Charity number: 1185655
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
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 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 - 17 |
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 2023
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 appointed on incorporation, elected 24[th] March 2022 Cllr Jane Roberts appointed on incorporation, elected 24[th] March 2022 Cllr Edmund John O'Driscoll appointed Ross Town Council 24[th] Oct 2019; reappointed 15[th] May 2023 Jane Mainey co-opted by Trustees 6[th] August 2020, elected 11[th] March 2021 Geoffrey Balsom co-opted by Trustees 14[th] Jan 2021, elected 11[th] March 2021 Caroline Utting co-opted by Trustees 6[th] Jan 2022 Beverley Pope co-opted by Trustees 23[rd] March 2023 Jacqueline Earl elected 30[th] March 2023
Charity registered number
1185655
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
Body corporate
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. Millie Boylan Cllr. Dan Ciolte Cllr Valerie Coker Cllr. Linden Delves Cllr Shelley Foreman Cllr. Katie Fowler Cllr. Sarah Freer Cllr. Winder John Cllr. Daniel Lister Cllr. Corina Lodea Cllr. Ed O'Driscoll Cllr. Beverley Pope Cllr. Michelle Setchfield Cllr. Louis Stark Cllr. Robert Taylor Cllr. Julian Utting Cllr. James Vidler
Page | 2
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
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 74 local volunteer organisations, of which 38 are full members, paying a £24/year subscription and 29 are free-of-charge Associate Members. The remainder are on our mailing list, Each group 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
Page | 3
and those of other groups, it encourages volunteering and lists volunteer vacancies in the town. Thus a combination of face-to-face 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 Ross voluntary sector, to individuals and households.
As described below, we work closely with several other organisations to co-ordinate 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.
Ross Neighbourhood News ran a front page story in May 2023 to publicise West Mercia Police’s Neighbourhood Matters Scheme, and in August celebrated the 75[th] anniversary of the NHS.
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 Full member groups. During 2022/3 we undertook 115 checks, 20 for Ross CDT and 95 for other Herefordshire based voluntary groups.
We stand ready to act an incubator for groups which are in the process of getting started or who lack capacity but have not been received requests for this help during the year. We continue to act as an umbrella organisation for Ross & District Community Land Trust, Ross Fairtrade Group (dormant) and Ross Town Ambassadors.
Developing projects to meet identified needs
Our primary 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. Just over 100 volunteers are involved, including 55 newsletter/leaflet deliverers, 1 newsletter editor, 1 social media coordinator, 1 website editor, 4 IT team, 7 Helpline, 12 shoppers; 3 payment volunteers, 15 befrienders, 4 DBS check team, plus 10 trustees/coordinators.
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 738 calls from 194 individual numbers.
Our Warm Ross Project, working in collaboration with Ross Community Larder, Ross Community Garden, Warm Welcome, the Larruperz Centre, St. Mary’s church, Ross Baptist church and the Library Service, provided coordination and publicity for the warm spaces across the town, as well as information on food, energy, money, keeping well and helping others.
Page | 4
We are very grateful for the magnificent support of the Ross community for our Warm Ross appeal. £4500+ was raised from public donations and distributed as meter top-ups, food vouchers or other essential items to households at risk of hardship.
Developing the capacity and skills of volunteers
During the year we have continued to run Safeguarding training events for our volunteers and those of other groups.
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 £15,500. Existing unrestricted funds amount to £16,974 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 17 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). The 2024 AGM will be asked to vote on a proposal from the Board of Trustees to increase the maximum number of Trustees to 12, in order to allow a greater depth of skills within the Board and enhance organisational resilience.
At the third AGM, in March 2023, the three longest standing elected trustees (Geoff Balsom and Jane Mainey) and a co-opted trustee (Jacqueline Earl) stepped down and were re- elected. At each AGM one third of elected Trustees (i.e.2) will retire each time. Dr Simon Lennane and Jane Roberts retire this year but both have indicated that they are willing to be nominated for re-election. Beverley Pope was co-opted in late March 2023 and is also standing for election.
During the year trustees Chris Barron and Dennis Humble resigned. We are very grateful to the contribution that both of them have made to the growth of Ross CDT,
This report was approved by the Trustees on 24[th] March 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Jane Roberts Chair of Trustees
Jacqueline Earl Trustee and Treasurer
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ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
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 2023
| 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 2023 £ 5,756 13,195 18,951 18,045 18,045 907 907 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ 29,522 - 29,522 29,232 29,232 290 290 |
Total funds 2023 £ 35,278 13,195 48,474 47,277 47,277 1,197 1,197 |
Total funds 2022 £ 33,190 19,484 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52,674 | ||||
| 84,585 | ||||
| 84,585 | ||||
| (31,911) | ||||
| (31,911) |
The notes on pages 9 to 17 form part of these financial statements.
Page | 7
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2023
| 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 |
£ - 1,305 31,160 |
2023 £ - 32,169 |
£ - 1,041 30,609 |
2022 £ - 30,973 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32,465 (296) |
31,650 (677) |
|||
| 32,169 | 30,973 | |||
| 15,195 16,974 |
11,203 19,770 |
|||
| 32,169 | 30,973 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 21[st] March 2024 and signed on their behalf, by:
Jane Roberts
Chair of Trustees
Jacqueline Earl Treasurer
The notes on pages 9 to 17 form part of these financial statements.
Page | 8
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
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 2023
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 2023
2. Income from donations
| Donations Total 2022 |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 5,756 5,491 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ 29,522 27,699 |
Total funds 2023 £ 35,278 33,190 |
Total funds 2022 £ 33,190 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
- £0 included within Donations is in respect of donated goods and services
3. Income from charitable activities
| Core activities Membership Misc income Total 2022 |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 11,714 1,482 - 13,195 19,484 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ - - - - - |
Total funds 2023 £ 11,714 1,482 - 13,195 19,484 |
Total funds 2022 £ 17,522 1,939 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19,484 | ||||
Page | 11
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
| 4. Expenditure on charitable activities Unrestricted funds 2023 £ Core activities 18,045 Project: Debt Advice - Project: Clover - Project: Early Help in Communities - Project: Warm Ross - Ross and District CLT - Project: Spaces for Faces - Project: Community Outreach - Project: Ross Good Neighbours - 18,045 Total 2022 19,802 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ - - - - 4,351 - 4,750 2,780 17,351 29,232 64,783 |
Total funds 2023 £ 18,045 - - - 4,351 - 4,750 2,780 17,351 47,277 84,585 |
Total funds 2022 £ 32,933 5,478 44,213 1,857 46 58 - - - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84,585 | |||
Page | 12
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
5. Support costs
| Basis of Allocation Staff costs Activity Office expenses Activity Insurance Activity Total 2022 |
Support costs £ 17,765 2,569 688 21,021 28,248 |
Governance costs £ - - - - - |
Total 2023 £ 17,765 2,569 688 21,021 28,248 |
Total 2022 £ 24,575 2,768 906 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28,248 | ||||
6. Independent Examiner’s remuneration
The fee for Thorne & Co to act as Independent Examiners, for FY 2022/23, was £250+VAT.
7. Staff costs
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs |
2023 £ 17,747 (58) 76 17,764 |
2022 £ 24,205 (124) 493 |
|---|---|---|
| 24,574 |
The number of persons employed by the charity during the year was as follows:
| 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|
| 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.
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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 2023
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
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Stock | 0 | 0 |
11. Debtors
| Accrued income Prepayments |
2023 £ 491 814 1,305 |
2022 £ 155 886 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,041 |
12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Accruals |
2023 £ - 296 296 |
2022 £ 29 648 |
|---|---|---|
| 677 |
Page | 14
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
13. Statement of funds
Statement of funds – current year
| Unrestricted funds General funds Donated Goods and services Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Debt Advice Spaces For Faces Ross Fairtrade Group Ross Community Land Trust Community Outreach Warm Ross Insovency Fund Ross Good Neighbours Total restricted funds Total of funds |
Balance b/d 1 December 2022 £ 19,770 - 19,770 2,298 4,750 103 37 2,780 1,235 - - 11,203 30,973 |
Income £ 18,951 - 18,951 - - - - - 4,523 - 25,000 29,522 48,473 |
Expenditure £ 18,045 - 18,045 - 4,750 - - 2,780 4,351 - 17,351 29,232 47,277 |
Transfers In/Out £ (3,702) - (3,702) (2,298) - - - - - 6,000 - 3,702 - |
Balance at 30 November 2023 £ 16,974 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16,974 | |||||
| - - 103 37 - 1,407 6,000 7,649 |
|||||
| 15,195 | |||||
| 32,169 |
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.
Warm Ross – Public and other donations to this fund are earmarked for distribution to households at risk of financial hardship and therefore identified as restricted funds.
Page | 15
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
13. Statement of funds (continued)
Statement of funds – prior 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 |
Page | 16
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023
14. Grants
During the year the charity received the following grants designated for specific purposes, identified as restricted funds:
Ross Lions Club £5,000 awarded for core costs for the Ross Good Neighbours scheme, including Public Liability Insurance for 2023, printing of Newsletters and Telephone.
Eveson Trust
£5,000 awarded for the core costs of the Ross Good Neighbours scheme.
The Foyle Foundation £5,000 awarded for staff salaries and other core costs.
National Lottery Awards for All £10,000 awarded for core costs, including staff salaries.
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