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2025-03-31-accounts

C.L. INITIATIVES LTD (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

INCORPORATED 15 FEBRUARY 2011 CHARITABLE REGISTRATION 5 APRIL 2011

England and Wales: Company: 7530680 Charity: 1141176

PART 1. TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

PART 2. COMMUNITY LIVING: THE MAGAZINE ABOUT LEARNING DISABILITIES

C.L. INITIATIVES LTD

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

LIST OF CONTENTS

Page

PART 1. TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

PART 2. COMMUNITY LIVING: THE MAGAZINE ABOUT LEARNING DISABILITIES

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PART 1.

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1.1 TRUSTEES, REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

TRUSTEES

Jo Adshead (Chair) Resigned 17.12.2024.

Jo Clare (Treasurer)

Michael Donlevy Appointed: 26.02.2025

Rhidian Hughes (Chair) Appointed: 26.02.2025

Seán Kelly (Assistant Treasurer)

Duncan Mitchell Resigned: 24.10.2025 David Naden Resigned: 17.12.2024

Shaun Webster Appointed: 26.02.2025

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Charity number: 1141176

Company number: 7530680

Registered office: Conway House Ackhurst Business Park Foxhole Road Chorley Lancashire PR7 1NY

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Independent accountant: Revilo Solutions 261 The Green Eccleston Lancashire PR7 5TF

Banker: HSBC 26 Market Street Chorley Lancashire PR7 2RX

Insurance (Ansvar combined liability): Ansvar Insurance Ansvar House St Leonards Road Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 3UR

1.2 STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

C. L. Initiatives Ltd is constituted as a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity. Members of the governing board are Directors of the Company as well as being Trustees of the Charity. (The term board members is used to cover both roles.)

The governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The charity's objects are specifically restricted to the following –

To relieve the needs of persons with learning disabilities and to promote their social inclusion for the public benefit by raising awareness and knowledge of relevant current issues, research and good practice.

Through the following activities:

* Our governing document of 2011 uses the term ‘service user’. Today we recognise that people draw on a wide range of social care services and support to live their best lives.

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BOARD MEMBERS

Board members are recruited for their commitment, experience and skills and the gaps identified. New board members receive induction on taking office, including written materials, and ongoing development is also available based on identified needs.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

The board manages the business through quarterly meetings and an annual general meeting to agree approve the annual accounts, review risks and set the budget. Organisational policies and approaches are informed by guidance and good practice for small charities. The structure of the organisation involves trustees sharing the workload and overall daily management.

The organisation does not directly employ its own staff, instead it commissions a paid editorial team to produce the magazine. Colleagues collaborate with trustees and the editor and administrator meet periodically with the chair.

Alongside paid contributions the editorial team have generously supported the charity with additional pro bono and voluntary contributions to support the operations and editorial activities, including that provided to disabled contributors.

The charity depends on the voluntary contributions of board members and sponsoring organisations who contribute financially. They also give suggestions and advice based on their knowledge and expertise to the Editorial Advisory Board and in written submissions to the magazine.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Risks, including financial risks, are regularly reviewed by board members with advice and support taken from editorial colleagues and external sources.

This year board members confirm the charity has sufficient reserves to maintain cash flow and the production of the magazine. Pre-payments in subscriptions and sponsorships support the organisation’s cash-flow.

The charity has insurance to cover any potential liability from board members, contracted colleagues and volunteers. Board members have taken all reasonable steps to identify and manage any risks associated with the Charity’s activities, any beneficiaries, and its work products and reputation in support of delivering its objects.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Community Living convenes regular Editorial Advisory Board meetings. These forums provide external perspective, discussion and suggestions for the topics the Editor might choose to pursue in the magazine. Membership of the Editorial Board is mainly drawn from representatives of organisational sponsors. In addition open dialogue and feedback between Editor and advisory board members is encouraged.

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SPONSORS

Sponsors are funders of the magazine and are usually charitable organisations working in the field of learning disabilities with a strong value base and good reputations for service delivery and/or their contributions to the sector.

Sponsors have exclusive access to Community Living Magazine online in the flipbook form.

We are very grateful to all individuals and organisation who have kindly sponsored the magazine this year.

In 2024/25 our core sponsors are:

Our associate sponsors are:

2024/25 PRINCIPLE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

Community Living is published quarterly and aims to fully maximise our reach to support inclusion, to promote equality and to challenge assumptions about learning disability. The magazine seeks to reach people with learning disabilities, their supporters and allies, support workers, commissioners as well as educational and employment staff and other interested people with an interest in full societal inclusion.

The magazine went fully digital (and ceased to be printed) from January 2024. As an digital first magazine we have now been able to provide full colour graphics throughout. There has also been a saving in printing costs which has helped to partially offset other increased costs.

The magazine promotes the inclusion of people with learning disabilities in every aspect of society. This year the magazine has promoted raising awareness of current issues, research, and good practice, alongside current policy updates and legal commentary. The magazine reports on new approaches being put into practice across the UK and further abroad.

As part of our strategy we have actively pursued and secured contributors with lived experience, especially of learning disability. Alongside the magazine encourages

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contributions and commissions articles from a wide range of writers family members including parent carers and siblings, support staff, senior professionals and academics.

This year we have also broadened our editorial scope to reflect early years/SEND, transitions to adulthood and other rights-based topics and challenges that face people with a learning disability.

Some writers require assistance with their contributions and we are grateful to those who have provided this support, especially when done on a voluntary basis.

Community Living encourages readership of the magazine and further discussion of current issues via its website and its social media presence on Linked-In, Blue Sky and Facebook. Community Living is open access and makes all articles free to read in order to drive engagement and raise the profile of the issues covered in the magazine. Our sponsors have access to an exclusive digital flipbook version.

Community Living values its relationships with other groups including disabled people’s organisations, self-advocacy groups, family networks and provider organisations.

Public Benefit Statement

Board Members believe that the activities listed above satisfy the requirement of the Charity to show that it meets public benefit requirements in accordance with section 4 of the Charities Act 2006.

1.3 FINANCE

Financial Overview

The budget is set by the Board and financial performance is monitored at regular meetings. The Annual Accounts are reviewed and adopted at the Annual General Meeting.

The Chair, the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer provide regular financial oversight and are mandated to manage payments from the charity’s bank account

Financial Viability

Board members consider that although conditions remain difficult, our business and financial plan going forward remains viable. Alongside retaining committed colleagues, volunteers, subscribers and individual sponsors the charity places significant reliance on the generous financial support of organizational sponsors.

Increased costs and intentional investments from unrestricted reserves has led to financial deficits in the last two years (2023-2024 and 2024-2025). The board are actively taking steps to minimise such actions in the future, especially as they relate to core business costs. Board members continue to seek appropriate new sponsors as part of assuring long-term viability.

Reserves policy

Trustees have a responsibility to ensure the charity is financially sustainable and able to meet its objectives. We hold small working reserves to manage cash flow and to:

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Reserves are reviewed by trustees at least annually as part of budget-setting and more frequently as required. In addition trustees have created a designated fund.

The Rosemary Trustam Designated Fund

Community Living has benefited from a legacy of the late Rosemary Trustam who was a former publisher of the magazine. Trustees have designated funds from the legacy of Rosemary Trustam for Community Living to ensure that specific charitable activities are undertaken in her name.

Forward view

The charity aims to continue to further develop its reach and networks to maximise the contributions and readership of the magazine in all its forms and to support its longer-term viability.

Community Living provides the highest quality content. The magazine retains its broad remit of striving for full and better lives for people with learning disabilities and their families. We particularly recognise the work of Saba Salman as Editor and the editorial team of paid colleagues whose high quality work enables the charity to deliver our charitable objects. Board members are also hugely grateful to all who have contributed written articles, images, marketing support and financial resources alongside voluntary contributions. We continue to pay tribute to the work of the late Rose Trustam in her role of publisher and the firm foundation she created for the charity to continue to champion the rights of people with learning disabilities. Since then trustees are also indebted to Jo Adshead in her role as chair of the charity through to the 2024 annual general meeting and our trustees that have served and retired since our last annual report.

DECLARATION

The Trustee Directors declare that they have approved the trustee report above.

Signature:

Name: Position: Date: Rhidian Hughes Chair 24 October 2025

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1.4 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025, BALANCE SHEET AND AUDIT EXEMPTION STATEMENT

2024/25 2023/24
Incoming resources from generated funds
Income from charitable activities
Donations
Bank interest
Resources expended in charitable activities
Magazine production and dissemination
Direct seminar costs
Governance costs
Depreciation
Total Resources expended
Net resources and fund balances as at 31/3/25		 £
-
29,029
16		 £
-
27,636
14
29,045
38,633
0
0
0		 27,650
36,687
0
0
0
38,633
(9,588)		 36,687
(9,037)
SUMMARY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31
MARCH
Income
Total expenditure from income funds
Net loss for the year		 29,045
38,633		 27,650
36,687
(9,588) (9,037)
STATEMENT OF GAINS AND LOSSES
Net income for theyear (9,588) (9,037)

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BALANCE SHEET - AS AT 31 MARCH
2025
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
Investments
Total
Current Assets
Debtors and prepayments
Cash at bank and in hand
Total Current Assets
Creditors
Net Current Assets
funded by:
Reserves
Rosemary Trustam Designated Fund
surplus/(Deficit)		 2024/25
0
0		 2023/24
0
0
0
-
33,735		 0
-
43,221
33,735
1,150
32,585
22,173
20,000
(9,588)		 43,221
1,048
42,173
51,210
-
(9,037)
32,585 42,173

Audit Exemption Statement

For the year ending 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Directors’ responsibilities:

Signed on behalf of trustee directors:

Signature:

Name: Rhidian Hughes

Position: Date: Chair 24 October 2025

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PART 2. COMMUNITY LIVING: THE MAGAZINE ABOUT LEARNING DISABILITIES

2.1 ETHOS, AUDIENCE AND EDITORIAL STRATEGY

Our ethos

Community Living is an independent, quarterly magazine. We produce a free-to-view website and a paid-for digital edition, both relaunched as part of an ambitious redesign in 2023. We support inclusion, promote equality and challenge assumptions about learning disability. Our editorial ethos is driven by our belief that people have the right to thrive in their communities. While the landscape has changed over years and our coverage has changed accordingly - there is no longer a large scale movement of adults from hospitals into communities - our founding ethos remains. The focus on inclusion, rights and equality remains central to our purpose.

Our audience

Our wide readership includes family members, people with learning disabilities themselves, and professionals – from care providers to advocacy groups, support/ healthcare workers, legal/welfare experts, academics. We target a mainstream audience rather than an informed or academic one. To do this means scaling up our profile, broadening our reach, and reflecting wider cross-sector demands for collaborative, integrated approaches to support (like social care’s role within the wider local government context, in relation to housing, health, education, training etc).

Editorial strategy

We position the magazine as being for anyone interested in learning disability, and we cover good practice as well as issues that undermine people’s ability to thrive in their communities.

Our editorial is mindful of:

Our magazine front covers consistently meet with positive feedback. Our achievements in editorial are not just words but with the imagery we deliberately choose to accompany

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pieces. We deliver top class journalism in a subject area comparatively ignored in mainstream media and strong eye-catching images inside and on the front.

2.2 TIMELINE AND EDITORIAL DEVELOPMENT

1987 Community Living’s launch follows the first closure of a long-stay institution, Starcross Hospital in Devon. The new era of “community care” services is behind founder and journalist Elinor Harbridge idea of a title to champion people’s rights - a groundbreaking concept. Harbridge appoints social worker, David Brandon as editor. 1987-2022 More long-stay hospitals close. But institutional approaches remain; full citizenship for people is still not a reality. Our drive for equality is upheld by editors David Brandon, Elinor Harbridge, Andrew Holman and Simon Jarrett, and the latter develops our online and social (and we retain him as our arts correspondent). 2000s Charity Elfrida Society becomes publisher before independent publisher and campaigner Rose Trustam takes on the role. Community Living is published by a charitable board, CL Initiatives, most recently headed by publisher Jo Adshead, and supported by an editorial advisory board.

2022 Saba Salman, an award-winning freelance journalist, is appointed our fifth editor, with a remit to develop the title editorially.

and financially. The strategy prioritises digital over print, professionalises our journalistic processes, harnesses social and digital and recruits new contributors. The ambitious, full colour redesign with production editor Christy Lawrance and our new digital producer Steph Gray delivers a web launch and new online strategy. We consolidate the move from a subscription to a sponsorship model, grow our social media presence thanks to the appointment of administrator Christine Mottley.

2023 Ex-Guardian writer Mary O’Hara is appointed a regular freelance, winning our first ever journalism award.

2.3 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2024-2025

2024-2025 sees the magazine go fully digital, launching a free newsletter We cease print in line with the majority of media, supporting the board’s aim to boost our financial health. Expert journalist and researcher George Julian joins as court reporter.

We explore grant funding and, with a modest commissioning budget (our rate is half the industry average) the editor secures articles from national news journalists for the spring 2025 issue – alongside the payment-free contributions from experts.

CORE CONTRIBUTORS

Editorial team

Regular contributors (every issue)

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Alongside our regular contributors we were also pleased to work with occasional writers including national journalists Sam Carlisle, Hannah Fern and John Harris.

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