Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Charity number 1137904 A Company limited by guarantee number 05576974 Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2024 gmcas Greater Mersey51de Communlty Accountsncy Servlce Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2024 Contents Page Trustees, Annual Report 2to8 Independent Examiner's Report Slatement of financial activities 10 Balance sheet Statement of Cash flows 12 Notes to the accounts 13to18 Prepared by the Greater Merseyslda Community Accountancy Service Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Trustees. report Chaimian's Openlng Remarks: The TrusteeslDireclors are pleased to report on another yeafs activiiy for Chain Lane Community Centre. As an Incorporated Charity (a Registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guafanteè} our whole purpose is to provide and maintain a local facility as a venue for hire for individuals, groups, organisations and agencies where they can provide services, activities and opportunitiès for the community. Objects and Actlvlties: During 2023 2024 the Tru8teeslDireclors have continued to deliver th8ir agreed purpose as a registered charity in maintsining Chain Lane Community Centre as a local community asset and meeting its legal requirements as a Company Limited by Guarantee. We have worked lo achieve the aims, objeclives and actions. underpinned by OUT annual Action Plan. This has ènabled actions to be identified and prioritised, to monitor progress against them and by the end of the year. revlew their impact through outcomès and achievements. The aims and supporting objectives have been.. To ensure the financial viability and security of the Centre through good governance and manaqement To ensure the Centre is effectively managed and legally compliant To provide income through venue hire, grants and other sources To ensure the long-temi $ucce8s of the Centre and its Management To encourage and Support the use of the Centre by the community To 8Ctively market and promote the Centre To provlde, maintain and develop the Centre and its environs, providing a 8afe, s8cure and welcoming facility. To provide a safe, healthy, secure and welcoming facility Public Bonèflt: W8 have compli8d with our duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefil. In line with this (Charities Act 2011), we reviewed our priorities, aims and objectives and aGlions as we prepared our Action Plan and were happy that they continued to be appropriate, enabling us to stay focussed on our pufpose and ensure we delivered our Public Benefit requirement, As a Regi5lered Charity, we are pleased to note that our partnership arrangement for the management of the Centre with Roll Mod81, a Community Interest Company, plus use of the Centre by the Coalition for Disabled People. MENCAP St. Helens and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, which are Registered Charities, have all contributed to the Public Benefit requirements of all the organisations. With the variety of Users at our Centre covering a broad spectrum of the community, we can confidently say we have not deviated from our purpose and therefore the delivery of public benefit in line with that purpose. Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Trustees. report continued Structure, Govèrnance and Management: Our TrusteeslDirectors are appointed or re-appointed at the AGM, with any new in-year appointments or reslgnations noted al Committee meetings and registered at the Charity Commission and Companles House. They are then reported at the subsequent AGM. this year on 1, February 2024. At the AGM, the following appointments were made to the Management Board (the TrusteeslDirectors) with 7 TrusteeslDireclors in total.. Mr. Alex Munro, Chairperson, Mr. Norman Corke vic&chairperson. Mr. Michael Meredith, Treasurer and Mrs. Pamela Meredith. Secretary. The Management Committee is made up of the Management Board (TrusteeslDireclor) with additional members as appropriate. These are Mr. John Prescott, and Mrs. Catherine Prescott, Roll Model CIC a5 Centre Managers, responsible for the day-ID-day management of the Chain Lane. The Trustee51Directors would like to thank them for all their hard work in managing the Centre and developing new and exclting community aclivities at Chain Lane. All Tru5teeslDirectors and Commlttee Members give thelr time free5y and have received no remuneration from Chain Lane for their work. The amendment we made to our Mems and Arts to officially hold Boardlcommittee meetings face lo face, on line or a hybrid model has continued lo work really well, giving members flexibility as to how they attend. Our Confirmation Statement and Annual Report and Financial Statements for Companies House and Annual Retum for the Charity Commission were all submitted well within thelr required timescales. We were not required to submit our Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements to the Charity Commission as our annual Income for the year was slightly below the £25K threshold at £23K. Our arrangement with Roll Model CIC for the management of the cent￿ has continued to prosper and benefit both organisations. This is subject to a Service Level Agreement. All our Pollcies, Procedures and Risk Assessments were reviewed and updated in line with our schedule. New Policies this year were Social Media Policy, a more detailed Reserves Policy and a User Disciplinary and Grievance procedure. It is important that new policies are added as need arises or in line with good pracllce. We continue to have £10m Public Liability and Contents Insurance plus Employees (Volunteers) liability, Trustees Indemnity and Cyber Security through Edwards Insurance Brokers, the building being insured through St. Helens Council as owners. We are now into the 19 year of our 25-year lease with the Council with no issues relating to the Lease. All licences were renewed as required with current copies of official licences and certificates including PPUPRS, Information Commissloner$ Office Data Protection and TV licences, a list of policies and procedure5 and a Copy of the TrusteeslDirectors Annual Report and Financial Statements being displayed in the foyer. The Annual Report and Financial Statements and any1I51ed policies. procedures and Risk Assessments are all available on request. strong and transparent financial management has been key to ensuring we effectively kept the Centre rinancially viable but we now operate in a more challenging and expensive environment with increases in all utilities. The agreed very modest increase in Hire charges was implemented with no loss of Users due to this. Although all TrusteeslDirectors know they have the responsibility for the finances, the Treasurer and Secretary ensured that bi-monthly budget monitors. the latest bank stalements and the Banking App which enabled real time viewing of the Centre's financial position. were available at meelings to enable effective monitoring. We Currently have liquidity foi at least 12 month which is held in our Reserves. In line with Charity Commission guidance, the reserves are freely available lo support the work of the charity - Chain Lane - as determined by us, the TrusteeslDirectors. In 2023 - 2024 we did not have to use any of our reserves. We made a decision to have both Designated and Free Reserves. We opened a higher interest Savings A¢¢ount with Redwood Bank (a business bank) with the money in this account now being our Designaled Reserves for specific projects and the money in our linked Savings (now Cash Management Account) with our Virgin Money Current account being Free reserves. We were again pleased lo be awarded discretionary rate relief from Sl. Helens Council for 202412025 and are now one year into a 4-year contract for St. Helen5 Council Small Venue Hire. With Contracts and Services, we changed our gas supplier with a 3-year contract to Smartest Energy, eledri¢ily, a 1-year contract with British Gas Lite and a 3-year contract to maintain servi price with the Automati¢ Door Company. Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Trustees. report contlnued We have continued to strive to make best use of the re80urc8s and get value for money with pu￿ha$1ng and contracts. 11 is policy to contracl with local traders for cleaning and grass cutting and as required, electrical repairs. electrical testing, plumbing and joinery, supporting the lo¢al economy. We were pleas8d to make a joint donation to St. Helens Council's Christmas appeal on behalf of Chain Lane and Roll Model CIC. The Community Centre continues its membership of Halton & St. Helens VCA (the local infrastructure organisation for Ihe ihird Sector), Healthwatch St. Helens and St. Helens Centre Managers, NetrNork. W8 Were pleased to meet with the new St. Helens Council Community Asset Management Strategy Team and were able to give them lots of insight and information from our experiènce as we have managed and maintained the Centre, an asset which belongs to the Council, for over 19 years. Progress and Achievements: During 2023- 2024, we continued lo see good use of the Centre by the community by both hire by local individuals, groups and organisations and the dire¢t provision of activities by Roll Model CIC and Chain Lane. Provision covers sporuexercise s￿la1, leisure and educational aclivilies for a wide range of ages. Roll Model CIC provided party packages in th8 Hall and Arcade Gaming suite plus Yoga classes. Chair Yoga was a new and very popular development. To supplement our advanced Spanish class, a popular Beginners class was set up. Our regular hirers ar8 the backbone of the Centre and we thank them for their continued use of and support for Chain Lane which, as well as the above, Include Pilates. Aerobics, Move11 or Lose It, Taekwando, Karate. Paws for Success Dog Training, MENCAP St. Helens, Daisy Chain (ovèr 55s social group). Compuler Club, Soroptimists Internalional St. Helens, Coalition of Disabled People Buzz Hub, a Ladies Support Group for weight loss and maintenance, a Mixed Craft$ group and private dog training, We welcoffled new Users this year - St. Helens Memorial, Café Laziz (a project supporting Refugees and Asylum seekers with food cooked by members from around the world and with associaled ESOL support, Moo Music and Tots PE Academy for pre-sGhool children and a Crochel Club, the latter three bging shorter tem) hires. The Meeting Room was booked for one-off meelings by organisations and agencies, all contributing to the Cenlre's income e.g. Family Action, Nugent Care. Fibromyalgia group. In May th8 Centre was used as a Polling Stalion for the Liverpool City Region Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections and the General election in July 2024 Local Coun¢illors' surgeries for both Moss Bank and Blackbrook wards continued to be held on the first Thuisday of each month giving local people direct access to their Councillors. We had some great one-off events managed andlor run by Roll Model CIC: A 'Strawberries and Fizz. Afternoon Tea Party for seniors with funding from The Rainford Trust, A Craft Fair, Halloween party, Arcade Showcase with arcade machine art work designed by young people as part of a Heart of Glass project. St. Helen5, and two Clothes Swaps. With funding from TESCO. Roll Model ran summer activities for children. Thank you to St. Helens Rotary for funding with which we were able to run two school terms worth of evening sessions for children and young people in the Arcade Gaming Suitg- a popular evening activity. Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Trustees. report continued A groat sesslon at the Arcade Club A new group was set up in partnership with Chain Lane Friendship Bench Fundraising Group. This comprised some local dog walkers and two Trustees from Chain Lane. A need for another bench on the park area adjacent to the Centre had been identified. Fundraising activities for this bench with the lovely name 'Friendship Ben¢h' were held a 'Big Brew. Coffee moming, a table top sale and quiz night, all with great community support. In addition to a very generous donation from our local NISA supermaTket's charitable arm Make A Difference Loe211y, funding was secured and the bench and base ordered from St. Helens Council who own the land. In addition in Seplember the group held Macmillan Coffee Morning in support of that charity. The Centre is the fundholder for all monies raised. Catherine, Centre Manager, was su¢¢essful in getting a grant from the Skelton Charity to support Centr8 work with older people. Qh•lThL•n•CommunltyQ•nlr• ••d￿4•pl 24* IO•m- 12pm Dellcious Bakes for the Macmlllan Coffee Mornlng Along with Roll Model CIC we were pleased to send a donation to St. Helens Council Christmas Appeal to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the Borough. We were delighted to receive a generous community donation from the local St. Paul's Church to mark their 50 Anniversary. This was put towards new kitchen facilities. Halton & St. Helens VCA launched St. Helens Community Lottery which we joined and have received some funding from this source. We hope to encourage more people to join and to increase funding for Chain Lane and other local charitable causes. Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Trustees. report continued for local good causes Ensuring the building and ils environs are maintained in a safe, healthy, secure and welcoming state is one of our key priorities. It's a big 'thank you, to Roll Model who have the cleaning contract and to Paul McQuade from 'Love Your Garden, who maintains Ihe Centre grass areas. Our local Councillors with volunteers also held 'Litter Picks, on the Chain Lane Park area, helping to keep the local environs tidy. With Contracts in place for monitoringlrepair for alarms, automatic door, roller shutter, fire equipment and ensuring PAT testing and other requirements are covered and any repairs or action carried out, we have bèen confident that these key aspects of the public building are covered. A new FridgelFreezer was purchased for the kitchen, a new hand dryer and emergency lighting for the Gents toilet and new panic bars and vertical bolt fittings for the 3 emergency exits. We pride ourselves in ensuring Chain Lane is an inclusive Centre and this year, non-binary signage was added to Ihe disabled toilet door. There was a problem with sparrows getting into the Hall through hall roof gable ends. As we aim to do, we used a local roofing company to inspect and fill the access points with fire retardant foam to stop the problem, which was a health & Safety issue wilh bird droppings in Ihe Hall. We have a PPUPRS Music Licence to cover the playing of recorded and live music. a TV Li¢ence and the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) certification as we have internal CCTV. Catherin8, Centre Management, carried out a User Survey via Survey Monkey with feedback feeding into our annual Action Plan. We have continued to have our Webpage with the St. Helens Centre Managers Network website and a Significantly growing Facebook presence through both St. Helens Chain Lane Community Centre (there's another Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough) and Roll Model CIC. Laffak Neighbourhood Watch and Carf Mill, Haresfinch and Billinge local Facebook have continued to pick up and circulate posts. Nextdoor social media site is also used. Activities are promoted through social media (thanks to Catherine for maintaining and updating our Facebook page) and internal and external notice boards; contact with userslpotential users is face to face, social media or emailltext messaging. We value feedback via social media e.g. Google and Facebook. Ihis being reported at Committee Meetings and directly impacting on developments and aclions. Il's important that we finally thank all our Users for their continulng commitment to and support for the Centre and to John, Centre Manager and his wife Catherine for taking Chain Lane forward in new and exciting directions and with the TrusteeslDirectors, ensuring Chain Lane remains a viable and friendly community venue. Alex Munro Alex Munro Chairpèrson Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Financial Review The defi¢lt of the charity for the year amounted to (£3,053) (Surplus £288 - 2023) Reserves Pollcy Delails of th8 charitys reserves are Shown In note 7a and show a figu￿ of £31.207. This level of reservès is equivalent to 18 months of the ¢entre's running costs. Risk Management The trustees a¢lively review the major strategic. business and operational risks that the charity fa￿5 on regular basis and acknowledge that the key risks relate to reduction in room hire and any major building issues. Statement of Directors. responsibilities Company law requires the directors to prepare financlal accounts for each year which glve a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, Including the income and expenditure of the charity for thai perlod, In preparing those financial statem8nt8, the trustee8 are required to- 8elect Suitable accounting policies and apply them Consistently,. observe the melhods and prlncipl88 in the Charities SORP make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. prepare the financial statements on a going conc8rn basis unless it is inappropriate to pre8ume that the Charity will continue in business: The trustees ar8 responsible for keeping proper accounting records that dlsclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posltion of the charity and to enable them to ensur8 that the financial 8taternenls comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the agsèts of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable $18ps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the Board on 30th January 2025 and Signed on behalf of the directors by.. Alex Munro Chairperson Reference and Adminlstrative Details Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Charity number 1137904 A Company limited by guarantee number 05576974 The trustees,who are the directors of the company for the purpose5 Of company law, are pleased to present their report and financial statements together with the independent examinevs report for the year ended 30 September 2024. Name Mr Alex Munro Mr Mi¢ha81 Meredith Mrs Pamela Meredith Cllr Patricia Long Mr Norman Corke Steven Davies Peter Stevens Jane Mullarky Harry Arnold Method of appolntment Trustees are elected by the members at the AGM Reglstored addre88 Hlnckley Road Sl Helens Merseyside WA119HT Posltlon Chairperson Treasurer Secretary Dates v￿￿chairperSOn appointed 16 February 2024 appointed 12 September 2024 Bankers Virgin Money 6 8ridge Street St Helens M8rseyside WA10 1NF Govornlng docum6nt Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated on 28 September 2005 as amended by special resolution a8 registered at Companies House 23 August 2010. 8th February 2020 and 4th December 2020. Objects of tho organlsation To further or benefit the residents of the community of Ihe St Helens local authority area. without distinction of sex, sexual orientation. race or of political, rèligious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisats'ons in the common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in thè interests of social welfare for recreation leisure lime occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of lrfe for the residenls. Accountant on behalf of.. Greater Merseysidg Community Accouniancy Sorvice Beacon Building College Street St Helens WA10 1TF Independent Examinerfs report to the trustees of Chain Lane Community Centre Limited I reporl on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30th September 2024 Set out on pages 10 to 18 Respe¢tlve responslbllltles of the Trusteès and examiner The charity's trustees (who are also the dir8Ctors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is nèeded. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for Ind8pendent examination, it is my responsibility to: C] examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act,. Q lo follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)Ib) of the 2011 Act; and Q state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Ba81s of Indèpendont examln8rfs statement My examination was carried out in accordan¢e wilh the general Direclions given by the Charity CommSs8ioners. An examination includes a rèview of the accounling 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 explanation8 from you as 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 whelher the accounts pre8ent a 'true and fair view and the report 18 limited to those matters sel out in the ststement below. Independent examinorfs statement In connection with my examinats'on, no matter has come to my attention.. 1) whi¢h gives me reasonable cause lo believe Ihat in any material respect the requirements.. la lo keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006., and Ei to prepare accounts which accord with ihe accounting record$ and to comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of th8 Companies Act 2006 and with the melhods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met., or 21 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Jane William MAAT Greater Me Beacon Buil College Stre Sl Helens WA10 1TF ido Community Accountsncy Serv5ce 301h January 2025 Chain Lane Community Centre Limited statement of Flnancial Activities (Including Income & Expenditure Account) for the year ended 30 September 2024 Notes 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 Restricted funds 2024 Total funds 2023 Total funds Incomo from: Income from donatlons Income from charitable aclivities Other incoming resourGes Bank inl8rest Total Incoming re8our¢e8 141 Isi 16) 2,500 1,232 2.500 2,732 21,215 96 26,543 1.500 21,215 96 22.811 23,144 112 23.256 3.732 Resources expended Charitable activities (71 28,667 929 29,596 22,968 Net Incomlng I loutgolng) resources (5,858) 2,803 (3,053) 288 Transfer6 between funds Net mov8ment in funds {5,856) 2,803 (3,053) 288 Recon¢illatlon of funds Total funds as at 01 October 2023 Total funds as at 30 September 2024 37,063 31,207 37,063 34.010 36,775 37,063 1781 2.803 The above statement includes all gains and108es recognised during the year. All activities are regarded as continuing. Comparative figures for the previous year by fund type are shown in Note 12. The Notes on page5 13 to 18 fomi an integral part of these accounts. 10 Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Charity number 1137904 A Company Ilmited by guarantee number 05576974 Balance Sheet as at 30 September 2024 2024 Unrestricied 2024 Restricted 2024 Total 2023 Total Current As8018 Debtors and prepaymenls Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets {61 171 31.207 31,207 2,803 2,803 34,010 34,010 37,063 37,063 Current liabllltl88: amounts falling due wlthln one year Credilors (due wilhin one year) Total current Ilabllitios 181 Net Assets 31,207 2,803 34,010 37,063 Fund8 of the charity Restricted Funds Unr85tricted funds Total Funds 2,803 2.803 31,207 34,010 31,207 31,207 37,063 37,063 2,803 The Ifuslees Iwho are also the directors of Ihe company for the purposes of company lawl confimi that for the year ended 30 September 2024 the Gompany was enlillad lo exemplion from audit under saciton 477 of tho Companies Act 2008. and the members have nol required the company to obtain an audit ol its accounts for th8 ygar In question in a¢cordance wilh Section 476 of th8 Act the Iruslees 8cknowledge their re$ponsibllties lor cOMp￿.ng with the requiremen18 of Ihe Act with respect lo ac¢ounllng records and the preparation of accounts Thè notes on pages 1310 18 form an intsgral part of thgsg accounts. Thèse accounts. which have been prepared in accordanc8 with lh& provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to Small companies, wore approved by the Iruslees on 30th January 2025 and signed on Iheir behalf by.. Michael Meredith Treasurer 11 Chain Lane Community Centre Limited STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 September 2024 2024 Total 2023 Total Cash flows from operating actlvltles: Net incomel(expenditure) per SOFA Investment income (In¢rease)Idecrease in debtors Increasel(decrease) in creditors (3,053) (96) 288 {112) Isi (3,1491 176 Cash flows from Investlng actlvltles Investment income 16) 96 112 Not increaselldècrease) In cash: Total cash a¥ at 01 October 2023 Total cash as at 30 Sopiember 2024 {3.053) 37,063 34.010 288 36,775 37,063 The notes on paps 13 to 18 form an integral part of these accounts. 12 Chaln Lane Community Centre Limited Note5 to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024 1 Basls of preparation These accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical ¢ost convention, 1.1 with items recognised at cost or transactlon value. unless otheThvise Staled in the relevant note(s), in accordance with: (a) The Charities Act 2011 (b) The Companies Act 2006 929 16 Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024 7a Movemonts in funds Asat 3010912023 Incoming Resources Outgoing Resources Asat 3010912024 Transfers Unrestrlcted funds General funds 37.063 22.811 28,667 31,207 Restricted funds Skelton Charity & Friendship 3.732 3,732 929 929 2,803 2,803 Total funds 37.063 26,543 29,596 34,010 8 Governance Costs 2024 2023 Independent Examiners, fee Annual Return Fee 90 13 103 90 13 103 9 Dgbtors and PTepaymgnts Debtors Prepayment8 10 Cash at bank and in hand Current Account Hlgh Interest Account Business Reserve account 3.592 20,001 10.417 34,010 6.741 30,322 37,063 11 Credltors and accruals Creditors Accruals 17 Chain Lane Community Centre Limited Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024 12 Com aratlve Income and ox nditure b fund Unrestrict8d Funds 2024 2023 Restricted Fund5 2024 2023 Income from.. Income from donations Income from charitable activities other incoming resources Bank interest Totsl Incoming rosources 1,500 21,215 3,732 23,144 112 23.256 22.811 3,732 Exp8ndlture on: Charitable activities 28,667 22,968 929 Net Incoming l (outgolng) rnsources (5.856) 288 2,803 Transfors between funds Not movement In funds (5,856) 288 2,803 R•conclliation of funds Total funds as at 01 O¢tober 2023 Total fund8 a8 at 30 September 2024 37.063 31,207 38,775 37,063 {7a 2,803 18