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2023-03-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1128461

Company Registration No. 06707357 (England and Wales)

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Page 1 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Charity number 1128461
Company number 06707357
Registered office Severn House
32 Ombersley Street West
Droitwich
Worcs.
WR9 8QZ
Telephone Number 01905 795098
Independent examiner Paul Tivey FCA, FCCA
Clarendon House
14 St. Andrews Street
Droitwich
Worcs.
WR9 8DY
Bankers Unity Trust
Nine Brindley Place
Birmingham
B1 2HB
Barclays Bank
54 High Street
Worcester
WR1 2QQ

Page 2 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees’ report 4 - 13
Independent examiner’s report 14
Statement of financial activities 15
Balance sheet 16
Notes to the financial statements 17 - 26

Page 3 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purpose of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).

Trustees

Simon Hill (Chair) Duncan Berry Gareth Roberts Geoff Taylor-Smith John Duddington Michael Hunter Mike Oliver-Brooke (appointed at October 2022 AGM) Phil Ashwell Sarah Mulhall Steve Tominski

Staff

Pete Sugg – Chief Officer Jo Banfield – Administration Manager (retired 31st December 2022) Helen Wood - Administration Support Jo Bradley - Administration Support Margaret Jones – Bookkeeper Kay Bruton - Communications and Engagement Officer (Worcestershire VCSE Alliance) Sarah Whitehead - Seek and Reach Project Co-ordinator Felicity Vernon - Key Worker/Assistant Project Co-ordinator Cat Goodwin - Key Worker Sarah Mitchell - Key Worker Jennifer Miller – Key Worker Caroline Freeman – Key Worker Delroy Thompson – Key Worker Luke Maguire - Enhanced Youth Support Officer Loretta Bryan - Enhanced Youth Support Officer

Kidderminster and District Youth Trust - Seek and Reach support organisation.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is, therefore, governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association (incorporated 25 September 2008). Charitable status for the new company was granted on 10 March 2009. The company name changed from Worcestershire Council for Voluntary Youth Services to Young Solutions Worcestershire on 26 April 2015.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Young Solutions Worcestershire acknowledges that an effective Board of Trustees is at the core of ensuring that the Charity is successful in achieving its objects. The Board seeks to be representative of the people and organisations that it works with and has within its membership. The membership of the Board of Trustees contains the range of required knowledge and skills to run the Charity. Individual trustees have sufficient knowledge of the role of a charity trustee to be able to effectively represent Young Solutions Worcestershire at meetings/events. Trustees are elected to the Board at Annual General Meetings. The number and procedure for nomination and election is contained in Young Solutions Worcestershire governance documents. Members can nominate individuals to stand for election at the AGM. When a need is identified the Chair will recruit and propose to the Board the cooption of trustees between AGMs. Full membership of the Board can only be approved at the AGM.

Page 4 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Induction and training of new trustees

Young Solutions Worcestershire provides personalised induction for trustees by the Chair. The induction involves familiarisation with the role of the trustees, objects of the charity, its procedures, and its history.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Organisational structure

The Trustees/Directors (executive committee) are elected at the Annual General Meeting each year and they meet bimonthly to manage the business of the charity. At each meeting the executive committee reviewed the finances.

None of the staff have delegated financial authority.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. They review this annually.

Reserves policy

The trustees confirmed the reserves policy of maintaining sufficient funds to continue operations for four months. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.

The trustees approved a new business plan and budget for 2022 - 2023. Young Solutions maintained rigorous control over its finances, continuing to find ways to strengthen its financial management systems.

Aims

The aims of Young Solutions are to:

ensure the safety and involvement of young people in Worcestershire.

Objectives

The objects were amended at the 2022 AGM and the principal objects of the charity now read as to:

Help and advance the education of people of all ages and in particular young people in Worcestershire and surrounding areas so as to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as responsible members of society.

Fee charging

Throughout the year the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance, including guidance on public benefit and fee charging. We consider all our activities are for the public benefit. Most of our income comes from contracts and our activities are funded by the income. We charge for our Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checking support and pass on the charges that we have to pay to the DBS service for disclosures for paid staff. In addition, we charge a small administrative fee towards our costs for membership and for some of our training courses.

ANNUAL REPORT ON ACTIVITIES

Highlights of the year

2022 – 2023 has proved to be another successful year for Young Solutions, with funding for post-Covid projects allowing us to grow and deliver a range of support, and for the third year running, to increase our turnover and report a small surplus for the year. We are pleased that a significant proportion of the

Page 5 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

income has been in the form of partnership grants, which have enabled us to access funding and distribute it directly to communities to help meet the needs of their young people.

During 2022 - 2023 Young Solutions has pursued the following five key priorities:

  1. Provide Support

  2. Promote Safeguarding

  3. Promote Participation

  4. Provide a Voice and Representation

  5. Enable Training

Some of the highlighted achievements for each priority are in the sections below.

In addition, our new Chair, Simon Hill, commenced his first year in office with a Worcestershire tour, visiting a mix of our membership, key projects and strategic leaders. This enabled Simon to get more of a flavour of the range of activities that Young Solutions is involved with and see the key role that we play in enabling young people to access youth activities and to influence each district strategically.

At Christmas we said a sad goodbye to our long serving Administration Manager, Jo Banfield, who retired after 19 years of commitment to Young Solutions. We were sorry to see her go and decided to use the situation to undertake a review of our administration function.

Young Solutions Priorities

1. Provide Support

Membership

Young Solutions is the voluntary youth infrastructure organisation for Worcestershire and as such exists to serve its members. Our aim is to be fast, friendly, focused, and flexible, and we deliver advice, guidance and support. We were pleased to see that 82% of our previous membership re-joined Young Solutions as members which was an increase on the previous post-Covid year, as well as welcome some emerging new organisations.

77 organisations joined in total, with 16 of these being new organisations that had recently started or ones who joined us for the first time. 22% of the members had an income under £25,000 and 16% were led solely by volunteers. Our members employ nearly 1400 staff between them and have over 9000 volunteers. They work with over 25,600 young people in Worcestershire and the surrounding areas.

68% of members received direct and bespoke support during the year. This included a combination of advice, visits, online/telephone calls, DBS checks and training.

Several new youth organisations are now set up and delivering youth activities, and many are safer with current safeguarding advice, revised policies, updated training and recent DBS checks. One organisation has also received a large Youth Investment Fund grant with our assistance. Some feedback from organisations includes:

Page 6 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

We keep the sector up to date with the latest news, information and training courses through our weekly e-bulletin and monthly newsletter and sent out 45 of these communications through the year. The information covered a diverse range of topics, such as:

Over 200 people were subscribed to receive this information directly, but we know that many share the information with others in their organisation and network, so the number reached is much higher than this.

Positive Activities Infrastructure Support

Young Solutions successfully completed the seventh year of the current Positive Activities Infrastructure contract. This is our 13th year in total over three consecutive contracts. The charity is widely acknowledged as occupying a central role in the promotion and support for the voluntary youth to a wide range of organisations, both the current Positive Activities providers and other organisations that deliver services to young people.

The recommissioning process for the new Youth Offer is due to take place from April 2023, and Young Solutions, in partnership with Youth Focus West Midlands, is playing a key role in assisting Worcestershire Public Health, Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Children First in shaping the new provision which will commence delivery from September 2023.

Youthscape2 Project

We were very grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for granting us three year Reaching Communities funding in October to deliver our YouthScape2 project. This is a follow up to the YouthScape phase 1 pilot project delivered in 2020. The aim of YouthScape2 is increase the provision of support for young people in 12 areas of socio-economic deprivation in Worcestershire, focussing on where there is little or insufficient provision currently available.

Services are delivered by key partners in each of the 6 districts of Worcestershire and these are:

Young Solutions provides oversight, guidance, coordination and training for the project, allowing the partners to concentrate on delivery through an offer of outreach, targeted youth support, open access youth work and virtual social networking. There is also a focus on youth voice, and each partner has a youth council or youth advisers which meet regularly and have a key role in co-producing YouthScape2 local activities and learning opportunities.

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YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The project has had a fantastic first six months and is ahead of all targets (see below). The partners are also reporting that having additional funding which is flexible is having a huge impact on their delivery and how they support young people.

Some Key Partner Feedback:

Outcomes Target to
date (6
months)		 Actual no.
young
people
1. Outreach support to engage vulnerable young people in the areas of
highest need - Number reached		 350 614
2. Targeted youth support and life skills support - Number of young people
reporting improvements in well-being and resilience		 225 233
Percentage of young people report knowing where to get support with their
mental health issues		 80% 90%
3. Provision of open access youth activities in community-based youth
facilities - Number of young people participating in activities		 675 1097
Percentage of young people participating in activities giving positive feedback 85% 85%
4. Online information and support - Young people have easy access to online
professional support and quality information		 350 882

2. Promote Safeguarding

Keeping children and young people safe is a central part of Young Solutions mission, and safeguarding permeates through all of our work.

Get Safe, Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership

As a key partner of the Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Get Safe Partnership Group (responsible for the overall effectiveness of the multi-agency response to child criminal exploitation within Worcestershire), we have been assisting with an initiative to understand the effectiveness of the support offered for young people around online safety, and their understanding of where they can go to get help or advice should they ever feel unsafe or at risk whilst online. This work will continue in the next financial year with visits to some members to gather first hand feedback from young people, as well as a sector survey.

Page 8 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

DBS

We continued to offer a Disclosure and Barring Checking Service (DBS) for staff and volunteers, and we carried out 224 DBS checks for 31 organisations during the year. The total checks are lower than the last financial year, but it is likely that the large increase last year was due to organisations restarting their provision after the Covid restrictions. The number of organisations we provide checks for has remained constant throughout the years.

3. Promote Participation

Young Solutions wants to ensure all young people can obtain the full benefits of living in the county and therefore delivers a variety of projects which either directly or indirectly encourage young people to become active. This could be doing something in their community, attending education or gaining employment.

Seek & Reach Programme

Our Seek and Reach Programme continued to strive to support 16 to 25-year-olds who were furthest away from training and employment, and our current Worcestershire County Council contract has now been extended to December 2023.

During the year we worked with 140 young people – 44% female and 56% male. All of the young people had a number of additional needs or circumstances which had prevented them from achieving so far ( 62% classed themselves as having a disability). We were really pleased that during this time period 37% progressed into education, employment or volunteering and we are continuing to work with others.

Some feedback from a key worker and young people:

Key worker:

A was supported to attend sessions at the You Turn centre and also given help to write a CV, engaged with sessions around confidence building and interview techniques.

They now have a part time job as an administrator. A and their family are over the moon with their achievements.

Young people:

WISE - Enhanced Youth Support Officers – Redditch

Our new WISE project supporting young people in Redditch has gone from strength to strength. One key achievement was the opening of a dedicated youth and community centre in former disused units under the town’s shopping centre. 17 young people worked with local tradespeople as part of the national Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) scheme to transform the units and make them their own.

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YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

MP Rachael Maclean opened the new centre and said “It was a real honour to attend the opening of the new WISE Youth & Community Centre at The Canopies. I had the opportunity to speak to those involved in making this a reality and it clearly was a passion project for everyone who made this possible. Thank you to you all. I particularly want to acknowledge the Enhanced Youth Support Workers who co-ordinated the refit and launch of the new centre. They both spoke with such passion at the opening of WISE. It was inspiring to listen to the positive impact this project has had on the young people involved.”

12 of the young people involved gained Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations in Carpentry, Painting & Decorating and Health & Safety.

Tryangle Awards

We decided to try something different with our Tryangle Awards this year and launched the “Mobile Tryangle Awards”. This allowed us to continue to recognise outstanding young people, but also to deliver the awards in a more cost-effective way. One worthy recipient was Vinni, a young man nominated by West Mercia Police for a Bravery Award after his quick thinking and initiative. The award was presented to him in his area by Young Solutions Chair, Simon Hill.

Since being told he was receiving a Tryangle Award, the family have commented on a significant improvement in his confidence and behaviour and this improvement has been noted at his school as well.

4. Provide a Voice and Representation

It is important to Young Solutions to enable those in the voluntary youth sector to get their voice heard and we facilitate conversations, provide representation, encourage networking, and empower young people, individuals and organisations.

As an example, in this financial year we have focused in several areas on assisting organisations to work closer with the Gypsy/ Roma / Traveller community. In the very north of the county, we facilitated a combined school, youth and community hub to work with the local settled Traveller community, and in the east we have worked with the GRT education team to make sure that this community are included in youth work delivery and are a strong partner & integral part of Wychavon youth forum.

Worcestershire VCSE Alliance

Young Solutions is proud to be actively supporting the Worcestershire VCSE Alliance, a collective of 25 representative Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations with a mission to build a stronger VCSE sector working together effectively to deliver excellent services aligned to need. The Alliance is a key partner of the Integrated Care System (ICS), a partnership of NHS organisations, local authorities and others to take collective responsibility for planning services, improving health and reducing inequalities across the county, and is predominately working in this area at the moment. Young Solutions is providing governance and HR support to the Alliance, hosting its staff, holding some funding on its behalf, and attending events. We initially held the Vice Chair position but took on the Acting Chair role at the end of this financial role due to illness of the Chair.

Network Meetings / Youth Forums

Young Solutions provides representation for the sector on the Worcestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board. Young Solutions also attend the regional Youth Network, the County Council’s NEET strategic group, the Get Safe strategic group for Worcestershire, Community Wellbeing Theme, Cultural Compact Youth Theme group and Early Help Partnership amongst others.

Within the sector, Young Solutions also attends meetings across the county and hosts the Positive Activities provider forums. Through the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) funding, we have been developing a District Youth Service Provider Network in each of the six districts. Some of these are an expansion or remodel of an existing or previous network (Redditch, Bromsgrove, Wychavon and Malvern), whereas others are being newly created (Wyre Forest and Worcester) and have been more challenging.

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YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

All networks are now up and running and are getting ready to support with the re-commissioning of the Worcestershire Youth Offer.

5. Enable Training

Young Solutions has delivered a range of training courses this financial year. We were really pleased to be able to offer these free of charge to the sector after receiving grants from COMF and the Eveson Trust. The courses have been well attended by a total of 139 learners.

Introductory level courses delivered:

Some feedback from across the different courses:

We were also able to deliver youth work courses to maintain the professionalism, knowledge and qualifications of the sector. These were a Level 2 Award in Youth Work Principles and a Level 3 Certificate in Youth Work Practice, attended by 13 learners.

The Level 2 course covered:

The Level 3 course allowed for further progression and included:

Our e-learning courses remained popular, and organisations told us how vital these are for skilling up their workers. Being online means that their volunteers / staff could both access the training at a time convenient to them and learn at their own pace. This is crucial in a county with so many isolated rural communities and limited transport options.

Page 11 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

We provided e-learning courses in:

These courses were also successful with the participants and 25 workers from 10 organisations completed 80 courses in the past financial year. 98% rated the courses as ‘useful’ or ‘very useful’ and participant feedback included:

FORWARD PLANNING

The trustees have expressed their satisfaction with Young Solutions’ performance in the past year, but they remain cautious and vigilant. Young Solutions has increased its income this year, but the trustees are mindful that several significant income streams are due for re-tender in the coming year, and they continue to operate rigorous financial control.

The infrastructure contract to support Worcestershire’s Youth Offer (formally Positive Activities) is due for re-tendering in Spring/Summer 2023 and this is the first new contract since 2016. We plan to submit a tender for this, and the outcome will have a big influence on the next steps for Young Solutions. A decision is due in July 2023 with a contract start date of 1[st] September 2023. It is envisaged that regardless of the outcome that the trustees will need to look again at Young Solutions purposes, especially if our infrastructure role is in question.

Young Solutions will continue to promote and support a variety of issues affecting young people in Worcestershire. We have been in discussions with the Lord Lieutenant about hosting a lunchtime strategic event on youth employment and are awaiting a date for this.

We will also continue to review the form of the Tryangle Awards through our close association with Margaret Westwood, long term sponsor of the award, and are discussing funding to ensure full cost recovery.

The trustees are currently discussing more diversification, amalgamations, and acquisitions as a way of spreading the financial costs as Young Solutions moves away from dependence on the County Council. They are committed to the pursuit of an ambitious model designed to secure the longer-term sustainability of the charity.

THANKS

The trustees wish to record their thanks to Simon Hill, the Chair of Young Solutions, and to the Chief Officer, Pete Sugg, for all his hard work and commitment to the organisation. The trustees also record their gratitude to Jo Banfield, the former Administration Manager, and to the administration team, which includes Helen Wood, Jo Bradley and Marg Jones. Thanks also go to Sarah Whitehead, all the Seek and Reach team and the Redditch Enhanced Youth Officers.

Page 12 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (CONTINUED) (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Special thanks to Sarah Knott for her support with internal financial auditing and we are grateful for the consistent support of our peripatetic team, including Cat Illingworth who continues to support members and projects, and Lorraine Preece for training.

The trustees’ report was approved by the Board of Trustees

Dated:

Page 13 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

I report to the trustees of my examination of the financial statements of Young Solutions Worcestershire (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity 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 the charity’s financial; statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be aware 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 the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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 financial statements to be reached.

Paul Tivey FCA, FCCA Clarendon House 14 St. Andrews Street Droitwich Worcs. WR9 8DY

Dated:

Page 14 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Notes
Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
Income and
endowments from:
Grants
2
246,512

Investments
3
392
Other income
4
9,921
_
Total income
256,825
_
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
225,440
_
Total resources
expended
225,440
_
Net income for the
year
31,385
Transfers between
funds
16,625
_
Net movement in
funds
48,010
Fund balances at
1 April 2022
111,985
_
Fund balances at
31 March 2023
159,995
 Restricted
Funds
2023
Total Funds
2023
Total Funds
2022
£
£
£
204,500
451,012
399,117
-
392
21
-
9,921
18,557
_
_
_
204,500
461,325
417.695
_
_
_
202,843
428,283
405,295
_
_
_
202,843
428,283
405,295
_
_
_
1,657
33,042
12,400
(16,625)
-
-
_
_
_
(14,968)
33,042
12,400
25,404
137,389
124,989
_
_
_
10,436
170,431
137,389

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

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

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

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YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

_______
Notes
Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
11
6,359
Current assets
Debtors
12
47,756
Cash at bank and in
hand
120,339
__
168,095
Creditors: amounts
falling due within
one year
13
(14,459)
__
Net current assets
153,636
__
Total assets less
current liabilities
159,995
______
Income funds
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds		 _____
Restricted
Funds
2023
Total Funds
2023
Total Funds
2022
£
£
£
850
7,209
5,512
47,756
63,983
86,860
207,199
138,257
_
__
__
86,860
254,955
202,240
(77,274)
(91,733)
(70,363)
__
__
__
9,586
163,222
131,877
__
__
__
10,436
170,431
137,389
__
__
__
159,995
111,985
10,436
25,404
__
__
170,431
137,389
__
______

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity 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 of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

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

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on

Trustee

Company Registration No. 06707357

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YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Young Solutions Worcestershire is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Severn House, 32 Ombersley Street West, Droitwich, Worcestershire. WR9 8QZ.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from October 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by doners as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

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YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1.5 Expenditure

1. Accounting policies

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Fixtures, fittings & equipment

25% reducing balance

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

1.7 Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.8 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other shortterm liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, the bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.9 Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity’s balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transactions costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Page 18 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.10 Employee benefits

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.

1.11 Retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company’s pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

1.12 Taxation

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

1.13 Fund Accounting

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

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

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

Page 19 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

2 Grants

Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
Government and general grants
246,512
Redditch Youth Work
-
Youthscape
-
Eveson Trust
-
ICS Alliance
-
Holiday Hunger
-
HAF Half Term
-
COMF Grant
-
__
246,512
 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
-
76,679
71,494
10,000
46,327
-
-
-
__
204,500
 Total
Funds
2023
£
246,512
76,679
71,494
10,000
46,327
-
-
-
__
451,012
 Total
Funds
2022
£
209,670
18,341
-
-
-
71,106
50,000
50,000
__
399,117

There are no unfulfilled conditions attaching to the government grants.

3 Investments

Unrestricted Unrestricted
Funds Funds
2023 2022
£ £
Interest receivable 392 21
__ __
392 21
__ __

4 Other income

Unrestricted Unrestricted
Funds Funds
2023 2022
£ £
Training projects 2,628 6,625
Membership subscriptions 1,780 1,960
DBS checks 5,513 9,972
__ __
9,921 18,557
__ __

Page 20 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

5
Charitable activities
Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
Direct charitable activity (see
note 6)
568
Support and governance
costs (see note 7)
224,701
Other (see note 10)
171
__
225,440
 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
134,861
67,982
-
__
202,843
 Total
Funds
2023
£
135,429
292,683
171
__
428,283
 Total
Funds
2022
£
180,820
224,316
159
__
405,295

6 Grants payable

Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
COMF Grant
-
Youthscape Grants
-
ICS Alliance
-
Eveson Trust
-
HAF Grants
-
Training Grants
-
Local Project Grants
568
__
568
 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
17,425
67,559
40,877
9,000
-
-
-
__
134,861
 Total
Funds
2023
£
17,425
67,559
40,877
9,000
-
-
568
__
135,429
 Total
Funds
2022
£
-
-
-
-
112,964
27,825
40,031
__
180,820

Page 21 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

7
Support costs
Unrestricted
Project Worker
costs
Admin costs
Depreciation
Insurance
Postage.
Stationery and
telephone
Rent
Training and
events
Computer
running costs
Sundry
expenses
Subscriptions
Staff and
volunteer
expenses
Independent
Examiner fees
Accountancy
Legal and
professional
DBS checks
Restricted
Project worker
costs
Depreciation
Staff and
volunteer
expenses		 Support
Costs
£
Governance
Costs
£
126,983
-
58,906
-
1,777
-
1,609
-
9,230
-
6,890
-
-
-
2,076
-
2,463
-
2,895
-
364
-
-
1,281
-
6,120
-
35
-
4,072
_
_
213,193
11,508
_
_
Support
Costs
£
Governance
Costs
£
61,992
-
57
-
5,933
-
_
_
67,982
-

 2023
£
126,983
58,906
1,777
1,609
9,230
6,890
-
2,076
2,463
2,895
364
1,281
6,120
35
4,072
_
224,701
_
2023
£
61,992
57
5,933
_
67,982
 Support
Costs
£
Governance
Costs
£
107,581
-
73,824
-
1,381
-
1,500
-
10,662
-
6,540
-
-
-
1,252
-
1,279
-
2,507
-
5,363
-
-
972
-
4,290
-
205
-
6,960
_
_
211,889
12,427
_
_
Support
Costs
£
Governance
Costs
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
_
_
-
-

 2022
£
107,581
73,824
1,381
1,500
10,662
6,540
-
1,252
1,279
2,507
5,363
972
4,290
205
6,960
_
224,316
_
2022
£
-
-
-
_
-

8 Trustees

There were no trustee’s remuneration, expenses or benefits paid for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the period ended 31 March 2022.

Page 22 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

9 Employees

The average monthly number employees during the year was:

Number of Employees
Employment costs
Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
Wages and salaries –
Project workers
125,092
Pension costs – Project
workers
1,891
Wages and salaries -
Admin
57,191
Pension costs - Admin
1,715
__
185,889
 2023
Number
16
_
Restricted
Funds
2023
£
60,707
1,285
-
-
__
61,992
 Total
Funds
2023
£
185,799
3,176
57,191
1,715
__
247,881
 2022
Number
15
_
Total
Funds
2022
£
105,961
1,620
71,690
2,134
_
181,405
_

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

10 Other

Unrestricted Unrestricted
Funds Funds
2023 2022
Financing costs 171 159
__ __
171 159
__ __

Page 23 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

11 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2022
Additions
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2022
Depreciation charged in the year
At 31 March 2023
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022
12 Debtors
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Notes
Deferred income
14
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals		 Fixtures, fittings &
2023
£
18,924
28,007
825
_
47,756
_
2023
£
77,274
2,019
7,248
5,192
_
91,733
_		 equipment
£
14,145
3,531
_
17,676
_
8,633
1,834
_
10,467
_
7,209
__
5,512
_
2022
£
52,918
10,240
825
_
63,983
_
2022
£
41,266
18,125
5,380
5,592
_
70,363
__

Page 24 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

14 Deferred income

Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
At 1 April 2022
41,266
Income released in the
year
(41,266)
Income deferred in the
year
-
_
At 31 March 2023
-
_		 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
-
-
77,274
_
77,274
_		 Total
Funds
2023
£
41,266
(41,266)
77,274
_
77,274
_		 2022
£
37,197
(37,197)
41,266
_
41,266
_

15 Comparatives for the Statement of financial activities

Unrestricted
Funds
£
Income and endowments from:
Grants
209,670
Investments
21
Other income
18,557
_
Total income
228,248
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
257,008
_
Total resources expended
257,008
_
Net Income
(28,760)
Transfers between funds
15,756
_
Net movement in funds
(13,004)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
124,989
__
Total funds carried forward
111,985
 Restricted
Funds
£
189,447
-
-
_
189,447
148,287
_
148,287
_
41,160
(15,756)
_
25,404
-
__
25,404
 Total
Funds
£
399,117
21
18,557
_
417,695
405,295
_
405,295
_
12,400
-
_
12,400
124,989
__
137,389

Page 25 of 26

YOUNG SOLUTIONS WORCESTERSHIRE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

16 Purpose Of Funds

Unrestricted Funds

The unrestricted funds can be used for any charitable purpose approved by the trustees. The fund balance, including fixed assets, at 31[st] March 2023 was £159,995 (2022 - £111,985).

Restricted Funds

The restricted Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) from Worcester County Council was used to run additional training programmes. The fund balance at 31[st] March 2023 was £nil (2022 - £17,425).

The restricted Redditch Youth Work Fund (WISE) from Redditch Borough Council was used to run youth activities in the town. The fund balance at 31[st] March 2023 was £8,736 (2022 - £7,979).

The restricted Youthscape Fund from The National Lottery is a countrywide project that increases the support for young people through an offer including outreach, targeted, open access and online youth work. The fund balance, including fixed assets, at 31[st] March 2023 was £1,700 (2022 - £nil).

The restricted Eveson Fund from The Eveson Charitable Trust was used for additional training for organisations returning to delivery post pandemic. The fund balance at 31[st] March 2023 was £nil (2022 - £nil).

17 Transfers Between Funds

A transfer of £16,625 has been made from the restricted funds to the unrestricted general fund. These are to cover agreed management fees and contributions towards Young Solutions support and governance costs.

18 Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 – none).

Page 26 of 26