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2025-02-28-accounts

ANNUAL REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

CHARITY REGISTRATION No: 1188480

Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices

53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

CONTENTS
Page 3 Legal and Administrative Information
Pages 4 to 11 Trustees' Report
Page 12 Statement of Financial Activities
Page 13 Balance Sheet
Pages 14 to 23 Notes to the Financial Statements
Page 24 Independent Examiner's Report

2

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

CHARITY NUMBER 1188480 DATE OF REGISTRATION 11th March 2020 START OF FINANCIAL YEAR 1st March 2024 END OF FINANCIAL YEAR 28th February 2025 TRUSTEES AT 28TH FEBRUARY 2025 Dr Melanie Lombard (Chair) Dr Diana Mitlin (Secretary) Ms Melony Pentreath (Treasurer) Ms Julie Jarman Reverend Eleanor Trimble Mr Bernard Sudlow Miss Georgie Mitchell (Appointed 17th December 2024) LEGAL STATUS Charitable Incorporated Organisation GOVERNING INSTRUMENT CIO - Foundation Registered 11th March 2020

OBJECTS

1 . To relieve poverty for the public benefit in socially and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in England and Wales by: a ) supporting people to learn about and establish community-led savings initiatives; b ) supporting community associations to work together, and to develop partnerships, in such a way that they are better able to realise community-led solutions for the relief of poverty for the public benefit. 2 . To develop the capacity and skills of the residents of socially and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in England and Wales in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs, and work together to reduce social and economic disadvantage.

CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS MACC Manchester Community Central St. Thomas Centre Ardwick Green North Manchester Lancashire M12 6FZ PRIMARY BANKERS The Cooperative Bank 1 Ballon Street Manchester M4 4BW INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ

3

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 28 February 2025.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 3 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Structure, Governance and Management

CLASS is governed by a constitution and a board of trustees. The trustees meet on a quarterly basis or more frequently when the board deems this necessary. Trustees have the power to co-opt new board members and this is the mechanism through which new trustees join the board.

Objectives and Activities

Charitable Purposes

CLASS works in alliance with a network of women-led and neighbourhood-based community associations called Community Savers to advance the following charitable purposes:

1 . To relieve poverty for the public benefit in socially and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in England and Wales by:

a ) supporting people to learn about and establish community-led savings initiatives;

b ) supporting community associations to work together, and to develop partnerships, in such a way that they are better able to realise community-led solutions for the relief of poverty for the public benefit.

2 . To develop the capacity and skills of the residents of socially and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in England and Wales in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs, and work together to reduce social and economic disadvantage.

Public Benefit Statement

The Trustees of CLASS have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. Trustees review the activities CLASS engages in regularly at quarterly meetings to ensure our work continues to be in the public benefit. Approximately 80% of members across the Community Savers network live in areas ranked in the top 5% most deprived in England.

Main Activities

CLASS’s main activities are to provide strategic, community development, communications, and fundraising support to a network of women-led savings groups called Community Savers and other community associations who participate in network activities. Community Savers groups alleviate poverty and build financial resilience among disadvantaged women in lowincome areas through savings and mutual aid. The network currently has eight affiliated associations in the Greater Manchester and Sheffield city-regions and CLASS has worked with a total of 29 community associations in these areas in the reporting period.

CLASS has received funds for charitable purposes from 9 charitable trusts and foundations/charitable organisations during this reporting period. We also received consultancy and partnership income from Turn2Us, the University of Manchester, the University of Leeds and Manchester Metropolitan University. We share details of our charitable trust and foundation awards and their associated activities below.

The Charity Service

Total grant: £9,000 Funding period: 1 March 2024 – 28 Feb 2027

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £0

Instalments received during the reporting period: £3,000

Project costs of £1,000 each were invested in community action to combat social isolation and improve wellbeing by three Community Savers affiliates: Aquarius Community Savers, Brinnington Savers, and Mums Mart.

4

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

Clothworkers Foundation

Total grant: £13,200 Funding period: 1 Jan – 31 Dec 24

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £0

Instalments received during the reporting period: £13,200

This grant enabled us to work with Courageous designers on a new Community Savers website and to contract a filmmaker to make a film short with us about the Community Savers/CLASS alliance.

Garfield Weston

Total partnership grant: £8,000 - Funding period: 1 March 2024-28 Feb 2025

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £8,000

Instalments received during the reporting period: £0

This was an unrestricted grant to contribute to our core costs and our overall poverty reduction work in Manchester, Stockport and Sheffield.

Growing Great Ideas, National Lottery Community Fund

Total grant: £229,890 Funding period: 1 Jan 2022-31 April 2025

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £2,050

Instalments received during the reporting period: £37,525.40

This grant has enabled the CLASS-Community Savers alliance to implement an extended three-year milestone action plan for the deepening and broadening of the Community Savers network across Greater Manchester and Sheffield. Activities have included supporting the development of women-led savings clubs and associated wellbeing projects; supporting community learning exchanges across different neighbourhoods; working with community leaders to convene neighbourhood dialogues and action-planning processes for reducing poverty and inequality; supporting communities to gather their own data on issues of concern and develop ‘precedent-setting’ poverty reduction projects; supporting leaders across the Community Savers network with network governance and development; and developing our own capacity and sustainability as the tailored support agency for the network. The grant end date was extended to allow for delays within a community space renovation project in Wythenshawe and to cover a small shortfall in staffing resources while we awaited the outcome of our successful application to Esmee Fairbairn Foundation which will be reported on in our FY2025/26 annual report and accounts.

QBE Foundation

Total grant: £25,000 - Funding period: 1 Jan 2022-31 April 2025

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £24,462.50

Instalments received during the reporting period: £0

This grant has contributed to staffing costs and freelance capacity building support focused on developing the financial management and financial inclusion skills of women-led Savings Groups across six of the lowest-income neighbourhoods in England.

5

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

Manchester Metropolitan University (Co-creating Age-Friendly Housing)

Total grant: £13,436 - Funding period: 2 Sept 2022-28 Feb 2025

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: (£3,234.82)

Instalments received during the reporting period: £10,076

This is funding for CLASS strategic development support and Community Savers participation in the action research project Co-Creating Age-friendly Housing which enabled us to work with a participatory action researcher to capture learning about piloting a model for Ageing Well in Place called a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. The research side of this initiative ended in February 2025 however our work to develop the NORC model continues through our partnership with Turn2Us, One Manchester and the University of Manchester.

Postcode Lottery

Total grant: £25,000 - Funding period: 1 March 2024 -28 Feb 2025

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £24,103.94

Instalments received during the reporting period: £0

This was an unrestricted grant to contribute to our core costs and our overall poverty reduction work in Manchester, Stockport and Sheffield.

ROC Industries

Total grant: £10,000 - Funding period: N/A

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £0

Instalments received during the reporting period: £10,000

This is a grant to the community of Hopton Court tower block in Hulme as part of the Ageing Well in Place in Hulme initiative to contribute towards digital skills development and ICT equipment for a new community space that is being developed in the ground floor of the block. The renovation has been delayed due to the backlog at the Building Safety Regulator so these funds will be carried forward into FY 2025/26.

Tudor Trust

Total grant: £120,000 - Funding period: 1 Jan 2022-31 Dec 2024

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £5,806.00

Instalments received during the reporting period: £40,000

This unrestricted grant has enabled the CLASS-Community Savers alliance to implement a three-year milestone action plan for the deepening and broadening of the Community Savers network across Manchester, Stockport and Sheffield, in line with the activities outlined above under Growing Great Ideas.

Turn2Us (Cost of Care Programme)

Total grant: £79,834 - Funding period: 1 Oct 2023 - 31 March 2026

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £15,913

Instalments received during the reporting period: £22,655.24

CLASS and Community Savers work in partnership with Turn2Us through their Cost of Care programme and in order to advance Ageing Well in Place in high rise social housing tower blocks in the neighbourhood of Hulme in Manchester. Ageing Well in Place in Hulme is a multi-stakeholder partnership involving One Manchester Ltd, CLASS, Turn2Us, Cornbrook Medical Practice, and the University of Manchester.

6

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

University of Leeds

Total grant: £12,470 - Funding period: 1 Jan -31 Dec 2024

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: £0

Instalments received during the reporting period: £12,470

We received funds to support the work of the Manchester Social Housing Commission through partnership in an ESRC Impact Acceleration Award.

University of Manchester Teaching, Social inclusion, and Impact Funding

We have received a mix of small grant and consultancy income from the University of Manchester during the reporting period for different purposes. This includes: ● £825 of consultancy income from teaching contributions and a carry forward balance of the same amount making total turnover for the year £990.

These funds are all being spent to timescale and budget according to our respective agreements with the University.

University of Sheffield – Teaching Income

We were also fortunate to have the opportunity to teach students of Geography and Planning at the University of Sheffield for which we receive a fee of £300.

Women’s Sector Resilience Fund 2, Smallwood Trust (Distributed by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group)

Total grant: £200,659 - Funding period: 1 Sept 2022-31 August 2025

Carry over balance from the previous reporting period: (£4,730.00)

Instalments received during the reporting period: £107,851

Women of Wythenshawe is a three-year project (September 2022-August 2025) focused on building confidence, skills and capacity among, and relationships between, women's groups and local service providers and decision-makers in Wythenshawe and Manchester more widely to achieve place-based systems change on gendered poverty.

7

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

Achievements and Performance

We were able to contract independent evaluators Nifty CIC to carry out an independent evaluation of our work throughout FY 2024-25 with assistance from some days from Renaisi – partners in the Women of Wythenshawe initiative, and some support from leaders and staff. Please visit: https://communitysavers.net/our-impact/resources/ to access the full evaluation report. Here we summarise some key achievements.

Outputs

● CLASS provided direct support to 29 community groups including 5 groups operating savings clubs and 2 neighbourhood networks. This included at least 100 hours of skills-based training across 9 different training courses with a total of 98 participants from 12 different neighbourhoods.

● The Community Savers leadership team engaged in 7 leadership meetings with the CLASS Director to shape alliance strategy and decision-making and there were four quarterly network meetings for the full leadership and two day-long strategy workshops. At least 24 hours of dialogue, reflection and learning took place.

● CLASS provided at least 208 hours of in-person development and facilitation support to campaign and community meetings across Manchester and Sheffield.

Outcomes: Member Household and Affiliated Groups

● Total annual savings deposits have increased from £5,137 in 2019 to £20,476 in 2024.

● 52% of members surveyed said that being part of the savings club has changed the way they think about how to manage money.

Outcomes: Neighbourhood Networks, Partnerships, and New Community Spaces

The importance of community spaces and facilities came through strongly and some important milestones were reached in 2024 around spaces that Community Savers and CLASS are involved with.

Mums’ Mart finally signed the lease on a derelict caretakers flat in a local church enabling the renovation to get underway. The space was co-designed by local mums and will be free to use for local women’s groups for the next ten years. Miles Platting Community & Age-friendly Network have successfully registered a new CIO, in partnership with St Cuthberts C of E Parochial Church Council, called St Cuthberts Communities Together with a joint vision for a multipurpose faith and community hub. And in Hulme, One Manchester are renovating a 3-bedroom ground floor flat and a caretakers room into tenant-governed community spaces for residents of Hopton Court and Meredith Court tower blocks.

8

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

The Women of Wythenshawe network is doing amazing work and being part of the network is having positive impacts on people’s confidence to act on their ideas. Groups and organisations are working together more which means signposting can be effective between groups and services. WoW have united around four priority areas for community action on gendered poverty – domestic abuse, women-led social enterprise, SEND education and social housing provision.

The work on housing was a catalyst for the development of Wythenshawe Central Network which has become the legacy structure for Women of Wythenshawe. Wythenshawe Central decided to affiliate with the wider Community Savers network in October 2024.

Outcomes: Place-Based Systems Change

The Social Homes for Manchester campaign coalition was catalysed by Community Savers mobilisation in 2023 and launched the Manchester Social Housing Commission chaired by the Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, in 2024. The Community Savers leadership felt they had reached a stage of development where they wanted to join their voices together across the city. Together with partners, they have made the following six requests of Manchester City Council:

● At least 30% social homes included in all new developments of over 10 units to be enacted in local policy and enforced through the setting and enforcement of section 106 obligations.

● Stronger public accountability and scrutiny for the setting and enforcement of developer obligations to build new social housing.

● Establish a Commission on Social Housing for the City of Manchester.

● Develop a practical strategy for the renovation/transfer of empty homes into homes for social rent.

Community Commissioners are a core part of the process and include women of different ages from different parts of Manchester and those who have made Manchester their home from different backgrounds. They are the ones who have been organising in their local areas and encouraging people to talk about the issues that are affecting them, and they are shaping the agenda of the Commission for example by making sure housing provider accountability and scrutiny is included alongside increased numbers of social housing. They bring diverse experience and expertise into the room and add weight and legitimacy to the process.

Learning and Next Steps

CLASS and Community Savers have carried out extensive reflection and learning together throughout 2024 enabling them to develop a new three year strategic plan which is available for download. This sets out the current organising context they are negotiating and a series of strategic objectives and priorities for 2025-2028.

The Community Savers groups are having positive impacts at member, household and group levels around saving money and building financial resilience, as well as connecting members of the community, reducing isolation and supporting wellbeing. CLASS is meeting these groups ‘where they are’ and working with them to explore relevant opportunities for skills, knowledge and capacity building, which is developing confidence and encouraging members to develop local activities and interventions to make their communities better for those that live there. CLASS is also working hard to develop partnerships with organisations that have shared values around relevant issues such as social housing, domestic abuse and ageing well to focus on progressing these agendas together.

Positive feedback loops are developing whereby Community Leaders feel more confident and empowered through having their voices heard and their place at the table and so are creating and leading more ambitious agendas for change.

“…it’s genuinely innovative, and I genuinely believe that if more communities have this opportunity you could start to see a profound shift in the voice and power and democracy that communities have. But it’s more than that, because the way CLASS do it, they really engage with the council and other services and make these services listen to tenants and engage with tenants. I don’t think you could ever really capture the impact fully of how this approach influences the culture of the sector.” Partner interview

9

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

Beneficiaries

Estimated direct individual beneficiaries from our work: 1,500

Total number of community groups in receipt of direct support: 29

Total number of multi-stakeholder coalitions/partnerships in receipt of direct support: 4

In addition to data on our affiliated groups’ memberships and savings schemes, we also worked with existing affiliates to estimate the number of people that they think they have directly benefited in 2024.

This varies significantly across groups because there are so many different kinds of activities being delivered. Some groups are still running food/clothes collection and food parcel delivery services, others have projects underway that are benefiting the entire neighbourhood. Equally, we don’t want any groups to feel limited by comparison, so we present aggregate estimated beneficiaries above. We defined direct beneficiaries as people who had received a tangible material good or benefit as an individual which can be attributed to the hard work of Community Savers groups and networks (e.g. information, food, clothing, a crisis grant, training, access to a service or drop-in etc). There is also a much higher number of indirect beneficiaries from our work which it is hard to quantify.

These are the people who have benefited from an additional service or facility being delivered close to where they live, or who will benefit from the improved environment after MPCAN’s Climate Action work, or where members report an increased sense of ‘Community' and ‘social connectivity’ in their local area as a result of the work of a local affiliated group. Indirect beneficiaries also include all the partners we work with who share with us informally how they benefit from working with us in terms of increased understanding of grassroots experiences, needs and priorities; or in terms of learning from our approach including the ideas, tools and methodologies that we put into practice on a regular basis.

Financial Review

Total funds held at the end of the reporting period: £64,961 - (2023/24:£87,664) Total restricted funds at the end of the reporting period: £54,941 - (2023/24:76,735) Total designated funds at the end of the reporting period: £16,000 - (2023/24:£10,000) Total unrestricted funds at the end of the reporting period: £20 (2023/24:£929)

The Trustees have no immediate concerns about our CIO’s ability to continue as a going concern. As always there is a need for a strong focus on fundraising in the current financial year to enable us to attract continuation funding to maintain our staff team and capacity levels and Community Savers network costs. We will continue to build our portfolio of charitable and university sector grants incrementally developing our profile and income. The Trustees will continue to closely monitor the capacity of CLASS to maintain existing operations and remain a going concern.

Reserves Statement

Trustees are regularly monitoring our running costs as our CIO grows and develops. We continue to build our reserves year on year. We were able to designate £16,000 as reserves by 28 February 2025 an increase of £6,000 on the previous year. This is enough to cover three months basic operating costs and any statutory redundancy payments that may be due if we are unable to extend staff contracts beyond their existing fixed term end dates. Unrestricted funds that are not designated as reserves are used to cover any operating costs that are not covered by existing grant funding.

Principal Sources of Funds

Our principal sources of funds in FY 2024-25 have been charitable grants and action research/social responsibility grants from universities. These are outlined under ‘Main Activities’.

10

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COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

Notes
INCOMING RESOURCES
Incoming Resources from Generated Funds
Donations, Grants & Legacies
3a
Charitable Activities
3b
Other Incoming Resources
3c
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Costs of Generating Funds
Cost of Charitable Activities
4a
Governance Costs
4b
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
NET INCOMING (OUTGOING) RESOURCES
Funds Brought Forward
Transfer Between Funds
5 & 6
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
TOTAL
TOTAL
Funds
Funds
Funds
2024/25
2023/24
£
£
£
£
£
1,259
-
272,759
274,018
191,707
350
-
6,975
7,325
5,881
-
-
15,636
15,636
-
1,609
-
295,370
296,979
197,587
2,518
-
311,684
314,203
183,063
-
-
4,340
4,340
4,255
2,518
-
316,024
318,543
187,319
(909)
-
(20,654)
(21,563)
10,269
929
10,000
76,735
87,664
77,395
2,651
6,000
(8,651)
-
-
2,671
16,000
47,430
66,101
87,664

Movements on all reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above. All of the organisation's operations are classed as continuing.

The notes on pages 14 to 23 form part of these financial statements.

12

COMMUNITY.LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT Ichanlth ItKxxpcxaled (￿gan￿￿1X)n} 8ALANCE SHEET AS AT 28TH FEBRUARY 2025 UnrtstridthY Reskn"dul TOTAL FurKk I8.Fo￿lS TOTAL 28-F•b.24 Fixed ￿5011 Tan9b￿ AsÉÉts Total Nxtd Aa¥•ts 394 Current A88•ts 08blors & Prepaym8nts Cath al Bank and in H￿d Tot41 CUrrqrtt￿ts 74 21,657 21.731 74 70287 70.380 4.894 8B.913 93,506 48.$30 48,630 Cr•dltor•: Am)unt8due ilh'nth)& ￿r 1Q 6,43D NET CURRENT ASSETS 18.2TT 47,430 65,TO7 87,076 TOTALASSETS Iw8ryJrreot Ilthliti•• 1&671 47.430 88.101 87,664 11 NET ASSETS 11871 47 6&101 87.664 Furth ofth• Charlty Gweral Funth De&on81ed Fund¥ Reslricted Fu 1671 18.CO) Z671 16,000 47,430 10.DOO 76,735 47,430 Total Fund¥ 47A30 88,101 87,864 AFprxgJ by Iho Tr￿1￿%7 ............. S*3nod on Ihelr T￿ts?..... .... ..... ... .. . . . .. Prnled Namè.. MeLOKJY P£￿TrI eftT4 13

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Preparation & Assessment of Going Concern

Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015) (Second Edition, effective 1st January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Assessment of Going Concern

Preparation of the accounts is on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Incoming Resources

Recognition of Incoming Resources

These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when:

▪ the charity becomes entitled to the resources;

▪ the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and

▪ the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability

Incoming Resources with Related Expenditure

Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resource and related expenditure are reported gross in the SOFA.

Grants and Donations

Grants and Donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.

Tax Reclaims on Donations and Gifts

Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SOFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate.

Contractual Income and Performance Related Grants

This is only included in the SOFA once the related goods or services has been delivered.

Gifts in Kind

Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised. Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity. Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SOFA as incoming resources when receivable.

Donated Services and Facilities

These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received.

Volunteer Help

The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts.

Investment Income

This is included in the accounts when receivable.

Investment Gains and Losses

This included any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year.

14

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Expenditure and Liabilities

Liability Recognition

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.

Governance Costs

Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of the trustees meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.

Grants with Performance Conditions

Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SOFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.

Grants Payable without Performance Conditions

These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to a grant which remain in control of the charity.

Pensions

Pension contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they become payable.

Unrestricted Funds

These funds can be used for the general objectives of the charity as set out in the trustees report. The movements of the unrestricted funds are given in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Restricted Funds

These funds are where the donor has specified a purpose for the donation made. These restrictions often arise as a result of appeals for special offerings for specific purposes.

Fixed Assets

Fixed Assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £1,000. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt.

Depreciation Expense

Depreciation is calculated at a rate to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets over their estimated useful lives. The rates applied are as follows:

Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment

33% - Reducing Balance Basis

2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Cost
01-Mar-24
Additions
Net Book Value at
28-Feb-25
Depreciation
01-Mar-24
Charge
Depreciation at
28-Feb-25
Net Book Value
28-Feb-25
Net Book Value
28-Feb-24		 Equipment
TOTAL
Cost
2024/25
£
£
980
980
-
-
980
980
392
392
194
194
586
586
394
394
588
588

The annual commitments under non-cancelling operating leases and capital commitments are as follows: 28th February 2025 : None

28th February 2024 : None

15

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

3. INCOMING RESOURCES

Note
a) Donations, Grants & Legacies
Gifts & Donations
Grants Received
5
b) Charitable Activities
Activities & Events
5
Consultancy Income
5
c) Other Incoming Resources
Refunds
5		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
TOTAL
TOTAL
Funds
Funds
Funds
2024/25
2023/24
£
£
£
£
£
1,259
-
-
1,259
600
-
-
272,759
272,759
191,107
1,259
-
272,759
274,018
191,707
-
-
6,150
6,150
-
350
-
825
1,175
5,881
350
-
6,975
7,325
5,881
-
-
15,636
15,636
-
-
-
15,636
15,636
-

16

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

4. RESOURCES EXPENDED

a) Cost of Charitable Activities
Activities & Projects
5
Advertising & Publicity
Bank Charges
Consultancy Fees
5
Depreciation Expense
Insurance Costs
5
IT Costs
5
Licenses & Subscriptions
Printing, Postage & Stationery
5
Room Hire
5
Staff Costs
5 & 13
Sundry Expenses
5
Telephone Costs
5
Training Costs
5
Travel & Subsistence
5
Website Costs
5
b) Governance Costs
Independent Examiners Fees
5 & 10
Legal & Professional Fees
5		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
TOTAL
TOTAL
Funds
Funds
Funds
2024/25
2023/24
£
£
£
£
£
600
-
143,361
143,961
72,902
-
-
2,154
2,154
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
7,909
7,909
700
194
-
-
194
126
-
-
256
256
510
-
-
3,442
3,442
1,659
-
-
-
-
271
-
-
4,306
4,306
1,877
551
-
1,600
2,151
2,068
760
-
130,205
130,965
95,573
266
-
211
477
198
-
-
450
450
116
-
-
228
228
140
147
-
5,296
5,443
6,920
-
-
12,267
12,267
-
2,518
-
311,684
314,203
183,063
-
-
1,200
1,200
960
-
-
3,140
3,140
3,295
-
-
4,340
4,340
4,255

17

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

5. RESTRICTED FUNDS

CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR

Ageing Well in Place in Hulme
The Clothworkers' Foundation
Garfield Weston
Growing Great Ideas
MMU - Cocreating Age Friendly Housing
Mums Mart Renovation Basket Fund
One World Together
Postcode Lottery Fund
QBE Fund
SH4M - Commission Basket Fund
Sheffield City Council Ward Pot
Smallwood Trust
The Charity Service
Tudor Trust
Turn2Us (Cost of Care)
Turn2Us Consultancy
University of Sheffield
University of Manchester Teaching & Consultancy		 Balance
Balance
01-Mar-24
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
28-Feb-25
£
£
£
£
£
-
13,194
-
-
13,194
-
13,200
11,804
-
1,396
8,000
-
8,000
-
-
2,050
37,525
28,399
-
11,177
(3,235)
10,076
6,841
-
-
-
21,786
22,626
-
(840)
335
1,251
-
-
1,586
24,104
-
23,683
-
421
24,463
-
24,463
-
-
-
24,007
14,832
-
9,175
554
-
-
-
554
(4,730)
107,851
97,340
-
5,780
-
3,000
3,000
-
-
5,806
40,000
36,940
(6,000)
2,865
15,913
22,655
37,437
-
1,132
2,351
-
-
(2,351)
-
300
-
-
(300)
-

825
825
660
-
990
76,735
295,370
316,024
(8,651)
47,430

18

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

5. RESTRICTED FUNDS (Continued)

PREVIOUS FINANCIAL YEAR

Caritas Shrewsbury
Garfield Weston
Growing Great Ideas
MMU - Cocreating Age Friendly Housing
One World Together
Postcode Lottery Fund
QBE Fund
Sheffield City Council Ward Pot
Small Wood Trust
Tudor Trust
Turn2Us (Cost of Care)
Turn2Us Consultancy
University of Manchester
University of Manchester - Social Responsibility
University of Sheffield
University of Manchester Teaching & Consultancy		 Balance
Balance
01-Mar-23
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
28-Feb-24
£
£
£
£
£
1,125
525
1,650
-
-
-
8,000
-
-
8,000
49,006
35,797
82,753
-
2,050
-
3,360
6,595
-
(3,235)
-
1,835
1,500
-
335
-
25,000
896
-
24,104
-
25,000
538
-
24,463
-
554
-
-
554
7,686
33,887
46,303
-
(4,730)
10,653
40,300
42,147
(3,000)
5,806
-
17,999
2,085
-
15,913
-
3,606
1,255
-
2,351
340
-
-
(340)
-
25
-
365
340
-
-
300
-
-
300

-
825
-
-
825
68,835
196,987
186,088
(3,000)
76,735

Ageing Well in Place in Hulme: These funds comprise £10,000 from ROC Industries and carry forward funds from two social inclusion grants from the University of Manchester as outlined on pages 5-6.

The Clothworkers’ Foundation: This was a grant for the development of a new website with associated photography and film work.

Garfield Weston: an unrestricted grant to contribute to our core costs and our overall poverty reduction work.

Growing Great Ideas: Funds for implementation of a three-year milestone action plan for the deepening and broadening of the Community Savers network. The grant end date was extended to allow for delays within a community space renovation project in Wythenshawe and to cover a small shortfall in staffing resources while we awaited the outcome of our successful application to Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

MMU (Cocreating Age-friendly Housing): Funding from Manchester Metropolitan University for CLASS strategic development support and Community Savers participation in the action research project Co-Creating Age-friendly Housing.

Mums Mart Renovation basket fund: We were able to combine a range of funds to match-fund the National Lottery Community Fund’s contribution to this new women’s space renovation via Growing Great Ideas. These included: £3,900 contribution from Mums Mart community group; £15,636 Refund from One Manchester Housing Association of funds we had already invested after they decided not to proceed with a new build community space; *£2,250 Uplift grant from Smallwood Trust via WCHG.

One World Together: We are founding partners of this fundraising movement. The funds are unrestricted on receipt but restricted in the sense that CLASS only receives these on behalf of Community Savers affiliates (as opposed to the funds going into CLASS core costs).

Postcode Lottery: This was an unrestricted grant to contribute to our core costs and our overall poverty reduction work.

19

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

5. RESTRICTED FUNDS (Continued)

QBE Foundation: Contribution to staffing costs and freelance capacity building support focused on developing the financial management and financial inclusion skills of women-led savings groups.

SH4M Commission Basket Fund: Funding for the running of the Manchester Social Housing Commission including the following contributions: £12,470 – University of Leeds; two grants of £3,880 and £3,597 – University of Manchester; £1,060 – Manchester Metropolitan University; £3,000 from Social Homes for Manchester coalition member organisations.

Sheffield City Council Ward Pot: Funds we received on behalf of Women in Community Action which have been transferred onwards to that group in the next reporting period.

Smallwood Trust: A three year grant for women-led place-based systems change on gendered poverty in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

The Charity Service: A total grant of £9,000 with £3,000 being released each year for the poverty action work of affiliates across the Community Savers network.

University of Manchester Teaching & Consultancy: Funds received from the University of Manchester for providing lectures or hosting student fieldtrips or participating in University events of different kinds as speakers/contributors.

Tudor Trust: This 3-year unrestricted grant has enabled the CLASS-Community Savers alliance to implement a three-year milestone action plan for the deepening and broadening of the Community Savers network.

Turn2Us Cost of Care: CLASS and Community Savers work in partnership with Turn2Us through their Cost of Care programme and to advance Ageing Well in Place in high rise social housing tower blocks in the neighbourhood of Hulme in Manchester.

The restricted funds are wholly represented by the charity's cash reserves and are to be expended as specified above.

20

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

6. DESIGNATED FUNDS

CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR

Designated Reserve Fund
PREVIOUS FINANCIAL YEAR
Designated Reserve Fund		 Balance
Balance
01-Mar-24
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
28-Feb-25
£
£
£
£
£
10,000
-
-
6,000
16,000
10,000
-
-
6,000
16,000
Balance
Balance
01-Mar-23
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
28-Feb-24
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
-
10,000
10,000

The designated funds are wholly represented by the charity's cash reserves and are to be expended as specified above.

21

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

7. INVESTMENTS

The CIO held no fixed assets investments during this or the previous financial period.

8. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND

Cash at Bank & in Hand
9. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS
Sundry Debtors
10. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Independent Examiners Fees
Pensions Payable
Sundry Creditors
Taxation & Social Security Costs		 Unrestricted
Restricted
TOTAL
TOTAL
Fund
Fund
28-Feb-25
28-Feb-24
£
£
£
£
21,657
48,630
70,287
88,913
21,657
48,630
70,287
88,913
Unrestricted
Restricted
TOTAL
TOTAL
Fund
Fund
28-Feb-25
28-Feb-24
£
£
£
£
74
-
74
4,594
74
-
74
4,594
Unrestricted
Restricted
TOTAL
TOTAL
Fund
Fund
28-Feb-25
28-Feb-24
£
£
£
£
-
1,200
1,200
960
1,195
-
1,195
1,026
44
-
44
1,665
2,214
-
2,214
2,780
3,454
1,200
4,654
6,430

11. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR

The CIO held no long term liabilities during this or the previous financial period.

12. NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fixed Asset Investments
Net Current Assets
Long Term Liabilities		 Unrestricted
Restricted
TOTAL
TOTAL
Funds
Funds
28-Feb-25
28-Feb-24
£
£
£
£
394
-
394
588
18,671
47,430
66,101
87,664
-
-
-
-
19,065
47,430
66,495
88,252

22

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 2025

13. STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS

Gross Wages, Salaries & Fees
Employer's National Insurance Costs
Pension Contributions
Employees who were engaged in each of the following activities:
Charitable Activities		 TOTAL
2024/25
£
115,800
4,567
10,598
130,965
TOTAL
2024/25
4		 TOTAL
2023/24
£
85,022
6,432
4,119
95,573
TOTAL
2023/24
3

The Charity operates a PAYE scheme to pay all members of employed staff and no employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000 (2023/24:None).

14. TRUSTEES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES

No payments were made to trustees or any persons connected with them during this financial period. No material transaction took place between the organisation and a trustee or any person connected with them (2023/24:None).

15. RISK ASSESSMENT

The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.

16. RESERVES POLICY

The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the CIO's needs. This is based on the CIO's size and the level of financial commitments held. The Trustees aim to ensure the CIO will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The Trustees will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily.

17. PUBLIC BENEFIT

The CIO acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the CIO has achieved this are provided in the Trustees report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the CIO should undertake.

23

COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AND SAVINGS SUPPORT

(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS

Report to the trustees/ members of Community-Led Action and Saving Support on the accounts for the year ended 28th February 2025 set out on pages 12 to 23.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the 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 no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

The charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Association of Accounting Technicians.

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect, the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

have not been met; or

  1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

K. Collaku MAAT Castle View Accounting Ltd Ground Floor Offices 53 High Street Arundel West Sussex BN18 9AJ

Date: 8th September 2025

24