Place Board representatives, and equalities and specialist VCSE Providers. This Group links to the NHS Board, ensures accountability to the sector and provides a platform for connecting the sector more broadly.

In Lancashire , we (VSNW and local VCSE Leaders) have worked alongside the VCSE Health Alliance in order to support a connected and influential sector. As part of this work, we have developed a collective statement on ambitions for the local sector (a draft VCSE Manifesto for the Lancashire sector). There has been an extensive consultation and campaign with the Lancashire sector : Locally Organised Communities Across Lancashire (LOCAL) using a dedicated website (LocalLancashire.org.uk), surveys, workshop toolkits with sessions run by VSNW and Lancashire VCSE Leaders. Anna Cooper and Andrew Rainsford with additional communications consultancy support have been central to this work. The model has been praised by local VCSE and public sector partners and we have engaged over 400 VCSE leaders and held or supported over two dozen workshops. Going forward, we will explore a broader Leadership support offer linked to the collective ambitions outlined in the manifesto.

We also hosted the North West Social Prescribing Network with over 300 people signed up to a dedicated Bulletin. Working alongside Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS and a network of CVS across the North West, we support the regional VCSE Social Prescribing programme (Thriving Communities) working closely with partners from the National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP). This included running a regional learning programme with 82 regular VCSE participants attending the 10 sessions; Anna Cooper, our Membership and Events Lead, has been pivotal to all this work.

Through our role in North West Voices supporting the regional NHS equalities work, we have proven the ability of the local sector (in Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire) to connect with and interview 800 marginalised citizens about the impact of COVID. Those interviewed include homeless people, digitally excluded, young people not in employment, education or training, older people not in work and those for whom English is a second language.

2021 marked eleven years of the Green Bullet. This bulletin keeps North West Environment Link members and wider networks up to date on environmental events and issues of interest to voluntary and community sector organisations in the North West.

Following a review of VSNW membership , this stood at 125 full members and 56 associates (as at 31[st] March 2022) and we have a general contact list of over 2,500 VCSE Chief Executives and senior staff across the region signed up to our bulletins: VSNW, GM Leadership, VS6 Partnership, Social Prescribing, GM Cancer Champions and the Green Bullet.

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Enable influence

The VS6 Partnership of Liverpool City Region (LCR) have had an extremely busy and productive year advocating for the local sector. The VCFSE Manifesto was codesigned with the sector and the City Region Metro Mayor committed to supporting its implementation. The LCR VCSE sector is recognised as a local economic partner.

As champions for the LCR VCSE sector, VS6 have supported a growth in VCSE representation across the City Region. This includes key representatives on each of the three main governance bodies operating in Liverpool City Region: the Combined Authority Board (Ellen Loudon, VS6 Chair), the Local Enterprise Partnership Board (Angela White) and on NHS Cheshire and Merseyside main board (Warren Escadale, VSNW Chief Executive), alongside a growing set of boards, such as the LCR Economic Recovery Panel. In consultation with the sector, VS6 developed a business case for VCSE sector recovery which was included within the City Region’s Economic Recovery Plan, “Building Back Better”, and submitted to Government. This included a number of substantial investment propositions via the sector including a jointly proposed Sector Resilience and Capacity Fund, which has now been included in the Combined Authority’s Social Value Framework.

As part of this commitment, considerable portions of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund have been earmarked for the VCFSE sector as the lead on delivery (£6.635m or 15% between 2022 and 2025). There will be considerable additional opportunities for VCFSE groups over and above this investment. This is in addition to the Combined Authority’s commitment to delivering the manifesto, LCR Cares and the LCR Cares Grant Programme, which has previously invested (£0.5m) in the sector’s role in community wealth building, tackling digital exclusion, supporting mental wellbeing and building volunteering support.

Through VS6, VSNW have continued to support the implementation of the LCR VCFSE Manifesto for 2021-2024. The main elements are outlined elsewhere in this report but this also includes helping VS6 to secure a piece of work mapping the sector’s role in a Sustainable, Affordable and Inclusive Food Strategy.

Following Karen Conway’s departure, Laura Tilston working as Acting Programme Manager for VS6, was able to continue the high standard of support and impact previously established.

Across Cheshire and Merseyside , we are supporting and promoting the VCSE role in health neighbourhoods and primary care, Integrated Care Partnerships, and place-based working. An important aspect of this is developing relationships with acute and community health providers. We are a key partner in the C&M NHS strategy and implementation.

Going forward, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside have committed to a larger VCSE Transformation Programme in 2022/23 (£400k+) which includes large-scale investment in VCSE-place partnership working.

A central part of our NHS work has been supporting the development of Place-VCSE partnership framework. This work has been incorporated into the Cheshire and Merseyside self-assessment of Place (equivalent to the local authority footprint in this instance) working. This included a focused piece of work exploring how Places can transform or step up their work with the local sector in Sefton: ‘Sefton VCF Sector at the Frontline of Transformation’.

In Greater Manchester (GM), we have continued to develop the "template for VCSE involvement in Devolution across England" through the work of our members, partners and the GM VCSE Leadership Group. Through this work, a large number (over 30 reps at any point in time) of VCSE representatives have been appointed to key public sector boards and working groups, linking back through the

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Leadership Group to ensure focused, accountable representation and the full inclusion of the sector in shaping Greater Manchester.

Major achievements include a new 5 year Accord agreement in Greater Manchester between the VCSE sector, the Combined Authority and the NHS from 1[st] April 2021 to 31[st] March 2026, with core activity funding for VCSE equalities, inclusive economy, health, local infrastructure and provider delivery activity. Key activities in the Accord include: tackling inequality, creating an inclusive economy, building a stronger VCSE Ecosystem, developing a joint workforce approach, and implementing the VCSE Commissioning framework in order to build the sector’s financial resilience. Karen Conway, VSNW Partnerships Manager, Anna Cooper, Acting GM Programme Manager from the last quarter of 2020/21, and Kassandra Banks, Partnerships Officer, have played an essential and vital role in this work. Warren Escadale, VSNW Chief Executive, has chaired the GM VCSE Leadership Group.

Additional investment has landed with the sector through the influence of VSNW, sector leaders and the partnerships and collaborations that VSNW has helped establish. These include: £600k for VCSE equalities groups for mental wellbeing work (with a further £300k for 2022/23); 12 month VCSE Workforce project £300k to start in 2022; £240k PCN and population health project to start in 2022; and an additional year’s investment for a VCSE cancer screening programme (£500k) with grant investment for VCSE equalities groups (Answer Cancer).

Other major achievements in Greater Manchester include development of a Build Back Fairer framework with public sector partners (Marmot) and pump priming an Alternative Provider Federation to link the sector into the new, local NHS provider collaborative.

In terms of our role in the Answer Cancer programme , Kirit Patel (Answer Cancer Development Worker), Vanessa Porter (Organisational Champion Lead) and Martin Hall (Communications Officer) have developed resources (in 14 community languages), case studies, and outreach strategies in order to build the evidence base for how to engage specific communities. This work includes case studies on supporting population health and prevention work with Black Asian and minority ethnic, disability, LGBTQ+, mental health, and carer groups and in communities of financial poverty. Answer Cancer continues to demonstrate the capacity of the VCSE sector, with over 200 organisations involved, to drive prevention in communities where previous approaches have been less successful.

Nationally, we have continued to champion the sector’s role in social prescribing advocating for investment for sector referrals and the VCSE role in being adequately funded link worker hosts. We are working with the National Academy for Social Prescribing and a unique VCSE partnership to deliver the regional Thriving Communities programme. We continue to campaign for the sector’s role as part of the National Social Prescribing Network and supported last year’s virtual International Social Prescribing Conference. As part of this work, we codesigned a set of principles for better working with the VCSE sector, SP9 Principles, which have been promoted nationally through the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), NAVCA and the National Social Prescribing Network.

Demonstrate value of VSNW and the sector as a whole

The VCSE sector is recognised as a core economic partner for Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Over £7m has been earmarked for VCSE delivery and for VCSE leadership in that delivery.

In Greater Manchester, the sector is also seen a core partner. The Combined Authority has earmarked five years’ investment for the GM VCSE Leadership Group. The new Health and Care Partnership is matching this investment. Both have signed the GM VCSE Accord . This sits alongside £2.5m investment in the sector with further investment proposed through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF). Delivery of over £1m UK SPF will be led on by VCSE local infrastructure.

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

The Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership is investing in a sizeable VCSE Transformation Programme (over £400k in 2022/23).

Through the NHS Charities Community Partnership programme, VSNW helped to secure £1.1m investment in local VCSE organisations in Cheshire and Merseyside . This 2-year investment has been used to fund NHS-VCSE pilot projects. Pilots include supporting BAME communities to access health services in East Cheshire and developing a sector-wide hospital discharge model with Halton and Warrington Hospital and the local CVS. These pilots will serve as models for future discussions.

Alongside this, our NHS transformation work has secured and piloted the VCSE role in a maternal wellbeing programme across Cheshire and Merseyside. This has included a successful small grants programme (£180K) where 24 organisations delivered 38 perinatal wellbeing support projects across Cheshire and Merseyside with over 10,000 families benefiting.

VSNW also developed a set of principles for VCSE/Community Mental Health Provider Partnership working. This helped secure additional VCSE investment in a number of places (c.£400k to date) and is shaping further discussions.

In Lancashire , the County Council has committed to working with the sector and collaborating on the VCSE Manifesto. Reorganisation, across all partners, has delayed this work. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund discussions have occurred at district and borough levels.

Nationally , we have maintained our links to NHS England’s voluntary sector team. Over the past five years, we have successfully lobbied for a VCSE Partnership programme, linked to the NHS’s 42 Integrated Care Systems (ICS), modelled on our work in Greater Manchester, to be rolled out. VCSE Partnerships or Alliances are now established right across England, generally with six-figure annual local investment and clear goals for improved NHS-VCSE working, this includes all four areas that operate in the North West (Cheshire & Merseyside, Lancashire and South Cumbria, Greater Manchester, North East and North Cumbria). The sector now has representatives invited to the main NHS Board in all 42 areas as default.

Over the year, VSNW has supported additional investment into the North West VCSE sector of over £12m. However, we know that our work and the partnerships we work with and for, have created far more investment than this for the local sector, far beyond what any single VCSE organisations could hope to achieve.

An effective NW VCSE leadership organisation

VSNW organisational development has steadily continued. We are moving to a point where we no longer rely on one or two staff operating as exceptional individuals but creating a fit for purpose organisation that has sufficient capacity to help the sector to connect, influence, and drive change for the benefit of our communities. We, as the Board, see this as a priority.

As part of this, the Board has committed to investing reserves and developing an expanded staff team in 2022/23, so that we can increase our capacity to support the sector in Lancashire, Cumbria and on a North West footprint, while maintaining and developing local partnerships.

We continue to review, develop and improve our internal systems. Given the increase in staff and activity, the Board has committed to funding an Operations Manager role in 2022/23 in order to support the further development and evolution of VSNW. The Board has increased the frequency of board meetings and developed the HR Subgroup.

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Income generation remains strong but largely project based, however, we have made significant steps forward in developing VSNW's delivery capacity. Delivering virtually has made a significant impact on our productivity, giving us the ability to rapidly ‘travel’ around the region and offer support to local partnerships. This has meant that we can provide a far stronger offer to the two sub-regions of Lancashire and Cheshire & Warrington in a way we could have only hoped at the beginning of the year. Going forward, we need to build on the strong platform that our staff team have established over 2021/22.

We continue to push for longer funding streams for VSNW. Answer Cancer delivery has been funded for the last four years and the Lottery funding until 2024 is a positive. We are seeking longer term investment in Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Merseyside from 2023.

The work that we do in Lancashire and Cumbria is funded through VSNW reserves.

Financial review

The charity held reserves of £432,142 at the year end (2021: £386,850) of which £12,056 (2021: £62,585) were restricted and £130,203 (2021: £37,333) designated leaving a general reserve of £289,883 (2021: £286,932). VSNW is in a reasonable financial position at this point. We have utilised a proportion of our unrestricted reserves in accordance with our Reserves Policy. A review of our financial position is conducted quarterly by the Resources Group and is then considered by the Trustee Board. This review is ongoing.

Reserves policy

The VSNW reserves policy is to maintain sufficient levels of reserves for the delivery of existing programmes of work to be completed and/or transferred to alternative providers should a shortfall in income occur. The required time to do this effectively is a minimum 6 months and the level of reserves required to achieve this is £240,812.

The general reserve, as stated above, is higher than this, however, given the short term funding environment and reliance on short-term and project funding, we will review our reserves. As a board, we have designated £47,872 for the future development and sustainability of the organisation in order to support delivery, in line with our priorities, across the North West and the five subregions.

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 10 April 2000 and registered as a charity on 19 February 1998.

The company was established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31 March 2022 was 125 full members. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 9 to the accounts.

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Trustee selection methods

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Articles. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association half the members of the Trustee Board elected to serve must be re-elected at the Annual General Meeting.

Both business and strategic skills are required on the Trustee Board and the Board has made a firm commitment to appoint trustees with strong strategic connections to the VCSE sector in each subregion whilst also being sensitive to inclusion and diversity. An annual skills audit is conducted to identify any skills gaps.

Trustees are appointed via an electoral process at the Annual General Meeting elections. Other Trustees can be co-opted by the Trustee Board throughout the year, in accordance with the constitution. The Trustee Board meets every six weeks.

Induction and training of trustees

New Trustees meet with the Chair and Chief Executive where the current financial position and the governing framework are presented, and the obligations of Board members and future plans and objectives are outlined. The NCVO booklet Trustees and Trustees Members National Occupational Standards is given to all new trustees.

Organisational structure

VSNW has a Trustee Board of up to 12 members who are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. As at 31[st] March 2022 the Board has 10 members from a variety of backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity.

VSNW’s decision making process rests with the Trustee Board. Decisions regarding implementation of the charity’s work and staff supervision are delegated to the Chief Executive, who has one-to-ones with the Chair.

Sub groups are established and agreed by the Trustees to meet between Trustee Board meetings to address any issues that require immediate attention and report any actions for agreement to the full Trustee Board.

Related parties and relationships with other organisations

In so far as it is complementary to the charity’s objectives, VSNW is guided by local, regional and national policy. Sub regional partnerships ensure engagement with thematic, geographic and specialist VCSE infrastructure and provides VSNW with a wide reach into the VCSE sector across the region.

Remuneration policy for key management personnel

A subgroup of the board reviews remuneration with advice from our HR consultant, using comparable pay rates within and beyond the sector, including equivalent relationships.

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Risk management

The Trustee Board conducts a risk analysis with its budget at outset each year. There is a Risk Register and Policy in place and the register is reviewed on a regular basis. Procedures are implemented internally to ensure proper authorisation for all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure Health and Safety compliance. These are currently under review for future improvement.

Risks and mitigating measures were rapidly reviewed as Covid-19 continued to impact and additional resources were invested in remote working. In terms of commissioned work, adjustments were implemented and agreed with funders. In terms of partnership and member engagement, mechanisms were put in place. These measures and adjusted, agreed working arrangements are held under review.

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Voluntary Sector North West

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of Voluntary Sector North West for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company 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 charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 15[th] November 2022 and signed on their behalf by

Alison Page Chair

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Independent examiner’s report

to the members of

Voluntary Sector North West

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31[st] March 2022 which are set out on pages 13 to 30.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the 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 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 company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘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

Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no 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

  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 reached.

Christy Lau FCCA CTA DChA

Slade & Cooper Limited Beehive Mill, Jersey St, Manchester, M4 6JG

Date 21 November 2022

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Voluntary Sector North West

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2022

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
3,000
Charitable activities:
4
152,228
Total income
155,228
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities:
5
59,407
Total expenditure
59,407
95,821
7
95,821
Transfer between funds
-
Net movement in funds for the year
95,821
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
324,265
Total funds carried forward
420,086
Net income/(expenditure) before
net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year		 Restricted
funds
£
-
279,512
279,512
330,041
330,041
(50,529)
(50,529)
-
(50,529)
62,585
12,056		 Total funds
2022
£
3,000
431,740
434,740
389,448
389,448
45,292
45,292
-
45,292
386,850
432,142		 Total funds
2021
£
-
380,080
380,080
339,290
339,290
40,790
40,790
-
40,790
346,060
386,850

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

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Voluntary Sector North West Company number 3988903

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2022

Note
£
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
12
2,719
Total fixed assets
2,719
Current assets
Debtors
13
130,395
Cash at bank and in hand
14
356,203
Total current assets
486,598
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling
due in less than one year
15
(57,175)
Net current assets
429,423
Total assets less current liabilities
432,142
Net assets
432,142
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
16
12,056
Unrestricted income funds
17
420,086
Total charity funds
432,142
2022		 £
£
3,897
3,897
34,072
395,749
429,821
(46,868)
382,953
386,850
386,850
62,585
324,265
386,850
2021		 £
£
3,897
3,897
34,072
395,749
429,821
(46,868)
382,953
386,850
386,850
62,585
324,265
386,850
2021
3,897
382,953
386,850
386,850
62,585
324,265
386,850

For the year in question, the company was entitled to exemption from an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime (of the Companies Act 2006).

These accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to members of the company.

The notes on pages 16 to 30 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the trustees on 15/11/2022 and signed on their behalf by:

Alison Page (Chair)

Dan Moxon (Treasurer)

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Voluntary Sector North West

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ending 31 March 2022

Note
2022
£
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
20
(39,546)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
-
Cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
-
(39,546)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
395,749
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
356,203
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents in the year		 2021
£
110,067
(2,191)
(2,191)
107,876
287,873
395,749

15

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022

1 Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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), second edition - October 2019 (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Voluntary Sector North West meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.

The trustees have made no key judgments which have a significant effect on the accounts.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

c Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of a provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

16

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

d Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised; refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

e Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

f Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

g Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was

h Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight line basis as follows:

Fixtures & fittings 5 years Computer equipment 3, 4 or 5 years

17

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

i Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

j Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

k Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

l Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

m Pensions

Employees of the charity are opted into a Pension Scheme (defined contribution ‘money purchase’ schemes) with an employer’s contribution. The charity’s contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 8. There were outstanding contributions of £1,827 (2021: £4,188) at the year end.

2 Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The registered office address is disclosed on page 1.

3 Income from donations and legacies

Donations
Society of the Holy Child Jesus CIO
Total		 Total 2022
£
3,000
3,000		 Total 2021
£
-
-

All donations and legacies income is unrestricted.

18

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

4 Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted
£
GMCVO (GM H&SC Partnership)
11,558
Social Prescribing Network NW
-
NHS England (VCSE-ICS
-
Accelerator Pilot Site (Cheshire
& Merseyside))
NHS England (Carers C&M)
10,000
Salford CVS (GM Cancer
-
Screening Engagement Project)
Salford CVS (Make Smoking
-
History)
-
VS6 (Reaching Community Fund)
-
GMCA
116,143
9,834
Service
CVS Cheshire East
3,433
Other income
1,260
Total
152,228
Unrestricted
£
GMCVO (GM H&SC Partnership)
22,500
Social Prescribing Network NW
-
Salford CVS (GM Cancer
-
Screening Engagement Project)
NAVCA (STP Merseyside & Cheshire)
-
CLES
3,250
NHS England (VCSE-ICS
-
Accelerator Pilot Site (Cheshire
& Merseyside))
Big Lottery Fund (North West
-
Recovery)
NAVCA (EP - Local Liaison Lead)
-
Lloyds Bank Foundation
15,000
NHS England (Carers C&M)
10,000
VS6 (Lottery Emergency Response)
-
Cheshire and Merseyside Health
8,333
and Care Partnership
(NHS Volunteer Responder)
Total
59,083
Current reporting
period
Previous reporting
period
Sefton Council for Voluntary
NAVCA (EP - Local Liaison Lead)		 Restricted
£
-
16,850
81,442
-
112,020
9,700
4,750
54,750
-
-
-
-
279,512
Restricted
£
-
4,220
104,872
2,000
-
80,000
49,655
9,500
-
-
70,750
-
320,997		 Total 2022
£
11,558
16,850
81,442
10,000
112,020
9,700
4,750
54,750
116,143
9,834
3,433
1,260
431,740
Total 2021
£
22,500
4,220
104,872
2,000
3,250
80,000
49,655
9,500
15,000
10,000
70,750
8,333
380,080

19

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

5 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Staff costs
Other Staff costs
Administration
Accommodation
Associates/Sub-contractors
Conferences & events
Other project costs
Depreciation
Governance costs (see note 6)
Restricted expenditure
Unrestricted expenditure		 Total 2022
£
264,815
2,163
17,381
6,960
60,105
6,013
19,946
1,178
10,887
389,448
2022
£
330,041
59,407
389,448		 Total 2021
£
219,108
33,020
15,232
7,610
42,435
940
12,493
1,116
7,336
339,290
2021
£
323,237
16,053
339,290

20

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

6 Analysis of governance and support costs

Basis of
apportionment
Independent examiner fees
Governance
Professional fees
Governance
AGM and trustee costs
Governance
Basis of
apportionment
Independent examiner fees
Governance
Professional fees
Governance
AGM and trustee costs
Governance
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
This is stated after charging/(crediting):
Depreciation
Operating lease rentals:
Property
Independent examiner's fees:
Accountancy
Independent examination
Bookkeeping
Payroll bureau
Previous reporting
period
Current reporting
period		 Governance
£
1,575
7,727
1,585
10,887
Governance
£
1,500
5,560
276
7,336
2022
£
1,178
6,960
1,050
525
5,250
441		 Total 2022
£
1,575
7,727
1,585
10,887
Total 2021
£
1,500
5,560
276
7,336
2021
£
1,116
7,610
1,000
500
5,243
447

7 Net income/(expenditure) for the year

8 Staff costs

Staff costs during the year were as follows:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2022
£
232,756
17,962
14,097
264,815		 2021
£
191,751
14,306
13,051
219,108

No employees has employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2021: Nil).

The average number of staff employed during the period was 8.5 (2021: 7).

The average full time equivalent number of staff employed during the period was 7.4 (2021: 6.5).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £61,498 (2021: £56,899).

21

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

9 Trustee remuneration and expenses, and related party transactions

Neither the trustees nor any persons connected with them received any remuneration during the year (2021: Nil).

One (2021: none) member of the board of trustees received travel and subsistence expenses of £30 during the year (2021:nil). No (2021: one) member of the board of trustees received reimbursed training costs during the year (2021:£30).

GM Cancer Screening Engagement Project

In December 2018 VSNW worked in partnership with Salford CVS, BHA for Equality and Unique Improvements to secure a contract with NHS England (on behalf of GM Health and Social Care Partnership) in response to an OJEU tender to deliver the GM Cancer Screening Engagement Project. Salford CVS were the named lead provider within this partnership, on behalf of 10GM. The contract was awarded to this VCSE partnership (now known as Answer Cancer), with Salford CVS as the accountable body. Delivery commenced in the year 2019/20 and during 2021/22 Salford CVS made payments to VSNW (£120,540) in relation to delivery of year 3 of this project (as per the partnership’s revised budget submission). It should be noted that the Chair of VSNW, Alison Page, is also the Chief Executive of Salford CVS.

22

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

10 Government grants

The government grants recognised in the accounts were as follows:

NHS England
GMCA
Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care
Partnership
Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care
Partnership (via Liverpool CCG)		 2022
£
81,442
10,000
-
116,143
207,585		 2021
£
80,000
10,000
8,333
-
98,333

There were no unfulfilled conditions and contingencies attaching to the grants.

11 Corporation tax

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Chapter 3 of Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.

23

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

12 Fixed assets: tangible assets

Fixed assets: tangible assets
Cost
Disposals
Depreciation
Charge for the year
Disposals
Net book value
At 1 April 2021
At 1 April 2021
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2021		 Fixtures &
fittings
£
500
-
500
500
-
-
500
-
-		 Computer
equipment
£
23,073
(17,301)
5,772
19,176
1,178
(17,301)
3,053
2,719
3,897		 £
23,573
(17,301)
6,272
Total
19,676
1,178
(17,301)
3,553
2,719
3,897

24

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

13 Debtors

13
Debtors
2022
£
Grants and fees receivable
124,853
Prepayments and accrued income
5,542
130,395
14
Cash at bank and in hand
2022
£
Cash at bank and on hand
356,203
356,203
15
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2022
£
Trade creditors
33,748
Other creditors and accruals
13,704
Taxation and social security costs
9,723
57,175		 2021
£
27,220
6,852
34,072
2021
£
395,749
395,749
2021
£
4,820
33,380
8,668
46,868

25

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

16 Analysis of movements in restricted funds

FutureNW Forum
Total
FutureNW Forum
NW Recovery
Total
Current reporting
period
GMCSE Answer
Cancer
STP Merseyside &
Cheshire
EP-Local Liaison
Lead
STP Merseyside &
Cheshire
VS6
Social Prescribing
Network NW
Social Prescribing
Network NW
Make Smoking
History
GMCSE Answer
Cancer
VCSE-ICS
Accelerator Pilot Site
Make Smoking
History
VCSE-ICS
Accelerator Pilot Site
Previous reporting
period
EP-Local Liaison
VS6		 Balance at
1 April
2021
£
7,726
4,220
8,234
36,130
1,900
-
2,000
2,375
62,585
Balance at
1 April
2020
£
7,726
-
24,709
22,475
9,915
-
-
-
-
64,825
 Income
£
-
16,850
112,020
81,442
9,700
54,750
-
4,750
279,512
Income
£
-
4,220
104,872
80,000
-
70,750
2,000
49,655
9,500
320,997		 Expenditure
£
(7,726)
(21,070)
(108,198)
(117,572)
(11,600)
(54,750)
(2,000)
(7,125)
(330,041)
Expenditure
£
-
-
(121,347)
(66,345)
(8,015)
(70,750)
-
(49,655)
(7,125)
(323,237)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Balance at
31 March
2022
£
-
-
12,056
-
-
-
-
-
12,056
Balance at
31 March
2021
£
7,726
4,220
8,234
36,130
1,900
-
2,000
-
2,375
62,585

26

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

16 Analysis of movements in restricted funds (cont.)

Name of Description, nature and purposes of the fund
restricted fund
FutureNW Forum Funding to support the North West Forum on Ageing, an unconstituted
network
Social Prescribing Funding from National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), via
Network NW Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS, to support VCSE role in Social
Prescribing in North West England
GMCSE Answer Subcontracted from Salford CVS delivery of the GM Cancer Screening
Cancer Engagement service
VCSE-ICS Funding from Cheshire & Merseyside Health and Social Care Partnership,
Accelerator Pilot Site with NHS England contribution, via Liverpool CCG to support the
development of a Cheshire and Merseyside (C&M) VCSE Partnership and
VCSE role in C&M Health & Care Partnership
Make Smoking Subcontract from Salford CVS to support a smoking cessation social
History movement project
VS6 Reaching Communities Lottery Funds held on behalf of the VS6
Partnership in order to support the VCFSE role in shaping the future of
Liverpool City Region
STP Merseyside & NHS England investment via NAVCA to support VCFSE engagement in
Cheshire NHS’ Five Year Strategy
NW Recovery Emergency funding from the Lottery to support VCFSE response to Covid-
19 pandemic across the North West
EP-Local Liaison Funding contribution to link Cheshire and Warrington into National VCSE
Lead Emergency Partnership Structures

27

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

17 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds

LCO-VCSE Guide
Carers C&M
Lloyds Bank
Foundation
Current reporting
period
Designated Funds:
Designated Funds:
Organisational
Development
General fund
Carers C&M
GM Accord
Lloyds Bank
Foundation
General fund
Previous reporting
period
NHS Volunteer
Responder
NHS Volunteer
Responder		 Balance
at 1 April
2021
£
286,932
14,000
15,000
8,333
-
-
324,265
Balance
at 1 April
2020
£
267,902
9,333
4,000
-
-
281,235
 Income
£
145,228
10,000
-
-
-
-
155,228
Income
£
25,750
-
10,000
15,000
8,333
59,083		 Expenditure
£
(37,773)
(13,334)
-
(8,300)
-
-
(59,407)
Expenditure
£
(16,053)
-
-
-
-
(16,053)		 Transfers
£
(104,504)
-
-
(33)
56,665
47,872
-
Transfers
£
9,333
(9,333)
-
-
-
-		 As at 31
March 2022
£
289,883
10,666
15,000
-
56,665
47,872
420,086
As at 31
March
2021
£
286,932
-
14,000
15,000
8,333
324,265

28

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

17 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds (cont.)

Name of Description, nature and purposes of the fund unrestricted fund

General fund

The free reserves after allowing for all designated funds

Designated Funds Carers C&M

Funding to support carers in Cheshire and Merseyside linked to NHS workforce development

Lloyds Bank Foundation grant investment in VSNW’s core funding

Lloyds Bank Lloyds Bank Foundation grant investment in VSNW’s core funding Foundation NHS Volunteer NHS England investment to develop potential integration of Good Sam Responder and local volunteering services GM Accord 2021/22 funding brought forward to support agreed delivery in 2022/23 Organisational Funding designated by VSNW’s Board for future development and Development sustainability and to support delivery, in line with our priorities, across the North West and the five subregions.

18 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total
Previous reporting
period
Current reporting
period		 General
fund
£
2,719
287,164
289,883
General
fund
£
3,897
283,035
286,932		 Designated
funds
£
-
130,203
130,203
Designated
funds
£
-
37,333
37,333		 Restricted
funds
£
-
12,056
12,056
Restricted
funds
£
-
62,585
62,585		 Total
£
2,719
429,423
432,142
Total
£
3,897
382,953
386,850

29

Voluntary Sector North West

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

19 Operating lease commitments

The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as

Less than one year 2022
2021
£
£
4,176
4,176
4,176
4,176
Property		 2022
2021
£
£
4,176
4,176
4,176
4,176
Property
4,176

20 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income/(expenditure) for the year
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charge
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating		 2022
£
45,292
1,178
(96,323)
10,307
(39,546)		 2021
£
40,790
1,116
31,391
36,770
110,067

30