Charity Number 1175400 West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2025 **West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2025** The trustees present their report and accounts for the period ended 31[st] December 2025. 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– until her death in December 2025 Mrs Lisa Goldsmith Mr Alan Hodgson Mrs Violet Denny Mr Rasheed Vaughan Miss Vivien Weir Mrs Julie Welford – until her death in October 2025 Mrs Ruth Newton Mrs Evelyn Thomson ## **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 2025** ## **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** 2025 was another successful year as usage, particularly by the Cornforth Partnership, held up. The Unrestricted Fund increased from £40,063 to £42,444. 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 8 times during the year. The Centre continued to host badminton, bowls, children's dance classes, the tea dance and dog agility training weekly, as well as the Tuesday Club. 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 2025** 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, as did the Cornforth Parish Council meeting. Our usual dog shows continued and the Village Show was held in September. Our field was regularly used for football matches and training. 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 2025. 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. As well as using the Centre for its monthly meeting it also funded the Christmas children's party. The Committee is grateful for the Council's ongoing support. Unfortunately there was not a pantomime this year but there should be one in 2026 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 ## **Future Plans** The Association is looking for new uses, promoting the Centre's use for parties and celebrations and seeking opportunities to exploit our sound system in the Hall. 3 West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees, Report and Financial Statements 31¥t December 2025 Responsibilities of the Trustees Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial P8ri0d. which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charily and its financial activities for that period. In preparing Ihose financial statements, the trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policaes and then apply them consistendy.. make judgments and estimates that are prudent and reasonable.. state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed. subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements,. and prepare the financial statements on the going con￿rn basis unless It Is inappropriate to presume that the charity wtll cx>nlinue in existence. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disck)se with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posrtion of the charity and to enable them to ensure Ihat the financial 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 I￿￿tee$ Mr P Ferguson (Chair) Date: **West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2025** ## **Independent examiner’s Report to the Trustees of West Cornforth and District Community Association** I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31[st] December 2025, 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 audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s 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 comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) 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 2011Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Adam James MAAT Date: 14/05/2026 Eric Southwick & Co Accountants 51 The Avenue Seaham Co Durham SR7 8NS 5 **West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2025** ## **Receipts and Payments Account for the period ended 31[st] December 2025** The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these financial statements. 6 West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees, Report and Financial Statements 31st December 2025 Statement of Assets and Liabilities As at 31st December 2025 Total funds Total fvnds 2024 Current assets Cash at bank ll￿1 In hand Total current assets 42.444 The lunds of tho charty Restrlcted Inccrfne ￿ndS 12 Unraslricted furbd5 12 42.444 42.444 Total charlty funds Liabilites kcruals 372 310 The financial statements on pages 6 to 11 were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: Mrs H P Drew ffreasurer) Date: The notes on pages 8 to 11 fom part of these financial statements. **West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2025** ## **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 2025** ## **Notes to the accounts (Continued)** ## **3 Income from donations and legacies** ## **4 Income from charitable activities** ## **5 Income from other trading activities** 9 **West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2025** ## **Notes to the accounts (Continued)** ## **6 Income from Investments** **7 Expenditure on raising funds 8 Expenditure on charitable activities** 10 **West Cornforth and District Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements 31[st] December 2025** ## **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** 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. ## **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 2025 the charity spent £5,934 (2024: £4,714) on maintenance to the property. 11