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2024-06-30-accounts

Company Registration Number 06743623 Charity Number 1127626

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 30 June 2024

ACCOUNTS MATTERS LTD 3-2-1 Storey House White Cross Lancaster Lancashire LA1 4XQ

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Contents
Page Number
Reference & Administration Details 2
Report of the Trustees 3
Independent Examiner’s Report 24
Financial Statements 25

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Reference and Administrative Details

Registered Charity Number 1127626

Company Registered Number 06743623

Trustees

Mr P Jebb Ms AN Richards Mr AM Murray Ms EJ Brant Ms HM Taylor (appointed 5 December 2024) Ms J Shaw (appointed 11 February 2025)

Company Secretary and Registered Office

Mr NR Smith Sulyard Street Lancaster Lancashire LA1 1PX

Principal Address

The Cornerstone Sulyard Street Lancaster Lancashire LA1 1PX

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd PO Box 289 Kings Mill West Malling Kent ME19 4TA

Independent Examiner

Christine Harwood Accounts Matters Ltd 3-2-1 Storey House White Cross Lancaster LA1 4XQ

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees’ Annual report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024 (including directors’ report)

The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2024.

The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

Trustees

The trustees who served during the year were:

Samantha Jane Riches (resigned – 22 February 2024) Paul Michael Colley (resigned – 7 February 2024) Paul Jebb Alastair Charles Loasby (resigned – 12 September 2024) Alison Nicola Richards Emma Jane Brant (appointed 16 October 2023) Anthony Matthew Murray (appointed 16 October 2023)

Additional CVS Board Members:

Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council each nominate an individual to join the board as a non−voting observer / advisor, during the year this was: Lancaster City Councillor: Sandra Thornberry

Chief Officer: Yakub Patel

Structure, governance and management:

Nature of the governing document: Memorandum and Articles How the Charity is constituted: Incorporated Date of governing document: 7th November 2018 (revised)

Governance:

LDCVS was founded in 1972 as the National Council of Voluntary Services, an unincorporated charity. It became a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated 7th November 2008 and was established under a memorandum and articles of association which describes the objects and powers of the charitable company, and is governed under its Articles of Association. The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association.

Full membership of LDCVS is open to voluntary organisations that comply with the criteria for membership.

In addition, there are affiliate categories of membership for public sector and corporate bodies. LDCVS trustee board is responsible for managing the business of LDCVS as outlined in the Articles of Association.

Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees:

LDCVS is a membership organisation, the membership being predominantly drawn from other local voluntary organisations, from whom the Directors (Board of Trustees) are elected either at the AGM or through an open and transparent selection and interview process. The paid staff of LDCVS are accountable to this Board. No funders are currently represented on the Board.

Policy and procedures adopted for the induction and training of Trustees:

New trustees are inducted into the workings of the Charity, including policies and procedures, in a timely fashion and understand their responsibilities.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Our purpose, aims and activities for the year 2023-24:

Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions (LDCVS) is an infrastructure organisation that exists to support and strengthen the sustainability, independence and ability of community, voluntary and faith and social enterprise organisations to deliver services and activities that support individuals and communities in the Lancaster District. Currently we have nearly 350 local organisations as members of LDCVS and also a number of public sector and corporate bodies that are associate members. We added 47 new members over the year.

Our Objects, which are contained in our governing document (Memorandum and Articles) are:

The aims of our charity, for the public benefit, are to:

Our aims fully reflect the purposes (objects) that the charity was set up to further and we review them, together with our objectives and activities, each year to assess the success of each key activity and the benefits they have brought to our beneficiaries. This review also helps us to ensure our aims, objectives and activities are focused on our stated purposes and how planned activities contribute to the aims and objectives set by the Trustee Board. In considering these, the trustees of LDCVS believe they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

The focus of our work:

Our overall mission has been, and remains, to promote, develop and support, through partnership, a dynamic and diverse voluntary and community sector. In setting out our aims and objectives we have also defined the outcomes that will demonstrate whether we met them and whether our activities have brought about benefits to those organisations and individuals we work with.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

As part of our business plan, the board in 2022 agreed four strategic aims for the period to 2025:

For each of these aims, we have identified a number of indicators, which will help us understand how well that aim has been achieved,

Achievements and performance:

Welcome – Paul Jebb, Chair of Trustees

As we reflect on another transformative year at Lancaster District CVS, I am filled with immense pride in what we have achieved together. This year has been one of continuity and strengthening the foundations we have nurtured over time while continuing to serve, support, and empower our communities to meet the challenges that they face.

Our Board of Trustees has been pivotal in guiding our work, and I extend my heartfelt thanks for their unwavering commitment and strategic leadership. Once again, I am equally inspired by our remarkable Chief Executive Officer and wider team, whose passion and dedication enable us to meet the evolving needs of our members and partners, while addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges such as health inequalities, poverty, community cohesion, socio-economic barriers and climate change.

As we approach the end of our current strategy, we will be creating our new plan with our members, our partners and communities. This wide engagement is important to us as look ahead to the next five years. Lancaster District CVS is here to benefit our district, so hearing about the priorities from a variety of stakeholders will be important to us. We know there will be a wide range of priorities but what will be important is that we are able to respond to the needs of our members so that more people can enjoy the benefits of our work. Over the next several months, we will be working on plans to prepare and publish our new strategy in 2025.

Our Annual Report documents our work, our journey over the last year with acknowledgement to the people who have shaped and informed how we work collaboratively to support the voluntary, community, faith, social enterprise sector and our local communities.

We are grateful to our funders, supporters and partners who have shown their continued confidence in us with and for their steadfast support of our organisation and the wider VCFSE sector. The sector continues its remarkable work in supporting people across our neighbourhoods and communities, helping to strengthen the social fabric of our district.

Above all, we celebrate our colleagues across the sector - the people who lead and work tirelessly supporting our residents living in our district today and for the future.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Foreword – Yak Patel, Chief Executive Oficer

Lancaster District CVS has always responded to the challenges of the moment. This year, those challenges have been difficult. We’ve seen multiple global conflicts with more and more casualties and devastation, the continuing impacts of climate change wrecking businesses and homes and the continued effects of the cost-of-living crisis causing acute stress and hardship for many, particularly those who were already vulnerable and put yet more stress on our public services. Yet, through it all, one thing remains clear: it is our communities who step up to pick up the pieces - bringing hope, resilience and action.

The response from our colleagues working across the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector has been incredible, and I am, as ever, continually impressed by the commitment and compassion of the people who step up, no matter what time it is, to support people struggling to cope. Thousands of volunteers share their time, energy and kindness, making an extraordinary impact and very real differences to people lives. At Lancaster District CVS, we are proud to be a cornerstone of support, working alongside our partners to empower communities, strengthen the sector, and create lasting impact. Together, we are not only responding to the moment – we are helping to build stronger, more connected, and more compassionate communities.

Despite the challenges, you’ll see in this report that we have continued to make progress against our strategic priorities. Our report provides more detailed examples of our work but to name just a few:

We are looking ahead for the coming years, and we believe we are going in the right direction. We wouldn’t be in this position without every single one of you who believe in the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector. If you used our services, partnered with us to create meaningful opportunities, volunteered your time, used your voice and experience to help and speak up for our work this year or supported our work in any other way - thank you. Our success is yours too, and we look forward to continuing our work together in the coming year.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Report

Celebrating the District’s Voluntary Sector – FestiVOL 2023

Over one hundred representatives from dozens of community organisations met up at More Music in Morecambe on 21 November for FestiVOL, the annual celebration of our district's voluntary sector. Opening the event, we heard inspiring accounts of community support, innovation and progress from guest speakers representing BEE Adventures, Positive Futures, Lancaster Men’s Hub, and Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission.

Delegates then took part in workshops taking a closer look at four areas where the involvement of community organisations has been changing and deepening across the district:

These workshops provided an opportunity for delegates to challenge preconceptions, share experiences and ambitions, and discover new ways to work together to support our communities. We also asked delegates to tell us, and each other, about their hopes for the next five years.

This process helps Lancaster District CVS understand how the organisations we support want to move forward in relation to achieving their aims, and in turn contributes to our plans for the future and how we talk to stakeholders about our sector’s aspirations.

Organisational Development and Capacity Building

This service provides support to local people looking to establish new projects and groups and also helps existing organisations to improve their effectiveness. Groups can access support with a wide range of issues including charity or social/community enterprise start-up, governance and leadership, achieving quality standards, social impact, project development, applying for funding, policy development, and training.

Community Learning Network

Working in partnership with Lancaster City Council, our sector is benefitting from a United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund grant which has provided resources to coordinate a training programme for voluntary organisations across the district.

Our Community Learning Network Officer works closely with our members to determine their training needs and create or source appropriate workshops held in person or online.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

During our 2023/4 year, over 330 delegates from 98 organisations attended workshops covering issues such as:

Funding Advice and Information

Our funding advice and information function helps sector organisations to access funding opportunities from sources including charitable trusts and commissioners that enables them to become more sustainable by improving their financial security and capacity.

Our Development Officer advises on local, regional and national opportunities and guides our members through one-to-one advice sessions. Other support also includes developing proposals to bid status, compiling evidence and data, and advice on managing and monitoring once the grants is awarded.

The annual LDCVS funding fair connected 108 attendees with representatives of local, regional and national funders including the National Lottery Community Fund, Arts Council England, The Key Fund, The Duchy of Lancaster, Francis Scott Charitable Trust, Ørsted Walney Extension Community Fund, Areti Charitable Trust, Banks Lyon Memorial Trust, Elizabeth & Richard Wilson Charitable Trust, Police & Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, Spacehive Crowdfund Lancashire, Lancaster City Council, Lancashire Environmental Fund, Lancashire County Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Bay Foundation

The Bay Foundation is our overall brand for the work we carry out relating to organising and promoting grant programmes for the benefit of communities across the district. We co-design and administer these programmes on behalf of philanthropic organisations, businesses and the public sector, helping funding to get to the places and projects that make a real difference to people’s lives.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

During the year, we:

Financial Services

Through our experienced Finance Officer we provide a range of services for the sector including payroll management, pensions advice, payment of grants and independent examinations of accounts. During 2023-4, we provided:

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Lancaster District Volunteer Centre

The Lancaster District Volunteer centre supports volunteers, and the organisations that recruit volunteers, by providing a brokerage service that matches local people to organisations with volunteering opportunities. The centre also provides bespoke support to organisations deploying volunteers, including good practice guides, advice on policies and procedures and training and support with developing new initiatives involving volunteers.

Our Volunteer Centre remained the key local volunteering development organisation in the district. Our project supported a wide range of people including those recovering from issues such as mental health problems, alcohol and drug addiction, criminal justice and being long term unemployed.

Whilst we recognise that volunteering can bring enormous amounts of benefits to individuals and organisations, it also requires a great deal of partnership working to ensure people are supported into volunteering. A large percentage of people seeking opportunities had come from difficult backgrounds and were looking to rebuild their lives through volunteering. These were the very reasons for co-designing programmes that helped build resilience amongst families, individuals and communities – thus building social action and developing local leadership. Creating pathways into volunteering for young people through to older people and those with disabilities amongst other community groups remained a focus for our team. Promoting volunteering in communities affected by unemployment as a means of building work skills, confidence and addressing community need also remained an important component of our work. Regular ‘drop in’ sessions were held in job centres, town centres, festivals, community events, community centres and in places and times that were more accessible for local people.

The quality of the service we offer speaks for itself and it is a matter of great pride for us all to be able to respond to unmet needs. Without the contribution of our own volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to support the people and organisations we come into contact with. We would like to emphasise the significant contribution our volunteers make, and we hope that this continues to be recognised by our members and partners.

Lancaster District Youth Partnership & Lancaster District Young People’s Foundation

Building on the work of the Lancaster District Youth Partnership during our 2022/3 year, partnership members and our wider young people’s network agreed to form a dedicated Lancaster District Young People’s Foundation.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

To launch the concept, we were joined by the CEO of the Young People’s Foundation Trust along with the CEO of Young Manchester at an event attended by twenty colleagues representing cross sector organisations, all with a passion for improving outcomes for young people. During the meeting we discussed priorities for our Young People’s Foundation (YPF) and explored the aspirational long- term aims for the model.

We created trustee roles and application packs and subsequently recruited eight passionate and committed trustees to the foundation including representation from:

Together the members agreed an organisational vision which is ‘to empower cross-sector collaboration and influence change, for a district where all children and young people are heard, happy, inspired and dare to dream.’ Subsequently, trustees completed a CIO registration with the Charity Commission.

Break the Mould

In 2023, the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust celebrated 60 years of supporting work with young people delivered through a range of exceptional local, regional, and national organisations. To mark this milestone, the Trust asked local young people to distribute funds on its behalf.

Working together with Cumbria Youth Alliance, a core group of eight young leaders were recruited, supported by the project coordinator to develop the process of forming a grant giving board. The young people, from diverse backgrounds and geographical areas, actively engaged and led on the project through to its completion. This pioneering grant-making programme empowered young people by enabling them to take the lead in identifying funding criteria and ultimately to decide on which projects were funded. The young people identified three key priority areas for the funding:

The group received 51 grant applications, and they demonstrated integrity and insight when they came together to discuss applications and allocate funding. The young people chose to allocate 7 large grants and 7 small grants to organisations based across Cumbria and Lancaster district.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Break the Mould is not only a 60-year celebratory milestone for Francis Scott Trust but also provides critical evidence in shaping the future strategic direction of grant giving. The learning from the project will inform our understanding of what is important to young people, it will also shape how we will incorporate youth involvement in the future of our grant-making processes. By engaging directly with local young people, there emerges a deeper understanding of young people’s needs and aspirations. A Break the Mould impact report was commissioned and produced involving interviews with young people and staff. Key learning points will be shared across the sector.

Children & Young People Multi-Agency Forum (CYPMAF)

We continued to host five CYPMAF meetings per year. The meetings were an opportunity for partners working in the young people’s sector to come together to undertake training, to share good practice and to network. Meetings were regularly attended by between twenty and thirty colleagues.

Training has included:

In June 2024 we hosted a Skill Share Swop Shop where colleagues were invited to share best practice around young people’s voice in a peer support space.

We continued to support colleagues working in the young people’s sector by collating and distributing weekly newsletters to share updates about local young people’s provision and funding and training opportunities. The information shares have also included regional and national updates. The network consists of over 200 members.

Step into Work Programme

LDCVS worked in partnership with University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to offer local young people (aged 18-24) and not in work or training a chance to gain work experience at Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The project was aimed at young people furthest away from the labour market. Young people were recruited through referrals from Lancaster Job Centre, Morecambe Job Centre, Inspira and local young people organisations.

All the young people that accessed the programme faced multiple barriers to accessing employment, for example they had never been in paid employment, had experienced mental health difficulties, had childcare commitments to juggle or had English as a second language.

The programme began with ten young people attending the sign- up day to complete relevant paperwork. Six young people then went on to participate in two days of employability skills training at Moor Lane Mills in September 2023. This was followed by a three- week working placement at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Participants selected placements in departments based on their skills and interests, choosing between health care, catering, domestics, portering, administration, estates and facilities, or carpark supervision.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

After completion of the programme all young people attended a mock interview delivered by the Trust’s staff, generating feedback about how they could improve their interview skills. All young people met with the Youth Foundation Officer to develop an action plan for next steps.

Feedback from a family member of one of the participants illustrates the value of this programme:

My son started the ‘Step into work’ programme three weeks ago after five years of unemployment due to covid and his social anxiety, OCD and autism.

Now finishing his third week I have a totally different person living with me. He is enjoying his placement at RLI so much and now feels he has something to get up for every day. Prior to this he said life was like ‘being in prison’ no future and nothing to look forward to. He is intent now on getting a full- time job at RLI and coming off benefits. We can’t thank CVS and Catherine enough for this opportunity. It has been simply life changing. We would recommend this programme to anyone who wants to get back into work.

The Lancaster District Directory & Social Prescribing

The Lancaster District Directory, online at directory.lancastercvs.org.uk, helps our local population find and get in touch with essential services provided by community groups, the NHS and our local authorities.

Launched in January 2023, the directory grew over our 2023/4 year to include information relating to over 450 services and activities from nearly 200 different organisations.

During the year, we completed the working of integrating our social prescribing offer into three local Primary Care Networks, enabling GP staff to refer patients seeking community support directly to us for advice and signposting.

With funding from the Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board’s Mental Health Transformation Fund, we were able to further integrate social prescribing with mental health teams at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust in order to support clients living in the Lancaster district and work with Bay Volunteers to create and promote buddying schemes for people finding it difficult to access services.

In total, we received 104 referrals with the majority focusing on the need for community support around mental health, loneliness and isolation, physical health conditions, and bereavement. Using the knowledge built up through building the Lancaster District Directory, Jenny Reddell, our Community Health Officer, can signpost suitable services and activities to these patients, helping them access local support.

Jenny explains how she was able to work with one client in November 2023:

Mark was referred to us in November after he had suffered a bit of a mental health breakdown at work. Mark works full time but has a very understanding boss. He also lives in Caton and doesn’t drive, meaning it was hard for him to get out in the evening as he is reliant on public transport.

He was keen to try and change his life and was looking for support with finding social activity. It also became clear that he was still struggling to cope with his father’s death in 2021, and that he blamed himself for this.

The first thing I suggested was some grief counselling at the Cornerstone. Mark jumped at the chance. He made contact straight away and on follow up after Christmas he was still in touch.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

I also suggested the Saturday afternoon “hub” held in the Lune Valley Methodist Church in Caton that offers various different social activities, and Lancaster Ramblers as Mark had expressed an interest in getting fitter and enjoyed walking. I also drew his attention to the Gregson and the Centre @ Halton for other social activity that happens during evening and weekends.

Health Coaching

Extending our work around public health, we worked with Active Lancashire during our 2023/4 year to implement a health coaching programme focused on helping people with respiratory problems. Our Health Coach worked to build links with GP and hospital teams, collaborating with the Morecambe Bay Respiratory Network to encourage referrals for individuals who were facing difficulties arising from conditions such as asthma, COPD, and COVID-19.

The programme allows participants to access up to 13 weeks of holistic support involving assessment, goal-setting, action planning, progress monitoring, education and empowerment. In particular, clients were encouraged to think about their own challenges and set personalised goals as a means of adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours that will have a positive impact on their own health and wellbeing, increase their activation, and improve their future health outcomes.

LB, who had been diagnosed with both chronic asthma and long Covid, explains how our Health Coach helped him to create healthy habits like regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and good sleep hygiene:

I think Tanya has gone above and beyond. I have explored a lot of information within the sessions, and it has made me reflect on where I’m currently at and where I want to be. I have sincerely appreciated all the help as I don’t want to end up in hospital again.

Since starting the coaching sessions, I have already made so many changes. Thanks to Tanya, I now have regular input from my asthma Nurse and I’m keeping on top of other relevant appointments.

I have gained a lot of knowledge and Tanya has given me recommendations on things I could be doing to help myself. I’ve gained a lot from completing a symptom diary. I have focused on completing this daily so that I can identify patterns to my flare ups.

These strategies are really helping with my anxiety. Tanya has given me a lot of reassurance and has always believed in me and that has been priceless!

Community Action Networks

This year, we expanded our Community Action Network (CAN), strengthening local leadership and relationships across Lancaster and Morecambe. Trust, collaboration, and grassroots engagement remain central to how communities respond to local needs. We were instrumental in raising thousands of pounds to invest in programs and the social infrastructure for the network and our impact was demonstrated through several key initiatives:

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Through collaboration, advocacy, and empowering local action, our work is helping to transform spaces that matter to people, amplify community voices in decisions that are important to them, and create lasting change for the residents of Ryelands estate.

Partnerships & Networks

Lancaster District CVS is proud to play a key strategic role in strengthening and advancing the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector. Our growing and established relationships with public, private and education sector means that we are able to work closely together build a diverse, resilient, and effective sector that creates lasting change in our communities. Over the past year, we have attended and contributed to nearly 200 strategic partnership meetings across the Lancaster district, the county, and the region. Our participation ensures that the sector’s voice is heard, valued, and shapes a wide range of agendas.

Key strategic partnerships:

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Through these collaborations, we ensured that the VCFSE sector not only has a seat at the table but also shapes the conversations that drive local and regional policy. From tackling poverty and health inequalities to supporting community safety and youth opportunities, our contributions are playing an active role in driving meaningful change for our communities.

Lancaster District Food Poverty Alliance

Throughout the year, we remained committed to combating poverty and inequality by actively supporting the Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership. Working together, we were key to supporting the Household Support fund - funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to enable us to support those most in need with the significant rise in the cost of living. Over £218,000 was distributed to residents living in the district helping with essentials such as utility bills, food, household appliances, housing costs and other essential items.

This partnership, coordinated by Lancaster City Council unites stakeholders dedicated to addressing food insecurity and its root causes.

Key members of the partnership include:

Our collaborative efforts led to policies such as promoting fair wages and support for low-income households, pooling expertise and resources to enhance the reach and impact of food assistance programs and empowering individuals through education and the involvement in decision-making processes related to food justice.

By working together, we not only provided immediate support to those facing food insecurity but also laying the groundwork for systemic change that addresses the root causes of poverty and hunger in our district and this is a partnership we are proud to be involved in.

Big Local – West End Morecambe (WEM)

Local Trust was established in 2012 to deliver Big Local, a National Lottery Community Fund programme which committed more than £1m of grant funding to each of 150 communities and neighbourhoods across England. West End Morecambe became one of these areas eight years ago. LDCVS for the large part of these years has been the Locally Trusted Organisation for WEM and our work has been to support the partnership and administer funds on their behalf. We expected 2023 - 24 to be a year of relative calm following the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, we faced a year of new challenges. In particular, inflation rose to its highest level in decades, causing a significant cost-of-living crisis on residents living in the West End of Morecambe.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

However, we continue to support the West End Morecambe Partnership in its place for full spend-out. One of WEM's most significant planned legacy investments will be the purchase of Stanleys Community Centre, a vital hub serving the community for over 15 years and currently operating under costly rental agreements, spending significant resources on renovation and building upkeep. WEM has decided to secure it as a permanent community asset.

Lancaster District CVS and WEM are working together to make arrangements for LDCVS to buy the building with investment from WEM, acting as the guardian of the property while developing a plan to hand it over to the community. Stanleys will then remain owned by the community, for the community, forever.

Lancaster District VCFSE Leaders Forum

During 2023/24 a key focus for developing our Leadership Forum was to refresh our approaches for recruiting VCFSE representatives and supporting them to attend meetings across the district and Lancashire. One of our key functions has always been to unite the voice of the sector so that we have a stronger and greater influence with our public sector partners at local, regional and national level.

This year, our forum connected in a much stronger way with the VCFSE Alliance for Lancashire and South Cumbria. The VCFSE Alliance was set up to be collaborative network that unites VCFSE organisations across the region to enhance health and care services. Established to ensure the sector's active involvement in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System, the Alliance serves as a bridge between VCFSE sector and statutory health and care organisations.

During the year, we hosted 6 Lancashire and South Cumbria Assembly meetings, bringing 33 of the 115 representatives from Lancaster District sector together to discuss key issues. Key moments from the year included:

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

We are proud of the relationships we have grown over the year, and we are grateful to our partners who make every effort to involve us in meetings and decision-making opportunities. We strive for better integration, integrated data sharing, imaginative and inclusive digital solutions and accessible meetings that are open to our communities and colleagues in the sector and our efforts over the year demonstrate that we are working towards much better ways of partnership working.

LOCAL

Locally Organised Communities Across Lancashire (LOCAL) is the vision coordinated by Voluntary Sector Northwest (VSNW) and supported by Lancaster District CVS and other infrastructure organisations across Lancashire that will facilitate this necessary conversation and ensure that all voices are heard across the VCFSE sector. Our Chief Officer was one of the leads to bring together over 300 voices from the sector to create and shape the manifesto for Lancashire. The manifesto describes nine areas of ambition and action from tackling poverty to building green communities, from community and personcentred models of public service to a creating safer Lancashire, from employment support to pioneering a Lancashire model of social prescribing, and from being an equal partner to creating an economic model that works for Lancashire. However, without further collective action, this manifesto would remain just words. In 2023, the Locally Organised Communities Across Lancashire 14 project, funded by the National Lottery Reaching Community Fund was developed to deliver the VCFSE Manifesto, looking at the challenges we as a sector face, and helping the sector to tackle the issues our communities face.

We were delighted to be part of the design and delivery of the LOCAL project team in launching the inaugural Lancashire 14 wide launch event 6th March 2024 at Deepdale Stadium. The conference ‘A Manifesto for Change’ covered all the Lancashire 14 area including Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool hosting key speakers around the economy and health and was an opportunity to engage in multi-sector discussions to identify the change that needs to happen around the VCFSE Manifesto for Lancashire14 priorities. Over 45 organisations and 75 individuals attended the launch, and their input was invaluable throughout the day.

To read the Lancashire Manifesto, click here

Listen to our CEO on the launch event here

Lancaster District Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board

In 2023-2024, the Lancaster District Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board played a pivotal role in connecting community health outcomes priorities to the newly formed Lancashire Place Partnership. The Lancashire Place Partnership was set up by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board to support place-based partnerships so that health and wellbeing outcomes could be better implemented at a local level.

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Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

During this year, in preparation for the Lancashire Place Partnership, the Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board, chaired by our CEO Yak Patel, held five events with partners and communities across the district to ensure it engaged with communities and partners in agreeing its strategic priorities. Over 100 people took part in the workshops which then culminated in the board’s strategic priorities. For the year, it was agreed that Children and Young People prevention and early intervention, adults (cardiovascular; social isolation; mental health) and building community resilience be the key focus areas. We were pleased for our plan to be endorsed by our district and the Place Partnership board and following the sign off, we moved on to agreeing our delivery plan.

We concluded the year by supporting and delivering initiatives around health and housing, vulnerable focus ward programs, integrated care neighbourhoods focus wards, healthy weight management programs, a series of community conversations, positive activities for children and young people programs and a range of VCFSE community intervention programs. Furthernmore, we finished the year with a strengthened partnership with members attending from public, private, education and VCFSE sectors which demonstrated the support for our communities and a strong collaborative approach through the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board.

Community Safety Partnership

Lancaster District Community Safety Partnership continued throughout the year to address key safety issues in the district. Working with public, voluntary, community and private organisations, the CSP provided a co-ordinated response to a number of community safety issue such as domestic abuse, violent crime, community cohesion, hate crime, knife and gang crime, anti-social behaviour, and road safety.

Information & Communication

Throughout the year we continued to focus on growing our audience across our communication channels and diversify our methods of communication. Social media audiences grew by 11%

We published 49 editions of our weekly Bulletin to more than 800 subscribers, a very popular service among our members and stakeholders. The Bulletin connects groups to essential funding information and services. Information covered in these bulletins included local events and sector news, training and networking, health and wellbeing, job vacancies, funding information, policy updates, consultations and campaigning and news from local voluntary and community groups.

Reflections and Looking Forward

In 2023-24, we continued our commitment to understand the voluntary community faith and social enterprise sector across the district. From network meetings to surveys, to spending time with our members to attending community events, we made every effort to listen deeply and ensure we responded to as many needs as possible. The sector remains vital to our communities, delivering thousands of interventions that improve lives across the district. Recognising this, we have committed to launching the State of the Sector Survey next year to gather robust data on the size, scope, and impact of our local VCFSE sector. This work will provide crucial insights to guide our future strategies and advocacy.

Health and Wellbeing is one of our key programs of support. We will continue to work in strong partnerships to leverage the benefits of the sector to improve and strengthen the wellbeing of our residents. Building on our programs, we will support people to grow, help residents live independently, engage with their communities, and improve their health and wellbeing. We look forward to improving our co-designed digital directory of services, ensuring residents can find the help they need and ensure organisations collaborate effectively across boundaries.

19

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Developing Leadership across the Sector

The VCFSE sector is evolving in response to significant social, political, and economic changes. To support our members and colleagues respond to emerging challenges, we will build on our leader’s network by providing more space for peer support, problem solving, training and strategic engagement. We know from our members that they benefit from dedicated time and space to reflect, learn, and grow through a supportive network for ongoing collaboration.

Sector Development

Organisational support, capacity building, volunteering, and training will continue to be core functions of our work in the year ahead. Our focus will also be on expanding and enhancing the support we provide to local frontline VCFSE groups and organisations, ensuring they have the knowledge and resources needed to grow and develop. Convening opportunities for colleagues working with people suffering from poverty, inequalities and the costs of living crisis, we will provide the opportunities and practical responses to our colleagues working tirelessly to run their organisation whilst helping our residents ensuring they can continue delivering life changing services while maintaining the wellbeing of both their teams and the communities they serve.

Community Action Networks

Working with our communities has been one of our key approaches this year through our Community Action Network (CAN). CAN brings together local residents, organisations, and partners to co-design community-led solutions. By focusing on lived experience and local priorities, we have strengthened community cohesion, increased participation in decision-making, and supported initiatives that directly address social inequalities. Through workshops, events, and collaborative planning, CAN has proven to be an effective model for sustainable, grassroots-led change.

Over the next year, we will work with partners, funders and our communities so that we can extend our program to neighbourhoods who seek to change the communities they live in. Looking ahead, we are committed to working with partners, funders, and community members to expand the reach of CAN. Our goal is to extend the programme into additional neighbourhoods where residents are eager to take collective action and create lasting, positive change in the community they live.

The Bay Foundation was established to provide a sustainable source of funding and support for community initiatives across Lancaster District. The Foundation has played a pivotal role in supporting local organisations and our focus remains committed to building a diverse portfolio of grants and investments that strengthens the VCFSE sector and ensure a lasting, positive impact across the district whilst helping to secure income for our own long-term sustainability. By seeking to build stronger relationships with local businesses, public sector partners, and philanthropic donors, the Bay Foundation has grown its reputation to be a reliable, transparent and fair investor. Our focus remains on investing in grassroots initiatives that create long-term, positive change, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed and can have the greatest impact

Lancashire VCFSE Manifesto

In collaboration with our members and key stakeholders, we played a pivotal role in the development of the Lancashire VCFSE Manifesto - a collective strategy that articulates the sector’s role in creating fairer and more resilient communities. This manifesto serves as a collective commitment to harnessing the full potential of the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector to create meaningful, long-term impact.

Over the next year, we are committed to amplifying the sector’s voice and influence through active engagement with the Lancashire and South Cumbria VCFSE Alliance and Lancashire Association for CVS. By strengthening these connections, we will advocate for the VCFSE sector as a key partner in local policy, service delivery, and community development - ensuring its insights, expertise, and contributions continue to shape a more inclusive and supportive future for all.

20

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Financial review:

The total expenditure for the year was £742,374 (2023: £879,675) and income was £765,875 (2023: £917,529) giving a net operating surplus of £23,501 (2023: £37,854) leaving funds carried forward to 202425 of £579,020 (2023-24: £555,519). Free reserves are £217,292 (2023: £278,217). Restricted reserves are £361,728 (2023: £277,302).

Our main source of funding for our core costs was the National Lottery (Community Fund). We also received funding from Lancaster City Council along with project funding from various sources to reach a total income from grants and contracts of £710,659 (2023: £824,645). Our income from services provided to other organisations was £44,065 (2023: £88,445).

The Trustees are aware that all funding streams remain under threat of reduction or withdrawal and they continue to diligently monitor the budget and work to establish new sources of funding.

Principal financial management policies adopted in the year:

A budget for the year was established and agreed prior to the beginning of the financial year and it was monitored monthly and amended as necessary over the period.

Management accounts were prepared and presented regularly to the board of Trustees for their monitoring and analysis of income and expenditures against the budget.

Policies regarding spending authorities, operation of petty cash systems and payment of expenses are held by the Charity and are reviewed at intervals.

Reserves policy:

The Trustees believe that the Charity should hold financial reserves in order that it might meet anticipated future costs contingent liabilities and that it can continue to operate and meet the needs of users in the present uncertain funding environment. Trustees have determined that unrestricted funds equivalent to at least three months operating expenditure plus redundancy costs should be maintained at all times, equivalent to £118,000 in 2023/4. Trustees routinely review the amount that should be held in reserve to meet contractual commitments and running costs in the event of significant reductions or withdrawals of funding which may have a damaging effect on continued operations.

Principal funding sources:

The main sources of grant funding were the National Lottery (Community Fund) and Lancaster City Council, both core cost grants. We also generated income via the Bay Foundation (see above) in respect of grant administration on behalf of funders.

Investment policy and objectives:

Funds which are not required immediately are held in easily accessed interest bearing accounts. This was deemed most appropriate since grant and income streams are occasionally subject to delays.

21

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Risk Management:

The trustees review the risks at regular intervals and set up procedures to mitigate those risks.

The three main risks previously identified are the loss of major funding, insufficient trustees; and the loss of one or more key staff.

Subsidiaries: none

Plans for the future:

The Trustees are committed to growth of the organisation both in terms of scale and reach. We will continue to invest in effective infrastructure and our staff to maintain and improve the quality and range of services which we offer in our district.

To ensure that Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions is robust and sustainable we will constantly review the strategic direction of our organisation. Funding is crucial to this and we continue to identify possible opportunities to ensure a diverse funding profile.

However, we note that without the financial support of our current funders we would not be able to deliver this vital service and would like to take this opportunity to thank The National Lottery Community Fund and Lancaster City Council. We would also like to thank any other/trust/organisation that has supported us, either financially or in other ways, throughout the year.

Finally:

The Trustee Board would like to thank our Chief Officer, all our staff and volunteers for their dedication, hard work and for ensuring a highly valued service is delivered to the communities across North Lancashire.

22

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024

Responsibilities of the Trustees:

The Trustees (who are also the directors of Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions for the purposes of Company Law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company and the income and expenditure of the charitable company for the year.

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements 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.

Small Company Provisions:

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

Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees

Paul Jebb

Chair of Trustees 14 Mar 2025

Approved by the Board on ……………….

23

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee Year Ended 30 June 2024

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 30 June 2024 which are set out on pages 25 to 34.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity 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 company’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 the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of CIMA 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 that in any material respect:

  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.

Signed:

Christine Harwood (Mar 18, 2025 11:09 GMT)

Name: Christine Harwood ACMA

Address: Accounts Matters Ltd 3-2-1 Storey House White Cross Lancaster LA1 4XQ

Date:

24

Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating the Income and Expenditure account)

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited By Guarantee For the year ended 30 June 2024

As restated
Note Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total 2024
Funds Total 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Incoming Resources
Charitable activities 2 226,741 483,918 710,659 824,645
Other trading activities 3 44,065 44,065 88,445
Investment income 4 11,134 17 11,151 4,439
Total 281,940 - 483,935 765,875 917,529
Resources Expended
Charitable activities 6 365,532 376,842 742,374 879,675
Total 365,532 - 376,842 742,374 879,675
Net Income/(Expenditure) (83,592) - 107,093 23,501 37,854
Transfers between funds (40,333) 63,000 (22,667) - -
Net movement in funds (123,925) 63,000 84,426 23,501 37,854
Total Funds brought forward 223,217 55,000 277,302 555,519 517,665
Total Funds carried forward 99,292 118,000 361,728
 579,020 555,519

All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised during the year.

25

Balance Sheet

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Company Limited by Guarantee As at 30 June 2024

Company Limited by Guarantee
As at 30 June 2024
As restated
**Note ** Unrestricted Restricted Total 2024 Total 2023
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets 9
 - -
Current Assets
Debtors 10 399 399 570
Cash at bank and in hand 11 219,232
219,631		 361,728
361,728		 580,960
581,359		 556,751
557,321
Creditors: amounts falling due within one Creditors: amounts falling due within one
12		 (2,339) (2,339) (1,802)
Net Current Assets 217,292 361,728 579,020 555,519
Total Assets less Current Liabilities 217,292 361,728 579,020 555,519
Funds 14
Current Year Surplus/deficit
Funds brought forward		 (60,925)
278,217		 84,426
277,302		 23,501
555,519		 37,854
517,665
Total Funds 15 217,292 361,728 579,020 555,519

For the financial year ended 30 June 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

No member of the company has deposited a notice, pursuant to section 476, requiring an audit of these financial statements under the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and if its profit or loss 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.

18 Mar 2025

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on ___

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Emma Brant - Treasurer

Company Registration No: 06743623

The notes on pages 28 to 34 form part of these financial statements

26

Statement of Cash Flows

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions

Company Limited by Guarantee

As at 30 June 2024

Company Limited by Guarantee
As at 30 June 2024
As restated
2024 2023
£ £
Cash flow from operating activities 13,058 9,845
Net cash flow from operating activities 13,058 9,845
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets - (1,008)
Interest received 11,151 4,439
Net cash flow from investing activities 11,151 3,431
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 24,209 13,276
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period 556,751 543,475
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 580,960 556,751
Cash and cash equivalents consists of:
Cash at bank and in hand 580,960 556,751
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 580,960 556,751
Reconciliation of Net Income to Net Cash flow from Operating Activitites
As restated
2024 2023
£ £
Net income / (expenditure) for year / period 23,501 37,854
Interest receivable (11,151) (4,439)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets - 2,151
(Increase) / decrease in debtors 171 22,313
Increase / (decrease) in creditors 537 (48,034)
Net cash flow from operating activities 13,058 9,845

27

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 30 June 2024

1 Summary of significant accounting policies

General information and basis of preparation

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions is a charity limited by guarantee registered England. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 2 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities is the operation of infrastructure support for the Lancaster district’s voluntary sector.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and comply with the SORP provisions currently in effect.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Incoming resources

Grants, including grants for the purchase of fixed assets and government grants, are recognised at fair value when the charity has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met these amounts are deferred.

Other income is recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which it is receivable.

Investment income is bank interest only.

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability when it is incurred. Expenditure includes any relevant VAT.

Grants payable are payments made to community groups from specific funding and are accounted for when the grant is awarded.

Charitable expenditure

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and services. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Governance costs

Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity.

28

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 30 June 2024

Allocation of costs

All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the SOFA on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Some costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on an appropriate basis, e.g. estimated usage, as set out in Note 6.

Employee benefits

The costs of employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense. The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received. Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Pension scheme

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Pension costs charged in the Statement of Activities represent the contribution payable by the charity in the year.

Operating leases

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to the SOFA in the year in which they accrue.

Debtors and creditors receivable/payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds comprise those funds which the Trustees are free to use in accordance with charitable objects.

Designated funds are those funds set aside by the Trustees out of the unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects. Restricted funds are funds which have been given for particular purposes and projects.

Transfers to unrestricted funds from restricted funds represent the amounts earned by the Charity by way of management and consultancy fees. Or other transfers as permitted by the relevant funding agreements.

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the full cost or valuation less estimated residual value of each asset over its estimated useful life. The principal rates in use are:

Equipment, fixtures and fittings 20% reducing balance Computer equipment 100% on cost

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

29

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions

Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 30 June 2024

2 Income from charitable activities

Grants and contracts Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Prior Year
Funds
£
£
£
£
226,741
483,918
710,659
824,645
226,741
483,918
710,659
824,645

3 Income from other trading activities

Grant administration
Accounting support & Independent
Examinations
Payroll services
Office services
Rent West Street
DB checks
Donations
Project income
Trybooking income		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Prior Year
Funds
£
£
£
£
27,342
27,342
66,788
2,645
2,645
2,470
4,978
4,978
4,876
458
1,840
1,840
2,135
2,135
1,974
11,879
3,625
3,625
1,500
1,500
44,065
44,065
88,445

4 Investment income

Bank interest Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Prior Year
Funds
£
£
£
£
11,134
17
11,151
4,439
11,134
17
11,151
4,439

5 Taxation

LDCVS is a registered charity. All the company’s income is applied to its charitable activities and the company is therefore exempt under current legislation from most forms of taxation (CTA 210s 475/476, 486 & 488 and ITA 2007 S532 & 534).

30

6 Resources expended

Charitable activities

Salaries and pension
Employer NIC
Training expenses
Office costs
Premises costs
Staff expenses
Governance
Events and training
Independent examination fees
DB checks
Marketing and publicity
Investment and setup
Depreciation
Bank charges
Insurance
Payroll software
IT
Telephone and internet
Membership annual charges
Kit and equipment
Subscriptions
Professional fees
CYA residential
Others
Communities together
PHIF
Management fees
Grant expenditure
Analysis of grant expenditure
West End Morecambe Organisation
Grants supporting local charities under
£25,000		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Prior Year
Funds
£
£
£
£
292,729
-
292,729
219,748
20,234
-
20,234
11,510
1,449
-
1,449
1,200
2,338
-
2,338
1,686
16,041
-
16,041
11,724
5,044
-
5,044
2,692
203
-
203
389
5,840
-
5,840
4,805
1,056
-
1,056
1,116
1,724
-
1,724
1,173
376
214
590
601
300
-
300
2,088
-
-
-
2,151
60
-
60
60
1,607
-
1,607
1,102
232
-
232
187
1,224
-
1,224
1,094
-
1,094
1,330
-
1,330
1,374
527
-
527
1,964
2,298
4,262
9,810
2,500
12,310
-
-
-
6,491
350
-
350
167
-
-
-
2,993
-
-
-
14,760
-
27,342
27,342
66,788
-
344,488
344,488
524,870
365,532
376,842
742,374
879,675
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Prior Year
Funds
£
£
£
£
-
89,975
89,975
100,962
-
254,513
254,513
424,178
-
344,488
344,488
524,870

More details on different organisations and project types supported can be found in the trustees’ report.

31

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 30 June 2024

7 Staff costs

The total staff costs were as follows:

Wages and salaries
Employers NI
Pension costs		 2024
£
280,210
20,234
12,518
312,962		 2023
£
197,892
11,510
10,346
219,748

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year. Trustees are not remunerated. There were no out of pocket expenses claimed by the Trustees in the year (2023 - £nil).

8 Staff costs and employee benefits

The average monthly number of employees and full time equivalent (FTE) during the year was as follows:

Charitable activities
9
Tangible fixed assets
Cost or valuation:
At 1 July 2023
At 30 June 2024
Depreciation:
At 1 July 2023
Charge for the year
At 30 June 2024
Net book value:
At 30 June 2024
At 30 July 2023
10
Debtors
Trade debtors		 Computer
Equipment
£
41,485		 2024
2023
Number
Number
11
8
Equipment
Total
£
£
26,360
67,845
26,360
67,485
26,360
67,845
-
-
26,360
67,845
26,360
67,845
-
-
-
-
2024
2023
£
£
399
570
399
570		 2024
2023
Number
Number
11
8
Equipment
Total
£
£
26,360
67,845
26,360
67,485
26,360
67,845
-
-
26,360
67,845
26,360
67,845
-
-
-
-
2024
2023
£
£
399
570
399
570		 2024
2023
Number
Number
11
8
Equipment
Total
£
£
26,360
67,845
26,360
67,485
26,360
67,845
-
-
26,360
67,845
26,360
67,845
-
-
-
-
2024
2023
£
£
399
570
399
570
41,485 26,360
41,485
-		 26,360
-
41,485 26,360
41,485
-		 26,360
-
- -
2024
£
399
399
570

32

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 30 June 2024

11 Cash at bank and in hand

ash at bank and in hand
Caf Gold
Caf Cash
Caf Gold – Restricted
Caf Street Aid
reditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accruals		 2024
£
217,461
1,772
361,480
247
580,960
2024
£
2,339
2,339		 2023
£
276,356
3,093
276,465
837
556,751
2023
£
1,802
1,802

12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

13 Commitments under operating leases

The company entered into a new rental agreement, for a 12-month period from 1st June 2024 that results in commitments under non- cancellable operating leases as set out below:

Operating leases which expire:
Within 1 year
Within 2 to 5 years
After more than 5 years		 2024
£
10,104
-
-
10,104

14 Analysis of funds

Unrestricted funds
General funds
Designated funds
Restricted funds
Total funds		 As at 01 July
2023
Incoming
Resources
Outgoing
Resources Transfers At June 2024
£
£
£
£
£
223,217
281,940
(365,532)
(40,333)
99,292
55,000
63,000
118,000
277,302
483,935
(376,842)
(22,667)
361,728
555,519
765,875
(742,374)
-
579,020

The Trustees at 30 June 2024 have designated £118,000 (2023: £55,000) for potential future redundancy costs per the Charity's reserve policy.

33

Lancaster and District Community and Voluntary Solutions

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 30 June 2024

15 Analysis of net assets between funds

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Prior Year| |Funds|Funds|Total|Total| |£|£|£|£| |Fixed Assets|-| |Current Assets|219,631|361,728|581,359|557,321| |Current Liabilities|(2,339)|(2,339)|(1,802)| |Total funds|217,292|361,728|579,020|555,519|

----- End of picture text -----

16 Related party transactions

The Charity has no disclosable related party transactions in this or the previous year.

17 Reconciliation with previous accounts

The Charity’s funds have been understated in the previously submitted accounts due to a bank account being classified as client funds and included as a creditor. This was incorrect and the comparatives have been restated. The effect of the restatement on the funds is set out below.

Reconciliation of funds per previously submitted accounts to restated accounts:

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|||| |---|---|---| |30/06/2023|30/06/2022| |£|£| |Unrestricted + designated fund balances as previously| |911|(84,911)| |submitted| |Adjustments:| |Roundings|4| |Transfer from creditors|277,302|325,274| |Unrestricted + designated fund balances as restated|278,217|240,363| |30/06/2023|30/06/2022| |£|£| |Restricted fund balances as previously stated|277,306|325,274| |Adjustments:| |Roundings|(4)| |Restricted fund balance as restated|277,302|325,274| |Total funds previous accounts|278,217|240,363| |Total funds restated|555,519|565,637|

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