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← Romero Communities

2024-03-31-accounts

Company Number. 08002099 (England and Wales) Registered Charity Number. 1156917

ROMERO COMMUNITIES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

CONTENTS

Page
Legal and Administrative Information 3
Trustees’ Report 4 - 13
Independent Examiner’s Report 14
Statement of Financial Activities 15
Balance Sheet 16
Notes to the Financial Statements 17 - 20

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

_

Full name: Romero Communities
Registered Company number: 08002099
Registered Charity Number: 1156917
Registered office & principal
address: 23 Queens Road
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S71 1AN
Trustees & Directors: L J Crofts
L S Hanrahan–appointed 08/03/2024
A Jones –appointed 08/03/2024
K G Moore
L Ocallaghan
T Scorah –resigned 08/03/2024
L Shepherd
Chairperson: L S Hanrahan
Company Secretary: M Phillips
Treasurer: K Moore
Independent Examiner: Angela Hayes, FMAAT
Community Accountant
22 Brocklehurst Avenue
Barnsley
S70 3EE
Bankers: HSBC
5 Market Hill
Barnsley
S70 2PY

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the period 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Structure, governance and management

Romero Communities is a registered charity with the Charity Commission and a company limited by guarantee, governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, dated March 2012, most recently amended February 2014. The company has no share capital and the liability of each member in the event of winding-up is limited to a sum not exceeding £1. The affairs of the charity are managed on a day-to-day basis by the trustees who have control of the charity and its property and funds.

Appointment of trustees

The trustees are also directors of the company for the purpose of company law. The trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting. Every trustee must sign a declaration of willingness to act as a charity trustee before being eligible to vote at the meetings.

The trustees who served during the year are listed on page 3 of this report.

Charitable aims and objectives

The objectives of the charity are:

To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society.

For the purpose of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: unemployment; financial hardship; youth or old age; ill health (physical or mental); substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs; discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, belief, creed, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment; poor educational or skills attainment; relationship and family breakdown; poor housing (that is housing that does not meet basic habitable standards); crime (either as a victim of crime or as an offender rehabilitating into society).

Risk Management

The trustees have ultimate responsibility for identifying and managing risk. The main risk to the organisation is the loss of funding to continue the essential services. The financial position and level of reserves is reviewed at each trustee meeting and funding applications are ongoing. For other areas, the charity has risk management policies and procedures in place which are reviewed regularly by the trustees .

Public Benefit Statement

In shaping the objectives for the year the trustees have paid due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Report of the Trustees on activities undertaken and achievements during the period.

Our Romero Communities team would like to share what’s been happening this year.

As a Board of Trustees, volunteers, paid workers and partner organisations we have continued to respond to demand and customer need and make changes, as appropriate, to our delivery of Romero Support and Guidance. Our base is shared by other groups and organisations which provide new opportunities to work in partnership, this enhances the service we provide for our customers.

We thank The National Lottery Reaching Communities and Tudor Trust for supporting us this year by funding our work.

We constantly meet new people seeking help so that they can move forwards. We continue to encourage and support those who look to make changes to their lives.

We hope this report will enable us to move into year 5 and to build for the future and address any areas of our work which require improvement or further development. We are already seeking funding to continue our work for the benefit of our customers past and present.

WHO IS INVOLVED IN DELIVERING OUR WORK

We are led by our Board of Trustees.

Romero Support and Guidance

A big thank you to our volunteers and workers:

Thanks to Maria, her dedicated work continues, ensuring our systems are working to meet our outcomes.

Thanks to Lorraine who is dedicated to carrying out her volunteer role, making calls to customers. The calls gather feedback from customers seeking support. This information provides valuable evidence to support our applications for funding and for reports required by them.

Thanks to Linda who has supported our Drop In and brings her vast experience as a key worker for Citizens Advice Barnsley to our work.

Thank you to Alan who approached us to organise a fundraising event following help we gave to his daughter. This was delayed during Covid but took place as a 2022 Xmas Ceilidh. The music and Ceilidh was performed ‘free of charge’ by Penistone Folk Ensemble. The Ceilidh was held in December 2022 and again in 2023, both were a great success and following requests from those attending we are to hold a follow up in Year 5.

Thank you to Louise who lived locally for 20 years and currently is our ‘in house’ Counsellor, providing 3 appointments twice per month.

Thanks to our sessional Support Workers; - Paula R, Pete J, Wayne B and Emily P who deliver our Support and Guidance service. They are a great ‘team’ and deliver our sessions with great humility, kindness and efficiency supported by their extensive knowledge and skills.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Board of Trustees

We were contacted by Trevor, our Chairperson, following our November Board meeting. He stepped down from the role and sent his formal resignation. We followed this by a letter of gratitude for his long-standing support for the Charity. Trevor hopes to work alongside us in the future once his plans for a new community initiative come to fruition.

A very big thank you to all our Board members who give a great deal of voluntary time to ensure the Charity operates within Charity Commission guidelines.

Keith- we are very grateful for his work as our accounts are managed in a timely and a professional manner. Our annual accounts are completed immediately once the end of our financial year arrives. He submits to Company House and Charity Commission as soon as they have been accepted by the Board. He also supports our direct work with residents.

Lynn has been active in the community for many years. She has been active in a number of resident-led initiatives. Living locally for over 20 years, she has a wealth of relevant knowledge. Her contribution ensures our service delivery is in line with local need which is vital to the success of our work.

Lorraine lived locally for over 20 years and also contributes a great deal to ensure our service delivery is in line with local need. On a number of occasions she has carried out surveys of resident views and experiences of our service. She continues to do this when the need arises. We use the outcomes to shape our working model.

Louise brings local knowledge to the Support and Guidance work and is keen to develop her role on the Board.

Linda was a Drop-In volunteer for a year. Having retired she is keen to help us manage the Charity. Linda has volunteered to take on the role of temporary Chairperson at our next meeting. We look to give the opportunity to other board members who may consider joining a temporary ‘rolling chair’ position until our AGM.

Alan lives locally and is keen to help us to raise funds. He has good local knowledge as he lives in the area. He also promotes our work widely. He is a positive addition to our Board of Trustees.

OUR ACTIVITIES

Support and Guidance Drop in and Home Visits

We have continued to offer our face-to-face Drop-in Support and Guidance service. We have long been concerned that many of our existing and potential customers have barriers to accessing our service if they do not have access to telephones and e-mail. In addition, loneliness, isolation, physical conditions and poor mental health have restricted or prevented some residents accessing our help.

A grant was awarded by Tudor Trust, adding value to our work. We now have the capacity to deliver our service via Home Visits. In addition to the Home Visits, we aim to support and encourage these customers to access other help, services, and activities, including Romero services and activities. The long-term aim is that these residents see an improved way of life, general improvement in their overall wellbeing, improved connections with family, friends and in general more involvement in their immediate locality.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Throughout the year we have adapted our recording methods, so we are able to accurately report our work. Our Database did have some initial ‘hiccups’ but as a tailored system we have been able to make adaptations to meet our needs.

Referrals from Romero and to Romero continue, along with new connections to other groups and organisations. We believe this is because some other organisations are experiencing a reduced capacity to deliver their services, or the demand for support is vastly oversubscribed. Our referrals to Food Banks continue as part of our ‘wrap around support’, along with referrals to us for help from the Charity ACTS 435 and to our Housing Support Grant work.

An analysis of our contacts during year 4 evidence the prevalence of help needed in the following areas:

This work is intense and requires a great deal of knowledge and skill by our workers. We support many who do not have access to the internet, this can also be difficult when customers have additional needs such as learning difficulties, complex physical and mental health needs, unstable lifestyles, which can result in a breakdown of family relationships and even result in homelessness.

This comment below was shared by a local resident who came for help.

‘ I came to Romero 7 years ago for help and support with son’s benefit form as DIAL couldn’t help. C also helped me get my son a home visit from college as I struggle daily to get him out the house, a women from college came to my home and spoke to my son regarding a college place.

Romero staff are always friendly, welcoming and always happy to help and support with any problems I face. I returned for support this week (26/06/23) with a UC (universal credit) application as I am switching over from income support. Romero is a brilliant help to everyone in the community and reliable too.’

Activity Plan

We continually seek to canvas the views of our customers and the wider community who may or may not have experience of Romero Communities charity or, in turn, Romero Support and Guidance. We intend to carry out a full evaluation during 2024/25.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

‘JOINED UP’ SUPPORT’

Our work is based on positive relationships with partner services and organisations to deliver a holistic service for our customers. We continue to link with other services to deliver holistic support.

Here are the links to date (and growing):

We hosted research on behalf of Barnsley Council’s Pathways to Work project. The research was carried out in order to design future support to help people who want to be in paid work. This is the feedback we received from the Kada researcher.

‘Romero Communities have been incredibly helpful in connecting me with people with lived experiences of economic inactivity in Barnsley, for a research study that aims to understand the challenges and barriers of economic inactivity and develop new solutions for Barnsley residents. Romero Communities also provided a room for the research conversations to take place and gave background information about the individuals prior to the meeting to ease the conversation and ensure the participants felt as comfortable as possible. They were also on hand to offer any support if required and had supported the people I spoke with for many years’.

ADAPTING TO CHANGE

Our delivery, as always, focuses on finding alternative ways of working to best meet the needs of our customers. This help has been enhanced by our Home Visiting service. Having more space has meant that we have considered the use of our Drop-In space, to offer social opportunities, adult learning and sessions held by some partners in our locally accessible space. We were helped by a small pot of funding to carry out surveys on behalf of BMBC (Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council).

We held ‘Grub n Gab’ get togethers which were focussed on social opportunities for people, who we knew to be isolated and wanting to join new activity groups, to take up some form of exercise or learning. We were unable to achieve our ideas fully but continue to seek funding to further develop during Year 5.

Positive links with the library has led to new sharing and/or opportunities for our customers or referrals into our service.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

As referred to earlier we have initiated a mapping exercise which we hope will inform any changes we need to make and to ensure that changes are needs led.

We have secured a further round of funding for the Housing Support Grant from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC), following the success of the previous grant. We designed an initiative aimed at supporting pregnant mums/ families with essential items for baby or starter packs for new tenancies. We continue to work closely with the Health Visiting Team /0 to 19 service. We receive referrals, using a system designed to ensure the process could be accessed easily and the referral was completed quickly. The feedback is positive from both workers and the families in receipt of the items.

PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE

Our future moving forward is looking positive, we have already made a start on our funding search, for funding after January 2025. We will require funding to maintain our current service and to also develop and improve.

Our plans beyond this will be developed during Year 5 but will be within our current funding restrictions. We would like to extend our hours, but this will depend on future funding.

The Drop-In continues to be the ‘chosen method of contact’ by those people who face barriers to accessing support using technology and chose to seek help to address their issues by visiting the Drop-In. We make use of our website and FaceBook as a social media method of sharing information which may help and support our customers.

We have found accessing other services and organisations on behalf of our customers extremely time consuming. It is apparent that some organisations were not offering a full service during the pandemic and we have found it can be a ‘lottery’ of who is available. This continues in some areas to date. We hope the outcome of a mapping exercise will help us and partner organisations to develop a system for improved links.

OUR CHALLENGES

The work of Romero Communities is a ‘team’ effort. We have ambitions for the future to secure long-term funding. We aim to develop ways of ‘earning’ income, so we do not rely fully on external funds. We realise this will be difficult and will be a long-term goal. We hope to engage people from the community to help us to achieve this. The first step will be to recruit a Fundraising Sub-Group bringing together service users, trustees, volunteers, partner organisations and workers. Sustainability continues to prove difficult, particularly in the current financial climate.

Romero Communities is built on partnerships with other voluntary and statutory organisations and will continue into our future. By working in this way, we hope to bring the best and most appropriate services together to help our customers resolve their problems.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

We hold a long term aim to develop social opportunities to encourage peer support, reduce loneliness and isolation and support people into learning and job opportunities. In year 4 we have introduced an activity ‘Grub and Gab’ which provides a social setting where friendships can be forged and aspirations can be encouraged and supported. Links can be made into other opportunities offered by other groups and aims to be led by participants.

The empowerment of individuals is at the forefront of our work, sharing knowledge, encouraging self-help, confidence, self-esteem and skills which will put people back in control of their own lives.

We try to approach our challenges as opportunities to provide an improved service. We are also very honest and face our challenges realistically. The link between demand and capacity can be frustrating at times and can rely on the genuine good will of our workers. We don’t want to increase demand to our Drop-ins to a point where we have to turn people away, however we are always keen to look at ways of managing our sessions to maximise the time available.

We continue to resist having to restrict the time we spend with people to help them reach a solution, rather than spending less time and resorting to a ‘sticking plaster’ approach. We are keen to increase the times of opening in the future.

We need to have designated time for networking and liaising/co-working with partner organisations when supporting clients with complex problems. Follow up work with partners takes up approximately 50% of our time.

Our biggest challenge as a small charity is the financial sustainability of this type of work. This is at the forefront of our planning for 2024/2025 and beyond.

THANK YOU FOR READING OUR REPORT.

PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW (Appendix 1 to our Annual Report).

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Appendix 1

THE STORY OF OUR PROJECT IN YEAR 4

The differences we are making (both big and small)

Romero Communities has been able to help to resolve a broad range of problems for Barnsley people. As we don’t have a specific geographical area to work within, we can bridge the gaps in areas where local councils do not fund, (for example, non-DIAL areas). A big difference derives from the increase in support staff, as this has increased output due to having more time available for both short and long term support.

Being able to provide a Drop-in and appointment service has benefitted the community greatly, due to the lack of restrictions, as does the availability to do home visits. The new office surroundings have made the service user friendly, it benefits from a reception and all the facilities the resource centre/library offers. The building is warm and provides additional resources. The locality of the building is pretty much central to Athersley, New Lodge and Smithies and is on a main bus route and therefore very accessible.

Romero Communities provide a service with a vision that, once started, the level of support is there through to a solution that the customer is happy with. Feedback from the community is that they like Romero Communities being here; some of this is most likely because the organisation has been part of the St Helens Ward for nearing 20 years and people are familiar with what we do and with the individuals that work here. There is a feeling of trust between all concerned.

Romero Communities currently has 6 board members, 3 that were previous users of the service, 1 recently resigned due to changing health needs. Having previous clients on the board enables us to have a proper insight into how things work in this area, it also aligns with other grass route projects and gives a better understanding of what is needed.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Appendix 1 continued

What we’ve learned

The high cost of living and post covid effects have seen a massive increase in financial need. Romero Communities has provided an upward trend of support around DWP benefits and helped people and families overcome periods of poverty from food and utility bills. Our support and guidance staff have helped people deal with debt and benefit overpayments. Our partners at CAB have increasingly referred people to our service for help to pay for debt relief orders. We have seen an increase in the need for food parcels and for emergency support from our service. Therefore, what we have learned is that the general all round need has become far greater than what we could have planned for. The place where we are based has improved the access to our front door as we are now in the next office to CAB, DIAL, Adastra, Resolute, North Area Council (BMBC) and not a phone call away. We maintain a solid relationship with BMBC and Berneslai Homes.

The above needs have meant that we, as a service, have had to think more creatively and plan for longer term solutions. We have therefore taken time to spend with our clients with an intention of helping them help themselves. Therefore, we dedicate time to explain why we do things in a certain way, and take time to demonstrate how, we in our personal lives, avoid pitfalls. In other words, we peer mentor our clients and don’t “take over”.

Our foundations are based upon friendliness and trust, and it is through this that we can make progress and engage with people on a 1-1 basis. Romero Communities has become a well-respected organisation in the Barnsley area, and one that has been recognised for its hard work and determination to see things through.

We are currently in a period where we are trying to provide a social outlet to our clients, as this is something that we have possibly neglected due to being busy with other things. Prior to, and during the build up to Christmas 2023 we tried several “Grub and Gab” sessions in connection with a piece of work set by Barnsley CVS (adult social care questionnaire) and this worked well, so we have decided to carry on with the events as to provide a social outlet, to reduce isolation and provide an additional opportunity for support and guidance.

How we’re changing what we do

Throughout this period, we have noticed the need to make some changes, but the needs have generally been the same, just in a greater number. If further funding can be secured, we will continue to provide the service and home visits, but potentially over more days as the need for our support has become greater. Our Drop-in service works well as we can triage enquiries. Drop-in provides somewhere for people to come and share their problems and we can then plan to help resolve them. Some of the issues we are finding within the community have come later than expected and the “eat or heat” scenario has only recently manifested to the forefront of what we do.

Our current funding ends in January 2025 and we are therefore exploring options to secure future funding. Romero Communities feel that they are an integral part of the Athersley community, and this is shared by our partner organisations. Romero Communities has become an extremely busy hub for resolving problems and somewhere residents come to have a chat. Being placed where we are, has made accessibility easier and this in turn has increased the need for our help and support, like a supportive neighbour or relative.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Related parties

The trustees consider that there are no related parties to the charity.

The charity’s policy on reserves

As a small charity, reliant on public and charitable funding and susceptible to factors beyond the control of the organisation, the trustees recognise the need to keep reserves at a level that will give the organisation stability to enable it to continue to operate in the future and meet all statutory and service delivery obligations. The trustees aim to accumulate reserves equivalent to 3 months’ annual expenditure, which equates to a sum of £20,870 in the current financial year. At the yearend, the unrestricted reserve stands at £17,037 (2023: £14,740). The trustees are aware of the need to generate further unrestricted funds to bring reserves to the desired level and this is being addressed in the implementation of the business plans.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity at the end of the year and of the surplus or deficiency for the year then ended. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them on a consistent basis, making judgements and estimates that are prudent and reasonable. The trustees must also prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which 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. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.

Financial Position

The financial statements are set out in pages 15 to 20. The Statement of Financial Activities shows a surplus for the year of £19,884 (2023: a deficit of £6,112). The total funds at the year-end stand at £62,379 (2023: £42,495). Total funds include balances remaining on restricted grants of £45,342 and a general reserve of £17,037.

Small company provisions:

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

Exemptions

The trustees have taken advantage of the exemptions available to small companies, including the audit exemption.

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the trustees:

Signed:

Date: 18 September 2024

K Moore, Trustee/ Director

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

I report on the accounts of the charity, which are set out on pages 15 to 20.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 18 September 2024

Angela Hayes, FMAAT Community Accountant 22 Brocklehurst Avenue, Barnsley, S70 3EE

Angela Hayes is licensed and regulated by AAT under licence number 1006755

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Incorporating an Income & Expenditure Account)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Note
Income
Gifts & donations
Grants received
2
Other income
Total income
Expenditure
Sessional workers
Rent & office costs
Insurance
Printing, stationery & admin expenses
Telephone, computer & internet costs
Volunteer expenses
Accountancy
5
Website
Gardening project expenditure
Household support grants
Other expenditure
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
9
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
9/10		 __
2024
2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
£
£
12,669
-
12,669
1,011
280
1,291
-
90,699
90,699
-
63,800
63,800
-
-
-
-
-
-
12,669
90,699
103,368
1,011
64,080
65,091
2,872
60,327
63,199
-
54,907
54,907
-
7,368
7,368
-
7,368
7,368
-
605
605
-
575
575
-
1,965
1,965
-
1,979
1,979
-
5,686
5,686
-
4,066
4,066
-
1,050
1,050
-
1,231
1,231
-
750
750
-
725
725
-
998
998
-
-
-
-
458
458
-
-
-
-
1,363
1,363
-
-
-
-
42
42
10
342
352
2,872
80,612
83,484
10
71,193
71,203
9,797
10,087
19,884
1,001
(7,113)
(6,112)
(7,500)
7,500
-
2,500
(2,500)
-
14,740
27,755
42,495
11,239
37,368
48,607
17,037
45,342
62,379
14,740
27,755
42,495		 __
2024
2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
£
£
12,669
-
12,669
1,011
280
1,291
-
90,699
90,699
-
63,800
63,800
-
-
-
-
-
-
12,669
90,699
103,368
1,011
64,080
65,091
2,872
60,327
63,199
-
54,907
54,907
-
7,368
7,368
-
7,368
7,368
-
605
605
-
575
575
-
1,965
1,965
-
1,979
1,979
-
5,686
5,686
-
4,066
4,066
-
1,050
1,050
-
1,231
1,231
-
750
750
-
725
725
-
998
998
-
-
-
-
458
458
-
-
-
-
1,363
1,363
-
-
-
-
42
42
10
342
352
2,872
80,612
83,484
10
71,193
71,203
9,797
10,087
19,884
1,001
(7,113)
(6,112)
(7,500)
7,500
-
2,500
(2,500)
-
14,740
27,755
42,495
11,239
37,368
48,607
17,037
45,342
62,379
14,740
27,755
42,495
1,011
64,080
65,091
-
54,907
54,907
-
7,368
7,368
-
575
575
-
1,979
1,979
-
4,066
4,066
-
1,231
1,231
-
725
725
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10
342
352
10
71,193
71,203
1,001
(7,113)
(6,112)
2,500
(2,500)
-
11,239
37,368
48,607
14,740
27,755
42,495

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All the activities of the charitable company are classed as continuing.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets - -
Total fixed assets - -
Current assets
Debtors & prepayments 3 278 558
Cash at bank and in hand 82,649 52,486
Total current assets 82,927 53,044
Liabilities
Creditors & accruals
amounts falling due within one year 4 (20,548) (10,549)
Net current assets 62,379 42,495
Net assets 62,379 42,495
Funds of the charity 9
Unrestricted funds 17,037 14,740
Restricted funds 45,342 27,755
Total funds 62,379 42,495

Exemption from audit

For the period ending 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors’ responsibilities:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The trustees declare that they have approved the accounts above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Signed:

Dated: 18 September 2024

K Moore, Trustee/Director

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting policies

Basis of the preparation of the accounts

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) – (Charities SORP (FRS102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are prepared in pounds sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value, unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

Income and expenditure has been analysed in the accounts using natural classification, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.6, SORP 2019 (smaller charities). The charity also meets the requirements for exemption for preparing a statement of cash flows.

Going concern note

After reviewing the charity’s forecasts and projections and its reserves, the trustees have reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. The 5-year Lottery grant ends in January 2025 but the charity is also supported by other funders and the trustees are in the process of applying for additional funding to continue the current level of activities beyond January 2025. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.

Incoming resources

All material incoming resources have been included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income, when any performance conditions attached are met, when it is probable that the income will be received and when the amount can be measured reliably.

Resources expended

Resources expended have been analysed using natural classification.

All expenditure is included on an accruals basis and is recognised as a liability is incurred. The charity is not registered for VAT and accordingly resources expended are shown gross of irrecoverable VAT.

Donated goods and services

Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts at the amount the charity would pay in the open market for a service equivalent to that being donated, when the charity would otherwise have purchased them and the value can be measured reliably.

Donated goods for the charity’s own use are recognised as income, at their fair value.

The contribution of general volunteers is not recognised as income in the charity accounts

Taxation

Romero Communities is a registered charity and is exempt from UK corporation tax on income from its charitable activities.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost or valuation less estimated residual value of all tangible fixed assets, with an individual cost exceeding £1,000, over their expected useful lives.

There were no individual assets with a value exceeding £1,000 in the current year.

Funds Structure

The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity.

Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes and may only be spent for the purposes for which they were given. Any balance remaining outstanding on a restricted fund at the end of the year is carried forward as a balance on the fund, unless permission has been given by the funder to remove the restriction on the balance outstanding.

2. Restricted grants received

The National Lottery Community Fund
The Tudor Trust
BMBC - Household Support Grant
BMBC - Gardening Project		 2024
2023
£
£
60,287
43,800
20,000
20,000
8,976
-
1,436
-
90,699
63,800

3. Debtors

4.Creditors
Accountancy fee
Room rent
Other creditors
Insurance prepaid
Amount due from ACTS		 2024
£
750
17,192
2,606
20,548
2024
£
278
-
278		 2023
£
278
280
558
2023
£
725
9,824
-
10,549

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

5. Independent examination and accountancy services

During the period, the cost of the independent examination and accountancy service was £750 (2023: £725).

6. Trustees’ remuneration, benefits and expenses

A sum of £1,150 was paid to Keith Moore, for expenses in relation to grant monitoring and bookkeeping services. (2023: £450). Other than reimbursement of items purchased on behalf of the charity, there were no further payments, remuneration or benefits made to trustees in the accounting period.

7. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions

8. Funds held on behalf of third party groups

During the year, the charity received funds from the ACTS 435 charity, to pay over to named individuals. The income is held on behalf of ACTS 435 and is therefore not recognised in the accounts of Romero Communities. A balance of £410 was held in the bank account of Romero Communities on behalf of ACTS 435 at the year end.

9. Movement in funds

Unrestricted funds
General Fund
Restricted funds
The National Lottery Community Fund
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
The Tudor Trust
Household Support Grant
Gardening Project
TOTAL FUNDS		 Opening
balance
£
14,740
14,740
3,092
6,203
18,460
-
-
27,755
42,495		 Incoming
(Resources
resources
expended)
£
£
12,669
(2,872)
12,669
(2,872)
60,287
(60,708)
-
(6,203)
20,000
(11,880)
8,976
(1,363)
1,436
(458)
90,699
(80,612)
103,368
(83,484)		 Fund
Transfers
£
(7,500)
(7,500)
7,500
-
-
-
-
7,500
-		 Closing
balance
£
17,037
17,037
10,171
-
26,580
7,613
978
45,342
62,379

Fund Transfers - £7,500 was transferred from the General Fund to the National Lottery Community Fund, this being the repayment of the management and overhead fee, for years 1 to 3 of the grant.

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ROMERO COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

10. Restricted Funds

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