2024-03-31-accounts - Leigh Neighbours Project

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LEIGH NEIGHBOURS PROJECT ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 312024 Charlty number 1161291

		NDEX
	I	NDEX
Administrative information		1
Trustees’ annual report		2 – 5
Independent Examiner’s report		6
Statement of financial activities		7
Balance sheet		8
Notes to the financial statements		9 – 15

TRUSTEES H Ahmed Cllr D Anderton J Eckersley (Resigned 18/01/2024) N Fallows N Ratcliffe A Sharrock REGISTERED OFFICE AND 129 Walmesley Road PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS Leigh WN7 1XN INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Stacy Mason & ACCOUNTANTS HGA Accountants & Financial Consultants Ltd t/a Chittenden Horley - Chartered Accountants Hyde Park House Cartwright Street, Newton Manchester SK14 4EH BANKERS Co-operative Bank plc PO Box 250 Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT

The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended March 31 2024.

REPORTING FRAMEWORK

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the foundation document, 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 (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019), referred to as the Charities SORP (FRS 102) (second edition – October 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Chartable objects

The charitable objectives are:

The promotion, for the benefit, of the public, of urban regeneration in the are of Leigh bounded by Twist lane, Atherleigh Way, Kirkall Lane and Leigh Road/Market Street/King Street by the following means:

(a) The advancement of education, training or retraining, particularly among unemployed people, and providing unemployed people with work experience:
(b) The provision of financial assistance, technical assistance or business advice or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people in cases of financial or other charitable need, through help: (i) in setting up their own business, or
(ii) to existing businesses:
(c) The provision of housing for those who are in conditions of need and the improvement of housing in the public sector or in charitable ownership provided that such power shall not extend to relieving any local authorities or other bodies of a statutory duty to provide or improve housing:
(d) The provision or assistance in the provision of recreational facilities for the public at large or those who by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial; hardship or social and economic circumstances, have need of such facilities;
(e) The promotion of public safety and the prevention of crime.

Activities

The charity undertakes a wide variety of activities in order to achieve its objectives. Primarily these include:

Developing community facilities
Promoting community spirit by way of the big Lunch events and activities, summer arts projects, and residents’ fund bids;
Improving crime and community safety including a ‘Be Seen, Be safe’ campaign and ‘Stop and Lock’ community safety campaign run in partnership with Greater Manchester police; and
Providing education, employment and training assistance through an apprenticeship scheme.

Public benefit

The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. As described briefly earlier, Trustees have delivered a range of events and activities which deliver a public benefit for the specific area of Leigh where the charity operates. These have included:

the establishment of a community allotment on public land on Railway Road. This is a space where herbs, vegetables and fruit are grown for public consumption by Trustees with the help and support of local resident volunteer.
the continued development of a community garden on Gordon Street. This is a green community space which provides a haven for local residents. The garden is managed a Trustee and her husband and is supported by local children who have formed themselves into a 'Gardening Gang'.
Financial support for primary age children to attend the Sacred Heart Summer School - a learning week for local children during the summer holidays designed to minimise the effects of the 'Summer Dip'. Twenty children from the area who wouldn't ordinarily qualify for the scheme are sponsored and enjoy the educational and social benefits of the scheme.
The distribution of funds for local projects which serve to provide improvements to the area, such as the environmental improvements to the Selwyn Street backs or the refurbishment of the KIngsleigh Community Centre.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The charity has continued with the delivery of the 2022 – 2024 Community Plan. This has a focus on physical and mental health for both adults and children.

Active Travel

The Bike Library was wound down when the local authority decided to use the idea to deliver their own bike library for residents across Leigh and the surrounding area. The council bike library is based at Leigh Sports Village and has proved successful.
The charity has held a number of Dr Bike workshops. These provide free bike safety and repair workshops where people of all ages have their bikes repaired and receive safety advice, lights and other safety equipment. These have been held for a number of years now and continue to prove popular.
The charity has worked with local schools to encourage them to deliver the Daily Mile on a half termly basis. This is one of the most joyous of the events that the charity supports, with hundreds of children chattering and laughing as they walk the local pavements.

Housing

The two terraced houses that the charity owns have been to Wigan Council via the Wigan Ethical Lettings Agency. The houses provide affordable accommodation to two local families.

Physical and Mental Health

The maintenance of the community garden has been taken on by a team of local volunteers
Hanging Basket workshops were delivered for residents and for local schools. These gave over 100 children an out of classroom learning experience.
Provided financial support for local schools at Christmas

Young People and Education

Financial support has been provided so that local pupils could attend the Sacred Heart Primary Summer School
Held school holiday art and craft clubs
Provided funding to enable local schools to engage Play Therapist and Sensory Workers.

Partnerships which are strong and productive

The charity has continued to work with a range of statutory and voluntary sector partners, including Princes Trust, the Turnpike Gallery, Gearing Up, Wigan Council, local schools and Atherton & Leigh Foodbank.

External Funding

The charity has continued to explore alternative grant funding for charity projects and events.

Marketing and Publicity

The charity has maintained a permanent web presence through a website
The charity promotes its own events and activities, as well as those of other local organisations, through Facebook and Twitter (X) posts.

FUTURE PLANS

The current two-year Big Local Plan was formally approved in April 2023. Trustees will continue to focus on delivery on the plan, which includes the following priorities:

Housing – continuing working with the Council and others to raise the standard of housing in the area. Our properties in Selwyn Street properties, leased to the Wigan Council via Wigan Ethical Lettings Agency, provides affordable housing for local resident families.
Physical and Mental Health – working with partner organisations, including local schools and Andy’s Man Club, to support the physical and mental health of residents. Delivery of a Mental Health Pilot Project. Ongoing support of local walking groups. Provision of First Aid Courses for local residents.
Young People and Education – to provide support for young people both in formal education settings and as residents including funding for specialist support workers in local primary schools
Active Travel – encouraging local people to walk and cycle more as one part of the mental and physical health wellbeing jigsaw. Engagement with the Local Authority around active travel and the introduction of an Active Travel Neighbourhood
Partnerships which are strong and productive – working with the many partners that the project has now to support local residents, to improve relations and to make the area a better place to live
External funding – sourcing external grants and sponsorship which will help deliver the project outcomes through the project activities

Trustees are also working on sustainability plans for after the end of Big Local Funding

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Overview

The charity had a surplus, before transfers, on unrestricted funds of £14,026 for the year, as the charity continues to be able to add to its unrestricted funds to ensure that there are funds available to enable it to operate beyond the life of the current funding regime.

Reserves

Because of the nature of the lottery grant funding which the charity receives it doesn't have a formal reserves' policy - because unspent monies at the end of a funding cycle have to be returned. The charity has established a 'Legacy Fund' which contains funds which have been generated. This fund will be used once the lottery grant fund has been exhausted.

Free reserves, unrestricted funds not invested in fixed assets or otherwise designated, stood at £118,640 at the year end.

Going concern

The trustees have no concerns about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern as it continues to enjoy the benefit of the lottery funding and has established the legacy fund.

STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered with the Charity Commission, governed by its foundation model constitution dated April 15 2015, as amended on April 30 2020.

Members of the charity

The only members of the charity are its trustees

Appointment of trustees

The trustees are appointed by resolution of the trustees for a term of four years.

Trustee induction and training

The charity has an established process whereby prospective members are screened and make a formal written application to join. A secret ballot is held and those successful applicants receive an induction pack which includes documents such as the Code of Conduct and Values.

Organisation

The charity meets on a monthly basis and deals with a range of strategic and operational matters at these meetings. It contracts officers to help deliver the Community Plan and to provide professional expertise and advice with regard the management of funds

and the delivery of a Communications and PR strategy. Scrutiny of applications for funding, the accounts and financial management generally is delegated to a Finance Committee, which meets on a monthly basis. All delegated decisions are approved by the full Trustee Board.

Related parties

There are no related party transactions that are required to be disclosed.

Co-operation with other organisations/charities

The charity works closely with other organisations in the area such as the foodbank and local residents’ groups.

TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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).

Charity 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 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 (FRS 102) (second edition – October 2019);
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK 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 presume that the charity will continue in operation.

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 Charities Act 2011. 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.

APPROVAL

Approved by the Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

– trustee

Date:

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended March 31 2024 which are set out on pages 7 to 15.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared financial statements in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has now been withdrawn.

I understand that this has been done in order for financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.

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:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable 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.

Stacy Mason

HGA Accountants & Financial Consultants Ltd t/a Chittenden Horley - Chartered Accountants

Hyde Park House Cartwright Street, Newton Manchester SK14 4EH Date: 29/01/2025

Restricted Funds £ - 49,710 -	Total 2024 £ 80 63,228 1,993	Total 2023 £ 109 124,142 406
49,710	65,301	124,657
74,412	75,977	67,396
74,412	75,977	67,396
(24,702) -	(10,676) -	57,261 -
(24,702) 70,528	(10,676) 375,478	57,261 318,217
45,826	364,802	375,478

The notes on pages 9 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

	Notes	2024	2024	2023	2023
		£	£	£	£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fixed assets	8	200,336	200,336	200,336	200,336
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors	9	-	-	-
Cash at Bank and in Hand		175,644	185	185,165
		175,644	185,165	185,165
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due in one year	10	11,179	10	10,022
NET CURRENT ASSETS		164	164,466	175	175,143
TOTAL NET ASSETS		364	364,802	375	375,479
FUNDS
Unrestricted	11	318,976	318,976	304,950	304,950
Restricted	11	45	45,826	70	70,528
TOTAL FUNDS		364	364,802	375	375,478

The notes on pages 9 to 15 form part of these financial statements

Approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue on: forissueon: 22. | t [a5 Helen - Trustee

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared: under the historic cost convention; in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) effective January 1 2019 (second edition – October 2019); FRS102; and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice.

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102.

The accounts are prepared in £ sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates 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 recognition

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably. The following applies to particular types of income:

Grants, whether of a capital or revenue nature, are recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions have been met and it is probable that the income will be received.

Donations from individuals and other bodies (not being of the nature of a grant) are recognised when receivable.

Deferred income

Income is only deferred and included in creditors when:

The income relates to a future accounting period
A sales invoice has been raised ahead of the work being carried out and there is no contractual entitlement to the income until the work has been done
Not all the terms and conditions of the grant have been met, including the incurring of expenditure and the grant conditions are such that unspent grant must be refunded

Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Costs of raising funds

including those associated with fundraising activities, managing investments and commercial trading by the subsidiary company.

Charitable activities costs of undertaking the work of the charity.

The charity is not registered for VAT and cannot recover any input tax charged. Costs are stated inclusive of VAT were charged.

Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions which assist the work of the charity either by supporting the delivery of charitable activities or by supporting the generation of funds. The basis of allocations is set out in note 5.

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Grants

As part of the Big Local funding the charity makes grants to local residents for any purpose that meets the community plan. As part of the Big Local Funding the charity makes grants to local organisations to improve the environment and community facilities and to relieve hardship and poverty.

Grant commitments are recognised when the grant is awarded.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Individual fixed assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. The charity does not currently have any fixed assets.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due and prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount.

Financial instruments

The charity has only basic financial instruments which are initially recorded at cost, subsequently measured at their settlement value.

Unrestricted	2024 Restricted	Total	Unrestricted	2023 Restricted	Total
£ 80	£ -	£ 80	£ 109	£ -	£ 109
80	-	80	109	-	109
	47,710 - 2,000 -	51,408 220 2,000 9,600	3,114 80 3,136	115,812 - 2,000 -	118,926 80 2,000 3,136
13,518	49,710	63,228	6,330	117,812	124,142
- -	271 4,539	271 4,539	- -	4,500 466	4,500 466
-	4,810	4,810	-	4,966	4,966
21,386 36,954 78 12,749 (69,602)	- - - - 69,602	21,386 36,954 78 12,749 -	25,513 22,807 773 13,337 (59,866)	- - - - 59,866	25,513 22,807 773 13,337 -
1,565	69,602	71,167	2,564	59,866	62,430
1,565	74,412	75,977	2,564	64,832	67,396

Grants awarded

Individuals: As part of the Big Local funding the charity makes grants to local residents for any purpose that meets the community plan. During the year it made three grants ( 2023 - one).

Grants to institutions

As part of the Big Local Funding the charity makes grants to local organisations to improve the environment and community facilities, to relieve hardship and poverty, and fund a play therapist. Grants are analysed as follows:

Community Garden Leigh Central Primary School Jubilee celebrations Leigh St Mary's Primary School Sacred Heart Catholic Church ST John CE Infant School	2024 £ 271 999 - 500 2,700 340 4,810	2023 £ - 500 466 500 2,500 1,000
		4,966

5 SUPPORT & GOVERNANCE COSTS

Support costs Finance services Accountancy Insurance Premises costs Office costs & other costs Total support costs	Governance	2024 Other support Costs Total	2024 Other support Costs Total	Governance	2023 Other support Costs Total	2023 Other support Costs Total
	£ 503 1,200 - - 1,703	£ 9,562 - 436 275 773	£ 10,065 1,200 436 275 773	£ 523 1,194 - - -	£ 9,934 - 657 101 928	£ 10,457 1,194 657 101 928
		11,046	12,749	1,717	11,620	13,337

Costs that can be wholly attributed to either support or governance are allocated directly to those functions, and other costs are allocated either on the basis of the estimation of time spent (staff costs) or consumption of resources (office costs).

NET INCOMING RESOURCES AFTER TRANSFERS This is stated after charging/(crediting): Accountant/Independent examiner's fees Report Accountancy Directors' remuneration & trustees' expenses	2024 £ 600 600 -	2023 £ 600 600 -

7 STAFF INFORMATION

The charity does not have any employees.

The key management personnel comprise the trustees and the freelance project manager.

2024 £ -	land & Buildings £ 200,336 -	Total £ 200,336 -
	200,336	200,336
	- -	- -
	-	-
	200,336	200,336
	200,336	200,336
		2023 £ - -
-		-
7,765 3,414		5,296 4,726
11,179		10,022

11 STATEMENT OF FUNDS

Balance 01/04/2022 £ 300,669	Income £ 6,845	Transfers £ -	Balance 31/03/2023 £ 304,950	Income £ 15,591	Expenditure £ (1,565)	Transfers £ -	Balance 31/03/2024 £ 318,976
300,669	6,845	-	304,950	15,591	(1,565)	-	318,976
16,990 558 - -	115,812 - 2,000 -	- - - -	70,528 - - -	47,710 - - 2,000	(73,965) - - (447)	- - - -	44,273 - - 1,553
17,548	117,812	-	70,528	49,710	(74,412)	-	45,826
318,217	124,657	-	375,478	65,301	(75,977)	-	364,802

11 STATEMENT OF FUNDS (continued)

Transfers

None during the year.

Restricted funds

It is intended that the restricted fund balances will be expended in 2024/24. The Big Local balance is split between projects as follows:

Active Travel Physical & Mental Health Project Running & Delivery Young People & Education	£ 440 8,375 17,616 17,842
	44,273

12 ANALYSIS OF COMPANY NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fund balances at March 31 2024 are represented by:-


Fund balances at March 31 2024 are represented by:- Fixed assets Net current assets Fund balances at March 31 2023 are represented by:- Fixed assets Net current assets	Unrestricted Funds £ 200,336 118,640	Restricted Funds £ - 45,826	Total £ 200,336 164,466
	318,976	45,826	364,802
	200,336 104,615	0 70,528	200,336 175,143
	304,951	70,528	375,479

13 TAXATION

The Company is a registered charity and is entitled to claim annual exemption from UK corporation tax.

14 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

At March 31 2024 the charity had capital commitments (authorised and contracted for) nil (2023 - £0).

15 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no related party transactions that required to be disclosed in this or the previous year.