**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 05333784 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1117546** 

## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND** 

**UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **FOR** 

**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)** 

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP Chartered Accountants 20 Eversley Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HE 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

||**Page**|**Page**|**Page**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1|to|8|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**||9||
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||10||
|**Balance Sheet**||11||
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|12|to|21|





**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

## **Objectives and aims** 

Rother Voluntary Action's vision is to strengthen the social and economic wellbeing of local communities and help people fulfil their potential in a socially and environmentally sustainable fashion. In order to deliver this mission it is critical that we focus our energy and resources towards the needs and requirements of our beneficiaries. Each year we appraise our current work to assess how much it contributes to the core objectives of Rother Voluntary Action and any new strand of work is similarly appraised. Our objectives are to: 

1. support the development of a vibrant community and voluntary sector in Rother enabling increased and improved services and facilities provided by the voluntary and community sector in Rother. 

2. facilitate communication and representation between the voluntary and statutory sectors on policy planning and delivery to increase voluntary and community sector involvement in these processes. 

3. identify local needs and gaps in service provision and work with local communities, service users and other agencies to develop appropriate action to help build the social capital in Rother. 

Our priorities this year have been to: 

1. Listen and respond to the VCSE in Rother, what are their changing and emerging priorities, and what do they need from us to reopen or operate during the pandemic. 

2. Enable the new and existing organisations to provide support to those individuals who whose full participation in society is limited by economic, physical, and social disadvantage and for us as the local Infrastructure organisation to highlight issues of disadvantage. 

3. Continue to raise awareness of issues of community safety and modern slavery. 

4. support work that combats issues faced in our rural communities, most particularly food, fuel and digital poverty. 

5. Reassess and continue to build sustainability within the sector across Rother. 

6. Increase participation and engagement in 'having a say' over services and activities through regular online and in person networks, consultation, and workshops. 

7. Continue to promote environmental sustainability and support environmental initiatives. 

## **Public benefit** 

The Trustees have considered their duty set out in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance by the Commission and in their opinion the foregoing report on our achievements and performance demonstrates that they have complied therewith. 

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**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities** 

During this difficult and challenging year of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have examined and reassessed our work with the community to see what is required and needed of us, and we have sought to: 

1. **Listen and respond to the VCSE in Rother, what are their changing and emerging priorities, and what do they need from us to reopen or operate during the pandemic.** Throughout the year RVA listened and responded to the emerging needs of the VCSE in Rother as the series of lockdowns took hold.At the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic we worked closely with Rother District Council and ESCC to set up the local Community Hub where people could call or visit online if they needed support and advice for themselves or their families. The Hub was updated regularly with details of services currently being offered by existing groups, details and contact information of new and emerging groups, and availability of volunteer support. Advice was offered to organisations to ensure appropriate levels of support, training and safeguarding were in place so they were enabled and equipped to support the most vulnerable at home. We offered advice on funding and grant applications to enable organisations to adapt, access funding and continue to operate in light of the new Government business grants becoming available and the introduction of the new Furlough Scheme.RVA has continued to focus on the needs of our most deprived communities and has remained a Trusted Local Organisation for the Heart of Sidley Big Local Partnership. We continue to support groups in developing new plans in the light of changing needs of their business, workforce and communities caused by the crisis and the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

2. **Enable the new and existing organisations to provide support to those individuals whose full participation in society is limited by economic, physical, and social disadvantage and for us as the local Infrastructure organisation to highlight issues of disadvantage.** 

As new organisations emerged in 2020 because of the pandemic like Rye Mutual Aid and Bexhill Beats, RVA were able to provide practical help and advice to ensure they operated safely.Regular COVID 19 online networks were held to give information from Statutory services and local authorities. Organisations were supported to adapt, and many volunteers continued to support individuals remotely. Several local organisations worked together to provide food parcels, hospital and Doctor appointments, and medicine deliveries. We supported village halls to reopen safely, existing, and new organisations to operate safely, and identify and bring in much needed funds through grant funders like Sussex Community Foundation. RVA worked hard throughout the year to ensure that our resources were maximised and targeted effectively to ensure that we are delivering what the local voluntary and community sector needs as efficiently as possible, strong relationships within the local community enabled this to happen swiftly.Throughout the year we worked in partnership with a wide range of voluntary, public, and private sector organisations, connecting and collaborating to support the local community. This shifted in focus as we began to reopen later in the year, and as local organisations were more prepared for the second and third lock downs. We anticipated volunteer burnout, but this wasn't the case. Many organisations had a lot of practical support offered, and volunteering during this period thrived and communities stepped up to support themselves. 

## 3. **Support work that combats issues faced in our rural communities, most particularly food, fuel, and digital poverty.** 

In January 2021 RVA and Rye Mutual Aid became aware that many school children in Rother were without digital devices to work from home. Either households sharing devices or no devices at all. The distribution across the region is unequal. And there are marked differences between both capacity and need in Senior and Primary Schools. Laptops were distributed via grants and through the local community, local organisations wiped them before distributing them through local schools.RVA also worked closely with Rother District Council to host a Poverty Task and Finish Group. Key findings have highlighted the need for a deeper dive into poverty across Rural Rother and how the VCSE in partnership with the local authority can alleviate some of the burden on individuals and families by creating better systems and providing better advice and access to services.RVA worked in partnership with ESCC and Sussex Community Foundation to distribute COVID winter grants to families via local trusted organisations. 

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**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

4. **Reassess and continue to build sustainability within the sector across Rother** 

Throughout this period the core of RVA work continued to be our infrastructure support. We have more than 1400 voluntary and community organisations that operate in Rother on our database. They range from large national organisations to the smallest community groups. We regularly kept in contact through our E Bulletins, website, social media, and online networks. We have worked directly with many groups this year-through training, group support and community networks. We provided training to enable groups to grow their skills and support them to deliver safely through the pandemic.We provided on line training including Safeguarding (for vulnerable adults and children), new group start up, funding opportunities, professional boundaries, and risk assessments with Hastings Direct. 

## 5. **Increase participation and engagement in 'having a say' over services and activities through regular on line and in person networks, consultation, and workshops.** 

Community Networks are at the heart of our work to bring the voluntary sector together. And during this period this was never more vital. Alongside our regular networks we held emergency monthly Covid meetings to update groups which were attended by CCG and Rother District Council to provide live updates. 180 groups, and 330 individuals, attended our Networks during the year. These meetings provided opportunities for peer support, information sharing and partnership building (both formal & informal). They help identify what the groups need RVA to do moving forward and where more specialist advice might be needed, and sometimes specialised group meetings -such as Poverty Task and Finish Group and Laptops for Learning in rural areas. The development of regular Marketplace events, inform our training provision and highlight opportunities for development.We encourage all individuals with an idea or just starting up a group to come and meet with the wider sector. Problems are solved, issues are highlighted, gaps and changing needs identified and the intelligence gathered enable RVA to ensure the local voluntary sectors voice is heard by public and private sector partners. 

Throughout the Pandemic we were fortunate to be able to continue delivering a number of projects on different on line platforms using the skills and commitment of our workforce. 

**Making It Happen** a partnership project (with SCDA, AiRS, 3VA, HVA and RVA), working at grassroots level in areas of deprivation across the County, the areas of concentration being Bexhill Central, Sidley, Pebsham, Eastern Rother and Rye. Using an ABCD model the project aims to encourage and support local people to develop ideas they have for community activity, in some cases very informal but also helping and enabling people to grow the confidence to develop more structured services and activities, and can act as a stepping stone to the more formal role infrastructure support services may then play. Work slowed through the pandemic, but local communities were starting to emerge towards the end of the financial year and we were able to lend support to initiatives such as: The Footbridge Gallery Project, an open-air art gallery which will be displayed on the Bexhill footbridge, an important yet neglected landmark in the centre of town; Rainbow Kitchen Magic, a community cooking group, to carry out some healthy cooking classes, both online and in person; a small community group called W.A.v.e Arts, who brighten up local landmarks through graffiti art; as well as a community led initiative called ArtbyVickyCraggs, which offers arts and crafts activities for children with special needs and their families. 

With physical health being a big focus during 2021, we also supported Bexhill Breathers, a group for people with COPD and other lung conditions, to increase the specially adapted physical activities that they offer their members. More recently, we have been approached by several other groups needing support, such as Bexhill Walking Football, Bexhill Walking Cricket and Bexhill Sinfonietta (a musical group). We have supported these and other groups with fundraising, publicity, marketing, and connecting them with other suitable organisations/groups. Other emerging initiatives across Eastern Rother include The Rye Plant Swop Shop and improving the space at the Rye Community Garden so that they can increase their volunteer base and continue their activities all year round. 

**I Know How** is an EU lnterreg project that recognises the increasing number of people who are recovering from cancer but are still faced with losing employment and need for interventions to enable them to stay in employment. This work has enabled RVA to continue a close working partnership with the Sarah Lee Trust and to develop a Roadmap for a return-to-work trajectory, that can be used by both small organisations as well as voluntary groups. 

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**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

During the past year despite the challenges that Covid has given, a strong cross boarder relationship has been established. RVA have been present at all the key group meetings from the project, delivering a cross pollination of ideas to assist us to build on the work already achieved and to prepare a learning module around best practice for employers faced with people who are diagnosed with a long-term health condition or cancer. Close relationships are being built with local employers and voluntary groups who are keen to be involved in the development of the Toolbox and the Information Service Tool that is being developed by the 4 regions - UK, Belgium, France, and Netherlands. We were also able to run various focus groups both virtual ones, as well as face to face to continue to develop and enhance the Road map that we are developing so that it can be a useful tool going beyond the life of the project and adding value to the work that RVA does. 

**HAIRE (Healthy Ageing through Innovation in Europe)** an RVA project and also an EU lnterreg 2 Seas programme which started in January 2020. RVA partnered with East Sussex County Council to deliver a new project to address the issues of older people living in rural areas. by encouraging both community solutions and the opportunity to participate in the co-design of statutory services. The HAIRE project is an innovative research and community action project empowering older adults to say what support they need; take part in designing new services; reduce loneliness, improve health and well being, and help shape their community for the future. It has built on work we have done in rural communities which have highlighted the increasing problems people have in remaining within their home community as services are reduced back; and as delivery in urban hubs and local infrastructure reduces and costs increase. The first year of the project we worked in two pilot areas -Rye and Robertsbridge and started the process with holding Guided Conversations with people who are over 60 years of age and not working. 

During the Pandemic we managed to recruit 14 volunteers who were trained in holding these Guided Conversations via Zoom platform, and who later went on to hold over 200 hours of conversations with 76 participants over the phone or online. This information was sent to University of Exeter, the research partners in the project to compile all the data into a Community Report which was received in mid-May. 

From consultation with local and strategic steering groups, the volunteers and participants and other stakeholders in the HAIRE Project, four main themes were established from the data. 

- THEME 1 - People need support to navigate changes in their life, such as retiring becoming a carer, becoming ill or immobile, moving home or being bereaved. 

- THEME 2 - People experiencing loneliness need help and support in growing meaningful social connections. 

- THEME 3 - People need support, encouragement, and opportunity to be physically active throughout their later life. 

- THEME 4 - The need for communities to improve the flow of information to all its residents to raise awareness of existing opportunities to be socially engaged and age well. 

The volunteers will be trained up in skills which will enable them to design and run a series of workshops and events centred around the four themes from the research, and eventually creating an innovation to take forward. A series of events is being planned for the Autumn in Rye and Robertsbridge, which will be open to all, to discuss and help design an innovative way in which the older people of the areas can reduce loneliness, improve health and well being, and help shape their community for the future. 

**Clean Seas Please** , we have continued to work with the Environment Agency to increase the knowledge and awareness among the local community of Bexhill and surrounding areas of the issues surrounding seawater quality in the local area and how a change in their actions and behaviour can have an impact on the poor water quality. 

Page 4 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

Our work has engaged with individuals, community groups, voluntary organisations, schools, and local businesses both on line and in person whenever possible, through beach schools, beach clean ups, talks and workshops. The impact of Climate Change has meant that this work has become increasingly relevant to our local community, and we are seeing increased numbers of volunteers, greater community action and strong engagement from children and young people participating in the project through work with schools and with out of school activities. In the last year we have also engaged much more strongly with local companies who have taken part in for example beach cleans as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. RVA was working with the local UN Association in planning an Ocean Symposium (on Climate Change & Biodiversity) at the De La Warr Pavilion in June 2020, although postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic 

## **Staff changes** 

RVA had a leadership change with a new CEO appointed in October 2020, and retirement of senior member of staff-Acting CEO, and several other new appointments. 

Despite the challenges of the pandemic across 2020-21 the core priorities of RVA will remain to: 

- Support and enable people to become more active in the community 

- give priority to working with people whose full participation in society is limited by economic, physical and social disadvantage to highlight issues of disadvantage 

- support work that combats issues faced in our rural communities 

- build sustainability within the sector 

- increase participation and engagement in 'having a say' over services and activities 

- promote environmental sustainability and support environmental initiatives 

In addition, we know that priority will need to be given to: 

- the many groups facing financial problems, many have failed to reopen this year and gaps in services are emerging. 

- the growing mental health crisis and problems for those struggling to cope with lockdown/social isolation. 

- the capacity of local communities to continue to support the most vulnerable. 

- the impact of unemployment and how volunteering may enable people to gain new skills 

Strong focus for the coming year will be around consulting with our membership and exploring what emerging needs are in our communities and what VCSE in Rother need to thrive as the pandemic is not going away, we need to adapt to a new way of living and supporting our communities to stay safe and identify gaps and needs. RVA's focus will also be around evaluating our service and our offer and building a skilful team, an online service and in person service. We recognise the vital need for strong communication and the need for information as we emerge out of the pandemic. 

Our strategic aims for the coming year - 2021/22 are to: 

1. **To improve our networks, advice-giving and training:** We are reviewing our offer, consulting with our membership, and ensuring our resources are used in a fitful purposeful way. The need to build a strong network and training suite that empowers and enables client organisations and operates through multiple channels is essential to the ongoing success of RVA. 

2. **Create a strong Customer service journey** : Which will enable RVA to monitor and map the VCSE and communities it serves across Rother, understanding their place in an organisational life cycle and clarifying their needs. RVA as advocate, catalyst/architect/facilitator. 

3. **Develop a strong team** : Review roles within RVA, make changes of and revise job descriptions to fit the changing needs of the organisation, focusing on key areas. Create a strong team that works well together and supports internally and externally. 

4. **Maintain Financial sustainability:** With some currently significant grants ending over the nextcouple of years (I-Know-How, Making It Happen, HAIRE) RVA must ensure it remains financially sustainable, and this will be achieved through the effective use of its resources; maintaining close budgetary and financial control over all areas of the operation; and creating various earned income streams. 

5. **Volunteer hub (planning ahead):** Scope and consult our membership, on the need for a volunteer hub across Rother, providing brokerage, volunteer lead support, provide training for volunteers, and Trustee recruitment. 

Page 5 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

## **Financial position** 

The year 2020/21 saw an unrestricted operating surplus of £61,458 (£30,192 and £34,343 in previous years). 

Income from grants and donations was £129,313 and from charitable activities £278,277 (compared to £169,301 and £226,658 in 2019/20). 

Expenditure on charitable activities for the year totalled £346,132 (£365,767 2019/20) of which £246,352 (£235,887 2019/20) was spent on staff costs representing 71% (64% 2019/20) of RVA's charitable expenditure. 

## **Reserves policy** 

It is the policy of the trustees to maintain sufficient reserves to ensure the day to day running of the charity and, in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, to support existing projects for fixed periods until funding is secured and to cover staff costs obligations and administrative costs. 

The general fund reserves at the year-end totalled £257,148 from which there is a general designated funding for building maintenance £5,019, the board agreed to transfer £38,325 from its general reserves to a new general designated account. Some of these funds are earmarked for staff training and development. 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Governing document** 

Rother Voluntary Action is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles which were an integral part of the incorporation on 17th January 2005. On 10th January 2007 the company became a Charity registered with the Charity Commission. 

At its AGM on the 8th December 2020 a resolution was passed to change the legal structure of the Charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). RVA is awaiting confirmation of the change of structure from the Charity Commission. 

## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** 

The management of Rother Voluntary Action is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles. The Trustees may appoint a person who is willing to act as a Trustee, either to fill a vacancy or to act as an additional Trustee provided that the appointment does not cause the number of Trustees to exceed the maximum number. Only persons who are members of the company shall be eligible to become Trustees. None of the charity's Trustees receive any remuneration. 

## **Recruitment and induction of trustees** 

Rother Voluntary Action follows the same process of recruitment and induction whether a potential Board member is nominated or co-opted. All potential Board members are asked to complete an application pack and are interviewed by a subgroup of the Board. Board members will then decide whether to co-opt or to recommend nomination to members at the AGM. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for coordinating the Induction process and giving opportunities to get to know the organisation. 

Page 6 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Risk management** 

The key risks to the organisation are: 

- The withdrawal of contracts from public service organisations and the impact this has in managing the long term strategy of the organisation 

- Increasing concerns about the availability of funding from charitable and non-charitable sources that can be accessed for Rother 

- Likely further cuts to public sector finances 

- The loss of any key experienced staff member 

Rother Voluntary Action, like many voluntary organisations is facing a serious challenge to maintain its financial operating reserve. As a result the Senior Management Team has implemented a series of cost cutting actions to maintain the financial health of the organisation and is investigating other strategic options in order to preserve a service for communities in Rother. 

At this point the Rother Voluntary Action Board is satisfied that actions already taken or are planned are sufficient to enable the organisation to navigate through the immediate financial turbulence affecting particularly the public sector and its partners. 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number** 

05333784 (England and Wales) 

## **Registered Charity number** 

1117546 

## **Registered office** 

47 London Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN39 3JY 

## **Trustees** 

J C Kirkham D M Smith L Seddon T J Hemmings C N Mills O Jeffs 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Carol Barfoot Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP Chartered Accountants 20 Eversley Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HE 

## **Bankers** 

Lloyds Bank plc, 17 Wellington Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1NX 

CAF Bank Limited, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ 

Charity Bank, Fosse House, 182 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE 

Page 7 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Chief Executive** 

Gina Sanderson - Acting Chief Executive (retired November 2020) 

Claire Cordell - CEO (from September 2020) 

## **Advisers** 

Nicola Mitchell - Rother District Council Paul Rideout - East Sussex County Council 

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 14th October 2021 and signed on its behalf by: 

T J Hemmings - Trustee 

Page 8 



**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Rother Voluntary Action ('the Company')** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31st March 2021. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts 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 Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your 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** 

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales which is one of the listed bodies. 

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 Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or 

4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)). 

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. 

Carol Barfoot Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP 20 Eversley Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HE 

28th October 2021 

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**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

|Unrestricted<br>funds<br>Notes<br>£<br>**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**<br>Donations and legacies<br>2<br>**129,313**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Projects<br>**237,956**<br>Community accounting<br>**2,204**<br>Earned income<br>**-**<br>Meeting room hire<br>**-**<br>Investment income<br>3<br>**142**<br>**Total**<br>**369,615**<br>**EXPENDITURE ON**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>4<br>Projects<br>**32,363**<br>Other charitable activities<br>**275,794**<br>**Total**<br>**308,157**<br>**NET INCOME**<br>**61,458**<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**<br>**Total funds brought forward**<br>**195,690**<br>**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**<br>**257,148**|Restricted<br>funds<br>£<br>**-**<br>**37,975**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**37,975**<br>**37,975**<br>**-**<br>**37,975**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**|**2021**<br>**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**129,313**<br>**275,931**<br>**2,204**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**142**<br>**407,590**<br>**70,338**<br>**275,794**<br>**346,132**<br>**61,458**<br>**195,690**<br>**257,148**|2020<br>Total<br>funds<br>_£_<br>169,301<br>222,428<br>3,090<br>150<br>900<br>90|
|---|---|---|---|
||||395,959<br>93,211<br>272,556|
||||365,767|
||||30,192<br>165,498|
||||195,690|



The notes form part of these financial statements 

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**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**BALANCE SHEET 31ST MARCH 2021** 

||||||**2021**|_2020_|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|Restricted||**Total**|_Total_|
|||funds|funds||**funds**|_funds_|
||Notes|£|£||**£**|_£_|
|**FIXED ASSETS**|||||||
|Tangible assets|12|**464**||**-**|**464**|_672_|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**|||||||
|Debtors|13|**39,898**|**7,728**||**47,626**|_49,743_|
|Cash at bank and in hand||**358,224**|**3,383**||**361,607**|_357,056_|
|||**398,122**|**11,111**||**409,233**|_406,799_|
|**CREDITORS**|||||||
|Amounts falling due within one year|14|**(141,438)**|**(11,111)**||**(152,549)**|_(211,781)_|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**||**256,684**||**-**|**256,684**|_195,018_|
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**|||||||
|**LIABILITIES**||**257,148**||**-**|**257,148**|_195,690_|
|**NET ASSETS**||**257,148**||**-**|**257,148**|_195,690_|
|**FUNDS**|16||||||
|Unrestricted funds|||||**257,148**|195,690|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|||||**257,148**|195,690|



The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31st March 2021. 

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. 

- The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for 

- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and 

- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. 

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 14th October 2021 and were signed on its behalf by: 

T J Hemmings - Trustee 

The notes form part of these financial statements 

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**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** 

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. 

## **Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions** 

The charitable company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland': 

- the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows. 

## **Income** 

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. 

## **Expenditure** 

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. 

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure. 

## **Tangible fixed assets** 

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. 

Computer equipment - 33% on cost 

## **Taxation** 

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. 

## **Fund accounting** 

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. 

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. 

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. 

## **Cash at bank and in hand** 

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the opening of the deposit. 

## **Debtors** 

Debtors are recognised at their recoverable amounts to which the charity is entitled. 

continued... 

Page 12 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued** 

## **Creditors** 

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement value. 

## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES** 

|Donations<br>Grants<br>Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:<br>Rother District Council<br>Rother District Council - HAIRE<br>East Sussex County Council<br>Children in Need<br>Tudor Trust<br>Big Lottery Fund<br>TK Maxx<br>BRP<br>**INVESTMENT INCOME**<br>Deposit account interest|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**-**<br>**129,313**<br>**129,313**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**38,000**<br>**10,000**<br>**57,330**<br>**3,983**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**20,000**<br>**129,313**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**142**|_2020_<br>_£_<br>_41_<br>_169,260_|
|---|---|---|
|||_169,301_|
|||_2020_<br>_£_<br>_32,125_<br>_-_<br>_101,335_<br>_10,000_<br>_15,000_<br>_10,000_<br>_800_<br>_-_|
|||_169,260_|
|||_2020_<br>_£_<br>_90_|



## **3. INVESTMENT INCOME** 

## **4. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS** 

|||Grant|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||funding of|||
||Direct|activities|Support||
||Costs (see|(see note|costs (see||
||note 5)|6)|note 7)|Totals|
||£|£|£|£|
|Projects|**30,418**|**39,920**|**-**|**70,338**|
|Other charitable activities|**274,461**|**-**|**1,333**|**275,794**|
||**304,879**|**39,920**|**1,333**|**346,132**|



continued... 

Page 13 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **5. DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES** 

|Staff costs<br>Payroll costs<br>Project costs<br>Rent and office costs<br>Rates, building repairs, utilities and cleaning<br>Insurance<br>Room hire<br>Stationery and computer expenses<br>Equipment maintenance<br>Telephone and internet<br>Fees, licences, subscriptions and publications<br>Travel and hospitality<br>Trainings and course fees<br>Bank charges<br>Miscellaneous<br>Depreciation<br>**6.**<br>**GRANTS PAYABLE**<br>Projects<br>The total grants paid to institutions during the year was as<br>follows:<br>Bexhill Breathers<br>Bexhill CAP*<br>Bexhill Caring Community*<br>Bexhill Foodbank*<br>Claverham Community College<br>Dragonfiles Nursery*<br>Glenleigh Acadamy*<br>Robertsbridge Community College<br>Sidley Baptist Church/Freedom Church*<br>Sidley United Football Club*<br>Sidley Young Peoples Project*<br>The Pelham CIO<br>20/20 Health<br>Younique Wellbeing Studios<br>Other grants to organisations under £1,000<br>Otrher grants to organisations under £1,000*<br>Bexhill Neighbourhood Gardeners*<br>Community Stuff*<br>Priority 1-54*<br>Surviving Christmas *|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**246,352**<br>**2,054**<br>**30,418**<br>**6,000**<br>**5,471**<br>**2,765**<br>**372**<br>**4,937**<br>**1,039**<br>**2,835**<br>**1,272**<br>**58**<br>**279**<br>**123**<br>**-**<br>**904**<br>**304,879**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**39,920**<br>**2021**<br>**£**<br>**1,600**<br>**3,450**<br>**1,235**<br>**1,309**<br>**4,600**<br>**5,000**<br>**1,000**<br>**3,200**<br>**2,728**<br>**1,500**<br>**3,070**<br>**3,000**<br>**2,445**<br>**1,950**<br>**1,590**<br>**2,243**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**39,920**|_2020_<br>_£_<br>_235,887_<br>_4,443_<br>_79,633_<br>_6,000_<br>_11,182_<br>_2,365_<br>_270_<br>_5,220_<br>_-_<br>_2,818_<br>_1,018_<br>_661_<br>_530_<br>_91_<br>_25_<br>_845_|_2020_<br>_£_<br>_235,887_<br>_4,443_<br>_79,633_<br>_6,000_<br>_11,182_<br>_2,365_<br>_270_<br>_5,220_<br>_-_<br>_2,818_<br>_1,018_<br>_661_<br>_530_<br>_91_<br>_25_<br>_845_|
|---|---|---|---|
|||_350,988_||
||||_2020_<br>_£_<br>_13,578_|
||||_2020_<br>_£_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_1,768_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_2,000_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_-_<br>_2,306_<br>_700_<br>_1,000_<br>_1,375_<br>_1,429_<br>_3,000_|
||||_13,578_|



* Heart of Sidley grants to community groups 

continued... 

Page 14 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **7. SUPPORT COSTS** 

|**SUPPORT COSTS**|||
|---|---|---|
|||Governance|
|||costs|
|||£|
|Other charitable activities||**1,333**|
|Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:|||
|**Governance costs**|||
||**2021**|_2020_|
||Other||
||charitable|Total|
||activities|activities|
||**£**|_£_|
|Accountancy fees|**828**|**_720_**|
|Independent examiner's fees|**492**|**_468_**|
|Annual return fee|**13**|**_13_**|
||**1,333**|**_1,201_**|



## **8. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)** 

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): 

Depreciation - owned assets 

|**2021**|_2020_|
|---|---|
|**£**|_£_|
|**904**|_845_|



## **9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** 

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st March 2021 nor for the year ended 31st March 2020. 

## **Trustees' expenses** 

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31st March 2021 nor for the year ended 31st March 2020. 

## **10. STAFF COSTS** 

|**STAFF COSTS**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2021**|_2020_|
||**£**|_£_|
|Wages and salaries|**220,239**|_212,250_|
|Social security costs|**17,214**|_15,499_|
|Other pension costs|**8,899**|_8,138_|
||**246,352**|_235,887_|



The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: 

||**2021**|_2020_|
|---|---|---|
|Full and part time staff|**10**|_8_|



No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. 

continued... 

Page 15 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

|**11.**<br>**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**<br>Unrestricted<br>funds<br>£<br>**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**<br>Donations and legacies<br>154,301<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Projects<br>163,040<br>Community accounting<br>3,090<br>Earned income<br>150<br>Meeting room hire<br>900<br>Investment income<br>90<br>**Total**<br>321,571<br>**EXPENDITURE ON**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Projects<br>33,798<br>Other charitable activities<br>257,291<br>**Total**<br>291,089<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>30,482<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**<br>**Total funds brought forward**<br>165,208<br>**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**<br>195,690<br>These figures are for the year ended 31st March 2020.<br>**12.**<br>**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**<br>**COST**<br>At 1st April 2020<br>Additions<br>At 31st March 2021<br>**DEPRECIATION**<br>At 1st April 2020<br>Charge for year<br>At 31st March 2021<br>**NET BOOK VALUE**<br>At 31st March 2021<br>At 31st March 2020|Restricted<br>Total<br>funds<br>funds<br>£<br>_£_<br>15,000<br>169,301<br>59,388<br>222,428<br>-<br>3,090<br>-<br>150<br>-<br>900<br>-<br>90<br>74,388<br>395,959<br>59,413<br>93,211<br>15,265<br>272,556<br>74,678<br>365,767<br>(290)<br>30,192<br>290<br>165,498<br>-<br>195,690<br>Computer<br>equipment<br>£<br>**21,805**<br>**696**<br>**22,501**<br>**21,133**<br>**904**<br>**22,037**<br>**464**<br>_672_|
|---|---|



continued... 

Page 16 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **13. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR** 

|**13.**|**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2021**|_2020_|
|||**£**|_£_|
||Grants receivable|**9,555**|_10,519_|
||Other debtors|**38,071**|_39,224_|
|||**47,626**|_49,743_|
|**14.**|**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**|||
|||**2021**|_2020_|
|||**£**|_£_|
||Balance of funds administered for others (see note 17)|**77,875**|_86,878_|
||Social security and other taxes|**-**|_3,815_|
||Other creditors|**7,730**|_33,309_|
||Grants and funding received in advance|**60,398**|_87,779_|
||Funding repayable|**6,546**|_-_|
|||**152,549**|_211,781_|



## **15. LEASING AGREEMENTS** 

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows: 

|Within one year<br>Between one and five years|**2021**<br>**£**<br>**-**<br>**37,500**<br>**37,500**|_2020_<br>_£_<br>_6,000_<br>_-_|
|---|---|---|
|||_6,000_|



The lease of 47 London Road was signed on 31 March 2016. It is for the period of 10 years from that date with a break clause at the end of the fifth year. The rent was reviewed to £7,500 per annum on the fifth anniversary and then 5% on each subsequent review date. 

## **16. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS** 

|**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Net|Transfers||
|||movement|between|At|
||At 1/4/20|in funds|funds|31/3/21|
||£|£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund|**190,671**|**61,458**|**(38,325)**|**213,804**|
|Building maintenance designated fund|**5,019**|**-**|**-**|**5,019**|
|General designated fund|**-**|**-**|**38,325**|**38,325**|
||**195,690**|**61,458**|**-**|**257,148**|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|**195,690**|**61,458**|**-**|**257,148**|



continued... 

Page 17 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **16. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: 

|**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Big Local project - Heart of Sidley<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**<br>**Comparatives for movement in funds**<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>Building maintenance designated fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Community Friends Plus<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**||Incoming<br>resources<br>£<br>**369,615**<br>**37,975**<br>**407,590**<br>At 1/4/19<br>£<br>160,189<br>5,019<br>165,208<br>290<br>165,498|Resources<br>expended<br>£<br>**(308,157)**<br>**(37,975)**<br>**(346,132)**<br>Net<br>movement<br>in funds<br>£<br>30,482<br>-<br>30,482<br>(290)<br>30,192||Movement<br>in funds<br>£<br>**61,458**<br>**-**<br>**61,458**<br>At<br>31/3/20<br>£<br>190,671<br>5,019<br>195,690<br>-<br>195,690|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||
|||||||



Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: 

||Incoming|Resources|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|
||resources|expended|in funds|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|321,571|(291,089)|30,482|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Big Local project - Heart of Sidley|59,388|(59,388)|-|
|Community Friends Plus|15,000|(15,290)|(290)|
||74,388|(74,678)|(290)|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|395,959|(365,767)|30,192|



Funding is received from Big Local Trust, for Heart of Sidley Big Local to meet ongoing project expenditures. Any unspent balance at the grant year end at 31st March may result in a reduction in the future instalment(s) of the grant and/or the unspent grant monies being returned to Big Local Trust for Heart of Sidley Big Local to draw down in future. 

continued... 

Page 18 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **16. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

## **Transfers between funds** 

The board agreed to transfer £38,325 from its general reserves to a general designated account. Some of these funds are earmarked for staff training and development. 

## **17. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** 

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31st March 2021. 

## **18. CAPITAL AND RESERVES** 

Every member of the charity undertakes to contribute to the assets of the charity in the event of the same being wound up while he is a member, or within one year after he ceases to be a member, for payment of debts and of costs, charges and expenses of winding-up the same, and for the adjustment of rights of the contributors among themselves, such amount as may be required not exceeding £1. 

continued... 

Page 19 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION** 

**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **19. FUNDS ADMINISTERED FOR OTHERS** 

|**FUNDS ADMINISTERED FOR OTHERS**|||
|---|---|---|
|||**£**|
|**Local Action Plan**|||
||||
|Balance at 1st April 2020||**2,064**|
||||
|**Income**|||
|The Ted Baker Trust||**500**|
||||
|**Expenditure:**||**2,564**|
|Rye Rugby Club|**500**||
||||
|||**500**|
||||
|Balance at 31st March 2021||**2,064**|
||||
||||
|**Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust:**|||
||||
|**_Small Grants Scheme and HIMP Working Groups_**|||
||||
|Balance at 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021||**2,984**|
||||
|**_Asset Mapping Project_**|||
||||
|Balance at 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021||**5,000**|
||||
||||
|**Youth Development Services:**|||
||||
|**_Small Grants Scheme_**|||
||||
|Balance at 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021||**12,000**|
||||
|**Rye Partnership - Small Grants Scheme**|||
||||
|Balance at 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021||**1,530**|
||||
||||
|**Bexhill Neighbourhood Gardeners**|||
||||
|Balance at 1st April 2020||**0**|
||||
|**Income**|||
|Donations||**80**|
||||
|Balance at 31st March 2021||**80**|
||||



continued... 

Page 20 



**ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021** 

## **19. FUNDS ADMINISTERED FOR OTHERS - continued** 

||**£**|
|---|---|
|||
|||
|**Bodiam Castle Community Transport**||
|||
|Balance at 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021|**1,100**|
|||
|||
|**Bexhill Regeneration Partnership**||
|||
|Balance at 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021|**61,508**|
|||
|**Expenditure**||
|Transfer to Rother Voluntary Action - HAIRE|**20,000**|
|||
||**41,508**|
|||
|||
|**Heart of Sidley**||
|||
|Balance at 1st April 2020|**692**|
|||
|**Income**||
|Sponsorship of Christmas Lights|**3,983**|
|Grant from Heart of Sidley - Matched Funding|**10,036**|
|||
|**Expenditure**|**14,711**|
|Donation to Christmas Lights|**3,102**|
|||
|Balance at 31st March 2021|**11,609**|
|||
|||
|||
|**Summary**|**£**|
|||
|Local Action Plan|**2,064**|
|Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust:||
|Small Grants Scheme and HIMP Working Groups|**2,984**|
|Asset Mapping Project|**5,000**|
|Youth Development Services:||
|Small Grants Scheme|**12,000**|
|Rye Partnership Small Grants Scheme|**1,530**|
|Bexhill Neighbourhood Gardeners|**80**|
|Bodiam Castle Community Transport|**1,100**|
|Bexhill Regeneration Partnership|**41,508**|
|Heart of Sidley|**11,609**|
|||
||**77,875**|
|||
|||
|||
|||
|||



Page 21