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2025-03-31-accounts

Serving the VCSE Sector in Bristol since 1995

Voscur Limited

Report and Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

Voscur is the Support and Development Agency for Bristol’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. Registered Charity 1148403 – Company Limited by Guarantee 03918210 – VAT No. 974 3387 81

Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Reference and Administra�ve Details

For the year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 Company Number: 3918210 Charity Number: 1148403

Royal Oak House Royal Oak Avenue Bristol BS1 4GB

Members of the Board of Trustees

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:

Andrea Dell Chair
Albert Gardiner Vice-chair
Ellie Collier Vice-chair
Phil Barry Treasurer Resigned July2025
AmySutcliffe Trustee Elected December 2024
Chris Egitto Trustee
Ed Norton Trustee
HayleyShaw Trustee
Karin Gray Trustee Name changedfrom Karin Takel in-year
Lan Nguyen Trustee
Michael Lloyd-Jones Trustee Elected December 2024
Nainesh Pandit Trustee Elected December 2024
Dr. Natalie Cozier Trustee Elected December 2024
Xanthe Swift Trustee Elected December 2024
Sally Fox Trustee Retired December 2024
Vita Terry Trustee Resigned July 2024

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 mission statement 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.

Three core func�ons drive our work:

These core func�ons are underpinned by strong founda�ons to ensure excellent governance and financial/opera�onal management.

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. We do this by enabling and strengthening the local chari�es, social enterprises and community groups that serve them or are driven by them. For 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 to enable VCSE sector advocates to influence how decisions are made and how services are designed in order to improve outcomes for communi�es. It is our role to advocate for the unique abili�es and trusted role of the sector.

Over 2024-25, our team at Voscur led on the following changes:

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codesign and partnership approaches with the NHS and Social Care. Over 100 organisa�ons are signed up to the Alliance, and over 60 Ambassadors were being deployed across the system by the end of the year.

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 Assura Community Founda�on; Bristol City Council; Business West; The West of England Combined Authority; BBRC CIC; The Local Access Programme; NHS Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board; SARSAS; NHS England; The Na�onal Lotery Community Fund; and The Nisbet Trust.

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

supported by our board of trustees, we can celebrate our agility in response to VCSE sector needs and our ability to innovate and create structures that support community-led change. As we mark Voscur’s thir�eth year in 2025, we are grateful for all the people and VCSE organisa�ons that have been integral to our

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journey, and enabled us to be there, enabling and suppor�ng our VCSE sector over the long-term. We look forward to the next thirty years!

Andrea Dell

Andrea Dell Chair of Trustees

Rebecca Mear

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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 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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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 2024-25

Strategic Development for Impact

be amplified and recognised through a collec�ve approach.

Enabling the Social Enterprise Pipeline

through our pipeline approach and enhanced Social Enterprise service – resul�ng in 83% of over 100 organisa�ons on our Local Access Programme coming from the most deprived areas of the city.

Forging ambi�ous partnerships

approaches through our work hos�ng and collabora�vely leading the BNSSG VCSE Alliance, the Brokerage Framework and the LGBTQ+ Partnership.

Building the sector’s capacity and resilience

based in community venues on a weekly basis, and reaching an even more diverse range of VCSE organisa�ons as a result.

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approach, a new website and new CRM pla�orm in 2024-25.

Strategic Development for Impact

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.

the sector - through our staff and trustee team, through direct research and engagement, and through the peer and partnership networks that we host, convene, par�cipate in, or facilitate.

three networks (Communi�es of Place, Communi�es of Prac�ce, and Communi�es for Equali�es) were embedded in the city’s ecosystem in 2024-25.

We hosted a large VCSE Sector Forum event in September 2024, allowing these networks to put coproduced ques�ons and ideas to the newly-elected council leader and policy commitee chairs in a Ques�on Time event. We also explored the impact of the Riots of Summer 2024 on the community sector at this event, and took insights into further work on community recovery.

Ecosystem Resilience Panel

On behalf of and working with One City partners – both public and private sectors in Bristol – we launched the Ecosystem Resilience Panel. This brought together a group of One City partner organisa�ons to coproduce a way of improving how we jointly support VCSE organisa�ons to have improved resilience – to support the community organisa�ons on the ground, and to prevent further external shocks impac�ng the VCSE ecosystem.

Civil Society Covenant

Voscur led on a range of surveys and consulta�ons that explored the new Civil Society Covenant, announced by the new na�onal government in 2024. We fed into the na�onal consulta�on process a range of voices from the Bristol VCSE sector, and were able to ensure our local sector’s voice was heard. Our CEO, Rebecca Mear, atended the All Party Parliamentary Group on Chari�es and Volunteering in Parliament, in November 2024, to bring these views to the forefront. We will con�nue to work with partner organisa�ons to shape a meaningful, effec�ve Covenant to transform and improve how the public and VCSE sectors work together into the future.

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NHS England Ten Year Plan

Through our collabora�ve leadership role on the BNSSG VCSE Alliance, and by working closely with the Integrated Care Board and across the health and social care system, we enabled the VCSE sector to understand and influence the NHS England Ten Year Plan. We were able to take these views forward on a na�onal level as well as a regional and a place-based level.

LGBTQ+ Manifesto

By forging the LGBTQ+ Partnership of VCSE organisa�ons and groups, Voscur is bringing together an improved collec�ve approach for this marginalised community. Our goal is to improve the profile and recogni�on of the LGBTQ+ community in the city’s civic life. With our support, the LGBTQ+ Partnership has come together, is building its capacity, and delivered its first Manifesto to poli�cians ahead of the July 2024 general elec�on.

City-wide, regional, and na�onal 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:

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 as diverse, innova�ve, and resilient as the communi�es from which it grows – as service providers, as a civil society, as pioneers, and as a system. We provide the infrastructure to grow VCSE groups and organisa�ons that can drive societal change on a long-term basis.

Our capacity building service works to support the sector in various ways, through advice, skills, resources, training, and peer networks. We reach out and support the key groups who are from or alongside the communi�es who are most disadvantaged to enable them to access our infrastructure offer.

Development services

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 298 organisa�ons and groups with 345 separate 1-1 advice sessions; ran or cofacilitated c.33 peer support or skills sharing mee�ngs across 8 dedicated networks (Bristol Charity CEOs, Women in the VCSE Sector, Community Anchor Organisa�ons, Community Development Networks in North, South, and East Bristol, Peer Sharing for VCSE Alliance Ambassadors, and the Volunteer Organisers’ Forum (co-facilitated with the city’s universi�es and student unions).

Using insights from a consulta�on held in April 2024, we developed a support programme for organisa�ons managing community venues to increase their capacity and sustainability. Themes included: income genera�on and enterprise; business planning; governance; asset management; and financial management. Under this project this year, 33 organisa�ons atended training and peer support networks, and 24 organisa�ons accessed 1-1 advice and consultancy. Within this project, we also piloted a new 'bid wri�ng café' event which provided a suppor�ve space for organisa�ons to work on a grant funding applica�on with a bid wri�ng expert on-hand.

Interest in fundraising and income support among our member organisa�ons 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.

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

VCSE Academy training

Our VCSE Academy service con�nued to develop during the year. 481 par�cipants atended training sessions with Voscur, across 57 specific sessions. Some of these sessions were specifically for funded par�cipants, including under the Local Access Programme, Social Economy West, and Capital Capacity Building programmes. 99 par�cipants atended “open programme” training outside of these funded programmes, on topics including bid wri�ng, recrui�ng and retaining volunteers, championing an�-racism, and se�ng up as a CIC.

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.

Social Enterprise development support

Over this period, Voscur’s support and development work for social and community enterprises grew as we began delivery on the Social Economy West Programme (in collabora�on with WECA and Business West), and delivered a second year of the Local Access Programme (funded through Access: The Founda�on for Social Investment and BBRC).

support, networking and enterprise consultancy. Through the Local Access Programme several VCSE organisa�ons were supported to successfully apply for social investment loans to enable their growth and scaling. All KPIs were met and exceeded within this project, including provision of 36 days of consultancy, 16 training sessions, one to one support for 45 organisa�ons and a social enterprise learning conference held at the Trinity Centre in March 2025 atended by 40 enterprises. We are pleased to report that over 80% of organisa�ons supported through this programme came from communi�es of disadvantage in Bristol.

The Social Economy West programme has seen a steady increase in more established social enterprises accessing advice and support with 65 organisa�ons registering for the programme during this period to receive mentoring, one to one support, signpos�ng and peer support. Feedback and evalua�ons from the programme suggest improvements in business confidence and skills as a result of accessing support.

This year, we also ensured we played a part in building the skills of people from every part of the VCSE sector. We supported leaders in the VCSE sector to connect with pro-bono places on the University of Bristol’s MSc Strategy Change and Leadership postgraduate programme, with four places worth £11,000 each per year of study offered.

2025, enabling more than 40 ambassadors to par�cipate in and benefit from CPD on this topic.

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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 cross-sector. We proac�vely build and strengthen intersec�onal, intra-sector and cross-sector partnerships, enabling community-led improvements to wellbeing, health, and lives.

BNSSG VCSE Alliance

Over the 2024-25 year, our hos�ng and collabora�ve leadership of the BNSSG VCSE Alliance took us to new levels of partnership working across the Integrated Care System footprint. The Alliance team, fully recruited to by January 2024, was able to expand our work within the fields of wellbeing and health. We began the process of bringing together hundreds of VCSE organisa�ons to work with Health and Social Care colleagues to achieve the Alliance’s aims of:

As we ended the 2024-25 year, we are proud to have been an integral part of the founding and forming and ongoing development of the Alliance, as it brings together community groups, chari�es and social enterprises to work on the core determinants of health, preven�on and improving the sustainability and integra�on of the VCSE sector to enable people to have beter wellbeing and health.

Par�cular highlights of the year for the VCSE Alliance included:

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The Brokerage Framework

In July 2024, we began partnership work with the BNSSG Integrated Care Board to coproduce a new way of enabling Health and Social Care funding to get out to the VCSE sector in a fairer, more transparent way. By the end of the financial year, with the small Brokerage team based in Voscur and working alongside the VCSE Alliance, we had enabled more than £1million of ICB funding to be allocated through a new process that is co-delivered with the ICB. This process enables VCSE sector advocates to be part of decision-making panels on due diligence and grant alloca�ons, managing for any conflict of interest.

Over this year, we began work suppor�ng this network, bringing together VCSE organisa�ons within the BS13 postcode area. As we move into the new year, we can see that our support for the network has enabled these organisa�ons to navigate how to work together and explore their shared future goals and approaches,

The West of England Community Transport Network

We con�nued to work in partnership with the West of England Rural Network to deliver the Community Transport network for the region. We worked with commissioners at the Combined Authority to improve their understanding of this diverse range of organisa�ons, and to enable beter commissioning prac�ces long-term.

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. Voscur’s involvement in the project started in February 2023, coming to an end in May 2025.

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.

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LGBTQ+ partnership

Voscur’s work on the Bristol LGBTQ+ Partnership con�nued in 2024-5, having secured further funding from the Na�onal Lotery Community Fund, which extends un�l 2027. In this new phase of funding, Voscur is suppor�ng the partnership to evolve and establish itself as a strategic voice for local LGBTQ+ communi�es, as well as providing tailored support to LGBTQ+ grassroots community organisa�ons.

This year, the LGBTQ+ Partnership has held three partnership events for LGBTQ+ community organisa�ons to build connec�ons and engage in partnership strategy. The events, each with 25 to 37 atendees, focussed on topics of making change, community and collabora�on, and LGBTQ+ health inequality. These were viewed by the LGBTQ+ sector on priority issues for the community.

Voscur has supported LGBTQ+ community organisa�ons through a tailored training programme with topics requested by grassroots groups, including organisa�onal growth from being volunteer-led to employing staff, as well as fundraising and grant wri�ng.

The partnership is led by a steering group, which in 2024-25 comprised 19 organisa�ons led by or providing specific services for the LGBTQ+ community. The majority of groups represented are both LGBTQ+-led and volunteer-led. Steering group members have grown in confidence over the year, and are now taking ini�a�ve to lead partnership work in areas such as governance and strategic planning, as well as represen�ng the LGBTQ+ VCSE sector in strategic spaces across the city, through work with Bristol City Council, Avon & Somerset Police, and the BNSSG ICB on priority issues such as LGBTQ+ Health Inequality and Rising Hate Crime, as well as wri�ng a manifesto for the partnership to share the LGBTQ+ community’s views with all Bristol MP candidates in the 2024 General Elec�on.

We were delighted that the LGBTQ+ Partnership was nominated for two ShoutOut Radio 2025 Listeners’ Awards by LGBTQ+ community organisa�ons. This showed the recogni�on from LGBTQ+ community organisa�ons of the value of this partnership and the difference it is already making to local LGBTQ+ people. Voscur is looking forward to suppor�ng the partnership to grow and shape local provisions for LGBTQ+ people over the next few years.

Enabling the VCSE sector partnerships

We con�nued to work with our three partner Community Anchor Organisa�ons – Southmead Development Trust, Eastside Community Centre and Knowle West Health Park – to enable our infrastructure offer to reach people in these areas. We operate a hub and spoke model, with Voscur staff based in these three venues on a weekly basis, and able to ensure even further reach into the communi�es that need our support most. We also worked closely with Black South West Network to further develop our partnership approach to delivering local infrastructure services, resul�ng in an improved offer for the VCSE sector.

Ac�vi�es for self-generated income

Consultancy, Bespoke Training

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

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organisa�ons to iden�fy their training needs and tailor a package of in-house training for their teams accordingly.

By providing charged-for services, we can provide specialist, responsive services for 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

and volunteers. 1478 paid and volunteer roles in the VCSE sector were published on the Voscur website in 2024-25.

Our Founda�ons

Our founda�ons are:

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

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Membership: Legi�macy and Trust

On 31 March 2025, Voscur’s membership comprised 258 organisa�ons and 11 individuals with full vo�ng membership. Of those 258 organisa�ons, 50 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.

supporters of Voscur.

Presence in Community Se�ngs

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

As a Board of Trustees, we recognise our need to evolve to best support our members. At the AGM in December 2024 we welcomed five new Trustees to our Board; appointed for their wide range of skills and experiences.

exper�se in governance; finance; communica�ons; equity, diversity & inclusion; and experience of running VCSE organisa�ons.

As a Board, in 2024-25, we have focused on the following areas:

Thanks to our people

It’s the people at Voscur who make it an excep�onal organisa�on, 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 with incredible skills and empathy, and are dedicated to our organisa�onal mission. We also wish to acknowledge the dedica�on, professionalism and hard work of the Voscur staff team throughout a challenging �me for the sector. It is our staff team that make Voscur what it is.

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Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

Thank you to all the people who have been an integral part of our organisa�on in 2024-25 – your contribu�on is recognised and celebrated here.

A word of thanks

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

Financial Review 2024-25

In 2024-25, we delivered the third 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 had provided an upli� to this funding to enable the work during the first two years of the grant, which unfortunately came to an end on March 31[st] 2024.

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 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 decreased to £135,349 for 2024-25 (was: £152,994 for 2023-24), a £17,645 decrease on the prior year. This was mostly due to a reduc�on in job adver�sements being placed, leading to reduced income from this source. This reflects the ongoing uncertainty in the VCSE sector, with organisa�ons struggling to retain the secure funding required to recruit staff.

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.

the previous year.

Over this year, we recruited to two new posts externally: the VCSE Brokerage Manager and the Project Coordinator – Capacity Building. A further three posts were appointed to internally: LGBTQ+ Partnership Project Manager, LGBTQ+ Partnership Project Officer, and Project Support Coordinator (VCSE Brokerage Framework). One staff member, the Business Administrator (Appren�ce), le� during the financial year, following a successful appren�ceship.

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prac�ce at the start of the financial year.

During 2024-25, our overall income increased to £986,645 (£669,997 in 2023-24).

We had con�nued funding on VCSE Alliance and the Brokerage Framework (£250k), Social Economy West (£65k), LGBTQ+ (£44k). New funding in the year included CATCH (£20k), The Nisbet Trust (Vision for Volunteering) (£25k), Assura (£37.5k), the Community Recovery Fund (£55k). Some of these funds were for work to be completed in the 2025/26 financial year.

Our expenditure increased to £1,004,813 (£854,550 in 2023-24). The majority of this increased relates to increased staff costs as detailed above. Other sources of expenditure included Inclusion Funds and payments to delivery partners; both of which increased in line with income.

This deficit was in line with the organisa�on’s budget, which projected a deficit of £17k.

Over 2024-25 the designated dilapida�on fund remained the same, at £25,168. The general unrestricted fund increased to £152,913 (£114,103 in 2023-24); with the increase related to fund balances from the prior year being brought forward and released to unrestricted funds.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have reviewed the reserves and reserves policy during the year 2024-25.

Reserves are held:

The Trustees aim to maintain the free unrestricted reserves at a level of three months cover of expenditure (less direct grants to third par�es) rather than a fixed target value. Based on the 2024/25 budget this requirement would be £150,000 - £225,000.

Our Dilapida�ons designated reserve remained at £25,168. The General fund has a total of £152,913 at year end 2024-25 (2023-24 was £114,103).

Going Concern Note

Voscur had a total unrestricted reserve balance of £178,081 including designated funds as at 31[st] March 2025. We are aware that as we con�nue into 2025-26 there con�nue to be increasing pressures on 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, 2024-25, was the third year of delivery of this four-year grant. Voscur received £240,608 from Bristol City Council. In previous years, this had been supported by an

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of the grant only. Despite the reduc�on, this funding has had a significant impact on Voscur’s con�nued financial stability and the development of its services.

Integrated Care Board (to host and collabora�vely lead the BNSSG VCSE Alliance and Brokerage Framework, the Na�onal Lotery (to lead the LGBTQ+ Partnership) and others.

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. In 2024-25 Voscur began the process of applying for the LIQA Quality Mark, a scheme operated by NAVCA, which was successfully achieved in July 2025.

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 fi�een individuals. Of this, up to two trustees can be co-opted by the Board to bring specialist skills or experience to the organisa�on’s governance; the remainder of trustees must be nominated and elected by the members. Coopted 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.

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

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arises.

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 con�nuously 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.

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.

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

The 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.

19

Voscur Limited Trustees’ Annual Report

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).

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 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.

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 4 December 2025 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 2025, which are set out on pages 22 to 40.

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 consultancy 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: 4 December 2025 William Guy Blake ACA Member of the ICAEW 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 2025

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
£
-
837,974
-
-
837,974
-
894,763
894,763
(56,789)
(189)
(56,978)
378,094
321,116		 Unrestricted
£
303
135,349
-
13,019
148,671
12,614
97,436
110,050
38,621
189
38,810
139,271
178,081		 2025
Total
£
303
973,323
-
13,019
986,645
12,614
992,199
1,004,813
(18,168)
-
(18,168)
517,365
499,197		 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

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 16 to the accounts.

22

Voscur Limited

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2025

Note
Current assets
Debtors
11
Current asset investments
12
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year
13
Net current assets
Net assets
15
Funds
16
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
General funds
Total charity funds		 17,465
309,254
251,184
577,903
78,706		 2025
£
499,197
499,197
321,116
25,168
152,913
499,197		 2024
£
66,204
-
534,224
600,428
83,063
517,365
517,365
378,094
25,168
114,103
517,365

Total charity funds

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 4 December 2025 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 2025

Cash used in operating activities:
Net movement in funds
Adjustments for:
Interest received
Decrease 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
Cash and cash equivalents is made up of:
Current asset investments
Cash at bank and in hand		 2025
£
(18,168)
(13,019)
48,739
(4,357)
13,195
13,019
13,019
26,214
534,224
560,438
2025
£
309,254
251,184
560,438		 2024
£
(184,553)
(6,321)
17,221
44,517
(129,136)
6,321
6,321
(122,815)
657,039
534,224
2024
£
-
534,224
534,224

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 2025

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 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

f) Funds accounting

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:

2025 2024
Raising funds 1.3% 1.3%
Charitable activities 98.7% 98.7%

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) Current asset investments

Current asset investments consist of cash held on deposit in interest bearing accounts. Such investments are measured at their fair value.

l) 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.

26

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

m) Creditors

n) Financial instruments

o) Redundancy and termination costs

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

p) 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.

q) 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.

27

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

2. Statement of financial activities: prior period comparative

Income from:
Donations
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
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
£
£
-
1,170
504,512
152,994
-
5,000
-
6,321
504,512
165,485
-
11,039
600,711
242,800
600,711
253,839
(96,199)
(88,354)
(1,106)
1,106
(97,305)
(87,248)
Restricted
Unrestricted
£
£
837,974
3,000
-
24,209
-
11,264
-
55,196
-
41,680
837,974
135,349
Restricted Unrestricted
£
£
504,512
-
-
24,050
-
11,163
-
70,459
-
47,322
504,512
152,994
Unrestricted		 2024
Total
£
1,170
657,506
5,000
6,321
669,997
11,039
843,511
854,550
(184,553)
-
(184,553)
2025
Total
£
840,974
24,209
11,264
55,196
41,680
973,323
2024
Total
£
504,512
24,050
11,163
70,459
47,322
657,506

28

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

the year ended 31 March 2025
Income from other trading activities
Sponsorship
All income from other trading activities is unrestricted.		 2025
Total
£
-		 2024
Total
£
5,000

4. Income from other trading activities

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 2025 was £612,735 (2024: £264,167). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants.

29

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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		 £
10,668
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10,668
1,946
12,614
Raising
funds		 £
715,195
2,772
681
14,611
24
85,424
-
-
-
18,943
1,464
-
-
-
-
839,114
153,085
992,199
Charitable
activities		 £
36,118
247
1,299
-
13,839
3,508
18,585
14,815
36,445
-
-
7,338
3,484
272
19,081
155,031
(155,031)
-
Support and
governance		 2025
Total
£
761,981
3,019
1,980
14,611
13,863
88,932
18,585
14,815
36,445
18,943
1,464
7,338
3,484
272
19,081
1,004,813
-
1,004,813

Total governance costs in the year were £3,484 (2024: £3,179).

30

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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		 £
9,409
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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

31

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

7. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Operating lease payments
Independent examiners' remuneration:
Independent examination (ex VAT)
Other services (ex VAT)
Prior year over-accrual for other services (ex VAT)
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Trustees' remuneration		 2025
£
10,523
19
Nil
3,100
1,754
(1,209)		 2024
£
10,523
Nil
Nil
2,950
3,006
-

Trustee reimbursed expenses related to travel costs for one trustee.

8. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension contributions
Freelance staff		 2025
£
634,460
57,764
44,255
25,502
761,981		 2024
£
560,758
47,876
38,655
22,937
670,226

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

Included within salaries and wages in the prior year is PILON and redundancy payments totalling £6,703 for 2 employees.

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 £152,538 (2024: £134,410).

Average staff head count 2025
No.
19.5		 2024
No.
18.7

32

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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
Black South West Network
Age UK Bristol
Eastside Community Trust
Southmead Development Trust
Total grants awarded to institutions
Support costs incurred by Voscur in the administration of the grants		 2025
£
-
-
-
4,500
1,308
1,692
943
5,250
5,250
18,943
5,522		 2024
£
7,500
5,000
3,325
3,000
1,307
-
-
-
-
20,132
2,278

A proportion of the grant awarded to Voscur to Knowle West Health Park, Eastside Community Trust and Southmead Development Trust in 2024/25 are the distribution of grant income received from Bristol City Council under our Enabling the VCSE Sector grant.

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
Other debtors
12. Current asset investment
Short term deposits		 2025
£
13,893
3,302
270
17,465
2025
£
309,254		 2024
£
56,171
8,186
1,847
66,204
2024
£
-

33

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

13. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year

13. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income (note 13)
Social security and other taxation
Other creditors
14. Deferred income
At 1 April 2024
Deferred during the year
Released during the year
At 31 March 2025		 2025
£
22,799
30,315
3,035
14,698
7,859
78,706
2025
£
8,370
3,035
(8,370)
3,035		 2024
£
23,011
33,214
8,370
15,141
3,327
83,063
2024
£
-
8,370
-
8,370

Deferred income relates to membership income for the next financial year invoiced in advance.

15. Analysis of net assets between funds

Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2025
Prior period comparative
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2024		 £
335,815
(14,699)
321,116
£
378,094
-
378,094
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 Designated
funds
£
25,168
-
25,168
Designated
funds
£
25,168
-
25,168		 General
funds
£
216,920
(64,007)
152,913
General
funds
£
197,166
(83,063)
114,103		 Total
funds
£
577,903
(78,706)
499,197
Total funds
£
600,428
(83,063)
517,365

34

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

16. Movements in funds

Restricted funds
Bristol City Council:
Enabling the VCSE sector
Community resilience
WeSport
BNSSG NHS England
SARSAS
City Funds
Local Access Programme
SEW
LGBTQ+ Lottery fund
CATCH
Nisbet
ASSURA
Community Recovery Fund
Total restricted funds
Designated funds:
Dilapidations
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
General funds
Unrestricted funds		 At 1 April
2024
£
57,872
89,519
45,578
131,235
21,432
3,856
6,097
4,475
18,030
-
-
-
-		 Income
£
240,608
-
-
250,000
29,888
-
70,857
65,024
44,127
20,000
24,970
37,500
55,000		 £
(294,885)
(43,278)
(45,578)
(217,950)
(47,620)
-
(104,742)
(72,133)
(37,118)
(14,998)
(4,106)
(9,595)
(2,760)
Expenditure		 £
(7,294)
(10,000)
-
-
-
-
6,345
5,000
-
-
-
-
5,760
Transfers
between
funds		 At 31
March
2025
£
(3,699)
36,241
-
163,285
3,700
3,856
(21,443)
2,366
25,039
5,002
20,864
27,905
58,000
378,094 837,974 (894,763) (189) 321,116
25,168 - - - 25,168
114,103 148,671 (110,050) 189 152,913
139,271 148,671 (110,050) 189 178,081
517,365 986,645 (1,004,813) - 499,197

35

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

16. Movements in funds (continued)
Prior period comparative
At 1 April
2023
£
Restricted funds
Bristol City Council:
Enabling the VCSE sector
109,779
Can Do Bristol
7,059
Volunteers week
3,677
Community resilience
7,707
WeSport
51,640
BNSSG NHS England
203,762
SARSAS
36,880
City funds
9,287
Local access programme
8,370
BRASP
4,039
WECA community support
1,032
Bristol University research
3,567
SEW
-
LGBTQ+ Lottery fund
28,600
Total restricted funds
475,399
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
20,191
226,519
701,918
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
General funds		 16. Movements in funds (continued)
Prior period comparative
At 1 April
2023
£
Restricted funds
Bristol City Council:
Enabling the VCSE sector
109,779
Can Do Bristol
7,059
Volunteers week
3,677
Community resilience
7,707
WeSport
51,640
BNSSG NHS England
203,762
SARSAS
36,880
City funds
9,287
Local access programme
8,370
BRASP
4,039
WECA community support
1,032
Bristol University research
3,567
SEW
-
LGBTQ+ Lottery fund
28,600
Total restricted funds
475,399
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
20,191
226,519
701,918
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
General funds		 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		 Transfers
between
funds
£
(90,000)
-
-
90,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,106)
-
-
-		 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

36

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

16. 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

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: 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, 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 next phase of 24-25, still being spent until next phase end date of 31st Jan 26, on continuing 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. Voscur continues 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.

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.

37

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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

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 second phase of this programme, funded by Access the Foundation for Social Investment, supported the development of a place-based social enterprise and investment programme. This programme, which continued in January 23, has taken the initial design and

development plan to a detailed delivery plan. This delivery plan has been implemented during financial years 22-23, 23-24 and will continue to be implemented in 24-25. Our Enterprise Programme allows Voscur to support community organisations to build capacity leading towards social investment.

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.

Communities Acting Together for Climate and Health (CATCH)

Funding for early stages research addressing the social injustices of health inequality and climate change as they impact on Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire’s (BNSSG) most disadvantaged communities. It sits at the critical intersection of:

Nisbet

Only one year funding secured, for the continuation and expansion of the impactful 12 month pilot programme, supported by Nisbet Trust. In the first year of this project we have worked to understand and address the decline in volunteering for Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VSCEs), and the pressures and barriers faced by volunteer managers/coordinators.

Our focus has been on low income, equalities led community organisations in Bristol’s deprived wards that are dependent on volunteers. We have provided a community-informed support programme for volunteer coordinators and community leaders struggling to recruit and retain committed volunteers.

38

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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

ASSURA

Assura Community Foundation funded, and managed by Cheshire Community Foundation, to progress partnership working between the VCSE Alliance and the Integrated Care System in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire in 2024-25. The grant has enabled three core projects: Development of VCSE Alliance governance structures, a leadership development programme for VCSE Alliance Ambassadors, and the creation of a BNSSG ‘VCSE Data and Insights’ report.

Community Recovery Fund

The Community Recovery Forum work is a response to the racially motivated “anti-immigration demonstrations and riots” which erupted in 27 towns and cities in the UK surfacing and creating untold trauma within our communities. Voscur, SARI and partners have been exploring the local impacts of this violence, and how we can build community resilience and recovery. Running between April 2025 and March 2026, 6 events will be held to bring diverse community organisations together to enable them to have meaningful conversations on racism, islamophobia, the roots of anger and hatred, preventing future disorder and building understanding and community cohesion.

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

Transfers between funds relate to funds which were able to be spent across different projects.

Funds in deficit

Funds in deficit relate to ongoing projects where additional income is expected to be received in the next financial year.

17. Operating lease commitments

The charity had operating leases at the year end with total future minimum lease payments as follows:

Amount falling due:
Within 1 year		 2025
£
7,892
7,892		 2024
£
7,892
7,892

39

Voscur Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

18. 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.

Ed Norton, a trustee of Voscur, is also the CEO of Life Cycle UK. During the year Voscur received income of £180 (2024: £180) for job advertisements and £788 for the consultancy work from Life Cycle UK. At 31 March 2025, £45 was outstanding (2024: £nil).

Nainesh Pandit, a trustee of Voscur (appointed 5 December 2024), is also a staff member of Stand Against Racism & Inequality. During the year Voscur paid £825 for VCSE Alliance inclusion funds which was for the attendees’ time. At 31 March 2025, there were no balances outstanding.

Amy Sutcliffe, a trustee of Voscur (appointed 5 December 2024), is also a staff member of One25. During the year Voscur received income of £180 for job advertisement, £55 for the training and £450 for the bespoke training from One25. At 31 March 2025, £45 was outstanding.

Hayley Shaw, a trustee of Voscur, is also a senior staff member within City of Bristol College. Voscur paid £1,100 for the Bristol Social Impact Awards catering. At 31 March 2025, there were no balances outstanding (2024: £nil).

Sally Fox, a trustee of Voscur (until 5 December 2024), is also a staff member of the OPCC. During the year Voscur received income of £435 for job advertisements and £2,300 for Commissioning support from OPCC. At 31 March 2025, £174 was outstanding (2024: £nil).

Michael Lloyd-Jones, a trustee of Voscur (appointed 5 December 2024), is also a staff member of Great Western Credit Union. Voscur received income of £110 for training from Great Western Credit Union. At 31 March 2025, there were no balances outstanding (2024: £nil).

Xanthe Swift, a trustee of Voscur (appointed 5 December 2024), is also the CEO of The Harbour. During the year Voscur received income of £55 for training and £45 for job advertisements from The Harbour. At 31 March 2025, £45 was outstanding (2024: £nil).

Andrea Dell, a trustee of Voscur, is also a staff member of Business West. During the year Voscur received income of £65,024 for Social Economy West programme. At 31 March 2025, £5,857 was outstanding (2024: £5,839).

During the prior year, Ellie Collier, a trustee of Voscur, was also the CEO of Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust until 21 December 2023. Voscur received income of £90 for job advertisements, £55 for online training and £1,980 for consultancy from Arnos Vale. At 31 March 2024, there were no balances outstanding.

40