11111;- .¢JPIR, E;:,., . 54vE T •A¥ETM SEILTHE OHEY COllN IIS Tl 8llIUI, AREHOUSf IMPACT FIEPORT April '23 - March .24 Creating positive spaces and opportunities for resident empowerment and wellbeing.
Welcome About Us Our Trustees Our Staff A Word From Our Chair A Word From Our CEO Key Successes 10. Projects 24. Feedback 25. Finance
WELCOME Welcome to Thames Life Community Development Trust's 2023-24 Impact Report. It's been an incredible year for Thames Life in terms of community engagement. Our efforts have been focused on ernhancing the quality of life for residents in Barking Riverside and Thames View through our various projects aimed at fostering commur)Ity cohesion, promoting health and wellbeing, resident voice, and creating sustainable environments. During the year, highlights included getting residents active via our LMCT sports programme, harnessing arts and culture for a multicultural festival, launching monthly GP drop-in clinics, equipping residents to campaign for the reoper)ing of the Ripple Nature Reserve and resident action to prevent the closure of the 'Warehouse.' As an organisation. it has also been a challenging year. Due to a wider funding crisis in all sectors, it was necessary to reduce costs. We now have a smaller team, though on a positive note, 3 out of 4 of us are local resider)ts with an abundance of lived experience and insight for the projects we lead on. This report will provide you with insight into all our work and how we are steadily moving towards our vision of a diverse and vibrant community where residents are driving change. From the Sports and Health programmes, the Riverview, YAG (Young Action Group). Resident Planning Forum, Ripple Effect, to our resilience partnership, there's so much progress to share. For more information about any of our work, please visit our website or get in contact with us. Zalnab Omokhe Communications and Marketing Officer
ABOUT US vis A dive where tÈ and vibrant community ents are driving change. MISSION To create positive spaces and opportunities for resident empowerment and wellbeing. OUFI AIM IS TO: Develop Leaders: by offering increased skills development, training and volunteering opportunities for residents. Nurture Relatlonships: by creating impactful relationships between residents and partnerships with the local authority, developers, NHS, schools and others. Exert Influence: by connecting residents with decision makers to seek positive change for their community. Support Enterprlse: by growing a network of community projects and businesses led by residents to address local need.
OUR TRUSTEES 9?9 Amlna Husseln PA, HR. Payroll & Youth Work experience Delwar Hussaln Haflzur Rahman College lecturer. Trustee of Thames View Muslim Association Jean Songa Josiah Oyekunle Co-chalr Internatlolldl Wedding & Everits DJ, Nusician. Producer and MC Lal Ogunsola Project Officer In the Health Team at the GLA Natalie Ogene Civil Servant
¥5 •t4•llV OUR STAFF Matt Scott CEO Jamle Kesten Deputy CEO Margarlda Lopes Governance Manager Nia Lopez Administrative Otficer Alex Anthony Lucy Lee Health Outreach Officer CommuiiiLy Qrganiser Vlshal Narayan Healtli Strate9y Off icer Zahra Awanl Comms & Outreach Officer (Mat cover) Zainab Jalloh Comms & Outreach Officer
KERQ AOtl+ A WORD FROM OUR CHAIFI This past year has been a significant period of transition for our charity, one that has fostered both growth and deeper understanding among our staff and trustees. As we navigated these changes, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our organization became paramount, alongside our commitment to continuing the impactful work we do. Through this journey, I have been continually impressed by the patience and dedication of our staff, to whom l extend my heartfelt appreciation. A special thank you goes out to Jamie, Alex, Margarida, and Nia for their years of service and the tremendous effort they've put into supporting our local community. Their contributions have made a lasting difference. One of the standout successes of this past year has been our Health Outreach Programme. With each event, this initiative has grown, reaching more residents and making a tangible difference in the community. The positive feedback we've received underscores the programme's impact, and I'm particularly proud of the work done by Lucy and her team. Their unwavering commitment to fostering a healthier community and bringing people together truly exemplifies our mission. Even as our team has become smaller due to these transitions. the quality of our work has not diminished. Both the trustees and staff are united in our focus on maintaining the high standards that our community expects and deserves. We remain committed to empowering local residents and ensuring that their voices are heard. Our partners have been crucial in supporting this mission. and I want to express our gratitude for their continued collaboration. Looking ahead, we recognize that there is still much work to be done, but we are more determined than ever to move forward with our vision. Empowering residents will always be at the core of our efforts, and we know that by working together, we can achieve even greater things. As we continue this journey, let's remember that our strength lies in our unity. Josiah Oyekunle Chair
A WOFID FROM OUR CEO Overall, the feedback that we get, and the feeling I have. is that our empowerment and partnership work is frequently exceptional. We are doing great work and the work we are doing makes a real difference to local people. This is not just because our staff work hard but because of how we work, which is to recognise the genius of local people within our local community and provide spaces for that to flourish. It is worth saying that all our trustees and staff, bar myself are local people. There is plenty we need to consider and improve upon, especially regarding business sustainability, impact, cross sector collaboration and ever more outreach. If you have ideas about what can be done differently, done better and done with yourselves, let us know. We have successfully dealt with a period of change (Sept 2023 / March 2024) where we acted to ensure the charity was financially sustainable given a reduction of funds (lottery) for core posts. I want to mark up my appreciation for the years of service given by Alex, Jamie. Margarida and Nia, who all moved on. We have consolidated our work around a smaller team who have embraced an agile approach which has delivered high quality work shout out Lucy. Vishal, Zainab. And a second shout out to Laurelle and Marion who have joined us, as community organisers with an environmental focus. Our core projects are.. Barking Food Forest (community gardening) River View newspaper (written and produced by residents. quarterly to 6500 households) Ripple Nature Reserve (working alongside a resident steering group to re-open the site) Young Citizens Action Group (weekly leadership classes which has developed a young person's charter for the area) Sports activities (securing funds for local groups to deliver) Health outreach (GP drop-ins, outreach and partnership working with Al Madina, DABD, Harmony House and Kingsley Hall) Resilience and civil contingency (weekly coordination with British Red Cross) Planning forum (residents influencing regeneration decisions) Ripple Effect (weekly campaign meetings) Community organising (working with BD Citizens and Citizens UK) Supporting the work of borough networks including BD Collective, BD Giving and BD CVS. Matt Scott CEO
KEY SUCCESSES £404,722 funding raised across all projects 9,797 residents engaged across all projects Artivism & Llve Music Event Sports day celebration for LMCT activities LIILIL'I'I CUL'I'URIlL FESTIVAL Iverview lJa*ixx Rivepsidt. Sepattrts Forn 4d Thomes View NeuL%for risidrmts. by residents IVA •io Riverside School first Harry Potterprod The Rivergato Centre Ongoing BRL funding secured for The Riverview Launched award-winning GP drop- in clinics
'23/'24 FOCUS REsrfR GRO (R FO.FIE YOUNG CITIZEN ACTION GROUP (YCAG) RIPPLE EFFECT GROUP LONDON MARATHON CHARITABLE TRUST THE RIVERVIEW io.
BARKING FOOD FOREST Barking Food Forest (BFF) is a quarter acre site sub-leased since September 2021 to Thames Life by Riverside School, via Barking Riverside Ltd. It is our very own community garden site. Another aspect is the use of the site by the nursery. special needs, primary and Secondary school pupils. Residents, supported by our former trustee and permaculture expert. Nikhil Rathore. have continued to activate the space. From July 2023, BFF tenants, Wander Wild Forest School were successful in a bid to the LBBD NCIL fund for £10,000. This funding has enabled them to help further activate Barking Food Forest by engaging local children aged 5 and under and their families in a year of Saturday morning sessions learning about the different seasons, local animals and plants. As part of these sessions they participate in a range of activities including whittling, outdoor cooking. tent building, bug hunting. mud kitchen. wild play, nature art and circle time theatre and songsl This has seen over 700+ families use the site over the year. In August the Green Team from Groundwork London returned (following their earlier work building planters and tree boxes) to help residents install a central pathway through the site, making it more accessible for all and setting the stage for further development plans to be enacted. It was great to have members of the community come along and join the team in digging, laying gravel and topping it off with wood chip donated by local tree surgeon. Kings Cuts Tree Services. Following the unfortunate closure of the Every One Every Day Warehouse on Thames Road, Thames Life were extremely fortunate to receive a significant number of trees and other gardening equipment on behalf of Barking Food Forest and the local community. Lastly, our planning application for the site was submitted. This included a proposal for a facilities structure capable of harvesting rainwater and solar energy and including secure tool storage, accessible toilet and baby change facilities, workshop spaces, a polytunnel for year-round growing and a pavilion for socialising and performances. ii.
Funding Secured: £12,000 Total Attendees: Children: 500 Adults: 272
RIPPLE NATURE RESERVE Early 2023, National Grid and UKPN told the resident steering group and BRL that they would need to dig up an area of the RNR to replace underground cabling. This led to magnetic resonance testing and soil contamination testing (it was previously a dumping ground for pulverised fuel from the coal-fired power station). Some trees needed to be felled in order to carry out the works. This, as well as delay5 in the architect landscape tendering, resulted in resident activity being limited to small walking groups. Residents were supported by Thames Life in questioning planning permissions for the south-side of the RNR, in which a substation was built by National Grid and another area where works look like they are taking place. Further. Thames Life supported the Ripple Nature Reserve Committee with the resident- facing community involvement to re-open the reserve. During this period of time, there have been monthly meetings with a number stakeholders, led by the Barking and Dagenham Parks team. Critical input has also been provided by Barking Riverside Limited, (who are funding the majority of the re-opening costs), UK Power Networks, Clancy, National Grid and Borough's resident Ecologist. Denis Vickers. Other groups who have been involved in the RNR included the Young Citizen Action Group, The University of Dublin and other local nature enthusiasts and litter pickers. The efforts have been placed into appointing a new landscape architect, who will reimagine the RNR ahead of physical constructions works for the sake of accessibility. A n L8BD, resident and stakeholder panel met to go through applications, and Arkwood were eventually appointed to deliver the architecture, and in construction with Thames Life, will be consulting with community groups to reopen the Reserve in the next period in order to further co-design the RNR'S opening. 13.
Stakeholders Engaged: .UKPN, Clancy. BRL, LBBD Parks Team, Natural '%" England, Thames 21, "s:: I Create London Total Atteridees:"14, 1 "IW Members: 6 Committee: 13 Walking Groups: 21
FIIPPLE EFFECT ov The previous year has seen Thames Life have been supporting the Ripple Nature Reserve Committee with the resident- facing community involvement to re-open the reserve. During this period of time. there have been monthly meetings with number stakeholders, led by the Barking and Dagenham Parks team. Critical input has also been provided by Barking Riverside Limited, (who are funding the majority of the re-opening costs), UK Power Networks. Clancy, National Grid and Borough's resident Ecologist, Denis Vickers. Other groups who have been involved in the RNR included the Young Citizen Action Group, The University of Dublin and other local nature enthusiasts and litter pickers. The efforts have been placed into appointing a new landscape architect, who will reimagine the RNR ahead of physical constructions works for the sake of accessibility. A n L8BD, resident and stakeholder panel met to go through applications, and Arkwood were eventually appointed to deliver the architecture, and in construction with Thames Life, will be consulting with community groups to reopen the Reserve in the next period in order to further co-design the RNR'S opening. THE RIPPLE EFFECT GROUP 15.
Key Campaigns: Bastable Entry for car restrlctlons, addresslng concerns of denslty wlth Matt Carpen and BRL, Consultatlons wlth Be Flrst, Workshops wlth Dr Pablo Sendra and UCL. Cltlzen campalgns. Total Attendees: Members: 48 Committee: 10
YOUNG CITIZENS ACTIOI ROU For the previous year, the Young Citizen Action Group (YCAG) have been working on their versions of campaigning on matters which are important to them. They have been briefed on various ways of campaigning such as letter writing, direct. in person questioning, consultations and contacting relevant stakeholders. This year, the YCAG worked with the University of Dublin on an environmental activist project to help open the Ripple Nature Reserve. They consulted with the local police community safety team addressing their issues around young people's safety. attended the BRL community dinner to get their voices heard about local planning matters and green spaces and wrote letters to MPS, councillors, and developers to raise funds for Riverside Campus School's Performing Arts Centre. To top off the year, the YCAG presented to important and significant delegates across civil society in recognition of the work they have been doing campaigning for youth voice with the prestigious Goldsmith's Award. YCAG also created a Young Person's Community Charter. This charter outlines several core tenets of youth voice. The YCAG would like these tenets to be considered by local stakeholders to see the significance of youth voice in shaping civil society, the built environment. and cultural/ sports infrastructure. The Young Person's Community Charter was presented by the YCAG in a local event at the Rivergate Centre. BRL and Thames Life Trustees attended, listening to the YCAG present, to the YCAG live band's performances and for free pizza and a DJ. The YCAG are going to try a Thames Life summer school for the first year running, involving social media and podcasting, raising youth voice and participation across Thames View and Riverside. YOUNG CITIZENS 17.
Key Campaigns: Ripple Nature Reserve, Fund Raising for the Performing Arts Centre, Addressing street safety and lighting, Addresslng green spaces and youth provlsion with BRL (community dinner) 11 Juiiii Active YCAG members: 12 Young people listened to: 250
THE IVERVIE Since the Spring issue of 2023, the REB secured another year of funding from Barking Riverside Limited to continue, which included an increased amount taking into consideration inflation and increased distribution. In addition to securing funding for the print side of things. the REB were also awarded a small pot of £1,000 to create a website for the publication to engage with a younger audience (www.theriverview.org.uk). This coming year, we look forward to reaching more homes as more properties go live on Barking Riverside and more people with a new online presence. The paper still hopes to secure more funding from diverse sources and looks to increase ad spend with the paper. the local newspaper was rebranded and relaunched as The Riverview. The Resident Editorial Board (REB) always knew that the old name'Riverside News, would need to change to reflect the fact that it is a newspaper by and for residents of both Riverside and Thames View Wards. This was the first issue the REB had to produce end to end, on their own with the support of Thames Life, having just finished training with Social Spider CIC. The central focus still remains.. champion resident voice through the primary content featuring community groups, opinion pieces and local updates. Originally made up of 4 local residents, Emmanuel Oreyeni. Venilia Amorim, and Zahra Awani, and Zainab Jalloh (TWCP staff), the team lost Emmanuel as he was off to university. but brought on a new local resident from Thames View. Hafizur Rahman. The Riverview is now distributed to 6000 homes across Thames View, Barking Riverside and Scrattons Farm, which is the biggest print distribution in the borough. This year, with the growing population of Barking Riverside, the team managed to secure £2,000 in advertising income, having not had a dedicated salesperson on the team. and the ads coming in organically. The largest advertiser was Tandem, the site managing company for Barking Riverside. The Riverview 19.
The Riverview The Riverview TWCP relaunches as Funding Secured: £26,000 REB Members: Print: 6,500 copies per issue Readership: Approx. 18,000 Unique Voices: Riv In Ad Revenue: Èd £1900 Ilfom Ihall Eat Drink Do arlJi*i'e IFMtsittMdi Md oll Ihrir pnrlNers ijft lh•co1Nm#lty.. 20.
LONDON MAFIATHON, HAFIITABL The London Marathon Trust: Consists of eight resident-led sports activities that take place in local spaces, available to all residents of Thames View and Barking Riverside. The activities all took place at different times throughout the week, including.. admint r wome ommun ilness wome Cyclin 9roup group (see RN Tdeni (see BF Children eakcjan gyrnnas Yoga Zumba Ids ten overne Therap We provided these activities with the aim to engage residents that might not usually participate in group fitness sessions. The knock-on effect of Covid left many residents and their families feeling isolated. therefore encouraging residents with a fitness background enabled outreach to be more effective. Offering a range of low- to high-intensity activities for all ages and specifically for women, proved highly successful, building relationships between neighbouring families and encouraged consistency in attendance. The aims of the programme were to.. Improve the general health and well-being of the residents To assist with healthier lifestyle changes Provide safe spaee for women and girls to exercis Build rèlationshlps between residents Tackle hèalth ineoualitios Upskill resident facilitators Connèct families To celebrate the extension of the programme. families, friends and neighbours of all ages from all around Thames View & Barking Riverside gathered together for a sports day event, filled with fun and fitness activities at The Warehouse on Thames Road. The day kicked off with a taster session of the children's breakdancing, before everyone refuelled with healthy snacks, followed by traditional sports day games. After which there were taster sessions of all the other activities allowing new attendees to sign up for future classes in 2023/2024. Overall. the sports day was a huge succes5 and we so appreciate the amazing support from our incredible residents. Everyone had a great time, and Thame Life looks forward to planning many, many more fun events in the future. 21.
BARKING FOOD FOREST Funding Secured: £34,000 Activities Held: 10 sports & wellbeing Sessions Delivered: 181 Unique Attendees: 1413 Feedback: 30% gave 9 or 10 out of 10 for the activities attended Ikj
OTHER PROJECTS GP Drop-ln Cllnlcs: Thames Life and Barking Riverside Ltd. (BRL) worked in partnership with Aurora Medcare and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) to deliver a series of 6 monthly pop-up health services across Thames View and Barking Riverside in Barking and Dagenham in 2023. These pop- ups provided residents with Same day access to GPS, other practice staff, and a collection of statutory services and community organisations in a single setting. Thames Life initially trialled a pop up health service (with support from Aurora Medcare and other community partners) giving residents access to GPS and other wellbeing services. This initial approach was fully voluntary. and ran successfully on a shoestring budget. Following the success of this initial event, LBBD and BRL provided funding to support the programme of 6 pop-up events. The support of Aurora Medcare remained voluntary. In total, 601 residents attended the 6 events. Resldents attended: 601 Fundlng So¢ur•d: 30.000 PLANNING FORUM: The Thames Life Residents Planning Forum has been continuing to meet regularly once a month. New and more interested residents in local planning matters, heritage and issue have been undertaking a serious of engagement sessions with Activist Network, Just Space, The UCL Bartlett School of Planning and other speakers involved with planning and regeneration matters. Most recent visitor presentations have included Tim Peake who is doing his PhD on regeneration in the Royal Docks area, Tim Cowbury and Mark Maughan who are award winning theatre directors, including videos produced with Yarrow Films on the loss of Granville Kitchen due to regeneration. Micheal Ball from the Waterloo Community Development Group, and LBBD'S Be First. In collaboration with UCL, Thames Life are publishing a community plan for social infrastructure with Dr. Pablo Sendra. The core group of resident participants in the Planning Forum were instrumental in supporting this plan. The plan investigates the heritage of the local area, environmental issues, green spaces, lack of health facilities and other aspects of the built environment.
FEEDBACK hames lifè has been able to iTnprtsve ond as In the NHS crisis. Having sorrething like th15 lakes away the ryessure of these service5 and helps people See a doctor. It'5 like one stop shoo. You can see all Ihe providers In roof. ltr's very In¢lu51ve anrj the times allows workin9 resicjents to benefll Local r•sldont att•nde• of GP drop In cllnlc "So overall my èxperiencè has been lantastic". I have learnt a lot froin Thames Life and fostered great relationships wilh their team and I look forward t¢J oDtinue Ilial relationship moviiiq forward. Dr. Jagan John, Aurara M•dcar• "Il's h¥lped me open to people. I can now st)eak to people where I wouldn'L before. Also, It's groat lor my phy51cal ènd mental health. The morè I move the stron9er I get. Being outside In the open has also really Improved my mental health. - Cr•lg, Barklng Food For•it volunlmr Red Cr055 working In the COTnmunlty re511ienc '5pJce. We have seEll how the ImporlJni work Ihat Thame5 Lile provide5 to the community coiilinue5 ro grow across ihe voluntary and ¢ommunity Sector IVCS). Important networks Iiktr the CRN. hub open days bringing the cornmunlty together to gei the suoport that they vitally need, It Is great to be aole to work along51de Thames Life atTrd have a great Corn•y Bonn•r. Br1$h R•d Cross "It's a full cirele of care and social engagement and relating to olhers Almu S•gur•, Nl¢e Bunch CIC 24.
FINANCES EXPENDITURE Income STAFF COSTS £4673 Wages • Employers Nl • Penslons £35.487 £260. £2fy),687 Donatlons ll Grants • Interest Income • Other Income ll SLA • Consultancy
KINGSLEY MSVF HALL FUNDERS & PAFITNEFIS UK Networks CREATIVE Aurora Medcare THE BARTLE SCHOOL OF PLANNING @oo 8ARKING.DACENHAM BARKING RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY FUND SUPPORTED BY MAYOR OF LONDON ELBA MCLAREN Trust for London povrrty and 1D¢qLdIY COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE ORGANISERS m•k&:good lor4or plu Partnership Leaming aureus SPORT FOR Imperial College London aid for london Breathe London BritishRedCross HARMONY HOUSE LONDON SPORT Made to Play PY.o Leyi Nurseries RODING RUBBISH LIAIHIIA*tK)iT MtsIN CHANGINGPLACES CfviANGING LIVE5 CITizens Lvcr NHS 26.
poi Address: Thames Life, Thames Community Hub, Bastable Avenue, Barking IG11 OLH Email: info@thames-life.org.uk Website: www.thames-life.org.uk Tkames Life Community Development Trust Thames Life Communiiy Development Trusi is a regisiered chariiy in England & Wales111897431.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1189743
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
FOR
THAMES LIFE
Clemence Hoar Cummings Chartered Accountants Riverside House
1-5 Como Street Romford Essex RM7 7DN
THAMES LIFE
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 4 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 to 16 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 17 |
THAMES LIFE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the period ending 31 March 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Our purposes and activities
The object of Thames Life (CIO) is, for the public benefit, the promotion of urban regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation. This is focused on the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, with a specific focus on Thames View and Barking Riverside estates. It is also realised through the following means of:
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a) the relief of poverty or financial hardship.
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b) the advancement of education, training or re-training.
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c) the provision of financial and technical assistance.
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d) the provision of recreational facilities for the public.
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e) the protection of conservation of the environment.
Our vision, mission and aims
Our Vision: A diverse and vibrant community where residents are driving change Our Mission: To create positive spaces and opportunities for resident empowerment and wellbeing Aims:
o Development of leaders: by offering increased skills development, training and volunteering opportunities for residents.
o Nurture relationships: by creating impactful relationships between residents and partnerships with the local authority, developers, NHS, schools and others.
o Exert influence: by connecting residents with decision-makers to seek positive change for their community.
o Support enterprise: by growing a network of community projects and businesses led by residents to address local need.
Public benefit
The Trustees have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's purposes and objectives and in planning its activities for the year. In particular, they have considered how planned activities will contribute to the purposes and objectives detailed above. The trustees are satisfied that the charity meets the Charity Commission's guidelines with regard to delivering public benefit.
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THAMES LIFE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Review of the year
We have continued to deliver a wide range of high-quality projects, programmes and events. Recent GP pop-ups have also been a highlight, bringing appreciation from our local GP and drawing on support across the team. We won the Royal Collage of General Practitioners North East London Faculty Recognition Award Winner: Collaborative Project of The Year 2023. Our consistent activities include the Barking Food Forest community gardening, monthly Resident Planning Forums including supporting research undertaken by University College London on social infrastructure, weekly Ripple Effect meetings focusing on resident priorities for action, supporting Barking Sports 4 Change leadership group to deliver sport and wellbeing activities, delivering a quarterly newspaper (River View) overseen by a resident editorial board, delivering innovative health prototypes with our Locality Lead partners, working as a consortium with Al Madina, Disability Association of Barking and Dagenham (DABD), Harmony House and Kingsley Hall, and supporting the work of BD Collective, BD Citizens, BD Giving and BD CVS.
Thames Life is one of the most prominent organisations in partnerships across the borough, that combines community organising with social enterprise, which enables us to move from being an independent outlier to an influencer and shaper. For us to achieve our mission in our local wards, we have learnt that we need to collaborate across the borough because this is where the strategy and policy arise. Our community organising, social business and convenor role is distinctive as is our focus on resident-led advocacy.
The main challenges for our charity have been funding and, as we move from a project under Riverside School, to a charity in our own right, initiating internal operational systems previously done by our host, thus balancing an internal and external focus. In April 2024 our lottery grant ended, which required considerable planning over the course of the year by trustees who oversaw a deduction in our costs by reducing our staff team via a mixture of redundancy and wider turnover. This was thoroughly planned and considered based on a wider deliberation of our priorities and purpose, via previous trustee board meetings, work groups, access to pro bono and paid advisers and other strategic planning processes. The reduction should be understood as the actions of an increasingly mature and professional community-based organisation, and in the context of wider funding crises across all sectors.
In addition to the diversity and local connection of our resident trustees, all of whom live locally, we now have an even more diverse and locally rooted staff cohort, with five of our six team, living locally. This complements the local and diverse roots of our trustee board and is one of the many things that make Thames Life a highly distinctive organisation. Thus, in addition to delivering a range of projects and programmes we have evolved a robust and dynamic organisational culture that fits our charitable purpose. Our challenge remains to secure core funding to complement the many smaller pots of funding we have brought in. Alongside this we need to build on our increasingly mature and productive working relationships with our local partners, notably BRL, LBBD and the NHS. We continue to provide a platform for community voice that is both an effective partner and on occasion, a critical friend. Sometimes this tension has seemed especially challenging - the closure of the warehouse on Thames Road led to a 'friends of the warehouse' group, a coalition of numerous groups and residents who wrote their own business plan and when this was not considered, to protests. Likewise, the lack of a health centre on Riverside and the continual closure of the Ripple Nature Reserve are extremely challenging, seemingly forever held up by arcane and distant decision making. In a borough with the highest levels of childhood and premature mortality of any London Borough this lack of infrastructure (health, green spaces, community buildings) has very real and harmful impact.
We continue to adapt our strategy and a new strategic and business plan needs to be our focus over the next year 2024/2025. We are working towards a mixed portfolio of funding including assets that can drive revenue in perpetuity, in a way other settlements and development trusts have managed to do. Staff and trustees have spoken of the importance of social space, and this will continue to be central to our work to ensure we continue to deliver on our core charitable purpose and our vision of a diverse and flourishing community where residents are driving change.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
Total income for the year was £407,243 (2023: £367,524) of which £405,038 was deemed as restricted funding (2023: £363,982). Total expenditure for the year was £319,590 (2023: £348,520) of which £319,590 was spent on restricted activities (2023: £339,660). Reserves carried forward at 31 March 2024 were £192,310 (2023: £104,657) of which £144,621 were deemed as restricted (2023:
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£83,533). Page 2
THAMES LIFE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
Our reserves policy is to hold unrestricted funds equivalent to six months' operating expenditure. Since the majority of salaried posts are funded by restricted funding, the operating expenditure needs only to cover the redundancy costs at a minimum, plus any further operating costs. The unrestricted funds balance more than satisfies this criteria as at 31.03.24.
The charity is able to meet its current working capital requirements based on the cash flow generated and modest operational surpluses. There are sufficient cash reserves to manage cash flow on a day to day basis
Going concern
The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
FUTURE PLANS
We continue to develop our strategic and business plan to reaffirm vision, mission and outcomes and also explore options for long term income streams from the Council, NHS, Barking Riverside Ltd and other grant making bodies, which will help shape the development of our resident-led Community Development Trust (CIO) and provide a strong community anchor organisation for the area.
We will continue to work closely with all strategic partners to ensure residents are at the forefront of local decision making and able to contribute actively to local opportunities and services.
The charity will continue to support those in most need who are directly affected by local development and regeneration, which offers unprecedented opportunities for local people. We will continue to develop our social enterprise offer, health outreach work and resilience activities to help maximise the economic advantages the development will bring.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The Charity is controlled by its governing document and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
Prior to the CIO being established the charity ran as Thames Ward Community Project, this ceased activities on 1 October 2020 and transferred all funds to Thames Life.
Risk management
The trustees have reviewed the major and financial risks that impact on the work of the charity. The systems that have been established enable the trustees to review and take necessary steps to lessen these risks. The trustees consider the following to be the principal risks that the charity faces:
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Main risk #1: securing funding to maintain core activities. In mitigation trustees review finances at board meetings and monthly executive meetings to ensure strategies and actions are undertaken. Trustees and staff are also proactive in seeking a balanced portfolio of funding sources as a progression from heavy reliance on one single funder, i.e. the Lottery Reaching Communities Programme.
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Main risk #2: turnover of staff and trustees. In mitigation regular support, supervision and one to one meetings are planned with both staff and trustees to ensure good communication, a relational culture and speedy identification of people disengaging. We also seek to broaden and diversify our staff and trustee cohort by reaching out to less represented groups.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1189743
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THAMES LIFE
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
Principal address Riverside School Renwick Road Barking Essex IG11 0FU
Trustees
A Thacker (resigned 12.10.23) L Ogunsola (resigned 06.09.23) A Pollard J Oyekunle A Hussien J Songa (resigned 11.1.24) N Ogene D Hussain (resigned 11.1.24) H Rahman E Macauley (resigned 11.1.24) I Ferreria
Independent Examiner
Lee Blunden FCCA CTA Clemence Hoar Cummings Chartered Accountants Riverside House 1-5 Como Street Romford Essex RM7 7DN
Approved by order of the board of trustees on October 10[th] 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
....................................................... J Oyekunle - Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THAMES LIFE
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Thames Life
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Thames Life (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2024.
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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the ERROR - relevant professional body must be completed, which is one of the listed bodies.
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; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Lee Blunden FCCA CTA
Clemence Hoar Cummings Chartered Accountants Riverside House 1-5 Como Street Romford Essex RM7 7DN
Date: 6[th] August 2024
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THAMES LIFE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Charitable activities 2 1,110 Charitable activities 4 Community Projects 1,042 Investment income 3 53 Total 2,205 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities 5 Community Projects - NET INCOME 2,205 Transfers between funds 12 24,360 Net movement in funds 26,565 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 21,124 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 47,689 |
Restricted funds £ - 405,038 - 405,038 319,590 85,448 (24,360) 61,088 83,533 144,621 |
2024 Total funds £ 1,110 406,080 53 407,243 319,590 87,653 - 87,653 104,657 192,310 |
2023 Total funds £ - 367,524 - 367,524 348,520 19,004 - 19,004 85,653 104,657 |
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
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THAMES LIFE
BALANCE SHEET 31 MARCH 2024
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 9 4,075 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 10 25,927 Cash at bank and in hand 24,255 50,182 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 11 (6,568) NET CURRENT ASSETS 43,614 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 47,689 NET ASSETS 47,689 FUNDS 12 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
Restricted funds £ - - 144,621 144,621 - 144,621 144,621 144,621 |
2024 Total funds £ 4,075 25,927 168,876 194,803 (6,568) 188,235 192,310 192,310 47,689 144,621 192,310 |
2023 Total funds £ 3,722 47,676 57,855 105,531 (4,596) 100,935 104,657 104,657 21,124 83,533 104,657 |
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 10[th] October 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. J Oyekunle - Trustee
............................................. L Ogunsola - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
Income from government and other grants are recognised at fair value when the charity has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met then these amounts are deferred.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Expenditure on charitable activities includes those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Computer equipment - 20% on cost
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| 2. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Donations 3. INVESTMENT INCOME Deposit account interest 4. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Grants SLA Consultancy fees Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: The National Lottery Trust for London Other Community Resources Community Chest UK Power Networks London Plus London Marathon Charitable Trust The Social Change Nest 5. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Community Projects |
Direct Costs £ 302,100 |
2024 £ 1,110 2024 £ 53 2024 Community Projects £ 262,555 103,365 40,160 406,080 2024 £ 149,192 37,600 - 17,500 11,073 10,000 5,000 17,530 14,660 262,555 Support costs (see note 6) £ 17,490 |
2023 £ - 2023 £ - 2023 Total activities £ 178,416 176,765 12,343 367,524 2023 £ 146,266 30,000 2,150 - - - - - - 178,416 Totals £ 319,590 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
6. SUPPORT COSTS
Community Projects
Governance costs £ 17,490
7. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
8. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted fund £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Charitable activities - Charitable activities Community Projects 3,542 Total 3,542 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Community Projects 8,860 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (5,318) Transfers between funds 5,001 Net movement in funds (317) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 21,440 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 21,123 |
Restricted funds £ - 363,982 363,982 339,660 24,322 (5,001) 19,321 64,213 83,534 |
Total funds £ - 367,524 367,524 348,520 19,004 - 19,004 85,653 104,657 |
|---|---|---|
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| COST At 1 April 2023 Additions At 31 March 2024 DEPRECIATION At 1 April 2023 Charge for year At 31 March 2024 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2024 At 31 March 2023 10. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade debtors Other debtors Accrued income Prepayments 11. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade creditors Other creditors |
Computer equipment £ 4,084 1,462 5,546 362 1,109 1,471 4,075 3,722 2024 2023 £ £ 24,004 13,125 - 33,256 438 - 1,485 1,295 25,927 47,676 2024 2023 £ £ 2,471 1,298 4,097 3,298 6,568 4,596 |
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Built-ID NCIL London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Trust for London BD Giving Community Resources Networked Neighbourhoods Project Lottery Reaching Communities Riverview Newspaper London Marathon CT Climate Kickstarter Locality Lead Barking Food Forest Community Chest UKPN Ripple Nature Reserve Dr Pop Ups LBBD Coproduction London Plus GLA Shaftesbury Foundation Social Change TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.4.23 £ 21,124 3,089 - 3,290 10,873 6,168 6,900 14,002 8,664 - - 30,547 - - - - - - - - 83,533 104,657 |
Net movement in funds £ 2,205 - 10,489 - 8,336 (6,168) 6,244 (6,263) 11,653 12,021 1,969 (11,941) 7,732 6,577 10,000 21,721 100 5,000 3,623 4,355 85,448 87,653 |
Transfers between funds £ 24,360 (226) - (3,290) (269) - (11,900) (1,491) (28) - - (2,156) - - - - - (5,000) - - (24,360) - |
At 31.3.24 £ 47,689 2,863 10,489 - 18,940 - 1,244 6,248 20,289 12,021 1,969 16,450 7,732 6,577 10,000 21,721 100 - 3,623 4,355 144,621 192,310 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds London Sport NCIL Trust for London BD Giving Community Resources Networked Neighbourhoods Project Lottery Reaching Communities Riverview Newspaper London Marathon CT Climate Kickstarter Locality Lead Barking Food Forest Community Chest UKPN Ripple Nature Reserve Dr Pop Ups LBBD Coproduction London Plus GLA Shaftesbury Foundation Social Change Community Food Growing Programme TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 2,204 5,000 20,000 37,600 - 2,000 149,193 27,150 17,566 1,969 45,979 12,315 12,901 10,000 31,462 550 5,000 9,999 4,355 12,000 405,039 407,243 |
Resources expended £ 1 (5,000) (9,511) (29,264) (6,168) 4,244 (155,456) (15,497) (5,545) - (57,920) (4,583) (6,324) - (9,741) (450) - (6,376) - (12,000) (319,591) **(319,590) ** |
Movement in funds £ 2,205 - 10,489 8,336 (6,168) 6,244 (6,263) 11,653 12,021 1,969 (11,941) 7,732 6,577 10,000 21,721 100 5,000 3,623 4,355 - 85,448 87,653 |
|---|---|---|---|
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds BRL CCG LBBD Health Outreach Project Built-ID NCIL Youth Sport Trust London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Trust for London BD Giving Community Resources Networked Neighbourhoods Project Lottery Reaching Communities Riverview Newspaper Locality Lead TOTAL FUNDS |
Net movement At 1.4.22 in funds £ £ 21,440 (5,317) 3,638 (3,448) 1,820 - 1,765 (1,765) 1,700 - 3,610 4,059 3,759 7,114 10,168 (4,000) 9,900 (3,000) 20,926 (6,923) 6,927 1,737 - 30,547 64,213 24,321 85,653 19,004 |
Transfers between funds £ 5,001 (190) 1,269 - (1,700) (4,380) - - - - - - (5,001) - |
At 31.3.23 £ 21,124 - 3,089 - - 3,289 10,873 6,168 6,900 14,003 8,664 30,547 83,533 104,657 |
|---|---|---|---|
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds BRL CCG LBBD Health Outreach Project NCIL London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Trust for London BD Giving Community Resources Networked Neighbourhoods Project Lottery Reaching Communities Riverview Newspaper London Marathon CT Climate Kickstarter Locality Lead ELBA Digital Divide GROW Summer Event TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 3,542 (1) - 80,023 30,508 - 5,000 146,325 19,939 17,471 5,771 50,126 4,000 4,820 363,982 367,524 |
Resources expended £ (8,859) (3,447) (1,765) (75,964) (23,394) (4,000) (8,000) (153,248) (18,202) (17,471) (5,771) (19,579) (4,000) (4,820) (339,661) (348,520) |
Movement in funds £ (5,317) (3,448) (1,765) 4,059 7,114 (4,000) (3,000) (6,923) 1,737 - - 30,547 - - 24,321 19,004 |
|---|---|---|---|
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Restricted Funds are to be spent as outlined below:
Built - ID
Funding to be spent on community arts activity.
NCIL
Funds for community gardening.
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
Funding for resident-led activities
Trust for London
For community outreach and communications
BD Giving
Funding for resident support and fire safety
Community Resources Network Neighbourhoods Project
Resilience funding
Lottery Reaching Communities
Funding of core staffing of the Charity
Riverview Newspaper
Production of resident newspaper
Climate Kickstarter
Funding to implement rainwater harvesting and solar energy into gardening projects at Barking Food Forest and Riverside Bridge School
Locality Lead
This initiative is a borough-wide partnership that works across the health system to provide triage, develop prototypes and design groups and take part as a learning group to test innovative practice.
Barking Food Forest
Funding for community garden site leased to school from BRL
Community Chest
social prescribing community chest secured via LBBD
UKPN Ripple Nature Reserve
Funds held for Ripple Nature Reserve resident steering group - donation given from UK Power Network
Dr Pop Ups
Funds secured to run health events where residents can access a GP and community advice and /support
LBBD Coproduction
Funds received from LBBD for resident attendance and participation
London Plus GLA
Funds received for CEO participation on resilience and civil contingency support
Shaftesbury Foundation
Funds to support Young Citizens Action Group and related local campaigns shaped by young people
Social Change
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Funds received in lieu of worker attendance at BD Collective events
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THAMES LIFE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Transfers between funds
Most applications made for restricted funding contain a contribution towards the Charity's overheads.If a project concludes and all direct expenditure has ceased, the residual balance on these funds is transferred to the general fund to cover overheads. These balances are well within the allowance for overheads granted by the funding agreements.
13. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024.
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THAMES LIFE
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Charitable activities Donations Investment income Deposit account interest Charitable activities Grants SLA Consultancy fees Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Charitable activities Wages Social security Pensions Coaching fees Computer costs Subscriptions Health & safety and training Insurance Sundries Project costs Computer equipment Support costs Governance costs Accountancy and legal fees Total resources expended Net income |
2024 £ 1,110 53 262,555 103,365 40,160 406,080 407,243 200,687 4,007 13,879 - 917 4,217 85 1,488 2,921 72,790 1,109 302,100 17,490 319,590 87,653 |
2023 £ - - 178,416 176,765 12,343 367,524 367,524 185,711 10,373 9,171 41,865 4,938 4,844 48 1,227 6,510 69,422 362 334,471 14,049 348,520 19,004 |
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This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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