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← Bristol Noise

2024-08-31-accounts

BRISTOL NOISE

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Charity Number 1134099

BRISTOL NOISE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

CONTENTS Pages
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Bristol Noise 1
Trustees’ report 2-7
Receipts and Payments Account 8
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 9

BRISTOL NOISE

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Bristol Noise

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 August 2024, which consist of the Receipts and Payments Account for the Year and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the End of the Year...

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect: * accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or

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.

David Biddel 12 The Newlands Frenchay Bristol BS16 1NQ

26 June 2025

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BRISTOL NOISE

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 August 2024.

Objectives and activities

The purpose of the Charity is:

To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances or for the public at large with the object of improving their conditions of life, motivated by Christian compassion.

Noise 365 Project

For over two decades, Bristol Noise has been 100s of volunteers of all generations to help run around different community events, such as family fun events and community BBQs, and practical community projects in neighbourhoods across the whole city, including those communities in deprived areas, every May bank holiday weekend.

Noise 365 is a project run by Bristol Noise, that takes our experience of facilitating practical projects, community events or longer term initiatives, and releases them into as many communities as possible, as often as we can. We are seeking funding towards the enhancement of this project, which would enable our resources and support to be available on a wider scale to new individuals, groups, or churches/organisations across Bristol that are looking to provide practical support to others, or host events that bring their communities together. We are also looking to develop the projects sustainability and consistency across the city throughout the year by equipping more individuals with the skills and support to run events and projects. Our key objectives for the Noise 365 project are to increase the number of projects and events happening throughout the year beyond one weekend. We anticipate seeing an increase in the number of volunteers or groups working more directly and collaboratively in shared communities, therefore impacting more communities in the city.

Research commissioned by Bristol Noise charity with a Noise 365 Research consultant during Summer - Autumn 2023, surveyed over 50 church leaders in Bristol; the headline results showed us -

Congregation Distance:

Resource Challenges:

Partnership Benefits:

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BRISTOL NOISE

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Training and Support Needs:

This all emphasises the effectiveness, and continuing need of the Noise in deploying volunteers to all areas of city, training individuals and connecting people who already live in some of these communities to work on the practical needs that exist. We believe this helps churches engage with every area of the city of Bristol, impacting the whole city through community engagement, practical help and relationship building.

The Noise 2024

Our final annual event was held on the weekend of 4-6th May, with over 750 volunteers participating, from 46 churches and groups across Bristol. Volunteer ages ranged from 4 years to 83 years - it really is for everyone! The numbers of volunteers increased from previous years and meant that this phase of the journey for Bristol Noise charity finished on a big high.

Across the weekend, churches hosted free community events and tackled practical projects across neighbourhoods in the north, east, centre and south of the city. We partnered with churches based in each neighbourhood, who took the lead on deciding what events to host, using knowledge of their own local community. Centrally, we produced ‘how to guides’ to equip local churches in their planning of events and helped resource events with marquees, gazebos, bbqs, and other equipment. Teams of volunteers hosted 17 different community events for neighbours to come and enjoy, including afternoon teas, pop-up cafés, community fun events, BBQs, and a family photos session!

Volunteers also tackled 49 different practical community projects in gardens, in public spaces, adventure playgrounds and community centres or schools. All these were referred by people working in local neighbourhoods, e.g. support workers, police, etc.. Each neighbourhood hosted a volunteer project coordinator, from a local church, who took responsibility for responding to project referrals and assessing the suitability of the project. This enabled relationships between the local church and referral partners to grow.

It's been wonderful to hear stories from the different volunteer teams and feedback from individuals who received support or connected with our community events over the weekend. We love hearing how the positive actions of volunteers participating in The Noise have a ripple effect to individuals, their families and the wider community.

“I wasn’t home all day but when I arrived home, I was stood in my garden in tears, I was so overwhelmed how amazing it looked and how hard you all worked. As a disabled single mum, I’ve not been able to do anything in the garden for years, so to see it look this good has changed mine and my kids life for the better. Honestly, I can’t thank you all enough, it has such

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BRISTOL NOISE

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

a massive positive impact on my mental health and knowing my kids can now use the garden on days my disability is too much is amazing. Thank you!”

"Thank you to the team of volunteers from Bristol Noise for spending their Bank Holiday Monday here at St Werburghs Community Centre painting and decorating. The team refreshed our skirting boards, which, any DYIer will tell you, it's not an easy or exciting task!" - from St Werburghs Community Centre

Behind the scenes, it is a very small team who do most of the preparation for The Noise 2024 with one volunteer event coordinator, part-time paid administrator and few other key volunteers who give many hours of their time. We carefully review our risk assessments for all activities to ensure we working to high standards to protect our volunteers and public safety. We are grateful for the ongoing relationships with Bristol Waste and other local community organisations that have helped with providing services to enable the smooth running of practical projects during The Noise 2024.

A Celebration evening was held in mid-May to look back over the last 24 years of The Noise weekend with a specially commissioned review video shown (and available on our youtube channel). Stories were told of important moments of the last few decades and also opportunity for vision to be shared as we look to the next season.

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

Achievements and performance

The initiatives that were run under ‘The Noise’ weekend and as part of Noise 365, aimed to benefit many different sectors of the community, particularly across urban estate areas of North, East and South Bristol. This year, a large proportion of our work continued to support individuals and families facing financial difficulties.

During the preparation time for ‘The Noise’ event, we continued to encourage and equip churches in how they connect with statutory and voluntary organisations who work in the local community. This work varied between communities depending on the relationships already held locally and support required.

Our community activities work towards community cohesion and social inclusion and have helped with crime reduction in the communities we work in on The Noise weekend. We continue to look for other ways to partner with the local council, police and other influential institutions.

Our community events during the Noise event have all been free of charge to attend and with the continuing ‘cost of living’ crisis, this was gratefully appreciated by families and individuals to find ways to connect with others in local neighbourhoods without costing them anything.

Bristol Noise charity continues to work closely with other organisations and networks across the city, especially Christian Action Bristol and so encouraging churches to work together with a common vision to be building Bristol as a city of hope.

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BRISTOL NOISE

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Financial review

The charity's income for the year ended 31[st] August 2024 was £38,356 (2023: £14,477) and consisted principally of grants and donations from charitable trusts and supporting churches.

Expenditure was £28,446 for the year (2023: £17,656).

This year, the charity received donations from various churches and other charities, and a significant one-off donation from the Wilkes trust. A significant portion of the expenditure in the period relates to fees for consultancy services following the last bank holiday weekend event, to support the long-term strategy of the charity and pursue charitable activities under the Noise 365 model.

Basis of Accounts

For the year ended 31[st] August 2024, we have continued to prepare accounts on a cash basis rather than on an accruals basis, available to any entity in the UK with turnover/income under a £150,000 limit.

Reserves

The Trustees’ long-term policy on free reserves was to maintain sufficient funds to meet the day-to-day costs of developing the long-term vision and strategy of the charity’s work and to seek to meet the costs of the annual Bristol Noise weekend from grants and donations raised in that financial year rather than from free reserves. Following the changes to the charities activities, the trustees are in the process of reviewing the reserves policy given that there will be no future Noise weekends. At this current stage however, we maintain the historic reserves policy; to have reserves sufficient for one year’s expenses (estimated to be £25,000). At the balance sheet date, the charity held reserves of £35,416, satisfying this condition.

Plans for future periods

Following our last annual event in May 2024, we have transitioned fully to our new project Noise 365. The medium to long term aims of the charity, as we change our operations to focus fully on Noise 365, over the next few years-

Resourcing The Noise 365 project will continue to offer expert knowledge and experience within the resourcing of practical projects and events through geographical hubs. We have seen this type of work attract hundreds of local residents, act as catalysts for long-term engagement work and galvanise positive community spirit and unity. Every event and project is free at the point of use and completely accessible to anyone wanting to get involved, or benefit from, so we will:

Networking. We help connect different individuals with opportunities to join activities happening in the city through our hubs, relevant to where they live and irrespective of where they may travel to for different activities or work.

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BRISTOL NOISE

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Training/ consultancy. We believe that sustainability will be found in the constructive training and empowering of individuals and organisations, so that these volunteers can effectively maintain the ethos of Noise 365 across Bristol and further afield, and in these hubs for the long term.

Reference and administrative details

Charity number: 1134099

Registered office: 286 Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0BA Website address: www.thenoise.org.uk

Bankers: Bank of Scotland, 2[nd] Floor, Pentland House, 8 Lochside Avenue, South Gyle, Edinburgh, EH12 9DJ

Directors and Trustees:

The Trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

S D North (Chairman) T J Dobson G M Sims M O A Deniran R Brown

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

On 5 November 2018, the Charity converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation having previously been incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 7 November 2009 and registered as a charity with the Charity Commission on 4 February 2010. The Charity is now governed by its Foundation Constitution dated 5 November 2018.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

New Trustees are recruited on the basis of the knowledge of the existing Trustees of suitable candidates. In selecting persons to be appointed, the Trustees shall take into account the benefits of appointing a person who is able by virtue of his or her professional qualifications or experience to make a contribution to the pursuit of the objects or the management of Bristol Noise. Selected candidates are appointed by a simple majority of the votes cast by the Trustees at a meeting.

6

BRISTOL NOISE

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

New Trustees receive an Induction pack appropriate to their level of existing knowledge of and involvement with Bristol Noise. As a minimum, new Trustees receive a copy of the Charity Commission publication CC3 – The Essential Trustee: what you need to know together with the charity’s governing document and latest annual report and accounts.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

S D North Chairman of Trustees

09/06/2025

7

Bristol Noise

YEAR TO 31 AUGUST 2024

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

UNT UNT UNT
RECEIPTS FROM:
Donations
Grant Income
Gifts & Donations
Gift Aid received
Church Donations
Individual gifts
Other Income
Charitable Activities
Banner Sales
Volunteer Signups
TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS FOR:
Charitable Activities
Bristol Noise Weekend
Long term development
Other costs relating to
community projects
TOTAL PAYMENTS
NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS)		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
(
27,730)
(
-)
(
208)
(
-)
(
-)
(
-)
(
4,990)
(
-)
(
-)
(
-)
(
800)
(
-)
(
-)
(
-)
(
4,628)
(
-)
(
38,356)
(
-)
(
7,416)
(
-)
(
15,249)
(
(3,670)
(
9,451)
(
-)		 Total
Funds
2024
£
(
27,730)
(
208)
(
-)
(
4,990)
(
-)
(
800)
(
-)
(
4,628)
(
38,356)
(
7,416)
(
11,579)
(
9,451)		 Total
Funds
2023
£
(
5,540)
(
1,795)
-
(
2,600)
-
(
150)
-
(
4,392)
(
14,477)
(
8,235)
(
8,993)
(
428)
(
32,116)
( (
(3,670)
(		 (
28,446)
( (
17,656)
(
6,240)
(
3,670)		 (
9,910)		 (
(3,179)

8

Bristol Noise

YEAR TO 31 AUGUST 2024 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

BILITIES BILITIES BILITIES BILITIES
2024
2024
£
£
Cash funds
BOS Current account
(
35,445)
Co-op Credit Card
(
(35)
Paypal Account
Affirmative Deposit Fund
iZettle Account
(
6)
Total Cash at Bank
(
35,416)
(
-)
Total Assets
(
35,416)
CASH RESERVES
Unrestricted funds
Brought forward
(
29,176)
Net receipts/(payments) for the period
(
6,240)
(
35,416)
Restricted funds
Brought forward
(
(3,670)
Net receipts/(payments) for the period
(
3,670)
(
-)
Total cash reserves
(
35,416)
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
S D North
Chairman of Trustees
09/06/2025		 2024
£
(
29,176)
(
6,240)
(
(3,670)
(
3,670)		 2024
£
(
35,445)
(
(35)
(
6)
(
35,416)
(
-)
(
35,416)
(
35,416)
(
-)
(
35,416)		 2023
£
(
28,685)
(
491)
(
-)
(
(3,670)		 2023
£
(
25,549)
(
(48)
(
(0)
(
6)
(
-)
(
25,506)
(
-)
(
25,506)
(
29,176)
(
(3,670)
(
25,506)

9