Charity registration number: 1158671
## Devon Voluntary Action
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Contents (continued)**
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|2 to 5|
|Independent Examiner's Report|6|
|Statement of Financial Activities|7|
|Balance Sheet|8|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|9 to 17|
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
|**Trustees**|S Hurrell|
|---|---|
||J Wesley|
||K Nolan|
||M Gould|
||Felicity Jane Colthorpe|
|**Charity Registration Number**|1158671|
|**Principal Office**|Coggans Well House|
||Phoenix Lane|
||Tiverton|
||EX16 6LU|
|**Independent Examiner**|Westcotts (SW) LLP|
||Timberly|
||South Street|
||Axminster|
||Devon|
||EX13 5AD|
Page 1
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Trustees' Report**
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Objectives and activities**
## _**Objects and aims**_
To promote the Voluntary and Community Sector(VCS), principally but not exclusively in Devon and in particular by:
I. Building the capacity of charitable, voluntary and community organisations operating within the area of benefit and providing them with the necessary support, information and services to enable them to pursue or contribute to any charitable purpose; and
II. Promoting, organising and facilitating co-operation and partnership working between charitable, voluntary and community organisations and statutory and other relevant bodies within the area of benefit.
## _**Public benefit**_
The Charities main activities and beneficiaries are identified in the review below. The trustees confirm that they have referred to Charity Commission on public benefit and are satisfied that the organisation's activities conform with these requirements. All the activities are delivered in partnership with members, other not-for-profit organisations or statutory bodies and are undertaken to further the organisations' charitable purpose for the public benefit.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
## **Achievements and performance**
DeVAs operating model continues to rely on delivering projects in partnership with other groups and organisations. We cover the whole of Devon through working with DeVA members (the other CVS in the Devon Districts), other organisations with some Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Support responsibilities and other Key groups with the skills and expertise to deliver DeVA projects. The year we:-
• Continued to deliver capacity building support to Community Health and Social Care Teams across the majority of the county through DeVA members, under an SLA from Westbank
• Provided tools for DeVA members including an internal CRM database to enable members to monitor the work carried out supporting the sector and intelligence about the sector as a whole.
• We continued to grow Devon Connect, continuing our partnership with external groups Torbay Development Trust and Exeter Community Initiatives and expanded the partnership to include Devon Communities Together.
In the past year:
o events publicised on the platform increased by 110%,
o new community listings increased by 39%
o Volunteering opportunities were up 113%
o 5 volunteer campaigns were run to celebrate Volunteers Week, Carers Week, Naturally Healthy May, Youth Matters, Trustees.
o The site received 31,560 visitors.
o Social value calculations show a total of £381,894 based on the national TOMS framework.
• DeVA acted as lead partner to develop and submit a large bid to the volunteering for health fund.
Page 2
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Financial review**
The total incoming resources generated during the period were £40,075 (2023: £616,548).
The level of unrestricted reserves as at 31 March 2024 were £59,093, which is above the reserves policy, but not deemed excessive.
## _**Policy on reserves**_
The Charity's policy on reserves is to maintain sufficient reserves to cover 3 months running costs and to confirm an amount to be set aside as contingency on an annual basis. Based on 2023/24, this amounts to approximately £12,000 which is below the unrestricted reserves actually held as at 31 March 2024. Although reserves held exceed the 3 months running costs, the amount held is not deemed excessive.
DeVA currently has no statutory obligations relating to staff. The contingency fund is set to cover delivery of SLA commitments due to unforeseen circumstances and any annual licenses that may be required for shared tools and platforms.
## **Plans for future periods**
## _**Aims and key objectives for future periods**_
• To continue to cement Devon Connect as the platform of choice for communities across Devon, exploring additional functionality and developing a sustainable approach to campaigns and badges. • To review our shared CRM.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The Charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as of March 29th 2022. Its registered office is Coggans Well House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, EX16 6LU.
## _**Recruitment and appointment of trustees**_
Under the CIO constitution, the trustees consist of Ex-Officio Trustees being the Chief Officer or equivalent of formal DeVA members for as long as they hold that role and individual trustees who support the aim and objectives of the Charity. Individual trustees are invited to complete an application form and attend an informal meeting with existing trustees, followed by attending a trustees meeting and then being formally voted on as a trustee.
## _**Induction and training of trustees**_
Trustees are provided with an induction pack covering information about the Charity, a copy of the governing document, the latest accounts, guidance on Trustee responsibilities and other information relating to the operation of the charity. Potential trustees are also offered sessions with the Responsible Partner CO for individual projects and the overall Charity.
Page 3
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## _**Organisational structure**_
The Trustee board meets at least 4 times a year. The meetings are chaired by one of the Ex-Officio Trustees, elected from the other trustees annually. Management of the charity's day to day business is delegated to member organisations under an annually reviewed operational agreement. These cover four areas: Governance, Finance, Data, Communications.
The Trustees are responsible for approving all agreements, contracts and policies. They review the liabilities and contingency plans and risk on a regular basis.
Risks to which the charity is exposed are regularly reviewed by the Trustees and steps taken as necessary to mitigate these. The Trustee implemented a more formal process to assess risk prior to agreeing to act as lead partner for a major grant on behalf of the VCS in Devon. This identified risks to which the Charity may be exposed and is reviewed at each board meeting.
Page 4
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities 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 of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- 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 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 Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. 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 and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The annual report was ap p roved by the trustees of the charity on 23rd September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... S Hurrell Trustee
......................................... J Wesley Trustee
Page 5
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Devon Voluntary Action**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Devon Voluntary Action for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of Devon Voluntary Action you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Devon Voluntary Action's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material 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 Devon Voluntary Action as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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 accounts to be reached.
...................................... Robyn Gifford-England ACA Westcotts (SW) LLP Timberly South Street Axminster Devon EX13 5AD
Date:.............................
Page 6
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
|**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Investment income
4
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net expenditure
Gross transfers between
funds
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
14|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
39,890
-
185
40,075
(62,283)
(62,283)
(22,208)
19,259
(2,949)
62,042
59,093|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
(30,404)
(30,404)
(30,404)
(19,259)
(49,663)
51,343
1,680|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
39,890
-
185
40,075
(92,687)
(92,687)
(52,612)
-
(52,612)
113,385
60,773|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
592,290
24,032
226
616,548
(779,169)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||(779,169)|
|||||(162,621)
-
(162,621)
276,006
113,385|
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 14.
The notes on pages 9 to 17 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **(Registration number: 1158671) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024**
|||**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|
|**Current assets**||||
|Debtors|12|3,341|16,953|
|Cash at bank and in hand||59,464|100,331|
|||62,805|117,284|
|**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**|13|(2,032)|(3,899)|
|**Net assets**||60,773|113,385|
|**Funds of the charity:**||||
|**Restricted income funds**||||
|Restricted funds||1,680|51,343|
|**Unrestricted income funds**||||
|Unrestricted funds||59,093|62,042|
|**Total funds**|14|60,773|113,385|
The financial statements on pages 7 to 17 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 23rd September 2024 ....................... and signed on their behalf by:
......................................... S Hurrell Trustee
......................................... J Wesley Trustee
The notes on pages 9 to 17 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
Devon Voluntary Action meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
## **Summary of disclosure exemptions**
The charity is not defined as large for this financial year, and therefore no cash flow statement has been presented. .
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Judgements and sources of key estimation uncertainty**
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimated and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
## **Income and endowments**
Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## _**Grants receivable**_
Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.
## _**Investment income**_
Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
Page 9
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals. basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
## _**Charitable activities**_
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
## **Financial instruments**
## _**Classification**_
A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
## _**Recognition and measurement**_
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where it is recognised at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.
Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
Page 10
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **2 Income from donations and legacies**
|Grants;
DCC COMF
Other grants receivable
NHS Devon
Grants;
DCC COMF
Other grants receivable
NHS Devon
**3 Income from charitable activities**
Partner pooled resources
Partner pooled resources|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
-
26,506
-
26,506
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
-
-
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
-
-|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
-
39,890
-
39,890
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
260,424
360
305,000
565,784
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
24,032
24,032|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
-
39,890
-|
|---|---|---|---|
||||39,890|
||||**Total**
**2023**
**£**
260,424
26,866
305,000|
||||592,290|
||||**Total**
**2024**
**£**
-|
||||-|
||||**Total**
**2023**
**£**
24,032|
||||24,032|
Page 11
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **4 Investment income**
|Bank interest receivable
Bank interest receivable
**5 Expenditure on charitable activities**
**Note**
Charitable activities
COMF
Allocated support costs
6
**Note**
Charitable activities
COMF
Allocated support costs
6|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
185
185
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
226
226
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
43,979
-
18,304
62,283
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
23,933
-
5,902
29,835|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
7,964
22,440
-
30,404
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
302,170
447,164
-
749,334|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
185|
|---|---|---|---|
||||185|
||||**Total**
**2023**
**£**
226|
||||226|
||||**Total**
**2024**
**£**
51,943
22,440
18,304|
||||92,687|
||||**Total**
**2023**
**£**
326,103
447,164
5,902|
||||779,169|
Page 12
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **6 Analysis of support costs**
## **Support costs allocated to charitable activities**
|Insurance
Communications and IT
Governance costs
Subscriptions|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
469
13,610
2,708
1,517
18,304|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
422
3,144
2,022
314
5,902|
|---|---|---|
## **7 Grant-making**
## **Analysis of grants**
|**Analysis**
Devon Communities Together
West Devon Community and Voluntary Services
North Devon Voluntary Services Ltd
TTVS
Teignbridge Community and Voluntary Services
South Hams Community and Voluntary Services
Exeter Community Initiatives
Involve Voluntary Action in Mid Devon
Trip CTA
Seachange Devon
Inspiring Connections SW
Honiton Health Matters
Torbay Development Trust
Ottery Help Scheme
Citizens Advice East Devon|**Grants to institutions**
**2024**
**£**
**2023**
**£**
-
2,400
-
91,720
-
20,000
-
20,000
-
29,500
-
6,643
-
39,096
-
19,110
-
4,999
-
2,540
-
1,340
-
3,500
-
47,860
-
4,192
-
4,000
-
296,900|
|---|---|
Page 13
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **8 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
## **9 Staff costs**
The average head count of employees during the year was Nil (2023: Nil).
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year
## **10 Independent examiner's remuneration**
## **Other fees to examiners**
The examining of accounts of any associate of the charity
|**2024**
**£**
750|**2023**
**£**
700|
|---|---|
## **11 Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
## **12 Debtors**
|Trade debtors
Prepayments
Other debtors
**13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Accruals|**2024**
**£**
-
341
3,000
3,341
**2024**
**£**
442
1,590
2,032|**2023**
**£**
13,253
700
3,000
16,953
**2023**
**£**
3,199
700
3,899|
|---|---|---|
Page 14
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
|**14 Funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
Unrestricted Funds
**Restricted funds**
COMF
WEB
Torbay Development
**Total funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
Unrestricted Funds
**Restricted funds**
COMF
WEB
Website Development
Together Resilience
Torbay Development
COL
**Total funds**|**Balance at**
**1 April**
**2023**
**£**
62,042
43,903
1,440
6,000
51,343
113,385
**Balance at**
**1 April**
**2022**
**£**
31,074
232,027
1,440
5,000
465
6,000
-
244,932
276,006|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
40,075
-
-
-
-
40,075
**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
26,732
289,456
-
-
360
-
300,000
589,816
616,548|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(62,283)
(22,440)
(3,644)
(4,320)
(30,404)
(92,687)
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(29,835)
(447,164)
-
(5,000)
(270)
-
(296,900)
(749,334)
(779,169)|**Transfers**
**£**
19,259
(21,463)
2,204
-
(19,259)
-
**Transfers**
**£**
34,071
(30,416)
-
-
(555)
-
(3,100)
(34,071)
-|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
59,093
-
-
1,680
1,680
60,773
**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2023**
**£**
62,042
43,903
1,440
-
-
6,000
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||51,343
113,385|
Page 15
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:
COMF - Contain Outbreak Management Fund to support a project to build on current networks and links as a sector and in partnership with NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Devon Country Council and other statutory partners, to deliver support on the ground needed by people in Devon affected by Covid-19. The transfer from COMF to unrestricted has been done to reflect that the funds have all been spent by 31 March 2024.
WEB - Funds received from Westbank Community Health and Care for the delivery of WEB work carried out by DeVA.
Together Resilience - Funds from Active Devon via Devon County Council in order to deliver Together Funding Resilience Support.
Torbay Development - Funds for Devon Connect.
COL - Management and facilitation of grant fund to support VCSE groups and organisations.
## **15 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
61,125
(2,032)
59,093
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
64,029
(1,987)
62,042|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
1,680
-
1,680
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
53,255
(1,912)
51,343|**Total funds**
**at 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
62,805
(2,032)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||60,773
**Total funds**
**at 31 March**
**2023**
**£**
117,284
(3,899)|
||||
113,385|
Page 16
## **Devon Voluntary Action**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **16 Related party transactions**
During the year a number of transactions occurred between Devon Voluntary Action and charities with Trustees in common in the normal course of business in order to achieve its objective to support voluntary and community sector groups across Devon.
Included within the accounts is monies paid to those charities as follows:
West Devon CVS £6,740 (2023: £97,747) North Devon VS £9,132 (2023: £82,002) South Hams CVS £3,755 (2023: £13,328) Teignbridge CVS £15,450 (2023: £80,590) TTVS £10,172 (2023: £38,503) Involve Voluntary Action in Mid Devon £8,484 (2023: £26,572)
Page 17