Charity registered in England and Wales: 1162019 

## Unaudited Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## **ALBERT GOODMAN LLP** 

Chartered Accountants Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton TA1 2PX 



**DIVERSITY VOICE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

|Contents|Page|
|---|---|
|Reference and administrative information|1|
|Report of the Trustee|2 - 9|
|Independent examiner’s report|10|
|Statement of financial activities|11|
|Balance sheet|12|
|Notes to the financial statements|13 - 20|





**DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Report of the Trustee** 

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

## **Reference and Administrative Information** 

Charity Name Diversity Voice Charity Registration Number 1162019 Registered address Victoria Park Community Centre Victoria Park Drive Bridgwater Somerset TA6 7AS 

## **Trustees** 

Adrian Fawden Chair of Board of Trustees – retired 31 March 2025 Louise Russ Retired 11 September 2023 Sarah Payne Secretary – retired 31 March 2025 Elizabeth Leavy Retired 31 March 2025 Michael Lerry Retired 31 March 2025 Andrew Ballard Appointed 11 September 2023, retired 31 March 2025 The Community Council for Somerset Appointed 31 March 2025 (charity number 1069260) 

## **Key Staff** 

Natalie Dyson CEO (until 31 March 2025) Anita Mosedale Operations Manager (until 31 March 2025) 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Michelle Ferris FCA Albert Goodman LLP Chartered Accountants Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton TA1 2PX 

## **Bankers** 

Barclays Bank Ltd Taunton Branch 

## **Email** 

admin@diversityvoice.org.uk 

## **Website** 

www.diversityvoice.org.uk 

**- 1 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

## **Governing Document** 

Diversity Voice was registered with the Charity Commission on 5[th] June 2015 and is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It has been operating since 1 August 2015. 

## **Mission** 

The objects of Diversity Voice are to promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded or discriminated against, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded or discriminated against and assisting them to integrate into society. 

Socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or part of society, as a result of any of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010 (or any subsequent amendment, re-enactment, consolidation or replacement thereof), including, but not limited to, race, age, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnerships, pregnancy or maternity and caring responsibilities. 

## **Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees** 

Louise Russ retired as a Trustee on 11 September 2023. Andrew Ballard was appointed as a Trustee on 11 September 2023. All other Trustees have served throughout the period, but all resigned on 31 March 2025, when The Community Council for Somerset became the sole trustee following an agreement to merge. 

## **Organisational Structure** 

The Board of Trustees met on a quarterly basis and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. A scheme of delegation is in place and the day to day responsibility for the charitable activities lies with the CEO. 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

In planning our objectives each year we have regard to the Charities Commission general guidance on public benefit. 

This was the Charity’s first full year operating under its new charitable objects and saw a diversification of its traditional funding base in order to mitigate financial risk. 

Our key objective over the course of financial year 2023-2024 was to ensure that we acted proactively to ensure the Charity’s continued financial stability and resilience for the future, empowering the CEO and management team to begin dialogues with potential funding partners, and exploring various strategic options to diversify income streams. 

**- 2 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

This opened the dialogue to explore whether we might be better served transferring our work to a larger charity with similar objectives rather than further diversifying our funding base and charitable objects. 

Over the course of 2024 it became clear that this was likely to be the most beneficial option for the clients we support and the preferred option for our trustees and funders alike. 

## **Achievements and Performance** 

Our performance is measured in part through targets agreed with funders, and against the fulfilment of our wider objectives. 

Despite the ongoing financial challenges faced by Somerset Council Diversity Voice managed to secure further funding to provide community English classes and an English club until August 2024. 

Charis Refugees extended their funding of the Sedgemoor Welcome Hub, and the provision of Ukrainian Interpreters across all Welcome Hubs, to 31 March 2025. Diversity Voice widened its support of people arriving in the UK who are fleeing the trauma of war and oppression through its new Wellbeing Practitioner project. 3 (part time) Wellbeing Practitioners have been funded until 31 July 2025 via a sub-contract from Rethink Mental Illness with the ultimate funding coming from Somerset Council. 

Diversity Voice continued to employ a Community Worker under the Open Mental Health Alliance Underserved Communities project. Working closely with Spark Somerset Diversity Voice acted as subject expert on the additional burdens and barriers faced by EAL people when attempting to access mental health services through the Open Mental Health Service, in line with their mission to ensure that “No door is the wrong door”. 

Several Community workers continued to be employed to support resident EAL communities by providing advice, support, translation and interpretation services to members of those communities and thereby easing access to essential health and other services and improving health and wellbeing within those communities. 

We were successful in being awarded a third tranche of HPC Community Funding, managed via Somerset Community Foundation, to extend our FLASH project for a further 12 months to October 2024. 

Finally, we have been able to secure funding from new sources such as The Hilden Trust (unrestricted to October 2025), Bridgwater Town Council (for the Bridgwater Cultural Festival in June 2024) as well as one off donations from local companies, private individuals and the development of diversification of fundraising through online platforms such as Easyfundraising, Give as you Live and the use of QR codes for donations. 

**- 3 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Delivery** 

The year saw the continuance of the Charity’s traditional services with the ongoing arrival of refugee families from war torn Ukraine to the network of Welcome Hubs across Somerset, which had been established the previous year. 

In addition, hundreds of people have been safely settled in the local community under the Afghan Locally Engaged Staff Ex Gratia scheme, Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme reaffirming the UK’s ongoing commitment to refugee resettlement, which continues to be an important component of the UK’s humanitarian response. 

Whilst early 2024 brought the closure of many asylum hotels in other regions, the Home Office continued to send hundreds of asylum seekers to the Somerset area, who needed help to access local services, learn English and support with their mental health and wellbeing. 

We continued to support Somerset based migrant workers in the NHS, private care sector and working in local factories and farming communities. In particular 2023-2024 saw the continuance of support services to mitigate the impact on local services of both the ongoing the Hinkley Point C construction project, and the announcement of the Gravity project to the north of Bridgwater. Our Community Engagement team helped hundreds of local people, for whom English is their second language, with access to GPs, dentists, advice services, housing, food vouchers, access to dentists, mental health and wellbeing support, CV writing, safeguarding concerns, benefits, employment and schooling. 

Through our work as Board member of the Open Mental Health Alliance (Somerset) Diversity Voice has continued to raise awareness of the disproportionate impacts on health (both mental and physical) and welfare that EAL communities face. Our Underserved Communities project team have strived to ensure that barriers to accessing mental health and wellbeing support for EAL communities were removed. 

Despite continued financial challenges (such as the loss of our key Linkworker contact and the ongoing financial restructuring of Somerset Council), we were able to build our core services such as:- 

- **ESOL classes** for asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers at various levels and locations, to remove barriers to integration and assist people to access services and support. 

- **Community translation and interpreting services** Translation and interpreting services were offered to individuals to ensure they had access to specialist help. Our multilingual team and a register of translators and interpreters delivered this service. 

- **School and early years setting-based support for children and their families for whom English is a second language** Our contract with Somerset Council to provide support for Polish children and families came to an end on 31 August 2023. However, we were able to 

**- 4 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

secure private contracts with primary and secondary schools across the region to continue our vital work to support children and their families who speak English as a second language. This service continued to receive excellent feedback. 

- **Events to promote intercultural understanding and help settle people into the local community** 

   - We organised highly successful events to engage people in understanding other cultures and the issues they face, most notably during Refugee Week 2023, EID celebrations, an extensive programme of cultural cooking events, Magic show for displaced children, debt/money management training; trauma training; craft events and wellbeing walks in nature. We received local press and TV coverage via our collaboration with Somerset Cricket Foundation on the OMAID cricket project for displaced women to enable them to participate in cricket. We also worked alongside various partner organisations to deliver an Open Mental Health roadshow for underserved communities, Mental Health Week programmes in conjunction with partners such as Mind in Somerset, Spark Somerset, SWEDA and support of multi faith communities at the Hinkley Point C construction site. Finally, the end of the financial year saw the commencement of the planning of the inaugural Bridgwater Cultural Festival (with funding from Bridgwater Town Council) alongside several local partner organisations. 

- **Welfare and other advice delivered in home languages** We continued to provide welfare and settlement advice service in a multitude of languages, offering advice and support in collaboration with partners such as Citizens Advice and Navigate, in relation to housing, benefits, domestic violence, employment and health matters. 

- **Working with statutory and voluntary sector partners to share information to prevent exclusion and act as a bridge for those who might otherwise be prevented from accessing support and services** . Acting as a bridge to enable access to others’ services for those who might otherwise be excluded due to their language. We networked widely and improved our social media presence and website to maximise opportunities for information sharing about our own and others’ services. 

The settlement and language Linkworker support we offer in schools and early years settings for Polish children sadly came to an end on 31 August 2023. This much-valued service continued to receive excellent feedback, with over 97% regarding the service as excellent or very good. 

## **Plans For Future Periods** 

The Charity’s more immediate plans are to maintain existing services, whilst diversifying its income base via its commercial translation and interpreting, English classes and school support offering. 

**- 5 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

2023-2024 proved to be a watershed year for Diversity Voice with the period spent consolidating the financial position and assessing the ongoing future of the charity. 

It became clear over the course of the year that, unless the charity was able to substantially diversify its income and be more sustainable, the most beneficial thing to do would be for the organisation to transfer its work to a larger charity with similar charitable objects. Diversity Voice entered into dialogue with a local charitable organisation (the Community Council for Somerset, charity number 1069260 – “CCS”) to explore the possibility of transferring all grants, contracts and staff to that organisation (subject to ongoing due diligence and agreement with relevant funders) by the end of Financial Year 2024-25. 

After extensive discussions and with the approval of all of the trustees on the 1[st] April 2025 the existing trustees of Diversity Voice resigned and Community Council for Somerset became the sole corporate trustee of Diversity Voice with the intention of continuing the valued services provided by Diversity Voice under the umbrella of their organisation. 

## **Funding Needs** 

The funding landscape has become increasingly challenging over the last 12 months, exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis and greater competition for a smaller number of funding pots. 

Whilst additional funding has been secured to replaced loss of the Linkworker and school’s contracts, competition for unrestricted funding has increased drastically. 

We have prioritised key areas for funding in the coming financial year: 

- Diversification of income by setting up a commercial EAL and ESOL offering to local school and the community to ensure DV is as self-sufficient as possible while the trustees and management team explore a potential merger or transfer of DV work 

- Apply for continuation funding from CHARIS Refugees so that we can continue to provide wraparound support to asylum seekers, refugees and Ukrainian guests through our Welcome Hub and supply of Ukrainian interpreters 

- Apply for new funding from Rethink Mental Illness to replace the Underserved Communities project (which comes to an end 31 March 2024) 

- Identify further areas where we can work in partnership/collaboration with other VCSE organisations on funding bids to deliver joined up services. 

- Generate additional core income through the commercialisation of our translation and interpreting service. 

- Applying for more unrestricted funding to cover overheads and ensuring a buffer of 20% overheads is included as standard in all funding bids. 

**- 6 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Financial review** 

The year saw a substantial growth in the charity’s income and expenditure as a result of new funding initiatives and its repositioning from a charity supporting EAL speakers to a charity supporting people with any of the protected characteristics. 

The charity received total income of £406,815 of which £236,058 was unrestricted. This represents an increase of 49% from the previous year. This was matched by a 36% increase in total expenditure, to £368,082, and recognised a total net surplus of £38,733.  This surplus was after taking into consideration expenditure of £17,526 relating to funding received in the previous year and the charity showed a surplus of £12,813 on its unrestricted funding, with the reserves available to the charity at the end of the year being £204,599, £161,153 of which are unrestricted. This was a very good result when set against the backdrop of the loss of core funding. 

## **Principal Funding Sources** 

During the year, the charity received its main income from the following sources: 

- Hinkley Point C Community Impact Fund continuation funding (12 months, ending September 2024): support to mitigate the impact of the development of Hinkley Point 

- Somerset Council (4 years, ending August 2023): support to Polish-speaking children and parents through the provision of interpreting and other services to schools and Children’s Social Care. This funding has now ended. 

- Commercial interpreting and language support services to schools who wanted to continue receiving our services after the Somerset Council funding of the service had ended. 

- Charis (19 months continuation funding ending 31 March 2025) – Contract to provide welcome hubs for asylum seekers, refugees and Ukrainian guests living in Sedgemoor. 

- Charis (19 months ending 31 March 2025) – Contract to provide Ukrainian interpreters to all welcome hubs across Somerset. 

- Somerset Council (ongoing, but only confirmed to 30 September 2024): provision of English language training 

- Open Mental Health Alliance (Lead Partner Rethink - ongoing) – a grant to build capacity within Diversity Voice to be able to contribute to Alliance and Open Mental Health development work. 

- Open Mental Health Alliance (Lead Partner Rethink – ended 31 March 2024) – a grant to employ a community worker to assist EAL individuals to access mental health services. This funding has now ended. 

- Open Mental Health Alliance (Lead Partner Rethink – 24 months ending 31 July 2025) – a grant to employ 3 part-time wellbeing practitioners to provide mental health support to refugees, asylum seekers and Ukrainian guests who have fled from conflict and violence. 

- Open Mental Health Alliance (Lead Partner Rethink – ongoing) – a grant to employ an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Trainer and an EDI Consultant to provide training to all partners in the Open Mental Health Partnership regarding how to implement EDI best practise and to review partners’ EDI policies and procedures to ensure that they follow best practise. This funding 

**- 7 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

also includes the provision of interpreters from Diversity Voice to all Open Mental Health partners to ensure that clients are not prevented from accessing mental health services due to language barriers. 

We generated additional income from our commercial translation and interpreting service and also from donations. 

## **Investment Policy** 

Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year most of the charity’s funds are to be spent on the charitable objects in the short term so there are few funds available for long term investment. 

## **Reserve Policy** 

The Trustees have examined the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation, and its plans for future growth. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds should be approximately equivalent to 3 months core expenditure plus committed future expenditure. 

Trustees are confident that at this level they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding. The charity is currently experiencing a period of growth and the charity’s average 3 monthly ongoing cost of running the organisation has consequently risen to some £90,000. The present level of free reserves available to the charity of £160,194 is therefore comfortably above the target level, but is not currently considered excessive, due to the prospect of not only continued growth but also the potential loss of some funding sources from 31 March 2025. 

## **Trustee responsibility in relation to the financial statements** 

The trustee is responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards including Financial Reporting Standard 102 _The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland_ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustee 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 income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustee is required to: 

•select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

•observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

•make judgments and accounting 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. 

**- 8 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

The trustee is responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which 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 Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed/constitution. 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. 

The trustee is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP FRS 102 – effective 1 January 2019) 

Approved by the corporate Trustee on                           and signed on their behalf by: 

Gary Francis _**On behalf of The Community Council for Somerset**_ 

**- 9 -** 



**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF DIVERSITY VOICE – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

I report to the trustee on my examination of the accounts for Diversity Voice (“the charity”) for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity trustee of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). 

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 Act. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies. 

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 the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 

2. the accounts do not comply with these records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the 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 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. 

………………………….. Michelle Ferris BSc (Hons) FCA DChA Goodwood House For and on behalf of Albert Goodman LLP Blackbrook Park Avenue Chartered Accountants Taunton Somerset Date:………………….. TA1 2PX 

**- 10 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Total Funds<br>2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023<br>UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL<br>Note £ £ £ £ £ £<br>INCOME FROM<br>DONATIONS 2 934 0 934 895 0 895<br>CHARITABLE<br>3 235,124 170,757 405,881 192,712 78,781 271,493<br>ACTIVITIES<br>TOTAL INCOME 236,058 170,757 406,815 193,607 78,781 272,388<br>EXPENDITURE<br>CHARITABLE<br>4 222,558 145,524 368,082 171,436 98,870 270,306<br>ACTIVITIES<br>TOTAL EXPENDITURE 222,558 145,524 368,082 171,436 98,870 270,306<br>NET INCOME /<br>13,500 25,233 38,733 22,171 -20,089 2,082<br>(DEFICIT) FOR YEAR<br>TRANSFERS<br>-687 687 0 -2,048 2,048 0<br>BETWEEN FUNDS<br>NET MOVEMENT IN<br>12,813 25,920 38,733 20,123 -18,041 2,082<br>FUNDS<br>TOTAL FUNDS<br>BROUGHT  148,340 17,526 165,866 128,217 35,567 163,784<br>FORWARD<br>TOTAL FUNDS  11 161,153 43,446 204,599 148,340 17,526 165,866<br>CARRIED FORWARD<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


**- 11 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE BALANCE SHEET – AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1162019** 

|**_________________________________________**<br> <br>**Note**<br>**FIXED ASSETS**<br>Tangible Assets<br>**6**<br>**CURRENT ASSETS**<br>Debtors<br>**7**<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**8**<br><br>**TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS**<br>**CREDITORS: Amounts**<br>**falling due within one year**<br>**9**<br>**NET CURRENT ASSETS**<br>**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**<br>**LIABILITIES**<br>**NET ASSETS**<br>**FUNDS**<br>Restricted Funds<br>Unrestricted Funds<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**<br>**10**|**___________________**<br>**31 March**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**959**<br>72,571<br>146,485<br>**_______**<br>**_**<br>**219,056**<br>**(15,416)**<br>**________**<br> <br>**203,640**<br>**204,599**<br>**204,599**<br>**43,446**<br>**161,153**<br>**204,599**|**_________**<br>**31 March**<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>**2,877**<br>49,368<br>128,990<br>**_______**<br>**178,358**<br>**(15,369)**<br>**________**<br>**162,989**<br>**165,866**<br>**165,866**<br>**17,526**<br>**148,340**<br>**165,866**|
|---|---|---|



The notes on pages 13 to 20 form part of these accounts. 

Approved by the Trustee on                       2025 and signed on their behalf by: 

## Gary Francis 

## _**On behalf of The Community Council for Somerset**_ 

**- 12 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **General information and basis of accounting** 

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP FRS 102), effective 1 January 2019, and the 2011 Charities Act and applicable UK Accounting Standards and the principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. 

The charity meets the definition of public benefit under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy. 

## **Income** 

## _Recognition of income_ 

- These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when: 

- the charity becomes entitled to the resources; 

- the Trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and 

- the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. 

## _Income with related expenditure_ 

Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA. 

## _Grants and Donations_ 

Grants and donations are included in the SoFA once they have been received, or once any conditions to which a grant is subject have been fulfilled. 

## _Volunteer Help_ 

The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts. 

## _Investment Income_ 

This is included in the accounts when received. 

## **Expenditure and Liabilities** 

## _Liability Recognition_ 

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation  committing the charity to pay out resources. 

## **Assets** 

Tangible Fixed Assets for use by the Charity These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £200. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the Charity on receipt 

## **Depreciation** 

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows: 

IT Equipment – 3 years straight line Office Equipment – 4 years straight line 

**- 13 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **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 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. 

## **Creditors** 

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 recognised at their settlement amount. 

## **Irrecoverable VAT** 

All resources expended are classified under activity headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. The charity is not VAT registered and therefore  VAT on expenses is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred. 

## **Fund accounting** 

- Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. 

- Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. 

Amounts received for restricted purposes are treated as separate funds in the financial statements. 

## **Financial Instruments** 

The charity only holds basic financial instruments as defined in FRS 102. The financial assets and financial liabilities of the charity and their measurement basis are as follows: Financial assets – trade and other debtors are basic financial instruments and are debt instruments measured at amortised cost. Prepayments are not financial instruments. 

Cash at bank – is classified as a basic financial instrument and is measured at face value. 

Financial liabilities – trade creditors, accruals and other creditors are financial instruments, and are measured at amortised cost. Taxation and social security are not included in the financial instruments disclosure definition. Deferred income is not deemed to be a financial liability, as the cash settlement has already taken place and there is an obligation to deliver services rather than cash or another financial instrument 

**- 14 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **__________________________________________________________________** 

## **2. VOLUNTARY INCOME** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023<br>UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL<br>£ £ £ £ £ £<br>Donations 934 0 934 895 0 895<br>3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES INCOME<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Welcome Hubs<br>(Charis)<br>Open Mental Health -<br>Wellbeing Practitioners<br>(Rethink)<br>Hinkley Community<br>Fund - FLASH<br>Somerset Council<br>(SCC) Linkworker<br>Project *<br>Other Translation<br>services<br>Ukraine Interpreters<br>(Charis)<br>Open Mental Health -<br>Underserved<br>Communities (Rethink)<br>Open Mental Health -<br>EDI Consultancy<br>(Rethink)<br>Somerset Council -<br>Community English<br>Classes *<br>Open Mental Health<br>Partnership (Rethink)<br>Hilden Trust<br>Carers Project (CCS)<br>Wessex Water<br>NHS Advice Services<br>Asylum Seeker<br>Wellbeing Activities<br>(Spark)|**2024**<br>UNRESTRICTED<br>£<br>86,904<br>0<br>0<br>43,788<br>35,016<br>52,481<br>0<br>0<br>16,935<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0|**2024**<br>RESTRICTED<br>£<br>0<br>50,529<br>45,910<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>29,480<br>19,338<br>0<br>15,300<br>7,000<br>1,200<br>0<br>0<br>2,000|**2024**<br>**TOTAL**<br>£<br>**86,904**<br>**50,529**<br>**45,910**<br>**43,788**<br>**35,016**<br>**52,481**<br>**29,480**<br>**19,338**<br>**16,935**<br>**15,300**<br>**7,000**<br>**1,200**<br>**0**<br>**0**<br>**2,000**<br>**405,881**|**2023**<br>UNRESTRICTED<br>£<br>57,581<br>0<br>0<br>113,715<br>8,192<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>12,224<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>1,000<br>0|**2023**<br>RESTRICTED<br>£<br>0<br>0<br>40,000<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>20,781<br>0<br>0<br>15,000<br>0<br>0<br>3,000<br>0<br>0|**2023**<br>**TOTAL**<br>£<br>**57,581**<br>**0**<br>**40,000**<br>**113,715**<br>**8,192**<br>**0**<br>**20,781**<br>**0**<br>**12,224**<br>**15,000**<br>**0**<br>**0**<br>**3,000**<br>**1,000**<br>**0**|
||**235,124**|**170,757**||**192,712**|**78,781**|**271,493**|



* denotes government grants 

**- 15 -** 



## **DIVERSITY VOICE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

**___________________________________________________________________** 

## **4.   CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023<br>UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL<br>£ £ £ £ £ £<br>Payroll Costs 168,823 119,483 288,306 123,372 92,001 215,373<br>Other Staff Costs 13,369 2,928 16,297 16,402 648 17,050<br>Office Expenses 17,891 9,413 27,304 17,044 4,239 21,283<br>Premises Costs 16,612 3,577 20,189 12,808 1,457 14,265<br>Cultural Events 2,898 1,100 3,998 842 53 895<br>Governance Costs 2,965 9,023 11,988 770 472 1,242<br>Other 0 0 0 198 0 198<br>222,558 145,524 368,082 171,436 98,870 270,306<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Included within governance costs:** 

|**Included within governance costs:**|||
|---|---|---|
|Independent Examiner’s Fee<br>**5. STAFF COSTS**<br>**The aggregate payroll costs were:**|**2024**<br>**£**<br> <br>**1,200**<br>--------------- <br>**1,200** <br>**========== **|**2023**<br>**£**<br>**996**<br>**_---------------_**<br>**996**<br>**==========**|
|Wages and Salaries<br>Social Security Costs<br>Pension Costs<br>Freelance Workers|**2024**<br>**TOTAL**<br>**£**<br>**261,337**<br>**10,708**<br>**5,828**<br>**10,433**<br>**288,306**|**2023**<br>**TOTAL**<br>**£**<br>**189,064**<br>**5,606**<br>**3,824**<br>**16,878**|
|||**215,372**|
||||



**- 16 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

The average number of staff employed during the year was 20 (2023: 15 staff), and no employees received employee benefits of more than £60,000 (2023: none) The Trustee considers the Chief Executive Officer and Operations Manager to be key management of the charity. The total costs to the charity of employee benefits for key management personnel were £64,245 (2023: £48,557) **.** 

No Trustees received any remuneration during the year (2023: none). 

Louise Russ retired from the Board of Trustees in September 2023 and was employed as a Consultant from January 2024. 

There have been no other related party transactions during the year (2023: none). 

## **6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** 

|**6.**|**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Office**|**IT**|**Total**|
|||**Equipment**|**Equipment**||
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|
||**COST**||||
||At 1 April 2023|**813**|**14,998**|**15,811**|
||Additions|**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**--------------------**|**---------------------**|**-------------------**|
||**At 31 March 2024**|**813**|**14,998**|**15,811**|
|||**=============**|**==============**|**============**|
||**DEPRECIATION**||||
||At 1 April 2023|**800**|**12,134**|**12,934**|
||Charge for the year|**13**|**1,905**|**1,918**|
|||**--------------------**|**---------------------**|**-------------------**|
|||**813**|**14,039**|**14,852**|
|||**=============**|**===============**|**============**|
||**NET BOOK VALUE**||||
||**At 31 March 2024**|**-**|**959**|**959**|
|||**=============**|**===============**|**============**|
||At 31 March 2023|**13**|**2,864**|**2,877**|
|||**=============**|**===============**|============|
|**7.**|**DEBTORS**||||
||||**2024**|**2023**|
||||**£**<br>|**£**|
||Prepayments||**2,372**|**3,700**|
||Other debtors||**57,388**|**45,668**|
||Accrued income||**12,811**|**-**|
||||**______**|**______**|
||||**59,488**|**49,368**|
||||=========|**======**|
|**8.**|**CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**||||
||||**2024**|**2023**|
||||**£**|**£**|
||Barclays Current Account||**146,485**|**128,990**|
||||=========|======|



**- 17 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **9. CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year** 

||**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Accruals|**6,397**|**1,200**|
|Deferred Income|**7,840**|**5,175**|
|Other Creditors|**1,179**|**8,994**|
||**______**|**______**|
||**15,416**|**15,369**|
||=========|=========|



£7,840 (2023: £5,175) was received from Somerset Council, but this amount has been deferred at the year end, because Diversity Voice does not become entitled to the funding until the contracted service has been provided. 

## **10. FUNDS** 

|**10.** **FUNDS**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Restricted Funds**<br>Hinkey Point Community Fund<br>Reaches - SCC*<br>Open Mental Health - Wellbeing<br>Practitioners<br>Open Mental Health -<br>Underserved Communities<br>Open Mental Health - EDI<br>Consultancy<br>Open Mental Health -<br>Partnership Board<br>Hilden Trust<br>Carers Project (CCS)<br>Wessex Water<br>**Total Restricted Funds**<br>**Unrestricted Funds**|Movement in Resources<br>**Balance at**<br>**Incoming**<br>**Outgoing **<br>**1 Apr 2023**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>6,923<br>45,910<br>-37,186<br>3,608<br>0<br>-3,624<br>0<br>52,529<br>-39,183<br>0<br>29,377<br>-30,041<br>0<br>19,670<br>-13,038<br>4,120<br>15,071<br>-17,075<br>0<br>7,000<br>-2,495<br>0<br>1,200<br>0<br>2,875<br>0<br>-2,882<br>**17,526**<br>**170,757**<br>**-145,524**<br>148,340<br>236,058<br>-222,558<br>**165,866**<br>**406,815**<br>**-368,082**|||**Transfer**<br>**£**<br>0<br>16<br>0<br>664<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>7|**Balance at**<br>**31 Mar 2024**<br>**£**<br>**15,647**<br>**0**<br>**13,346**<br>**0**<br>**6,632**<br>**2,116**<br>**4,505**<br>**1,200**<br>**0**|
||**17,526**<br>148,340|**170,757**<br>236,058|**-145,524**<br>-222,558|**687**<br>-687|**43,446**<br>**161,153**|
||**165,866**|**406,815**|**-368,082**|0|**204,599**|
|||||||



**- 18 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **10. FUNDS (continued)** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Previous Year Funds Movement in Resources<br>Balance at Incoming Outgoing Transfer Balance at<br>1 Apr 2022 31 Mar 2023<br>£ £ £ £ £<br>Restricted Funds<br>Hinkey Point Community Fund 2,009 40,000 -        35,086 - 6,923<br>Reaches - SCC* 28,797 - -        25,189 - 3,608<br>Open Mental Health -<br>Underserved Communities - 20,781 -        22,829 2,048 -<br>Open Mental Health -<br>Partnership Board 4,761 15,000 -        15,641 - 4,120<br>Wessex water - 3,000 -             125 - 2,875<br>Total Restricted Funds 35,567 78,781 -        98,870 2,048 17,526<br>Unrestricted Funds 128,217 193,607 -      171,436 -       2,048 148,340<br>163,784 272,388 -      270,306 - 165,866<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **HINKLEY POINT COMMUNITY FUND** 

Diversity Voice received restricted funding from the Hinkley Point C Community Fund towards the employment of a community worker to provide EAL (English as an additional language) individuals, families, households and communities with information, advice, help, translation services and language support that they may need. 

## **OPEN MENTAL HEALTH – WELLBEING PRACTITIONERS** 

Diversity Voice received restricted funding from Rethink in order to employ 3 part-time wellbeing practitioners to provide mental health support to refugees, asylum seekers and Ukrainian guests who have fled from conflict and violence. 

## **OPEN MENTAL HEALTH – UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES** 

Diversity Voice received restricted funding from Rethink in order to employ a community worker to assist EAL individuals to access the services they need to improve their mental wellbeing. 

## **OPEN MENTAL HEALTH – EDI CONSULTANCY** 

Diversity Voice received restricted funding from Rethink in order to employ an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Trainer and an EDI Consultant to provide training to all partners in the Open Mental Health Partnership regarding how to implement EDI best practise and to review partners’ EDI policies and procedures to ensure that they follow best practise. This funding also includes the provision of interpreters from Diversity Voice to all Open Mental Health partners to ensure that clients are not prevented from accessing mental health services due to language barriers. 

**- 19 -** 



**DIVERSITY VOICE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **OPEN MENTAL HEALTH – PARTNERSHIP BOARD** 

Diversity Voice received restricted funding from Rethink in order to attend the “Open Mental Health” programme Board meetings and influence the development of services for EAL community members, in order to help ensure that barriers to mental health services are recognised and effectively mitigated. 

## **HILDEN TRUST** 

Diversity Voice received a restricted funding grant of £7,000 from the Hilden Trust towards core salary, running and management costs and venue hire. 

## **COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR SOMERSET** 

Diversity Voice received a grant of £1,200 to fund a pilot project to set up a series of events and a peer support group to support the wellbeing of refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced people who are themselves carers for adults with a mental health condition. 

## **WESSEX WATER** 

Diversity Voice received a grant to provide financial capability support and training to EAL communities 

## **11. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023<br>UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL<br>£ £ £ £ £ £<br>Tangible Assets 959 0 959 1,471 1,407 2,878<br>Net Current Assets 160,194 43,446 203,640 146,869 16,119 162,988<br>Total Funds 161,153 43,446 204,599 148,340 17,526 165,866<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **12. EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE** 

On 31 March 2025, an agreement was signed to enact a merger with The Community Council for Somerset, a charity registered in England and Wales number 1069260. In enacting the merger, The Community Council for Somerset became the sole corporate member and trustee of the charity (as disclosed in the Trustees Report). The charity will continue to operate in the same way as currently, with The Community Council for Somerset controlling the charity with effect from 1 April 2025. 

**- 20 -**