Ramsey Neighbourhoods Trust Registered Charity number 1186733 Accounts for the Year ended 31st March 2025
Ramsey Neighbourhoods Trust Registered Charity number 1186733
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] March 2025
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025
The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued in July 2014. The Trustees have confirmed that they have referred to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefits when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
The charitable status for Ramsey Neighbourhoods Trust was granted on 20 June 2012 and in 2019 its registration was transferred to a CIO. The organisation is devoted to creating a strong, active and inclusive community in the historic market town of Ramsey and the satellite villages that form Ramsey Parish. As a community development organisation, programmes and activities are led by the expressed needs and interests of residents.
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Working with the community and numerous partner organisations we firmly believe that Ramsey can continue to overcome its challenges, allowing its residents to flourish.
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From early childhood through to retirement years, RNT offers high quality community-based activities that meet the diverse needs of a rural community.
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Using local staff and volunteers RNT continues to engage residents in the decisions that affect their lives.
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By presenting learning opportunities for every generation, RNT reduces local inequalities and creates an inclusive environment.
RNT works with families in Ramsey who strive tirelessly to keep up with the demands of everyday life and we assist families in accessing the services they need to provide a safe, healthy and stable home for their children, while they positively contribute to the community.
Organisation
RNT is led by volunteer Trustees, who live locally, and represent different sectors of our community. They each bring knowledge of their local area plus past professional and personal experiences to the board. RNT is based in an office above Ramsey Community Library. It is centrally situated and well used. RNT has an excellent relationship with the library services and often the two organisations combine to present activities and opportunities to residents. It also has an excellent relationship with Ramsey Town Council. RNT also works alongside Ramsey Children’s Centre, which also has staff based at the library. RNT staff and Trustees are involved in meetings with the officers and elected representatives of the four local authorities that cover Ramsey – Ramsey Town Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Activities and Projects
RNT has continued to offer a range of activities and programmes in Ramsey. While some of the projects are directed at specific age groups, we recognize that by helping a parent, a child may benefit.
Equally, a programme that engages a child in positive activity can provide much-needed respite for a struggling parent. Some of the long-term impact of the COVID lockdown can still be seen in some school-aged children and older adults. RNT strives to support residents in a manner best suited to their individual needs. To address the health inequalities that became increasingly apparent after the pandemic, the number of physical activity programmes are in place; as have social activities with recognized mental health benefits.
Volunteering and Up-Skilling
RNT continues to champion volunteering within the community, giving local people the skills and confidence, they need, both in their volunteer activities and in the workplace. Examples include young people who, after participating in the youth clubs run by RNT have become youth workers and then attended university. Each volunteer brings something to the table and is encouraged to develop their own skill set. All contributions are valued.
- RNT has staff who are expert in running community projects but more importantly are known and respected in both the community and within the local authority areas which cover the Ramsey Parishes.
• RNT currently has seventeen members of staff most of whom are part-time or sessional. This includes project managers, activity coordinators, youth workers, finance and support staff. Relevant and appropriate training is offered to all staff. Please note that RNT’s contracted staff hours only equate to 2.4 full-time employees.
• As the locally trusted organisation for Ramsey Million Partnership (RMP), RNT worked with Partnership members as they prepared to close out their ten-year funding plan which ended in summer 2024.
Working Strategically
In the past, Ramsey missed out on the public investment that sister market towns were enjoying. However, RNT has developed strong working relationships with many strategic partners, notably the Town and District Councils to ensure that the voice of local people is heard, and we are optimistic about planned new developments.
RNT staff and representatives participate in regular meetings with:
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Town, District and County Councillors, Combined Authority staff
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HDC – Community Coordination Group, Active Lifestyles, Economic Development
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CCC Youth Work Forum, Community Connectors, Early years Networking Group.
| RAMSEY NEIGBOURHOODS TRUST’S ACTIVITIES | RAMSEY NEIGBOURHOODS TRUST’S ACTIVITIES |
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| For Families, Children and Young People |
_Walk & Talk,_for new parents;_Warm Spaces_for parents and children; _Toddler Time_monthly group |
| BOSH, weekly youth club and holiday camp actvites for 5– 10-year-olds |
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| CRUNCH, weekly youth club and holiday camp for 11–16- year-olds |
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| Youth Café A weekly,drop-in space foryoung people. | |
| HAF (Holiday Actvites and Food) programmes for school- aged children eligible for free school meals. (Meals, cooking classes and food to take home) |
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| For adults | |
| Support with benefts, housing, and debt counselling in partnershipwith DISH,HAMA and local authorites |
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| Upskilling workshops and classes, both face to face and online, during the day and evening including digital skills – basic and advanced. |
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| Wellbeing and ftness classes – Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Ballet, mindfulness, instructon on using gym equipment in local parks,etc. |
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| Repair café,sewingclasses | |
| Craf groups, games afernoons, Crochet group Sparks – weeklysocial club for adults with additonal needs |
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| Business, Heritage & Tourism |
Actvites and events to increase footall into the town and boost the local economy |
| Market(untl September 2024) | |
| Natonal Heritage Day actvites, alongside Heritage Partnership |
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| Informaton wallets delivered to tourism centres in the region |
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| Informaton brochure for new residents | |
| Commissioned “Levelling-up” actvites in collaboraton with Huntngdonshire District Council |
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| Working with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to improve local bus services to get Ramsey residents into paid employment and further and higher educaton |
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| Community events | Annual events such as a Christmas Fayre |
| Bi-annual music festval | |
| Regular weeklymarkets and occasional Craf Fairs | |
| Monthly Great Whyte Dine-Out – food truck and community dining. |
Administrative Details
Registered Charity Number :1186733
Principal Address:
Neighbourhood Office, Ramsey Library
25 Great Whyte Road
Ramsey
Cambs PE26 1HG
Objectives and Aims:
To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially disadvantaged community of Ramsey Parish, Cambridgeshire, in such a way that they can identify and help meet their needs and participate more fully in society.
Trustees 2024-2025
Christine Mally – till July 2024
Carol Cornfield – Current Chair
Louise Axelsen
Ian Axelsen
Emma Cook
Josh Jenkins
Mitchell Martin
Simon Mitchell
Sophie Terrill – till September 2024
Annie Wells
Independent examiner
Jan Stobart
Banks
Barclays
Co-operative
Structure, Governance and Management
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
An interested person is given an information pack about the Trust. This includes a copy of the Mission Statement and the Constitution as well as a copy of a booklet which details the work that Ramsey Neighbourhoods Trust undertakes and information from the Charity Commission on the requirements for a Trustee. If there is interest to continue, they are interviewed by the Chair and one other Trustee and invited to attend the next Trustee meeting. Meetings are held monthly and, if that person wishes to join the Trust, a vote is taken at that stage.
New Trustees can also be voted in at any time or at the AGM when existing Trustees are re-voted back to the Trust. As long-term members have now retired and left the area, RNT has a new generation of Trustees.
Risk management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. Controls are in place and all relevant documents are updated regularly and scrutinised. Regular staff training is held regarding fraud and data protection risk awareness. Our Safeguarding and Health and Safety measures are checked regularly and meet the standards now required by the Charity Commission. The Trust has full public liability cover, not only for Trustees but also for all the volunteers who work for the Trust and all the events and meetings held during each year including the market.
Financial Review
Reserves Policy and reserves held
The Trustees have implemented a formal reserves policy to ensure the stability of the Trust.
The Trustees have set a planned reserve level of £10,000 to help cover troughs in the cash budget and fluctuations in key income streams. Trustees regularly review the unrestricted funds cash balance and will amend the planned reserve level if emerging risks suggest this could provide insufficient contingency for unexpected events. At the year end, Trustees compare the reserves held against the target and take appropriate action regarding any significant shortfall or excess. At 31[st] March 2025, unrestricted and undesignated funds total £16,845, exceeding the reserves target. The reserve amount will allow the charity to continue to function and meet its legal obligations, an a very basic level, should all other sources of income cease. At 31[st] March 2025 unrestricted reserves of £60,426 are held, of which £43,581 are in designated project funds.
Restricted Funds totalling £64,781 are held at 31[st] March 2025, the largest of which (£44,000) is for a proposed skatepark due to break ground in 2025.
Restricted Funding Income – Grant income this year was received from National Lottery Community Fund, Ramsey Town Council, Hunts DC CIL, KFC Foundation, Children in Need, Tesco and the Evelyn Trust. The charity also secured a contract from Cambridgeshire CC HAF to deliver young people and family projects.
Review of Results:
The accounts show a total deficit of £17,566 (previous 9-month period deficit of £27,465). Unrestricted funds show a deficit of £2,798 (previous 9-month period deficit of £19,457).
Accounts Approved by the Trustees on 16[th] February 2026
Trustee I Axelsen (Chair of trustees) I Axelsen
Trustee C Cornfield C Cornfield
RAMSEY NEIGHBOURHOODS TRUST Registered Charity no : 1186733
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE PERIOD 1 APRIL 2024 TO 31 MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted Restricted 12 Month Funds Funds 2024/2025 £ £ £ RECEIPTS Grants 353 101,714 102,067 Donations and Sponsorship 4,886 - 4,886 Fees 10,147 - 10,147 Trading Income - 31,539 31,539 Market Income 3,970 - 3,970 Fundraising events 376 117 493 Total Receipts 19,732 133,369 153,101 PAYMENTS Staff Costs 10,557 80,825 91,382 Insurance 504 - 504 Office and IT costs 2,569 18 2,587 Utilities - - - Meeting room hire 1,967 2,346 4,313 Bus Hire - 2,124 2,124 Project costs 2,937 62,106 65,043 Professional Fees - - - Accounting and Examination 500 - 500 Subscriptions 2,951 493 3,444 Advertising 475 225 700 Donations & Sundries 70 - 70 Fundraising event costs - - - Total Payments 22,530 148,137 170,668 DEFICIT FOR YEAR 2,798 - 14,768 - 17,566 - TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS 3,271 3,271 - - TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD 59,954 82,820 142,774 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 60,426 64,781 125,208 |
9 month 2023/2024 £ 81,854 3,183 10,568 30,325 3,122 3,516 |
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| 132,568 | |
| 97,488 504 2,531 500 7,218 3,331 29,821 6,760 1,004 3,681 1,625 1,679 3,891 |
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| 160,033 | |
| 27,465 - - 170,239 |
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| 142,774 |
RAMSEY NEIGHBOURHOODS TRUST
Registered Charity no : 1186733
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31st MARCH 2025
| BANK BALANCES Barclays Current Account Barclays Savings Account Co-op Account DEBTORS Grant amount due Contract amount due CREDITORS Accounting and examination Invoices NON MONETARY ASSETS Market Equipment Office Equipment |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 60,426 6,781 67,208 85,751 0 58,000 58,000 57,023 60,426 64,781 125,208 142,774 0 0 3795 3750 3750 2250 568 568 500 0 0 225 |
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FUNDS HELD AT 31st MARCH 2025
| RNT Governance CCC Children CCC Walks and HIP Crafters Sparks Community Market Phoenix Families & Young People Skate Park / MUGA KFC Skills CCF 2 Children in need Total |
2024 Unrestricted Restricted Total £ £ £ £ 16,845 0 16,845 19,826 0 0 0 3,724 0 4,553 4,553 8,950 0 341 341 395 11,203 0 11,203 9,645 402 0 402 -26 7,755 0 7,755 42,053 24,221 -3,750 20,471 14,206 0 44,000 44,000 44,000 0 1,555 1,555 0 0 5,093 5,093 0 0 4,400 4,400 0 0 8,590 8,590 0 60,426 64,781 125,208 142,774 2025 |
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Ramsey Neighbourhoods Trust Registered Charity number 1186733
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Ramsey Neighbourhoods Trust for the year ended 31[st] March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and 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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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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.
J Stobart
J Stobart FCCA 19 Westfield Drive, Coggeshall, Essex CO6 1PU 16[th] February 2026