whitley Whitley Bay Big Local Trut5ee's Report and Unaudlted Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Comp•ny No. CE0104SO Charlty No. 1171818 whitley Whitley Bay Big Local Reference and Administrative Detèlls Trustees Report 2to6 IndependeTri Examiners Report Statement of Financial Activities 8alance Sheet Notes to thè Financial Statement IOto14 whitley Whitley Bay Big Local Relerence and Administrative Details ttley Charity Re$istration Nurnber 1171848 Company Registration Number CE010450 Trustees Jessi¢a eurns Helen Frankenber Mafie.Loulse O'Hanrahan Daniel Crowe Anne Htiherinyon Dèb014h Praz*r Paul Ha￿le H￿IeY 8vxtvn Stèphen Clark Vl¢toria Stamp Shannon Brownin8 Peter Forman ressgned Nov 2024 resigned May 2024 rèslined May 2024 appoinred Sep 2024 •ppo5nted Jan 2025 ppointed Jan 2025 ReÉisteied Offlcè 158 Wh'uey Road Whitley say Tyne and Wear NE26 2LY Independent ExèmSner AIMS Accountants for Business Ila Front Street Monkseawn Tyne ontj Wear NE25 8AN Whitley Bay 818 Local bay Trustee's Report Strucluf•. Gov•rnanc• and Mana8•ment The charity is constitvted as a Charitable Incorporoted Organisation reBislered with the Charity Commlsslan, Reglstered Charity No.1171848. The trustees are responsible for the rnanagement and administralion of the charity. The trustees give their time ffeely and recèive no remuneration or olher financial benefits. The board currently comprises of 8 Irustees. all of whom are local residents and support the organisation to make Whitley Bay an even better place to live, work and visit. Objfftlvesand adi¥ities The objects ol the charlry are: Yo Promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of the community of Whitley Bay and, in particul•r, those inhabitant5 in need of relief fiom financial haidship due to their social andlof econornic circumstances by associating together the said inhabitan15, and the statutory authorities, voluntary Ind other orgJnisations ITr a common effort to improve facilities and service provi5i0D in Ihe interest of social welfare. cornmunity cohesiort and improving conditions and life chances for local residents." The 8Ctivitie$ of the charity are: Whitley 8ay Big Local is a cornmunity-led iniliative to enable all who live or work in Ihe Whitley 8ay are4 to corne tO8ether to improve the comrnunity and rnake ihe town a place to be proud of. The charity was éstablished as a result of the Big Local Programme. whith has supported Whitley Bav 8ig Local since 2012. Whitley 8ay was one of 150 community-led groups ihroughoul England and Wales who were granted £1 million to be spent over Ioyears as part of this programme. 2024 saw thi5 programme corne to an end and Whitley 8•y Bi8 Local CIO is Standing alofie as a legacy organisation, generating income through Irading. grants and donalion5, All of our oulcomes are focused on achieving three core outeomès: Reducing lonelinesslisolation Supporting people who are financialty di53dvantaEed Takin8 action locally lo address global dimale concerns whitley Whltley Bay 818 Local Trustee's Report Achlevementsand performance forthe year ended 315t March 2025 12 years ago, the iowrt cenlre area of Whitley Bay was chosen as one of 19) areas to deliver a Big Local projert. What followed wa5 2 ye?r5 of planning and 10 year5 cf deliveryfft With a planned finish in sumrner 2024. As planned. the lasl of our Big Local funding wasspent and we officially closed out of the programme in Jufy 2024. All big loc81 areas were required to develop a legacy, For some. the end of funding will mean the end of their projert, with their legacy being the improved places and Infrastructure made possible by the gr8nt. Others. like Whitley Bay &-8 Local, have chosen to continue. Wè've been planning for lile after Local for several years and have dÈveloped a financially robust Charity thal has a good chan￿ of lonB.terffl 5ucce5s. Key to Ihe charity's sustainability has been Ihe Pufchase of our cornmunlty bulldlng In 2021 and the major refurbishment projètts in 2023 to develop the building into a sustainable cornmunity hub from which we can develop ano ¢Jeliver new projetts. After 12 year5 Wlth the security of 818 Local fundin8, we are now planning lo use our sustainable base as a platform for growth, Given the 5i8nificant omovnt of change in the last 12 months, 2025 was always intÈnded to be a year of consolidation and developing the basis for lon8-term sustainabilily. Wilh that in mind. we wer¢ incredibly fortunate to be chosen to beneift frorn a £50,1￿0 grant from Postcode Community Trust, which was to be used for any charitable purpose and was réceived in March 2024. This gave us a huge boost in our first year of operation after the end of the Bll Lotal programme. The grant was used to underpin key care costs and maintain stability ai a time of significant chan8e. Our hub has zone from stren8lh to strength. Footfall has continued to irow. wilh the talÈ a very popular addition to Whitley Bay, in particular for youn8 parer¥ts and older people. As a result of cafe sèles being hiRher than anticipated. we needed to register for VAT, which adds further pressure on our sustainabilily in future years. Towards the end of the year, we welcomed two new organisations as long-term tenants in the building. Depaul is a charity sUPPOrting homele55 young people and Cash Access UK ensures access to local banking facilities for older and vulnèrable peoplo. With the support of Nalional Lotterycommvnity Fund. we wère able to dèvelop a new'helpdesk, and improved community Shop. The new space creates a waim welcome foi visilors to the building, We are able to 5UPPQrt people with basie needs. ensure they've eot something to eat Of acce55 to services. The new reception space ha5 really transformed our ability io meet people's basic needs and is a smart looking space for visitors to Ihe building. Grants from National Loltery Cornmunity Fund and Newcastle Building Society paid for contlnued support of aur community shoplvolunteer co.ordinator. Volunteers play a vital role for Whitley Bay Big Local, with 47 re8ular volunteers each glvlng a minimum of three hovrs pef week. Al Whilley Bay Big Local. you're likely to be Ereeted by a volunteer, served in ihe cafe by a volunteer, see volunteers gardening or lirter picking. but that's not all. We also have volunteer5 behind the scenes, a volunteer book-keeper. volunteer administrators. volunteer se￿10ft leaders and more. We feally wouldn'l be able to continue without the valuable input from volunieers. Whltley Bay Blg Local bay Trnstee's Report For the third coD5ecutive year. we've been trusted by Energy Savins Trust with an Energy Redress funded Project. The grant funds an energy advisor to reach the needs ofvulner4ble people around North Tyneside, The project is delivered in comrnunity ¢enires and spaces where people feel at ease and helps to ensure people understand their energy bills and make small changes to reduce their impact cn the world around theffl. whilst continuing to be safem warrn and comfortable in their homes. We were also selected as • charity partner in Northern Power8rid'5 Community DSO Trial. A5 a partner. we receive funding to engage local people and look to Involve ihem in an innovative trial, which ultimately aims to reduce ènd democratise energy eonsumption. This project is just getting started. but it'5 8ieat to be trusted to deliver a contract with national significance such ès this one. We developed a new initiative, known as Recharge. whtch encourages men to volunteer as electrical repair volunteers under the watchful eyé of a qualified elèclrical engineer. We successfully applied to Newcastle University to devel¢p a pilot project and later received continuation fundin8 from North Tyneside Council Ivia Material Focus). Repair and reuse are central to our forward straie8y as we focus on financially 5UStainable initiatives that can reduce our irnpèct an the world around us. At the ènd of the year we had developed a partnership with o national waste recycling Se￿I(e todevelop a reuse hub fof North Tyneside. With these opportunities in mind, wè needed to review our strategy and develop a new business plan. to ensure we retain focus on Ihe initiatives we've developed. whilsl maximising our potential for luture development. It was therefore very opportune that we were able to secure a grant from SIB group toward5 the development of a new business plan. By the end of March. this was still very much a work in progress. with opportunities Still to be explored that would be fundamenial to a new business plan. The major r4Pital refurbishment project for this year was lo refurblsh the lift. The lift was well pjst its use by date, and although slill operational, was suffering from frequent breakdowns and reliability issues. We were able to raise £24.5CKI towards the c05t of the refuf bishment project from funder5 including Joicey Trust, Catherine Cookson Foundatian. Clothworkers Foundation and 8ernard Sunley. The lift project was completed in February 2025. To conclude, the year saw numerous developments that ultimately combine to make Whitley Bay 818 local an ongolng succes$ Story. We hope thls story eontlnues long inio the future. Future Plan￿2025/26 and bwiond A new business plan will be developed to guide us through the nexi serveral years of development. A slrategy review group has been lormed from existing trustees to guide the development of the plan. To8ether with the CEO. the feview group will esure that all opportunities ore explored to ensure Whitley Bay Bil Local Can conlinue to reach its potential. It is becoming Sr+ereasin8ly apparent that the narne and objects of Whitley Bay Big Local are hindering ils chances Qt Securing grants and contracts to deliver services. We will undertake a reviewof name, objects nd structure to ensufé we can meet future opportunities. whIt￿Y bay Whltley Bay Blg Local Tru5tee'5 Report New strateilc focus Alongside ihe potential change to narne and objects will be an internal reslructure to recognise three di5tinrt operations, those being Whilley Bay Local, Ener8¥ Projecls and Repair/Reuse. Whltlty Bay 818 Loeal: Whitley Bay Local will continue to exist as th¢ operational base of the charity. The base will need to achieve full sllstainability through grants and trading and maximise its potential to r¢)ch and engage people in and around Whitley 8ay. Ener￿ Projects: We will look to successfully deliver our commitments for the Energy Redress Programme and the Northern Powergrid DSO trial. At the same time, we are planning to take advantage of opportunities. suth as developin8 community enerey projects in Whitley Bay. Repalr/Reuse: The successful developmenl of a reuse hub will crcale opportunities for the charity. The shop will operale as a social enterprise. wilh profits being relurned to the charity. Whitley 8ay Bl8 Local will also explore grant opportuniiies to develop reuse. repair and recylcing proiects, ullimately plicing itself as North Tyneslde's rec&8nlsed reoicllnglreuselrepair charity. ReduclnR our energy u￿ge. We will seek opportunilies to improve the efficlency of WhIt￿Y 8ay Big Local. such as the addition of solar batteries and improved insulation. Flnan¢ial review: The year saw total intorne of £378,131 and expenditure of £370.138, realisifig a small surplus of £7,992. Total funds carried forward are £742,446, of which £125.334 can be considered unrestiicled free reserves Ilncludlng dÈslgnated). Trusiees are satisfied wlth the current financlal position and believe Whiiley Boy Bi8 Local has a solid financial underpinning to achieve its objeclives. Reserves pollvi: The purpose of the policy is to maintain unrestricted 'free' reserves at an appropriate level to account for unantidpated losses of income. The policy recornmends that trustees maintain unrestricted reseives of betweèfi 3 - 6 months total expenditure, rneasured against the agreed forècast for the following financial year, At 31 Marth 2Q24 free reservès werè £125,344, equivalent to 4 months. toial expenditure. Trustee5 are satlsfled wlth the current level of reserves and aim to maintain the current positlon. In¥e5tment pollcy: The chjrity has no long-term invèstments. All cash assets are held in a Lloyds instanl •cce$s currenl account, or an intere5t-bearing saving5 account held at Triodos Bank. WhEtley Bay 8lg Local Trustee's Report Statement of trnstee$' respon51bllities.. The charity Iruslees afe responsible for prepaiiDs an annual report and finjncial st4t¢men15 in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdorn Accountin£ Standards Iunited Kingdom Generally Accepted Accountin8 Practicel. The law applicable to charities in England and Walès requires the charity trustees to prepare financlal 5taternents for each year which give a true and falr vlew of ihe state of aff3lfS of the charity and of the incorning resources and application of resources of the charity for Ihal period. In preparin8 the Ilnancial 5tatemenls, the trustees are required to: Select svitable accounting policies ond then apply thern con515tenlly; Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudenL State whether applicable accounting standard5 have been followed. subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.. Prepare the financial stalernent5 on the 8oln8 concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in busines5. The trustees are responsible for keepint proper accounting records which disdose with reasonable accuraw at any time Ihe financial positlon of the Charity and enéblÈ them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Re8ulations 21x18 and the provisions of the trust deed. Thèy are also respofisible lor safeguarding the assets of Ihe ¢h•rity and hence for ta*ing reasonable steps for the preventlon and detection of fraud and other liregularhles. The trustees for the purposes of charity law who served during Ihe year and up to the date of this report are set out on page l. The trustees are fesponsible for Ihe maintenano and inte£fity of the charity and financial information included on the thariiy's website. Approved by the trusteés on and signed on theirbehalfbv Deborah Frazer Chalr Whltley Bay 018 Local Independent Examiner's Report to Ihe TNstees report to the charity trustees on my exarnination of the account5 of the Whitley 8•y Bis Local I'the company") for the year ended 31 March 2025. Responslbllltles and bas1$ of ieport As the charity's irusièes of the Company land also its directors for thè Pufposes of company lawl you are responsible for the preparation of the actounis in accordance wtth the requirernenis of the Companies Ad 20061'the 20C6 ACVI. Havin8 sat15fied myself that the account5 of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2W6 Att and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of rny exarnination of your charitys accounts as carried out under section 145 of Ihe Charities Act 20111'the 2011 Arv). In cirryln8 Out my èxamlhation I have followed the Directions8iven by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. An independent examination does not involve gathefing all the evidence that would be required in an udit and consequently does not cover all the rnatters that an auditor eonsiders in giving their opinion on the atcounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently l express no opinion as to whether the accounts preseni 'true and fairf view and my repon is limited to those specific malters set out in the independent exarnlner's statement. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matter5 have corne lo my altentioTh in conneclion with the examination giving me cause to believe.. l. accountin8 records were not kepl in respecl of Whitley Bay 81g Local a5 required by section 386 of the 20)6 Act.. or 2. The accounts do not aeeord with ihose records- or 3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirernent5 of seclion 396 ofthe 2006 ALtoihef than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view, which is not a matter considered a5 part of an Independent examin&tion- or 4. the account5 have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principle5 oflhe Stalernent of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities lapplicable to charitie5 prÈparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 10211. I have no toneefns and have come across no other malters in connertSon wlth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in ordei lo enable a proper under5t•ndin8 of the accounts lo be reached. 1011012025 Lee Thornson ACA AIMS Accounlonts for Business Date whitley bay Whitley Bay Big Local Statement ol Financlal Activities ft)r the ye•r ended 31 March 2025 Unr¢strkted R•rtrtcl•d Funds Funds Tol•l Tot•1 2024 2025 In¢om¢ and Endowments from onations and Le8a¢ie5 Charitable Artivities Investment Income T4)tal Income 14ot• 7,373 243,763 1.294 252,431 7.373 370.232 1,294 378.899 4,989 393,389 1,240 399,617 126.468 126,468 Expenditure on A8Isin8 Fu•ds Charitable Activites Other Total Expenditure 233.020 137.118 370,138 516.388 233.020 137,118 370,138 516,388 Ntt Income I (Expenditurel 19.410 (10,650) 8,761 1116.771) Reconcilliètion ol Funds io 113,425 20,719 6CQ.310 610.380 134,14S 6CQ.310 743.215 605,648 24S.577 734,454 io Total Funds Carried Fonyard 132.836 Whitley Bay Big Local bay Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025 Nol•s 2025 2024 Flx•d N31•ts 761,488 754,8 CuTr•nl Au•ts Debtors 49,791 104.677 154.468 5.985 149,004 154.989 Cash at 8ank and In H•nd cred￿or$.. •mo￿￿t$ l•lllni dy• wtthln on• y•*r {19,5961 120,6711 N•1 ¢urr•nt •ss•ts I Ill•blllll¢s) 134,872 134,318 Cr•dltors: •mounts f•llln£ du• •ft•r on• y••r 1153,1451 1154.7541 T¢t•l n•1 1sS•ts l (Ii•bllfti•sl 7413,215 734.454 fufidl 01 th• Ch•rlty Rexfleted funds D#S￿gnated funds Unréstricied funds io io io 610.380 2,5C 130.336 743,215 621.029 52,5 60,925 734.454 The finaneial statements on pages I to 14 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on and si8nod on their behalf by Deborah Fraier Trustee whitley Whltley Bay Bl8 Local Notestothe flnanclal statements l. Ac¢ountlng policie$ Statement of compllan¢• The financial statements have been prepared In accordance wlth Accountlng and Reportlne by Charilies: Statement of Recommended Practice lapplicable to charities preparing iheif accounts in 4ccordance with the Financial Reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102}I lissued in October 20191 . {Charities SORP (FRS 1021), the Finanaal Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 1021 and the Companies Act 2CK)6. Basls of preparatlon Whitley Bay Big Local meets the dèfinition of a public benefii entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabililies are initially reco8nised at histQfical cost 0¢ transaction value unlès5 Otherwise staled in the relevant accounting policy noies. Goln8 concern The trustees consider th•1 there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to conlinue as a 8Oin8 concern nor any Significant areas èf uncertainty Ihat affect the carrying v•lue of 8ssets held by the charity. Income and Endowments Oonations & Le acie5 Unreslricted donatlons are recogni2ed upon receipt in the financial 5tateThents ?5 income. If donations are restrirted for spectfic purposes, they are accounted for as restricled funds. Donation5 received in kind, Such as 8ood5 or services, are recorded at iheir fair value. Charitable A ivities Income generated from charitable activities, including but not lirnited to grants received, events, Se￿ICe5 provided, and other activities that furthèr the charivs objectives. is recognized when the evÈnts take place or the services are reftdered. The income is feported 8ross of any expenses unless Ihey are intrin5i¢ to 8eneratin8 that income. Expendlure abl Activities Direct costs incurred in the delivery of charitable activities and services are included here. This includes costs directly associated with Ihe operation of pro8Tèms, projÈeis, and other a¢tiv•ties that further the charl￿S objectives. Deprecl•tlon Freehold Buildin n line with the chariV$ 4CCQUV¥tin8 policy* freehold buildings are not depf eciated. The decision nol to depreciate freehold buildings is based OTr the trustees, jud¢ement that these assets have ndefinite useful lives and, given their nature, they are mointained regularly at a standard that prevents their value from dimlnlshini over time. Any impairrnents in the value of freehold buildin£5 are recognized irnmedl•tely in the statement of flnanci•l activities. io whltW.y ey Whltley Bay Blg Local 14otes to the Ilnan¢lo1 Staten￿rtS l. Ac