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← Vision (Rossendale)

2023-12-31-accounts

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VISION (ROSSENDALE) TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 1 JANUARY - 31 DECEMBER 2023

Contents

Charity Information 2 >>
About VISION 3 >>
Introduction 4 >>

Youth work

Connect 5 >>
Reach Puppets 6 >>
Lite Nite 7 >>
Kids Club 8 >>
Schools 9 >>
Counselling 11 >>
Other Activities 12 >>

Behind the scenes

Finances 13 >>
Development 14 >>
Team 15 >>
Closing Statement 16 >>

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REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS Back to Contents >>

Charity name VISION (ROSSENDALE) Working name VISION Registration Registered in England and Wales no. 1138523 Registered office Woodlea Mission, 5a Tenterfield Street, Rossendale, BB4 7BA Trustees Jane Shadlock (chair) - appointed 31 March 2023 Ian Bury, Alan Davey, Nathan Shepherd, Stephen Shepherd The Trustees, who are also directors for the purpose of company law, are named above. Appointment of Trustees is governed by the company’s Articles of Association. The Board of Trustees meet on a regular basis to review the activities of the charity.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 15 July 2010 (amended 20 March 2020) Affiliation VISION has been a member of the Evangelical Alliance since 2017 Accountants Halliwell & Company Accountants and Tax Advisors LLP Irwell House, 223 Bacup Road, Rossendale, BB4 7PA Team In 2023 VISION’s charitable activities were delivered by the following team members: Full-time employees (permanent): 1 Self-employed sessional workers: 2 Active volunteers: 36 History The organisation became a registered charity in 2011 after running youth events in Rossendale for nine years. This report covers the 13th year of charitable activities undertaken by VISION (ROSSENDALE) taking into consideration a longer history of local youth work dating back to 2002.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Aims VISION is a Christian charity working with young people in Rossendale. We believe that the Christian faith offers hope, freedom and wholeness for every person, and as such we aim to:

Public benefit VISION meets the Charity Commission’s public benefit requirement under the categories of general charitable purposes, the advancement of education and training through structured programmes, and the advancement of religious understanding and engagement.

Charitable objectives

To advance the Christian religion amongst young people mainly but not exclusively of secondary school age, first and foremost in Rossendale (Lancashire) by all means including such religious and other charitable activities as the trustees may decide, in accordance with the statement of faith.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees by Mrs. NJ Shadlock (Chair)

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 2/16

2023 ANNUAL REPORT Back to Contents >>

ABOUT VISION

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Our building

VISION is based at Woodlea Mission - often simply called ‘Woodlea’ (pictured on left).

Woodlea Mission was built in 1894 near the spot where theologian and evangelist John Wesley famously preached to a ‘large congregation of wild men’ on 7 March 1747. The building was home to the United Gospel Mission , a Christian movement consisting mainly of working people. It was extended in 1930 with new Sunday School rooms on two levels, and served as an independent church for 116 years. Woodlea was always maintained by its own members and volunteers, with no paid officials.

In 2010, the church held its last service and the trustees unanimously voted to donate the building to VISION to be used to reach young people with a Christian message of hope. Thanks to the generosity of our financial supporters and the hard work of many volunteers, the building has slowly been transformed into a fantastic venue for children and teenagers.

Our main entrance on Tenterfield Street leads straight into our main hall, a versatile open space which can be easily set up for different activities with tables or up to 100 seats. The hall has a small stage equipped with a lighting rig, screens and a sound system. Next to the hall is our ‘lounge’, a smaller room with sofas, extra seating, a sound system with a TV screen, and two large mirrors for rehearsals. There are three staircases: one leads up to the mezzanine floor (built in 2015) where there’s a large office space with staff kitchen and counselling room; the other staircases lead down to our main kitchen which has its own seating area for up to 40 people, making it perfect for meals, group work, training and other smaller activities. From the kitchen, a doorway leads outside to our garden (completed in 2021) which has a gate for access to the public car park on Millar Barn Lane.

Our team

In 2023 VISION had one full-time employee, Nathan Shepherd (pictured on right). Nathan leads the charity and currently manages all day-to-day activities; he co-ordinates events and volunteers, engages with our supporters, and works with young people at Woodlea and in schools. One of our long-term goals is to raise enough funding to recruit additional staff who can share the workload and expand our capacity to reach more young people.

Our youth counsellor is Amy Moriarty. Amy is a self-employed professional psychotherapist who is paid by VISION on a sessional basis to work with young people in crisis. You can read more about her work on page 11.

For a number of our school visits, Nathan and Amy were joined once again by award-winning actor and writer Matt Britton. Matt has 25+ years of experience working in schools with The Message Trust , In Yer Face Christian Theatre Company and Press Red and is paid by VISION on a sessional basis.

There are no other paid staff – the rest of our team are all volunteers! Some are retired and able to give many hours each week, but most of our team have full-time jobs and generously give up a few hours at evenings and weekends to help at events. Most activities held at Woodlea simply wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers who bring so much enthusiasm, experience, and care for the young people. Their names are listed on page 15.

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 3/16

2023 ANNUAL REPORT Back to Contents >> INTRODUCTION

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A few words from Nathan…

Here in little Rossendale – just like in every town and city in almost every corner of the world – we’re still coming to terms with those two years of lockdowns, restrictions and fear for the future.

The full impact is yet to be seen, but we’ve already witnessed some of the ways that young people’s wellbeing, mental health and development have been affected. And yet, the healing that is so desperately needed has not materialised; in fact, the world that has emerged from the pandemic seems even more chaotic, angry and uncertain than before. With relentless bad news bombarding young people 24 hours a day through their smartphones - distorted by the algorithms of social media, and filtered by artificial intelligence - it’s no wonder so many feel like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Young people need hope, purpose and faith, perhaps now more than ever. In this report, you’ll read how…

+ Our small team ran 665 sessions including weekly groups, large events, lessons in schools, and 1:1 counselling sessions.

+ We worked with 1,398 children and teenagers at Woodlea Mission and in 7 primary and secondary schools.

+ 18 young volunteers aged 4-17 were actively involved in running our events.

It’s not been easy; we’re just ordinary people, and most of the team are volunteers. Nevertheless, we try our best to trust in Jesus and follow His lead. After all, we believe that only He can heal broken hearts and set young people free.

Nathan Shepherd Founder and Director

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 4/16

2023 YOUTH WORK Back to Contents >> CONNECT (11-18s)

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Connecting young people

We want to help young people stay connected to one another and to Jesus. One of the key ways we do this is through Connect , a youth event held on Friday evenings during term time. Connect brings together young people aged 11-18 for fun activities, inspiring messages from the Bible, open discussions about life and faith, and the chance to ask meaningful questions. These regular activities help to reduce social isolation by building valuable social skills and creating lasting friendships. Connect is open to every young person, regardless of their beliefs, and for many, it’s the highlight of their week.

January - July

In September 2022 we’d begun hosting weekly "Movie Nights" at Connect to watch Season 1 of The Chosen , a recent TV series that vividly brings the stories of Jesus to life. Like millions worldwide, the young people at Connect were drawn in by the show's authenticity, especially the way it portrays Jesus' followers – revealing doubts and flaws as well as their passion and faith. The series also helped young people understand Jesus' divine nature (seen through miracles and powerful words), while highlighting his humanity (with raw emotions, humour, and everyday interactions). Inspired by the positive impact of this show, we continued to watch The Chosen from January to July and completed all available episodes by the end of the summer term.

September - December

At the beginning of the new school year, Connect returned to its original format (with games, activities, short talks, and group discussions). Between September and December, 26 new young people joined, most of whom were aged 11-12. Many had never attended church before, so we focused on what the Bible reveals about God and how this is significant for us - for instance, "God is LOVE; I am LOVED" and "God is LISTENING; I am HEARD."

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 5/16

2023 YOUTH WORK Back to Contents >> REACH PUPPETS (10-18s)

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About Reach Puppets

Reach is a popular puppetry group for young people aged 10-18. Founded in 1999, Reach became part of VISION in 2018 and continues to inspire and engage young people through creative expression. The group meets at Woodlea every Tuesday evening during the school term to prepare performances and videos for children’s events and local churches. Alongside rehearsals, each week includes a “recharge break” for refreshments, a Bible-based message, and an opportunity for puppeteers to pray for each other in small groups. Reach consistently helps young people build confidence, form friendships, learn new skills, work as a team, and experience the excitement of performing for a live audience.

January - July

During the spring and summer terms, the puppeteers dedicated months to building arm strength and perfecting detailed choreography for new performances. In July, the group showcased seven songs for friends and family at the Reach "Summer Showcase" where puppeteers were each awarded a Certificate of Achievement to celebrate their progress.

September - December

The time and effort invested earlier in the year paid off during a packed autumn term filled with major performances. First up was the highly anticipated re-launch of VISION Kids Club (see page 8) - our puppeteers performed at all three events in October, November, and December. Reach also prepared two new tracks for Lite Nite (see page 7), made a guest appearance at our Connect Christmas Special, and visited Kay Street Baptist Church for their Christmas holiday club!

Highlights

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Summer Showcase

This photo shows our 15 young puppeteers (alongside our volunteers from the Reach team) proudly displaying their Certificates of Achievement which were awarded at the end of the summer term as friends and family gathered to watch our annual "Summer Showcase."

Lite Nite

Our puppeteers always play a significant role in Lite Nite (page 7). Reach opened and closed the event this year, beginning with an energetic puppet routine and concluding with another new "glow-in-the-dark" song which, as always, was performed in complete darkness with dazzling props illuminated by UV lights!

Christmas Party

The Reach Christmas Party is a tradition that began in the early 2000s. With food, Secret Santa and plenty of games, the party is the perfect way to wrap up a busy year and express gratitude to all the puppeteers and the small team of volunteers who have worked tirelessly on performances and rehearsals.

All recent videos are available to view at visionkids.org.uk/videos

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 6/16

2023 YOUTH WORK Back to Contents >> LITE NITE (4-11s)

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Lite Nite 2023

Lite Nite is our biggest and brightest event of the year; an action-packed Christian alternative to Halloween for children and families. Lite Nite started in 1991 and merged with VISION in 2014 when we launched VISION KIDS. Like all large-scale events, plans had been disrupted by the pandemic; in 2020, the event was pre-recorded and streamed online for hundreds of families, while in 2021, we were unable to hold the event at all. However, Lite Nite had successfully returned in 2022, when we’d noted an increase in attendance after introducing online booking (allowing parents to reserve free seats), moving the start time (from 7pm to 6pm) and changing the date (from 31 October – often a school night - to the last Saturday of half term). We maintained these changes for 2023 and reached full capacity for the first time since moving to Woodlea!

Highlights

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Features

This year’s theme was ‘Light the Way’ and our memory verse was John 14:6: ‘Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.”’

As usual, the event included songs with our live band, a thrilling game of “Take Your Pick” with prizes (and surprises), a quiz, a story, prayer, and performances by Reach Puppets .

Young people

As always, the team included many young helpers, with 17 individuals aged 10-17 involved in hosting, production, stage management, and puppeteering. But it was our youngest helper, 4-year-old Frankie (pictured) who stole the show, reading the story in a pre-recorded video with animations drawn by Adam (one of our volunteers).

Party Bags

At the end of Lite Nite , every child received a complimentary party bag. This year’s bag included a specially designed memory verse postcard along with some fantastic VISION KIDS stickers that had QR codes linking to our kids' videos. Additionally, there were "Jesus Loves You" stickers, sweet treats, and an invitation to VISION Kids Club !

2023 YOUTH WORK Back to Contents >> VISION KIDS CLUB (4-11s)

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Kids Club is re-launched

October 2023 saw the long-awaited return of VISION Kids Club, a fun event where 4-11-year olds can learn more about Jesus. We originally started Kids Club in 2016 and the event ran every few months for four year (until the first ‘lockdown’ in 2020). Due to the many challenges of re-starting events following the pandemic, it has taken longer than expected to start Kids Club up again, but we were finally ready to re-launch in October 2023 with a fresh new format for a new generation of children and families.

What happens at Kids Club?

Kids Club is designed to be a safe space where children can make friends, have fun, and be inspired. Kids Club ran on the first Saturday morning of October, November and December, with games, challenges, songs, a Bible story, a memory verse, and refreshments. Parents and carers were encouraged to stay and join in (or enjoy a hot drink in our kitchen) or leave their children with our team during the events, which ran from 10:00-11:30am.

Our first 3 events

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October

Our first Kids Club was held on 7 October, and the theme was ‘God’s Love’. Our memory verse from John 3:16: God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him can have eternal life.

November

Our second Kids Club was held just a week after Lite Nite on 4 November, and our theme was “God’s Joy”. We told the story of the Lost Sheep, and the memory verse was John 10:11: ‘Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.”’

December

Our Christmas special was held on 2 December, and our theme was “God’s Peace”. We told the Christmas story and learnt a verse from Luke 2:10: The angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy!”

2023 YOUTH WORK Back to Contents >> SCHOOLS

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A milestone for Emotional Wellbeing

VISION has worked in schools since 2005, offering a variety of faith-based creative arts and R.E. sessions. However, in recent years, our most requested topic has been "Emotional Wellbeing." By the end of the 2022/23 school year, our sessions on this theme had helped more than 5,000 pupils in 12 primary and secondary schools, from year 3 (ages 7-8) to year 13 (ages 17-18).

These sessions have been developed to help young people (1) identify situations that cause anxiety, (2) understand how the body responds to stress, and (3) learn techniques to support their mental health. In Christian schools, we can also explore relevant Bible verses and invite children to reflect as our team read a prayer.

This year we’ve run sessions with 1,184 pupils at the schools shown below. Most sessions were subsidised or provided free of charge, thanks to a grant of £1,000 from the Youth Champion’s Fund provided by Lancashire County Council (see page 13).

All of the above sessions took place in school, but we have two schools right on our doorstep - and, like last year, we welcomed children from Waterfoot Primary School to Woodlea in June for a full day dedicated to beating stress and anxiety.

Finally, we’re always invited to St Christopher’s CE Academy for their Spirituality Week in July. This year, we ran sessions for years 7-9 focusing on the Bible story of Joseph, which explores important themes of bullying, pressure and potential. Nathan was also asked to speak and run a Question and Answer session for students at the school's Youth Church.

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VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 9/16

What do children worry about?

In each Emotional Wellbeing session, we give everyone a few minutes to write a list of things that make people their age feel anxious. Some students are happy to read their list out loud to the class, while others understandably prefer to remain anonymous. Either way, all the lists are collected into a large rucksack (to illustrate how we 'carry' our worries around with us) and used throughout the session to help us keep the session focused.

Back in the VISION office, we empty the rucksack and look through the lists. On average, each list has between 5-10 words or sentences (so for a year group of 150, we could have up to 1,500 responses). The vast majority of students take this seriously and are very honest, helping us build an accurate, up-to-date picture of what young people are worrying about.

Real responses from schools

At ages 7-9 children seem to worry most about getting lost, big crowds, strangers, the dark, or someone hurting them. This is closely followed by tests, new experiences, performing in front of others, and bullying.

At ages 10-11 these worries seem to intensify, with lots of children adding 'getting kidnapped', 'being chased' and 'dying' to their lists. Tests, new experiences and bullying are still common fears, but older children are also concerned about friendships and pressure to fit in, often writing 'fear of failure', 'worrying about what people think', and 'not having friends'. They also worry about the future and seem more aware of global issues, with 'world news', 'climate change', 'terrorism' and 'wars' appearing frequently.

At ages 12-14 exams and schoolwork are the most common answers, revealing significant pressure to 'get good grades' and a fear of 'messing up'. Anxiety about identity, friendships and big decisions is common, with many teenagers writing about their 'insecurities' or 'inadequacies'. Bullying is a prevalent theme, especially on social media where 'being threatened', 'being singled out' and 'being laughed at' appear to be part of everyday life. Sadly, for this age group, we often see 'feeling lonely', 'having no-one to turn to' and 'feeling worthless'. We know our sessions make a difference, and we will continue to work with schools to help young people work towards living a life free from fear.

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 10/16

2023 YOUTH WORK Back to Contents >> COUNSELLING

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Our Youth Counselling Service

Emotional wellbeing sessions in schools can be highly effective, particularly for young people who feel anxious about everyday situations but otherwise have a strong support network in place (friends, family, youth activities) and have not been affected by any serious trauma. However, some young people require much more support, which is why we offer a Youth Counselling Service.

Our Youth Counselling Service was established during the pandemic and is led by Amy Moriarty, a professional psychotherapist and co-founder of VISION. In 2023, we focused all our efforts at The Valley Leadership Academy, one of our nearest secondary schools. Amy worked in school three days each week, conducting a total of 559 counselling sessions with 112 teenagers (more than double the sessions compared to 2022).

Young people are only referred to VISION for school-based counselling when classified as "high risk," meaning they are actively self-harming or struggling with suicidal thoughts, with some even having made attempts to end their lives. Each of these young people has a complex background, often involving experiences of abuse, neglect, or family issues such as domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, or criminal activity at home.

Regular sessions with a professional who genuinely listens and cares can be life-changing for a young person in crisis. Being able to express thoughts openly in a safe environment brings immense relief and often allows them to see their situation from a new perspective. Over time, counselling strengthens communication and interpersonal skills, builds confidence, and boosts selfesteem. With each session, young people gain resilience and can implement practical steps to manage anxiety, improve sleep, and find renewed motivation and hope. The impact of this service is reflected in the school feedback shared below.

The full cost of counselling is usually covered by the school; however, as in previous years, we were able to provide a number of free or discounted sessions thanks to a grant from St James’ Place Charitable Foundation (received in 2022).

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Youth Emergency Fund

Alongside our counselling service, VISION also has a small Youth Emergency Fund. This allows Amy to offer same-day essential care packages for basic needs such as toiletries or food.

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 11/16

2023 YOUTH WORK Back to Contents >>

OTHER ACTIVITIES

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Work Experience

At the end of the summer term, we were privileged to have four work experience students join us. Jake and Rose (18) and Abi and Melody (16), have all been attending VISION activities for many years. Each young person volunteered for up to six days after completing their GCSEs or A-Levels, making an invaluable contribution to our end-of-term activities.

Work experience offers a valuable opportunity for young people to develop a range of skills in real-world settings. Through a blend of learning, rehearsing, and delivering content - with guidance and support from our team - they grow in confidence, learn to overcome challenges, gain a clearer understanding of their unique abilities, and build aspirations for the future.

Events for all ages

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Mark’s Gospel

In June, Matt Britton returned to VISION with a memorable live performance of Mark’s Gospel as part of his nationwide tour. Recited word-

for-word from the NIV Bible, his portrayal offered a moving experience for a "sell-out" audience of all ages at Woodlea Mission. Tickets were £5 for adults and £3 for young people.

Worship Nights

In April, we invited our volunteers to a simple Worship Night; an hour of songs led by our band, interspersed with short videos and Bible verses. In October, we ran the event again, this time extending the invitation to include all friends and supporters of VISION. The events were free of charge and included refreshments.

Women’s Breakfasts

A small group of women meet every Tuesday afternoon to pray for VISION, and in 2023 this group organised three breakfasts for girls and women who support, volunteer and pray for the charity. The breakfasts included a time of encouragement and inspiration from the Bible and were free to attend.

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 12/16

2023 BEHIND THE SCENES Back to Contents >>

FINANCES

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VISION received…

£37,041 from our amazing supporters; that’s £31,904 from monthly donations (standing orders and Direct Debits) and £5,138 in one-off donations.

↑ £343 more than last year

£20,770 from schools for counselling services, Emotional Wellbeing sessions and R.E. sessions. ↑ £15,169 more than last year

£6,624 in Gift Aid from last year’s donations.

VISION spent…

£51,154 on staff costs. This primarily covers salaries and hiring sessional workers, but also includes training, DBS checks and out-of-pocket expenses such as travel costs. ↑ £3,661 more than last year

£5,452 on Woodlea Mission. This includes all development and refurbishment, plus day-to-day running costs (utility bills, cleaning, stock and supplies) along with licenses and subscriptions. **↓ £29,297 less than last year ***

↓ £208 less than last year

£1,300 in grants; £1,000 from Lancashire County Council for Emotional Wellbeing in schools, and £300 from the ASDA foundation (green token scheme). **↓ £30,988 less than last year ***

£1,220 of corporate donations; £700 from local businesses in response to our ‘Cover the Cost’ campaign, and £520 from churches.

£5,204 on insurance and other professional services including accountants’ fees and membership costs for ThirtyOne: Eight (safeguarding), Stewardship (legal and employment advice), and the Evangelical Alliance.

↑ £1,751 more than last year

£3,836 on resources, materials and equipment for charitable activities.

**↓ £10,683 less than last year ***

↓ £590 less than last year

£610 of other income from Amazon Smile, entry fees, cashback and interest.

↑ £328 more than last year

* L ast year we received £27,173 from the Government’s Youth Investment Fund to expand and improve our venue. This explains the significant drop in income from grants, and much lower spending on development/resources compared to this year.

Financial position of the charity

More detailed information on the financial position of VISION is set out in the attached accounts.

Trustees’ Policy on reserves

The policy on reserves is to hold sufficient resources to continue our charitable activities should income and fundraising fall short of the amounts needed to meet the costs of those activities in the short term. Projects requiring significant amounts of funding are only entered into when the income required to meet the associated expenditure is secured.

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 13/16

2023 BEHIND THE SCENES Back to Contents >> DEVELOPMENT

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Improvements to Woodlea Mission

As we reported last year, VISION successfully applied for £27,173 from the UK Government’s Youth Investment Fund in 2022 which was set up to “create, expand and improve local youth facilities and their services in order to drive positive outcomes for young people.” This enabled us to carry out substantial work on our building including impressive new signage and lighting, the installation of solar panels, refurbishment of walls and ceilings, computers for our office and new sofas for young people.

This left us with very few developments needed in 2023. In fact, the only noticeable change was the installation of two ‘neonstyle’ LED signs. Some parts of this report may have made difficult reading, particularly in relation to our work in schools and counselling service. It can be easy to lose heart when we think about young people harming themselves, contemplating suicide, or feeling 'lonely', 'bullied' or 'worthless'. But the words on our signs were chosen by young people, and sum up why VISION exists: We want young people to know they are unique and precious, that their life matters, and that they have a purpose. As a Christian charity, we are inspired by Isaiah 61:1-3, a Bible passage that Jesus defined as his own mission statement: to bring good news; to heal broken hearts; to set captives free.

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Safeguarding

We recognise that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. Our aim is that all children have a positive and enjoyable experience in a safe and child-centred environment, and are protected from any form of harm.

At the start of 2023, we already had in place:

In 2023, we made the following improvements and developments:

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 14/16

2023 BEHIND THE SCENES Back to Contents >>

TEAM

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Volunteers

VISION runs on the passion and dedication of ordinary people who believe that our small charity is making a big difference.

Alongside Nathan (full-time employee), Amy (sessional counsellor, 3 days/week) and Matt (sessional schools’ worker) the charity is powered by a team of 36 volunteers - most of whom have been with VISION for 15+ years - who give their time freely to support young people in Rossendale. In 2023, their contribution added up to an incredible 3,880 voluntary hours! We would like to say a huge “thank you” to…

Last but not least, we would like to recognise all the young people who have volunteered on stage at events (as hosts, musicians, singers and puppeteers) and behind the scenes (as lighting/visual/sound engineers, stage managers and on the setup team). You play an integral part in VISION, and we couldn’t run our events without you!

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 15/16

2023 CLOSING STATEMENT Back to Contents >>

PLANS FOR 2024

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Charitable activities

As always, in 2024 we aim to:

Woodlea Mission

We have so many incredible rooms at Woodlea that are fully refurbished, have excellent facilities, and are in use regularly. There are just a few areas (like our storeroom and the cellar) which need to be de-cluttered and re-organised to maximise our space, with any equipment we no longer use being sold, donated or recycled.

Team

We will continue to offer in-house annual training to all of our volunteers, which includes basics on Fire Safety, Injuries and Illness, Security, and Safeguarding. We hope to increase the pool of volunteers to take some of the pressure off the existing team and to increase the number of activities we are able to run each week.

Systems, processes and policies

We will continue to develop our background systems and processes to cut admin time and increase efficiency. We will also keep developing our policies and protocols to make sure VISION is the safest possible place for young people.

Support

82 individuals or families donated to VISION in 2023; we sent out newsletters in summer and winter to thank them for their generosity and provide an update on the work of the charity. We also continued the tradition of designing our own Christmas Cards with Bible verses to send to all supporters in December. We will continue to look for new supporters to give monthly and hope to build on links with local businesses through ‘Cover the Cost’. Our ultimate goal is to increase income so we can employ permanent youth workers to work alongside our existing team as we seek to offer hope and support to many more young people.

VISION (Rossendale) Trustees Annual Report 2023 Page 16/16

VISION (ROSSENDALE)

DIRECTORS REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31ST DECEMBER 2023

HALLIWELL & COMPANY ACCOUNTANTS & TAX ADVISORS LLP

IRWELL HOUSE 223 BACUP ROAD RAWTENSTALL LANCASHIRE BB4 7PA

VISION (ROSSENDALE)

Company Information

Directors

Ian Bury Alan Davey Jane Shadlock (Appointed 31.03.23) Nathan Shepherd Stephen Shepherd

Registered address

Woodlea Mission, Tenterfield Street, Rossendale, BB4 7BA

Bankers

Lloyds plc, Burnley, Lancashire.

Company Number

7315280

Charity Registered Number

1138523

Accountants

Halliwell & Company Accountants & Tax Advisors LLP Irwell House, 223 Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, Lancashire, BB4 7PA.

VISION (ROSSENDALE)

Contents

Page
1 Report of the directors
2 Independent Examiners Report
3 Statement of Financial Activities
4 Balance sheet
5-7 Notes to the accounts

VISION (ROSSENDALE)

Report of the directors for the year ended 31st December 2023

The directors present their annual report together with the unaudited accounts of the company for the year ended 31st December 2023.

Principle Activities

The Charity was incorporated as a private company, limited by guarantee, on 15th July 2010.

On 12th August 2010 the trustees of Woodlea Mission donated their premises at Tenterfield Street, Rossendale to Vision Rossendale For £nil consideration.

On 1st January 2011 the "Vision" activities previously undertaken through St Mary's Church, Rawtenstall, and the assets related to them, were transferred to Vision (Rossendale) for £nil consideration. Also on that date the activities and assets of Engage Café operating on the Balladen Estate were transferred to the charity for £nil consideration. Since that date the company has continued activities to advance the Christian religion amongst young people in Rossendale.

Directors

The directors who held office through the year are as follows:

Ian Bury Alan Davey Jane Shadlock (Appointed 31.03.23) Nathan Shepherd Stephen Shepherd

This report was approved by the Board on the 26th September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

S Shepherd - Director 26th September 2024

1

VISION (ROSSENDALE)

Independent Examiners Report

I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31st December 2023 which are set out in the following pages.

The directors are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The directors consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent report

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 directors 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 Examiners Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any materials respect, the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act; and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have not been met; or

  4. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts reached.

Halliwell & Company Accountants & Tax Advisors LLP Irwell House 223 Bacup Road Rawtenstall Lancashire BB4 7PA

26th September 2024

2

VISION (ROSSENDALE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 31st December 2023

Notes
Incoming Resources
Voluntary Income
(2)
Activities for generating funds
Grants
Incoming resources from charitable
activities
Other incoming resources
Total Incoming Resources
Resources Expended
Cost of generating voluntary income
Fundraising trading costs
Staff Costs
Charitable activities
(3)
Governance Costs
Other resources expended
Total Resources Expended
Net Incoming/Outgoing Resources
Before Transfers
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds
Net Incoming resources before
other recognised gains/losses
Other recognised gains/losses
Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed
assets for the charities own use
Gains and losses on investment assets
Net Movement in Funds
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward from
previous year
Total funds carried forward		 Restricted
Unrestricted
Income
Endowment
Total this
Total Prior
Funds
Funds
Funds
year
year
£
£
£
£
£
44,677
0
0
44,677
45,392
42
0
0
42
19
0
1,300
0
1,300
32,288
0
0
0
0
0
21,338
0
0
21,338
5,754
66,057
1,300
0
67,357
83,453
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
50,737
0
0
50,737
47,116
15,108
0
0
15,108
46,791
0
0
0
0
0
5,758
0
0
5,758
6,307
71,603
0
0
71,603
100,214
(5,545)
1,300
0
(4,245)
(16,761)
0
0
0
0
(5,545)
1,300
0
(4,245)
(16,761)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
(5,545)
1,300
0
(4,245)
(16,761)
260,556
0
0
260,556
277,317
255,011
1,300
0
256,311
260,556

The notes form part of these Financial Statements

3

VISION (ROSSENDALE) BALANCE SHEET as at 31st December 2023

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
(5)
Investments
Total fixed assets
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock and work in progress
Debtors
(6)
(Short term) investments
Bank
Total current assets
CREDITORS-Amounts falling
due within one year
(7)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
Total assets less current liabilities
CREDITORS-Amounts falling
due after one year
(8)
Provisions for liabilities and charges
NET ASSETS
Funds of the charity
General fund
Designated Funds
Restricted income funds
Endowment funds
Total funds		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Endowment
Total
Total Prior
Funds
Funds
Funds
year
£
£
£
£
£
231,293
0
0
231,293
237,051
0
0
0
0
0
231,293
0
0
231,293
237,051
0
0
0
0
0
7,112
0
0
7,112
6,416
0
0
0
0
0
12,830
5,846
0
18,676
17,860
19,942
5,846
0
25,788
24,276
770
0
0
770
771
19,172
5,846
0
25,018
23,505
250,465
5,846
0
256,311
260,556
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
250,465
5,846
0
256,311
260,556
255,011
1,300
0
256,311
260,556
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
255,011
1,300
0
256,311
260,556

For the year ended 31st December 2023 the company was entitled to exemptions under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

No notice from members requiring an audit has been deposited under section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

The accounts were approved by the board on 26th September 2024 and signed on its behalf.

S Shepherd - Director

4

VISION (ROSSENDALE)

Notes forming part of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of preparation

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost (except that investments are shown on market value) in accordance with:

Accounting and reporting by Charities - Statements of Recommended Practise (SORP 2005); Financial Reporting Standards for smaller Enterprises (FRSSE); and with the Charities act 1993.

Recognition of incoming resources

These are included in the statements of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:

Incoming resources and related expenditure

Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA.

Grants and donations

Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.

Tax reclaims on donations and gifts

Incoming resources from tax are included in the SoFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate.

Tangible fixed assets for the use by charity

These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500. They are valued at cost or a reasonable value on receipt.

Depreciation is provided at the following rates in order to wrote off each asset over its estimated

useful life; Freehold Building 2% on cost or revalued amount Equipment 25% on cost

Goodwill

In accordance with the ASB's Statement of Principles for Financial Reporting Interpretation for Public Benefit Entities where the acquisition of entities is for nil or nominal consideration, the ecess for fair value of the assets acquired over the fair value of the liabilities assumed is treated as a gain and recognised as income.

5

VISION (ROSSENDALE)

Notes forming part of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023

2. Incoming Resources

Resources
Voluntary Income
Gifts and Donations
Regular Donations
Church Giving
Grants
Gift Aid Claims
Fundraising Income
Other Income		 Restricted
Unrestricted
Income
Endowment
Total this
Total Prior
Funds
Funds
Funds
year
year
£
£
£
£
£
5,838
0
0
5,838
6,948
31,904
0
0
31,904
31,150
520
0
0
520
560
0
1,300
0
1,300
32,288
6,416
0
0
6,416
6,734
42
0
0
42
19
21,338
0
0
21,338
5,754
66,057
1,300
0
67,357
83,453

3. Resources Expended

Charitable Activities
Woodlea Running Costs
Woodlea Development
Other Premises Costs
Computer, software and office equipment
Materials, printing and related costs
Travel and subsistence
other		 Restricted
Unrestricted
Expenses
Endowment
Total this
Total Prior
Funds
Funds
Funds
year
year
£
£
£
£
£
4,182
0
0
4,182
6,713
2,186
0
0
2,186
24,178
444
0
0
444
3,908
555
0
555
6,862
1,984
0
0
1,984
1,480
418
0
0
418
377
5,339
0
0
5,339
3,273
15,108
0
0
15,108
46,791
4. Staff Costs 2023 2022
4a. Wages and salaries £ £
Wages and Salaries 50,737 47,116

4b. Payments to trustees

Travel expenses paid to trustees in respect of the normal activities of the charity amounted to Nil.

6

VISION (ROSSENDALE)

Notes forming part of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023

5. Tangible Assets

Costs:
At 1st January 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31st December 2023
Depreciation:
At 1st January 2023
Charge for the year
On disposals
At 31st December 2023
Net Book Values:
At 31st December 2023
At 31st December 2022		 Property
Land
Cost
Cost
Equipment
Total
£
£
£
263,390
12,580
32,981
308,951
0
0
0
0
0
0
263,390
12,580
32,981
308,951
44,433
0
27,467
71,900
4,379
0
1,379
5,758
0
0
0
0
48,812
0
28,846
77,658
214,578
12,580
4,136
231,293
218,957
12,580
5,514
237,051
6. Debtors
Debtors
7. Creditors falling due within one year
Accruals
PAYE and NI
Pension Contributions
8. Creditors falling due after one year
7		 2023
£
7,112
7,112
£
648
0
122
770
£
0		 2022
£
6,416
6,416
£
648
0
123
771
£
0