**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1197199**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND**
**UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **FOR**
**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS)**
**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS)**
**CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|||**Page**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1|to|3|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**||4||
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||5||
|**Balance Sheet**||6||
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|7|to|11|
**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
The Objects of Connect Foundation are for the public benefit, including the prevention or relief of poverty by providing grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty, and the relief of unemployment in such ways as the Charity Trustees may from time to time decide, including assistance to find employment.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities**
The charity has worked hard to implement its vision 'to seek the wellbeing of North Lincolnshire'.
Our largest project is Scunthorpe Foodbank, which uses food and financial donations to help feed local people who find themselves in need.
This project has relied on strong partnerships with referral agencies and our local Citizens Advice Bureau to ensure that we are able to be of maximum benefit for those accessing our services.
We also operate a project called 'Change for Change', which encourages people to contribute their loose and spare change, which is then collected and used to help people in need by relieving their immediate concerns.
This year we have particularly been able to use these funds to help people with their rising utility costs.
During the previous 12 months we have done significant work through a project called 'Cooking Together', as we provide cooking equipment and training to local people.
We have also seen 'The Way', a project focused on individuals from the SEND community, thrive and grow, particularly through the popular puppet club for young people.
## **Public Benefit**
The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commisson's general guidance on public benefit and complied with section 17 (5) of the 2011 Charities Act when reviewing the aims and objectives prior to planning and developing activities.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial position**
Budgets are prepared on an annual basis by the trustees, who also carry out regular reviews of income and expenditure.
Those responsible for procurement of goods and services are required to ensure that best value is achieved, and that preferred suppliers are reviewed on a regular basis.
## **Reserves policy**
The reserves policy of Connect Foundation is that each fund within the charity should reserve enough funds to cover any ongoing committed costs and then an additional 3 months worth of running costs.
At the end of this financial year the charity has a small deficit in terms of unrestricted funds. Looking forward we have agreed a change in our financial practices with all of the projects within the charity, which will see them each make a small percentage contribution on income each year for a management fee which will be unrestricted. This will not only help with the deficit in unrestricted funds, but help to support the growth of Connect Foundation in the future.
Page 1
**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **FUTURE PLANS**
Scunthorpe Foodbank continues to provide essential provisions in the community, and we anticipate demand for these services to remain high. This project is always looking for creative ways to develop and diversify. The addition of a Volunteer Coordinator has had a positive impact, and we are anticipating that this will increase our capacity and resilience.
Our Change for Change project is in a healthy position and we are exploring ways that this project can be both reactive and proactive in serving the needs of our community.
The Way Community is growing significantly and has been able to access increased funding for further development in the year ahead.
In the year ahead we will also continue working with other local partners to explore the possibilities of repurposing a local premises as a cafe space for community use.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO).
## **Organisational structure**
Connect Foundation (North Lincs) was registered as a CIO on 17 December, 2021, and operates in accordance with its constitution, which was adopted on 10 October, 2021.
The minister of Connect Church (North Lincs) is automatically a Charity Trustee of Connect Foundation, and the members of Connect Church (North Lincs) shall nominate candidates for election as Charity Trustees to the board of Connect Foundation when appropriate.
The Trustees control, manage and administer the charity, and volunteers are involved in the management, administration and activities of the charity. They play a vital role in ensuring that all of our efforts are carried out to a high standard, are effective to our objectives, and are done so in line with our vision and values as a charity. The trustees would like to place on record their sincere gratitude to all our volunteers.
The trustees during the period were those listed below.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number** 1197199
## **Principal address**
Connect Church Ashby Road Scunthorpe DN16 1NR
## **Trustees**
Rev T W Macdonald Rev A Pike Rev F Kirby-Smith
## **Independent Examiner**
Helen Spauls FCA Smethurst & Co 12 Abbey Road GRIMSBY DN32 0HL
Page 2
**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).
Under charity law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and The Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. 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.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
............................................................................ Rev A Pike - Trustee
Page 3
**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS)**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Connect Foundation (North Lincs)**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Connect Foundation (North Lincs) (the CIO) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the CIO 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 CIO'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**
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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO 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.
Helen Spauls FCA
Smethurst & Co 12 Abbey Road GRIMSBY DN32 0HL
Date: .............................................
Page 4
## **CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS)**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
335
**Charitable activities**
Core activities
-
**Total**
335
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Charitable activities**
Core activities
1,365
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(1,030)
**Transfers between funds**
8
6,726
**Net movement in funds**
5,696
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
-
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
5,696|Restricted
funds
£
109,363
113,018
222,381
193,628
28,753
(6,726)
22,027
100,819
122,846|31.3.25
Total
funds
£
109,698
113,018
222,716
194,993
27,723
-
27,723
100,819
128,542|31.3.24
Total
funds
£
128,275
8,153
136,428
124,093
12,335
-
12,335
88,484
100,819|
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
## **CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS)**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **31 MARCH 2025**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
5
6,552
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank
6,104
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
6
(6,960)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
(856)
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
5,696
**NET ASSETS**
5,696
**FUNDS**
8
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
funds
£
-
123,160
(314)
122,846
122,846
122,846|31.3.25
Total
funds
£
6,552
129,264
(7,274)
121,990
128,542
128,542
5,696
122,846
128,542|31.3.24
Total
funds
£
-
115,948
(15,129)
100,819
100,819
100,819
-
100,819
100,819|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. Rev A Pike - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **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.
## **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.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixtures and fittings
- 20% Straight Line
## **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.
## **Donated goods**
Donated goods for distribution are recognised at fair value in the statement of financial activities when distributed as donations and charitable expenditure.
## **2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **3. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|Unrestricted
fund
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
1,153
**Charitable activities**
Core activities
-
**Total**
1,153|Restricted
funds
£
127,122
8,153
135,275|Total
funds
£
128,275
8,153|
|---|---|---|
|||136,428|
## **EXPENDITURE ON**
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**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **3. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**
|Unrestricted
fund
£
**Charitable activities**
Core activities
1,153
**NET INCOME**
-
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
-
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
-|Restricted
funds
£
122,940
12,335
88,484
100,819|Total
funds
£
124,093|
|---|---|---|
|||12,335
88,484|
|||100,819|
## **4. FOODBANK DONATIONS**
Foodbank donations included within gifts and donations and also charitable activities during the period is £67,982 (2024: £79,599).
This has been calculated based on 24,542 kg of food distributed during the period estimated at a fair value of £2.77 per kg (2024: 32,928 kg of food distributed).
## **5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|**5.**|**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**|||
|---|---|---|---|
||||Fixtures|
||||and|
||||fittings|
||||£|
||**COST**|||
||Additions||6,726|
||**DEPRECIATION**|||
||Charge for year||174|
||**NET BOOK VALUE**|||
||At 31 March 2025||6,552|
||At 31 March 2024||-|
|**6.**|**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**|||
|||31.3.25|31.3.24|
|||£|£|
||Other creditors|7,274|15,129|
|**7.**|**LEASING AGREEMENTS**|||
||Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:|||
|||31.3.25|31.3.24|
|||£|£|
||Within one year|2,550|812|
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## **CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
|Net
movement
At 1.4.24
in funds
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
-
(1,030)
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
100,819
28,753
**TOTAL FUNDS**
100,819
27,723
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
335
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
222,381
**TOTAL FUNDS**
222,716
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
At 1.4.23
£
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
88,484
**TOTAL FUNDS**
88,484
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
1,153
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
135,275
**TOTAL FUNDS**
136,428|Transfers
between
At
funds
31.3.25
£
£
6,726
5,696
(6,726)
122,846
-
128,542
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(1,365)
(1,030)
(193,628)
28,753
(194,993)
27,723
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.24
£
£
12,335
100,819
12,335
100,819
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(1,153)
-
(122,940)
12,335
(124,093)
12,335|
|---|---|
Page 9
**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.23
£
-
88,484
88,484|Net
movement
in funds
£
(1,030)
41,088
40,058|Transfers
between
funds
£
6,726
(6,726)
-|At
31.3.25
£
5,696
122,846|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||128,542|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
1,488
357,656
359,144|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(2,518)
(1,030)
(316,568)
41,088
(319,086)
40,058|
|---|---|---|
Included within restricted funds in the current and comparative periods are as follows:
## **Foodbank**
These funds are given specifically to support our Foodbank project, offering emergency food parcels to people in crisis.
## **Change for Change**
These funds are loose change donations that are given to allow us to support vulnerable people with one-off support, for example, purchasing a microwave, buying a train ticket etc.
## **Other restricted funds**
Includes funding for air-fryer courses
## **Transfers between funds**
Transfers into the general fund of £6,726 are in relation to assets that have been purchased from restricted income where the restrictions have been met.
Page 10
**CONNECT FOUNDATION (NORTH LINCS)**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **9. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
Management charges totalling £22,500 (2024: £15,000) were paid to Connect Church (North Lincs) during the year.
£2,887 was owed to Connect Church (North Lincs) as at 31st March 2025 (£13,330 at 31st March 2024).
Page 11