2023-03-31-accounts

THE MARSH COMMUNITY CENTRE CHARITABLE COMPANY Annual Report Year ending 31 March 2023

Director’s Report for the purposes of the Companies Act 2011 and Trustees’ Annual Report for the purposes of Part VI of the Charities Act 1993 for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The trustees present their annual report on the affairs of the company, together with the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023, together with the Independent Examiner’s Report thereon.

Registered Charity: 1085116 Company Registration Number: 04156154

CONTENTS

		Page
●	Structure, Governance and Management	p. 1
●	Report of the Chair of Trustees	p. 3
●	Objectives, Activities and Achievements	p. 4
●	Report of the Treasurer	p. 6
●	Statement of Statutory Compliance	p. 7
●	Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022	p. 8
	●Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees	p. 9
	●Statement of Financial Activities	p. 10
	●Balance Sheet	p.11
	●Notes to the accounts	p.12

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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Name

The full name of the charity is The Marsh Community Centre Charitable Trust.

Constitution and governing legislation

The charity was established on 8 February 2001 as a company limited by guarantee, without share capital, under the Companies Act 1985. Its operation is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 8 February 2001 as amended on 25 February 2003 and 5 December 2022. The company number is 04156154. The company is a registered charity (no. 1085116).

Trustees and directors

The persons who served on the Board of Trustees and as such were also directors of the company during the year were:

Jon Barry (Trustee and Chair)

Michael Farnfield (Trustee)

Martin Mulligan (Trustee), appointed 8 December 2022

Andrew Nicholson (Trustee)

Karin Olsson (Trustee and Secretary)

Ken Peasnell (Trustee and Treasurer)

Sally Pidd (Trustee)

Appointment of trustees

The appointment of trustees is governed by provisions contained within the company’s Articles of Association. These are as follows:

• The number of trustees shall not be less than three but (unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution of the members) shall not be subject to any maximum.

• The Board shall consist of up to eight individuals elected by the members at an Annual General Meeting and up to two individuals co-opted by the Board until the conclusion of the next AGM.

• Each appointment and reappointment shall be made at an AGM each year.

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At the company’s Annual General Meeting on 19 July 2023, Jon Barry and Karin Olsson resigned as trustees, effective 19 August 2023. Michael Farnfield was appointed as Chair and Sally Pidd as Secretary in their stead.

Trustees’ responsibilities

Company and charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state-of-affairs of the charitable company as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charitable company for that year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then consistently apply them

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with all relevant legislation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Registered office

The registered office of the company is Marsh Community Centre, Willow Lane, Lancaster, LA1 5PP.

Secretary

The Company Secretary is Sally Pidd

Treasurer

The Treasurer is Ken Peasnell

Bankers

The company’s bankers during the year ended 31 March 2023 were the Cumberland Building Society, 26-28 Cheapside, Lancaster LA1 1LZ.

Accountants

The company’s finances are managed in-house by the Chief Executive supported by the Secretary and Treasurer. Our payroll and Independent Examination are conducted by Lancaster & District CVS, Sulyard St, Lancaster LA1 1PX.

Specific restrictions on the company

The restrictions specified in Memorandum and Articles of Association include the following:

• The income and property of the company shall be solely towards the promotion of its objects and no part is to be paid by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise to the

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members of the company. Additionally, no trustee appointed to any office of the company is to be paid a salary or fees or receive any remuneration or other benefit from the company.

• Upon the winding up or dissolution of the company any assets remaining, after the satisfaction of all liabilities, shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the company, but shall be transferred to other charitable institutions having similar objects and which similarly prohibit the distribution of income or property among its members.

Full details of all the restrictions imposed on the company and the framework within which the company operates are contained in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Investment powers

The company is permitted by its Memorandum of Association to invest any funds not immediately required for its purposes in any investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject to such conditions and consents as may be imposed or required by law. In exercising these powers, the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Management and financial oversight

The centre’s manager, Deborah Hargreaves, is responsible for the centre’s operations. On the financial side, she is assisted by the treasurer and the secretary. The board of trustees meet at least once a month, with the centre manager in attendance, to monitor activities and to make policy decisions.

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

This has been another good year for the Marsh Community Centre, both financially and through the continued success of our activities. It is not easy running a community centre. But with the combined help of our staff, trustees, and volunteers, we keep managing to do so!

We are particularly grateful to Lancaster City Council for their continued support and also to the Tudor Trust and Banks Lyon who have collectively enabled us to employ an additional member of staff to support our work.

Debz and her team continue to work miracles and have hosted several successful community events on top of their normal workload, and we thank them for their commitment and effort in challenging circumstances.

Jon Barry has, at the AGM, stepped down from his role as chair and trustee after 26years. He has been instrumental in bringing the centre to life and enabling it to grow and develop into the successful and thriving hub for the local community. We are extremely grateful for his contribution.

This year also brings the retirement of Karin Olson as a long standing trustee who has brought wisdom and insight during her time here and we thank her for her support over many years.

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I have agreed to act as chair from the recent AGM for the next year whilst the trustees navigate this transition. We have also welcomed Hilary Greenwood who has agreed to be co-opted as a Trustee for the current year and value her experience and contacts in the community.

Thank you again to all the volunteers, staff and trustees as we now enter a new phase in the life of the community centre.

OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Established in 2001 as the Marsh Community Centre Charitable Company, the central objective of our work is to address the needs of local people particularly children and young people living in this deprived ward of Lancaster. Unfortunately, the levels of deprivation have only increased since the centre was formed. We have sought better ways to support adults struggling with poverty, mental health issues and stress. With funding and partnership, we try to provide support for hard-to-reach and vulnerable children and young people. We aspire to achieve the following four objectives:

1. ACTIVITIES

To provide and facilitate activities, advice, information, advocacy and support that improve the quality of life of local people and promote the wellbeing of the community.

2. BUILDING

To run an accessible and safe building that enables us to make a difference.

3. COMMUNITY

To engage and consult the local community so that we are responsive to its needs and aspirations.

4. ORGANISATION

To ensure that we are well managed and governed and effective in all that we do.

Activities during the year

The centre has a great atmosphere. We have done lots of things to help the local community. These include the following:

• We continue to run our unique Open Access where we are able to support members of the community with benefits, housing, food bank referrals, homelessness, mental health, CV’S and advice and guidance. They can access our amenities including our computers, washing machine, tumble dryer and shower and kitchen. We also accompany members to the doctors, job centre and anywhere else they need support. We work closely with probation, the police, homeless centre and the education services. Due to the increase in members we have applied for funding for another person to join the Manager and Assistant Manager to run Open Access.

• Mental health problems in the Marsh area increased markedly during the pandemic and the effects are still being felt. We have helped people to cope with their problems and signposted them to the relevant services. As part of this, we have worked alongside the NHS who have run drop-in sessions at the centre each month designed to take people’s

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blood pressure and deal with any concerns they may have. These sessions have been attended very well.

• Our Food Club has been meeting on Thursdays for several years and it continues to be very popular. The club has approximately 60 families a week participating, and the numbers are growing. This service is needed now more than ever due to the rise in the cost of groceries. During the year, we charged £6 for food packages which include bread, eggs and milk. We source our food from Fareshare and Eggcup which is our local food distribution centre. We also collect surplus food from Tesco, Greggs, Asda and Sainsburys, and are very grateful for the help they provide.

• The Youth clubs we run have large numbers of attendees and are thriving. We also work closely with other youth groups in the area as we are part of The Westminster Young People Foundation and receive funding from them. This support is immensiely valuable as it helps us to serve our mission of helping young people. These youth club meetings are of great benefit to them ait provides them with opportunities to mix with other groups and build good relationships which has been a barrier in previous years. The older groups took part in The Bay Triathlon which is a fantastic achievement for them and a credit to our youth work staff.

• We have our own Boxing coach who is Qualified and registered with the England Boxing Association and he runs sessions on Saturdays for young people aged 8 plus. It is great for their mental and physical health and is very well attended.

• Our Visually Impaired group who meet up to support each other and give advice. It is a small group, but it is such an inspiration for these people to meet and enjoy each other's company.

• We have a Gardening club which cares for our allotment and gardens. This is run by volunteers, and is running extremely well. The club is attended by local people who enjoy getting together and being active in the outdoor space be have at the centre. Lots of food has been grown there and is used in the food club we run and in the youth groups to make jam and apple crumble.

• Our Coffee and Cake group continues to be well attended, with more people joining during the year. These sessions are run by volunteers and are invaluable in bringing together people in the area. They help people with social isolation and mental health problems and to make friendships in a safe place.

• We have a choir, Marsh Music , that has been running since 2017 and is open to all local people - men and women, old and young, and of all abilities. The choir is run by a local resident together with other volunteers and is very popular with the participants. The numbers fluctuate but generally average about 15 members. The Choir has delivered many performances including one at The Priory church and one at Williamsons Park.

• The Friends of The Marsh group , which is chaired by Katie Schad, one of our volunteers, has been successful in attracting funding for the development of a local playpark for younger children on the Marsh estate. This development involved the active involvement of local residents were involved in this activity, and as such has had the additional benefit of helping to build the community.

Mention must also be made of two once-in-a-lifetime events we held for the local community:

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Queen’s Jubilee: a celebration attended by over 200 people where everyone came together for afternoon tea, a BBQ, music and fun. Our choir performed too!

Kings Coronation Celebration was also well attended and brought lots of the community together, something that was much needed after the awful years in lockdown.

All these activities cost money and the centre requires a lot of upkeep. As is explained elsewhere in this annual report, we are very dependent on grants provided by external funding bodies. We do what we can to generate income from other sources, including hiring out the venue to outside organisations. These include Hope Church which runs on a Sunday and a dance group which provides dance classes. Apart from the intrinsic value of these uses of the centre, they provide us with much needed additional income. Toi this end, we have created a brand-new website (www.marshcommunitycentre.org) that explains what we do and details how donations can be made.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER

Income and expenditure

Detailed information concerning our charitable spending during the year and the income that made this possible is provided in the financial statements which follow. The key features can be summarised as follows.

Our operating expenditures during the year amounted to £130,591, an increase of 19.7% over the previous year. As always, the largest element was wages and salaries (£83,783). Spending in this area was inflated by the additional costs of providing maternity cover for the deputy manager, some of which was recovered from HMRC in the form of statutory maternity pay; these receipts are included in income. When this recovery is taken into account, our wages bill increased by 16.1% over the previous year, partly because of further post-Covid increases in activity and partly by inflation. Our spending on face-to-face activities (£23,807) increased by 39.7% over the previous year, a welcome sign of the work we are able to do for people in the Marsh area.

Funding available to us to support these activities totalled £134,461, an increase of 14.8% over 2021-22, and came from three sources: grants from external funding agencies (£115,556, up 11.8%); donations from individuals and organisations (£5,138, down 32.2%, reflecting the hard times individuals are experiencing); and other income (£9,457 if we strip out the maternity pay recovery referred to above, but still an increase of 52.4%). These figures reveal our continued dependence on support from grant-awarding bodies. The grant amounts we have received from each source source are detailed in note 1 to the financial statements. We are particularly indebted this year to the substantial grants we have received from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund (£34,904), Tudor Trust (£30,000), and Lancaster City Council (£14,000), as well as the grant from Postcode Neighbourhood Trust received last year and available for spending this year and next year (£20,056). Without the support, large and small, of all these grant-awarding bodies, we could not function.

As in previous years, the donations we received came from a variety of sources, both large and small, some for specific purposes and others to help us cover general running costs and our activities. Many take the form of regular small donations and others one-off larger amounts. Whatever the amount or frequency they are extremely valuable because they help

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us build up our reserves in ways that grants do not and cannot and thus help buffer us from shocks to the funding regime.

Reserves policy

Our objective is to maintain a level of free reserves (those not tied up in fixed assets and designated and restricted funds) at a level sufficient to fulfil the company’s continuing obligations. This is always a struggle because of our heavy reliance on grants as our principal source of income. Unlike in the previous year, where our unrestricted funds fell by £1,938, this year they increased by £5,493 during the year. A key long-term objective of the Company is to conserve this vital reserve in order to ensure our continuing solvency, but we accept there will be ups and downs from one year to the next. Moreover, inflation continues to pose great difficulties for charities, including ourselves.

As at 31 March 2023, our unrestricted reserves amounted to £51,219, which equates to about five months of our current level of non-capital spending. This is, of course, an extreme worse-case scenario in which all grant income has been consumed and no income of any kind is being received. In fact, we had £87,854 cash in the bank and in hand at the year-end, an amount £4,275 down on last year, but still equal to 8 months of current spending. Furthermore, the three-year grant we received during the year from the National Lottery under their Reaching Communities programme will be sufficient to cover a large portion of our operating costs for the next two years, particularly as they have very helpfully increased it this year with a cost-of-living supplement. As a result, the Trustees remain confident in the continuing financial viability of the Company.

STATEMENT OF STATUTORY COMPLIANCE

The trustees’ and directors’ report and the attached accounts comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice 2015 – Accounting and Reporting by Charities.

The above report has been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2011 relating to small companies and was approved by the board on and signed on its behalf by:

Mike Farnfield Chair of Trustees

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The Marsh Community Centre Charitable Company

Registered Company No. 04156154 Registered Charity No. 1085116

Financial statements

Year ending 31 March 2023

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Independent examiner's report to the trustees of

Marsh Community Centre

Charity No. 1085116

I report on the accounts for the year 1st April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's 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:

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;

• 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

• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 you as 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 connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

• to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

have not been met; or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Shweta Pankhadiwala

C/o Lancaster District CVS, The Cornerstone Sulyard Street Lancaster LA1 1PX 15[th] Sept 2023

The Marsh Community Centre Charitable Company

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Year ended 31 March 2023

Note Income from: Donations and legacies 1 Grants 1 Other Income 2 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 3,4,5 Depreciation Total Net income (expenditures) Fixed asset purchases Other transfers between funds Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Funds £ 4,264 400 13,768 18,431 9,744 - 9,744 8,687 (2,659) (536) 5,493 45,726 51,219	Restricted Funds £ 874 115,156 - 116,030 120,847 - 120,847 (4,817) (5,537) 536 (9,818) 45,569 35,751	Fixed Assets Fund £ - - - - - 11,028 11,028 -11,028 8,196 - (2,832) 232,364 229,532	Total Funds 2023 £ 5,138 115,556 13,768 134,461 130,591 11,028 141,619 (7,157) - - (7,157) 323,659 316,502	Total Funds 2022 £ 7,575 103,390 6,206
					117,171
					109,104 10,534
					119,638
					(2,467) - -
					(2,467) 326,127
					323,660

The notes that follow form part of these financial statements.

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The Marsh Community Centre Charitable Company

BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 March 2023

Note Fixed Assets Tangible fixed assets 6 Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand Debtors and prepayments Total current assets Current Liabilities Creditors and accrued expenses Net Current Assets Net Assets Funds: Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 7 Fixed Assets fund	2023 £ 229,533 87,854 886 88,740 1,771 86,968 316,502 51,219 35,751 229,532 316,502	2022 £ 232,365
		92,129
		92,129
		835
		91,294
		323,659
		45,726 45,569 232,364
		323,659

For the year ending 31 March 2023 the Company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006

The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Approved by the board of trustees

Michael Farnfield Ken Peasnell Date: 22 November 2023

The notes on the following pages form part of these financial statements.

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The Marsh Community Centre Charitable Company

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS Year ended 31 March 2023

1 Grants and donations received during year National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund Tudor Trust The Westminster Fund Banks Lyon Foyle Foundation Sported Foundation Fairshare Food Futures Fund CVS Lancaster Community Fund Neighbourly Leather Seller's Company NHS Groundwork (Tesco community fund) Mobility Trust Eric Wright Charitable Fund Duchy of Lancaster Other grants and donations 2 Other income Food club Statutory Maternity Pay Other income 3 Expenditure on charitable activities Wages and salaries Cleaning, printing, stationary and sundries Repairs and renewals Heat, light and water Telephone, internet and computing Insurance and legal costs Activity expenses Grants Membership, training and travel Audit, accountancy and payroll Bank charges Income generation expenses Lancaster City Council	Unrestricted funds 2023 £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4,664 4,664 Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 4,685 4,311 4,771 13,768 Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 4,151 59 2,272 - - - 2,461 100 155 - 209 337 9,744	Restricted funds 2023 £ 34,904 30,000 14,000 9,332 5,000 5,000 3,522 2,600 2,282 2,000 2,000 1,666 1,500 750 500 500 474 116,030 Restricted funds 2023 £ - - - - Restricted funds 2023 £ 79,632 1,771 5,568 5,482 815 2,669 21,346 500 1,359 763 97 844 120,847	Total funds 2023 £ 34,904 30,000 14,000 9,332 5,000 5,000 3,522 2,600 2,282 2,000 2,000 1,666 1,500 750 500 500 5,138 120,694 Total funds 2023 £ 4,685 4,311 4,771 13,768 Total funds 2023 £ 83,783 1,830 7,840 5,482 815 2,669 23,807 600 1,514 763 307 1,181 130,591	Total funds 2022 £ - 30,000 29,635 - 20,365 - 9,990 - - 3,200 2,600 - 2,500 2,200 - - 10,475
				110,965
				Total funds 2022 £ 5,613 - 592
				6,205
				Total funds 2022 £ 68,461 1,793 4,459 5,941 1,387 2,602 17,041 400 1,509 986 69 4,456
				109,104

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The Marsh Community Centre Charitable Company

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS Year ended 31 March 2023

4 Management and administration of the charity Accountancy fees Unrestricted funds 2023 5 Staff Costs £ Wages costs 4,151 Less statutory maternity pay recovery (4,311) (160) Depreciation of tangible fixed assets Net income is stated after charging the following:	Restricted funds 2023 £ 79,632 - 79,632	2023 £ 11,028 763 Total funds 2023 £ 83,783 (4,311) 79,472	2022 £ 10,534.00 986 Total funds 2022 £ 68,460 -
			68,460

The average number of employees during the year was as follows: Chief Executive, Centre Manager, 3 Community and Youth Workers, and 1 Cleaner.

No employee earned more tha £50,000 in the year.

		Leasehold	Computer	Fixtures &
		property	equipment	fittings	Total
6	Tangible fixed assets	£	£	£	£
	Cost
	At 1 April 2022	341,539	4,891	34,410	380,840
	Additions	-	1,121	7,075	8,196
	Disposals	-	-	-	0
	At 31 March 2023	341,539	6,012	41,485	389,036
	Depreciation
	At 1 April 2022	118,144	4,212	26,119	148,475
	Charge for the year	6,831	709	3,488	11,028
	Disposals	-	-	-	0
	At 31 March 2023	124,975	4,921	29,607	159,503
	Net Book value
	At 31 March 2023	216,564	1,091	11,878	229,533
	at 31 March 2022	223,395	679	8,291	232,365

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The Marsh Community Centre Charitable Company

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS Year ended 31 March 2023

7 Movements in funds Restricted funds Albert Hunt Trust Arnold Clark Banks Lyon Coop Local Community Fund CVS Lancaster Community Fund Curious Minds Dulverston NEET Duchy of Lancaster Eric Wright Charitable Fund Fairshare Food Futures Fund Foyle Foundation Groundwork (Tesco Community Fund) Lancashire County Council Leather Sellers' Company Mobility Trust National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund National Lottery Community Fund NHS Neighbourly Postcode Neighbourhood Trust Sported Foundation The Westminster Fund Tudor Trust Other General funds Unrestricted Funds Fixed assets fund Lancaster City Council	Balance 01.04.22 £ 599 320 - 1,327 - 992 674 - - - - - 436 3,183 - - - 8,131 3,829 400 20,056 - - 4,722 900 45,569 45,726 232,364 323,659	Incoming resources £ - - 5,000 - 2,282 - - 500 500 2,600 5,000 1,500 - 14,000 2,000 750 34,904 - 1,666 2,000 - 3,522 9,332 30,000 474 116,030 18,431 8,196 142,658	Outgoings £ 418 337 2,805 1,023 1,037 556 673 586 575 - 4,983 - 537 12,840 2,167 - 25,428 8,113 4,074 2,000 16,833 1,117 8,291 30,490 1,500 126,384 12,403 11,028 149,815	Transfers Balance 31.03.23 £ £ 181 17 - 2,195 304 1,245 436 (1) - 86 - 75 - 2,600 (17) - 1,500 101 - 4,343 167 - 750 9,476 (18) - 1,421 400 3,223 2,405 1,041 4,232 126 - 536 35,751 (536) 51,219 - 229,532 - 316,502

Purposes of the restricted funds

The restricted funds are provided by the grant providers and donors and can only be used for the purposes se out in the grants and donators made by each provider.

8 Related party transactions

There were no transactions with related parties during the year.

9 Untimate control

The company is controlled by its members in general meeting in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association. No member is entitled to more than one vote.

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