Thornton Village Community Centre
Charity number 1184543
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 5 April 2025
Thornton Village Community Centre
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 5 April 2025
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 to 5 |
| Examiner's report | 6 |
| Receipts and payments account | 7 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 8 |
| Notes to the accounts | 9 to 10 |
Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
1
Thornton Village Community Centre
Trustees' report for the year ended 5 April 2025
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates Sharon Bewes Treasurer Frances Soames Chair Immanuel McKenzie Gordon Payne
Charity number
1184543
Registered in England and Wales
Registered and principal address Bankers Thornton Community Centre Barclays Bank 50 Market Street 10 Market Street Thornton Bradford Bradford BD1 1EG BD13 3HW
Independent examiner
Simon Bostrom FCIE West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) foundation formed on 23 July 2019 and is governed by a constitution.
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees
The trustees of the charity are appointed by the trustees at a duly convened meeting.
2
Thornton Village Community Centre
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 5 April 2025
Objectives and activities
The charity's objects
To further or benefit the residents of Thornton, Bradford, West Yorkshire 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, health and fitness, welfare 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.
The charity's main activities
The charity carries out a wide range of activities which the trustees consider how they can provide a benefit to both residents in Thornton and surrounding areas who attend the centre or the various groups that we partner with in the village of Thornton and beyond.
Public benefit statement
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of education, health and community development.
Achievements and performance
This year has seen further consolidation and growth of the Community Centre, as demonstrated by our financial status and increased use of the Centre. The four trustees have met on a monthly basis and are supported by the hard work of the management committee. Thomas Haigh has taken over the social media side of the Centre. We should acknowledge the hard work of Nick Bewes who has been with us from the beginning and was responsible for the creation of the website and responsible for publicity and launched the Sunday Cinema Club.
All of the above are volunteers who give their time freely. However we do have one paid employee - Cath Boyden- and we cannot thank her enough for the hours and enthusiasm she puts into the Centre. Without her, it would be impossible to run the Centre.
Community Asset Transfer
We reported last year that we had been successful and, after 3 long years, we had finally achieved a Community Asset Transfer so that the Centre was now in our hands and thus in the hands of the local residents. We were perhaps slightly premature and underestimated the bureaucracy from both the council and the solicitors. However we can now report that the agreement was finally signed in June. Thanks to Simon Blakeley, our solicitor, for finally arranging the transfer.
Groups/Users
At present we have 20 groups using the centre every week. They include pilates, crochet club, Thornton Antiquarians, Kids Art Club, , Chess club, Baby ballet, yoga, dance factory and number of events around health and wellbeing and social inclusion. The community website lists all details of the groups. We also run a successful monthly Sunday Cinema club. This equates to about 385 users a week.
The diary for the Centre is increasingly busy and it is difficult to find slots for weekly events so we are increasingly looking to being a venue for one off events - parties, concerts, quizzes, speciality events etc. We have had to split weekend use on a monthly pattern. The first weekend of each month is a community day - Sapgate Gardens litter pick, table top, Bike repairs and family cook. The third weekend each month is given over to Discovery Learning.
3
Thornton Village Community Centre
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 5 April 2025
Achievements and performance (continued)
We are setting up monthly Thursday self help and well being sessions - covering bereavement, menopause (Cool Moments), general sit and chat. Other ideas for these sessions would be welcome.
Other Events
As in previous years we also organise and support a number of one off events and work with other organisations in the village. It would be impossible to list all those from the last year but to name a few:
The monthly village litter pick with Sapgate Gardens The Arts Trail Open Gardens Bronte House open day Xmas lights and fair Cancer screening sessions Fostering for Bradford Antiquarians open day Kid Halloween night Mediumship night Curry nights Quiz night etc etc We are planning more events which include fundraising for the Centre.
Bradford City of Culture
As we explained at last year’s AGM we were excited at the opportunities offered by the city of Culture. We submitted 2 bids for financial support. One was to the Arts Council for just under £30,000 and the other was to Bradford’s own support for community festivals for just under £14,000. Both the bids centred on turning the hall into 21st century venue for music, drama and performance events. Unfortunately neither of the bids were successful. There will need to be a debate on how we can successfully meet the local and national criteria required for such funding and how a community such as Thornton is disadvantaged fro meeting those criteria. We are going to resubmit a bid to the Arts Council and hope we can be successful next time. In the meantime, thanks to the work of Manny Mckenzie we do now have a portable stage and a lighting gantry.
The Centre has still participated in the City of Culture. We ran a Food Festival, we helped run an Arts Trail with a film programme and we are working with South Square on work with the Turner Prize.
The Library
The Library is an important part of the centre. It is run by over 20 volunteers and this year has extended its opening hours to include Tuesday morning. It has about 150 users a week. It runs a very successful Rhyme Time on Wednesday mornings which has won a number of city wide awards. With Sapgate Gardens we also run the Teddy Bears Picnic open to all families. We take part in the Summer Reading challenge for primary school age children. There is also a Book Club which meets the first Thursday of every month. The library also runs a number of evening sessions with local authors and poets.
It should be noted that our 2 main sources of income are from Discovery Learning - which books our centre on an annual basis, and the money from Bradford council to support the work of the Library. The latter is our biggest income and we are reliant on annual decisions made by the council in this regards. We are aware of the financial concerns for the Council so we have to remain vigilant on decisions and consultations made regarding library policy. It is therefore even more important that we increase our income in 2 ways. Firstly we can expand our search for bids and extra funding. Secondly we need to increase use of the centre especially for one off events.
4
Thornton Village Community Centre
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 5 April 2025
Future Plans
Now that we have achieved the CAT we are planning bids for funding. We shall be resubmitting our Arts Council bid but we are also looking for other sources and increasingly larger bids. We are looking to remodel the centre so that we can provide more viable spaces for use by residents and better catering facilities. At present we have a Board of 4 trustees and we have a management committee of 7 We are looking for any local residents who wish to help by joining the management committee. Lastly all this work has been successful because of all the volunteers involved since 2017. The Centre could not succeed without these volunteers. However we can never have enough, particularly in helping support events in the Centre. Please contact us if you can help in anyway.
Financial review
The net receipts for the year were £9,830, including net receipts of £6,264 on unrestricted funds and net receipts of £3,566 on restricted funds.
Reserves policy
The charity's free reserves, at the year end were £33,551.
The trustees have reviewed the reserves of the charity. Our policy is to hold enough funds to meet 6 months' operating costs, and we estimate we now need just over £30,000 in reserves in order to have sufficient funds for unexpected repairs. We continue to upgrade the centre and intend to maintain our existing range of community activities and long term want to expand and open either a coffee shop or café, so we can become self-sustaining and not rely on funding all the time to keep us going.
Approved by the board of trustees on 27/01/2026
Frances Soames (Trustee)
5
Thornton Village Community Centre
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Thornton Village Community Centre
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 5 April 2025, which are set out on pages 7 to 10.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the CIO's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Simon Bostrom FCIE
30/01/2026
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
6
Thornton Village Community Centre
Receipts and payments account
for the year ended 5 April 2025
| Notes 2025 Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Grants and donations (2) - Room hire 33,890 Fundraising 3,809 Bank interest 305 Other income - Total receipts 38,004 Payments Salaries NI and pensions 17,135 Cleaning 6,308 Utilities 2,035 Repairs and maintenance 2,127 Food and refreshments 1,719 Solar panels - Disabled access flooring and toilets - Project expenses 1,243 Licences - Office 57 Insurance 360 Independent examination - Payroll fees 263 Internet 493 Total payments 31,740 Net receipts / (payments) 6,264 Fund balances brought forward 27,287 Fund balances carried forward (3) 33,551 |
2025 Restricted funds £ 20,403 - - - - 20,403 3,635 1,145 8,759 1,103 549 - - 1,606 - - 40 - - - 16,837 3,566 3,429 6,995 |
2025 Total funds £ 20,403 33,890 3,809 305 - 58,407 20,770 7,453 10,794 3,230 2,268 - - 2,849 - 57 400 - 263 493 48,577 9,830 30,716 40,546 |
2024 Total funds £ 27,451 19,885 1,945 436 410 50,127 19,091 5,783 4,323 3,697 1,160 16,993 12,037 10,592 182 340 373 720 263 - 75,554 (25,427) 56,143 30,716 |
|---|---|---|---|
7
Thornton Village Community Centre
Statement of assets and liabilities
| as at 5 April 2025 2025 Unrestricted £ Cash funds Cash at bank 33,551 Cash in hand - Total cash funds 33,551 Debtors and prepayments Prepayments Assets retained for the charity's own use Central heating system Solar PV installation Disabled access flooring and toilets Liabilities Accruals |
2025 Restricted £ 6,995 - 6,995 |
2025 Total £ 40,546 - 40,546 2025 £ 121 121 2025 £ 1,584 1,584 |
2024 Total £ 30,716 - 30,716 |
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 27/01/2026
Frances Soames (Trustee)
8
Thornton Village Community Centre
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 5 April 2025
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.
No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
Taxation
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
9
Thornton Village Community Centre
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 5 April 2025
| 2 Grants and donations City of Bradford Met. Dist. Council (CBMDC) Other donations 3 Restricted funds Balance b/f £ CBMDC Community Buildings 1,019 CBMDC Market - food - CBMDC Warm Spaces 1,254 Get up and dance 850 Community Chest 306 3,429 |
2025 Unrestricted funds £ - - - Incoming £ 8,250 10,500 1,653 - - 20,403 |
2025 Restricted funds £ 20,403 - 20,403 Outgoing £ 9,269 3,505 2,907 850 306 16,837 |
2025 Total funds £ 20,403 - 20,403 Transfers £ - - - - - - |
2024 Total funds £ 20,638 6,813 27,451 Balance c/f £ - 6,995 - - - 6,995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund name
Purpose of restriction
CBMDC Community Buildings To support the running costs of the community centre CBMDC Market - food To put on a food market as part of Bradford 2025. CBMDC Warm Spaces To provide access to a safe, friendly warm space with refreshments. Get up and dance Towards the cost of dance classes. Community Chest To purchase chairs and other equipment for the centre.
4 Related party transactions
Trustee expenses
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
Trustee remuneration and benefits
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
10