Charity number: 1185655
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
| CONTENTS | |
|---|---|
| Page | |
| Reference and Administrative Details of the Organisation, its Trustees and Advisers | 2 |
| Trustees Report | 3 - 5 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 6 - 7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 - 10 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 11 - 19 |
Page | 1
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE ORGANISATION, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
The name of the charity is Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust. The Trust has established a scheme known as Ross Good Neighbours.
Trustees
Dr Simon Lennane Cllr Jane Roberts Cllr Edmund John O'Driscoll Dennis Humble Jane Mainey Christopher Barron Geoffrey Balsom Caroline Utting
appointed on incorporation, re-elected 24[th] March 2022 appointed on incorporation, re-elected 24[th] March 2022 appointed by Ross Town Council 24[th] Oct 2019 co-opted by Trustees 16[th] Jan 2020, re-elected 24[th] March 2022 co-opted by Trustees 6[th] August 2020, re-elected 11[th] March 2021 co-opted by Trustees 5th Nov 2020, re-elected 11[th] March 2021 co-opted by Trustees 14[th] Jan 2021, re-elected 11[th] March 2021 co-opted by Trustees 6[th] Jan 2022
Charity registered number
1185655
Body corporate
Registered office
Ross-on-Wye Town Council The Corn Exchange 7 High Street Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire HR9 5HL
Principal operating office
Edde Cross House Edde Cross Street Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire HR9 7BZ
Independent examiners
Thorne & Co 1 St Mary's St Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire HR9 5HT
Ross Town Council, as a Corporate Body, has the right to appoint one Trustee. At the time of completion of this report the following were Ross Town Councillors:
Cllr. Chris Bartrum Cllr. Simeon Cole Cllr. Phillip Cutter Cllr. Dan Ciolte Cllr. Linden Delves Cllr. Katie Fowler Cllr. Ian Gumm Cllr. Winder John Cllr. Daniel Lister Cllr. Ed O'Driscoll Cllr. Beverley Pope Cllr. David Ravenscroft Cllr. Jane Roberts Cllr. Michelle Setchfield Cllr. Louis Stark Cllr. Paul Symonds Cllr. Robert Taylor Cllr. Julian Utting
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
Objectives and Activities
Objectives
The objectives of the CIO are promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of charities and the effective use of charitable resources for the benefit of the public in Ross-on-Wye and surrounding parishes by any means as the trustees in their discretion shall determine, provided always that such promotion has the goal of providing charitable services or relief to the residents of Ross-on-Wye and that any private benefit arising is solely incidental.
Activities
Ross Community Development Trust exists to unlock the potential of the community to work together to enhance the quality of life in the town. The charity was established in 2019 to encourage volunteering within the market town of Ross-on-Wye. Huge thanks are due to everyone in the Ross community who has contributed their time or money to the continued success of Ross CDT during the year.
Ross CDT promotes voluntary action in Ross-on-Wye by:
-
networking with other charities and groups
-
working with statutory services help them work more effectively with voluntary groups
-
providing advice, training and support to groups
-
developing projects to meet identified needs
-
developing the capacity and skills of volunteers.
In the Achievements and Performance section below, the Trustees set out how we have moved forward on these areas of activity during the review period.
Public Benefit
The Trustees seek to ensure that the activities of the CIO meet ‘Public Benefit’ tests in accordance with the Charity Commission guidance. In particular, the Trustees have regard to the Objectives of the CIO, as set out in the Constitution, and how proposed activities will further these. Trustees also judge proposed activities in line with the requirement that they should be beneficial to the public, or a sufficient section of the public.
The Trustees, having reviewed the objectives and activities of the Trust and, having given due consideration to Charity Commission Guidance on public benefit, are satisfied that the Trust’s business is properly conducted for the public benefit.
Achievements and Performance
Networking with other charities and groups
We are currently in contact with 55+ local volunteer organisations. Each group on our list receives a quarterly mailing, with news and info, and also a request for information about their activities which we can advertise on our website, social media and our printed publication ‘Ross Neighbourhood News’. This is delivered by volunteers every three months to 6300 households in Ross, Bridstow and Weston-under-Penyard. As well as publicising our own projects and those of other groups, it also encourages volunteering and lists volunteer vacancies in the town. Thus a combination of face-to-face
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contact through the buddy scheme, printed information through letterboxes, our Helpline, social media (Facebook, Instagram, NextDoor, Twitter) and our website, provides a diverse range of communication channels to connect us, and the wider voluntary sector, to individuals and households.
As described below, towards the end of the year we worked closely with several other organisations to launch the Warm Ross initiative.
Working with statutory services to help them work more effectively with voluntary groups
We have been designated a Talk Community Hub by Herefordshire Council. Rather than a physical, walk-in hub, our hub is distributed. Our buddies and our helpline volunteers are trained so that they can act as sign-posters to the help and information needed by the people they are in contact with.
We have continued to work closely during the year with the Taurus Healthcare Social Prescribing team, as a legacy of our Clover Project, which ran from March 2021 to June 2022.
We have been regular attendees at the Herefordshire Community Partnership meetings, to help to prepare for the introduction of Integrated Care Networks for July 2022, which offer new opportunities for closer working between the voluntary and community sectors.
We are in discussions with Wye Valley NHS Trust and Age UK (Herefordshire) about a scheme to allow those returning home after a hospital stay to access volunteer help with their practical, nonmedical needs. We hope to launch a Herefordshire pilot in Ross during 2023.
Providing advice, training and support to groups
We offer a range of services for other volunteer groups in the Ross area. We offer space in Ross Neighbourhood News for news from member organisations and advertise their volunteer vacancies in our newsletter, website and social media. Since 2021 we have been approved as a Disclosure & Barring Service umbrella organisation, which means we can offer free DBS volunteer checks for our member groups. Full membership is £24/year but groups can also choose free associate membership if they do not require services such as DBS checks, access to our Zoom room etc.
We act as an incubator for groups which are in the process of getting started or who lack capacity. The Ross District Community Land Trust has been established as a Ross CDT project, but its steering committee intend to become an independent body on due course. The Ross Town Ambassadors, who welcome visitors to the town, had no way of getting public liability insurance, and so we adopted them, registering all their volunteers as ours so that they would have the necessary cover.
Developing projects to meet identified needs
Our first project, the Ross Good Neighbours (RGN) scheme, aims to help people across the town, Bridstow and Weston-under-Penyard in many different ways and is at the heart of our operations. Volunteer teams provide a range of services for people who are vulnerable and need support, including a home shopping service for those who are isolated, pet care, light DIY or gardening tasks. We also have a 24/7 messaging service which we use as a dedicated Helpline. Nearly 100 volunteers are involved, including 55 newsletter/leaflet deliverers, 1 newsletter editor, 7 Helpline, 12 shoppers; 3 payment volunteers, 11 befrienders, 4 DBS check team, plus 10 trustees/coordinators.
A major activity at the beginning of the year was the Clover Project (www.clover-hr9.org.uk), aiming to create strong connections between social prescribers, voluntary organisations delivering well-being activities, and the community. Clover was funded through the Thriving Communities Fund of the National Academy for Social Prescribing. We were the lead partner in a consortium of six Herefordshire-based organisations which made the bid (ignite CIC, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, Taurus Healthcare, Active Herefordshire &Worcestershire and Rural Media). To mark the end of the funding period in June we held a successful In Clover event, attended by 35 people, the majority of them participants on the programme, who shared their stories about how the project had helped them. The Clover Evaluation report and a film about the project can be found on the Clover website at www.clover-hr9.org.uk.
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We continued to act as a Herefordshire Council Talk Community Hub during the year, providing signposting information to enquirers and our Ross Good Neighbours clients. During the financial year the Helpline responded to 790 calls from 213 individual numbers.
We also ran an Outreach Project during the year to raise awareness of the services we offer with other agencies and organisations. Towards the autumn the focus of this project shifted towards the coming winter and the anticipated cost-of-living crisis. Working with Ross Community Garden, the Larruperz Centre, Tudorville Community Centre, HVOSS, St. Mary’s church, Ross Community Larder, Ross Baptist church and the Library Service we provided coordination and publicity for the launch of the Warm Ross initiative, to provide warm spaces across the town, as well as information on food, energy, money, keeping well and helping others.
Developing the capacity and skills of volunteers
During the year we have continued to run training events for our volunteers and those of other groups, some of them through the Clover Project. Topics include:
-
First Aid
-
Mental Health First Aid
-
Safeguarding
Financial Review
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have agreed a policy to establish reserve funds equivalent to 6 months operating costs. Currently this is estimated to be £12,500. Existing unrestricted funds amount to £19,770 and therefore the Trust has adequate operating reserves at the time of this report.
Funding and financial performance
The Trust is grateful to have been in receipt of a number of grants that supported the general activities of the Trust. Grant funders are listed on page 18 of this report.
Structure, Governance and Management
Ross CDT is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It has a constitution which is available on the website, based on the model Charity Commission constitution for CIOs.
The maximum number of Trustees is eight, seven elected and one by Ross Town Council (Cllr. Ed O’Driscoll).
At the second AGM, in March 2022, the three longest standing elected trustees (Dennis Humble, Dr Simon Lennane, Jane Roberts) and a co-opted trustee (Caroline Utting) stepped down and were reelected. At each AGM one third of elected Trustees (i.e.2) will retire each time. Geoff Balsom and Jane Mainey retire this year but both have indicated that they are willing to be nominated for reelection.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 1st March 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
Geoffrey Balsom
Jane Roberts Chair of Trustees
Trustee
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
Page | 6
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
| Note Income from: Donations 2 Charitable activities 3 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Net income Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds 2022 £ 5,491 19,484 24,974 19,802 19,802 5,172 5,172 |
Restricted funds 2022 £ 27,699 - 27,699 64,783 64,783 (37,084) (37,084) |
Total funds 2022 £ 33,190 19,484 52,674 84,585 84,585 (31,911) (31,911) |
Total funds 2021 £ 89,052 33,349 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 122,401 | ||||
| 81,811 | ||||
| 81,811 | ||||
| 40,590 | ||||
| 40,590 |
The notes on pages 11 to 19 form part of these financial statements.
Page | 7
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
| BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note Fixed Assets Tangible assets 9 Current Assets Stocks 10 Debtors 11 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors:amounts falling due within one year 12 Net current assets Net assets Charity Funds Restricted funds 13 Unrestricted funds 13 Total funds |
£ - 1,041 30,609 |
2022 £ - 30,973 |
£ 220 1,111 62,624 |
2021 £ - 62,885 62,885 48,287 14,598 62,885 |
| 31,650 (677) |
63,955 (1,070) |
|||
| 30,973 | ||||
| 11,203 19,770 |
||||
| 30,973 |
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
BALANCE SHEET (continued) AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2022
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 1[st] March 2023 2023 and signed on their behalf, by:
Jane Roberts Geoffrey Balsom Chair of Trustees Trustee
The notes on pages 11 to 19 form part of these financial statements.
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
1. Accounting Policies
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practise applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity.
1.2 Going concern
The Trustees have reviewed the current financial status and operations supported by the Trust and are satisfied that there are no reasons why the Trust cannot continue as a going concern.
1.3 Income
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donated goods or services are recognised when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use of the item by the charity is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably.
Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid is recognised at the time of donation.
1.4 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the charity’s operations including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
All assets costing more than £500 are capitalised.
Fixed assets are deprecated over 3 years on a straight-line basis.
1.6 Stocks
Stocks are valued at resale value. Cost includes all direct costs.
1.7 Debtors
Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount.
1.8 Cash at Bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid deposits held in banks and similar accounts.
1.9 Liabilities and provisions
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date 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 can be estimated reliably. Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt.
1.10 Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities that qualify as basic financial instruments.
1.11 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.
1.12 Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in order to further the objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are funds which have been raised for specific purposes. The aim and use of each fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
2. Income from donations
| Donations Total 2021 |
Unrestricted funds 2022 £ 5,491 2,254 |
Restricted funds 2022 £ 27,699 86,798 |
Total funds 2022 £ 33,190 89,052 |
Total funds 2021 £ 89,052 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
- £0 included within Donations is in respect of donated goods and services
3. Income from charitable activities
| Core activities Membership Misc income Total 2021 |
Unrestricted funds 2022 £ 17,522 1,939 23 19,484 33,349 |
Restricted funds 2022 £ - - - - - |
Total funds 2022 £ 17,522 1,939 23 19,484 33,349 |
Total funds 2021 £ 31,641 1,708 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33,349 | ||||
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
4. Expenditure on charitable activities
| Core activities Completed Projects Project: Debt Advice Project: Clover Project: Early Help in Communities Project: Warm Ross Ross and District CLT Total 2021 |
Unrestricted funds 2022 £ 19,802 - - - - - - 19,802 38,100 |
Restricted funds 2022 £ 13,131 - 5,478 44,213 1,857 46 58 64,783 43,711 |
Total funds 2022 £ 32,933 - 5,478 44,213 1,857 46 58 84,585 82,811 |
Total funds 2021 £ 44,221 10,762 2,224 25,396 - - 208 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82,811 | ||||
5. Support costs
| Basis of Allocation Staff costs Activity Office expenses Activity Insurance Activity Total 2021 |
Support costs £ 24,575 2,768 906 28,248 29,187 |
Governance costs £ - - - - - |
Total 2022 £ 24,575 2,768 906 28,248 29,187 |
Total 2021 £ 26,485 2,026 676 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29,187 | ||||
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
6. Independent Examiner’s remuneration
The fee for Thorne & Co to act as Independent Examiners, for FY 2021/22, was £250+VAT.
7. Staff costs
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs |
2022 £ 24,205 (124) 493 24,574 |
2021 £ 25,601 115 768 |
|---|---|---|
| 26,484 |
The number of persons employed by the charity during the year was as follows:
| 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|
| No. | No. |
| 2 | 2 |
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more.
8. Trustees’ remuneration
No remunerations were paid to any trustee.
9. Tangible fixed assets
The trust has no tangible fixed assets. The charity does own two laptops and one mobile phone, all of which have discounted to zero value during the year they were purchased.
10. Stocks
| 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Stock - Green Sacks | 0 | 220 |
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
11. Debtors
| Accrued income Prepayments |
2022 £ 155 886 1,041 |
2021 £ 226 885 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,111 |
12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Accruals |
2022 £ 29 648 677 |
2021 £ 35 1,035 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,070 |
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
13. Statement of funds
Statement of funds – current year
| Unrestricted funds General funds Donated Goods and services Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Admin & Finance Officer Debt Advice Thriving Communities Spaces For Faces Helpline Ross Fairtrade Group Ross Community Land Trust Prevention and Early Help in Communities Community Outreach Warm Ross Total restricted funds Total of funds |
Balance b/d 1 December 2021 £ 14,598 - 14,598 5,000 7,776 29,654 4,750 911 103 93 - - - 48,287 62,885 |
Income £ 24,974 24,974 - - 14,559 - - - 2 1,857 10,000 1,281 27,699 52,673 |
Expenditure £ 19,802 19,802 5,000 5,478 44,213 - 911 - 58 1,857 7,220 46 64,783 84,585 |
Balance at 30 November 2022 £ 19,770 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19,770 | ||||
| - 2,298 - 4,750 - 103 37 - 2,780 1,235 |
||||
| 11,203 | ||||
| 30,973 |
Ross Fairtrade Group – Holding funds for a currently dormant group whose aims are to promote Fairtrade and local produce in Ross-on-Wye.
Ross District CLT – Ross and District Community Land Trust aims to provide affordable housing to local people in need.
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
13. Statement of funds (continued)
Statement of funds – prior year
| Unrestricted funds General funds Donated Goods and services Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Gloucester Road Wall Admin & Finance Officer Talk Community Hub Debt Advice Clover Spaces For Faces Helpline Ross Fairtrade Group The Mayors Fund 2020/21 Ross District CLT Total restricted funds Total of funds |
Balance b/d 1 December 2020 £ 17,095 - 17,095 2,586 2,614 - - - - - - - - 5,200 22,295 |
Income £ 35,603 35,603 1,000 10,000 2,500 10,000 55,050 4,750 1,000 103 2,094 301 86,798 122,401 |
Expenditure £ 38,100 38,100 3,586 7,614 2,500 2,224 25,396 - 89 - 2,094 208 43,711 81,811 |
Balance at 30 November 2021 £ 14,598 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14,600 | ||||
| - 5,000 - 7,776 29,654 4,750 911 103 - 93 |
||||
| 48,287 | ||||
| 62,885 |
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
14. Grants
During the year the charity received the following grants designated for specific purposes, identified as restricted funds:
Herefordshire Council
£1,857 awarded for participation in the council’s project ‘Prevention and Early Help in Communities’.
Ross Town Council
£1,000 towards a Volunteer Management System.
Arts Council England – Thriving Communities £4,224 awarded for the Clover project; a social prescribing project.
Community First
£10,000 awarded from the Get Active: Cultural Fund for use as part of the Clover project.
Herefordshire Community Foundation £10,000 awarded for community outreach.
The charity also received a donation from Christ Church, Ross-on-Wye, towards core activities and this has been recognised as unrestricted in the accounts.
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