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← Oblong Ltd

2024-03-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1120379 Company Registration No. 03147855 (England and Wales)

OBLONG LTD

DIRECTORS’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

OBLONG LTD LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Directors Neal Heard
Mark Richards
Paul Spinks
Layla Mubarak
John Barton
Lorena Blanco-Falcioni
Zara Mahmood
Co-opted Claire Lavery
Secretary Jessica Fishenden
Charity number 1120379
Company number 03147855
Registered office Woodhouse Community Centre
197 Woodhouse Street
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS6 2NY
Independent Examiner Kevin J Meddings MAAT
Kevin Meddings Accountancy Services
55 Crowther Avenue
Calverley
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS28 5SA
Bankers Unity Trust Bank
Four Brindleyplace
Birmingham
B1 2JB
The Charity Bank Limited
Fosse House
182 High Street
Tonbridge
Kent
TN9 1BE

OBLONG LTD CONTENTS

Page
Directors’ report 1 - 4
Independent examiner’s report 5
Statement of financial activities 6
Balance sheet 7 - 8
Statement of cashflows 9
Notes to the accounts 10 - 19

OBLONG LTD DIRECTORS’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The directors present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s constitution and Memorandum & Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011.

Structure, governance and management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 18[th] January 1996. The charity was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charity and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the charity being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. The objects and articles were amended and lodged at Companies House in August 2011.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

The trustees of the charity are also directors for the purpose of company law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the trustees are elected to serve until the annual general meeting and stand for re-election.

The trustees have the power to co-opt additional trustees and no more than 12 in total.

New trustees are invited and encouraged to attend a series of meetings and short training sessions to familiarise themselves with the charity and the context within which it operates. All trustees are encouraged to meet with at least one member of the existing board of trustees and/or a staff member to look at the responsibilities and time commitments for trustees.

Trustee induction and training

All new trustees receive a prepared trustee induction pack which includes the following Oblong information:

Induction document Memorandum and Articles of Association Minutes of last 3 Board meetings Last 3 years annual accounts Staffing structure chart Board contact details Last annual review Copy of ‘The Essential Trustee’ from the Charity Commission Dates and times of next 3 Board Meetings

The directors who served during the year were: - Neal Heard Mark Richards Paul Spinks Layla Mubarek John Barton Lorena Blanco-Falcioni (appointed 31 January 2024) Zara Mahmood (appointed 31 January 2024) Kwame Gad (resigned 10 October 2023) Sabina Lokolong (resigned 31 January 2024) Amee Bartle (resigned 10 October 2023) Colin Longden (resigned 31 January 2024) Damanjit Kaur (resigned 10 October 2023)

Claire Lavery was Co-opted onto the Board on 4 October 2024.

OBLONG LTD DIRECTORS’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Related parties

Oblong Ltd may support a number of community groups and these are referred to as “member projects”. During the 2023/24 financial year Oblong had no active member projects.

Organisation structure

Oblong is managed by a voluntary trustee board, which meets at least quarterly, and which makes all major policy and strategic decisions. Oblong is managed by a team of 6 members of staff, in addition to 2 support staff and various freelancers. Oblong is non-hierarchical, the staff team manage each other and are responsible to the board for managing the organisation’s daily activity.

Oblong divides work into various decision-making areas which encompass the operational running to deliver its objectives that include but are not restricted to:

Oblong delegates responsibility for various areas to members of staff according to their roles, but who are all accountable to the staff meeting as a whole. Where applicable those staff took decisions alongside volunteers, stakeholders, and relevant support staff. Oblong continued its non-hierarchical management structure and had regular staff meetings to manage the organisation’s daily activity.

Risk management

The trustees have conducted a review of all risks to which Oblong is exposed and are confident systems are in place to mitigate these risks.

There are procedures in place to ensure that the quality of provision is maintained, the procedures are reviewed regularly, along with ensuring that staff regularly receive training to update skills and knowledge.

A risk register has been established and is periodically reviewed. Where appropriate systems or procedures have been established to mitigate risks the charity faces. Significant external risks to funding have led to the development of an organisational priority to move towards diversification of funding and activities. Internal controls are monitored by the implementing of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers and visitors to the centre. Appropriate DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks are made when required.

Objectives and activities

The stated objectives of the charity are: -

“Oblong aims to develop the capacity and skills of people living in socially and economically disadvantaged areas in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to create active, flourishing communities and to run a community centre, primarily for the benefit of the Woodhouse, Little London and Hyde Park areas”.

In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of education and the enhancement of citizenship or community development.

OBLONG LTD DIRECTORS’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Achievements and performance

Woodhouse Community Centre

Our aim is to run the centre for the benefit of the local community, that everyone feels welcome at the centre, they enjoy their time here and leave wanting to come back.

The centre has a large hall, meeting rooms, IT suite, catering kitchen, community garden, offices and event space for hire. Our office spaces are let to charitable organisations working in the local community and beyond.

Mental Wellbeing

Oblong’s mental health and wellbeing work uses peer support and safely facilitated group work. We provide people with the opportunity to maintain or improve their mental health and wellbeing and share successful strategies they already use. The two courses, Headspace and The Present, use a mixture of discussion and body-based work. The Present draws techniques from the traditions of Kung Fu and Yoga, aiming to let people feel more comfortable in their own bodies.

Thriving Together Volunteering Project

Since October 2021 we started a programme of volunteer opportunities, community activities and personal development. This involved hiring 2 additional part-time members of staff. It is a National Lottery funded project provided for 3 years to connect, build and empower the community through volunteering opportunities.

Acute Needs Work

The acute needs support works on the understanding that mental illness doesn’t exist in a vacuum but is acutely affected by stress and poverty. By supporting people to meet basic needs such as for food, warmth, safe housing, and connection, we believe we can allow people to free up mental space.

Seva Lunch Club

The Lunch Club is a project born out of Thriving Together but is reflective of a perennial community need for a safe, warm space with affordable food where people can make positive connections. Our staff and Lunch Club volunteers work incredibly hard to produce some amazing food and the projects serves an average of 430 meals per month.

Volunteering

Our volunteers have been integral in enabling Oblong to support those most in need in the Woodhouse, Little London and Hyde Park community and we would like to say a big thank you to all of them for their time and commitment.

We are proud that we use volunteering as a tool to develop and grow both our volunteers and community capacity. Volunteers working with us have gone on to lead groups, start projects and work with us to build their communities.

Financial review

In this financial year the organisation made a deficit of £20,587 (2023: surplus of £8,107). Oblong’s restricted income for the year was £156,168, an increase of nearly £20,000 on the previous financial year

At the end of the financial year the overall reserves of the organisation were £220,997 of which £107,907 is restricted, to be spent on specific projects as defined by funders.

Details of restricted funds can be found in Note 11 to the accounts.

Funders

We would like to thank all the funders who have made our work possible this year. Funding information can be found in Note 3 to the accounts.

OBLONG LTD DIRECTORS’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Assets

Woodhouse Community Centre reopened in 2012 after the Community Asset Transfer from Leeds City Council with a 50-year lease and a capital project refurbishment funded from a grant/loan mix from the Social Investment Business. We reduced the overall debt this year by £15,082 down to £149,078 with £7,947 depreciated from the building which following improvement costs of £9,800 this year now has a carrying value of £311,786.

Reserves

The Board has set a policy to keep reserve funds at a sufficient level in order to allow the smooth operation of the charity’s activities and to cover any potential redundancy and winding up costs. The policy is to hold at least 6 months of resources expended, which equates to £43,162. At the yearend date unrestricted reserves, including designated reserves stood at £113,090.

Development and Future Plans

We continue to offer food support, signposting, and other referrals on an appropriate basis, supporting those struggling as a result of continued need in the community.

We want to build on capacity and role of the community centre as a hub, a welcoming first port-of-call for members of our community. Our five-year strategy is to become a more financially sustainable organisation and to become a trauma-aware organisation. This means that we will welcome people regardless of what they have experienced in the past and help everybody feel safe and welcomed in the building.

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

The directors of Oblong Ltd. are responsible for preparing the Directors’ Annual report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year. Under company law the directors must not approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they 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 that period. In preparing these accounts the directors are required to:-

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and publication of accounts may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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

On behalf of the board of directors

.................... Neal Heard Director

27 November 2024

OBLONG LTD INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE DIRECTORS OF OBLONG LTD

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 6 to 19.

Respective responsibilities of Directors and Examiner

The directors, who also act as trustees for the charitable activities of Oblong Ltd are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The directors consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011, (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination it is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 you as 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.

Independent Examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

have not been met; or

Kevin J Meddings MAAT Kevin Meddings Accountancy Services 55 Crowther Avenue Calverley Leeds West Yorkshire

LS28 5SA

Dated: 29 November 2024

OBLONG LTD STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Unrestricted
Funds
Designated
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Notes
£
£
£
Income
Voluntary Income
2
550
7,431
-
Rental Income
66,292
-
-
Incoming resources
from charitable
activities
3
-
-
156,168
Other incoming
resources
416
-
-
Bank interest
242
-
-
Business interruption
claim
-
-
-
Total Income
67,500
7,431
156,168
Expenditure
4
Charitable Activities
82,634
3,689
165,363
Total Expenditure
82,634
3,689
165,363
Net (expenditure)
/net income/net
movement in funds
before transfers
(15,134)
3,742
(9,195)
Transfers between
funds
11/12
9,800
4,503
(14,303)
Net (expenditure)
/net income/net
movement in funds
after transfers
(5,334)
8,245
(23,498)
Total Funds brought
forward
110,179
-
131,405
Total Funds carried
forward
104,845
8,245
107,907		 Total
2024
£
7,981
66,292
156,168
416
242
-

231,099

251,686

251,686

(20,587)
-

(20,587)
241.584

220,997		 Total
2023
£
11,486
75,266
136,933
181
-
827
224,693
216,586
216,586
8,107
-
8,107
233,477
241,584

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

OBLONG LTD BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2024 2023
Funds Funds Funds Total Total
£ £ £ £ £
Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets 7 217,809 - 93,977 311,786 309,933
__ __ __ __ _
Current Assets
Debtors 8 4,893 - 17,460 22,353 18,072
Cash at bank and
in hand 34,818 8,245 15,112 58,175 98,709
__ __ __ __ _
39,711 8,245 32,572 80,528 116,781
__ __ __ _ __
Creditors: amount
falling due within
one year 9 (3,597) - (18,642) (22,239) (20,970)
__ __ __ _ __
Net Current
Assets 36,114 8,245 13,930 58,289 95,811
__ __ __ __ _
Total Assets less
Current Liabilities 253,923 8,245 107,907 370,075 405,744
__ __ __ _ __
Creditors:
amounts falling
due after more
than one year 10 (149,078) - (149,078) (164,160)
__ __ __ _ __
Total Assets less
Liabilities 104,845 8,245 107,907 220,997 241,584
__ __ __ _ __
Total Funds of the
Charity
Unrestricted funds 104,845 - 104,845 110,179
Designated funds - 8,245 - 8,245 -
Restricted funds 11 - 107,907 107,907 131,405
__ __ __ _ __
104,845 8,245 107,907 220,997 241,584
__ __ __ _ __

OBLONG LTD BALANCE SHEET ( CONTINUED) AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2024. No member of the company has deposited a notice, pursuant to section 476, requiring an audit of these accounts.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:

(a) ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and;

(b) preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the 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 accounts, so far as applicable to the company.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to small companies’ regime.

The accounts were approved by the Board on 27 November 2024

......................... Neal Heard Director

Company Registration Number: 03147855

OBLONG LTD STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Notes
Cash (used)/generated from operating activities
13
Cashflow from investing activities
Bank interest
(Decrease)/increase in cash equivalents in the year
Cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Total cash equivalents at the end of the year		 2024
(40,776)
242
(40,534)
98,709
58,175		 2023
7,251
-
7,251
91,458
98,709

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting policies

1.1 Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise stated.

The accounts are prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities; Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) published on 16 July 2014, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102.

Having considered future planned activities and the reserves available to the charity, the Directors are satisfied that the financial statements should continue to be prepared on the going concern basis.

1.2 Incoming resources

Core funding revenue grants are recognised in the income and expenditure account in the accounting period to which they relate.

Revenue grants for specific projects are recognised in the income and expenditure account in the accounting period to which they relate. Any unspent amounts are carried forward as part of the restricted funds in the balance sheet.

1.3 Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for beneficiaries. .

All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories on the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource.

1.4 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:-

Fixtures and fittings 5 years straight line
Computers and equipment 3 years straight line

It is the policy of the charitable company to only include on the balance sheet individual items of a capital nature which cost £1,500 or more and only relates to those items that can be used for more than one year.

1.5 Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees. These include funds which the directors have designated for use on specific projects as explained in note 12.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes of use of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the accounts.

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1.6 Pensions

The charity pays contributions into the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) which is a defined contribution workplace scheme.

1.7 Doubtful Debts Provision

The Directors consider it appropriate to provide for any outstanding income which may not be recoverable. This is reviewed on an annual basis.

2. Voluntary income

2024 2023
£ £
Core income
Donations 7,959 10,927
Fees and services 22 559
7,981 11,486
3. Incoming resources from charitable activities:
2024 2023
£ £
Grants receivable and contracts 156,168 136,933

Included within income relating to grants receivable and contracts are the following:-

Unrestricted funds:

Leeds City Council (Roof repairs)
Leeds Culture Trust		 -
-
-		 3,575
550
4,125

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Restricted funds:

Touchstone Live Well Leeds - Headspace
National Lottery Community Fund Thriving Together
National Lottery Community Fund Thriving Together – Capital
Leeds Community Foundation Resilience Fund
Voluntary Action Leeds Household Support Fund
The Big Lottery One Community Volunteers
Voluntary Action Leeds Welcoming Spaces Grant
Leeds Community Foundation Transforming Mental Health
Leeds City Council Kitchen Grant
Touchstone Live Well Leeds – Headspace (Greatest Hits)
Leeds City Council Home ED Grant
Leeds City Council MICE Grants
Leeds City Council Community Care Hubs
Wades Charity Garden Project
Volition Community Champions
Leeds Community Foundation Mental Health
Asda Foundation
Leeds City Council Volunteer Development Fund
Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust Warm Spaces Grant
Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust Household Support Fund
4.
Charitable activities
Wages and salaries
Pension costs
Recruitment costs
Freelance costs
Staff travel
Rates
Insurance
Repairs and maintenance
Cleaning and PPE
Refreshments
Volunteer expenses
Events and projects
Training and development
Printing, postage, and stationery
Telephone and internet
Light and heat
Payroll costs
Depreciation
Bank charges
Grants paid in pursuance of charitable activities
Loan Interest
Legal, professional and evaluation fees
Independent examination fee
Bad and doubtful debts
Sundries		 2024
£
22,202
55,404
13,042
15,000
23,000
4,025
6,400
12,000
3,717
578
500
300
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
156,168

2024
£
141,718
6,231
30
1,725
712
2,388
3,271
14,465
1,465
626
3,126
30,102
1,529
4,084
2,209
12,580
1,523
7,947
226
3,800
7,790
2,102
1,600
309
128
251,686		 2023
£
20,002
52,513
974
15,000
14,500
5,635
3,750
-
-
-
-
-
7,667
5,000
4,998
869
720
500
500
180
132,808
2023
£
120,684
5,462
200
10,295
28
2,355
2,940
13,998
2,478
74
506
14,759
2,321
3,490
2,612
4,279
1,320
7,947
192
4,500
8,509
1,283
1,575
4,755
24
216,586

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

5. Directors

None of the directors (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year.

6. Employees

Number of employees

The average number of employees during the year was 8 (2023 – 8).

Employment costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Recruitment costs		 2024
£
138,032
3,686
6,231
30
147,979		 2023
£
118,501
2,183
5,462
200
126,346

There were no employees whose annual emoluments were £60,000 or more.

No pension contributions were outstanding at the year end.

The charity considers its key management personnel (Trustee group) to be the directors of the organisation.

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

7. Tangible fixed assets

Leasehold
Fixtures
Computers
Improvements
& Fittings
& Equipment
£
£
£
Cost
At 1 April 2023
397,350
4,979
36,919
Additions
9,800
-
-

At 31 March 2024
407,150
4,979
36,919

Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
87,417
4,979
36,919
Charge for the Year
7,947
-
-

At 31 March 2024
95,364
4,979
36,919

Net book value
At 31 March 2024
311,786
-
-

At 31 March 2023
309,933
-
-
 Total
£
439,248
9,800
449,048
129,315
7,947
137,262
311,786
309,933

Futurebuilders England Ltd (Social Investment Business) hold a legal charge on a 50 year lease over Woodhouse Community Centre, Woodhouse Street, Leeds, LS6 2NY on which the leasehold improvements have been made.

8. Debtors

Trade debtors
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accruals
Deferred income (see below)
Monies held on behalf of stakeholders		 2024
£
22,353
2024
£
3,898
18,341
-
22,239		 2023
£
18,072
2023
£
4,499
14,576
1,895
20,970

9. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Deferred income is as follows:
2024 2023
£ £
Restricted:
Touchstone Live Well Leeds – Headspace 5,218 10,551
Leeds Community Foundation – Transforming Mental Health 12,711 -
Touchstone Live Well Leeds – Headspace (Greatest Hits) 412 -
Awards For All – One Community Volunteers - 4,025
18,341 14,576
10. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
2024 2023
£ £
Loan 149,078 164,160

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

11. Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:-

Futurebuilders
LWL Headspace
Thriving Together
Thriving Together Cap
Amazon
Resilience Fund
HSF
Lunch Club
One Community Vols
Wades
Community Champions
Welcoming Spaces
VDF
Asda Foundation
TMH
LCC Kitchen
Headspace Greatest Hits
Home ED
LCC MICE		 Movement in funds
Balance
at
1 April
2023
Incoming
resources
Charitable
activities
£
£
£
96,450
-
(2,473)
3,509
22,202
(24,933)
9,529
55,404
(54,955)
-
13,042
(3,242)
716
-
(716)
-
15,000
(15,076)
7,686
23,000
(30,686)
3,647
-
-
3,057
4,025
(7,082)
1,693
-
(1,693)
612
-
(612)
2,930
6,400
(8,263)
856
-
-
720
-
(720)
-
12,000
(11,185)
-
3,717
(2,982)
-
578
(145)
-
500
(300)
-
300
(300)


131,405
156,168
(165,363)

 Transfer
between
funds
Balance at
31 March
2024
£
£
-
93,977
-
778
-
9,978
(9,800)
-
-
-
76
-
-
-
(3,647)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(76)
991
(856)
-
-
-
-
815
-
735
-
433
-
200
-
-
(14,303)
107,907

Details of individual restricted funds, together with their abbreviations, are included overleaf.

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Futurebuilders/Social Investment Business (Futurebuilders)

A capital grant that enabled the refurbishment of the leasehold property.

Touchstone Live Well Leeds – Headspace (LWL Headspace)

Costs were spent in the year in delivering multiple Headspace courses across Leeds.

National Lottery Community Fund Thriving Together (Thriving Together)

Developing a community informed programme of groups and activities at Woodhouse Community Centre led by local volunteers from the Hyde Park. Little London and Woodhouse areas.

National Lottery Community Fund Thriving Together – Capital (Thriving Together Cap) Working on improvements and renovations to public areas at Woodhouse Community Centre to improve comfort, usability and creating a more welcoming environment.

Amazon 100% Digital (Amazon)

This funding, received through 100% Digital Leeds, has supported combating digital poverty and household hardship in Woodhouse and Little London.

Leeds Community Foundation Resilience Fund (Resilience Fund)

The Strategic Grants address resilience for Third Sector Organisations: this funding was awarded to support the development of Oblong; rather than a specific project or group of people. This fund therefore was designed to cover the core costs of Oblong and encourage strategic development work alongside daily delivery.

Voluntary Action Leeds Household Support Fund (HSF)

This grant is for food related projects that address poverty, isolation, lack of access to other services. Providing a safe space for local residents and responding to urgent need. The initial creation of this fund was through an agreed transfer of the unused funds (£2,737) from Community Care Hubs.

The Big Lottery One Community Volunteers (One Community Vols)

This was an Award For All grant that enabled us to offer community volunteers free use of our rooms to enable them to deliver free activities for the wider community.

Wades Charity Garden Project (Wades)

This grant was awarded to involve local volunteers in the rejuvenation of the garden, to develop ownership of the space, as well as learn skills to enable them to continue its upkeep and continued development. These activities also supported their mental health.

Volition Community Champions (Community Champions)

This grant was awarded to work with local migrant communities, to lead on positive health and wellbeing messaging, which includes Covid-19 messages and the vaccination programme.

Voluntary Action Leeds Welcoming Spaces Grant (Welcoming Spaces)

A fund distributed by Leeds Community Anchor Network (LCAN) to provide warm spaces in public places where people could congregate over the winter months to cut down utilities usage at home in response to the increased cost of living.

Asda Foundation

Asda Foundation Cost of Living Grant was awarded to respond to community need, because of the significant rises in costs, particularly in relation to heating and gas rises. We used it to provide a warm space for local residents to come and be, where they could reduce the Cost-of-Living bills by being able to congregate in the centre and avoid having to use their own utilities for a few hours each day (Monday to Tuesday). It was also used towards the food pantry and pay-as-you-feel café for local people

.

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Leeds Community Foundation Transforming Mental Health (TMH)

Awarded to fund space and staff capacity for ‘Acute Needs’ work – to spend time with people who need help with multiple issues that are simultaneously affecting them, making it difficult for mainstream agencies to help.

Leeds City Council Kitchen Grant (LCC Kitchen)

Awarded for improvement of kitchen facilities and having a knock-on effect on volunteer experiences, nutrition and health of members of the community.

Touchstone Live Well Leeds – (Headspace Greatest Hits)

Small grant via Touchstone to support peer-led sessions for those who have attended Headspace courses and would like ongoing group sessions not facilitated by a professional worker. The group meets to discuss their own wellbeing & strategies that support positive mental health and their dayto-day experiences in a safe, friendly place.

Leeds City Council ED Grant (Home ED)

Grant to support in-centre activities of a Home Education group that grew organically out of a Thriving Together group – play, learning, and social experiences in a comfortable central place.

Leeds City Council MICE Grants (LCC MICE)

LCC MICE money supported ESOL (our English Conversation Café) session in this financial year – opportunities for language learning and practice in a community environment, as well as providing volunteer opportunities and maintaining provision for a long-term need in our community.

12. Designated Funds

Balance at
1 April 2023
Incoming
resources
£
£
Lunch Club
-
7,277
VDF
-
108
Chair Fund
-
46
-
7,431		 Transfer
between
funds
Charitable
activities
Balance at
31 March
2024
£
£
£
3,647
(3,460)
7,464
856
(229)
735
-
-
46


4,503
(3,689)
8,245

In the year, the trustees took a decision to use an additional category for funds that were generated through internal fundraising, for which it is not appropriate to describe them as ‘Restricted funds’. Funds to the total value of £4,503 were moved from Restricted to Designated – this total figure is found in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 6 and is detailed in the table above.

While these sit within Unrestricted funds, we have decided to designate them so that they can be used for specific purposes.

Lunch Club

The club relies on pay as you feel donations and is also directly supported by the Household Support Fund grant which is used to procure food for the club.

Volunteer Development Fund (VDF)

The Volunteer Development Fund is made up of donations from Oblong volunteers fundraising activities and spend is determined by the Volunteer and Community Forum.

Chair Fund

Results of a GoFundMe page campaign focussing on renewing chairs in WCC.

OBLONG LTD NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

13. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cashflow from operating activities

Net movement in funds
Add back depreciation charge
Deduct leasehold property improvements
Deduct interest income
(Increase) in debtors
(Decrease) in creditors
Net cash (used)/generated in operating activities		 2024
£
(20,587)
7,947
(9,800)
(242)
(4,281)
(13,813)
(40,776)		 2023
£
8,107
7,947
-
-
(7,768)
(1,035)
7,251