Company registration number: 10007655 Charity registration number: 1169347
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as
Our Space
(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Daryl Denson ACMA VAST The Dudson Centre Hope Street Hanley Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST1 5DD
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Contents
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Report | 2 to 10 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 11 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 12 to 13 |
| Balance Sheet | 14 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 15 to 28 |
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Reference and Administrative Details
Trustees
Senior Management / Leadership Team
Hannah Dean, Treasurer Faye Johnson, Secretary Christina Loftus Jane Smith, Head of Charity
The Brook Centre Stanier Street Newcastle under Lyme Staffordshire ST5 2SU
Registered Office ST5 2SU Company Registration Number 10007655 Charity Registration Number 1169347
The charity is incorporated in England. 10007655
Bankers
Independent Examiner
Nat West Newcastle High Street Newcastle- Under-Lyme Staffordshire
Daryl Denson ACMA VAST The Dudson Centre Hope Street Hanley Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST1 5DD
Page 1
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements and auditors' report of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Charity Overview
Our Space (Staffs) Ltd is a charity set up in February 2016 to provide activities and facilities for children and adults with disabilities and their families.
Based at The Brook Centre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, our premises provide the specialist facilities needed in order to be able to deliver a fully-accessible service; our variety of sessions are run by a team of paid staff with support from volunteers.
The 2024-2025 year has seen our service provision continue to grow with a full diary throughout the year and an increase in numbers at all sessions - our adult sessions in particular have become extremely popular with numbers rising by nearly a fifth from the previous year. We have also had a successful year financially - we have achieved self-sustainability for the second year running, generating enough income that we have not needed to rely on grant funding during the year. We are immensely proud of this achievement.
We have had a website redesign during the year which is helping us promote our services and is providing an excellent platform for people wishing to gain further information about our charity. Since its launch, we have received a huge number of enquiries from people being directed to us from the website, so our online visibility has certainly improved.
We continue to work on plans for the full refurbishment of our outdoor area and this remains a main area of focus for the Board and management team. We have full design plans in place, which can be viewed at the Brook Centre, with the quotation for works totaling £350,000. This is an ambitious project but, with much of the existing play equipment reaching the end of its working life, it is essential that we bring our plans to fruition in order that we can continue to offer the best facilities for our members. We currently have £127,500 in our fund for this project and we are applying for grants to raise the balance needed. Our aim is to be able to start work in the next 12 months - if funds have not been fully achieved by this point we will look to split the project into 3 phases in order to afford us the extra time needed to raise the monies required.
The rest of this report goes into more detail about our achievements for the year and our hopes for the future, but in summary we have had a very positive and successful 12 months and we are looking forward to the coming year with hope and enthusiasm.
Objectives and activities
Objects and aims
The purposes of Our Space as set out in our Articles of Association are:
-To promote the benefit of children, young people and adults with a disability (including learning disability, physical disability, sensory impairment, behavioural and emotional difficulties), without distinction of gender, sexual orientation, race or individual financial means, or of political, religious or other opinions by the provision of play, social and educational opportunities.
-To provide opportunities for the families of such children, young people and adults to obtain respite and support.
Public benefit
Our main activities in the 2024-2025 year were the provision of sessions to benefit children, young people and adults with a disability and their families, and fundraising activities to enable us to provide these sessions.
Page 2
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Achievements and performance
Sessions and activities provided
During the course of the year Our Space provided:
(a) Evening Club Sessions
Our Space Juniors takes place every Tuesday evening for children with a disability aged 8 to 12 years.
Our Space Seniors takes place every Thursday evening for young people aged 13 to 18 years.
Our Space Plus+ takes place every Friday evening for young adults aged 18 upwards.
All these club sessions provide members with the opportunity to meet with friends, socialise and take part in recreational activities - for some this is their only social activity and the only opportunity they have to gain independence away from their parents/ carers.
Over the 12-month period, the three sessions offered regular weekly places to 52 children, teenagers and young adults and saw a footfall of 1619 young people.
(b) Adult Drop-In Sessions
Our Space Adult Social takes place weekly on a Wednesday evening. These sessions are for anyone over the age of 16 who has a disability to attend either independently or with a carer. These sessions had a footfall over the 12-month period of 1269 teenagers and adults with a disability and 594 carers.
Our monthly disco, for anyone over the age of 16 who has a disability, runs on the last Saturday of each month. In the 12-month period, disco was attended by 406 teenagers and adults with a disability and 160 carers.
In the last 12 months both our Adult Social and Disco have really grown in popularity, attracting an increase in footfall of teenagers and adults with a disability of 17.5% compared with the previous year.
Page 3
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
(c) Family Sessions
One of our most popular sessions has always been our weekly Saturday afternoon family session which can be attended by any family that has a child with a disability. It is an opportunity for the whole family to attend together; for parents to meet each other, gain mutual support and relax whilst their children, both with and without disabilities, can play in a safe and stimulating environment.
Additional family sessions and family fun days also took place during school holidays and on Sundays, with special activities being provided including drumming, dance, bushcraft and visits from the Animal Man as well as Teddy and Carlos the alpacas! We have also run regular family sessions specifically for children with a disability aged 0-5 years and these have proven to be popular.
The 2024-2025 year has again seen high attendance at family sessions. In the 12-month period, family sessions saw 1513 family visits with 2166 children and young people (1751 with a disability) and 2429 parents/carers benefitting from them. At 31 March 2025 we had 323 individual families who were members of Our Space.
(d) Holiday Playschemes
In the 2024-25 year we ran a short 4-day playscheme during the summer holidays.
Children and young people attended playscheme for either a morning or afternoon session, or stayed for a full day; as well as having access to all the facilities at Our Space, they also had the opportunity to take part in special activities such as music sessions, sports sessions and craft activities.
Over the scheme, 71 places were taken up by children and young people with a disability.
(e) School and Group Visits
During the week, term-time, and at available times at the weekend and during school holidays, special schools and groups are able to make private bookings to make use of the facilities at The Brook Centre.
Over the last 12 months, 397 visits were made by special schools and colleges in the area and by other support groups, as well as by some local adult provisions. In total 2465 children and adults with a disability visited with these groups.
Our diary is currently fully booked for weekday group visits beyond January 2026.
(f) Aiming High Activities
Our Space has continued to be contracted through Action for Children to provide short break activities as part of the Stoke-on-Trent Aiming High programme. From 1st April 2025, we will be delivering Aiming High short breaks but our contract will be directly with Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
In the period we have provided places for disabled children and young people at our holiday family sessions and family fun days, as well as putting on special family fun days exclusively for Aiming High families.
Page 4
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
Fundraising Activities
Our main fundraising event of 2024-2025 was our sponsored climb of Snowdon in North Wales in September. The weather wasn’t kind to us on the day with low cloud cover and gale force winds, but our team successfully reached the summit and safely descended again. The only major drama of the day was Jane’s car getting a flat battery while she was manning base camp! We were delighted to raise £5284 from the event and we thank everyone who contributed to the day.
May saw us hold a charity lunch at Peaches Chinese Restaurant in Newcastle. Susan Chan once again put on a fabulous spread for us and helped us raise £514.
In July we held our ever-popular Sizzling Sounds music and BBQ event. With great entertainment provided by The Minstrels of Mischief and Alan Barrett (thank you to both), we had a brilliant day and raised a total of £970.
During the year we organised Easter and Christmas raffles which raised a total of £1324.
Also in the year we had support from Emily Merchant and Tammie Edwards who ran the Potters ‘Arf for us, raising £1545, from the Cornerstone Singers, raising £178, from InCap UK’s Christmas Jumper Day, raising £383, and from the Newcastle College Memorial Football Match in memory of Meg Newton, raising £102. We thank them all for their support.
Planning has already started for next year’s fundraising, the main event being our 10th Anniversary Ball in March 2026.
Page 5
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
Our Space Staff and Volunteers
Our Space currently employs a team of 13 paid staff:
Jane Smith Head of Charity Jill Spencer Finance & Administration Tim Coggins Centre Assistant John McCafferty Grounds and Cleaning
plus 9 Sessional Playworkers.
Our staff team is our most valuable asset and we take pride in having a team of experienced and professional Playworkers who are key to the successful delivery of all our club sessions and holiday playschemes. Our Playworkers are qualified to a minimum of level 2 or 3 in Playwork and/or Childcare and they also receive training in First Aid, Safeguarding Children and Adults, Manual Handling and Food Hygiene, as well as any other courses which will enhance their working practice. They are the heart and soul of all that we do and we thank them for their hard work, for their dedication, support and friendship.
Volunteers remain an integral part of the successful running of Our Space sessions. The support we gain from our volunteers is invaluable and their dedication and enthusiasm is part of what makes our sessions such a resounding success. We would like to take this opportunity to thank this year’s regular volunteers Kelly, Liz, Lauren, Leoni and Esme, who have volunteered at our club sessions, and also to Dave, Nathan and Stanley who have given hours of their time helping to maintain our grounds and whose support continues to be invaluable. We also had 6 students from Keele Medical School who completed a 21-hour placement with us, volunteering at our club sessions.
In addition to our regular volunteers, this year 9 volunteers helped at our summer holiday playscheme sessions. We are indebted both to the support of our playscheme volunteers and to the staff at the local schools and colleges who assist us in their recruitment.
We have also been fortunate to receive the support of The Hanley Economic Building Society during the year, who have supported us by providing work parties to help maintain our grounds. We are very grateful for all their support, they have put in hours of tireless work, often in not the best weather conditions!
Page 6
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
Trustees and officers
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Trustees: Michael Rogalski, Chair (resigned 24 June 2024) Hannah Dean, Treasurer Faye Johnson, Secretary Christina Loftus
Senior Management / Leadership Team:
Jane Smith, Head of Charity
Financial review
Our financial focus for the 2024-2025 year was again very much on maintaining and improving upon the previous year’s levels of self-generated income. Through careful spending, an increase in income generated from our activities and an improved focus on fundraising events, we reached the end of our financial year with only a tiny amount of grant funding. As a team we are extremely proud of what we have achieved and we are continuing to make great strides towards a positive future.
Our total income for 2024-2025 was £158,107 (2023 - £126,884), with expenditure of £136,344 (2023 - £117,543). At the end of the period, the total net assets are £464,664 (2023 - £442,902), of which £121,804 is restricted funds.
Of the £342,860 of unrestricted funds, £38,209 is held as tangible fixed assets. Of the remaining cash, £80,000 is designated as reserves. Our Space has a policy in place to hold 6-9 months’ running costs in reserves to cover ongoing costs should there be a loss of funding or a reduction of income, to allow the Charity sufficient time to source alternative funding. Based on projected figures for expenditure for the coming financial year, our current level of reserves meets this requirement.
The Directors have also designated £50,000 to a sinking fund for essential premises repairs. The building is over 30 years old and the outdoor equipment 20 years old, so the likelihood of significant repair work being needed increases every year. It is prudent to prepare for the eventuality of major work being required.
At the end of the 2024-2025 financial year, our designated fund for the refurbishment of our outdoor area stands at £127,500. It is taking us longer than hoped to raise the total monies needed for this project, but we are hoping to raise the balance needed to bring our plans to fruition over the next 12 to 18 months.
It has always been our intention to reach a level of self-sustainability such that we do not need to rely in the future on large grant funding to support our day-to-day activities and staffing costs. In order to achieve this we need to have a strong focus on our own income generation, both through the charging for services offered and through fundraising. This financial year has seen us achieve this goal for the second year running, something of which we are very proud. However, we know the coming year will not be as easy – with rising staffing costs and other general costs, we will need to generate higher levels of income to be able to continue to be self-sustaining.
Page 7
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
Funding Sources
- Grant funding- small grants have been received from:
§ Tesco Activities for All - £1000 - funding to support summer holiday activities
§ Toyota Community Fund - £2000 - funding to support the provision of opportunities for disabled children, their siblings and parents to engage in more physical activities.
• Significant financial and other support has been gratefully received throughout the year from:
§ The James Manning Trust § The Food Hub § Ann McCabe Solicitors § Mr I. Hickton § Tracey Joinson § Newcastle-under-Lyme Lions Club § The Cornerstone Singers § Mr and Mrs D. Slack § Red Street Santa Fund § The Knights Templar § Mr S. Knight § Mr J. Stokes § Newcastle College Memorial Football Match for Meg Newton § Emily Merchant & Tammie Edwards § InCap UK § Kerry Dean § Linda Emery § Friends of Durham Grove § HitMix Radio § Knutton Beavers § David Hindley § In memory of F. Colley § Asda Wolstanton § Tesco Trent Vale § Emma Bridgewater § Peak Wildlife Park § West Midlands Safari Park § New Vic Theatre § Peaches Restaurant
Page 8
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
Plans for future periods
Aims and key objectives for future periods
The 2025-2026 year has started strongly. We have a full diary for weekday bookings and we are continuing to receive a large number of enquiries from new families - family sessions have been busy with many, especially the summer holiday family sessions, full to capacity. Numbers have been rising rapidly at our adult sessions and we have had a number of new members start at our evening club sessions.
It is important now that, having successfully achieved two years of self-sustainability, we are able to continue in this vein – it will not be easy, so we must continue to focus on improved levels of in-house fundraising as well as continuing to focus on improving where we can on service delivery. The coming year will see Newcastle Borough Council start to charge us rent for our premises which will add to our expenditure for the year, so we will need to look at ways to bridge this gap.
As we reached the end of the 2024-2025 year, we had just successfully tendered for a contract with Stoke-on-Trent Council to deliver sessions for their new Aiming High Short Breaks programme. We commenced this contract for a first year on 1st April 2025 and we will hopefully be contracted until March 2029.
2025-2026 will see us moving forward with plans to refurbish our outdoor area - this is our number one priority and we hope to bring at least a first phase to fruition within the year.
2026 will be a significant year for Our Space as we reach our 10th anniversary in February. We are extremely proud of our achievements in this time and will be using the year to celebrate our successes with our members, to reflect and to make plans for the future. We will be kickstarting our celebrations with a 10th Anniversary Charity Ball in March, plans for which are already well underway.
We are excited for the year to come, having already entered it with confidence and financial stability. We know there will be challenges ahead, as there always are for charities such as ours, but with a dedicated team and a wealth of local support, we are confident that we will continue to go from strength to strength. Structure, governance and management
Nature of governing document
Our Space (Staffs) Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, which were last amended on 31 May 2016.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
Our Space is governed by a Board of Directors. There are currently 4 Directors, but a maximum of 12 can serve on the Board.
Any family with a child or young person with a disability can apply to Our Space to become members. On becoming a member, they can then nominate Directors for election to the Board at the AGM.
The Board can also appoint a person willing to be a Director and can co-opt individuals to the Board; these appointments would then be ratified by members at the following AGM.
Induction and training of trustees
All Directors receive induction training and receive a handbook of policies and procedures. Training sessions are identified throughout the year that will benefit Directors in the governance of the Charity.
Page 9
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Trustees' Report (incorporating Directors' Report)
Small companies provision statement
This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.
Oct 24, 2025 The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... VALY a Hannah Dean Trustee
Page 10
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Our Space (Staffs) Limited ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of Our Space (Staffs) Limited as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
-
the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
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.
...................................... Daryl Denson ACMA VAST
The Dudson Centre Hope Street Hanley Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST1 5DD
Oct 24, 2025 Date:.............................
Page 11
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (Including Income and Expenditure Account)
| Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 4 Other trading activities 5 Investment income 6 Total Income Expenditure on: Raising funds 7 Charitable activities 8 Total Expenditure Net income/(expenditure) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 17 |
Unrestricted £ 35,077 95,861 10,940 13,229 155,107 (1,383) (101,745) (103,128) 51,979 51,979 290,881 342,860 |
Restricted £ 3,000 - - - 3,000 - (33,216) (33,216) (30,216) (30,216) 152,020 121,804 |
Total 2025 £ 38,077 95,861 10,940 13,229 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 158,107 | |||
| (1,383) (134,961) |
|||
| (136,344) | |||
| 21,763 | |||
| 21,763 442,901 |
|||
| 464,664 |
The notes on pages 15 to 28 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 12
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (Including Income and Expenditure Account)
Comparative Information for the Previous Year
| Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 4 Other trading activities 5 Investment income 6 Total Income Expenditure on: Raising funds 7 Charitable activities 8 Total Expenditure Net income/(expenditure) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 17 |
Unrestricted £ 17,238 88,169 12,654 8,823 126,884 (1,434) (111,207) (112,641) 14,243 14,243 276,638 290,881 |
Restricted £ - - - - - - (4,902) (4,902) (4,902) (4,902) 156,922 152,020 |
Total 2024 £ 17,238 88,169 12,654 8,823 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 126,884 | |||
| (1,434) (116,109) |
|||
| (117,543) | |||
| 9,341 | |||
| 9,341 433,560 |
|||
| 442,901 |
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 17.
The notes on pages 15 to 28 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 13
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
(Registration number: 10007655) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | |||
| Tangible assets | 13 | 66,786 | 72,935 |
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 14 | 11,129 | 7,803 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 15 | 388,875 | 364,980 |
| 400,004 | 372,783 | ||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year | 16 | (2,126) | (2,817) |
| Net current assets | 397,878 | 369,966 | |
| Net assets | 464,664 | 442,901 | |
| Funds of the charity: | |||
| Restricted income funds | |||
| Restricted funds | 121,804 | 152,020 | |
| Unrestricted income funds | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 342,860 | 290,881 | |
| Total funds | 17 | 464,664 | 442,901 |
For the financial year ending 31 March 2025 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors' responsibilities:
-
The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
-
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The financial statements on pages 12 to 28 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on .................... and signed on their behalf by: Oct 24, 2025
......................................... VALY a Hannah Dean Trustee
The notes on pages 15 to 28 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 14
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
1 Charity status
The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.
The address of its registered office is:
The Brook Centre Stanier Street Newcastle under Lyme Staffordshire ST5 2SU
2 Accounting policies
Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
Statement of compliance
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). They also comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011.
Basis of preparation
Our Space (Staffs) Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.
Income and endowments
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 the income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donations and legacies
Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
Donated services provided on a pro-bono basis are included as income with a relevant expense also being recognised in the SOFA at the cost that would have been charged for the service.
Page 15
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Grants receivable
Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.
Investment income
Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
Expenditure
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
Raising funds
These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Charitable activities
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Governance costs
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses.
Taxation
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
Tangible fixed assets
Individual fixed assets costing £75 or more with an expected lifespan of 5 years or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation and amortisation
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
Page 16
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Asset class Depreciation method and rate Office Equipment 20% reducing balance Play Equipment 15% reducing balance Fixed Play Structures 15 years - Straight line Kitchen Equipment 5 years - Straight line Gardening Equipment 20% reducing balance
Trade debtors
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents 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.
Trade creditors
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.
Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Page 17
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Fund structure
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Pensions and other post retirement obligations
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.
Financial instruments
Classification
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.
Recognition and measurement
All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of financial position when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the charity intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the charity transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the charity, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party.
Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.
Page 18
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
3 Income from donations and legacies
| Donations and legacies; Donations Grants, including capital grants; Grants from other charities Donations and legacies; Donations 4 Income from charitable activities Centre activities and playschemes Centre activities and playschemes |
Unrestricted funds General £ 35,077 - 35,077 |
Restricted funds £ - 3,000 3,000 Unrestricted funds General £ 17,238 17,238 Unrestricted funds General £ 95,861 Unrestricted funds General £ 88,169 |
Total 2025 £ 35,077 3,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38,077 | |||
| Total 2024 £ 17,238 |
|||
| 17,238 | |||
| Total 2025 £ 95,861 |
|||
| Total 2024 £ 88,169 |
Centre activities and playschemes Centre activities and playschemes
Page 19
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
5 Income from other trading activities
| Events income; Other events income Events income; Other events income 6 Investment income Interest receivable and similar income; Interest receivable on bank deposits Interest receivable and similar income; Interest receivable on bank deposits |
Unrestricted funds General £ 10,940 10,940 Unrestricted funds General £ 12,654 12,654 Unrestricted funds General £ 13,229 13,229 Unrestricted funds General £ 8,823 8,823 |
Total 2025 £ 10,940 |
|---|---|---|
| 10,940 | ||
| Total 2024 £ 12,654 |
||
| 12,654 | ||
| Total 2025 £ 13,229 |
||
| 13,229 | ||
| Total 2024 £ 8,823 |
||
| 8,823 |
Page 20
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
7 Expenditure on raising funds
a) Costs of trading activities
| Note Fundraising trading costs; Fundraising Note Fundraising trading costs; Fundraising 8 Expenditure on charitable activities The provision of a service for people with disabilities The provision of a service for people with disabilities |
Unrestricted funds General £ 1,383 1,383 Unrestricted funds General £ 1,434 1,434 Activity undertaken directly £ 134,961 Activity undertaken directly £ 116,739 |
Total 2025 £ 1,383 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,383 | ||
| Total 2024 £ 1,434 |
||
| 1,434 | ||
| 2025 £ 134,961 |
||
| 2024 £ 116,739 |
£101,745 (2024 - £111,207) of the above expenditure was attributable to unrestricted funds and £33,216 (2024 - £4,902) to restricted funds.
Page 21
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
9 Analysis of governance and support costs
Governance costs
| Independent examiner fees Examination of the financial statements Other fees paid to examiners Independent examiner fees Examination of the financial statements Other fees paid to examiners |
Unrestricted funds General £ 822 1,550 2,372 Unrestricted funds General £ 804 1,447 2,251 |
Total 2025 £ 822 1,550 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,372 | ||
| Total 2024 £ 804 1,447 |
||
| 2,251 |
10 Trustees remuneration and expenses
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
Page 22
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
11 Staff costs
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
| The aggregate payroll costs were as follows: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs during the year were: Wages and salaries Pension costs |
31 March 2025 £ 101,361 1,074 102,435 |
2024 £ 85,339 1,637 |
| 86,976 |
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year was as follows:
| Playworkers Management and administration |
2025 No 9 4 13 |
2024 No 9 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 |
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.
The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £Nil (2024 - £Nil).
12 Taxation
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
Page 23
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
13 Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1 April 2024 Additions At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 14 Debtors Trade debtors Prepayments 15 Cash and cash equivalents Cash on hand Cash at bank Short-term deposits 16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Trade creditors Accruals |
Furniture and equipment £ 89,398 369 |
Total £ 89,398 369 89,767 16,463 6,518 22,981 66,786 72,935 2024 £ 7,432 371 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89,767 | ||||
| 16,463 6,518 |
||||
| 22,981 | ||||
| 66,786 | ||||
| 72,935 | ||||
| 2025 £ 10,770 359 11,129 2025 £ 70 4,388 384,417 388,875 2025 £ 1,304 822 2,126 |
||||
| 7,803 | ||||
| 2024 £ 21 16,563 348,396 |
||||
| 364,980 | ||||
| 2024 £ 2,013 804 |
||||
| 2,817 |
Page 24
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
17 Funds
| Unrestricted funds General General funds Designated Designated Funds Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds BBC Children in Need Newcastle Rotary Newcastle Lions Barracks Trust NCS Tesco Bags of Help Soft Play Appeal North Stafordshire Hospitals Children's Trust Co-op Community Fund Postcode Local Trust CAF Resilience Fund Bernard Sunley Foundation Tesco Activities for All Toyota Total restricted funds Total funds |
Balance at 1 April 2024 £ 93,381 197,500 290,881 531 1,779 717 1,005 343 1,316 5,876 120,000 2,251 11,855 2,014 4,333 - - 152,020 442,901 |
Incoming resources £ 155,107 - 155,107 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,000 2,000 3,000 158,107 |
Resources expended £ (103,128) - (103,128) (101) (251) (134) (87) (51) (119) (446) (29,156) (187) (948) (403) (333) (1,000) - (33,216) (136,344) |
Transfers £ (60,000) 60,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Balance at 31 March 2025 £ 85,360 257,500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 342,860 | |||||
| 430 1,528 583 918 292 1,197 5,430 90,844 2,064 10,907 1,611 4,000 - 2,000 |
|||||
| 121,804 | |||||
| 464,664 |
Page 25
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Comparative Information for the Previous Year
| Unrestricted funds General General funds Designated Designated Funds Total unrestricted funds Restricted BBC Children in Need Newcastle Rotary Newcastle Lions Barracks Trust NCS Tesco Bags of Help Soft Play Appeal North Stafordshire Hospitals Children's Trust Co-op Community Fund Postcode Local Trust CAF Resilience Fund Bernard Sunley Foundation Total restricted funds Total funds |
Balance at 1 April 2023 £ 79,138 197,500 276,638 656 2,071 882 1,096 403 1,435 6,330 120,000 4,062 12,803 2,517 4,667 156,922 433,560 |
Incoming resources £ 126,884 - 126,884 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 126,884 |
Resources expended £ (112,641) - (112,641) (125) (292) (165) (91) (60) (119) (454) - (1,811) (948) (503) (334) (4,902) (117,543) |
Balance at 31 March 2024 £ 93,381 197,500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 290,881 | ||||
| 531 1,779 717 1,005 343 1,316 5,876 120,000 2,251 11,855 2,014 4,333 |
||||
| 152,020 | ||||
| 442,901 |
Page 26
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:
BBC Children in Need - To pay for a Service Manager and sessional playworkers and the development of our evening and weekend sessions for three years
The Barracks Trust -To replace mats in the soft play area, for christmas party and towards soft play appeal
NCS - A restricted donation to purchase two trikes raised by young peple participating in the National Citizenship Service Programme.
Tesco Bags of Help -For the development of a sensory garden area
North Staffordshire Hospitals Children's Trust - For playworkers salaries
Soft Play Appeal - To fully refurbish the soft play area
Sundry restricted funds were received for the purpose of refurbishing the Brook Centre.
CAF Resilience Fund - emergency funding to help charities survive the impact of COVID 19 & further funding towards office furniture, staff costs
CO-OP Community Fund-to be spent on creating a Sensory Trail.
CAF Resilience Fund funding for office furniture, computers & tablets and staffing costs
Post Code Local Trust to fund the outdoor play area
Bernard Sunley Foundation to fund the soft play area refurbishment
B&Q Foundation to fund the renovation of our sensory garden area
Tesco Activities for All - funding to support summer holiday activities and Toyota Community Fund - funding to support the provision of opportunities for disabled children, their siblings and parents to engage in more physical activities.
Designated Funds
Designated funds are funds set aside to ensure that the Charity has the equivalent of between six and nine months' expenditure available(£80,000) to cover ongoing costs should there be a loss of future funding or a reduction of income to allow the Charity sufficient time to source alternative funding or, in extremis, to be able to close the Charity in an orderly and controlled manner. In addition £50,000 has been designated to ensure that there are sufficient funds held to cover any work required on the buildings and £127,500 has been designated towards the replacement of outdoor equipment
Page 27
Our Space (Staffs) Limited
known as Our Space
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
18 Analysis of net assets between funds
| Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Total net assets |
Unrestricted funds General £ Designated £ 38,209 - 49,276 257,500 (2,126) - 85,359 257,500 |
Restricted funds £ 28,577 93,228 - 121,805 |
Total funds at 31 March 2025 £ 66,786 400,004 (2,126) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 464,664 |
Comparative Information for the Previous Year
| Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Total net assets |
Unrestricted funds General £ Designated £ 41,297 - 54,900 197,500 (2,817) - 93,380 197,500 |
Restricted funds £ 31,638 120,383 - 152,021 |
Total funds at 31 March 2024 £ 72,935 372,783 (2,817) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 442,901 |
19 Related party transactions
There were no related party transactions in the year.
Page 28
2025-10-24
Our Space 25 Final Accounts
Final Audit Report
Created: 2025-10-24 By: VAST Accounts (accounts@vast.org.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAEIryEVq6K3YuEv0qM_x3ICxXjvI1eIwu
"Our Space 25 Final Accounts" History
- Document created by VAST Accounts (accounts@vast.org.uk)
2025-10-24 - 8:14:07 AM GMT- IP address: 82.31.1.14
Document emailed to hannah@ourspacestaffs.co.uk for signature
2025-10-24 - 8:15:53 AM GMT
Email viewed by hannah@ourspacestaffs.co.uk
2025-10-24 - 11:14:55 AM GMT- IP address: 104.47.85.62
-
Signer hannah@ourspacestaffs.co.uk entered name at signing as Hannah Dean 2025-10-24 - 11:25:24 AM GMT- IP address: 95.145.144.142
-
Document e-signed by Hannah Dean (hannah@ourspacestaffs.co.uk)
Signature Date: 2025-10-24 - 11:25:26 AM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 95.145.144.142
Document emailed to Daryl Denson (daryl.denson@vast.org.uk) for signature 2025-10-24 - 11:25:28 AM GMT
Email viewed by Daryl Denson (daryl.denson@vast.org.uk)
2025-10-24 - 11:26:00 AM GMT- IP address: 82.31.1.14
- Document e-signed by Daryl Denson (daryl.denson@vast.org.uk) Signature Date: 2025-10-24 - 11:26:14 AM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 82.31.1.14
Agreement completed.
2025-10-24 - 11:26:14 AM GMT