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← Safer Stronger Communities

2024-04-30-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1157843

Company Registration No. 08978334 (England and Wales)

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees

A Milliner JP McLeavy P Reeve M Topham CA Rule

Charity number 1157843

Company number 08978334

Principal address

The Old Library, Lower Bore Street Bodmin Cornwall PL31 2JX

Registered office

The Old Library Lower Bore Street Bodmin Cornwall, PL31 2JX

Independent examiner

Koreen James FMAAT Synergy Accounting 6 Deer Park Close Teignmouth Devon TQ14 9HQ

Bankers

CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill WEST MALLING Kent ME19 4JQ

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

CONTENTS
Page
Trustees' report 1 - 5
Statement of trustees' responsibilities 6
Independent examiner's report 7
Statement of financial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Notes to the financial statements 10 - 15

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 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)

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The Company's Objects are specifically restricted to the following (in each case for the benefit of the public):-

  1. Promoting social inclusion 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 of 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).

  1. Promoting the rehabilitation of offenders by supporting voluntary and community organisations working with or for offenders and their families;

  2. Advancing education particularly, but not exclusively, about crime and criminal justice;

  3. Relieving unemployment for the benefit of the public in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment; and

  4. The prevention and relief of poverty.

Significant activities

1

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

Significant activities - continued

2

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

Public benefit

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty under Section 4 of the Companies Act 2006 to have due regards to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

The following outcomes were achieved during the course of the reporting period:

  1. Successful management, and delivery of the Trauma Informed Approaches project, funded through the National Lottery Reaching Communities funding.

  2. Providing support to individuals through the Surviving Winter and Cost of Living Grants from Cornwall Community Foundation.

  3. Co-ordinate the Trauma Informed Network for Cornwall. The network represents a multi-agency effort to implement and support trauma informed care initiatives across Cornwall.

  4. Co-ordination to support and develop new approaches to violence prevention in Cornwall

  5. Continue to raise the profile for SSC amongst key stakeholders within the sector.

  6. Consolidating the Membership of SSC including the addition of new Partners.

  7. Renewal of Due Diligence records for all existing Members and Partners.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

All income is budgeted for against core costs and service delivery activity.

Funds were derived from three sources during the reporting period: The National Lottery, Cornwall Community Foundation and Cornwall Council.

RESERVES POLICY

The level of reserves which the Trustees believe is required is £11,000 to cover the following -

3

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

Looking to the future the charity will continue work to develop its work with victims of crime as well as explore opportunities in various areas including:

  1. Development of SSC through the identification of new funding opportunities

  2. Partnership development including training and upskilling opportunities.

  3. Community Safety - participation in Safer Cornwall, the community safety partnership for Cornwall.

  4. Assisting the Sector respond to local strategic needs, such as the key priorities identified through the Safer Cornwall Partnership Plan.

  5. Assisting in the development of the Trauma Informed Network for Cornwall and looking for training opportunities.

  6. Support for ex–offenders

  7. Support for families and communities of victims/offenders within the criminal justice system

  8. Restorative Justice

  9. Health & Social Care Agenda

Structure, governance and management

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company's articles are known as Board of Trustees. Trustees are elected by company Members.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

A Milliner JP Mcleavy P Reeve M Topham CA Rule

Organisational structure

One contracted staff member; Lydia Mills (Chief Officer) – appointed 1[st] June 2019 and one employed staff member; Amanda Youell (Serious Violence Prevention Programme Coordinator) – appointed 1[st] April 2023.

4

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

Related parties

Full details of any related party transactions between company Members and Safer Stronger Communities are provided in the notes to the financial statements.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

JP Mcleavy

Trustee

Dated: 19/12/2024

5

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

The trustees, who are also the directors of Safer Stronger Communities for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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 and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

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

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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.

6

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

Charity number 1157843 Company number 08978334

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Safer Stronger Communities (the charity) for the year ended 30 April 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act;

or

2 the financial statements do not accord with those records;

or

3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination;

or

4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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

Signed Date 11[th] December 2024 Lamy

Koreen James – Fellow of the Association of Accounting Technicians (FMAAT) Synergy Accounting 6 Deer Park Close Teignmouth Devon TQ14 9HQ

7

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 30th April 2024

Restricted Unrestricted Total Restricted Unrestricted Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
Notes 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
Income
Income from:
Interest receivable - 186 186 - 50 50
Donations and legacies 3 - - - - - -
Charitable activities 4 121,488 10,114 131,602 24,984 117,770 142,754
Total Income 121,488 10,300 131,788 24,984 117,820 142,804
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 5 90,212 27,004 117,216 25,512 84,138 109,650
Total expenditure 90,212 27,004 117,216 25,512 84,138 109,650
Net income/(expenditure) for the year 31,276 (16,704) 14,572 (528) 33,682 33,154
Transfers between Funds - - - - - -
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 4,125 50,826 54,951 4,653 17,144 21,797
Total funds carried forward 35,401 34,122 69,523 4,125 50,826 54,951

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

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

8

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES Balance sheet as at 30th April 2024 2024 2023 Notes Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 78,444 78,444 57,590 57,590 Current liabilities Creditors.. amounts falling due within 12 months io 18.9211 12,6391 Net Current assets 69,523 54,951 Net assets 69,523 54,951 Income funds Restricted funds li 35,401 4,125 Unrestricted funds li 34,122 50,826 Total funds 69,523 54,951 For the year ended 30th April 2024 The company was entitled to the exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 The director5 acknowledge their re5pon5ibilitie5 for ensuring that the accounting records and preparation of the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Companies Art 2006 The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financi31 ststements for the year in question in accordance with section 476 These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 19th December 2024 On behalf of the Trustees JP Mcleavy (Trusteel Company Registration No. 08978334

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Safer Stronger Communities is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Old Library, Lower Bore Street, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 2JX.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum & Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

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

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

10

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

1 Accounting policies (Continued)

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset

1.5 Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Donated services and facilities are included in the Statement of Financial Activities at the value of the underlying cost borne by the provider of the donation, estimated at open market value, and offset the incoming resource.

1.6 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.7 Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

11

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2023

1 Accounting policies (Continued) –

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.8 Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

1.9 Retirement benefits

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

12

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

3 Donations and legacies
Donations and gifts
4 Charitable activities
Investment income
Charitable activity income
Unrestricted
Restricted
Cornwall Community Foundation
Cost of Living Grant
Cornwall Community Foundation
Surviving Winter Fund
The National Lottery Trauma
Informed Network
The Nationla Lottery Trauma
Informed Approach
Total Income
5 Charitable activities
Staff costs
SVPP other costs
Grant Payments
Insurance
Bookkeeping fees
Training & Development
Sundries
Meetings and events
Travel
Office rent
Equipment
Partner fees
Consultancy costs
Bank charges
Trustees expenses
Share of governance costs (see note 6)		 13
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds
funds
2024
2023
£
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
2024
2023
£
£
186
50
10,114
117,720
10,000
-
10,400
15,000
-
9,984
101,088
-
131,788
142,754
Restricted
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
funds
2024
2024
2023
£
£
£
-
18,210
-
-
-
-
10,000
-
-
-
358
-
-
1,804
-
8,161
5,089
-
-
-
-
1,513
336
-
1,798
1,342
-
-
-
-
1,122
-
-
17,348
(1,145)
-
50,270
-
25,512
-
60
-
-
-
-
90,212
26,054
25,512
-
950
-
90,212
27,004
25,512		 Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
1,010
1,100
-
624
875
-
-
-
1,211
-
-
42,014
36,285
69
-
83,188
950
84,138

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

6 Support costs
Accountancy
Independent exmination
Analysed between Charitable activities
7 Trustees
Trustees remuneration and expenses		 Support
costs
£
1,084
-
1,084
1,084		 Governance
costs
£
-
950
950
950		 Total
2024
£
1,084
950
2,034
2,034
£
-		 Support
costs
£
875
-
875
875
£
-		 Governance
costs
£
0
950
950
950		 Total
2023
£
875
950
1,825
1,825

The trustees received no remunerations and were not involved in any related party transaction.

8 Employees
The average monthly number of employees
Core
No employee received emoluments of more
Salaries and wages
Other pension costs
9 Debtors
Amounts falling due within one year:
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 during the year
than £60,000.
2024
£
-
-
-		 was:
2023
£
-
-
-		 2024
1
£
17,609
601
18,210		 2023
-
£
1,010
-
1,010

10 Creditors

Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade creditors
HMRC
Income Received in Advance
Accruals		 2024
£
7021
-
-
950
7,971		 2023
£
1690
-
-
950
2,640

14

SAFER STRONGER COMMUNITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

11 Movement in funds

Restricted funds
Surviving Winter Fund
Cost of Living Grant
Trauma Informed Network Cornwall
Trauma Informed Approach
Unrestricted funds
Serious Violence Prevention
Victim Care Delivery
12 Government grants
Income from government grants		 Balance at
Balance at
1.4.2023
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
30.4. 2024
£
£
£
£
£
181
10,400
10,308
-
273
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
3,944
4,130
-
(186)
-
101,088
65,774
-
35,314
-
-
-
-
-
4,125
121,488
90,212
-
35,401
26,000
10,114
17,555
-
18,559
24,776
-
(1,145)
-
25,921
50,776
10,114
16,410
-
44,480
2024
2023
£
£
-
80,000		 Balance at
Balance at
1.4.2023
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
30.4. 2024
£
£
£
£
£
181
10,400
10,308
-
273
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
3,944
4,130
-
(186)
-
101,088
65,774
-
35,314
-
-
-
-
-
4,125
121,488
90,212
-
35,401
26,000
10,114
17,555
-
18,559
24,776
-
(1,145)
-
25,921
50,776
10,114
16,410
-
44,480
2024
2023
£
£
-
80,000
35,401
18,559
25,921
44,480

13 Retirement benefit schemes

Defined contribution schemes

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.

The charge to profit or loss in respect of the defined contribution schemes was £601 (2023- £0)

The charity owed the pension scheme £0 (2023 - £0) at the balance sheet date

14 Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none) other than those already disclosed in Note 7.

15