Annual report of Walney Community Trust for 2024
Throughout 2024, we continued our traditional two-pronged approach to supporting the local area, roughly split into “youth based” and “community based” activities, often with considerable overlap between the two. Our services again made a positive impact upon sizeable numbers of people of all ages, despite having to manage considerable upheaval within our staffing provision.
Youth activities were led for the first half of the year by our Lead Youth worker, Paula, supported by her team of Youth workers; in the latter part of the year, we promoted Yvonne to the newly created role of Deputy Lead Youth Worker, to ensure the ongoing provision of our youth club during a prolonged sickness absence. 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), one-to-one sessions and closed sessions for invited members on mental health and wellbeing matters, as well as more typical youth club activities: pancake flipping, movie and popcorn evenings, arts and crafts, games, end of year and Christmas parties etc. The youth club sessions were very well-attended, with a total footfall of 2600+ (compared to 2400+ the previous year). Before stepping down from the role mid-year, Harvey, in the role of Youth Development worker (tasked with providing activities for young people outside the parameters of youth club) led a group of our young people on an outdoor activities day at the Kepplewray Centre, ran a homework club, arranged for youth club members to attend a Barrow AFC football match, and represented the Trust in the Furness Youth Work Partnership.
Our youth staff were again proactive in working with neighbourhood police to tackle anti-social behaviour by local youths. These outreach, detached sessions often attracted large numbers of local young people.
The community strand of our work was negatively impacted in the first part of the year by the resignation in January of our Lead Community worker Ros, after a number of years of very successful and highly committed work with the neediest people in the community. We appointed Laura to the role in April, supported by Debbie in her Adult Mentor role and various volunteers. Community activities aimed at supporting both individuals and families were organised from our centre: free meals, Toddler sessions, craft cafes, Clubbercise, wellbeing walks, chair aerobics, Great Big Green Week, Nature Discovery Day (in conjunction with Natural England), Warm Welcome Hub, Christmas Fayre etc. We again ran a number of courses and provided other services in addition to the activities. 2024 was the second 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 our improving practice in data collection, reveal the impressive extent to which we were able to benefit the community, especially bearing in mind that most of the above activities ran for 7 and not 12 months of the year:
- 100 people will benefit from easy access to community activities and events such as meals, mental and physical wellbeing classes and more, thus easing the burden of poverty and social isolation, which in turn improves mental wellbeing, resilience, confidence and self-esteem, as a result of attending the Trust’s Community actvites: in 2024, 1123 unique people attended ( these people attended 2206 times)
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100 people will benefit from access to community activities and events designed specifically to improve knowledge of conservation and our impact on the environment, which will improve their mental wellbeing, physical health and the local community as a result of accessing the Trust’s Community environmental educaton programme: in 2024, we had a total footfall of 121.
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50 people will benefit from improved mental wellbeing, resilience, confidence, self-esteem and learn new life and employability skills, empowering them to be independent as a result of attending the Trust’s Community courses: in 2024, we had a total footfall of 340.
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200 people will benefit from support for themselves and their families, in times of need, resulting in improved financial and mental wellbeing, resilience, confidence and self-esteem, as a result of accessing the Trust’s Community support: in 2024, 81 unique people were supported (for a total of 480 times)
Community and youth staff again worked jointly on the summer Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme on behalf of the local council, albeit on a smaller scale than in previous years. Feedback included: “I had the best day ever”; “Thank you for everything over the last few weeks, she has had a great time”; “Both kids really enjoyed themselves and even asked for their friends to attend the following sessions which they all enjoyed. The staff are really friendly and always helpful.”
Both teams of staff again demonstrated considerable commitment to updating and improving their skills and knowledge: training in First Aid, Safeguarding and NHS Kooth provision was undertaken. 4 staff were also trained to become designated fire wardens. We held staff planning/preparation/training periods in both January and September, the latter including a team building activity run by a local provider. We have developed a new Training Schedule for both staff and Trustees.
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 maintained links with a wide range of outside agencies and other charitable groups with whom they work in partnership.
We appointed our Administrator Cheryl to the General Manager role (and subsequently Lynne to the vacated Administrator role). She has led regular staff meetings and one to one sessions with all staff and striven to maintain a full staffing complement in view of staff illness and unforeseen resignations, the latter for a variety of reasons, notably to move to better paid employment with BAE Systems. As well as ongoing repairs (window lintels, boiler issues etc.) we have made various improvements to our ageing building (new rear doors, emergency release gate, batteries to store solar panel electricity, loft hatch, external noticeboard etc.) and despite a number of funding application setbacks, we have been successful in acquiring funding for a completely renovated kitchen, new front door and chairs, improvements which will take place in 2025. We achieved the top Grade 5 in our Environmental Health Kitchen Inspection. We have attended local Funding Fairs, Volunteer fairs; have met with local MPs and councillors; played an active role in the Furness Community Network.
The Trustees themselves were active throughout the year, meeting formally on 6 occasions, one of which incorporated the AGM; we held a further meeting to focus specifically on our Strategic Plan. We approved and and introduced new policies for Fire Safety, Data Protection and Confidentiality and Safer Recruitment, maintained our rolling programme, by which key policies are reviewed formally annually and others biennially. We maintained a Safeguarding group comprising two Trustees and staff Designated Safeguarding Leads, meeting formally 6 times per year and reporting to the Trustee body. We formalised our Finance and Risk Management Group comprising Chair, Deputy and General Manager, meeting approximately monthly, and submitting minutes to the full Trustee body. We developed a New Trustee Support Pack. We spent considerable time early in the year discussing and agreeing with the leaders of Spring Mount Church the nature of the relationship between the two organisations.
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
At our special Strategic Objectives meeting, also attended by our General Manager, we added a fourth objective:
- Identify and quantify unmet needs on Walney
We spent much time trying to communicate with the owner of the adjacent pieces of land, in order to effect necessary repairs to a boundary wall. We continued at a snail’s pace on the process of transferring ownership of the premises from the Trustee body to the Charity Commission’s Custodian Scheme. We continue to make slow progress on energy supply issues; in addition to battery installation, we now have a
Smart meter to enable us to receive payment for electricity exported to the National Grid and thus reduce energy costs.
Our Deputy Chair, Steve Pryer, resigned his role in December, after several years’ much-valued service; the Trust benefited enormously from his experience, expertise and willing contributions. It is planned that two new Trustees will be appointed early in 2025.
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 2024
Walney Community Trust
Income and Expenditure Account
For the year ended
31 December 2024
| Income Grants The National Lottery Community Fund - RC North East & Cumbria Region Room hire Youth Club Community Door 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 Council tax Utilities DBS checks New equipment Telephone and Internet Charges Licences and subscriptions Sundry expenses Insurance Bank charges Printing stationery and advertising Youth Project expenses WDF Project expenses CCF Project expenses Capital projects Depreciation Net surplus/(deficit) for the year |
43,335 15,967 4,270 3,604 804 125 203 1,646 69,953 91,668 2,728 55 1,821 240 1,264 11,206 2,917 - 1,295 376 186 700 1,025 112 2,283 - 703 1,917 9,471 225 5,760 844 136,795 (66,841) 2024 |
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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34,879 |
I have examined the books and records of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2024 and the above Income and Expenditure Account is in agreement with the books, records, and explanations supplied to me J Kelly MAAT, ACCA 27 February 2024
| Walney Community Trust | Walney Community Trust | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance Sheet | ||||
| As at | ||||
| 31 December 2024 | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| Notes | ||||
| Fixed Assets | ||||
| Tangible Assets | 2 | 87,846 | 87,054 | |
| Cash and Bank Accounts | ||||
| Restricted | ||||
| Grant Fund Wages | 13113038 | 58,383 | 91,842 | |
| Walney Development Fund | 7,426 | 10,496 | ||
| Unrestricted | ||||
| Current Account | 13046063 | 1,671 | 1,281 | |
| Designated | ||||
| Redundancy Fund | 13088637 | 17,749 | 17,749 | |
| Job Development Fund | 3,678 | 3,569 | ||
| Building/Contingency Fund | 4,866 | 20,000 | ||
| BWECT Baywind | 528 | - | ||
| Equipment | 1,485 | 2,500 | ||
| Co-op Youth Account | 9,564 | 25,546 | ||
| New Youth Staff | - | - | ||
| 193,197 | 260,038 | |||
| Capital Account | ||||
| Reserves brought forward | 180,038 | 145,159 | ||
| Revaluation reserve | 3 | 80,000 | 80,000 | |
| Net surplus/(deficit) for the | year | (66,841) | 34,879 | |
| 193,197 | 260,038 | |||
| 0 | 0 |
I have examined the books and records of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2024 and the above Balance Sheet is in agreement with the books, records, and explanations supplied to me
J Kelly MAAT, ACCA 27 February 2024
Walney Community Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements For the Period Ended 31 December 2024
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 2024 Revaluations Additions As at 31 December 2024 Depreciation As at 1 January 2024 Charge for the year As at 31 December 2024 Net Book Value As at 1 January 2024 As at 31 December 2024 |
Property £ 80,000 - 80,000 - - - 80,000 80,000 |
Plant & Equipment £ 8,324 - 1,637 9,961 1,270 844 2,114 7,054 7,846 |
Total £ 88,324 - 1,637 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89,961 | |||
| 1,270 844 |
|||
| 2,114 | |||
| 87,054 | |||
| 87,846 |
NOTE 3 Reserves
| Revaluation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reserve | ||
| £ | ||
| As at | 1 January 2024 | 80,000 |
| As at | 31 December 2024 | 80,000 |
14 March 2025
Private and Confidential Mr A Docker Walney Community Trust Spring Mount Walney Ampritrite Street Barrow in Furness Cumbria LA14 3BZ
Invoice No. 2039/03/2025
To professional services rendered in connection with:
Walney Community Trust
Accounts year ended 31 December 2024
Examining accounting records
Preparation of year end accounts
| Sundry discussions, correspondance, meetings, telephone calls, etc to date Fee (Vatable) Vat @ 20% Disbursements (Non-vatable) Total due £ Payment due on presentation - thank you! Please pay direct: HSBC plc Manchester Branch Sort Code 40 31 17 Account Number 51553879 |
200.00 40.00 |
|---|---|
| 240.00 - |
|
| 240.00 | |
Vat registration number 199 4855 34
Walney Community Trust
Financial Statements
For the year ended
31 December 2024
Walney Community Trust
Income and Expenditure Account
For the year ended
31 December 2024
2024 2023
Income
Grants 43,335 146,933 The National Lottery Community Fund - RC North East & Cumbria Region 15,967 31,174 Room hire 4,270 605 Youth Club 3,604 3,959 Community Door 804 Donations 125 3,697 Refunds received 203 4,068 Other income 1,646 1
69,953 190,437
Expenses
Wages and NIC 91,668 108,711 Training 2,728 44 Travel expenses 55 - Systems and Safety Checks 1,821 1,481 Professional Fees 240 765 Payroll Expenses 1,264 1,175 Building repairs and maintenance 11,206 1,499 Cleaning expenses 2,917 745 Council tax - 46 Utilities 1,295 - DBS checks 376 30 New equipment 186 38 Telephone and Internet Charges 700 697 Licences and subscriptions 1,025 849 Sundry expenses 112 - Insurance 2,283 2,151 Bank charges - 106 Printing stationery and advertising 703 658 Youth Project expenses 1,917 681 WDF Project expenses 9,471 35,302 CCF Project expenses 225 - Capital projects 5,760 - Depreciation 844 580
136,795 155,558
Net surplus/(deficit) for the year (66,841) 34,879
I have examined the books and records of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2024 and the above Income and Expenditure Account is in agreement with the books, records, and explanations supplied to me.
J Kelly
MAAT, ACCA
27 February 2024
Walney Community Trust
Balance Sheet As at 31 December 2024
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2024 2023
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Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets 2 87,846 87,054
Cash and Bank Accounts
Restricted
Grant Fund Wages 13113038 58,383 91,842 Walney Development Fund 7,426 10,496
Unrestricted
Current Account 13046063 1,671 1,281
Designated
Redundancy Fund 13088637 17,749 17,749 Job Development Fund 3,678 3,569 Building/Contingency Fund 4,866 20,000 BWECT Baywind 528 - Equipment 1,485 2,500 Co-op Youth Account 9,564 25,546 New Youth Staff - -
193,197 260,038
Capital Account
Reserves brought forward 180,038 145,159 Revaluation reserve 3 80,000 80,000 Net surplus/(deficit) for the year (66,841) 34,879
193,197 260,038
0 0
I have examined the books and records of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2024 and the above Balance Sheet is in agreement with the books, records, and explanations supplied to me.
J Kelly MAAT, ACCA 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 2024
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 2024 80,000 8,324 88,324 Revaluations - - - Additions 1,637 1,637 As at 31 December 2024 80,000 9,961 89,961
Depreciation
As at 1 January 2024 - 1,270 1,270 Charge for the year - 844 844 As at 31 December 2024 - 2,114 2,114
Net Book Value
As at 1 January 2024 80,000 7,054 87,054 As at 31 December 2024 80,000 7,846 87,846
NOTE 3 Reserves
Revaluation Reserve £ As at 1 January 2024 80,000 As at 31 December 2024 80,000 14 March 2025 Private and Confidential Mr A Docker Walney Community Trust Spring Mount Walney Ampritrite Street Barrow in Furness Cumbria LA14 3BZ Invoice No. 2039/03/2025
To professional services rendered in connection with:
Walney Community Trust
Accounts year ended 31 December 2024
Examining accounting records
Preparation of year end accounts
Sundry discussions, correspondance, meetings, telephone calls, etc to date
Fee (Vatable) 200.00 Vat @ 20% 40.00 240.00
Disbursements (Non-vatable) -
Total due £ 240.00 Payment due on presentation - thank you!
Please pay direct: HSBC plc
Manchester Branch Sort Code 40 31 17 Account Number 51553879
Vat registration number 199 4855 34