# **Bensham Grove Community Centre Registered Charity No. 1188101** 

**Trustees' Report and Financial Statement for the year ended 31 December 2024** 



## **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_ Angela Knox _Secretary_ Shirley Allen _Others_ Susan Adamson 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 volunteers, local voluntary organisations, the local authority and other groups to provide opportunities and facilities to help improve the social and personal education, (including social cohesion) health and welfare, and recreational opportunities of local people. 

The Centre became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in February 2020 changing its charitable status and governance. Its aims however remain similar, although the concierge of the Grade 2 listed building has been added to its objectives. The Centre held its  AGM in July 2024, but elections were not required following the details set out in the constitution; new appointments are due 2024 from those members still in post. 

The centre employs a full-time caretaker and a part-time cleaner. The Board continue to support the part time Community Centre Manager who is now supported by a part time administrator. The Centre also employs part time pottery technical staff and consultants as the pottery studio has increased its programme significantly during the year. 

The Centre have been funded once again by Lankelly Chase charitable funds to employ a full time and part time Community Development workers ( Bridgebuilders) to work across the diverse communities in the area. This continues to be working well and brings a new audience to the project. ESOL courses, diverse social groups and refugee support groups have been further developed to support people from a wide range of cultures arrived in the area. The Centre was particularly busy during Ramadan and several organisations held Iftar events. 

## **Review of activities and performance** 

The Centre provides a wide range of activities, with a central focus remaining of 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  diverse community's and the adult education programmes. The Centre has good  internet facilities which supports members and learners including on   Basic Skills programmes. Job clubs, including some specific to neurodiversity, and voluntary sector/not for profit organisations hire rooms on an ad hoc basis, increasing the footfall and range of opportunities available. In 2024 the centre was able to support a great many people who had been affected and traumatised by the summer riots and some very specific social cohesion projects have been held with noteworthy results.  There were more than 1000 participants every week using the Centre which is supported largely by volunteer input. The Centre has an arrangement with Gateshead Council learning Skills and the WEA in the provision of accommodation and support for adult learning courses. 



The Main House of Centre which reopened in September 2013 following a highly successful Heritage Lottery Project is continuing to flourish and further develop. In 2022,  the studio rooms which had opened in 2021, were fully occupied bringing sustainability to the centre. Plans to develop new stainedglass installations with funds from the Queens Jubilee Awards were developed. These works showed a splendid 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 too, a book was written about the history of Bensham Grove and the families who lived here and those who donated the building to local people. This was a key step forward and a unique project for Bensham Grove and funds from the sale of the book continues to raise much appreciated funds for the Centre. 

During this year we have been  pleased to see the numbers of people involved with the centre increase. New staff and local projects have increased the number of organisations that are frequently using the project.   The wonderful garden at the Centre remains to be well used and appreciated. The gardening group have continued to develop their Bee Garden and also have created a kitchen garden to show how they are developing their horticultural skills. The raised beds that were developed for local people to use are still used by a small number of local residents whose homes do not have gardens. 

We have been delighted to develop an Urban Physic Garden to support well-being and appreciation of the impact of working in outdoor spaces to address anxiety and stress. 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** 

Staff carry out  risk assessments on all our projects, and these are reviewed on a regular basis. This has been particularly important in terms of general safety.  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 Statement of Assets and Liabilities. 

Signed:                                               .Chair, on behalf of the Trustees,    date:  30th March 2025 



## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** 

## **Report to the trustees of Bensham Grove Community Centre** 

## **On accounts for 31 December 2024 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: 29 April 2025** 

**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 2024** 

|**Notes**<br>**Income**<br>Grants<br>2<br>Rent and Room Hire<br>Donations<br>Classes Fees<br>Subscriptions<br>Sales<br>Reimbursements<br>Membership<br>Bank Interest<br>Studio Hire<br>BG Womens Group<br>Contribution to Pottery Tech<br>Pottery Fundraising<br>Pottery Resources<br>**Total Receipts**<br>**Expenditure**<br>Activities and Events<br>Events<br>Payments from Grants<br>Dawn Brown Fund Grants<br>BG Womens Group<br>HLF Project<br>Pottery Project<br>Pottery Expenditure<br>Equipment, Materials and Maintenance<br>Transport/Volunteers Expenses<br>Performing Rights Licence<br>Staff Wages<br>3<br>Refreshment Sales<br>Management and Administration<br>Gateshead Council (Running Costs)<br>Insurance<br>Accountancy<br>4<br>Printing, Post & Stationery<br>Refuse Collection<br>Utilities<br>Reimbursements<br>General Administration<br>**Total Payments**<br>Surplus for the period<br>Transfers between Funds<br>Balance at 1 January 2024<br>**Balance at 31 December 2024**|**2024**<br>**2024**<br>**2024**<br>**2023**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Total**<br>**Total**<br>78921<br>78921<br>109681<br>83307<br>83307<br>68177<br>1098<br>1098<br>583<br>29465<br>29465<br>2080<br>23815<br>23815<br>12970<br>2808<br>2808<br>4193<br>256<br>256<br>860<br>1993<br>1993<br>1016<br>2079<br>2079<br>861<br>17240<br>17240<br>15900<br>1750<br>1750<br>2000<br>14496<br>14496<br>3034<br>1645<br>1645<br>1329<br>25783<br>25783<br>1289|
|---|---|
||**205734**<br>**78921**<br>**284655**<br>**223973**|
||1323<br>1323<br>4186<br>93636<br>93636<br>74239<br>1647<br>1647<br>986<br>1000<br>1000<br>703<br>7830<br>7830<br>1620<br>1620<br>1191<br>18537<br>18537<br>9584<br>11800<br>11800<br>16473<br>782<br>782<br>1348<br>240<br>240<br>231<br>91512<br>91512<br>51414<br>755<br>755<br>450<br>0<br>0<br>6816<br>6816<br>5582<br>810<br>810<br>765<br>634<br>634<br>125<br>572<br>572<br>286<br>47742<br>47742<br>44715<br>1894<br>1894<br>1218<br>111<br>111<br>168|
||**193978**<br>**95283**<br>**289261**<br>**213664**|
||11756<br>-16362<br>-4606<br>10309<br>17409<br>-17409<br>156569<br>68137<br>224706<br>214397|
||**185734**<br>**34366**<br>**220100**<br>**224706**|





## **Bensham Grove Community Centre Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024** 

||**Notes**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Current Assets Assets**||||
|Business instant access||277|274|
|Treasurer's account||64855|71533|
|Virgin Deposit||154968|152892|
|Cash in Hand|||7|
|**Total Current Assets**||**220100**|**224706**|
|**Current Liablilites**||||
|**Net Assets at 31 December 2024**||**220100**|**224706**|
|**Represented by:**|**5**|||
|Restricted Funds||34366|68137|
|Designated Funds||95072|94927|
|Unrestricted Funds||90662|61642|
|**Total**||**220100**|**224706**|
|**The financial statements were approved by the following**||**members of the**||
|**Management Committee :**||||
|Signed …………….………………………    Position …………………………………..<br>Treasurer||||
|Signed …………….………………………    Position …………………………………..<br>Chair||||
|Date ……………………………………….<br>08 -05-2025||||





## **Bensham Grove Community Centre Notes to the accounts, 2024** 

## **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. 

## **2.[Grants receivable]** 

|**Grants receivable**||
|---|---|
|Community Foundation (Admin)|10000|
|Grant - Ballinger Trust LC Funding|17668|
|Software City Grant|500|
|Community Funding (Wages)|22580|
|Gateshead Council UP (Garden Grant)|6000|
|Social Change Grant - Grief Café|3040|
|Dawn Brown Fund|1685|
|Unique B Women|1750|
|Lankelly Chase (Staffing)|15698|
|**Total Grants**|**78921**|



## **3.[Trustees, staff and related party transactions]** 

The organisation employed 9 members of staff during the period of the accounts. No payments were made to trustees. 

## **4.[Costs of financial services]** 

During the year £750 was paid for the independent examination of the 2023 accounts. 

## **5.[Analysis of Funds:]** 

|**Restricted Funds**<br>Dawn Brown Fund<br>Ballinger Trust<br>Lankelly Chase<br>Community Foundation Grant (admin)<br>Software City Grant<br>Community Funding (Wages)<br>Gateshead Council UP Garden Grant<br>Social Change Grant - Grief Café<br>Unique B Women<br>**Total**|**Open Bal**<br>**Income**<br>**Expend**<br>**Transfers**<br>**End Bal**<br>501<br>1685<br>1647<br>539<br>4612<br>17668<br>15817<br>6463<br>63025<br>15698<br>53052<br>-17409<br>8262<br>10000<br>6671<br>3329<br>500<br>500<br>0<br>22580<br>9568<br>13012<br>6000<br>5719<br>281<br>3040<br>560<br>2480<br>1750<br>1750<br>0|
|---|---|
||**68138**<br>**78921**<br>**95284**<br>**-17409**<br>**34366**|





## **Designated Funds** 

|**Designated Funds**|||
|---|---|---|
|**1. Legal Liability Fund**||35000|
|(Funds set aside should the organisation wind-up, to pay|||
|for Redundancy & other contractual obligations).|||
|**2. Buildings & Maintenance Fund**||58000|
|(Funds for replacement and upkeep of the building)|||
|**3. Womens Group**|||
|Balance b/fwd|1297||
|Income (from Ballinger Trust)|1750||
|Expenditure|-999|2048|
|**4. Pottery Fundraising**|||
|Income|1645||
|Expenditure|-1620|25|
|**Total Designated Funds**||**95073**|
|**Total Funds:**|||
|Restricted Funds||34366|
|Designated Funds||95073|
|General Funds||90661|
|||**220100**|



The Charity aims to keep six months running costs in General Funds, as recommended by The Charity Commission.