Plus Importance Project Annual Return November 2025 - October 2024
Annual Report
Plus Importance Project had a highly successful first financial year, getting strongly established as a new charity. In the year November 2023 - October 2024:
Volunteers
Training and Support
We grew our team to 20 volunteers!
Events
We talked with the public at 2 events, Hand in Hand Festival and the Latin American Market.
We created and launched our pilot project of training and support for organisations, training 73 people throughout September and October.
Partnerships
We were an active member of the Bristol LGBTQ+ Partnership and spoke as part of a panel event on activism.
Campaigning
We joined the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition and started our efforts in pushing for a fully inclusive ban on conversion practices.
Manifesto
History Resource
We launched a general election manifesto to outline our priorities and engaged with MPs, some of whom had never engaged with our community and our issues before.
Consultations
We responded to 3 national consultations on RSHE statutory guidance, Gender Questioning Children non-statutory guidance and the NHS constitution.
We launched a resource on the History of Identities in the + of LGBT+, challenging the myth that identities in the + are all modern inventions, which was widely praised by those that have accessed it.
Message from our Chair, Matt Humberstone (he/him)
“I’m incredibly proud of our work over the last year in getting well established as a charity so that we are set up for long-term success. This has included partnership building, developing teams of volunteers and creating our training and support offer to enable organisations to be more inclusive of people in the + of LGBT+. I’m incredibly thankful for everyone who has been involved in our journey so far.”
Governance
Plus Importance Project became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 8th January 2024. The Charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 8th January 2024.
Charity Number: 1206433
Registered Address: 57 North Contemporis, 20 Merchants Road, Bristol, BS8 4HH.
Trustees:
Matt Humberstone (Chair)
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Victoria Kensdale
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Yasmin Wolfe (appointed December 2023)
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Ryan David Yevcak (appointed March 2024)
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Lauren Calder (Treasurer, appointed July 2024) Dulseigh Pomerance-Trifts (stepped down May 2024) Emily Adams (Treasurer, stepped down July 2024)
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Kennedi Krueger (appointed June 2024, stepped down October 2024)
The Trustees of the Charity are appointed by the Board at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees give due regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. The trustees meet formally ten times a year.
The Board of Trustees hold all the charity’s power and authorities. The Board is ultimately responsible for the overall control and strategic direction of the charity and the protection of its assets.
Governance
Charitable Objects:
To promote equality and diversity for the public benefit by the elimination of discrimination in relation to people in the UK that identify fully or partly in the + of LGBT+, defined as sexualities, gender identities and sex characteristics including, but not limited to, asexual, genderfluid, genderqueer, intersex, non-binary, pansexual and queer, by:
a) Training, advising and supporting organisations to become more inclusive of those that identify fully or partly in the + of LGBT+ b) Raising awareness of identities in the + of LGBT+
c) Conducting or commissioning research on equality and diversity issues
d) Raising awareness of equality and diversity
e) Promoting the interests and welfare of people in the UK that identify fully or partially in the + of LGBT+
f) Other support as the trustees deem appropriate
Statement of Public Benefit:
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
Risk Management:
Plus Importance Project maintains a risk register and the Board of Trustees ensure that all major risks to which the charity is exposed are reviewed on a regular basis and that the systems and procedures are in place to manage these risks.
Financial Review
Overview:
At the end of the financial year, Plus Importance Project reported a total income of £1,640, primarily generated through donations and grants. The total expenditure for the year amounted to £364.10, covering operational costs, advocacy efforts, and public engagement activities.
As a result, the net movement in funds for the year was £1,275.90, reflecting a positive financial position and growth in available funds. There are no material deficits reported, and the charity's financial position remains stable.
Reserves policy:
The Plus Importance Project maintains free unrestricted reserves to cover 6 months’ worth of running costs:
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to provide a level of working capital that protects the continuity of our work
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to provide a level of funding for unexpected opportunities to provide cover for risks such as unforeseen expenditure or unanticipated loss of income
The Board of Trustees review the above criteria with reference to the Plus Importance Project’s strategy and determine the target level of free reserves required. The Board of Trustees will at times designate funds from free reserves for significant project costs or replacement of major assets.
Amount of Reserves Held: £359
The financial statements of the charity are prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordance with Charity Commission regulations.
Financial Statement
For year ending 31st October 2024:
| Notes | 2024 Unrestricted Funds (£) |
2024 Restricted Funds (£) |
2024 Total Funds (£) |
2023 Total Funds (£) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | |||||
| Donations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Grants | 1 | 0 | 400 | 400 | 0 |
| Charitable Activities |
2 | 240 | 0 | 240 | 0 |
| Other Trading Activities |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Loans Received | 3 | 0 | 1000 | 1000 | 0 |
| Total Income | 240 | 1400 | 1640 | 0 | |
| Expenditure | |||||
| Charitable Activities |
4 | 0 | 362 | 362 | 0 |
| Raising Funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Governance | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total Expenditure |
0 | 364 | 364 | 0 | |
| Net Income | 240 | 1036 | 1276 | 0 |
Financial Statement
For year ending 31st October 2024:
| Notes | 2024 Unrestricted (£) |
2024 Restricted (£) |
2024 Total (£) |
2023 Total (£) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | |||||
| Fixed Assets | 5 | 83 | 0 | 83 | 0 |
| Current Assets | 240 | 1036 | 1276 | 0 | |
| Total Assets | 323 | 1036 | 1359 | 0 | |
| Liabilities | |||||
| Loans Payable | 0 | 1000 | 1000 | 0 | |
| Total Liabilities | 0 | 1000 | 1000 | 0 | |
| Net Assets | 323 | 36 | 359 | 0 |
Notes on the Accounts
1) £400 restricted grant from Bristol Pride Community Fund, given for pilot project of training and support for organisations. Funds have been used to support training materials and travel costs of the volunteers associated with the pilot project. Remaining restricted funds will be carried forward into the next financial year to be used in line with original grant purpose.
- 2) Income from Bristol LGBTQ+ Partnership for talking at a panel event and facilitating workshops.
3) Interest-free loan from Matt Humberstone, to support the funding of core costs and only to be returned if the (other) trustees agree that the charity is in a sufficiently financially stable position for repayment and in accordance with the charity’s reserves policy to maintain a suitable level of free unrestricted reserves. No
repayment has been made in the 2023-2024 financial year.
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4) Charitable activities expenditure of venue hire (£163), volunteer travel expenses (£114) and equipment (£85).
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5) Fixed asset of a roller banner.
The Trustees’ Report, incorporating the financial statement, was approved by the Board on 07/08/2025, and signed on its behalf by:
Matt Humberstone
Chair
Lauren Calder
Treasurer
Plus Importance Project plusimportance.org.uk
Registered Charity Number: 1206433