**COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX Company number: 08071971**
**REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
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## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
**Charity registration number:** 1147527 **Company registration number:** 8071971
## **Business address**
Leigh Park Community Centre Dunsbury Way Leigh Park Havant PO9 5BG
## **Auditors & Registered office address**
Morris Crocker Station House 50 North Street Havant PO9 1QU
## **Bankers**
Lloyds Bank PLC West Street Havant
## **Directors / Trustees during the year and to date**
Beverley Jones Resigned 31 July 2024 Janet Lefley Resigned 5 June 2025 Dr John Evans Clive Graham Paul Kirkwood Resigned 5 June 2025 David Eley Resigned 30 September 2024 Tina Pullin Vivienne Carter ` Clare Savage Appointed 12 September 2024 Simon Ap Mortimore Appointed 12 September 2024 Owain Little Appointed 12 September 2024 Ian Reeves Appointed 1 October 2024 Suzanne Pepper Appointed 1 October 2024 Sara Tilller Appointed 11 December 2024 (chair)
## **Chief Executive Officer**
Tim Houghton
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## **Communities First Wessex**
## **Trustees’ Report and Annual Accounts**
For the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Chairperson’s Foreword**
It is a privilege to present this year’s Trustees’ Report and Annual Accounts and to reflect on another year of growth, challenge, and achievement for Communities First Wessex.
Over the past twelve months our charity has strengthened its role as a cornerstone of the voluntary and community sector across Hampshire and the surrounding areas. In April 2024 we began delivering VCSE infrastructure support for Eastleigh Borough Council, and in October 2024 we welcomed Gosport Voluntary Action into the Communities First family. These milestones, alongside continued service innovation, demonstrate how collaboration and local partnership remain at the heart of our mission.
Our impact has been remarkable. We supported and engaged 459 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations; recruited and mobilised more than 550 volunteers; provided community transport to 64,000 passengers; and delivered vital counselling to over 500 survivors of trauma and abuse. Whether through healthy walks, youth activities, or our expanding social prescribing and wellbeing programmes, our work continues to connect people, reduce isolation, and build resilience in our communities.
Financially, we remain strong and sustainable. Income rose to £4.38 million, including the generous legacy of Gosport Voluntary Action. We have diversified funding sources, invested in innovation through the Community First Investment Fund, and maintained prudent reserves to meet future challenges. At the same time, we recognise the risks ahead: pressure on local authority budgets, a major reorganisation of local government, rising costs, and increasing demand for services mean we must stay agile, grow new income streams, and work ever more closely with partners.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of our staff, volunteers, members, and partners. I am deeply grateful for their energy and commitment, and for the support of our trustees who give their time and expertise so generously. During 2024–25 we welcomed six new trustees. I thank my predecessors—particularly Beverley Jones, who retired in August 2024 and laid the foundations for our success; Jan Lefley, our interim Chair until June 2025; and long-standing trustees David Eley and Paul Kirkland—for their invaluable contributions. I also thank our Chief Executive, Tim Houghton, and the Senior Leadership Team for their vision and resilience in guiding the organisation through another year of change and opportunity.
As we look to 2025/26, we remain steadfast in our purpose: enabling people and organisations to thrive, fostering a vibrant voluntary sector, and ensuring that local
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communities across Hampshire have the support and voice they need. Together, we will continue to innovate, collaborate, and make a lasting difference.
## **Sara Tiller**
Chair of Trustees
## **Governance and Performance**
## **Management and Governance**
Communities First Wessex (CFW), trading as **Community First** , is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, established in 2012 and amended by special resolutions in May 2015, July 2017, and January 2018.
CFW was formed through the merger of five district CVSs, creating a centralised management and governance structure while retaining local teams and services responsive to community needs. This strategy continued with the merger with Gosport Voluntary Action in October 2024 and the delivery of support services in Eastleigh under contract with Eastleigh Borough Council from April 2024.
## **Board of Directors and Senior Management**
The Trustees of the Charity also serve as Directors of the Company. They set strategic direction and ensure effective financial stewardship and governance. An Executive Committee meets monthly to support the main Board, ensuring the organisation has the resources, staff, and capacity to deliver its strategy and meet financial targets. Task-specific groups are formed as required.
The Senior Leadership Team—comprising the Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer, and Finance Director—oversees daily operations, partnership and programme development, and service delivery. The Board regularly reviews the structure and priorities of the Senior Leadership Team in light of funding requirements and organisational changes.
## **Recruiting and Supporting Directors**
We align the skills and experience of our Trustees and Directors with the strategic needs of the organisation. Skill gaps are identified by the Executive Committee and addressed by the Board. Nominations are invited throughout the year via open advertisements and outreach to members, partners, and individuals with relevant expertise.
We are committed to building a diverse Board that reflects the communities we serve. New Trustees receive comprehensive background information and training, following Charity Commission guidance, and are encouraged to engage with staff and volunteers to understand the challenges and opportunities we face.
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During 2024/25 we recruited 8 Trustees and will continue to do so to replace retiring members and maintain the skills and expertise needed to achieve our objectives.
## **Aims, Objectives, Activities and Achievements**
## **Charitable Aims and Objectives**
- To promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the public in Hampshire and surrounding areas, including the advancement of education, the protection of health, and the relief of poverty, distress, and sickness.
- To provide individuals with the support, information, and services needed to pursue or contribute to charitable purposes.
- To promote, organise, and facilitate cooperation and partnership working between third sector, statutory, and other relevant bodies in Hampshire and its environs.
## **Delivering Public Benefit**
CFW supports a thriving, active, and influential voluntary sector across Hampshire and neighbouring areas. We lead the Hampshire CVS Network and directly deliver services in East Hampshire, Havant, Winchester, Fareham, Eastleigh, Gosport, and the New Forest. We also provide transport services in Basingstoke & Deane and Gosport, and trauma-informed and sexual abuse counselling across north and mid-Hampshire. Our Health and Wellbeing and Social Prescribing networks offer countywide support to organisations assisting people in need.
As a membership organisation, we believe in the power of collaboration. We continue to grow our membership, host networking events, and provide digital self-serve toolkits and resources to strengthen support for local VCSE organisations.
## **Key Achievements in 2024/25**
- Supported and engaged **459** VCSE organisations
- Merged with **Gosport Voluntary Action** (October 2024)
- Recruited and mobilised **551 volunteers** and **39 young volunteers**
- Engaged **350 clients** through the Positive Pathways supported volunteering programme
- Welcomed **128** new organisations to our volunteering programme
- Delivered **2,027 hours** of volunteer time through our Timebank initiative in Woolmer Forest, Bordon
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- Secured **£374,000** in additional investment for VCSE organisations
- Trained **748 learners** , including volunteers, staff, and people facing employment barriers
- Provided community transport to **64,000 passengers** , school transport to **22,800 pupils** , and supported **19 hirers** through the Wheels to Work moped scheme
- Hired out mobility scooters **3,300 times** via Shopmobility and at events including Goodwood and the New Forest Show
- Launched new demand-responsive transport schemes in **Andover (March 2025)** and **Portsmouth (June 2025)**
- Recorded **96,000 visits** to our Community Hubs in Clanfield and Leigh Park
- Supported **147 young carers** in the New Forest with **74 activity sessions** and **1,700+ respite hours**
- Provided counselling to **512 victims** of sexual trauma and abuse through our START service
- Delivered home help to **414 clients** and supported **295 households** with gardening and Mend and Tend services
- Supported **43 vulnerable older adults** in Gosport through our innovative Close Encounters befriending and Advocacy service working in partnership with Age UK Portsmouth and Age Concern Gosport
- Organised **800+ healthy walks** to promote physical activity, wellbeing, and social connection
## **Financial Review**
Revenue grew and overall financial performance remained strong. Total income for 2024/25 was **£4.38 million** , compared to **£3.72 million** in 2023/24. This included a donation of **£808,000** from Gosport Voluntary Action.
The charity’s defined salary pension scheme with Hampshire County Council showed a surplus of **£100,000** (before administration costs), compared with a **£1,000** loss in 2023/24. Under accounting regulations the surplus is not recognised, and an adjustment reduces the liability to nil. Winchester City Council and Fareham Borough Council guarantee to underwrite any deficit for scheme members previously employed by organisations in their areas. A full analysis of the pension liability is provided in Note 18 to the accounts.
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We continue to diversify our funding base, secure new grants and commissions, and manage costs effectively. The staff team of approximately **130,** together with more than **200 Volunteers,** delivers services through hybrid and flexible working arrangements and has expanded with the addition of Gosport Voluntary Action.
## **Income Sources**
Key income streams included:
- Infrastructure grant from Hampshire County Council (HCC) for VCSE local infrastructure support and volunteering
- Grants from Havant, East Hampshire, Fareham, and New Forest councils
- Eastleigh Borough Council VCSE infrastructure contract (from April 2024)
- Hampshire & IOW Integrated Care Board funding for health and wellbeing forums and the Social Prescribing Network
- Hampshire County Council (HCC) contracts for Community Transport, Dial-A-Ride, Call & Go, SEN school transport, and Wheels to Work
- Fare income from transport services
- HCC investment in Demand Responsive Transport services in Andover and subsequent Portsmouth City Council investment in Pompey Link Service (launched in 2025)
- Ministry of Justice/Office of Police & Crime Commissioner, HCC and NHS grants for START Counselling
- Hampshire Learns funding for training (to July 2024)
- Grants and hire income for Shopmobility from Winchester, Fareham, and Chichester councils
- National Lottery Community Fund for Positive Pathways, Timebanking, Wheels for Freedom and community projects
- Lottery and HCC grants for the New Forest Young Carers programme
- Legacy donation of £42,000 from Acts of Kindness to support Gosport and Fareham communities
## **Reserves Policy**
The Board maintains reserves to cover key eventualities, including:
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- Up to six months of planned running costs
- A designated reserve for unforeseen events and funding gaps
- Outstanding rent, lease, and hire commitments
- Provision for legal costs and property dilapidations
- Specific funds as determined by the Board
- The Community First Investment Fund to pilot innovative services and reduce dependence on public sector funding
- Restricted reserves to cover unspent funds for restricted purposes
- Provision against general reserves for pension obligations
At 31 March 2025, unrestricted reserves totalled **£2,091,373** . Of this, **£25,821** supports ongoing activities, **£346,346** underwrites leasehold property amortisation, **£500,000** covers unforeseen events, and **£1,219,206** is held in the Community First Investment Fund.
## **Managing Risk**
## **Risk Management Framework**
A comprehensive Risk Register identifies key risks and mitigation actions. It is reviewed regularly by the Board and Senior Leadership Team, with systems and procedures in place to reduce the likelihood and impact of risks.
## **Key Strategic Risks**
The most significant ongoing risk is our dependence on public sector contracts and grants, particularly from Hampshire County Council, which are vulnerable to reductions due to pressures on public finances. We anticipate significant cuts to local authority grants and commissioned services in 2025/26—particularly in Community Transport and Community Development—while demand for our services increases. The Wheels to Work scheme ceased in April 2025.
To address these challenges, we are:
- Reducing reliance on core grants
- Diversifying income streams
- Managing costs and adjusting staffing and office expenses
- Exploring partnerships, collaborations, and potential mergers
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- Expanding transport services and wellbeing programmes
- Introducing customer contributions where appropriate
- Leveraging assets and expertise to generate reinvestable income
## **Operational and Financial Controls**
We maintain strict internal controls for authorising transactions and payments to reduce financial risk and prevent fraud. Only authorised signatories may enter into grant agreements, make payments, or commit the organisation to contractual obligations. Financial procedures are reviewed annually, and we work closely with our bank to ensure robust fraud prevention.
## **Safeguarding and Service Delivery Risks**
We deliver services to vulnerable individuals—including older adults, people with disabilities, those experiencing mental illness or trauma, and young carers—making safeguarding a top priority. High-risk services include:
- **Transport Services:** Road traffic risks and support for frail or disabled passengers, including moped and mobility scooter hire
- **Supported Volunteering:** Supporting individuals with mental health conditions, substance misuse histories, or criminal records
- **START Counselling:** Trauma-informed support for survivors of sexual abuse and violence
- **Young Carers Programme:** Supporting young people caring for family members with long-term conditions
- **Home Help Services:** Assisting older and disabled individuals to remain safe and independent at home
- **Close Encounters:** Providing advocacy and befriending for older adults in Gosport
- **Clanfield Sports Centre & Community Spirit:** Promoting safe community participation and combating isolation
## **Staff and Volunteer Wellbeing**
We invest in staff wellbeing through:
- Family-friendly employment policies
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
- Ongoing training and development
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- Regular reviews of health, safety, and safe operating procedures
Lessons learned are shared with commissioners and partners to continuously improve safety and service quality.
## **Directors’ Responsibilities**
The law applicable to charitable companies in England & Wales requires the Directors to prepare a Trustees’ Report and financial statements each financial year, giving a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities and position. In preparing the financial statements, the Directors must:
- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- Prepare the financial statements on a going-concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume the company will continue in business
The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the company and ensure compliance with the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the company’s assets and taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
- There is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditors are unaware; and
- The Directors have taken all steps necessary to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to ensure the auditors are aware of it.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. A combined Directors and Trustees’ Report is presented to meet company law requirements.
Approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
Date : 23 September 2025
**Sara Tiller**
Chairperson, Trustee and Director
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## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Communities First Wessex for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, 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 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Policies) including FRS102,' The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'.
- 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 2025, and of 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 have 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**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit, 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, 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 Matters 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 the 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 take advantage of the small companies exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing
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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, 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.
## **Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
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 a Report of the Independent Auditors 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.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
From discussion with management and those charged with governance information about the entity is documented to assess the activity within the organisation. We discuss management's assessment of risk in respect of irregularities, fraud and going concern.
Based on these discussions and our own assessments we determined that the key risk areas were income recognition in respect of cut off issues and management override concerning the size of the organisation.
We set financial statement materiality level based on the level of income. As a not for profit organisation raising income is its primary focus which is why income was used to determine the level of materiality. Our overall assessment of risk was used to determine performance materiality at an appropriate level. Substantive audit tests were designed after assessing and performing walkthrough tests. The walkthrough testing confirmed documented systems which have been designed to act as a preventative measure against fraud and error which appear to be operating as documented. Substantive testing tested a sample of the population, representative of the population, to identify errors. The testing did not identify any material misstatements in areas tested.
Audit substantive tests concluded no material errors over the key risk areas of income recognition and management override. The audit considers the organisation is not exposed to material risk of error as a result of assessing laws and regulations that are appropriate to the organisation.
Management assessed there is no going concern risk. The audit undertook a review of budgets, management accounts and the review of board minutes and came to the same conclusion as management.
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 Report of the Independent Auditors.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the 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 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 company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Stuart Mackie FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Morris Crocker Limited
Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors Station House North Street Havant Hampshire PO9 1QU Date: 10/10/2025
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## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
(Including Income and Expenditure Account)
|**Note**
**INCOME**
Donations and legacies
3
Investment Income
Trading Income
Miscellaneous income
Charitable activities
Grants & contracts
4
Fare revenue
4
Rental income
4
Other income
4
**TOTAL INCOME**
**EXPENDITURE**
Fundraising
Charitable activities
7
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
Net (losses)/gains on investments
3
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE TRANSFERS**
**TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS**
14,15
Actuarial(losses)/gains on defined benefit pension funds
18
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR**
FUND BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD
**FUND BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
829,459
118,997
948,457
143,950
15,035
-
15,035
10,052
9,566
-
9,566
16,444
1,788,094
845,823
2,633,917
2,816,576
246,955
-
246,955
204,343
215,225
18,310
233,535
234,293
268,606
25,585
294,191
294,598|
|---|---|
||3,372,941
1,008,714
4,381,656
3,720,256|
||-
-
-
-
2,665,332
1,077,633
3,742,966
3,700,701|
||2,665,332
1,077,633
3,742,966
3,700,701
8,015
-
8,015
13,008|
||715,624
(68,919)
646,706
32,564|
||-
-
-
108,000
-
108,000
1,000|
||823,624
(68,919)
754,706
33,564
1,258,176
457,914
1,716,090
1,682,526|
||2,081,799
388,995
2,470,795
1,716,090|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities
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**Company number: 8071971**
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT 31 MARCH 2025**
|**Note**
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
9
Investments
10
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks
11
Debtors
12
Cash at bank and in hand
CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year:
13
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS EXCLUDING PENSION LIABILITY
Defined pension scheme liability
18
NET ASSETS INCLUDING PENSION LIABILITY
FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
Designated funds
15
General funds
15
Unrestricted funds excluding pension liability
Pension reserve
15
Total unrestricted funds
RESTRICTED FUNDS
14
TOTAL FUNDS|**£**
3,521
343,377
1,731,414|**2025**
**£**
**£**
738,909
161,361
900,270
3,174
310,883
1,549,768
1,863,825
423,479
1,570,524
2,470,795
-
2,470,795
872,167
1,209,633
2,081,800
-
2,081,800
388,995
2,470,795|**2025**
**£**
**£**
738,909
161,361
900,270
3,174
310,883
1,549,768
1,863,825
423,479
1,570,524
2,470,795
-
2,470,795
872,167
1,209,633
2,081,800
-
2,081,800
388,995
2,470,795|**2024**
**£**
222,399
153,346|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||900,270
1,570,524||375,745
1,440,346|
||2,078,311
507,787||1,863,825
423,479||
||||||
|||2,470,795
-||1,816,090
(100,000)|
|||2,470,795||1,716,090|
|||872,167
1,209,633||531,858
592,318|
|||2,081,800
-||1,124,176
134,000|
|||2,081,800
388,995||1,258,176
457,914|
|||2,470,795||1,716,090|
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and with FRS 102.
Approved by the trustees on 23 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Sara Tiller Chairperson
Ian Reeves Deputy Chairperson
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## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
## **Company number: 8071971**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**Note**
**Cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities**
24
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Interest income
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Assets acquired on merger
Sale of tangible fixed assets
**Cash provided by/(used in) investing activities**
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**|
|---|---|
||760,296
(434,981)|
||15,035
10,052
(247,799)
(107,521)
(351,556)
(42,771)
5,670
8,177|
||(578,650)
(132,063)|
||181,646
(567,044)
1,549,768
2,116,812|
||1,731,415
1,549,768|
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## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## 1 STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102, 'The reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland', in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice.
## 2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation and uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
## (a) **Basis of accounting**
Under an agreement withGosport Voluntary Action (1 October 2024), Community First New Forest (1 April 2020) , Winchester Area Community Action (1 May 2015) and Community Action Fareham (1 April 2018), certain funds were donated to Communities First Wessex and activities combined. These combinations are in substance a gift and the excess of the fair value of the assets received or the liabilities assumed is recognised as exceptional income in the Statement of Financial Activities. Additionally, Communities First Wessex assumed an obligation to fund the Winchester Area Community Action and Community Action Fareham pension liabilities. These liabilities are recognised as a loss in the Statement of Financial Activities and is shown as an exceptional expense in the year of merger.
Communities First Wessex meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
## (b) **Income**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the charity and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
- Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations, legacies and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, when entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
- Investment income is included when receivable.
- Incoming resources from activities for generating funds, including those from a trading subsidiary, are accounted for when earned.
- Resources are deferred when, at the end of an accounting period, they have been received but the charity has yet to become unconditionally entitled to them.
- Income from the supply of services from contracts is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. Contract income is recognised on the basis of the time spent in providing the service as a proportion of the total time to be spent to fulfil the contract. Where income is received in advance, the income is deferred until the service has been provided.
## c) **Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. It includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:
- Costs of generating funds comprise of the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of fundraising.
- Charitable expenditure comprises of those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
- Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include audit fees and the costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
- • All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the Statement of Financial Activities on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly.
## (d) **Tangible Fixed assets**
Fixed assets are stated in the balance sheet at cost less depreciation. Fixed assets are capitalised for ongoing use within the company, where the individual cost of the asset exceeds £2,000.
Depreciation is provided so as to write off the cost of the fixed assets, less their residual value, in equal annual instalments over the estimated useful lives of the assets, at the following rates:
Plant and machinery Fixtures, fittings and equipment Land and Buildings
25% reducing balance 33% reducing balance and 10% straight line Over the period of the lease
16
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
## (e) **Fixed Asset Investments**
Fixed asset investments are included at market value at the balance sheet date. Realised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their market value at the start of their year or their subsequent cost and are charged or credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period of disposal.
Unrealised gains and losses represent the movement in market values and are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities based on the market value at the year end.
## (f) **Stocks**
Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value after due regard for obsolete and slow moving items.
## (g) **Recognition of debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
- (h) **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments and bank overdrafts. In the balance sheet, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities.
## (i) **Recognition of liabilities**
A liability arises as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure.
## (j) **Unrestricted funds**
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.
- (k) **Restricted funds**
Restricted funds comprise funds granted or donated for specific purposes as laid down by the grantor or donor. Income generated from assets acquired from restricted funds is restricted in the same way as the original grant or donation. Expenditure which satisfies the restrictions is charged to the appropriate restricted fund together with a fair allocation of management and support costs.
## (l) **Operating leases**
Rentals applicable to operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period in which the cost is incurred.
## (m) **Deferred income**
Income is deferred where the charity is not yet entitled to the use of the resources. When the pre-conditions for use are met then the income is recognised.
## (n) **Pensions**
The charity participates in a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions in respect of the company's defined contribution pension scheme are charged to the profit and loss account for the year in which they are payable to the scheme. Differences between contributions payable and contributions actually paid in the year are shown as either accruals or prepayments at the year end.
The charity also participates in a defined benefit pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held and managed separately from those of the charity.
The deficit on the scheme, representing the shortfall on the value of the scheme assets below the present value of the scheme liabilities is recognised as a liability on the balance sheet to the extent that the employer charity is able to recover a surplus or has a legal or constructive obligation for the liability. A corresponding pension reserve is included within total unrestricted funds. A proportion of the deficit; that part relating specifically to the former employees of Winchester Area Community Action, is the subject of a guarantee from Winchester City Council. In addition, that part relating specifically to the former employees of Community Action Fareham, is the subject of a guarantee from Fareham Borough Council.
17
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
## (o) **Going Concern**
The trustees have prepared, reviewed and formally approved detailed trading and cash flow projections covering the period to 31 March 2026. On the basis of these projections they have assessed that CFW has adequate financial resources and the appropriate structures in place to manage its operational risks. In addition, the budgeting and forecasting process has taken account of the current economic and funding climate and its potential impact on our various sources of income and expenditure. Therefore, the Trustees are confident that there is a reasonable expectation that CFW has adequate resources and control mechanisms to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and, on this basis the Trustees believe, to the best of their belief and knowledge, that CFW remains a going concern for at least the period to March 2025 and, accordingly these financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis.
## 3 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
|NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)|||
|---|---|---|
|Net (expenditure)/ income is stated after charging / (crediting):|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Donations|(948,457)|(143,950)|
|Depreciation|72,105|51,517|
|(Profit)/Loss on sale of assets|5,067|(1,152)|
|Unrealised(loss)/ gain on fixed asset investments|8,015|13,008|
|Auditor's remuneration - audit|8,000|8,000|
Under the terms of a merger agreement with Gosport Voluntary Actions effective 1 October 2024 the reserves of that organisation were donated to Communities First Wessex and included in donations above - £808,878 In the previous year, under the terms of a merger agreement with Wheels For Freedom effective 1 September 2023, the reserves of that organisation were donated to Communities First Wessex and included in donations above - £78,804
## 4 INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
|**Total**
**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
Grants
130,392
864,776
338,751
1,333,919
1,673,237
Contracts
1,299,998
-
-
1,299,998
1,143,339
Fare income
246,955
-
-
246,955
204,343
Rental income
18,310
208,955
6,270
233,535
234,293
Other income
61,286
228,304
4,601
294,191
294,598
1,756,941
1,302,036
349,622
3,408,598
3,549,810
Included in Grants above are the following amounts received from:
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
`
UK Government grants
1,021,834
1,426,323
Grants- other agencies
312,085
246,914
1,333,919
1,673,237
**Transport services**
**Core activity**
**Information &**
**support**|**Total**
**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
130,392
864,776
338,751
1,333,919
1,673,237
1,299,998
-
-
1,299,998
1,143,339
246,955
-
-
246,955
204,343
18,310
208,955
6,270
233,535
234,293
61,286
228,304
4,601
294,191
294,598
**Transport services**
**Core activity**
**Information &**
**support**|**Total**
**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
130,392
864,776
338,751
1,333,919
1,673,237
1,299,998
-
-
1,299,998
1,143,339
246,955
-
-
246,955
204,343
18,310
208,955
6,270
233,535
234,293
61,286
228,304
4,601
294,191
294,598
**Transport services**
**Core activity**
**Information &**
**support**|
|---|---|---|
||1,756,941
1,302,036
349,622|3,408,598
3,549,810|
|||**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
1,021,834
1,426,323
312,085
246,914|
|||1,333,919
1,673,237|
UK Government grants includes £273,162 received from the Ministry of Justice (OPCC) for support for victims of Rape and Sexual Abuse (2024 £263,036).Other grants includes £180,089 received from the BIG Lottery (2024 £136,056).
- 5
|STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension contributions
Redundancy costs|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
2,001,089
1,968,123
143,183
141,584
61,366
70,253
37,279
59,784|
|---|---|
||2,242,918
2,239,745|
18
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
One employee received emoluments over £60,000 during the current year (2024: 1)
No trustee received any remuneration including pensions. During this or the prior year no trustees were reimbursed expenses.
The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of full time equivalents, was as follows:
|Provision of services
Management & administration
**Key management personnel**
Remuneration paid to key management personnel during the year (11), 2024(11)|**2025**
**2024**
106
105
11
10|
|---|---|
||117
115|
||**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
438,206
484,295|
## 6 VOLUNTEERS
The charity relies on the invaluable contribution of unpaid volunteers who enable us to add value to our service providers. Our volunteers act as drivers for community transport and our voluntary car scheme, they assist with Shopmobility and health and Wellbeing services and support the activities in our community buildings.
- 7 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
|COSTS DIRECTLY ALLOCATED TO ACTIVITIES
Staff costs
`
Volunteer costs
Transport costs
Administration
Depreciation and (profit)/ loss on sale of assets
Other direct costs
SUPPORT COSTS ALLOCATED
`
Rent, rates & utilities
Staff costs
Administration
Provision for doubtful debts
Bank charges and interest
Governance Costs
Pension fund - current service cost
Pension fund - Interest cost|**Total**
**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
894,620
720,654
286,985
1,902,259
1,882,300
1,508
704
154
2,366
4,460
380,221
-
-
380,221
334,874
47,341
75,387
14,943
137,671
94,572
57,131
3,432
16,608
77,171
54,345
19,108
423,499
18,922
461,529
563,960
**Core activity**
**Transport services**
**Information &**
**support**|
|---|---|
||1,399,929
1,223,675
337,612
2,961,216
2,934,511
85,728
152,062
5,848
243,638
220,708
146,755
67,974
116,931
331,660
329,835
71,719
33,219
39,374
144,312
159,824
5,604
5,604
509
7,401
5,241
29
12,672
11,850
8,565
3,180
15,119
26,864
18,464
-
-
12,000
12,000
21,000
-
-
5,000
5,000
4,000|
||320,168
261,676
199,905
781,750
766,190|
||1,720,097
1,485,351
537,517
3,742,966
3,700,701|
All support costs have been allocated on the basis of actual costs incurred
19
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
|8
GOVERNANCE COSTS
Legal and professional fees
Audit, accountancy and actuarial fees
Cost of AGM and incidental trustee meetings|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
13,444
3,719
11,445
9,788
1,974
4,957|
|---|---|
||26,864
18,464|
|9
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At 31 March 2025
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2025
At 1 April 2024
10
INVESTMENTS
**Cost or Valuation**
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Revaluation
At 31 March 2025
11
STOCKS
Finished goods
12
DEBTORS
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments & accrued income|**Land and**
**Buildings**
**Plant and**
**machinery**
**including Motor**
**Vehicles**
**Fixtures**
**fittings and**
**equipment**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
30,310
420,160
175,061
625,531
348,420
244,942
5,989
599,351
-
(21,663)
(6,365)
(28,028)|**Land and**
**Buildings**
**Plant and**
**machinery**
**including Motor**
**Vehicles**
**Fixtures**
**fittings and**
**equipment**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
30,310
420,160
175,061
625,531
348,420
244,942
5,989
599,351
-
(21,663)
(6,365)
(28,028)|
|---|---|---|
||378,730
643,439
174,685
1,196,854||
||541
281,939
120,652
403,132
4,239
51,442
16,424
72,105
-
(15,875)
(1,416)
(17,291)||
||4,780
317,506|135,660
457,946|
||373,950
325,933|39,025
738,909|
||29,769
138,221|54,409
222,399|
|||**Unlisted investments**
**£**
153,346
-
8,015
161,361
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
3,521
3,174|
|||**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
110,198
138,044
66,903
39,824
166,276
133,014|
|||343,377
310,883|
20
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
|13
CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals & deferred income
**Deferred income**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
70,436
55,112
36,283
59,302
39,521
47,289
361,546
261,776|
|---|---|
||507,787
423,479|
|||
Deferred income is grants received for future accounting periods
|Brought forward
Amounts released to incoming resources
Amounts deferred in year
Amounts carried forward
14
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Young Carers
Wheels to Work
START
Positive pathways
Shopmobility Winchester
Shopmobility Winchester - asset fund
Woolmer Timebanking
Acts of Kindness
LCP projects
Gosport Lottery
Ukraine project
Community Spirit
Community Engagement
Close Encounters
Christmas Lunch Club
Monday Club
Wheels For Freedom
Health and Wellbeing
ITS your Choice
**Total restricted funds**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
219,348
704,909
(128,317)
(558,892)
218,533
73,331
309,564
219,348
**At**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**Transfers**
**between**
**At**
**1 April 2024**
**resources**
**resources**
**funds 31 March 2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
47,077
64,025
(76,198)
-
34,904
33,055
87,630
(94,060)
-
26,624
162,774
281,242
(324,145)
-
119,871
-
58,096
(58,096)
-
-
118,135
54,986
(48,922)
-
124,199
23,233
-
-
23,233
-
71,773
(71,773)
-
-
-
37,620
-
-
37,620
-
171,430
(171,118)
-
312
-
11,013
(9,604)
-
1,409
1,540
(447)
-
1,093
3,415
(4,951)
-
(1,536)
33,102
(33,102)
-
-
64,033
(64,033)
-
-
1,298
2,162
(1,230)
-
2,229
-
200
(75)
-
125
47,541
48,999
(87,095)
-
9,444
7,473
17,448
(17,448)
-
7,473
17,328
(15,334)
-
1,994|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
219,348
704,909
(128,317)
(558,892)
218,533
73,331|
|---|---|---|
|||309,564
219,348|
||457,914
1,008,714
(1,077,633)
-
388,995||
21
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
## **Comparative for funds movement**
|RESTRICTED FUNDS
Shopmobility Chichester
DART/Access group
SBS
Young Carers
Wheels to Work
START
Positive pathways
Shopmobility Winchester
Shopmobility Winchester - asset fund
Woolmer Timebanking
Young Volunteering
LCP projects
Community Friends
Health and Wellbeing
Christmas Lunch Club
Wheels for Freedom
Its Your Choice
Total restricted funds|**At**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**Transfers**
**between**
**At**
**1 April 2023**
**resources**
**resources**
**funds 31 March 2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
(22,942)
-
-
22,942
-
7,032
-
-
(7,032)
-
(4,127)
-
-
4,127
-
35,090
85,005
(73,018)
-
47,077
36,163
86,915
(90,023)
-
33,055
211,930
306,253
(355,409)
-
162,774
-
55,365
(55,365)
-
-
110,473
57,455
(49,793)
-
118,135
24,108
-
(875)
-
23,233
-
60,610
(60,610)
-
-
-
17,332
(17,332)
-
-
-
239,855
(241,177)
1,322
-
-
4,295
(12,373)
8,078
-
(186)
117,177
(127,130)
17,612
7,473
1,275
2,521
(2,498)
-
1,298
-
88,051
(40,510)
-
47,541
-
31,328
(14,000)
-
17,328|
|---|---|
||398,817
1,152,161
(1,140,113)
47,049
457,914|
The source of each fund is different and they are received from various bodies including Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council and The Big Lottery. The funds are restricted to the purposes as listed.
## **Wheels to work**
Provision of a moped service for young people travelling to work
## **Christmas Lunch Club**
An annual event for those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day
## **START**
Counselling and help line services for victims of rape and sexual abuse.
## **Shopmobility/Wheels For Freedom**
Hire out of Shopmobility vehicles such as wheel chairs and electric scooters in Winchester and Poole
## **Acts of Kindness**
A fund set up to assist those in need in Gosport and Fareham
## **Monday Club**
A social club for isolated people in North West Fareham
## **Positive Pathways**
To support local residents who need assistance to volunteer in their community
## **Community Spirit**
To support local residents who need assistance to volunteer in Gosport
## **Community Engagement**
A Big Lottery funded project to support local groups in Gosport
## **Close Encounters**
A Big Lottery funded befriending and advocacy service in Gosport
22
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
- 14 RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)
## **Woolmer Timebanking**
A Big Lottery funded timebanking project based in Woolmer , Hampshire
## **LCP projects**
Ac co-ordination project for the Local Children's partnership board
## **Its Your Choice**
To support young people in the New Forest
## **Gosport Community Lottery**
A grant scheme for groups in Gosport funded through Community Lottery income
## **Ukraine Project**
To support Ukrainian families in Gosport
## **Young Carers**
Providing support to young people who are carers for dependant relatives in the New Forest
## **Health and Wellbeing**
A number of connected projects from NHS resources
|15
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
**Designated funds**
.Leasehold buildings amortisation fund
Transport services Havant - asset fund
Transport Winchester - asset fund
Transport services East Hampshire - asset fund
Transport services New Forest - asset fund
Required reserves policy
Community First Investment Fund
General funds excluding exceptional item
**Obligation to fund WACA, CAF and CFNF**
**pension liability**
15
**Pension reserve (Deferred pension liability £100,000**
**less obligation of £49000, and net movement of £176,000)**
15
**Total unrestricted funds**|**At**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**Transfers**
**between**
**At**
**1 April 2024**
**resources**
**resources**
**funds 31 March 2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
(2,074)
348,420
346,346
6,949
-
(1,735)
-
5,214
3,867
-
(967)
-
2,900
20,157
-
(2,450)
-
17,707
885
-
(885)
-
-|
|---|---|
||31,858
-
(8,111)
348,420
372,167
500,000
-
-
-
500,000
641,318
3,380,956
(2,549,221)
(263,420)
1,209,633|
||641,318
3,380,956
(2,549,221)
(263,420)
1,209,633
(49,000)
-
-
49,000
-|
||592,318
3,380,956
(2,549,221)
(214,420)
1,209,633
134,000
-
-
(134,000)
-|
||1,258,176
3,380,956
(2,557,332)
-
2,081,800|
23
## ` **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
15 **Comparative for funds movement**
|**UNRESTRICTED FUNDS**
**Designated funds**
Transport services Havant - asset fund
Transport Winchester - asset fund
Transport services East Hampshire - asset fund
Transport services New Forest - asset fund
**Other**
Required reserves policy
Community First Investment Fund
General funds excluding exceptional item
**Obligation to fund Winchester Area Community Action**
**Community action Fareham pension liability**
**Pension reserve (Deferred pension liability £1071,000**
**less WACA reserve £458,000, CAF reserve of £166,000**
**and CFNF reserve of £245,000 and costs of £130,000**
**included within support costs)**
**Total unrestricted funds**
Community First Investment Fund
**To support new initiatives and projects**
16
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
Fixed assets
Current assets
Liabilities|**Transfers**
**At**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**between**
**At**
**1 April 2023**
**resources**
**resources**
**funds 31 March 2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
9,262
-
(2,313)
-
6,949
5,156
-
(1,289)
-
3,867
22,889
-
(2,732)
-
20,157
2,268
-
(1,383)
-
885|**Transfers**
**At**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing**
**between**
**At**
**1 April 2023**
**resources**
**resources**
**funds 31 March 2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
9,262
-
(2,313)
-
6,949
5,156
-
(1,289)
-
3,867
22,889
-
(2,732)
-
20,157
2,268
-
(1,383)
-
885|
|---|---|---|
||39,575
-
(7,717)
-
31,858
350,000
-
-
150,000
500,000||
||350,000
-
-
150,000
500,000
810,134
2,581,104
(2,552,871)
(197,049)
641,318||
||810,134
2,581,104
(2,552,871)
(197,049)
641,318
(49,000)
-
-
-
(49,000)||
||761,134
133,000|2,581,104
(2,552,871)
(197,049)
592,318
-
1,000
-
134,000|
||1,283,709|2,581,104
(2,559,588)
(47,049)
1,258,176|
|||**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
869,422
30,848
900,270
375,745
1,570,115
508,196
2,078,311
1,763,825
(356,093)
(151,694)
(507,787)
(423,479)|
|||2,083,445
387,350
2,470,795
1,716,090|
- 17 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PENSION SCHEME
The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme . The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. The pension commitment under this scheme for 2025 was £44,372 (2024: £43,119). There were 69 members in the scheme at the year end (2024: 60).
24
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
## 18 DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION SCHEME
The company contributes to a defined benefits pension scheme run by Hampshire County Council providing benefits based on final pensionable pay. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. The pension fund includes members from both Community First HEH , Winchester Area Community Action, (which combined on 1 May 2015), Community Action Fareham (which combined on 1 April 2018) Community First New Forest (which combined on 1 April 2020)
There was no deferred pension liability included in the Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025 as disclosed in the pension scheme's actuarial report for that year.
Winchester City Council has guaranteed to underwrite any deficit arising from the pension fund valuation in respect of those members of the scheme previously employed by WACA. At 31 March 2025, this amounted to approximately £0(at 31 March 2024 £39,852). Fareham Borough Council has guaranteed to underwrite any deficit arising from the pension fund valuation in respect of those members of the scheme previously employed by CAF. At 31 March 2025, this amounted to approximately £0, (at 31 March 2024 £13,481).
The contributions are determined by a qualified actuary on the basis of triennial valuations using the projected unit method. The most recent full valuation was at 31 March 2022, which has been updated to reflect conditions at the balance sheet date. The assumptions that have the most significant effect on the results of the valuation are those relating to the rate of return on investments and the rate of increase in salaries and pensions. It was assumed by the actuaries that salary increases would average 3.8% per year and that the present and future pensions would increase at the rate of 2.8% per year.
The HCC Pension liability shown in the Accounts is based on the last HCC Pension Fund (the scheme) valuation dated 31st March 2022 and would have been the sum payable to the scheme had Community First exited the scheme at that date.
The scheme has a top-up payments arrangement in place to which scheme members, including Community First, contribute to ensure that the scheme becomes fully funded, without any need to incur exit liabilities, at the end of a 22 year period as specified by the HCC actuaries.
However, should Community First exit the scheme e.g. when the last active member leaves, before the end of the 22 year period, there would be a residual exit liability, the scale of which would depend on when the event occurs and the extent to which the top-up arrangements have reduced the outstanding exit liabilities
Liabilities outstanding on exit are termed 'orphan liabilities'. HCC has recognised that many organisations would not be able to afford substantial exit payments, which could impact on an organisation's ability to continue, resulting in the loss of valuable community services.
Consequently, HCC has changed the basis on which investments are made using these organisations' funds, in future managing their investments in the same way as funds are managed for HCC and other large organisations in the scheme. The impact of this change, based on an exit as at 31 March 2022, would be to reduce the total notional exit liability of Community First from £675,000 to £0, which becomes the material liability of the organisation.
The pension charge for the year was £16,994 (2024 £27,282),
The defined benefit scheme is closed to new members and so under the projected unit method the current service cost would be expected to increase over time as members of the scheme approach retirement.
|time as members of the scheme approach retirement.|||
|---|---|---|
|_Value of scheme assets and liabilities_
Fair value of assets
Present value of fund liabilities
Pension scheme deficit
_Movements in year_
Service cost
Interest cost
Contributions
Actuarial (losses)/gains on assets and liabilities
Movements in the year
**Pension scheme deficit at 1 April**
- WACA
- CAF
- CFNF
- CFHEH
Pension scheme deficit at 31 March|2025
2024
**£**
**£**
3,748,000
3,781,000
(3,409,000)
(3,881,000)
339,000
(100,000)
(12,000)
(21,000)
(5,000)
(4,000)
(17,000)
(25,000)
9,000
16,000
108,000
1,000
100,000
(8,000)
(39,852)
(36,664)
(13,482)
(12,403)
(20,592)
(18,945)
(26,074)
(23,988)
(100,000)
(92,000)
-
(100,000)|2024
**£**
3,781,000
(3,881,000)|
|||(100,000)|
||||
|||(100,000)|
Per the SORP, the plan surplus is a defined benefit plan asset and it is recognised to the extent that the charity is able to recover the surplus either through re future or through refunds from the plan. Therefore, the asset will not be recognised as the pension fund has confirmed that there will be no refunds or reduced
25
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
## 19 RELATED PARTIES
No other related party transactions have occurred other than those noted in the accounts.
## 20 CONTROLLING PARTY
The ultimate controlling party of the entity is deemed to be the Board of Trustees.
## 21 OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS
As at 31 March 2024 the charity had future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows;
Operating leases which expire:
|Within 1 year
Between 2 to 5 years
Over 5 years|**2025**
**2024**
28,948
34,548
44,596
66,884
-
-
73,544
101,432
**Land and buildings**|**2025**
**2024**
63,864
35,988
163,788
65,772
4,896
-
**Other**|
|---|---|---|
|||232,548
101,760|
Within the Statement of Financial Activities are expenses totalling £123,267 relating to operating leases (2024 £128,673)
## 22 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
As at 31 March 2025 the company did not have any capital commitments (2024 £nil)
## 23 POST BALANCE SHEET EVENT
There are no post balance sheet events
## 24 RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|Net movement in funds
Add back depreciation charge
Add profit on disposal of fixed assets
(Gain)/ loss) on investments
Deduct interest income shown in investing activities
Increase in stock
Decrease /(Increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Movement in pension fund
**Net cash used in operating activities**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
754,706
33,564
72,105
51,517
5,067
(1,152)
(8,015)
(13,008)
(15,035)
(10,052)
(347)
(1,020)
(32,493)
82,583
84,308
(585,414)
(100,000)
8,000|
|---|---|
||760,296
(434,981)|
26
## **COMMUNITIES FIRST WESSEX**
(Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital)
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)**
## 25 **COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
(Including Income and Expenditure Account)
||||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**funds**|**funds**|**2,024**|**2,023**|
|||Note|£|£|£|£|
|INCOME|||||||
|Donations and legacies||3|20,770|123,180|143,950|33,384|
|Investment Income|||10,052|-|10,052|2,402|
|Trading Income|||||||
|Miscellaneous income|||16,444|-|16,444|22,410|
|_Charitable activities_|||||||
|Grants & contracts|4||1,819,662|996,914|2,816,576|2,664,658|
|Fare revenue|4||204,343|-|204,343|161,392|
|Rental income|4||214,377|19,916|234,293|193,507|
|Other income|4||282,447|12,151|294,598|268,771|
|||||-|-|-|
|TOTAL INCOME|||2,568,095|1,152,161|3,720,256|3,346,525|
|EXPENDITURE|||||||
|Fundraising|||-|-|-|-|
|Charitable activities|7||2,560,588|1,140,113|3,700,701|3,261,251|
|_Exceptional item:_|||||||
|Obligation to fund Community First New Forest|||||||
|pension liability expensed|18||-|-|-|-|
|**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**|||2,560,588|1,140,113|3,700,701|3,261,251|
|**Net (losses)/gains on investments**|3||13,008|-|13,008|(6,994)|
|**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE TRANSFERS**|||**20,515**|**12,048**|**32,564**|**78,280**|
|**TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS**|14,15||**(47,049)**|**47,049**|**-**|**-**|
|**Actuarial(losses)/gains on defined benefit pension funds**|18||1,000|-|1,000|629,000|
|NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR|||(25,534)|59,097|33,564|707,280|
|**FUND BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD**|||1,283,709|398,817|1,682,526|975,246|
|FUND BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD|||1,258,176|457,914|1,716,090|1,682,526|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.