Charity number: 1185655
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
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 - 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 - 18 |
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 2024
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 Beverley Pope Geoffrey Balsom Caroline Utting Jacqueline Earl Alison Clarke Paul Cummings Rachel Hankins
appointed on incorporation, elected 24[th] March 2022 appointed on incorporation, elected 24[th] March 2022 appointed by Ross Town Council 13[th] May 2024 co-opted by Trustees 14[th] Jan 2021, elected 11[th] March 2021 co-opted by Trustees 6[th] Jan 2022, elected 24[th] March 2022 elected 30[th] March 2023 elected 12[th] April 2024 elected 12[th] April 2024 elected 12[th] April 2024; resigned 16[th] January 2025
Charity registered number
Body corporate
1185655
Registered office
Ross-on-Wye Town Council The Town Hall Cantilupe Road Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire HR9 7AN
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. Millie Boylan Cllr. Dan Ciolte Cllr Valerie Coker Cllr. Leon Davies Cllr Linden Delves 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 2024
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 December 1[st] 2023 to November 30[th] 2024.
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.
We ran a highly successful Festival of Volunteering in September as part of the John Kyrle 300 celebrations attended by over 100 volunteers from 26 local organisations. Attendees enjoyed music, a pop up bar and photo booth, “I volunteer in Ross” badges and an opportunity to engage with each other, make new connections and celebrate old ones. We were grateful for financial support from Ross Town Council for this event.
During the autumn of 2024 we worked with Ross Community Larder to transfer the funds and the operation of our Warm Ross initiative to them. The majority of referrals for fuel vouchers in 23/24 to Warm Ross were from the Larder, so it made sense for them to directly administer the scheme.
During the year we processed 101 DBS checks for 25 local organisations.
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 network with other groups and contribute to the Herefordshire Together initiative.
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.
We stand ready to act an incubator for groups which are in the process of getting started or who lack capacity. We worked with a small team of volunteers to arrange the re-painting of the large mural at the junction of Edde Cross Street and Trenchard Street, assisting with fundraising, volunteer recruitment, risk assessments and public liability cover. We were grateful for support from Ross Town Council for this project.
We continue to act as an umbrella organisation for three dormant groups: Ross & District Community Land Trust, Ross Fairtrade Group and Ross Town Ambassadors.
Developing projects to meet identified needs
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. During the year our volunteers did 271 shops for 13 customers. We also have a 24/7 messaging service which we use as a dedicated Helpline. Nearly 100 volunteers are involved, including 52 newsletter/leaflet deliverers, 2 newsletter editorial, 6 Helpline, 10 shoppers; 3 payment volunteers, 17 befrienders, 3 DBS check team, plus 11 trustees/coordinators.
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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 741 calls from 169 individual numbers.
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.
We are immensely grateful to our hardworking staff, our volunteers and our funders, without whom none of this work would be possible.
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 £18,000. Existing unrestricted funds amount to £15,162 and the Trustees have established a contingency fund of £6,000 against future insolvency, which is also part of the reserves. 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 twelve, up to eleven elected and one appointed by Ross Town Council (Cllr. Beverley Pope).
At each AGM one third of elected Trustees will retire each time. At the AGM in April 2024, the two longest standing elected trustees (Dr Simon Lennane, Jane Roberts) retired and were re-elected and new trustees Alison Clarke, Paul Cummings, Rachel Hankins and Beverley Pope were elected.
In May 2024 Ross Town Council appointed Cllr Pope as their appointed trustee, to take the place of Cllr O’Driscoll.
In January 2025 Rachel Hankins resigned as a trustee.
Geoff Balsom and Caroline Utting will retire at the 2025 AGM and are eligible for re-election.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 19th 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 2024
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 2024
| 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 2024 £ 9,735 10,059 19,794 21,606 21,606 (1,812) (1,812) |
Restricted funds 2024 £ 28,482 - 28,482 32,185 32,185 (3,704) (3,704) |
Total funds 2024 £ 38,217 10,059 48,276 53,791 53,791 (5,515) (5,515) |
Total funds 2023 £ 35,278 13,195 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48,474 | ||||
| 47,277 | ||||
| 47,277 | ||||
| 1,197 | ||||
| _1,197 _ |
The notes on pages 12 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 2024
| 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 |
£ - 9,027 17,948 |
2024 £ - 26,654 |
£ - 1,305 |
2023 £ - 32,169 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31,160 | ||||
| 26,975 (321) |
32,465 (296) |
|||
| 26,654 | 32,169 | |||
| 11,492 15,162 |
15,195 16,974 |
|||
| 26,654 | 32,169 |
Page | 8
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
BALANCE SHEET (continued) AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2024
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 19th March 2024 and signed on their behalf, by:
Jane Roberts Jacqueline Earl Chair of Trustees Trustee and Treasurer
The notes on pages 12 to 19 form part of these financial statements.
Page | 9
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
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 2024
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 2024
2. Income from donations
| Donations Total 2023 |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 9,735 5,756 |
Restricted funds 2024 £ 28,482 29,522 |
Total funds 2024 £ 38,217 35,278 |
Total funds 2023 £ 35,278 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
- £0 included within Donations is in respect of donated goods and services
3. Income from charitable activities
| Core activities Membership Misc income Total 2023 |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 8,685 1,374 - 10,059 13,195 |
Restricted funds 2024 £ - - - - - |
Total funds 2024 £ 8,685 1,374 0 10,059 13,195 |
Total funds 2023 £ 11,714 1,482 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13,195 | ||||
Page | 12
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
4. Expenditure on charitable activities
| Core activities Project: Warm Ross Project: Spaces for Faces Project: Community Outreach Project: Ross Good Neighbours Project: Mural Project: JK300 Total 2023 |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 21,606 - - - - - - 21,606 18,045 |
Restricted funds 2024 £ - 10,237 - - 17,295 3,828 825 32,185 29,232 |
Total funds 2024 £ 21,606 10,237 - - 17,295 3,828 825 53,791 47,277 |
Total funds 2023 £ 18,045 4,351 4,750 2,780 17,351 - - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47,277 | ||||
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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 2024
5. Support costs
| Basis of Allocation Staff costs Activity Office expenses Activity Insurance Activity Total 2023 |
Support costs £ 28,111 1,739 484 30,334 21,021 |
Governance costs £ - - - - - |
Total 2024 £ 28,111 1,739 484 30,334 21,021 |
Total 2023 £ 17,765 2,569 688 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21,021 | ||||
6. Independent Examiner’s remuneration
The fee for Thorne & Co to act as Independent Examiners, for FY 2023/24, was £250+VAT.
7. Staff costs
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs |
2024 £ 27,499 - 612 28,111 |
2023 £ 17,747 (58) 76 |
|---|---|---|
| 17,764 |
The number of persons employed by the charity during the year was as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|
| No. | No. |
| 3 | 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 2024
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
| Stock ebtors Accrued income Prepayments |
2024 £ 0 2024 £ 8,233 770 9,003 |
2023 £ 0 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 £ 491 814 |
|||
| 1,305 |
11. Debtors
12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Accruals |
2024 £ 14.4 300 314 |
2023 £ - 296 |
|---|---|---|
| 296 |
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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 2024
13. Statement of funds
Statement of funds – current year
| Unrestricted funds General funds Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Ross Fairtrade Group Ross Community Land Trust Warm Ross Insolvency Fund Ross Good Neighbours JK300 Mural Total restricted funds Total of funds |
Balance b/d 1 December 2023 £ 16,974 16,974 103 37 1,407 6,000 7,649 - - 15,195 32,169 |
Income £ 19,794 19,794 - - 8,830 - 15,000 825 3,828 28,482 40,276 |
Expenditure £ 21,606 21,606 - - 10,237 - 17,295 825 3,828 32,185 **53,791 ** |
Transfers In/Out £ - - - - - - - - - - - |
Balance at 30 November 2024 £ 15,162 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,162 | |||||
| 103 37 - 6,000 5,354 - - |
|||||
| 11,492 | |||||
| **18,654 ** |
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.
Page | 16
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
13. Statement of funds (continued)
Statement of funds – prior 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 Ross Good Neighbours Total restricted funds Total of funds |
Balance b/d 1 December 2022 £ 0 - 0 2,298 4,750 103 37 2,780 1,235 - 11,203 11,203 |
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 £ 2,298 - 2,298 (2,298) - - - - - - (2,298) - |
Balance at 30 November 2023 £ 3,204 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,204 | |||||
| - - 103 37 - 1,407 7,649 |
|||||
| 9,195 | |||||
| 12,399 |
Page | 17
ROSS-ON-WYE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2024
14. Grants
During the year the charity received the following grants designated for specific purposes, identified as restricted funds:
National Grid
£6,700 awarded for salaries and equipment to run the Warm Ross project.
Herefordshire Community Foundation £15,000 awarded for staff salaries, Ross Good Neighbours Newsletters and other running costs.
Ross Town Council £1,000 awarded for the mural project. £825 awarded for the JK300 Festival of Volunteering.
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