The Aire Rivers Trust
Charity number 1145609
A company limited by guarantee number 07464227
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2021
The Aire Rivers Trust
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2021
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 to 4 |
| Examiner's report | 6 |
| Statement of financial activities | 7 |
| Balance sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the accounts | 9 to 13 |
Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2021
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates Geoffrey Roberts Chair Jeremy Whaley Secretary Kevin Sunderland Mark Penny David Lerner Donald Vine Deceased April 2020 David Brazendale Wendy Robinson Jane Rogers Jillian Campbell Charity number 1145609 Registered in England and Wales Company number 07464227 Registered in England and Wales Registered and principal address Bankers 38 Morton Lane Barclays East Morton 152 Main Street Keighley Bingley West Yorkshire West Yorkshire BD20 5RS BD16 2HS
Independent examiner
Simon Bostrom FCIE Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 8 Dec 2010. It is governed by a memorandum and articles of association amended 6 Sep 2011 and 16 Jan 2012. The liability of the members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding £1.
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees
The trustees of the charity are also the directors for the purposes of company law and are appointed by the members at the AGM.
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2021
Objectives and activities
The charity's objects
1) To conserve, protect, rehabilitate and improve the rivers, streams, watercourses and water impoundments of the catchments comprising the River Aire and all tributaries and connected waterways (but excluding the Leeds and Liverpool Canal) and to facilitate and encourage appropriate access for all to the River Aire and its tributaries and connected waterways.
2) To advance the education of the public, or any association, company, local authority, administrative or governmental agency or public body or representative body in:
(a) The understanding of rivers, river corridors and catchments, including their fauna, flora and economic or social activity.
(b) The need for, and benefits of, conservation, protection, rehabilitation and improvement of water environments.
The charity's main activities
Improving the quality of the watercourses.
Encouraging and facilitating fish passage.
Raising awareness of river issues.
Developing network of interested parties.
Public benefit statement
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular environmental improvement and public awareness of the river environment.
Achievements and performance
The award of a major grant from The Environment Agency referred to in last year's report has continued to allow ART to engage in a wider range of volunteer involvement and education and increase its profile. Together with the completion of all the remaining fish passes by the Environment Agency (EA) as part of the overall grant, major improvements to the River Aire environment are well advanced.
The project has provided the basis of an increased staff presence and the prospect of greater continuity of ART's work.
This year has also seen two further significant initiatives, one relating to management of the wider catchment area (via a major input of funds from Yorkshire Water Services (YWS)) and the other to two projects supported by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund. Both have allowed further recruitment.
Additionally, ART has been able to extend the contract of a Pollution Hunter for a further year to establish longerterm viability and is generally in a good position to explore other funding opportunities.
Financial review
The net income for the year was £109,193, including net expenditure of £5,975 on unrestricted funds and net income of £115,168 on restricted funds.
Historically, ART built up an unrestricted fund balance of approx. £30,000 in the early years, largely emanating from payments available for scheme management on a major project. Subsequently, ART has engaged largely in fully funded activity. Turnover has escalated in recent years with major grant awards and some donations but the unrestricted reserves have remained much the same.
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2021
Financial review (continued)
ART now has the staff resources to closely scrutinise its expenditure under various grant supported schemes to ensure that there is no impact on reserves and that funders' requirements are met. For example, ART's largest scheme relates to a £700,000 project to reconnect the Aire River, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered in collaboration with the Environment Agency. ART claims costs under the scheme under a detailed scrutiny process involving both the Environment Agency and NLHF.
The position on all the restricted funds is reviewed at each Board meeting.
There are no actual / anticipated events including Covid-19 which materially alter that position. We have nevertheless reviewed potential risk re Covid-19 in line with government recommendations. We also agreed with the funders that no furlough arrangements or scheme postponement were to be effected.
In view of the above, ART feels confident that the company's financial position is secure. The Trustees have reassessed the charity’s ability to continue for at least 12 months from the date that the accounts are approved and conclude that no material uncertainties exist that cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Reserves policy
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £26,214.
The target minimum operating reserve fund is £20,000. The purpose being to enable smooth running of the charity and to enable an orderly winding up should the charity have to close.
A target maximum balance of £40,000 has also been identified to ensure that monies received by the Trust are being expended on meeting the aims of the Trust as set out in its Articles of Association.
Funds held as agent on behalf of others
| Balance b/f | Incoming | Outgoing | Balance c/f | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Friends of the River Worth | 2,459 | 737 | 687 | 2,509 |
These balances have been excluded from the charity's accounts.
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2021
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and UK Accounting Standards.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial accounts 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 the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP (FRS102)), and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees on 20/08/2021
Jeremy Whaley (Trustee)
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Aire Rivers Trust
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages 7 to 13.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since the charitable company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act.
I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ACIE which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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3 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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4 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Simon Bostrom FCIE
17/09/2021
West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Statement of Financial Activities
(including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021
| Notes 2021 Unrestricted funds £ Income from: Grants and donations (2) 2,176 Interest / other income 153 Insurance claim - Total income 2,329 Expenditure on: Salaries and on-costs (3) 1,950 Travel expenses 321 Training - Project costs - Professional fees and evaluation - Materials, resources and consumables 225 Office expenses 30 Advertising and publicity 32 Insurance 1,239 Independent examination 1,704 Depreciation 2,593 Contributions to other groups - Other expenditure 750 Total expenditure 8,844 Net income / (expenditure) (6,515) Transfers between funds 540 Net movement in funds (5,975) Fund balances brought forward 32,963 Fund balances carried forward (4) 26,988 |
2021 Restricted funds £ 315,880 - - 315,880 106,798 3,944 2,796 20,837 26,560 21,586 13,220 3,644 729 21 - - 37 200,172 115,708 (540) 115,168 138,681 253,849 |
2021 Total funds £ 318,056 153 - 318,209 108,748 4,265 2,796 20,837 26,560 21,811 13,250 3,676 1,968 1,725 2,593 - 787 209,016 109,193 - 109,193 171,644 280,837 |
2020 Total funds £ 206,367 235 7,436 214,038 67,041 10,254 1,097 794 7,523 22,042 13,942 705 1,040 1,080 2,413 1,200 410 129,541 84,497 - 84,497 87,147 171,644 |
|---|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Balance sheet
| as at 31 March 2021 2021 Unrestricted £ Fixed assets Tangible assets (5) 2,774 Total fixed assets 2,774 Current assets Debtors and prepayments (6) 4,689 Cash at bank and in hand (7) 35,085 Total current assets 39,774 Current liabilities: amounts falling due within one year Creditors and accruals (8) 13,560 Total current liabilities 13,560 Net current assets / (liabilities) 26,214 Net assets 28,988 Funds Unrestricted funds 26,988 Restricted funds - Total funds 26,988 |
2021 Restricted £ - - - 260,117 260,117 8,268 8,268 251,849 251,849 - 253,849 253,849 |
2021 Total £ 2,774 2,774 4,689 295,202 299,891 21,828 21,828 278,063 280,837 26,988 253,849 280,837 |
2020 Total £ 4,827 4,827 22,882 147,259 170,141 3,324 3,324 166,817 171,644 32,963 138,681 171,644 |
|---|---|---|---|
For the year ending 31 March 2021 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The trustees (who also the directors for the purposes of company law) acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime and with FRS 102 (effective January 2019).
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 20/08/2021
Jeremy Whaley (Trustee)
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2021
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year. No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
Going concern
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
Expenditure and liabilities
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Taxation
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets costing more than £500 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows: Computers: over 3 years Motor vehicles: over 3 years
Pensions
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are recognised in the year they are payable.
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2021
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
Leases
Rents under operating leases are charged on a straight line basis over the lease term or to an earlier date if the lease can be determined without financial penalty.
| 2 Grants and donations City of Bradford Met. Council (CBMDC) Environment Agency Green Recovery Challenge Fund River Holme Connections Wild Trout Trust Yorkshire Water Services (YWS) Calderdale and Colne Rivers Trust Garfield Weston Foundation The Banister Charitable Trust The Steel Charitable Trust Enforcement Undertakings Other donations 3 Staff costs and numbers Gross salaries Social security costs Employment allowance Pensions Payroll fees |
2021 Unrestricted funds £ - - - 1,476 - - - - - - - 700 2,176 |
2021 Restricted funds £ 225 186,644 34,650 2,276 1,500 50,000 - - - - 40,400 185 315,880 |
2021 Total funds £ 225 186,644 34,650 3,752 1,500 50,000 - - - - 40,400 885 318,056 2021 £ 101,382 8,150 (4,000) 2,337 879 108,748 |
2020 Total funds £ 2,516 101,078 - - - - 2,241 30,040 50,000 15,000 - 5,492 206,367 2020 £ 63,314 5,192 (3,000) 1,265 270 67,041 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The average number employees during the year was 4.8, being an average of 4.3 full time equivalent (2020: 2.6, 2.6 FTE). There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.
| Defined contribution pension scheme | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year | 2,337 | 1,265 |
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2021
| 4 Restricted funds Leeds Weirs CaBA FoBB Bradford Stewardship DN Aire Gannett Foundation Nature Connections Enforcement undertaking work Small projects |
Balance b/f £ 4,133 16,392 11,552 14,529 90,006 2,069 - - 138,681 |
Incoming £ 4,950 57,500 1,580 5,250 169,274 - 34,650 40,400 2,276 315,880 |
Outgoing £ 8,268 21,342 598 10,223 157,294 - 171 - 2,276 200,172 |
Transfers £ - (540) - - - - - - - (540) |
Balance c/f £ 815 52,010 12,534 9,556 101,986 2,069 34,479 40,400 - 253,849 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund name
Leeds Weirs Catchment Based Approach (CaBA)
Purpose of restriction
Habitat improvement for River Aire Kirkstall fish passage. Funding from Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency to promote the catchment based approach in line with the Water Environment Improvement Fund.
£540 was transferred from this fund relating to a fixed asset purchased for general use.
Friends of Bradford Becks (FoBB) Bradford Stewardship DN Aire (Developing the Natural Aire)
Gannett Foundation Nature Connections
Enforcement undertaking work
Small projects
Various projects relating to Bradford Becks. Aire river stewardship in the Bradford district.
Collaborative work with the Environment Agency in a National Lottery Heritage Fund project to reconnect the River Aire and install four fish and eel passes at weirs on the river and deliver a programme of community engagement linked to the ecological reconnection of the river.
For work at North Beck.
Funding from the Defra Green Recovery Challenge Fund towards the projects Baildon Floodable Meadow and Pocket Park.
Towards improving the fishery status and cleaning the Aire river. Donated income arising from enforcement undertaking. Works will involve survey work and improvements to aid fish migration and population recovery.
Various small projects relating to the Aire river.
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2021
| 5 6 7 **8 ** |
Tangible assets Cost At 1 April 2020 Additions At 31 March 2021 Depreciation At 1 April 2020 Charge for year At 31 March 2021 Net book value At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 Debtors and prepayments Debtors Prepayments Cash at bank and in hand Barclays Active Saver account Barclays Current account Soldo card Skipton Building Society Creditors and accruals Creditors Accruals |
£ - 540 540 - 180 180 360 - Computers |
£ 7,240 - 7,240 2,413 2,413 4,826 2,414 4,827 2021 £ 648 4,041 4,689 2021 £ 141,035 59,131 10,036 85,000 295,202 2021 £ 20,268 1,560 21,828 Vehicles |
Total £ 7,240 540 7,780 2,413 2,593 5,006 2,774 4,827 2020 £ 22,050 832 22,882 2020 £ 87,932 54,688 4,639 - 147,259 2020 £ 2,244 1,080 3,324 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9 Related party transactions
Trustee expenses
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
Trustee remuneration and benefits
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
Other related party transactions
£59 was paid to Developing Minds (company 05053170) in which Geoffrey Roberts (Chair) is a person with significant control (2020: £161).
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The Aire Rivers Trust
Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021
| 2021 2020 Unrestricted Unrestricted funds funds £ £ Income Grants and donations 2,176 550 Interest / other income 153 - Insurance claim - - Total income 2,329 550 Expenditure Salaries and on-costs 1,950 - Travel expenses 321 - Training - - Project costs - - Professional fees and evaluation - - Materials, resources and consumables 225 - Office expenses 30 - Advertising and publicity 32 - Insurance 1,239 - Independent examination 1,704 1,080 Contributions to other groups - 200 Depreciation 2,593 2,413 Other expenditure 750 - Total expenditure 8,844 3,693 Net income / (expenditure) (6,515) (3,143) Transfers between funds 540 7,240 Net movement in funds (5,975) 4,097 Fund balances brought forward 32,963 28,866 Fund balances carried forward 26,988 32,963 |
2021 Restricted funds £ 315,880 - - 315,880 106,798 3,944 2,796 20,837 26,560 21,586 13,220 3,644 729 21 - - 37 200,172 115,708 (540) 115,168 138,681 253,849 |
2020 Restricted funds £ 205,817 235 7,436 213,488 67,041 10,254 1,097 794 7,523 22,042 13,942 705 1,040 - 1,000 - 410 125,848 87,640 (7,240) 80,400 58,281 138,681 |
2021 Total funds £ 318,056 153 - 318,209 108,748 4,265 2,796 20,837 26,560 21,811 13,250 3,676 1,968 1,725 - 2,593 787 209,016 109,193 - 109,193 171,644 280,837 |
2020 Total funds £ 206,367 235 7,436 214,038 67,041 10,254 1,097 794 7,523 22,042 13,942 705 1,040 1,080 1,200 2,413 410 129,541 84,497 - 84,497 87,147 171,644 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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