Accountancy Solutions
BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Financial statements for the Period ended 28[th] February 2025
Charity number: 1202061
Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered England and Wales
[Call: 07926 450 250 ] Email: info@hslaccountancysolutions.co.uk www.hslaccountancysolutions.co.uk
BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Contents of the financial statements for the period ended 28th February 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Administrative Details | 1 |
| Trustees Report | 2 - 3 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the accounts | 7 - 10 |
BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Administrative details for the period ended 28th February 2025
Registered Charity number
Trustees and Management Committee
Administrative address
Bankers
Independent Examiner
1202061 Bradley David Ellis Barry Cannon Julie Pauline Robinson Elaine Griffin Beverley Ross 2 HIGHFIELD CENTRE HEMSWORTH PONTEFRACT WF9 4SH Lloyds Bank Plc 139-141 Barnsley Rd, South Elmsall, Pontefract WF9 2AA Heera Singh FMAAT HSL Accountancy Solutions Ltd Enterprise House 61a Carr House Doncaster DN1 2BY
Page 1
BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT The trustees present their annual report for the period ended 28th February 2025
Governing document
The organisation is operated under the rules of its constitution which was adopted 1st February 2023.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The charity aims to ensure that its trustees are able to bring a range of different skills to the board. It also looks to recruit trustees who have worked with offenders and ex-offenders with learning difficulties, which contributes towards the achievement of the charity’s objective.
Induction and training of new trustees
All new trustees are provided with details of their responsibilities by way of relevant Charity Commission leaflets. Further training is available to any trustee who wishes to receive it.
Organisational structure and management
The day-to-day running and management of the charity is undertaken by the trustees. They are responsible for identifying and appointing staff members, to whom some aspects of the charitable work are delegated.
Risk management
The CEO and trustees must identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
The Charity’s objectives
Bless Community Support was established to promote well-being and education in Upton, Hemsworth, and surrounding areas. Our mission is to reduce isolation and loneliness among people of diverse ages, backgrounds, health statuses, and abilities by offering daily activities that encourage social engagement and personal development.
Main activities
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Learning Support: We provide educational assistance for both parents and students, including skills classes, additional learning support, parenting and family support, community access to IT facilities, and adult learning and career development classes.
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Support Groups: Our Memory Friendship group provides fun and interactive services for people living with Dementia and their Carers. Fun games, singing, dancing and friendships are what Bless Community Support is all about. Having a chat and supporting each other over a coffee is simple but effective.
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Environmental Awareness: We inspire participants to engage in gardening and sustainability practices, promoting healthy hobbies and environmental responsibility
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Social Engagement: Our programs range from children’s school holiday clubs, and afternoon tea for the elderly and Crotchet Group to fostering true friendships and community bonding.
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Well-Being Groups: We offer crafting groups, resilience technique workshops, positive thinking sessions, meditation classes, and Macmillan cancer support groups, all designed to provide emotional and psychological support.
These activities are designed to re-engage individuals with their community, promoting inclusivity and personal growth.
Achievements and main activities
During the reported period, Bless Community Support has made significant strides in enhancing community wellbeing:
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Program Participation: We have seen a substantial increase in attendance across all our programs, indicating a growing trust and reliance on our services. In 2024 we had 9827 attendees take part in our 363 groups held.
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• New Venue: In 2023, we realised that our Centre in Hemsworth was running at capacity, so we opened our second venue in early 2024. This allowed us to create new groups and collaborate with new partners, such as Groundworks, where we conducted a Back to Work support program.
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Community Feedback: Testimonials from participants highlight the positive impact of our services on their lives, emphasising the value of our support and activities.
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Collaborations: We have established partnerships with local organisations to expand our reach and resources, enhancing the quality and variety of our offerings.
Bless Community Support (Bless) has been addressing the devastating isolation, poverty, and hardship gripping rural West Yorkshire. Over the past four years, we have grown from six volunteers during the COVID pandemic to a calendar of activities designed to combat isolation, reduce loneliness, environmental learning, school holiday children's clubs, and meditation groups and raise hope in the villages of Upton and Hemsworth.
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BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT The trustees present their annual report for the period ended 28th February 2025
Achievements and main activities
Both villages are among the country's 20% most deprived areas, with limited local services, including public transport to our nearest city, Wakefield. During lockdown, we cooked and delivered over sixty meals daily to many vulnerable people in the community. This experience opened our eyes to the alarming number of residents of all ages who are alone and without statutory, social, or welfare support. With most provisions targeted in Wakefield, our neighbours felt nothing for them in their community.
Four years on, Bless has established bases in both villages, with twenty volunteers delivering over 14 creative and pastoral activities across our three venues from Monday to Saturday. Our groups have risen by 41% to 9827 attendees since the beginning of 2024, and we also opened our second Centre in Hemsworth.
Future plans
Bless Community Support is committed to expanding its services to reach a greater number of individuals in need. Our plans for the upcoming year include the introduction of innovative programs specifically tailored to meet community needs, the enhancement of volunteer training, and the strengthening of partnerships with local organizations to maximize our impact. We are pleased to announce that we have secured a second venue to further develop our Environmental Awareness Groups for children, enabling them to understand the importance of sustainability and the care of our planet.
Financial review
The financial statements for the period ending February 28th, 2025, have been prepared under the historic cost convention. The trustees are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and have taken reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Reserves policy
Our target level of reserves is a target figure of 3 months Core Costs at an amount of £13,000. This is to be built up from Year 2 and Year 3 (2024 and 2025)
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity at the year end and of its incoming resources and resources expended during that year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; where applicable
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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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 enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2022.
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 declare that they have approved the above report.
Page 3
Independent examiners report to the trustees of BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT for the period ended 28th February 2025
I report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 28th February 2025 which are set out on pages 5 to 6.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2022 (the 2022 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2022 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2022 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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1
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2022 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2022 Act have not been met; or
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2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr Heera Singh FMAAT Date: 31[st] March 2025 HSL Accountancy Solutions Ltd Enterprise House 61a Carr House Doncaster DN1 2BY
Page 4
BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Statement of Financial Activities (Incorporating the Income and expenditure account) for the period ended 28th February 2025
| Notes Income Grants and donations 2 Other generated funds Total income Expenditure Charitable activities 3 Total expenditure Net income (expenditure) Balance brought forward at 1st March 2024 Balance carried forward at 28th February 2025 |
Unrestricted Restricted 2025 2024 Funds Funds Total Total £ £ £ £ 46,874 138,435 185,308 157,262 950 950 3,287 |
|---|---|
| 47,824 138,435 186,258 160,549 |
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| 48,896 124,733 173,629 122,849 |
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| 48,896 124,733 173,629 122,849 |
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| -1,072 13,702 12,629 37,700 2,909 34,791 37,700 0 |
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| 1,837 48,493 50,329 37,700 |
The accounting policies and notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
Page 5
BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Balance sheet As at 28th February 2025
| Notes Fixed Assets 4 Current Assets Debtors 5 Cash at bank & in hand Creditors - amounts due within one year 5 Net current assets/liabilities Net assets Fund represented by Unrestricted funds 8 Restricted funds Total |
2025 £ 0 900 52,479 53,379 -3,049 50,329 50,329 1,837 48,493 50,329 |
2024 £ 0 1,400 36,300 |
|---|---|---|
| 37,700 0 |
||
| 37,700 | ||
| 37,700 | ||
| 2,909 34,791 |
||
| 37,700 |
The financial statements on pages 5 and 6 were approved by the Trustees.:
The accounting policies and notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
Page 6
BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 28th February 2025
1 Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparation
These accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historic cost convention, with items recognised at cost or transaction value, unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s), in accordance with: (a) The Charities Act 2022
(b) Accounting & Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP FRS102) (effective January 2015)
The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
1.2 Incoming resources
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA). Incoming resources are recognised when:
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(a) The company becomes entitled to the resources
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(b) The directors are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
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(c) The monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability
Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fund-raising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA. Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the company has unconditional entitlement to the resources. Contractual income is only included in the SoFA once the related goods or performance related services have been delivered. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable.
1.3 Expenditure
Expenditure is charged to the statement of financial activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered. Expenditure is 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 resources.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred in the delivery of the charity’s activities and services for its beneficiaries, including both direct and support costs.
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting constitutional and statutory requirements, including Accountancy fees.
1.4 Fund accounting
Restricted funds are funds received from donors which are subject to restrictions on the purposes for which they may be used of which have been raised for a specific project. Unrestricted funds are those where there are no externally imposed restrictions. These include funds freely available to the charity for expenditure or appropriation to reserves for internally designated purposes.
1.5 Assets
Tangible assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500. They are valued at cost, or, if gifted, at the value to the company on receipt. The rates applicable are; Office equipment - 20% on costs
1.6 Taxes
The charity is not VAT registered. As a Charity the organisation is exempt from taxation on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of chargeable gains Act section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of chargeable gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
1.7.
Creditors
Creditors 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 are normally recognised at their settlement amount, usually the invoice amount. Accrued charges are normally valued at their settlement amount.
1.8. Debtors
Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
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BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 28th February 2025
| 2 Income Grants and donations General fund Albert Hunt Benevolent Fund Big Lottery Brelms Trust Crafting & Company Francis Whinham Groundworks - Community grant Happy Healthy Holidays Hemsworth Core Hemsworth Refurb Little Buds Memory Friendship Group National Academy for Social Prescribing National Lottery - 2024 Craft & Crotchet National Lottery - 2025 Craft & Crotchet Prosper 2024/2025 Sir George Martin Trust Sovereign Health Care Stitch In Time West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance Innovation Competition 2024/25 The Liz and Terry Bramall Trust Total income 3 Expenditure Charitable activities Activity and project costs Advertising and marketing Bank charges Cleaning costs Cost of fundraising Donations Insurance costs Motor running costs Legal and professional costs Light and heat Office costs, repairs and renewals Salaries costs Subscriptions Telephone Volunteer travel and expenses Total expenditure |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 26,036 0 26,036 3,541 3,000 0 3,000 3,000 0 0 0 8,941 0 60,194 60,194 28,430 0 0 0 6,000 0 20 20 1,000 0 0 0 5,000 0 23,066 23,066 0 17,838 0 17,838 13,063 0 6,300 6,300 0 0 2,437 2,437 11,315 0 0 0 4,062 0 400 400 5,308 0 3,000 3,000 0 0 8,225 8,225 0 0 9,809 9,809 0 0 8,625 8,625 5,750 0 0 0 3,000 0 2,500 2,500 0 0 80 80 11,203 0 13,780 13,780 0 0 0 0 5,000 46,874 138,435 185,308 114,612 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 16,920 14,347 31,267 25,458 2,281 5,212 7,492 7,989 0 200 200 0 103 162 265 148 10,924 5,397 16,321 11,485 0 0 0 1,459 1,998 0 1,998 349 2,223 1,487 3,710 0 1,785 26,992 28,777 4,464 2,720 0 2,720 571 7,545 4,820 12,365 16,822 290 64,671 64,961 46,913 243 155 398 324 671 0 671 572 1,194 1,291 2,485 6,296 |
|---|---|
| 48,896 124,733 173,629 122,849 |
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BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 28th February 2025
4 Tangible fixed assets
There were no fixed assets during the period of these accounts.
5 Debtors and creditors
| Trade debtors Creditors - due within one year Trade creditors |
2025 2024 £ £ 900 1,400 |
|---|---|
| 0 0 -3,049 0 |
6
Trustees remuneration, benefits and expenses
There were no trustees' remuneration in the period of these accounts.
- 7 Staff costs
| Salaries and wages | 2025 2024 £ £ 64,961 46,913 |
|---|---|
Average number of employees in the period were 2.No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
8 Movement of funds
| Movement of funds | |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds General funds Restricted funds Albert Hunt Benevolent Fund Big Lottery Brelms Trust Crafting & Company Francis Whinham Groundworks - Community grant Hemsworth Refurb Hemsworth Core National Academy for Social Prescribing National Lottery - 2024 Craft & Crotchet National Lottery - 2025 Craft & Crotchet Memory Friendship Group Prosper Sovereign Health Care Stitch In Time West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance Innovation Competition 2024/25 The Liz and Terry Bramall Trust Total funds |
Opening Incoming Expended Closing Balance Resources Resources Transfers Balance £ £ £ £ £ 2,909 47,824 -48,896 0 1,837 1,750 0 -1,750 0 0 8,941 0 0 0 8,941 4,274 60,194 -56,371 0 8,097 3,000 0 -3,000 0 0 1,416 20 -1,150 0 286 4,167 0 -4,167 0 0 0 23,066 -23,066 0 0 232 2,437 -2,158 0 511 0 6,300 -1,339 0 4,961 0 3,000 -2,706 0 294 0 8,225 -8,225 0 0 0 9,809 -2,699 0 7,110 3,551 400 -2,750 0 1,201 3,605 8,625 -5,653 0 6,578 0 2,500 0 0 2,500 1,806 80 -1,717 0 169 0 13,780 -5,934 0 7,846 2,050 0 -2,050 0 0 |
| 37,700 186,258 173,629 0 50,329 |
Movement of funds (continued)
Designated funds
The designated funds are unrestricted in nature, these fund have been earmarked by the Trustees in line with the Charity's Reserves Policy. The Charity's reserves consist of 3 months operating costs, staff redundancy and other closure costs.
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BLESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 28th February 2025
Restricted funds
Albert Hunt - This is to cover costs for Cancer Support Afternoon Tea & Quiz which we average around 80 attendees per week.
Benevolent Fund - The Benevolent Fund was struggling to operate with their accounts so merged with Bless Community Support. The fund is there to help the area with support and well-being.
Big Lottery - Core Costs to cover the salaries of the CEO and part-time admin to enable to run the groups and structure the charity.
Brelms Trust - The funding will be directed towards the annual core running costs of our varied projects and cover costs for Insurance and general utility bills for Hemsworth.
Crafting & Company - Weekly activity in Hemsworth to assist people suffering from loneliness. Build selfconfidence and support through others.
Hemsworth Refurb - This fund is to cover the overall refurbishment of our second unit in Hemsworth. The costs cover furniture, decorating, new heating and plumbing, flooring and security.
Hemsworth core – Contributions towards core costs.
Memory Friendship Group - A memory friendship group providing singing, dancing and friendship (and much more!) for individuals affected by dementia
Prosper - Funding to support our community with financial issues, who may need support during the cost of living crisis.
Stitch In Time - We meet three times a week in Upton and Hemsworth, offering a safe space for adults to socialise while learning new creative skills such as crocheting, sewing and knitting. Most people attending our craft groups are incredibly isolated, and struggling with poor mental health.
The Liz and Terry Bramall Trust - An invaluable amount of money for our young charity and will make an insurmountable difference to the thousands of isolated and vulnerable people in our rural villages who we support daily
Groundworks Community Grants - Bless will focus largely on first-contact engagement points and projects to improve confidence that will help struggling individuals become work-ready. National Academy for Social Prescribing
National Lottery – 24 – Year 1 of 2-year funding to support our Stitch In Time and Crafting & Company groups.
National Lottery – 25 – Year 2 of 2-year funding to support our Stitch In Time and Crafting & Company groups.
National Academy for Social Prescribing – Support for our Memory Friendship Group, to create a space for people suffering from Dementia through music
Sovereign Health Care – Funding towards our Crystal Café our Cancer Support Drop-in Centre in Hemsworth
West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance Innovation Competition 2024/25 - Support people of Hemsworth & Surrounding areas who are dealing with cancer.
The previous periods figure are provided, where available, for comparison purposes only.
9 Previous periods figure
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