2022-03-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number: 1141274 Company Number: 07517828

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (a charitable company limited by guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 March 2022

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

CONTENTS

	Page
Charity Information	1
Report of the Trustees	2
Independent Auditor's Report	14
Statement of Financial Activities
(including Income & Expenditure Account)	18
Balance Sheet	19
Statement of Cash Flows	20
Notes to the Financial Statements	21

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire Company Information For the year ended 31 March 2022

Trustees:

Linda Jones (Chair) Kate Godber Howard Grant Barbara Johnson Gail Lamb (Treasurer) Suzanne Packer

Charity Manager & Company Secretary

Maureen O'Malley

Company Number

07517828 (England and Wales)

Charity Number

1141274

Registered Office

1st Floor Torch House Torch Way Northampton Road Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 9HL

Auditors:

Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons Chartered Accountants 21 The Point Rockingham Road Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7NU

Bankers:

CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

HR Advisers:

Peninsula Business Services Ltd Riverside New Bailey Street Manchester M3 5PB

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

The Trustees present their Report, which includes the Directors’ Report required by company law, together with the Financial Statements of the charitable company ("the charity") for the year ended 31 March 2022.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity Name

The charity’s formal name is Voluntary Action South Leicestershire but it is also known, and frequently referred to, as VASL.

Statutory information

Information regarding the charitable company’s registration numbers, registered office, current trustees, senior manager and other advisers is set out at Page 1 to the financial statements.

Directors/Trustees and Management

The directors of the charity are also its trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report and financial statements are referred to collectively as the Trustees or the Board. Those who have served in this capacity during the period covered by the financial statements are as follows: –

Chair: Linda Jones CBE Treasurer: Gail Lamb Howard Grant Kate Godber Barbara Johnson Suzanne Packer Pritibala Joshi Resigned 21 June 2022 Helen Murray Resigned 1 July 2022

The Trustees are also the members of the company.

Company Secretary: Maureen O’Malley

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objects

The charity’s objects, as set out in the Articles of Association of the charitable company, are:

• to promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community, principally but not exclusively in the local government area of Harborough and wider Leicestershire (herein called the 'area of benefit') and, in particular, to develop services which enhance the well-being of people who are in a situation of need, hardship or distress, or who are aged or sick. Such support services include, but are not limited to, support for carers of all ages, social transport, and mental health support; and

• to provide high quality services in response to identified need, actively involving volunteers and working in partnership with third sector, statutory and other relevant bodies in the achievement of the above purposes within the area of benefit.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (continued)

Aims and strategies

In satisfaction of these objects our aims are to:

• develop services which enhance the wellbeing of people who are in particular need of support;

• use and value the important contribution of volunteers in all our services;

• be proactive and reactive to local needs;

• encourage and promote social inclusion; and

• continually learn, improve and innovate as an organisation.

Our mission is to improve and enrich the lives of people in our community by providing services and volunteer facilitated activities with strategic objectives of:

• meeting community needs;

• ensuring sustainable growth; and

• achieving organisational excellence

Our vision is to cement our position as the lead 3rd sector organisation in Harborough District and a major provider of services across the county.

Our success is reliant on all trustees, staff and volunteers applying our key values of:

• Respect – treating everyone with dignity and fairness

• Equality of opportunity – recognising and welcoming diversity

• Openness – in the way we work

• Responsiveness – to the needs of the community

• Collaboration – working with others to achieve joint aims

Activities and Projects

The principal projects and activities with which we have been involved in the year are detailed below. Each project/activity has been affected to some extent by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in the UK government announcing various restrictive measures. These measures limited the charity’s ability to operate as normal and caused us to reassess how we deliver our services to ensure that they remained effective and appropriate for the needs of our service users.

1. Support for Carers Leicestershire

Family carers were significantly affected during the pandemic and our Support for Carers service began this year supporting carers to make tentative steps to reinstate respite services, if available. Many carers’ own health, particularly their mental health, had deteriorated during lockdown. Our team of seven workers provided an easy to reach telephone support line, providing a listening ear and professional support, signposting to specialist help where appropriate. The team reinstated face to face support groups and also resumed networking events and forums with health and social care professionals.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (continued)

Activities and Projects (continued)

2. Young Carers

The Young Carers group restarted face to face meetings in April 2021. The group resumed fortnightly meetings at the Cube Youth Centre in Market Harborough. Several new Young Carers joined the group and were soon integrated and enjoying the activities and time away from their caring responsibilities. The group went on a number of school holiday day activities during the year, giving the young carers a chance to experience new activities and opportunities.

As further explained in the Achievements and Performance section of this report, the VASL Young Carers’ Manager left the project at the end of November 2021 and the group was, of necessity, suspended. Following a thorough review of the project is has been agreed that the Young Carers Group will transfer to the Harborough Children’s and Young Peoples Charity (“HCYC”) and will recommence its activities in September 2022.

3. Community Champions

Community Champions is now a hybrid project and offers our clients and volunteers a range of real life and online connection experiences.

Befriending through home visits, telephone calls and letter writing has continued. There have been regular learning events (e.g., Dementia Friends, Bereavement, Creative Writing, Animal drawing) which have been appreciated.

We have enjoyed bringing volunteers together again for face to face connection, and there have been monthly Community Gatherings for clients. Digital support sessions have re-started at Market Harborough and Lutterworth libraries and monthly mini-zooms led by volunteers are enjoyed by clients.

The Steering Group has helped shape ideas for the new funding application and our inter-generational work continues with schools in Ullesthorpe and Market Harborough. We have a volunteer-led Breakfast Club and Zoom Book Club. Monthly newsletters have been praised for keeping all informed of project progress.

4. VASL Transport

The VASL Car Scheme restarted its activities on 12 April 2021 after a one year break due to Covid-19.

Many volunteer drivers were keen to get back to driving and helping clients get to vital health appointments. However, we began the year with fewer drivers, as a number were still being cautious and not ready to resume their volunteering roles.

The demand from clients increased quickly as hospitals tackled the back log of appointments, placed on hold during the pandemic and, whilst volunteer driver numbers have steadily increased throughout the year, overall numbers remain lower than pre-pandemic.

During September, we resumed our popular monthly bus trips to shopping centres, market towns and garden centres.

5. My Mind Matters

The My Mind Matters service has transitioned from telephone only support during the pandemic to a combination of telephone, face to face and group support.

During this period, we continued to offer telephone support by Community Recovery Service or advice and navigation and also reintroduced face to face Community Recovery Service support with a weekly Walk and Talk group. We provided options for clients receiving Community Recovery Service or advice and navigation to support them in the best way possible for their situation or mental health.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (continued)

Activities and Projects (continued)

We refer and signpost on to other support services like Vita Minds, Bower House, First Contact Plus, Adult Social Care, local support that offers Green or Blue prescribing and Citizens Advice Bureau.

We offer general wellbeing advice and education for better mental health, building self-esteem and confidence and gaining a routine. We also encourage independence and promote self-development through coping and dealing techniques, volunteering, learning new skills or regaining old ones to enhance each client’s life.

Our Walk and Talk group has developed each week. We now have 17 members, although numbers can fluctuate, and also have two volunteers that help out at the group on a weekly basis.

News about our Walk and Talk group is circulated to professionals like social prescribers, Local Area Coordinator and Reablement workers. They have provided positive feedback as to how the group is helping people’s mental health, reducing loneliness and assisting them in gaining social skills.

We have focused on outreach and promotion of the project by attending events run by the Job Centre, Rural Community Council and Social prescribers. It has been important to keep connected with other professionals, face to face, through meetings and having a regular presence at places throughout the Harborough District, such as Renew Wellbeing Café, The Well and Crisis Café. We work collaboratively with these professionals to ensure that we have knowledge of local events and support services and to update them with any information on our project. We have also re-connected with professionals that we worked with pre-pandemic.

6. Wellbeing Befriending

After the initial launch of the Wellbeing Befriending Service in May 2021 it was opportune to take some time, in March 2022, to reflect on what we had learnt during the initial stages of the project. The key points of learning are as follows:

• Supporting people with befriending telephone calls has been a huge reminder that mental health issues affect and impact on each and every one of us in some way regardless of our age or background:

• We know that, prior to Covid-19, people faced many barriers which prevented them accessing services; this, of course, has been amplified since the pandemic. The key barriers people face is around knowing what services are out there and then having the confidence to make the first step;

• The role of the volunteer has reinforced how powerful and transformational non-judgemental active listening can be;

• People from all walks of life are keen to make a difference and have displayed such kindness time and time again to complete strangers across the District; and

• As a direct result of telephone befriending, people are feeling more connected to their communities and more valued. The positive feedback we have received has encouraged and motivated us to continue and reach out to those in need and adapt our service accordingly.

Our learning will be included in further funding applications.

7. Volunteering

As an organisation, we continue to provide quality volunteering opportunities, with excellent training and support. Volunteering in the community continues to be vital to the projects and services we provide.

VASL volunteering opportunities are publicised and promoted on a regular basis and we hold the Investing in Volunteers Accreditation, which is a recognised quality mark for volunteer involving organisations.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (continued)

Activities and Projects (continued)

8. Representation and Engagement

VASL continues to sit on key forums and engagement groups throughout Harborough District and wider Leicestershire. We are regularly consulted by Health and Social Care to help identify and shape services that support our client groups and the wider community. We continue to have a close working relationship with Harborough District Council, and Leicestershire County Council.

We have developed and strengthened our relationships with Health through the newly formed Primary Care Networks.

Public Benefit

The Trustees are pleased to confirm that they have referred, and continue to refer, 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

At the beginning of the year the Trustees set the following strategic priorities for 2021/22:

Organisational

• To manage the recovery in VASL following the lockdowns due to the Covid pandemic and to incorporate the learning from the changes in practices introduced during the pandemic

• To establish working arrangements in each of the projects to manage the continuing risk and best meet the needs of the clients.

• To support the staff in adapting to the changing working arrangements as we move to implement the VASL Road Maps towards increased face to face working.

• To be responsive to possible further waves of increased Covid infections during the year, managing the risks to staff, volunteers and clients.

• To ensure regular feedback to funders, including the required reporting of progress, but also to build effective mutually beneficial relationships.

• To ensure the wellbeing of VASL staff, keeping their needs under review and developing new ways of supporting them, as necessary.

Project based

• To establish a one year pilot project of Mental Health Befriending, evaluating its effectiveness and, subject to the results, apply for longer term funding.

• To re-start the Transport Scheme, monitoring the risks to volunteers and clients, and seek to develop and expand it over the year.

• To continue to evaluate the Community Champions Project and, based on the results, to seek an extension of funding beyond the current 5 year grant.

• To define the scope for a new project, working in partnership with other organisations, to support people with dementia and their carers and, if deemed feasible, seek funding for a pilot project.

• To review and develop VASL’s diversity, equity and inclusion in staffing, projects and engagement with the community/ public, including taking into account the lessons from ‘Black Lives Matter’.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (continued)

VASL started the year still in recovery mode from the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of our services were cautiously opening face to face and group work. We were delighted to restart our Transport Scheme on the 12 April 2021 after a year on hold.

The pandemic did, however, give us an opportunity to evaluate how we worked and Zoom and Hybrid working were embedded into all of our services.

As part of Covid-19 recovery, we identified the need for an additional project. Following the negative impact on people’s Mental Health and Wellbeing that Covid-19 brought, we developed a Wellbeing Befriending Project and recruited a manager and secured 12 months of funding from various sources. We continue to develop the project, with a view to making further funding applications based on the evidence of need.

We successfully applied for a further three-year extension funding for our Community Champions Project from the Lottery Community Fund. Loneliness and isolation are still very much an issue and have been exacerbated by the lockdowns and over 70’s shielding.

During the year we approached the end of a five-year lease for our accommodation based in Torch House. With the uncertainty of what the future holds for office bases and working patterns, we approached the Torch Trustee Board and successfully negotiated a new annual rolling lease which gives flexibility for both parties.

In November 2021, VASL’s young carers manager moved on to pastures new. Although we advertised several times for a replacement, we were unsuccessful in recruiting. Having reviewed the project and discussed with trustees, staff, and partners, a way forward was agreed. We approached HCYC, a Harborough based local youth charity, to explore the transfer of the young carers project. The discussions were successful, and both charities agreed to the transfer of the project. We also approached the main funder, Children in Need, who agreed to the transfer of funding. Harborough District Young Carers Group will restart in September 2022.

As we approached the start of a new financial year on 1 April 2022, VASL was facing two upcoming retendering opportunities. My Mind Matters, Mental Health, Wellbeing and Recovery Service and Support for Carers.

During the year, led by the Chair of VASL Board of Trustees, we implemented a review to develop VASL’s diversity, equity and inclusion in staffing, projects and engagement with the community/ public, including taking into account the lessons from ‘Black Lives Matter’. A working group has met regularly and mandatory training for staff and trustees introduced.

This year has again been a time of change and adaptation for VASL, however we look forward to future developments and continuing to address local issues and support our community.

We are, as ever, most grateful to all of those who have provided funds to support our work throughout 2020/21. The funding that we have received has ranged from individual donations and one-off pots of funding from individuals, community groups and businesses to larger grants from organisations including:

• Leicestershire County Council,

• Harborough District Council,

• Market Harborough and the Bowden’s Charity,

• National Lottery Community Fund,

• BBC Children in Need, Leicester,

• Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation,

• Lloyds Foundation,

• Leicestershire County Council Shire Grants,

• Postcode Community Trust,

• Harborough District Council Community Grants.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (continued)

The difference we have made

The Table below summarises the difference VASL made in our Communities during 2021-22.

----- Start of picture text -----
Community Total Individuals How Have They Benefited?
Carers across 2953 individual family carers  Carer helpline (Monday - Friday, 9am –
Leicestershire supported. 5pm)
 Online support through website,
Facebook, Twitter
 Support group sessions delivered to share
experiences and enjoy social time.
 County-wide Forum events
 Newsletters provided information and
contacts
 Telephone befriending
 6751 hours of advice, information,
guidance, and one-to-one support
Community Total Individuals How Have They Benefited?
Young Carers 22  Fortnightly support group sessions
provided respite time and a chance to be
with peers
 One to one zoom support where most
needed
 Email and Facebook support
 Trips/outings during school holidays
Isolated Older 161  Social support – Community
People Champions
 Befriending, digital & telephone
support, penpals 61 events and
gatherings
People needing help 547
with transport
 VASL social car scheme volunteers
Number of provided transport for foodbank clients.
Foodbank deliveries 1050
People needing 126  Information
support with their  Advice and Navigation
Mental Health
 One to One Support
Volunteers 8 VASL Trustees  Supporting all VASL Projects
157 VASL Volunteers
Community Groups  Local Groups encouraged to attend
in Harborough Community Networking events
 Ad Hoc support
----- End of picture text -----

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
Community Total Individuals How Have They Benefited?
The Business and We worked with many different  Worked in partnership with VASL to
Public Sectors organisations including: support their customers and share
knowledge and ideas
 Leicestershire County  Raised their community profile
Council
 Engaged with businesses
 Harborough District
Council
 NHS community mental
health teams
 CCG's
 LLILT Group
 Healthwatch
 Waitrose
 Local schools, libraries,
adult learning
 GP practices across
Leicestershire
 Primary Care Networks
 Parish Councils
 Schools/Education
Establishments
Charities/Third We worked with many different  Met their charitable aims by awarding
Sector/Grant charities including: grants to VASL for project activity
Makers
 Took referrals for services from VASL
 Market Harborough Bowdens staff
Charity  Attended VASL forums
 Harborough FM  Consulted on project development
 LLR Community Foundation
 Big Lottery
 Children In Need
 Age UK
 LAMP
 Dementia Harborough
 Befriending Network
 Community Transport
Association
 Alzheimer's Society
 Sustainable Harborough
 HCYC
 The Cube Youth Centre
 LOROS
The Wider  Support for Carers Leicestershire
Community website provides information and
support
 VASL website provides information,
support and access to services
----- End of picture text -----

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial Performance

The financial period covered by the accounts and this report was a 12-month period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. The annual income was £537,190 (2021: £517,203) and the total costs were £519,572 (2021: £468,939). This resulted in a net surplus of £17,618 (2021: £48,264). There was a £10,505 deficit in unrestricted funds (2021: £8,549 surplus) and a £28,123 surplus in restricted funds (2021: £39,715).

VASL continues to operate in a period of considerable financial uncertainty in relation to core funding from statutory bodies and project funding from other agencies. In view of this the Trustees considered it prudent to retain a designated financial reserve of £110,000 to cover contingencies (see Policy on reserves below).

Policy on cost recovery

In undertaking a grant funded project, VASL aimed to apply the principles of Full Cost Recovery. That is, it recognised that each project undertaken by VASL was supported by a central organisation whose costs must be covered by the organisation as a whole. Each project had therefore to contribute its share of the central cost.

Accordingly, except where there was an explicit agreement with the funder on the amount of grant which was to be applied to central costs, an overheads charge was levied in proportion to the staff time devoted to the project. These charges were calculated as part of the annual budgeting process, and were applied in the accounts as inter-fund transfers.

Policy on reserves

VASL’s policy on reserves has been designed to protect it from uncertainties in funding from statutory and grant making bodies, and other financial risks. Its aim is to ensure that there are sufficient funds to meet all its contractual obligations and to continue in operation until there has been time to reorganise to meet the contingency.

The Trustees agreed that:

• a) The VASL Board would continue to designate funds in its accounts to be its adversity and financial reserves.

• b) No expenditure of money from these reserves could be committed for any purpose except by explicit decision of the board. In so deciding, the board would consider whether, when and how the reserve could be replenished.

• c) The core fund operational reserves should be designated for business development costs to cover delivery of the strategic plan.

• d) The financial reserves and business development reserves should be invested in three interest-bearing instant access accounts to a maximum of £85,000 in each (as per previous FSA guidelines re risk).

The VASL board reviewed its financial risks and decided not to increase or decrease its designated adversity reserve of £20,000 nor its designated financial reserve of £110,000 comprising:

Three months’ core running costs £50,000 Negative cash flow in run down situation £25,000 Reserve for possible redundancy costs £35,000

Unrestricted reserves which have not been designated amounted to £68,497 at 31 March 2022 and the Board considers that these are at an acceptable level for the day to day operating requirements of the charity. The aggregated reserves of restricted income funds amounted to £181,409, which is in line with the expectation of the Board. This reflects the receipt of grants in advance of incurring the associated expenditure in respect of projects which cover more than one financial year.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

At the start of the financial year we adopted a new Strategic Plan for 2021-2024, which incorporated views and opinions from our clients, volunteers, staff, trustees, funders and strategic partners.

The Strategic Plan acknowledges that many of our project and service deliverables are still very much valid for the coming years and also reflects the urgent issue of Covid recovery, majoring on supporting all client groups in building confidence and wellbeing. In particular, we will be looking to develop the newly created, Wellbeing Befriending project, which is initially supporting adults over 18 years of age with mild to moderate mental health issues.

There are also a number of potential new developments and partnerships on the horizon including supporting a Loros Wellbeing Centre in Market Harborough. We are also keen to see how we can further support dementia clients and their carers.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Constitution and Governing Document

The charity was incorporated on 4 February 2011 as a company limited by guarantee (Company Number 07517828), not having a share capital, and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association of that date, as amended on 18 March 2019. It was registered as a charity by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales on 8 April 2011 (Registered Number 1141274).

Each of the members has agreed to contribute the sum of £1 in the event of the charity being wound up.

Appointment of trustees

Trustees are nominated from persons who through residence, occupation, employment or otherwise have special knowledge of the area of benefit, or who are otherwise able, by virtue of their personal or professional qualifications, to make a significant contribution to the pursuit of the objects or the management of the charity.

Trustee induction and training

New trustees are briefed on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance of the company. During the briefing they are also given a tour of the charity’s premises and are introduced to the employees and other trustees. All trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.

Organisational Structure

The Trustees hold formal meetings every eight weeks and have elected a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer from their number. The Trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the charity and have delegated day to day decisions concerning its operation to Maureen O’Malley the Senior Manager.

Arrangements for setting staff pay

Staff pay, including that of the senior manager, reflects the level of responsibilities of the posts and is benchmarked with similar sized voluntary and community sector organisations. Cost of living increases take into account inflation and levels awarded for public and voluntary sector organisations. These decisions are taken by the full Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the Board's Human Relations subcommittee.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (continued)

Risk management

The Trustees keep the charity’s activities under regular review in order to identify the opportunities available to the charity and the risks to which it is exposed. Where risks are identified, for example in relation to fraud, systems and procedures are established and implemented to mitigate those risks identified and to minimise their impact should they materialise.

In particular, the Trustees recognise that the charity is a service organisation and that one of the principal risk that it faces, in attempting to fulfil its aims and objects, is that its standard of service falls short of that which might reasonably be expected by users. As a result, we have implemented a quality assurance policy statement based on the Trusted Charity Mark, Level 2 (previously Pqasso). This defines the benchmarks for standards throughout the Voluntary Sector and comprehensive arrangements to monitor progress in implementing and adhering to these standards.

In addition, we are committed to providing training programmes to staff and volunteers to assist them in all areas of activity in which they are likely to become involved in the operation of the charity.

FUND-RAISING STANDARDS INFORMATION

The charity does not carry out significant fundraising activities.

TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT

The Trustees (who are also Directors of VASL for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give 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 charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);

• 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 the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

• there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and

• the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

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VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

PREPARATION OF REPORT

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Linda Jones CBE Chair Dated 26 September 2022

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Voluntary Action South Leicestershire for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account), the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice)

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2022, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

• the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

• the Trustees have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the charity’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern bas is of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

TO THE MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE (continued)

Other information (continued)

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• the information given in the Report of the Trustees for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• adequate accounting records have not been kept or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

• the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies exemption in preparing the directors’ report and take advantage of the small companies exemption from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement set out on pages 12 and 13, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Page 15

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

TO THE MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE (continued)

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditors under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

• the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate experience, competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with laws and regulations;

• through discussions with the trustees and other management, and from our commercial knowledge of the charitable company’s multiple activities and objectives, we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charitable company and focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements and operations of the charitable company. These included company law, employment legislation; and

• we remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit and assessed the extent of compliance through discussions with management and examination of documentation.

We assessed the susceptibility of the company's financial statements to material misstatement and obtained an understanding of how fraud might occur by:

• making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was a susceptibility to fraud and their knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and

• considering the internal controls in place to mitigate the risk of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

• performed analytical procedures to identify unusual or unexpected relationships;

• reviewed the nominal ledger and, specifically, journal entries to identify large or unusual transactions and investigated them; and

• we assessed the extent to which accounting entries relied on a high degree of judgement and/or estimation.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations we designed procedures which included:

• agreeing financial statement disclosures to supporting documentation;

• reading minutes of trustees’ meetings, relevant regulators and any of the company's professional advisers;

• performing substantive procedures on material balances and transactions; and

Page 16

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

TO THE MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY ACTION SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE (continued)

• enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims.

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures outlined above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment and/or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Callum Veasey (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of: Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons Statutory Auditor Chartered Accountants 21, The Point Rockingham Road Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7NU

17th November 2022

Page 17

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Including Income & Expenditure Account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

Note INCOME FROM: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 4 Investment income - Bank interest receivable Other Total income EXPENDITURE ON: Charitable activities 5 Total expenditure Net income/(expenditure) for the year Net transfers between funds 11 Net movement in funds 11 Reconciliation of funds: Balances brought forward Balances carried forward	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2022 £ £ £ 53,015 461,362 514,377 - 21,098 21,098 1,715 - 1,715 - - - 54,730 482,460 537,190 164,214 355,358 519,572 164,214 355,358 519,572 (109,484) 127,102 17,618 98,979 (98,979) - (10,505) 28,123 17,618 209,002 153,286 362,288 198,497 181,409 379,906	Total Funds 2021 £ 513,110 1,147 2,263 683
		517,203
		468,939
		468,939
		48,264 -
		48,264 314,024
		362,288

All activities relate to continuing operations.

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised during the year.

The notes on pages 20 to 27 form part of these accounts

Page 18

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (Company No. 07517828)

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2022

Note Current Assets Debtors 9 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: 10 Net Current Assets/Net Assets Funds 11 Unrestricted funds General funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total Funds Amounts falling due within one year	2022 £ 6,932 416,435 423,367 (43,461) 379,906 68,497 130,000 198,497 181,409 379,906	2021 £ 6,047 400,908
		406,955 (44,667)
		362,288
		79,002 130,000
		209,002 153,286
		362,288

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees on 26 September 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

Linda Jones CBE - Trustee

The notes on pages 20 to 27 form part of these accounts

Page 19

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
Net movement in funds Interest shown in investing activities (Increase)/Decrease in Debtors Increase/(Decrease) in Creditors Net cash generated by/(used in) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Interest income Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents brought forward Cash and cash equivalents carried forward Cash and cash equivalents comprise: Cash at bank and in hand	2022 £ 17,618 (1,715) (885) (1,206) 13,812 1,715 15,527 400,908 416,435 416,435	2021 £ 48,264 (2,263) (4,756) 3,225
		44,470 2,263
		46,733 354,175
		400,908
		400,908

The notes on pages 20 to 27 form part of these accounts

Page 20

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 March 2022

1. STATUS OF THE COMPANY

The company is a private company registered in England & Wales and is limited by guarantee. It does not have a share capital but every member of the company is required, in the event of it being wound up while he or she is a member (or within twelve months of their ceasing to be a member), to contribute the sum of £1 towards the debts and liabilities of the charity, which were incurred before they ceased to be a member, and the costs of winding up.

The Memorandum and Articles of Association specify that the company is a non-profit making organisation that shall apply any income that it receives in fulfilling its objectives and it is registered as a charity by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales. If upon winding up any assets remain after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities they shall be transferred to some other charitable body or bodies having similar objects to the charity.

2 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(i) Accounting convention and basis of accounting

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019 (“SORP 2019 (FRS 102)”), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (“FRS 102”), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice.

(ii) Basis of accounting, going concern and impact of Covid 19.

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties which cast doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. In forming this opinion they have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure in the twelve months from the date of the approval of these financial statements and, in particular, have considered the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on the charity’s operational and financial activities.

From an operational perspective, during the year the charity temporarily moved its staff to homeworking and adapted its services, in partnership with other agencies, to provide support to the most vulnerable members of the local community. The pandemic has had no direct impact on the balance sheet at the year end and funding, for the charity’s ongoing projects and core activities, is provided by bodies which are considered to have a high degree of resilience to its financial effects.

(iii) Incoming resources

All incoming resources are reported gross of any related expenditure.

Donations and legacies comprises all incoming resources from sponsorships, legacies, donations and grants (including those received from local governmental organisations). Such income is recognised in the period: in which the charity is legally entitled to the receipt; after any performance conditions have been met; the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty; and it is probable that the income will be received. Where there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then the income is deferred until those conditions are fully met. Any such income which is deferred to a future accounting period is carried forward in the balance sheet within creditors falling due within one year.

No amounts are included in accounts for services donated by volunteers.

Incoming resources from charitable activities comprise amounts receivable by the charity, from users of the services that it provides, in undertaking it charitable activities.

Investment income comprises interest receivable on cash balances held in appropriate interest bearing deposits. Such income is recognised when it is receivable and is allocated to the fund to which it relates.

Other trading activities comprise income from letting and licensing arrangements for space in property held primarily for functional use by the charity but which is temporarily surplus to its operational requirements.

Other income represent miscellaneous operational receipts that do not relate to any of the above headings.

Page 21

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 March 2022

2 PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

(iv) Resources expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. As the charity is not VAT registered the expenditure is stated inclusive of VAT. All of the expenditure in the year has been categorised as relating to charitable activities.

Cost of charitable activities represents the direct costs incurred in providing services to its users/beneficiaries in fulfillment of the charity’s objects together with all of the support costs, such as governance, staff, premises and administration costs that are directly attributable to those activities.

Any support costs that are not directly attributable to particular headings are allocated to activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources. This allocation involves a significant degree of management judgement but the charity has to consider the cost benefit of detailed calculations and record keeping.

(v) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Expenditure of a capital nature, which exceeds £2,000 per item, is capitalised at cost as a fixed asset and depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis so as to write off the cost over the anticipated useful economic life of the asset. The relevant rate is 25% per annum.

(vi) Financial instruments

All of the charity’s financial assets and financial liabilities are of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Such basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and are subsequently measured at their settlement value.

(vii) Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

• (viii) Operating leases Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as incurred on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

• (ix) Pension costs Payments to defined contributions schemes on behalf of the charity’s employees are charged as an expense in the Statement of Financial Activities as they are incurred.

(x) Fund accounting The charity has various types of funds for which it is responsible and which require separate disclosure.

Unrestricted funds comprise those general funds which the Trustees are free to use in accordance with the charity's objects.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds which the Trustees have earmarked for particular purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which have been given to the charity for particular purposes specified by the donor or by the terms of an appeal, within the overall aims of the charity. The donation and any income arising therefrom must be used in accordance with the specified purposes.

Transfers are made from restricted funds to general funds to cover the agreed contribution from each fund towards the general management expenses of the charity.

A description of the funds in existence in the year is given at Note 11.

Page 22

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

3	INCOME FROM DONATIONS & LEGACIES	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds	Total Funds
		Funds	Funds	2022	2021
		£	£	£	£
	Grants received in the year from:
	Leicestershire County Council	-	284,763	284,763	287,191
	Harborough District Council	14,100	12,300	26,400	18,251
	Big Lottery Fund	-	102,738	102,738	121,633
	BBC Children in Need	-	10,000	10,000	7,477
	Market Harborough & The Bowdens Charity	34,664	20,250	54,914	65,144
	Other providers	-	22,800	22,800	10,154
		48,764	452,851	501,615	509,850
	Movement in deferred income	-	4,377	4,377	(5,604)
		48,764	457,228	505,992	504,246
	Other donations and voluntary income	4,251	4,134	8,385	8,864
	Total income from donations and legacies	53,015	461,362	514,377	513,110
	In the year ended 31 March 2021, £455,482 of Grants and £1,547 of Other donations and voluntary income related to restricted
	funds (see Note 11).
	Certain grants received in the year are subject to performance conditions which the charity			has to fulfil in	order to become
	entitled to use the income. The balance of the income deferred,	which is included in Creditors: Amounts falling due within one
	year, comprises:
			2022		2021
			£		£
	Deferred income at the start of the year		30,061		24,457
	Net Movement in the year		(4,377)		5,604
	Deferred income at the end of the year		25,684		30,061
4	INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds	Total Funds
		Funds	Funds	2022	2021
		£	£	£	£
	Contributions from users of the Transport Schemes	-	21,098	21,098	1,147
	Total income from charitable activities	-	21,098	21,098	1,147
5	EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds	Total Funds
		Funds	Funds	2022	2021
		£	£	£	£
	Costs incurred in connection with:
	Governance:
	Auditors' remuneration (including preparation of accounts)	5,377	-	5,377	5,220
	Staff & volunteers:
	Gross wages and salaries	69,723	285,141	354,864	322,930
	Employers' NI Contributions	4,661	16,277	20,938	17,467
	Pension contributions	3,433	13,128	16,561	14,840
	Staff travel and training	2,172	2,475	4,647	3,937
	Other staff costs	65	-	65	92
	Volunteers' costs	-	18,783	18,783	3,946
	Event costs	13	6,900	6,913	8,917
		80,067	342,704	422,771	372,129
	Sub-Total carried forward	85,444	342,704	428,148	377,349

Page 23

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

5 Sub-Total brought forward Premises and assets: Insurance Other premises costs Office, administration & IT: Office expenses & IT Repairs and renewals Consultancy & professional fees Publicity and promotion of charitable activities Miscellaneous expenses Total expended on charitable activities EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES (continued)	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2022 Total Funds 2021 £ £ £ £ 85,444 342,704 428,148 377,349 3,811 - 3,811 3,369 28,545 - 28,545 25,868 32,356 - 32,356 29,237 30,409 9,008 39,417 49,194 2,134 36 2,170 27 13,789 2,361 16,150 11,666 - 1,249 1,249 1,388 82 - 82 78 46,414 12,654 59,068 62,353 164,214 355,358 519,572 468,939

Of the total costs incurred in the year ended 31 March 2021, £324,346 related to restricted funds (see Note 11).

The above costs are allocated as follows:	Directly
	attributed to	Support	2022	2021
	activities	Costs	Total	Total
	£	£	£	£
Governance	-	5,377	5,377	5,220
Staff & volunteers	342,704	80,067	422,771	372,129
Premises and assets	-	32,356	32,356	29,237
Office, administration & IT	12,654	46,414	59,068	62,353
	355,358	164,214	519,572	468,939
These costs are associated with the following categories of
charitable activity in the year:
Carers Services	199,170	63,559	262,729	235,242
Befriending services	84,268	27,331	111,599	84,829
Transport services	70,373	18,089	88,462	78,221
Development of Community Services:
Funded by restricted grants	1,547	-	1,547	20,169
Funded from unrestricted income	-	55,235	55,235	50,478
	355,358	164,214	519,572	468,939

The basis of allocation of support costs is management budgeting and review of estimated usage. Inevitably, this has involved a significant element of judgement but the charity has to consider the cost benefit of detailed calculations and record keeping.

6 TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION & EXPENSES

None of the Trustees, or any persons connected with them, received any remuneration for their services as trustees in either the year ended 31 March 2022 or in the preceding financial year. During the year ended 31 March 2021 one trustee was reimbursed £34 for expenses incurred on behalf of the Charity. No expenses were paid to trustees during the year ended 31 March 2022.

Page 24

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

7	STAFF NUMBERS AND EMOLUMENTS	Year Ended	Year Ended
		31 March	31 March
	The average number of employees in the year was as follows:	2022	2021
	Engaged on charitable activities	18.42	18.25
	Engaged in management and administration	2.00	2.00
	Totals	20.42	20.25

No person's emoluments exceeded £60,000 per annum and the aggregate amount paid was as follows:

Salaries Social Security Costs (net of Employment Allowance) Pension contributions Total paid by the charity	Year Ended Year Ended 31st March 31st March 2022 2021 £ £ 354,864 322,930 20,938 17,467 16,561 14,840 392,363 355,237

Contributions to the employees' defined contribution pension plans are included in resources expended as they are incurred and are allocated between funds using the same method as the salaries to which they relate. At 31 March 2022 contributions of £Nil (2021: £NIl) were included in accruals.

The total employment benefits (including pension contributions) of the key management personnel, comprising the Trustees (who received no remuneration), the Charity Manager and the managers of: Carer Services, Transport; Community Champions; Wellbeing Befreinding; and Business Support, were £150,270 (2021: £117,236).

8	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR	Year Ended	Year Ended
			31st March	31st March
	Net Income/(Expenditure) is stated after charging the following expenses:		2022	2021
	Operating lease rentals		20,922	18,482
	Auditors' remuneration
	Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons	For audit services	2,257	2,100
		For other assurance services	3,120	3,120

Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons prepared and audited the statutory accounts.

9 DEBTORS Trade Debtors Prepayments Other Debtors 10 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year Accrued expenses Deferred income - grants (see Note 3) Other taxes and social security	2022 £ 106 6,700 126 6,932 2022 £ 10,552 25,684 7,225 43,461	2021 £ - 5,825 222
		6,047
		2021 £ 9,411 30,061 5,195
		44,667

Page 25

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

11 FUNDS Unrestricted Funds: General Fund Designated Funds: Financial Reserve Adversity Reserve Total unrestricted funds Restricted Funds: Related to Development of Community Services Related to carers: Leicester carers project Young carers Digital Inclusion Mental Health Related to befriending: Community champions MH Befriending Related to transport: Transport Total restricted funds Total Funds	Movement in At 1 April Deferred At 31 March 2021 Income Expenditure Income Transfers 2022 £ £ £ £ £ £ 79,002 54,730 (164,214) - 98,979 68,497 110,000 - - - - 110,000 20,000 - - - - 20,000
	209,002 54,730 (164,214) - 98,979 198,497
	3,224 - (1,547) - - 1,677 46,364 171,030 (140,701) - (46,340) 30,353 18,348 16,351 (13,801) - (2,439) 18,459 5,912 - (3,735) - - 2,177 15,621 66,598 (40,933) - (18,248) 23,038 15,773 102,932 (67,163) (621) (24,892) 26,029 - 29,663 (17,105) 4,998 11,029 28,585 48,044 91,509 (70,373) - (18,089) 51,091
	153,286 478,083 (355,358) 4,377 (98,979) 181,409
	362,288 532,813 (519,572) 4,377 - 379,906

Unrestricted funds comprise those funds which the Trustees are free to use in accordance with the charity's objects.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds which have been earmarked for particular purposes. The financial reserve is maintained at a level which is approximately equal to the aggregate of: three months' core running costs; the amount required to cover potential redundancy costs; and anticipated net cash outflows in the event of the charity's activities being wound up. The adversity reserve was created in January 2021 to cover additional expenditure that may be incurred in extraordinary circumstances such as those experienced in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. No expenditure of money from either reserve can be committed except by explicit decision of the board.

Restricted funds are funds which have been given to or have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. They are grouped together into the broad categories to which they relate, namely: carers; befriending; transport and other activities. The Trustees' report provides additional information in relation to these activities and funds.

Transfers from the various restricted funds to the general fund are made in respect the agreed contribution from each fund towards the business support costs of the charity. Occasionally, transfers are also made between restricted funds to reflect the value of the benefit received by a fund from expenditure incurred in another fund.

Any deficit remaining, at the end of a project that has financed by restricted funds, is covered by a transfer from the general fund.

Page 26

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

11 FUNDS (continued)

Fund movements during the year ended 31 March 2021 were as follows:

Unrestricted Funds: General Fund Designated Fund: Financial Reserve Adversity Reserve Total unrestricted funds Restricted Funds: Related to Development of Community Services Related to carers: Leicester carers project Young carers Digital Inclusion Mental Health Related to befriending: Community champions MH Befriending Related to transport: Transport Total restricted funds Total Funds	Movement in At 1 April Deferred At 31 March 2020 Income Expenditure Income Transfers 2021 £ £ £ £ £ £ 90,453 59,027 (144,593) - 74,115 79,002 110,000 - - - - 110,000 - - - - 20,000 20,000
	200,453 59,027 (144,593) - 94,115 209,002
	1,413 21,980 (19,780) - (389) 3,224 26,503 177,930 (120,436) - (37,633) 46,364 24,664 12,431 (16,024) - (2,723) 18,348 9,647 - (3,735) - - 5,912 4,408 65,904 (39,819) - (14,872) 15,621 - 101,208 (62,899) (606) (21,930) 15,773 - 4,998 - (4,998) - - 46,936 79,329 (61,653) - (16,568) 48,044
	113,571 463,780 (324,346) (5,604) (94,115) 153,286
	314,024 522,807 (468,939) (5,604) - 362,288

12 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

The allocation of net assets between funds at 31 March 2022 was as follows:

Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total Net Assets Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year	General Designated Restricted Fund Fund Funds Total £ £ £ £ 6,826 - 106 6,932 78,930 130,000 207,505 416,435 (17,259) - (26,202) (43,461)
	68,497 130,000 181,409 379,906

All liabilities connected with the payroll are included in the above analysis as relating to the General Fund.

The allocation at 31 March 2021 was: Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total Net Assets Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year	General Designated Restricted Fund Fund Funds Total £ £ £ £ 6,047 - - 6,047 87,302 130,000 183,606 400,908 (14,347) - (30,320) (44,667)
	79,002 130,000 153,286 362,288

Page 27

Voluntary Action South Leicestershire

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

13 OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

The charity is committed to make the following aggregate future minimum lease payments under non- cancellable operating leases:

Aggregate payments due: Within one year In two to five years In more than five years	2022 2021 £ £ 12,161 17,301 153 3,064 - - 12,314 20,365

14 RELATED PARTIES

There were no related party transactions in the year or in the preceding financial year.

Page 28