OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← Rotherham Military Community Veterans Centre (Mcvc)

2024-12-31-accounts

Registered Charity No. 1169595

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

CONTENTS

Page
Legal and Administrative Information 3
Trustees’ Report 4 - 8
Independent Examiner’s Report 9
Receipts & Payments Account 10
Statement of Assets & Liabilities 11
Notes to the Accounts 12-15

2

| P a g e

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Principal Office: Army Reserves Centre
McKay VC Barracks
Fitzwilliam Road
Rotherham
S65 1SH
Registered Charity Number: 1169595
Trustees: Carl Andrew Bunting -appointed March 2024
Lt Col John Dawson MBE
Major Adrian Hunt KVRM DL
Superintendent Russell Hughes –resigned January 2024
Tony Clabby
Captain Sam Rodgers
Michael Green
Chair of the Trustees: Major Adrian Hunt KVRM DL
Vice Chair: Lt Col John Dawson M.B.E
Volunteer Treasurer/Bookkeeper: Mark Billups
Principal Bankers: Virgin Money
1 Frederick Street
Rotherham
S65 1SH
Independent Examiner: Angela Hayes
Community Accountant
22 Brocklehurst Avenue
Barnsley
S70 3EE

| P a g e 3

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The Trustees of Rotherham Military Community Veterans Centre (MCVC) present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2024. The charity changed its financial year end during the year and the accounts represent a sixteen-month period, 01 September 2023 to 31 December 2024. The Trustees have prepared the accounts on a Receipts and Payments basis, in accordance with the provisions of the Charities Act 2011 pertaining to smaller charities.

Structure, Governance and Management

Rotherham Military Community Veterans Centre (MCVC) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission and governed by its Association Model Constitution which was adopted on 29 September 2016.

Prior to the incorporation of the CIO, Rotherham Military Community Veterans Centre (MCVC) was an unincorporated association. The CIO acquired the charitable funds and activities of the unincorporated Rotherham MCVC on 11 October 2016.

Membership of the CIO is open to those with previous military service (Regular Reserves), their families and dependents. In addition MCVC membership is open to anyone who is interested in furthering its purposes, and who, by applying for membership, has indicated agreement to become a member and acceptance of the duty of members to act in good faith to further the purposes of the CIO. If the CIO is wound up, the members have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.

The affairs of the CIO are managed by its Board of Trustees who may exercise all powers of the CIO. The Trustees delegate day-to-day management of MCVC to the Executive Chair who has line management responsibilities for the Development Manager and the Executive Committee.

Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are nominated by other trustees and appointed by a resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting. There must be at least three trustees in office, with a maximum of twelve on the Board of Trustees. One third of the charity trustees shall retire from office at the AGM. The charity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or re-appointment. If any trustees were last appointed or reappointed on the same day, those to retire will be determined by lot.

In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the Trustees have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.

The Trustees who served during the period, and to the date of signing of this report, are listed on page 3 of this report.

Charitable Objectives

The objects of the charity, which are stated in the governing document, are:

To relieve the needs of and to promote the good health and wellbeing of ex-service personnel (HM Armed Forces) and their dependants in the Rotherham area, in particular but not exclusively by providing them with comradeship, help and assistance and by offering them a signposting service to expert support providers for their benefit.

| P a g e 4

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Our Mission Statement

MCVC will provide comradeship and a signposting service to expert support providers for exservice personnel and their dependants in the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council area and beyond.

Public Benefit

The trustees have taken due regard of guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in planning the objectives and activities for the year.

The Charity’s Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries are defined as any person who has served in the Regular, Reserve or as an auxiliary in the Royal Navy (incl RM), Merchant Navy, Army, or Royal Air Force. These are direct beneficiaries of the charity. MCVC also recognise, in keeping with our mission statement, the dependants of beneficiaries; spouses, partners and their children.

Related Parties

The trustees consider that there are no related parties to the charity.

Risk Management

The Trustees are responsible for identifying and managing risk. The trustees show due diligence by examining the major risks that the charity faces and put systems into operation so that steps can be taken to reduce these risks.

Activities, Achievements and Performance during the year

Over the last 16 months, the group has again grown with new members attending on a weekly basis. This has included several referrals from statutory organisations and people who learned of us by word of mouth. We have continued with partnership working and capacity building amongst the organisation, this led to us being asked to organise and support Rotherham United in their Remembrance Service for over 8,000 fans.

We have supported several members with complex needs and helped to facilitate appointments and engagement with statutory services including physical and mental health, Probation Service, Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS). Several one-to-one reassurance visits have taken place and one member moved onto a national support programme in Catterick.

We have also started working in partnership with a charity in Barnsley who are developing a suicide prevention camp that encourages people to talk whilst undertaking outdoors activities, followed by a brew and banter around a campfire. We believe this ties in nicely with our GEO/LISA programme, and the Recovery funding that we already possess will help to fund the programme.

We have continued our barge trips, this we find brings people out of their insular world and creates a very calming experience, where people open up with the issues we need to help support them through. Once identification has taken place an informal plan can be put in place with advice from professional members of the Executive group, some who have formal qualifications in this field.

5

| P a g e

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

We have carried out several regular craft sessions including wreath making, pottery, casting aluminium and woodworking, all harnessing people’s creative skills whilst providing peer support and team building relationships. All this work has been supported by grant funding both from conventional funds and private donations.

Over the last sixteen months, we have continued to use day trips as an engagement tool, this has included, Cleethorpes Armed Forces Day, the All Services Parade at Eden camp, visits to a therapy farm as well as a concert with the Band of the Royal Air Force.

During the year, the grant funding has allowed us to expand the team with members of staff with specific skill sets needed to service the ever-growing requests for support, whilst also promoting to a wider audience the support we can provide. This has also given us confidence to update and rebrand the organisation making it appealing to several different generations of veterans, this has been achieved by producing a “corporate image” which now runs through everything from uniforms to a new and updated website and Facebook group. This expansion has also seen us move into a larger office with a more professional look that gives visitors confidence in our ability to deliver for them.

The funding has also allowed us to extend our backroom staff to create a more reactive and professional office environment. Where everything from messaging to invoice allocation and payment is more streamlined and allows for fast cross checking of receipts and posting to our accounts software. The work the team have undertaken has also included implementing all the recommendations of our auditor from last year’s accounts.

The last sixteen months has allowed us time to reflect and re-appraise our policies and procedure. This has led to several changes to enhance transparency and accountability, whilst making sure we get the best possible for every pound we spend, we also try where possible to support local business to make sure the funding we draw down benefits the wider community as well as our veterans.

Future Plans

We have now been allocated a grant from the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) to help us to reach out to more veterans across South Yorkshire, this process was a very intense process of interviews with Directors of the grant funder and showed that the team have now stepped up their game, to the point grant funders now have confidence of our ability to fulfil their aspirations for veterans on a larger scale. This has now facilitated the employment of an outreach worker to engage with third sector organisations who support veterans.

We have now looked extensively at a new database that will allow us to be more proactive with our welfare support for veterans. Over the next twelve months the plan is to populate the system with contact details. This new system will allow us to track veterans’ progress through their independent support plans, whilst keeping relevant data that, with their permission, can be shared with statutory support services without having to constantly repeat themselves.

One of the barriers we have found to engaging veterans from around South Yorkshire is the poor transport networks, this ability to access transport also affects veterans and their family’s ability to access our drop ins, various events and activities. Over the next few months, we plan to look at how services may be accessed from providers like “dial a ride” or “community transport” providers to overcome this barrier.

| P a g e 6

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

In the next few months, as part of our medium-term plan, we will draw together a National Lottery bid that will facilitate the continued expansion of support for our veterans across South Yorkshire. The bid will cover running costs of the office, but more importantly secure the employment of several workers with specific tasking to support the wider aspirations of the Charity, to become the number one charity in South Yorkshire, with the reputation as the “go to organisation” for professional veteran support.

Over the last four years the organisation has attracted interest from several award bodies, these have ranged from High Sheriff’s Awards to two Royal awards, the last being one of HRH Queen Elizabeth II award for Voluntary Service. We have also been considered for and attained the Reserve Forces & Cadet Association’s (RFCA) Employer’s Recognition (ER) Awards at both bronze and most recently silver level. Early in March we submitted our overwhelming evidence, that the charity is operating at such a high level of professionalism that it deserves the gold award. This will make the MCVC the only charity in South Yorkshire to attain the highest award at MOD and Royal level.

Policy on Reserves

The current policy is that the Trustees will maintain as a reserve of unrestricted funds, one month’s salaries cost and three months general running costs. Based on the levels of expenditure in this financial period this equates to approximately £17,500.

At the financial year end, the unrestricted reserves of the charity stand at £26,576 which is above the target amount. The additional reserves are required as a contingency in the event of a gap in funding for staff costs. The Trustees will continue to review the level of reserves required as the charity grows.

Financial Review

In common with other charities of a similar size and nature, MCVC has limited resources and its ongoing operations are currently dependant on funding from grant providers, together with financial support and fundraising from corporate and individual donors.

The financial statements are set out in pages 10 to 15 of this report. During the 16-month reporting period, the charity generated income of £186,440. Total expenditure during the period was £143,738, resulting in a surplus for the year of £42,702.

The total funds of the charity at year-end stand at £73,461. The financial position has improved from the previous financial year and the reserves of the charity, represented by unrestricted funds, have increased from £16,230 to £26,576.

| P a g e 7

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT continued

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Statement of Trustee Responsibility

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the provisions of the governing document.

The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees:

Signed:

Date: 04 April 2025

Major Adrian Hunt KVRM DL, Chair of the Trustees

| P a g e 8

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

I report on the accounts for the period 01 September 2023 to 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 10 to 15.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 explanations from the trustees concerning any such 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Dated: 10 April 2025

Angela Hayes, FMAAT Community Accountant 22 Brocklehurst Avenue, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 3EE

Angela Hayes is licensed and regulated by AAT under licence number 1006755

9

| P a g e

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

01 Sep-23 to 31 Dec-24 01 Sep-23 to 31 Dec-24 01 Sep-23 to 31 Dec-24 01 Sep-22 to 31 Aug-23 01 Sep-22 to 31 Aug-23 01 Sep-22 to 31 Aug-23
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £ £ £
Receipts
Gifts, donations & fundraising 20,417 1,274 21,691 12,773 20 12,793
Grants 2 600 164,149 164,749 - 44,775 44,775
Other income - - - 280 - 280
Total Receipts 21,017 165,423 186,440 13,053 44,795 57,848
Payments
Salaries cost 6 - 69,105 69,105 - 26,672 26,672
Volunteer expenses - 38 38 - 69 69
Travel expenses 593 819 1,412 72 462 534
Staff training 81 1,100 1,181 - 225 225
Uniforms & workwear 400 567 967 429 495 924
Printing, stationery & admin 611 2,061 2,672 841 989 1,830
Telephone & internet 324 1,428 1,752 2,349 279 2,628
Advertising 75 545 620 794 - 794
Insurance - 3,313 3,313 - 3,194 3,194
Room Hire 565 13,470 14,035 460 7,140 7,600
Events, activities & therapies 5,667 30,752 36,419 1,228 26,338 27,566
Website & ICT - 3,399 3,399 326 7,142 7,468
Vehicle expenses 367 41 408 496 259 755
Repairs, maintenance & renewals 373 291 664 86 - 86
Equipment & Furniture 46 381 427 72 2,165 2,237
Membership & subscriptions 156 942 1,098 534 - 534
Professional fees & consultancy 291 1,797 2,088 - 3,995 3,995
Miscellaneous & other expenses 2,910 1,230 4,140 2,231 594 2,825
Total Payments 12,459 131,279 143,738 9,918 80,018 89,936
Surplus/(deficit) 8,558 34,144 42,702 3,135 (35,223) (32,088)
Transfers between funds 7 1,788 (1,788) - 1,414 (1,414) -
Net movement in funds 10,346 32,356 42,702 4,549 (36,637) (32,088)
Total funds brought forward 16,230 14,529 30,759 11,681 51,166 62,847
Total funds carried forward 26,576 46,885 73,461 16,230 14,529 30,759

| P a g e 10

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £
Monetary Assets
Cash in hand 83 732
Bank Current Account 73,378 30,027
Prepaid card - -
Total Monetary Assets
Represented by:		 73,461 30,759
General Unrestricted Fund 26,576 16,230
Restricted Funds 7 46,885 14,529
Total Funds 73,461 30,759
Other Assets and Liabilities
Fixed Assets retained for the charity's own use (est present value)
Converted van 32,000 36,000
Computer Equipment 2,356 1,570
34,356 37,570
Debtors
HMRC liabilities overpayment - -
Prepayment of insurance 873 1,916
Prepayment of rent 5,000 1,000
5,873 2,916
Creditors and other liabilities
Accountancy fee (550) (550)
HMRC Liability (291) (291)
Casting Innovations (440) (800)
Room hire (190) -
(1,471) (1,641)

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Signed:

Date: 04 April 2025

Major Adrian Hunt KVRM DL, Chair of the Trustees

| P a g e 11

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. Accounting policies

Basis of the preparation of the accounts

The financial statements have been prepared on the Receipts & Payments basis, and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the requirements of the Charity Commission.

Receipts & Payments Accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the charity during the financial year. In this context, ‘cash’ includes cash equivalents, for example bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due.

Funds Structure

Unrestricted funds

Represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Unrestricted funds may arise from general donations, fundraising activities, grants of a general nature and fees for service provision.

Restricted funds

Restricted funds are those funds that have been provided to the charity for particular purposes and which may only be spent for the purposes for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of the year is carried forward as a balance on the fund, unless permission is given by the funder to remove the restriction on the balance outstanding.

Restricted funds will arise from grants and donations given to the charity for specific purposes

Income

All incoming resources are recognised when they are receivable and are accounted for gross.

Expenditure

The charity is not registered for VAT and all expenditure is shown inclusive of non-recoverable VAT.

| P a g e 12

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS continued

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

2. Grants received

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
The National Lottery Community Fund
Veterans' Foundation
Voluntary Action Rotherham (Mental Health)
Voluntary Action Rotherham (Shared Spaces)
Voluntary Action Rotherham (Recovery)
Voluntary Action Rotherham (P&EI)
Voluntary Action Rotherham (Health Check Sessions)
Freemasonry & Lieutenancies Partnership
Asda Foundation
James Neil Foundation
Total		 2024
£
9,625
95,374
39,150
5,100
-
5,000
4,000
600
3,500
400
2,000
164,749		 2023
£
27,875
-
-
9,900
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
2,000
44,775

The grant of £600 from Voluntary Action Rotherham, for health check sessions, was unrestricted. All other grant income is restricted funds.

3. Trustees’ remuneration, benefits and expenses

There was no remuneration, expenses or benefits made to trustees during this accounting period. In the previous financial year, out of pocket expenses were paid to one trustee, to the value of £42.

4. Related party transactions

There were no transactions with any person or party closely related to a trustee, during this or the previous financial period.

5. Independent Examiner’s Fee During the period, the cost of the Independent Examination and accountancy services, provided by Angela Hayes, Community Accountant, was £550. (2023: £550).

6. Staff Costs

Salaries cost
Employer NIC
Employment Allowance
Employer pension contribution		 2024
2023
£
£
63,757
23,646
4,501
2,042
(4,501)
(2,042)
5,348
3,026
69,105
26,672

The average number of staff employed during the financial period was 3 (2023: 1).

| P a g e 13

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS continued

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

7. Restricted Funds

Hardship Fund
The Worshipful Company of Weavers
The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF)
NLCF: Hidden Faces
Veterans' Foundation
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Hidden Faces
Freemasonry & Lieutenancies Partnership
James Neil Foundation
Voluntary Action Rotherham: Mental Health Grant
Voluntary Action Rotherham: Recovery
Voluntary Action Rotherham: P&EI
Veterans, Places, Pathway & People (AFCFT)
Armed Forces Day Donations
Asda Foundation
Casting Innovations
TOTAL		 Opening
balance
£
258
2,207
-
1,003
-
1,738
-
-
3,667
-
-
5,656
-
-
-
14,529		 Receipts
£
-
-
95,374
-
39,150
875
3,500
2,000
5,100
5,000
4,000
8,750
274
400
1,000
165,423		 Transfers
Closing
Payments
balance
£
£
£
(50)
-
208
(2,207)
-
-
(79,789)
-
15,585
(461)
(542)
-
(14,841)
-
24,309
(1,367)
(1,246)
-
(3,000)
-
500
(2,000)
-
-
(8,767)
-
-
(3,330)
-
1,670
(661)
-
3,339
(14,406)
-
-
-
-
274
(400)
-
-
-
-
1,000
(131,279)
(1,788)
46,885

| P a g e 14

ROTHERHAM MILITARY COMMUNITY VETERANS CENTRE (MCVC)

NOTES TO ACCOUNTS continued

PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

8. Restricted Funds Summary

| P a g e 15