2025-03-31-accounts

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date 01 04 2024 31 03 2025

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Lower Grange Community Association

Other names charity is known by LGCA

1159081 Charity's principal address Lower Grange Youth & Community Centre Chaffinch Road Bradford Postcode BD8 0RF ~~——~~

Registered charity number (if any) 1159081

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

==> picture [528 x 258] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||| |---|---|---| |Dates acted if not for whole|Name of person (or body) entitled| |Trustee name|Office (if any)| |year|to appoint trustee (if any)| |1|G Ball|Chair| |2|M Bull|Treasurer| |3|F.E. Evans|Secretary| |4|C Woodley| |5|Beverley Lister| |6|B Rawlinson| |7|Shantelle Wright| |8|Kyle Whittiker| |9| |10| |11| |ee| |Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)| |Name|Dates acted if not for whole year|

----- End of picture text -----

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address ~~===~~ Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) TAR 1

Alex Dilger

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document CIO - Association Registered 05 Nov 2014 (Constitution) (eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is constituted

Charitable Incorporated Organisation
(eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods

Elected by membership at Annual General meetings.
(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

TAR

To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Lower Grange and the neighbourhood (hereinafter called "the area of benefit") without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisuretime occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

Establish, or secure the establishment of, a community centre (hereinafter called "the centre") and to maintain and manage the same (whether alone or in co-operation with any local authority or other person or body) in furtherance of these objects.

Classification What • General charitable purposes • Education / training

Recreation

Who

Children / young people
Elderly / old people
People with disabilities

How

provides buildings / facilities / open space

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

TAR

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Section E Financial review

In accordance with guidance from the Charity Commission, Lower Grange Brief statement of the charity’s Community Association/Centre has a reserve policy. We aim to retain a reserve, policy on reserves held in cash, to provide for six months operating costs, together with a provision for winding up expenses and redundancy payments. Furthermore, it is our aim to maintain a balance within our current account roughly equivalent to six months operating costs. The amounts involved are kept under review each year.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

N/A

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

This year has marked a significant transition for our organisation, moving from crisis-response provision toward becoming a recognised community anchor delivering accredited vocational training and integrated creative health services. With landmark funding of £101,000 from Yorkshire Building Society's Building Bradford Skills programme, and our role as a key partner for Bradford 2025 (UK City of Culture), we have fundamentally expanded our capacity and reach while maintaining our core commitment to the Lower Grange community.

Building on the foundations of our previous Neighbourhood Action Project and the sustainable growth model we have developed over recent years, 2024-25 saw us step up from providing essential support to actively equipping residents with qualifications, coaching skills, and pathways into employment and enterprise. This represents the next phase of our journey: not just meeting immediate need, but building long-term community resilience and leadership.

The Holiday Activities with Food (HAF) programme continued to exceed all targets, with Easter, Summer and Christmas provision reaching significantly more eligible children than commissioned. These numbers exclude additional non-eligible children who also benefited, demonstrating our commitment to inclusive community support regardless of means-testing

TAR

criteria. Our multi-site delivery across Lower Grange Youth & Community Centre, Victoria Park, Lady Hill Park, and partnership work with venues including 5 Alive Bradford Adventure and Hollywood Bowl has allowed us to offer varied experiences from cooking and sports to trips including Lightwater Valley and Scarborough.

Our partnership with Bradford 2025 (UK City of Culture) enabled integration of creative approaches to health and wellbeing. The Singing for Wellbeing group has become a highlight, with participants reporting improvements across multiple life areas. Our autumn survey of 46 service users, session leaders and partners showed 80% reporting improved social connections, 63% improved overall wellbeing, 61% improved mental health, and 57% improved self-confidence. These figures evidence the genuine impact of our holistic approach combining physical activity, creative practice, skills development and social connection.

We significantly expanded into accredited vocational training this year, delivering Level 2 Food Safety, Level 2 Fire Safety, British Sign Language, South Asian Cooking (with Bradford College), and Beauty Therapy qualifications. Beyond individual employment credentials, we invested heavily in community leadership development through Solution Focused Coaching training delivered by Participate Projects/ThriveLab, and continued delivery of the Social Venture School supporting residents to develop social enterprise ideas. The September Jobs & Training Recruitment Fair brought together 19 employers and engaged over 120 jobseekers, demonstrating our growing role as an employment broker for the area.

Our food provision evolved beyond crisis response into sustainable models. The Community Cafe offers £1 breakfasts as a social hub, while Grub in the Hub operates as a social supermarket with £3 fresh produce bags. Little Chefs cooking programmes teach nutritional independence to children, and partnerships with Morrison's Girlington, Lill Brothers, St James Market traders and FareShare Yorkshire ensure quality provision at scale. The February Energy Advice Day, featuring air fryer giveaways with Groundwork Green Doctors, addressed cost-of-living pressures directly.

Specialist youth provision developed through Aspire Judo, Bradford City Twirlers, and the Camouflage Crew leadership programme, alongside our established Open Access Youth Club and targeted SEN provision through the STAR Inclusion Group. Family and early years support grew through Stay and Play, the new Teacups & Toddlers group for ages 0-3, and continued playgroup delivery.

Our weekday calendar maintained approximately 90% capacity year-round with ESOL at multiple levels, Functional Skills in maths and English, the new Digital Cafe supporting residents with online services, Keep Fit sessions, Zumba, Beck Adventures wellness walks, and regular advice drop-ins covering benefits, housing, debt and employment. The Citizens Advice Bureau surgery provides specialist support monthly.

Physical transformation of the site in March saw 20+ volunteers repaint, garden, build planters and create new communal seating areas. This investment in our environment reflects and reinforces community pride and ownership. A notable achievement has been volunteer groups developing capacity in digital content creation, now producing their own promotional videos and social media content, representing genuine empowerment to

TAR

tell their own stories.

We worked with over 35 partner organisations this year including National Lottery Community Fund, Yorkshire Building Society, Bradford 2025, Bradford College, Shipley College, SkillsHouse Bradford, Bradford Council Neighbourhoods and Youth Services, Bradford City FC Community Foundation, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, West Yorkshire Police, HALE, Mind in Bradford, and multiple activity providers. These partnerships reflect our established position as a genuine community anchor trusted by statutory services, voluntary sector, private sector and residents alike.

Our reserves and financial position remain healthy, allowing us to continue exploring innovative funding streams that add value to our core offer rather than chasing inappropriate funding or experiencing mission drift. The Yorkshire Building Society grant has been transformational in enabling us to move beyond grant-dependency toward sustainable, core-funded provision with clear employment and skills outcomes.

We extend our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to making 202425 such a successful year – our volunteers, staff, trustees, partners, and most importantly, the residents of Lower Grange who continue to lead the way in building a resilient, thriving community.

Se Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration ee The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

Marie Bull Full name(s) Graham Ball ~~ee~~ Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair Treasurer etc) ~~a~~ Date 05/01/2026 ~~|~~

TAR

Lower Gran In¢om• and Ex ndhure AH¢xlation courrt 31st Ilar¢h 2025 14.6S5 Is?8 4205 Trn 752 8.17Z 381 oKrEItyE&xatillnèrA Trainry 1#fj21 117,1 La0th7yFuM LG 73PIO 17.483 tadlDrdcG1ftttoffli SF Prw L49) 527 31.•)) 141.ID7 47.$61 461 2Ji.ng -110.411 YJl.711 1420 t21.C61 31 117.831 IX.42 t17MI la.429 WF141AT £A 5uf.E L J-/,/z I CFIAIQ fj//z

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

Section C Objectives and activities

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

Section D Achievements and performance

Section E Financial review

Further financial review details (Optional information)

~~Se~~ Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration ~~ee~~ The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signature(s)

Se Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration ee The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.