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2024-03-31-accounts

Serving the VCSE Sector in Bristol since 1995

Voscur Limited

Report and Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024

Voscur Limited is the Support and Development Agency for Bristol’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. Registered Charity 118403 – Company Limited by Guarantee 3918210 – VAT No. 974 3387 81

Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Reference and Administra�ve Details

For the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

Company Number: 3918210 Charity Number: 1148403

Royal Oak House Royal Oak Avenue Bristol BS1 4GB

Members of the Board of Trustees and their interests

Members of the Board of Trustees, who are directors for the purpose of company law, who served during the year and since the year-end were as follows:

Lin Whitfield Chair Retired December 2023
Andrea Dell Chair Co-opted July 2023; Elected December 2023; Elected Chair February
2024
Vita Terry Vice-chair Stepped down as Vice-Chair November 2023;resigned July2024
Albert Gardiner Vice-chair
Ellie Collier Vice-chair Elected Vice-Chair February2024
Phil Barry Treasurer
Chris Egitto Trustee
SallyFox Trustee Retired December 2024
Lan Nguyen Trustee Elected December 2023
Ed Norton Trustee
ThanhQuan-Nicholls Trustee Resigned September 2023
Hayley Shaw Trustee Co-opted September 2023; Elected December 2023
Karin Takel Trustee Elected December 2023

Rebecca Mear

Bankers

Lloyds Bank plc 282/4 Wells Road Knowle Bristol BS4 2PY

Independent Examiners

Godfrey Wilson Limited 5[th] Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Introduc�on

Our new mission statement, agreed in 2023-24, is to be “an ecosystem leader to enable powerful communi�es, advance equity, and unleash new possibili�es that improve lives.”

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 Local Infrastructure Organisa�on (LIO) and a charity dedicated to serving the social economy of Bristol and surrounding areas (the West and South West of England). We are an established organisa�on with a proven track record in empowering and enabling communi�es to act and drive forward solu�ons to address entrenched problems, such as inequali�es – social and health – and poverty.

In 2023-24, we launched our new One-Page strategic plan, coproduced by our team and trustees and with stakeholder input, to take us forward into a new era. We redefined our mission statement, a process of reimaging our organisa�onal purpose and ar�cula�ng it to recognise the crucial role we play and have played in the past, in the present and the future. We developed a new form of internal strategic plan, backed up by a delivery plan, to pilot a new approach to how we drive forward our strategy.

work:

We also have ar�culated the Founda�ons we need to enable within our organisa�on to ensure that the delivery of our mission is sustainable.

Our charitable objec�ves and the ini�a�ves and services we lead are aimed at improving the quality of life of people and communi�es by enabling and strengthening the local organisa�ons that serve them or are driven by them. For nearly 30 years, we have worked with VCSE organisa�ons to enable them to develop, shape policy and strategy, secure more sustainable forms of income and funding, share resources, and collaborate in partnership. Our services are designed to help our members and the sector deliver impac�ul, holis�c services, projects and ini�a�ves in our communi�es.

Voscur is an organisa�on that catalyses partnerships, uses data and community insight to iden�fy gaps and barriers facing communi�es, and works with our wide range of contacts to bring people together to foster the condi�ons for change. We bring the VCSE voice to key tables. It is our role to advocate for the unique abili�es and trusted role of the sector. As we move into 2024-25, we are working in partnership to enable cross-sector collabora�on with the purpose of championing community-led ac�on and investment in community-led solu�ons.

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Our support for the VCSE sector as it con�nues to deal with rising costs and rising demands brought on by the Cost-of-Living crisis has been a key theme for 2023-24. For some VCSE organisa�ons, this has represented an existen�al threat. Our work on the “Taking the Pulse of the VCSE Sector” programme with One City partners has enabled us to lead coproduced workstreams to explore systemic changes and work together to mi�gate for the nega�ve consequences or Rising Costs, Rising Demands and risks for the sector.

Our work funded by Bristol City Council has enabled us to focus further on those VCSE groups and organisa�ons that work with communi�es that experience the greatest inequality and disadvantage. We work closely with these organisa�ons across the city to iden�fy where our services can add best value and find new ways to reach those groups that will not otherwise find us.

In March 2023, we were approached by the Integrated Care Board for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire to take on the hos�ng role for the new VCSE Alliance. This reflected our role as one of the VCSE infrastructure organisa�ons pioneering partnership work in the health and wellbeing space in previous years, and we con�nue to be an integral part of the collabora�ve leadership model to develop and implement the VCSE Alliance.

Bristol, through both our work on the Local Access Programme and our new project as part of Social Economy West. This has meant social enterprises, and community organisa�ons exploring trading as an op�on, have been given expert support. It is tes�mony to the strength of this offer that 81% of social enterprises we supported have been from the areas of highest depriva�on across the city – demonstra�ng the innova�on coming out of community organisa�ons.

During this year, our services con�nued to adapt to the sector’s changing needs and strengths. We are pleased that our work to enable the VCSE sector to thrive con�nues to be supported by Bristol City Council, Sport England, Local Access Programme, Wesport, Quartet Community Founda�on, BNSSG Integrated Care Board, The Na�onal Lotery, funders from the Bristol Funders Network, Pathfinder (SARSAS), the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the West of England Combined Authority, and would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our funders.

In addi�on to our funded programmes, we are pleased that our ability to self-generate income for consultancy and bespoke training has led to a healthily diverse set of income streams. These give us future stability and the ability to invest in some of the most innova�ve methods to achieve our core mission. Our thanks to all the organisa�ons that have chosen Voscur for these services.

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

The 2023-24 year came to a close on an incredible high – with the relaunch of our renowned Bristol Social Impact Awards (formerly known as The Voscurs). This award ceremony had not taken place for five years, and the ceremony achieved recogni�on for VCSE organisa�ons, and the people who work or volunteer within them, for their dedica�on, ini�a�ve and exper�se. The Bristol Social Impact Awards was an event full of joy and celebra�on, and we were privileged to bring together the people from across the city who strive to make their communi�es healthy, happy and cohesive.

Andrea Dell

Andrea Dell Chair of Trustees

Rebecca Mear

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Ar�cles of Associa�on, and the Statement of Recommended Prac�ce – Accoun�ng and Repor�ng by Chari�es (effec�ve from January 2015; updated January 2019).

Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategy

Our Mission

Our mission is to be an ecosystem leader to enable powerful communi�es, advance equity, and unleash new possibili�es that improve lives.

Our strategic objec�ves

Our ac�vi�es

Capacity building:

Partnership Brokerage and Leadership

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Strategic Development for Impact

Our main ac�vi�es and the individuals and groups we support and enable are described below. All our charitable ac�vi�es focus on increasing the impact of local VCSE organisa�ons in achieving their own charitable purposes more effec�vely. We undertake these ac�vi�es to further our own charitable objects for the public benefit.

Ensuring our work delivers our charitable aims and objec�ves

Highlights for the year 2023-24

Our focus on communi�es facing marginalisa�on, minori�sa�on or poverty

We have increased the focus for our work on equali�es-led community groups and VCSE organisa�ons that are from the 20% most deprived wards in Bristol or micro-sized.

Delivering a Social Enterprise-focused support and development programme through our work on the Local Access Programme and with the introduc�on of Social Economy West. Over the first year of delivering the enhanced offer, 81% of social enterprises accessing our support come from the most deprived wards in the city.

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

We reviewed how we work with the VCSE sector to shape policy and drive innova�ons, and launched three networks: Communi�es for Equali�es, Communi�es of Place, Communi�es of Prac�ce.

The Bristol Social Impact Awards

Celebra�ng the dynamism and crucial role played by many organisa�ons through our Bristol Social Impact Awards ceremony for the first �me since 2019.

The VCSE Alliance

Proud to host and be part of the collabora�ve leadership on the BNSSG VCSE Alliance, bringing together VCSE organisa�ons across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire to lead on new approaches to wellbeing and health with the Integrated Care System.

Strategic Development, Policy-Shaping, Advocacy, and Communica�ons

One of our key areas of work is shaping policy and prac�ce on behalf of the VCSE sector. We work to enable the VCSE sector to be at the forefront of driving change, par�cularly to benefit people and communi�es that experience poverty and inequali�es. To achieve this, we pioneer new approaches and build on best prac�ce and innova�on to enable powerful communi�es to drive their own solu�ons.

trustee team, through direct research and engagement, and through the peer and partnership networks that we host, convene, par�cipate in, or facilitate. In 2023-24, following in-depth consulta�on with partners and stakeholders across the city, we relaunched our strategic Voice and Influence networks to enable the following types of organisa�ons to come together:

Taking the Pulse of the VCSE Sector - Rising Costs, Rising Demands

Voscur has led a coproduc�on group with One City partners (key stakeholders and decision-makers from within the public, private, and VCSE sector in Bristol) on the following parallel workstreams to achieve voice and influence for the VCSE sector to mi�gate for the impact of Rising Costs, Rising Demands:

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

City and region leadership

Over this year, Voscur has been an integral part of VCSE collabora�ve leadership partnerships to work beter together to achieve common goals. These include:

discussions in city leadership Boards and Commitees:

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Capacity Building

Our aim is to see a VCSE sector that is diverse, agile, and resilient – as service providers, as a civil society, as pioneers, and as a system. Our capacity building service works to support the sector in various ways, through advice, skills, resources, training, and peer networks. We reach out and proac�vely target the key groups who need support and who serve the communi�es who are most disadvantaged.

Development services

support networks, and training via our VCSE academy.

As per VCSE organisa�ons’ situa�ons and requests, advice and support sessions focussed on a wide range of issues including governance, recrui�ng and retaining staff or volunteers, fundraising, theory of change, strategic planning and many other issues.

In total we supported 258 organisa�ons and groups with 328 separate 1-1 advice sessions; ran c.20 peer support or skills sharing mee�ngs across 4 dedicated networks (Bristol Charity CEOs network, Women in the VCSE sector network, Community Transport network, and the Welcome Spaces network). In addi�on, we co-facilitated the Bristol Volunteer Organisers Forum with the two Student Unions in the city.

In total, 189 total par�cipants atended “open programme” training sessions with Voscur, with 25 sessions held in 2023-24.

Our organisa�ons’ interest in fundraising and income support has remained high as the sector con�nued 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 con�nued to develop during the year. 189 par�cipants atended “open programme” training sessions with Voscur, on topics including social media, se�ng up a CIC, bid wri�ng, and being a good Trustee.

Analysis of par�cipant evalua�ons shows that our programme con�nues to be viewed as relevant and high quality by members and service users. We offered a wide range of subjects to promote and embed best prac�ce within governance, organisa�onal development including the growth of enterprise and trading, capacity building and advocacy.

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Social Enterprise development support

Our work on developing social enterprise con�nued through the year. The demand for social investment is slowly increasing, with the benefits of enterprise and trading models steadily gaining trac�on. Facilita�ng the development of trading/enterprise support could be expanded further to build and strengthen the pipeline, par�cularly for small- and medium-sized organisa�ons.

In this year, the Local Access Programme Enterprise Project and our new programme under Social Economy West allowed us to offer dedicated advice for social enterprises, or community organisa�ons considering trading. Stage 1 of the Local Access Programme ran from January 2023 and con�nues into 2024-25, having engaged with 90 social enterprises already and providing 127 support interven�ons. In 2023-24, outputs included 20 Bristol-based social enterprise leaders par�cipa�ng in the Voscur Social Enterprise Leadership Programme between November 2023 to March 2024, at a heavily subsidised rate, and 30 organisa�ons atending a workshop focused on prepara�on for social investment.

The Social Economy West programme launched towards the end of 2023-24; 7 organisa�ons atended the programme’s first training session in March 2024.

Capacity building in partnership

Tackling Inequali�es programme (renamed as Together Fund).

Our partnership secured funding to distribute to community organisa�ons for providing sport and physical ac�vi�es, and to provide a Support & Resilience programme so that they could respond to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Aimed at communi�es dispropor�onately affected by the pandemic, our work successfully reached target audiences: 39% of funds/support to culturally diverse communi�es; 23% to lower income communi�es; 23% to people with long-term health condi�ons; and 15% to disabled people/organisa�ons.

Voscur’s Support & Resilience programme included 11 themed training sessions and 3 peer support sessions, which engaged 98 par�cipants from 38 organisa�ons. In addi�on, we provided support to funded organisa�ons via 1:1 advice, consultancy days and bespoke training.

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

As noted under Social Enterprise above, Voscur also ran our own Enterprise Leadership programme, commissioned out to Clore Social Leadership, for people in the sector.

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Partnership Leadership and Brokerage

We believe that amazing things happen when people come together. One of our visions is that the VCSE sector will act as an ecosystem to drive change, working effec�vely in partnership and crosssector. We proac�vely build and strengthen intersec�onal, intra-sector and cross-sector partnerships, enabling community-led improvements to wellbeing, health, and lives.

The Adult 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 therapeu�c provision for adults living across the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area who have been raped or sexually assaulted at any �me 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.

partnership since February 2023.

This role works with the 5 organisa�ons on the partnership, all of which specialise in suppor�ng survivors of sexual violence, to improve how they work together for the benefit of people using their services. By facilita�ng the partnership through the role within Voscur, we have led the partnership through many complex systema�c changes and on to successful longer-term funding bids.

LGBTQ+ partnership

Voscur’s work on the Bristol LGBTQ+ Partnership con�nued in 2023-24, supported by Bristol City Council and the Na�onal Lotery Community Fund. This partnership has been evolved by Voscur, based on a gap that our community-level insights iden�fied, and substan�ated by our data, research and ability to reach marginalised communi�es to seek their views.

In 2023-24, the partnership was kickstarted. Voscur worked to gain a thorough understanding of the needs of Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community and community organisa�ons. We formed a steering group of VCSE organisa�ons to lead the strategic direc�on of the partnership: a majority of steering group members are organisa�ons led by and for the LGBTQ+ community, with the remainder of members providing dedicated support services for the community.

The steering group, supported by the Voscur team, have started in this year to create tangible change to increase and ensure the sustainability of Bristol’s LGBTQ+ VCSE Provision. Two wider partnership events have been held – a launch event in November 2023, where 45 atendees from LGBTQ+ organisa�ons were invited to contribute to the strategic aims of the partnership; and a funding-focused event in February 2024, where 33 atendees from LGBTQ+ organisa�ons took part

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

in a Q&A with funders and workshops about funding and fundraising. Following the second event, Voscur supported successful fundraising applica�ons from members of the partnership through our capacity building offer.

Events will con�nue to be held quarterly, focused on building the capacity of the LGBTQ+ VCSE sector, and crea�ng a unified voice for systema�c change.

Enabling the VCSE sector partnerships

A major new development for us in this year has been the chance to cement in partnerships with key organisa�ons using funding from our BCC ETVS grant. As part of this new approach, we have worked with Community Anchor Organisa�ons – Southmead Development Trust, Eastside Community Centre and Knowle West Health Park – to coproduce a new way of working together. This resulted in a hub and spokes model, with many Voscur staff now based on these three venues on a weekly basis, and able to ensure even further reach into the communi�es that need our support most. In addi�on, our funding to Locality and Stepping Up enables us to deliver programmes in partnership – to benefit communi�es of place and people from marginalised communi�es respec�vely.

Ac�vi�es for self-generated income

Consultancy, Bespoke Training

Charged-for services remain central to our work and Voscur’s sustainability. During the year, we provided charged services to many VCSE organisa�ons. These services included:

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Alongside our consultancy services, we have evolved a new area of charged-for service, Bespoke Training. We liaise closely with our client organisa�ons to iden�fy their training needs and tailor a package of in-house training for their teams accordingly.

By providing charged services, we can provide specialist, responsive services for individual organisa�ons and partnerships. Such tailored work is not covered by our main grants/contracts and provides significant support/advice to many VCSE organisa�ons and collabora�ons.

Recruitment Adver�sing

Voscur’s website con�nues to be a well-known and highly valued op�on for the VCSE sector to recruit staff and volunteers. 1661 paid and volunteer roles in the VCSE sector were published on the Voscur website in 2023-24.

Our Founda�ons

Our founda�ons are:

Key areas where development has been undertaken in the year are outlined below.

Membership: Legi�macy and Trust

On 31 March 2024, Voscur’s membership comprised 283 organisa�ons and 14 individuals with full vo�ng membership. Of those 283 organisa�ons, 68 organisa�ons with an income of less than £10,000 per annum received free full membership. In addi�on to vo�ng rights, up-to-date Voscur members receive discounted access to job adver�sements and training courses.

14 organisa�ons who are connected to, but not part of, the VCSE sector in the local area were affiliated supporters of Voscur.

Presence in Community Se�ngs

Community Anchor Organisa�ons across the city: The Greenway Centre (Southmead Development

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Trust), Easton Community Centre (Eastside Community Trust) and Knowle West Health Park. This is in addi�on to the regular outreach “drop in” sessions held in community venues across the city.

Exemplary Governance

Voscur’s long-standing Chair of Trustees, Lin Whi�ield, re�red from the Board in December 2023, and Andrea Dell was appointed as Chair in February 2024. Our enormous thanks as an organisa�on to Lin for the commitment and huge range of skills she brought to the role of Chair of the board of trustees.

Led by the new Chair, Andrea Dell, Voscur has undertaken a review of governance structures, to ensure that Voscur’s strategic leadership is as effec�ve and efficient as possible.

Thanks to our people

It’s the people at Voscur who make it an exceptional organisation, achieving long-term systems change and providing expert and caring support to a sector that most certainly needs it. Our staff, volunteers and trustees provide this it with incredible skills and empathy, and are dedicated to our organisational mission. Thank you to all the people who have been an integral part of our organisation in 2023-24 – your contribution is recognised and celebrated here.

A word of thanks

hard work, and commitment of our member groups, the staff team, volunteers, trustees, associates, partners, stakeholders, and supporters who together ensure that Voscur con�nues to deliver muchneeded leadership, support, and development to the VCSE sector in Bristol.

Financial Review 2023-24

As the local VCSE infrastructure organisa�on for Bristol, Voscur is leading a partnership approach with key One City partners – Taking the Pulse of the VCSE sector - to recognise the poten�al impact on VCSE organisa�ons of the parallel rising costs and rising demands caused by the ongoing cost-ofliving crisis. Voscur itself is also impacted by rising costs and rising demands – we are addressing this in our strategic and opera�onal plans by liaising with funders and exploring how to meet our objec�ves while ensuring financial efficiencies.

In 2023-24, we delivered the second year of a four-year grant programme funded by Bristol City Council (BCC) aimed at enabling the VCSE sector to thrive. Quartet Community Founda�on provided an upli� to this funding to enable the work during the first two years of the grant. Under this grant, we work closely with the council and with VCSE sector organisa�ons across the city. We embed a joined-up approach to delivering services that community groups, chari�es and social enterprises

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need. We aim to improve the ecosystem in which they operate to facilitate communi�es being at the heart of real change.

Our unrestricted, self-generated income increased to £157,994 for 2023-24 (a £29k upli� on prior year) due mainly to the internal management focus to improve the offer and process. Standard pricing has been set, so response �me to enquiries were quicker and ul�mately resulted is securing more paid consultancy.

Our trading income includes:

Where VCSE organisa�ons 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 op�on.

for the VCSE Alliance, funded by the Integrated Care Board. Under this funding, three new posts were required, which were created and recruited to in 2023/24: a Strategic Programme manager, a Partnership Development Officer, and a Coordinator. In 2023/24 we awarded all staff a 4% Cost of Living pay increase, and, in recogni�on of funding reduc�ons with our Bristol City Council grant which were imminent in 2024-25, we made 2 staff posts redundant.

Over this year, we appointed two new key posts – Innova�on and Development Director and Finance Director. In addi�on, we built a strengthened Management team through the review of and changes to exis�ng and new posts, enabling a less triangular decision-making structure.

Advisor. This post was funded through the Social Economy West programme (commissioned by the West of England Combined Authority).

Board (ICB) to host a major new partnership, the VCSE Alliance, funded by the ICB, in recogni�on of our long-term partnership work in the area of Wellbeing and Health. Thanks to the hard work of our exis�ng and new staff, we have seen the partnership establish itself quickly. We have ensured that the VCSE Alliance builds on our exis�ng organisa�onal offer as a local infrastructure organisa�on, as well as that of other similar organisa�ons in the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire area. As a result, we have been able to engage the VCSE sector quickly and effec�vely, bringing them together to demonstrate the poten�al for community organisa�ons to drive real change in improving wellbeing and health. Our aim is that sustainable funding can be sourced for the VCSE Alliance, as the ini�al funding allocated from the ICB is non-recurrent.

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towards capacity building support for organisa�ons with physical assets.

These two funding streams equal a total of £310,000 received in March 2023 for spending in 202324, with poten�al for con�nued spending and delivery in 2024-25. In 2023-24, our expenditure is therefore higher than our income due to grants received in the previous financial year being spent in the current one.

During 2023-24, our overall income decreased to £669,997 (£990,014 in 2022-23). As noted above, this is due to the addi�onal grants received at the end of the previous financial year being spent within this financial year. Our expenditure increased to £854,550 (£762,900 in 2022-23) for the same reason. Our self-generated income increased from the previous financial year to £157,994 (£128,626 in 2022-23) due mainly to an increase in consultancy and bespoke training services delivered. At the end of 2023-24 Voscur generated a deficit of £184,553 compared to a surplus of £228,114 in 202223. This is due to the fact that, as noted above, grants were received at the end of the previous financial year for spending in the 2023-24 financial year.

Over 2023-24 the designated dilapida�on fund remained the same. All other unrestricted funds have been moved to general. At the year end these Voscur funds were £114,103.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have reviewed the reserves and reserves policy during the year 2023-24.

Reserves are held:

The Trustees aim to maintain the free unrestricted reserves at a level of three to six months cover of expenditure (less direct grants to third par�es) rather than a fixed target value. Based on the 2023/24 budget this requirement would be £225,000 - £450,000.

designated reserve remains at £25,168. The Strategic Development reserve of £4,971 has been used in the year. The IT (replacements and web development) designated reserve of £30,000 was used during 2023-24.

All remaining designated funds have been moved to our General fund, which has a total of £114,103 at year end 2023-24.

Going Concern Note

Voscur had a total unrestricted reserve balance of £139,271 (including designated funds) at 31

March 2024. We are aware that as we con�nue into 2024-25 there are increasing pressures on

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voluntary sector organisa�ons in terms of rising costs of opera�ng and this general reserve will give a level of financial stability moving forward.

Voscur has con�nued to successfully deliver the BCC-funded Enabling the Voluntary Sector (ETVS) grant, awarded in 2021-22. The current financial year, 2023-24, was the second year of delivery of this four-year grant. Voscur received £236,608 from Bristol City Council which was supported by an addi�onal £80,000 from Quartet Community Founda�on (QCF) in Year 2. The addi�onal funding from QCF will not repeat into Years 3 and 4 of the BCC funding. This funding has had a significant impact on Voscur’s con�nued financial stability and the development of its services. Voscur has also been successful in atrac�ng other funds for specific projects, most notably £200,000 of non-

recurrent funding awarded to Voscur in 2022-23 to establish and host the new interim VCSE Alliance over 2023-24 and post year end an addi�onal £250,000 of funding was received in July 2024 for phase 2 of the project to start in September 2024.

The self-generated income streams (Membership, Job Adverts, Consultancy, Bespoke Training and Open Programme Training) are an area of focus for the Board of Trustees and Management Team, and strategies to increase these sources of income, in line with our core objec�ves, are regularly reviewed.

income genera�on and reducing expenditure where possible. The Trustees feel that the current financial posi�on enables Voscur to con�nue to provide a high level of support and service to the VCSE sector.

Structure, Governance and Management

Voscur was formed as an unincorporated organisa�on 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 Ar�cles of Associa�on. 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 Na�onal Associa�on for Voluntary and Community Ac�on (NAVCA) which is a na�onal 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 three-year term may be served by re-elec�on.

The governance of the organisa�on 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

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or experience to the organisa�on’s governance; the remainder of trustees must be nominated and elected by the members. Co-opted trustees must stand down at the AGM immediately following their co-op�on and be elected by members.

The Trustees appoint a Chair, up to two Vice-Chairs, and a Treasurer. The Board meets six �mes per year. All Trustees give their �me freely and no Trustees were paid during the year.

and a register of any interests is kept.

Details of Trustees’ expenses and related party transac�ons are disclosed within these accounts. Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the organisa�on and, in accordance with the organisa�on’s Memorandum and Ar�cles, withdraw from decisions where a

review and improve our governance opera�ons.

The Board is responsible for strategic planning, agreeing policies, ensuring that the organisa�on complies with any legal and regulatory requirements, and ensuring that Voscur uses its resources in line with its charitable objects. The Board are also responsible for strategic oversight (planning and assurance on delivery and effec�veness). The Board delegates the day-to-day management of the organisa�on to the Chief Execu�ve Officer and Management Team, who are paid members of staff. The Board also delegates responsibility to two sub-commitees, comprised of trustees and senior staff: a Finance Commitee and a HR Commitee. These commitees meet on a quarterly basis.

Trustee Induc�on and Training

Voscur provides an induc�on for new Trustees which includes an overview of the structure and opera�on of the business and an opportunity to meet the staff team. All trustees are issued with the Essen�al Trustee pack. They are also supplied with a Trustee Pack containing documents and informa�on per�nent to their roles and responsibili�es and invited to governance-related training. Trustees are encouraged to atend appropriate training courses, mee�ngs and conferences relevant to their role.

As part of our governance review and improvement process, we intend to further improve training and induc�on for Trustees. Trustees are invited to an away day once a year with the staff team to coproduce and collaborate on strategic plans.

Voscur pay and remunera�on is set with reference to local and na�onal market benchmarking. Voscur uses benchmarking from across the VCSE sector to best understand its salary offer to current and poten�al staff. Voscur is a Real Living Wage Employer, and all eligible staff are paid at or above the Real Living Wage.

18

Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Living pay increase annually. This is benchmarked against the CPI, as published by the Office for Na�onal Sta�s�cs.

Risk Statement

Trustees review the major risks to which the charity is exposed and work with the management team to con�nually develop systems and procedures to manage and mi�gate those risks.

and na�onal risks, and mi�gate for risk wherever possible.

Our key risks that we manage are:

As a board and management team, we have introduced several proac�ve programmes of ac�on to mi�gate for the impacts of the above risks, including a Staff Experience and Reten�on Review, plus increased capacity to manage short-term funding challenges.

Statement of Responsibili�es of the Trustees

The Trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accoun�ng Standards, including Financial repor�ng Standard FRS 102: The Financial Repor�ng Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accoun�ng Prac�ce).

give a true and fair view of the situa�on of the charity and the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accoun�ng records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any �me the financial posi�on of the charitable company and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also

19

Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the preven�on and detec�on of fraud and other irregulari�es.

informa�on included on the charitable company's website. Legisla�on in the United Kingdom governing the prepara�on and dissemina�on of financial statements may differ from legisla�on in other jurisdic�ons.

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 en�tles them only to vo�ng rights. The Trustees have no beneficial interest in the charitable company.

Independent Examiners

Godfrey Wilson Limited were re-appointed as Independent Examiners to the charitable company during the year and have expressed their willingness to con�nue in that capacity.

Approved by the Trustees on 5 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by the Chair of Trustees.

Signed:

Andrea Dell

Andrea Dell Chair of Trustees

20

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 2024, which are set out on pages 22 to 39.

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.

William Guy Blake

Date: 5 December 2024 William Guy Blake ACA 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

21

Voscur Limited

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

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Note
Income from:
Donations
Charitable activities
3
Other trading activities
4
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
6
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Net income / (expenditure)		 Restricted
£
-
504,512
-
-
504,512
-
600,711
600,711
(96,199)
(1,106)
(97,305)
475,399
378,094		 Unrestricted
£
1,170
152,994
5,000
6,321
165,485
11,039
242,800
253,839
(88,354)
1,106
(87,248)
226,519
139,271		 2024
Total
£
1,170
657,506
5,000
6,321
669,997
11,039
843,511
854,550
(184,553)
-
(184,553)
701,918
517,365		 2023
Total
£
13
990,347
-
654
991,014
11,762
751,138
762,900
228,114
-
228,114
473,804
701,918

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.

22

Voscur Limited

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2024

As at 31 March 2024
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		 66,204
534,224
600,428
83,063		 2024
£
517,365
517,365
378,094
25,168
114,103
517,365		 2023
£
83,425
657,039
740,464
38,546
701,918
701,918
475,399
206,328
20,191
701,918

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, 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 2024 and signed on their behalf by

Andrea Dell

Andrea Dell Chair of the Trustees

23

Voscur Limited

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2024

For theyear ended 31 March 2024
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 / (decrease) 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		 2024
£
(184,553)
(6,321)
17,221
44,517
(129,136)
6,321
6,321
(122,815)
657,039
534,224		 2023
£
228,114
(654)
(41,626)
(5,660)
180,174
654
654
180,828
476,211
657,039

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

24

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies a) General information and basis of preparation

Voscur Limited is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. The registered office address is Royal Oak House, Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4GB.

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.

25

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

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.

g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged to support costs within expenditure.

h) Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities based on the proportion of direct costs, as follows:

2024 2023
Raising funds 1.3% 1.5%
Charitable activities 98.7% 98.5%

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.

26

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

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.

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
£
£
-
13
861,721
128,626
-
654
861,721
129,293
-
11,762
512,645
238,493
512,645
250,255
349,076
(120,962)
Unrestricted		 2023
Total
£
13
990,347
654
991,014
11,762
751,138
762,900
228,114

27

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

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
Income from other trading activities
Sponsorship		 Restricted
Unrestricted
£
£
504,512
-
-
24,050
-
11,163
-
70,459
-
47,322
504,512
152,994
Restricted Unrestricted
£
£
861,721
-
-
23,397
-
7,094
-
83,018
-
15,117
861,721
128,626
2024
Total
£
5,000		 2024
Total
£
504,512
24,050
11,163
70,459
47,322
657,506
2023
Total
£
861,721
23,397
7,094
83,018
15,117
990,347
2023
Total
£
-

4. Income from other trading activities

All income from other trading activities is unrestricted.

5. 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 2024 was £264,167 (2023: £587,300). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants.

28

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

6. Total expenditure

Total expenditure
Staff costs (note 8)
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 9)
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		 £
9,409
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9,409
1,630
11,039
Raising
funds		 £
629,089
16,437
605
14,899
-
37,431
-
-
-
20,132
306
-
-
-
-
718,899
124,612
843,511
Charitable
activities		 £
31,728
1,051
2,478
-
3,153
1,000
26,580
9,584
29,477
-
-
5,600
3,179
464
11,948
126,242
(126,242)
-
Support and
governance		 2024
Total
£
670,226
17,488
3,083
14,899
3,153
38,431
26,580
9,584
29,477
20,132
306
5,600
3,179
464
11,948
854,550
-
854,550

Total governance costs in the year were £3,553 (2023: £3,253).

29

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

6. Total expenditure: prior period comparative

Staff costs (note 8)
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 9)
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

30

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

7. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Independent examiners' remuneration:
Independent examination (ex VAT)
Other services (ex VAT)
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Trustees' remuneration		 2024
£
Nil
Nil
2,950
3,006		 2023
£
Nil
Nil
2,700
3,828

8. Staff costs and numbers Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension contributions
Freelance staff		 2024
£
560,758
47,876
38,655
22,937
670,226		 2023
£
459,577
37,025
32,074
30,351
559,027

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

Included within salaries and wages is PILON and redundancy payments totalling £6,703 for 2 employees (2023: termination payment of £3,000 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 £134,410 (2023: £137,134).

Average staff head count 2024
No.
18.7		 2023
No.
18.5

31

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

9.
Grants payable
Grants to institutions:
Stepping Up Diverse Education Ltd
Locality
West of England Rural Network
Knowle West Health Park Company
Voluntary Action North Somerset
Southmead Development Trust
Eastside Community Trust
CVS South Gloucestershire
3SG - Banes Third Sector Group
South Bristol Church & Community Trust
St Marys and St James Church
Total grants awarded to institutions
Support costs incurred by Voscur in the administration of the grants		 2024
£
7,500
5,000
3,325
3,000
1,307
-
-
-
-
-
-
20,132
2,278		 2023
£
7,500
5,000
-
4,000
3,000
31,250
4,000
3,000
3,000
1,000
1,000
62,750
7,500

A proportion of the grant awarded by Voscur to Stepping Up, Locality and Knowle West Health Park in 2023-24 are the distribution of grant income received from Bristol City Council under our Enabling the VCSE Sector grant. We were also able to allocate further grants to Voluntary Action North Somerset from our Together fund via Sport England, and support West of England Rural Network from our VCSE Alliance fund.

Southmead Development Trust; 3SG BANES; VANS; and CVS South Gloucestershire were the beneficiaries of Sport England money distributed for the Tackling Inequalities project in 2023.

10. Taxation

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

11. Debtors

Trade debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
Other debtors		 2024
£
56,171
8,186
-
1,847
66,204		 2023
£
35,353
7,462
33,237
7,373
83,425

32

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

12. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year

Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
Social security and other taxation
Other creditors		 2024
£
23,011
33,214
8,370
15,141
3,327
83,063		 2023
£
15,621
21,709
-
-
1,216
38,546

Deferred income relates to membership income for 2024/25 invoiced before the year end.

13. Analysis of net assets between funds

Restricted Designated General Total
funds funds funds funds
£ £ £ £
Current assets 378,094 25,168 197,166 600,428
Current liabilities - - (83,063) (83,063)
Net assets at 31 March 2024 378,094 25,168 114,103 517,365
Prior period comparative
Prior period comparative
Restricted Designated General
funds funds funds Total funds
£ £ £ £
Current assets 475,399 206,328 58,737 740,464
Current liabilities - - (38,546) (38,546)
Net assets at 31 March 2023 475,399 206,328 20,191 701,918

33

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

14. Movements in funds

Movements in funds
Restricted funds
Bristol City Council:
Enabling the VCSE sector
Can Do Bristol
Volunteers week
Community resilience
WeSport
BNSSG NHS England
SARSAS
City funds
Local access programme
BRASP
WECA community support
Bristol University research
SEW
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
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		 Income
£
316,608
-
-
-
28,059
5,100
27,476
-
91,104
-
306
-
13,401
22,458		 £
(278,515)
(7,059)
(3,677)
(8,188)
(34,121)
(77,627)
(42,924)
(5,431)
(93,377)
(4,039)
(232)
(3,567)
(8,926)
(33,028)
Expenditure		 £
(90,000)
-
-
90,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,106)
-
-
-
Transfers
between
funds		 At 31
March
2024
£
57,872
-
-
89,519
45,578
131,235
21,432
3,856
6,097
-
-
-
4,475
18,030
475,399 504,512 (600,711) (1,106) 378,094
146,189
25,168
30,000
4,971		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-		 (146,189)
-
(30,000)
(4,971)		 -
25,168
-
-
206,328 - - (181,160) 25,168
20,191 165,485 (253,839) 182,266 114,103
226,519 165,485 (253,839) 1,106 139,271
701,918 669,997 (854,550) - 517,365

34

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

14. Movements in funds (continued)
Prior period comparative
At 1 April
2022
£
Restricted funds
Bristol City Council:
Enabling the VCSE sector
4,840
Can Do Bristol
10,000
Volunteers week
12,000
Community resilience
-
Early intervention
7,509
BME voice and influence
1,349
WeSport
14,197
BNSSG NHS England
24,169
SARSAS
2,104
Sexual violence study
842
City funds
1,979
Local access programme
12,140
Everyday integration
5,341
Transport grant
1,069
BRASP
20,063
WECA community support
570
Bristol University research
2,459
Barrow Cadbury connect fund
5,692
LGBTQ+ Lottery fund
-
Total restricted funds
126,323
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds:
Contingency reserve
146,189
Dilapidations
25,168
IT and web development
30,000
Strategic development
4,971
Total designated funds
206,328
141,153
347,481
473,804
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
General funds		 14. Movements in funds (continued)
Prior period comparative
At 1 April
2022
£
Restricted funds
Bristol City Council:
Enabling the VCSE sector
4,840
Can Do Bristol
10,000
Volunteers week
12,000
Community resilience
-
Early intervention
7,509
BME voice and influence
1,349
WeSport
14,197
BNSSG NHS England
24,169
SARSAS
2,104
Sexual violence study
842
City funds
1,979
Local access programme
12,140
Everyday integration
5,341
Transport grant
1,069
BRASP
20,063
WECA community support
570
Bristol University research
2,459
Barrow Cadbury connect fund
5,692
LGBTQ+ Lottery fund
-
Total restricted funds
126,323
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds:
Contingency reserve
146,189
Dilapidations
25,168
IT and web development
30,000
Strategic development
4,971
Total designated funds
206,328
141,153
347,481
473,804
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
General funds		 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		 Transfers
between
funds
£
6,009
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
842
(842)
(317)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(5,692)
-		 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

35

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

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 were delivered during financial year 22-23, both focused on the strategic promotion and understanding of volunteering across the city.

Bristol City Council: Community resilience

Voscur received an additional one-off grant of £90,000 from Bristol City Council in March 2023. This grant was to provide capacity building support to organisations with physical assets, as part of the Community Resilience Fund. Although funds were received in March 2023, this was for spending and delivery in 2023-24, with potential for delivery to continue into 2024-25.

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, still being spent until phase one end date of 30th Sept 2024, 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.

36

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

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.

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.

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.

37

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

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

SEW

A West of England Mayoral Combined Authority initiative, Social Economy West will support and grow the social economy in the region, helping organisations to overcome increasing demand amid the cost-of-living crisis. It will provide charities, third sector organisations, social enterprises, and co-operatives with the resources, expertise and guidance they need to explore opportunities for growth, effectively manage increasing demand on services, build economic resilience and enhance environmental sustainability, manage risk more effectively. Voscur is a delivery partner within this programme

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

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.

Transfers between funds

There is a transfer of £90k between restricted funds this year, as the funder had specified different terms for this funding, which was received in 2022/23, so this had previously been incorrectly allocated.

There are also some transfers out of designated funds, as the charity is amending the way it reflects its reserves.

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 £75 and £250 (plus VAT) 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, was also the CEO of Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust until 21 December 2023. During the year Voscur received income of £90 (2023: £55) for job advertisements, £55 (2023: £nil) for online training and £1,980 (2023: £nil) for consultancy from Arnos Vale. At year end, there were no balances outstanding (2023: £nil).

During the prior year Voscur purchased services of £303 from Arnos Vale for room hire. During 2023/24 Voscur entered into a contract with Arnos Vale to the value of £420, contracting them to provide advice to a small charity under the Local Access Programme. At year end, there were no balances outstanding (2023: £nil).

38

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

15. Related party transactions (continued)

Ed Norton, a trustee of Voscur, is also the CEO of Life Cycle UK. During the year Voscur received income of £180 (2023: £400) from Life Cycle UK for job advertisements. At year end, there were no balances outstanding (2023: £125).

Will Bee, the husband of Lin Whitfield, a trustee of Voscur until 5 December 2023, is the Vice President of the Quartet Community Foundation. During the year, Voscur received income totalling £280 (2023: £429) from the Quartet Community Foundation for training and job advertisements and grant income of £80,000 (2023: £81,000). At 31 March 2024, £95 was outstanding (2023: £nil). During the year, Voscur purchased phone system services totalling £2,915 (2023: £2,436) from the Quartet Community Foundation. At 31 March 2024, £177 was outstanding (2023: £213).

Will Bee, the husband of Lin Whitfield, a trustee of Voscur until 5 December 2023, is the chair of trustees of the Wellspring Settlement. During the year, Voscur received income totalling £630 (2023: £545) from the Wellspring Settlement for job advertisements. At the year end £90 (2023: £90) was outstanding. During the current year, Voscur paid £1,899 to Wellspring Settlement for room hire (2023: £121). At 31 March 2024 £1,350 was outstanding (2023: £nil).

39