**Registered Company Number: 4830437 Registered Charity Number: 1100637**
**WEST KENT MEDIATION (A Company Limited by Guarantee)**
**REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **Trustees**
The Trustees during the year ended 31 March 2024 were as follows:
Mr K W Turner Mrs R A Clibbens Mr R Seymour Mrs M Tearle
## **Company Secretary**
Ms C A Jarvis
## **Principal Address**
Sevenoaks Indoor Bowls Centre Hollybush Lane Sevenoaks Kent TN13 3UX
## **Independent Examiner**
Bells Accountants 10a High Street Chislehurst Kent, BR7 5AN
**Charity Number** 1100637
**Registered Company Number** 04830437 (England and Wales)
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **CHAIRMAN’S REPORT**
During the last 12 months we have seen an increase in cases, including an increase in self-referrals. This might be partly explained by our increased social media activity and other publicity of the service. The majority of our cases relate to neighbourhood and community disputes, although we continue to offer parent-teen and family mediation. We have also provided paid-for workplace mediation.
Peer Mediation with year 5 and 6 pupils has enjoyed an excellent year thanks to the efforts of Dorothy Walkington, our Schools Co-ordinator. We have trained over 270 students in mediation awareness skills and trained a further 84 students to become peer mediators within the school environment. Funding came from various sources, including the Office of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner via our local authorities and from the Tesco Stronger Starts programme.
We have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Restorative Solutions who won a contract with the Office of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner to provide neighbour mediation for Kent Police. More than six months into the new contract, West Kent Mediation has not yet received any cases via Restorative Solutions. We are working hard with Restorative Solutions to find out why cases are not coming through and to resolve matters.
Volunteer numbers are a bit low bearing in mind the current caseload, so we are actively working to increase our numbers. We are very grateful to our committed and loyal volunteers for all their hard work over the past year.
Despite three of our Trustees stepping down last year, we have continued to operate seamlessly with Richard Seymour and Marica Tearle making significant contributions as if they had been Trustees for many years. I am very grateful to all of our Trustees for their guidance and support. We have invited Patrick Hart, one of our experienced mediators, to join us as a Trustee and he has agreed. We continue to look for more Trustees who can bring different perspectives and experience to our Board.
I have always seen my role as an Acting Chairman during the last two years and I am pleased to endorse the Board's view that Richard Seymour should take over the baton. I am happy to return to my longstanding role as a Trustee.
We continue to receive grant funding from the local authority areas that we cover. We also have SLAs with West Kent Housing Association, Town & Country Housing and Clarion Housing, which enables them to directly refer cases to us. We also greatly appreciate the support given to us by local Town and Parish Councils.
For the third year running we are showing an increasing loss and we are having to dig in to our carefully husbanded reserves accumulated during the good times. Over the last decade or so, first Amanda and Gill and now Amanda and Claire have done terrific work securing funding from the National Lottery and many charitable foundations, including Skinners (now in year 3 of 4) and Kent Community Foundation. A great recent success has been the National Lottery Community Fund awarding us two-year funding of a touch under £10K for each of the years 2024/25 and 2025/26. However, as securing adequate funding to run the service remains challenging, we appeal to anyone who is aware of available sources of funding to contact the office.
## **Keith Turner Chairman**
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
The Trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **Objectives and aims**
West Kent Mediation (WKM) provides a free, impartial and confidential community mediation service to all residents of Sevenoaks District Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Mediation is a means of conflict resolution, enabling people in dispute to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with the help of volunteer mediators who are trained and supported by WKM’s small staff team.
## **Achievements**
Our referrals are received through continued partnership working with both statutory and voluntary organisations, including the three leading housing associations in West Kent. This year, our referrals have increased by 40% compared to the previous year. This year, our peer mediation schools service has been extremely successful. We have trained over 270 year 5 and year 6 pupils in mediation awareness skills and trained a further 84 students to become mediators in the school environment.
We have entered a new partnership with Restorative Solutions to provide mediation for Kent Police.
## **Public benefit**
The Board of Trustee Directors confirms that they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charites act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charities Commission.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial position**
In the year ended 31 March 2024 the Charity received total incoming resources of £35,522 and expended £53,656 in total resulting in net expenditure of £18,134 (2023 net expenditure £11,480). The Charity’s cumulative reserves to be carried forward at 31 March 2024 thus amounted to £50,079 (2023 £68,213).
## **Reserves Policy**
The Board of Trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted free reserves held by the Charity should be maintained at a level where it is considered that a broad business base can be laid for the Charity to continue its current activities. The unrestricted free reserves amounted to £50,079 at 31 March 2024, as the Trustees have designated £25,000 to make provision in the event the company be required to make payment for its office accommodation and/or closure costs if ongoing finance is not received. The policy is monitored and reviewed annually.
## **Future plans**
The charity seeks to expand its mediation services with an emphasis on our peer mediation training project in primary schools. We have been approached by another local authority to provide homelessness services in North Kent. We continue to work in close partnership with other community mediation services within Kent, as well as other voluntary and statutory organisations within our area.
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES cont’d**
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The Charity is controlled by its governing document, its memorandum and articles of association, and constitutes a limited company by guarantee as defined by the Companies act 2006. Annually one third of the Trustee Directors retire by rotation at the AGM. Additionally, any Trustee Directors who have been reappointed by the Board of Trustee Directors since the last AGM shall hold office only until the next following AGM. If not re-appointed at that AGM he/she shall vacate the office at the conclusion of the meeting.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees**
The Board of Trustee Directors regularly reviews the Board’s composition to identify any skills gaps. They also review the methods employed to recruit new Trustees; these include through word of mouth and networking, insertions in newsletters circulated to service users and volunteers, through the West Kent Mediation website. WKM’s publicity material is also displayed in a wide range of community venues including schools, medical centres, supermarkets, libraries etc.
## **Organisational structure**
The Charity’s operations are directed by the Board or Trustee Directors, which meets on a regular basis, and is responsible for the supervisory management of the Charitable Company. The mediation activities are undertaken by volunteers who are recruited, trained, supported and supervised by two paid members of staff. The main funding for the Company’s charitable activities was provided through the local authorities of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells and the three major local Housing Associations in West Kent, together with donations from town and parish councils and others. We are extremely grateful for the continued support of all our funders.
## **Risk management**
The Board of Trustee Directors has examined three major strategic, business and operational risks which the company faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced, so that the current controls can be monitored and improvement introduced as and when necessary.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
## Rebecca Clibbens
Mrs R A Clibbens - Trustee 3 June 2024
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of West Kent Mediation**
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 6 to 12.
## **Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and examiner**
As the charity’s Trustees (and also the directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or
- the accounts do not accord with such records; or
- the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Bells Accountants 10a High Street Chislehurst Kent BR7 5AN
20 June 2024
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITES** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**Incoming resources**
**Income and endowments from**
Donations and legacies**2**
19
**Incoming resources from charitable activities**
Mediation**4**
29,472
5,000
Investment income**3**1,031
**Total incoming resources**30,522
5,000
**Resources expended**
**Charitable activities**
Mediation**5**48,656 5,000
**Total resources expended**
48,656
5,000
**Net outgoing resources**
(18,134)
-
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
19
34,472
1,031
35,522
53,656
53,656
(18,134)
68,213
**50,079**||**Total**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
53
46,090
120
46,263
57,743
57,743
(11,480)
79,693
**68,213**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **BALANCE SHEET** _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**Current assets**
Cash at bank and in hand
59,120
-
-
**Creditors**
Amounts falling due within one year
(9,041)
-
11
**Net current assets**
50,079
**-**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
50,079
-
**Net assets**
50,079
-
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**|**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
59,120
(9,041)
50,079
50,079
50,079
50,079
50,079|**Total**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
81,767
81,767
(13,554)
68,213
68,213
68,213
68,213
68,213|
|---|---|---|
||||
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
- a. Ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006, and
- b. Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year, and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to charitable small companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015)
These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 3 June 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
## Rebecca Clibbens
Mrs R A Clibbens – Trustee
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), the Companies Act 2006 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
## **Resources expended**
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes of the financial statements.
## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits**
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company’s pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
|**2 Donations and legacies**
Donations
**3 Investment income**
Deposit account interest|**2024**
**£**
19
19
**2024**
**£**
1,031|**2023**
**£**
53
53
**2023**
**£**
120|
|---|---|---|
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|
**4 Income from Charitable activities**
**2024**
**£**
**Activity**
Mediation fees
Mediation
1,150
Grants
Mediation
29,682
34,472
Grants received, included in the above are as follows:
Sevenoaks District Council
5,000
Tunbridge Wells Borough
2,000
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council
3, 640
Town and Country Housing
2,635
West Kent Housing
4,959
Tesco
583
Clarion Housing Group
7,055
Kent Community Foundation
1,250
Groundwork
1,000
Skinners
1,000
Colyer Fergusson
-
Early Help
-
National Lottery
-
Tory Family
-
Sir Thomas Sythe’s Charity
-
Town and Parish Councils
4,200
29,682
**5 Charitable activities costs**
**Direct costs**
**Support costs**
**See note 6**
**See note 7**
**£**
**£**
Mediation
52,338
1,318
**6 Direct Costs of Charitable activities**
**2024**
**£**
Staff costs
40,651
Premises costs
3,849
Insurance
1,266
Stationery and computer consumables
1,997
Staff expenses
95
Volunteer expenses and training
86
Mediation fees
1,575
Advertising and presentations
2,400
Staff training
-
Subscriptions
419
52,338|**2023**
**£**
860
45,230
46,090
5,000
5,500
3,410
5,100
5,075
666
5,100
-
-
-
1,000
425
9,653
1,050
1,000
2,251
45,230
**2023**
**£**
57,743
**2023**
**£**
41,236
4,625
985
2,172
156
672
3,012
2,600
325
250
56,033|
|---|---|
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|**7 Support costs**
Mediation
Support costs included in the above are as follows:
Sundries
Payroll processing costs
Independent examination|**2024**
**£**
1,318
94
324
900
1,318|**2023**
**£**
1,710
14
346
1,350
1,710|
|---|---|---|
## **8 Trustees’ remuneration and benefits**
There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023. There were no trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
|**9 Staff costs**
Wages and salaries
Other pension costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was
All staff
|**2024**
**£**
36,176
4,475
40,651
as follows:
2|**2023**
**£**
38,932
2,304
41,236
2|
|---|---|---|
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000
The value of volunteer’s time is not included within these accounts.
## 10 **Pension**
The company contributes for one employee into The Pensions Trust Money Purchase Plan for Charities and Voluntary Organisations. The company has been notified by The Pensions Trust of the estimated employer debt on withdrawal from the Plan based on the financial position of the Plan as at 30 September 2022. As of this date the estimated employer debt for the company was £2,046, which has been provided for by the company (2021 £2,698).
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
|
**11 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
Accruals and deferred income
Accrued expenses|**2024**
**£**
6,995
2,046
9,041|**2023**
**£**
10,158
3,396|
|---|---|---|
|||13,554|
## **12 Movement in funds**
||**At 1/4/23**|**Net mvmt**|**T/f btwn**|**At 31/3/24**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**in funds**|**funds**||
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund
|42,713|(18,134)|-|24,579|
|Designated reserves|25,500|-|-|25,500|
|**Total funds**|68,213|(18,134)|-|50,079|
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|||**Incoming**
|**Incoming**
|**Resources**|**Movement**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**resources**
||**expended**|**in funds**|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||||
|General fund|||30,522
|(48,656)|(18,134)|
|**Restricted funds**||||||
|Local authorities funding|||5,000|(5,000)|-|
|**Total funds**|||35,522
|(53,656)|(18,134)|
|**Comparatives for movement in funds**||||||
||**At 1/4/22**||**Net mvmt**|**T/f btwn**|**At 31/3/23**|
||||**in funds**
**funds**|||
|**Unrestricted funds**||||||
|General fund|48,193||(11,480)|
6,000|42,713|
|Designated reserves|25,500||||25,500|
|Designated school projects|6,000|||(6,000)|-|
|**Total funds**|79,693||(11,480)|
-|68,213|
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## **WEST KENT MEDIATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**_
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
||**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Movement**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**resources**|**expended**|**in funds**|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|32,353|(43,833)|(11,480)|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Local authorities funding|13,910|(13,910)|-|
|**Total funds**|46,263|(57,743)|(11,480)|
## **13 Related party disclosures**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **14 Limitation of liability**
The Charity is a company limited by liability and has no share capital. The statutory members of the charitable company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of a winding up. The total number of guarantees at 31 March 2024 was 32.
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