Annual report of Walney Community Trust for 2023
Throughout 2023, we continued our well-established two-pronged approach to supporting the local area, roughly split into “youth based” and “community based”, often with considerable overlap between the two.
Youth activities were led by our Lead Youth worker, Paula, supported by her team of Youth workers, which we had some success in enlarging; in the latter part of the year, we appointed Harvey to the role of Youth Development worker, tasked with providing activities for young people outside the parameters of youth club. The youth club was held on four evenings per week, again organised according to age groups, with issue-based sessions (run both in-house and by external agencies, such as Natural England), one-to-one sessions and closed sessions for invited members on mental health and wellbeing matters, as well as more typical youth club activities. Other activities included DJ sessions with Cando FM, canoeing at Fell Foot, contributing to the Shoebox Appeal, visits to Barrow Raiders and Barrow AFC, a visit from the High Sheriff, end of term and Christmas parties. The youth club sessions were very well-attended, with a total footfall of 2400+.
Our youth staff were again pro-active in working with local neighbourhood police and Advantage Raiders Community Foundation to tackle anti-social behaviour by local youths. These outreach, detached sessions often attracted large number of local young people.
We were successful in a funding application to Cumbria Youth Alliance to run a project to provide mental health support to small groups of identified youth club members outside the times of youth club; the project will run for two years and will involve staff recording outcomes data using the Upshot software.
The community strand of our work was led by Ros, our Lead Community worker, supported by Debbie in her Adult Mentor role and her team of volunteers. Community activities aimed at supporting both individuals and families were organised from our centre: twice-weekly community meals, Toddler sessions, Saturday evening family entertainment, craft cafes, as well as the provision of a variety of courses; in this latter case, it was noticeable how service users’ readiness to attend such sessions has not yet recovered from pandemic times. Individual, one-to-one support for both adults and young people was provided through our mentoring programmes. 2023 was the first of a five-year funding agreement with The National Lottery Reaching Communities England for the development of our community work; the impact statements we agreed with them for this project, and subsequent efforts to improve data collection, reveal the impressive extent to which we were able to benefit the community:
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100 people will benefit from easy access to practical support such as meals and social events, easing the burden of poverty, which in turn improves mental wellbeing, resilience, confidence and self-esteem, as a result of attending the Trust’s Community activities Dec ’23 update: 291 people (atended total of 2248 tmes)
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78 people will benefit from improved mental wellbeing, resilience, confidence, self-esteem and learn new life skills empowering them to be independent as a result of attending the Trust’s Community courses Dec ’23 update: 15 people (atended total of 30 tmes)
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40 people will benefit from improved mental wellbeing, resilience, confidence, self-esteem and the ready availability of a single point of contact in times of need, as a result of accessing the Trust’s Community services Dec ’23 update: 212 people (accessed total of 442 tmes)
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260 people will benefit from practical, emotional, mental health and wellbeing support, raised self-esteem and increased resilience, as a result of accessing the Trust’s Community material support provision Dec ’23 update: 222 people (accessed total of 841 tmes)
We continued our partnership with Barrow Borough Council, who provided funding for us to supply gas/electricity costs support to those in particular need with whom we had developed links; we worked in partnership with Spring Mount Church to use further Council funding to supply white electrical goods to
local families we identified as being in this particular need. We operated again as a Winter Warmth Hub, providing a warm meal and other refreshments and a meeting place.
Community and youth staff maintained and developed the joint working which had been a real strength of their work during the pandemic; for example, the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programmes they ran on behalf of the local council were extremely well-attended (the four-week summer programme in particular thrived, with a total footfall of over 1,300). In addition to sports, games, crafts, inflatables, circus skills and the like, activities were also provided by outside agencies such as Cumbria Wildlife and Natural England. The poor summer weather resulted in the majority of the sessions being held in Spring Mount church rather than on the Walney field. Staff regularly supported adults and their young people in Team Around the Child (TAC) and Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings with social services.
Both teams of staff again demonstrated considerable commitment to updating and improving their skills and knowledge: training in Safeguarding, Bullying & Harassment, Drugs & Alcohol awareness, CYA funding, Upshot software and Boxercise was undertaken. We had staff training days in both January and September.
Throughout the year, our staff once again responded with outstanding commitment to the demands on their time and energies caused by the ever-growing needs of those they serve on Walney and further afield. They have developed and maintain a wide range of outside agencies and other charitable groups with whom they work in partnership.
The Trustees themselves were active throughout the year, ably supported by our General Manager, Sam, and Administrator, Cheryl. We met formally on 6 occasions, one of which incorporated the AGM. We approved and introduced a new policy for Conflicts of Interest and a Business Contingency Plan, and maintained our rolling programme, by which key policies are reviewed formally annually and others biennially. We began work on a new Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy. We maintained a Safeguarding group comprising two Trustees and our 2 staff Designated Safeguarding Leads, meeting formally 6 times per year; this group oversaw the implementation of the CPOMS system for recording and storing safeguarding issues. We also initiated an informal Finance Group comprising Chair, Deputy and Administrator, meeting approximately monthly, following the resignation of our General Manager; it is intended that this group will continue and be formalised in the new year.
Trustees continued to work on the strategic objectives identified in 2022:
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Strengthen financial sustainability to maintain and grow capacity
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Build a team and team structure appropriate to the current and future ambition
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Deliver an appropriate and sustainable building solution
We realised that insufficient time was allocated in 2023 to this issue and will hold an extra, single agenda item early in 2024 where we focus solely on this longer-term planning.
We spent much time trying to resolve solar panel contract issues with Baywind, a matter which we expect to be concluded positively early in 2024. We progressed the process of transferring ownership of the premises from the Trustee body to the Charity Commission’s Custodian Scheme. We liaised with the local MP on the frustration of not being able to access certain important funding streams due to the centre’s postcode placing us in an area not deemed sufficiently “deprived”, an issue he raised in Parliament. We continued to try to maintain and improve the condition of our old and much-used building. We updated the signage on our premises, which now encapsulates the new “strap line” generated by staff and Trustees: “We are a Walney based community hub which strives to meet the needs of our community.”
The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to manage those risks.
As ever, a major focus of our work is the on-going efforts to secure funding to enable us to maintain and further develop our activities. We continue to be extremely grateful to the organisations without whose financial support we would not be able to exist, particularly those who have faithfully funded us for many years. These organisations are shown on our website at www.walneycommunitytrust.org .
Walney Community Trust
Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Walney Community Trust
Income and Expenditure Account
For the year ended
31 December 2023
| Income Grants The National Lottery Community Fund - RC North East & Cumbria Region Fundraising Room hire Youth Club Donations Refunds received Other income Expenses Wages and NIC Training Travel expenses Systems and Safety Checks Professional Fees Payroll Expenses Building repairs and maintenance Cleaning expenses Computer expenses Council tax DBS checks Donations New equipment Telephone and Internet Charges Licences and subscriptions Sundry expenses Insurance Bank charges Printing stationery and advertising Youth Project expenses WDF Project expenses Depreciation Net surplus/(deficit) for the year |
146,933 31,174 - 605 3,959 3,697 4,068 1 190,437 108,711 44 - 1,481 765 1,175 1,499 745 - 46 30 - 38 697 849 - 2,151 106 658 681 35,302 580 155,558 34,879 2023 |
192,128 - 2,046 2,665 3,762 3,936 - 765 205,302 123,562 314 87 1,314 240 602 4,433 130 620 190 280 - (5,314) 558 828 3 1,954 89 345 - 71,434 690 202,359 2,943 2022 |
192,128 - 2,046 2,665 3,762 3,936 - 765 205,302 123,562 314 87 1,314 240 602 4,433 130 620 190 280 - (5,314) 558 828 3 1,954 89 345 - 71,434 690 202,359 2,943 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,943 |
I have examined the books and records of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023 and the above Income and Expenditure Account is in agreement with the books, records, and explanations supplied to me J Kelly MAAT 27 February 2024
| Walney Community Trust | Walney Community Trust | Walney Community Trust | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance Sheet | |||||
| As at | |||||
| 31 December 2023 | |||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| Notes | |||||
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| Tangible Assets | 2 | 87,054 | 87,384 | ||
| Cash and Bank Accounts | |||||
| Restricted | |||||
| Grant Fund Wages | 13113038 | 91,842 | 84,374 | ||
| Walney Development Fund | 10,496 | 9,453 | |||
| Unrestricted | |||||
| Current Account | 13046063 | 1,282 | 7,179 | ||
| Petty Cash Account | - | 14 | |||
| Designated | |||||
| Emergency Fund Account | 13210661 | 19031.13 | - | 3,210 | |
| Redundancy Account | 13088637 | 17,749 | 17,749 | ||
| Job Development Fund | 3,569 | 970 | |||
| Building/Contingency Fund | 20,000 | 8,836 | |||
| Co-op Youth Account | 25,546 | 5,587 | |||
| Equipment | 2,500 | ||||
| New Youth Staff | - | 403 | |||
| 260,038 | 225,159 | ||||
| Capital Account | |||||
| Reserves brought forward | 145,159 | 142,216 | |||
| Revaluation reserve | 3 | 80,000 | 80,000 | ||
| Net surplus/(deficit) for the | year | 34,879 | 2,943 | ||
| 260,038 | 225,159 | ||||
| - | 0 |
- | 0 |
I have examined the books and records of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023 and the above Balance Sheet is in agreement with the books, records, and explanations supplied to me
J Kelly MAAT 27 February 2024
Walney Community Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements For the Period Ended 31 December 2023
NOTE 1 Accounting Policies
1.1 Basis of Acccounting
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the FRS 102 Section 1A Small Entities - The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.
1.2 Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Property is valued at current market value.
Historically Plant & Equipment has been charged to the Income and Expenditure account. These historic assets have been introduced to Tangible Assets in the current period at their carrying value.
Plant & Equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairement losses.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of the fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis
Plant and Equipment 25% on the reducing balance Property Not Depreciated
NOTE 2 Tangible Assets
| Cost As at 1 January 2023 Revaluations Additions As at 31 December 2023 Depreciation As at 1 January 2023 Charge for the year As at 31 December 2023 Net Book Value As at 1 January 2023 As at 31 December 2023 |
Property £ 80,000 - 80,000 - - - 80,000 80,000 |
Plant & Equipment £ 8,074 - 250 8,324 690 580 1,270 7,384 7,054 |
Total £ 88,074 - 250 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88,324 | |||
| 690 580 |
|||
| 1,270 | |||
| 87,384 | |||
| 87,054 |
NOTE 3 Reserves
| Revaluation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reserve | ||
| £ | ||
| As at | 1 January 2023 | 80,000 |
| As at | 31 December 2023 | 80,000 |
Walney Community Trust
Financial Statements
For the year ended
31 December 2023 Walney Community Trust
Income and Expenditure Account For the year ended
31 December 2023
2023 2022
Income
Grants 146,933 192,128 The National Lottery Community Fund - RC North East & Cumbria Region 31,174 - Fundraising - 2,046 Room hire 605 2,665 Youth Club 3,959 3,762 Donations 3,697 3,936 Refunds received 4,068 - Other income - 765
190,437 205,302
Expenses
Wages and NIC 108,711 123,562 Training 44 314 Travel expenses - 87 Systems and Safety Checks 1,481 1,314 Professional Fees 765 240 Payroll Expenses 1,175 602 Building repairs and maintenance 1,499 4,433 Cleaning expenses 745 130 Computer expenses - 620 Council tax 46 190 DBS checks 30 280 Donations - - New equipment 38 (5,314) Telephone and Internet Charges 697 558 Licences and subscriptions 849 828 Sundry expenses - 3 Insurance 2,151 1,954 Bank charges 106 89 Printing stationery and advertising 658 345 Youth Project expenses 681 - WDF Project expenses 35,302 71,434 Depreciation 580 690
155,558 202,359
Net surplus/(deficit) for the year 34,879 2,943
I have examined the books and records of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023 and the above Income and Expenditure Account is in agreement with the books, records, and explanations supplied to me.
J Kelly
MAAT
27 February 2024
Walney Community Trust
Balance Sheet As at
31 December 2023
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2023 2022
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Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets 2 87,054 87,384
Cash and Bank Accounts
Restricted
Grant Fund Wages 13113038 91,842 84,374 Walney Development Fund 10,496 9,453
Unrestricted
Current Account 13046063 1,284 7,181 Petty Cash Account - 14
Designated
Emergency Fund Account 13210661 19033.13 - 3,210 Redundancy Account 13088637 17,749 17,749 Job Development Fund 3,569 970 Building/Contingency Fund 20,000 8,836 Co-op Youth Account 25,546 5,587 Equipment 2,500
New Youth Staff - 403 260,038 225,159
Capital Account
Reserves brought forward 145,159 142,216 Revaluation reserve 3 80,000 80,000 Net surplus/(deficit) for the
year 34,879 2,943
260,038 225,159
I have examined the books and records of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023 and the above Balance Sheet is in agreement with the books, records, and explanations supplied to me.
J Kelly MAAT 27 February 2024
NOTE 1 Accounting Policies 1.1 Basis of Acccounting Walney Community Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements For the Period Ended 31 December 2023
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the FRS 102 Section 1A Small Entities - The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.
1.2 Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Property is valued at current market value.
Historically Plant & Equipment has been charged to the Income and Expenditure account. These historic assets have been introduced to Tangible Assets in the current period at their carrying value.
Plant & Equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairement losses.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of the fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis:
Plant and Equipment 25% on the reducing balance Property Not Depreciated
NOTE 2 Tangible Assets
Property Plant & Total Equipment £ £ £
Cost As at 1 January 2023 80,000 8,074 88,074 Revaluations - - - Additions 250 250 As at 31 December 2023 80,000 8,324 88,324
Depreciation
As at 1 January 2023 - 690 690 Charge for the year - 580 580 As at 31 December 2023 - 1,270 1,270
Net Book Value
As at 1 January 2023 80,000 7,384 87,384 As at 31 December 2023 80,000 7,054 87,054
NOTE 3 Reserves
Revaluation Reserve £ As at 1 January 2023 80,000 As at 31 December 2023 80,000