2022-03-31-accounts - The Centre For Enviromental Initiatives

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THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 IEngland and Wales) E¢oLoeal is the working name of the ¢harity ecoloca(- ANNUAL REPORT 1 April 2021- 31 March 2022

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

The Board of Trustees presents its report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Objectives, Activities, Achievement and Performance

EcoLocal is a Carshalton based charity which has a strong track record on building community and individual assets since its original establishment in 1987. Our vision is to ‘Achieve and sustain strong vibrant communities within a healthy environment’.

The objects of the Charity (the “Objects”) are for the public benefit:-

i. To promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by:
a. the preservation, conservation and the protection of the environment and the prudent use of resources; and
b. the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration.
ii. To advance the education of the public particularly but not exclusively in subjects relating to sustainable development and the protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment and to promote study and research in such subjects provided that the useful results of such study are disseminated to the public at large. Sustainable development means “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
iii. To promote for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment, particularly but not exclusively by promoting biological diversity.
iv. To promote health, particularly but not exclusively by providing environmental and conservation orientated activities in the outdoors and natural environments.
v. To promote for the benefit of the public urban or rural regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation (and in particular the London Borough of Sutton) by all or any of the following means:
a. the advancement of education, training or retraining, particularly among unemployed, underemployed and underskilled people, and providing such people with work experience;
b. the provision of financial (whether direct or indirect) assistance, technical assistance or business advice or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed, underemployed or underskilled people in cases of financial or other charitable need through help: (i) in setting up their own social enterprise or sustainability related business, or (ii) to existing social enterprises or sustainability related businesses;
c. the creation of training and employment opportunities by the provision of workspace, buildings, and/or land for use on favourable terms; and
d. the preservation of buildings or sites of historic or architectural importance or of significance for the heritage of the area.
vi. To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community of the London Borough of Sutton in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.
vii. To further or benefit the residents of the London Borough of Sutton, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.
viii. In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power to establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects.

The remit of our organisation is very broad, encompassing all aspects of sustainability; environment, community and economy. We work with very diverse sectors of the community; e.g. voluntary groups, small businesses , people with mental or physical health problems, older people, children, young people, offenders, people with disabilities as well as families and people not defined by any health issue or disability and reflecting local ethnic diversity.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

We are a part of the community and we believe that the combined resources of local people are potentially huge. In a typical year we work with over 350 groups/organisations and engage with approximately 20,000 individuals. We usually enable over 200 people to volunteer in a year and contribute over 14,000 hours towards a sustainable community. Participation ranges from one off volunteering of for example 2 hours as a steward at the Carshalton Eco-Fair to several days per week. We provide an environment where people can assist with projects, get involved in planning and delivering activities and use their experience, knowledge, skills capacity and passion. Clearly this past year has had its challenges with the Covid-19 pandemic, but as the year ends the situation is improving generally.

In accordance with our ‘Project Suitability Evaluation Process Regarding Charitable Status Policy’ and the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, the following Trustees’ review provides a summary of achievements and the key outcomes of our work over the last 12 months. EcoLocal delivers its objects through a range of activities, subdivided under the following main headings:

1. Transport and Travel

1.1 Inclusive Cycling:

These activities are designed to:

engage the whole community and help make cycling accessible to new audiences
encourage people of all abilities to take cycling up both for fun and fitness
promote cycling as an alternative means of transport
provide healthy outdoor activities that enable people to socialise, contribute to community life and avoid isolation
encourage the involvement of volunteers and trackside supporters (peer supporters) at sessions in a variety of roles, providing work experience for unemployed people, and enabling people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to gain skills.

During the year these activities were funded as follows:

Gear-Up: donations from users
Small grants from trusts and Sutton Council Covid Restart funds
(normally also from delivery of cycle roadshows via the social enterprise Ecolocal Services Limited in non-pandemic years)

This funding enabled us to build on our covid safe re-established service, to;

engage more volunteers in particular to help with the new covid hygiene systems.
deliver 131 inclusive cycling sessions at David Weir Leisure Centre (normally over 120 pre-covid), with 981 unique attendees. These are mostly people with disabilities and older people and their relatives/friends who were able to cycle in a safe, supportive environment, generating 7,786 individual attendances. We also ran extended sessions in the school holidays to provide inclusive family cycling opportunities.
run an additional 13 lunchtime club sessions for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities ‘SEND’ school students. This was part funded by Sutton School Sport Partnership. 27 students took part with a total of 131 attendances
maintain our fleet of over 60 accessible cycles and support our Projects & Maintenance group which comprises of technical/mechanically experienced volunteers working with unemployed and economically disadvantaged people

In survey results from summer 2021; 91% of service users rated the opportunity to meet other people at cycling sessions as ‘good’ or ‘very good’, 91% said they benefited from getting more exercise and 89% said they valued the happiness and enjoyment they got from the sessions.

In the next year we will:

Seek further funding to develop the project and meet the needs of those most impacted by covid
• Engage more track side supporter volunteers
Seek to work with other audiences not yet reached, especially those disadvantaged people whose physical and mental health has been most impacted by covid
Develop social enterprise opportunities including the delivery of road shows
Maintain our fleet of accessible cycles

1.2 Interactive School Travel Experience

We are renovating this equipment for use at the coming year’s EcoFair and remaining funds held will be used for this purpose.

1.3 Bikestreet Project

Remaining funds will be transferred to our Inclusive Cycling project to help cover the cost of training volunteers to maintain our fleet of cycles

2. Local Food / wildlife and nature conservation

2.1 Carshalton Community Allotment

We have a long established Community Allotment in Carshalton. The site is approximately 1400m[2 ] and is fully cultivated. It includes raised beds accessible for both standing and wheelchair users, demonstration crop rotation, herb gardens, herb spirals and herb wheels, a fruit area, square foot garden, English and Kenyan key hole gardens, container garden, poly-tunnels, storage hut, a classroom and a composting toilet

During 2021/22 we delivered 131 therapeutic gardening sessions at Carshalton Community Allotment engaging 119 participants, generating 1,443 individual attendances. These sessions provided;

healthy outdoor activities that benefit people’s mental and physical wellbeing; enable people to socialise, avoid isolation and obtain exercise
opportunity for people to benefit by volunteering to take part in their community
work experience for unemployed people, and enable people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to gain skills
accessible gardening opportunity for people of all abilities to take part and gain skills in growing organic food
promotion of local food production as a benefit to environmental sustainability
promotion of food growing as a means of leading a more healthy lifestyle
opportunity to grow approx. 0.7 tonnes of food. 20% of this was donated to the Sutton Women’s Centre food bank (along with an additional 0.13 tonnes of donated fruit/veg). The remainder was shared among session participants enabling them to take home free, fresh produce that they have helped grow

Feedback from a survey of participants in 2021 showed that 89% of service users rated the opportunity to meet other people at community allotment sessions as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. 80% said they benefited from getting more exercise at the sessions. 95% said they valued the happiness and enjoyment they got from the sessions. 100% thought the staff were ‘good’ or ‘very good’. 95% thought the activity overall was good or very good.

During the year these activities were funded as follows;

£3,449 Postcode Neighbourhood Trust (Dec 2020- Nov 2021)
£4,000 D’Oyle Cart (Dec 2020- Nov 2021)
£2,500 from Shanly for running costs (Jan 22- Dec 23)
donations from sale of plants at markets £2,756
other donations of £1,648

In the next year we will

deliver activities at Carshalton Community Allotment
seek opportunities to apply for further funding to develop this work
support volunteers to raise funds through sale of excess plants and produce from the allotment
seek to improve the infrastructure at the allotment

2.2 Victorian Walled Garden

The Victorian Walled Garden is situated behind the main Lodge building providing a tranquil space hidden away behind the historic walls and buildings. The garden was neglected for many years before we took it on as part of the The Lodge project. During 2021/22 we:

ran 38 gardening sessions during which 42 volunteers contributed 905 volunteer hours towards renovation of the Victorian walled garden

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

engaged a range of volunteers including police cadets aged 14-18 who gained new experiences and skills in gardening
enabled volunteers to contribute their knowledge and skills to clear the garden of many years of weeds and rubble, and to establish new beds including a fan trained peach, bud-grafted apple trees, Mediterranean herb bed, trained fig tree, and a vegetable patch.
provided healthy outdoor activities that benefit people’s mental and physical wellbeing; enabling people to socialise, avoid isolation and obtain exercise

These activities enabled people to contribute to improving their environment, creating a valuable resource for the community;

The garden was valuable during covid for holding covid safe outdoor meetings.
The garden greenhouse was used for propagation of plants by volunteers for sale to raise funds for Carshalton Community Allotment.
The garden was renovated to a stage where it was possible to apply successfully for funds to run therapeutic activities in the garden and to plan a range of horticultural courses based in the garden, both due to start in 2022/23

In the next year we will:

Continue renovation of the walled garden, increasing the opportunities to use the garden for the benefit of the community
Continue to provide healthy outdoor activities that benefit people’s mental and physical wellbeing; enabling people to socialise, avoid isolation and obtain exercise
Seek to engage and support more volunteers
Seek opportunities to raise funds for renovation works

2.3 Horticultural Training

Training courses were reduced during this period due to covid. We:

Delivered one 6-week Organic Food Growing Training
Delivered one 1-day working on Currant Growing
Trained 22 people who gained skills in growing food and horticulture
Planned a new range of one-day workshops to start in 2022/23

Courses helped raise funds towards our community gardening projects.

In the next year we will develop our horticulture training opportunities further.

2.4 Greener Schools Network (GSN)

This project provides free support to schools in the London Borough of Sutton and the Borough of Epsom and Ewell. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic activities were suspended during the year.

The focus had been on helping with school grounds development projects by providing design and advice on rejuvenating wildlife and / or sensory gardens, forest areas and quiet ‘natural’ areas. Advice was also provided on how to set up staff and pupil environmental groups, encouraging a team effort to sustain nature areas once they have been set up. Over 139 schools (including Special Schools, Children’s Centres and Nurseries) and 4 community groups have now been supported by this project across the 2 Boroughs over the past 21 years. The project is volunteer led by Trustee Hazel Gurr. Staff, pupils (often via School Councils) and parents are all encouraged to get involved. We will review future activities once the situation regarding Covid 19 in schools is clearer.

3. Energy

3.1 Warm Rooms

We continue to hold a small level of funds for this project which will be reviewed again in the coming months.

4. Recycling and Waste

In all our activities we encourage reuse, repair and recycling and we promote this message wherever possible. No specific funds were used against this heading during the year.

5. Cross-cutting Environmental Sustainability

5.1 Eco-Fair

EcoLocal organises this event annually with help from over 60 volunteers who assist with planning and delivery. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the event had to be cancelled in 2020 and in 2021. Normally held in the picturesque surrounds of Carshalton Park, the event is one of the borough’s largest public events and usually hosts in excess of 163 organisations. Around half of these are community and voluntary sector organisations attending to communicate a variety of messages and engage people in:

environmental education and awareness raising
social enterprise and skills development
community wellbeing activities
opportunities to take part in shaping their local communities throughout the year.

A significant number of small local craft and environmentally sustainable businesses also usually attend. Local bands and entertainers performed on three stages. We provide a free bus service to and from the event. Our social value analysis concludes that the event provides a significant outlet for many of the organisations and groups attending, both in terms of engaging with the public and for fundraising.

In normal times visitors come from a cross section of the local population ranging from people with high levels of knowledge of environmental sustainability to those who have lower levels of understanding. Our survey work indicates that the most typical visitors are people who are not averse to taking an interest in the environment and who, when information is made available to them, respond positively to it. 91% of those previously surveyed at the fair said that they would take, or would consider taking, further actions to do their bit for the environment as a result of attending the fair.

The decision not to run the event in 2021 due to the ongoing situation with the Covid-19 pandemic was taken in order to protect our limited event reserve funds to ensure that the fair can run again in future years. We expect to be able to run the event again in 2022.

5.2 Frost Fair

This annual event is run in partnership with Friends of Honeywood Museum who are responsible for activities inside the museum.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the event had to be cancelled in 2021. Normally held in the picturesque setting surrounding Carshalton Ponds the event is usually well attended by the local public. It usually features entertainers, choirs and musicians and 39+ organisations of which at least 6 are community and voluntary sector and the rest are local farmers stalls and crafts people. The event helps promote:

energy conservation
social enterprise and skills development
opportunities to take part in local groups and promote the local environment and related activities and provides over 50 volunteering opportunities

We expect to be able to run the event again in 2022.

5.3 AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) Accredited Training

During the year we were unable to delivered AQA units due to the ongoing situation with the Covid-19 pandemic. We plan to reintroduce AQA qualifications in future, as activities recover from Covid.

5.4 Development of The Lodge

The charity secured The Lodge premises on a 125 year lease from January 2018. The plan is that charity will increasingly be able to provide improved facilities for the local community and will have much greater scope to expand activities and related social enterprise services for local people.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

EcoLocal engaged architects, surveyors, solicitors, valuers and accountants to advise on the development. Trustees continue to carefully address the complex issues involved, and are satisfied that the benefits to the charity in achieving its objectives are very significant. The charity experienced issues with significant delays in completion of contracted building works and during the year the Trustees took the decision to claim against performance bonds included as part of the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) contracts for the works. The Trustees can report that the initial main phase of contracted works were subsequently completed during the year and signed off by our Architects.

In order to finance the development our wholly owned subsidiary company Ecolocal Lodge Development Limited (ELD) has created 7 flats for sale at The Lodge and these sales are now progressing. The development has been financed with a loan from the Charity Bank and we expect to repay our loan in the new financial year once the 7 long lease flats have been sold by ELD. Trustees are confident that the costs of the development will be recovered and that the charity will, much delayed, be able to move forward as planned. As a part of the planned works the charity has also converted an out-building into two further flats and these are now rented, providing ongoing investment income as a part of the envisaged sustainable financing of the project.

During 2021/22 we started work on the next phase of The Lodge project. We;

moved our charity offices from their temporary location in the old ‘chapel’ at The Lodge to the newly renovated office spaces in the main Lodge building. This enabled us to provide indoor office volunteer opportunities, and to have the space to begin coordinating the re-establishment of our projects and events post-covid, as well as to start providing small meeting room facilities for community groups
engaged skilled volunteers to work on installing new IT networking and alarm systems in the new office spaces
were successful with a grant application to the National Lottery Awards for All for £8,642 towards renovation of the old ‘chapel’ into a community hall
established a new team of volunteers to start renovation of the old ‘chapel’ into a community hall. This project includes upgrading insulation, installing new electrics, lighting, radiators and a new kitchen, floor renovation, repairs and extensive re-decoration.
Continued with renovation of the Victorian Walled Garden (see section above)

During the next year we will:

be in a position to benefit from recovery of the costs of developing the site
continue further planned improvement works to community facilities
increase the number of community organisations and individuals benefitting from use of the facilities
• continue to provide a significant number of volunteer opportunities as part of activities on site • build on our project activities based at The Lodge

6. EcoLocal Services Ltd (ESL)

EcoLocal Services Ltd is a social enterprise which works closely in conjunction with the EcoLocal charity to deliver activities which require a more commercial approach. Staff PAYE for ESL is handled by the charity (staff working for ESL are sometimes also employed by the charity).

The work done by ESL has a symbiotic relationship to the charity in that it builds on work in conjunction with the charity and provides additional income to the charity by way of gift aid. As such, profits from all ESL activity held at the end of March 2022 will be gift aided to the charity toward various activities. ESL activity during the year focused on delivering the Wallington Farmers’ Market and key activity included:

running 12 markets and developing the market offer by recruiting new stalls post Covid
supporting local community groups by offering free stalls
providing new business start up oportunities
promoting the activities of the charity and raising funds for it

7. Social Media

We maintained our social media profile and encouraged people to join our free e-mail listing. Our aggregated contacts across all social media platforms including email sits at over 12,000 people. Social media has significantly improved our ability to communicate with the public.

Finance Review

Unrestricted funds carried forward at the end of the year were £386,710 compared with £388,954 the previous year. Restricted funds carried forward at the end of the year were £90,795 compared with £57,218 the previous year.

We received grants and donations of £45,310 during the year. Through our charitable activities we raised a further £41,029. An additional £227 was generated from bank account interest. We also received rental income of £14,310 during the year compared to £Nil in the previous year. Total income for the year was £100,876 compared to £63,789 the previous year.

Total expenditure was £69,543 compared to £81,461 the previous year. Additional loan interest of £20,334 was accrued toward our premises development project and the balance at the end of the year is £500,895. In relation to the premises development project the charity was owed £69,210 from group undertakings at the year end.

Net assets carried forward on the balance sheet at the year end were £477,505 compared with £446,172 the previous year.

The charity successfully managed all funded projects in accord with agreements made with funders.

Overhead costs have been met via a mix of grant contributions, contracts, general and gift aid donations.

The soundness of the charity’s financial management is ensured by the diligence of its Trustees, staff and volunteers. EcoLocal’s principal funding sources were:

Donations
EcoLocal Services Ltd social enterprise donations by way of gift aid
Grants
Investment income

Reserves Policy

EcoLocal holds general fund reserves for the following:

To provide for fluctuations in income.
To provide for ongoing commitments. The charity has commitments in the form of a lease on premises occupied at The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton and also by way of salary and associated payments for staff. Notice would need to be given and costs incurred if we were obliged to cancel these.
To fund projects. The charity, from time to time, uses reserves (a) to start projects or pilot schemes whilst awaiting the outcome of funding applications, which may not always be successful, and (b) to provide cash-flow in the case of projects and contracts which are funded in arrears. Additionally restricted fund reserves are held, being the unexpended balances of trust fund and other grants received for specific purposes.

The Board of Trustees has examined the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be 3 - 6 months of the overall unrestricted revenue expenditure. The unrestricted general funds at the year end were £103,713.

Pensions

Pensions were provided in accord with our pensions policy (which is based on government policy). Four members of staff continued to take up this option with one new addition early in the following financial year. Provision has been made in next year’s budget to cover pension costs, as required.

Investment Policy

Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year, most of the charity’s funds are set aside to underwrite shortfalls in core costs and to invest in new premises. Having considered the options available the Board of Trustees have previously decided to maintain deposit and reserve accounts with established building societies or banks.

Designated Funds:

Building Acquisition and Development

Following a detailed community consultation and business planning exercise the charity took on a 125 year lease for new premises in January 2018. These premises comprise of offices, a separate community hall, outhouses, workshops, a Victorian walled garden and flats to let as an investment in the charity’s activities. A phased development plan has been implemented since 2018 with works to the main building completed in 2021. However, the charity is committed to completing further works to the separate community hall, outhouses, workshops and Victorian walled garden over the short to medium term bringing further benefit to the local community as envisaged. As part of our strategic planning for this project the trustees have had to look beyond the annual operational plan and annual budget to identify risks and capital spending plans that cannot be met from a single year’s anticipated future income alone. As such, within Designated Funds the Trustees have set aside a Building Acquisition and Development fund in order to help finance these further works to the community premises and to cover the risks associated with developing and managing these assets for the local community. These funds are detailed on the balance sheet.

Reorganisation Fund

These funds reflect the potential redundancy costs which the charity could face if it were to close down.

2022-2023 Budget

The charity’s budget for the coming 2022/23 financial year anticipates recovery of investment costs on the Lodge project as well as expenditure on core staff, project costs and overheads. We have included provision for premises costs associated with the new site and for income generation activities. Savings made against staff costs in the past year, partly due to the effect on income resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and partly due to delays to the completion of our premises project, will be maintained until additional funds are generated in the coming year and the position can be re-assessed.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The Centre for Environmental Initiatives (CEI), now known as EcoLocal, is a company limited by guarantee (incorporated January 2001), and registered as a charity (registered July 2001). Following a strategic review, which included a detailed communications exercise with current beneficiaries of the Charity and the wider local community, the Charity modernised its governance arrangements by adopting new Articles of Association and expanded its charitable activities in June 2015. The new Memorandum and Articles of Association reflect more recent law since the inception of the Charities Act 2006 - now consolidated into the Charities Act 2011. The charity took legal advice and obtained the agreement of the Charity Commission in making these changes.

In the event of the CEI charitable company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

Organisational Structure

EcoLocal’s Board of Trustees comprises between 3 and 10 members who normally meet quarterly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. Currently the Board of Trustees has seven members from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity. The Company Secretary/Chief Executive attends Board meetings but has no voting rights. Three subcommittees have been established: Business Planning Sub-Committee; Finance Sub-Committee; Personnel Sub-Committee. Maintenance and development of these committees is ongoing. The Chief Executive is responsible for maintaining and developing the charity’s strategic planning, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees and the Business Planning Sub-Committee.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

Day to day operational responsibility for the provision of services rests with the Chief Executive whose duties include:

ensuring the charity delivers the services specified and that key performance indicators are met
day to day operational management of the EcoLocal building, ICT and resources
individual supervision and development of staff in line with good practice
ensuring financial and budgetary control is maintained, both in the overall running of the charity and within individual projects, in conjunction with the Finance Sub-Committee
fundraising activities, in conjunction with the Business Planning Sub-Committee
overseeing PR work
acting as Company Secretary

The Deputy Chief Executive has day to day operational responsibility for individual projects, fundraising activities and business development and contributes to strategic planning and PR work.

Ensuring Work Delivers the Charity’s Aim

EcoLocal’s ‘Project Suitability Evaluation Process Regarding Charitable Status Policy’ provides guidance on assessment of potential projects and on review of existing projects to ensure that activities fall within the remit of our broader charitable objectives and that these are of benefit to the community. We have also referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aim and objectives and in planning future activities. In this way, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they set.

Recruitment and Appointment of The Board of Trustees

The business of the Charity is managed by the Board of Trustees. The Board consists of not fewer than three and no more than 10 Trustees who are appointed by the Board. All Trustees automatically become members of the Charity and their names are entered into the Charity’s register of members.

Trustees are eligible for re-appointment at the third AGM (or Appointment Board Meeting) after their last appointment. A member stops being a member of the Charity if he or she ceases to be a Trustee.

All appointments, retirements or removals of Trustees and the Company Secretary must also be notified to the Registrar of Companies at Companies House.

In the event of particular skills being lost from the Board of Trustees due to retirements, replacement Trustees are sought from the charity’s local networks. The Board maintains a broad mix of skills and experience in relation to the diversity of work carried out by the charity as well as to reflect the demography of the communities and organisations served.

Traditional business skills such as finance, staff management and strategic management are represented on the Board of Trustees as well as environmental sustainability knowledge, teaching, social work, journalistic, scientific, youth work, and community representation skills. Currently the Board of Trustees has 7 members: 4 are male and 3 female; 3 describe themselves as having a disability. Trustees receive additional training where a need is identified.

Trustee Induction and Training

Candidates will normally be acquainted with one or more of the activities of EcoLocal. New Trustees are recruited for a specific set of duties or because they have skills which will complement those of existing Board of Trustees members. An initial interview is held with the Chief Executive and Chair of Trustees to discuss the candidate’s potential role within the organisation. This is followed up with a further meeting with the Chief Executive to define precisely how their induction and training will proceed. New Trustees receive:

a summary of the main duties and responsibilities of Board of Trustees members
a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association (and related rules)
copies of the last two years’ audited Annual Report and Accounts
additional publications from the Charity Commission
copies of recent Board of Trustees minutes
key operational documents including agreed policies and procedures

New Trustees are required to attend three introductory training sessions, so as to familiarise themselves with staff, volunteers, current projects, objectives and future plans generally. These meetings are usually held with the Chief Executive, but also involve the Chair of Trustees and other personnel as required. A training plan is agreed with the new trustee and incorporated into the overall training plan. An initial ‘work plan’ is agreed to establish main duties and routines. After three months, new trustees are invited to give feedback on their induction.

Risk Management

The Board of Trustees have considered the major risks facing the charity:

Covering the cost of Core / Management Funding: a primary risk to the organisation is considered to be loss of funding for management capacity and premises costs. Trustees consider that this risk can be offset by:
Diversifying and broadening the charity’s funding base and ensuring that adequate levels of management capacity and accommodation costs are included in grant applications
Developing a ‘social enterprise’ culture within the organisation so that relevant projects work toward self-funding / income generation in the medium term. An unconnected social enterprise, EcoLocal Services Ltd (ESL), which gift aids profits to the EcoLocal charity, has previously been established by a Trustee and two members of staff and this makes annual contributions
Maximising income generation from our new premises
Tendering for contracts issued by public authorities and ensuring that these tenders are written on a full cost recovery basis
Ensuring that funding bodies are aware of the organisation’s success in delivering required outcomes at good value for money
Accommodation: we have invested in improved premises with a long term lease that will provide the scope to implement a business plan to enable the charity to be financially sustainable. Work on this project has included the establishment of a wholly owned trading subsidiary called EcoLocal Lodge Development Ltd (ELD). More information on the premises project is summarised above.
Recognition of our work: our ‘working name’ (EcoLocal) and branding is regularly used alongside a deliverable marketing plan. We use our new website, the mail-chimp email system, plus social network sites such as twitter, instagram and facebook to help communicate the charity’s activities efficiently
Data Privacy: we have created new policies and procedures to ensure that we are compliant with GDPR legislation

Reference and administrative information

Charity Name: The Centre for Environmental Initiatives (known as EcoLocal) Charity Number: 1087782 Company Number: 4137305 Registered and operational address: Ecolocal, The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3NX.

Contact details: Telephone 020 8404 1522 E-mail trevor@ecolocal.org.uk Main Website www.ecolocal.org.uk

Board of Trustees:

Tom Brake Jim Bush (Treasurer) Helen Craig (left the board in June 2021) Alistair Cruickshank (Chair to 29 September 2022) Hazel Gurr Tony Pattison (Chair from 29 September 2022) Maureen Peglar Liz Udall (Deputy Chair)

Company Secretary/Chief Executive:

Trevor Lancefield

Auditor:

Myrus Smith, Chartered Accountants, Norman House, 8 Burnell Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4BW

Bankers:

Unity Trust Bank Plc, Nine Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HB

Trustees' responsibilities statement

The trustees (who are also directors of The Centre for Environmental Initiatives 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. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 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:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
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 charitable company will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the 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.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and
• the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

AUDITORS

A resolution to reappoint the auditors, Myrus Smith, and authorise the Trustees to fix their remuneration will be proposed at the annual general meeting.

EXEMPTION STATEMENT

The Trustees’ Report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved and signed on behalf of the trustees.

…………………………….. Alistair Cruickshank Trustee

…………………………………. Jim Bush (Treasurer)

29 January 2023.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF:

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Centre for Environmental Initiatives (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2022, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the trustees’ report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF:

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

the information given in the trustees' report (incorporating the directors’ report) for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors’ report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 11, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF:

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Enquiry of management and those charged with governance about actual and potential litigation or claims and the identification of non-compliance with laws and regulations.
Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
Professional scepticism in course of the audit and with audit sampling in material audit areas.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Stephen Jones FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Myrus Smith Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors Norman House, 8 Burnell Road Sutton, Surrey SM1 4BW

29 January 2023

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

		Total	Total	Total	Total
	Notes	Unrestricted	Restricted	Funds	Funds
		funds	funds	2022	2021
		£	£	£	£
Income
Donations and legacies	2	12,136	33,174	45,310	18,434
Charitable activities	3	1,522	39,507	41,029	45,137
Investments	4	227	-	227	218
Other income	5	14,310	-	14,310	-
		`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Total		28,195	72,681	100,876	63,789
		`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Expenditure
Raising funds	6	427	-	427	1,286
Charitable activities	7	30,012	39,104	69,116	80,175
		`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Total		30,439	39,104	69,543	81,461
		`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Net income/(expenditure)	11	(2,244)	33,577	31,333	(17,672)
Transfers between funds	20	-	-	-	-
		`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Net movement in funds		(2,244)	33,577	31,333	(17,672)
Reconciliation of funds
Fund balances brought forward	20	388,954	57,218	446,172	463,844
		`──────`	`─────`	`──────`	`──────`
Fund balances carried forward	20	£386,710	£90,795	£477,505	£446,172
		`══════`	`═════`	`══════`	`══════`

All income and expenditure is derived from continuing activities.

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes form part of these financial statements.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2022

		Notes	2022		2021
			£	£	£	£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets		14		736,114		713,235
Investments		15		1		1
				`───────`		`───────`
				736,115		713,236
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors		16	69,656		70,690
Cash at bank and in hand			208,874		149,985
			`───────`		`───────`
			278,530		220,675
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year		17	518,264		13,576
			`───────`		`───────`
NET CURRENT (LIABILITIES)/
ASSETS				(239,734)		207,099
				`───────`		`───────`
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES				496,381		920,335
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due after more than
one year		18		18,876		474,163
				`──────`		`──────`
NET ASSETS		19		£477,505		£446,172
				`══════`		`══════`
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds -	General funds	20	103,713		105,957
	Designated funds	20	282,997		282,997
			`──────`		`──────`
				386,710		388,954
Restricted funds		20		90,795		57,218
				`──────`		`──────`
TOTAL FUNDS				£477,505		£446,172
				`══════`		`══════`

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 29 January 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Alistair Cruickshank Trustee

Jim Bush (Trustee)

The notes form part of these financial statements.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

General information and basis of preparation

The Centre for Environmental Initiatives is a registered charity (no. 1087782) and private company limited by guarantee (no. 4137305) registered in England and Wales. 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 is given in the reference and administrative information on page 11.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. 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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis and under the historical cost convention.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Income recognition

Items of income are recognised in the financial statements when all of the following criteria are met:

The charity has entitlement to the funds;
any performance conditions have been met or are fully within the control of the charity;
there is sufficient certainty that receipt of the income is considered probable; and
the amount can be measured reliably.

Contract income is recognised as the charity earns the right to consideration through the performance of its services.

Expenditure recognition

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

Costs of raising funds which comprise those costs associated with attracting general donations
Expenditure on charitable activities which comprises the costs of running the various activities and services for the charity’s beneficiaries.

Expenditure includes those costs of a direct nature which can be allocated to a specific activity. It also includes indirect costs, including governance costs that do not relate to a specific activity but are necessary to support them. Support costs are apportioned to each activity on the basis of staff time.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted general funds are those funds which are freely available for use in furtherance of the objects of the charity and which have not been designated for specific purposes. Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are funds which can only be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or which have been raised for a particular purpose.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Depreciation is provided so as to write off the cost of each asset over its estimated useful life. Depreciation is provided on plant and machinery on a straight line basis at 20% per annum. Assets costing less than £350 are not capitalised.

The assets under construction additions represent costs incurred in the course of development and construction of the property known as The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, Surrey and so no depreciation is required to be charged at this stage.

Assets under construction includes its purchase price, including legal fees, design and other direct costs attributable to the development including borrowing costs.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES …/Cont’d

Leases

Operating lease rentals are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Pensions

The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year to which they relate.

Debtors and creditors

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairments are recognised in expenditure.

Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at transaction price including transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

Government Grants

Grants received under Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is accounted for on the performance model.

Investments

Investments in subsidiaries are measured at cost less impairment.

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
	Funds	Funds	2022	2021
Grants and donations	£12,136	£33,174	£45,310	£18,434
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

Of the £18,434 recognised in 2021, £8,858 was unrestricted funds and £9,576 was restricted funds.

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
	Funds	Funds	2022	2021
Grants and contracts	£1,522	£39,507	£41,029	£45,137
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

Of the £45,137 recognised in 2021, £28,827 related to the Job Retention Scheme, where £11,060 was allocated to unrestricted funds and £17,767 was allocated to restricted funds. Of the remaining £16,310 recognised in 2021, £160 related to unrestricted funds and £16,150 related to restricted funds.

4. INVESTMENT INCOME

INVESTMENT INCOME
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
	Funds	Funds	2022	2021
Bank interest	£227	£Nil	£227	£218
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

All of the £218 recognised in 2021 related to unrestricted funds.

5. OTHER INCOME

OTHER INCOME
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
	Funds	Funds	2022	2021
Rental income	£14,310	£Nil	£14,310	£Nil
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

6. COST OF RAISING FUNDS

COST OF RAISING FUNDS
	Direct	Support	Total	Total
	Costs	Costs	2022	2021
Fundraising activities	£Nil	£427	£427	£1,286
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

All costs for raising funds were unrestricted for the current and prior years.

7. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

	Direct	Support	Total	Total
	Costs	Costs	2022	2021
	£	£	£	£
Transport and Travel	23,384	7,358	30,742	24,938
Growing and Greening	12,457	6,164	18,621	19,340
Cross-cutting Environmental Sustainability	9,455	10,298	19,753	35,897
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
	£45,296	£23,820	£69,116	£80,175
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

Of the £69,116 expenditure recognised in 2022 (2021: £80,175), £30,012 (2021 : £34,530) was charged to unrestricted funds and £39,104 (2021 : £45,645) was charged to restricted funds.

8.	ANALYSIS OF DIRECT COSTS
		Raising	Charitable	Total	Total
		Funds	Activities	2022	2021
		£	£	£	£
	Wages, social security and other
	staff related costs	-	30,789	30,789	47,638
	Project costs	-	11,062	11,062	2,401
	Volunteer expenses	-	148	148	27
	Printing, design and exhibitions	-	-	-	125
	Training	-	260	260	44
	Equipment and material purchases	-	3,037	3,037	3,866
		`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
		£Nil	£45,296	£45,296	£54,101
		`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`
9.	ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS
		Raising	Charitable	Total	Total
		Funds	Activities	2022	2021
			(inc.Governance)
		£	£	£	£
	Wages and salaries	400	-	400	1,216
	Provision of premises	-	14,836	14,836	13,347
	Office administration	27	3,206	3,233	4,409
	Insurance, professional and bank costs	-	2,183	2,183	4,393
	Governance (Note 10)	-	3,595	3,595	3,995
		`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
		£427	£23,820	£24,247	£27,360
		`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

10. GOVERNANCE COSTS

GOVERNANCE COSTS
	2022	2021
	£	£
Wages and salaries	400	1,216
Auditor’s remuneration	1,824	1,860
Provision of premises	1,344	849
Office administration	27	70
	`──────`	`──────`
	£3,595	£3,995
	`══════`	`══════`
NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME
Net (expenditure)/income for the year is stated after charging:	2022	2021
Auditor’s remuneration - Audit Services	£1,824	£1,860
- Non-audit services	£984	£966
	`══════`	`══════`

11. NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME

12. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

The trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration during the year (2021: £Nil). No expenses were reimbursed to any trustees during the year (2021 : £Nil).

13. STAFF COSTS

STAFF COSTS
	2022	2021
	£	£
Wages and salaries	30,640	46,675
Social security costs	-	1,940
Pension costs	755	1,455
	`──────`	`──────`
	£31,395	£50,070
	`══════`	`══════`

No employee received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 in either year.

The average number of employees, calculated on a full-time equivalent basis, analysed by function was:

was:
	2022	2021
	Number	Number
Direct charitable activities	3	3
Management and administration	1	1
	`───`	`───`
	4	4
	`═══`	`═══`

The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel was £25,785 (2021 : £53,658). Under FRS 102, employee benefits include gross salaries, employer’s national insurance, employer’s pension costs and benefits in kind.

	2022	2021
Average number of employees	9	14
	`═══`	`═══`

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

14. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
	Assets under	Plant and
	Construction	Machinery	Total
	£	£	£
Cost
At 1 April 2021	713,235	80,597	793,832
Additions	22,879	-	22,879
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
At 31 March 2022	736,114	80,597	816,711
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Depreciation
At 1 April 2021 and at 31 March 2022	-	80,597	80,597
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Net book value
At 31 March 2022	£736,114	£Nil	£736,114
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`
At 31 March 2021	£713,235	£Nil	£713,235
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

The leasehold additions represents costs incurred in the course of development and construction of part of the property known as The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, Surrey.

15. Investments

Cost

As at 31 March 2021 and 31 March 2022 £1 ══

Subsidiary Undertaking

The company’s investment in its subsidiary company represents the cost of acquisition of the whole of the ordinary share capital of EcoLocal Lodge Development Ltd which was set up to participate in the development of a property. The aggregate capital and reserves at 31 March 2022 was £347,231 (2021 : £(20,614). The company reported a profit for the year of £367,845 (2021 : loss of £11,949) and has subsequently made a distribution under Gift Aid rules to the charity.

16. DEBTORS

16.	DEBTORS
		2022	2021
		£	£
	Other debtors	446	6,636
	Amounts owed from group undertaking	69,210	64,054
		`──────`	`──────`
		£69,656	£70,690
		`══════`	`══════`
17.	CREDITORS – amounts falling due within one year
		2022	2021
		£	£
	Other creditors and accruals	13,594	13,576
	Bounce back loan	3,775	-
	Bank loan	500,895	-
		`──────`	`──────`
		£518,264	£13,576
		`══════`	`══════`

The bank loan from The Charity Bank Ltd is secured on the company's leasehold property known as The Lodge, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, Surrey. The loan bears interest at a rate of 4% above the base rate of the Bank of England and the final repayment was made in July 2022.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

18. CREDITORS – Amounts falling due after more than one year

The following secured debts are included within creditors:

	2022	2021
	£	£
Bounce back loan	18,876	-
Bank loan	-	474,163
	`──────`	`──────`
	£18,876	£474,163
	`══════`	`══════`

A Bounce Back loan of £22,651 was received during the year in connection with COVID disruptions. The loan is repayable over 6 years with no repayment during the first 12 months. The loan is guaranteed by the UK Government. Interest rate is 2.5% per annum fixed for the duration of the loan with first 12 months, the UK Government will pay the interest due to Bank.

19. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
2022	Funds	Funds	2022
	£	£	£
Fixed assets	736,115	-	736,115
Current assets	187,735	90,795	278,530
Current liabilities	(518,264)	-	(518,264)
Long-term liabilities	(18,876)	-	(18,876)
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
As at 31 March 2022	£386,710	£90,795	£477,505
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

Comparative information for the analysis of net assets between funds in the previous year is as follows:

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
2021	Funds	Funds	2021
	£	£	£
Fixed assets	713,236	-	713,236
Current assets	163,457	57,218	220,675
Current liabilities	(13,576)	-	(13,576)
Long-term liabilities	(474,163)	-	(474,163)
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
As at 31 March 2021	£388,954	£57,218	£446,172
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS	At 1 April				At 31 March
	2021	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	2022
2022	£	£	£	£	£
Restricted Funds:
*Travel:*
Interactive School Travel Experience
(TfL via LBS)	1,604	-	-	-	1,604
Bikestreet Project	839	-	-	-	839
Inclusive Cycling / Gear-Up	11,961	32,852	21,739	-	23,074
*Local Food/Wildlife and Nature*
*Conservation:*
Local Food	12,904	7,127	9,449	-	10,582
Greener Schools Network	27	-	-	-	27
Walled Garden	936	191	168	-	959
Food Growing Training	-	1,728	-	-	1,728
*Energy:*
Warm Rooms/ LBS	1,611	-	-	-	1,611
*Cross-cutting Environmental:*
Community Hall (Awards for All)	-	8,642	366	-	8,276
Eco-Wellbeing	-	22,141	-	-	22,141
Schools	940	-	-	-	940
Environmental Fair	18,231	-	2,807	-	15,424
Frost Fair	3,835	-	245	-	3,590
COVID fund	4,330	-	4,330	-	-
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
*Total Restricted Funds*	57,218	72,681	39,104	-	90,795
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Unrestricted Funds:
*General Fund*	105,957	28,195	30,439	-	103,713
*Designated Funds:*
Building Acquisition and
Development Fund	260,581	-	-	-	260,581
Reorganisation Fund	22,416	-	-	-	22,416
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
*Total Unrestricted Funds*	388,954	28,195	30,439	-	386,710
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Total Funds	£446,172	£100,876	£69,543	£Nil	£477,505
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

Details of the restricted funds and designated funds can be found within the Trustees’ Report.

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

20. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS …/Cont’d

Comparative information for the movement in funds in the previous year is as follows

	At 1 April				At 31 March
	2020	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	2021
2021	£	£	£	£	£
Restricted Funds:
*Travel:*
Interactive School Travel Experience
(TfL via LBS)	1,604	-	-	-	1,604
Bikestreet Project	839	-	-	-	839
Inclusive Cycling / Gear-Up	16,590	9,951	14,580	-	11,961
*Local Food/Wildlife and Nature*
*Conservation:*
Local Food	7,382	14,880	8,981	(377)	12,904
Greener Schools Network	27	-	-	-	27
Walled Garden	-	559	-	377	936
*Energy:*
Warm Rooms/ LBS	1,611	-	-	-	1,611
*Cross-cutting Environmental:*
Schools	940	-	-	-	940
Environmental Fair	25,420	8,103	15,292	-	18,231
Frost Fair	4,957	-	1,122	-	3,835
COVID fund	-	10,000	5,670	-	4,330
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
*Total Restricted Funds*	59,370	43,493	45,645	-	57,218
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Unrestricted Funds:
*General Fund*	121,477	20,296	35,816	-	105,957
*Designated Funds:*
Building Acquisition and
Development Fund	260,581	-	-	-	260,581
Reorganisation Fund	22,416	-	-	-	22,416
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
*Total Unrestricted Funds*	404,474	20,296	35,816	-	388,954
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`	`──────`
Total Funds	£463,844	£63,789	£81,461	£Nil	£446,172
	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`	`══════`

THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Registered Charity Number 1087782, Company Number 4137305 (England and Wales) EcoLocal is the working name of the charity

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

21. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION

Related Party	Relationship	Details	Amount	Balance
2022
EcoLocal Lodge	Subsidiary	Interest free loan
Development Ltd	undertaking	repayable on demand	£69,210	£69,210
EcoLocal Services Ltd	Directors/Trustees	Gift aid donations	£2,000	£Nil
Comparative information	for related party transactions in the previous year is as follows:
2021
EcoLocal Lodge	Subsidiary	Interest free loan	£64,054	£64,054
Development Ltd	undertaking	repayable on demand
EcoLocal Services Ltd	Directors/Trustees	Gift aid donations	£2,136	£Nil