# **Bensham Grove Community Centre Registered Charity No. 1188101**
**Trustees' Report and Financial Statement for the year ended 31 December 2021**
## **Legal and Administrative Information**
## **Bensham Grove Community Centre**
Name: **Bensham Grove Community Centre** Charity no: 1188101 Structure: Unincorporated association governed by a constitution. Trustees: _Chair_ Shirley Brown _Vice Chair_ Vikas Kumar _Treasurer_ Sara Allen _Others_ Loraine Yeats Susan Adamson Ruth Tissington Trustees are elected by the membership at each Annual General Meeting. Address: Sidney Grove Bensham Gateshead NE8 2XD Bankers: Lloyds 15 West Street Gateshead NE8 1DP Independent Mark Thompson MAAT Examiner: 42 Lesbury Road Newcastle NE6 5LB
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
## **Background**
The Community Centre was established to provide a community venue for the benefit of people living in Bensham, Gateshead and the wider area. The Centre works with the local authority, voluntary organisations, and other groups to provide opportunities and facilities to help improve the social and personal education, health and welfare, and recreational opportunities of local people. The Centre became an Community Interest Organisation in February 2020 changing its charitable status and governance, although its aims remain similar the concierge of the Grade 2 listed building has been added to its objectives. The Centre held a virtual AGM in Nov 2021 where the current Board were reelected to stand. The centre employs a full time caretaker and a part time cleaners, they have taken advantage of the Governments Furlough scheme where necessary during the year. The Board have taken the decision to employ a part time Community Centre Manager in 2022 and feel that this is a positive step to the Centres development.
The organisation is managed by a voluntary Board of trustees who are elected in line with the constitution. The Committee is also supported by non-voting representatives of the Council's learning Skills Service, and all are representatives of groups who use the Centre. The Committee meets at least six times every year to make decisions about the centre and its facilities, while the day to day running of the Centre is managed staff from learning Skills (who are employed by the local authority and work closely with the Management Committee).
## **Review of activities and performance**
The Centre provides a wide range of activities, with a central focus being adult education and learning. There are a wide variety of classes, groups and activities available at the centre, ranging from Craft groups through to groups for older people, those that support the Minority Ethnic community and Adult education programmes. The Centre offers computing and internet facilities as well as Basic Skills. In 2021 the centre continued to be affected by the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic which had a huge impact on the ability of organisations to hire rooms, hold meetings and events as it would usually. Many courses took place online rather than the classroom which although keeping members and learners with us did very little to raise funds. However still there were a total of 150 courses run engaging over 1200 learners as well as many groups continuing to keep in touch via Social media and virtually. The Centre has an excellent arrangement with Gateshead Council learning Skills in the provision of accommodation and support for Adult learning courses
The Main House of Centre which reopened in September 2013 following a very successful Heritage Lottery Project is continuing to flourish and further develop. In 2021 The Centre completed to convert additional rooms on the first floor of the building as accessible artists studios. The addition of new ceramics installations as decorative finishes and some important 18th Century stained glass restoration (completed with the assistance of Sunderland University students and staff) have added to the popularity of these studios and the aesthetics of the project overall. These works are stunning and a great example of what community groups can achieve when they are determined and supported. All works within the centre are of exceptional standard and continue to be a highlight to visitors.
During this year we have been pleased to see the numbers of people involved with the centre remain stable, and have found digital methods of keeping in touch with everyone during lockdown and distancing protocols. The centre continued as a hub for Mutual Aid throughout the year where many volunteers were involved in delivering shopping, prescriptions and emergency food supplies . The wonderful garden at the Centre has been a great source of comfort for many local people who have little or no outside space. A successful volunteer project has developed a particular site for garden pollinators and a series of raised beds for members and local people to use which is extremely popular, as have the number of groups using our building. These initiatives have brought new interest and volunteers to the project keeping it a very important community hub valued by those near and far.
The Community Centre is used seven days a week from early morning till 9pm. There are a wide range of groups, classes and courses using the facilities. The project, continues to be used by a diverse range of people reflective of both the multi-cultural nature of the local community and also by people with learning disabilities who enjoy being part of an open and inclusive community.
## **Risks, reserves and investments**
We carry out a risk assessment on all our projects, and these are reviewed on a regular basis. This has been particularly important in terms of Covid safety. The Centre has been an excellent example of all of the regulations about social distancing, hygiene and tracking throughout, supplying volunteer made PPE to users and other local people. There was a tremendous response to all calls for help and support, strengthening and promoting the Community spirit which the centre was well known for. All funds not immediately required are held in interest-bearing accounts. The Centre has updated its financial procedures, safeguarding, Equality and Diversity and H&S documents over the last year and is working to update its current business plan.
## **Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements**
Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which comply with the regulations set out in the Charities Act 1993. The Trustees have elected to take advantage of the provisions that apply to small charities and have prepared a Receipts and Payments Account and
Signed: ………………………..Chair, on behalf of the Trustees, date: ……………..
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **Report to the trustees of Bensham Grove Community Centre**
## **On accounts for 31 December 2021 Charity no 1188101 the year ended**
**Respective** The trustees of the organisation are responsible for the preparation of **responsibilities of** accounts; they consider that an audit is not required for this year under **trustees and** section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an Independent **examiner** Examination is needed. It is my responsibility to
- examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act),
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the
- Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act), and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
**Basis of** My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions **independent** given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review **examiner’s** of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the **statement** accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
- **Independent** In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention: **examiner's** 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material **statement** respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that:
- proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 130 of
- the Act); and
- accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and
- comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Signed: Date:12 May 2022**
**Name:** Mark Thompson MAAT **Address:** 42 Lesbury Road Newcastle NE6 5LB
## **Bensham Grove Community Centre Receipts and payments account for the period 1 January to 31 December 2021**
|**Notes**
**Income**
Grants
2
Rent and room hire
Donations
Classes Fees
Subscriptions
Sales
Fundraising
Reimbursements
Learning Skills Operational
Membership
Bank Interest
Overpaid to Ellison Services
Studio Hire
Pottery Fundraising
**Total Receipts**
**Expenditure**
Activities and events
Events
Payments from Grants
Dawn Brown Fund Grants
Pottery Project
Equipment, materials and maintenance
Buildings refurbishment
Transport/volunteers expenses
Performing Rights Licence
Staff Wages
3
Refreshment Sales
Management and administration
Gateshead Council (Running Costs)
Insurance
Accountancy
4
Printing, Post & Stationery
Fees repaid to GMBC
Utilities
**Total Payments**
Surplus for the period
Balance at 1 January 2021
**Balance at 31 December 2021**|**2021**
**2021**
**2021**
**2020**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
25134
7013
32147
149569
49790
49790
44013
0
579
594
594
7750
2517
2517
2700
2389
2389
767
1604
1604
635
7198
7198
12320
8000
8000
699
250
250
169
178
178
407
0
8000
10600
10600
1950
1142
1142|
|---|---|
||**108254**
**8155**
**116409**
**229557**|
||851
851
1398
13442
13442
156998
2343
2343
9110
9110
3861
8241
8241
6439
6359
6359
7580
267
267
123
662
662
0
22939
3951
26890
24518
162
162
219
572
572
286
4693
4693
1510
650
650
620
133
133
130
3966
3966
7617
25768
25768
20047|
||**75263**
**28846**
**104109**
**231346**|
||32991
-20691
12300
-1789
127891
27048
154939
156728|
||**160882**
**6357**
**167239**
**154939**|
## **Bensham Grove Community Centre Balance Sheet at 31 December 2021**
||**Notes**|**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Current Assets Assets**||||
|Business instant access||271|271|
|Treasurer's account||21333|72005|
|Virgin Deposit||151635|82663|
|**Total Currnet Assets**||**173239**|**154939**|
|**Current Liablilites**||||
|Utilities||-6000||
|**Net Assets at 31 December 2021**||**167239**|**154939**|
|**Represented by:**|**5**|||
|Restricted Funds||6357|27048|
|Designated Funds||78000|60000|
|Unrestricted Funds||82882|67891|
|**Total**||**167239**|**154939**|
|**The financial statements were approved by the following**||**members of the**||
|**Management Committee :**||||
|Signed …………….……………………… Position …………………………………..||||
|Signed …………….……………………… Position …………………………………..||||
|Date ……………………………………….||||
## **Bensham Grove Community Centre Notes to the accounts, 2021**
## **1.[Accounting Policies]**
- **a** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) – Charities SORP (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006
Bensham Grove Community Centre meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
- **b** Grants received are accounted for on a received basis and credited to income.
- **c** Voluntary income is received by way of donations and gifts and is included in full in the Receipts and Payments Account when received.
- **d** Note that the organisation changed from Bensham Community Association (reg. charity no. 1090870), this is the first financial year under the new organisation. Assets and funding continue as previously.
## **2.[Grants receivable]**
|**Grants receivable**||
|---|---|
|Dawn Brown Fund (Community Foundation)|3062|
|HMRC Job Retention Fund|3950|
|Business Covid Fund (Gateshead Council)|25134|
|**Total Grants received**|**32146**|
## **3.[Trustees, staff and related party transactions]**
The organisation employed 3 members of staff during the period of the accounts. No payments were made to trustees.
## **4.[Costs of financial services]**
During the year £620 was paid for the independent examination of the 2019 accounts. No other amounts were paid for financial services.
## **5.[Analysis of Funds:]**
|**Restricted Funds**
North Star
Dawn Brown Fund
Unison
HMRC Job Retention Fund
Community Led Local Development Fund (Capital)
Community Foundation
Business Development Grant (Gateshead Council)
Lottery Community Funding (Covid 19)
Community Foundation Resilience Fund
Thrive Fund GMBC (Pottery) & Pottery Fund
**Total**|**Open Bal**
**Income**
**Expend**
**End Bal**
0
0
647
3062
2343
1366
0
0
0
3951
3951
0
0
0
2830
2830
0
0
0
9000
7610
1390
3002
3002
0
11569
1142
9110
3601|
|---|---|
||**27048**
**8155**
**28846**
**6357**|
## **Designated Funds**
|**1. Legal Liability Fund**
(Funds set aside should the organisation wind-up, to pay
for Redundancy & other contractual obligations).
**2. Buildings & Maintenance Fund**
(Funds for replacement and upkeep of the building)
**Total Designated Funds**
**Total Funds:**
Restricted Funds
Designated Funds
General Funds|20000
58000|
|---|---|
||**78000**|
||6357
78000
82882|
||**167239**|
The Charity aims to keep six months running costs in General Funds, as recommended by The Charity Commission.