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2023-03-31-accounts

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

Connect Reading Limited

Registered Charity No: 1113150

A Company Limited by Guarantee: 04956922

ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2023

1

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

Annual Report & Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023

CONTENTS Pages

CONTENTS
Pages		 CONTENTS
Pages
____________
Impact Report 1
Trustees Report 18
Examiners Report 36
Statement of Financial Activities
38
Balance Sheet 39
Notes to the Accounts 40

2

nnect Reading . leller R£AAthJ fir e¥try'- Impact Report 2022-2023

Welcome... from our Board Chairs £ jdxf*dfvdI￿rfJ We're delighted Connect Reading has continued to grow, for the third year in a row. We have held focus on increasing our impact through the cross-sector connections, with our team building positive strategic relationships to that benefit members_ Amidst the ongoing challenges of pandemic repercussions and the cost of living crisis, we've sought to increase our financial stability. Achieving so much impact with such little resource is truly incredible. Without the support of our team. our members and the wider Reading community we could not continue. Our Board of Trustees Pg3 CONMICT IIIADIII• AIIIIUAL IMPACT IIIPOIITII2021-202J

And thankyou from our CEO It's such a privilege to seN8 the Connect Reading network. Despite challenges - like the cost of living crisis. suppty chain issues and many other8 - our members have continue(1 sharing resouice& ideas and support across Greater Reading. We know our local communities. local environment and local economy have felt the 8ff8Cts of this commibiient. Our cross-sector network has giown lor the third yeai in o row. and so has our impact Stats say a lot but more than tha( it's the stories of people seeifVJ POSitNe outcomes. If you're not yet part of Connect Reading, join us on the ioumey of tiansformiry Reading into an cross-sector circular economy! A better Reading foi everyone. join Connect Reading on the journey of transforming Reading into a cross-sector circular economy; a better Reading for everyone." Lorraine BritfitL CEO Team 22123 Pg4 COIIMICT RIADIII• AIIMUAL IMPACT IIIPORTII2022-2021

About us Connect Reading was formed in 2003 as Reading Business Community Partnership, registering as a charity in 2006. Established to connect businesses with local charities, we now work with every sector; businesses. charities and nonprofits, education (schools, colleges, universities) and public sector services. To brlng s•¢tor8 tog•th•r for mutual b•n•flt. .'e ore expert brokers, moking introductions oncl bespoke )nnections for the benefit of our member organisotioris. Bulldlng a b•tt•r R•ading for ov•ryon•. We believe the sharing of resources, ideas & spaces helps build o better world. Ive work towards o cross-sector circular econom, community. locol environmenr and Ii-lcal economy are our firvt priority. for eoch ector s voice acrov oui member ehip network. (e g ESGIcsRj & to trock irnpact we tyupport connecrlon" with the potential tor impact. .'le re and creative. seeking to continuously learn. CONNECT READIM¢ ANMUAL IMPACT *IPORT112022-2023

158 Members Gw, We've grown again! Member numbers increased by 20%. Why is that so great? Because it's more impact on our local communities. local economy and our local environmentl 57 CICf ' ￿ Seck&r eONNEeT *EADING ANNUAL IMPACT IIIPORT112022-2023

Our Members * ABC to Read * Berkshirn Y(Krth * Broad Str￿t k4all * Thames Water * * Reading Borcxlgh C￿nCil * The orac￿ * launchpad ReadirKJ * Novotel * * Bottornfine Technobgies * Rdugee Support GfOUP * Elizaboth Fry * * Reoding Transport * Reading FC Cc>mmunty T Com * The Mustard Tree * * Parentin9 special Children * Active ws * Green Park * Reoding Advice Natwork * * Reading LK>ns * Dingley's Prornise * Wipro * Britannia Pharmoceuticols * * Orange Grove Design * Unlock Your Wellbeing * Chemogiftbags * PACT * * Progress Theatre * Royol Berks Charity * Age UK Readiry * Berkshire Wision * * Pierre Fabre * smart works Readin9 * steppirvJ Forword * Brookf￿1ds Scho￿ * * BWA * RCLC * CCA * Me2Club * GRAFT TV * Communicore * RVA * * cl￿Pter 2 * RAB Sight Loss * RCAN * capabilty cornpony * Adviza * * Pepsico * Initiate Events * Food 4 Families * ￿ Meaning * RUSU * * Brighter Futures for Children * Home-start ReadiThJ * Reading Family Aid * * Sodaka * Sport in MI￿ * ffis Vision CIC * Autism Berkshire * * Universty ol Re￿Ing * Wivo Photogrophy * Reodin9 College * AllIa￿e for C&RE * * Citizens Advice Rdg * Coaching Reading * Hotybrook Associates * * Keep Emmer Green * Lighting Fires * Nature Nurture CIC * New Beginnings * * startiry Point * Friends of Waterloo Kleadows * The Roseate Hotel * * Voce * B Radio * Reoding interfaith Group * Rearfing Cty of Sanctuary * * Ways into Work * St Mungo s * UTC Reoding * B￿kleY Management * * Tilehurst Junior YcKrth * Whitley CDA * Browning York * Feelgood Creative * * Butterfly Community CIC * Co-spoce ReodirKJ * Supwt u * Time Gained cic * * Culture Mix Arts cic * Roading Minster * Reading School * No5 Young people * * Transform Reoding * The COWS￿ * Acclaro Advisory * Royal Berks Hospital * * Cknr Sky Studios * Walk Works * WKko Web Design * Aspire 2 * Convatec * * Mind in Berkshire * Readir¥J Libraries * Berkshire Culture connect * * Plastic Free Coversl)am * Zero Degre￿ * Baker Street Productions * * UOR Choplaincy * savills * Germer * Hempen Farm * Phantom Brewing Ltd * * Berkshire MS Therapy * Terrfs walkab¢)uts * Cyber Resifience centre * * Thomes Valley Wine School * Reoding Civic Society * Hotel Ibis * * British islamic Gardens * Reading Abtw Rotory * Vicky Poole Coaching * * Hoare Lea * Vocal Networking * Daisy's Drearn * Egnyte Ltd * * Well That's Interesting * Reoding MEKAP * KAYA wellbeiry Plotlorm * * Jelly Reading * RISC * k4ay Music Ltd * The Curious LoU￿e * Camp Mohawk * Age UK Berkshire * Sudanese Communty * Dance Reading * Legal Tips * Radio 210 * Rising Sun Arts * Mass Media * RG2 Radio *Reoding Green Wellbeiry Network * utulivu * Sue Ryder lknhesG of Kent * Coley pa￿ cornff￿nty * Green Heolth TV * Claire Brown CoachirvJ * Low Cart>on Workspace * Thames Lido * Dan Smith DeG•gn Pg7 COMMieT IIIADIMG AIINUAL IMPACT IIIPOIIT112022-2023

22123 Impact 1,309 £13.101 2.126 £11506 CONNECT READING ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT112022-2023

Resource Things Our connections saved 1,309 items from landfill: ensuring local charities and schi)ols could benefit. These items were worth a graiid total of £88.110 Skill vice On 79 different occasions, we connected 245 Iiours of skills, advice and training, saving local charities, SMES and schools a brilliant total value of £11.026 T READING ANNUAL IMPACT REPORTII 2022-2023

Volunteerin Team Days Our cross-sector connections enabled businesses and individuals to volunteer an amazing 256 hoursl Recipient charities °'£13.250 Employment Contrac Our members (tK)th businesses and charities) gained 7 incredible contracts and opportunities for longer-term employment. Members valued these , £63.020 eo READING ANNUAL IMPACT REPORTII2022-2023

Sponsorship undraising Our cross-sector connections enabled businesses and individuals to volunteer an amazing 256 hours! Recipient charities "£13.250 Venues Offices We were able to connect a fab 145 hours worth of free venues with our Connect Reading memt)ers, on seven different occasions. Recipient charities calculated this as a saving of £13.101 eT MADIIIG ANHUAL IMPAeT REPORTII 2022-2023

or Last-minsth to the rescue Dingley's Promise provide essential support to chilcjren with special educational needs. Their usual Santa unexpectedly cancelled just before their Christmas partyi The Coiinect CEO emailed the Connect Network and Archway Business Solutions. director, Phil. stepped in to Santa-save the day. Levellingy fi learning Acclaro Advisory attended one of our Netwoikiiig Eveiits and met a representative from Knowledge Brief. The opportunity to use Apprenticeships for their staff sounded too good to be true, but Yan explained what the courses involved and 2 analysts were signed up to Level 3 Apprenticeships in 4 monthsl CONNECT READING ANNUAL IMPACT RtPORTII 2022-2023

New forvolunte rs Connect Reading worked to create a brand new Voluiiteei irig Fayre, kindly hosted at the offices ofPepsiCo. Gathering 31 charities and nonprofits from across the Reading area. and beyond, Pepsi's employees connected with the charities and signed up to volunteer and participate in team challenges! Young Vo￿ & climate change Reading School were connected with the Reading Climate Change Partnershipat one of our Networking events. This led to a Youth Fair which focused on the voice of young people being included in the Reading Climate Festival in 20221 CONNECT READING ANNUAL IMPACT REPORTII2022-2023

&rLe Industryex sharing s Henley Business School (part of the University of Reading) attended our January Networking, connecting with Egnyte about the need for real-world information for students studying data-security. specific workshops were then delivered to students, using real-world data to ground learning. Vitalc&Jérf£v' workshops Our Connect CEO Ilnked up the Reading University Students Union With local charity, Citizens Advice Reading following multiple enquiries from students about the significant concerns of students around cost-of-living. Experts from Citizens Advice delivered an insightful and information workshop to students in dire need of support and advice. CONNECT READING ANNUAL IMPACT REPORTII2022-2023

&rL&f Dishing school st Brookfields School reached out to the Coriiiect teaim to see if anyone was getting rid of a dishwasher. Savills Reading were getting ready for a big office move and were able to give the dishwasher to the SEN school for free PAT tested and ready to 'dish up, a clean space for tired staff I Sharingr8rMArt within charities Our local hospital charity Royal Berks Charity were in need of something simple: an exhibition stand.No5 Young People happened to be giving one away. so the Connect team linked them up and collection was arranged. We like 'exhibiting' the simplicity of shared resources between charities, alongside the great cross-sector impact! eoNNEeT READING ANNUAL IMPACT REPORTII2022-2023

t.

2.075 LJ to 2.075 local people 21 local charities, schools & the local hospital

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

CONNECT READING LIMITED

Trustees Report for the Year ended 31[st] March 2023.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISORS.

The trustees during the financial year 2022-2023 were:

Name

Position

Sub-Groups

Dates

Tracey Essery Chair (until Sept 22) Membership & Stakeholder Paul Buckley Co-Chair Membership & Stakeholder Darren Campbell People & Culture John Pickford Co-Chair Income Diversification & Finance Vicky Poole People & Culture Uma Indran Treasurer Income Diversification & Finance Caroline Gratrix Membership & Stakeholder Seth Russell People & Culture Rodrigo Perez-Vega Income Diversification & Finance Tony Pettitt Treasurer Income Diversification & Finance Sharon Vinnels People & Culture Arya Babollah

Appointed Jun 2014 Appointed Dec 2020 Appointed Feb 2021 Appointed Feb 2021 Appointed Sept 2015 Appointed Sept 2022 Appointed July 2022 Appointed July 2022 Appointed July 2022

Appointed Nov 2019 Passed Away May 2022 Appointed October 2021 Resigned May 2022 Appointed October 2021 Resigned June 2022

Charity Number Company Number

1113150 Registered in England & Wales 04956922 Registered in England & Wales

Registered & Principal Address (until 31/03/22):

Connect Reading c/o Spaces 9 Greyfriars Road Reading, Berkshire RG1 1NU

Registered & Principal Address (from 01/04/22): Connect Reading Co-Space Quadrant House Broad Street Mall Reading, RG1 7QE

Bankers:

Barclays Bank Reading Branch Mid-Thames Group PO Box 27 Reading, RG1 2HD

Primary Account: Cooperative Bank PO Box 250 Delf House Skelmersdale WN8 6WT

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:

Rachel Eden ACMA Holy Brook Associates SPACES, 9 Greyfriars Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1NU

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Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

The Board of Trustees, whose members are also the Directors of the company, present their report together with the financial statements of the charitable company, for the year ended 31[st] March 2022.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 7[th] November 2003 as Reading Business Community Partnership Limited. It was registered as a charity on 3 March 2006. The name was changed on 30[th] July 2020 to Connect Reading Limited. It is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association. The liability of the members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding £1.

The Board has wide-ranging experience and meets four times a year for Board Meetings. In addition, the Board began utilising Subgroups to focus on topics, allowing trustees to bring their specialist expertise to the table in more depth. The Board delegates day-to-day management of the charity to the CEO, Lorraine Briffitt. The staff team has developed during this financial year, recruiting a Projects & Membership Manager whilst continuing to develop the Trainee Finance Manager (who started as a Kickstarter). The Team also said goodbye to the CRM and Data Coordinator in July 2022, who had begun in 2021 as a Kickstarter.

RECRUITMENT & APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES

The trustees of the charity are also the Directors for the purposes of company law and undergo a rigorous recruitment process. Trustees join the board and are approved publicly by members at AGMs, or by co-option by the Board prior to the following AGM. Recruitment to the Board of Trustees was aligned with the gaps identified in the Trustee Skills Audit (revisited biannually). The charity worked with a recruitment charity to continue recruiting to the evolving Board.

OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES

THE CHARITY’S OBJECTS

The charity is established to carry on the following objects in the interests of the community and in the area known as the Greater Reading area (‘the area of benefit’) or any part thereof and additionally in communities and areas adjoining the area of benefit:

VISION:

Building a better Reading for everyone

MISSION:

Bringing sectors together for mutual benefit

19

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

VALUES:

Local / Social Value / Longer Term / Innovative / Equal (changing to equity) THE CHARITY’S MAIN ACTIVITIES

The vision, mission and values of Connect Reading have driven every interaction with members and stakeholders. Every connection is seen through the lens of “How does this make Reading a better place?” The significant growth in membership between 20/21 and 21/22 continued, with a slight easing towards 22/23 Q4 as the full impact of the Cost-of-Living Crisis was being more fully felt across all sectors.

The 2021-2025 Income Diversification Strategy continued to be delivered, having focused on retaining members and seeking commissioned opportunities from public sector services. The Vision for Volunteering project – Connect Reading’s first commissioned service – was delivered in partnership with two other local voluntary sector infrastructure organisations (the Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality and Reading Voluntary Action) across the 2022-2023 financial year. In Autumn 2022 Connect Reading was successful in another commissioned service from the local authority, again delivered in partnership with other local charities. This is 3-year funding running from Q3 2022-2025. This aligned with the 2022-2026 Business Plan (completed by the CEO in February 2022) to continue pursuing strategic relationships for more sustainable growth during these difficult cost-of-living challenges.

Another aspect was the establishment of a consulting service (Connect Local) to allow the charity to develop an income-generating offer to businesses and public sector services. Services (e.g., Team Challenges, Reading RESCUE) and campaigns (e.g., The Giving Tree, Summer Giving Appeal) were developed upon the arrival of the Projects and Membership Manager.

PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT

In setting our objectives and planning our activities, the Trustees and CEO have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives. This has resulted in a realignment of our core activities, ensuring every campaign and project and every memberfocused activity is working towards a better local community, local environment, and local economy.

ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE

The significant growth in membership and local recognition can be seen in significantly more detail in the Impact Report.

We ran our regular campaigns, including The Giving Tree and the Easter Egg Appeal.

A one-off Giving Tree Song Launch occurred in December 2022, where Reading College students collaborated with clients from Berkshire Vision to perform the song. Lyrics were crowd-sourced from previous Giving Tree gift recipients, and multiple people were involved in recording the song at Clear Skies Studio in East Reading.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The net expenditure for the year was £123,189 with £23,149 on unrestricted funds (£4,590 on new website development) and £100,040 on restricted funds (i.e. project charitable donations). Allocation and recording of these funds is done on the finance software Expense Plus. Trustees have full access to accounts through this finance software, as well as access to the grants and commissioning progress on our CRM (Monday.com). They also receive quarterly reports from the Treasurer and CEO.

RESERVES POLICY

20

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

The charity’s free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year-end were £12,071 of which £10,000 was in our savings account. The board recognises the need to hold charitable funds as free reserves to safeguard the continuity of the provision of services. The reserves had dipped beneath the contractual liabilities as the very minimum required by the reserves policy. The Board and the Finance & Income Diversification Committee met regularly and continuing to do so with new strategy development and tight monitoring of finances by the new treasurer. The Reserves Policy was revisited in April 2022 at the board meeting, as well as at 2 subsequent board meetings. Input from the new treasurer and the Finance & Income Diversification Committee shaped the ongoing awareness of needing tin increase our level of reserves. However, for context, we are aware that many other charities have had to use more of their reserves during the cost-of-living crisis and tightening on pots of funding.

FUTURE PLANS

Business plan: The CEO wrote the 2022-2026 Business Plan, which informs decision-making around staff capacity, replication, and income diversification. This informed the shaping of the Projects & Membership Manager role, which was recruited into in July 2022.

Strategy day: A short Strategy Day was held in July 2022, giving the opportunity for trustees to hear from the CEO and share their own strategic reflections on the development of Connect Reading and what opportunities there were for ongoing growth and sustainability. The session was hosted by Claire Brown, from one of our member organisations.

CRM: Staff used a CRM to record Brokerage and Membership interactions. The previous system proved not fit for purpose, and after extensive research, data was migrated by the CRM & Data Coordinator between April – June, now held on Monday.com The new platform has proved exceptionally helpful for project planning, income grant and commissioning tracking, and Resource Xchange development as dashboards give a more helpful view for ongoing live data impact.

Staff: The CRM & Data Coordinator moved on to a new role in July 2022, having successfully moved Connect Reading’s membership and brokerage data onto the new CRM platform. A Projects & Membership Manager was recruited in Summer 2022, starting in position at the beginning of July 2022. She has been instrumental in streamlining comms with members, coordinating projects, and supporting the CEO in onboarding new members. The CEO and P&M Manager worked to develop the membership journey and began short online Information Sessions to reduce staff time spent on speculative conversations with interested organisations yet undecided on joining.

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the Financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and UK Accounting Standards.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

21

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (charities SORP (FRS201)) and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees.

Signed

Name: TRACEY ESSERY (CHAIR UNTIL 3[RD] OCTOBER 2022) Date: 7th June 2023 Signed Name: JOHN PICKFORD (CO-CHAIR FROM 3[RD] OCTOBER 2022) Date: 9[th] November 2023

22

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

Independent examiner's report on
the accounts		 Independent examiner's report on
the accounts		 Independent examiner's report on
the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/
members of		 Connect Reading
On accounts for the
year ended		 31stMarch 2023 Charity no (if any) 1113150
Set out on pages
Respective
responsibilities of
trustees and examiner
Basis of independent
examiner’s statement
25-30
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year
under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an
independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
●examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
●to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by
the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act,
and
●to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions
given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of
the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the
accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of
any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking
explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The
procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be
required in an audit, and consequently, no opinion is given as to whether
the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view, and the report is limited to
those matters set out in the statement below.

23

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

Independent examiner's statement

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached .

----- Start of picture text -----
Signed: Date: 8 [th] September 2023
Name: Rachel Eden
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body ACMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
(if any):
Address: Holy Brook Associates, Spaces, 9 Greyfriars Road, RG1 1NU
----- End of picture text -----

Section B DISCLOSURE

NONE

24

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

CONNECT READING LIMITED

Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) including comparatives for all funds (Including summary income & expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2023

or the year ended 31 March 2023
INCOME
Income from generated funds
Membership fees
Grant Funding
Kickstart Funding
Giving Tree & Easter Egg Appeal Donations
RESCUE & Giving Tree Event Sponsorship
Interest receivable
Gift aid and Other Income
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Staff (salary, NI & pension)
’21-22 Pension payments
Kickstart (salary, NI & pension & costs)
Rent
Insurance & Utilities
Expenses (Travel & Meeting)
Training/Recruitment (staff & trustee)
Independent Examination
Professional fees
Comms (phone, IT, print, design, website)
Fundraising
Equipment & consumables
Events & Projects
Donations to Charity:Easter Appeal,Giving Tree
Subscriptions & licenses
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
Net income / (expenditure)
Net movement in funds
Fund balances brought forward
Fund balances carried forward		 General
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
funds
General
funds
Restricte
d funds
Total
funds
2023
£
2023
£
2023
£
2022
£
2022
£
2022
£
61,525
-
61,525
43,803
-
43,803
20,170
5,000
25,170
6,491
-
6,491
-
-
-
12,363
12,363
-
5,251
5,251
-
8,200
3,400
3,400
10,371
7,200
12,898
20,098
2,171
280
-
280
265
-
265
1,332
-
1,332
36
-
36
90,507
23,149
113,656		 57,515
17,934
75,449
74,649
17,898
92,547
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,122
-
7,122
632
632
769
-
769
2,897
-
2,897
30
-
30
497
-
497
8,910
-
8,910
300
-
300
56
-
56
645
-
645
2,976
5,251
8,227
557
-
557		 42,657
2,171
44,828
3,438
-
3,438
9,186
12,363
21,549
5,259
--
5,259
703
-
703
477
-
477
1,122
-
1,122
-
-
-
480
-
480
2,789
-
2,789
1,732
-
1,732
50
-
50
260
-
260
3,145
3,400
6,545
1,007
-
1,007
100,040
23,149
123,189		 72,155
17,934
90,089
(9,533)
-
(9,533)
(13,360)
-
(13,360)
(9,533)
-
(9,533)
(13,360)
-
(13,360)
21,604
-
21,604		 34,964
-
34,964
12,071
-
12,071		 21,604
-
21,604

All incoming and resources expended derive from continuing activities.

The notes on page 27 onwards form an integral part of these financial statements.

25

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

CONNECT READING LIMITED

Balance sheet as of 31 March 2023

Company Number 04956922

Total Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Debtors and prepayments
Cash at bank & in hand
Total current assets
Current liabilities (amounts falling due within
Creditors & accruals
Total current liabilities:
Net current assets / (liabilities)
Total assets less current liabilities
Net assets
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 2023
2022
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
£
£
£
-
-
-
52,601
-
51,780
40,833
26,185
-
26,185
38,874
78,786
-
77,965
79,707
one year)
66,983
-
60,293
60,293
-
-
-
-
11,803
-
11,803
19,414
11,803
-
11,803
19,414
11,803
-
11,803
19,414
11,803
19,414
-
-
11,803
19,414

For the year ending 31 March 2023, the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The Members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The Trustees (who are also the Directors for the purposes of Company Law) acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the Small Companies’ Regime and with FRS 102 (effective January 2019).

These financial statements have been approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 29th September 2023 and were signed on their behalf by:

Tracey Essery (exiting Chair until 3rd October 2022) John Pickford (Co-Chair, from 3rd October 2022)

The notes on page 27 onwards form an integral part of these financial statements.

26

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

CONNECT READING LIMITED

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

Connect Reading Limited is a charitable company, limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales (registration number 04956922). The address of its registered office was Connect Reading, SPACES, 9 Greyfriars Road, Reading RG1 1NU, until 1st April 2022. It is now registered at Connect Reading, Co-Space, Quadrant House, Broad Street Mall, Reading, RG1 7QE. It is also a registered charity, number 1113150.

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of accounting

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention* with items recognised at cost of transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice:

The charitable company’s functional currency is sterling and figures are rounded to the nearest £1.

Going concern

The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue.

Despite the ongoing challenges of economic uncertainty, Connect Reading continued growing. The RBC commissioning during this financial year was a significant positive impact in ensuring the support offered to charities continued, given that many charitable members struggled with their membership fees.

Incoming Resources

Except for Membership Income, incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured. Membership Income is accrued or deferred where the income is received for a period which is not in accordance with the charity’s financial year.

Grants and donations

Grants and donations are included in the SOFA, showing that the charity has the entitlement to the resources. Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as restricted income. Details of the grant income received follows. None of the grants for this financial year came with performance conditions.

Taxation

As a charity, the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax, but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets costing more than £2,000 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity upon receipt. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight-line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows:

Pensions

The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are recognised in the year they are payable. The payment in the accounts for the previous financial year (£2,167) is in relation to an online banking error (the fault of the bank) where payment did not go through on the second authorisation.

27

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure, imposed by the donor or through the terms of the appeal (i.e. grant funding). From the next financial year, the charity will be using a Designated Funding stream to demonstrate the delivery of projects and specific events where the income is not restricted. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.

Leases

Rents under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term or to an earlier date if the lease can be determined without financial penalty. The rental agreement has a one-month cancellation period for both parties, hence the calculations for reserves in the Reserves Policy reflecting this flexibility.

28

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

CONNECT READING LIMITED

Note to the accounts continued. For the year ended 31 March 2023

2. GRANTS & DONATIONS
2023
2023
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
£
£
Reading Borough Council
20,170
5,000
Thames Water RESCUE Sponsorship
7,200
-
Kickstart Programme
-
Giving Tree Grant Support
-
12,898
Giving Tree & Easter Egg Appeal
Donations
25
5,251
Sundry Donations (non-Gift Aid)
-
-
27,395
23,149
3. STAFF COSTS & NUMBERS
Salaries, NI & Pension costs (Core Staff)
Salaries, NI & Pension costs (Kickstart)
The average number of FTE employees during the year was 3 (2022 2.8).
There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.
Defined contribution pension scheme
Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year
Amount of any contributions outstanding at the end of the year
Amount of any contributions prepaid at the year-end
4. DEBTORS & PREPAYMENTS
Debtors
Prepayments & Accrued income		 2023
2023
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
£
£
20,170
5,000
7,200
-
-
-
12,898
25
5,251
-
-		 2023
Total Funds
£
25,170
7,200
-
12,898
5,276
-		 2022
Total Funds
£
6,241
7,200
12,363
3,171
3,400
36
27,395
23,149		 50,544 32,411
92,547
-		 44,827
21,549
92,547 66,376
2023
2022
£
£
2,278
1,718
201
241
0
0
2023
£
51,780
822		 2022
£
39,740
1,836
52,602 41,576

29

Connect Reading Limited Accounts 2022-2023

5. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND

. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND
Barclays Bank
Cambridge & Counties Bank
Reading Ltd IAS
Savings
Co-op		 2023
£
2,220
-
(15)
10,000
13,980		 2022
£
12,118
26,756
-
26,185 38,874

6. CREDITORS & ACCRUALS

Accruals
Deferred Income
PAYE
Pension Control		 2023
£
30
64,357
2,194
402		 2022
£
30
53,503
5,072
241
66,983 58,846

7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Trustee Expenses

Remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel.

The key management personnel of the charity include the trustees, the CEO, the Projects & Membership Manager and the Trainee Finance Manager.

The total employee benefits received by the key management personnel were £74,649 (previous year: £44,827).

Other Rated Party Transactions

During this financial year, the following trustees were in the employ of the following member businesses: Paul Buckley – Buckley Management Solutions, Paul is the director. Tracey Essery – Acclaro Advisory, Tracey is a Senior Partner.

Vicky Poole – Vicky Poole Coaching, Vicky is the Founding Director. Caroline Gratrix – Walk Works & Viva Photography, Caroline is the Founding Director.

Bea Buckley - Comms & Grant Applications Support, £3,094 was spent on this support. Bea is married to Paul Buckley.

30