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2021-03-31-accounts

Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2021

Charity name: Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Charity Registration Number: 1184488

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Objectives and Activities

The purposes of the Charity as set out in its governing document

The promotion of the efficiency and effectivness and the effective use of charitable resources of community managed libraries for the benefit of the public in particular but not exclusively by:

The main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit

The Community Managed Libraries Peer Network came into existence in 2017, funded by Power to Change, co-ordinated by Upper Norwood Library Trust (UNLT), supported by the Arts Council, Locality and Libraries Connected. In October 2018 UNLT secured additional funding from Power to Change to formalize the Network, build on the positive work started in 2017, and to develop and grow its activities. In July 2019 the Network was granted charitable status by the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network (CMLNPN).

In 2020-21 the Network had 502 (2019-20: 467) subscribers, they include peers from the full spectrum of Community Managed Libraries (CMLs) including both the independently funded and those who receive varying levels of local authority support. These are usually trustees or people who work in community managed libraries but can also include those wishing to form a trust or community groups exploring the possibilities of CMLs.

The Network wants libraries in community management to thrive - each at the heart of their community, run by their community, providing a wide range of benefits for their community. It does this by giving community managed libraries access to the advice and support they need to run their organisation effectively.

The Network is run by a volunteer trustee board supported by other dedicated volunteers from the CML sector. Together they are working to create a sustainable network. Trustees are fully committed to building an organisation which helps CMLs to be successful and do this by:

The Network continues to work hard to build relationships and communication with CMLs nationally and with a wide range of sector agencies and organisations including Libraries Connected, The Arts Council, DCMS and many others to achieve its charitable objectives.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Statement confirming that the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit

The Trustees of Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network hereby confirm that they have taken full regard of the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant. In particular, the Trustees believe that the list of activities detailed above show complete accordance and compliance with such guidance and are all examples of furthering the charity’s purpose (as defined in the objects described above) for the public benefit.

Contribution made by volunteers

The Network is run by 8 Trustees, all volunteers contributing signficant hours each month to support the Network’s activities. Other volunteers from the Network sometimes lead discussions at events.

Policy on grant- making

The Charity has no policy on grant making as this does not form part of its current or planned future activity

Measuring success

The trustees plan to measure the impact of the Charity’s work through regular trustee reports, detailing key achievements for all projects against objectives set and how the communities the recipient libraries serve have benefited, ensuring all are on track or to plan. As the Network develops metrics and criteria can be refined.

Due to the pandemic, we were not able to organise our national conference as planned nor were we able to secure an apprentice to support our activities. We were also planning to recruit a Network Manager and regional team to develop and grow our activities, including plans for paid membership, all of which had to be put on hold due to the pandemic. We were however able to grow our links with CMLs in different parts of the country, increasing the number of subscribers we have to 502 (467 in 2019). We continued to participate in the Government’s Covid-19 working group where we championed the voice of CMLS at national level; we built strong relationships and communication with the Reading Agency, Libraries Connected and other local and regional agencies and we kept CMLs abreast with policies including changes taking place in the library and cultural sectors.

Our online peer support sessions were very well attended (up to 30 people per session) and the information we provided to CMLs proved to be invaluable for CMLs who had little to no communication from their local authorities. We captured their needs and learning, which was shared with government and other national agencies, and succeeded in ensuring the needs of CMLs informed policy discussions and decisions. We succesfully completed a research piece supported by Power to Change and organised 3 online Public Space Management sessions for CMLs. We also started on plans to open our own bank account, and now have an account set up with Natwest Bank,

Achievements and Performance 2020-2021

During this first full year of its existence the Charity has succeeded in achieving a number of the objectives set out in its governing document and creating a platform for the future development and expansion of those objectives:

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

cross working group, ensuring the voice and needs of CMLs informed national policy. The Network is keen to sustain this engagement in the longer term, particularly as the pandemic is starting to highlight the important role CMLs play as community catalysts and local hubs which support the most excluded, marginalised, isolated, poor and needy in their communities through a wide range of local services.

Future plans

Since 2017, the Network has worked hard to develop a good level of engagement with CMLs across England, as well as creating networking and shared learning opportunities for CMLs. We are now looking ahead to the future, and to how we can grow and develop the Network, make a strong impact locally and nationally by supporting existing and emerging CMLs to thrive in their communities.

The need for increased advice, information, peer support and signposting to opportunities (funding included) from the Network grew signififcantly between April 2020 and March 2021 because of Covid-19 and has shaped future plans as follows:

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

ordinators to develop and grow the work of the Network.

Financial Review

At the beginning of the 2020-21 financial year, the Charity had reserves of £10,822 of which £10,472 was restricted and £350 unrestricted.

The Charity received the final payment of £2,000 from Power to Change in 2020/21. We derive income fees for speaking engagements and facilitation of events and duringthe 2020-21 financial year, we received £500 from Croydon Libraries for a speaking engagement. The Charity applies for grants where appropriate funds become available.

During 2020-21 financial year, the Charity spent £2,545 of funds available to meet its charitable objectives.

At the end of the 2020/21 financial year, the Charity had remaining funds of £10,777 held by UNLT. These reserves were held in trust by UNLT for the Charity as we waited for our new bank account to be set up. We have now successfully opened an account with Natwest Bank and UNLT will transfer funds held on behalf of the Network into the new bank account. These funds will be used to meet the Charity’s objectives in 2021/22 as agreed with Power to Change.

Covid-19 is seeing more and more grant giving bodies/funders repurposing existing grants to support emergency efforts. This may stall fundraising plans temporarily, however efforts to raise funding to support activities will resume once the crisis is over. A number of CMLs have also been affected by the crisis and we will continue to share information about funding and other opportunities so they can get the support they need.

The trustees are satisfied with the year-end position of the Charity and do not believe there are any uncertainties currently of the Charity continuing as a going concern. No commitments have been made that cannot be met out of current reserves. Future activities requiring significant funding will only be undertaken when that funding has been secured. Many valuable activities can be provided effectively at low cost from volunteer resources.

Reserves policy

Any surpluses at the end of each year end are held in reserve to be used in the following year to support the Charity’s charitable objectives and its development. The trustees have not yet approved a formal reserves policy but will do so once the Charity is fully operational and they are in a position to identify its future needs.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Investment policy and objectives including social investment policy

The Charity does not currently have any financial investments and therefore the trustees have not yet adopted an investment policy. It has adopted a social investment policy whereby all its activities and services are delivered on a voluntary basis to those involved in organizations whose beneficiaries are their local communities. The average age of volunteers is £65+, this approach supports social inclusion.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Trustees have given consideration to major risks faced by the Charity and how these can be managed.

Dependence on volunteers:

The Network is entirely volunteer run. Covid-19 has highlighted the need for resources to drive forward activities, provide information, prepare resources and deliver support to CMLs during these very difficult times. The Network is at risk of not reaching CMLs who need its support as it is currently entirely volunteer run. The Network also needs a dedicated person to ensure CMLs are fully engaged and involved, to help it deliver on its business and financial strategy and to implement its new membership scheme. Though the volunteers make a huge contribution to the organisation, the majority are vulnerable.

The Trustees intend to mitigate this risk through the appointment of a paid member of staff to undertake at least some of these tasks.

Income risk:

The funding risk of insufficient income to cover planned expenditure has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. The Charity is reliant on grant funding and future income from members’ subscriptions.

Trustees mitigate this risk by not making commitments unless funding has already been secured. They review regularly reports of funding and financial performance against plan so they can act on variances and adjust plans accordingly.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Reference and administration details

Type of governing document Constitution
How the Charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Charity Name Community Managed Libraries National Peer
Network
Other name the Charity uses None
Registered Charity Number 1184488
Charity’s Principal Address Community Managed Libraries National Peer
Network, 39 Westow Hill, London SE19 1TQ
Description of the assets held in this
capacity
N/A
Name and objects of the Charity on
whose behalf the assets are held and
how this falls within the custodian
Charity’s objects
N/A
Details of arrangements for safe
custody and segregation of such
assets from the charity’s own assets
N/A

Trustes

**ustes **
Trustee name Office (if any) Appointed Resigned
1 David Smith Chair 18 July 2019
2 Jeremy Clynes Treasurer 17 March 2020
3 Christopher Clarke Trustee 18 July 2019
4 Susan Wills Trustee 17 March 2020
5 Richard Fowler Trustee 17 March 2020
6 Margaret Adjaye Trustee 18 July 2019
7 Sarah Long Trustee 18 July 2019
8 Peter Ranken Trustee 18 July 2019 25 January 2021
9 Kamal Shah Trustee 17 March 2021

The Network focuses on the skills mix of the Trustees to ensure that the Board has all the necessary skills to contribute fully to the Charity’s development. Trustees are inducted through meetings with existing trustees and references to the Charity Commission websitre to ensure they fully understand their responsibilities. No person (or body) is entitled to appoint any trustees. Trustees may be appointed in accordance with the Constitution by the members or the trustee board. All new trustees retire at the next annual general meeting and may then be reappointed by the members at that meeting. Trustees are not eligible for reappointment if they have served three consecutive terms unless there has been an interval of at least three years since they last served.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

All decisions must be made by a quorum of trustees

Trustees met as a body 4 times and additionally considered specific items via email and telephone conference calls. No trustee received any remuneration from the Charity during the year.

The AGM for the Charity was held on 22 March 2021.

Day to day management is delegated to the Chair and Margaret Adjaye. All strategic and other major decisions are conisered and taken by the Trustees.

No trustees hold any title to property belonging to the charity.

Relationships with related parties

Upper Norwood Library Trust (UNLT)

The Charity grew out of the work coordinated by UNLT which was funded by a grant from Power To Change to build and support a national peer network for CMLs. The success of the resulting activities and the expanding demand for a continuation and more permanent service led to representatives of the most active and advanced CMLs, including UNLT, determining that a separate charity should be formed.

Margaret Adjaye, a trustee of the Charity, is employed by UNLT as one of the joint Hub Directors for Upper Norwood Library Hub and is responsible for directing the work UNLT undertakes for the Charity. She receives no personal benefit for so doing. She does not take part in those sections of meetings or otherwise in making decisions relating to the Charity’s relationship with UNLT.

Power To Change has given its formal agreement to the grant being transferred to the Charity from UNLT. At the balance sheet date UNLT continued to hold on trust the balance of the grant until such time as the Charity has opened its own bank account to which the funds can be transferred.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signatures
Full Name David Smith Margaret Adjaye
Position Chair of Trustees Trustee
Date: 31 August 2021 31 August 2021

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts lorthe Year Ended 31 March2021 Dth. 81 10

Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

COMMUNITY MANAGED LIBRARIES NATIONAL PEER NETWORK Charity Number: 1184488

Statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021

Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
2021 2021 2021 2020 2020 2020
Donations
and
Legacies
- £2,000 £2,000 - £19,979 £19,979
Charitable
Activities
3 £500 - £500 £350 - £350
Other
Trading
Activities
- - - - - -
Total Income £500 £2,000 £2,500 £350 £19,979 £20,329
Raising
Funds
- - - - - -
Charitable
Activities
4 £2,518 £2,518 £9,507 £9,507
Other
Support
Costs
£27 - £27 - - -
Total
Expenditure
5 £27 £2,518 £2,545 £9,507 £9,507
Net Income
Before and
After Tax
£473 (£518) (£45) £350 £10,472 £10,822
Transfers
between
Funds
- - - - - -
Net
Movements
in Funds
£473 (£518) (£45) £350 £10,472 £10,822
Total Funds
Brought
Forward
6 £350 £10,472 £10,822
Total Funds
Carried
Forward
£823 £9,954 £10,777 £350 £10,472 £10,822

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 13 to 25 form part of these accounts

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Balance Sheet For the Year ended March 2021

Notes
Current assets
Debtors
5
Total current assets
Liabilities
Creditors falling due within one
year
6
Net current assets
Total assets less current
liabilities
Total net assets
The funds of the Charity
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total charity funds
7
Unrestricted Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
2021
2021
£823
£12,954
£13,777
£823
£12,954
£13,777
-
(£3,000)
(£3,000)
£823
£9,954
£10,777
£823
£9,954
£10,777
£823
£9,954
£10,777
£823 -
£850
-
£9,954
£9,927
£823
£9,954
£10,777
Total
Funds
2020
£13,822
£13,822
(£3,000)
£10,822
£10,822
£10,822
£350
£10,472
£10,822

The notes on pages 13 to 24 form part of these accounts

Approved by the Trustees on 31 August 2021. Signed on their behalf by:

David Smith Trustee (Chair)

Charity no. 1184488

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Notes to the financial statements

1 Principal Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation or uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1 January 2019 - Charities SORP (FRS 102).

The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102 and of the Charity Commission. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

b) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The Charity reported a cash inflow of £2,500 for the year. The trustees are of the view that the charity is a going concern and consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Further grants will be applied for. In future years the key risks to the Charity are a fall in income from grants receivable and donations but the trustees have arrangements in place to mitigate those risks (see their annual report for more information).

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Income received in advance of provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognised are met.

d) Donated services and facilities

In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the services provided by volunteers is not recognised in the finanical statements. The trustees’ annual report includes more information about their contribution.

e) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the Charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

to be solely used for particular areas of the Charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the Charity.

f) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognized once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings: raising funds and charitable activities.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

g) Allocation of support costs

Support costs which include governance costs are those costs that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake fund raising or charitable activities.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

h) Tangible fixed assets and fixed asset investments

The charity has no tangible fixed assets or investments.

i) Stocks

The charity has no stocks.

j) Debtors

Debtors are amounts due to the Charity. They are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. These include the balance of the grant from Power 2 Change held on trust for the Charity by UNLT, measured at the amount originally received less expenditure made by UNLT against the grant.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

k) Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. Amounts which are payable in more than a year are shown as long-term creditors.

l) Financial instruments

The charity has no financial assets and financial liabilities except for those stated above. Cash at bank and in hand is held on trust by UNLT and included in debtors. It will be transferred to the Charity when a bank account has been opened and used to meet the charitable expenditure and day to day running costs as they fall due.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

m) Restricted funds

Restricted funds comprise monies raised for, or their use restricted to, a specific purpose, or contributions subject to donor imposed conditions.

n) Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds represent those monies which are freely available for application towards achieving any charitable purpose that falls within the Charity’s charitable objects.

2) Legal status of the Trust

The organisation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

3) Donations

The income of £2,500 includes £500 of unrestricted consultancy fees and £2,000 of restricted funds, which is the outstanding amount remaining from the £30,048 grant funding awarded to the Network by Power to Change in 2018-19. This Sandbox grant was awarded to UNLT in 2018-19 to formalise the Network, improve governance, create a business and financial plan, develop a membership programme, improve communication, organise shared learning activities including an annual conferenece and develop and grow its activities nationally. Power to Change has formally agreed for this grant to be transferred to the Charity. This grant is being recognised on a cash basis as payments are subject to approval of update reports.

The Charity benefits greatly from the involvement and enthusiastic support of its many volunteers, details of which are given in the annual report. In accordance with FRS 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

4) Expenses and support costs

Expenses allocated to charitable activities was £2,518. All expenditure was from the restricted Power to Change grant after the Charity came into existence. The expenditure is largely costs incurred for website/forum and logo development, branding for our research into CMLs as community hubs and office supplies. Support costs of £27 were paid from unrestricted funds of the Charity.

5) Staff costs and trustees remuneration

The Charity does not employ any staff directly. In 2019/20 work carried out on behalf of the Charity was performed by staff of UNLT and some of this time was recharged at cost with the agreement of Power to Change. No charge was incurred in 2020/21due to lack of activity possible during the Covid pandemic.

No trustee has received any remuneration during the period. Due to the pandemic no travel expenses were incurred.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

6) Taxation

The Charity is a registered charity and therefore not liable to taxes on income derived from its charitable activities as it falls within the various expemtions available to registered charities.

7)Debtors

The Charity’s funds are currently held by the Upper Norwood Library Trust who applied for and successfully secured the Power to Change funding to develop and grow the Network. At the end of the 2020-21 financial year UNLT held £13,777 (2019-20: £13,822) on behalf of CMLNPN.

8) Creditors

The Charity still owed UNLT the £3,000 creditor from 2020 at the end of the 2021 financial year end. This will be deducted from the funds under (7) to be transferred to the new CMLNPN bank account.

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

9) Movements in funds

At 1
April
2020
Income Expenditure At 31
March
2021
Restricted funds
Powerto Change grant £10,472 £2,000 (£2,518) £9,954
Unrestricted funds
General funds £350 £500 (£27) £823
Total funds £10,822 £2,500 (£2,545) £10,777

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Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March2021

10) Post balance sheet events

Due to the country-wide emergency measures put in place to safeguard against COVID-19, the Network continued to offer a number of virtual support and learning sessions to help CMLs cope during these unprecendented times. Regular blogs, links to resources and funding opportunities are shared with CMLs.

The Network is still involved in a working group consisting of government and other sector bodies to ensure the voice and needs of CMLs are captured and actions/decisions taken to help CMLs recover successfully.

We were successful in opening a new bank account with Natwest Bank. There have been no other events between the balance sheet date and the signing of these accounts which relate to conditions that arose after the end of the reporting period that would impact on the understanding of these accounts. Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network, 1184488 39 Westow Hill, London SE19 1TQ

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