Charity Number 

1175400 

West Cornforth and District Community Association 

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024 



**West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024** 

The trustees present their report and accounts for the period ended 31[st] December 2024.  The report and accounts have been prepared in following the recommendations in Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102A) (effective 2 February 2016), applicable accounting standards and the Charities Act 2011.   The trustees have prepared the accounts on the receipts and payments basis. 

## **Reference and Administrative Information Charity Name** 

West Cornforth and District Community Association 

## **Charity Trustees** 

The founding trustees, who were appointed May 2024 for a 3 year term, are: 

Mr Paul Ferguson Chair Mrs Shirli Traynor Vice Chair Mrs Helen Patricia Drew Secretary/Treasurer Mrs Gwen Blackburn Mrs Lisa Goldsmith Mr Alan Hodgson Mr Rasheed Vaughan Miss Vivien Weir Mrs Julie Welford 

Mrs Violet Denny appointed until April 2025 

Mrs Ruth Newton appointed until January 2026 

Mrs Evelyn Thomson appointed until March 2026 

## **Address** 

Community Centre, Station Road, West Cornforth, Ferryhill, Co Durham DL17 9LA 

## **Bankers** 

The Co-operative Bank Plc Team 601 P.O. Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Adam James MAAT Eric Southwick & Co Accountants 51 The Avenue Seaham Co Durham SR7 8NS 

1 



**West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024** 

## **Structure and Organisation** 

## **Organisation** 

The West Cornforth and District Community Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, which operates according to its constitution which was adopted 25[th] October 2017 and registered on the 27[th] October 2017. The trustees, who meet regularly to consider the progress of the charity and to consider its future direction and activities, manage the charity. 

## **Trustee Appointments** 

Trustees are appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. 

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

New trustees are provided with support to enable them to understand and undertake their duties. 

## **Volunteer Support** 

The charity is reliant on the support of its volunteers to achieve its objects; the work of volunteers is invaluable. 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

## **Charitable Objects** 

The Association has the following objects: 

'To further or benefit the residents of West Cornforth and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents. 

In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power: 

To establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects.' 

## **Achievements and Performance Review of the Period** 

2024 was another successful year as usage, particularly by the Cornforth Partnership, held up. The Unrestricted Fund increased from £35,771 to £40063. As a result, we have been able to keep all our hire rates and subscription fees the same for yet another year. 

The Committee met 10 times during the year. 

The Centre continued to host badminton, bowls, children's dance classes, the tea dance and dog agility training weekly. The Saturday 50/50 dance continued on a fortnightly basis. 

2 



**West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024** 

## **Review of the Period (Continued)** 

The Community Centre continues to host The Bread & Butter Thing every Monday. It is an initiative where a package of groceries is sold to members of the community for a much-reduced price. The contents of the package vary from week to week but the value of the contents are always more than the price paid. 

The Church Fellowship met once a month, our usual dog shows continued, the Village Show was held as were the monthly Parish Council meetings. Our field was regularly used for football matches and training. A new group, the Tuesday Club, started in September following the closure of the local Salvation Army Citadel 

The Cornforth Partnership ran holiday activities for local children in the Hall and on the Field during the various school holidays. The Partnership also used the Centre for a weekly youth sports session and reopened the Gym. They ran the Community Christmas Dinner in December. 

Private parties, and other private hirings have held up in 2024. 

The Centre hosted fundraising events for British Legion and Thrislington Banner Group held their two traditional brass band concerts on the eve of Durham Gala and during December. Both concerts were well attended and thoroughly enjoyed, and the fundraising events were successful as well. 

Cornforth Parish Council continues to support the Community Centre and gave a grant for refreshing the front of the Centre by power washing the front car park and repainting the entrance slope. It also funded the Christmas children's party as well as sponsoring Dick Whittington, the December pantomime. The Committee is grateful for the Council's ongoing support. 

The Tarmac Landfill Community Fund contributed to the replacement of three internal fire doors making it easier for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and prams to use the building. 

The Friends of the Association again worked very hard running the bar and events. The Committee is very grateful for their support. 

## **How our activities deliver public benefits** 

The Association runs West Cornforth Community Centre on a non-profit basis providing an affordable local facility for meetings, sport, celebrations exhibitions etc., rents are kept as low as possible, and membership is open to all inhabitants of West Cornforth. 

The Cornforth Ward, the electoral ward covering the West Cornforth, has a Deprivation Index putting it overall in the most deprived 14% of electoral wards of England, it has poor public transport and low car ownership and is geographically isolated. This makes local facilities important, and the Community Centre fills an important place in the community. 

3 



West Cornforth and District Community Association
Trustees, Report and Financial Statements 31° December 2024
Future Plans
The Association is looking for new uses. promoting the Centre's use for parti8s and
celebrations and seeking opporbjnities to exploit our sound system in the Hall.
Responsibllitles of th• Trustees
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial
period, which show a true and fair view of the slate of affairs of the charity and its
financial actbvities for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees
are required to:
selecl suilable accounting policies and then apply them consistently:
make judgments and estimates that are prudent and reasonable..
state ￿ether applicable accounting standards and statements of
recommended practice have been followed. subject to any departures disclosed
and 6xplained in the financial stalements. and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it Is
inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disdose
with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to
enable them to ensure that the finanaal statements comply with the Charities Act
2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence
for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other
irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the trustees
MrPF
uson (Chair)
Date..

West Cornforth and District Community Association
Trustees, Report and Financial Statements 31° December 2024
Independent examiner's Report to the Trustees of West Cornforth and District
Communlty Assoclation
I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 $1 December 2023.
which are set out on pages 6 to11.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The
charity's trustees consider that an audil is not required for this year under section
144{2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Acl> and that an independent examination
is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the aC￿UnIS under section 145 of the 2011 Act.,
to follow the procedures laid down in Ihe general Directions given by the
Charity Commission under sectK)n 145(5){b) of the 2011 Act; and
to stste vthether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examinerfs report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by
the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting
records kept by the charity and a cnmparison of the accounis presented with those
records. 11 also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in Ihe
accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees conceming any such
matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all Ihe evidence that would be
required in an audit and. consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the
accounts present a -twe and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set
out in the statement below.
Independent examineVs statement
In connection with my examinati1￿. no matter has come to my attention:
{1 J which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 201 IAct',
and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply
with the accounting requirements of ihe 2011 Act have not been met" or
(2) to which, in my opinion. atlention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Adam James MAAT
Eric Soulhwick & Co
Accountants
51 The Avenue
Seaham
Co Durham
SR7 8NS
Date:
-3-2025

**West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024** 

## **Receipts and Payments Account for the period ended 31[st] December 2024** 

||**Notes**|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**|**Restricted**<br>**funds**|**Total funds**<br>**2024**|**Total funds**<br>**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income and endowments**|**from:**|||||
|Donations and legacies|3|5,485|1,650|7,135|3,778|
|Charitable activities|4|2,595|-|2,595|3,537|
|Other trading activities|5|29,594|-|29,594|28,843|
|Investments|6|27|-|27|27|
|**Total**||37,701|1,650|39,351|36,185|
|**Expenditure on:**||||||
|Raising funds|7|8,026|-|8,026|8,433|
|Charitable activities|8|25,553|1,480|27,033|23,233|
|**Total**||33,579|1,480|35,059|31,666|
|**Net income  / (expenditure)**||4,122|170|4,292|4,519|
|**Transfers**||170|(170)|-|-|
|**Net movement in funds**||4,292|-|4,292|4,519|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||||
|Total funds brought forward||35,771|842|36,613|32,094|
|**Total funds carried forward**||40,063|842|40,905|36,613|



The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these financial statements. 

6 



West Cornforth and District Community Association
st
Trustees, Report and Financial Ststements 31 December 2024
Stalement of Assets and Llabllltlès
As at 31xt December 2024
Total funds
2024
Total funds
2023
Current assets
Cash at bank and in
,613
Totsl curronl awts
40,￿5
36.613
The funds of the charlty
Restricted inccffne fu￿15
12
UnreSt￿led fuTrJs
12
35.771
Total chartyfunds
36.613
Llabllltes
cn￿$
310
310
The financial slalemenls on pages 6 to 11 were approved by the trustees an(1 signed
on their behalf by:
Mrs H P Drew (Treasurer>
Date:
Iilloig
The notes on pages 8 to 11 fonn part of these financial statements.

**West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024** 

## **Notes to the accounts** 

## **1 Accounting policies** 

- In preparing the accounts the following accounting policies have been complied with: 

- a) The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis. The accounts have been prepared following the recommendations in Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102A) (effective 2 February 2016), applicable accounting standards and the Charities Act 2011. 

- b) Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. 

- c) Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. 

- d) All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity receives the income. 

- e) Expenditure is recognised on a payments basis.  Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. 

   - i) Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries.  It includes costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them such as those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the independent examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. 

   - ii) All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the statement of financial activities on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource.  Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on an appropriate basis as set out in the notes. 

## **2 Taxation** 

- The charity is exempt from taxation on its income and gains where they are applied for charitable purposes. 

8 



**West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024** 

## **Notes to the accounts (Continued)** 

## **3 Income from donations and legacies** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total funds**|**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Grants**|||||
|Cornforth Parish Council -|||||
|External Works|-|950|950|-|
|Cornforth Parish Council -|||||
|Childrens Christmas party|-|700|700|700|
|**Donations**|||||
|Village Show|300|-|300|300|
|Personal - Anonymous|4,789|-|4,789|2,644|
|Badminton|100|-|100|100|
|Friends of West Cornforth|||||
|Community Centre|296|-|296|34|
|**Total**|5,485|1,650|7,135|3,778|



## **4 Income from charitable activities** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total funds**|**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Dances|2,313|-|2,313|3,064|
|Subscriptions|282|-|282|473|
|**Total**|2,595|-|2,595|3,537|



## **5 Income from other trading activities** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total funds**|**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Sundries|9|-|9|-|
|Rents|20,953|-|20,953|18,457|
|Bar sales|8,632|-|8,632|10,386|
|**Total**|29,594|-|29,594|28,843|



9 



**West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024** 

## **Notes to the accounts (Continued)** 

## **6 Income from Investments** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total funds**|**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Wayleave|27|-|27|27|



## **7 Expenditure on raising funds** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total funds**|**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Bar supplies|8,026|-|8,026|8,433|



## **8 Expenditure on charitable activities** 

|**xpenditure on charitable activities**|**xpenditure on charitable activities**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Unrestricted**||**Restricted**|**Total funds**|**Total funds**|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Wages|5,816|-|5,816|5,299|
|Gas|4,041|-|4,041|3,632|
|Electricity|3,785|-|3,785|3,262|
|Water|1,975|-|1,975|2,059|
|Independent Examiner’s Fees|372|-|372|310|
|Insurance|2,576|-|2,576|2,520|
|Licensing Fees|1,080|-|1,080|1,041|
|Telephone|62|-|62|62|
|Property maintenance|4,714|-|4,714|3,296|
|Children's Halloween &|||||
|Christmas Parties|-|-|-|700|
|Cleaning supplies|490|-|490|672|
|External improvements|-|950|950|-|
|Children's Christmans Party|-|530|530|-|
|Gym|-|-|-|-|
|Sundries|642|-|642|379|
|**Total**|25,553|1,480|27,033|23,232|



10 



**West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2024** 

## **Notes to the accounts (Continued)** 

## **9 Trustee and employee information** 

- a) Trustee information 

   - No trustees (2024: None) received a total of £Nil (2024: Nil) during the period for services to the charity. 

- b) Employee Information 

There was one employee during the period (2024: One). 

## **10 Related party transactions** 

The related party transactions during the period are set out in note 9. 

## **11 Reserves** 

|**Restricted funds**<br>Comforth Parish Council -<br>External Works<br>Cornforth Parish Council<br>Equipment<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund|**£**<br>-<br>-<br>842<br>**At 1**<br>**January**<br>**2024**|**£**<br>950<br>700<br>-<br>**Incoming**<br>**resource**|**£**<br>950<br>530<br>-<br>**Outgoing**<br>**resource**|**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>(170)<br>-<br>-<br>842<br>**At 31**<br>**December**<br>**2024**<br>**Transfers**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||842|1,650|1,480|(170)<br>842|
||35,771|37,701|33,579|170<br>40,063|
||36,613|39,351|35,059|-<br>40,905|



The equipment fund was established to provide equipment including a new sound system and hearing loop for the Hall. 

The General fund exists for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. 

Children's Parties Fund was established to provide a Christmas Party for the children of West Cornforth. 

## **12 Lease** 

The charity occupies the land and property known as the West Cornforth Community Centre under the terms of a twenty-one-year lease which was entered into on 6[th] March 2006.  In the year ended 31[st] December 2024 the charity spent £4,714 (2023: £3,296) on maintenance to the property. 

11