REGISTERED COMPANY IYUMBER: 04490634 (England and Wsles) REGISTERED CHARITY NiIMBER: 1128394 REPORT OF THE TRusfEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENfs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 FOR ocropus COMMUNTfY NETWORK LIMITED Prestons & Jack8ons PartneTship LLP 364- 368 Crdnbrook Road nford Essex IG2 6HY O￿OPUs COMMUNZTY NETWORK LIMITED co￿ENTs OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Palt Cb*irmxts's Reprt Treullrer'8 R¢w•rt Report of the TTrJttts 3 kn 10 lttdependefftt EumSntr'$ Report Ststement of Fin#•ciil Aetivititj 12 to 13 Statement of FID*ncknI PfAldon 14 10 15 Notts ¢0 the Stsiements 16 to 27 Detslled StstemeDt of FIR*•el*l Aetlvltl 28 to 29 ocropus COmMUm￿ NETWORK LIMITED cHAIR￿'s REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 I would like to start off by thanking l$lin8ton Council who have granted us 4 years offunding to continue our work as a capacity building netwo We are pleased to able to continue to play a role locally to influence shape how we are working acro55 the VCFS sectOT and with Islington Council. espe¢l￿]Y in t¢nns of the refresh of the Compact. ongoing mission 15 to Sup1￿ our c<>mmunity centres ensurin8 thal the Community Centres and Community Hubs within the Network have the best chance of survival, are resilient and share a way of working that is underpinned by a culture of equity. addressing sYstsM￿i¢ bATrien. e4)ecially those experienced by those under-5erved and under-represented. Funding for new OT existing collaknrative projects h&$ become more ditTiculi ond Ihis is being feli by our community centres. With that in we are building up our resilience looking lo build strong and health relationships within and tr￿0nd the NetworL as we do effectively work as a network of network3. The L￿al Wellbeing Netsvorks are a mechanism to share and disseminate information and resources across the borough and will help residents acce&8 Servic¢￿SUP￿rf and be￿rne involved in shaping their local seryiceslaclivities. Iyith the development of our 'Social Action. hub, we hav¢ train￿ ov¢r 60 p¢opl¢ lo become 'Community Organis¢rs' and are now embedding into our Cost-of-Living Food Aid Providers Capacily Building Programme. l am so pleased that our Urban Growing pro8ranTh c(mtinues to develop on our estates. and we are working ross the borough from Hi8hbury io Tufnell PaTk. The project aim5 to improve the lives of our r¢5id¢n15 as we know th¢ lack of green spa¢¢ has on impact on our mental and physical wellbeing and this projeci h&$ been inslrumentsi in helping our residents address those issuts and eonccrns. I believe our greatest Strenglh is our ability lo respond qui¢kiy and effeclively lo crisis. which is built on years of experien¢e of working together and forging trusl-based relationships. Over the past two winters, we hav¢ off¢red "Warni Spaces. lo our Tesidents who were experie￿Ing fuel poverty. AS soon as the fuel crisis ended, we cfrdeveloped and ctrdelivered a programme of work around the Costwof-Living crisis wher¢ w¢ arranged events for vulnerable residents to seek prac¢1￿ supN)rl and advice. These events will run io next April. Finally* I would like to say ihank you to ihe Test of the lth for all their support and to Julie. Rosie and the resl of the team for patience, hard work and bein8 so pro active ihrou8hout the year. Without YO￿ Octopus would not be ihe success it Is. Pag¢ I O￿OPUs COMMiJTh NETWORK LIMITED ThEASURER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 With the end of the financial year 2024, it marks the end of a ¥year fill￿ing ¢y¢le wbich seen pandemic and Cost of living crisis, to which (k￿puS Community Network has had to adapt and react quickly to secure funding and food to help Alleviaie the str¢ss¢$ on the deniz£JL8 of Islington. This pa￿ fin8J)cial year has bcen somewhat transitionary with some projects wrapping up and shift of focus towards to next 4-year cycl¢. This will move away from counieracting measures and towards building ￿Si11e￿¢e via strengthened partnerships with similar-minded borough wide organi5ations & ca￿lty I￿lIding with Ihe m¢mb¢rs of ihe n¢tworL for the wider benefil of Islinglon'5 Communiry. The Siat¢m¢nt of Financial Activities for 2023r24 year shows a deficit. However, a surn of £42.067 of this deficit w&8 a reduclion in restricted reserves on the balance she¢t: wher¢ projects were using funds received in the previous fuwKial year. It also included costs aswciated wilh finalising projects. which unfortunalely included some redundancy payments, whereby further funding couldnl be secured. There remain5 £67.506 in restricted reserves that are to be used by the continuing projects in the 2024n5 financial ye8r. The OctOPU5 Community Network ¢ontinues to be a going concern: we currently have unreslricted reserv¢s above the minimum laid out in the res¢rves policy (35Y• of current wwual expendinwe) and have funding for 8]] projects and operational costs. W¢ continue to work closefy with our auditors. Preston & J￿kSOn P)rtnushtp LLP, to ensure our inlemal controls and fmancial monilorin8 procedures are stron& including regular financial reporting to Directors. We would like to thank them for their continued advice and supN)rt. We regularly review our reserves policy to ensure it is appropriate and have a￿eSSed the major risks to which the organi7Ation is exposed. in particular thos¢ r¢lated to the operations finance5. and are S￿isfIed Ihal sysl¢m$ and procedures are in place to Mill￿t¢ OUT exposure to any major risks. We are grateful to ail QUT funder4 in¢luding The National TriLsL The Big Allianc< City of London, North London Waste Authority and Islington CourKiI for their continued support. This funding is essential to our work wilh the Community Hub4 especially in lerms of fostering gr¢at¢r ¢oll&lM)ration between ihe Hubs. identifying and tsking forward joint working opportunities and le•ling on wllaErf)rative proje¢ts that b¢nefit the neighbourhoods in whi¢h the Hubs are b&8e4 [￿reCtorS are yateful to our funders and individu915 for th¢ir continued support. Adam Parr Treasurgr TnLStee Page 2 O￿OPUs com￿[uNT￿ NETWORK LIM￿ED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The trustees who are also directors of the chariry for the pwp)s¢s of th¢ Companies Act 2006. present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Ststement of Recommended Pra¢ti¢e applicable to charities preparing their accounts in ¥cordan¢e with the Finan¢iaI Reporting Standard applicable in the UK aThl Republi¢ of Irelond (FRS 102) (effethive l janu￿ 2019). (k10p￿ is a mutually benefittin8 collai￿tiOn between independent multi-purpose community centres and community hubs. working together to develop deliver innovative communiry-led health and wellbein8. urban 8rowin& ¢apa¢ity buildtng and building community power prograrn￿ of work. In working together as a networL we can leverag¢ resources and knowledge ￿ build capacity more effectively than charitable and not-for-profit organisations thai ch005e to go-il-alone. The relationships that are built along with the peer-t(weer supwrt encournged play a nwjor port in a¢ccl¢ralin8 th¢ ￿￿Owth of the individud network membe¢s capacity. Our collective work ill￿aCts significantly in ternts of long-t¢rni susl8inability. whi¢h results in ¢nga8ed. ¢M￿Were4 healthier and more vibrant communities. Our values are.. - Challenge and innovation - Diversity and ¢thicAI b¢haviour Effectiveness and flexibility - Openness and accountabiliry Positive productivity . Responsiveness and dignity - Trusl and $upportiY¢ness OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES O¢topus Is All ILfrastrneture e*pelty bulldlDt tbarlty. (hr objeetlyes are: To promote for the ben¢fit of the inhabitants of fjreai¢r London by associaiing the local authorities. voluntary organisations. Other agencies. and the inhabiiants in a common effort to advance educalion and provide f￿1]Ill¢S for the interests of S￿la1 welfare. for ihe re¢re&tion and leisure-lime o¢cupation with the object of improving ihe conditions of life of the said inhabitants. and the promotion of the voluntary $￿tOr for the benefil of the public. Tbe Network Bhares Ilye kry go*lB: l. En8age'. those who lead and develop independent mutti-purpw community centres and hub$ in order io share lessons1¢4rned and proven pwli¢e. 2. Inspire: a new approach to community-led developm¢nl by sharin8 ide4 thinkin8 bi& $tayin8 Wsitive. and keeping an open door. 3. Motivate.. change by constaDdy and consistently reviewing what we do so that we can d¢mon8trat¢ impact. . F4uip: those responsible for ¢ommunity-led developtnent with the skills, knoW4￿W and values to incre&8e community participalion and foster stron& s￿sIa1n8b1e communities. 5. Support: the on-going developmenl of community leadership by facilitating roules to a Tange of expertis¢ and peer-to-peer sup￿rt. Publlc hnefit Th¢ Tn￿teeS Conf￿ that they have complied with th¢ dirty in section 4 of the Charilies Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Crnission in deterniining the activities undertaken by th¢ Charity. Page 3 O￿OPUs COMMUNITY NETWORK LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 ACHIKVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Ch8ritsbl¢ acthpltl He*ltb amd Wellbeing Progrnmme Under this prO￿amMe of work one of our laTgesL cross-se¢lor. partsiership building proj¢¢ts. notnely Staywell. Livtwell, concluded this year, bringing to a clos¢ over Six years of collaborative work to lack]e heahh illequalities. By the ¢JO of the fllLincial year, fill￿ing to continue this imp)rtant programme Io WOTk on a Network-wide ￿al¢, had noi ￿en 5￿Ured. Howev¢r. given that health and wellbeing ha5 been At the forefront of our capacity building wtxk for more than 20 years, we are pleased to say that all C¢ntres and Hub5 within our Network are now running successful health and wellbeing activities for diverse communities in their local 4r¢a. We have continued to collalyxate with Voluntary Action Islington kn develop three (￿M￿)ity-Powered Local Wellbeing NeNorks. Thi5 capacity building proyamme h&$ forged a stronger link between (ktopus and Voluntary Action Islington and draws upon (ki0p￿S,$ proven practice in the Creation and developmenl of functioning neiworks. Tr primary focu5 of this work is ￿. - Support the Voluntary. COMM￿lty and Faiths scclor through the development al￿ management of effective, sustainable networks. - Mobili5ing people to address k¢y issu¢5 and ¢halleD8es. Providing inforniation and intelligence. - Facilitsling the fornMiion of projxts and parth¢rship5. Thls ts b¢lng aehltved by: ConnectlDI: providing a mechanism for th¢ local Volunw, Community and Faiths sector organisations and resid¢nls to come together io learn, exchange. mobilis¢, develop and deliver progrnmmes of work to improve the health and wellbeing of all l$lin8ton residents, esrrtiAlly those experien¢in8 health inequalities. c￿delIvery. building Strong relatiO￿hApS with diverse communities &$ ¢￿deliVereT5 of joined-up health and wellbeing 3ervices and a¢livitie& re¢o8nising the role of the eommuniry as effective first respondets. Communlty Yoiee: listening and reswnding to real-life ¢xperienc¢s of people facing heAlih inequalilies, ¢ncouraging their mobilisalion for chan8e. and involving them in the desi8n and implementation of projects th￿ address systemic issues. Delivered across three Loealiry areas in Islington. this year 18 events have been delivered in all three, totalling 54 events. Participants of these events average 45% residents. 85% Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector organisations, with 15% being from Frivate or statirtory sectors. Octopus deliver¢4 8 Second mund of COmm￿lty Organising trninin8- with 37 people trained. North: 19 (14 residents); Central: 12 (7 r¢sid¢ntsk South: 12 (7 Tesidents). UrhD GroJvim% ProgramJDe Under this prOgr￿e we have multiple projects fuTrJ¢d thTough Islington Council, the National Lottery Climate Athion Fund, the North London Waste Authority Community Funl City Bridge TTUSt through the Bridsing Divides programme. A numb¢r of small-scale projects have been undertaken by the te&m, helping our network memt¢rs to build their capacity in deliveTing this aspect of work indepeDdently> as a means lo div¢rsify their projects and communities engaged within them. Page 4 O￿OPUs COMMUNITY NETWORK LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 A¢tlon for ￿#1 Food- SOIL •nd elimatt eh•Dge The City Soil was d¢liv¢r¢d through th¢ Urban Growing team who wer¢ respO￿lbIt for leading a 5ix-month urban soil improvement programme behveen January and June 2023 to engage at least I￿ people through three community Composting SIW each unique in r¢fl¢clion of Ik lo¢atiotL the people behind its creation and ils managemenL and in ternLS of the capxity for tsking in and tr8nsforniing food waste at a neighlx)urh(x)d level. In total. 190 people have been engag& through itr*nctice soil and compostin8 sessions. in person composting workshops regular volunteer and r¢$ident gardening sessions where design, build, management and maintenance of community comp051ing facilities took plpxe. A programme of expericntiAI workshops helped those living on housing estates learn more about soil hea]th plani growth. composting and food waste recycling. In ternis of oUtT￿h and engagemenL leaflet drops to individual household$ on Tufnell Park E￿ate {450 hO￿$¢I]0]d$). Highbury Q￿rant Estste (750 households), Packington Estat¢ {855 households) helped lo raise awar¢ness and intorni people as to how they could get involved in their neighbourhood. In ternis of social Medi￿ used for wider promolions and awareness raisin& specific communications about ¢omposling r¢a¢hed over 2,440 xcounis on Twitter ond I￿418818M. Composling inforniation w¢nt out on three Octopus Urban Growing newsletteTS between January-june 2023, each newsl¢ner diTtctly reaching 183 people. Urban Soll Food Building upon Cily Soil, Ihis brdn&new project was funded through the North London Waste Community Fund. fo¢usin8 upon dev¢loping a brand-n¢w ¢urri¢ulum and set of resources to 5kill-up 10 Urban Soil Farniers, through ihrtt, four-week Urban Soil Farmer progra￿5 of immersive learnin& In total 71 people were engaged ￿ direct beneficiaries tlrough in-practice sotl and compost sessions, in-person composling workshops regu18r volunteer and re5idcnl gardening sessions where design, build, managemenL and maintenance of community composting facilities has taken place. A fwther 120 indirect beneficiaries have been engaged through community gardening events where soil health: plani growth: composting. and f￿)d w&8te recycling have featured &$ an activity - all of which were publicized via social media and the Action for Local Food website events calendar. O¢topus' X (Twilt¢r} and Instagram re￿hed over 13.750 accowils with composting conl¢nt, including 1.000 accounts who watched the condensed social media version of our composting hub video. More than h8]f of this reach was organic. whil¢ 5.600 vI￿S came directly from an Instaw advert to launch our Choose Composting campaign. which encouraged people to choose io compost at hom4 at a locat hub, or to talk to friends and family a￿ul its benefits. CommuDIty Food Hubs Page 5 O￿OPUs COMMUPITTY NETWORK LIMrrED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Delivered over a five-year period this proje¢t focuses uw)n ¢￿ing food insecurity and food injustice, and ¢limate change. £186,394 has been secured through the City Bridge Trus¢ Bridging Divides programme rund. Through this project. several aspects of work Are b¢ing undertaken focusing uwTrn the on-going d¢v¢lopm¢nt of the Community Plant Nursery as a learning and food growing hub, support in developing ¢ommunity-centre based Food Hubs and connecting these io locally grown foodlfood growing activities. and how to utili7£ public space in parks and on gre¢nspaces for food growing within communities. Importanily. this work f¢xuses upon ¢quity. inclusion and diver5iry to ensure that all thos¢ who want to grow and able to. including young people with special edu¢ationai n¢¢ds aTrJ disabilities - workin8 in collaboration with a local SEND schth)I' with Men¢4p, providing adults with learning disabililies with persona]ised 5UPPOrt to develop their food growing a￿1 gardening skills, and with local r¢sidents. Food grown on sire ai th¢ Community Plant Nursery is grown for social good is delivered to eight comrnuniry food hubs and shued with volunt¢¢rs on a weekly basis" in this year. 285.7 KilO￿aMS was grown, 477.13 KilogrO¢llS of C02 has been save41 and this is equivAl¢nl to £2.547.90 and would provide 3,995 mea]s. Hl8hbury Quidr•Dt Nature Gardells W•rd P•rtD¢rJblp In collaboration with netWOTk member. Eli74beth Hous¢ Community Centre, l$lington Ward CouncilloTS Ènd the Highbury Quadrant TRA, Ihis ¢stat¢-wide communily-led proje¢l h*8 engaged residents in transforn)ing greenspace and uTrJ¢r-LL8ed spaces on the esiale into nature gardens and food growing spaces. We have now ompleted our capacity building programme on ihis projecL and the work has now been integrated into Elizabeth House. with funding secured io take the work fon¥wd for the next two years. Ke¢plllg P*eklDgtOD E•ti¢e 'Green •nd GrovAn%' Is a collaboration between nenvork m¢mb¢r The Arc Collettive, Islington Council and residents of the Packington Estaie to develop five community-led growing spA¢es lo in¢rew fTh)d production. includin8 food for the local food bank. and improving biodiv¢rsity. So faT, & slrong cohort of local volunteers ar¢ being supported ihrough a programme of immersive and experieniial leaming workshops and opportunilies. and pamerships have Iwi developed lo enhance opportunity and delivery - with the Urban Forest School and Bright Lives. £23.940 of funding wa5 secured from Islin8ton Council to fa¢ilital¢ this Work. At this Stage of the proje¢L th¢ active 8ardeners alld growers, engaged range in 88¢ between 20 and 78 years of age. and the Majority fall be￿een 30 to 70 years of ag¢. The majority of those regularly participating in gardening and growing are women (seven of the regular 28 are men). A proje¢l timetsble over the course of the project offers 65 session5 for local Te5idents, includin8 those who are unemployed, r¢tired, and on low incornes" some are users of the Arc'$ foodbaDL C*p*¢lty Bulldlllg Progr*mne Octopus receives £40.000 each year from Islington Council &s a Capacity Building organisation for the borough. Our proven•practice capacity building approxh is realised through a Community of Practice and learning in pra¢tice - experiential learning in partnership workin& Coproductio￿ cTrdevelopment. and management of projects. and further, takin8 a collaborative approach to service and programme development. O•r uJpa¢ity bulldlllg work fotllttd upon: - Contributing to policy dialogue and statutory development - Effective development and f￿117￿¢10n of leadership of loc￿ partherships Page 6 OCTOPUS COMMUNITY NETWORK LIMTfED REPORT OFTHE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 - Building a network of networks, to facilitate a moTe joined effective way of workin8 Over the past y¢ar. our f￿[L$ h&s be¢rA responding io the ¢o$taof-livin8 ¢ri9is. primarily through the developm¢ni and provision of the Warm Place5 offer and the resulting Costwof-Living events. both wbich have conlinued to be funded as a result of success and demand. Driven by the need lo implement a programme of work within Tslinglon's communities where the cost-of-living crisis h&8 had greatest impacL our colle¢tiv¢ effort has b¢cn r¢aiis¢d through a Pledge to ensure that.. - Ev¢ryone is welcome: our staff and volunteers will treat you equally, wilh dignity and respttt. - Our Warni Place5'. will be flexible to meet your needs and those of our local communities. - We wonl ask questio￿9 about why you need a wann place, but ifyou want to share we will lislen and help you acce￿ sup￿rt. Across the Winter of 2023-24. over 1.700 residents direttly benefitted from the Wam Pl&e5 offer. The four Colt of Uvlni evexts h)ok Pl￿ #nd were lot#ted AS followi: l. Augusi 2023: Whittington PaTk CsMmunity Centre, run by Whittington Park Community Association 2. October 2023: J¢an Stok¢s Community Centre. run by Islinglon Council 3. December 2023: Brickworks Community Centre, run by Hanlry Crouch Community Association 4. Febnwy 2024: Walter Si¢kert Community Centre. run by Islin￿on Council A¢ross the four c￿nts th¢r¢ w¢r¢ 234 r¢gist¢r¢d att¢Traees. We expect the real number lo be higher as the layout of some centres made it challenging io register every attendee. Sorne who attended simply did not want lo 4￿Wer any quesli0Tr8 and we respected that. - Capturing the number of people within the household the overnil number of people supported via the events totals 461 people (based on household numbers recorded for each attendtt). - On average 8￿￿ of attendees say they are feeling very or quite concerned about the ¢ost-of-living crisis. - Groc¢ri¢s and Energy are Ihe price rises residents report feeling most concernwj about at every evenL with rent cost5 often being th¢ third most cconmon con¢ern. - Most ￿MmOn ways to find out alk)￿ ihe event were through email. friendslrelatives and leaflets. We found that on the day. many who attended called neighbours or family members abou¢ th¢ ¢ven( encouraging them to attend. - At all events. residents were keen to fithl oul when and wkn the next Cost-of-Livin8 event w&8 taking place. At the four events in the 23124 perio￿ the following have been provided to residents.. - 250+ hygiene pac￿ containing b￿AC hygiene ilenLS' 5hampoo* toothpas1¢ and soap. Donated by th¢ E￿la Group. - 20+ duyets and pillow5. Donated by University of Arts, London. - 40+ pairs of shoes: sandals. work b(4)ts. shoes and trainers. Donated by Wolverine. No More Red In 2021, Octopus was invikd to be a No More Red Charity psrtsier. Led by Arsenal and Adid￿. No More Red aims lo ts¢kle the root ¢ausey of yoffih Viole￿e. provide safe 5pace5 and more opporti￿ltieS for young people in Islington. Page 7 O￿OPUs COMMuiYrrY NETWORK LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 In 2023. we engag¢d ¢ight young people from the HOTW ian¢ and New Orleans Eststes through a pilot programme, in collaboralion with Dr Kelly Fagan RobIN0￿ Social Anthroplogisi at the Univmity of Cambridge and Homsey Lan¢ Fstate Community Association. Ov¢r six rnonths, the participants created a commentary on Wh￿ l)om¢' m¢ans to them ￿Illg pholography. rilm, and audio narTative. The first sessioo h¢ld at the Adidas Box in the EmiT4tes Stadium, introduced participants lo AnthrWl0￿ by Communities methi)d& including surro￿te voicing and photo voice. Participants took photos of pans of the stadium that mejnl something to them. and explored their experiences of Arsenal as a part of their ly)m¢. The following Iwo WOTLshops were held on their home estales, where they used photo and video voice lo document their actual hom¢$, ￿PtUring things in their buildings. flats, and eslat¢5 that ihey would like others to see, to make their spaces more visible ond their local communities safer. Participants have learned different ways to witness other peopl¢'$ experiences and tell their own s￿rIeS with openness and re5pe¢t. mapping the joys and ¢hallenges they have experienced both through ATs¢nal FIM)Iball Club and in their own home spaces. In (ktober 2023. participants Iravelled to Cambridge Universiry to present their work and io lead artist5. ad¢mics, policy-makers, and voluntsry seclor leaders in workshops at the first4ver Cambridge CRASSH Institute inReach Youth Summit. The objxtiv¢ of the day was to gel potential d￿lS1on-Makers to think together wilh the young people about the ways th￿ each of us mighi be abl¢ io SUPPOTi cultivating safer youth spaces, a key priority ideniified by the young people themselves. The even¢s outcome w&s that more than 40 people each committed lo at leasl one practieal action toward making positive change happen, and the young participants reporting that they feli listrn¢d to in a way they'd never previously experienced. To thank th¢ young people who particiwed these g￿n¢ChangerS w¢re celebTated at the Arsenal v Wolves Premier League game by being pKsented their ￿l-While. No More Red shirt pl￿h51d¢ at the EmiTates Stsdium. Sotl*l Aetlon Bllb attd Conhmunlty Ory*niilni Progr*mme During the year. (kI0p￿ has tak¢n opportunity ￿ explore transforn)alional change through it5 role as & r¢¢ognis¢d. qualityvassuTed Social Action Hub- defu)¢d &$ a hub of community OTganisin& Exploring the roots of community organis1￿ making the strong connection between commwiity organising and community d¥￿t0pMent. - GAining a better understanding of InaTkef trend5. along with fimding trends. - UThkrtaklng'm￿ket research, to ascertain the likely demand and desire for this new development. W¢ are also Affiliated Training Providers ￿ part of the National Aaemy of Community Organisin& Through the Local Wellbeing Networks, we provided a second round of Con]muDity Otganiser trainin8 with 37 people trained. FINANCIAL REVIEW TrIn￿etIOnS and FiDaDel*l poildoD During th¢ Ye￿ the ¢harity met its ex￿nditUre of £322.509 {2023: £AOI.815) through a Combination of grants, fees for services provide(L donations from individuals and from TeseTve5 brought forward from the previou5 year. The charity has carried fonvard reserves of £172,586 (2023.. Q32.556) of which £57,504 (2023.. £109.577) is restricted. The In￿¢¢$ are grateful to the fillmlers a￿1 individuals for their ¢ontinued 5UPPOrt. Page 8 OCTOPUS COMMUNrrY NETWORK L]m￿ED REPORT OF THE TRUSTELS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 FINANCIAL REV]EW AvallAblllty #tsd #dequacy of *ss¢ts of u¢b of the The board of trustees is salisfied that the cl￿n￿$ in each fimd are available and adeqiiate to fulfil its obligaiions in respect of each furAd. Re#erYes pollcy Th¢ lrnstecs are reviewing the yeserve5 policy for the cljarity. Thetr aim is to have six months worth of We will remain ¢ommi¢ted to OUT three progTammes of communiry centre and network d¢veli)pm¢nt, tsking forward social ￿tIOn and ￿Mmunity orgAnizing &ry a meaA8 for fostering community emFM)wernient and enablement. and supE￿ing the community centr¢s in their Tole as community l¢ad¢rs. In the next year we aim to becom¢ recognized L8 a Community (hganiseTS Virtual Social Afflion Hub, and become Affiliated Member of the Community Or8aniseTS Athy. Sit)¢e 21XP) Octopus Comtnunity Netsvork has h&J an Environmentsl Susthinability Framework in place, which came about as a resuh of a neThvork wide environmental sustainability review. This framework set the foundation for steering the community ¢¢ntres in thinkin8 and actin8 differently in tern)s of their ¢arknn footprint reviewing all things from PUTchasin& suppliers. recycle and reuse and in trns of working tQWords their community buildings being more environmentally sound. 0￿r the year& the committnent to dressing climale change has ken embedded in Ix)th seryices and 4ctivilies io tackle food poverty, for example. In icnn5 of looking forword. the network will reflect and review Ihis environmental sustainability network with a view to better Cap￿rIng and re1￿Ing the impact of the changes thai are M￿LA& but most of all. there will be a focus on lakin8 a community-led approach to tackling ¢ltmate ¢han8e from the perspective of its impxt on the mosl vuJn¢rable communities . .'climAte change - the biggest heatth thre facing humanity" Considering our three proyammes of worl we will ¢ar¢fylly Consider how we work with key Collaborators and partners to &ldresS the fragilily of our local food sy5tem4 will engage with communities to develop a community-led growing action Pla￿ and will look forward io playing a key role in the development of lo￿1 well-bein8 netWOTks. STRucfuR& GOVEIIY4ANCE AND MANAGEMENr Governlng dociment The charity is conirolled by its governing do¢umenL a deed of tnrt and constiiutes a limited c4xnpw]y. limited by guaT8ntee, as defm¢d by the Comp8nies Act 2(X)6. Website: htt :Ilwww.oeto REFERENCE AIYD ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Resi8ttred coM￿nY ttllmbtr 04490634 (England and Wales) Reiistercd Charity number 1128394 Registsred offKe 129 St John's Way Islingwn London N193RQ Page 9 OCTOPUS COfvINIUliIIV NEfwoRK LIMITED RF.PORT OF THF. TRUSTEES FOR THF. YEAR F.NDED JI MARCH 2024 Trusl¢¢g 'I'kne T￿SItti and Dlreetorj MTved Iht ¢•mm#•lty d*rlA# 11¢ ytAT tndcd 31M ￿lIrth 2024 •Jd *1 tht dAle Ihe Ae¢Dllllts #ft •ppY•ved: Mf PJUI FUT MTS Ifcne Wini¢r Mrcolin FAdJms Eknine Moffre¢i MrAdum Tllylor Pu Ms l M Phillip% Mr Pwlrick Ilenry R•thliff¢- Appoinwl on 7th Au8 2024 Independewt Ex•mlo¢r An￿¢T Pplel BA(Ilon5) FCA,D]llP Pr¢slons & JAcksDThS Partnetship LLP 364 - CrDnbrDtsk Ilfunl IG2 OH). Appr1)￿ by of th¢ Iwd of¢nMts¢s oil.,. .....,. and siwxd on its b¢half by: Twyt¢¢ jOYocEoY 8 (ily Colin ¥ Adon Pa8¢ 10 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF OCTOPUS COmMUm￿ NETWORK LIMITED Independe￿¢ eumlDer's report to the trujttts of ottopus Community Network Limited {'the Comp*ny') I report to the ¢harkty trustees on my examination of the wiunts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024. Responjlbllities and b*Jii of re￿Irt As the charity's In￿1￿3 of ihe Company (and also its directors for the purpos¢s of company law) you aTe responsible for the Preparation of the accounts in a¢C4)rdance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 Cthe 2006 A¢V). Havtng saiisfied myself that the accounts of the Company ar¢ not required to be a￿lIted under Part 16 of the 2(K16 Act and Are ¢lAgible for independent examinatiorn I report in respect of my examination of your chartty's accounts as carried oul under Section 145 of the Charities Acl 2011 (Ihe 2011 Act.). In Carrying out my examination I have followed the Directio￿ given by the Charity Commission under st￿lOn 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. ImdepeDdent examlller's it*tement Since your chantys 8ross in¢om¢ ¢x¢¢eded £250.000 your examiner MU￿ be a member of a listed body. I can confirm thai l am qualified to undertake the ¢xamination because l am a member of the Institute of Chartered A¢countants in En8iand and Wales. which is one of the listed ixMIi¢s, I have ¢ompleied my exami￿(lon. I confinn that no m4t¢¢rs have come to my attention in connection with th¢ exomination giving me cause lo believe: counting rKords were not kept in reyct of the Company &$ required by Section 386 of ihe 2006 the acco￿ts do not ￿cOrd with those records: or thc accounts do not comply with the a¢wunting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true Ind fair view which is not a matter consid¢r¢d as part of an independent examinalion; or the ￿CoUnts have noi been prepaTed in accordanc¢ with th¢ methods and prin¢iple$ of the Statement of Recommended Practi¢¢ for a¢counting and rew)rtin8 by charilies (applieable io charities preparing their ac¢ouMS in a¢cordance with the Financia] Reporting Sundard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)). I have no ¢oncerns and have come acriw ￿ other mattets in ¢onnectioration tax on its clwitsblc activities. Fund *CCOUDtIDg UJrestri¢t¢d funds Can b¢ US￿ in a¢conlance with th¢ charitsble objethivcs at the discr¢lion of the trust¢¢$. Restricted fimds can only be used for particular restricted pUr￿S within the objects of the charity. Restri¢tions arise when Sp￿lfied by ihe donor or when funds are raised for particular restri¢ied PUTposes. Further explanation of the nature and purFw of each is included in the notes to the financial $tslem¢nts. Debto B&si¢ financi￿ including trad¢ ond other debtors. are initiaily re¢ogni$¢d ￿ transaction pri¢¢. unless the arrangement constituie5 a financing transactio￿ where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted ai a market rale of inieresi.such assets are subsequently carried al amortised cost using the effedive intere* M￿h(Al less any impairnient. Credltor• Basi¢ financial liabilirie4 i￿lUding trad¢ and other ¢T￿ltors. IoaTLS from third parties and 108n5 from related parties. are initially recognised at transa¢tion price. unless the arrangement Constitutes a rinancing transaction, where ihe de￿ instnunent is measured w the present valu¢ of the future payments discounted at a market Ne of interest. Such inslruments are subsequently carried al amortised cost using the effeaive interest m￿hOd. less •ny impairnient. The charity only a3 financial assets and financial liabilitie5 of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recowlised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. Colng ￿ll¢ern The charity undertak&% on various ways to manage and to secure future fundin& The tnjstees Ère confident that they would have sufficient fimdin8 to cont?nue operating as a 80in8 concern. It is for this re&son the accounts have been prepared on a goiJ)g concern basis. Pagc 17 continued... O￿OPUs COMMUNT￿ NETWORK LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENfs . ￿ntinUed FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 GR￿s 31.324 31.3.23 National Lottery. Partnerships Funds Miscellaneous Income Cily Bridge Trusl. Bridging Divides LBI Lo¢al Initiatives Fund Islington Council, Community Growing Stsate8y- Packington Estate Islington Council, Grecnspace and Leisure Islinglon Council-W8rm Spaces Islington Council, Community Plani Nurnery & Estate Growing Groundwork. Grow Back GTeener Elizabeth House Black5tock Trust North London Waste Authority. North London Community Fund Royal Mencap Society Islington Council, Bloomin. Gardeners Hilldrop Community Centre. Greenin8 The Grey Islington Council- Community Wealih Building Voluntsry Action 1511n￿OI￿ Local WellbeiD8 N¢tWQTks HoTnsey Lane Esiate Community C¢ntr¢ East London Business Alliance LBI 1511n￿on￿l of Living E ¢nts Commissions Islington Council Community PA rtnerships The National Trust 117.737 1,747 32J15 40.549 23,940 180 77,7 10,000 4.938 75.270 8,794 7.343 .777 7,500 11,250 4.195 238 600 800 2,816 4,000 1.500 2.031 14J26 4.000 2S,O 920 40,000 12.500 262J39 282,030 Page 18 continued... OCTOPUS COMMUNITY NETWORK LIMTTED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 CHAR￿ABLE ACTIVIT￿ COSTS Support costs (see note 4) Direct Costs Totsls LBI VCS Core LBI Andover Inspires LBI Estates Growing and Community Plant Nursery Elizabeth House Blac￿ock Tn City Bridge Tr￿81 Brid8in8 Divides Climate Action Fund Breaihe Islington Council, Highbury (￿adrant GarderL8 Royal Mencap Society Wann Spaces Voluntary Aclion Islin8t0￿ Locol Wellbeing N¢tWQTks Packington COL Events Commission DigiGuide LIF Winter Festival Nature Neighbourhoods Bloomin GardeneTS Highbury grove Soil Food s￿.w Cont COL Resident Voucher 52,128 10.018 (3J74) 1,413 48,754 11,431 21.046 8,112 39.414 10,189 22,546 665 8A26 47,840 10,189 187 2,fAS 2J63 7￿7$ 1,190 3,835 2,571 78,700 125 13J33 20,969 4,692 245 2,565 I3￿78 23J34 4,990 538 705 491 6J45 153 207 491 5J45 iji 1.074 15,OiN 10,917 2030 1,074 1S,iM)O 10,917 2,530 307,701 14W8 322￿09 Page 19 continued... O￿OPUs cOMMU￿y NETWORK LIMrrED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . eontinned FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 SUPPORT cosrs Governance Management Finance Totsls LBI VCS Cor¢ LBI Andover Inspires LBI Estates Growing and Community Plani Nursery Elizakth House Blackstock Tn￿t City Bridge TnL8t Bridging Divides Breathe Islington Coun¢il, Highbury Quadrant Gard¢n$ Royal Mencap Society Warni Spaces Voluntary Action Islington. L4cal Wellb¢ing Networks Packington COL Events Commission DigiGuid¢ Nature Nei8hbourhood3 6.011 347 (14J98) 1.413 (3J74) 1,413 iJ( 665 245 181 187 8,426 187 208 125 125 245 245 2,565 298 153 207 2,565 298 153 207 6.501 347 3394 14,808 NET tNCOMEI(EXPENDITURE) Net irt¢omel(expendilure) is stsled after ch￿81n￿(credIIing). 31J24 31.3,23 [kp￿lat1on- owned assets Independent Examiners Fees 1,173 2.640 1.491 3.240 Page 20 continued... O￿OPUs COmMUm￿ NETWORK LIMrrED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 TRUSTEES, REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no trnstees, remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 Mar¢h 2024 noT for the year ended 31 March 2023. Trnstees, e4)en There weTe no trustees. expenses paid for the year eDd¢d 31 Morch 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023. STAFF COSTS 31J.24 31.3.23 Wages and salari Other pertsion costs 161181 5.556 172,021 6,245 167,437 178.266 The avera8e monthly Dumiw of employees during the yeaT &8 follow5: 31J.24 31.3.23 Charitable Acliviti No employets received emoluments in excess of £60.(th1. COMPARATIVES FOR THE SfATEMENf OF FINAI¥CIAL Acr1v￿lEs FOR YEAR 31J2023 Unrestricted Restricted funds fund Tolal funds INCOME FROM 42,004 240,026 282,030 EXPENDTTURE ON Cbarltable *t¢fvltl¢s National Lottery, Partnerships Fund Power to Change LBI VCS Core LBI Local Initiative Fund LBI Mat¢h WCG Islington Council, H]￿bury Quadrant G￿den5 Groundworl Grow Back Greener Islington Council, Community Growing Strategy LBI Estates Growing Community Plant NuT￿ry Elizabeth Ho￿t Blackstock Trusr 195.5 195.500 51,687 51,687 6.336 854 6.336 854 17.f)01 103 17.601 103 610 610 15.084 5.780 15.084 5.780 Page21 continued... OCTOPUS COMMUNITY NETWORK LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 COMPARATIVFS FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcrivrriES FOR YEAR 31J.2023 - ¢onlinued Unrestricted Restricted funds fund Tolai funds Cily Bridge TnL81 Bridging Divides Clirnate Action Fund North London Waste Authority. NoTth London Community Fund Br¢ath¢ Roya] Mencap Society LBI- LIF Super Slew Warn) Spaces Voluntary Action Islingto￿ Local W¢llbeing Networks HilldTOP Community Centre. G￿enIn8 the Grey Packington Hornsey Lane Estate Con)munity Centrt, Tollyrise Gardens 34,832 19,048 34.832 19.048 8,711 4.069 6,779 6.IM)O 18.000 8.711 4.069 6,779 6.￿0 18,000 2.410 2,410 3,803 3,803 To¢*1 52,541 349.274 401,815 NET INCOMFJ(EXPENDITURE) (10,537) (109.248) (119.785) RECONCILLATION OF FUNDS TotA] funds brought forwud 133.516 218.825 352,341 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 122.979 109,577 232,556 KEY MANAGEME￿ PERSONNEL The charity consider its key personnel comprised of the tr￿ltees. Page 22 c4)ntinued... ocropus COMMUNrrY NETWORK LIMrrED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 21b24 10. TANGIBLE FIXED A&SETS Plant and Computer machinery equipment Totals COST At l April 2023 Addili(AJs 23.622 50 5084 29J06 At 31 March 2024 23,672 29,556 DEPRECIATION At l April 2023 Charge for year 19294 913 656 260 23.950 1.173 At 31 March 2024 202(n 4,916 25,123 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2024 3,465 4,433 At 31 March 2023 4,328 1228 5.556 11. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DiIE W￿H1N ONE YEAR 31J24 31.3.23 Trade d¢btOTS her debtors 21J63 29,188 1,868 23.563 31.056 12. CREDfTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE wmiiN ONE YEAR 31.3.24 31.3.23 Social security other taxes Oth¢r Creditors Deferred i￿ome A¢crued expenses 314 417 10,000 3,995 1,779 12,040 2.4IXI 14,726 16.219 Page 23 continued... ocropus COMMum￿ F4ETWORK LIMrrED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR ThE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 13. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS 31J.24 Total fimds 31.3.23 Total funds Unrestricted Restricted funds Fixed ￿ets Current ￿ets Current liabilities 433 125375 {14726) 4.433 182,879 (14,726) 5,556 243,219 (16.219) 57W4 115,082 57J04 172J86 232,556 14. MOVEME￿ IN FUNDS Net movement in fun(ts At 3113124 At 114f23 U*re8¢rleied fun General fund 122,979 (709T) 115,1 Re$trl¢¢¢d fundA Restricted fimds J09,577 (52,073) 57A04 TOTAL FUNDS 232,556 {59.970) 172,586 Net movcmcnt in funds. included in the al￿e are as follows.. Incoming Resources Movement resources expended in funds Ullrestrlded f•nds General fund 40057 (48.754) (7,89T) Restricted Restricted funds 221,682 (273.735) {52,073) TOTAL FUNDS 261￿39 (322,509) (59,970) Pag¢ 24 continued... OCTOPUS COMMUNITY NETWORK LIMfTED NOTES TO THE VINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 14. MOVEMENT IN FiiNDS. ¢o•tiDued Compar*tfves for moveme•t in fud* Net movement in funds At 3113123 At 114122 UDrestri¢ted funth General fund 133.516 (10.53T) 122,979 Restrleted funds Restricted fjJnd5 218,825 (109,248) 109.577 TOTAL FUNDS 352.341 (119.785) 232.556 Comparative net movmnent in fimd4 included in the above are As follows: Incoming R¢sour¢cs Movement resourc¢s ¢xp¢nded in funds Unre*trl¢led ￿nd1 (3eneral fund 42,(MM (52.541) (10,537) R¢Jtrleted futt R¢51Ticied funds 240.026 (349274) (109248) TOTAL VUNDS 282.030 (401.815) (119.785) Page 25 continued... ocropus COMMUNITY NETWORK IJm￿ED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 14. MOVEM￿ IN FUNDS- eonthilled 3J.(132024 31.03.2023 Unrestricted Fun General fund lis,( 122,979 Restri¢ted funds LBI ATrAover Inspires 151ington Council. Highbury l)tht Gardens Breathe LBI Lo￿1 Initialiv¢ Fund- winter feAival Climate Action Fund Royal M¢ncap Socicty LBL- Cost of Livin8 Eventi Commissions Highbury Grove National Lottery, Partnerships Fund Nature NeighbouThoLNIs 1s1ington Council. Communiry Plam Nursery & Growin8 Sussex Close City Bridge TnLSt (Brid8in8 Divide Project) Soil Food Warni Spaces Packington Volun18ry Action l$lin8too Local Wellbein8 Nemrks London Business Alliance Islingion Council. Bloomin, G4rdener¥ 5,747 17,177 3,835 8.058 369 10.189 2.327 20,011 383 10.917 6J35 2207 492 ISJ42 14,568 31,465 7,500 397 406 1.500 238 1,635 2,970 128 Total Reitricted Futtdj 57J04 109,577 LBI Andover Inspires.. This an estate wid¢ plants growing project for the Andover and other estates. National Lottery (SWLW): Thts Covers "Slay W¢ll. Live W¢ll' Projects, health and wellbeing projects. Urban Growing Match Fundin8 is a colleclive of small grants to sUp￿)rt Urban Growing pro￿arnMe. Page 26 continued... O￿OPUs COMMUNITY NETWORK LIMfTED OTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 IS. RELATED PARTY DISCLLISURVS As disclosed in the TrU￿e¢S lieFK)tL the tnLSteesl directors of Octopus Community N¢twork Ltmited aTe associated with oiher community centresl charities which benefit from collabora¢ing with Octopus Community Ne￿Ork Limited and therefore these ￿mm￿lIty centresl charities are considered related parties to (ktopus Communtty Network Limited. Total grants paid to these UK neNork members wL8 £83.995 (2023 - £168,260) 16. Octopus ac15 &8 conduit for the organizatiijns m¢ntioned in the trustees report. The relevant income 1$ apportioned betw¢cn Charities on a￿ced teTm Page 27 O￿OPUs COMMU￿￿ NETWORK LIM￿ED DETAILED STATEME￿ OF FINAIYCIAL ACTIvrriES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 31.3.24 31.3.23 COME Grants National Lottery, Partnetships Funds Mis¢¢llaneous Income City Bridge TrusL Bridging Divides LBI Local Initiatives Fund Islington Council, Community Growing Strategy- Packington Esthte J51ington Council, Greenspace and Lei311r¢ Islington Coun¢il.Warm Spa¢es Islington Council, Community Plani NuTsery & Esiate Growing GroundworK Grow Back Grttner Elizabeth House Blackstock Tn]st North London Waste A￿hOrIty, North London Community F￿d Royal Men¢ap Society Islinglon Council. Bloomin, Gardeners Hilldrop Community C¢nlre, Grttnin8 The Grey l$linglon Council- Community Weahh Building Volunlary Action IslingtO￿ Local W¢llb¢ing Networks Hornsey Lane Estate Community Centr¢ East London Business Alliance LBI IslingtonQost of Living E ents Commissions Islington Council Community Pa rtherships The National Trust 117.737 1.747 32JlS 860 40,549 23940 180 77.700 4,938 75270 iO,ODO 8,794 7,343 &777 7,500 243 11.250 4,195 238 600 2,031 800 IW6 2,816 4.000 1,500 4,(K)O 25,(MlO 920 40,OIMI 12,S(Hl 262,539 282,030 Total Itteomlng re￿￿re¢S 262,539 282,030 EXPENDITURE Charlt*bl• *¢tivitk8 Wages Pensions Carried fonvard 161,881 5,556 167.437 172,021 6245 178266 This page does not forni part of the slatutory fuwicial ststements Page 28 ocropus COMMuNrrY NETWORK LIM￿RD DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcfiviTIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 31.324 31.3.23 Ch•ri¢*bl¢ aetivities Brought forward Insurance Markdin8 Rent Materials Event wsts Freelan¢¢ staff Trav¢lling Volunteer expensaq AGM & annual report Training & courses Payrnenls to Ne￿ork Partners Staff Welfare Human Resource Costs Redundancy costs 167,437 2,070 8,418 8,000 13.201 4,670 3,610 445 403 13 1,400 83,995 399 4.437 9303 178.266 2,677 1,674 8.000 14.367 741 3.309 339 428 13 1,322 168,260 848 2,637 307,701 382.881 Support costi Mg11gt¢m¢Dt Membership Fees Payroll Cost IT Support and Hardware DeprK- Tangible Assets 270 457 4.601 1.173 768 587 4.745 1,491 6JOI 7.591 Finance Bgnk ch8rge5 347 Other Telephone Poslag¢ and stalionery Sundri 1,863 463 2.344 2.923 3294 5,267 Governanee cost• Independent Examiner5 Fees Book Keepin8 f￿5 2,64D 2,026 3,240 2,836 666 6,076 Total resource5 expended 322,509 401.815 Ne¢ txpendltll (59.970) (119.785) This ￿Se does not forni part of the statutory financial stat¢ments Pagc 29