@The Rock Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
Charity Registration Number: 1190651
## Trustees’ Report: Year to 31 August 2024
## Administrative Information
@The Rock was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered with the Charity Commission as Charity Number 1190651 on 30 July 2020. Its correspondence address is The Rock, St. Peter’s Church, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9AH.
The Trustees who have served between 1 September 2023 and the date this report was approved are:
|
re:||||
|---|---|---|---|
||_Name_|_Date appointed_|_Date resigned_|
|_Chair:_|Mr A Bruckland|30 July 2020|-|
|_Treasurer:_|Mr J Daykin|30 July 2020|-|
|_Other Trustees:_|Mr D Wallace|30 July 2020|26 July 2024|
||Ms M Belcher|10 May 2021|-|
||Ms H Goodall|20 May 2021|-|
||Rev P Andrew|20 May 2021|12 November 2024|
||Mr A Legge|11 July 2023|1 October 2024|
||Ms G Madle|2 July 2024|-|
||Ms A Phillips|18 September 2024|-|
## Structure, Governance and Management
The Board of Trustees meets every two months to oversee the organisation, with more regular oversight of the finances being undertaken by the Treasurer, Mr J Daykin and the Safeguarding Trustee role undertaken by Ms H Goodall, who has also undertaken the role of staff liaison Trustee. Enormous thanks go to Mr David Wallace, Mr Adam Legge and Rev Phil Andrew, who have all stepped down as Trustees, for their commitment and service to the Rock.
Day to day running of the trust is delegated to the Operations Director and Head of Education, Mr A Macauly.
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Overview
This has been a year of continued development as The Rock flexes to meet increased need amongst young people. We have worked with over 1,000 young people this year, more than ever! The Rock was nominated for a number of awards at The No Child Left Behind Awards in 2024, winning the #futureleaders Award for our young leadership programme. The Rock is continuing to innovate, in order to connect effectively with young people. Development projects include expanded detached youth work with Cheltenham Borough Council and in-school group work. Increasingly, The Rock has focused on developing partnerships with other agencies.
## Objectives
To act as a resource for children and young people especially the marginalised, dis-enfranchised and excluded; and the residents of Gloucestershire, in particular (but without limitation), the residents of the Cheltenham Borough Council wards of St Peter’s, St Paul’s and Swindon Village (as those wards constituted on 31 March 2020); by providing advice and assistance and by organising programmes of physical, educational and other activities as a means of:
- A) Advancing in life by virtue of developing skills, capabilities and capacities which will enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals;
- B) Advancing education;
- C) Relieving unemployment through the development of transferable skills to better equip them for future employment;
- D) Providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare for people living in the area who have need by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, poverty, or social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons;
- E) Advancing the Christian religion.
## Activities
The Rock combines daytime Educational Support with leisure time Community Youth Work and wider Community Engagement. This combination of referred support and optional involvement by young people ensures a wide range of engagement and the opportunity for sustained support. The Rock’s work is increasingly valuable in providing an experience of community amidst rising levels of isolation and mental health challenges. Whilst having an excellent central hub, The Rock is increasingly engaging flexibly off-site to meet local need.
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Youth & Community Work Review
## **1. Schools Work (Re-engagement) Total Individual Participants: 523**
## **Schools Work Activities & Developments:**
- Support for ages 6-11 and 11-16;
- Working with a total of 18 schools;
- Group work and one-to-one sessions;
- Focus on Social Emotional and Mental Health needs of young people;
- Sessions combine inspiring activities (e.g.: bike mechanics, cooking, sports, scoot and skate, art, team building, Lego) and sustained youth work support;
- Areas of support have included: anxiety, non-attendance, transition to secondary school, trauma, family relationships, romantic relationships, bullying, online safety, positive relationships with school staff / professionals, drugs use.
## **Schools Work Key Developments**
- Primary-secondary transition support has included in-school reflective/ prayer space work;
- Group work now includes role play games to encourage collaboration;
- Community volunteering projects and community garden projects encourage a sense of wider purpose and the benefit of outdoors.
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651
Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## **Schools Work Outcomes & feedback**
- 47 young people achieved Rock Awards;
- Schools rated support for young people as 4.9/5 and communication as 5/5;
- 97.3% of primary young people reported improvement in working with others and getting involved in new activities;
- 92% of secondary young people reported improvement in learning new skills;
- ‘They are always looking at ways in which to help support our students including supporting parents, liaising with social workers and ourselves. They work on building relationships and go above and beyond to support our students even when at their most challenging. Our students have benefited from learning new skills, being able to socially interact with others and achieve qualifications ready for when they leave school.’ (school staff);
- [My young person gained] ‘Independence, a lot more self-confidence and socialising’ (Parent);
- ‘it’s a calming place to be’ (young person);
- Coping with challenges, better cooking and opening up to people’ (young person);
- Example of impact: A young person, not attending school due to a violent incident was supported over many months eventually to be able to access a college course in engineering.
## **2. Community Youth Work**
Our open-access youth work continues to be fundamental to The Rock’s work. The culture of acceptance and encouragement that is set by both team and young leaders is crucial in enabling the sessions to be successful and to support so many young people.
## **Total Individual Participants 591**
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## **Community Youth Work Activities Undertaken**
- Age specific youth clubs TNT & Space 51, supporting transition from primary-secondary school and transition to education, employment and training;
- Activity focused groups Archery and Scoot & Skate;
- Primary-aged cooking club;
- “Elevate” primary-secondary transition group;
- Detached youth work expanded significantly with Cheltenham Borough Council grant;
- Young leadership programme, including young leaders residential;
- Holiday activities (through HAF scheme);
- Issues supported included: mental health, healthy relationships, school and positive relationships with teachers, health, supporting family, friendships, family break up, vaping, drugs, out of school activities, online safety, improvements to local areas, personal safety.
## **Community Youth Work Developments**
- Elevate community group successfully relocated to the Oasis Centre, supporting transition to secondary school;
- Young leaders programme wins No Child Left Behind #futureleaders award;
- Detached youth work significantly expanded with Cheltenham Borough Council grant.
## **Community Youth Work Outcomes & Feedback**
84 young people from our community youth work received awards for achievement or progress; Over 71 % of young people rated the support of youth workers as 5 out 5; 93% of young people reported improving in working with others; Young People’s Feedback on what they gained:
“My archery form is improving, and I’m gaining a little more confidence.” “I have got better at communicating with others; now it’s given me the confidence to start conversations with people.”
‘Experiencing friendship, loads of new games and activities, skills for life relating to society.’ ‘My cooking skills have improved, I didn’t even know how to cook’
‘How to cope more with others and make new friends along the way.’
“resilience”
“confidence”
‘The ability to lead conversations with large groups of people.’ (young leader)
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## **3. Community Engagement**
The Rock recognises that whilst our work focuses on young people, their families and communities play a key role in their welfare and flourishing. Our model is to encourage young people to play an active part in contributing to their local community, wherever possible.
## **Ongoing Community Engagement Activities**
- Spokes Bike workshop, providing employability training for local young people and affordable bike repairs and sales for the local community;
- Support for parents, including wellbeing, hints on supporting young people and vouchers to help with financial crises;
- Pantry run by Fresh Hope based at The Rock, providing food support and sustained encouragement and advice.
## **Outcomes**
- 39 households had bikes serviced/ repaired through Spokes bike workshop;
- Over 60 families supported through Fresh Hope’s Pantry.
## Volunteers
A huge thank you to our amazing volunteer teams who contribute so much to young people.
- This year 21 adult volunteers and 15 young volunteers were part of our team;
- Positive improvements on recruitment with Go Volunteer Glos;
- Continued strong links with Education Studies course at the University of Gloucestershire;
- Continued investment in training, including archery instructors’ course and first aid training.
‘Since I've been volunteering at the Rock for a year, my ability to lead, communicate, work with others, and solve problems has grown stronger. It's given me real-life experience I wouldn't have had otherwise and shown me and allowed me to see a career path I didn’t know was there.’ (volunteer)
## Staffing
- A total of 15 employees across the year (4 full-time);
- Full-time equivalent 7.7 employees;
- Staffing has remained very stable, with only one youth worker moving on to another role;
- Staff training has included: Safeguarding, First Aid, food hygiene, Level 3 Child Protection,
- mindfulness and emotional literacy, autism, mentoring, cyber security, critical incidents;
- One member of the team undertaking (and excelling) in Level 3 Apprenticeship in Youth Support.
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Wider Support for Youth Work
- Andy Macauly continued in the interim role of Cheltenham Deanery Youth Connector, -
- supporting Christian faith inspired youth work across the Cheltenham area including regular meetings with local church-based Youth Workers and supporting the ‘Fabric’ Youth Worship Nights.
- Vehicles, buildings and other equipment continues to be borrowed by other youth and community organisations.
## Public Benefit
The Trustees are aware of and consider the need to provide a demonstrable public benefit to honour the Rock’s charitable status. The programmes and facilities offered will continue to develop more selfconfident, capable and resilient young people for the benefit of themselves and the wider community. The Rock’s services are open to all young people in the area, with special consideration for the most disadvantaged (evidenced by activities being very low cost or free). The Trustees believe that this policy of openness, coupled with genuine commitment to young people and our strong partnerships with community groups, schools, churches and public agencies enriches our society to the benefit of all.
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
Financial Review
The accounts show a deficit of £44,787 (this includes £14,120 depreciation on our minibus). Grant
funding was below budget this year, partly due to the timing of receiving grants. Staffing costs increased
this year, mainly due to higher numbers of sessional-staffed hours to meet increased need, in addition
to wage rises, responding to cost of living pressures. The Rock has taken attion to review staffing
costs and continues to do so whilst seeking to maintain pay rates at no less than the Real Living Wage.
The Trustees seek to balance the need for a skilled and sustainable workforce and the continuity of
provision for young people with continued funding pressures.
We are very grateful for all the individuals and funders who have supported our work. We are
particularly appreciative of committed ongoing financial supporL as it is clear that the environment for
canvassing and receiving grants and other funding has become much more challenging, not least
because of the much-discussed inflationary pressures.
During the year we saw strong growth in the income from educational support, continuing the trend
from 2022123. However, we have seen a reversal of this trend in the current 2024125 year due to
funding challenges for schools, although the need remains high and is increasing. We are exploring
diverse models in order to meet the increasing needs of young people in effective and sustainable
ways.
Reserves Policy
We have chosen, in these challenging financial times, to use some of our reserves to ensure the
continuity of support for young people, continuing our long-term commitment in our 14th year of
attive delivery (formally as @The Rock, a Charitable Trust),
It is the policy of the Charity to maintsin general reserves at a level which will enable it to securely
plan its programme for young people. This is estimated to be equivalent to six months, operating
costs. As at 31 August 2024, the Rock had total reserves of £86,151 (including £20,820 of restricted
funds) with estimated six-month running costs in 2024125 of £150,000. Therefore, the reserves are
below the targeted level, but use of the reserves has allowed The Rock to remain committed to
investing in a consistent youth work team, and to sustaining all its community youth work projects
through 2023124.
Risk Management
The Trustees recognise that there is a variety of risk inherent in the attivities of the charity and have
implemented a risk management policy to help minimise the risks. The key areas of risk identified by
the charity are finance, property, staffing, safety, cyber security and safeguarding. The Trustees have
implemented policies and procedures that they consider are appropriate for the management of these
risks.
Approved by the Trustees on
and signed on their behalf by
IIMW2J23
Trustee
@The Rock - Charity Registration Number: 1190651
Trustees, Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of @The Rock
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of @The Ro¢k I'the Trust") for the year
ended 31 August 2024.
Respective responsibilitle5 of trustees and examiner
As the charity trustees of the Trusi you are responsible for the prepar74tion of the accounts in
accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'The Act.).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried Olrt under section 145 of the
2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the
Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act
Independent examlnerfs statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matter5 have come to my attention in
connection with the examination giving me ause to believe that in any material respecL
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by sects'on 130 of the
Act., or
the account5 do not accord w+th those record5', or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the fomi and
content of accounts set out in the Charities IAccounts and Report51 Regulation5 2008 other
than any requirement that the accounts gNe 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 rrAtters 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.
Sed..
Name..
Professional Qualification or membership of professional bodiw
Addres5.'
Dated..
Istiiiion
## Statement of financial activities
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_
|_For the year ended 31 August 2024_||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**General**
**Funds**|**Restricted**
**Funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
||_Notes_|||||
|**Incoming Resources**||||||
|Donations and Legacies|_1_|60,148|33,032|93,180|87,241|
|Other Trading Activities||17,862|-|17,862|12,331|
|Income from Charitable Activities|_2_|149,147|-|149,147|117,895|
|**Total Incoming Resources**||**227,157**|**33,032**|**260,189**|**217,467**|
|||||||
|**Outgoing Resources**||||||
|Expenditure on Raising Funds|_3_|11,571|-|11,571|10,267|
|Expenditure on Charitable Activities|_4_|245,400|48,005|293,405|251,840|
|**Total Outgoing Resources**||**256,971**|**48,005**|**304,976**|**262,107**|
|||||||
|**Net Incoming Resources**||**(29,814)**|**(14,973)**|**(44,787)**|**(44,640)**|
|||||||
|Funds brought forward 31 August 2023||95,145|35,793|130,938|175,578|
|**Funds carried forward 31 August 2024**||**65,331**|**20,820**|**86,151**|**130,938**|
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651
Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
Balance Sheet
As at 31 August 2024
2024
2023
Notes
Tangible Fixed Assets
7,060
21.180
Cath at bank and in hand
83,193
126,965
Debtors and prepayments
6,003
5,321
Total Cu rrent Assets
89.196,
132,286
Creditor& Amounts falling due within one year
(10.105
(22,528)
Net cv rrent assets
79.091
109.758
Total assets les% cu rrent liabilities
86,151
130,938
Net Assets
86.151
130.938
Restricted Funds
70
20,820
35,793
General Funds (unrestricted)
65,331
95,145
Re*rrfes
86.151
130,938
Approved by the Trustees on // hLO b) 2
and signed on its behalf by
Trustee
@The Rock - Charity Registration Number: 1190651
Trustees, Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## **Accounting policies**
_For the year to 31 August 2024_
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
The Rock meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.
The principal accounting policies adopted are as follows:
## Basis of accounting
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of investments. There has been no change in the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year.
## Incoming resources
Donations are recognised when received. Legacies are recognised when there is reasonable certainty as to both entitlement and amount. Grants are generally included in the financial statements when received, to ensure that there is reasonable certainty as to both entitlement and amount. However, in cases where the grant relates to a specific project, it is recognised when the project expenditure takes place. Interest and dividends are included in the financial statements when received. Contractual income is recognised once the contracted services have been delivered.
## Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
## Depreciation
Depreciation on equipment is calculated on a straight-line basis at annual rates estimated to write off the assets over their respective expected useful lives, as follows:
|Office, IT & AV equipment|3 years|Telephone equipment|3 years|
|---|---|---|---|
|Vehicles|3 years|Office furniture|3 years|
|Skate park equipment
|5 years|Property improvements|5 years|
Small items are expensed rather than held as an asset and depreciated on the grounds of materiality.
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Note 1
2024 2023
Donations and legacies
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Grants, donations & legacies 60,148 33,032 93,180 23,052 64,189 87,241
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**Grants, donations & legacies**
**60,148 33,032 93,180**|**23,052 64,1**|**89 87,241**|
|---|---|---|
||||
|Note 2
Income from charitable activities|**2024**|**2023**|
||||
||||
|Youth support services|149,147|117,894|
||||
|**Income from charitable activities**|**149,147**|**117,894**|
||||
|Note 3
Expenditure on generating funds|**2024**|**2023**|
||||
||||
|Fundraising staff costs|11,043|10,052|
|Fundraising costs|528|216|
||||
|**Expenditure on generating funds**|**11,571**|**10,268**|
||||
|Note 4|**2024**|**2023**|
|Charitable expenditure|||
||||
|Staff costs|217,438|178,373|
|Operating costs: Depreciation|14,120|14,120|
|Other|42,861|43,796|
|Premises costs: Depreciation|-|-|
|Other|18,986|15,551|
||||
||||
|**Charitable expenditure**|**293,405**|**251,840**|
The Rock is in discussions with the Landlord (Gloucester Diocesan Board of Finance) to finalise a longer-term lease on the premises from which The Rock operates.
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651
Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_
|Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_|||
|---|---|---|
|Note 5
Employees
_Costs of employees_|**2024**|**2023**|
||||
||||
|Employee costs for the year|**228,482**|**188,424**|
|salaries and stipends|200,970|166,814|
|social security costs|16,471|12,489|
|pension costs|5,957|4,407|
|other staff costs|5,084|4,714|
|_Number of employees (as at 31 August)_|||
||||
||||
|**Employees**|**14**|**15**|
|Full time|4|4|
|Part time|10|11|
||||
||||
||||
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651
Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Note 6
Tangible fixed assets Skate Park Equipment Vehicles Total
Cost or valuation:
As at 31 August 2023 42,550 32,764 71,981 147,295
Disposals - (1,707) - (1,707)
As at 31 August 2024 42,550 31,057 71,981 145,588
Depreciation:
As at 31 August 2023 42,550 32,764 50,801 126,115
Charge for the year - - 14,120 14,120
Disposals - (1,707) - (1,707)
As at 31 August 2024 42,550 31,057 64,921 138,528
Net book value:
As at 31 August 2023 - - 21,180 21,180
As at 31 August 2024 - - 7,060 7,060
**----- End of picture text -----**
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651
Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_
|Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_|||
|---|---|---|
|Note 7
Debtors and prepayments|**2024**|**2023**|
||||
|Trade debtors|1,792|1,740|
|Prepaid expenses|4,211|3,581|
||||
|**Total**|**6,003**
**5,321**||
|Note 8
Creditors due within one year|||
||**2024**|**2023**|
||||
|Trade creditors|5,578|20,039|
|Taxation and social security|4,527|2,489|
||||
|**Creditors due within one year**|**10,105**
**22,528**||
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651
Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_
|Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_|Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Note 9
Analysis of net assets by
fund:
_Funds at 31 August 2024 are represented by:_||_General_
_Funds_|_Restricted_
_Funds_|**Total**|
||||||
||||||
|Tangible fixed assets||7,060|-|**7,060**|
|Current assets||68,376|20,820|**89,196**|
|Creditors||(10,105)|-|**(10,105)**|
|**Net Assets as at 31 August 2024**||**65,331**|**20,820**|**86,151**|
|Note 10
Restricted funds|_Balance at 31_
_August 2023_|_Incoming_
_Resources_|_Resources_
_Expended_|**Balance at**
**31 August**
**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|Grants to fund staff positions
Grants to fund specific projects
Grants to fund vehicles|**18,572**|-|(9,000)|**9,572**|
||**17,221**|33,032|(39,005)|**11,248**|
||**-**|-|-|**-**|
|**Total**|**35,793**|**33,032**|**(48,005)**|**20,820**|
Restricted funds may only be used for the purposes for which the money was originally gifted or bequeathed to the Trust.
Grants to fund staff positions are restricted to funding staff costs including salaries, related payroll costs and other staff related costs including training, CRB checks etc.
Grants for specific projects include Bike Project, Cooking Club and Faith Development. These grants may meet all project-related costs including staffing costs.
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024
## Notes to the accounts
_For the year ended 31 August 2024_
## Note 11
Costs reimbursed to Trustees
During the year, expenses of £376 were reimbursed to one Trustee, Mr J Daykin to reimburse the cost of subscribing to the Xero accounting software used for financial records. No other Trustees received any reimbursements.
## Note 12
Donations from Trustees
During the year, donations totalling £2,160 were received from the Trustees.
## Note 13
Total paid to key management personnel
The total paid to key management personnel during the year was £41,413. The key management personnel were as follows:
Operations Director and Head of Education – Mr A Macauly
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@The Rock – Charity Registration Number: 1190651 Trustees’ Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 August 2024