Ascension Community Trust Charity Reg number 1091887 Company registered in England and Wales Company Number 04184090
## ASCENSION COMMUNITY TRUST
Directors Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2022
Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887 Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
||Page|
|---|---|
|General Information|1|
|Trustees report|2-3|
|Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Statement of Financial Position|6|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|7-11|
||Ascension Community Trust|
|---|---|
||Charity No. 1091887|
||Companies House Reg Number 04184090|
||General Information|
||for the year ended 31 March 2022|
|Principal Address|Ascension Community Trust|
||Ascension Church Centre|
||Baxter Road|
||Custom House|
||London|
||E16 3HJ|
|Director/Trustees.||
||Rev'd D Chesney|
||N J Copsey|
||C G Crombie|
||A MacDonald|
||F Johnson|
||MGJ Yeatts|
|Secretary|P H Beaufrere|
|Independent Examiners|Brian Dexter ACMA|
||A Thousand Hills Limited|
||172 Sandford Road|
||East Ham|
||LONDON|
||E6 3PX|
Page 1
Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887 Trustees Report
for the year ended 31 March 2022
The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2022. The Trustees have adopted and followed the provisions of "Accounting and Reporting for Charities: Statement of Recomended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland" (FRS102, effective 1 January 2019).
## **Structure and Governance**
Ascension Community Trust is governed under the terms of its trust deed signed on 21 December 1997 and amended on 25th July 2003. Its trustees meet a minimum of six times a year to manage the activities of the trust.
## **Charitable Objectives**
## **Five Year Objectives (Set in January 2018)**
- Reduce Isolation and loneliness amongst the elderly • To improve the health and wellbeing of the local community, with a focus on mental health. • To reduce the vulnerability of struggling families. • To integrate the community through community spaces, social activities and volunteering. • To improve the education of local young people through the provision of activities, including sport. • To improve individual’s own ability to address their issues by providing advice and support for money, benefits and employment.
## **Aims and Objectives**
In the last report we set objectives, and have been successful in achieving or made great progress in:
- Provide family support for those attending the foodbank and advice service. • Ensure the long-term sustainability of the food bank through regular donations. • To increase representation from BAME backgrounds across all aspects of the organisation so that we are more reflective of the local community. • To secure long term funding for the advice service on the basis of demand for the currently running project These objectives we have not been able to progress in and will continue into the next year:
- Improve the self-sustainability of the café through various methods. • To increase the number of elderly people we are engaging with on a regular basis • To improve sustainability through an increase of individual donors to the charity.
In addition, our aims for 2022/2023 include:
- Make the organisation structure better fit for purpose • Improve the evaluation and monitoring of projects • Improve marketing and communications across the whole organisation
## **Public Benefit Statement**
Ascension Community Trust is achieving public benefit through the delivery of services to those in need in the London Borough of Newham. Services include provision of food, activities, advice and training for some of the most vulnerable in Newham. The Trustees have given due consideration to the advice given by the charity commission when selecting the services it provides.
## **Achievements and Performance**
## **Impact of Covid 19**
At the start of the financial year many of our regular activities were closed due to lockdown. As we were allowed to reopen activities, some had to adapt to the regulations at the time. The impact of Covid also meant fewer attendees to some of our projects and challenges due to staff and volunteer illness/requiring self-isolation.
## **Ascension Seniors**
In the first part of the year we ran online chair based exercise classes weekly for the seniors group and provided tablets with mobile data and easy to use guides for those who didn’t have a way to access these classes themselves. The on-site activities re-started in September, with a welcome back celebration, followed by weekly exercise classes and lunches. At Christmas we were able to once again run the annual Seniors Christmas Party, supported by London City Airport. The numbers of attendees to the exercise class has increased throughout the year, but the numbers for the lunches remain low. We plan to thoroughly research the needs of the older population in Newham and what support we should be providing in the course of the next year.
## **Complex Needs**
The Complex Needs work has included the work placements provided at the Garden Community Café (detailed below) and the gardening project. The space at Ascension Church Centre has had a lot of development to start making it a therapeutic space for all who use the Centre and after a re-launch the numbers attending has increased.
## **Garden Community Café**
The Garden Café reopened after lockdown in April 2021, however the impact of Covid and subsequent regulations has meant the numbers visiting has remained low and was slow to increase over the year. The café provided work placements to 5 individuals with complex needs, all of whom learnt at least one new life skill. We also started to implement personal development plans with each of these individuals so they can set their own targets and track progress. In October 2021 we started the “youth café”, a pilot project using the café as a safe space for young people every day after school, managed by two youth workers and aiming to empower the young people. The project to date has been very successful and we secured funding for the project to continue, which we hope it will for an extended period.
Page 2
## Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887 Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **Children’s (incl AFA)**
The after-school club remained open throughout the year and has seen an increase in numbers. The afterschool club was attended by 23 different children, 1 of whom attended for free due to their family’s financial situation. All volunteers received safeguarding training and 2 long term volunteers received pediatric first aid training. In summer 2021 we ran our annual summer scheme and Soccer School. These were both well attending and a highlight for all of the children, staff and volunteers involved. Ascension Football Academy restarted its sessions in June 2021. Of the 144 children we’ve engaged with through the afterschool club, summer scheme and football training, 70% of parents/carers gave feedback that they’d seen an improvement in their child’s confidence, emotional well-being or independency and over 50% of the children said they had created a new connection or friendship. The family support work supported 8 families, all who had an improvement in their circumstance.
## **Foodbank and Advice Service**
Our foodbank became part of the Trussell Trust network in June 2021 and partnered with another foodbank in Newham in March 2022. The foodbank provided 465 parcels supporting 728 adults and 498 children. Our advice service is now integrated with the foodbank and all of the attendees to the foodbank were offered an advice appointment. This has led to a large reduction in the number of individuals repeatedly coming to the foodbank, as we have been able to help address their crises.
During the year we have helped develop the Newham Advice Partnership, a network of advice organisations in Newham, who were successful in a joint bid to the Greater London Authority to provide those attending foodbanks better access to advice services.
The foodbank is in the process of being set up as an independent charity. Whilst the on-site work at Ascension will continue under Ascension Community Trust, the foodbank will expand to include other centres in Newham, overseen by one central hub independent of Ascension Community Trust, but with representation on the board. In March 2022 Bonny Downs Community Association was the second foodbank (after Ascension) to join the new Newham District Foodbank. The connection with Trussell Trust has also led to an increase in donations, both financial and of physical items. This has meant we have been able to support all those that attend.
## **We want to take this opportunity to thank the organisations that have funded our work over the past year. They are:**
Arnold Clark Community Foundation Ascension Church Centre Charles French Charitable Trust Felsted School Mission Council Greater London Authority Kiln Family Trust Kilnbridge Leathersellers London Borough of Newham London City Airport National Lottery Awards for All Neighbourly Foundation Postcode Lottery Riverside Group Royal Docks Trust The Mrs Smith and Mount Trust Trussell Trust Trusthouse Foundation Tudor Trust Plus, the many individuals and companies that have donated money or food for the foodbank.
## **Risk, Reserves and Financial review**
Ascension Community Trust’s reserves policy is that between £18,000 and £25,000 will be held in free reserves. This amount is based on a detailed calculation of the amount needed in the eventuality of unexpected events requiring a smooth closure of the charity and to mitigate any financial risks. This figure is monitored and reviewed by the board of trustees on an annual basis. Income was received in At 31 March 2021 Ascension Community trust had funds of £77,445. Of these £58,784 was restricted and £6,858 of fixed assets funds. The total amount of free reserves held is £11,803.
This level is below our reserves policy, therefore the trustees have made plans to increase this by investing in activities to raise additional free reserves. At the time of signing these financial statements the level of free reserves was back within the policy level. .
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
Rev'd D Chesney
Dated Dec-22
Page 3
## Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887 Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees. for the year ended 31 March 2022
## To the Trustees.
I report on the Financial Statements of the Charitable company for the year ended 31st March 2022 which are set out in the following pages.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.
The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011, “the 2011 A ct”, and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examinatio n, 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 2 011 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 incl udes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consid eration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanation s from you the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures u ndertaken 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 ‘tr ue 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:
Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
To keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the companies Act 2006; and
To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the SORP (FRS102) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" issued in March 2015.
have not been met; or
To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## _BJ. Dexter_
Brian Dexter ACMA A Thousand Hills Limited 172 Sandford Road East Ham London E6 3PX Dated..........
.
Page 4
## Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31 March 2022
|**Income and Endowments From**
Donations and Legacies
Charitable Activities
Other Trading Activities
Total Incoming Resources
**Expenditure on:**
Raising Funds
Charitable Activities
Total Resources Expended
Net Expenditure for the Year
net movement in funds
Fund Balances 1 April 2021
Fund Balances 31 March 2022|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**2022**
**Funds**
**£**
**Funds**
**£**
**Total**
**£**
17,907
195,635
213,542
27,703
-
27,703
895
927
1,822
46,505
196,562
243,067
-
-
-
44,735
197,844
242,579
44,735
197,844
242,579
1,770
(1,282)
488
1,770
(1,282)
488
16,891
60,066
76,957
18,661
58,784
77,445|**2021**
**Total**
**£**
196,256
2,796
2,508|
|---|---|---|
|||201,560
17,040
184,328|
|||201,368
192|
|||192|
|||76,765|
|||76,957|
Page 5
Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887 Statement of Financial Position as at 31st March 2022
|Balance Sheet
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible Fixed Assets
**Current Assets**
**Debtors**
Cash at bank and in hand
Total Current Assets
Net Current Assets
Net Assets
Funds
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
Creditors: Amounts due within one year
Creditors due after more than one year|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**2022**
**Funds**
**£**
**Funds**
**£**
**Total**
**£**
6,858
-
6,858
5,187
4,158
9,345
6,620
55,968
62,588
11,807
60,126
71,933
1,346
-
1,346
10,461
60,126
70,587
-
-
-
17,319
60,126
77,445
18,661
18,661
58,784
58,784
18,661
58,784
77,445|**2021**
**Total**
**£**
5,743
108
73,579
73,687
2,473
71,214|
|---|---|---|
|||-|
|||76,957|
|||16,891
60,066|
|||76,957|
For the year ended 31 March 2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
-The members have not required the company to abtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476,
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small company regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
on
Title date
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page 6
## Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887
## Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **1. Accounting Policies**
## **Basis of Accounting**
The financial statements have been prepared underr the historic cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets in accordance with the Charities SORP Accounting and Reporting for Charities: Statement of Recomended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland" (FRS102, effective 1 January 2019).
ASCENSION COMMUNITY TRUST meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.
## **Statement of cash flows**
The Trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in FRS102 from including a statement of scash flows in the financial statements on the grounds that the charitable company qualifies as a small company.
## **Incoming Resources**
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income, and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Gift Aid is recognised when the donation to which it relates is received.
Gifts in Kind and pro-bono services are included in income as donations at a sum equal to their market value or the value to the charity. An equivalent sum is added to resources expenditure under the appropriate category.
## **Resources expended**
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure
## **Tangible Fixed Assets**
Tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, are stated at cost or valuation less depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is charged over the lifetime of the asset at rates calculated to write off the cost or valuation of the fixed asset over their expected useful lives. The following specific rates apply:
Land and Buildings (Leasehold) Straight line over the life of the lease Plant and machinery: 25% Reducing balance
## **Irrecoverable VAT**
VAT , to the extent that it cannot be recovered, is included in the Statement of Financial Activities as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Page 7
## Ascension Community Trust
## Charity No. 1091887
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
|**2. Income from Donations and Legacies**
Donations received
Grants received
HMRC Employers allowance
Gifts In Kind
Subscriptions received
**3. Income from charitable activities**
Ascension Football academy
Seniors activities
Café income
Children and family activities
**4. Income from other activities**
Catering
Other activities for generating funds
**5. Expenditure on generating funds**
Support Costs
Shop costs
**6. Cost of charitable activities**
Seniors Project
Community Work
Café
Children and Families
Food Bank
Advice service
Admin and CEO
Total|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**Total**
**2021**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
8,633
2,416
11,049
7,602
5,274
174,590
177,197
184,547
4,000
-
4,000
4,000
18,629
18,629
-
-
-
107|
|---|---|
||17,907
195,635
210,875
196,256
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**Total**
**2021 Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
436
436
42
14,566
14,566
-
12,701
12,701
2,754|
||27,703
-
27,703
2,796
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**Total**
**2021 Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
895
895
2,361
-
927
927
147|
||895
927
1,822
2,508
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**Total**
**2021 Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
-
13,027
-
-
-
4,013|
||-
-
-
17,040
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**Total**
**2021 Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
120
14,818
14,938
18,189
-
33,635
33,635
65,379
16,900
33,845
50,745
-
15,999
27,264
43,263
57,174
-
23,403
23,403
24,691
-
29,530
29,530
14,895
11,716
35,349
47,064
-|
||44,735
197,844
242,579
180,328|
Note. The costs above include the value of gifts in kind used by the charity in the period: Children and Families - Hall hire for Afterschool club £ 3,000 Seniors - Venue hire for elders sessions £ 750 Advice service - Venue hire for advice sessions £ 1,500 Foodbank - Value of donated food £ 13,379 These have all been included as coming from restricted funds
|**7. Analysis of support costs**
Management
Human Resources
Governance
**8. Net income/expenditure for the year**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2022**
**Total**
**2021 Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
1,932
-
3,312
-
7,783|
|---|---|
||-
-
-
13,027|
This is stated after charging/(crediting)
|Depreciation of Fixed Assets
Accountancy Fees
Staff Pension Contributions|**2022**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
2,285
1,915
1,000
1,704
1,099
937|
|---|---|
Page 8
## Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887
## Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **9. Staff costs**
## **Total staff costs for the year ended 31 March 2022 were**
|Salaries and Wages
Social security costs
Pension Costs
The number of staff employed during the year was:
Programme Staff
Support Staff|**2022**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
136,913
123,113
6,997
5,389
1,099
937|
|---|---|
||145,009
129,439
9
9
2
1|
## **10. Comparative Statement of financial activities**
|**Income and Endowments From**
Donations and Legacies
Charitable Activities
Other Trading Activities
Total Incoming Resources
**Expenditure on:**
Raising Funds
Charitable Activities
Total Resources Expended
Net Expenditure for the Year
net movement in funds
Fund Balances 1 April 2021
Fund Balances 31 March 2022|Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2021 Total
**£**
**£**
**£**
19,759
172,497
192,256
2,796
-
2,796
2,478
30
2,508
-
-
-
25,033
172,527
197,560
16,577
463
17,040
-
180,328
180,328
16,577
180,791
197,368
8,456
(8,264)
192
8,456
(8,264)
192
8,435
68,330
76,765
16,891
60,066
76,957|2020 Total
**£**
185,538
9,919
27,785
-
223,242
64,804
4
£
108,132
172,936
50,306
50,306
26,459
76,765|
|---|---|---|
## **11. Fixed Assets**
|**COST or VALUATION**
At 1 April 2021
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2021
Charge for year
On Disposals
At 31 March 2022
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2021
**12. Debtors**
Amounts due within one year
Other debtors|£
£
44,688
30,612
3,400
Land and
Buildings
Fixtures and
Fittings|Total
£
75,300
3,400
-|
|---|---|---|
||44,688
34,012|78,700|
||44,688
24,869
2,285|69,557
2,285
-|
||44,688
27,154|71,842|
||-
6,858|6,858|
||-
5,743|5,743|
||2022
£
9,345|2021
£
108|
Page 9
## Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **13. Creditors**
## **- amounts due within 1 year**
|Other creditors
Accruals and defered income
**14. Restricted Fund Movements**
Advice Service
Admin and CEO
Children and Families
Seniors
Foodbank
Community Work
Garden Café|2022
£
346
1,000
1,346
01/04/2021
Income
£
£
5,956
44,450
23,327
32,021
11,652
15,613
10,249
11,957
6,380
22,234
-
36,532
2,502
33,755|2021
£
973
1,500
2,473
Expenditure
Transfers
31/03/2022
£
£
£
29,530
20,876
35,349
20,000
27,264
0
14,818
7,388
23,403
5,211
33,635
2,897
33,845
2,412|
|---|---|---|
||60,066
196,562|197,844
58,784|
|- prior year
Advice Service
CEO
Children and Families
Seniors
Foodbank
Football Academy
Garden Café|-
01/04/2020
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
31/03/2021
-
18,774
12,818
5,956
20,607
29,150
26,430
23,327
17,962
38,079
47,510
3,121
11,652
8,382
17,460
15,593
10,249
-
27,435
21,055
6,380
3,178
1,297
1,354
- 3,121
-
18,201
40,332
56,031
2,502|
|---|---|
||68,330
172,527
180,791
-
60,066|
**Advice service** : Funds to provide practical advice to parishoners **CEO** : Grant to cover employment costs of CEO **Children and Families** : To provide activities and services for children and their families in the community. **Seniors** : To provide activities and services for older members of the community **Foodbank:** To provide food for members of the community in urgent need **Football academy:** To provide training in football for children and young people in the community **Community work:** To provide activities and services to support members of the community **Administration:** To support the general running of the organisation **Garden Café:** To provide a community café facility within the community **Transfers** : In 2020/21 The Football Academy fund was combined with the Children and Families to simplify accounts, because they achieve the same aims and some funding for this work is combined.
Page 10
## Ascension Community Trust Charity No. 1091887
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
## **15 Unrestricted fund movements**
|Designated
General funds
Garden Café
Children and families
Seniors
General
-Prior Year
Designated
General reserve
General funds
Garden Café
General|01/04/2021
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
31/03/2022
£
£
£
£
2,834
-
18,128
16,900
1,606
-
-
12,701
15,999
3,298
-
-
436
120
316
19,725
15,240
11,716
- 4,904
18,345|
|---|---|
||16,891
46,505
44,735
-
18,661|
||01/04/2020
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
31/03/2021
5,000
- 5,000
-
1,299
-
2,478
4,013
2,834
-
4,735
22,555
12,564
5,000
19,725|
||8,436
25,033
16,577
-
16,891|
||.|
**General reserve** : A designated fund to secure wortking capital
**Garden Café:** To provide finance for activities within the Garden Café **Seniors** : To provide activities and services for older members of the community **General** : Free reserves for the charities overall objectives.
**Transfers** : In 2021/22 the transfer was made from general unrestricted funds to cover a deficit in the cafe and children and families funds.
In 2020/21 a designated fund was previously made as an amount to be used for reserves in the case of closure of the charity, but it was decided by the trustees to keep this within the general unrestricted funds for the same purpose.
## **16. Analysis of net assets between funds as at 31 March 2022**
|Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
- Prior year
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted|Fixed assets
Current Assets
Creditors
Net Assets
£
£
£
£
6,858
11,807
1,346
17,319
-
-
-
-
-
60,126
-
60,126|
|---|---|
||6,858
71,933
1,346
77,445|
||Fixed assets
Current Assets
Creditors
Net Assets
5,743
11,148
16,891
-
-
-
-
-
60,066
-
60,066|
||5,743
71,214
-
76,957|
## **17. Company limited by guarantee**
ASCENSION COMMUNITY TRUST is a company limited by guarantee and accordingly does not have a share capital. The liability of each member on the winding up of the company is limited to £1.
Page 11