COMPANY NUMBER: 04028768
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1083268
LISTER STEPS LIMITED
UNAUDITED ANNUAL REPORT &
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 JULY 2024
Lister Steps Limited Contents Year ended 31 July 2024
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 1 to 5 |
| Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities | 7 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 8 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 9 |
| Balance Sheet | 10 |
| Statement of Cash Flows | 11 |
| Notes forming part of the Financial Statements | From 12 |
Lister Steps Limited Report of the Trustees Year ended 31 July 2024
The trustees, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2024.
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, Companies Act 2006, Accounting and Reporting by Charities; Statement of Recommended Practice (Sorp 2019) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1st January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the charitable company are to promote for the benefit of the public (with particular emphasis on the public in the area of Tuebrook Merseyside) any charitable purpose without distinction of gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, pollical, religious or other opinion and in particular charitable purposes which: -
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Provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation, and other leisure time occupations with the objects of improving the conditions of life in Tuebrook.
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Promote educational and training opportunities with special emphasis on providing access to such opportunities for people who are by reasons of social or economic disadvantage otherwise unable to gain such access
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Provide advice, information, and assistance in relation of citizenship so as to develop the capacity and potential of individuals as members of society and that their conditions of life may be improved.
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To relive unemployment by the provision of advice and training to unemployed individuals concerning unemployment, self-employment and the establishment of co-operative enterprises and the provision of CV writing, job search and job club facilities for them. Provision f practical support to unemployed people by the way of accommodation, childcare facilities or assistance with travel.
Promote for public benefit regeneration in Tuebrook and surrounding areas by all the following means
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The relief of poverty.
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The protection, enhancement and conservation of the environment.
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The promotion of public safety and the prevention of crime.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have fully complied with their duty in regard to this guidance when exercising their powers and duties.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Our Community Engagement Manager has successfully continued to deliver a wide range of activities and events. Further details can be found in the relevant sections of this report.
EDUCATION
Our intent is to support our children to enable them to achieve their full potential academically, economically and to become happy, socially confident and able to keep themselves safe. In our work with young children our biggest contribution is to give them the skills to learn, to understand how to behave in a learning setting, how to listen, take turns, and to share and express their feelings. We do this in ways that comply with the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements and are fun and enjoyable for the children.
We can integrate children with additional learning needs and work alongside other professionals such as Educational Psychologists, and Speech and Language Therapists to develop individual plans to support the child’s development. We are often first to notice that something may be wrong if developmental milestones are not being met and are well placed to lead Early Help interventions and have the trust of families to do so.
We continue to have an excellent reputation for our work with children who have special educational needs. Lister Steps is regarded as valued resource by professionals. Our SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-Ordinator) supports families who have children with special needs and supervises our specially trained childcare practitioners who provide 1 to 1 care to children with special needs.
FAMILIES
Lister Steps provides free childcare to families in crisis or when there is a change in circumstances with the potential to harm the well- being of the child. During the reporting period we have supported families where serious illness, housing, domestic violence, residency status and crime have affected the main care giver.
Case study
The following case study provides an example of the way in which a vulnerable child and parent received the support they desperately needed to overcome serious problems, and to prevent the child from being admitted into Care.
During the reporting period our Nursery Manager and the childcare practitioners at Lister Steps supported a single parent and her 3 year old daughter, Child X.
When X first started the Nursery, staff were informed by Social Services that the mum had a history of drug and alcohol problems and her other children had been taken into Care. Social Services were no longer involved since the mum had been coping better and she was now able to take adequate care of her youngest child.
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Lister Steps Limited Report of the Trustees Year ended 31 July 2024
At first there were no apparent problems, however patterns began to appear - signs of behaviour and presentation causing concern to the Nursery staff. Mum was frequently arriving to Nursery late and presented as stressed, and X became increasingly withdrawn and appeared physically neglected. The Nursery Manager had worked hard to build up a trusting relationship with mum and eventually mum felt able to confide in her, admitting that she was again using drugs and alcohol and was struggling to cope on her own. With mum’s knowledge, the Manager informed Social Services of their concerns. A Social Services Case Conference and plan was quickly arranged:
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X would attend the Nursery extra days. This allowed time for Mum to access the Drug and Alcohol Services.
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Mum made contact with X’s father and regular visits were arranged at the Social Services Contact Centre.
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A Child Psychologist was allocated to work with X. These sessions took place at Lister Steps.
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The Nursery Manager was appointed Key Worker and provided one- to- one support. A Safe Space was created for X, whereby the Manager had a little talk and play with her every day at a regular time.
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The Manager continued to support mum, offering encouragement and praise, and reporting on progress and positive changes X was making.
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A year later X transferred to the Reception Class at the local school. She was no longer withdrawn and settled well in her new environment. Mum has continued to receive support from specialist services and is no longer using drugs or alcohol. She has grown in confidence and copes well. Mum and X often pop into the Nursery on their way home from school for a chat with the Childcare staff at Lister Steps and are always made welcome.
VOLUNTEERS
Lister Steps is registered with Volunteer Liverpool and welcome volunteers into all facets of our work. We welcome volunteers of all abilities, to work with our children and value the input people with different life experiences can give. We find that volunteers with specialist skills can complement our work. Our volunteers have made useful contributions to Lister Steps in various strands of the organisation ranging from childcare to governance, research, social media management, administration, and horticulture and ground maintenance.
Volunteers often come from the most marginalised sections of society, and we are able to support their developing personal skills, confidence and selfesteem. It has become apparent that visitors to The Old Library get involved in numerous different activities and a few have gone on from participating to volunteering and supporting our team.
Our community engagement work funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund has enabled us to extend the range of volunteering opportunities available to members of our community.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Lister Steps networks extensively with other statutory and voluntary agencies across the Liverpool City Region to ensure that we have a portfolio of up to date and relevant support services for our children and their families. We work very closely with local Health Visitors, Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists and SENIS to ensure children receive the specialist intervention they may need. We are also able to sign-post our parents and staff for advice on finance, budgeting, debt management, mental health, counselling etc.
The Café has become embedded in the community providing healthy, nutritious food for all the children in our care to ensure they receive at least one full meal a day – supporting families challenged by rising costs and the wider community.
During the accounting period we continued to support wellbeing by organising and providing facilities for dance, exercise, crafting and art classes and opportunities to socialise in a calm and relaxing environment.
COMMUNITY COHESION
We value all of our children and families. We promote mutual respect and are inclusive. At Lister Steps we want children to be independent learners so that they can make their own choices and build and develop strong relationships and friendships with lots of people. Our services promote the fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Our longstanding groups such as Knit and Natter, Family History, Shared Reading, Creative Writing and Narcotics Anonymous continue to use the Old Library as their local base.
Tactcare, Storybox CIC, Rejuvenate CIC and Wellbeing Together and Liverpool City Council continue to use The Old library as a base for supporting local residents and families.
PERFORMANCE
Lister Steps is registered with OFSTED to provide 96 childcare places each day. The places are delivered through our Nursery and “Out of School” Club settings. We also provide play schemes during the school holidays for local children to help working parents and give children opportunities to play safely and learn new skills and hobbies.
Lister Steps offers school and college placements, internships and apprentices to local young people who wish to further their career working children and families. During the Accounting Period staff continued to benefit from access to an on-line training academy Noodle Now to support their continued professional development.
Lister Steps Childcare continued to struggle to retain qualified staff and to recruit replacements, something experienced by the whole childcare sector. This resulted in staff often doing unpaid overtime, not taking leave regularly, stress and burnout. Trustees discussed reducing childcare numbers, instituting welfare reviews, regular staff engagement and trying to ensure staffing levels were maintained.
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Lister Steps Limited Report of the Trustees Year ended 31 July 2024
The trustees regard our childcare facility and services as a great achievement. Occupancy levels were maintained although this places strain on staff resources. Our regular summer play scheme continued to play a key role in retaining child registrations and attract new customers, including parents from across the area and from diverse backgrounds.
Our café is popular and serves as the doorway for local people to find out more about the activities and services we offer. The café also serves our growing events portfolio and provides catering for family events. We are awarded 5 stars in terms of environmental health standards.
We arranged a series of Christmas events including a Dickensian Afternoon Tea, Community Sing and parties for our Children. Lister Steps is extremely grateful to the following individuals, trusts and organisations for their financial support.
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National Lottery Heritage Fund
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Power to Change
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Social Investment Business
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Duncan Norman Charitable Trust
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Lady Christine Bibby
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Chrimes Family Charitable Trust
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Total income in the year was £525,526 (2023: £776,221) of which £89,605 (2023: £228,226), related to funding for projects upon which restrictions are placed.
Total expenditure in the year was £617,851 (2023: £668,501), leaving a deficit for the year of £92,325 (2023: surplus £107,720).
At 31 July 2024 the charitable company’s reserves stood at £103,570 (2023: £195,893) of which £8,991 (2023: £27,716) represented restricted funds.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The Trustees are responsible for risk management. The Company Secretary is the childcare nominated person and ensures compliance with OFSTED as the regulatory body.
The Board as a whole take responsibility for risk management and ensure that agreed actions comply with the risk management policy. Policies and procedures are reviewed annually.
RESERVES POLICY
It is the policy of the charitable company to maintain unrestricted funds, which are free reserves at a level to cover redundancy provision, and three months, running costs should no further funding be received.
As at the end of the financial year the unrestricted funds totalled £94,579. The charitable company requires £84,500 for redundancy provision, and £87,060 for three months’ running costs, (total £171,560).
As per are business plan, Lister Steps is hoping to hold a number of events/weddings etc in their building this will ensure unrestricted reserves increase to cover redundancy policy etc. There will also be additional income from the cafe which is also to increase unrestricted reserves.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
The Trustees are working towards a full review of Lister Step’s Objectives, and are updating and rewriting our Articles of Association. In addition, we are in the process of reviewing staff job descriptions to more accurately reflect the organisation we have evolved into.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 7th July 2000 and registered as a charity on 7th July 2000.
The Governing Instruments under which the charitable company operates comprise the Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 14th June 2000.
RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees aims to recruit new Trustees with a range of relevant skills and experience. Recruitment is initiated through online advertising using various platforms and sites and also Volunteer Liverpool. Prospective applicants are interviewed by the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Board/Company Secretary. Trustees are required to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service background checks and to register with OFSTED. Election for positions on the Board takes place at the AGM or at Trustee Board meetings throughout the year.
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TEAM
Lister Steps is a value led organisation and this is reflected across our communications with the full staff team including volunteers, students and trainees on work placement. Staff are kept up to date with developments via bi-monthly full team meetings, regular memo's and team leader briefings. A trustee attends each full team meeting and team members are encouraged to input into operational reports presented at board meetings.
Team Building days, Staff development and Training days are held bi- annually and this gives the opportunity for staff, volunteers and trustees to work together.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Lister Steps considers equality of opportunity in all aspects of our organisation. We have an equal opportunities policy which is reviewed annually.
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Lister Steps Limited Report of the Trustees Year ended 31 July 2024
FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The Chief Executive is responsible for overseeing the overall direction of Lister Steps, ensuring the effective management of the resources available to us and taking the lead on the achievement of our charitable mission and objectives.
The Chief Executive ensured during 2023/24 that the Mission was at the front of all the work done and that all the activities planned and delivered fell within the charitable remit. They have worked alongside the Board of Trustees to discuss and agree long term strategies and short term action plans, taking the lead in the preparation of all funding bids and liaising closely with charitable supporters to generate in kind and pro-bono support for our work.
This year was particularly difficult in terms of managing cashflow and ensuring all departments had the resources they needed to operate to a high quality standard. One of the greatest challenges faced, like the majority of Charities, was the availability of funding to support our cause. One of the major disappointments this year was being rejected by NLRC for a large bid to support our work in the community. This was a significant disappointment because of the excellent relationship we have developed with National Lottery Heritage Fund over the timeline of our heritage project.
The greatest hope for our future lies in the opportunity to focus on our long-term goals and sustainability, ensuring the continued success of our work. We hope that we can apply for extension funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to enhance our organizational resilience and strength is particularly encouraging.
FROM THE FINANCE MANAGER AND DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE
This role involves navigating the company finances to ensure pressure points are highlighted and deadlines are met. Highlighting potential improvements for revenue streams, working more efficiently across the business, and identifying potential grants and funding opportunities are a key aspect of the role.
The year leading up to 31 July 2024 was extremely challenging. We continued to experience cashflow problems and were unable to reduce our indebtedness. The nursery carries high levels of bad debt, and there were months when meeting payroll obligations was difficult. However, working towards the potential NLHF extension was a particularly enjoyable challenge.
With the increase in income from the nursery and the ever-growing events and community projects at The Old Library, the future feels much more optimistic. As Deputy Chief Executive, prioritizing the line management of the Events Coordinator and Community Engagement Officer is essential. Ensuring their roles are clearly defined, achievable, and that their wellbeing is paramount is crucial.
It is largely due to these two excellent employees, who constantly drive revenue, and all the staff here, who work tirelessly and often voluntarily, that The Old Library is evolving into the wonderful, community-driven organization it was always intended to be.
FROM THE COMPANY SECRETARY
The Company Secretary ensures compliance with Companies House and the Charity Commission to ensure best governance.
During the year, the Company Secretary played a pivotal role in ensuring the charity’s smooth operation, particularly by facilitating effective communication between the trustees and the senior management team.
During periods when the Board of Trustees lacked a formally-elected chair, the Company Secretary held regular meetings with the Chief Executive to provide support and maintain clear communication. Additionally, the Company Secretary worked diligently to recruit new trustees and support both trustee applicants and new trustees.
As the ‘Nominated Individual’ for Ofsted, the Company Secretary successfully collaborated with the Childcare Manager to offer support, stay updated on developments in the Nursery, and ensured the charity remained compliant with Ofsted requirements.
Although the Board of Trustees remained small during 2023/24, the members worked well to manage some difficult issues facing the charity. An ethos of mutual respect, trust, support and team work has developed ensuring the trustees are able to develop solutions to the issues facing the charity. However, it has proved difficult to recruit and keep trustees on the Board. Some meetings we were not quorate and made use of the in quoracy amendment to our Articles of Association which was adopted at the last AGM. The small number of trustees makes it difficult to run sub-committees and to delegate work amongst trustees. We recognise that we would benefit from a more diverse Board which would represent different communities and client groups. The charity will continue to increase the membership, skills and diversity of the Board of Trustees.
FROM THE NURSERY MANAGER
2024 was a particularly challenging year for the nursery. The loss of its ‘Good’ status (reinstated in August 2024) led to reduced enrolment numbers and income, along with personnel losses leading to low staff morale due to long hours, stress, and anxiety about the future. However, changes were implemented, resulting in increased enrolment and income, and staff now have a more hopeful and secure outlook for the future. The nursery continues to be of key importance in delivering community benefit and ensuring the continuing financial viability of the charity.
FROM THE EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR
The Events Co-ordinator is responsible for supervising the café, ensuring cleanliness, quality assurance, and customer service. They manage bank staff and volunteers, handle financial record-keeping and reporting, and serve as the licensee. In this role, they train all staff on bar operations within the legal framework, maintain bar stock, and ensure staff are aware of their responsibilities during events. The Events Co-ordinator also promotes The Old Library as a wedding venue and liaises with clients and outside agencies to ensure the smooth delivery of events, including live music, quiz nights, and family parties throughout the year.
The organisation successfully delivered several weddings throughout the year, all of which turned a healthy profit and received highly complimentary client feedback. However, this success was achieved despite low staffing levels, with some bank staff having to work long shifts. Further development of this vital income stream and community offering will depend on either employing more staff or increasing prices.
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Lister Steps Limited Report of the Trustees Year ended 31 July 2024
Family and community events organized by the charity have been successful in generating revenue and attracting new visitors. These events, especially during good weather, enhance our presence in the community by being visible to passers-byes.
A major challenge continues to be marketing. With tight budgets and a small number of staff and volunteers, the charity relies heavily on social media to publicize its activities, which doesn’t always reach all parts of the community. Additionally, the café is not generating as much revenue as it should due to inconsistent staffing in the kitchen, leading to times when food is unavailable or the quality of our offerings is below standard.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Despite staff turnover, the Old Library has continued to organize a successful program of community activities, workshops, meet-ups, and family and community events. Feedback gathered during 2024 via an online survey indicates there is still room for improvement. Many respondents mentioned they only rarely or infrequently visited the Old Library, primarily for leisure, recreation, and as a place to meet. Training or using the building as a workspace were not common reasons for visits. However, visitors did report gaining a sense of community and belonging from their visits, appreciating the ability to meet friends in a relaxing and calm environment. History and heritage, as well as books and reading, remained important reasons for visiting. The atmosphere was described as welcoming, with comments such as “it’s a nice building” and “friendly.” Nonetheless, respondents expressed a desire for a wider variety of activities, more weekend openings, and especially more events and activities for children and young people.
FRIENDS OF THE OLD LIBRARY
This group was formed in 2024 and consists of passionate volunteers who provide feedback on their experiences with the organisation’s services, suggest areas for improvement, and offer ideas for future initiatives. The group meets monthly with a trustee representative and the Community Engagement worker to discuss how we can better serve our community. This group is a valuable source of community input and helps us demonstrate our ongoing commitment to serving the community in which we work.
The group currently consists of 5 volunteers. Efforts have been made to identify all volunteers, friends, and supporters, offering them the chance to meet the Friends and become more involved with the work and life of The Old Library. However, recruiting community members to the group remains a challenge. We hope to increase membership to broaden our community voice. The group is planning a community open day in January 2025, bringing together our community groups and other community partners to attract more people to the organisation and showcase what we offer. Additionally, the group is keen to help distribute promotional materials to share our work in the local community and attend events to gather feedback for their meetings.
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Lister Steps Limited Report of the Trustees Year ended 31 July 2024
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
| Name | Lister Steps Limited | |
|---|---|---|
| Company Number | 4028768 | |
| Charity Number | 1083268 | |
| Registered Office | The Old Library | |
| Green Lane | ||
| Tuebrook | ||
| Liverpool | ||
| Merseyside | ||
| L13 7EB | ||
| Trustees | A J May | (Appointed 7th July 2000) |
| J M Spencer | (Appointed 6th May 2023) | |
| E Martin | (Appointed 22nd January 2024) | |
| D R Barlow | (Resigned 24th October 2023) | |
| P A Crossland | (Resigned 9th October 2023) | |
| J Lee | (Resigned 28th June 2024) | |
| E J McCormack | (Resigned 20th February 2024) | |
| Secretary | A J May | (Appointed 7th July 2000) |
| Independent Examiner | Claire Riley MAAT FCCA | |
| MAR Kilshaw Limited | ||
| 99 Stanley Road | ||
| Bootle | ||
| Liverpool | ||
| L20 7DA | ||
| Bankers | Lloyds |
Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees
The above Trustee’s Annual Report was approved by the member of Lister Steps Limited on 13 February 2025 and signed by J M Spencer on their behalf.
Jerry Spencer
J M Spencer Trustee 14 Feb 2025
Date
Page 6
Lister Steps Limited Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities Year ended 31 July 2024
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 as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees should follow best practice and:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principle in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue as a going concern;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departure disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial 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.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, Companies Act 2006, Accounting and Reporting by Charities; Statement of Recommended Practice (Sorp 2015) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1st January 2019).
Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Jerry Spencer
J M Spencer Trustee 14 Feb 2025
Date
Page 7
Lister Steps Limited Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Lister Steps Limited Year ended 31 July 2024
I report on the accounts of the Charitable Company for the year ended 31 July 2024.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the examiner
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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(a) examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act),
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(b) to follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, and
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(c) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
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(a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
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(b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting Charities have not been met; or
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2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Claire Riley
Signed
13 Feb 2025
Dated
Claire Riley MAAT FCCA
Relevant professional qualification or body: ACCA On behalf of:
MAR Kilshaw Limited 99 Stanley Road Bootle Liverpool L20 7DA
Page 8
Statement of Financial Activities (Including Income and Expenditure) Year ended 31 July 2024
Lister Steps Limited
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and Legacies 3a Charitable activities 3b Other income 3c Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Net income/(expenditure), net movement in funds Total funds brought forward 11,12 Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Funds Funds Funds 2024 2024 2024 £ £ £ 2,147 - 2,147 433,572 89,605 523,177 202 - 202 435,921 89,605 525,526 509,520 108,331 617,851 509,520 108,331 617,851 (73,599) (18,726) (92,325) 168,178 27,717 195,895 94,579 8,991 103,570 |
TOTAL FUNDS 2023 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 1,047 656,111 119,063 |
||
| 776,221 | ||
| 668,500 | ||
| 668,500 | ||
| 107,721 88,173 |
||
| 195,894 |
The notes form part of these accounts. All the above amounts relate to continuing the activities of the charitable company. This Statement includes all gains and losses recognisable in the year.
Page 9
Lister Steps Limited Balance Sheet
Year ended 31 July 2024
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 5 Current assets Debtors 6 Cash at bank and in hand Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due < 1 year 7 Net current (liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: Amounts falling due > 1 year 8 Net Assets Funds: Unrestricted funds 10, 11 Restricted funds 10, 12 Net Assets |
£ £ 202,651 35,045 3,609 38,654 (77,736) (39,082) 163,569 (60,000) 103,569 94,578 8,991 103,569 31 JUL 2024 |
£ £ 31 JUL 2023 |
£ £ 31 JUL 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 230,267 26,162 16,714 42,877 (77,250) (34,373) 195,894 - 195,894 168,177 27,717 195,894 |
|||
| 195,894 - |
|||
| 195,894 | |||
| 168,177 27,717 |
|||
| 195,894 |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies’ regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
For the period covered by these accounts the charitable company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies
The Trustees, who are the Directors of the charitable company, acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Jerry Spencer
J M Spencer Trustee 14 Feb 2025
Date
Page 10
Statement of Cashflows
Lister Steps Limited
Year ended 31 July 2024
| Notes Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations 14 Investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets Net cash investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Repayment of overdraft Repayment of loan Net cash generated from financing activities Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Represented by: Cash at bank and in hand Overdrawn bank balance |
£ £ (27,010) (1,184) (1,184) - - - (28,194) 16,714 (11,480) 3,609 (15,089) (11,480) 31 JUL 2024 |
£ £ 31 JUL 2023 |
£ £ 31 JUL 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| (7,380) (1,820) (1,820) - - - (9,198) 25,912 16,714 16,714 16,714 |
|||
| (1,820) - |
|||
| (9,198) 25,912 |
|||
| 16,714 | |||
| 16,714 | |||
| 16,714 |
Page 11
Lister Steps Limited Notes to the accounts Year ended 31 July 2024
1 Limited Liability
The charity is a company limited by guarantee. Each member’s liability is limited to £1.
2 Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (SORP 2015) (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1st January 2015), Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.
The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
Going concern
At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate reserves and the write off of the SIB Loan in 2024 to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are the Charitable Company’s free reserves available for the trustees to apply in accordance with the charitable company’s charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific restrictive conditions imposed by the donor. All restricted funds are accounted for as restricted income and expenditure for the purposes is charged to the fund.
Income recognition
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, there is sufficient certainty of receipt and so it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donations and legacies comprise donations and general grants which are recognised in the accounts when received, with the exception of known legacies which are accounted for when their receipt is certain.
Income from charitable activities is recognised on an accrual’s basis. Grants receivables are recognised on the date on which their unconditional payment is confirmed by the donor.
Income from investment relates to bank interest received and is recognised when the amount is certain.
Expenditure recognition
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charitable company to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual’s basis. All expenses, including support costs and governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings in the Statement of Financial Activities. Support and governance costs are applied to unrestricted funds unless specifically included in the restrictions, as specified by the donor.
Expenditure on charitable activities relates to the operation of the charity comprising of direct charitable expenditure to meet the objectives of the charitable company. Support and governance costs relate to the management and operation of the organisation and also compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements in producing the annual report. These are dealt with in the Statement of Financial Activities when payment has been approved by the charitable company.
Fixed Assets
Capital expenditure is stated in the balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided to write off the cost of each asset over its expected useful life as below:
Computers & Equipment 20% per annum straight line basis Fixtures & Fittings 25% per annum on reducing balance basis Leasehold Land & Buildings Straight line basis over 25 years Improvements to Leasehold Straight line basis over 25 years
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
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.
Page 12
Lister Steps Limited Notes to the accounts Year ended 31 July 2024
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 initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
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 receipts 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.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
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 on-going 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.
Taxation
Income and gains are exempt from taxation as they are received and applied for charitable purposes only. The charitable company benefits from various exemptions from taxation afforded by tax legislation and is not liable to corporation tax on income or gains falling within those exemptions.
3 Income and endowments from
| Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Funds Funds Funds 2024 2024 2024 £ £ £ a Donations and Legacies Donations 2,147 0 2,147 Donations and legacies in 2023 relate wholly to unrestricted funds. Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Funds Funds Funds 2024 2024 2024 £ £ £ b Charitable activities Heritage Lottery Fund - 69,699 69,699 Power to Change - - - National Trust - 1,000 1,000 Rushworths Charity - 250 250 John Moores Foundation Grant - 9,992 9,992 LCVS - 3,162 3,162 Police Donation - 5,502 5,502 Café & events income 68,540 - 68,540 Nursery & club income 343,544 - 343,544 Office and room rental 21,488 - 21,488 433,572 89,605 523,177 |
TOTAL FUNDS 2023 £ |
|---|---|
| 1,047 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS 2023 £ |
|
| 218,909 9,357 - - - - - 58,645 351,156 18,044 |
|
| 656,111 |
Charitable activities in 2023 related to £427,845 unrestricted funds and £228,266 restricted funds.
Page 13
Lister Steps Limited Notes to the accounts Year ended 31 July 2024
| c 4 a |
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds 2024 2024 £ £ Other income Commission 76 - Interest income 126 - Loan write off (see note 8) - - 202 - Other Income in 2023 relate wholly to unrestricted funds. Expenditure on Charitable Activities Direct Support & Charitable Governance Expenditure Cots 2024 2024 £ £ 108,331 509,520 Analysed as follows: Direct charitable expenditure: Staff salary costs Pension Nursery costs Café costs Events costs Volunteer expenses Office costs Training Premises costs Repairs and renewals Travel expenses Advertising and marketing Consultancy Website costs Sundry expenses Professional fees Human resources costs Computer costs HMRC interest and penalties Bank and card charges Bank interest Loan interest Accountancy and independent examination Depreciation To provide facilities for recreation and child day- care activities |
Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds 2024 2024 £ £ |
TOTAL Funds 2024 £ 76 126 - 202 TOTAL Costs 2024 £ 617,851 TOTAL Costs 2024 £ 107,581 - - - 750 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 108,331 |
TOTAL FUNDS 2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 - 126 - - - |
- - 119,063 |
|||
| 202 - |
119,063 | |||
| TOTAL Costs 2023 £ |
||||
| 108,331 509,520 |
668,500 | |||
| TOTAL Costs 2023 £ |
||||
| 177,337 3,258 - - 9,600 - 1,084 2,504 - - - 2,069 - - 3,645 8,446 - 7,688 274.42 2,032 780 - 3,579 - |
||||
| 222,297 |
£108,331 (2023: £222,297) of the above expenditure relates to restricted funding.
Page 14
Lister Steps Limited Notes to the accounts Year ended 31 July 2024
| b c |
Support & Governance costs: Staff salary costs Pension Nursery costs Café costs Events costs Volunteer expenses Office costs Training Premises costs Repairs and renewals Travel expenses Advertising and marketing Consultancy Website costs Sundry expenses Professional fees Human resources costs Computer costs HMRC interest and penalties Bank and card charges Bank interest Loan interest Accountancy and independent examination Depreciation Total expenditure on charitable activities Staff Costs Gross wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs Particulars of employees The average number of employees during the year was as follows: Charitable activities Management and administration |
TOTAL Costs 2024 £ 345,107 6,770 4,952 2,027 22,952 - 565 1,308 52,344 12,591 - 5,511 - - 826 8,500 - 8,653 2,050 2,218 922 1,966 1,455 28,801 509,520 617,851 2024 £ 428,300 24,388 6,770 459,458 2024 18 3 21 |
TOTAL Costs 2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 309,847 4,888 3,947 1,540 15,138 - - - 57,671 20,227 337 - - - - - - 3,521 - - - - - 29,090 |
|||
| 446,203 | |||
| 668,500 | |||
| 2023 £ |
|||
| 458,887 28,297 8,146 |
|||
| 495,330 | |||
| 2023 | |||
| 16 3 |
|||
| 19 |
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year. The trustees are not remunerated for their services and are not included in the above number of employees. No out-of-pocket expenses were reimbursed to trustees in the year (2023: £nil).
Page 15
Lister Steps Limited Notes to the accounts Year ended 31 July 2024
5 Tangible fixed assets:
| Gross book value brought forward Additions Disposals Gross book value at carried forward Depreciation brought forward Charge for the year On disposals Depreciation at carried forward Net book value carried forward Net book value at brought forward Improvements to Leasehold included in the fixed assets |
Improvemen ts to leasehold Leasehold land and buildings Computers and equipment Fixtures and fittings Total £ £ £ £ £ 132,995 483,492 11,641 19,480 647,608 - - 1,184 - 1,184 - - - - - 132,995 483,492 12,824 19,480 648,791 14,183 383,618 6,366 13,174 417,341 5,320 19,340 2,564 1,577 28,800 - - - - - 19,503 402,957 8,930 14,751 446,141 113,492 80,535 3,894 4,729 202,651 118,812 99,874 5,274 6,306 230,267 is in relation to the old Library that Lister steps moved into in October 2020. |
|---|---|
6 Debtors
| 6 Debtors |
||
|---|---|---|
| Trade debtors 7 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Bank overdraft Trade creditors Accruals Pension Taxation and social security Other creditors 8 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year The following loans are included within creditors: Due between one to two years Due between two to five years Over 5 years |
2024 £ 35,045 35,045 2024 £ 15,089 8,782 3,017 1,350 44,747 4,750 77,736 2024 £ - 60,000 - 60,000 |
2023 £ |
| 26,162 | ||
| 26,162 | ||
| 2023 £ |
||
| - 28,322 4,579 3,569 40,780 - |
||
| 77,250 | ||
| 2023 £ |
||
| - - - |
||
| - |
The organisation received a loan of £60,000 in August 2023 from Key Fund Investments Limited with interest being charged at a rate of 4% per annum. The loan was to provide working capital to help develop a project, with a revolving facility termination date 60 months from the date of the agreement, with a final repayment date 96 months form the date of the agreement. Capital repayments are due to start in August 2026, however, this may be requested to start earlier to reduced the interest payable.
Page 16
Lister Steps Limited Notes to the accounts Year ended 31 July 2024
9 Financial instruments
| cial instruments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Carrying amount of financial assets: Debt instruments measured at cost Carrying amount of financial liabilities: Measured at cost |
2024 £ 38,654 137,736 |
2023 £ |
| 42,877 | ||
| 77,250 |
10 Analysis of Net Assets between Funds
| sis of Net Assets between Funds | |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds General funds Restricted funds Heritage Lottery Fund Total Unrestricted Funds General funds Restricted funds Heritage Lottery Fund Total Unrestricted Funds General funds General funds |
2024 |
| Tangible Net Creditors Fixed Current More than Assets Assets one year Total £ £ £ £ |
|
| 202,651 (39,082) (60,000) 103,569 - - - - |
|
| 202,651 (39,082) (60,000) 103,569 |
|
| 2023 | |
| Tangible Net Creditors Fixed Current More than Assets Assets one year Total £ £ £ £ |
|
| 230,266 (62,090) - 168,176 - 27,717 - 27,717 |
|
| 230,266 (34,373) - 195,893 |
|
| MOVEMENT IN THE YEAR | |
| 2024 | |
| Reserves at Beginning of the year Income Expenditure Total £ £ £ £ |
|
| 168,177 435,922 (509,520) 94,578 |
|
| MOVEMENT IN THE YEAR | |
| 2023 | |
| Reserves at Beginning of the year Income Expenditure Total £ £ £ £ |
|
| 66,426 547,955 (446,204) 168,177 |
11
General Fund is used to finance the charitable company’s general activities and core costs as outlined in the Trustees’ Report.
Page 17
Lister Steps Limited Notes to the accounts Year ended 31 July 2024
12 Restricted Funds
| Restricted Funds | |
|---|---|
| Heritage Lottery Fund National Trust Rushworths Charity John Moores Foundation Grant LCVS Police Donation Heritage Lottery Fund PH Holt Foundation Sport England Power to Change |
MOVEMENT IN THE YEAR |
| 2024 | |
| Reserves at Beginning of the year Income Expenditure Total £ £ £ £ |
|
| 27,717 69,699 (97,416) - - 1,000 (1,000) - - 250 (250) - - 9,992 (4,163) 5,828.67 - 3,162 - 3,162.00 - 5,502 (5,502) - |
|
| 27,717 89,605 (108,331) 8,991 |
|
| MOVEMENT IN THE YEAR | |
| 2023 | |
| Reserves at Beginning of the year Income Expenditure Total £ £ £ £ |
|
| 10,407 218,909 (201,600) 27,717 1,740 - (1,740) - 9,600 - (9,600) - - 9,357 (9,357) - |
|
| 21,747 228,266 (222,297) 27,717 |
Description of Funds
Heritage Lottery Fund
PH Holt Foundation Sport England Power to Change National Trust Rushworths Charity John Moores Foundation Grant LCVS- Targeted Engagement Grant Police Donation
Contribution towards capital and revenue elements of the old library- Lister Steps Carnegie Community Hub Project.
Update IT System, server, hardware and installation costs. Contribution towards woman’s fitness.
Contribution towards staff costs.
Contribution towards staff cost and resources for Heritage Day. Contribution towards ukulele resources. Contribution towards staff cost and resources for Lunch club project. Sharing social media stats for messages shared within our community. Contribution towards staff costs.
Page 18
Lister Steps Limited Notes to the accounts Year ended 31 July 2024
13 Cash generated from operations
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year Adjustments for: Depreciation Movements in working capital (Increase)/ Decrease in debtors Increase/(Decrease) in creditors Cash generated from operations |
2024 £ (92,325) 28,801 (8,883) 45,397 (27,010) |
2023 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 107,720 29,090 (22,691) (121,499) |
||
| (7,380) |
14 Related Party Transactions
There were no material related party transactions during the year which require disclosure (2023: none).
15 Guarantees
As at 31 July 2024, 7 members had given a guarantee of £1 each in the event of the charitable company winding-up. Total: £7 (2023: 7 members £7).
16 Operating Lease Commitments
The charitable company is awaiting feedback from Liverpool City Council regarding the lease agreement.
Page 19
Lister Steps Limited Detailed statement of financial activities Year ended 31 July 2024
| INCOME Grant income Café and events income Nursery and club income Donations Office and room rental Other income Loan write off Total Income EXPENDITURE Charitable activities Staff salary costs Pension Nursery costs Café costs Events costs Volunteer expenses Office costs Training Premises costs Repairs and renewals Travel expenses Advertising and marketing Consultancy Website costs Sundry expenses Professional fees Human resources costs Computer costs HMRC interest and penalties Bank and card charges Bank Interest Loan Interest Accountancy and independent examination Depreciation Total Expenditure on Charitable activities Net (expenditure) for year |
2024 £ 89,605 68,540 343,544 2,147 21,488 202 525,526 452,688 6,770 4,952 2,027 23,702 0 565 1,308 52,344 12,591 0 5,511 0 0 826 8,500 0 8,653 2,050 2,218 922 1,966 1,455 28,801 617,851 (92,325) |
2023 £ |
|---|---|---|
| 228,266 58,645 351,156 1,047 18,044 0 119,063 |
||
| 776,221 487,184 8,146 3,947 1,540 24,738 0 1,084 2,504 57,671 20,227 337 2,069 0 0 3,645 8,446 0 11,209 274 2,032 780 0 3,579 29,090 |
||
| 668,501 | ||
| 107,720 |
(This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements)
Page 20