2024-12-31-accounts - The Florence Park Community Association

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FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION CIO

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Charity Registration Number: 1159506

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

CONTENTS	PAGES
Charity Informaton	3
Trustees’ Annual Report	4
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilites	5
Independent Examiner’s Report	6
Statement of Financial Actvites	7
Balance Sheet	8
Notes to the accounts	9

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

CHARITY INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

TRUSTEE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Judith Secker Chair Stella Bell (resigned October 2024 re-appointed Feb 25) Adam Wielopolski (resigned May 2023 re-appointed since 2024) Robert Shorter (resigned Nov 2023) Rebecca Seaborne Jane Dee Treasurer Stephen Walker (appointed Sept 2023) Jane Littlehales (appointed Dec 2023) Daniel Chivers (appointed Dec 24)

SECRETARY

Rebecca Seaborne

REGISTERED OFFICE

Florence Park Community Association Florence Park Community Centre Cornwallis Road Oxford OX4 3NH

CHARITY REFERENCE NUMBER

1159506

ACCOUNTANTS

SPX Oxford Ltd Peace House 19 Paradise Street Oxford OX1 1LD

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Objectives and activities

The constitutional objects of the FPCA are to:

promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, nationality, race or of political, religious or other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the statutory 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;
establish, or secure the establishment of, a Community Centre and to maintain and manage the same (whether alone or in co-operation with any statutory authority or other person or body) in furtherance of the Objects;
promote such other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined.

The Charity shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion. The area of benefit (“area of benefit”) shall be Florence Park estate and the neighbourhood together defined by the area bounded by the Oxford Road, Between Towns Road and Church Cowley Road (including Eleanor Close), Henley Avenue, and the Boundary Brook.

Having regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, the main activities undertaken to fulfil these objectives in 2024 have been: the continued maintenance and management of the Florence Park Community Centre, which is open to all, under our lease with Oxford City Council; the provision of activities including social meals, exercise classes, drama, arts and music, for the social and recreational well-being of residents and the wider public.

Our core activities benefitting the community are:

A weekly lunch club for the over 60’s. Under the management of Group Leader Rachel Lawrence, and with a grant from the city council plus donations from the Oxford Food Hub, the lunch club has provided a hot cooked meal for 30 to 40 people each week. Rachel is supported by two or three regular volunteers in the kitchen, all of whom have welcomed the social opportunity provided by volunteering.
Weekly baby and toddler groups. Managed by Group Leader Sarah Korting, the baby group has welcomed some 20 parents and carers with their pre-mobile infants. The group focuses on the need of parents and carers for some ‘down time’ in like-minded company. Volunteers provided refreshments and helped to look after the babies. ‘Toddle Time’ has been less successful in 2024 as children moved on to school. Our thanks to Su Calvert who stood in as Group Leader during Sarah Korting’s absence.
Monthly low-cost community Sunday lunches taken around a communal table. Rachel Lawrence and her volunteers have continued to use donated food to provide healthy roasts and vegetarian options. Community lunches have been attended by between 15 and 40 people in 2024. Proceeds have been designated to help fund the Over 60’s lunch club.

These core activities have been supplemented by occasional events and activities offered by the Association and by members of the Association. Notable events in 2024 included: the January panto ‘Snow White’ put on by the Florence Park Players collective; a memorable variety night oganised by members and held 10 years after the first such event; ArtFlo Oxford’s annual show; the winter market in November and the popular ‘Songs of the Season’ in December. These events have provided opportunities for members and residents to develop their talents and for others to enjoy the results while the community centre benefited from the generous donations raised. The Trustees wish to thank everyone who contributed to these events.

2024 marked the 90[th] anniversary of the construction of the Florence Park Estate. The FPCA ran a cake stall at the celebratory midsummer FloFest in the park. And, in conjunction with the Oxford Preservation Trust’s Open Doors weekend, we welcomed visitors from across the city with a self-guided walk to view original 1930’s features of the estate, a film show of local playwright Peter Cann’s play Little Edens about the 1934 Florence Park rent strike and an opportunity to see original resident Sheila Tree’s wonderful photo collection. Regular longstanding hirers have also benefitted the community. They include Joe Henderson’s low cost acupuncture sessions, Jane Callaway’s pilates class, Emily Marshall’s Saturday Singers, Matt Hill’s Kids Martial Arts and the Oxford Ukeleles.

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Achievements and performance

Overall 2024 has been a successful year for the Association with the community centre rarely standing empty during the day, in the evenings or at weekends. Footfall at events in 2024 was 21,000. Key achievements included:

Karen Starr was appointed centre manager in March 2024. Her introduction of the Hallmaster bookings system and promotion of the centre as a venue has assisted in a significant increase in bookings and income. We are pleased to have been able to increase Karen’s hours from 14 to 20 each week, subject to annual review. We produced three issues of the Florence Park Newsletter in 2024. Members of the community provided the content for these 8-page, full colour productions. Trustees Adam Wielopolski and Jane Littlehales respectively edited and designed the issues which were delivered by community volunteers to 1,400 homes. We are grateful to the University of Oxford for printing the newsletters.

Frances Hansford, an Association member with expertise in this field, conducted and reported an impact assessment for the community association. The positive comments received from centre users are expected to be helpful for fundraising and marketing. (Negative comments focussed on the building rather than the activities it housed.)

In July 2024 the Association took part in a celebration of community centres in Oxford organised jointly by the Federation of Oxford Community Associations (FOCA) and Oxford City Council. Held at the town hall, the celebration fulfilled its twin aims of impressing upon councillors and officials how much work, unseen and unfunded, is done in communities by volunteers and celebrating those volunteers. The trustees were delighted to have hosted 12 of our volunteers at the event.

Trustee Steve Walker took on the onerous task of claiming gift aid donations through the labyrinthine procedures of the HMRC. As a result we received gift aid for the first time: over £670 representing donations in 2020.

As always our much-loved but somewhat dilapidated building has demanded attention from Trustees. We are grateful to Oxford City Council for repairs which fell to them under our lease. The roof was repaired again in 2024 and fencing replaced. We are immensely grateful to volunteer Steve Cooney for the small internal repairs and improvements that he deals with.

In 2024 we introduced a running list of repairs and improvements for which the Association is responsible. This has resulted in increased security around the site. Renovation of the kitchen has been a major issue with failure of the cooker bringing this to a head. We successfully crowdfunded for a replacement cooker. During the shutdown between Christmas and New Year a team of volunteers, stripped, cleaned and painted the kitchen. Financial Review

A full financial review is included with the annual accounts. It is pleasing that, despite rising energy costs the community centre is sustainable, with a small surplus in 2024. Our employment contracts commit us to endeavouring to pay our Group Leaders at least the Oxford Living Wage and we were able to apply the increase in 2024.

Fundraising has been difficult for Trustees in the current economic climate. However, we have had the benefit of a small grant from the city council to cover some of the costs of the Over 60’s lunch club. Our county councillor Charlie Hicks and city councillor Amar Latif each donated to the costs of a summer outing for the club. We have benefitted from fundraising advice from Association member Kate Hood and have applied for a grant to refurbish our lounge room. A response is awaited.

We have continued to benefit from our relationship under license with the Florence Park Social Club with whom we held three constructive joint committee meetings in 2024.

Structure, government and management

Florence Park Community Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a constitution based on the Charity Commission model. There is no limit to the number of trustees but the minimum required is 3. Trustees are proposed and elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Trustees (committee) is able to co-opt trustees between AGMs subject to their election at the next AGM. There are three formal officerships: the AGM elects the secretary and treasurer while the chair is elected by the Ttrustees at their following meeting.

Reference and administrative details: trustees

The Trustees serving when the report was approved were: Judith Secker, Daniel CJ Chivers, Adam Robert Wielopolsk, Jane Littlehales, Stephen Richard Walker, Rebecca Seaborne and Jane Dee. There are no corporate trustees and no trustee holds the title to property belonging to the charity.

Judith Secker, Chair FPCA

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

STATEMENT OF THE TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales 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 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;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ascertain both the financial position of the charity and ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. 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.

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the period ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 8 to 15.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees 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(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Charities Act
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

No matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

have not been met or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Name: Sheila Parry FCCA

Address: Peace House 19 Paradise Street Oxford OX1 1LD

Date: 6 May 2025

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Note Income from: Donatons and legacies 2 Charitable actvites 3 Other trading actvites 4 Investments Total income Expenditure on: Charitable actvites 5 Total expenditure Net income / -expenditure Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliaton of funds: Total funds brought forwards Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Funds £ 5,693 43,169 7,946 79 56,887 49,546 49,546 7,341 1,921 9,262 34,566 43,828	Restricted Funds £ 6,691 2,663 - - 9,354 5,561 5,561 3,793 - 1,921 1,872 4,641 6,513	Total Funds 2024 £ 12,384 45,832 7,946 79 66,241 55,107 55,107 11,134 - 11,134 39,207 50,341	Unrestricte d Funds £ 14,493 35,306 6,375 56 56,230 59,203 59,203 - 2,973 - 460 - 3,433 37,999 34,566	Restricted Funds £ 3,665 2,614 - - 6,279 4,069 4,069 2,210 460 2,670 1,971 4,641	Total Funds 2023 £ 18,158 37,920 6,375 56
						62,509
						63,272
						63,272
						- 763 -
						- 763
						39,970
						39,207

All recognised gains and losses are included in the Statement of Financial Activities.

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024


	Note	£	£	£	£
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets	6		5,869		7,101
Current assets
Debtors: Amounts falling due within one
year	7	1,115		2,069
Cash at bank and in hand		44,733		32,323
		45,848		34,392
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one
year	8	- 1,376		- 2,286
Net current assets			44,472		32,106
Net assets			50,341		39,207
The funds of the charity
Funds
Unrestricted income funds			43,828		34,566
Restricted income funds			6,513		4,641
Total funds	9		50,341		39,207

These accounts were approved by the board of trustees on ………………….. and signed on their behalf by:-

Jane Dee Rebecca Seaborne Treasurer Secretary

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting convention

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Statements of Recommended Practice 2019 (SORP 2019), ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’, issued by the Charities Commission and the Charities Act 2011, together with applicable standards.

Income

Income represents income receivable from room hire, rental income, fundraising, donations, gifts and interest received.

Donations and legacies are reported in the Statement of Financial Activities if they are received or due in the financial year.

Any income received relating to a forward period has been deferred.

Grants receivable are included in the year in which the offer is conveyed by the charity except in those cases where the offer has conditions, such grants being recognised as income when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are not included in the financial statements.

Expenditure

All expenditure is included on an accruals basis and is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay for such expenditure, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered.

Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is conveyed to the recipient except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered that are subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure.

Resources are expended in the furtherance of the charity’s objectives.

Depreciation

Depreciation is provided at the following rates so as to write off the cost less residual value of the assets over their estimated useful lives. A full year’s depreciation is provided in the year of acquisition.

Office equipment – straight line basis at 25% per annum. Leasehold improvements – straight line basis at 4% per annum. Outdoor equipment - straight line basis at 33% per annum.

Items included in fixed assets are capitalised where there is an identifiable asset and / or when the purchase cost exceeds £500

Fund accounting

Funds held by the charity are either:-

Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charity’s objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Restricted funds – funds received can only be used for specifically nominated expenditure by the donor and are credited to income in the year in which they are received. Where amounts are not specifically allocated against expenditure in that year the balance is deferred and added to the balance brought forward on the restricted funds and is used in subsequent years in line with the restrictions placed by the donor.

Taxation

The organisation, being a charity, is not liable to taxation on its income.

2. INCOME FROM DONATIONS

Unrestricted Funds £ 12,993 1,500 14,493 Unrestricte d Funds £ 28,807 1,784 - 1,218 750 2,582 165 - 35,306 Unrestricte d Funds £ 2,206 222 - 3,947 6,375	Restricted Funds £ - 3,665 3,665 Restricte d Funds £ - - 880 - - - 1,734 2,614 Restricte d Funds £ - - - - -	Total Funds 2023 £ 12,993 5,165
		18,158
		Total Funds 2023 £ 28,807 1,784 880 1,218 750 2,582 165 1,734
35,306	2,614	37,920
Unrestricte d Funds £ 2,206 222 - 3,947 6,375	Restricte d Funds £ - - - - -	Total Funds 2023 £ 2,206 222 - 3,947 6,375

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

5. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Unrestricte d Restricte d Funds Funds £ £ Accountancy 660 - Staf costs 19,651 5,380 Bank charges 388 - Cleaning 8,361 24 FPSC 965 70 Depreciaton 1,232 - Heatng and lightng 5,282 - Improvements 583 87 Insurance 1,452 - Legal Fees 35 - Over 60's Club 1,838 - Events costs/ Panto 1,291 - Printng, postage & statonery 398 - Rates 59 - Repairs and maintenance 453 - Security 417 - Telephones and internet 442 - TV and other licences/ Subscriptons 1,868 - Water 2,662 - Waste and Recycling 1,309 - Capital adjustment - - Disposals - - Other expenses 200 - TOTAL 49,546 5,561	Total Funds 2024 £ 660 25,031 388 8,385 1,035 1,232 5,282 670 1,452 35 1,838 1,291 398 59 453 417 442 1,868 2,662 1,309 - - 200 55,107	Unrestricte d Funds £ 630 17,538 347 8,471 383 1,233 11,448 - 696 35 658 1,298 26 234 924 189 362 744 - 1,185 1,125 - 7,371 21,418 - 59,203	Restricte d Funds £ - 3,579 - - - - - - - - - - 490 - - - - - - - - - - 4,069	Total Funds 2023 £ 630 21,117 347 8,471 383 1,233 11,448 - 696 35 658 1,298 516 234 924 189 362 744 - 1,185 1,125 - 7,371 21,418 -
				63,272

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

6. TANGIBLE ASSETS

Property Improvements £ 4,939 - - 4,939 891 - 494 1,385 3,554 4,048 2024 £ 1,115 - 1,115	Equipment £ 7,384 - - 7,384 4,331 - 738 5,069 2,315 3,053 2023 £ 1,031 1,038	Total cost £ 12,323 - -
		12,323
		5,222 - 1,232
		6,454
		5,869
		7,101

1,115	2,069

8. CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year

Other creditors Panto income received in advance	2024 £ 1,093 283 1,376	2023 £ 1,535 751
		2,286

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Unrestricted income funds General Funds Designated Funds Over 60s Club Total Designated funds Restricted Funds Garden Project Newsleter Baby Group Over 60s Group Period poverty group Cooker Total Restricted funds Total funds Previous year General Funds Unrestricted income funds Restricted Funds Projector fund Garden Project Newsleter Over 60s Group Baby Group Total Restricted funds Total funds	At 31 December 2023 £ 34,566 - 1,971 390 2,280 - - 4,641 39,207 At 31 December 2022 £ 37,999 - 1,971 - - - 1,971 39,970	Income £ 55,122 1,765 1,765 - - 2,663 3,900 150 2,641 9,354 66,241 Income £ 56,230 665 - 880 3,000 1,734 6,279 62,509	Expenditur e £ - 47,708 - 1,838 - 1,838 - - - 2,713 - 2,737 - 24 - 87 - 5,561 - 55,107 Expenditur e £ - 59,203 - - - 490 - 720 - 2,859 - 4,069 - 63,968	Transfers £ 1,172 749 749 - 1,971 - 50 - - - - 1,921 - Transfers £ - 460 - 665 - - - 1,125 460 -	At 31 December 2024 £ 43,152 676 676 - 390 - 3,443 126 2,554 6,513
					50,341
					At 31 December 2023 £ 34,566 - 1,971 390 2,280 - 4,641
					38,511

FLORENCE PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

12. TRUSTEE REMUNERATION, TRUSTEE EXPENSES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

No members of the management committee received any remuneration during the period. No committee costs were reimbursed to trustees during the period. No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the period.

13. STAFF COSTS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Gross pay Social security costs Pension contributons	2024 25,142 - 175 25,317	2023 14,541 - 132
		14,673

14. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS RECEIVED BY KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

The key management personnel of the charity are the voluntary trustees. There are therefore no remuneration or benefits of the key management personnel to disclose.