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2021-03-31-accounts

FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

for the year ended

31st March 2021

REGISTERED NUMBER: 4241965 CHARITY NUMBER: 1112796

FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Accounts

Contents Page
Company Information 1
Report of the Trustees 2
Auditor’s Report 13
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 18
Comparative Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 19
Balance Sheet 20
Statement of Cash Flows 21
Notes to the Accounts 22

FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Company Information 31st March 2021

Company number: 4241965
Charity number: 1112796
Trustees: P R Bostock (Chair)
B Prescott
P M Freeman
M Ord
A Hughes
Secretary: S Roberts
Chief Executive: S Roberts
Registered office: Conleach Road
Speke
Liverpool
L24 0TW
Bankers: Co-operative Bank plc
Po Box 250
Delf House
Southway
Skelmersdale
WN8 6WT
Solicitors: Hill Dickinson LLP
No.1 St. Paul's Square
Liverpool
L3 9SJ
Auditor: Mitchell Charlesworth LLP
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
5 Temple Square
Temple Street
Liverpool
L2 5RH

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) present their report together with the audited accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and 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 published in October 2019.

Trustees

The trustees who served during the year are detailed on page 1.

P M Freeman and B Prescott retire by rotation and being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.

Objects and activities

The objects of the charity are to:

The charity has the general aim of working in partnership to deliver better outcomes for children and families.

The main objectives for the year continue to be the delivery of our children centre contract, particularly focusing on enhanced family support through our parent mentor project, improving access to employment and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, in particular focusing on mental wellbeing and diet and nutrition.

Strategic Report

Achievements and performance

Five Children Centre

We commenced the April 2020 financial year in a national lockdown, with a robust plan in place to ensure that its impact was minimised for our employees and our community. Our Board was committed to ensuring no employees were financially impacted through shielding or furlough requirements. We also maintained front line service delivery within our children centres although our focus and delivery methods were amended. There was a significant focus on poverty with many parents losing their jobs or living on reduced income due to Furlough, and the strain of having children at home all day.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Achievements and Performance (continued)

Our Focus on Poverty

Locally child poverty remains a stubborn issue and whilst we rank 11th with regard to the percentage of children living in poverty, we rank 3rd in respect of the volume of children who live in poverty. 1,172 children were defined as living in absolute poverty with a further 1,409 children living in relative low-income families. Participation in delivery of free school meal vouchers provided us with intelligence to effectively target those children and their families throughout the year.

In this financial year we:

All recorded data is taken from our Estart Data Base which is enabled for data relating to families with a child under the age of 5 and the Local Authority Revenues and Benefits data in relation to free school meals.

We also continued to operate a food bank with South Liverpool Homes gifting their food allocation from Fareshare to the Centre, enabling us to offer enhanced Food Poverty support. To avoid barriers to accessing support we did not collect data but a significant number of families and single person households were enabled to access the Centres Community Fridge without stigma. It is estimated that 50 families and individuals accessed this support on a regular basis each week.

Children Centre Activities

Across our children centres we worked with 2,322 families during this reporting period this included 1,394 children aged under 4 years old with a total of 25,576 individual client contacts. This is an overall slight reduction from the previous year although Five Children Centre increased the numbers of 0-4 year old’s seen in Speke and achieved an overall reach target of 78% of children seen, an increase of 13% on the previous year. In the context of poverty, the Centres achieved a target of 77% of children seen, who live in the 1-5% most deprived communities.

Overall the children centre activities included:

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Achievements and Performance (continued)

Children Centre Activities (continued)

Partnership working was very different throughout this challenging Covid period, and a lot of work was undertaken via telephone and zoom, however we continued to maintain our contact with multi-agency partners to ensure a shared approach to highlighting vulnerable families and safeguarding children. Partners who would normally offer services from our Centre were unable to do so as they also entered the virtual world due to Government restrictions. Negotiations began to reinstate services and plan for new services and in the new year we are excited to be working with a new therapeutic project run by PSS focusing on early bonding. The project is led by a clinical psychology team, and we will introduce a new antenatal parenting programme Mellow Bumps, Children Centre practitioners will support delivery of the programme.

South Liverpool CAB have also set up a perinatal support team through a social prescribing model and they will attend antenatal services at the Centre.

Five Childcare

Having opened our new Muddy Footprints Early Years Centre, we entered a period of Covid restriction making for a very difficult year. A number of practitioners were required to shield, and Government restrictions meant that we could only offer care to vulnerable children and those whose parents were designated key workers. Initially the definition of key workers was narrow and whilst children with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) were defined as vulnerable our very young children would not have been assessed. Crucially within early years we are working with children who have complex needs and are required to follow a specific trajectory in terms of support, termed graduated approaches. This feeds into their EHCP so impact of Covid was significant for many young children and more so for those children who we knew would meet the requirements for an EHCP assessment, they were not allowed to access the setting and as a result were unable to fully access graduated approaches. All children were impacted however the transition back into care was more difficult for these children, nonetheless we continued to support and advocate on behalf of these children.

We were prepared to stay open and worked closely with the Local Authority to ensure that where other settings adopted a blanket approach to close their doors to ensure Key Workers could access provision. Despite this for the first quarter we were unable to attract sufficient numbers to maintain our full service provision and took the decision to close our Muddy footprints site.

Local schools were designated as hubs; however, they were unable to offer wrap around services. As such several children of school age were accommodated by our Five Childcare Setting. This was free of charge as we did not want to pass on charges to parents and schools were unable to release their budgets.

No parents were charged if they were unable to access childcare as a result of Covid.

We were successful in securing funding through Mayoral Inclusive Growth Fund to carry out a major refurbishment of our onsite nursery garden, which also has a community element so that parents using the Children Centre can also access the garden.

Practitioners who were furloughed worked on rotation and received 100% of their salary for the duration of Covid interruption to services.

We are still awaiting Ofsted inspections for our Muddy Footprints site, but they have been rated as “green” by the Local Authority, School Improvement Team our 2021 Ofsted Inspection saw us graded good. The Inspectors were very impressed by how we had managed our responses to supporting parents and children and our practitioners throughout the pandemic.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Achievements and Performance (continued)

Five Childcare (continued)

The Inspector noted that, “ The revised drop off arrangements due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic do not affect children. They eagerly bound in ready to play and explore. Children have developed very warm attachments to staff. This contributes to their high levels of self-esteem, sense of belonging and emotional security. Children of all ages demonstrate a positive attitude to learning and clearly love spending time at this inclusive and nurturing nursery ”

Our planned intensive focus on supporting personal, social and emotional development, during and following the lockdown, paid dividends and ensured our children across all sites were prepared for learning.

Public Benefit Statement

The Children Centre contract has a 100% focus on public benefit for children and families in Speke Garston and Cressington wards.

We support working parents with advice and guidance, ensuring maximum take up of childcare tax credits reducing fees by as much as 80% for the majority of parents and currently our ratio of free childcare provision stands at 60% compared to 40% fee paying.

We maintained and built on our links with local businesses who support our Food Poverty Work and would like to thank:

AstraZeneca, Fords, Nandos, Moreton’s Dairy and Bid Foods all of whom have supported us to ensure families can have access to food and resources throughout the year and in particular over holiday periods.

Additionally, many local businesses impacted by Covid made very generous donations of luxury goods and food items which we redistributed to families. This included TK Maxx, Sayers and Subway.

Through our Children Centre work we also supported families to access Liverpool Citizen’s Support Scheme (White Goods), Channel J (Furniture and equipment) and the Family Fund (Holidays). Our SEND Link workers also assist with the preparation of Disability Living Allowance applications and appeals on behalf of children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). We actively advocate on behalf of SEND children in terms of ensuring they are able to access support through the early years consortia and ensure Education and Health Care Plans are in place prior to them starting school.

The Charity also took on the Lead Responsibility role for the Speke Garston and Cressington Youth and Play provision brokering finance with the Local Authority and Ward Councillors.

We continue to provide free training and consultancy to other local community organisations on policy development, HR and Charity matters and Safeguarding Children.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Public Benefit Statement

The Children Centre contract has a 100% focus on public benefit for children and families in Speke Garston and Cressington wards.

We support working parents with advice and guidance, ensuring maximum take up of childcare tax credits reducing fees by as much as 80% for the majority of parents and currently our ratio of free childcare provision stands at 57% compared to 43% fee paying.

We continue to build links with local businesses who support our Food Poverty Work and would like to thank: AstraZeneca, Nandos, Moreton’s Dairy, Fords and Bid Foods all of whom have supported us to ensure families can have access to food and resources throughout the year and in particular over holiday periods.

Through our Children Centre work we also support families to access Liverpool Citizen’s Support Scheme (White Goods), Channel J (Furniture and equipment) and the Family Fund (Holidays). Our SEND Link workers also assist with the preparation of Disability Living Allowance applications and appeals on behalf of children with SEND.

Additionally, we provide free rooms to a number of organisations and groups to support community cohesion and client health and wellbeing, this has included:

This year we also actively supported local and citywide strategic development offering multi-agency meeting spaces to partners developing the Transforming Women and Children’s Services agenda in Liverpool. This led to our participation in a 100 Day Challenge facilitated by NESTA which involved the collaboration of partners from a range of disciplines to develop new approaches to service delivery. The charity chaired the group and collectively we agreed new approaches to community development though the establishment of Cake Clubs and a Bite size parenting programme both facilitated by multi-agency partners. It influenced our approaches to supporting children with SEND with the establishment of health led children’s multi-disciplinary team meetings and improving consistency with regard to supporting children with delayed language and communication.

We have also provided training and consultancy to other local community organisations on policy development, HR matters and Safeguarding Children.

Risk management

A full risk assessment register has been completed including any risks associated with new proposals. A summary of key risks is set out below and includes the impact of Covid 19:

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Risk management (continued)

Covid 19 Staff:

Covid19 Financial Impact:

Covid 19 Community Impact:

Loss of childcare revenues:

Increase in competition base for childcare

Changes to Children Centre’s and Childcare Inspection Frameworks

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Risk management (continued)

Potential significant maintenance requirements arise in relation to the Children Centre Asset

Failure to adequately safeguard children:

Loss of key staff and pressures arising on the SMT

Financial review

The accounts show an increase in income of £243,060 to £1,425,915 (2020 £1,182,855).

The trustees report a surplus of £32,684 (2020 deficit £13,390).

Investments powers and policy

Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the charity has the power to invest in any way the trustees wish.

Policy on remuneration of key management personnel

The charity is committed to ensuring that we pay our staff fairly and in a way which ensures we attract and retain the right skills to have the greatest impact in delivering our charitable objectives.

The Board undertakes an annual review of salaries with the CEO in attendance, although the CEO does not participate in the discussions around their own salary. All salary reviews take account of the broader financial position of the organisation.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Policy on remuneration of key management personnel (continued)

When carrying out its reviews, the Board has regard to:

Reserves policy

The charity’s reserves policy is to build up an unrestricted reserve sufficient to enable the charity’s activities to be continued for a period of 3 months should regular funding be reduced or become unobtainable.

This would provide the trustees with sufficient time to consider how the operations of the charity could be developed to enable its services to continue to be provided given the levels of funding available.

At present this level of reserves is realistically unobtainable but the trustees are looking at ways of increasing its incoming resources that would enable unrestricted reserves to be built up over a period of time.

Our business strategy is focused on the creation of a mixed economy that is:

The build-up of a financial reserve is clearly linked to organisational performance and is wholly dependent on the organisation’s ability to respond, develop and innovate within the context of our enterprise work.

This is consistent with our business mission:

“We will grow our services, innovatively, profitably and in accordance with our charitable mission.”

In building sufficient reserves, we will be able to respond to potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time enabling us to meet financial risks associated with any contingency or uncertainty relating to the charity’s operating activities. These include:

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Structure, governance and management

Post balance sheet events

There are no significant post balance sheet events to report.

Governing document

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 27th June 2001 as amended on 2nd March 2006 to allow for current governance arrangements.

The company was registered as a charity on 23rd January 2006.

Membership of the charity is open to individuals or organisations who qualify in accordance with the policy and criteria for admission of members made by the trustees.

Organisation

The board of trustees, which can have up to 9 members, administers the charity. The board meets at least four times a year and there are sub-committees covering finance, nominations and human resources.

A Chief Executive is appointed by the trustees to manage the day to day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Board has delegated authority to the Chief Executive for all operational matters including finance, employment and performance related activity.

Appointment of trustees

As set out in the Articles of Association the nominations committee will advise the charity on:

The nominations committee has delegated authority to carry out its role detailed above and to make such nominations as it sees fit.

The charity is committed to the full involvement of parents in its strategic development and we would always seek to have a third of our membership made up of local parents. Currently 50% of the board is made up of local parents.

The trustees have the power to co-opt any person duly qualified to be appointed as a trustee to fill a vacancy in their number or as an additional trustee but a co-opted trustee holds office only until the next AGM.

All members are circulated with the invitations to nominate trustees prior to the AGM advising them of the retiring trustees and requesting nominations for the AGM.

Nominees appointed by Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Primary Care Trust are subject to the appointment processes of those bodies and the guidelines on appointment to public office as they apply to Local Government and Department of Health nominees.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Structure Trustee induction and training

New trustees undergo an induction to brief them on:

During the induction period board members arrangements are made for them to meet key employees and other trustees.

Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role. The charity ensures adequate funds are available for trustees to undertake training in relation to their roles and responsibilities.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charitable company’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year.

In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

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 to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. The trustees 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.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2021 (continued)

Trustees’ statement of disclosure of information to the auditors

Each of the persons who is a trustee at the date of approval of this report confirm in so far as they are aware that:

By Order of the Trustees

S. Roberts Secretary

24 March 2022

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Mitchell Charlesworth LLP

Chartered Accountants

5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 5RH

FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd

For the year ended 31st March 2021

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31st March 2021 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of 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:

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.

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Mitchell Charlesworth LLP

Chartered Accountants

5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 5RH

FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd

For the year ended 31st March 2021 [Continued]

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

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 strategic report and 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:

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Mitchell Charlesworth LLP

Chartered Accountants

5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 5RH

FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd

For the year ended 31st March 2021 [Continued]

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities 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.

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:

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:

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Mitchell Charlesworth LLP

Chartered Accountants

5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 5RH

FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd

For the year ended 31st March 2021 [Continued]

Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities (continued)

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas:

(i) The presentation of the charity's Statement of Financial Activities, (ii) the charity's accounting policy for revenue recognition, and (iii) the overstatement of salary and other costs. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charitable company operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Companies Act and the Statement of Recommended Practice - 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued by the joint SORP making body.

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the charitable company’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. These included Safeguarding and Data Protection regulations.

Audit response to risks identified

As a result of performing the above, we identified the presentation of the charitable company’s Statement of Financial Activities, revenue recognition and overstatement of wages and other costs as the key audit matters related to the potential risk of fraud. The key audit matters section of our report explains the matters in more detail and also describes the specific procedures we performed in response to those key audit matters.

In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:

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Mitchell Charlesworth LLP

Chartered Accountants

5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool L2 5RH

FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Five Children and Families Trust Ltd

For the year ended 31st March 2021 [Continued]

Audit response to risks identified (continued)

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

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. The 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: http://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 auditors' 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.

Mitchell Charlesworth

Mr Philip Griffiths Senior Statutory Auditor

25 March 2022

On behalf of Mitchell Charlesworth LLP

Statutory Auditor

3rd Floor 5 Temple Square Temple Street Liverpool Merseyside L2 5RH

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31st March 2021

Summary Income and Expenditure Account

Unrestricted
Restricted
Notes
funds
funds
Income from:
£
£
Donations and legacies
2
162,707
5,630
Charitable activities
3
840,289
417,289

Total income
1,002,996
422,919
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
4
864,610
528,621

Total expenditure
864,610
528,621
Net income/(expenditure for the year
7
138,386
(105,702)
Total funds brought forward
40,461
288,014

Total funds carried forward
178,847
182,312		 Total
2021
£
168,337
1,257,578

1,425,915
1,393,231

1,393,231
32,684
328,475

361,159		 Total
2020
£
12,100
1,170,755
1,182,855
1,196,245
1,196,245
(13,390)
341,865
328,475

The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above. All activities of the charity are classed as continuing.

The notes on pages 22 to 32 form part of these accounts.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31st March 2021

Comparative information for the year ended 31st March 2020

Unrestricted
Restricted
Notes
funds
funds
Income from:
£
£
Donations and legacies
2
6,094
6,006
Charitable activities
3
709,311
461,444

Total income
715,405
467,450
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
4
676,854
519,391

Total expenditure
676,854
519,391
Net income/(expenditure for the year
7
38,551
(51,941)
Total funds brought forward
1,910
339,955

Total funds carried forward
40,461
288,014		 Total
2020
£
12,100
1,170,755
1,182,855
1,196,245
1,196,245
(13,390)
341,865
328,475

The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above. All activities of the charity are classed as continuing.

The notes on pages 22 to 32 form part of these accounts.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Balance Sheet 31st March 2021

Notes
2021
£
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
236,932
Current assets
Debtors
11
41,610
Cash at bank and in hand
295,834
337,444
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year
12
(153,110)
Net current (liabilities)/assets
184,334
Total assets less current liabilities
421,266
Creditors
Amounts falling due over one year
13
(60,107)
361,159
Funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
17
178,847
Restricted funds
18
182,312
Total funds
19
361,159		 2020
£
£
274,885
55,452
98,455
153,907
(67,153)
86,754
361,639
(33,164)
328,475
40,461
288,014
328,475

The accounts on pages 18 to 32 were approved by the trustees and authorised for issue on 24 March 2022 and signed on their behalf by:-

M Ord Trustee

Company Registration Number: 4241965

The notes on pages 22 to 32 form part of these accounts.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31st March 2021

Notes
Cash flow from operating activities
22
Cash flow from investing activities
Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets
Net cash flow from investing activities
Cash flow from financing activities
New loans
Repayments of loans
Interest paid
Net cash flow from financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the
year ending 31st March 2021
Cash and cash equivalents as at 1st April
2020
Cash and cash equivalents as at 31st
March 2021
23		 2021
£
£
207,213
(37,837)
(37,837)
50,000
(17,027)
(4,970)
28,003
197,379
98,455
295,834		 2020
£
£
91,527
-
-
-
(15,157)
(6,838)
(21,995)
69,532
28,923
98,455

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

1. Summary of significant accounting policies

(a) General information and basis of preparation

Five Children and Families Trust is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity in the United Kingdom. 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 address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 1 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are set out in the Trustees’ Report on page 2.

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 Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £1.

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.

(b) Funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

(c) Income recognition

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.

No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102). Further detail is given in the Trustees’ Annual Report.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(c) Income recognition (continued)

Income from charitable activities includes income received under contract or where entitlement to grant funding is subject to special performance conditions and is recognised as earned as the related services are provided. Grant income included in this category provides funding to support performance activities and is recognised when there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amounts can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Investment income is earned through holding assets for investment purposes such as bank deposits. It essentially includes interest which is recognised using the effective interest method.

(d) Expenditure recognition

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.

(e) Support costs allocation

Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs and administrative payroll costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management carried out at the Children’s Centre. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to expenditure on charitable activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources.

The analysis of these costs is included in note 5.

(f) Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost (or deemed cost) or valuation less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life as follows:

Building improvements - 10% per annum Fixtures and fittings - 25% per annum

(g) Investments

Investments are recognised at fair value which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs, less impairment.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

(h) Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year

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

(i) Loans and borrowings

Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the transaction price including transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less impairment. If an arrangement constitutes a finance transaction it is measured at present value.

(j) Impairment

Assets not measured at fair value are reviewed for any indication that the asset may be impaired at each balance sheet date. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset, or the asset’s cash generating unit, is estimated and compared to the carrying amount. Where the carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss unless the asset is carried at a revalued amount where the impairment loss is a revaluation decrease.

(k) Leases

Rentals payable and receivable under operating leases are charged to the SoFA on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

(l) Employee benefits

When employees have rendered service to the charity, short-term employee benefits to which the employees are entitled are recognised at the undiscounted amount expected to be paid in exchange for that service.

The charity operates a defined contribution plan for the benefit of its employees. Contributions are expensed as they become payable.

(m) Tax

The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.

(n) Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements and having due regard to the impact of Covid-19. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

2. Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Donations and other sundry income
26,696
5,630
Covid support grants
136,011
-
162,707
5,630		 Total
2021
£
32,326
136,011
168,337		 Total
2020
£
12,100
-
12,100

£6,006 of the above income in 2020 was attributed to restricted funds and £6,094 of the above income in 2020 was attributed to unrestricted funds.

3. Income from charitable activities

3. Income from charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Children’s Centres – Liverpool City Council - 271,270 271,270 294,776
Nursery income 753,481 - 753,481 589,894
Letting of Centre 17,294 - 17,294 27,132
Health and wellbeing - 140,149 140,149 74,600
Kids Club 53,865 - 53,865 69,750
Other 15,649 5,870 21,519 114,603
840,289
 417,289 1,257,578 1,170,755
£461,444 of the above income in 2020 was attributed to restricted funds and £709,311 of the above income in
2020 was attributed to unrestricted funds.
4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable
activities Direct Support Total
Total
costs costs 2021
2020
£ £ £
£
Children’s Centres 307,908 82,913 390,821 304,502
Nursery 617,474 16,519 633,993
488,852
Health and wellbeing 959 69,541 70,500
71,184
Building and support 22,069 122,671 144,740
182,014
Kids Club 55,948 733 56,681
59,475
Other 94,048 2,448 96,496
90,218
1,098,406 294,825 1,393,231
1,196,245

£528,621 (2020 £519,391) of the above costs were attributed to restricted funds and £864,610 (2020 £676,854) of the above costs were attributed to unrestricted funds.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

5.
Support costs
Staff and volunteer costs
Premises costs
Depreciation
Office costs
Legal and professional
Information technology
Other
Governance costs (note 6)
6.
Governance costs
Fees payable to the charity’s auditor (and its associates) for the audit of
the charity’s annual accounts
7.
Net incoming/(outgoing)resources for the year
This is stated after charging:
Depreciation
Audit fee		 Total
2021
£
144,542
21,956
75,790
14,183
4,798
1,007
25,234
7,315

294,825

Total
2021
£
7,315

Total
2021
£
75,790
7,315		 Total
2020
£
150,094
23,374
66,333
9,980
11,000
1,282
23,630
7,089
292,782
Total
2020
£
7,089
Total
2020
£
66,333
7,089

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

8.
Staff costs and numbers
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Other pension costs
There are no employees earning at the rate of £60,000 or more per annum.
The average weekly number of employees during the year, was as follows:-
Total		 Total
2021
£
921,798
45,166
26,890
993,854
2021
Number
54
 Total
2020
£
772,967
44,595
19,418
836,980
2020
Number
49

9. Trustees’ and key management

One of the trustees received remuneration during the year totalling £4,386 (2020 £1,957). This remuneration was in respect of sessional work performed to provide short term cover for sickness and other absences. No expenses (2020 £Nil) were reimbursed to any trustees (2020 - 0) during the year.

The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel is £147,452 (2020 £105,760).

The charity considers its key management personnel to comprise the Programme Director, Deputy Children’s Centre Manager, Building Manager and Team Leader and Nursery Manager.

10.

Tangible fixed assets
Building
Fixtures and
improvements
equipment
Cost
£
£
At 1st April 2020
429,607
123,886
Additions
30,898
6,939

31st March 2021
460,505
130,825
Depreciation
At 1st April 2020
169,161
109,447
Charge for the year
59,105
16,685

At 31st March 2021
228,266
126,132
Net book value
At 31st March 2021
232,239
4,693

At 31st March 2020
260,446
14,439		 Total
£
553,493
37,837
591,330
278,608
75,790
354,398
236,932
274,885

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

11.
Debtors
Trade debtors
12.
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Bank loan
Keyfund loan
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Social security and other taxes
Other creditors
13.
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
Bank loan
Keyfund loan		 2021
£
41,610
2021
£
3,932
19,123
49,993
44,350
30,721
4,991
153,110
2021
£
46,068
14,039
60,107		 2020
£
55,452
2020
£
-
17,025
15,528
19,036
14,994
570
67,153
2020
£
-
33,164
33,164

The remaining loan from the Key Fund is unsecured, with interest charged at 12% per annum.

The charity took out a loan from Barclays Bank plc under the terms of the Covid Bounce Back loan scheme. The loan is unsecured, is repayable by October 2026 and interest is currently charged at 2.5% per annum.

14. Maturity of debt

Maturity of debt
Creditors include finance capital which is due for repayment as follows:-
Amounts repayable:-
In one year or less or on demand
In more than one year but not more than two years
In two to five years		 2021
£
23,055
23,648
36,460
83,162		 2020
£
17,025
19,124
14,040
50,189

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

15. Capital commitments

There were no capital commitments at 31st March 2021 and 31st March 2020.

16. Members’ liability

The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. Every member of the Association undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company, in the event of being wound up while he or she is a member or within one year of ceasing to be a member for debts and liabilities of the company contracted before he or she ceases to be a member, such amount as may be required not exceeding £1.

17.
Unrestricted funds
As at
01.04.20
£
General fund
40,461
Comparative information in respect of the preceding period is as
As at
01.04.19
£
General fund
1,910
18.
Restricted funds
As at
01.04.20
£
Children’s centre grants:
Children’s centre - Liverpool City Council
-
Garston centre - Liverpool City Council
39,430
Nursery grants:
Liverpool City Council Capital Grant
19,350
Liverpool City Council Capital Grant 2
185,066
DHL UK Foundation
4,500
Key Fund Grant
4,250
Bambinis
27,872
Mentor
-
Other
-
Youth Consortium
-
Sundry grants:
Community Foundation - Beat abuse
-
Autism - Liverpool City Council
-
Hardship fund
3,882
Mayoral fund
3,664
288,014
 Income
Expenditure

£
£
1,002,996
(864,610)

follows:-
Income
Expenditure

£
£
715,405
(676,654)

Income
Expenditure

£
£
261,566
(261,566)
9,704
(49,134)
-
(10,570)
-
(41,067)
-
(1,500)
-
(4,250)
73,702
(78,313)
-
-
5,630
(5,630)
66,447
(66,447)
5,870
(6,480)
-
(3,664)

422,919
(528,621)
 As at
31.03.21
£
178,847
As at
31.03.20
£
40,461
As at
31.03.21
£
-
-
8,780
143,999
3,000
-
23,261
-
-
-
3,272
-
182,312

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

18. Restricted funds (continued)

Comparative information in respect of the preceding period is as follows:-


Children’s centre grants:
Children’s centre - Liverpool City Council
Garston centre - Liverpool City Council
Nursery grants:
Liverpool City Council Capital Grant
Liverpool City Council Capital Grant 2
DHL UK Foundation
Key Fund Grant
Bambinis
Mentor
Other
Sundry grants:
Community Foundation - Beat abuse
Autism - Liverpool City Council
Hardship fund
Mayoral fund		 As at
01.04.19
£
-
32,928
29,920
226,133
6,000
8,500
33,256
-
3,218
-
-
-
-
339,955
 Income
Expenditure

£
£
276,728
(276,728)
18,048
(11,546)
-
(10,570)
-
(41,067)
-
(1,500)
-
(4,250)
74,600
(79,984)
27,598
(27,598)
2,096
(5,314)
3,318
(3,318)
27,021
(27,021)
31,651
(27,769)
6,390
(2,726)

467,450
(519,391)
 As at
31.03.20
£
-
39,430
19,350
185,066
4,500
4,250
27,872
-
-
-
-
3,882
3,664
288,014

Children’s Centre – Liverpool City Council

This project is funded by the Government through Local authorities and can only be used for Children’s Centre Services as defined and agreed with the Local Authority/Government under a Service Level Agreement.

Nursery and Kids Club (Childcare Provision)

We operate a 0 – 5 year old nursery alongside a 4 – 12 year old Kids Club. Grant funding has been received to develop and enhance Childcare provision and staff training together with Nursery Educational Fund. This is paid from the Local Authority but forms part of an individual entitlement for all children aged 3-4 to receive 15 hours free childcare. Similarly we have been in receipt of a fund piloting the same entitlement for 2 year olds this programme is now being launched nationally.

Liverpool City Council Capital Grant

Liverpool City Council awarded a grant for the restructure and expansion of the Nursery. The major works were completed in 2013/14.

DHL UK Foundation

DHL provided a total of £15,000 as a contribution towards alterations to the Nursery space.

Bambinis

Bambinis is a community led initiative working to support women to initiate and sustain breastfeeding. The charity receives funding through a service level agreement with Liverpool City Council to deliver this citywide service operating through Liverpool Women’s Hospital Trust and Liverpool Children Centres.

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

19.
Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted
Restricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
Tangible fixed assets
81,153
155,779
Net current assets
157,801
26,533
Creditors due after one year
(60,107)
-
Net assets at 31st March 2021
178,847
182,312
Comparative information in respect of the preceding period is as follows:-
Unrestricted
Restricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
Tangible fixed assets
61,719
213,166
Net current assets
11,906
74,848
Creditors due after one year
(33,163)
-
Net assets at 31st March 2020
40,461
288,014		 Total
Funds
£
236,932
184,334
(60,107)
361,159
Total
Funds
£
274,885
86,754
(33,164)
328,475

20. Related party transactions

There are no related party transactions other than those referred to in note 9 to the accounts.

21. Pension costs

The employers’ contributions into the individual pension plans of certain employees amounted to £26,890 (2020 £19,418) and the amount unpaid and included in creditors at 31st March 2021 was £4,666 (2020 £2,191).

22.

Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from
Operating activities
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
Depreciation charges
Interest payable
Decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors
Net cash flow from operating activities		 Total
2021
£
32,684
75,790
4,970
13,842
79,927
207,213		 Total
2020
£
(13,390)
66,333
6,838
10,111
21,635
91,527

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FIVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TRUST LTD

Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31st March 2021

23. Analysis of net debt At 1 April Non-cash **At 31 March **
2020 Cash flows movements 2021
£ £ £ £
Cash at bank 97,123 193,821 - 290,944
Cash in hand 1,332 3,558 - 4,890
98,455 197,379 - 295,834
Debt due within one year (17,025) 17,027 (23,057) (23,055)
Debt due after more than one year (33,164) (50,000) 23,057 (60,107)
48,266
 164,406 - 212,672

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