2024-03-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1116430

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2024

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

	Page
Trustees' annual report (incorporating the director's report)	1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees	4
Statement of financial activities (including income and
expenditure account)	5
Statement of financial position	6
Notes to the financial statements	7
The following pages do not form part of the financial statements
Detailed statement of financial activities	15

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)

Year ended 31 March 2024

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley Charity registration number 1116430 Principal office and registered 22 Beaconsfield Street office Blyth Northumberland NE24 2DP The trustees D.F. Vaughan M. Beresford D. Johnston P. Smith C. Nicholson

Independent examiner Jane Freeman JFS Torbitt Chartered Certified Accountants 58 Durham Road Birtley Co Durham DH3 2QJ

We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, not having a share capital, and a Registered Charity (No 1116430). We have operated successfully within the terms of our Memorandum and Articles of Association since our formation on 28 June 2006. The premises from which we operate are occupied on a rent-free lease, with well over sixty years left to run.

Our Bankers are Unity Trust Bank, Nine Brindley place, Birmingham. We appoint Solicitors as necessary.

1

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Structure, governance and management

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The Trustees seek to ensure that the users needs are reflected through the diversity of the Board. To enhance the potential pool of Directors/Trustees, selected individuals who may wish to become Trustees are approached as necessary. Trustees are re-appointed annually. They give their time voluntarily and receive no benefit.

Director Induction and Training

Trustees are actively encouraged by the existing Trustees, having regard to any specialist skills required. New Trustees are briefed on their obligations under company and charity law, our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Board and the decision making process, future plans and recent performance. They are encouraged to attend appropriate training, and made aware of relevant publications. Feedback is encouraged.

Risk Management

We have assessed (and reviewed regularly) the major risks to which we are exposed, in particular those related to our operations and finances, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate our exposure. No major risks have been identified. A key element in our management of financial risk is the setting and regular review of our Reserves Policy.

Reserves Policy

Free reserves are those funds not tied up in Fixed Assets or Designated/Restricted funds. We forecast the level of reserves required to sustain operations, should income-generating activities be curtailed. After making provision for Redundancy Costs, free reserves increased to £27,724 during the year, equating to approximately 2 months of expenditure. It remains our view that it is prudent to ensure that there are sufficient free reserves to provide financial flexibility over the course of the forthcoming challenges.

Objectives and activities

Our Objects continue to be to promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in the Blyth Valley area (in particular the advancement of education, protection of health and the relief of poverty, distress and sickness), and to promote co-operation in the achievement of the above by bringing together representatives of voluntary organisations and statutory authorities within the area. Our Policies to achieve our Objects continue to be to promote, provide and carry on or assist in any way in the promotion, provision and carrying on of facilities of any kind pursuant to the Objects and to arrange and hold meetings, conferences and lectures. We refer to Charity Commission guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives, and ensure that future plans remain focused on their achievement. Funding limits our activities, but no beneficiaries appropriate to our aims are excluded. Equal access to our services is important to us, and we promote local understanding of our work.

Achievements and performance

We have facilitated Covid and Hardship support for the local community during the pandemic and are in a good position to maintain that support.

Financial review

Our assets continue to be adequate and available to meet our obligations.

2

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Plans for future periods

We have secured funding to maintain our development.

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.

The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

D.F. Vaughan Trustee

3

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Year ended 31 March 2024

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; or

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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

Jane Freeman FCCA Independent Examiner 58 Durham Road Birtley Co Durham DH3 2QJ

4

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account)

Year ended 31 March 2024

			2024		2023
		Unrestricted	Restricted
		funds	funds	Total funds	Total funds
	Note	£	£	£	£
Income and endowments
Grants and donations	4	69,950	81,107	151,057	120,011
Other trading activities	5	5,302	612	5,914	5,484
		────────	────────	─────────	─────────
Total income		75,252	81,719	156,971	125,495
		════════	════════	═════════	═════════
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds:
Costs of charitable activities	6	64,031	93,470	157,501	139,964
Governance costs	7	1,800	–	1,800	1,810
		────────	────────	─────────	─────────
Total expenditure		65,831	93,470	159,301	141,774
		════════	════════	═════════	═════════
		────────	────────	─────────	─────────
Net expenditure		9,421	(11,751)	(2,330)	(16,279)
		════════	════════	═════════	═════════
Transfers between funds		22,160	(22,160)	–	–
		────────	────────	─────────	─────────
Net movement in funds		31,581	(33,911)	(2,330)	(16,279)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward		14,694	53,184	67,878	84,157
		────────	────────	─────────	─────────
Total funds carried forward		46,275	19,273	65,548	67,878
		════════	════════	═════════	═════════

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 7 to 13 form part of these financial statements.

5

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2024

		2024	2023
	Note	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets	12	948	1,422
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand		66,400	68,256
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	13	(1,800)	(1,800)
		────────	────────
Net current assets		64,600	66,456
		────────	────────
Total assets less current liabilities		65,548	67,878
		────────	────────
Net assets		65,548	67,878
		════════	════════
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds		19,273	53,184
Unrestricted funds:
- General fund		29,213	(3,857)
- Designated fund		18,551	18,551
		────────	────────
		46,275	14,694
		────────	────────
Total charity funds	14	65,548 ════════	67,878 ════════

. These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

D.F. Vaughan Trustee

The notes on pages 7 to 13 form part of these financial statements.

6

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is 22 Beaconsfield Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 2DP.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)).

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.

Disclosure exemptions

The entity satisfies the criteria of being a qualifying entity as defined in FRS 102. Its financial statements are consolidated into the financial statements of (enter name of group financial statements) which can be obtained from (enter detail). As such, advantage has been taken of the following disclosure exemptions available under paragraph 1.12 of FRS 102:

(a) No cash flow statement has been presented for the company.

(b) Disclosures in respect of financial instruments have not been presented.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

7

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

• income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.

• legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established.

• income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.

• income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

• expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.

• expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.

• other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

8

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Tangible assets (continued)

An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Equipment - 33% reducing balance

Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where it is recognised at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

4. Grants and donations

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Grants
Contracts and Trusts	69,950	13,502	83,452
TNL	–	67,605	67,605
	────────	────────	─────────
	69,950	81,107	151,057
	════════	════════	═════════
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£
Grants
Contracts and Trusts	44,333	–	44,333
TNL	–	65,678	65,678
Northumberland County Council - Hub	–	10,000	10,000
	────────	────────	─────────
	44,333	75,678	120,011
	════════	════════	═════════

9

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

5. Other trading activities

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Other income	5,302	612	5,914
	═══════	════	═══════
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£
Other income	1,002	4,482	5,484
	═══════	═══════	═══════

6. Costs of charitable activities

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Staff costs	40,780	74,851	115,631
Telephone	607	570	1,177
Printing and stationery	692	461	1,153
Training, consultancy fees and events	239	2,353	2,592
Sundry expenses	1,747	2,098	3,845
Travel	–	173	173
Utilities	1,591	2,705	4,296
Insurance	355	300	655
Professional fees	15,529	4,584	20,113
Property costs and equipment renewals	2,017	5,375	7,392
Depreciation	474	–	474
	────────	────────	────────
	64,031	93,470	157,501
	════════	════════	═════════
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£
Staff costs	41,519	64,450	105,969
Telephone	741	330	1,071
Printing and stationery	210	49	259
Training, consultancy fees and events	12,262	1,768	13,031
Sundry expenses	528	–	528
Travel	–	301	301
Utilities	1,581	2,202	3,783
Insurance	600	100	700
Professional fees	8,754	900	9,654
Property costs and equipment renewals	242	2,716	2,958
Depreciation	711	–	711
	────────	────────	────────
	67,148	72,816	139,964
	════════	════════	═════════

10

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

7. Governance costs

		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2024	Funds	2023
		£	£	£	£
	Accountancy fees	1,800	1,800	1,810	1,810
		═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
8.	Independent examination fees
	Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):
				2024	2023
				£	£
	Fees payable to the independent examiner for:
	Independent examination of the financial statements			1,800	1,810
				════	════
9.	Net (expenditure)/income
	Net (expenditure)/income is stated after	charging/(crediting):
				2024	2023
				£	£
	Depreciation of tangible fixed assets			474	710
				════	═══════
10.	Staff costs
	The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as				follows:
				2024	2023
				£	£
	Wages and salaries			115,631	105,969
				═════════	═════════
	The average head count of employees during the year		was Nil (2023:	Nil).

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2023: Nil).

11. Trustee remuneration and expenses

No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees.

12. Tangible fixed assets

	Equipment
	£
Cost
At 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024	46,319
	════════
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023	44,897
Charge for the year	474
	────────
At 31 March 2024	45,371
	════════
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2024	948
	════════
At 31 March 2023	1,422
	════════

12

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

12. Tangible fixed assets (continued)

The premises from which we operate are occupied on a rent-free lease, with well over sixty years left to run.

13. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Accruals and deferred income

2024	2023
£	£
1,800	1,800
═══════	═══════

14. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

					At
	At				31 March
	1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	Transfer	2024
	£	£	£	£	£
General funds	(3,857)	75,252	(65,831)	22,160	27,724
Designated funds	18,551	–	–	–	18,551
	────────	────────	────────	────────	────────
	14,694	75,252	(65,831)	22,160	46,275
	════════	════════	════════	═══════	════════
					At
	At				31 March
	1 April 2022	Income	Expenditure	Transfer	2023
	£	£	£	£	£
General funds	19,766	45,335	(68,958)	–	(3,857)
Designated funds	18,551 ────────	– ────────	– ────────	– ────────	18,551 ────────
	38,317	45,335	(68,958)	–	14,694
	════════	════════	════════	═══════	════════
Restricted funds
					At
	At				31 March
	1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	2024
	£	£	£	£	£
Bernicia Foundation (via
Northumberland County
Council)	14,378	–	–	(14,378)	–
Operation Elf	12,828	450	(5,495)	(7,782)	–
New Deleval and Newsham
Residents Association	900	–	(900)	–	–
TNL	20,026	67,605	(71,746)	–	15,885
UKSFP	–	13,664	(12,384)	–	1,280
Hub (via Northumberland
County Council)	5,052	–	(2,944)	–	2,108
	────────	────────	────────	────	────────
	53,184 ════════	81,719 ════════	(93,470) ════════	(22,160) ════	19,273 ════════

12

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

14. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

	At				At
	1 April 2022	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	31 March 2023
	£	£	£	£	£
Bernicia Foundation (via
Northumberland County
Council)	14,729	–	(351)	–	14,378
Operation Elf	9,063	4,482	(717)	–	12,828
New Deleval and
Newsham Residents
Association	3,400	–	(2,500)	–	900
TNL	10,524	65,678	(56,176)	–	20,026
Reaching Comms	8,124	–	(8,124)	–	–
Hub (via
Northumberland County
Council)	–	10,000	(4,948)	–	5,052
	────────	────────	────────	────	────────
	45,840 ════════	80,160 ════════	(72,816) ════════	– ════	53,184 ════════

15. Analysis of net assets between funds

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	948	–	948
Current assets	47,127	19,273	66,400
Creditors less than 1 year	(1,800)	–	(1,800)
	────────	────────	────────
Net assets	46,275	19,273	65,548
	════════	════════	════════
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	1,422	–	1,422
Current assets	15,072	53,184	68,256
Creditors less than 1 year	(1,800)	–	(1,800)
	────────	────────	────────
Net assets	14,694	53,184	67,878
	════════	════════	════════

16. Related party transactions

C. Nicholson and D.F Vaughan (who are Trustees of the Charity) are also directors of Sustainable Community Enterprises North East Ltd (SCENE).

During the year ended 31 March 2024, CVABV provided no services to SCENE (2023: £nil) and SCENE provided no services to CVABV (2023: £nil).

13

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Management Information

Year ended 31 March 2024

The following pages do not form part of the financial statements.

14

Community And Voluntary Action Blyth Valley

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2024

	2024	2023
	£	£
Income and endowments
Grants and donations
Contracts and Trusts	83,452	44,333
TNT	67,605	65,678
Hub	–	10,000
	─────────	─────────
	151,057	120,011
	─────────	─────────
Other trading activities
Other income	5,914	5,484
	───────	───────
	─────────	─────────
Total income	156,971	125,495
	═════════	═════════
Expenditure
Costs of charitable activities
Wages and salaries	115,631	105,969
Property costs and equipment renewals	12,343	7,440
Travel costs	173	301
Telephone	1,177	1,071
Printing and stationery	1,153	259
Depreciation	474	711
Training, consultancy fees and events	22,706	23,685
Sundry expenses	3,844	528
	─────────	─────────
	157,501	139,964
	─────────	─────────
Expenditure on charitable activities
Legal and professional fees	1,800	1,810
	───────	───────
	─────────	─────────
Total expenditure	159,301	141,774
	═════════	═════════
	─────────	─────────
Net expenditure	(2,330)	(16,279)
	═════════	═════════

15