**St Anne’s Vicarage Ashworth Road Rossendale BB4 9JE**
## ANNUAL REPORT
## Year Ending 31[st] March 2024
## **challenging young lives . . . promising new futures**
T: 01706 221889 | E: info@thewhitehorseproject.co.uk | W: thewhitehorseproject.co.uk
The White Horse Project Registered Charity no. 1131750
Registered in England & Wales No. 6941257
1
## **Contents**
Legal and Administrative Information
Policies of the Charity
Trustees Introduction
Activities, Achievements & Performance 2023-24
Objectives for the coming year 2024-25
Financial Review
2
## **Legal and Administrative Information**
**Name of Charity:** The White Horse Project
**Registered Number:** 1131750
**Company Number:** Registered in England & Wales No. 6941257
**Governing Document:** Memorandum & Articles of Association incorporated 23[rd] June 2009
**Official Address:** St Anne’s Vicarage, Ashworth Road, Rossendale, BB4 9JE
---------------------------------------------
## **Charitable Objects**
The charities objects, as laid out in the memorandum and articles of association, are:
TO ACT AS A RESOURCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA OF ROSSENDALE PRIMARILY WHITEWELL WARD AND INSPIRED BY CHRISTIAN FAITH BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AND ORGANISING PROGRAMMES OF PHYSICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES AS A MEANS OF:
A) ADVANCING IN LIFE AND HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE BY DEVELOPING THEIR SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS INDEPENDENT, MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS;
B) ADVANCING EDUCATION;
C) RELIEVING UNEMPLOYMENT;
D) PROVIDING RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITY IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT WHO HAVE NEED BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABILITY, POVERTY OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE OF SUCH PERSONS;
E) PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
F) PROMOTE CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL WELLBEING.
----------------------------------------------
## **Names of Trustees**
Rodney Bevan Amanda Robertson Christopher John Eacott (resigned 17 July 2023) Jill Loraine Bevan Andrew John Roberts (Chair from 17 July 2023) Susan Elizabeth Hopkinson (appointed 5 February 2024) Claire Louise Wise (appointed 5 February 2024)
## **Basis for appointing Trustees**
New or replacement Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees. There must be a minimum of three (3) Trustees but not subject to any maximum.
## **Reporting serious incidents (RSI)**
The trustees confirm that during the period covered in this annual report the charity did not experience any serious incidents or other matters that should have been brought to the attention of the Charity Commission.
3
The trustees believe they have complied with their duty to ensure that the charity has worked for the public benefit. Unless reported in Related Party Transactions at the end of this report all officers and management team members give their time and services for free.
Jill Bevan and Andrew Roberts are responsible for maintaining the accounts, which are not audited.
## **Bankers**
Our bankers are: Barclays Bank Leicester LE87 2BB
## **Independent Examiner**
Our Independent Examiner is Mr Peter Terry
## **Reserves Policy**
The charity confirms that all funds are to be used for the on-going work. It is our policy to keep 6 months running costs, building improvement costs and funds towards a large event held every 3 years in reserves when possible.
## **Public Benefit**
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit. The key public benefit delivered by The White Horse Project is the provision of high-quality activities and services for Young People which enable them to enjoy better life chances. Through the wide range of programs individuals develop new skills, improve their academic performance, take on additional responsibilities and therefore improve their whole individual wellbeing.
## **Policies of the Charity**
## **Policies**
The Charity works to policy statements that deal with: - Arrival & Departure Building security Communication Complaints Computer use Confidentiality Conduct Conflict of interest Copyright Disciplinary Disclosure Environment Extremism Equipment Equal Opportunities Equality Finance Fire safety First Aid Flood evacuation Health & Safety GDPR Knives & Weapons Lettings Lone Worker Reserves Safeguarding Security Sexual health Smoking & Alcohol Staff & Volunteers Training Travel Trustees Visits Vulnerable adults
## **Trustees Introduction**
The year 2023-24 has been another year of change. In July 2023 one of our founding Trustees and long-time Chair Chris Eacott resigned. The charity would like to thank Chris for his many years of service to White Horse Project and the young people of Rossendale.
Our base has continued to be the former Newchurch Methodist Church where negotiations to take on a long-term lease for the building continues.
The development of a fresh long-term vision for the charity and strengthening our governorship has been a priority for the Trustees.
During the year we welcomed two new trustees Susan Hopkinson and Claire Wise
The Trustees would like to thank our staff and volunteers for all their hard work. Particularly we would like to thank Siana Farrow for her inspiring role as our Youth Worker who left the project during the year.
Andrew Roberts
## _**On behalf of The Trustees of The White Horse Project**_
## **Highlight of the year**
The highlight of the year had to be our Young People singing the national anthem live on ITV in front of the 80,000 fans at the Gallagher Premiership rugby final at Twickenham Stadium.
## **Activities, Achievements & Performance during current year 2023-24**
## **Engagement With Young People**
We have continued to engage positively with local young people, offering both a weekly workshop programme during school terms and a holiday programme which was extended to include Easter in addition to the long summer break. Each week in term-time we have continued to offer music, singing, band and art workshops free of charge to young people. This has been supplemented with a pilot Cookery Workshop, which was popular and is something for which we would like to secure funding to continue. During the holidays we also added dance and football sessions. Again, we were pleased to deliver sessions outside in Edgeside Park.
The highlight of our programme for the year was in May when members of the singing workshop together with members from Dansworks singers, led by Sean & Vicky Ruane, travelled by minibus to the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham. Here they sang the National Anthem on the pitch – in front of a live audience of 80,000 and live on ITV! We are very grateful to Sean & Vicky, and to Siana who also led the 18-hour round trip, for providing such a wonderful opportunity for our young people. It was an invaluable experience and did so much to raise their confidence and self-esteem.
Our art workshop, led by Community Artist Ruth Evans, continues to be our most popular workshop and Ruth offers a variety of activities and a great wealth of resources. Very skilfully Ruth is able to challenge the young people to try new skills and many have achieved results that they didn’t think they were capable of. Many young people recognise the contribution art makes to their wellbeing. Once again, we made lanterns and took part in the annual Lantern Parade organised by Stacksteads Countryside Park Group in October. We are grateful for the skill and musicianship of Dave Jackson, who gives tuition in a variety of instruments and in singing and leads our band. Our band has grown in numbers and in variety of instruments included. Together with our singers they took part in summer and Christmas concerts organised by St Anne’s Community Choir and performed to an audience of 200 people and were very well received. Many young people fed back how nervous they had been and how this pushed them outside their comfort zone but left them feeling proud and with a sense of achievement.
We have been pleased to continue with our monthly workshop for those who have opted for home education, and we are particularly pleased to find that many members of this group now move on to engage with our weekly programme whereas in former years these two groups of young people have been quite separate.
Our young people’s council have chosen the name Limitless and they have continued to meet regularly to input their ideas into the way we operate and the activities we provide. We will build on this in the year ahead so the young people can be part of the delivery of the changes they suggest.
We are very grateful to The Igen Trust and The Big Lottery Community Fund for continuing to fund our main workshop programme. We are also grateful to our staff for creating a positive, welcoming environment where the young people can thrive. When interviewed many young people highlighted the fact they could ‘be themselves’ and did not feel ‘judged’ at our activities.
## **Staffing**
Recruitment of staff has remained a challenge for us during this year. Sadly, we said goodbye to Siana Farrow early in 2024. She had been with us for many years, first as a young person, then as Youth Worker and most recently as General Manager. We wish her well in the future and she will be sadly missed. We ended the year looking to recruit a new Project Manager. In November 2023 we appointed Lorraine Williams as Lead Youth Worker. Lorraine is well known within our community and brings with her many local contacts, and she has worked hard to maintain our programme whilst we seek to recruit more staff. She has brought great energy and enthusiasm and many new ideas which we look forward to seeing come to fruition in the year ahead.
## **Governance and Management**
We have been delighted to meet our target and welcome two new trustees this year, Mrs Susan Hopkinson and Mrs Claire Wise. Both bring a wealth of skills and experience which will be invaluable in moving our work forward. For the first time we have also separated the work of trustees and the Project Management Committee. The trustees meet quarterly to work on vision and strategic planning and the Project Management Committee, chaired by our Project Manager, meets monthly to deal with operational matters, and to date involves members of staff and a representative from the trustees.
## **Schools Outreach**
During the year we have continued to work in two local High Schools, The Valley Leadership Academy and All Saints High School. In both schools Siana provided workshops around wellbeing for those struggling with some aspect of school life. In the summer term we were pleased to engage Kelsea Bennett to work alongside Siana in eight local primary schools. Kelsea’s drama skills were invaluable in engaging the Year 6 students and supporting them as they faced the transition to High School. This work did result in some Year 6 students joining our workshops in the summer term.
Of all our objectives this was the one which presented us with the greatest difficulty, due to the changes in staffing. We did not see the expansion in the number of schools reached and
the services we offered which we had hoped for, but this is high on our priorities to address in the coming year.
## **Partnership**
Partnership working remains high on our agenda. We continued as members of Rossendale Borough Council’s Rossendale Connected monthly online networking meeting and their Rawtenstall Community Partnership which brings together councillors and members of organisations from the private, public and voluntary sectors.
We were pleased to work with Rossendale Leisure Trust who administer the governments Healthy Activity and Food programme which enabled us to run workshops through the Easter holidays and the long summer holidays.
In March 2024 we were pleased to host a Community Day at Newchurch, which was headed
up by Trustee, Amanda Robertson and Lead Youth Worker, Lorraine Williams. This provided a morning of positive activities for all ages – we were grateful to our workshop providers for volunteering their time to provide these activities. It also brought together many local organisations to enable them to showcase the services they had to offer, and it was a good opportunity to get to know each other. Also, young people were at the forefront and worked very hard as volunteers – performing, hosting and providing refreshments. This is something we aim to make a regular event.
## **Objectives for the coming year 2024-25**
The charities objectives for 2024-2025 are as follows:
## **Engagement with young people**
We will aim to increase the number of young people we engage with. We will focus on our outreach to Year 6 students and aim to recruit at least five members of Year 6 to join our regular sessions. We will develop our Young People’s Council. We will ensure that all our workshops are represented on the Council, and there is a clear route from the Council to the decision making of the trustees.
## **Staffing**
We will focus on team development of staff, sessional staff and volunteers. We will start to measure satisfaction among staff and volunteers by developing and using an anonymous survey. We will conduct a skills audit of staff and volunteers to identify training needs. We will improve our IT provision so we work more smartly, and we will develop a central repository for documents for staff and volunteers.
## **Governance & Management**
We will seek to embed the improvements we have made with our governance and management and hold a Team Building Day to share our vision. We will access training for trustees.
## **Schools Outreach**
We will aim to maintain our regular contact with 2 High Schools; due to recent staffing changes growth is this is delayed. We will aim to deliver outreach sessions in 6 primary schools and work regularly in 2 of these.
## **Partnership**
Partnership working remains a priority for us. We will evaluate our Community Day and build on this event.
## **Use of our building**
Our building is a resource for our community, and we will promote its use. We will aim to increase the number of regular users from 3 to 6.
## **Well-being**
Improving the wellbeing of young people remains central to all we do. We will ensure wellbeing is an element of all our projects. We will reintroduce our mentoring scheme.
## **The White Horse Project**
## **Independent Examiners Report**
I set out my report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2024 which are set out on the following pages.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees (who are also directors of the company for the purpose of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no material matter has come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that, in any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or
- the accounts do not accord with such records: or
- the accounts do not comply with the relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 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
- the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (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.
Peter Terry
## **Independent Examiner**
25[th] November 2024
## **The White Horse Project**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **including Income and Expenditure Account**
|**Note**
**Incoming resources**
**Income and endowments**
**from:**
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Separate material item of
income
Other
**_Total_**
**Resources expended**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
3
Separate material item of
expense
Other
**_Total_**
**Net income/(expenditure) before**
**investment gains/(losses)**
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Extraordinary items**
**Transfers between funds**
9
**Other recognised**gains/(losses):
Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed
assets for the charity’s own use
Other gains/(losses)
**_Net movement in funds_**
**_Reconciliation of funds:_**
Total funds brought forward
**_Total funds carried forward_**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**Prior**
**year**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|---|---|
||7,060
61,772
-
68,833
36,019|
||-
-
-
-|
||-
-
-
-
-|
||-
-
-
-
-|
||-
-
-
-
-|
||-
-
5,000|
||7,060
61,772
-
68,833
41,019|
|||
|||
||-
-
-|
||6,674
57,025
-
63,699
58,675|
|||
||571
286
-
857
1,277|
||7,245
57,311
-
64,556
59,952|
|||
||(184)
4,462
-
4,277
(18,933)|
||-
-
-
-
-|
||(184)
4,462
-
4,277
(18,933)|
||-
-
-
-
-|
||-
-
-|
|||
||-
-
-
-
-|
||-
-
-
-
-|
||(184)
4,462
-
4,277
(18,933)|
|||
||51,251
21,179
-
72,430
91,363|
||51,067
25,641
-
76,707
72,430|
## **The White Horse Project**
## **Balance sheet as at 31st March 2024**
## **Company Number 6941257**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
5
**_Total fixed assets_**
**Current assets**
Stocks
Debtors
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
**_Total current assets_**
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
**_Net current assets_**
**_Total assets less current_**
**_liabilities_**
Creditors: amounts falling due
after one year
Provisions for liabilities
6
**_Total net assets_**
**Funds of the Charity**
Endowment funds
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Revaluation reserve
**_Total funds_**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**this year**
**Total**
**last**
**year**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
2,687
565
-
3,252
2,555|
|---|---|
||2,687
565
-
3,252
2,555
-
-
-
-
-
1,552
-
-
1,552
3,903
-
-
-
-
-
47,208
24,695
-
71,903
65,972|
||48,760
24,695
-
73,455
69,875
0
0
-
0
0
48,760
24,695
-
73,455
69,875|
|||
||51,447
25,260
**-**
76,707
72,430|
|||
||-
-
-
-
-|
||0
-
-
0
0|
||51,447
25,260
-
76,707
72,430|
|||
|||
||-
-
-|
||25,260
25,261
21,179|
||51,447
-
51,447
51,251|
||-
-|
||51,447
25,260
-
76,707
72,430|
For the year ending 31st March 2024, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies’ regime and in accordance with FRS 102 SORP.
Approved by the Board on 25th November 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
J Bevan - Director
A J Roberts - Director
## **The White Horse Project**
## **Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31st March 2024**
|**Note**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash provided by operating activities
7
**Cash flows from investing activities**
7
**Cash flows from financing activities**
**Change in cash in reporting period**
**Cash at 1st April 2023**
**Cash at 31st March 2024**|**2024**
**£**
7,486
**(1,554)**
**5,932**
65,972
**71,903**|**2023**
**£**
(23,963)
**(0)**|
|---|---|---|
|||**(23,964)**
89,935|
|||**65,972**|
## **The White Horse Project**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **1. Statement of Accounting Policies**
## **1.1 Basis of Preparation**
The financial statements of the company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared under the historical cost convention the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), with the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006. A summary of the principal accounting policies, which have been applied consistently, except where noted, is set out below.
The White Horse Project meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## **1.2 Income**
|**1.2 Income**||
|---|---|
|**Recognition of income**|These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:|
||· the charity becomes entitled to the resources;|
||· it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources; and|
||· the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.|
|**Grants and donations**||
||Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income|
||recognition criteria are met.|
|**Contractual income and**|This is only included in the SoFA once the charity has provided the related goods or|
|**performance related grants**|services or met the performance related conditions.|
|**Tax reclaims on donations and**|Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the|
|**gifts**|donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that|
||gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the|
||donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.|
|**Support costs**||
||The charity has incurred expenditure on support costs.|
|**Volunteer help**|The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is|
||described in the trustees’ annual report.|
|**Income from interest, royalties**|This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable|
|**and dividends**|can be measured reliably.|
|**1.3 Expenditure and Liabilities**||
|**Liability recognition**|Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or|
||constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of|
||the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.|
|**1.4 Assets**||
|**Tangible fixed assets for use by**|These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year.|
|**charity**||
||They are valued at cost.|
||Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or|
||valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic lives|
||as follows|:|
||Fixtures and fittings
33.3% reducing balance basis|
||Office Equipment
33.3% reducing balance basis|
## **The White Horse Project**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **2. Income**
|**Donations and Legacies**
Donations and gifts
Gift Aid
General grants provided by
government/other charities
**Total**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**Prior year**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
5,368
-
-
5,368
9,863
1,693
-
-
1,693
1,309
-
61,772
-
61,772
24,847|
|---|---|
||7,060
61,772
68,833
36,019|
## **3 Expenditure**
|**Charitable Activities**
Youth Activities
Youth Mentoring CIN
Youth Counselling CCG
Youth Music
Total|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
6,674
57,025
-
63,699
35,801
-
-
-
-
22,874
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|
||6,674
57,025
-
63,699
58,675|
## **4 Staff Costs**
|Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs
Other employee benefits
**Total staff costs**|**This year**
**Last year**|
|---|---|
||**£**
**£**|
||24,661
17,573|
||-
-|
||2,049
1,932|
||-
-|
||26,710
19,504|
During the year the charity employed 3 part time staff equivalent to less than 1 fulltime member
**The White Horse Project**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2024**
## **5 Fixed Assets**
|**5 Fixed Assets**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Cost**
At 1st April 2023
Additions
Disposals
**At 31st March 2024**
**Depreciation**
At 1st April 2023
Charge in year
Disposals
**At 31st March 2024**
**Net book values**
At 31st March 2024
At 31st March 2023
**6 Provision for liabilities**
Provision for dilpidations
**7 Cash flows**
Net Income/(expenditure) for the year
Decrease/(Increase) in debtors
(Decrease)/Increase in creditors
Depreciation
**Net cash provided by operating activities**
Interest received
Purchase of fixed assets
**Net cash in investing activities**|**Fixtures &**
**Fittings**
**Equipment**
**£**
**£**
1,700
35,316
1,554
-
-|**Total**
**£**
37,016|
|||1,554|
|||-|
||**1,700**
**36,870**|**38,570**|
||1,691
32,770|34,461|
||9
849|857|
||-
-|-|
||**1,700**
**33,618**|**35,318**|
||- 0
3,252
9
2,546
**This year**
**£**
0
**This year**
**£**
4,277
2,351
0
857
**7,486**
0
1,554
**1,554**|3,252
2,555|
|||**Last year**|
|||**£**|
|||0|
||||
|||**Last year**|
|||**£**|
|||(23,933)
(1,308)
0
1,277|
|||**(23,963)**|
|||0
0|
|||**0**|
## **8 Related Party Transactions**
During the accounting period the charity purchased telecommunications services to the value of £1,001 (2023 £1,152) from Avoira Ltd where Andrew Roberts is a Director. There was no outstanding balance at the year end. The directors are happy that the services provided were at a price much lower than comparable services and therefore good value for money.
The charity also paid Lindsay Bevan £417 (2023 £1,114) for programmes she delivered.