2024-08-31-accounts

Ji Cambridge Acorn Project ANNUAL REPORT 2023 - 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS Reference and Administrative Details Letters from our Chair and CEO 7-10 Summary Our work with children Our work with adults Street Level Trauma Response System 28 Case Study 29 Priorities for 2024/5 30 How you can get involved Trustees Report 37-38 Independent Examiner's Report 39 Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet 42 Statement of Cash Flows 43-59 Notes to the Financial Statements Ji Cambridge Acorn Project

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY. ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISORS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Trustees E Boggis (appointed 10 October 2024) P Ecclestone (resigned 31 August 2024) N Gibson R Lindsay (appointed 25 Jonuory 2024) F M Nolan CNPugh D Scott (appointed 5 October 2023. resigned 11 October 2024) T D Willioms (appointed 5 October 2023) Company registered number 09187469 Charity registered number 1175019 Registered office Cambridgeshire Music New School Road Histon Cambridge CB24 9LL Independent examiner C P J Dougherty FCA Lakin Rose Limited Chartered Accountants Cambridge House Camboro Business Park Girton Cambridge CB3 OQH Cambridge Acorn Project

A LETTER FROM OUR CHAIR As I reflect on my new role as Chair of Trustees at Cambridge Acorn Project, I feel an immense sense of pride and gratitude. This year marks our tenth anniversary - a signif icant milestone that speaks to the enduring importance of our mission and the deep commitment of our staff. Their dedication, compassion and resilience continue to inspire me every day. This year has also seen a strengthening of our governance. We now have a larger. highly engaged board of trustees who bring energy. insight and responsiveness to their roles. It has been a privilege to work alongside such thoughtful and committed individuals. Looking ahead, one of our key priorities as a board is to support with diversifying our fundraising efforts. Together with f undraising staff, we aim to grow our unreserved funds. ensuring the charity has the f lexibility and sustainability it needs to meet the growing needs of the communities we serve. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this remarkable organisation - staff. trustees including Pippa Ecclestone our previous chair who has now retired. partners. funders. and the families we work with. Here's to the next chapter. Nichole Gibson. Chalr Cambridge Acorn Project

A LETTER FROM OUR CEO August 2024 marked our tenth anniversary (although we legally became a charity in October 2017). Our charitable missions remains "to relieve the suffering of children and families in Cambridgeshire and surrounding localities facing trauma or emotional distress by the provision of a theropeutic model of social work" There are four key words that j ump out. -suffering- "troumo- -therapeutic- ond -social work" capturing our approach to that mission perfectly. Children should not suffer. They should live happy, enriched. joyful, ond fulfilling lives. Unfortunately. we know that this is not always the cose ond the suffering of children is increasing currently - the NHS now estimotes that 1 in 5 children have a -probable NH mental disorder" U,2Q2S). This. then. amounts to around 20/0 of all our children in the UK. There o]re rTiuriy reusuiis why Lhildreri Lur), uiid du, suffer, uiid Co]rTibridge Acorn Project works with a wide range of children, across different projects, to support them when they are in distress. Our work is dedicated to the principle that no child should suffer. and we odapt ond innovate projects to meet and address suffering where we find it. In relation to this, our core work, as it has been since we first begon. is to provide long-term therapy to children and young people who hove suffered trauma. typically as a result of abuse and/or neglect. Back in 2019 we started to develop our 'Moon Project. to offer a new and innovative approoch to support these children in o panoramic way as the consequences of trauma and obuse ripple across the lifecourse ond beyond. The children we support on this project have not only experienced trauma and abuse, they also come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. which leads to a double jeopordy in terms of their experiences. but also in terms of lack of access to some of the tools evidence suggests can help to address. and to overcome, suffering, For exomple, the project suggests parents and caregivers to 'encourage the interests, of their children. Yet, it is not always possible. through no fault of their own. for all families to do this. In the Moon Project, therefore, we take o holistic, panoramic, opproach to supporting these children. offering support around enrichment octivities. education. resources for the home. ond more. in order to help promote recovery from trouma and abuse over the longer term. This leads into another key word. or phrase. from our mission. -sociol work" Our charity was founded on sociol work principles - os described by the Jln rn ti "sociol work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development. social cohesion. Cambridge Acorn Project

ond the empowerment and liberation of people" One of the key implications of this is that suffering cannot be addressed in the therapy room alone as it often has environmental. or ecological. causes and our work is designed and set up to address this as you will see from the panoramic model featured in the summary section of this report. This brings us on to the final term. 'therapeutic', What unites all of our projects. and all of our work. is the suffering of children and young people. What also unites all these is our bedrock. namely a therapeutic approach which. when correctly opplied, can tackle suffering in many of its awful forms. However. a true therapeutic approach is unique and bespoke to an individual person. Some people find nature wolks, for example. therapeutic, for other people it is gaming, or for others, playing competitive sports and there ore naturally different reasons people find each of these things healing and therapeutic because each of us is unique os a person and we all have different personality traits. Cambrldge Acorn Project believes, to our deepest core. thot. whllst any chlld can suffer, none should. Belief in this idea is centrol in the therapeutic process. In the Ideal and the concept of heoling. of ending suffering and tackling distress in oll its forms. No one organisation could ever hope to end the suffering of children alone. it requires a collective effort and a collective belief in the therapeutic ideal, and the human actions behind that ideol empathy. compassion. kindness. understanding. ond personalisation. Central to this is the spread of therapeutic messaging, and a tliei-apeutic appi-oocli. ocross our societies. so tliere is less bloiTie. less judgeiiieiit. less cruelty. less coercion. less molice. A key task over the coming years is to help spread of a kind of therapeutic mycorrhizal network, a constellation of caring individuals and communities who invite compassion and understanding into the lives of children and young people. Children and young people deserve better thon the lives we are currently giving them - Cambridge Acorn Project's core mission, in our own small corner of the world. is to be part of the process of describing. and delivering, what that world may ultimately look like. Thank you to every single child and fomily who we hove had the privilege of supporting over the last decade ond thank you to our stoff. students ond volunteers ond every person. partner. ond funder who has made this possible. Matt Edge. CEO Cambridge Acorn Project

IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2023 - 2024 we provided support to more than 700 children and families this is a 103% increase in the amount of children we supported compared to last year we worked with children in more than 100 schools across Cambridgeshire we supported 11 training placements for therapy and counselling students Combrldge Acorn Project

SUMMARY At Cambridge Acorn Project we envision a world where every child hos everything they need to thrive. In working towards this. we provide support to children and fomilies offected by trauma and finonciol hordship. We listen to whot people tell us they need and we work compassionately with them to provide meaningful therapeutic support. Our Panoromic Model follows the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines for working with children and families following abuse and neglect, and offers different strands of support: Long term theropy Research and odvocacu . Enrichment Panoramic Model Life-admin Safe homes School and education In the community "It Lvas reaLLy heLpfuL because l Learnt Lots of thin9S to help me when being angry or sad or Luhen something is going on at home. And. 'couse I really missed my dad we taLked about it and noLU I'm in touch u)ith him and I think these Isessionsl have heLped me for that. Everythin9 Lvas amazin9 and I'm reaLLy thankfuL" ChiLd Cambridge Acorn Project

Traumo can steal opportunities from children and families. We work to break injustices and inequality stemming from trauma. adverse childhood experiences and financial hardship by promoting emotional recovery for children and families. We work in Cambridge (city). East Cambridgeshire. South Combridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. Many of the neighbourhoods in these districts that we work fall into the 20-300/0 most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK (Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2019). ond Cambridge continues to be the most unequol city in the UK (Centre for Cities. 2018). In addition. this year 59.3% of the children we hove supported have accessed Free School Meals (FSM) and/or Pupil Premium (PP). While FSM and PP are not the only indicators of poverty - many families who do not qualify for FSM still live below the poverty line - this doto highlights the severe economic hardship faced by the children and families we support. A fundamental prlority for Cambridge Acorn Project is to hove a brood understanding of trouma and adverse childhood experiences to ensure thot we can support chlldren ond their families who struggle to access support elsewhere. This year we have supported more than 700 children and fomilies including those who hove experienced domestic homicide. and domestic. sexual. emotional and physical abuse and neglect. As well as this, we have supported children who have experienced single-incident trouma such as house fires. floods or traumatic loss. Many of the fomilies we support have experienced profound intergenerational trauma ond therefore it remains vital that we work within and beyond the therapy room. working to support whole families. to tackle these inequolities. "This service has provided a LifeLine to our children. The difference this hos made also hos a systemic and positive impact on the LuhoLe familf School

During 2023/24. we continued to expand our Street Level Troumo Response System which comprises our rapid-response wellbeing drop-in hubs embedded in local communities in Cambridge. Soham. Huntingdon. and Northstowe. where families can drop-in and access on the day support delivered by qualified therapists. social workers and trained peer support volunteers. We continue to work towards tackling healthcare inequalities by visiting children in whatever school they ore based to ensure equitable access to our support. As evidence of this. we have provided support to children and young people in more than 100 primary and secondary schools and colleges across the county this year. We have also continued to expand our bespoke Panoramic model which utilises flexible funding to put in place long-term. bespoke. needs-led therapeutic support following NICE Guidelines for working with children and fomilies post abuse and neglect. As part of this we hove grown our enrichment and casework provision to meet the needs of more children and families. ' It's really supportive and helpful. KnoLuin9 r can off load any concerns r have and feeL l am Listened to. The advice given has helped me tremendousLf' -Parent at drop-in hub We have also strengthened our links with other local organisations and groups, which has helped us expand our enrichment projects and provide more children with direct access to enrichment opportunities. This year. we lounched our own school ond community projects such os 'Artscaping'. in partnership with Cambridge Curiosity ond Imagination. and 'Conservation and Conversation, in collaboration with Abbey People. Building on our enrichment work. we have also been able to provide a Children and Young People's Social Prescriber. focilitated by NHS East Cambs Integrated Neighbourhood, to work with schools and the primary care network in East Cambs. Finally. we hove reinforced our research focus and service evaluation. including through a collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University examining the use of a block stacking mobile game as a preventative wellbeing intervention. This has been kindly funded by Cambridgeshire County Council. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Integrated Care System and Anglia Ruskin University. 'The reLationship between my child and her therapist was wonderfuL" parent 10 Combridge corn Project

OUR WORK WITH CHILDREN In the academic year 2023 - 2024 we worked with 711 children (including through our research projects and those currently going through our assessment process). This is a 103% increase in the number of children supported, compored to the previous year. Across all of our projects. only 2.8% of children disengaged during their treatment. demonstrating our exceptionally high adherence rates and reinforcing the positive experience we provide for children. Almost half of children (346) were supported through our district level projects providing therapy ond/or panoromic packages of support to children and their families. 99 children were supported through our torgeted abuse recovery project 'The Moon Project, which supports children who hove experienced sexual and/or domestic abuse. 189 children were supported via our enrichment projects (including social prescribing) and o further 75 vio our research projects. 2 children were supported vio our specialist servlces accessing either Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) or casework. "1 got my thoughts and feeLingS Out that I needed to and it heLped me get stronger. Nothing needs improvin9" Child We support children across the county taking our provision to where the children ore based ensuring easy occess to support and tackling healthcare access inequality. The following chart shows which districts in Cambridgeshire the children we support live. Out of County 12.5% South Combs 1.1% 159.2% Combridge City 40.6% were of primary school age Huntingdonshire 15.6% Fenlond 38.30 were of secondary school age Easi Combs 29.2% 11 CambrSdge Acorn Project

"It LUQS good because they didn't jud9e me on anythin9 1 said about my life and stuff ChiLd We continue to aim to reach children who are most in need. as well as children from diverse bockgrounds. identified as female Extant data shows that 24¥0 of children we supported in 2U23 - 2U24 had an ￿dUCation. Health and Lare Plan (EHCP) or a formal diagnosis. 12.5% were on the school Special Educational Needs (SEN) register. 16.2¥0 had suspected but undiognosed Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). 48% identified as male 59.3¥0 of children accessed Free School Meals. similarly 610/0 of children occessed Pupil Premium. Dota for the Moon Project, a specialist project supporting children who have experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse shows that 72.40/0 of children accessed Free School Meals and 77.8% accessed pupil premium. identlfled os transgender, non- binory, or any other idenger identity 16 children supported also had a Child Protection plan, 14 had Child In Need plans (CIN), 94 were accessing Targeted Services (Early Help) 17 children were a Looked After Child (LAC), 6 children had been adopted and 9 were living with extended family under a Special Guardianship Order 12 Cambridge Acorn Project

Iri 2023 - 2024 we supported 87.1 % of Lhildreri with a White buckgrourid (iricludirig children with Roma ethnicity). 2.10/0 of children with a Black. Block British. Caribbean or Africon background. 1.6% of children with an Asian or Asion British background. 8.4% of children with a Mixed or Multiple Ethnicity background and 0.8% of children identifying as other. Our dato shows that we reach children with backgrounds broadly in line with residents of Cambridgeshire as reported in the 2021 Census. However, we continue to have an over representotion of children with Mixed or Multiple Ethnicity backgrounds and an underrepresentation of children from on Asian backgrounds. We continue to explore how we engage with different communities and work to ensure that our staff body represents the communities that we serve. The following bar chart summarises the frequency of referral reasons across the entire child cohort we hove supported this year. The most frequent referrol reasons was mental health and/or physical health difficulties occurring in 68.9Yo of all referrals. Abuse was the second most common reason for referrol occurring in 35.4% of coses. The table to the rlght highlights different types of obuse and how the frequency with which these were cited as a reason for referral into our service with domestlc abuse being the most common. Behavioural difficulties were the third most common referral reason being cited in 28.8¥0 of all cases referred. Abuse % of referrals Domestic 29 Emotlonal 14 Physlcol Neglect Sexual CSE Slngle incident trauma: animol ottock. burglory. house flood/fire. rood troffic occident Slbling difficulty: sibling mentol health. sibling with complex needs Attachment difficulties: disruptive ottochment. ottachment diff iculties Parent difficulties: porent childhood troumo. porent mentol heolth difficulties. parent substonce misuse. parent ill health. porent in prison Family breakdown: obondonment, seporotion/divorce Mental and physicol heolth difficulties: anxiety. emotional regulation difficulties. low confidence. low mood. self harm. relationship difficulties. troumotic medical procedure Environmental difficulties: sociol isolotion/deprivotion. housing. family low difficulties. debt Educationol difficulties: leorning disobility/SEND. school refusal Behavioural difficulties: inoppropriote sexuol behoviour. child to parent violence. substonce misuse, behavioural dif ficulties Bereavement: troumotic bereovement. bereovement Abuse: child sexvol exploitation. domestic abuse. neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse War: war 13

Frequency of referral reasons (percentages) 70 69.8 60 50 40 35.4 30 28.8 20 17.8 10 14

"Really felt Itherapistl went above and beyond with aidin9 a chaLLenging and upsetting Situation. The team u)ere shinin9 Stars, School Referrals continue to be made directly via our website and through our drop-in hubs ensuring eosy access to our support. Schools remain our largest referrer. however. the Local Authority and NHS made 104 referrals highlighting the continuing lack of support for children who have experienced complex trauma within statutory and commissioned services. In the Moon Project (supporting children who have experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse) referrals from the Local Authority and N HS account for more than 40% of all referrals). 500 488 400 300 200 100 12 14 69 92 "MY counsellor was very respectfuL, not treating me differentlyllookin9 down on me because of my situation, and I feLt very comfortable speaking UP about concerng...I really enjoyed it, and it Loag the most relaxing and comfortabLe part of my Lueek. It was very emotionaL partin9 U)ClYS.' ChiLd 15 Combrldge Acorn Project

UNDERSTANDING OUR IMPACT WITH CHILDREN To better understand the impact of our services and to enhance them in a way that is client-led and meaningful. we utilise a variety of evaluation tools. These include feedback forms from clients and fomilies. qualitotive reseorch. and standordised ossessments like the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) and the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW). In thls impoct report, we present a snapshot of the feedbock collected this year. focusing on our family and school survey. as well as the evaluation of a long-term service. 'The Moon Project., ond a new initiative. 'Social Prescribing for Children and Young People., "Just fantastic, highly recommend" Parent (family survey) 94% of responding families said it was certainly true that our services were good. 6% said this was partly true (family survey) 90.0¥o of responding schools said it was certainly true that our services were good. 9.1 % said this was partly true (school survey) 16 Cambridge corn Project

96.1 % of responding schools said that we had helped students with their mental health (school survey) 78.8% of responding schools said that our services helped children increase their attendance and 90.9% reported improvement in engagement (school survey) we worked with children in more than 100 schools across Cambridgeshire "The longevity of the support is extremeLy beneficial for the students thot need that Level of support and helps reassure those youn9 peopLe who need to buiLd workin9 relationships before therapeutic support can be fully successful. The service overaLL was excellent, I have estabLished a 9reat workin9 relationship with Itherapistl and am immensely confident that the support she is providin9 Student is of extremely high quaLitf SchooL (school survey) 17 Cambrldge corn Project

MOON PROJECT In 2023 - 2024 this project supported 90 children in Cambridge who had experienced domestic and/or sexual abuse. Panoromic support including long term therapy was provided along with enrichment opportunities and case work support for families. Our paired t-test reported in the toble below shows statisticolly significant positive improvement in the SDQ subscale of emotional problems. The SDQ emotional problems subscale is made up of five items relating to depression, worry. fear, nervousness, and somatic symptoms. Although the chonge in this cohort does not meet the commonly recognised threshold for clinical significance (a 3-point change). its statistical significance. combined with the severity of the young people's complex trauma, illustrates its importance and highlights the positive impact of this service, It is important to recognise that for this cohort of young people. o small change can still have meaningful and real- world positive implications. SDQ Emotional Subscale Number of completed SDQ results by parent/carer (total number of CYP in projett 90) 15 Mean change. -1.067 P volue" 0.050 'tut off value for ￿atisti￿?1 ggnificorKe is PsOJ)S ttE p value is less than 0.05 then the null hupolhe575 Yhere 15 ￿ differe￿ belween pre <1￿ posr cun be rejeLled (5ulivon. 2016) ' The therapist Luas incredibLe with my son. Takin9 time to nurture him so he LL)as comfortable talking about his trauma and abuse but also vitally supportin9 us in the best professional capacity she could. She was open. honest, and supported myself re9ularly too. She has been the only therapist that's fully understood. empathised and validated the complexities my son has been. and is 90in9 throu9h. She's a real asset to the or9anisation and always went above and beyond to support us and ensure continuity with his therapy. sourcin9 the much needed funding to continue supporting him rather than leaving it to come to on end. Just outstandin914 Parent of a child accessing Moon Project 18 Cambridge Acorn Project

SOCIAL PRESCRIBING. In 2023 - 2024 the East Cambridgeshire NHS Integrated Neighbourhood generously f unded o Social Prescriber for Children and Young People hosted by Combridge Acorn Project. This Social Prescriber worked within schools ond the primary core network in East Cambs supporting 70 children and young people providing personalised packages of support and running a youth club provision in Soham. The top 5 categories of concerns across oll the themes were: school and education (69% ). fomily and relationships (23%). physical activity or exercise (21 %). sociol interaction (18 %) and emotional concerns (160/0). Importantly, this project has received further funding from East Cambridgeshire Integrated Neighbourhood enabling the contlnuation of CYP social prescribing across East Cambs secondory schools and primary care networks in 2024- 2025. In coses where there was no chonge or there was deterioration in the MYCOW. this was due to a significant and traumatic life event such as a bereavement or where the practitioner was not fully oble to respond to the concern e.g. supporting with hoving a bigger house. Concern 1 Concern 2 Wellbeing Number of results (total CYP supported through social prescribing project - 70) 56 47 56 Mean change. P value" <0.05 <0.05 <0.05 % of partiapants showing improvement 64% % of partlclpatns showlng no change 13% 27% % of participonts showing deteriorotion 6Yo 'greater than 1 change Is consldered to be cllnlcolly slgnflcant (Guyott et al.. 1998. Junlter et al.. 1994) "'cut off value for stotistlcol significonce is P-0.05. When the p value is less thon 0.05 then the null hypothesi5 Yhere is no difference between pre ond post scores- con be rejerted (Sulivon. 2016) 'This analysis has been undertaken externally by NHS East Combridgeshire Integrated Neighbourhood who funded this project. 19 Cambridge Acorn Project

OUR WORK WITH ADULTS Cambridge Acorn Project provided support to 94 parents and carers including long term counselling. casework support. and regular weekly support at a hub. The data in this section does not include adults who accessed one-off or less frequent support via the wellbeing hubs thot are part of the Jtreet-Level Trauma Flesponse System (see following chopter). ' So kind ond patient and understandin9, it reaLly feels like they LL)ant to help and are there for you, not just a number. ft's invaluable, so heLpfuL, an absolute LifeLine Lvhen the LvorLd feels crazy and impossibLe to navi9atc' Parent We support adults across the county through our panoramic support model as well as offerinq adult counsellino delivered bu our student practitioners at our new head office in Histon. uth Camb 10.6 89.9% Combri ge Citu 27.7 of adults supported identified os female Huntingdo 25.5% 10.1Yo of adults supported identified as male Fenlond 2.1% Eost Co 20

Referral Reasons (Yo) 1. Domestic Abuse (35) 2. Parent Mental Health (30) 3. Anxiety (22) 4. Emotional Abuse (19) 5. Parental Separation (18) 6. Low Mood (17) 7. Low Confidence (14) 8. Child's Behaviour (13) 9. Family Law Diff iculties (13) 10. Relationship Diff iculties (13) 82.5% of adults supported reported experiencing signf icant financial hardship 10 adults provided with long term counselling through our trainee placement programme The adults supported were aged between 18 and 74 highlighting the range of adults supported including extended family such as grandparents with Special Guardionship Orders (SGOS). 98.5Yo of adults identified as White and 1.5¥0 of adults identified as hoving a Mixed of Multiple Ethnicity. Our data shows thot we support an over representotion of White odults compored to the general population of Cambridgeshire according to 2021 census data. We continue to explore how we engage with parents from different backgrounds ond ensure we hove diversity within our staff body. 'The support has chon9ed my life in many ways, that I can shoLU up whoever l om thot day. That I'm heard. The people really try and do make such a difference. They Listen without any jud9ement, just woys to heLp. They re so kind, olways LueLcomin9 and aLLUayS at your pace. Forever 9rotefuL. Truly heort feLt thank you. Parent 21 Cambr5dge corn Project

"Just being abLe to speak and get what's in my head out and getting help and support to try heLp my situation, bein9 able to get advice has heLped me loads, feelin9 more comfortabLe just having someone to speak to LueekLy has heLped me to not keep it all to myseLf makin9 me doLun. I feeL a Lot better in myself knowin9 1 have someone here I can talk to. I can't thank everyone enough for listenin9 and heLpin9 me and my famiLy' Parent The table below reports our referral sources with our internal referral pathway continuing to be the most popular route for adults to be referred with more than 50% of adults accessing services after having contact with us through our ongoing work with their child or vio our Street Level Trauma Response System. Almost 10 % of referrals for odult support were made by the NHS or Locol Authority with Targeted Support (Early Help) being the most common referrer within this group. 60 50 52 40 30 30 20 Cambridgè Acorn Prolect

UNDERSTANDING OUR IMPACT WITH ADULTS To ossess our impact and ensure our services remain client-led and meaningful. we use vorious evaluation tools. including client and fomily feedback forms. qualitotive research. and standardised assessments like Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires ond Measure Yourselt Concerns and Wellbeing. In this impact report. we are presenting a snapshot of the feedback received this yeor focussing on our feedback surveys and in depth onalysis of our rapidly growing casework support. There is more on our impact delivered through our family support in the next chapter on Street Level Trouma Response System. ' All my troubles before Christmas has partLy disappeared because of Cambrid9e acorn project and r couldn't be more 9ratefuL." Parent (CageLuork) 1000/0 of responding adults reported they felt listened to and 100% would recommend our service to a friend who needed similar support. "It was quite dauntin9 for me ot first but I honestly con't believe the pro9ress I have made Luithin myseLf. I feel Lilfe I hove healed and made sense of some past traumas and even though they sometimes stiLI haunt me. I noLU knou) that feeLing LuiLI pass. Parent (AduLt CounseLLing) 23 Combrldge Acorn Project

CASEWORK The following table demonstrates (using paired T tests) that our casework project achieved clinically and statistically significant positive change improving both the primory concern and overoll wellbeing. This was not achieved for the secondary concern. Concern 1 Concern 2 Wellbeing Number of results (totol number of families supported is 52) Mean change. -0,67 -1.53 P value" 0.0033 0.2354 0.0165 % of portlclpants showlng Improvement 88.89 50 77.78 % of partlcipatns showing no change 11.11 33.33 11,11 % of particlpants showlng deterloratlon 16.67 11.11 Life clrcumstance.. 56% Family & Relationships.. 22% tk)mestic Abuse: 11% Llfe clrcumstance.. 83Yo Mental Health Concern.. 17Yo Concern Themes 'greoter thon 1 chonge Is considered to be clinicolly signficont (Gvyatt et 01.. 1998. Juniter et al.. 1994) -cut off value for statlstlcal slgnlficonce is P¥EO.05. When the p value Is less than 0.05 then the null hypothesis ￿here Is no difference between pre and post scores- can be rejected (Sullvon. 2016) This dota identifies clinically and statistically significant effects for the people for whom we have complete data. In addition, it provides relevont trends and insights into the possible positive impact for the wider population supported through this project. As this is o small sample. it is hard to distinguish precise and generalisable conclusions with high levels of confidence for the whole project population" however, as this sample is representative. this increases the trustworthiness of the results and mitigotes bias. 24 Cambridge Acorn Project

STREET LEVEL TRAUMA RESPONSE SYSTEM Our Street Level Trauma Response System is designed to provide immediate. on the day. access to help and support for families, This is o vital service using a local community based model to tackle the current mental health crisis. where access to support is limited and waiting times are long. This system of support is delivered through our five family wellbeing drop-in hubs and outreach services embedded within local communities across Cambridgeshire. The hubs operate across the week in Huntingdon (Moody Mondays). Soham (Teo. Toast & Chat). Cambridge (Welcoming Wednesdays & Frazzled Fridoys) and Northstowe (Thoughtful Thursdays). 'They listened to me and made me feeL like my feeLin9s were vaLid. They offered help and support which I so desperately needed. I could also take my son to 9roup u)hen he was suspended and they u)ere reolly good u)ith him too. You are aLL so Lvelcomin9 and friendly. You've helped me u)hen I was at completeLy rock bottom and I am incredibly 9ratefuL for everythin9 they've done and continue to do for me ond my famil Parent ot drop-in hub Our hubs are stoffed by sociol workers. therapists. caseworkers and troined peer support volunteers enabling us to provide a range of support to families to tackle the inequalities stemming from trauma and poverty including.. emotional support. assessments for accessing panoramic support, cose work and life admin support including theraplonning (attachment and therapeutic activities and psychoeducation to support families). free legal clinic referrals. and onward referrals to other services. 25 Cambrldge Acorn Project

392 family contact sessions delivered across our hubs in 2023/24. Children were present in 141 sessions. The most frequently discussed concerns were: child mental health. child behaviour. schooling difficulties. EHCP difficulties. housing and domestic abuse We provided extended casework and life admin to 52 families to support with maintaining safe homes. f+r We delivered 18 legal clinic sessions for families in partnership with Tees Law. 26 Cambridge Acorn Project

'When I walk into the drop in sessions it's just amazing the staff that run it and olso the amount of support I've been 9iven is so 9ood I've had so many problems re9ardin9 my son and the heLp has made me feel Like I'm not alone. I'm glad I found the drop in sessions. if I hodn't I wouldn't be os far along with my son as l am now and also the help Luith 9ettin9 me moved to a more suitabLe house" Parent at drop-in hub Two of our hubs are run In collaboration with local portners to ensure that our hubs are sustalnable ond Increose communlty Infrostructure. In Huntlngdon we work with Huntlngdon Community Action Projects. Huntingdon Town Council. and Huntingdon Parish. In Cambridge. we work with Abbey People ond are kindly supported by Cambridgeshire County Council's Llbrary services. As part of our Cosework service we run a legal clinic bosed in Cambridge in partnership with Tees Law. Through this multi-year partnership we are able to provide Family Law and SEND legal advlce to support the families we ore working with. A number of other services also provide services ot our hubs so that families can get support using a single front door, preventing additionol time and lobour being spent on going from servlce to service to find the right support. These services include: Richmond Fellowship. Arts and Minds. SENDIASS, IMPAKT. SUN Network. ond Cambridgeshire Skills.. "I hope Cambrid9e Acorn Project continues forever so it can find people Like me and change their Lives too." Parent supported by the Street LeveL Trauma flesponse System and CaseLuorker 27 Cambridge Acorn Project

CASE STUDY Paul camc to our drop-in hub looking for urgcnt hclp during o rcally difficult timc. Hc is the grandfather of Jimmy. who had recently been ploced in his care by children's social services because of domestic abuse and traumo in Jimmy's birth family. Paul was in crisis, both he and Jimmy needed immediate therapeutic support to cope with the effects of Jimmy s troumo. which was understondably affecting the whole family. We were able to offer a wide range of help through our panoramic support model. This included long-term therapy for both Jimmy and Paul. as well as Paul visiting our weekly hub sessions during particularly challenging moments. We also introduced a part of our service called "theroplonning," which involves creating resources to strengthen the impact of theropy at home. For Poul ond Jimmy. this meant making a therapeutic nightlight together. to help Jimmy feel sofer ot night and overcome his fear of the dark. The support had positive results. Jimmy was able to work through some of his trouma. ond. eventually. he was able to return to live with his mother once her situation became stable. "I wanted to email to say o hu9e thank you on behalf of lJimmyl and me. I knoLU Jimmy has reolLy benefitted from his weekLy Sessions with Itherapistl. He spoke highly of Itherapistl and enjoyed his weekly sessions... He has started to understand Lvhat Lvent on. I have been on a mossive journey thonks to Itheropistl. I knoLU I had to do Lots of the work but Itherapistl was instrumentaL in heLpin9 me. Her thoughtfulness, memory, kindness and awareness were astonishing. The broken man you saLU aLI those months ago at Icentre namel has been healed and repoired. I stiLI have a journey to travel but am in o place to achieve this.. Grondporent 28 Cambridge corn Project

PRIORITIES FOR 2024/25 Street Level Trauma Response System In the coming year we wlll continue to focus on developing our Street Level Traumo Response Systems including expanding our hub infrostructure ocross the county. Increasing our outreoch capocitu and reloted casework support tackling inequitable access ond ensuring that more fomilies can access support quickly when they need it. We will focus on growing the hubs as a single front door through which children and families can access onwords referrals for our more intensive services. Research and Academic Partnerships A key focus is expanding our impact beyond our direct front line services through our research activities and ocademic partnership. Building on the success of our previous and current research projects. including our quosi- experlmentol study wlth Anglia Ruskln Unlverslty, we wlll contlnue to work with acodemic portners in leading universities across the country in order to ensure thot our research activities ore rigorous and reliable. We will continue to work with universities in order to provide real-world research opportunities for Master's students os well os undertaking and publishing our own Innovative theropeutic research octivities. Panoramic Model Our evidence based panoramic model which follows NICE Guidelines on working with children post obuse ond neglect is central to our commltment to continue to deliver transformative children's mental health support. Through this way of working we can ensure thot children and families can access a constellation of therapeutic services delivered through an overarching therapeutic plon bespoke to their individual needs. Key to delivering this model is obtaining flexible funding ond advocating that funding should not be siloed to specific interventions but rother be used in o person-centred way thot meets indivlduol children and families in a way that is meaningful ond effective for them. 29 CambrSdge Acorn Project

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED Become a corporate partner By partnering with us. your organisation can make a real difference in your local community. As a small chority working on the front line, your support has a direct and lasting impact. Whether you organise workplace fundraisers. toke on team challenges. or choose us as your Charity of the Year. every contribution counts. We'll be with you every step of the way. offering support. sharing updates. and celebrating the difference you are making. To find out more. contact Kate Weir at kOl£W￿￿On)￿￿gRa£￿A[OJ￿￿L0rg. 66 Working with the charity has provided an opportunity for our creative team to develop their skills.. It has been really rewarding seeing how our skills and fundraising have supponed the team to establish themselves within the community and reach as many people as possible. Rachel Pomfret, Senior Manager at Just Digital 99 Support us in the community There are so many woys you con help, whether on your own or with frienos. colleagues. or communiTy groups. Take pan In a iocai eveni. run your own fundraiser. or volunteer your time at one of our octivities. However you choose to get involved. you'll be helping us to support children and families when they need it most. Settlng up a JustGiving page is quick and easy. and Gift Aid can boost your donations at no extra cost. If you'd like to make o long-term impact. consider setting up a small monthly donation-every little bit helps us plan for the future. GET IN TOUCH TODAY We'd love to hear from youl Get in touch with our Fundraising MuiiL]ger. KL]te Weir. ut [e-mail] to chat about how you or your organisation can support our work. 30 Cambridge Acorn Project

TRUSTEES. REPORT Tkie Tr ustees preserit tkieir uririuul i epur t tugethei with the firiuriiiul stuterTieiits uf tkie ikiur ity for the year1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024. The annual report serves the purposes of both a Trustees, report and a directors, report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements. the requirements of the charity's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Proctice (SORP) applicable to charities preporing thelr accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Stondord applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019). Since the charity qualifies as small under section 382 of the Componies Act 2006. the vtrotegic report required of medium and large companieoe under the Companie Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors, Report) Regulations 2013 hos been omitted. Objectives and activities Pollcles and objettives The principal objects of the charity are to relieve the needs of children and families in Cambridgeshire and surrounding localities suffering from in particular but not exclusively traumo or emotional distress by the provision of a theropeutic model of social work. In setting objectives and planning for activities. the Trustees hove given due consideration to general guidance published by the Chority Commission reloting to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'. Activities vndertaken to achieve objectives The charity s prime concern is the mental health of children and fomilies and we work to address inequalities in wellbeing due to distress (historical/traumatic and/or contemporary/environmental) across Cambridgeshire. Our main octivity is one to one therapeutic work with children who have experienced trauma and/or emotional distress and we also offer support to their families. including. as an activity. whole family work. We also offer 'structural' sessions to address emerging inequolities in wellbeing connected to the environment. We also undertake groupwork and we are looking to pilot new initiative" connected to children's mental health and wellbeing. such as looking at environmental and emotional enrichment. Typically. our principle activities involve direct. face-to-foce. work with vulnerable children and families. 31 Cambridge Acorn Project

Achievements and Performance Review of activities This has been another year of significant financial growth for Cambridge Acorn Project. Income has increased from £438.466 to £656.835 (a growth of 500/0) ond expenditure from £434.797 to £657,605 (a growth of 51Yo). Drilling down further into these figures. salaries. by for our greatest expenditure as we prioritise frontline work. increased by a lorge 67/0. from £274.386 to £457,161. Further. theropist expenses and mileage increased by a significant 47% (from £15,125 to £22.239) and supervision costs by 68Yo (from £7.370 to £12,379) reflecting both organisational growth and the Cost of Living crisis. Other significant increoses in expenditure included Employerfs Notional Insurance (63% increase). Pensions (51 % increase) ond Rent (59Vo increase). Despite our growth. and the signiflcant Increoses in expenditure. we hove managed to grow our free reserves to £38.479 in line with the below policy. with our aim to increase this to £52,000 by the end of financial year 2025. which would leave us £38.000 from our target of £90.000, However. we have to be aware that thls Is currently o very challenging time for the charitable sector. Our reserves were impacted heovily in the finoncial year 2022-2023 as a result of our growth, emergence from the Covid-19 pondemic and the cost of living crisis and recovery from this is slow. however we do have a considered plan to help us emerge from this and look towards a more sustolnoble future. A further challenge has been thot. alongslde constant challenges raising funds. the need we serve has continued to grow. During the flnanciol year 2022-2023. we worked with oround 350 children and young people. At the end of August 2024, which is also at the end of our financial year 2023-2024. we held over 650 open cases (570 children and 84 adults) across the whole organisation and worked with more than 700 children and fomilies ocross the year. Acknowledgements We would like to thank every child and family who has engaged with our services this year. In oddition. wc would wovld likc to olso thank cvcryonc who hos cnoblcd ovr work by generously contributing funds or donating resources and time to support Cambridge Acorn Project In the academlc year 2023 - 2024 inclvding: Funding for Individual Families: Buttle UK. Cambridge Aid: Littleport Town Lands. Thomas Parsons Charity 32 Cambridge Acorn Project

Grants: National Lottery Community Fund. UK Youth Fund.. BBC Children in Need. Cambridgeshire Community Foundation" Huntingdon Freemen's Trust,. Combridgeshire County Council,. NHS Health Inequolities Challenge Prize,. Alon Boswell Charitable Trust: The Church Schools of Cambridge Trust. Help For Children: Leothersellers Foundation: Garfield Weston Foundation: Masonic Choritable Foundation. Schreirer Foundation; South Cambridgeshire District Council. Kelly Charitable Trust: The Brook Trust.. PEM Charitable Trust., NHS Healthier Futures Fund 8uslness Partners: Broadfield. Cambridge Charity Fundraisers. Co-op. Histon Feast, Ingleton Wood, Just Digital, Northstowe Holf Marathon 2024, PEM. Simon Watson, Singing Allowed. Soham carnival. St Wendred Masonic Lodge Newmarket, Sustainable Tech 4 Good, Tees Law, The Big Give, Velocity Commerce Partners: Abbey People. Active Ploy Educotion. Arts ond Minds. Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination, Cambridge United Foundation. Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Councll Library Servlces. East Combs Integrated Neighbourhood, Fullscope. Huntingdon Parish, Huntingdon Community Action Projects (HCAP), Huntingdon Church, Huntingdon Town Council. Red Hen, Romsey Mill. and oll the schools we hove worked with to support children and families. Going Concern After making appropriate enquiries. the Trustees hove o reosonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operotional existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to odopt the going concern basis in preporing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies. Reserves policy We hove been discussing. at Trustee Level. a clearer and updated reserves policy now that we have grown as a charity ond our monthly spend is typicolly in the region of £55.000. Whilst three months reserves under this measure would equote to £165.000. it would not demonstrate prudent and coreful thinking if we were just to aim for this level of unrestricted reserves as it would not ref lect any 'Plan B, thinking. Therefore, our current plon is to target holding £90,000 in unrestricted reserves which would reflect the organisationol structure we had in 2021- 2022 when our annual income was £398,929 and our reserves were also in a 33 Cambridge Acorn Project

robust place. This would mean that we would be able to maintain a reduced. but not o pure skeleton. service whilst we recovered should we get into finoncial difficulty. We ended 2023/24 with £38,479 in unrestricted reserves and we are targeting a growth of our reserves by £15.000 each year. meaning that we hope to reach our torget of having £90.000 in reserve by 31/08/2028. We have recently taken on a full-time fundraiser. in January 2025. to enable us to meet this target and become more sustainable over the longer term. Surplus The Statement of Financial Activities covers the year ended 31 August 2024. The results of the year's operations are set out in the attached finonciol stotements, The net outflow of funds for the year amounted to £770 (2023 - inflow of £3,669). The retained reserves at 31 August 2024 amounted to £114.507 (2023 - £115.277). Principol risks and uncertainties There remain significant ongoing risks for small charities such as ourselves, We begin the new year in a solid financial position. However. we are aware that applications to funders have increased, already limited financiol resources are in high demand and, alongside that. demand for our work is increosing everywhere. Therefore. we will remain cautious and prudent regarding any financial decisions which are mode including increasing our staff costs. However. there is also no doubt that the mental heolth of children. young people and tomilies is going to be challenged, disrupted and frogmented like never betore. We stand reody to do what we can to support our beneficiaries and work tirelessly to increose our offer and improve our services. We would also like to extend a huge thank you to our incredibly passionate, loyal, caring and dedicated workforce - they are the ones who continue to make CAP what it is. Structure. governance and management Constitution Cambridge Acorn Project Is registered os a charity limited by guarontee ond was set up by a Memorandum of Association. Methods of appointment or election of Trustees The management of the charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co- opted under the terms of the Memorandum of Association. 34 Cambridge Acorn Project

Organisational Structure Day to day running of the charity is delegated by the Trustees to Dr Matt Edge, CEO and Therapeutic Proctitioner. who holds ultimate responsibility and oversight over the charity. Our CEO is closely supported in the doily running of the chority by our Deputy CEO Dr Hannah Chapman. The CEO and Deputy CEO oversee o wide range of clinical and non-clinical staff from a range of backgrounds. Policies adopted for the Induction of Trustees I rustee recruitment ond induction. stewarded under our Sofer Recruitment Policy. is currently carried out by our Deputy CEO in partnership with the existing board of Trustees. In selecting o person to be oppointed as a trustee. considerotion is given to how their residence. occupotion. employment. specialist knowledge. ond personol or professional qualifications moy contribute to delivering against the objects of the charity. A periodic trustees, skills audit is also conducted to assess any areas where additionol expertise may be required. New Trustees ore formally appointed by the Board of Trustees. All new Trustees are provided with comprehensive induction and training to become familiar with thelr roles and responsibilities and Cambridge Acorn Project's work. Pay Policy for Key Management Personnel Pay rates for senior staff are set by the Board of Trustees. Related Party Relationships No significant/disclosable transactions with related porties. Financial rlsk management The Trustees have ossessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed. in partlcular those related to the operations ond finances of the charity. and are satisfied thot systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Members. Llablllty Combridge Acorn Project holds insurance which indemnifies Trustees as standard. The Members of the chority guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. 35 Cambridge Acorn Project

Statement of Trustees, responsibilities The Trustees (who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees, report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Stondards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the Trustees to prepore finonciol statements for each financiol year. Under company law. the Trustees must not approve the financial stotements unless they are satisfied thot they give o true and fair view of the stote of affairs of the charity and of its incoming resources ond applicotion of resources. including its income ond expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements. the Trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently: observe the methods ond principles of the Chorities SORP (FRS 102): make judgements and occounting estimotes that are reosonable and prudent.. state whether applicable UK Accounting Stondards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material deportures disclosed and exploined in the financial statements: prepare the financiol stotements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping odequote occounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the chority's transactions and disclose with reasonable accvrocy ot any time the financial position of the charity and enoble them to ensure thot the financial statements comply with the Componies Act 2006. They ore olso responsible for safeguording the assets of the charity and hence for toking reasonable steps for the prevention ond detection of froud and other irregularities. Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees on 23 Moy 2025 and signed on their behalf by: CNPvgh Trustee 36 Cambridge Acorn Project

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Cambridge Acorn Project ('the charity,) I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024. Responsibilities and 8asis of Report As the Trustees of the chority (ond its directors for the purposes of company low) you are responsible for the preporation of the occounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act,). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charity ore not required to be audited under Pai-t 16 of tlie 2006 Act arid ol-e eligible for indepeiideiit exoiiiiiiatioii. I i-eport iii i-espect of iiiy examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act,). In corrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the CharitLJ Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. Independent Examiner's Statement Since the charity's gross income exceeded £250.000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that l am qualified to undertake the examination because l am a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the exomination giving me cause to believe: 1.accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2.the accounts do not accord with those records. or 3.the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement thot the occounts give o 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinotion: or 4.the occounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Proctice for accounting ond reporting by charities 37 Cambridge Acorn Project

[applicable to charities preporing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Irelond (FRS 102)]. I have no concerns and have come across no other motters in connection with the exomination to which ottention should be drawn in this report in order to enable o proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. This report is made solely to the chority's Trustees. as a body. in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's Trustees those matters l om required to state to them in on independent examinerfs report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other thon the charity and the charity's Trustees as a body. for my work or for this report. Dated.. 23" May 2025 C P J Dougherty FCA Lakin Rose Limited Chortered Accountants Cambridge House Camboro 8uslness Park Girton Cambridge CB3 OQH 38 Cambridge Acorn Project

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Total funds 2024 Total funds 2023 Note funds 2024 funds 2024 Income from- Donations and legacie5 336.074 177.182 513.256 336,341 Choritoble octivities 77.291 66,288 143.579 102,125 Total income 413.356 243,470 656B35 438,466 Expenditure on.. Raisin9 funds 5.389 5.389 Charitable ortivities 436.827 215389 65Z.216 434,797 Total expenditure 436.827 220,778 657.605 434,797 Net movement in funds 123.4621 22,692 {770) 3,669 Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 99.490 15.787 115.277 111,608 Net movement in fund5 123.4621 22,692 {770) 3,669 Totol funds curried forward 76.028 38.479 114.507 115.277 The statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. The notes on pages 43 to 59 form port of these financial statements. 39 Cambridge corn Project

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024 CAMBRIDGE ACORN PROJECT (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) REGISTERED NUMBER: 09187469 2024 2023 Note Fixed assets Tangible ossets io 34 Sub totol 23 34 Current assets Debtors li 23.512 17,166 Cash at bank and in hand 140,968 147.128 Sub total 164,480 164.294 Creditors: amounts falling due within one yeor 12 149.9961 149, 051) Net current assets 114.484 115.243 Totol net ossets 114.507 115.277 Charity Funds Restricted funds 13 76.028 99.490 Unrestricted funds 13 38.479 15.787 Total funds 114.507 115,277 40 Cambridge corn Project

The charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements. The financial statements have been prepared in accordonce with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime. rd The financial statements were approved ond authorised for issue by the Trustees on 23 May 2025 and signed on their behalf by: CNPugh Trustee The notes on pages 43 to 59 form part of these financial statements 41 Cambridge Acorn Project

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 2024 2023 Cash flows frorn operating Octivitses Net cosh used in iJperaling oct1vil￿5 (&160) 5.897 Chonge in cash und c¢Jsh equivolents in the yefr (fi160) 5.897 Cash ond cash equivolents ot the Winnin9 of the yeor 147.128 141.231 Cash and cash equivalents atthe end of the ye(r 141.231 The notes on pages 43 to 59 form part of these finoncial statements. 42 Cambridge Acorn Project

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 1. General information The charity is a company limited by guorantee and is incorporated in England and Wales, The address of the registered office is Cambridgeshire Music. New School Road. Histon. Cambridge, CB24 9LL. 2. Accounting policies 2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements The financial statements hove been prepared in occordonce with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Fleporting Standard applicable in the UK ond Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. Cambridge Acorn Project meets the definition of o public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised ot historicol cost or transaction volue unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy. 2.2 Income All income is recognised once the charity hos entitlement to the income. it is probable that the income will be received and the omount of income receivoble con be measured reliably. Grants are included in the statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevont funds on the balonce sheet. Where income is received in odvonce of entitlement of receipt. its recognition is deferred ond included in creditors os deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received. the income is accrued. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service. 43 Cambridge Acorn Project

2.3 Expenditure Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to o third party. it is probable that a tronsfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs. including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs ottributable to a single activity ore allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more thon one activity ond support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central stoff costs ore allocated on the basis of time spent. and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the chority to roise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundroising octivities events and non- charitable troding. Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the octivities which further the chority's objectives. as well os any associated support costs. 2.4 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation l angible fixed ossets are initially recognised ot cost. After recognition. under the cost model. tangible fixed ossets ore measured at cost less accumuloted depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the meosurement of cost. Depreciation is chorged so as to ollocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives. on a reducing balance basis. Depreciation is provided on the following basis: Computer equipment 33Yo reducing balance 2.5 Llabllltles and provlsion Liobilities ore recognised when there is an obligotion at the balance sheet dote as a result of a past event. it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement. and the amount of the settlement con be estimated reliobly. Liabilities ore recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received os odvanced payments for the goods or services it must provide. 44 Cambridge Acorn Project

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time volve of money is material. the provision is based on the present value of those amounts. discounted at the pre-tax discount rote that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the statement of financial octivities as a finance cost, 2.6 Pensions The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the year. 2.7 Fund accovnting General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity ond which have not been designated for other purposes. Restrlcted funds are funds which are to be used in accordonce with specific restrlctions imposed by donors or which hove been raised by the chority for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. S. Income from donation and legacies Restrirted fund$ 2024 Unrestrirted fund5 2024 Totol funds 2024 Totol funds 2023 Donations 306 84,806 85.112 74.737 Gronts 335.768 92.376 428.144 261,604 Total 336.074 177.182 513.256 336.341 Total 2023 230.879 105.462 336.341 45 Cambridge Acorn Project

1. Income from charitable activities Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 Total funds 2024 Total funds 2023 Theropy fees 77.291 66.288 143,579 102,125 Total 2023 34,500 67,625 102,125
2. Expenditure on raising funds Costs of raising voluntary income UnrestTlcted funds 2024 Total funds 2024 Totol funds 2023 Costs of raisin9 voluntory income &389

3. Analysis of expenditure by activities undertaken directly 2024 Support costs 2024 Total funds 2024 Total funds 2023 Provision of theropy 618,614 33.602 652.216 434,797 Totol 2023 409,504 25.293 434.797 46 Cambridge Acorn Project

4. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued) Analysis of direct costs Provision of therapy 2024 Total funds 2024 Totul funds 2023 Stoff costs 496.197 36.197 298.705 Therapist fees 66.053 6&053 85.193 Supervision fees 12,379 12.379 7.370 Theropist expenses 22.239 22.239 15.125 Enrlchment expenses 21.746 21.746 2.732 Creative packs 379 Total 2024 618.614 618.614 409,504 Total 2023 409.$04 409.504 47 Cambrldge Acorn Project

5. Aiiolysi5 Of expeiiditure by octivitie5 (continued) Analysis of support costs Provision of theropy 2024 Total fund$ 2024 Total funds 2023 Depreciation li li 17 Computer costs 5.582 5.582 6.380 Insurance 1.709 1.709 1.700 Stoff training 3.221 3,221 256 Subscriptions 284 284 30 Oad debts 1.360 1.360 9GO Room hire 8.463 8.463 5.316 Generol office expenses 3,472 3.472 2.100 Consultancy 2.636 Z.636 3,166 Govemance costs 6,864 6.864 5.368 Totol 2024 33,602 33.602 25,293 Total 2023 25293 25.293 48 Cambridge Acorn Project

6. Independent examiner's remuneration 2024 2023 Fees payuble to the charwty's independent examiner for the independent examinotion of the chority's annuol occounts 2,250

7. Staff costs 2024 2023 Wages ond solories 457,161 274.386 Sociol security costs 30,105 18,421 Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes 8.931 5.898 Totol 496.197 298.705 The average numbers of persons employed by the charity during the yeor was os follows 2024 No. 2023 No... Employees 25 13 No employee received remuneration omounting to more than £60,000 in either yeor.

8. Trustees. remuneration and expenses During the year ended 31 August 2024. no Trustees received any remunerotion or other benefits (2023 - £NIL). During the year ended 31 August 2024. no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2023 - £NIL). 49 Cambridge Acorn Project

9. Tangible fixed assets Computer equipment Cost or valuation At I September 2023 540 At 31 August 2024 540 Depreci(rtion At I September 2023 506 Chorge for the year li At 31 Au9LlSt 2024 517 Net book vglue At 31 August 2024 23 At 31 August 2023 34

10. Debtors 2024 2023 Due within one yeor Trode debtors 14.748 10,942 Other debtors &764 Prepoyments ond accnjed income 6,224 Total 23.512 17,166 50 Cambridge Acorn Project

11. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023 Trode creditors 9.605 8.050 Other taxation ond social securty 9.139 5,999 Accruols ond deferred income 31.252 35,002 Totol 49.996 49,051 51 Combrldge Acorn Project

12. Statement of funds Statement of funds - current year Baknnce ￿ I Balance at 31 Au9USt 2024 Income 2023 Unrestricted fvnds General Funds IS787 243.470 1220,778) 38.479 Restrirted Funds Environmental Enrichment 10301 110.301) Huntingdon Flexible FundiThJ 19,640) Tetris Proiert 37MIS 127.664) 9.351 Moon Project 18.1521 16,848 Soclol PrescribiNJ 136.068) 23.932 Flexible Funding 10.000 14000 15,248) 18.752 Eost Combs Street-Lev Trauma Response System 202n IIL773 1127,621) 4.424 Huntingdon Street-Level Troumo Response System 58.512 158.512) Cambridge Cty Street-Level Trouma Response System 6j￿1 94,407 198,14n 2.341 SoLrth Combs Street-Level Troumo Response System 9,IC 3L816 140,924) Individuals in Need Ll57 4376 15,533) 52 Cambridge Acorn Project

13. Statement of funds (continued) Statement of funds - current year (continued) Balance ot I September 2023 Balance at 31 August 2024 Income Expenditure Communty Therapy 7￿97 17.897) Other LS00 11,1201 380 Subtotol (Restrirted fvnds) 99.490 413.365 1436B27) 76.028 Total of funds 115.277 656,835 1657,6051 114,507 Details of the moin funds are os follows: The Envlronmental Enrichment (EE) Project is an emotional wellbeing project funded by BBC Chlldren In Need, alongside other funders including the Church Schools of Cambridge Trust, promoting children's mental health through the promotion of enriched experiences. The Tetrls Project. funded in 2022 by the NHS Health Inequalities Challenge Prlze and Cambridgeshire County Council's Public Health Team. uses a block stacking gome to support Cliildi"¢ii oiid Youiig people experiencing intrusive memories ond/or general sti-ess. The Moon Project, funded in 2022-2023 by Ely South PCN and Cambridgeshlre County Council Domestic And Sexual Violence Project (DASV). utilises bespoke pockages of support to provide therapeutic and enrichment interventions for children ond young people who have experienced Domestic Abuse (DA) post-trauma. East Cambs Street-Level Trouma Response System (SLTRS) our vanguard project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. provides a community-based support system to respond to childhood troumo in East Cambs. Funding bespoke. panoramic. packoges of support for children ond young people who have experienced trauma. In 2023. this was expanded to Huntingdon.. Cambridge City and South Cambs. Flexible Funding, funded by Help for Children alongside other funders. enables flexibly funded bespoke therapeutic packoges to support economically deprived children. who 53 Combrldge Acorn Project

have experienced abuse aiming to reduce symptoms of trouma and promote long-term recovery. Social Prescribing, funded by East Combridgeshire NHS Integrated Neighbourhood enables a Social Prescriber. hosted by Cambridge Acorn Project, to work with Children and Young People in East Cambs. Statement of funds - prior year Balance ot I September 2022 8olance ot 31 August 2023 Income Expenditure Unrestricted funds General Funds 49.386 173,087 {206,6861 15,787 Restrirted Funds Environmental Enrichment 11.887 (11,8871 Huntingdon Flexible Funding 10.000 10,000 Tetris Project 3.489 40,000 (6,4741 37,015 Empothetic Communf(ies 49.442 (49,4421 Moon Project 33.072 (33,0721 Flexible Funding 14.000 (6,0401 7,960 East Combs Street-Level Troumo Response System 63.167 (42,8951 20,272 Huntingdon Street-Level Troumo Response System 40.600 (40,6001 Combridge Cty Street-Level Traumo Response System 6,300 (2191 6,081 54 Cambridge Acorn Project

1. Statement of funds (continued) Statement of funds - prior year (continued) Balance at I September 2022 Balance at 31 August 2023 Income Expenditure SoLrth Combs Street-Level Troumo Response System iO.OL)) 18921 9,108 Theropeutic Support 8,483 1.370 19.853) Individuals in Need 1.339 3C 1482) 1,157 Inequalty Work 6.857 (6.8579 Communrty Therapy 7,142 12,3C 114.340) 5,102 Porenting Project 1,840 (1.8401 Troum¢J Fund 295 295 Other 718 13.218) 2,500 Subtotal (Restricted funds) 62,222 265,379 [228,1111 99,490 Total of funds 111.608 438.466 (434.797) 115,277 55 Combrldge Acorn Project

2. Summary of funds Summary of funds - current year Balance at 31 August 2024 2023 Generol funds 15.787 243.470 1220.778 38,479 Restricted fund5 413365 1436.827) 76.028 115277 656A35 1657.605 114,507 Summary of funds - prior year Bolonce ot I September 2022 Balance at 31 August 2023 Incoff Expenditure Generol funds 49.386 173.087 (206,6861 15,787 Restrirted funds 62.222 265.379 (228,1111 99,490 111.608 438.466 1434.7971 115.277 56 Cambrldge Acorn Project

3. Analysis of net assets between funds Analysis of net assets between funds - current period Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted fiinds 2024 Total funds 2024 Tangible fixed assets 23 23 Current assets 104.641 59.839 164.480 Credwtors due wtthin one yeor 128.6131 121.3831 149.996) Total 76.028 38.479 114,507 Restricted funds relote to the following grants receivoble which hove been deferred and will be released in future periods as the grant performance conditions are achieved. East Cambrldgeshlre Street-Level Trauma Response System £19.800 Cambridge City Street-Level Troumo Response System £8.813 Analysls of net assets between funds - prior period Restrfcted funds 2023 Unrestrfrted funds 2023 Totol funds 2023 Tangible fixed assets 34 Current 05sets 132.244 32.050 164.294 Creditors due within one yeor 132.754) (16.297J 149.0511 Total 99.490 15.787 115,277 Restricted funds relate to the following grants receivoble which hove been deferred and will be released in future periods as the grant performance conditions are achieved. Various Street-Level Traumo Response System Funds £27.414 Other restricted funds £4.500 Indlviduals in Need £840 57 Cambrldge Acorn Project

4. Reconcilliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities 2024 2023 Net incomelexpenditure for the period Ios F Statement of Financial AcU"vitiesl 1770) 3.669 Adjustments for. Depreciotion char9es li 17 Increose in debtors (6346) fl.308) Increase in creditors 945 3.519 Net cash provlded byllused in) operatiNJ CKti¥i (6.160) &897

5. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents 2024 2023 Cash in horKi 140. 147.128 Total cash and Cash equivalents 140.968 147,128

6. Analusls of changes in net debt At I September 2023 Co5h flow5 At 31 August 2024 Cash at bonk and in hond 147.128 (6,1601 140,968 147.128 (6.160) 140,968 58 Combrldge Acorn Project

7. Pension commitments The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the chority in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund ond amounted to £8,931 (2023 - £5,898). Contributions of £nil (2023 - £nil) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date and are included in creditors. 59 Cambridge Acorn Project

Get in touch www.cambridgeacornproject.org.uk [e-mail] @cambridge_acorn project This document was produced on 23rd May 2025 Cambridge Acorn Project Cambridgeshire Music. New School Road, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9LL Registered Charity No: 11750191 Company No: 9187469 Illustrations O Polly Allburn 2023 60