overcoming conflict MESH Community Cohesion Services Registered charlty (1121249) Annual report for the year ended 31 March 2024
MESH Communitii Cohesion Services Contents Page Legal and administrative information pp.2 Trustees, report pp.3-7 Independent examiners report pp.8-9 Statement of financial activities pp.10 Balance sheet pp.11 Notes to the accounts pp.12-14
MESH Community Coliesioi) Service5 Legal and administrative information Trustees Carol Borrill Jessica Ryan-smith Ben McGarry Jo Buchanan Elinor Harman Luke Tilley Charity Secretary Ben McGarry Registered charity number 1121249 Principal address The Circle 33 Rockingham Lane SHEFFIELD SI 4FW Bank Royal Bank of Scotland plc 5 Church Street Sheffield SI IHF Independent examiner LSRN Consultancy Ltd Sheffield S6 6GL Matthew Ellis (FCCA)
MESH Comniunity Cohesion Services Trustees report The board of trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2024. These have been prepared to meet the requirements for a trustee's report and accounts for purposes of the Charity Commission and comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the recommended practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the financial reporting standards for smaller entities. Structure, governance and management Governing document The organisation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered as a charity on 17 October 2007 and converted to a CIO on January 9, 2024. The charity was originally established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of a charitable company and is currently governed under its new CIO Constitution (August 2023). Recruitment and appointment of trustees All members of the board give their time voluntarily and have received no benefits in this or prior financial years. The board seeks to ensure that the charity's objectives can be met by the diversity of the trustee body. To enhance the potential pool of trustees, the charity has recruited through organisations that support development in the sector, and through contacts in relevant fields, and from members present at the AGM. A periodic skills audit of trustees and staff is carried out, so that in the event of particular skills being lost due to retirements, recruitment may be specifically targeted. As per the constitution. trustees must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. Trustee induction and training Prospective trustees are given links to the Charity Commission's guidelines for trustees, and the charity's website, to familiarise themselves with our range of activities. An interview follows, an application form is completed and two references are sought. All of this is reviewed by the board, which may then decide to invite the applicant to observe at board meetings. If the board is satisfied that they are suitable, they are then invited to join. Duly appointed trustees receive a copy of the current version of the constitution, and a copy of the CIO'S latest Trustees, Annual Report and statement of accounts.
MESH Comniunity Cohesion Services Organisational structure The charity has a board that meets monthly and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. The trustees who served during the year are listed on page two of the report. The charity has one employed staff member. Each member of the board has their own area of special interest, and works with the member of staff to manage that area. Risk management The board considers the financial risks to which the charity is exposed at each meeting, and where possible puts in place actions to mitigate these risks. These include diversification of funding and activities, reductions in costs, evaluating competition from other providers and working with related parties. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers, and clients. These procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity. Related parties The charity maintains links within the community and with organisations with similar purposes in the region, identifying relevant policy developments and prospective funding. Objectives Our charity's purposes, as set out in the objects contained in the charity's constitution, are to: To promote for the public benefit in the county of South Yorkshire and its adjacent counties ( the area of benefit ) and with a view to the preservation of public order, the provision of services directed towards mediation and conciliation between people, organisations and groups who are involved in disputes or interpersonal conflicts where that dispute or conflict results from or may lead to acts of nuisance, vandalism, personal abuse or breach of the peace. To advance the education of the public in the area of benefit in methods of such mediation and conciliation and in particular the nature and causes of such disputes and the means of managing it. The aims of our charity are to enable those involved in disputes to reach outcomes of lasting benefit to themselves and other members of the public, and to bring the education of the public to a state where it is able to reach these outcomes independently. Our aims fully reflect the purposes that the charity was set up to further. Ensuring our work delivers our objectives We review our aims, objectives and activities at least once each year. This review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of our work in the previous 12 months. The review looks at key activity and the benefits they have brought to those groups of people we are set up to help.
MESH CommLinity Cohesion Services The review also helps us ensure our aims, objectives and activities remain focused on our stated purposes. The trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set. Activities Our main activities for the year were: Neighbour Mediation Family Mediation Community Mediation including the RUBIC Project Training Neighbour mediation MESH undertakes cases referred to us by local authority housing senjices in Sheffield and neighbouring towns. We have a service contract with Sheffield City Council. These cases are mediated by freelance staff and trained to standards required for accreditation. We work in coordination with council housing officers, and feedback on outcomes is given to the contractors at quarterly review meetings. All our services are provided free to Sheff ield City Council clients. We monitor feedback from clients and access to our services by gender, disability and sexual orientation. Between 01 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, 40 referrals were received from Sheffield City Council and we provided the following neighbour mediation services: 63 support phone calls, 63 initial meetings, 10 series of conflict coaching sessions and 12 joint/shuttle mediations. Family mediation During 2023124 MESH provided 12 MIAM where both parties attended and 8 where only one party attended and 7 joint mediation meetings between couples. Community cohesion MESH has moved away from contributing to Community Cohesion projects as a core activity, however, we have continued to contribute as a partner in the cohesion project, RUBIC (Respect and Understanding" Building Inclusive Communities). In March 2024 MESH completed the partnership work for RUBIC2 which ran from April 2021 to April 2024. The work will include attending partnership meetings and contributing to overall strategy and planning.
MESH Commiinity Cohesion Services Training MESH ran a training session for medical students on a placement at MESH which provided them with an overview of the basic principles and approaches in mediation. The principles of mediation training were also provided for housing officers at Sheffield City Council. Mediation training was provided for staff at a small horticultural charity. Principal funding sources The principal funding sources for the charity are currently by way of grant and contract income from the sources listed in the above paragraph. Investment policy Aside from retaining a prudent amount in the bank account most of the charity's funds are to be spent in the short term so there are no funds for long term investment. Reserves Policy The Board of Trustees has examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be between 3 and 6 months of the expenditure, so long as that is more than sufficient to cover our liabilities in the case of staff redundancy. The present level of reserves available to the charity is £38,395 which represents more than 9 months of expenditure. Significant changes have been made to the organisation in past 12 months and the trustees have decided to continue with this level of reserves, whilst the changes settle down. Financial review In the financial year 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 MESH income rose to £49,248 from £40,602 in the previous year. This increase was due to an increase in service delivery. At the same time expenditure fell from £52,245 to £49,674. This was the result of staffing changes detailed above. The financial situation of the organisation has improved significantly following the changes made. In 2022123 financial year there was a deficit of £11,643. The accounts this year show a near break-even position with a deficit of £426. Trustees, responsibilities for the financial statements Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which show the state of affairs of the charity and of net income or expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
MESH Commursity Cohesion Services select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. state whether applicable accounting standards of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable the Trustees to prepare financial statements. The Trustees are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities. This report has been prepared in accordance with the Charity Commission requirements for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with an income above £25,000 and below the threshold for a full audit. This report was approved by the Trustees on 10.09.24 and is signed on their behalf by.. Carol Borrill Chair of the Board of Trustees Ben McGarry Secretary
MESH Commiinity Cohesion Sproices Independent examiner's report for the year ended 31 March 2024 I report on the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 March 2024. which are set out on pages 9 to 12. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required forthis year under section 144{2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5)(b) of the 2011 Act. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 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: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
ESH Community Cohesion Services (roercnffj¥fjgconnir.I Signed.... .............. aq On behalf of LSRN Consultancy Ltd Sheffield S6 6GL
MESH Conimunity Cohesion Services ovgrLtsfrtifjg-, Statement of financial activitles for the year ended 31 March 2024 Unrestrlcted funds Restrlcted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Notes Professional fees 37,192 37,192 31,742 Grants 6,960 6,960 8,860 Other income 5.096 5,096 49.248 49,248 40,602 Wages NI and payroll 20,298 20,298 27.951 Consultancy (inc. freelance) 16,538 16,538 11.927 Staff travel and expenses 67 67 314 Training 878 878 109 Insurance 1.440 1440 1.736 Rent 4.669 4.669 5.436 Room hire 826 826 loo Publicity 120 120 470 Print, stationery and publications 330 330 93 ICT 1,338 1.338 1,286 Other expenditure 2.843 2,843 1233 Bank charges 77 77 50 Accountancy 250 250 1540 49.674 49.674 52,245 Surplus/(Deficit) (426) (426) (11,643) Total funds brought forward 38,821 38,821 50,464 Total funds carried forward 38,395 38,395 38,821 10
MESH Community Cohesion Services Balance sheet as at year ended 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Notes Current assets Debtors 3.910 I,ioo Balance at bank 34,313 38,975 38,223 40,075 Current Ilabllltles Creditors 172 (1,254) 172 11254) Net current assets 38.395 38,821 Net assets 38,395 38,821 Funds Restricted Unrestricted 38.395 38,821 Total funds 38,395 38.821 Approved by the Trustees on 10.09.24 and signed on their behalf by: Carol Borrlll Chair of the Board of Trustees 11
MESH Community Cohesion Servicf45 Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 Accounting policies (a) Basis of preparation The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 (effective from January 2015 and updated with effect from January 2016) - (the Charities SORP (FRS102)), as modified for smaller charities. The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as defined under FRSIO2. (b) Income Grant donations and Income from charitable trading activities are recognised in full in the statement of financial activities in the year in which they relate. Any income received in advance is accounted for on an accrual basis. (c) Resources expended Governance costs of the charity relate to the costs of running the charity such as the costs of meetings, professional costs and statutory compliance, and includes any costs which cannot be specifically identified to another expenditure classification. In the opinion of the trustees all support costs relate to charitable expenditure. (d) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its useful life. (e) Fund accounting Remaining funds held by the charity are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees. Restrictions of funds arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. These funds are allocated within the P&L and utilised in the year they are raised 12
MESH Comm.Iinity Cofriesion Sei'vices 2024 2023 Debtors Trade debtors 3,910 I,iio 3,910 I,iio Accruals These are expenses that have been incurred but have not been paid or invoiced for during the accounting period. 2023 2023 Trade creditors 590 Accruals (172) 664 (172) 1.254 Grants Total Unrestrlcted Restrlcted 2024 2023 CHILYPEP (Partnership Work) 6.360 6,360 6,360 Sheff ield City Council - Community Fund 2,500 6,360 6,360 8,860 Staff Costs and Trustees. Remuneration 2024 2023 Salaries 20,013 27.192 Pensions 130 563 Payroll services 155 196 20,298 27,951 Average number of employees during the year: 2 luntil June 2023 then 11 No trustees received reimbursed expenses during the year (2022.. £nil) No Trustees received remuneration during the year. 13