## Crownway Community Centre CiO
Charity number 1169056
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2025
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2025
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 6|
|Examiner's report|7|
|Receipts and payments account|8|
|Statement of assets and liabilities|9|
|Notes to the accounts|10 to 12|
**Prepared by the Greater Merseyside Community Accountancy Service**
1
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Trustees' report
The Trustees during the year were: **Name**
Mrs June Jones Mrs Helen Marina Fitzgerald Mrs Valerie Singleton Daniel Wakefield Terry Maguire Andrea Aspinall Karl Collier Lynda Garner
**Position** Chairperson Treasurer Secretary
## **Dates**
resigned 17 Sept 24 Resigned 21 May 24 Appointed 24 Mar 24 resigned 23 Sept 24 Appointed 18 Nov 24
## **Method of appointment**
Trustees are elected by the members at the AGM
## **Principal address**
Crownway Community Centre Crown Street Newton-Le-Willows Merseyside WA12 9DA
## **Bankers**
Lloyds TSB Bank plc Hardshaw Street St Helens WA10 1BQ
## **Governing document**
Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Foundation registered 6 September 2016
## **Objects of the organisation**
To further or benefit the residents of Earlestown and Newton-Le-Willows, St Helens, Merseyside and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.
In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power: to establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory authority in the maintanence and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects.
## **Independent examiner**
on behalf of:
## **Greater Merseyside Community Accountancy Service**
Beacon Building College Street St Helens WA10 1TF
2
## Crownway Community Centre CiO Trustees' report continued
**Chairpersons Annual General Meeting Report 2025**
Good evening everyone. As Chair of the Management board I want to update you on the year ending March 2025.
Unfortunately last year we were unsuccessful in our bid to the National Lottery Community Fund for ongoing funding to help with sustainability. Since that time our Centre Coordinator has spent a large proportion of her time looking for other funding to help us sustain the Centre of the year dating 2024/25. Sources of income have included the following
Hemby Trust £1500 (café) Foyles Foundation £7500 (Core Costs) Postcode Neighbourhood fund £25000 (Core Costs & projects) Albert Hunt £5000 (Core Costs) Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance £1055 (men’s group) PH Holt £10,0000 (Salary) St Helens MBC £250 (Garden) Rainford Trust £2000 (Projects) Eleanor Rathbone £3000 (Salary) Big Lottery £5675 & £9591.50 final payments and increases
Making a total of £70,571.50 which helps us to continue the vital work we provide for the local community.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our funders for the much needed funding we have received from them. These funds have helped in the running of the centre and enable us to continue with the various activities we provide for the community.
The Centre currently employs 4 staff and all are important to the running of the centre:
**Philomena** , who is the Centre Coordinator. Philomena has been here for 3 years now and continues to keep the centre running successfully.
The last 12 months have been challenging due to reduced funding streams, however Philomena has been able to successfully find funding stream which has allowed the centre to remain open.
Philomena continues to organise the Bric a Brac table, selling items donated to us and also ‘homemade’ items which our talented upcycling craft group have made. The Bric a Brac provides a regular amount of around £100 per month which helps towards the upkeep of the centre.
**Lydia** is very creative being able to use her talents to run a number of out of school activities for children. Lydia has also taken on a new role of supervising the Café and also continuing to recruit volunteers to come ad help out in the café and centre. Lydia has embraced the role and the Café is providing various items to ‘eat in’ or ‘take home’.
**Gordon** , our caretaker provides an important role, supporting Philomena, ensuring the rooms are ready for our centre users. He gives freely numerous extra hours as a volunteer in the centre which is so much appreciated. He checks the building to ensure the centre is in a good state of repair and is safe for our user groups. He also ensures the outside areas are kept clean and tidy and the centre is welcoming for visitors to the centre.
**Bob** , works every morning making sure the Centre is clean and tidy and ready for he groups who come into and use the centre facilities. He also supports Philomena in the running of the café to help keep us safe and ensure everywhere is a place where our visitors want to come to.
3
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Trustees' report continued
Karen who was the Café Assistant for a number of years retired at the end of December 2024. Karen was a well like part of the team and was a loss to us. Due to funding restrictions it was decided at the time we were not able to recruit a café assistant. Lynda one of our committee members offered to come into the centre once per week to make food items for sale including savoury and sweet pies, cakes, soups and other food items. With Lynda’s help and all our volunteers, the café These items are selling well and help to sustain the café.
**Volunteers** Over the year we had 21 Volunteers who help out in the Cafe. Without volunteers we would not be able to keep going. They give up their time freely and there services are invaluable. I want to take this opportunity to thank them so much for their support.
**Trustees** Our Trustees who are also volunteers and give their time freely, ensure the legal framework is running correctly and deal with any issues that occur within the centre. We currently have 5 trustees on the Management Board. June Jones - Chair, Helen Fitzgerald - Treasurer, Daniel Wakefield - Secretary, Val Singleton and Lynda Garner. We continue to advertise for new Trustees to ensure the Centres future. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their time and support.
## **Current Threats to the business**
We do still have issues beyond our control which have an impact on the centre. The cost of fuel and utilities, staff moving on and finding it hard to recruit volunteers. Our main funders being The National Lottery Community Fund ends this year and we need source alternative funders for salaries. All these issues continue to have an impact on the Centre. Philomena continues try to find ways to make savings and continues to seek funding streams for the centre without which we would be unable to sustain the centre and to carry on with the invaluable work we do for the wider community. A number of funding streams are ending this year and to help us continue the work we do we need to source further funding streams which are always a challenge.
## **Community Centre usage**
Over the last 12 months our footfall attendances have totalled 23249 which is around a 3043 higher than last year. We have various groups using the centre which Philomena monitors and looks to fill any gaps available to ensure our centre runs at capacity which helps with filling gaps to funding.
## **Future**
We will continue to consult with local people and our service users to ensure we address their needs and wants within the Centre, asking them what they would like to see introduced at the centre. This will help us to provide the community with the services that are needed.
At the heart of our delivery, are the Community Centre and its service users along with the local community. We continue to invest in volunteers to offer them training and to help them to use their skills as a stepping stone to any possible progression to paid employment or our retired volunteers who want to ‘give back’ to the community and help with the running of our café and community centre as a whole.
## **Centre Anniversary**
The Centre was opened in October 2005 and is coming up to its 20[th] Anniversary. Over the coming months the Centre is hoping to celebrate our achievements of the past 20 years since we opened.
Finally I would like to thank you all for coming and for your invaluable support for the centre. Thank you everyone.
4
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Trustees' report continued
Crownway Community Centre continues to develop and provide a wide range of community-based activities and services for residents of Earlestown. We have continued to work with external organisations for the benefit of our community. In this year we received our last payment from the big lottery three-year funding, and disappointingly we were unsuccessful we our bid for further funding.
As the chair has stated in her report, I spent a great deal of time seeking funding from other sources. The best news was when the bid to the Postcode neighbourhood fund was successful for £25,000, followed by Foyles Foundation £7,500, Albert Hunt £5,000, PH Holt £10,000 and a total of £7,885 from other funders
## **Activity**
Over the past 12 months the centre recorded 23,249 visits and saw the 970 sessions of activity delivered by external organisations including:
Moo Music Tai Chi Taekwondo Brownies Slimming World Sewing group Language revision Lace making AJ Lewis dance Spanish Baptist Church Bible Studies St Helens Wellbeing Walking Group Head, Health Heart Gentle exercise Councillors’ surgery St Helens CAB Silver Swans Christian Fellowship Women’s AGLOW
Crownway staff and volunteers have delivered the following:
Computers Class with Gordon Ladies Friendship Group Over 60’s social Upcycling Craft group Men’s Social group Digital drop In
In the last twelve months we were pleased to welcome new organisations renting our meeting rooms some were occasional bookings and others have become regulars. Including Gradan Care, Golden smiths, truly Timeless and Always Antiques, and Advanced Solutions these together with our regular room rentals have increased our room rental income significantly.
5
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Trustees' report continued
For the third time we hosted the Newton Flower Show and they have booked again for 2025.
We have worked closely with the Baptist Church and we shared two coach trips out in April and July to Llandudno and Lytham St Annes, this was a nice way for parishioners and centre users to get to know each other and following this we have more parishioners attending community centre activity. In June 2024 Women AGLOW started holding their monthly meetings at the centre instead of St Johns, we leave out information about What’s on at the centre and they love to buy things from the Bric a Brac stall.
## **Volunteers**
As the Chair stated in her report volunteers continue to be the heart and foundation of the centre, this has been even more apparent this year after Karen retired and the café is now staffed by volunteers. Over this year we had 21 volunteers in the café, one volunteer who facilitates the men’s group, one volunteer who facilities the Over 60, s group, one volunteers who supports Gordon with Line dancing, one volunteer who looks after the garden and one volunteer who attends every Thursday to offer Digital drop-in service.
## **Café**
Karen Wainwright who has worked for us since 2019 made the decision to retire in December 2024, she joined not long before Covid lockdown so had to quickly adapt to the changing situation and then help to rebuild the café when lockdown was over.
The café is manned by volunteers, Lydia did a big recruitment drive and we welcomed 8 new volunteers after Christmas, but sadly others left due to illness and returning to work.
The Café remains popular with people who attend the activities that run in the centre. Over the past year we have welcomed new users who have heard about the cafe and the excellent value snacks available.
The café had its annual inspection by Environmental health in May 2024 and retained its fivestar rating. Karen and the volunteers ensured all food hygiene procedures are always adhered to and records are kept up to date weekly.
We have continued to work with Rebuild with Hope running Pop-up sales; we held an Afternoon Tea and a Tea Dance. In October we had a Breast Cancer coffee morning.
## **Philomena Zilinski Centre Coordinator**
6
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Independent examiner's report on the accounts of
## Crownway Community Centre CiO for the year ending 31 March 2025
I report on the accounts of the charity set out on pages 7 to 11
## **Respective responsibilities of the Management Committee and the examiner**
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts using procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission and to state whether 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 Commissioners. 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 explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
q to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and
- q to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 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.
## _Jane Williams_
Jane Williams MAAT
## **Greater Merseyside Community Accountancy Service**
Beacon Building College Street St Helens WA10 1TF
29th September 2025
7
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Receipts and payments account for the year ending 31 March 2025
|Notes
2025
Unrestricted
funds
£
**Receipts**
Receipts from Charitable Activities
(2)
48,486
Voluntary Receipts
(3)
3,947
**Total receipts**
52,433
**Payments**
Salaries & NI
8,974
Payroll costs
255
Training
-
Café Expenses
4,279
Centre Equipment
23
Insurance
-
Utilities
1,779
Telephone
66
Printing, postage and stationery
32
Cleaning & Materials
223
Repairs & Maintenance
1,430
Subscriptions & Fees
-
Resources
394
Independent Examination
225
Volunteer Expenses
23
Bank Charges
41
**Total payments**
17,744
**Net receipts / (payments)**
34,689
**Transfers between Funds**
(62)
**Cash fund balances brought forward**
34,363
**Cash fund balances carried forward**
68,990|2025
Restricted
funds
£
81,535
-
81,535
71,040
510
-
3,278
297
2,090
10,521
2,125
3,063
963
5,322
784
1,202
-
96
295
101,586
(20,051)
62
49,182
29,193|2025
Total
funds
£
130,021
3,947
133,968
80,014
765
-
7,557
320
2,090
12,300
2,191
3,095
1,186
6,752
784
1,596
225
119
336
119,330
14,638
-
83,545
98,183|2024
Total
funds
£
113,668
5,431|
|---|---|---|---|
||||119,099|
||||75,081
971
90
7,451
1,907
2,251
15,991
2,159
3,005
1,282
5,101
277
1,131
225
163
311|
||||117,396|
||||1,703
-
81,842|
||||83,545|
8
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Statement of assets and liabilities
## as at 31 March 2025
|**Cash funds**
Community Centre Account
Deposit Account
Cash in hand
**Total cash funds**
**Assets retained for the organisation's own use**
Fixtures and fittings
Equipment
**Liabilities**
HMRC
Pension contributions
Accountancy|2025
Unrestricted
£
19,156
29,663
181
49,001
£
20,141
14,353
34,494|2025
Restricted
£
-
49,182
-
49,182
£
-
7,280
7,280|2025
Total
£
19,156
78,845
181
98,183
£
20,141
21,633
41,774
£
-
-
-
-|2024
Total
£
30,378
53,020
148|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||83,545|
|||||£
20,141
21,633|
|||||41,774|
|||||£
-
-
-|
|||||-|
## **Approval of the accounts**
The annual report and accounts were approved at a meeting of the Trustees held on 29th September 2025
## _June Jones_
June Jones
on behalf of the Trustees
9
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Notes to the accounts
## for the year ending 31 March 2025
## **1 Accounting Policies**
## **a Basis of accounting**
The Trustees have taken advantage of section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
## **b Taxation**
As a registered charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **c Fund accounting**
Funds held by the charity are either:
## **Unrestricted general funds**
These are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
## **Restricted funds**
These are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
10
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ending 31 March 2025
|**2 Receipts from Charitable Activities**
National Lottery Community Fund
Café Income
Room Hire
VOLA Consortium
Steve Morgan Fdtn
Garfield Weston
Trusthouse
Hemby Charitable Trust
Foyle Foundation
Postcode Neighbourhood Lottery
Albert Hunt
Cancer Research
PH Holt
Eleanor Rathbone
St Helens MBC
Rainford Trust
Donations
**2a**
Balance b/f
£
National Lottery Community Fund
29,078
Arnold Clarke
148
VOLA Consortium
1,683
Steve Morgan Fdtn
1,935
Garfield Weston
6,338
Trusthouse
10,000
Hemby Charitable Trust
-
Foyle Foundation
-
Postcode Neighbourhood Lottery
-
Albert Hunt
-
Cheshire & M'side Cancer Allianc
-
PH Holt
-
Eleanor Rathbone
-
49,182
**Restricted funds summary**|2025
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
14,355
30,327
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
250
2,000
1,554
48,486
Incoming
£
15,267
-
-
13,213
-
-
1,500
7,500
25,000
5,000
1,055
10,000
3,000
81,535|2025
Restricted
funds
£
15,267
-
-
-
13,213
-
-
1,500
7,500
25,000
5,000
1,055
10,000
3,000
-
-
-
81,535
Outgoing
£
26,807
-
1,742
11,378
6,338
10,003
1,501
7,500
24,999
5,000
161
6,157
-
101,586|2025
Total
funds
£
15,267
14,355
30,327
-
13,213
-
-
1,500
7,500
25,000
5,000
1,055
10,000
3,000
250
2,000
1,554
130,021
Transfers
£
-
-
(59)
-
-
(3)
(1)
-
1
-
-
-
-
(62)|2024
Total
funds
40,807
14,076
24,785
2,300
9,438
10,000
10,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,262|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||113,668|
|||||Balance c/f
£
17,538
148
-
3,770
-
-
-
-
-
-
894
3,843
3,000|
|||||29,193|
## **Purpose of restricted funds**
On 11th June 2021 The National Lottery Community Fund awarded a grant of £144,904 over 3 years, which funds our Meeting Community Needs Project. At 31st March 2025 the balance of funds was £0.
The Foyle Foundation have funded our core costs.
Postcode Neighbourhood fund have provided funding towards our core costs and projects.
Ph Holt, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation, Steve Morgan Foundation & Garfield Weston provided funding towards our salary costs.
VOLA Consortium provided funding for Digital Connectivity for Local community facilities.
|**3 Voluntary Receipts**
Office Services & Photocopying
Bank Interest|2025
Unrestricted
funds
£
3,122
825
3,947|2025
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-|2025
Total
funds
£
3,122
825
3,947|2024
Total
funds
£
4,935
496|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||5,431|
11
## Crownway Community Centre CiO
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ending 31 March 2025
|**4 Staff costs and numbers**
Gross salaries
Pension|2025
2024
£
£
80,014
73,984
-
1,098
80,014
75,081|
|---|---|
The average number of employees during the year was 2.2 (2024:2.2)
## **5 Trustee remuneration and expenses**
No trustees received any remuneration or expenses during the accounting period.
## **6 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions during the accounting period
12