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2023-03-31-accounts

Charity Number: 1196777

Mersey Rivers Trust

Report and financial statements For the period ended 31 March 2023

Mersey Rivers Trust

Reference and administrative information

for the period ended 31 March 2023

Charity number 1196777 Registered office and operational address

Riverview A17 Embankment Business Park Heaton Mersey Stockport SK3 3GN

Trustees Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Dr Keith Hendry Chair Professor Peter Batey Trustee Mr Christopher Findley Trustee Mr Terence Clive Gaskell Trustee Mr Nicolas Carter Trustee Mrs Sarah Jenner Trustee Mr David Thompson Trustee Dr Stephen Boult Trustee Mr Alex Clegg Trustee Ms Francesca Sullivan Trustee

Trustees who held title to property belonging to the charity during the reporting period or at the date of approval were:

No property held by Trustees.

Key management Mr Paul Henbrey Operations and Delivery Director
personnel Mr John Sanders Strategic Planning and Development Director
Bankers Name
Triodos
Address
Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5A
Solicitors Name
Slater Heelis
Address
86 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2ER DX 14310 Manchester 1
Independent Jennifer Daniel FCCA DChA Slade & Cooper Limited
Examiner Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Manchester, M4 6JG

1

Mersey Rivers Trust

Trustees’ annual report

for the period ended 31 March 2023

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the 9 months period ended 31[st] March 2023.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the charity’s constitution, and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Objectives and activities

The charity was created in 1998 to work in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire and has the following objectives:

The trustees have reviewed the objectives of the Trust and agreed they are still valid.

Since September 2014, the charity has been a Rivers Trust, part of a national network of Rivers Trusts. The charity pays an annual fee and gains the support of the regional and national directors in carrying out Trust activities including employment of staff. Staff are entitled to a Rivers Trust pension scheme.

In June 2017 the Healthy Waterways Trust (operating under the name of the Healthy Rivers Trust) merged with the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust with a consequential change of name to the Mersey Rivers Trust. The charity continued to operate as a member of the Rivers Trust and benefits from a wider volunteer base and the utilisation of the skills and experience of its staff and Trustees. The Trust converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 20 June 2022.

As in recent years the charity has focused on research into water quality and identification and implementation of improvement and engagement projects. It has also been a valuable forum for discussion between local authorities and water professionals. The charity has engaged with local communities as well as professional networks.

The Trustees have identified a number of key long term strategies to help deliver the aims and objectives of the Trust. The Fisheries Strategy aimed at returning native fish species to our rivers has been developed and been implemented. A second strategy, Access and Recreation aimed at improving access to rivers and waterbodies for the purpose recreational activities such as swimming, water sports, walking, cycling and fishing is under development. Action plans identifying short and long term action to deliver these strategies have also been developed.

The charity is committed to working with local groups and volunteers to report and tackle the major pollution issues affecting our rivers such as sewage overflows, industrial pollution, and fly tipping. In addition, we work with Local Authorities, Politicians, Water Companies and other private companies to highlight issues, develop and implement improvements and identify funding.

2

Mersey Rivers Trust

Trustees’ annual report

for the period ended 31 March 2023

The involvement of local volunteers continues to be a key focus area. The charity has engaged with 263 volunteers in the reporting period to help deliver Citizen Science monitoring, invasive species control, riverside litter picks and river restoration projects.

The trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remained focused on its stated purposes.

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Achievements and performance

The charity's main activities and who it tries to help are described below. All its charitable activities focus on the rivers, waterbodies and their environs in the Mersey Catchment and are undertaken to further the charity’s charitable purposes for the public benefit and in line with FRS102.

The Trust has continued to develop and grow to meet the extensive water quality issues in the Mersey Catchment and has a significant portfolio of approved and funded projects. Permanent staff numbers have remained constant however temporary staff have been employed to deliver peak workloads.

The Trust was again awarded the hosting of three “Catchment Based Approach” (CaBA) catchment partnerships funded by DEFRA via the Environment Agency (£15k per partnership). The hosting of partnership meetings was mainly carried out using video conferencing and webinars however some “live” meetings were introduced towards the end of the financial year. All three partnerships delivered the Environment Agency’s “National Success Measures”

The Trust continues to deliver multi-year river-based improvement projects funded from donations via Enforcement Undertakings relating to the Norbury and Micker Brook sub-catchments. Both projects involved working with partners including Groundwork Greater Manchester and local action groups to identify and deliver local actions such as river clean ups, tree planting and habitat improvements.

Building on the success of the project to deliver 60 farm management plans and farm interventions in the Upper Weaver with Severn Rivers Trust and United Utilities the Trust received further funding from the Environment Agency to continue working with farmers to resolve pollution from agricultural activities. An additional 85 farms were engaged through farm visits, agricultural hubs and invitations to presentations.

Ahead of the proposed implementation of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements ( due January 2024), the Trust was chosen by Mersey Travel to deliver a pilot project to offset the biodiversity impact of a new railway station in Knowsley, Liverpool. Phase 1 of the project involved the identification of measures to deliver BNG credits in the surrounding area with an additional focus on river and wetlands. The Trust has also been selected to deliver the agreed measures in 2023/24.

In partnership with and funded by Highways England the Trust worked with landowners to identify and deliver opportunities to reduce the risk of flooding along major road corridors in the Irwell and Etherow Catchments. MRT provided initial identification and engagement of landowners and farmers and agreed interventions which were then wholly or partly funded by the Trust using advanced fund supplied by

3

Mersey Rivers Trust

Trustees’ annual report

for the period ended 31 March 2023

Highways England. At the end of the reporting period 75% of the agreed interventions have been funded and completed by landowners.

The Trust focussed on three river systems, the River Tame, River Irk and the River Bollin, to deliver a range of activities including working with schools and colleges in socially deprived areas to educate and raise awareness of local rivers, control of invasive species and working with volunteers and action groups to clean up rivers through local litter picks along riverbanks.

Several bids to the UK Government’s Green Recovery programme were submitted either by MRT or MRT through other partners and funding was awarded for work on the River Tame, River Irk and River Bollin. In addition, this funding also supported the running of a trainee project aimed at young people aged between 18-25 resulting in the appointment of a trainee for a period of one year. The trainee has benefitted from significant training and work experience which will prepare them to seek full time employment.

Funding was received from the European Open Rivers Programme to carry out feasibility studies primarily during the next reporting period (2023-24) to remove weirs on the River Alt and River Tonge aligned to the delivery of our fisheries strategy to aid the return of native fish species. If feasible the Trust will apply for further funding to remove the weirs.

The Trust has maintained contact with our volunteer base working with 263 volunteers across a number of events and initiatives such a river clean-ups (16 events), citizen science monitoring (over 50 volunteers trained), litter pick events (5) and habitat improvement measures (14.3ha improved). Volunteers and staff members planted 34,353 trees as part of flood risk reduction measures or habitat improvements.

A key focus was education with the Trust working with 13 schools and engaging with 613 pupils in classroom and/or outdoor site-based events.

Beneficiaries of our services

The Trust aims to improve the aquatic environment in the Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside areas for the benefit of local communities, anglers and other river users, environmental action groups and other organisations with similar objectives. Improvements to the environment will benefit the public through cleaner and healthier looking rivers with improved access, education and awareness through public events and volunteer activities.

Financial review

The Trust continues to be run on a sound and improving financial basis resulting from significant donations (Enforcement Undertakings) received in prior years and from grants to deliver environmental projects.

The total income received in the 9 month reporting period was £683,053 (£936,662: 2022 for a 15 month reporting period) and expenditure of £653,083 (£1,130,897: 2022 for a 15 month reporting period). The net income/expenditure of £27,810 resulted from income received for in year projects which were delayed and will be completed in the following financial year and project efficiencies on unrestricted contract work.

The decrease in income and expenditure compared with the last reporting period is largely due to the shorter accounting period resulting from the switch from an unincorporated charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 20 June 2022.

4

Mersey Rivers Trust

Trustees’ annual report

for the period ended 31 March 2023

The key expenditure areas associated with charitable activities such as partnership hosting and project delivery are staff costs (salaries, National Insurance and Pension contributions) of £335,399. Staff costs on a like-for-like basis (pro rata to account for the shorter accounting period increased by 11% because of pay increases to reflect the higher cost of living, additional staff joining the pension scheme and temporary staff employed to deliver peak workload.

The Trust is almost wholly funded by grants and awards to complete environmental projects and initiatives. The principal source of funding is the Environment Agency through its Water and Environment Improvement Fund, Natural Flood Management Fund and Catchment Based Approach. However, the Trust identified this as a medium risk due to a potential reduction in future Government spending and has actively tried to find alternative funding sources to reduce the reliance on Environment Agency funding. The funding is used to deliver projects using Mersey Rivers Trust staff (staff costs recovery) and the use of contractors and consultants (project management). A small number of directly contracted works were carried out on behalf of our partners.

The Trust’s unrestricted funds have increased for the 9 month reporting period to £331,484 (£221,761: 2022 for a 15 month reporting period) reflecting efficiency savings and small surpluses made on unrestricted contracts. The Trust has also identified additional projects which it will fund from unrestricted funds to be delivered in 2023/24.

Restricted funds decreased to £52,758 (£134,671: 2022) mainly as a result of using up restricted funds brought froward from previous period.

Reserves policy

Reserves are considered to be that part of the Trust’s funds which are freely available for its general purpose after it has met its commitments and covered its other planned expenditure. These unrestricted funds are needed to bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover administrative, fundraising and support costs without which the Trust could not function. The trustees consider that due to the expansion and future growth plans for the Trust the ideal level of reserves as of 31st March 2023 would be in the region of £210,000 being 6 months (or 50%) of future annual base operating costs (2023/24) for salaries, insurance, accounting, governance and general administration costs.

The unrestricted “General Fund” of £331,484 includes MRT planned funding (£132,072) to deliver MRT identified projects. The balance of the General Fund of £199,412 will be regarded as ‘MRT Reserves’. Reserves have increased by £34,136 from 2021/22 primarily as a result efficiencies made on project delivery and a reduction in the amount spent on MRT identified projects included in the General Fund.

The reserves stand at 43% of base annual operating costs, lower than the stated reserve policy figure. This will be offset in future years where possible by future project efficiencies and donations.

Plans for the Future

We will continue to deliver our short-term plans which are aligned to our long-term objectives (2050 given the scale of the challenges faced in the Mersey Basin).

5

Mersey Rivers Trust

Trustees’ annual report

for the period ended 31 March 2023

The 2050 outcomes will guide the shorter-term strategy for the growth and development of the Trust over the next three years. Allied to the longer-term outcomes, we have developed the following key priorities for the period 2024 to 2027:

Structure, governance and management

Healthy Waterways Trust was constituted by Trust Deed dated 6 October 1998 and deed of variation dated 1st July 1999 and was a registered charity No. 01073152. The Trust was renamed The Mersey Rivers Trust in May 2017.

6

Mersey Rivers Trust

Trustees’ annual report

for the period ended 31 March 2023

The Trust applied to the Charity Commission to convert to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The main driver for this action was to reduce the administrative burden of reporting to both the Charity Commission and Companies House (as a Limited Company). The Mersey Rivers Trust Limited Company has been closed and “struck off” the Companies House register. The application to become a CIO was accepted and registered on 25 November 2021. The Trust worked with the Charity Commission to transfer the assets and business of the original Trust to the new CIO which was completed on 20 June 2022.

The Trust constituted itself as a “Foundation CIO” whose only voting members are its charity trustees. The trustees are members of the charity, but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

Appointment of Trustees

The first and current trustees were appointed (and may be removed) by its board of trustees. There should be one third of the trustees or two trustees, whichever is the greater, of those attending a meeting to be quorate.

The charitable objectives of the Trust are such that the trustees believe that it is essential to ensure that the management of the charity is effective and in line with good practice in the charitable sector. In addition, the areas of activity require experience, knowledge and expertise in river basin management, water resources, environmental management and protection, local government and the voluntary sector. The trustees annually review the membership of the trust to ensure an appropriate balance of management and more specialist expertise is available. New trustees are appointed following consideration by the existing trustees collectively. Trustees may serve for a maximum period of three years before standing down or seeking re-election. Each new Trustee undertakes an induction process based on Charity Commission guidance (CC3)

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 8 to the accounts.

The Trustees delegate the day-to-day operation of the charity including its bank accounts to its two Executive Directors, Mr Paul Henbrey and Mr John Sanders. Governance and strategic direction to meet the objectives of the charity are led by the Trustees.

Related parties and relationships with other organisations

No trustee receives remuneration or other benefit for their work with the charity. Any contractual relationship with a related party must be disclosed: in the current or previous year, no such related party transactions were reported.

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 8 to the accounts.

The charity does not have any subsidiaries. The Charity is a member of the national Rivers Trust movement, an umbrella organisation for local Rivers Trust in England, Wales and Ireland. The Rivers Trust campaigns on national issues and provides advice, guidance and support to local Trusts

Remuneration policy for key management personnel

Remuneration for key staff (Operations and Delivery Director and the Strategic Planning and Development Director) is aligned to the national Rivers Trust guidance “Pay Guide for Rivers Trusts October 2022”

7

Mersey Rivers Trust

Trustees’ annual report

for the period ended 31 March 2023

The post of Director is designated as Grade 6 – “Director of a small to medium sized Trust”. The appointment of Paul Henbrey was made in November 2016 and John Sanders in July 2019. Remuneration will be reviewed annually by the Trustees.

Risk management

The monitoring and management of risk is a dynamic process, and the charity faces some level of risk in the activities, events and contracts that it engages in. The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:

Compliance with law and regulation - eg breach of trust law and regulatory requirements of particular activities such as fund-raising

The charity’s review of its risk management will continue to help ensure:

Fundraising

The Trust does not carry out direct fundraising activities.

Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others

The Trust does not hold funds or other assets on behalf of other individuals or organisations.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:

8

Mersey Rivers Trust

Trustees’ annual report

for the period ended 31 March 2023

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 06 / 11 /2023 and signed on their behalf by

Dr Keith Hendry

Mersey Rivers Trust Chair

9

Independent examiner’s report

to the members of

Mersey Rivers Trust

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 11 to 23.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. 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.

Jennifer Daniel FCCA DChA

Slade & Cooper Limited, Chartered Certified Accountants Beehive Mill, Jersey Street Manchester, M4 6JG

Date ……………………………….

10

Mersey Rivers Trust

Statement of Financial Activities

(including Income and Expenditure account) for the period ended 31 March 2023

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Income from:
Charitable activities
3
337,597
Investments
4
2,727
Total income
340,324
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities:
5
230,601
Total expenditure
230,601
6
109,723
Transfer between funds
-
Net movement in funds for the year
109,723
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
221,761
Total funds carried forward
331,484
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year		 Restricted
funds
£
342,729
-
342,729
424,642
424,642
(81,913)
-
(81,913)
134,671
52,758		 Total funds
2023
£
680,326
2,727
683,053
655,243
655,243
27,810
-
27,810
356,432
384,242		 Total funds
2022
£
936,130
532
936,662
1,130,897
1,130,897
(194,235)
-
(194,235)
550,667
356,432

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

11

Mersey Rivers Trust

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2023

Note
£
£
Current assets
Debtors
10
244,070
Cash at bank and in hand
614,925
Total current assets
858,995
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling
due in less than one year
11
(474,753)
Net current assets
384,242
Net assets
384,242
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
12
52,758
Unrestricted income funds
13
331,484
Total charity funds
384,242
2023		 £
£
22,762
817,629
840,391
(483,959)
356,432
356,432
134,671
221,761
356,432
2022		 £
£
22,762
817,629
840,391
(483,959)
356,432
356,432
134,671
221,761
356,432
2022
356,432
134,671
221,761
356,432

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

Approved by the trustees on 06 / 11 /2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Dr Keith Hendry (Chair)

12

Mersey Rivers Trust

Statement of Cash Flows for the period ending 31 March 2023

Note
2023
£
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
15
(205,431)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest, and rents from investments
2,727
Cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
2,727
(202,704)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
817,629
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
614,925
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents in the year		 2022
£
317,585
532
532
318,117
499,512
817,629

13

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023

1 Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a Basis of preparation

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), second edition - October 2019 (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a 'true and fair view' and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair view'. This departure has involved following 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), second edition - October 2019, rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Mersey Rivers Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b Preparation of the accounts 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.

The trustees have made no key judgments which have a significant effect on the accounts.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

14

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

c Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Income received in advance of a provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

d Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

15

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

e Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are donations and partnership agreements which the funder has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

f Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

h Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

i Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

j Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

16

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

k Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

l Pensions

Employees of the charity are entitled to join a defined contribution scheme. The charity’s contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 8. There were no outstanding contributions at the year end.

2 Legal status of the charity

The charity is an unincorporated charity registered in England and Wales.

3 Income from charitable activities

Catchment partnership
Total
Previous reporting period
Catchment partnership
Subtotal for activity 1
Investment income
Income from bank deposits
Invasive species removal and
river restoration
Invasive species removal and
river restoration		 Unrestricted
£
-
337,597
337,597
Unrestricted
£
-
437,105
437,105		 Restricted
£
342,729
-
342,729
Restricted
£
499,025
-
499,025
2,023
£
2,727		 Total 2023
£
342,729
337,597
680,326
Total 2022
£
499,025
437,105
936,130
2,022
£
532

All of the charity's investment income arises from money held in interest bearing deposit accounts. All investment income is unrestricted.

4

17

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

5 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Staff costs
Contractors expenses
Travel and subsistence
Stationery and telephone
Accountancy fees
Meetings
Equipment
Training
Insurance
IT costs
Administration
Miscellaneous
Charitable donations
Legal and professional fees
Independent examiner's fee
Restricted expenditure
Unrestricted expenditure
6
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
This is stated after charging/(crediting):
Independent examiner's fee
Governance costs		 2023
£
335,399
231,942
16,618
2,512
3,778
1,320
26,231
5,730
6,242
1,167
13,582
988
100
7,474
2,160
655,243
2023
£
424,642
230,601
655,243
2023
£
2,160		 2022
£
503,866
456,519
22,892
1,226
4,990
1,247
36,740
13,041
2,510
6,125
42,151
7,740
15,401
14,289
2,160
1,130,897
2022
£
420,695
710,202
1,130,897
2022
£
2,160

18

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

Mersey Rivers Trust

7 Staff costs

Staff costs during the year were as follows:

aff costs during the year were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2023
£
287,825
27,092
20,482
335,399		 2022
£
439,495
32,289
32,042
503,826

No employees has employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2022: Nil).

The average number of staff employed during the period was 14 (2022: 13.53). The average full time equivalent number of staff employed during the period was 12 (2022: 12.2).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the Executive Director Operations and Delivery and Executive Director Strategy Development. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £76,955 (2022: £101,006).

8 Trustee remuneration and expenses, and related party transactions

No (2022:nil) trustee received conference expenses during the year (2022:£nil).

Aggregate donations from related parties were £nil (2022: £nil).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

No other trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity, including guarantees, during the year (2022:nil).

19

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

9 Corporation tax

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Chapter 3 of Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.

10 Debtors

Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors		 2023
£
243,486
-
584
244,070		 2022
£
19,300
2,878
584
22,762

11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Other creditors and accruals
Deferred income
Taxation and social security costs		 2023
£
7,522
458,832
8,399
474,753		 2022
£
8,931
465,780
9,248
483,959

20

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

12 Analysis of movements in restricted funds

Total
Total
Catchment
partnership
Catchment
partnership
Name of
restricted fund
Catchment
partnership
Current reporting
period
Previous
reporting period		 at 21
June
2022
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Balance at
31 March
2023
£
£
£
£
£
134,671
342,729
(424,642)
-
52,758
134,671
342,729
(424,642)
-
52,758
Balance
at 1 April
2021
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Balance at
20 June
2022
£
£
£
£
£
56,341
499,025
(420,695)
-
134,671
56,341
499,025
(420,695)
-
134,671
Description, nature and purposes of the fund
The Catchment Partnerships and associated projects are part of the
DEFRA led initiative Catchment Based Approach (CaBA). The Mersey
Rivers Trust receives funding from DEFRA (via the Environment
Agency) and the European funded Natural Course Project to host three
Catchment Partnerships (Alt/Crossens, Lower Mersey and Upper Mersey
Catchments). Funding is also received to deliver other environmental
projects from the Environment Agency (Water Environment
Improvement Fund (WEIF) and Natural Flood Management Fund and
Water Environment Grants). Transfer to unrestricted funds represents
expenditure that have not been correctly allocated to restricted funds
and surpluses achieved through project efficiencies. The associated
projects have been delivered satisfactorily and signed off by the
funders.
 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
52,758
52,758
Balance at
20 June
2022
£
134,671
134,671

21

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

13 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds

General fund
General fund
Current reporting
period
Previous
reporting period		 a a ce
at 21
June
2022
£
221,761
221,761
Balance
at 1 April
2021
£
494,326
494,326
 Income
£
340,324
340,324
Income
£
437,637
437,637		 Expenditure
£
(230,601)
(230,601)
Expenditure
£
(710,202)
(710,202)		 Transfers
£
-
-
Transfers
£
-
-		 As at 31
March
2023
£
331,484
331,484
As at 20
June 2022
£
221,761
221,761

Name of unrestricted fund Description, nature and purposes of the fund

General fund The free reserves after allowing for all designated funds

14 Analysis of net assets between funds

Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total		 General
fund
£
331,484
331,484		 Designated
funds
£
-
-		 Restricted
funds
£
52,758
52,758		 Total
£
384,242
384,242

22

Mersey Rivers Trust

Notes to the accounts for the period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)

15 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

2023
£
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
27,810
Adjustments for:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
(2,727)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
(221,308)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
(9,206)
(205,431)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating		 2022
£
(194,235)
(532)
42,914
469,438
317,585

16 Transfer of assets and liabilities

The assets and liabilites of the unincorporated charity were transferred to a new charitable incorporated organisation on the 20 June 2022.

23