COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 07623914 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1150422
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely Company Limited by Guarantee Financial Statements
31 March 2025
GORDON DOWN & PARTNERS
Chartered accountants & statutory auditor Temple Court Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9HA and 144 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RW
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Financial Statements
Year ended 31 March 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' annual report (incorporating the director's report) | 1 |
| Independent auditor's report to the members | 14 |
| Statement of financial activities (including income and | |
| expenditure account) | 19 |
| Statement of financial position | 20 |
| Statement of cash flows | 21 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 22 |
| The following pages do not form part of the financial statements | |
| Detailed statement of financial activities | 46 |
| Notes to the detailed statement of financial activities | 49 |
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
Year ended 31 March 2025
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Chair's report
The continuing cost of living pressures have impacted on funding ACE projects, with funders adjusting their criteria for eligibility. Some funders are unwilling to include a realistic core costs component when awarding funds, which has curtailed the scope of some projects. This has led to staff applying to some organisations for specific core cost funding.
Sadly ACE has had to finish ACE Arts activities at the end of this financial year after being unsuccessful in attaining any funding. The arts is always the first category to be cut when budgets are tightened, without recognising the resulting impact on people's health and wellbeing.
Once again ACE CAER and Cardiff University organised another successful summer dig in Trelai Park. National and local media reported on the finds, some of which were of international interest. Our links with the university have led to many opportunities for local people. The CAER heritage and learning centre has flourished with a number of courses run by other organisations hosted there. Some are being held in the evenings and at weekends to allow those in work to further their existing careers of of consider career changes.
With the ongoing pressures in living costs, and the growing importance of sustainability, the membership of the Benthyg Library of Things has increased further. The range of items available has also expanded. Another project which is promoting sustainability is the Repair Café, where residents can bring broken items to be repaired by a dedicated team of "fixers" rather than be consigned to the scrapheap. If a fix isn't possible, items can be sent for recycling where possible.
Our outdoor spaces have thrived due to a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Ely and Caerau has benefited from the work of the Postcode Gardener Community Greening project with input from Keep Wales Tidy, Upfront Gardens, and Grow Cardiff to create a lot of small green spaces that were previously neglected. Gardening is recognised as an important activity in improving mental health.
ACE continues to evolve to balance the needs of the community while endeavouring success to access much needed funding. The changes to employer National Insurance rules and the increase in the minimum wage from April 2025 will increase the financial pressures further.
Marian Dixey ACE chair
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Objectives and activities
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely is a community organisation located in West Cardiff. We had up to 35 staff during 2024-25, 50+ volunteers and several thousand participants and beneficiaries, many of whom are active contributors to local community development and regeneration efforts. Many of our staff live in Ely and Caerau, and many projects are run with or by our volunteers. We manage two community buildings and a community garden and deliver a range of community-based activities that help people.
Our vision is to create vibrant, equal and resilient communities for all, where people find fulfillment in themselves, each other, and the place where they live.
Charitable objectives
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the relief of poverty in such ways as may be thought fit;
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the relief of unemployment in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment;
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the advancement of education, training or retraining, particularly among unemployed people, and providing unemployed people with work experience;
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the provision of financial assistance, technical assistance, or business advice or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people in cases of financial or other charitable need through help:
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in setting up their own business,
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the creation of training and employment opportunities by the provision of workspace, buildings and/or land for use on favourable terms;
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the maintenance, improvement or provision of public amenities;
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the provision or assistance in the provision of recreational facilities for the public at large and/ or those who, by reasons of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances, have need of such facilities;
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the provision of public health facilities and childcare;
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such other means may from time to time be determined subject to the prior consent of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
Public benefit statement
The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when setting ACE's aims and planning activities. ACE's purposes are advanced through programmes addressing poverty, education, health, and wellbeing in Ely, Caerau and wider Cardiff West. Public benefit is demonstrated through increased household incomes, improved wellbeing and skills, progression into work, access to affordable food, and participation in volunteering and community-led activities.
ACE will work with communities to achieve lasting positive change for an equal and just Cardiff by:
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Mobilising local people behind a shared vision.
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Co-producing services and activities that make use of assets and meet needs.
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Driving positive social change, making our communities fairer and more inclusive.
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Securing income and maximising community assets for sustainability and community resilience.
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Working closely with private, public and third sector organisations to secure the benefits of their resources for our communities.
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
ACE will nurture and develop local assets and opportunities to meet needs through the following types of projects, activities and services:
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Community Support: Crisis support and financial capability.
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Training and support for the unemployed.
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Health & Wellbeing work including mental health support and training.
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Work with Children, Young People and Families.
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Community led activity
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Heritage, Arts and Culture projects.
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Social enterprise and local economic development.
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Community and citywide influencing and campaigning.
New Projects 2024-25
During 2024-25 we have developed a number of new projects and initiatives to respond to community needs. These include:
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Ely and Caerau Community Plan - funded jointly by Welsh Government, Cardiff Council and the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, ACE led a major listening project involving over 1,200 local residents to co-produce a new Community Plan for Ely and Caerau (completed in May 2024). Nine months of conversations and workshops with local people and partners identified 40 practical actions within six priority themes. ACE has received funding in 2024-25 to work with the established Community Steering Group to coordinate and monitor the delivery of actions within the Plan.
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ACE Arts - building on the success of the Explore Collective project, we secured additional 1 year funding from Arts Council Wales to deliver a new project in partnership with the South West Primary Care Cluster. This enabled ACE to deliver creative interventions at the Dusty Forge, Chapter Arts Centre using arts-based activities to support mental and physical wellbeing. The programme expanded opportunities for people experiencing health challenges to connect, express themselves and build confidence through accessible, high-quality creative work. Sadly lack of funding has since made it impossible to continue this project.
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Building on the Ehangu 'Early Learning Community' project that developed a place-based systems change approach, we have been funded by Save the Children to develop 'Dan y Coed', a new programme of creative outdoor play sessions for early years families. 24 sessions have been delivered to under-5s and their parents in 3 community gardens, through a new partnership with Ely and Caerau Children's Centre, and a network of community partners.
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Cardiff Anchor Organisations Network - funded by Building Communities Trust, ACE and C3SC are co-developing a new Cardiff Anchor Organisations network bringing together over 20 community anchor bodies from across the city. The network will share skills and learning, build collective evidence of impact and work together to influence policy for the benefit of local communities. This collaboration creates new opportunities for joint working, peer support and advocacy, positioning ACE as a key partner in in city-wide community development.
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YourSpace Cardiff West - During 2024-25 the service expanded this year into West Cardiff with additional funding from Cardiff and Vale UHB. This is a smaller service delivered by one part-time wellbeing connector and a part-time development worker which will support the development of community led wellbeing activities working with local community organisations and partners in the new area. We are now working in three areas of Cardiff on social prescribing and wellbeing support, with funding secured from Cardiff and Vale UHB until February 2026.
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
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Postcode Gardener Ely and Caerau - in October 2024, ACE was awarded two year funding from Friends of the Earth to host a 'Postcode Gardener', a new role to energise and support local community greening activities in Ely and Caerau, aiming to improve local biodiversity and involve local people in positive actions to improve the local environment.
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Practical support projects - in April 2024 ACE had to close our Local Pantry project due to funding and food supply challenges. To continue to provide support for local people struggling with food costs, ACE has secured funding from Greggs Foundation to develop a programme of food support activities, including free community meals and a community fridge in our new ReStore community shop to provide free access to healthy surplus and locally grown food.
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Good Food Hub - with funding from Hubbub and Move More Eat Well programme (Cardiff Council), we launched our Good Food Hub project, helping residents cook healthy, affordable, planet-friendly food. In partnership with the Cardiff and Vale Dietetics team, we ran five 5-week Agored-accredited courses and one bespoke 6-week course, supporting over 30 people to build their skills, knowledge and confidence to cook from scratch (15 achieving accreditation). We also delivered five community events and ten Living Well taster sessions with good food information and inspiration at the Dusty Forge centre.
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Hafan project - in June 2024, ACE started a new two year project funded by Wales and West Utilities (VCMA funding). This has developed activities and interventions promoting financial wellbeing to vulnerable members of our communities, with particular focus on patients who have health conditions exacerbated by fuel poverty. The project is closely integrated with our expanding health programme (YourSpace).
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ACE History - a small team of volunteers was established to explore developing an on-line history of the charity as a way to share with practitioners and policy-makers the features which have led to our success and the challenges which similar organisations need to overcome.
The strategies employed for continuity are:
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Building the capacity to deliver and develop: ACE has achieved an impressive track record for effective project delivery and innovation. It is also encouraging that we continue to develop new opportunities for growth. We will continue to capitalise on these strengths to create an ambitious programme to develop the charity, its activities, and our capacity for effective delivery.
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Providing services directly: ACE has developed a strong range of services based on identified needs which support the communities it serves. Many of these are well established but we also maintain the flexibility to respond to changing circumstances by developing new services to meet new needs.
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Continuing to diversify income streams: the majority of income realised by ACE is through grants and contracts. We have had continuation funding from an existing donor and this supports both core costs and delivery. We continue to work with our donors to increase our skills in attracting this kind of income.
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Strategies to ensure continuity: Building on our work to diversify income streams (outlined above) we continue to apply tried and tested methods towards income generation to enable continuity. Plans are under development to replace large grants that are coming to an end with new long term funded opportunities. With the increase in bank interest rates we are actively managing our cash reserves to maximise interest received.
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
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Buildings and space: we continue to run a wide range of activities and projects in the Dusty Forge including building on our long term partnership with HMPPS (His Majesty's Prisons and Probation Service), who run Grand Avenues, a community based probation service two days a week from the centre. The CAER Community Heritage Centre has continued to develop as an active hub for local learning opportunities. The centre also hosts the Love Your Hillfort heritage group, a volunteer-led community garden, Flying Start stay and play and family cooking skills sessions. We are developing and deepening our partnership with Cardiff University, who currently fund staff and project costs for the CAER centre through their Civic Mission fund to support further funding bids to the University and other funders. The Diana Garden community regeneration project continues to attract funding to support its delivery and staff costs, and provides a unique green community space for engagement, green volunteering and nature based play activities.
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Building partnerships: ACE continues to work with dozens of partner organisations on a wide range of projects. Examples of new partnerships established this year include: Save the Children and Ely and Caerau Children's Centre for new partnership delivery of early years activities (Dan y Coed); Cardiff Council Into work Services - co-delivering 'Shape Your Future' in-work progression mentoring and bursary scheme; Friends of the Earth - through hosting the Postcode Gardener community greening project. The long-term partnership with Cardiff University to progress the work of the CAER Centre remains crucial.
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Community network support: building on the engagement and consultation work for the Ely and Caerau Community Plan, ACE is developing new community networks (Greening Ely and Caerau and Ely and Caerau Community Food support). We are also supporting the Learning Partnership Board (LPB) network to attain charitable status to facilitate the development of collaborative funding bids.
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Utilising others' capacity and contributing to their services: a number of partner organisations have been providing essential services and activities alongside ACE or at ACE venues, including the following: Flying Start early years provision, Probation 1-2-1 sessions, Into work drop-in advice sessions, 1-2-1 support for young people with mental health challenges, family fitness activities, and Welsh classes.
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Maintaining our good name: the organisation has developed a strongly positive reputation across the city of Cardiff and is valued in communities, the third sector and the local authority. ACE will work to protect its good name by devoting appropriate resources to quality control and pro-active public relations.
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Mobilising ACE's reputation and influence: our successful track record and high reputation give ACE the potential to have a positive impact elsewhere. ACE will work to maintain its relationships, influence policies in the voluntary and public sectors, and advocate for the communities it serves at respective levels.
The strategies employed for growth:
- Creating opportunities to develop new work: ACE will continue to create income-generating initiatives to address the long-term threat posed by the inevitable funding gap, particularly regarding funding our core costs. ACE Way - Community Development Training and Mentoring is our training and mentoring offer that shares ACE's asset-based, co-produced approach with organisations across Wales and beyond. Since launching in April 2023 the project has worked with over 40 organisations, providing tailored support on Theory of Change, community organising, co-production and strategic planning. This work is helping other community groups, local authorities and charities to strengthen their practice, influence policy and embed community-led approaches in their own contexts.
5
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
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Expanding the area of operation: ACE's origins, history and goals are rooted deeply in the Ely and Caerau area of Cardiff. But our experience and our effective delivery of anti-poverty and wellbeing support programmes here has attracted interest in our services elsewhere. While retaining its primary commitment to improving the quality of life of Ely and Caerau residents, ACE will seek service delivery and contracting opportunities in other areas of Cardiff and beyond with the aim of generating income and building long-term sustainability. This will involve close collaboration with local community partners and networks such as the Cardiff Anchor Organisation Network.
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Expanding volunteering: ACE has comprehensively demonstrated the many personal and community benefits of voluntary work. ACE is building on the good practice we have developed through gaining the UK best practice award for volunteering, the 'Investing in Volunteers' award last year, showing our commitment and determination to make volunteering the most beneficial experience it can be. Volunteering within ACE is now fully embedded into our core values of community asset development and coproduction. We continue to actively promote volunteering and attract, train and support volunteers to undertake work within ACE and in the wider community.
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ACE Board of Trustees: membership of the ACE Board is influenced by the conscious need to preserve a balance between local representation and the skills needed for the governance of a dynamic charity. The focus has been to maintain our established balance of professional and community representation on the board.
Criteria to measure success
It is crucial that we gather information that tells us whether or not our Theory of Change, Strategic Plan and day-to-day activities are effective in meeting our aims and objectives and fulfilling our vision. ACE has continued to deliver our core work, building on it across the course of the year. This growth can be seen in the number of people engaged over the year.
Our Strategic and Operational Plans lay out a range of specific criteria to measure success. ACE uses a number of approaches to provide evidence against these criteria, including surveys, focus groups, 1-1 conversations, video interviews etc. One of the most powerful tools we use is the Most Significant Change (MSC) approach which uses personal stories of change to create learning conversations through panels of participants and staff. Examples of these are routinely documented in our annual reports. .
The collaborative learning from these approaches will be used to review and update the core work of ACE as outlined in the 7 Objectives within our current Strategic plan. In 2025-26 we will carry out an in depth review of our Operational Plan, and will make changes to our practice where necessary and will inform the new Strategic Plan for 2027-2030.
Strategic report
The following sections for achievements and performance and financial review form the strategic report of the charity.
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Achievements and performance
2024-25 has been a busy year for ACE with all services delivering at full capacity. Our communities are still deeply affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis, which saw ACE diversifying activity and introducing new services such as the Hafan project supporting people with health conditions made worse by living in cold and damp homes. Some of what was achieved is outlined below:
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Advice and support work we have increased household income in the community by £195,406 supporting 686 households with 381 fuel vouchers issued, grants and unclaimed benefits.
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ACE Benthyg has a total of over 300 items available to hire with more items added monthly. There are 400 subscribed members, with an average of 40 'borrows' per month, over the year.
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The volunteer fixers in our repair café have checked out almost over 500 items in 5 years. Over ¾ of all items checked were repaired, all our customers leave feeling they have received a personal and friendly welcome.
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Our flagship Grand Avenues community probation partnership project supported 170 men on probation to claim a total of £227,282 in benefits, supported into work and able to access vital GP support on release from prison.
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Our Yourspace wellbeing support project working in partnership with Cardiff South West Primary Care Cluster provided support to improve wellbeing and self-confidence in Cardiff North (202), Cardiff South West (348) & Cardiff West (76).
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Our Compassionate Communities Project facilitated grief space peer support sessions for those experiencing grief and bereavement, with wellbeing boxes delivered.
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Weekly gardening sessions have been run with volunteers ensuring the ongoing development of the garden.
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Weekly gardening sessions have been run with volunteers ensuring the ongoing development of the garden.
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We continue to work with partners Grow Cardiff to provide weekly therapeutic gardening sessions in the Dusty Forge garden.
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ACE Arts delivered its arts / wellbeing project engaged with 25 regular participants.
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Shape Your Future supported 144 participants with mentoring / bursaries to overcome barriers to in-work progression.
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The Caer Community Heritage Centre provided a venue for a wide range of activities including heritage exhibitions, youth groups, afterschool clubs, volunteer groups, adult education classes and Flying Start groups. We ran another successful community archaeological dig in Trelai Fields over the summer, in partnership with Cardiff University and other community partners. Over 850 people attended a project open day to take part in activities and find out about this year's discoveries.
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Financial review
ACE's future continues to be exciting. We are a community-led charity which has a plan, purpose, and an extraordinary group of volunteers, trustees and staff. Over our last 14 years of operation, ACE has added over £14 million to the local economy across Cardiff West. From 2018-25 (post Communities First programme) income generated through direct ACE activities such as social enterprise activities, grant applications, contracts, fundraising and donations and legacies totals approximately £9.4 million.
ACE is a charity standing in its own right, working with residents to see meaningful change across communities. This is a huge achievement which continues to address an unfair stigma attached to Ely and Caerau, something residents of Ely and Caerau can be proud of. We have continued to build on a firm foundation of strong financial policy and effective financial management through 2024-25. Income in 2024-25 was spread across 54 projects which is greater than that of the previous year despite our income in this year being significantly lower than the year before due to the Caer Heritage Project having been completed. ACE has been successful in following its strategic plan objective to diversify income streams. During 2024-25 ACE received £1,202,518 income from numerous funders, contracts and donations. ACE also self-generated £106,334 via social enterprise such as rental, consultancy work and training.
ACE's financial performance and position going forward continues to be healthy in an increasingly challenging climate for the third sector. As with this year, future years are still going to be more challenging which is why it is so essential that ACE builds sufficient reserves to be able to meet any future liabilities. We will continue to regularly review the level of reserves and adjust accordingly. Interest rates have been encouraging throughout 2024-25 and we have taken advantage of this. In terms of expenditure we, along with everyone else, have seen our costs increase due to inflation.
An indication of ACE's perpetual financial prudence has been the decision to close the ACE Training enterprise which provided valuable commercial qualifications. The business has suffered increasing competition and reduced public sector contracts, and it was considered wise to cease trading while it was still breaking even.
Transactions and Financial Position
The Statement of Financial Activities shows a net unrestricted surplus for the year of £49,543 and our unrestricted reserves stand at £614,807.
Tangible Fixed Assets for use by the charity
Details of movements in fixed assets are set out in note 18 to the financial statements.
Investment Policy and Returns
Higher interest rates have prompted us to evolve an entirely new approach to the investment of cash reserves through our use of the Flagstone investment platform. As well as providing enhanced interest returns, our policy of investing standard tranches in three-month bonds on a rolling monthly programme has ensured that we can easily respond where necessary to changing cash flow requirements. We continue to hold funds in deposit with the Co-operative Bank. Our residential property at 458 Cowbridge Road West generates modest rent income.
8
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Reserves policy and going concern
We are continuing with the policy set in 2021 of setting aside a minimum of 18 months running costs of the organisation within our reserves - a strategy which appears increasingly well-grounded as funding for our sector becomes harder to secure. This has been achieved through the investment in property and the building of cash reserves, which now stand at an overall total of £672,173.
Plans for future periods
Looking forward, through careful planning, creative thinking and community based delivery, we will build on our success to date. ACE will enable community action through the direct provision of services, the development of community assets and social enterprise. We will access charitable, government, business and private funding to support our work, and will work with individuals, community groups, organisations and businesses, directing our resources in a sustainable and effective manner.
The prospects of a more difficult 2025-26 financial year mean that we may need to draw on reserves in the short term to sustain services, and to manage a more flexible approach to fundraising. A particular feature is likely to be an extension of our co-operation with partner organisations to raise funds together and run projects jointly. The trustees will continue to keep expenditure very closely under control, and will keep future prospects constantly under review and adapt our ongoing project programmes accordingly.
9
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
ACE-Action in Caerau and Ely is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 8 April 2011. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Anyone over the age of 18 can become a member of the Company.
Appointment of trustees
All directors of the company are also trustees of the charity and there are no other trustees. The Trustees have the power to appoint additional trustees, as it considers fit to do so.
Directors/trustees are elected from the membership at an annual general meeting. Each year one third of the board of directors (those being the longest in office since their last election) stand down but are eligible for re-election without further nomination. The Memorandum and Articles of Association make allowances for an elected staff representative to sit as a full member of the board. The election of Chair takes place during the month following the AGM
Trustee induction and training
All new directors/trustees receive a comprehensive induction session and an induction pack with essential information. A full trustee training session is provided annually, as well as discussion and guidance on governance issues in the course of regular board meetings.
Organisation
The board of trustees, which can have up to 13 members, administers the charity. The board normally meets monthly. A Finance Committee is chaired by the Treasurer who is a trustee appointed by the board. It meets monthly to discuss investment, cash flow, audit and other financial management and policy issues. Ad hoc committees cover HR, funding and development. The ACE Director is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Director has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment and community related activity.
Related parties and co-operation with other organisations
None of our trustees is entitled to receive remuneration or other benefit from their work with the charity, and none did so during the year. Any connection between a trustee or senior manager of the charity, contractor, must be disclosed to the full board of trustees in the same way as any other contractual relationship with a related party. In the current year no such related party transactions were reported.
Pay policy for staff
The ACE Director, and the senior management team comprise the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the company on a day to day basis. Trustees give of their time freely. They set the salaries of the Director and the senior management team. Details of Directors' expenses and related party transactions are disclosed in note 9 and 19 to the accounts.
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
The pay of the staff is appraised annually and normally increased in accordance with average earnings. In view of the nature of the charity, the directors benchmark against pay levels in other third sector organisations of a similar size, run on a voluntary basis. The remuneration bench-mark is the mid-point of the range paid for similar roles adjusted for a weighting of up to 30% for any additional responsibilities. If recruitment has proved difficult in the recent past a market addition is also paid with the pay maximum no greater than the highest benchmarked salary for a comparable role.
Company policies
An extensive range of company management policies has been developed over the years covering all significant areas. This is monitored constantly by the Director and the trustees, and is regularly updated to meet changing circumstances. A three-year Strategic Plan lays out core policies and objectives, and provides a framework for all aspects of management.
Risk management
The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:
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an annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces;
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the establishment of policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual review; and
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the implementation of procedures designed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
This work has identified that financial sustainability is the major financial risk for the charity. A key element in the management of financial risk is a regular review of available liquid funds to settle debts as they fall due, regular liaison with the bank, and active management of trade debtors and creditors balances to ensure sufficient working capital by the charity.
Attention has also been focused on non-financial risks arising from fire, IT security, market volatility, health and safety of staff and volunteers, and food hygiene. These risks are managed by ensuring accreditation is up to date, having robust policies and procedures in place, and regular awareness training for staff working in these operational areas.
Fundraising statement
ACE complies with the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice. No professional fundraisers or commercial participators were engaged in 2024-25. ACE received zero fundraising complaints (2024-25). Policies are in place to safeguard vulnerable people and respect donor preferences.
Safeguarding and serious incidents
ACE maintains up-to-date Safeguarding and Whistleblowing policies; staff and volunteers receive regular training and DBS checks where appropriate. No reportable serious incidents were notified to the Charity Commission in 2024-25.
11
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Charity registration number 1150422 Company registration number 07623914 Principal office and registered Our Place: Dusty Forge office 460 Cowbridge Road West Cardiff CF5 5BX United Kingdom
The trustees
M Dixey E Elliot C Lannen J Refalo J Roach O Scott L Smith M Witherden O Atobatele (Appointed 20 August 2024) J Davies (Appointed 28 October 2024)
Company secretary S F Powell Auditor Gordon Down & Partners Chartered accountants & statutory auditor 144 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RW
Trustees' responsibilities statement
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102). They must prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the charity's affairs and incoming/outgoing resources. In doing so, they must:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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observe the Charities SORP principles;
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make reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed; and
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prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless inappropriate. Trustees are also responsible for keeping adequate records, safeguarding assets, and preventing fraud. Under s418 Companies Act 2006, each trustee confirms that they are not aware of any relevant audit information that has not been disclosed to the auditor.
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Auditor
Each of the persons who is a trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that:
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so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditor is unaware; and
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they have taken all steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information.
09/12/2025 The trustees' annual report and the strategic report were approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
M Dixey Trustee
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ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Year ended 31 March 2025
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account), statement of financial position, statement of cash flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice;
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
14
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of ACE - Action in Caerau and
Ely (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
-
the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
-
the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
-
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
15
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of ACE - Action in Caerau and
Ely (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees' responsibilities statement, the trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the entity and determined that the most significant are those that relate to: FRS102 Employment law Tax & pension law Charities SORP Health & safety
We assessed the risks of material misstatement in respect of fraud as follows: We inquired with management about the existence of fraud and if there were any unusual transactions or relationships. We also performed various tests on the records to check for misstatement. We did not identify any issues.
We considered the risk of fraud through management override and, in response, we incorporated testing of adjusting entries into our audit approach.
Based on the results of our risk assessment we designed our audit procedures to identify and to address material misstatements in relation to fraud. We considered the possibility of fraudulent payments to third parties and also looked for segregation of duties.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at https: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.
16
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of ACE - Action in Caerau and
Ely (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
-
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
-
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control.
-
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees.
· Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charity to cease to continue as a going concern.
- Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
17
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of ACE - Action in Caerau and
Ely (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity's members, as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
LauenceS Cohen
Laurence S Cohen
Gordon Down & Partners Chartered accountants & statutory auditor 144 Walter Road Swansea SA1 5RW
09/12/2025
18
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account)
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 5 | 186 | 9,383 | 9,569 | 17,940 |
| Charitable activities | 6 | 3,506 | 1,065,705 | 1,069,211 | 1,367,918 |
| Other trading activities | 7 | 87,134 | 19,200 | 106,334 | 122,946 |
| Investment income | 8 | 17,404 | – | 17,404 | 6,025 |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| Total income | 108,230 | 1,094,288 | 1,202,518 | 1,514,829 | |
| ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= | ========================================= | ||
| Expenditure | |||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 9,10 | 210,084 | 1,119,306 | 1,329,391 | 1,365,052 |
| Other expenditure | 13 | – | 31,399 | 31,399 | – |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| Total expenditure | 210,084 | 1,150,705 | 1,360,790 | 1,365,052 | |
| ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= | ========================================= | ||
| Net losses on investments | 14 | – | – | – | (10,000) |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| Net (expenditure)/income | (101,854) | (56,417) | (158,272) | 139,777 | |
| ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= | ========================================= | ||
| Transfers between funds | 151,397 | (151,397) | – | – | |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| Net movement in funds | 49,543 | (207,814) | (158,272) | 139,777 | |
| Reconciliation of funds | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 565,264 | 1,363,304 | 1,928,568 | 1,788,789 | |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 614,807 | 1,155,490 | 1,770,297 | 1,928,567 | |
| ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= | ========================================= |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 22 to 44 form part of these financial statements.
19
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Statement of Financial Position
31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | |||
| Tangible fixed assets | 19 | 878,333 | 969,224 |
| Investments | 20 | 210,010 | 210,010 |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| 1,088,343 | 1,179,234 | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 22 | 27,164 | 117,381 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 672,173 | 638,713 | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||
| 699,337 | 756,094 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 23 | 17,382 | 6,763 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||
| Net current assets | 681,955 | 749,331 | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 1,770,298 | 1,928,565 | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| Net assets | 1,770,298 | 1,928,565 | |
| ========================================= | ========================================= | ||
| Funds of the charity | |||
| Restricted funds | 1,155,491 | 1,363,300 | |
| Unrestricted funds | 614,808 | 565,266 | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| Total charity funds | 25 | 1,770,299 ========================================= |
1,928,566 ========================================= |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the medium companies regime.
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by: 09/12/2025
M Dixey Trustee
The notes on pages 22 to 44 form part of these financial statements.
20
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Statement of Cash Flows
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||
| Net (expenditure)/income | (158,272) | 139,777 |
| Adjustments for: | ||
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | 59,492 | 61,317 |
| Net losses on investments | – | 10,000 |
| Other interest receivable and similar income | (17,404) | (6,025) |
| Interest payable and similar charges | 703 | 661 |
| Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets | 31,399 | – |
| Accrued expenses/(income) | 8,189 | (41,871) |
| Changes in: | ||
| Trade and other debtors | 90,217 | 57,987 |
| Trade and other creditors | 2,435 | (165) |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| Cash generated from operations | 16,759 | 221,681 |
| Interest paid | (703) | (661) |
| Interest received | 17,404 | 6,025 |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| Net cash from operating activities | 33,460 | 227,045 |
| ============================ | ================================ | |
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 33,460 | 227,047 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 638,713 | 411,667 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | 672,173 | 638,714 |
| ================================ | ================================ |
The notes on pages 22 to 44 form part of these financial statements.
21
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 31 March 2025
1. General information
The charity is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is Our Place: Dusty Forge, 460 Cowbridge Road West, Cardiff, CF5 5BX, United Kingdom.
2. Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.
3. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated 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 where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
22
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
Incoming resources
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Income from grants, whether capital grants or revenue grants, is recognised when the charity 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. Capital grants are released to the SOFA in the year of receipt. Fixed assets relating to capital grants are capitalised, and depreciation charged is offset against the grant income, in a restricted fund.
Rental and training income is invoiced and is recognised in the period to which the service was provided.
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.
Income earned from interest is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.
23
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
-
expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.
-
expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
-
other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
Tangible assets
Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.
Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Long leasehold property - 5% straight line Plant and machinery - 10% straight line Motor vehicles - 20% straight line
24
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Investments
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investments are assessed for impairment at each reporting date and any impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses are recognised immediately in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the charity. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
Investment property
Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is initially recognised at cost, which includes the purchase cost and any directly attributable expenditure. Subsequently it is measured at fair value at the reporting end date. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in profit or loss.
Investments in associates
Investments in associates accounted for in accordance with the cost model are recorded at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
Investments in associates accounted for in accordance with the fair value model are initially recorded at the transaction price. At each reporting date, the investments are measured at fair value, with changes in fair value taken through income or expenditure. Where it is impracticable to measure fair value reliably the cost model will be adopted.
Dividends and other distributions received from the investment are recognised as income without regard to whether the distributions are from accumulated profits of the associate arising before or after the date of acquisition.
Investments in joint ventures
Investments in jointly controlled entities accounted for in accordance with the cost model are recorded at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
Investments in jointly controlled entities accounted for in accordance with the fair value model are initially recorded at the transaction price. At each reporting date, the investments are measured at fair value, with changes in fair value taken through income or expenditure. Where it is impracticable to measure fair value reliably the cost model will be adopted.
Dividends and other distributions received from the investment are recognised as income without regard to whether the distributions are from accumulated profits of the joint venture arising before or after the date of acquisition.
25
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Impairment of fixed assets
A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.
For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.
For impairment testing of goodwill, the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units.
Financial instruments
A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.
Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.
Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
Where investments in shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in income and expenditure. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.
Other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.
Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised.
26
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets are either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.
Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.
Defined contribution plans
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.
When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.
4. Limited by guarantee
The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. The liability of the members in the event of the company being liquidated is limited to £1 per member.
5. Donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | |||
| Donations | 186 | 9,383 | 9,569 |
| ============== | ======================= | ======================= | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | |||
| Donations | 2,056 | 15,884 | 17,940 |
27
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
6. Charitable activities
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Grants | |||
| Arts Council of Wales | – | 21,060 | 21,060 |
| Asda | – | – | – |
| Bevan Foundation | – | – | – |
| C3SC | – | 2,250 | 2,250 |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | – | 368,165 | 368,165 |
| Cardiff Council | – | 110,212 | 110,212 |
| Cardiff University | – | 61,993 | 61,993 |
| Cardiff South Wales Cluster | – | – | – |
| Care & Repair | – | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation | – | – | – |
| Charities Trust | 500 | – | 500 |
| Citizens Advice | – | 12,639 | 12,639 |
| Cwmpas | – | 13,663 | 13,663 |
| Dusty Shed | – | 8,874 | 8,874 |
| Grow Cardiff | – | – | – |
| Heritage Lottery Fund | – | – | – |
| Independent Age | – | – | – |
| Invest Local Trust | – | 253,947 | 253,947 |
| Macmillan | – | – | – |
| National Lottery Community Fund | – | – | – |
| Save the Children | – | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Co-Operative | – | – | – |
| Greggs | – | 20,710 | 20,710 |
| HMRC | – | – | – |
| The Screwfix Foundation | – | – | – |
| St Vincent de Paul Society | – | – | – |
| TK Maxx & Homesense Foundation | – | – | – |
| Community Foundation in Wales | 3,000 | – | 3,000 |
| Awards For All | – | 19,866 | 19,866 |
| Friends of the Earth Trust | – | 7,600 | 7,600 |
| Good Things Foundation | – | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Hubbub | – | 16,000 | 16,000 |
| New Economics Foundation | – | 80 | 80 |
| Nisa | – | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Secretary of State for Justice | – | 53,066 | 53,066 |
| Simon Gibson Charitable Trust | – | 4,142 | 4,142 |
| University of South Wales | – | – | – |
| Wales and West Housing | – | 28,564 | 28,564 |
| WCVA | – | – | – |
| Welsh Government | – | 43,625 | 43,625 |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 3,500 | 1,063,456 | 1,076,525 | |
| Sundry Income | 6 | 2,249 | 2,255 |
| ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 3,506 | 1,065,705 | 1,069,211 | |
| ============================== | ======================================== | ======================================= |
28
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
6. Charitable activities (continued)
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Grants | |||
| Arts Council of Wales | – | 40,786 | 40,786 |
| Asda | 400 | – | 400 |
| Bevan Foundation | – | 390 | 390 |
| C3SC | – | 9,383 | 9,383 |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | – | 294,185 | 294,185 |
| Cardiff Council | – | 88,224 | 88,224 |
| Cardiff University | – | 59,234 | 59,234 |
| Cardiff South Wales Cluster | – | 12,696 | 12,696 |
| Care & Repair | – | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation | – | 55,000 | 55,000 |
| Charities Trust | – | – | – |
| Citizens Advice | – | 10,283 | 10,283 |
| Cwmpas | – | 40,860 | 40,860 |
| Dusty Shed | – | 7,307 | 7,307 |
| Grow Cardiff | – | 127 | 127 |
| Heritage Lottery Fund | – | 15,724 | 15,724 |
| Independent Age | – | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| Invest Local Trust | – | 329,658 | 329,658 |
| Macmillan | – | 13,865 | 13,865 |
| National Lottery Community Fund | – | 165,176 | 165,176 |
| Save the Children | – | 53,300 | 53,300 |
| Co-Operative | – | 1,901 | 1,901 |
| Greggs | – | 19,713 | 19,713 |
| HMRC | 5,736 | – | 5,736 |
| The Screwfix Foundation | – | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| National Grid | – | 9,857 | 9,857 |
| Social Farms and Gardens | – | 140 | 140 |
| Solva care | – | 30 | 30 |
| St Vincent de Paul Society | – | 44,520 | 44,520 |
| TK Maxx & Homesense Foundation | 500 | – | 500 |
| Community Foundation in Wales | 1,000 | – | 1,000 |
| Awards For All | – | – | – |
| Friends of the Earth Trust | – | – | – |
| Simon Gibson Charitable Trust | – | – | – |
| University of South Wales | – | 250 | 250 |
| Wales and West Housing | 1,250 | – | 1,250 |
| WCVA | – | 9,439 | 9,439 |
| Welsh Government | – | 44,224 | 44,224 |
| ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 8,886 | 1,358,772 | 1,367,658 | |
| Sundry Income | 260 | – | 260 |
| ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 9,146 | 1,358,772 | 1,367,918 | |
| ============================== | ======================================== | ======================================= |
29
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
7. Other trading activities
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Rental Income | 25,083 | 10,289 | 35,372 |
| Generated Income | 62,051 | 8,911 | 70,962 |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 87,134 | 19,200 | 106,334 | |
| ============================ | ============================ | ================================ | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Rental Income | 23,275 | 6,912 | 30,187 |
| Generated Income | 92,025 | 734 | 92,759 |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 115,300 | 7,646 | 122,946 | |
| ================================ | ======================= | ================================ |
8. Investment income
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bank interest receivable | 17,404 | 17,404 | 6,025 | 6,025 |
| ============================ | ============================ | ======================= | ======================= |
30
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
9. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Direct charitable activities | 78,680 | 1,118,271 | 1,196,950 |
| Support costs | 131,404 | 1,035 | 132,441 |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 210,084 | 1,119,306 | 1,329,391 | |
| ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Direct charitable activities | 53,654 | 1,130,951 | 1,184,604 |
| Support costs | 169,123 | 11,323 | 180,448 |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 222,777 | 1,142,274 | 1,365,052 | |
| ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= |
10. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type
| Activities | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | Grant funding |
Support | Total funds | Total fund | |
| directly | of activities |
costs | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Direct charitable | |||||
| activities | 939,956 | 256,994 |
125,498 | 1,322,448 | 1,355,537 |
| Governance costs | – | – |
6,943 | 6,943 | 9,515 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 939,956 | 256,994 |
132,441 | 1,329,391 | 1,365,052 | |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= |
11. Analysis of support costs
| Analysis of | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| support costs | Total 2025 | Total 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Staff costs | 43,055 | 43,055 | 109,976 |
| Project Costs | 4,691 | 4,691 | – |
| Depreciation | 4,700 | 4,700 | 11,323 |
| Cleaning | 10,262 | 10,262 | 14,096 |
| Heat, light and insurance | 17,514 | 17,514 | 5,344 |
| Training | 628 | 628 | – |
| IT costs and telephone | 13,048 | 13,048 | 12,133 |
| Professional fees | – | – | 4,901 |
| Printing, postage and stationery | 6,024 | 6,024 | 4,962 |
| Rent, rates, repairs and renewals | 19,597 | 19,597 | 6,624 |
| Motor, travel and subsistence | 5,979 | 5,979 | 1,574 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 125,498 | 125,498 | 170,933 | |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ |
31
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
12. Analysis of grants
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||||
| Grants to institutions | |||||
| Ecsopa | 19,540 | 10,000 | |||
| Hope Trust | 172,901 | 213,818 | |||
| In It Together | 500 | – | |||
| Save The Children | 22,435 | – | |||
| Commonwealth Theatre | 4,500 | 300 | |||
| Family Fund Business Services | – | 24,048 | |||
| South Riverside Community Development | 4,000 | – | |||
| Together For Trowbridge | 1,375 | – | |||
| The Millbank Movers | – | 250 | |||
| The Sudanese Community in East Cardiff | – | 251 | |||
| Trowbridge Pantry Grant | – | 13,980 | |||
| Cardiff People First | 5,424 | 6,844 | |||
| Community Care & Wellbeing Service | 23,619 | 16,575 | |||
| Benthyg | 2,700 | – | |||
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||||
| 256,994 | 286,066 | ||||
| Grants to individuals | |||||
| Grants to individuals | – | 250 | |||
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||||
| Total grants | 256,994 | 286,316 | |||
| ================================ | ================================ | ||||
| 13. | Other expenditure | ||||
| Restricted | Total Funds | Restricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Loss on disposal of tangible fixed | |||||
| assets held for charity's own use | 31,399 | 31,399 | – | – | |
| ============================ | ============================ | ============== | ============== | ||
| 14. | Net losses on investments | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Gains/(losses) on investment property | – | – | (10,000) | (10,000) | |
| ============== | ============== | ============================ | ============================ | ||
| 15. | Net (expenditure)/income | ||||
| Net (expenditure)/income is stated after charging/(crediting): | |||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | 59,492 | 61,317 | |||
| Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets | 31,399 | – | |||
| ============================ | ============================ |
32
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
16. Auditors remuneration
Fees payable for the audit of the financial statements
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| £ | £ |
| 6,240 | 6,000 |
| ======================= | ======================= |
17. Staff costs
| The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as | The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as | follows: |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 685,034 | 675,664 |
| Social security costs | 53,183 | 42,934 |
| Employer contributions to pension plans | 22,243 | 14,575 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 760,460 | 733,173 | |
| ================================ | ================================ |
The average head count of employees during the year was 33 (2024: 39). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| No. | No. | |
| Number of staff | 33 | 39 |
| ============== | ============== |
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).
Key Management Personnel
Key management personnel include all persons that have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the charity. The total compensation paid to key management personnel for services provided to the charity was £51,709 (2024:£69,481).
18. Trustee remuneration and expenses
No trustees received remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with the charity during the current or prior year.
No trustees were reimbursed for expenses during the current or prior year.
33
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
19. Tangible fixed assets
| Long | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| leasehold | Plant and | Motor | |||
| property | machinery | vehicles | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Cost | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 1,132,343 | 3,630 | 33,094 | 1,169,067 | |
| Disposals | (36,499) | – | – | (36,499) | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| At 31 March 2025 | 1,095,844 | 3,630 | 33,094 | 1,132,568 | |
| ========================================= | ======================= | ============================ | ========================================= | ||
| Depreciation | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 170,952 | 3,630 | 25,261 | 199,843 | |
| Charge for the year | 54,792 | – | 4,700 | 59,492 | |
| Disposals | (5,100) | – | – | (5,100) | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ||
| At 31 March 2025 | 220,644 | 3,630 | 29,961 | 254,235 | |
| ========================================= | ======================= | ============================ | ========================================= | ||
| Carrying amount | |||||
| At 31 March 2025 | 875,200 | – | 3,133 | 878,333 | |
| ========================================= | ======================= | ============================ | ========================================= | ||
| At 31 March 2024 | 961,391 | – | 7,833 | 969,224 | |
| ========================================= | ======================= | ============================ | ========================================= | ||
| 20. | Investments | ||||
| Shares in | |||||
| Investment | group | ||||
| properties | undertakings | Total | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Cost or valuation | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 | 210,000 | 10 | 210,010 | ||
| ================================ | ============== | ================================ | |||
| Impairment | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 | – | – | |||
| ============== | ================================ | ||||
| Carrying amount | |||||
| At 31 March 2025 | 210,000 | 10 | 210,010 | ||
| ================================ | ============== | ================================ | |||
| At 31 March 2024 | 210,000 | 10 | 210,010 | ||
| ================================ | ============== | ================================ |
All investments shown above are held at valuation.
Investment properties
Investment property comprises a residential property purchased in October 2020 by the charity for rental appreciation. The fair value of the investment property has been arrived based on the valuation of a local estate agent in May 2024.
Contained in the above are amounts totalling £nil (2024: £nil) in relation to land.
34
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
21. Investment entities
Subsidiaries and other investments
The charity holds the entire issued shared capital of 1 ordinary share of £10 in ACE Community Enterprises Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales.
The company was incorporated on 07 February 2014 and remains dormant, company Number 08881835, registered office, Dusty Forge, Cowbridge Road West, Cardiff, CF5 5BZ.
Name of undertaking: ACE Community Enterprises Ltd Registerd office: England and Wales Nature of business: Dormant Class of shares held: Ordinary % Held: 100% (direct)
22. Debtors
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Trade debtors | 13,897 | 105,998 |
| Other debtors | 13,267 | 11,383 |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 27,164 | 117,381 | |
| ============================ | ================================ | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Amounts owed to group undertakings | 7 | 12 |
| Accruals and deferred income | 17,375 | 6,751 |
| ---------------------------- | ----------------------- | |
| 17,382 | 6,763 | |
| ============================ | ======================= |
23. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
24. Pensions and other post retirement benefits
Defined contribution plans
The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £22,243 (2024: £14,575).
35
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
25. Analysis of charitable funds
Unrestricted funds
| At | Gains and | At | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 2024 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | losses | 31 Mar 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 170,578 | 108,230 | (205,384) |
151,398 | – | 224,822 |
| Dusty Forge | ||||||
| Redevelopment | 95,007 | – | – |
– | – | 95,007 |
| Fixed asset fund | 89,679 | – | (4,700) |
– | – | 84,979 |
| Investment | ||||||
| property | 210,000 | – | – |
– | – | 210,000 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 565,264 | 108,230 | (210,084) |
151,398 | – | 614,808 | |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ============== | ================================ | |
| At | Gains and | At | ||||
| 1 Apr 2023 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | losses | 31 Mar 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 117,883 | 132,527 | (218,077) |
138,247 | – | 170,580 |
| Dusty Forge | ||||||
| Redevelopment | 95,007 | – | – |
– | – | 95,007 |
| Fixed asset fund | 94,379 | – | (4,700) |
– | – | 89,679 |
| Investment | ||||||
| property | 220,000 | – | – |
– | (10,000) | 210,000 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 527,269 | 132,527 | (222,777) |
138,247 | (10,000) | 565,266 |
|
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ============================ | ================================ |
Dusty Forge Redevelopment: Comprise those funds set aside for future redevelopment work at the Dusty Forge building.
Fixed asset fund: relates to the net book value of the charity's unrestricted fixed assets.
Investment property: relates to the value of the property held for investment to generate unrestricted rental income for the charity.
Restricted funds
| Restricted funds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At | Gains and | At | ||||
| 1 Apr 2024 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | losses | 31 Mar 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| ACE Cares | – | 13,663 | (12,361) |
(1,302) | – |
– |
| ACE Community | ||||||
| Support | 12,742 | 23,469 | (3,569) |
(6,611) | – |
26,031 |
| ACE Food | 13,805 | – | (486) |
(5,635) | – |
7,684 |
| ACE Giving | 18,474 | 1,737 | (7,455) |
430 | – | 13,186 |
| ACE Health | 75,365 | 176,474 | (160,946) |
(48,145) | – |
42,748 |
36
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
25. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
| Arts Council of | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | (1,507) | 6,060 | (6,757) | 2,204 | – | – |
| Baring | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Benthyg | 10,133 | 19,930 | (23,669) | (3,817) | – | 2,577 |
| Bereavement | ||||||
| Support | 7,327 | 43,625 | (38,936) | (4,853) | – | 7,163 |
| Bevan | ||||||
| Foundation | 9,218 | – | – | (9,218) | – | – |
| Caer Enterprises | 3,502 | 10,289 | (12,805) | 2,014 | – | 3,000 |
| Children in Need | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Creative Grow | 1,006 | – | – | (1,006) | – | – |
| Diana Gardens | 7,333 | 4,142 | (10,152) | (614) | – | 709 |
| Dusty Shed | 2,880 | 8,874 | (10,986) | (388) | – | 380 |
| Grace Project | – | 53,066 | (46,128) | (6,938) | – | – |
| Heritage Lottery | ||||||
| Fund | 648,813 | – | (68,819) | 28,144 | – | 608,138 |
| Independent Age | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Macmillan | 12,606 | – | (1,795) | (10,811) | – | – |
| Memorial Garden | 2,800 | – | (1,009) | – | – | 1,791 |
| Moondance | ||||||
| Foundation | 4,758 | 436 | (151) | (4,758) | – | 285 |
| Redress and | ||||||
| Cardiff Council | ||||||
| Hardship Fund | 10,768 | – | (9,128) | – | – | 1,640 |
| Save the Children | 2,400 | – | – | (2,400) | – | – |
| Shape your | ||||||
| Future | 5,917 | 50,000 | (46,977) | (7,267) | – | 1,673 |
| Summer of | ||||||
| Smiles | 6,502 | 5,248 | (4,885) | (6,864) | – | 1 |
| Together Trust | 37,775 | 255,648 | (225,856) | (7,791) | – | 59,776 |
| WCVA | – | – | (868) | 868 | – | – |
| Welsh Gov - | ||||||
| Communities | ||||||
| Facilities | ||||||
| Programme | 246,456 | – | (15,274) | 12 | – | 231,194 |
| Western Power | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Working Well and | ||||||
| Helping Working | ||||||
| Families | 107,024 | – | (54,940) | (25,846) | – | 26,238 |
| Workplace Youth | (3,007) | – | – | 3,007 | – | – |
| Youth Innovation | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pantry | – | 10,394 | (2,492) | 3,470 | – | 11,372 |
| Voluntary Sector | ||||||
| Recovery | – | 28,564 | (17,674) | (720) | – | 10,170 |
| Trelai Deg | 1,197 | 12,800 | (13,082) | 1,860 | – | 2,775 |
| Community Plan | 11,216 | 52,712 | (52,635) | (3,250) | – | 8,043 |
| Yourspace N | 19,554 | 145,033 | (145,949) | (8,360) | – | 10,278 |
| Ehangu - Save | ||||||
| the Children | 35,593 | – | (33,015) | (2,579) | – | (1) |
| Euroclad | 2,000 | 210 | (2,572) | 362 | – | – |
| Tea Fund | – | 3 | (1,186) | 1,183 | – | – |
37
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
25. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
| Yourspace W | – | 46,158 | (38,876) |
(2,849) | – |
4,433 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Lottery | ||||||
| Fund | 7,308 | – | – |
(7,308) | – |
– |
| Greggs | ||||||
| Foundation | 7,000 | 20,710 | (1,463) |
(1,914) | – |
24,333 |
| Voices of Caer | – | – | – |
– | – | – |
| Co-op Local | ||||||
| Community Fund | – | – | – |
– | – | – |
| Caer Centre | ||||||
| Development | 36,346 | 47,887 | (43,110) |
(5,000) | – |
36,123 |
| Community Food | ||||||
| Hub | – | 10,500 | (9,726) |
(774) | – |
– |
| Being Human | – | 1,306 | (712) |
(154) | – |
440 |
| Volunteer | ||||||
| Delivery Budget | – | – | (56) |
56 | – | – |
| Nisa | – | 1,000 | (130) |
– | – | 870 |
| Community | ||||||
| Cohesion | – | 2,000 | (1,411) |
(589) | – |
– |
| ACW Arts & | ||||||
| Health | – | 15,000 | (12,115) |
(2,885) | – |
– |
| Good Things | ||||||
| Foundation | – | 1,000 | (970) |
(30) | – |
– |
| MMEW | – | 2,500 | (1,841) |
(659) | – |
– |
| Postcode | ||||||
| Gardener | – | 7,600 | (2,400) |
(2,149) | – |
3,051 |
| ACE History | – | 2,500 | – |
– | – | 2,500 |
| Warmspaces | – | 1,500 | – |
(1,500) | – |
– |
| Period Poverty | – | 4,000 | (3,978) |
(22) | – |
– |
| C3SC Substance | ||||||
| Misuse | – | 2,250 | (1,020) |
– | – | 1,230 |
| Nature Hubs | – | 6,000 | (340) |
– | – | 5,660 |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 1,363,304 | 1,094,288 | (1,150,705) | (151,396) | – |
1,155,491 | |
| ========================================= | ========================================= | ========================================= | ================================ | ============== | ========================================= | |
| At | Gains and | At | ||||
| 1 Apr 2023 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | losses | 31 Mar 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| ACE Cares | – | 40,861 | (38,144) |
(2,717) | – |
– |
| ACE Community | ||||||
| Support | 4,814 | 33,060 | (15,692) |
(9,440) | – |
12,742 |
| ACE Food | 13,805 | 9,735 | (6,058) |
(3,677) | – |
13,805 |
| ACE Giving | 14,020 | 4,634 | (180) |
– | – | 18,474 |
| ACE Health | 53,769 | 210,530 | (171,502) |
(17,433) | – |
75,364 |
38
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
25. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
| Arts Council of | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 26,483 | 40,914 | (67,929) | (975) | – | (1,507) |
| Baring | 2,244 | 3,750 | (5,049) | (945) | – | – |
| Benthyg | 2,365 | 10,174 | (1,547) | (860) | – | 10,132 |
| Bereavement | ||||||
| Support | – | 44,224 | (34,419) | (2,478) | – | 7,327 |
| Bevan | ||||||
| Foundation | 11,957 | – | (2,570) | (169) | – | 9,218 |
| Caer Enterprises | 6,352 | 6,912 | (12,180) | 2,418 | – | 3,502 |
| Children in Need | 6,328 | – | (5,028) | (1,300) | – | – |
| Creative Grow | 1,006 | – | – | – | – | 1,006 |
| Diana Gardens | 3,338 | 9,390 | (5,916) | 521 | – | 7,333 |
| Dusty Shed | 3,870 | 7,307 | (8,073) | (224) | – | 2,880 |
| Grace Project | 1,697 | 44,520 | (39,421) | (6,796) | – | – |
| Heritage Lottery | ||||||
| Fund | 698,357 | – | (49,544) | – | – | 648,813 |
| Independent Age | 18,395 | 20,000 | (35,240) | (3,155) | – | – |
| Macmillan | – | 13,865 | (1,159) | (100) | – | 12,606 |
| Memorial Garden | 2,800 | – | – | – | – | 2,800 |
| Moondance | ||||||
| Foundation | 4,758 | – | – | – | – | 4,758 |
| Redress and | ||||||
| Cardiff Council | ||||||
| Hardship Fund | 32,655 | – | (21,887) | – | – | 10,768 |
| Save the Children | 2,400 | 8,300 | (7,360) | (940) | – | 2,400 |
| Shape your | ||||||
| Future | – | 55,000 | (40,821) | (8,262) | – | 5,917 |
| Summer of | ||||||
| Smiles | 6,502 | – | – | – | – | 6,502 |
| Together Trust | – | 329,658 | (274,580) | (17,303) | – | 37,775 |
| WCVA | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Welsh Gov - | ||||||
| Communities | ||||||
| Facilities | ||||||
| Programme | 253,529 | – | (7,073) | – | – | 246,456 |
| Western Power | – | 9,383 | (9,360) | (23) | – | – |
| Working Well and | ||||||
| Helping Working | ||||||
| Families | 78,972 | 177,872 | (116,605) | (33,215) | – | 107,024 |
| Workplace Youth | (3,007) | – | – | – | – | (3,007) |
| Youth Innovation | 14,111 | – | – | (14,111) | – | – |
| Pantry | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Voluntary Sector | ||||||
| Recovery | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Trelai Deg | – | 11,600 | (9,803) | (600) | – | 1,197 |
| Community Plan | – | 75,989 | (60,903) | (3,870) | – | 11,216 |
| Yourspace N | – | 77,362 | (50,702) | (7,106) | – | 19,554 |
| Ehangu - Save | ||||||
| the Children | – | 45,000 | (6,757) | (2,650) | – | 35,593 |
39
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
25. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
| Euroclad | – | 2,000 | – | – | – | 2,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea Fund | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Yourspace W | – | 5,043 | (4,496) | (547) | – | – |
| Heritage Lottery | ||||||
| Fund | – | 15,974 | (8,666) | – | – | 7,308 |
| Greggs | ||||||
| Foundation | – | 19,713 | (11,713) | (1,000) | – | 7,000 |
| Voices of Caer | – | 850 | (654) | (196) | – | – |
| Co-op Local | ||||||
| Community Fund | – | 1,902 | (807) | (1,095) | – | – |
| Caer Centre | ||||||
| Development | – | 46,784 | (10,438) | – | – | 36,346 |
| Community Food | ||||||
| Hub | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Being Human | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Volunteer | ||||||
| Delivery Budget | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nisa | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Community | ||||||
| Cohesion | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| ACW Arts & | ||||||
| Health | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Good Things | ||||||
| Foundation | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| MMEW | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Postcode | ||||||
| Gardener | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| ACE History | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Warmspaces | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Period Poverty | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| C3SC Substance | ||||||
| Misuse | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nature Hubs | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 1,261,520 | 1,382,302 | (1,142,274) | (138,248) | – | 1,363,300 | |
| ========================================= | ========================================= | ========================================= | ================================ | ============== | ========================================= |
40
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
25. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
Arts Council of Wales: This money was used to fund a project to engage young people from 14-16, 16-18 and 16-24 age categories.
ACE Cares: This national lottery funding pays for community development activity aimed at exploring the community's role in supporting people with care and support needs and unpaid carers within the Ely and Caerau communities.
ACE Community Support: This money is to the support a programme to provide information, practical support and advice to vulnerable community members in Ely and Caerau.
ACE Food: Budget for developing community food projects including Dusty Community Kitchen, Cafe Barr and Food for Life Get Togethers.
ACE Giving: An opportunity for individuals to make a financial contribution to ACE's charitable work through donations, sponsorship and fundraising activities.
ACE Health: This money was for the development and delivery of health and wellbeing initiatives, including social prescribing, community development, participation and engagement work.
ACE Housing: Provision of a high quality, affordable, well maintained rental home to a local family, with additional support through ACE services where necessary.
Benthyg: WCVA Landfill Trust this funding supported the development of a new library of things project (ACE Benthyg), offering a range of household items for community members to borrow at low cost.
Bereavement support: This grant pays for a multi-partner project with ACE, CCAWS and Cardiff People First, delivering a mix of direct counselling, bereavement courses and development of peer support approaches, aimed at engaging groups who have been traditionally under-represented in mainstream bereavement support services.
Bevan Foundation: This funded 1 day a week staff time to bring about systems change through community engagement contributing to various consultations to inform policy change.
Caer Enterprises: Development of social enterprise and income generating activity related to ACE's CAER Heritage project, including sales of CAER T-shirts and art.
Children In Need: This money is to fund a project which uses local heritage and history as inspiration for experimental and exploratory STEM activities and projects.
Creative Grow: This money was used Delivery of indoor art/garden sessions, room hire & materials.
Diana Gardens/ Grapevine: This money is to support the development of the ‘Diana Gardens’ site, community activity on and around the site and community capacity building with local volunteers.
Dusty Shed: This money was used to support a Men's Shed project based at the Dusty Forge.
Grace Project: This project supports men in the community who are involved with the criminal justice system. The Grand Avenues project is a partnership between HMPPS, SVP and ACE.
41
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
25. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
Funding was used to fund a staff member for 3 days a week, a staff member 1/2 day a week, project costs and management costs to support the men on the project address issues around health, income and housing.
Heritage Lottery Fund: This money was used to deliver the CAER Heritage Project.
Independent Age: This project supports older people in the community to stay warm in their homes, through income maximisation and energy support. This income has funded a full time Older Persons Caseworker.
Macmillan: A project exploring how community development approaches can be used to increase the range of supportive care available for people who are dying, those supporting someone who is dying and people who are facing or experiencing bereavement.
Memorial Garden: This project is developing a new community garden to support activities that bring people together and support community connection and wellbeing.
MIND (Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund: Wales) A project to increase the capacity and reach of the Phone Friends project and to make it more accessible for people with a learning disability, working in partnership with Cardiff People First.
Moondance Foundation: This money is to fund the Caer Heritage Project.
Pantry: This money is to support the membership food club providing affordable food shop for members in food poverty / insecurity. The project includes running a community food shop and delivery service using surplus food supplied by Fareshare project to support struggling working families to get involved in the design and delivery of community projects tackling in work poverty.
Redress Warm and Cardiff Council Hardship Fund: Affordable warmth advice and support for community members in / at risk of fuel poverty delivered through drop in / case work sessions.
Save the Children: This was used to fund a series of art workshops over the summer holidays for children and young people living in Ely and Caerau. If Ehangu to work with community partners to develop new initiatives that support early years projects in Ely and Caearau.
Summer of Smiles: Income was used to provide a range of inclusive activities for children and young people across the communities of Ely and Caerau.
Tier 0: This money is to support a mental health service which provides psychological interventions through 1-1 guided self-help sessions and the delivery of psychoeducational courses.
Together Trust: This money is to deliver Building Communities Trust (BCT) invest local programme.
Voluntary Sector Recovery: This project supported volunteers to re-engage with ACE after the Pandemic disruption, providing staff time to run reintegration sessions and follow up support, training and update our volunteer processes to help volunteers with overcome barriers to contributing to projects.
WCVA: This funding was to diversify the income of ACE Training through the development of a website to increase sales and promote to a wider audience, particularly targeting the private
42
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
25. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
sector. It also funded consultants to conduct market research and develop a training package bespoke to ACE underlining ACE's approaches in Asset Based Community Development, Community Organising and Co-production. The training is now being offered to the public, statutory and third sector who wish their teams to to learn about the afore mentioned principles and how to put them into practice as it relates to their work.
Welsh Government Communities Facilities Programme: This is a capital fund to support the refurbishment and renovation of community buildings.
Western Power: This funds our advice provision supporting those in fuel poverty/fuel crisis.
Working Well and Helping Working Families: This is a partnership project with Tempo and Citizens Cymru to combine asset based community development with community organising approaches to enable sustainable solutions to in work poverty to be identified, piloted and developed.
Workplace Youth: This funding through Waterloo Foundation was used to engage with young people aged 16 to 25yrs in a series of woodwork sessions, and Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment Training. The aim of the funding was to support young people into work.
Youth Innovation: This money was used to support local groups, organise and support voluntary youth activities.
Transfers: Relates to capital spend where the conditions of the grant has been fulfilled, management charge overhead allocation and internal project recharges. Where projects have incurred an overspend the board have agreed for unrestricted funds to cover the deficits.
26. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Tangible fixed assets | 84,979 | 793,354 | 878,333 |
| Investments | 210,010 | – | 210,010 |
| Current assets | 337,200 | 362,137 | 699,337 |
| Creditors less than 1 year | (17,382) | – | (17,382) |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| Net assets | 614,807 | 1,155,491 | 1,770,298 |
| ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Tangible fixed assets | 93,009 | 876,215 | 969,224 |
| Investments | 210,010 | – | 210,010 |
| Current assets | 269,010 | 487,085 | 756,095 |
| Creditors less than 1 year | (6,763) | – | (6,763) |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| Net assets | 565,266 | 1,363,300 | 1,928,566 |
| ================================ | ========================================= | ========================================= |
43
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
27. Analysis of changes in net funds
| At | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At | 1 | Apr 2024 | Cash flows | 31 Mar 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 638,713 | 33,460 | 672,173 | ||
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |||
| 638,713 | 33,460 | 672,173 | |||
| ================================ | ============================ | ================================ |
28. Charges on assets
The National Heritage Memorial Fund have a registration of charge over the leasehold of Caerau Evangelical Church, Church Road, Caerau, Cardiff, CF5 5LQ.
29. Related parties
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
44
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Management Information
Year ended 31 March 2025
The following pages do not form part of the financial statements.
45
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Brought forward | (921,448) | (1,330,435) |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | ||
| Donations and legacies | ||
| Donations | 9,569 | 17,940 |
| --------------------------- | --------------------------- | |
| Charitable activities | ||
| Arts Council of Wales | 21,060 | 40,786 |
| Asda | – | 400 |
| Bevan Foundation | – | 390 |
| C3SC | 2,250 | 9,383 |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | 368,165 | 294,185 |
| Cardiff Council | 110,212 | 88,224 |
| Cardiff University | 61,993 | 59,234 |
| Cardiff South Wales Cluster | – | 12,696 |
| Care & Repair | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation | – | 55,000 |
| Charities Trust | 500 | – |
| Citizens Advice | 12,639 | 10,283 |
| Cwmpas | 13,663 | 40,860 |
| Dusty Shed | 8,874 | 7,307 |
| Grow Cardiff | – | 127 |
| Heritage Lottery Fund | – | 15,724 |
| Independent Age | – | 20,000 |
| Invest Local Trust | 253,947 | 329,658 |
| Macmillan | – | 13,865 |
| National Lottery Community Fund | – | 165,176 |
| Save the Children | 5,000 | 53,300 |
| Co-Operative | – | 1,901 |
| Greggs | 20,710 | 19,713 |
| HMRC | – | 5,736 |
| The Screwfix Foundation | – | 2,500 |
| National Grid | – | 9,857 |
| Social Farms and Gardens | – | 140 |
| Solva care | – | 30 |
| St Vincent de Paul Society | – | 44,520 |
| TK Maxx & Homesense Foundation | – | 500 |
| Community Foundation in Wales | 3,000 | 1,000 |
| Awards For All | 19,866 | – |
| Friends of the Earth Trust | 7,600 | – |
| Good Things Foundation | 1,000 | – |
| Hubbub | 16,000 | – |
| New Economics Foundation | 80 | – |
| Nisa | 1,000 | – |
| Secretary of State for Justice | 53,066 | – |
| Simon Gibson Charitable Trust | 4,142 | – |
| University of South Wales | – | 250 |
46
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Brought forward | (921,448) | (1,330,435) |
| Wales and West Housing | 28,564 | 1,250 |
| WCVA | – | 9,439 |
| Welsh Government | 43,625 | 44,224 |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 1,076,525 | 1,385,598 | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| Sundry Income | 2,255 | 260 |
| ----------------------- | -------------- | |
| -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | |
| 1,069,211 | 1,367,918 | |
| -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | |
| Other trading activities | ||
| Rental Income | 35,372 | 30,187 |
| Generated Income | 70,962 | 92,759 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 106,334 | 122,946 | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| Investment income | ||
| Bank interest receivable | 17,404 | 6,025 |
| ---------------------------- | ----------------------- | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| Total income | 1,202,518 | 1,514,829 |
| ========================================= | ========================================= |
47
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Expenditure | ||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | ||
| Wages and salaries | 685,034 | 675,664 |
| Employer's NIC | 53,183 | 42,934 |
| Pension costs | 22,243 | 14,575 |
| Rates and water | 971 | 3,522 |
| Light and heat | 12,130 | 16,205 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 32,583 | 12,374 |
| Insurance | 6,895 | 5,841 |
| Motor vehicle expenses | – | 1,431 |
| Other motor/travel costs | 6,520 | 1,645 |
| Legal and professional fees | 6,240 | 13,755 |
| Other office costs | 7,691 | 8,093 |
| Depreciation | 59,492 | 61,317 |
| Other interest payable and similar charges | 703 | 661 |
| Training | 628 | 2,262 |
| Equipment and room hire | 9,340 | 4,624 |
| Project Costs | 144,399 | 166,339 |
| Cleaning | 10,262 | 14,096 |
| IT costs & telephone | 14,083 | 33,398 |
| 256,994 | 286,316 | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| 1,329,391 | 1,365,052 | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| Other expenditure | ||
| Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets held for charity's own use | 31,399 | – |
| ---------------------------- | -------------- | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| Total expenditure | 1,360,790 | 1,365,052 |
| ========================================= | ========================================= | |
| Net losses on investments | ||
| Gains/(losses) on investment property | – | (10,000) |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| Net (expenditure)/income | (158,272) | 139,777 |
| ================================ | ================================ |
48
ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Expenditure on charitable activities | ||
| Direct charitable activities | ||
| Activities undertaken directly | ||
| Wages/salaries | 641,979 | 565,688 |
| Employer's NIC | 53,183 | 42,934 |
| Pension costs | 22,243 | 14,575 |
| Rates & water | 904 | 2,818 |
| Light & heat | 1,511 | 12,964 |
| Repairs & maintenance | 13,053 | 6,454 |
| Insurance | – | 3,738 |
| Other motor/travel costs | 541 | 1,502 |
| Other office costs | 1,667 | 3,131 |
| Depreciation | 54,792 | 49,994 |
| Training | – | 2,262 |
| Equipment and room hire | 9,340 | 4,624 |
| Project Costs | 139,708 | 166,339 |
| IT costs & telephone | 1,035 | 21,265 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 939,956 | 898,288 | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| Grant funding activities | ||
| Grants payable | 256,994 | 286,316 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| Support costs | ||
| Wages/salaries | 43,055 | 109,976 |
| Rates & water | 67 | 704 |
| Light & heat | 10,619 | 3,241 |
| Repairs & maintenance | 19,530 | 5,920 |
| Insurance | 6,895 | 2,103 |
| Motor vehicle expenses | – | 1,431 |
| Other motor/travel costs | 5,979 | 143 |
| Legal and professional fees | – | 4,901 |
| Other office costs | 6,024 | 4,962 |
| Depreciation | 4,700 | 11,323 |
| Training | 628 | – |
| Project Costs | 4,691 | – |
| Cleaning | 10,262 | 14,096 |
| IT costs & telephone | 13,048 | 12,133 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 125,498 | 170,933 | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| Governance costs | ||
| Governance costs - accountancy fees | 676 | 650 |
| Governance costs - audit fees | 5,564 | 8,204 |
| Bank charges | 703 | 661 |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------- | |
| 6,943 | 9,515 | |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------- | |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 1,329,391 | 1,365,052 |
| ========================================= | ========================================= |
49
ace Action in Caerau & Ely Gweithredu yng Nghaerau a Threlái
. wl * J i = 4 ; an | « Action in i , ss % co a | —— Caerau and Ely ~~Annual Report 24/25~~
1
Our ~~Ambitions~~ , For Our , ~~Community~~ \h a Me ar I% 7 t FY ty > *x ‘ #2 47 wo 5 eSOS :. ) Se ae ¥ Li a é Through Our ~~Own Eforts~~ .
2
Contents
-
Message from 7. Community the Chair Support p4 p12
-
Good Food Hub
-
About ACE p6
-
Advice and Support
-
Restore
-
Ely and Caerau Community Plan p8
-
ACE Benthyg
-
Grand Avenues
-
Café Barr
-
The Dusty Shed
-
ACE Partnerships p9
- Repair Café
-
Together for St Mellons & Trowbridge p14
-
The Big Dig p10
-
Dylan's Story p15
-
Diana Garden Postcode Gardener p16
-
Peace Garden p17
-
Health & Wellbeing p18
-
Yourspace Wellbeing Support
-
A Day in the life of a Wellbeing Connector
-
Bereavement Support
-
-
CAER Heritage & Learning Centre p11
-
ACE Places p20
-
ACE Volunteers p22
-
ACE Arts p24
-
Shape Your Future p25
-
The ACE Way p26
-
Sara's Story
-
p27
-
Our Impact in Numbers p28
-
ACE Trustees, Volunteers & ACE Staff p31
-
Financial Report p33
-
Funders and Partners p34
3
Message from the Chair
ACE continues to work with a multitude of organisations to make a positive difference to the residents of Ely & Caerau and those in other parts of Cardiff. Funding has been difficult to secure, as many charities have seen this year. ACE has linked up with other organisations to deliver projects through partnerships and maximize funding opportunities. Sadly the ACE Arts project has had to close due to lack of available funding.
The CAER Heritage and Learning Centre has become well used by groups such as Flying Start and Love Our Hillfort, and hosted a number of courses run by Cardiff Council Adult Learning and Cardiff Met to name a few. The course subjects have ranged from Bookkeeping and Starting your own Business to Paediatric First Aid and Creative Writing. A number of successful cooking and healthy eating courses have been hosted by the Centre. The annual dig in Trelai Park yielded more intriguing objects and was well supported by Cardiff University, local schools, and a large number of enthusiastic volunteers.
The development of our outdoor space at Diana Garden has continued, with the help of dedicated volunteers, and groups from firms that have volunteering programmes. It has become a venue for outdoor activities run in partnership with Ely & Caerau Children’s Centre and various ACE projects, as well as providing a supply of fruit and vegetables for the community fridge and the café.
Our new Postcode Gardener community greening project has supported work around the area, and assisted in the development of gardens at the Trelai Pavilion with the Grand Avenues project, and the Peace (formerly Memorial) Garden at the Dusty Forge. The latter project has had input and funding from Keep Wales Tidy, Grow Cardiff, and Community Payback teams.
Our Community Support team has been very busy and has worked with the Yourspace social prescribing teams in the South West, West, and North Cardiff clusters, and the Grand Avenues team, as well as the local community. They have been successful in helping many people get benefits and support that they are entitled to which has greatly improved their wellbeing.
Everyone at ACE is determined to continue to work together with our community to make life better and bring positive change. Thank you for your support, as always.
Marian Dixey - Chair
4
Equal IWli11 IA tym, [VL fil41 LKIT y KS
About ACE
Our Vision
To create ‘vibrant, equal and resilient communities for all, where people find fulfilment in themselves, each other, and the place where they live’.
Our Values
How We Work
Local people know their community best.
Everyone has something unique to contribute.
We work with communities to achieve lasting positive change for an equal and just Cardiff by:
- Mobilising local people behind a shared vision.
Everyone’s contribution should be valued equally.
- Co-producing projects and services that make use of assets and meet needs.
Poverty should not be accepted as a fact of life.
Social injustice should be challenged and changed.
-
Driving positive social change, making our communities fairer and more inclusive.
-
Securing income and maximising community assets for sustainability and community resilience.
-
Working closely with private, public and third sector organisations to secure the benefits of their resources for our communities.
6
Resilient r*
Ely and Caerau Community Plan
With input from 1,234 people, the Ely and Caerau Community Plan brought people together to make a positive difference at a local level. Each of the 40 actions in the Community Plan were designed in response to needs and ideas shared by the community. The work was completed in March 2024 and a full report on the impact of all 40 actions can be found on our website: www.aceplace.org/community-plan/
The Community Plan directed approximately £2 million of grant funding, secured from various sources including the Welsh Government, the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, and Cardiff Council, into the area. You can find a breakdown of funding on the same webpage.
A dedicated group met 4 times to review the progress of all 40 actions during 2023 and 2024, offering support and challenge where needed. The Community Steering Group is made up of
local residents (3 adults and a young person) and representatives from schools, churches, Cardiff Youth Service, Police, GP surgeries and charities active in the local area including ACE, Save the Children, Citizens Cymru and Barnardo’s. They heard regularly from staff in Cardiff Council on the actions they were responsible for, including parks and community safety teams.
We also shared highlights on the Community Plan Facebook page.
Many groups who came together to make this happen have continued working together on new projects to support the community, creating a legacy of collaboration that will continue into the future. We want to say a big thank you to everyone involved in this work - together we made a lot of positive change happen for people of all ages across Ely and Caerau.
Community Action 6.4 Celebrating our community 4 Festivals and fun days were attended by over 1,300 people, plus another 12 community fun days took place over 2024, with thousands enjoying coming together as a community.
Community Action 2.3 Bike safety 16 young people took part in a week-long motocross event, learning new skills. Legal
and safety rules for e-bikes were shared through all local secondary schools and on social media.
Community Action 2.4 Action on Anti-Social Behaviour Hotspots South Wales Victim Focus installed free video doorbells for 20 residents experiencing the effects of anti-social behaviour. CCTV and local street lighting was also upgraded.
Community Action 3.2 New Youth Space Cardiff West Community High School opened a brand new community Youth Space in the school, with regular youth club nights run by Cardiff Youth Service (extra to existing clubs).
Community Action 1.9 Parent Power Place A group of parents and carers with experience of children’s
services come together regularly to talk, listen and share experiences and advice.
Community Action 4.1 Barnardo’s YEWS Barnardo’s Youth Engagement and Wellbeing Service supported young people to gain essential life skills. One young person said ‘I can open up and talk about how I am feeling”.
8
ACE Partnerships with the LPB (Learning Partnership Board)
In the last few years, ACE has developed closer relationships with Ely and Caerau Children’s Centre (ECCC), Save the Children, and the local Learning Partnership Board (LPB).
In the collaborative ‘Ehangu/Dan y Coed’ project in 2023, local families worked with us to design a project to create spaces suitable for outdoor play for families with children aged 0-5. We worked together to design and deliver creative outdoor play activities in nature, in three outdoor spaces that we developed for the purpose. The project was a great success, with 160 adults and 244 children benefiting from outdoor play. We then applied together for lottery funding, which enabled us to continue Dan y Coed play activities on 2 sites in 2024/25.
Save the Children reflected on the strength of these partnerships in their report: “Effective collaboration… relies on shared values, trusting in the process and others, being open to working differently and shifting mindsets – with a desire to connect and strengthen relationships.”
This strong partnership is now working together to ensure that local families’ voices are heard and acted on in our Learning Partnership Board. Save the Children secured funding from Welsh Government for ‘Camau Bach, Newid Mawr/Little steps, Big change’. Together we listened to 81 children and young people and 88 parents and carers about how they share their ideas and how they want their voices to be heard. Now we are testing a new way of working across 7 local schools, where school councils and parents groups will share their views directly with the Learning Partnership Board meetings each term. Through effective partnerships, the LPB can respond to these ideas and help bring about real change.
Through being open minded, sharing values and learning to work together, we are collaborating in really exciting work that brings the voice of the community to the heart of the Learning Partnership board, and beyond to a growing network of organisations and campaigns where local voices can have an impact.
9
The Big Dig Trelai Park
More secrets revealed at archaeological dig in Trelai Park
Photo: Vivian Thomas
CAER Heritage took to Trelai Park again this summer for another fascinating four-week community archaeology dig to explore the Bronze Age settlement that is beautifully preserved beneath the park. The CAER team, along with 430 volunteers, 9 local schools with 224 pupils, 6 community groups and Cardiff University students all got their hands dirty, continuing the exciting string of discoveries by uncovering a second Bronze Age roundhouse, a Bronze Age burial ground containing cremations and evidence from the Roman Period, giving us a fantastic window into the lives of Ely & Caerau residents over the last 3,500 years. The big dig community open day brought hundreds of people together at the site to find out more about the heritage of the park, see the ancient artefacts that were unearthed, and have fun with creative activities and games. In all, 1423 people attended the dig in 2025!
park, and above all the local community, without whom nothing that CAER has done would have been possible.
If you’re interested in your local history, we’re at the CAER Centre every Wednesday from 10am-12pm cleaning finds from the dig. Everyone is welcome to come and get involved.
The dig this year produced plenty of exciting finds including flint tools, pottery, part of a Bronze Age axe, a flint arrowhead, a quern stone, and other objects that were used by the people that lived there. All the finds have been taken to the CAER Heritage Centre where the post-excavation work is taking place with the Love Our Hillfort volunteers helping to clean and analyse them.
Volunteer Hannah Secker, a student completing her A-Levels who would like to study Archaeology said: “It’s unbelievable finding artefacts that could be 3,000 years old and thinking about the people that have walked on this ground before us”.
Love Our Hillfort volunteer and Cardiff University Archaeology student Dan Queally said: “It’s not just the archaeology I’ve learned about, it’s about seeing the difference a project like this can make to people here and now”.
CAER has been running for almost 15 years now. It’s brought together archaeologists and students from Cardiff University with ACE members, local schools, residents, community groups and more. This year’s dig has really put Trelai Park on the archaeological map and we’re so grateful for the ongoing support from Cardiff Council, who gave us permission to dig in the
CAER Volunteer Hannah with the quern stone from the Bronze Age! Photo: Vivian Thomas
10
CAER Heritage & Learning Centre
in Childcare’, with more planned for the rest of the year, all based on local people’s interest and needs. The NHS brought their Dietary Requirements cooking course and their Recovery & Wellbeing College to the CAER Centre. We have also hosted other courses on making healthy meals where attendees take home with them the food they make during the course.
In 2025 the CAER Centre has flourished as a hub of learning in our community, hosting higher education and training courses, school group visits and regular community groups, providing a variety of opportunities for learning for all ages and continuing to explore our community’s fascinating heritage.
Weekly groups include CAER Carers Club, Love Our Hillfort and the CAER Gardening group. Flying Start runs weekly wellbeing sessions and toddler groups. Other regular community courses, activities, and events, include ‘Get Cooking’ sessions and ‘New Era’ music workshops for young people.
We hosted several community days in partnership with Cardiff University’s School of Music, the School of History, Archaeology and Religion and the Postcode Lottery.
In partnership with Cardiff University we also hosted several courses. These included Community Archaeologist Specialist Training courses, accredited training courses hosted with ‘Reaching Wider’, Cardiff University’s adult learning outreach programme, including the popular ‘Health & Social Care’, ‘Starting Your Own Business’, ‘Criminology’, ‘Archaeology Ceramics’, ‘Excel and Computer Skills’ and ‘Careers
The dedicated volunteers at CAER Heritage Love Our Hillfort group have facilitated Archaeology themed Open Days at the centre and have been taking part in the Council for British Archaeology’s Catalysts for Change project, aimed at bringing together community archaeology groups from across the U.K. to share their experiences and knowledge of co-creating research. They also showcased the vibrant heritage centre garden at events and co-produced and implemented several garden projects, including beginning work on a Roman medicinal garden outdoor educational resource and making several improvements to the garden that will support wellbeing through improving accessibility to outdoor activities.
Treasures of Trelai Park.
The exhibition was open to the public on Mondays and Wednesdays in the CAER Centre from 2nd February until 1st May. We were delighted to welcome visitors to see the wonderful finds from the dig and the beautiful art inspired by those discoveries on display. The exhibition was co-created by local young people and community members, including the amazing ACE Arts Youth Group, Cardiff West Community High School students, Love Our Hillfort volunteers, and MIGHTY Community Artist Programme participants.
Photo: Vivian Thomas
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Community Support
Good Food Hub
“It opened my mind to healthy, planet-friendly eating and unusual ways to make things. Thank you so much, this has been 2 hours of happiness each week.
é food demos, nutrition education, quizzes and games i alongside Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong and garden activities. 30 people from the local community attended our sessions. 98% said they would be encouraged to try cooking a similar dish at home and everyone learned more about healthy food and nutrition. Cookery books were kindly donated by the National Literacy Trust. Through the project we have also set up a new Food LJ Network for Ely and Caerau, which will build links and i ii collaboration between local food projects.
Community Events
In 2024/25 we set up our new Good Food Hub, promoting our food, nutrition and health work in the community. Our database now has 60 people, many of whom regularly attend events to improve their health and well-being.
Let’s Get Cooking!
With funding from Hubbub and Cardiff Council, we launched a series of ‘Get Cooking’ courses at the Caer Heritage Centre, helping residents cook easy, healthy, affordable food. In partnership with Cardiff & Vale Dietetics Team and our Community Food Practitioner, Caroline Holroyd, we ran four 5-week Agored-accredited ‘Preparing a Healthy Meal’ courses with different interactive themes including ‘Fakeaway’, ‘Tasty Budget’, ‘Autumn Seasonal & Winter Warming Cooking’. Hubbub also funded the development and delivery of our own bespoke 6 week programme, ‘Food for Health & Planet’, on healthy, sustainable, planet-friendly cooking.
During summer 2024 we teamed up with our amazing community partners to host three family-friendly food events, which welcomed over 60 adults and children, creating opportunities to cook, learn, and connect around healthy food.
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A ‘Wild Cooking’ workshop at Diana Garden with Ely & Caerau Children’s Centre where children cooked outdoors on our rocket stove creating a tasty, healthy lunch.
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Our ‘Family Grow & Create’ event with Grow Cardiff in the Dusty Garden mixed hands-on foodie crafts, healthy snack-making, and lessons in growing your own food.
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A ‘Creative Food & Fun’ session with Herbert Thompson Primary School brought families together for nature exploration, healthy cooking, and playful foodie games.
We supported 30 people to build their skills, knowledge and confidence to cook from scratch, with 15 achieving an Agored entry level 3 qualification. We are now working to build this interest in cooking, health and nutrition with National Lottery community funding secured for our Good Food Club until July 2026. Our Hubbub programme is also set to continue with additional funding awarded to run workshops on improving community health through cost effective, balanced and wholesome cooking ideas.
Living Well
Our ‘Living Well’ project addressed healthy eating and exercise through 7 workshops. Funded by Cardiff & Vale Health Board via C3SC as part of their Good Food & Movement Framework, these sessions included
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ACE Advice and Support
Hafan is a new project that began in 2024, aligned with YourSpace, our successful social prescribing project. Referrals are made directly by local GP's for patients with health conditions, exacerbated by living in cold homes. They receive bespoke energy advice, benefit checks and help that eases immediate pressures and builds lasting solutions by increasing household income through unclaimed benefits and energy efficiency. The project has generated £987,000 in unclaimed benefit income, creating £19.75 value for every £1 invested.
ACE Benthyg
Our library of things, ACE Benthyg, continues to grow, with 600+ active members and around 50 items borrowed each month. Our carpet cleaner and hedge trimmer remain our most commonly borrowed items, and DIY and gardening tools are still the most popular categories. Our library stock is ever-growing - from children’s bug-hunting kits and party-ready chocolate fountains to cement mixers and wood chippers. Membership is free. We’re open Monday and Friday mornings in the Restore space, and alongside the Repair Café on the fourth Saturday of each month. You can also browse and reserve items online (see web address and QR code below) and we welcome drop ins, where you can ask questions, and see what’s available.
Restore
Restore at the Dusty Forge is open every Wednesday morning, offering free fresh and ambient food from our Community Fridge, affordable toiletries and cleaning products, and a pet food bank. By redistributing quality surplus food, we cut waste and support our community as we all face rising costs. Over the last year we diverted 2,500 kg of food from landfill and welcomed 500 visits from local residents. We aim to extend opening hours in the year ahead.
“It makes such a difference you being here, you should all be really proud of what you do.” - Drew
Grand Avenues
Grand Avenues is a partnership between ACE and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). As part of the project, people on probation are supervised in local community hubs by a small, dedicated team of probation practitioners. Working alongside community partners, they provide a wide range of support to people on probation and their families, including with finance, training and employment, and healthcare. Grand Avenues supports and encourages people to meaningfully contribute to the local community.
ace.benthyg.cymru
Café Barr
Café Barr continues to provide a warm, welcoming space at the Dusty Forge, where people can connect over delicious and healthy food. Local volunteers cook three free community meals each week:
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Monday evening three-course meal with FoodCycle
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Tuesday community lunch club
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Wednesday breakfast freshly cooked by volunteers with the Grand Avenues team (our HMPPS partnership).
Volunteers and participants build cooking skills and gain accredited qualifications. Anyone can drop in. 60 - 100 people join weekly, reducing isolation and helping stretch household budgets.
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The Dusty Shed
The Dusty Shed now runs four weekly sessions: 10-12 men and women participate in each woodworking and social activity session on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as well as Wellbeing Wednesdays for men to discuss the challenges they face in later life and offer peer-topeer support. We’re also sharing skills, constructing bird boxes and planters for organisations and schools developing ‘green’ community spaces.
Repair Café ~~————~~ For six years our Dusty Repair Cafe team has ‘popped up’ monthly. Our dedicated team of volunteer fixers have shared their skills free of charge to check out 700+ broken items and
mended three-quarters of them! Our friendly fixers’ skills range from repairing everyday electrical household items and garden equipment to offering IT software advice and undertaking basic bike and scooter repairs. Family heirlooms
restored have included specialist woodwork and ceramics as well as revival of elderly soft toys and specialist textiles. ‘Kind, friendly – helpful above and beyond’ reported one satisfied customer.
Together for St. Mellons and Trowbridge
Together for Trowbridge and St. Mellons (T4TSM) is one of 13 Invest Local Programmes in Wales funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. It is a 10-year programme that builds on the strengths, skills and talents in the community
to create positive and long-lasting change. ACE acts as grantholder for a steering group of local residents and representatives from community-based organisations, who lead on the delivery of the programme.
During 2024-25 the staff member working for the programme moved into another local role and the steering group have been exploring ways that they can meet the aims of the programme without a member of staff, which has included
providing grants and support to local groups and organisations and paying for sessional hours to carry out localised community development activities in the Trowbridge area.
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Dylan’s Story Gardening pulls me back on track
I got involved in the garden here at Trelai Pavillion about 5 months ago. I come down here to see my probation officer; they told me about the garden. Because I haven’t got a garden of my own, to have this on your doorstep is a good alternative.
It just allows me to switch off. I don’t have a built in release valve. So I have to do something to switch myself off, it doesn’t come easily to me. So doing something with my hands takes my mind off life’s stresses. I don’t know the nuts and bolts of it, I just know it works.
The planters were put in by Keep Wales Tidy and the lads on probation. I come in and maintain what we’ve set up - do a bit of watering, a bit of weeding. I’ve planted some cucumbers and tomatoes, the herb garden, some strawberries. As it’s our first season, I think we are all learning as we go along and learn from each other as well. I’m not an expert but I have got an NVQ in gardening, I did it in prison. It’s out of date now but when you’re qualified, you’re qualified! We’ll always keep learning, and I’ll always be here at the garden.
I think the social interaction is what I enjoy most. Because I have problems switching off from life. I suffer
with my mental health, with anxiety and depression, I’ve had it for over 30 years. Sometimes it gets out of hand and I can’t get it back, and I feel like I’m in a vicious circle of anxiety, and I think situations are worse than they are. For me, gardening pulls me back on track. I don’t think my life would be as good without the gardening. I don’t have much family that I’m in contact with so I have worked at putting things in place, having some community around me. It’s a lot to build your life again from scratch.
We’re only getting started here, we’ve been here less than a year, but in 5 years this garden will be just as amazing as the one in the Dusty Forge. We’re trying to get some lavender in for the bees… we’ve already got lots of bees in here but I don’t think you can ever have enough wildlife.
I would say to anyone thinking of getting involved in gardening, give it a try, you might like it. I like it. There’s no pressure and you might enjoy it and you might make some good friends too. I certainly have.
Dylan (not his real name) is a volunteer with a community garden group supported by Grand Avenues Project and HM Prison and Probation Service, and ACE’s Postcode Gardener project.
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Diana Garden
In the last twelve months community engagement has gone from strength to strength in Diana Garden. We have had regular twice weekly gardening sessions with ten community volunteers attending regularly to maintain the garden, prepare beds and plant and harvest a range of fruit and vegetables. Weekly gardening sessions not only help maintain the garden but also act as an important way of connecting with others and improving self confidence and self esteem. We learn from each other and develop new skills.
We also organised various seasonal community events with community members contributing to the activities and providing refreshments. We will continue to organise events for the coming year with collaboration from other providers
We feel that Diana Garden is more than a green space: it is a community-led sanctuary where residents of all ages can learn, connect, and thrive in nature. With
Postcode Gardener
In partnership with The Co-operative Bank, Friends of the Earth has funded ACE to employ a Postcode Gardener. Postcode Gardeners inspire people to get together, get planting and keep growing. They help grow plants for flowers, food and wildlife along streets and in public spaces where people can enjoy them. At the project launch in March 2025, local people participated in planting trees, sowing seeds, and mapping out potential areas for greening. So far, we have grown plants in 19 places - from sunflowers in Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Caerau to vegetables at the pavilion in Trelai Park. We’ve planted wild flowers near the CAER centre and made bird boxes with families at Diana Garden.
mentoring from the Egin programme, we have created an action plan to address some of the challenges of the space, such as the lack of electricity and water supply, ensuring the garden continues to grow as a model of urban regeneration, biodiversity, and local resilience. We are applying for Egin funding to take the next step in the development of the garden. The Egin programme is a Wales-wide initiative that supports and empowers community groups to take action on climate change and live more sustainably. The word "Egin" means "shoots" or "sprouts" in Welsh, reflecting the program's goal of helping new community ideas for climate action to generate and take root.
days and festivals over the summer.
A highlight for summer 2025 was our Diana Garden Family Fun day - 258 people attended! Together with partners we helped people enjoy pebble painting, leaf bunting, portraits, wild cooking, bird box making and planting. The new planters at CAER
Courtyard helped us bring together wood working volunteers at Dusty Shed, CAER garden volunteers and young children with their parents at ‘Flying Start’ to create accessible growing experiences for all ages. Our local ‘Green Spaces Network’ is a great source of ideas for where to plant next, and these connections continue to flourish.
154 community members have got involved in growing with our Postcode Gardener. We’ve worked with 19 groups, including Upfront Gardens CIC, Urban Long Forest, Coed Caerdydd, Sow the Sun, Love our Hillfort group, Diana Garden and CAER centre garden volunteers, Dusty Shed, Cardiff West Community High School, Grand Avenues, Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Caerau, Grow Cardiff and St. Vincent de Paul (SVP). Dozens of people have taken home hundreds of seeds in small pots through our ‘seed blitz’ activities at family fun
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Peace Garden
The Peace Garden began with an idea for a quiet space to remember ACE colleague Caroline Barr, and other loved ones who have passed away. We wanted to create a calm place for people to reflect and take time to look forward with hope. We now have a beautiful garden buzzing with life, which seems a positive space and a good fit for that purpose.
wildlife garden came to fruition in spring 2025. We opened the Peace garden officially in July, as part of the celebration of 10 years at the Dusty Forge.
We were supported in the development of the wildlife garden by a Keep Wales Tidy grant and they have supplied growing boxes, a pond, seating, bee friendly plants, shrubs and trees.
We were keen to make the space wheelchair friendly. This was made possible by the Probation Community Payback team and volunteers who constructed a solid path, giving access to the garden for all. The woodworking skills of John Naylor and The Dusty Shed members also provided a secure fence and gate to the Peace garden. Local community members who are keen to be custodians of the Peace garden will maintain the space alongside ACE staff.
The initial focus group met in October 2022, standing in an overgrown semi-wilderness. To say it was overwhelming was an understatement. However, ideas and plans were abundant, and with the hard work of the Diana Garden staff and volunteers, Charlotte, John and Tang, and strong partnerships with the Probation Community Payback team and Keep Wales Tidy, the
“Working with Steve at ACE on the Peace Garden project has been an absolute joy. To see a piece of waste ground turned into a thriving, peaceful haven has been truly inspiring. It’s now a place where nature is welcomed, wildlife can flourish, and people can find a moment of calm and quiet reflection. Watching that transformation take shape has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had.
I’m so grateful to Steve and the amazing volunteers who put their energy, heart, and passion into making this vision a reality. I can’t wait to work with Steve again on future projects that bring even more positivity and beauty into our communities.”
David Foley
Keep Wales Tidy – Roving Officer for Cardiff
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"I am overall better, as things are much more positive compared to when I last went to the GP at the start of the year. I'm glad I'm back doing something with my days, it's relieving.”
“It makes such a difference to know someone is reaching out. They might not have all the answers but I feel listened to.”
Health and Wellbeing
“Thank you for just being there, it's refreshing to be able to speak to someone and just be able to get things off my chest which I find difficult to express to my family.”
Yourspace Wellbeing Support
Yourspace is a social prescribing and community development service, providing 1:1 wellbeing support and developing new community-led wellbeing activities. The service is commissioned by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and we work closely with local GP’s and health services to support people with a range of health, social and wellbeing needs. Referrals are seen promptly and wellbeing connectors offer a range of signposting options with an engaging personcentred approach.
The service started in South West Cardiff in 2019 and has supported 296 people in this area during 2024-25 to improve their wellbeing. Our development workers have been adept at developing a range of activities to meet needs, including events, outings and activities such as walking and support groups. A sample of 70 people completed a wellbeing scale, which showed 83% had improved their wellbeing.
In 2024-25 the Yourspace service in North Cardiff grew, following a smaller scale pilot in this area. With more Wellbeing Connectors and a Community Development Worker now on the North Cardiff team we have been able to provide direct support to 172 people during 2024-25, as well as setting up wellbeing groups including a walking group, men’s group and a
neurodiversity support group. A sample of 64 people completed a wellbeing scale, which showed 86% had improved their wellbeing.
During 2024-25 the service also expanded into West Cardiff, with a smaller service delivered by one parttime wellbeing connector and a part-time development worker. Following work to identify needs and local partnership opportunities, the team started a walking group, bereavement support group and financial wellbeing drop-in for the area; and provided direct support to 46 people. A sample of 9 people completed a wellbeing scale, which showed 78% had improved their wellbeing.
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A Day in the Life of a Wellbeing Connector
It's an early start this morning, as the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting begins at 8:30 am. The MDT is a crucial forum, organised by Cardiff North Primary Care Cluster, that brings together professionals such as GP's, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, and Independent Living Services. With patient permission, we use this virtual roundtable to discuss appropriate and holistic care plans. Our Wellbeing service is represented here, offering an ideal opportunity to better understand the roles and contributions of our fellow professionals.
Yourspace is allocated three new referrals today, with patient details securely delivered via an electronic database.
This is where our direct work begins. These three individuals will be contacted within the next three days, marking the start of their journey to improved wellbeing.
The Wellbeing Connector has three scheduled visits for the day.
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One appointment is a supporting visit to help a patient access assistance from the local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
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The second visit is a crucial first face-to-face appointment, offering an opportunity to discuss the patient’s goals and aspirations for their wellbeing.
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The final appointment is unfortunately cancelled by the patient and rescheduled for a later date.
Following the visits, it's back to the office for a quick sandwich, followed by typing up case notes and making any necessary follow-up calls. There are always messages and emails from colleagues to address. As the day draws to a close, there's a valuable opportunity to have a quick catch-up with other connectors, sharing insights and best practices.
Bereavement Support
ACE leads on a partnership project, funded by Welsh Government, to enhance bereavement support in Cardiff for people from ethnic minority communities and those with a learning disability, both groups that are less likely to access existing support. Our partners at Community Care and Wellbeing Service provide bereavement counselling, courses and support groups which are sensitive to people’s culture and faith and available in a range of languages. Our partners Cardiff People First have been active in setting up peer support groups and activities for people with a learning disability.
In 2024-25 the project provided bereavement counselling for 101 people and ran 14 bereavement
and mental health workshops, working with local faith centres and community organisations. Over 230 people attended courses, from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds including Pakistani, Somali, Syrian, Iraqi, Lebanese, Egyptian, Arabic, Bengali, Palestinian, Sudanese, Italian and Welsh. The courses were successful in breaking down barriers and ‘taboo’ around discussing sensitive topics and have also resulted in the setting up of peer support groups where people could come together and support each other through grief. 34 local residents with a learning disability took part in peer support activities, providing informal and safe settings for them to talk about people they had lost and their feelings around a bereavement.
19 <2) peer a
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ACE Places
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We run two community centres and a wildlife garden. These vibrant and welcoming spaces host a range of activities to help people in financial crisis, provide holistic wellbeing support and social prescribing, help overcome barriers to learning and employment, make art, celebrate our local heritage, bring people together through cooking, growing and food, volunteering and much more! We also support a thriving network of community groups for all ages that promote mutual support and positive wellbeing.
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Our Place:
Dusty Forge
460 Cowbridge Rd West, Ely, Cardiff CF5 5BZ
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A place for help and support
At the heart of the building sits our ‘community living room’, a friendly, informal and flexible space with a constant supply of tea and coffee and the buzz of folk getting to know each other and hatching new plans and visions. The Dusty Forge acts as a base for a wide range of projects, groups and activities run by staff and local volunteers.
Practical Support
Our practical support includes Crisis Hour, ACE Benthyg community hire, Re-Store’s reuse and recycle hub, and the monthly Repair Cafe. We have a weekly ACE meal and a community fridge.
Health and wellbeing
A range of wellbeing and social groups and activities take place here, including our own ‘Yourspace’ service (page 18) as well as community-led groups.
Green space at the Dusty Forge
'Grow Well' is a therapeutic gardening project led by Grow Cardiff, sharing gardening skills. The Peace Garden is our memorial garden, a calm space to take time out, to reflect and have time to look forward with hope.
Room Hire at the Dusty Forge
The Dusty Forge offers a range of rooms for all your meetings and events needs. For further enquires: T: 029 20003132, or E: dusty@aceplace.org.
Also based at the Dusty Forge
Dusty Shed
The Dusty Shed aims to promote health and wellbeing by reducing the loneliness and isolation of individuals, particularly but not exclusively men aged 50+. Individuals can share, learn and socialise with each other in an inclusive environment. Visit www.thedustyshed.org.uk.
Repair Cafe
The Dusty's Repair Cafe runs monthly pop-up events offering a friendly free repair and re-use service supported by Repair Café Wales. Volunteer hosts and fixers welcome customers bringing broken items and share their skills on the spot. The repair cafe is every 4th Saturday, each month.
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CAER Heritage Church Rd, Caerau, Cardiff CF5 5LQ
Working with people to discover more about their local heritage
The CAER Heritage Centre on Church Road in Caerau is a hub for heritage activity and community learning, as well as hosting a number of community groups and activities.
The Caerau And Ely Rediscovering (CAER) Heritage Project, launched in 2011, is a collaboration between ACE, Cardiff University, local schools, residents and community groups. Local people explore a rich landscape that includes an Iron Age hillfort, Neolithic causewayed enclosure and the medieval church of St Mary’s. They take part in archaeological excavations, historical research, artefact analysis, exhibitions, art, heritage trails, accredited courses and experimental archaeology.
What's On
Venue Hire
- We have weekly activities The centre has a main including: hall, smaller meeting • Love our Hillfort rooms and facilities, • Gardening Group that are available for • CAER Carers Club hire. You can email • Flying Start Stay & caerheritage@aceplace. Play org to find out about booking a space
We have regular courses from Cardiff University, and other community activities and events.
Diana Garden Hiles Rd, Ely, Cardiff CF5 4JB
A Community Garden Where You Can Grow, Eat & Thrive Together
Diana Garden is a remarkable example of how local people can revive and re imagine public space. Once a derelict playground, the garden has been transformed into a thriving, green community hub - where people of all ages grow food, learn new skills, and connect with nature and one another.
Your Community Space
This isn't just about gardening. Diana Garden is a hub where you can:
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Learn new skills through hands-on experience
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Support your wellbeing with therapeutic outdoor activity
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Make genuine connections with your neighbours
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• Contribute to something meaningful in your local area
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Find out more every Tuesday - 1pm to 4pm.
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ACE Volunteers
- 100% of volunteers said they feel valued and appreciated as an ACE volunteer.
Some of the volunteers have shared their positive experience(s) they have had while volunteering with ACE:
‘I had to reinvent my life and community, I did this by volunteering at ACE.’
‘I have been given many opportunities whilst volunteering with ACE one of which led to employment.’
‘Connecting with the community every week and getting to see the real difference that archaeology and heritage can make, invaluable to my enjoyment and pride in my degree.’
ACE has worked with over 80 volunteers, spread across 20 different areas of work at the Dusty Forge, CAER Heritage Centre, Diana Gardens and the Yourspace Team in Cardiff North. The volunteers are dedicated, supportive, passionate and determined to help improve the lives of people living in Caerau, Ely and the wider areas of Cardiff.
ACE would like to say a continued THANK YOU to all our volunteers for another year of incredible commitment, compassion and hard work. We currently have seven Lead Volunteers who provide extra support to staff in the running of the volunteer projects. Ten Volunteer Trustees sit on our ACE Board, providing strategic oversight of our activities.
This year the Volunteers and Project Leads have grown their projects and started new groups. ACE has showed appreciation and gratitude to them during both Student Volunteering Week and Volunteers Week, where all volunteers were invited to a series of celebration events and all received a personalised award, homemade with love gifts and a personalised pen.
This year the volunteers took part in the ACE volunteering survey where:
- 100% of volunteers said they feel supported in their volunteering role(s) by ACE staff.
Volunteer Focus
This year ACE has focused on each volunteer's journey, making sure each volunteer is on the right path for them. With support from the Volunteer Development Officer and Project Leads, ACE can ensure the best volunteering opportunities and experiences.
Sarah from the Tuesday Lunch Club expresses how this method has supported her in reaching her goals for employment and community support.
ZY Qa iis community by making meals for them is very rewarding and living 42a© locally with young we Bs 3 om rs children has helped to connect me to the community where I live. Volunteering with the Utilising my skills and ACE lunch club has knowledge to produce enabled me to regain meals from food that my confidence in a would otherwise be working kitchen after a wasted has regained long break caring for my passion for food a disabled parent and and definitely propelled raising young children. me forward to rejoin I have since signed up the culinary workforce for culinary school and going forward ’. look forward to once Sarah Standring, again working in the Tuesday Lunch Club Lead Volunteer
‘ Volunteering with the ACE lunch club has enabled me to regain my confidence in a working kitchen after a long break caring for a disabled parent and raising young children. I have since signed up for culinary school and look forward to once again working in the industry. Helping the
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ACE Arts
ACE Arts continued weekly workshops
throughout spring and summer of 2024, with an average of 10-12 participants per week. The groups worked on a piece commissioned by the Carer’s group, which was displayed
at their summer event. A series of art workshops hosted by Welsh National Opera were a great success. Participants created small models and characters which were displayed in the Dusty Forge art corridor.
ACE received Arts and Health Funding from Arts Council Wales for six months from Sept 2024 - March 2025, for a new partnership with Cardiff South West Primary Care Cluster, Yourspace and Chapter Arts centre and Disability Arts Cymru. Arts and Wellbeing sessions were held weekly at Chapter Arts Centre and the Dusty Forge. The ‘Creating SpACE’ project enabled us to work with patients from the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board cardiology department and community members during our regular art ee sessions.
artists, including one artist recommended by our partners at Disability Arts Cymru. The project was complimented so well by Yourspace Wellbeing Connectors, who supported sessions and sign-posted participants to the sessions.
The project culminated in a beautiful exhibition at Chapter Arts Centre, showcasing work created by participants. We invited our friends at Valleys Kids in Porth to join our celebratory exhibition, who brought 14 people to see the art work and celebrate ACE Arts.
In the last 6 months of ACE Arts, we hosted over 60 creative workshops and welcomed over 80 participants who attended regular activities, and over 200 during exhibitions and celebratory events such as our creative winter garden party and arts activities at our Dan Y Coed outdoor play sessions and summer festival event.
Despite valiant efforts, ACE was unable to secure ongoing funding for art projects, and we sadly closed ACE Arts in March 2025, after more than 9 years of regular art activities at the Dusty Forge. Our Artist in Residence, Nic Parsons, continues to work with ACE occasionally on a freelance basis and contributes to the success of our Dan y Coed project with young families. We continue to seek opportunities for our art workshop to be used to bring creative activities to our communities at the Dusty Forge.
During this time, ACE Arts hosted a therapeutic artist from the University of South Wales and 6 freelance and voluntary
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Shape your Future
Shape Your Future provides flexible 1:1 mentoring and small bursaries to help residents overcome barriers to work. In partnership with Cardiff Council’s Into Work Service, we’re tackling in-work poverty in Ely and Caerau. Support is tailored to each person’s goals - funding training, qualifications, equipment and costs that unlock better-paid, flexible and more meaningful work, including self-employment. Between April 2024 and March 2025, 144 residents received bursaries to gain qualifications or purchase essential tools to progress their careers.
K’s Pathway Back to Work
Overview
K’s journey back into construction shows what is possible when practical help and belief in someone come together. With focused mentoring, hands-on employment support and close employer liaison, K moved from uncertainty about his future into a skilled Telehandler role with Kier Construction, backed by a Blue CSCS Tradesman card.
Background
Referred by his Probation Officer through the Grand Avenues programme, K was working as a turkey farmer after time at Prescoed Prison. He knew his future was in construction, drawing on previous Lantra training and site experience.
Shape Your Future funding covered the cost of securing a birth certificate when ID barriers blocked progress. When Kier could not accept his Lantra qualification, we arranged an accredited course with Barry Training Services, which K passed with full marks. Medical clearance delays with his GP were overcome by booking an independent assessment and Fit for Work certificate. Regular contact with Kier’s Project Manager kept everyone focused on the end goal.
Outcomes
On 9 June 2025 K started as a Telehandler with Kier, with his Blue CSCS Tradesman card in hand and a clear route back into his chosen trade.
Tailored Support
We began with an honest conversation about K’s skills, confidence and goals, followed by a visit to Kier’s Fairwater site so he could picture himself back on site.
K’s story shows how joined-up, person-centred support can turn barriers into stepping stones, opening the door to a skilled job, renewed confidence and a genuine second chance.
Donna Hurley, Shape Your Future Lead:
The Shape Your Future Bursary has been a vital resource in offering rapid, flexible support in a non-stigmatising approach, focusing on exploring interests, identifying and developing skills, building confidence and employment progression. The Shape Your Future support model has also demonstrated the effectiveness of personalised mentoring in reducing reoffending and supporting reintegration.
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The ACE Way
ACE continues to share all that we’ve learnt from 14 years at the heart of Ely and Caerau through our ‘ACE Way’ training and mentoring programme. Relationships are being built with community organisations right across Wales leading to new opportunities to collaborate, share knowledge and influence government to better support communities. A few highlights from this year include:
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Training: Providing community development training for our friends in Blaenau Ffestiniog who are leading the way in building local economic activity in their community.
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Mentoring: Working with Caerau Development Trust in Bridgend to write a business plan in support of their ambition to take on the local community centre through an asset transfer.
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Networking: Co-facilitating Cardiff CAN (Community Anchor Organisation Network) with C3SC. This collaboration of 15 community based organisations is busy sharing learning and building a research programme to evidence our shared impact in Cardiff.
Ely legends! Community workers from the last 50 years gather to reminisce in CAER Heritage Centre at the beginning of the ACE History project (from left to right: Dave Wyatt, Nigel Billingham, Eva Elliott, Barry Doughty, Lee Patterson, Gloria Yates, Mark Drakeford, Howard Williamson, John Winslade, Mel Witherden, John Rose and Dave Horton).
‘I have just gone through the business plan in full and I just want to say thank you for your work with us! I have learnt loads, I can see things a lot clearer and concise now too. I'm really grateful to you for the effort you've put in with us and I can't wait to start putting some of the plans we have set out in motion now and hopefully get the centre to where I know we can get it!’ - Caerau Development Trust, Bridgend.
- ACE History: Developing a series of podcasts and written material sharing ACE’s history and key lessons along the way. We started by hosting a reunion of community development ‘legends’ from Ely’s recent past!
‘I'd like to just get in touch to be able to say a massive thank you for the training, it was great and gave everyone a chance to really think about their practice and how we create a vision with community voice being central. We look forward to discussing the idea of connecting with communities across Wales and the community democracy idea.’ - Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog
The Cardiff CAN network on a visit to Cathays Community Centre (a CAN member).
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Sara’s Story Regaining Hope
(with ACE by my side)
of each other, so I don’t have to hide behind a mask. It’s early days yet, but already I feel a little happier. I'm enjoying getting to know different characters and some people in the group are becoming friends.”
“Before coming to ACE, I had lost hope, then the walk was the only thing I did”, said Sara. “The walking has improved my pain, and increased my mobility. I now take care of myself better. It is lovely to be able to wear clothes in my wardrobe for the first time in years.”
Sara, an accomplished artist, first linked in with Yourspace Social Prescribing at ACE in May 2025. Before this, she was struggling with pain from a previous injury, feeling lonely and isolated, and struggling to leave her house at all. Having left a violent relationship and experienced the death of her closest friends, her mental health deteriorated.
Eventually Sara explained her situation to her GP, saying “I’m struggling, not coping, feeling so lonely”. The GP made a referral to Yourspace, and within a few days Sara met Danielle, one of our Wellbeing Connectors, in a nearby cafe. Danielle suggested Sara join the Roath Park walking group that had been set up by Yourspace. Danielle picked up Sara and they joined the walk together for the first time. Sara said, “I wouldn’t have gone unless Danielle had given me a lift and joined in with the walk”.
“Also, ACE has also helped with hidden secrets. I’ve never spoken about the violence and all that before. It's been a good way to practice, gently, opening up, speaking my truth to the walking group with the support of ACE.”
Previously, Sara’s painting would sometimes be obsessive work, without sleeping or eating. “Now painting holds hope for me, my work has become lighter and more colourful”.
“Yourspace is an excellent service for people who feel isolated,” said Sara. “They are supportive, kind and very friendly. If you need support or clarity over anything, Connectors are there. The whole team is lovely. I feel I can tell them anything without feeling judged.”
The weekly walk is the highlight of Sara’s week. She has made friends with a fellow walker, who now gives her a lift. She has been to an art exhibition with another artist in the group, and they have plans to visit the Wales Millennium Centre together. Sara described the safety of the group:
“It’s nice to be in a group where everyone has issues. We listen to each other’s stories and are supportive
Painting by Sara Allwright. Top: 'Girding Waking Splinters'. Right: 'Spirits to Move'.
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Our impact in numbers
Advice and Support
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CAER Heritage
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ACE has supported 186 households through our drop in and
casework service. This resulted in a total of £987,000 additional 1423
income being received by community members through benefits
People
advice, grants, and crisis support.
£5,306.00
jes i, 1423 people visited the |e
archaeological dig in Trelai park
last summer. 430 volunteers
got their hands dirty at the dig,
helping discover our unique
heritage.
£987,000 That's an average of
total additional income received £5,306
by community members per household
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YourSpace Wellbeing Service
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514
People
aT ist
% XN 2
514 people accessed 1:1 support to
improve their wellbeing.
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Improved wellbeing
84%
A sample of 143 people completed a wellbeing scale, which showed 84% had improved their wellbeing.
Bereavement Support
ACE leads on a partnership project, funded by Welsh Government, to enhance bereavement support in Cardiff for people from ethnic minority communities and those with a learning disability.
101 In 2024-25 the project provided bereavement counselling for 101 People people.
230 people 34 local
from a range of residents diverse cultural backgrounds with a learning disability took part attended 14 in peer support bereavement and activities. mental health workshops.
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ACE Volunteers
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Shape Your Future ACE Volunteers
- in work progression
ACE worked
with over
9
Stay Leave
80
regular volunteers
who worked across 20 projects,
which had 7 Lead Volunteers.
f £ ACE Benthyg - Library of Things Kah AI)
144 People Number of times items
borrowed in 2024/25
have received mentoring and bursary
support to overcome barriers, moving 473
forward in work.
Work
Help
Courses
Advice
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114 increased income through
work progression or self-
people employment.
108 gained a qualification
through bursary support.
people
10 progressed within their
people existing role.
21 attended
people non-accredited training.
90
gained new employment.
people
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ACE Benthyg has seen a big jump in numbers of people borrowing items from our library - saving members money and helping the environment. Our numbers increased to 473, an increase of approximately 90% from the previous year.
Active Memberships (up from 400 last year)
600
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ACE Arts
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60
creative workshops
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80 participants took part in creative activities supporting wellbeing and mental health.
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Communities 14W¢ I/ 30
ACE Trustees
As of October 2025
Marian Dixey (Chair) lives in Fairwater. She is an active volunteer.
Mel Witherden is a retired third sector/charity consultant.
Oonagh Scott grew up in Ely. She is a successful business woman.
James Roach lives in Ely. He is an active volunteer and contributes finance skills. Chris Lannen is a qualified Financial Advisor. Leyton Smith lives in Caerau. He is an active local volunteer.
Eva Elliot is an Honorary Research Fellow at Cardiff University School of Social Sciences. Janice Refalo lives in Caerau. She is an active local volunteer.
Omobonike Atobatele lives in Ely. She is an active volunteer and student. Carol Owen has 30 years of experience as a Senior Public Health professional with the NHS. Jessica Davies grew up in Ely and Caerau and is an active volunteer.
ACE Volunteers
Project Volunteer Afia Ali (Poppy)
Alice Clarke Andrew Williams Way Ann Thomas Auriol Miller Blanca Lidea Castro Salas Catherine Naamani Doris Lau Dylan Bond Em Collins Frances McCarthy Gareth Howells Gemma Carleton Glyn Everett Gillian Pugh Helen McCarthy Irene Jones Jeff Clarke Kyle Thomas Mary Cleaton Matthew Cunnah Michael Hack Patrick Barry Penny Owens Rhian Phillips Scott Bees Sian Davies Steve Lyons Suzanne McEwan
Tania Clarke Victoria Misell Wai Keung Tang
Student Volunteers
Nadia Aslam Jay Lloyd-Evans Sirui Li Hannah Huxley Kwan Yw Chow (Tony) Sophie Bell Dan Queally Joesph Daniel
Lead Volunteers
Diane Katy (Lead) Diane Matheson (Lead) Sarah Standring (Lead) Frankie Curtis (Lead) Janice Refalo (Lead) Kathleen Wolfe (Lead) Penny Smith (lead) Charlotte Ross (Lead)
Trustees
Mel Witherden James Roach Oonagh Scott Marian Dixey Leyton Smith
Janice Refalo
Eva Elliot
Omobonike Atobatele Jessica Davies Carol Owen
Many thanks to previous volunteers who supported us in 2024-25
John Naylor Robert White Jack Wyatt Christina Dunn Doug Smith Doug Stowell Scott Morgan Danny Westcott Jessica Rudd Helen Green Derek Cleaver George Stunderland Chez Allen Frances McCarthy Liubov Yurtsuniak Benjamin Wainwright Kyle Bebb Natasha Hayes Jacquie Young Caroline Woodman
Community members volunteering on the CAER Big Dig
Malcolm Thomas Megan O'Brien Marianne Piper Claire Newbery Cathy Nowell John O Sullivan Sharon Parry Anne Jones Andy Evans Kim Iannucci Anthony Morgan Lynn Glaister Alexander Franklin Alison Jenkinson Sara Shiel Jessica Hughes Ellen Perry Kirsten Mcternan Mike Hellyar Richard Shearman Euryn Davies
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ACE Staff
As of October 2025
Core
Michelle Powell ACE Director Dave Horton ACE Learning and Training Director Hazel Cryer Operational Development Manager – Health Portfolio Sam Froud-Powell Operational Development Manager – Community Support Portfolio Julie Evans HR & Admin Coordinator Hasan Roap ACE Finance Officer George Keane Communications and Web Content Officer / Dusty Shed Officer Dale Ovenstone Estates Officer Sharon McGrath ACE Receptionist Julie McDowell ACE Receptionist Maria Ross Assistant Administrator Taela-Mae Davies Volunteer Development Officer
Health
Ann Bailey
Community Health Development Worker
Clare Westcott
Wellbeing Connector Danielle Afferion Young People’s Wellbeing Connector / Wellbeing Connector Ginny Brink Wellbeing Connector Marged Ioan Wellbeing Connector Mags Lyons Service Coordinator Wellbeing Support Louise Gray Service Coordinator Community Development Sam Deere Community Health Development Worker Scott Bees Community Health Development Worker Sabrina Driscoll Wellbeing Connector Sophia Farrugia Wellbeing Connector Robert Jones Yourspace Monitoring and Admin Assistant
Susan Beese
Community Support
Nerys Sheehan
Community Support Coordinator / Grand Avenues Coordinator Stacie Leek Hafan Project Development Officer Megan O’Brien Community Support Admin Assistant
Heritage and Environment
Lois Atkinson
Caer Centre Development Officer Steve Lyons Diana Garden Development Officer Becky Matyus ACE Partnerships Coordinator Rob Fuller Postcode Gardener / Community Health Development Worker
Thanks to the former ACE Staff who have moved on in the last year:
Chris Farr Eileen Ellis Holly Findlay Rachel Hart Jamie Hallett Ruth Mumford Nicola Parsons Hannah Bees
Wellbeing Connector Suki Shinto Wellbeing Connector
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Financial Report
ACE received a total income of £1,202,518 in the 2024 - 25 financial year. Income was generated primarily through charitable activities (£1,076,525), supported by £106,334 of self-generated trading income through social enterprise, rental, consultancy and training activities, and £9,569 in donations and investment income. Total expenditure for the year was £1,365,052, with £1,309,391 spent directly on charitable activities. Funding during 2024 - 25 supported 54 projects, maintaining a similar level of delivery to the previous year.
Some of the biggest projects delivered this year included the Yourspace project (£383,453) and Shape Your Future (£50,000), alongside a wide range of community, wellbeing, family and engagement programmes.
Over the last 14 years, ACE has contributed more than £14 million to the local economy. From 2018 - 25, income generated through direct ACE activities - including social enterprise, grant funding, contracts, fundraising, donations and legacies - totals approximately £9.4 million
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Funders and partners
ACE Funders
Cardiff West Primary Care Cluster
ACE Partners
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Cardiff North
Primary Care Cluster
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Action in Caerau and Ely
Our Place: Dusty Forge 460 Cowbridge Rd West, Ely Cardiff CF5 5BZ Tel: 029 2000 3132
info@aceplace.org www.aceplace.org ACE - Action in Caerau and Ely actionincaerauandely
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