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2022-03-31-accounts

Ongo Communities Limited

Report and Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 March 2022

Company Number 08619739 (England and Wales) Charity Number 1156007

Ongo Communities Limited

Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Contents

Page:

2

Ongo Communities Limited

Directors, Trustees and Advisors for the year ended 31 March 2022

Directors and trustees

The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

J McKellar-Main (resigned 31 December 2021) H Lennon H Lennon
J Williams N Cresswell (appointed 29 March 2022)
Executive leadership team:
Chief Executive		 S Hepworth
Property Director P Stones
Director of Resource and Commercial A Harrison
Director of Corporate & Compliance Services J Sugden
Director of Communities K Hornsby
Secretary J Sugden
Registered number: Company number 08619739
Charity registration number 1156007
Registered office: Ongo House, High Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN15 6AT
Auditor: Crowe U.K. LLP
3rdFloor
The Lexicon
Mount Street
Manchester
M2 5NT
Bankers: Barclays Bank plc
One Snowhill
Snowhill Queensway
Birmingham B4 6GB
Solicitors:
Devonshires Solicitors Forbes Solicitors MSB Solicitors
Park House Rutherford House 17a-b Allerton Road
Park Square 4 Wellington Street (St Johns) Allerton
Leeds Blackburn Liverpool
LS1 2PW BB1 8DD L18 1LG
Bermans Trowers and Hamlins Wilkin Chapman LLP
Exchange Station 55 Princess Street Cartergate House
Titheburn Street Manchester 26 Chantry Lane
Liverpool M2 4EW Grimsby
L2 2QP DN31 2LJ

Knights Professional Services Limited The Lexicon Munt Street Mancester M2 5FA

3

Chair’s Statement for the year ended 31 March 2022

Ongo Communities Limited

Ongo Communities Limited has been providing opportunities for local people and communities for close to nine years. Part of the parent company Ongo Partnership Limited, the Communities arm has done a substantial amount of positive work over the past year and the teams have achieved targets in areas including employment, training, work with young people, ex-offenders, lone parents and other groups maximising their opportunities and prospects.

The organisation receives funds from Ongo Homes Limited (OH) and external grants which enable it to continue the excellent work delivered in the community. The statement of financial activities shows a total of £876k of funding in the year from a number of funders in addition to the funding from OH. These will enable an increasing range of projects and services to be delivered; including self-employment support and mental health support.

With a four year strategy in place, and focus on the theme “Create Opportunities” which is part of the group’s corporate plan, we have set challenging aims and objectives for the coming years. This includes a focus on those communities and neighbourhoods which are the most challenging and require our support to increase their skills, access new opportunities and improve the overall quality of life for those areas.

H Lennon

1 September 2022

4

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022

The trustees are pleased to present their annual trustees’ report (incorporating the directors’ report under the Companies Act) together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 March 2022, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a trustees’ report and accounts for Companies Act 2006 purposes.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Our objectives and activities

The corporate structure of the Ongo Partnership Limited group is clearly defined and the relationship between this Company, the parent and its other subsidiaries is set out in Intra-Group agreements which were considered and approved by each of their Boards.

The role of the charity, which is partly funded by Ongo Homes Limited (OH), is to deliver that company’s wider social objectives by co-ordinating community development activity and developing social enterprises. To assist with this objective Ongo Communities has two subsidiaries: Ongo Recruitment Limited, which is a social enterprise employment agency supplying temporary and permanent staff, particularly for local people within disadvantaged communities in order that they may develop their skills and re-engage with the labour market and Crosby Brokerage Limited, a company that provides managed services for clients in receipt of a personal allowance.

Governing documents

Ongo Communities is a registered charity (Charity Number 1156007) governed by its Articles of association dated 22[nd] July 2013. It is registered with the Charity Commission and is also a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company Number 08619739). The Charity is a subsidiary of Ongo Partnership Limited, the ultimate parent undertaking.

Key achievements and performance

During the current year Ongo Communities generated a surplus of £7k for the year (£210k surplus in the year ended 31 March 2021 ) . The Trustees consider this to be an acceptable standard of performance.

Key achievements during the year were:

5

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

Structure, governance and management

Ongo Communities is managed and governed by the Trustees who hold regular board meetings and agenda items include finance, health and safety and other operational reports.

The Trustees delegate the day-to-day management of the charity to the Executive Leadership Team, details of which can be found on page 3.

The charity has a wholly owned subsidiary, Ongo Recruitment Limited, which in turns holds 100% of the share capital of Crosby Brokerage Limited.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

Recruitment for charity trustees is overseen by the parent company, Ongo Partnership Ltd who review and agree the recruitment procedures to be followed. Any new trustees will only be appointed if they have demonstrated they meet the skills and competencies required for the company following a recruitment exercise. New trustees can be appointed by the parent, Ongo Partnership Ltd.

Training and induction

All new trustees undertake an induction programme within the first six months of their appointment. As part of this they meet with the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive and other members of the Executive Management Team to provide them with an overview of the charity and the context in which it operates. A number of documents are shared with the Trustees for them to read including the charity’s Articles of Association and the Charities Commission Essential Role of the Charity Trustee. Additionally, there are some core training courses which all new trustees are expected to complete.

Public benefit statement

The charity trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising their powers or duties.

Fundraising statement

Section 162a of the Charities Act 2011 requires charities to make a statement regarding fundraising activities. All fundraising activities relate to applications for grant funding from relevant public and non-public sector bodies. We do not undertake widespread fundraising from the general public. The legislation defines fundraising as “soliciting or otherwise procuring money or other property for charitable purposes.”

6

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

In relation to the above we confirm that all solicitations are managed internally, without involvement of commercial participants or professional fund-raisers, or third parties. The day to day management of all income generation is delegated to the executive team, who are accountable to the trustees.

The charity is not bound by any undertaking to be bound by any regulatory scheme.

We have received no complaints in relation to fundraising activities. Our terms of employment require staff to behave reasonably at all times; as we do not approach individuals for funds we do not have to particularise this to fundraising activities nor do we consider it necessary to design specific procedures to monitor such activities.

Financial review

Incoming resources for the year totalled £2,102k (2021: £1,818k) of which £876k (2021: £532k) related to funding activities upon which restrictions were placed and £1,085k (2021: £1,120k) was received from Ongo Homes. Expenditure totalled £2,095k (2021: £1,608k) resulting in a surplus of £7k (2021: £210k surplus).

Reserves are needed to bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover any unplanned expenditure. The Board has resolved to maintain sufficient reserves to cover short-term operational costs. The operating cash and reserves positions should not fall below a minimum level of £100,000, which is sufficient to cover three months fixed operating costs, other than in relation to fluctuations due to the short term operating cash cycle. Any such fall below the prescribed level will be identified as such by the cash control and forecasting process.

We will ensure that sufficient reserves are held to be able to fund all forthcoming projects to which we are committed and any further opportunities that may present themselves. We will enter into no commitments which cannot be funded by available reserves plus budgeted surpluses to be generated up to the point or points at which the commitment crystalizes.

At 31 March 2022 the charity’s free reserves, excluding designated funds, stood at £258k (2021: £265k) with restricted funds carried forward of £34k (2021: £nil) and designated funds of £175k (2021: £197k). The business plan dictates that the free reserves will be retained for investment in the future development of the company. The designated funds relate to match funding for an approved project to support people into employment who have mental health issues, including older people, younger people and members of groups who may be disadvantaged.

Future plans

During the coming years it is expected that the activities of the Ongo Communities will expand:

  1. Ongo Homes has approved a grant of £1,000,000 per year from 2019 to 2023 to deliver activities that meet the objects of the organisation.

  2. Applications to grant giving organisations and EU funds have been awarded and a funding strategy is in place to continue to seek further opportunities to bid for funds and match fund projects that meet the needs of our customers and the wider communities within our area of benefit. However due to the ending of EU funding and the delay in UKSPF we anticipate that less opportunities will be available.

  3. Covid-19 has continued to affect our ability to achieve the level of outcomes we had set for 21/22, although we set up a pilot project to engage digitally with our customers. We are using the learning from this to change the way we engage with our customers by offering a mix of face to face and telephone support, provide IT skills and re-designing the customer facing areas in our buildings to best meet the individual needs of our customers.

7

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

  1. Our mental health support project Ongo Talk has had the opportunity to use volunteer counsellors, those who are in their final year at university studying counselling, who are required to deliver 100-200 hours of counselling as part of the qualification. We have engaged 20 volunteers in the past year, delivering over 3,000 hours of voluntary work for the organisation.

Financial Instruments

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the company if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations.

Credit risk also arises from cash and cash equivalents and deposits with banks and financial institutions. The following financial institution was used and its credit rating was acceptable to the board:

Institution
Rating at
31/03/2022		 Balance at
31/03/2022
Rating at
31/03/2021
Balance at
31/03/2021
£
£
Barclays Bank PLC
A1
(Moody’s long term rating)		 497,739
A1
466,479

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk arises from the charity’s management of working capital. Rolling cash flow projections are prepared regularly, together with the value of the company’s cash investments. At the end of the financial year, these projections indicated that the company expected to have sufficient liquid resources to meet its obligations under all reasonably expected circumstances.

Cash flow interest rate risk

The charity is not currently exposed to cash flow interest rate risk.

Assessment of the effectiveness of Ongo Communities’ system of internal control.

The Board is ultimately responsible for the charity’s system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness.

The Board recognises that no system of internal control can provide absolute assurance or eliminate all risk. The system of internal control is designed to manage risk and provide reasonable assurance that key business objectives and expected outcomes will be achieved. It also exists to give reasonable assurance about the preparation and reliability of financial and operational information and the safeguarding of charity’s assets and interests.

8

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

Ongo Communities Limited

The Board has adopted a risk-based approach to internal controls, which are embedded within the normal management and governance process. This approach includes the regular evaluation of the nature and extent of risks to which the charity is exposed and is consistent with good practice and regulatory requirements.

Identification and evaluation of key risks

Risk Management

Risk is the possibility of an event and the consequences it has on the achievement of objectives, at a strategic, operational and project level. Risk creates uncertainty which we must understand, control, and monitor to reduce the uncertainty to an acceptable level.

Risk is part of everyday life and linked directly the decisions we make. The management of risk is therefore essential in ensuring the charity meets its strategic objectives and remains legally and regulatory compliant.

Our risk management framework provides a clear and robust approach to managing risk. It provides a structure to integrate risk management into all aspects of Ongo activity, with the aim of protecting our assets, complying with all relevant laws and regulation, successfully achieving our corporate plan and creating a truly vibrant and resilient organisation.

Our Principles of risk management

The overarching principle of risk management is to add value, and to support the successful delivery of objectives.

At Ongo, we use GUARDED principles to set our approach to risk management:

9

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

Our risk appetite

Our risk appetite is reviewed and set by Board, as high-level statements which sets the tone for risk taking. Detailed statements are then provided as guide for decision making to ensure we do not take risks outside of our agreed boundaries.

Operating environment and risk management

To help identify emerging risks, we assess the external and internal environments using a variety of tools and techniques. Our performance management framework runs in line with our risk management framework to help identify areas of concern or emerging risks. We have a suite of key risk indicators (KRIs) which provide intelligence on the key areas of risk facing our business and act as early warning indicators. Our key financial ratios and stress testing indictors are monitored monthly in our management accounts. We also map the annual sector risk profile with our existing risk registers as a comparison aid.

Assurance framework

To ensure that risk management is effective and that we have a sound and effective system of internal control we have a control framework in place. As Boards have ultimate responsibility for Risk Management, it is essential that Board members understand the risks facing Ongo and receive assurance on the effectiveness of controls. Strategic and emerging risks are discussed at each Board meeting as a separate agenda item, but also embedded within each report. The Group Common Board have delegated assurance reviews to the Group Audit and Risk Committee. This enables the committee to focus on key areas of risk and assurance.

10

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

Assurance can come from many sources within an organisation. Developed from the three lines of defence, we have adopted four lines of assurance (FLA), which helps identify and understand where these different contributions arise:

This comes from independent, objective and expert sources. It provides independent challenge. It places reliance upon assurance mechanisms in the first and second lines of defence, and request evidence to confirm assurance is in place. Assurance is gained from internal and external audit, regulators, and accreditations.

Our customers provide a fourth assurance level. As they directly receive certain services, they are in the ideal position to assess and review service delivery. We have a strong customer engagement structure, including a resident scrutiny panel, tenant inspectors and maintenance and complaints panels.

All assurance activities are co-ordinated centrally to provide assurances maps. The assurance map of the strategic risk register is used to inform the internal audit programme and assurance work for the next financial year.

Internal Audit

Our internal auditors are appointed by the Group Audit and Risk Committee to provide an objective evaluation and opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of our risk management and internal control environment.

The annual internal audit plan is set using a risk-based approach and is approved by the Group Audit and Risk Committee. The plan includes a range of internal audits and assurance appraisals, which cover two types of corporate assurance risks – directed and delivery. Underpinning these two types of assurance risk are six root cause indicators (RCI):

11

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

Directed Risk: Failure
organisation.		 to properly direct the service to ensure compliance with the requirements of the
Root
Cause
Indicator		 Governance
Framework		 There is a documented process instruction which accords with the relevant regulatory
guidance, financial instructions and scheme of delegation.
Risk Mitigation The documented process aligns with the mitigating arrangements set out in the strategic
risk register.
Compliance Compliance with statutory, regulatory and policy requirements is demonstrated, with
action taken in cases of identified non-compliance.
Delivery Risk: Failure
organisation.		 to deliver the service in an effective manner which meets the requirements of the
Root
Cause
Indicator		 Performance
Monitoring		 There are agreed KPIs for the process which align with the business plan requirements
and are independentlymonitored, with corrective action taken in a timelymanner.
Financial Constraint Theprocess operates within the agreed financial budget for theyear.
Resilience Good practice to respond to business interruption events and to enhance economic,
effective and efficient deliveryis adopted.

The findings against these corporate assurance risks informs both an individual assurance assessment and also the annual assurance opinion statement, provided by the Head of Internal Audit.

The annual plan is subject to ongoing review and could change as the risks change throughout the year. Any changes are formally reviewed with the Executive Leadership Team and the Group Audit and Risk Committee should a significant issue arise.

Internal audit reports carried out are signed off at each Group Audit and Risk Committee, where members have the opportunity to discuss and challenge the findings. Progress on any recommendations made are monitored by the committee and once implemented are verified by internal audit for final sign off. The internal auditors have an opportunity at every committee meeting to discuss matters without the presence of executives.

Our internal auditors provide an annual report on the internal control environment at Ongo. The annual report summaries the outcomes of the reviews that have been carried out on the Ongo Partnership’s framework of governance, risk management and control. The Head of Internal Audit’s annual opinion states that they are satisfied that, for the areas reviewed during the year Ongo has reasonable and effective risk management, control and governance processes in place. Not having completed all of the planned work due to the global Covid-19 pandemic has not impacted on the overall assessment.

The areas on which the assurance assessments have been provided can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against misstatement or loss and their effectiveness is reduced if the internal audit recommendations made during the year have not been fully implemented. Progress with internal audit recommendations are monitored by the Group Audit and Risk Committee and implementation is verified by internal audit twice a year.

12

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

Fraud

The fraud register is reviewed at each Group Audit and Risk Committee. To assess our internal control framework, assurance tests are built in to the internal audit plan each year.

The fraud register is updated as necessary for all actual and potential frauds committed or attempted to be committed against the charity.

Reporting, review and corrective action

A process of regular management reporting on control issues provides assurance to the Executive Leadership Team and to the Board. This includes a rigorous procedure for ensuring that corrective action is taken in relation to any significant control issues, particularly those that may have a material impact on the financial statements and the delivery and fulfilment of our services.

The Group Audit and Risk Committee conducts an annual review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control and has taken account of any changes needed to maintain the effectiveness of risk management and control process. This Committee makes an annual report on this matter to the Board. The Board has received this report and has included it within the Financial Statements.

The Board confirms that there is an ongoing process for identifying, and managing significant risks faced by the charity. This process has been in place throughout the year under review, up to and including the date of the annual report and accounts, and is regularly reviewed by the Board.

NHF Code of Governance

The Board has adopted the National Housing Federation (NHF) Code of Governance (2020) and this is the first year the code has been used. When the code was launched a gap analysis was written and work has been ongoing throughout the year to embed compliance. Following an assessment against the code the Board consider it is fully compliant except for 3.7.3. The 2020 NHF Code of Governance introduced a new requirement (3.7.3) around maximum tenure normally being six years. A succession plan has been agreed for the Board with the aim to eventually meet the tenure of six years. To avoid several Board Members leaving Ongo at the same time, potentially risking a loss of experience and skills, a staggered approach has been agreed. This sees some Members stay beyond their six-year term to provide a period of stability as Ongo continues to embed its new governance structure.

The following areas of the Code are not applicable to this company:

13

Ongo Communities Limited

Report of the Trustees

for the year ended 31 March 2022 (continued)

Going concern

The Board have reviewed financial assumptions during the budget process to ensure the company remains a going concern. The budget is subject to sensitivity testing to assess the possible financial impacts of various scenarios and the resilience of the budget. In all scenarios the company remains financially viable.

Given the strength of the balance sheet and liquidity the Board believes that while some uncertainty remains in respect of COVID-19 and the effects of inflationary pressures these do not pose a material uncertainty that would cast doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The charity’s financial performance in 2021/22 proved resilient and on this basis, the Board has a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, being a period of twelve months after the date on which the report and financial statements are signed. For this reason, it continues to adopt the going concern basis in the financial statements.

Employment and equal opportunities

Employee information is set out in the notes to the Financial Statements.

The charity is committed to the principles of equal opportunities.

External Audit

In so far as the Board is aware, all of the current board members have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any information needed by the auditors for the purposes of their audit and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information. The directors are not aware of any relevant audit information of which the auditors are unaware.

The External Auditors have an annual meeting with the Committee without the presence of executives.

Following a tender process during 2021/22 Crowe UK LLP were appointed as auditors for three years. They are in the first year of their appointment to serve as auditors for the Company and the Group.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees.

H Lennon Trustee 1 September 2022

14

Ongo Communities Limited

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

15

Ongo Communities Limited

Independent auditor's report to the members of Ongo Communities Limited for the year ended 31 March 2022

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Ongo Communities Limited for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise the statement of financial position as at 31 March 2022, the statement of financial activities, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 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:

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 charitable company 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 charitable company'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.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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.

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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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.

16

Ongo Communities Limited

Independent auditor's report to the members of Ongo Communities Limited for the year ended 31 March 2022

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, set out on page 15, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company 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 charitable company’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 charitable company 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:

17

Ongo Communities Limited

Independent auditor's report to the members of Ongo Communities Limited for the year ended 31 March 2022

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the company operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Companies Act 2006 and Taxation legislation.

We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be the override of controls by management and the timing of recognition of income. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management and the Group Audit & Risk Committee about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, reviewing accounting estimates for biases and reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.

These inherent limitations are particularly significant in the case of misstatement resulting from fraud as this may involve sophisticated schemes designed to avoid detection, including deliberate failure to record transactions, collusion or the provision of intentional misrepresentations.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’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 charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Vicky Szulist

Senior Statutory Auditor

For and on behalf of

Crowe U.K. LLP

Statutory Auditor

Manchester

10th October 2022

18

Ongo Communities Limited

Statement of financial activities Incorporating an income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 2022

Note
Income
Income from charitable activities
2
Income from donations
Income from trading activities
3
Grants receivable
4
Total income
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities
Expenditure on trading activities
Total expenditure
6
Net income / (expenditure) for the year
5
Transfers between funds
15
Net movement on funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
2022
£
1,084,962
380
140,697
-
1,226,039
(699,327)
(266,814)
(966,141)
259,898
(287,457)
(27,559)
461,582
434,023		 Restricted
Funds
2022
£
-
-
-
875,605
875,605
(1,128,976)
-
(1,128,976)
(253,371)
287,457
34,086
-
34,086		 Total Funds
2022
£
1,084,962
380
140,697
875,605
2,101,644
(1,828,303)
(266,814)
(2,095,117)
6,527
-
6,527
461,582
468,109		 Total Funds
2021
£
1,120,000
41,844
124,593
531,805
1,818,242
(1,415,846)
(192,707)
(1,608,553)
209,689
-
209,689
251,893
461,582

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 23 to 31 form part of these financial statements.

19

Ongo Communities Limited

Statement of financial activities Incorporating an income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 2021

Income
Income from charitable activities
Income from donations
Income from trading activities
Grants receivable
Total income
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities
Expenditure on trading activities
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) for the year and
net movement on funds
Transfers between funds
Net movement on funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
2021
£
1,120,000
41,844
124,593
-
1,286,437
(621,420)
(192,707)
(814,127)
472,310
(255,236)
217,074
244,508
461,582		 Restricted
Funds
2021
£
-
-
-
531,805
531,805
(794,426)
-
(794,426)
(262,621)
255,236
(7,385)
7,385
-		 Total Funds
2021
£
1,120,000
41,844
124,593
531,805
1,818,242
(1,415,846)
(192,707)
(1,608,553)
209,689
-
209,689
251,893
461,582		 Total Funds
2020
£
1,000,000
20,340
196,984
477,723
1,695,047
(1,325,379)
(240,190)
(1,565,569)
129,478
-
129,478
122,415
251,893

The notes on pages 23 to 31 form part of these financial statements.

20

Ongo Communities Limited

Ongo Communities Limited Ongo Communities Limited Ongo Communities Limited
Statement of financial position
at 31 March 2022
Company number 08619739
Note
Current assets
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
12
Total assets less current liabilities
Total net assets
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds
Designated unrestricted funds
15
Restricted funds
15
Total funds
15		 2022
£
72,015
497,739
569,754
(101,645)		 2022
£		 2021
£
90,958
467,938
558,896
(97,314)		 2021
£
461,582
461,582
264,582
197,000
-
461,582
468,109
468,109
258,949
175,074
34,086
468,109

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 1 September 2022

----- Start of picture text -----
H Lennon
Trustee
S Hepworth
Chief Executive
----- End of picture text -----

The notes on pages 23 to 31 form part of these financial statements.

21

Ongo Communities Limited

Statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2022

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities
Increase / (decrease) in cash
Notes
Change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 2021
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2022
Reconciliation of operating surpluses to net cash inflow / (outflow)
from operating activities
Net income/(expenditure) for the period
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash in hand
Notice deposits (less than 3 months)
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2022
Analysis of changes in net debt (cash at bank only)
Cash flows in the year
Net debt at 1 April 2021
Net debt at 31 March 2022		 2022
£
29,801
29,801
29,801
467,938
497,739
6,527
18,943
4,331
29,801
1,133
496,606
497,739
29,801
467,938
497,739		 2021
£
188,148
188,148
188,148
279,790
467,938
209,689
(6,175)
(15,366)
188,148
1,459
466,479
467,938
188,148
279,790
467,938

The notes on pages 23 to 31 form part of these financial statements.

22

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Ongo Communities Limited

INDEX OF NOTES General notes

Income and expenditure related notes

Statement of financial position related notes

23

Ongo Communities Limited Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

1 Significant accounting policies

Ongo Communities Limited is a charitable company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England & Wales under the Companies Act 2006. The address of the registered office is given on the page 3 and the nature of the company’s operations and its principal activities are set out in the Report of the Trustees. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), FRS 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.

Ongo Communities Limited is a public benefit entity.

The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires company management to exercise judgement in applying the company's accounting policies.

The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£), rounded to the nearest £1.

The following principal accounting policies have been applied:

Financial Reporting Standard 102 – reduced disclosure exemptions

The company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by the FRS 102 “The financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”:

This information is included in the consolidated financial statements of Ongo Partnership Limited as at 31 March 2022 and these financial statements may be obtained from Ongo House, High Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6AT.

Basis of preparation - going concern

The charity's financial plans have been reviewed and the Board are satisfied that the plans are affordable and that the financial statements should be prepared on a going concern basis.

The board revised the charity’s financial forecasts, for the two years ended 31 March 2024, to reflect the risks and financial impacts as relevant and proportionate to our business. This included an assessment of grant income and delivery of projects. In 2021 the Covid-19 had an effect on our ability to achieve the level of outcomes we had set for the previous financial year although we were able to change our ways of working to provide support by telephone and social media apps. We used the learning from this to determine the way forward for the current and future years: offering a mix of face to face and telephone support. Although Brexit and a reduction in EU funding means availability of some grants has been reduced external grant funding continues to be available. The charity will continue to receive the agreed long term support from within the Ongo Group.

The charity has effective controls and processes in place to manage and monitor cash flows. On this basis, the board consider it appropriate for the financial statements to be prepared on a going concern basis.

Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty

Management do not consider there to be any significant judgements or estimation uncertainty due to the straightforward nature of the charity's operations.

Income

Incoming resources are accounted for when receivable. Legacies are accounted for when considered receivable. Investment income, donations and gifts in kind are accounted for when receivable. Grants are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Charitable expenditure includes direct costs and support costs. Support costs comprise those necessary costs which do not themselves produce the output of the charity, including central office functions and governance costs as shown in note 6. Such administration and accommodation support costs have generally been allocated on the basis of turnover.

24

Ongo Communities Limited Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Taxation

Ongo Communities Limited is a charity within the meaning of Para 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010. Accordingly the company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains within categories covered by Chapter 3 of Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Grants payable

Grants are recognised in full when there is a legal and constructive obligation.

Pension costs

Contributions to the company's defined contribution pension scheme are charged to the profit and loss account in the year in which they become payable. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund.

Debtors

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

Financial instruments

The company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes deposits which can be withdrawn within 24 hours without penalty and short term deposits which have a maturity period of 3 months or less and are not subject to significant risk of changes in value.

Liabilities

Liabilities (including termination payments) are recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Fund accounting

Restricted funds are subject to specific restrictions imposed by the donor. They include ‘Restricted income funds’ which are spent or applied within a reasonable period from their receipt or ‘Endowment funds’ originating from donations or bequests and invested to enable future expenditure in line with the restrictions of the donor.

Designated funds are set aside by the Trustees for specific purposes, but would otherwise form part of the general funds. General funds are available to spend at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the charitable objectives of the company.

2 Income from charitable activities

All income from charitable activities was generated within the UK. £1.03m of this income (2021: £1.12m) relates to contributions from a group company, Ongo Homes Limited.

25

Ongo Communities Limited

Notes forming part of the financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Trading income
Income from café facilities
Rental income
Income from Post Office
Other income		 2022
Unrestricted
£
31,604
89,536
17,351
2,207
140,697		 2021
Unrestricted
£
7,104
97,639
18,823
1,027
124,593

Rental income includes gifts in kind in respect of properties leased at below market rent. The facilities have been valued in excess of rent paid at £81,832; this cost is also included within expenditure.

4
Grants receivable
Kickstart

North Lincolnshire Council

Department for Work and Pension

Humber Learning Consortium
Urban Challenge
Police Crime Commissioner Fund

Barclays
Ongo Homes
Others
*£17,241		 2022
Restricted
£
342,814
194,472
152,082
88,786
35,156
32,884
-
-
29,411
875,605		 2021
Restricted
£
-
136,174
97,346
76,220
33,904
-
100,000
73,911
14,250
531,805

All grants are classed an income from charitable activities. Those identified with an * are deemed to be grants receivable from government agencies

5
Net income/(expenditure):
This is stated after charging:
Operating lease charges - land and buildings
Total		 2022
£
22,160
22,160		 2021
£
21,181
21,181

All fees for the audit of the company's annual accounts are paid by the ultimate parent company of the group.

26

Ongo Communities Limited

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Charitable activities
Community benefit/improvement projects
Total charitable expenditure
Trading activities
The Arc
Management expenditure
Total trading expenditure
Total resources expended		 Direct staff
costs
£
911,684
911,684
79,705
-
79,705
991,389		 Other direct
costs
£
477,664
477,664
23,018
-
23,018
500,682		 Support
costs
(note 7)
£
438,955
438,955
68,844
95,247
164,091
603,046		 Total 2022
£
1,828,303
1,828,303
171,567
95,247
266,814
2,095,117		 Total 2021
£
1,415,846
1,415,846
98,388
94,319
192,707
1,608,553

The Arc is a well-being hub based in the Westcliffe estate in Scunthorpe. It houses a café, post office, has rooms for hire as well as providing opportunities to offer other activities. Ongo Communities use this building as a hub for providing training and support to users of its services. All costs have been allocated to trading activities, as has any income generated from the cafe, post office and room rental.

Charitable activities
Community benefit/improvement projects
Management fee from parent company
Total charitable expenditure
Trading activities
The Arc
Management expenditure
Total trading expenditure
Total resources expended		 Finance &
Corporate
£
164,434
87,311
251,745
-
11,798
11,798
263,543		 IT
£
-
30,776
30,776
-
-
-
30,776		 Human
Resources
£
-
133,907
133,907
-
-
-
133,907		 Property &
Offices
£
22,527
-
22,527
68,844
83,449
152,293
174,820		 Total 2022
£
186,961
251,994
438,955
68,844
95,247
164,091
603,046		 Total 2021
£
205,592
177,916
383,508
15,258
94,319
109,577
493,085

The company is charged a management fee from its ultimate parent company, Ongo Partnership Limited, to cover all central Finance, Corporate, IT, HR, PR and governance costs.

Management expenditure includes the notional cost of the gifts in kind relating to the lease of properties as detailed in note 3 to the accounts.

27

Ongo Communities Limited

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

8 Employees

Employees
Staff costs (excluding directors who are paid by the group) consist of:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Cost of defined benefit scheme
Cost of defined contribution scheme		 2022
£
1,007,813
82,025
22,726
76,034
1,188,598		 2021
£
838,373
73,992
23,573
47,341
983,279

No employees, including key management personnel, are paid directly by the company, although it is recharged by the group entity for employment costs incurred on its behalf. Contracts of employment are in the name of Ongo Communities Limited. The above costs represent the charge made to Ongo Communities Limited and is based on the following average number of employees (excluding directors) during the year:

Charitable activities
Support staff		 2022
Number
28.1
21.3
49.4		 2021
Number
15.4
23.0
38.4

As detailed above, whilst contracts of employment are in the name of Ongo Communities Limited employees are not paid directly by the charity. One of the trustees is an employee of the group and has a contract of employment with the charity. That individual received remuneration undertaking their role as a group employee and did not receive any remuneration or other benefits from their trusteeship.

Trustees did not receive any remuneration or benefits directly from Ongo Communities Limited during the year (2021: none). One trustee (2021: one) was paid expenses during the year totalling £100 (2021: £127). These were in respect of broadband costs reimbursed.

A defined contribution pension scheme is operated by Ongo Partnership Limited on behalf of all Ongo group subsidiary undertakings. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund. The pension charge represents contributions payable by the company to the fund and amounted to £76,034 (2021: £47,341). Contributions amounting to £nil (2021: £nil) were payable to the fund at year end.

A defined benefit pension scheme is operated by Ongo Homes Limited on behalf of Ongo group subsidiary undertakings. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.

The pension charge represents contributions payable by the company to the fund and amounted to £22,726 (2021: £23,573). Contributions amounting to £nil (2021: £nil) were payable to the fund at year end.

9 Directors' remuneration

Directors' costs are paid by Ongo Partnership Limited and the relevant portion is recharged to Ongo Communities Limited (with a mark-up) through their management fee.

10 Fixed asset investments

Subsidiary undertakings

The only undertaking in which the company has an interest is as follows:

Proportion of voting rights
Country of incorporation or and ordinary share capital
Name registration held Nature of business
Ongo Recruitment Limited England and Wales 100% Recruitment consultancy
Ongo Recruitment Limited has a wholly owned subsidiary, which gives Ongo Communities Limited an interest in:
Crosby Brokerage Limited England and Wales 100% Business services

28

Ongo Communities Limited

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

11 Debtors

Trade debtors
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors
Total
12
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Taxation and social security
Accruals and deferred income
Amounts owed to group undertakings
Total
Deferred income
Brought forward
Released in the period
Deferred in the period
Carried forward		 2022
£
765
60
71,190
-
72,015
2022
£
9,414
1,844
3,538
79,887
6,962
101,645
40,334
(40,334)
37,768
37,768		 2021
£
47,749
-
43,162
47
90,958
2021
£
4,421
1,844
7,408
83,641
-
97,314
-
-
40,334
40,334

Income is deferred where a grant received in the year is subject to performance-related conditions received in advance of delivering the services required by that condition, or is subject to unmet conditions wholly outside of the charity's control.

13 Corporation tax

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objectives.

14 Share capital

Being limited by guarantee, the company does not issue shares.

29

Ongo Communities Limited Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

15 Analysis of movement in funds

Balance at 1
April 2021
Restricted funds
Department for Work and Pension
-
Humber Learning Consortium
-
North Lincolnshire Council
-
Kickstart
Other grants
-
-
Designated unrestricted funds
197,000
Unrestricted funds
264,582
461,582
Total funds
461,582
Analysis of movement in funds - previous year
Balance at 1
April 2020
Restricted funds
Department for Work and Pension
-
Humber Learning Consortium
-
North Lincolnshire Council
-
Barclays
-
Ongo Homes
-
Other grants
7,385
7,385
Designated unrestricted funds
-
Unrestricted funds
244,508
244,508
Total funds
251,893		 Income
152,082
88,786
194,472
342,814
97,451
875,605
-
1,226,039
1,226,039
2,101,644
Income
97,346
76,220
136,174
100,000
73,911
48,154
531,805
-
1,286,437
1,286,437
1,818,242		 Expenditure
(265,808)
(173,901)
(249,385)
(308,728)
(131,154)
(1,128,976)
-
(966,141)
(966,141)
(2,095,117)
Expenditure
(178,267)
(139,580)
(184,533)
(100,000)
(73,911)
(118,135)
(794,426)
-
(814,127)
(814,127)
(1,608,553)		 Transfers
between
funds
113,726
85,115
54,913
-
33,703
287,457
(21,926)
(265,531)
(287,457)
-
Transfers
between
funds
80,921
63,360
48,359
-
-
62,596
255,236
197,000
(452,236)
(255,236)
-		 Balance at
31 March
2022
-
-
-
34,086
-
34,086
175,074
258,949
434,023
468,109
Balance at
31 March
2021
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
197,000
264,582
461,582
461,582

Restricted funds relate to grants receivable used for charitable purposes, including projects around employment, training, work with young people, exoffenders, lone parents and other groups maximising their opportunities and prospects as well as self-employment and mental health support. The transfer from unrestricted to restricted funds represents the charity's contribution towards the costs of providing these projects.

During the year the charity successfully applied to be a gateway for the Government's Kickstart project which funded employers to create jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit. The charity receives funding in three elements: (a) to fund employee wages; this is immediately passed on to the employers or retained where staff are employed by Ongo Communities, (b) to provide support to the employees during the life of their employment contract, and (c) to enable the charity to administer the scheme. The first two elements have been classed as restricted funds, the latter as unrestricted. Unspent funding for providing support to employees has been included as a closing reserve. This is expected to be defrayed in the next financial year as those on the programme continue with their employment.

During the previous year the charity applied to the European Social Fund for grant funding for a project to support people into employment who have mental health issues, including older people, younger people and members of groups who may be disadvantaged. This project required the charity to provide match funding over a 30 month period of £197,000. This project commenced during this financial year and costs have been incurred. Funding is received via North Lincolnshire Council and is included as such in the tables above.

30

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022

Ongo Communities Limited

16 Analysis of net assets between funds

Fund balances at 31 March 2022 are represented by:

Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year		 Unrestricted
funds
5,079
492,822
(63,878)
434,023		 Restricted
funds
66,936
4,917
(37,767)
34,086		 Total funds
72,015
497,739
(101,645)
468,109

Comparative information in respect of the preceding period is as follows:

Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year		 Unrestricted
funds
6,644
501,418
(46,480)
461,582		 Restricted
funds
84,314
(33,480)
(50,834)
-		 Total funds
90,958
467,938
(97,314)
461,582

17 Related party disclosures

Ongo Homes Limited is the controlling party of Ongo Communities Limited. Ongo Homes Limited, a Community Benefit Society. Its accounts are available to the public at https://www.ongo.co.uk/corporate-information/financial-statements/

Ongo Homes Limited's primary purpose is to provide social housing in North Lincolnshire.

The ultimate controlling party, by virtue of its control of Ongo Homes Limited, is Ongo Partnership Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales under registration number 08048224. Its consolidated accounts are available to the public from Companies House, Crown Way, Maindy, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ.

Ongo Partnership Limited's primary purpose is to oversee the strategic direction of and provide corporate services to its subsidiaries, allowing them to focus on delivery and enhancement of their core services.

Other than transactions between the group and other group companies, the directors do not consider that the company has any related party transactions

18 Operating leases

The company had minimum lease payables under non-cancellable operating leases as set out below:

Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years		 Land and
buildings
2022
9,229
14,202
23,431		 Land and
buildings
2021
8,941
17,882
26,823

19 Volunteers

Our mental health support project, Ongo Talk, has had the opportunity to use volunteer counsellors, those who are in their final year at university studying counselling, who are required to deliver 100 to 200 hours of counselling as part of the qualification. We have engaged 20 volunteers in the past year, delivering over 3,000 hours of voluntary work for the organisation.

31