AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
For the year ended
31 March 2024
Charity Number: 1165418
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1165418
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Financial statement Year ended 31 March 2024
AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON
| Contents Page |
|---|
| Officers and adviser ....................................................................... 3 |
| Report of the trustees ................................................................... 4-8 |
| (Reference and administrative details) |
| Independent examiners report .................................................... 9-10 |
| Statement of financial activities ..................................................... 11 |
| (Incorporating the income and expenditure account) |
| Balance sheet ............................................................................... 12 |
| Notes to the accounts .............................................................. 13-14 |
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AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON
OFFICERS AND ADVISERS
The Board of Trustees Ibrahim Mbaye (Chairman) Yorisola Oladejo (Treasurer) Mary-Jane Stephens (Secretary) Adesola Bankole Cynthia Omoregbe
Registered office Shout Tmo Building, First floor, 54, Klinside Drive Harpurhey MANCHESTER M9 5QP Independent Examiner Mr. Adewale Solomon Odegbesan Gramosol Limited 53 Horse Chestnut Drive Manchester M9 7FU Banker Yorkshire Building Society 36 Cross St Manchester M2 7AQ
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AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON, MANCHETER
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
About Us
Our Charity seeks to support isolated individuals and families through outreach, counselling, advocacy and referrals from several organisations.
We intend to promote youth inclusion whilst understanding diverse culture and promoting volunteering within the community.
We also support the wellbeing of individuals and families while we encourage networking activities, budgeting etc.
In addition, we support depressed and struggling families by providing relevant sign posting information on their respective needs such as immigrations advice referrals, and other personal issues.
We also provide foods items to food banks and support the homeless accordingly.
The Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the chanty for the year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting polices set out on pages 13 and comply with the Charity's Trust deed and applicable law.
These financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (Charities SORP (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011).
The following person served as trustees during the period:
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Ibrahim Mbaye (Chairman)
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Yorisola Oladejo (Treasurer)
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Mary-Jane Stephens (Secretary)
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Adesola Bankole
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Cynthia Omoregbe
Our Objectives
The objects of the charity for the public benefit include;
We are a Charity based in Harpurhey formed in 2011. We work with local agencies and other groups to:
Promote social inclusion for the public benefit in particular but not exclusively of those from Africa living in the UK who are socially excluded on the grounds of their social and economic position, by:
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Developing skills through training and employability.
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Well-being and budgeting information
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Cultural understanding, Networking and Advocacy
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Awareness and advantages on volunteering
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Supporting depressed and struggling families
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Domestic violence victims and isolated individuals
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Outreach, confidence building and Empowerment
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Immigration advice referrals and signposting
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Counselling and Benefit application
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Meditation Classes and group sessions
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Food Bank Assistance to support those without recourse to public fund, low income and destitute.
Our aims are to be achieved by:
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Sustaining our volunteering scheme to enhance the service delivered to clients, whilst providing opportunities for apprenticeship and further training that might lead to employment.
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Empowering disadvantaged people, people living with multiple deprivation, refugees and asylum seekers by getting them involved in activities, events, meetings, and other matters affecting communities they live in.
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Developing a fundraising strategy to enable us to maintain sustainability of the organization.
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Developing our wellbeing project, as well as partnership work with healthcare providers, to look at childhood obesity within the community by ensuring fitness (e.g., participation in enjoyable physical activities).
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Developing disadvantaged/excluded young people's socio-cultural and educational backgrounds through the establishment of a platform providing intensive support, supplementary school, and arts activities to break the cycle of social exclusion.
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Providing a drop-in center for clients, where they can easily access guidance, support and advice, activities, educational training, language services and work club.
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Developing a wider network and increasing partnership working with statutory and non-statutory services across Greater Manchester.
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON is a charity with a Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The charity is governed by the Trustees listed on page 2. New Trustees are appointed by the existing board of trustees based on their expertise and involvement in advancing the mission and vision of the charity.
The charity is endowed with diverse skills and businesspeople with some experiences in administrative and accounting that the Board of Trustees and advisers have at their disposal. The Board is accountable to the Charity Commission for the careful use of charitable and other public funds provided in a variety of forms, and for the achievement of appropriate performance standards in service delivery. The Board of Trustees meets at interval to oversee the vision and strategies of the charity.
With the growth of activities of the Charity, an ever-increasing level of expertise is required on a day-to-day basis and an established management team may be in place that can run the affairs of the Charity. The trustees listed on page 2 oversee the day-to-day management matters and are accountable to the public. They are not paid by the charity.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Trustees are satisfied that the information provided in the report and accounts meets the public benefit reporting requirements.
RISK ASSESSMENT
The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces regularly and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the review of controls over key financial systems carried out annually, will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
We have continued to consolidate our structures focusing on the development of informal learning, cultural and wellbeing projects, as well as social cohesion. Capacity building for AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON staff and volunteers has also been advanced.
Our key achievements this year are included below:
Information support
There was a drop-in session on advisory services and forms filling for benefit requirements and employment helps and interview prep for local citizen. This is funded by the restricted fund as highlighted above.
Health and Wellbeing
Support and encourage participants in the importance of various activities and healthy eating. Exercise is very important activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Educational activities
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Provide functional skills such as numeracy, literacy, and basic ICT. ESOL classes are planned and will start as soon as funds to run them are secured.
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Family Support
We run the Collect & Go Foodbank project to support isolated families, young mothers, lowincome individuals, vulnerable adults on benefit sanction, registered destitute in need and marginalised women/men unable to access public fund.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Trustees have prepared the accounting policies for African Voice in Moston (AVIM) in accordance with the requirements of the SORP and of best accounting practice.
Review of the year
The Trustees are pleased to report a period of a positive financial improvement following last year performance. The baseline income has gone up to £57,044 (2023: £24.435). Their respective costs have also gone up to £53,299 (2022: £19,710) end were contained within budget because of strong financial management and excellent cost control.
Surplus/Deficit
The total incoming exceeded the outcoming resources spent in the period by £3,745 and this is being covered by the excess fund of previous year brought forward.
Balance Sheet
The Balance Sheet as of 31st March 2024 was strong ensuring that the charity has the assets required to deliver its commitments to the people in the community.
RESERVES POLICY
The Trustees have adopted a reserves policy which they consider appropriate, to ensure the continuing ability of AVIM meet its objectives and obligations. The policy also seeks to maintain an acceptable ratio between the free reserves and the level of unrestricted cash expenditure. 'Free reserves' are represented by the unrestricted funds less the tangible fixed assets. 'Unrestricted cash expenditure' represents the operating costs for the year less the charge for depreciation. The Charity does not intend to accumulate significant reserves but depends upon the ongoing support of its donors to meet future costs. To be prudent, the charity aims to reserve 3 months operational costs at any one time; this would cover the charity in the event of unforeseen expenditure.
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TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
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 its financial activities for that year together with its assets and liabilities at the end of the year, adequately distinguishing any material, special trust, or other restricted fund of the charity. In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to:
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a) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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b) make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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c) state whether the policies adopted are in accordance with the appropriate SORP on accounting by charities and the Accounting Regulations and with applicable accounting standards subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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d) prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in its activities.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statements of Recommended Practice and the regulations made under section of the Chanties 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 irregularities. The trustees have the power to invest in such Assets as they see fit.
Date: 30 April 2024
Trustee
Name of Trustee: Ibrahim Mbaye
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RELATED PARTIES
A summary of transactions with related parties is set out in note 13 of the financial statements.
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees' report above
Signed on behalf of the charity's Trustees
Signed by
Ibrahim Mbaye (Chair) Date: 30 April 2024
Independent Examiner’s Report
To the members of
AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON, MANCHESTER
I report on the accounts of African Voice in Moston, for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 11 to 15.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
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. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking such explanations from you as trustees concerning any matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
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Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did 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.
Date:30 April 2024
Signed:
Adewale Solomon Odegbesan (FCCA) Gramosol Limited 53 Horse Chestnut Drive Manchester M9 7FU
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AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON
Statement of financial activities (incorporating income & expenditure account) Year ended 31 March 2024
| 31 March | 31 March | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Income | Note | ||
| Income from charitable activities: | |||
| Operation of the charity | 2 | 56,606 | 24,435 |
| Bank Interest | 438 | ||
| Total income | ------------ | ---------- | |
| 57,044 | 24,435 | ||
| Expenditure | |||
| Expenditure on charitable activities: | |||
| Operation of the charity | 3 | 53,299 | 19,710 |
| Total expenditure | ------------ | ---------- | |
| 53,299 | 19,710 | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) and net movement in | |||
| funds for the year | 3,745 |
4,725 | |
| 6,125 |
1,400 | ||
| Total funds carried forward | ------------ | -------- | |
| 9,870 | 6,125 |
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AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON
Balance Sheet as of 31 March 2024,
| £ | £ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March | 31 March | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| Fixed Asset | ||||
| Tangible Asset at Cost | 2,178 | 2,178 | ||
| Current assets | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 5 | 14,329 | 6,793 | |
| Total assets | ------------ | ---------- | ||
| 16,507 | 8,971 | |||
| TOTAL ASSET LESS CURRENT | LIABILITIES | |||
| 16,507 | 8,971 | |||
| Net Assets | ||||
| 16,507 | 8,971 | |||
| AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON | ||||
| Statement of Financial activities | ||||
| African Voice in Moston 23-24 | ||||
| Total | ||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Funds | ||
| Funds | Fund | |||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Incoming resources /Grant | ||||
| received | ||||
| Activities generating of income | ||||
| Unrestricted b/f | 6125 | 6125 | ||
| Tudor | 15,000 | 15,000 | ||
| Gross bank interest | 438 | 438 | ||
| National Lottery Fund | 39,238 | 39,238 | ||
| OMFP (MCC) | 1,650 | 1,650 |
||
| Total Incoming resources | 6,563 | 55,888 | 62,451 |
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Resource expended / Expenditures
| Food Membership | 13,044 | 13,044 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue hire | 2,960 | 2,960 | |
| Administrative Expenses |
3,450 | 3,450 | |
| Salaries and E’Er NI(Seasonal Worker) | 23,667 | 23,187 | |
| Logistics |
200 | 1,560 | 1,760 |
| Printing and stationeries | 171 | 480 | 651 |
| Volunteer Expenses |
343 | 343 | |
| Insurance Expenses | 300 | 300 | |
| Council tax Expenses |
1,700 | 1,700 | |
| Utilities Expenses | 375 | 360 | 735 |
| Furniture | 550 | 550 |
|
| Accountant Fees/Payroll |
700 | 700 | |
| Training cost Entertainment |
600 | 1,240 | 1,240 600 |
| HR Cost /PPE kits | 600 | 600 |
|
| Websites /Publicity |
40 | 40 | |
| Marketing Cost | 360 | 360 |
|
| Total resource expended | 7,879 | 44,821 | 52,700 |
| Net (outgoing /Incoming) resources | 3,745 | ||
| Balance brought forward | 6,125 | ||
| Balance to be carried forward | 9,870 |
Ibrahima Mbaye Chair Trustees
Approved by the board on April 30, 2024
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AFRICAN VOICE IN MOSTON
Notes to the financial statements | Year ended 31 March 2024
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).
African Voice in Moston meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
Going concern basis of accounting
The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
Fund accounting
General reserves are unrestricted funds that are available for use at the Trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the objects of the charity.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the SOFA when the charity is legally entitled to the income, is reasonably certain of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. In accordance with the SORP, no value has been attributed to the work performed by volunteers, although their work is considered vital to the activities of the charity.
Donations and gifts
Donations and gifts consist of the total donations from individuals, trusts and corporates, along with income from fundraising events.
Resources expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Costs of generating funds are those incurred in seeking voluntary income and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.
Grants
Grants to the charity are accounted for as soon as charity is notified of its legal entitlement and the amount due. Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accrual’s basis.
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