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2023-03-31-accounts

Company no. 03918210 Charity no. 1148403

Voscur Limited

Report and Unaudited Financial Statements 31 March 2023

Serving the VCSE sector in Bristol since 1995

Voscur Limited

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Company number 03918210 Charity number 1148403 Registered office and Royal Oak House operational address Royal Oak Avenue Bristol BS1 4GB

Trustees

Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Honorary officers Lin Whitfield Chair Philip Barry Treasurer Kamaljit Poonia Vice-chair Resigned 25 September 2022 Other trustees Ellie Collier Andrea Dell Appointed 27 July 2023 Christoper Egitto Sally Fox Albert Gardiner Ed Norton Thanh Quan-Nicholls Resigned 1 October 2023 Hayley Shaw Appointed 27 September 2023 Vita Terry Samantha Thomson Resigned 25 November 2022 Chief executive officer Mark Hubbard (interim) April - August 2022 Rebecca Mear Appointed 1 September 2022 Bankers Lloyds Bank plc 282/4 Wells Road Knowle Bristol BS4 2PY Independent examiners Godfrey Wilson Limited Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Introduction

Voscur Limited (Voscur) is the key support and development agency for Bristol’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. Voscur is a modern and dynamic Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) and a charity dedicated to serving Bristol’s social economy. We are an established organisation with a proven track record in empowering and enabling communities to take action and drive forward solutions to address entrenched problems, such as inequalities – both social and health – and poverty.

Our charitable objectives, and the initiatives and services on which we lead, are aimed at improving the quality of life of people and communities by enabling and strengthening the local organisations that serve them. For more than 25 years, we have worked with Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations to enable them to develop, shape policy and strategy, secure more sustainable forms of income and funding, share resources and collaborate together. Our organisational strengths are in strategic development, capacity building and partnership brokerage and leadership. Our services are targeted to help our members and the wider sector to deliver impactful, holistic services, projects and initiatives within communities of identity, communities of place, and communities of practice.

Increasingly, we are an organisation that catalyses partnerships, uses data and community insight to identify gaps and barriers facing communities, and works with our wide range of contacts to bring people together to foster the conditions for change. We are often in a privileged space where we bring the VCSE voice to key partnership tables, and it is our role to advocate for the unique abilities and role of the sector. As we move into 2023-24, we are working in partnership to enable cross-sector collaboration with the purpose of championing community-led action and investment in community-led solutions.

As we have supported the sector in its efforts to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, we have this year been working with the sector on another crisis that is making a different, but no less drastic, impact: the Cost of Living crisis. For the sector, this has meant rising demands, with more people coming through the door requiring support than ever before, coupled with the rising costs of operating. For some VCSE organisations, this has represented an existential threat, and our work on the Pulse survey aims to understand this more fully and work with City Partners to mitigate for this negative impact wherever possible.

Over this year, our work has become further focused on those VCSE organisations that work with communities that experience the greatest inequality and disadvantage. We work closely with organisations throughout the city to identify where our services can add best value, and ensure we reach out to those organisations and groups that will not otherwise find us.

During the year, our services continued to adapt to the sector’s changing needs and strengths. We are pleased that our work to enable the VCSE sector continues to be supported by Bristol City Council, Sport England, Local Access Programme, Wesport, Quartet Community Foundation, Bristol Refugee Rights, BNSSG Integrated Care Board, NHS England, Bristol and Bath Regional Capital, the National Lottery, funders from the Bristol Funders Network, NAVCA, and the West of England Combined Authority. In addition to funded programmes, we are pleased that our ability to self-generate income for consultancy, bespoke training and data insights has led to a healthily diverse set of income streams, which give us future stability and the ability to invest in some of the most innovative methods we take in achieving our core mission. Our thanks to all the organisations that have chosen Voscur for these services.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

As the environment and context in which we operate is changing, so too are we. To understand our evolving role further, over the final few months of 2022-23, we held away days and begun the coproduction process towards a new strategic plan and mission statement which will be launched in 202324. We look forward to working in partnership with organisations, community groups and institutions across the city, from all sectors and representing a diverse range of communities, as we drive forward the next stage of our organisational mission.

A word of thanks

The Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive Officer acknowledge, with gratitude, the ongoing support, hard work and commitment of our member groups, the staff team, volunteers, trustees, associates, partners, stakeholders and supporters who together ensure that Voscur continues to deliver much needed leadership, support and development to the VCSE sector in Bristol.

Lin Whitfield

Lin Whitfield Chair of Trustees

Rebecca Mear

Chief Executive Officer

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019).

Our mission

To be the enabling mechanism providing leadership, development and support that maximises the social purpose and positive impact of VCSE organisations on the city and region.

Specifically, through our charitable aims, we work to:

Our strategic objectives:

Our activities:

How our activities deliver public benefit

Our main activities and the individuals and groups we support and enable are described above. All our charitable activities focus on increasing the impact of local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in achieving their own charitable purposes more effectively, and we undertake these activities to further our own charitable objects for the public benefit.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Highlights for the year 2022-23

- Strategic development, policy shaping, advocacy and communications

Our work to influence public policy on behalf of the VCSE sector continued during the year. Our approach is based on intelligence that comes from the sector through our staff team, trustees and Sector Leaders. We aim to strengthen and amplify the voice of communities of place, communities of practice and communities of identity along with the views of those with lived experience.

Rising costs, rising demands

Voscur has led on the following parallel workstreams to achieve voice and influence for the VCSE sector:

The above workstreams have all manifested in a common thread: that our role as an advocate for the sector, given the challenges faced due to the impact of the pandemic followed by the impact of the Cost of Living crisis and rising costs, rising demands is more crucial than ever.

City leadership

Voscur senior staff (CEO and Development Director) contribute VCSE sector perspectives to discussions in city leadership Boards and Committees:

Health and wellbeing

Our work on the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care System continued through the year. Originally funded through the NHS England & Improvement-funded work (‘Embedding the VCSE sector in Integrated Care Systems’ programme), we have strengthened our involvement in the developing system through the West of England Civil Society Partnership.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Working closely with other BNSSG VCSE infrastructure organisations and the six VCSE Locality Lead partners, we aim to present a helpful, coherent VCSE sector voice that supports the ICS to develop its engagement with the VCSE sector. We have been involved in the VCSE participation in, for example, forming Integrated Care Partnership Board and made representation about the need for remuneration to enable VCSE participation. Working with West of England Rural Network, we set up the VCSE Alliance in shadow form for the area of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. As the year ended, we received funding to build on this work and establish the VCSE alliance fully, to work with the ICB.

Capacity building

Development services

Our support consists of 1-1 developmental advice tailored to the specific needs of the client, peer support networks, and training via our VCSE academy.

As per VCSE organisations’ situations and requests, advice and support sessions focussed on a wide range of issues including governance, recruiting and retaining staff or volunteers, fundraising, theory of change, strategic planning and many other issues.

In total we supported c.200 organisations and groups with 233 separate 1-1 advice sessions; ran 4 peer support or skills sharing networks (Bristol Charity CEOs network, Women in the VCSE sector network, Community Transport network, and the Welcome Spaces network. In addition we co-facilitated the Bristol Volunteer Organisers Forum with the two Student Unions in the city.

In total, 379 total participants from 165 organisations completed learning activities with Voscur in 202223.

We also brokered 186 hours of pro bono advice and support from other organisations, mainly businesses, to assist VCSE organisations.

Our organisations’ interest in fundraising and income support has remained high as the sector continued to face the challenges of and to adapt to the cost-of-living crisis that developed. Throughout the year we have been working closely with funders and commissioners to achieve a new approach to funding and commissioning – for the long-term and with greater equity.

VCSE academy training

Our VCSE Academy service continued to develop during the year, with the delivery of training to 165 organisations – a total of 379 individuals from the VCSE sector.

Analysis of participant evaluations shows that our programme continues to be viewed as relevant and high quality by members and service users. The programme was successfully expanded during the year to ensure the offer continued to meet new and emerging needs. We offered a wide range of subjects to promote and embed best practice within governance, organisational development including the growth of enterprise and trading, capacity building and advocacy.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Social enterprise development support

Our work on developing social enterprise continued through the year. The demand for social investment is slowly increasing, with the benefits of enterprise and trading models steadily gaining traction. It is clear that facilitating the development of trading/enterprise support could be expanded further to build and strengthen the pipeline, particularly for small- and medium- sized organisations.

In this year, the introduction of our Local Access Programme Enterprise Project allowed us to offer dedicated advice for social enterprises, or community organisations considering trading.

Capacity building in partnership

We continued to work in partnership with Wesport for the final phase of the Sport England's Tackling Inequalities programme (renamed as Together Fund).

Our partnership secured funding to distribute to community organisations for providing sport and physical activities, and to provide a Support & Resilience programme so that they could respond to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Aimed at communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic, our work successfully reached target audiences: 39% of funds/support to culturally diverse communities; 23% to lower income communities; 23% to people with long-term health conditions; and 15% to disabled people/organisations. Voscur’s Support & Resilience programme included 11 themed training sessions and 3 peer support sessions, which engaged 98 participants from 38 organisations. In addition, we provided support to funded organisations via 1:1 advice, consultancy days and bespoke training.

Confidence and skills

This year, we also ensured we played a part in the pipeline of talent into the VCSE sector, to ensure the sector can better recruit and retain people from more marginalised backgrounds. We have funded three places on Stepping Up’s leadership programme.

We also ran our own individual-focused Skills programme, Skills for Social Purpose, aimed at bringing women from minoritised backgrounds or facing long-term unemployment on a journey towards volunteering and employment. This highly successful programme allowed Voscur to work directly with women keen to be part of their communities and find purposeful work, and give them the skills and confidence to do this.

Partnership leadership and brokerage

Pathfinder

Working closely with SARSAS, Voscur has taken on the hosting of a Programme Manager to manage the Pathfinder partnership.

The Sexual Violence Alliance is made up of The Bridge (SARC), Kinergy, SARSAS, The Southmead Project and Womankind. The Sexual Violence Complex Trauma Pathfinder Project was commissioned in 2021 to improve therapeutic provision for adults living across the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area who have been raped or sexually assaulted at any time in their lives. The main aim of the Pathfinder is to improve the capacity of systems within this geographical area to respond to sexual violence and its effects across the full range of complexity that is known to exist in the experiences of people who have been sexually harmed.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

This role works with the 5 organisations on the partnership, all of which specialise in supporting survivors of sexual violence, to improve how they work together for the benefit of people using their services.

Bristol Refugee & Asylum Seeker Partnership (BRASP)

Along with our partner organisation Bristol Refugee Rights, we supported this partnership to develop further through the year. It involves a meaningful collaboration of 16 organisations in Bristol and the surrounding area all with a focus on refugee and asylum seeker issues. The organisations range in size, purpose and history, but we have brought them together and established a common mission and values with a Vision: that all refugees and asylum seekers enjoy healthy and fulfilling lives in Bristol, have a voice and their needs are met by an effective, unified and sustainable sector.

Building on the foundations developed over the year and on behalf of the BRASP Steering Group, Bristol Refugee Rights and Voscur successfully obtained funds for paid roles in both organisations to support the partnership. BRASP has become the ‘go to’ space for engaging with the refugee and asylum seeker sector and leading on refugee participation. BRASP is actively involved in resettlement programmes and, for example, supporting people that have been dispersed to hotels to access services and support.

LGBTQ+ partnership

Voscur used its insight and data gathering intelligence to identify that the VCSE sector in Bristol that serves the LGBTQ+ community was seriously underdeveloped. The majority of community organisations that are equalities-led (e.g. run by the LGBTQ+ community) are small and unincorporated. Our analysis showed that a very small percentage of funding goes to LGBTQ+ led organisations. In recent years, some organisations, such as LGBT Bristol, have closed for lack of funding and support.

Voscur, therefore, initiated a positive action strand to understand the situation, build on community assets and to enable a new LGBTQ+ partnership. It is our intention that, by strengthening the LGBTQ+ VCSE sector in Bristol and building provision strategically and systematically, VCSE organisations led by and for LGBTQ+ people will benefit from stability, collective voice and increased provision.

Enabling the VCSE sector partnerships

A major new development for us in this year has been the chance to cement in partnerships with key organisations using funding from our Bristol City Council ETVS grant. As part of this new approach, we have worked with Community Anchor Organisations – Southmead Development Trust, Eastside Community Centre and Knowle West Health Park – to coproduce a new way of working together. In addition, our funding to Locality and Stepping Up enables us to deliver programmes in partnership – to benefit communities of place and people from marginalised communities respectively.

Activities for self-generated income

Membership

On 31 March 2023, Voscur's membership comprised 324 organisations with full membership and 12 individual memberships. There were 30 Affiliate organisations. Forty organisations with an income of less than £10,000 per annum received free full membership.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Recruitment advertising

Voscur’s website continues to be a well-known and highly valued option for the VCSE sector to recruit staff and volunteers.

Consultancy services

Charged services remain central to our work and Voscur’s sustainability. During the year, we provided charged services to may VCSE organisations.

These services included:

Bespoke training

Alongside our consultancy services, we have evolved a new area of charged-for services, bespoke training. We liaise closely with our client organisations to identify their training needs and tailor a package of in-house training for their teams accordingly.

By providing charged services, we are able to provide specialist, responsive services for individual organisations and partnerships. Such tailored work is not covered by our main grants/contracts and provides significant support/advice to many VCSE organisations and collaborations.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Financial review 2022-23

Voscur, like many VCSE organisations, has emerged from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic into the challenges faced by both individuals and organisations caused by the Cost- of-Living crisis. As a leading organisation for the VCSE sector, Voscur is shaping the strategic plans for how VCSE organisations, working with key partners across the city, can weather the storm caused by parallel rising costs and rising demands.

For Voscur, we were fortunate to secure a grant from Bristol City Council to lead on Enabling the VCSE sector in Bristol through a competitive bidding process. This meant that in 2022-23, we embarked on the first year of a four-year grant programme aimed at enabling the VCSE sector to thrive. In Years 1 and 2 only of this four-year period, the grant is extended by Quartet Community Foundation. Our unrestricted, self-generated income decreased during 2022-23 to £128,626, due mainly to staff turnover. Work is underway to improve the offer and process for organisations to use our charged-for consultancy or bespoke training work with organisations and our job advertising service. Where VCSE organisations are not eligible for capacity-building consultancy services that are funded through our contracts and grants, we are able to offer them a paid-for consultancy or bespoke training option. Job adverts continue to be a significant revenue stream for Voscur, and our profile in this area is one on which we hope to build going forward. Indeed, in this financial year, we provided our first paid-for consultancy service to a VCSE organisation on Salary Benchmarking, using our large data set on advertising jobs in the local VCSE sector for over ten years.

Our staffing expenditure also increased during the year as, with the sustainable funding secured via our Bristol City Council grant for 2022-2026, we were able to attract new staff or retain existing staff more effectively than in previous years when we faced insecure funding and the resulting impact on staff retention.

Towards the end of financial year 2022-23, we were asked to take on a major new partnership, the VCSE Alliance linked to the Integrated Care Board, as interim host organisation. As we move into the next financial year, we are deeply encouraged to see the partnership taking off and the potential for the VCSE sector’s role in improving wellbeing and health outcomes being recognised. Our aim is to ensure that sustainable funding can be sourced for the VCSE Alliance, as the initial funding allocated from the ICB is non-recurrent.

It is useful to note that, alongside the funding received in March 2023 for the VCSE Alliance partnership, Voscur also received an additional one-off grant from Bristol City Council towards capacity building support for organisations with physical assets. This means that a total of £310,000 was received in March 2023 for spending in 2023-24, and possibly into the first two quarters of 2024-25. This accounts for our income appearing higher than our expenditure.

During 2022-23, our overall income increased to £991,014 (£629,011 in 2021-22). As noted above, this is due to the additional grants received at the end of the financial year. Our expenditure increased to £762,900 (£708,609 in 2021-22). Our self-generated income decreased from the previous financial year - £128,626 (£180,238 in 2021-22) due mainly to a decrease in consultancy services delivered. This decrease is linked to a turnover in staff with certain expertise, and the time to recruit and train new staff.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

At the end of 2022-23 Voscur generated a surplus of £228,114 compared to a deficit of £79,598 in 2021-22. This is due to the fact that, as noted above, grants were received at the end of the financial year for spending in the 2023-24 financial year.

Over 2022-23 the funds held by Voscur increased, mainly in restricted funds. Our designated funds remained the same from the previous year (£206,328). We saw a reduction in our general fund to £20,191, (£141,153 in 2021-22). This is due to a reduction in self-generated income, linked to staff turnover, and investment decisions made by the board to improve future resilience.

Reserves policy

Voscur seeks to raise and maintain sufficient funds in the reserves accounts to cover the following contingencies:

Designated reserves

Voscur seeks to maintain a Staff Contingency designated reserve (to cover costs arising from sick leave or other enforced staff absence and the costs of closure of the organisation and its activities). This is based on 6 months’ running down time, including redundancies, any contract obligations and skeleton staffing.

Overall, our designated reserves have remained the same over the financial year. Our Dilapidations designated reserve remains at £25,168. The Strategic Development reserve has a balance of £4,971. Our IT (replacements and web development) designated reserve was not used during 22-23 and stands at £30,000. Our contingency reserve is £146,189, leaving a total of £206,328.

Going concern note

Voscur had an unrestricted reserve balance of £226,519 at 31 March 2023. We are very aware that as we continue into 2023-24 there are increasing pressures on voluntary sector organisations in terms of rising costs of operating and this general reserve will give a level of financial stability moving forward.

Voscur was successful in its bid to Bristol City Council for the Enabling the Voluntary Sector funding, awarded in 2021-22 and commenced in this financial year. This will provide confirmed income for this programme for the next four financial years from BCC. Voscur is due to receive £236,608 from Bristol City Council which will be supported by an additional £80,000 from Quartet Community Foundation in Year 2; the additional funding from QCF will not repeat into Years 3 and 4 of the BCC funding. Overall, this funding has had a significant impact on Voscur’s continued financial stability and the development of its services. Voscur has also been successful in attracting other funds for specific projects, most notably the £200,000 non-recurrent funding awarded to Voscur to establish the new interim VCSE alliance over 2023-24.

The self-generated income streams (Membership, Job Adverts, Consultancy and Training) are an area of focus for the Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team, and strategies to increase these sources of income, whilst still meeting Voscur’s core objectives, are regularly reviewed.

Moving into 2023-24, Voscur is monitoring its ongoing financial position regularly, with particular attention on income generation and reducing expenditure. The Trustees feel that the current financial position will enable Voscur to continue to provide a high level of support and service to the VCSE sector.

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

The Trustees are keen for Voscur to develop and increase its self- generated income as we move into the future and are reviewing how are our offer and services can be improved and future-proofed.

As Voscur moves forward into 2023-24, there will be developments of a range of initiatives, programmes and services to beneficiaries that will enable the organisation to build further on our foundations to further lead and shape community-led action and community-owned solutions. The Trustees are confident that Voscur is a going concern based on its ongoing financial position.

Structure, governance and management

Voscur was formed as an unincorporated organisation in 1995, registered and incorporated as a company (limited by guarantee) on 31 January 2000, and registered as a charity on 01 August 2012.

The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of the charity being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount of up to £1. Voscur is a member of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) which is a national body for Councils for Voluntary Service.

Governance and appointment of Trustees

Trustees who have served during the year and since the year end are set out in this report. Trustees are elected annually by the members of the charity and serve for a three-year period. A further threeyear term may be served. The governance of the organisation is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the charity who are also the directors of Voscur Limited. The Board comprises of at least three and not more than fifteen individuals. Of this, thirteen Trustees must be nominated by members. Up to two additional Trustees can be co- opted by the Board to bring specialist skills or experience to the organisation’s governance; co-opted Trustees must stand down at the AGM and be elected by members. The Trustees appoint a Chair, up to two Vice Chairs and a Treasurer. The Board meets six times per year. All Trustees give their time freely and no Trustees were paid during the year.

Members of the Board of Trustees and staff have signed declarations of interest in the organisation and a register of any interests is kept.

Details of Trustees’ expenses and related party transactions are disclosed within these accounts. Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the organisation and, in accordance with the organisation’s Memorandum and Articles, withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.

Decision making structure

The Board is responsible for strategic planning, agreeing policies, ensuring the organisation complies with any legal and regulatory requirements, and ensuring that Voscur uses its resources in line with its charitable objects. The Board delegates the day-to-day management of the organisation to the Chief Executive and senior management team who are paid members of staff. In 2022-23, the Board implemented changes to its sub committees, with a single Resources Committee replaced by both a Finance committee and an HR committee.

Trustee induction and training

Voscur provides an induction for new Trustees which includes an overview of the structure and operation of the business and an opportunity to meet the staff team. They are also supplied with a

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Voscur Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Trustee Pack containing documents and information pertinent to their roles and responsibilities. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate training courses, meetings and conferences relevant to their role.

Pay and remuneration for staff

Voscur pay and remuneration is set using local and national market benchmarking. Voscur uses benchmarking from across the VCSE sector to best understand its salary offer to current and potential staff. Voscur is a Living Wage Employer and all staff are paid at or above the Real Living Wage.

Risk statement

Trustees review the major risks to which the charity is exposed and work with the management team to continually develop systems and procedures to manage and mitigate those risks.

Statement of responsibilities of the Trustees

The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the situation of the charitable company and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charitable company for the year.

In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:

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 which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees 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.

Members of the charitable company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of winding up. The Trustees are members of the charitable company, but this entitles them only to voting rights. The Trustees have no beneficial interest in the charitable company.

Independent examiners

Godfrey Wilson Limited were appointed as Independent Examiners to the charitable company during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the Trustees on 5 December 2023 and signed on their behalf by the Chair of Trustees:

Lin Whitfield

Lin Whitfield Chair of Trustees

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Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

Voscur Limited

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Voscur Limited (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 15 to 33.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the 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 the charitable company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘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 the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

Godfrey Wilson Limited also provides bookkeeping and payroll services to the charitable company. I confirm that as a member of the ICAEW I am subject to the FRC’s Revised Ethical Standard 2016, which I have applied with respect to this engagement.

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:

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.

Alison Godfrey

Date: 6 December 2023 Alison Godfrey FCA Member of the ICAEW For and on behalf of: Godfrey Wilson Limited Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol, BS1 4QD

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Voscur Limited

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

For the year ended 31 March 2023
Note
Income from:
Donations
Charitable activities
3
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
5
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Net income / (expenditure)
and net movement in funds		 Restricted
£
-
861,721
-
861,721
-
512,645
512,645
349,076
126,323
475,399		 Unrestricted
£
13
128,626
654
129,293
11,762
238,493
250,255
(120,962)
347,481
226,519		 2023
Total
£
13
990,347
654
991,014
11,762
751,138
762,900
228,114
473,804
701,918		 2022
Total
£
1,126
627,834
51
629,011
15,883
692,726
708,609
(79,598)
553,402
473,804

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 14 to the accounts.

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Voscur Limited

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2023

As at 31 March 2023
Note
Current assets
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year
12
Net current assets
Net assets
13
Funds
14
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
General funds
Total charity funds		 83,425
657,039
740,464
38,546		 2023
£
701,918
701,918
475,399
206,328
20,191
701,918		 2022
£
41,799
476,211
518,010
44,206
473,804
473,804
126,323
206,328
141,153
473,804

The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 477(2), and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the trustees on 5 December 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Lin Whitfield

Lin Whitfield Chair of the Trustees

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Voscur Limited

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2023

For the year ended 31 March 2023
Cash used in operating activities:
Net movement in funds
Adjustments for:
Interest received
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Interest received
Net cash provided by investing activities
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		 2023
£
228,114
(654)
(41,626)
(5,660)
180,174
654
654
180,828
476,211
657,039		 2022
£
(79,598)
(51)
(870)
(52,163)
(132,682)
51
51
(132,631)
608,842
476,211

The charity has not provided an analysis of changes in net debt as it does not have any long term financing arrangements.

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Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

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) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Voscur Limited 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 notes.

b) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charitable company has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the items of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from the government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charitable company has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of provision of a service relating to specific periods is deferred until criteria for income recognition are met. Contract income is recognised when invoiced, unless it relates to a future event or period, in which case it is deferred.

d) Volunteer time

In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised as a monetary value. Voscur engages volunteers in many capacities to support and enhance the work that is carried out.

e) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charitable company; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

f) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charitable company. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charitable company which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charitable company's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charitable company.

18

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. Accounting policies (continued)

g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Irrecoverable VAT is charged to support costs within expenditure.

h) Allocation of support and governance costs

2023 2022
Raising funds 1.5% 2.2%
Charitable activities 98.5% 97.8%

i) Grants payable

Grants payable are recognised in the year in which the offer is conveyed to the recipient except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attached have been fulfilled.

j) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

k) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

l) Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charitable company has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

m) Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

19

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. Accounting policies (continued)

n) Redundancy and termination costs

Where an employee receives a termination benefit the full cost is recognised at the date the employee is notified.

o) Pension costs

The charitable company offers a defined contribution scheme, contributing 7% of gross pay towards an auto-enrolment scheme. The cost of providing pensions and related benefits is included within staff costs.

p) Accounting estimates and key judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

No key sources of estimation or uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements have been identified.

2. Statement of financial activities: prior period comparative

Income from:
Donations
Charitable activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) and net
movement in funds		 Restricted
£
£
-
1,126
447,596
180,238
-
51
447,596
181,415
-
15,883
543,267
149,459
543,267
165,342
(95,671)
16,073
Unrestricted		 2022
Total
£
1,126
627,834
51
629,011
15,883
692,726
708,609
(79,598)

20

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

3. Income from charitable activities

Grants
Membership
Training
Job advertisements
Consultancy
Total charitable activities
Prior period comparative
Grants
Membership
Training
Job advertisements
Consultancy
Total charitable activities		 Restricted
Unrestricted
£
£
861,721
-
-
23,397
-
7,094
-
83,018
-
15,117
861,721
128,626
Restricted Unrestricted
£
£
447,596
-
-
22,997
-
10,912
-
76,429
-
69,900
447,596
180,238		 2023
Total
£
861,721
23,397
7,094
83,018
15,117
990,347
2022
Total
£
447,596
22,997
10,912
76,429
69,900
627,834

4. Government grants

The charitable company receives government grants, deemed to be funding from Bristol City Council, BNSSG NHS and the National Lottery Community Fund, to fund core services and charitable activities. The total value of such grants in the period ending 31 March 2023 was £587,300 (2022: £363,608). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants.

21

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

5. Total expenditure

Total expenditure
Staff costs (note 7)
Travel, subs and recruitment
Training and conferences
Meeting and network costs
Subscriptions, membership and
resources
Advisory and consultancy
Rent, rates and office space
Office supplies, stationery and post
IT costs
Grants payable (note 8)
Newsletter and directory
Insurance, legal and professional fees
Audit and accountancy
Bank charges
Irrecoverable VAT
Sub-total
Allocation of support and governance
costs
Total expenditure		 £
9,600
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9,600
2,162
11,762
Raising
funds		 £
521,931
7,681
664
9,174
-
7,800
-
-
-
62,750
3,059
-
-
-
-
613,059
138,079
751,138
Charitable
activities		 £
27,496
1,908
1,867
-
3,632
900
26,031
17,990
32,237
-
-
6,709
9,241
95
12,135
140,241
(140,241)
-
Support and
governance		 2023
Total
£
559,027
9,589
2,531
9,174
3,632
8,700
26,031
17,990
32,237
62,750
3,059
6,709
9,241
95
12,135
762,900
-
762,900

Total governance costs in the year were £3,253 (2022: £6,450).

22

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

5. Total expenditure: prior period comparative

Staff costs (note 7)
Travel, subs and recruitment
Training and conferences
Meeting and network costs
Subscriptions, membership and
resources
Advisory and consultancy
Rent, rates and office space
Office supplies, stationery and post
IT costs
Grants payable (note 8)
Newsletter and directory
Insurance, legal and professional fees
Audit and accountancy
Bank charges
Irrecoverable VAT
Sub-total
Allocation of support and governance
costs
Total expenditure		 £
13,670
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
13,670
2,213
15,883
Raising
funds		 £
478,156
-
5,634
65
-
7,822
-
-
11,133
89,831
3,571
-
-
-
-
596,212
96,514
692,726
Charitable
activities		 £
20,311
4,916
4,679
-
2,968
484
24,915
14,402
9,369
-
-
7,470
4,163
125
4,925
98,727
(98,727)
-
Support and
governance		 2022
Total
£
512,137
4,916
10,313
65
2,968
8,306
24,915
14,402
20,502
89,831
3,571
7,470
4,163
125
4,925
708,609
-
708,609

23

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

6. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Auditors' remuneration:
Statutory audit (ex VAT)
Independent examination (ex VAT)
Other services (ex VAT)
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Trustees' remuneration		 2023
£
Nil
Nil
-
2,700
3,828		 2022
£
Nil
Nil
5,250
-
250

7. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension contributions
Freelance staff		 2023
£
459,577
37,025
32,074
30,351
559,027		 2022
£
390,722
31,863
27,954
61,598
512,137

No employee earned more than £60,000 during the year.

Included within salaries and wages is a termination payment of £3,000 for one employee (2022: statutory redundancy costs of £1,722 for one employee). There are no amounts outstanding at the year end in relation to these payments.

The key management personnel of the charitable company comprise the trustees, the Chief Executive and senior managers. Total employee benefits paid to key management personnel were £137,134 (2022: £184,983).

Average staff head count 2023
No.
18.50		 2022
No.
15.50

24

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

8.
Grants payable
Grants to institutions:
Southmead Development Trust
Stepping Up Diverse Education Ltd
Locality
Eastside Community Trust
Knowle West Health Park Company
CVS South Gloucestershire
3SG - Banes Third Sector Group
Voluntary Action North Somerset
South Bristol Church & Community Trust
St Marys and St James Church
The Brigstowe Project
Friends of Caswell Thompson
St Werburgh's Community Association
Wellspring Settlement
Grassroot Communities
Avon Tennis
Black2Nature
Broad Plain & Riverside Youth Project
Malcolm X Community Centre
Chaysestar Entertainment CIC
Avon Riding Centre for the Disabled
Bristol Horn Youth Concern
Total grants awarded to institutions
Support costs incurred by Voscur in the administration of the grants		 2023
£
31,250
7,500
5,000
4,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
1,000
1,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
62,750
7,500		 2022
£
-
-
-
-
1,800
-
-
-
-
-
10,000
9,902
9,817
9,705
9,240
8,100
7,125
6,480
5,614
4,620
3,827
3,601
89,831
9,502

A proportion of the grants awarded by Voscur to Southmead Development Trust, Eastside Community Trust and Knowle West Health Park company in 2023 are the distribution of grant income received from Bristol City Council under our Enabling the VCSE Sector grant. Building on this partnership, we were then able to allocate further grants received from NAVCA to these Community Anchor organisations along with St Mary and St James Church and South Bristol Church and Community Trust, for work related to supporting communities impacted by the Cost of Living crisis. Also as part of our Enabling the VCSE sector grant, funded by Bristol City council, we subcontracted Stepping Up to deliver a leadership course to marginalised groups, and we subcontracted Locality to deliver work in Bristol to benefit communities of place.

Southmead Development Trust; 3SG BANES; VANS; and CVS South Gloucestershire were the beneficiaries of Sport England money distributed for the Tackling Inequalities project.

All grants awarded by Voscur in 2022 are the distribution of grant income received from Sport England for the Tackling Inequalities project. All grants paid were approved by Sport England prior to being dispersed. Voscur partners with another charity in the distribution of Sport England grants, and these are now dispersed by them, so there are no such grants for 2023.

25

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

9. Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

10. Operating lease commitments

The charitable company had operating leases for land and property at the year end with total future minimum lease payments as follows:

Amount falling due within 1 year:
Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
Other debtors
Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
VAT
Other creditors		 2023
£
-
2023
£
35,353
7,462
33,237
7,373
83,425
2023
£
15,621
21,709
-
-
1,216
38,546		 2022
£
3,287
2022
£
22,953
11,519
5,970
1,357
41,799
2022
£
20,108
19,332
255
437
4,074
44,206

11. Debtors

12. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year

Deferred income relates to contract income invoiced in advance of delivery.

26

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

13. Analysis of net assets between funds

Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2023
Prior period comparative
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2022		 £
475,399
-
475,399
£
126,323
-
126,323
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 Designated
funds
£
206,328
-
206,328
Designated
funds
£
206,328
-
206,328		 General
funds
£
58,737
(38,546)
20,191
General
funds
£
185,359
(44,206)
141,153		 Total
funds
£
740,464
(38,546)
701,918
Total
funds
£
518,010
(44,206)
473,804

27

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Movements in funds

Movements in funds
Restricted funds
Bristol City Council:
Enabling the VCSE sector
Can Do Bristol
Volunteers week
Community resilience
Early intervention
BME voice and influence
WeSport
BNSSG NHS England
SARSAS
Sexual violence study
City funds
Local access programme
Everyday integration
Transport grant
BRASP
WECA community support
Bristol University research
Barrow Cadbury connect fund
LGBTQ+ Lottery fund
Total restricted funds
Designated funds:
Contingency reserve
Dilapidations
IT and web development
Strategic development
Total designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
General funds
Unrestricted funds		 At 1 April
2022
£
4,840
10,000
12,000
-
7,509
1,349
14,197
24,169
2,104
842
1,979
12,140
5,341
1,069
20,063
570
2,459
5,692
-		 Income
£
406,608
-
-
12,900
-
-
56,118
210,000
38,226
-
28,761
15,463
-
-
28,859
32,667
1,108
-
31,011		 £
(307,678)
(2,941)
(8,323)
(5,193)
(7,509)
(1,349)
(18,675)
(30,407)
(4,292)
-
(21,136)
(19,233)
(5,341)
(1,069)
(44,883)
(32,205)
-
-
(2,411)
Expenditure		 £
6,009
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
842
(842)
(317)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(5,692)
-
Transfers
between
funds		 At 31
March
2023
£
109,779
7,059
3,677
7,707
-
-
51,640
203,762
36,880
-
9,287
8,370
-
-
4,039
1,032
3,567
-
28,600
126,323 861,721 (512,645) - 475,399
146,189
25,168
30,000
4,971		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-		 146,189
25,168
30,000
4,971
206,328 - - - 206,328
141,153 129,293 (250,255) - 20,191
347,481 129,293 (250,255) - 226,519
473,804 991,014 (762,900) - 701,918

28

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Movements in funds (continued)

Prior period comparative
Restricted funds
Bristol City Council:
Enabling the VCSE sector
Can Do Bristol
Volunteers week
Early intervention
BME voice and influence
Sport England
WeSport
BNSSG NHS England
SARSAS
Sexual violence study
City funds
Local access programme
Everyday integration
VCSEP
Transport grant
Bristol community transport
BRASP
WECA community support
Bristol University research
Barrow Cadbury connect fund
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds:
Contingency reserve
Dilapidations
IT and web development
Strategic development
Total designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
General funds		 At 1 April
2021
£
59,690
-
-
14,319
977
91,784
13,573
13,827
2,104
842
3,919
11,672
2,482
44
1,069
-
-
-
-
5,692		 Income
£
316,608
10,000
12,000
-
769
-
30,995
25,000
-
-
-
4,056
7,250
1,500
-
4,917
28,531
570
5,400
-		 £
(371,458)
-
-
(6,810)
(397)
(89,831)
(32,324)
(14,658)
-
-
(1,940)
(3,588)
(4,391)
(1,544)
-
(4,917)
(8,468)
-
(2,941)
-
Expenditure		 Transfers
between
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
(1,953)
1,953
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 At 31
March
2022
£
4,840
10,000
12,000
7,509
1,349
-
14,197
24,169
2,104
842
1,979
12,140
5,341
-
1,069
-
20,063
570
2,459
5,692
221,994 447,596 (543,267) - 126,323
146,189
30,000
30,000
5,490		 -
-
-
-		 -
(4,832)
-
(519)		 -
-
-
-		 146,189
25,168
30,000
4,971
211,679 - (5,351) - 206,328
119,729 181,415 (159,991) - 141,153
331,408 181,415 (165,342) - 347,481
553,402 629,011 (708,609) - 473,804

29

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Movements in funds (continued)

Purposes of restricted funds

Funds are restricted by each project's funder, and the funds are used for the purposes described in the trustees' report.

Bristol City Council: Enabling the VCSE sector

Bristol City Council ETVS Grant for the delivery of VCSE sector activities across the City of Bristol, over five outcomes: Enabling confident leadership and influence; creating the conditions so that more organisations are able to share assets; building on the existing business skills and expertise for enterprise; build on the VCSE sector’s capacity to develop, respond to change and problem solve through a city offer; and support the VCSE sector to access local, regional and national assets.

Bristol City Council: Can Do and Volunteers Week

These are two projects funded by Bristol City Council which have been delivered during financial year 22-23, both focused on the strategic promotion and understanding of volunteering across the city.

Bristol City Council: Early intervention

These funds from a previous funding stream have been allocated to our work on early intervention within our capacity building service, to support VCSE sector groups before issues are exacerbated.

BME Voice and influence

Voscur has integrated our BME voice and influence work into our approach to amplifying the voice for People of Colour / BME communities.

WeSport

Funding received from Wesport has allowed Voscur to deliver a range of capacity building and proactive partnership outreach services to organistions in the community to tackle health inequalities.

BNSSG NHS England

Funding received in the final part of 22-23 is to be spent in the following financial year, 23-24, on establishing a VCSE Alliance to work along with the Integrated Care Board to enable the VCSE sector to be a third and equal partner in the Integrated Care system. Voscur was one of the participants in the NHS England programme VCSE Leadership. The programme’s purpose was to embed VCSE sector into forming the Integrated Care Systems and Partnerships. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the work shifted to support the region’s crisis response. Since this time, Voscur, working in partnership with West of England Rural Network, has advocated for improved VCSE sector involvement, participation and engagement through a more coordinated systematic approach. An initial £10,000 was received from NHS England to establish the work, setting up an initial steering group. From this Voscur was asked to act as the interim host for the new VCSE alliance, to liaise closely with the Integrated Care board and enable the VCSE sector to act as a third and equal partner in the system. Funding was received in March 2023 to be spent in 23-24 on achieving this goal, Voscur has worked with key partner organisations to do this.

30

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds

SARSAS

The Sexual Violence Alliance is made up of The Bridge (SARC), Kinergy, SARSAS, The Southmead Project and Womankind. The Sexual Violence Complex Trauma Pathfinder Project was commissioned in 2021 to improve therapeutic provision for adults living across the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area who have been raped or sexually assaulted at any time in their lives. The main aim of the Pathfinder is to improve the capacity of systems within this geographical area to respond to sexual violence and its effects across the full range of complexity that is known to exist in the experiences of people who have been sexually harmed. The Pathfinder is being delivered by The Bridge (SARC), Kinergy, SARSAS, The Southmead Project and Womankind. Voscur’s role is to host the Partnership Manager for this programme.

Sexual violence study

Voscur, working in partnership with the Bristol Sexual Violence Support Consortium was a feasibility study into the potential for consortium members to introduce charges for counselling services. Whilst the initial phase of this project was completed, Voscur has developed the programme utilising the reserve connected to this project, in line with the funder’s requirements.

City funds

This funding was awarded to enable Voscur to use its community networks to gather information on how City Funds grants can be best used to support grassroots organisations. This work has continued to be delivered utilising this restricted fund.

Local access programme

The original phase of this programme, funded by the Access Foundation and Big Society Capital, supported the development of a place-based social enterprise and investment programme. The new phase of this programme, which commenced in January 22, has taken the initial design and development plan to a detailed delivery plan. This delivery plan has been implemented during financial years 22-23 and will continue to be implemented in 23-24. Our Enterprise Programme allows Voscur to support community organisations to build capacity, understanding and possibilities towards social investment.

Everyday integration

Everyday integration is a collaborative research and action project developing an approach and tools to foster inclusion across the city – starting from the perspective of ordinary people in their day to day lives. Led by the University of Bristol, with Voscur, Black South West Network, ACH and Eastside Community Trust as key partners, the project explores the integration and inclusion in terms of work, learning and social life, mobility, culture, democracy and economics. It produced a practical toolkit to support effective approaches in early 2022 and supported inclusion forums across the city.

Transport grant

This grant was awarded to support 50% of the costs for an organisational sustainable transport policy via Travel West and Bristol City Council.

31

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds

Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seeker Partnership (BRASP)

This programme was delivered in collaboration with Bristol Refugee Rights. Voscur’s role has been to contribute to the development of an action plan to provide a range of services for smaller organisations in the field, and the development of resources, specialist advice and support for those seeking asylum.

WECA community support

This programme commenced in February 22. The project, entitled ‘Skills for Social Purpose’ enabled participants, from areas of social deprivation within Bristol, to attend specific training and then attend placements with various voluntary and social enterprise organisations within the city. At the end of these placements, Voscur assisted the participants to seek paid or voluntary employment, utilising the skills and knowledge developed through their experience on the programme. A second parallel project was also launched under this funding, Women in the VCSE Sector Peer Mentoring network, to support and enable women to take confident steps in their careers in the local sector, and to be unafraid of their own leadership potential.

Bristol University research

Voscur was approached by the University of Bristol to research the impact of COVID in our city. The results of this research were then compiled, published and the resulting report was launched. Overall this programme was a resounding success, which we at Voscur, hope will lead to more productive work with the University in the near future.

Barrow Cadbury connect fund

A collaboration with Bristol & Bath Regional Capital to provide long-term support to VCSE groups that want to increase their future sustainability through social enterprise/investment.

LGBTQ+ Lottery fund

Funding was applied for and received from the National Lottery to enable Voscur to lead on the establishment of an LGBTQ+ partnership for the city; following Voscur’s identifiying of this significant gap for people with lived experience in the city’s voice and influence ecosystem.

Purposes of designated funds

Contingency reserve

Voscur considers it prudent, should funding streams no longer be available, or delays in receiving agreed funds, to ensure that a suitable reserve (aiming for three months of running costs) is maintained to ensure the continuation of current service levels.

Dilapidations

This reserve has been established to enable Voscur, in the event of a move to different premises, to make good any potential dilapidations, decorations, etc. to the existing premises. A small part of this Designated Reserve was utilised during 21-22 to enable the repainting of the Voscur office.

32

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of designated funds

IT web development

This reserve has been established in order to support the agreed development of the Voscur website and provide sufficient funds to enable the purchase and upgrade of mobile equipment for the Voscur staff team.

Strategic development

This reserve was initially created to ensure that all infrastructure and human resources requirements are robust. This was originally designated to specifically ensure that these requirements were met during the proposed merger negotiations.

15. Related party transactions

As Voscur is an umbrella organisation for the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Bristol, most members of the board of trustees are also in management positions in organisations which are members of Voscur. These members each pay a fee to Voscur of between £50 and £120 per annum. At various times, Voscur also purchases the services of member organisations associated with Trustees. These are generally for room hire/events services and are done at arms length and in line with Voscur's financial procedures policy.

Ellie Collier, a trustee of Voscur, is also the CEO of Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust. During the year Voscur received income of £55 (2022: £35) from Arnos Vale for job advertisements. At year end, there were no balances outstanding (2022: £nil). During the year Voscur purchased services of £303 from Arnos Vale for room hire (2022: £105 for first aid training). There were no amounts outstanding at the year end.

Ed Norton, a trustee of Voscur from November 2021, is also the CEO of Life Cycle UK. During the prior year Voscur received income of £489 from Life Cycle UK for job advertisements. At 31 March 2022, there were no balances outstanding.

Will Bee, the husband of Lin Whitfield, a trustee of Voscur, is the Vice President of the Quartet Community Foundation. During the year, Voscur received income totalling £429 (2022: £227) from the Quartet Community Foundation for training and job advertisements and grant income of £81,000 (2022: £nil). There were no amounts outstanding at the year end (2022: £nil). During the year, Voscur purchased phone system services totalling £2,436 (2022: £2,087) from the Quartet Community Foundation. At 31 March 2023, £203 was outstanding (2022: £203).

Will Bee, the husband of Lin Whitfield, a trustee of Voscur, is the chair of trustees of the Wellspring Settlement. During the year, Voscur received income totalling £545 (2022: £820) from the Wellspring Settlement for job advertisements. At the year end £90 (2022: £175) was outstanding. During the current year, Voscur paid £121 to Wellspring Settlement for room hire (2022: £nil). During the prior year, Voscur provided a grant to the Wellspring Settlement of £9,075 for the Tackling Inequalities project. There were no amounts outstanding at year end.

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