Charity R•giBtiation N￿ 1150422 Company R•glgtration No. 07623914 (England and Wal￿} ACE-ACTION IN CAERAU AND ELY ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 ACEACTION IN CAERAU AND ELY coNTE￿rS Pag• Chairman's $tstement Trustees report 2-11 Statement of trustets rosw)sllylib'es 12 Ind8pendent auditorfs report 13-16 Statement of fi￿n￿al actsvitie8 17 Balance sheet 18-19 statement of cash Ilows 20 Notes to the finandal 8tatements 21-39 ACE-ACTION IN CAERAU AND ELY CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT FOR ThIE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Chalrf• Report No one woula expect much lo happen in a year ￿en the county w88 in ltsckdrwn and the Our PLqce ￿Sty Forge centre was consistenuy dosed to the publ￿. Bul ACE isn* constrained by nomal experaathins. The pace of change ac¢eltrated in 2021k21. anil rvs aryuably tyjr most successful year so tsr. The start of the pandemic saw an astonishing transfonnat¥)ft of work priorities for staff and volunteers as they readjusted to home vKtrking and meeting community needs in new ways. Our charfty Was recognised as a ¢ritiGal front-lne resource. and extra grants were attrathd for food and fuel Foverty and heath propcts. It was a tough time for everyone. b￿ACE proved its worth. Meanthhik a £31M.tXIO refurbishmènt programm8 for tha Dusty was under way. transformkng 118 run- down fa¢lKtles Into brfghl commuth spa¢e$, tralnlng rooms and groun&flotsr Offi￿3. That was lust the start of a revo￿lon In ACE'S prewice In the area. Work on the Hidden Hilwort Her6tagè Centre started in Caerau, ¢r8aling opportun￿e$ for today's residents * links wth their anrient cell￿ p05t. In Signrficant step foThvard in November 2020, ACE bjughl a house next door to the Dusty. At 8 stroke we took a new role as a sc¢ially responsible landlord housing a local farrily, an Inve8trr*nt of our reserves to safegua the firture, and a permanent physical $take in our communrty, In the 8Utumn of 2020 our c(Ffoynder and DITeLtor, John Hallett, announced he was kaving us in April. Thi5 new8 could have stopped us in our tracks. Yet we ￿pre abk to explore the dangerou$ transition to new 18ad8rship calmty and systsmati¢alty, including tha challenging idea that senior develorAnent managers Dave Horton and Michdle Powel might tske over joindy as cTrdirectors. Inilial misgivings proved unfounded, #NI Dave and Mi¢helle slipped $eamles$ty Into these new roles *ithout the usual months of disruptlon of a new appointment at the top. They arenl the same as John. But they are brilliant Su￿$S0T5. Other game￿hangIng oppoinlments in 2020-21 included Helen Bull in the new and much-r)eedeil post of Volunteer Development Officer. and volunteer Dave King as truytee and Treasurer. He imm¢dlalety Set about a radic81 overhaul of our finan¢ial nN)nitorlng and reporting 8yStems to bring them Into Ilne vlth tsur rising bl￿ets and highly compl8x fijndlng arrang8m8nts. Too mueh good news? The year ended wth the devastating blow of the death, * the #ge of just 42, of ACE Health Development Officer and Pantry Manager Caroline Barr, who was l￿delY Seen 88 the heart and Soul of ACE'S Community volunteering. Th• pain of her loss vr4s, and sts'll is, palpable, and She ha$ been remmbered al ACE'S tenth anniversary telebratkjn in Juty 2021. in ar￿tIrk produced by volunteeys, ￿ even In the namir of Ou8ty'8'Café Barf. Grants and iNlation3 to tender for new projects h¥ve continued to rom in. including nthy ideas for sorial care. and a planned.￿brary of Thlngs. equlpment lending initiative. Full 8U8talnablllty Is not on the cards forACE and there VAII Probabty be rocky years ahead. Bul the 2021-22 finandal year- our tenth - Started ACE In Its moyt comfortable t*Jvance fundiny position lo date. We rectsgni$e that COVID 1$ I￿t going avAy, however the leamlng over Ihi8 year has pul us in very good stead to continue to deliver our $•rMce$ to our community in the coming year. Not bad fortimès Wh￿ nothin9 is 8xpa¢tèd to happen. Mvl Withordon Chairman ACE-ACTION IN CAERAU AND ELY TRUSTEES REPORT {INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 The Irustees presenttheir report and ffinanci81 statements for the year ended 31 FAarch 2021. Thg financial statement$ have been prepared in accordance with the accountkng policies set out in note 1 to the finanThal statements and comply wth the charbty's goyeming document, the Companies Act 2006 and 'Accounling and Repo￿ng by Charities.. Statement of Rgcomm•nded Practi¢e apF4icable to charitles preparin9 their accounts in accord*n¢e with th• Financial Repjrtlng Stsndard applicable in thè UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 (effective 1 January 2019)" Objg¢ti¥•s and athlll•• ACE-Ai*on in Caerau and Ety is a community organisation l¢eated in West Ca￿rf1. We hove over 1000 lo¢al members, many ol whom are active ￿ntribUtOrS to local communty develc*pment and regeneralion efforts. We are very proud that many of our staff team live in Ety and Caerau and many proie¢ts and activthes are run Nwth or by voluntsers. We manage COMM￿ty buildings and delwer a ranye of ¢ommunty based actNitses that help paopl•, many of which you vJill read about in th13 annu81 reporL Our ￿$10n Is to create vibranL •qual and resilient communiiies for all, V•there peo￿ ffind fuffilmenl bn themsefve$, each other, and th¥ place where they INe. ￿ do this by all or any of the folowir@ weans lthe8e are our charrtable obiectivesl.. 1. the relief of povety In ways ay may be thought fit,. 2. the relief of unemployment in such ways a5 may be thought fft. including asd8tsnce to find emF4oyment'. 3. Ihe advancement of ethJ¢allon, tralnlng or rgtraining, parti¢ularfy among unemployed peopk, and provi(thng unemFloyed people with V4Drk experience., 4. Ihe provision of financial asslstsnce, led)ni¢al awstance. or bu81nes8 8dw¢e ￿ c{￿UMancY in OTII to prowde trainlng and employment opportunTbes lor unemptyed people in ¢ases of finanaal or other aritable need through help: in seth'ng up their ovm busine￿, 6. the Creation of training and empbyment opportunths by the provisitsn of workspace, building$ ￿dIOT land for use on favourable leTms- 7. the maintenance, improvemènt or provision of public amenities.. 8. the prowsion or assistance In the provi*on of recreational faclitiès for the public at lar9È andl orthose who, by reasons of their yOLrth, age, infirmity or di6abL•ment, poverty or $ts¢ial and 8¢onomic rjrcumstances. have need of $u¢h facililie$', 9. the prowsion of public health fa¢ilitit$ and childcarè., 10. such olher means may from time to time bè detemilned 8ubjeGt lo the prior ccfisenl of the Charity Commi88loners for England and ￿les. ACE will work ￿th conMn(tniti'es trj athleve laslfjng posltlve change for an equal and sust Cardrff by.. Mobilising local people behlnd a shargd vision Copprodu¢ing $¢Nices and activrlies that make use of assets and meet need¥ Driving poSit￿e soclal Change, making our communttles falrer and more induswe Securing in¢om8 and maximising communty assets for sustainabilty and ¢ommunty resilience Working closely wth private, publi¢ and third sector OT9anisat￿s to secure Ihe benefits of Iheir r•sources for our ¢otYMnunitie$ ACE-ACTION IN CAERAU AND ELY TRUSTEES REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 ACE nurture and develop IrKal assets arKI opportunilies to meat na8ds through the frJllNing types of projects, actlvllies and 8ervlces'. commun￿ Support.. Crlsl$ $upport and flnandal ¢apabilty. Training and support for the unemployed Health & Wellbeing work including merftal health 8UPPOrt ond training Work wth Children, Young People and Families Communty led activty Heritage, Arts and Culture projects Social entsrprise and local econornic devekjpmgnt commun￿ and cwde Infiuendng 8nd campalgnlng During 202￿21 v* have adapted a number of our projo¢t8. and have deveknped new ones. to respond lo the Covi&19 crisis, the associated lo¢kdown, and th8 ¢on$equent impa¢is on our ¢omrThJnrty. The$¢ indudo.. Temporarity moving the Communty Panty shop to a home delivery model Providing emergenoy fwd bags Establishing our communty suppcrt activities as a phone based serwce Reuurting and developing new vobJnteer¥ to re¥pond to the crisis Co1￿CtIng and delwering prest￿ptiOnS for vuln8rabl8 communty members Prowdlng moral support lo locaf carèrs A Phone Frfend servoce for sodally isosated ne*hbour8 Dgvelopment of dlgltal Incluslon work The strategies employed for ￿ntIN￿ are.. Building the caparity to delivw and devetop.. ACE has athieved an impressive traGk rocord for effective Proje￿ d8lN8ry and innovation. It i¥ also gncouraging to see a slgnffieanl increase in ACE'$ capacty and abllity lo delrver work. and to See the planned shlft from Communities First Continually bdng raalisod. We I￿11 continue to capitallse on th8s8 strength$ lo create an ambitious programme to d8vekJp the charity. rt3 ictivrties. and our capacity for effedwg delivgry. Prowding semces direth". ACE ha8 developed a strong range of 8eNce8 based on identified needs support the communities it serves. Future work wll build on these aclivities. and we Ylll monltor Ind evalu¥te progr0s8 to furthw develop projects whi¢h addrests key needs. Continuing to diversfy income $tream$'. The majority of income realised by ACE is through grants and ontracts. however work is ongoirw lo irnprove the level of fvnd r8i¥ing and income pneration to 8UPWrt core and project costs. ACE TrainirKJ despite COWD is still an activè ènterprise, at the latter and of 2020 ACE purchased its first propoty and bocame a sociglty rgsponsible landlord and a new 8rea of ffinandal support came in the form of a Donalion from a prlvate donor greatty supportir@ the cora costs of the organisalon. ACE will contlnue to acuvaty broaden ils incc4ne streams by pursuing Opports￿rtIeS for SO¢fdl enterprfses. ￿ntractIng and rental ineome, as well a$ direct grant funding. Strategies to ensure conlinuty.. ACE made fill use of available Government COVlD response grants to repurpose ACE projects. actiwties and services to meet the need$ presented by COVID ￿thIn our communities. The Govemff*nl Job Retention S¢heme waB fulfy utithsed enabliThJ us lo rataln all core funded staff. Due to our abilty to maintsin funding Ihere were adverse impacts on ynsion contrfbuuons. Ad¢JOonally. as costs fell we were able lo Increase our reserve srtuation. Bulldings ond spac8'. ACE has succassfijlly dave10￿d new uses for redundant ￿MMUnity tryjildings. Each building is an anchor for the delivery of plann8d prop¢ts and each have distinct functions for different demographics in the communty. ACE wll ¢108ely moniior the Gurrgnt use of Its buildings and will plan to optimi$e their fulure depioymonl for income generation and sustainabilty. Planning careffijlty and prudenty.. As it has grown ACE ha5 made great progress In undert•klng Increasingly complex fmanc4al planning. We Mnts'nue to plan Careful￿ an annual ¢osted bLvJget and considered operational plan¥. These wll aim to allt)w room lo Invest and develop wh￿st prudently dèllverlng on Sel obJectlves and advlknes. ACE-ACTION IN CAERAU AND ELY TRUSTEES REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORn FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Buildin9 partner8hips". Partnershlp building and working ￿lIabor￿￿OIY is one of our moyt important a¢hievem&nts. ACE wll continue. wrthin the scope ￿ its resources. lo deliver partnerships %Mth olher likeminded organlsatlons. Utili￿n9 othets. capacity and Gonlributing to their Services.. Post-communities First d)anges in publi¢ pollcies on poverty, employment and heamh have altered the relationship bets￿n ACE and its former Cl￿nt base. ACE ha$ to establish itself as significant ¢ontributor alongsidè parlner and competitor organisalion$ which deliver servlces that ACE no longer has the capadty for. There is a parbcular focus on employabilty. enabllng ACE buikJing5 to be a hub for service F￿vIderS lo engage participants and d$liv8r I￿1r progTamme3 from. This is essential for Ety and Caerau re$￿entS who are 8eeknng employment and the continued $u¢ce$s ofACE's sodal buslnesse$. Maintainin9 ¢)ur gotra name.. The organisation has developed a strongty po$i¢ive repLrtation a¢ro$s the cty and is valued in communities, the third se¢tor and th8 local auihorty. ACE will work to protect it# gwd name by devoting appropriate resources to quality control and pwctive public Telations. Mobillsing ACE'S repulation and influence= Our 6ucce99ful track record and high reputatlon ACE the potential to have a positive impact olsevtherg. ACE will work to maintain ris relatKJnships. fluence policies in the voluntary and public sectors, and advocate for the communiknes li serves at respective ￿Ve1$. The strategie$ employed for growth.. Creatlng opportunliles to develop n8w wovk.. ACE VAII contlnue to create incomwenerating initiallves to address the lon*tem threat pose¢J by the Inovitable funding gap. ACE wll continue to devote resources and effort to exparKfing promising enterpri5e5 such as ACE Tralnlng and ACE Hou8ing and to creating finw¢i8lly viaNe new enteTprlse and community project8. Expanding the area of 0￿ration.. ACE'$ origin5, hiytory and goals are rooted deèpty in the Efy and Caerau area of Cardny. But our experience and our effective delfvery of anli-poverty programme5 here has attracted interest in our seN¢es els&￿ere. Whlle retsining it5 primary commilment to improving the quality of lrfe of Ety and Caerav residents. ACE wll seek $èM¢e delivery and contracting opportUnit￿S in other areas of Cardrff and beyond wilh the aim of generatwu Income and building long-tem Suslainabilty. Expanding volunteerfng.. ACE has comprehen%vely demon$trat•d the many personal and ¢on*nunity beneffts of voluntary work. ACE has undertaken a new programme of work, empbying a Volunteer Development Off￿￿r to tske a lead and. wthin its cere values of community asset development and coproductlon, to Octively pr￿Ote volunleei?ng and altract, train and support volunteers to yndértake wcik v￿thin ACE arKI in the wider ¢ommunty. Acquiring and devdopiThJ new buildlng9: Developing property assets is a v*dety used M￿hanIsM for Improwng the sustsinabilty of community initralives. ACE wll s•ek out fresh opportunities on an ongoing basis for acquiring and developing land and new and exlslng bulldings. It wll also continue trj explore desirable new proiects and potential partnerÈhips ￿ere relevant. This could indude joint venturès ￿th the public sector ICCC or the Health Board), housing in￿￿tives. and further community asset transfers. A r￿¥ focus on monitoring and eva1uallon.' ACE has redefined how it monriors and evaluates Its Work. and has developed a new manageable approach whith can be aPpl￿d 118xibly to the ran9e of its a¢tivitie¥. ACE.ACTION IN CAERAU AND ELY TRUSTEES REPORT (CONTINUED}(INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARGH 2021 ACE Board of Trustees.. Membership of the ACE Board is infiuenced by the consciou$ ngod to preserve a balance betsveen local representstion and the $ki118 neede