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2023-03-31-accounts

COMMUNITY FIRST (Company limited by guarantee no. 01757334 registered charity no. 288117)

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

COMMUNITY FIRST

(Company limited by guarantee no. 01757334, registered charity no. 288117)

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

CONTENTS

Page
Legal and administrative information 1
Trustees's report 3
Auditors' report 14
Statement of financial activities 18
Balance sheet 19
Statement of cash flows 21
Notes to the financial statements 22
Financial support and other contributions 39

COMMUNITY FIRST

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS For the year ended 31 March 2023

Trustees James Moody (Chairman)[1] Steve Boocock[ 2] Leah Campbell Piers Dibben[1] Edward Heard Jane James[2] (to 12 October 2022) Virginia Keen[ 2] Sanjeen Payne-Kumar[1] Merope Sylvester[2] Victoria Walsh[1] 1. Member of the Finance Committee 2. Member of the Human Resources Committee Secretary Karen Williams Key Management Personnel Lynn Gibson (Chief Executive) Bernadette Lowe (to April 2022) Val Phillips (from April 2022) Steve Crawley (on sabbatical from May 2023 to August 2023) Dawn Whiting (to 26 April 2023) Simone Waterman (from 1 August 2023) Ed Plank David Potts Harry Tipple Patron HRH the Former Duchess of Cornwall and now Queen President Mrs Sarah Troughton HM Lord-Lieutenant For Wiltshire Vice Presidents The Earl of Radnor Ken Whatley James Layton William Wyldbore-Smith DL Jane James (from 12 October 2022)

1

COMMUNITY FIRST

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS For the year ended 31 March 2023

Company reg. no. 01757334
Charity reg. no. 288117
Financial Conduct Authority no FRN311971
Registered office Unit C2 Beacon Business Centre,
Hopton Park
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 2EY
Registered Auditor David Owen & Co
17 Market Place
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 1HT
Bankers CAF Bank Ltd
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ
Lloyds TSB Bank plc
38 Market Place
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 1JD
Solicitors Awdry, Bailey and Douglas
33 St.John's St
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 1BW

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COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023

The members of the Board of Trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006 present their report which includes the administrative information set out on pages 1 & 2 and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 which have been prepared in accordance with the 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 (FRS102) effective 1 January 2019.

Structure, Governance and Management

Community First was founded in 1965 as the Community Council for Wiltshire, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales) in September 1983 and registered as a charity in November 1983. Since 2008 HRH the former Duchess of Cornwall and now Queen has been Patron of Community First.

We employ 22 Full Time, 12 Part time, 20 Sessional/variable contracted staff), 9 Trustees (as of May

2023).

Membership of the Charity is comprised of supporting groups and individuals drawn from local communities, statutory bodies and parish and town councils in Wiltshire and Swindon. Community First is a part of the Rural Community Action Network, which operates through Rural Community Councils in each of England's shire counties, supporting the work of the voluntary sector in rural communities and market towns. The network is known nationally as ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England). The governing documents of the Charity are its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Governance of Community First is through a Board of Trustees elected by the membership at the AGM. The Board has final legal authority and is responsible for overseeing the operation of the entire charity and its activities. The President and Vice Presidents are elected annually, and Trustees are elected for a threeyear term. Additional Trustees may be co-opted by the Board for a 12 month period until the next AGM. Trustees may be elected for two terms of three years - i.e. six consecutive years. A Trustee may be reelected for an additional term of three years. All new Trustees take part in a formal induction programme and receive appropriate training.

The Board meets formally five times a year. It regularly reviews its structure, the individual and corporate responsibilities of Board members and the skills and expertise that they bring to the Charity, through its strategic planning process.

The two Board Committees involving Trustees and senior management staff have delegated responsibility for Finance and Human Resources.

The Finance Committee is chaired by a Trustee with financial knowledge and experience and holds responsibility for financial oversight and protecting the assets of the Charity, including the principal assets, its property at Beacon Business Centre in Devizes and Oxenwood Outdoor Education Centre. The Committee reviews all financial reports in advance of Board meetings and monitors the overall financial position of the Charity.

The Human Resources (HR) Committee has responsibility for the development of HR policies and all Human Resources related Governance issues. The Committee recognises that a strong well managed Human Resources function is central in supporting the staff team.

All Trustees play an important role in guiding the strategic development of the Charity, monitoring the operating environment and risk management, identifying growth opportunities, leading on policy development, deciding on future priorities and ensuring that the Charity is sustainable.

3

COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023

The Leadership Team comprises of seven Managers and the specialist accountancy services is outsourced to Monahans. The Leadership team holds responsibility for implementing Board policy, carrying out decisions of the Board, managing the assets of the Charity, strategic planning and development, advising Trustees on all matters pertaining to the effective running of the Charity, and for overall business management and development.

The staff team is organised into six teams (including Central Support) reflecting the strategic objectives of the Charity.

The Charity has four subsidiary companies, one of which, Community First Trading Ltd, undertakes insurance and bulk fuel agency work, generating a profit of £30,185 which was gift-aided to the Charity. The other three subsidiaries, Wiltshire Enterprises Ltd together with Wiltshire Community Jobs and Youth Action Wiltshire (companies limited by guarantee) were dormant during the year as activities were undertaken directly by the Charity.

In addition to its Trustees, none of whom receive remuneration, the Charity benefits greatly from the active involvement of many volunteers who contribute their time and skills on sub-committees of the Board of Trustees, and as fundraisers and ambassadors of the Charity.

Pay policy for senior staff

The senior management team comprises of the Trustees and key management personnel of the charity who are in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis. As mentioned above, all trustees give their time freely and no trustee received remuneration during the year. Details of trustee expenses are disclosed in note 11 to the accounts. The pay of senior staff is reviewed regularly and adjusted based on the circumstances of the charity.

Risks

Trustees, in conjunction with the Leadership team, have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the Charity might be exposed. It has designed a number of management and financial strategies which seek to mitigate the effects of such threats to Community First. The financial risks and asset and property management. Risks are set out in the Business Plan and this is reviewed annually.

Responsibilities of the Members of the Board of Trustees

Company 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 company 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 surplus or deficit of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and 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

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COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Companies Act 2006. 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.

Statements as to disclosure of information to auditors

So far as the Trustees are aware at the time the report is approved:

Objectives and Activities

Community First's Vision is Vibrant Communities, Brighter Futures with a mission to Connect Communities, Encourage Enterprise, Tackle Disadvantage and Inspire Innovate and Deliver Excellence.

Public benefit

The Charity's activities described above demonstrate the delivery of public benefit. The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance when reviewing the Charity's objectives and activities.

Generation of funds - Fundraising and Publicity

Fundraising remains a crucial aspect for our sustainability with a target of for the next 12 months, of £443,820 in 2023/24. While we have a significant amount of unsecured income built into the restricted service budgets, the targets are pragmatic and realistic and costs will be cut if targets are not met.

Employees and volunteers

Community First is committed to providing equality and fairness for all in its employment and to not discriminate on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined in the Equality Act 2010.

The Trustees would like to express their gratitude for the hard work, dedication and commitment of the excellent staff teams working in all parts of the Charity

Key Achievements

The organisation has managed the effect of the pandemic effectively and adapting its delivery and working arrangements over the past 12 months. We are now operating a hybrid model in the office with a blend of office and home working mix. We will continue to follow government guidance.

Oxenwood Outdoor Education Centre – The Centre is slowly resuming normal activity after the Pandemic. This was the area of most concern having had its main source of income from schools residentials, wiped out almost overnight during Covid 19 pandemic. Traded bookings are now returning, and the calendar shows a strong calendar of booking for the next 12 months and beyond. We finished the year with a small surplus for the year.

Central Services and Strategic Development - Financially, the organisation remains in a healthy position with a consolidated budgeted income of £2,389,076 at the end of March 2023/2024 and expenditure of £2,520,702. We ended the year with £221,390 free reserves which equates to 4.85 months of central running cost, which is well within the reserves minimum level of 3 months. The forecast figure of £196,571 equates to 4.2 months on reserve – still comfortably within the reserves policy.

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COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023

The organisation has worked hard to advocate for the VCSE sector within the new Integrated Care System development. We have a seat both on the VCSE system wide partnership and have alongside Wessex Community Action developed a Wiltshire ‘Place’ based VCSE Leaders Alliance.

Community Development – Through the Rural Youth Project, we have engaged & consulted with 645 young people across 8 villages/towns & 4 community board areas, to seeks their views on local youth work needs & the team have provided positive activities for 385 young people from these areas.

Local Councils Support - 226 Councils are in the WALC Membership and 33 In-house training events delivered.

Link schemes – we continue ongoing support for 21 Community Transport groups and 42 Link Schemes

The Link Audit 2022/2023 showed the network includes 1,620 active volunteers, with an Economic value of Link volunteer hours £1,262,102. Volunteers donated 101,130 hours and undertook 34,125 tasks and journeys. Community First continues to provide support to the network around governance, networking and volunteer recruitment.

Village Halls and Community Buildings - We have continued to support Village Halls and Community Centres through the Wiltshire Village Halls Association offering support to access government grants and financial support and advice on interpreting safety guidance including webinars on a number of topics. The village halls service increased its membership to 185 members, (3 new members in 2022/23). Get Out Get Active Programme, delivered in partnership with Wiltshire & Swindon Sports Partnership supported 42 inactive people to become active, conducted 128 listening’s and 25 volunteers were identified and received Community Organising training. 6 Halls were supported to access the Jubilee Funds and 3 halls have been granted an award. The amount awarded was £47,960.

Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MIDAS) Training - MiDAS training generate an income of £26,202. The service supported 39 different organisations and trained a total of 153 drivers.

Community Grants and Landfill - The grants support we provide remain essential to building the fabric of communities. Our grant programmes including the Bradenstoke Solar Panel Grants Scheme and the Landfill Communities Fund awarded £406,993.

Building Bridges - Programme delivery was extended by a month and ended in late February 2023. Over the last six and a half years, Building Bridges has supported a total of 1,942 participants. We are very proud that over two-thirds (68%) of our participants have achieved a positive outcome with the programme, far exceeding targets:

Our aim was to support those who were furthest from the world of work, facing multiple barriers and challenges and the demographics of those we have supported demonstrate that we achieved this:

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COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023

The age of people supported ranged from 15 to 74 years old on joining, with 54% of participants being under 25 and 14% being over 50.

In addition to the main programme targets:

Throughout the programme, we monitored the success of support into five key target demographic groups:

Youth Action Wiltshire

Young Carers - 447 young carers received respite sessions, equating to an average of 5.6 places attended by each of the 447 young carers.167 young carers and received 165 new young carers referrals. 14 Safeguarding referrals, inclusive of MASH & CAMHS have been made for young carers. 146 young carers have accessed structured 1:1 mentoring or coaching programmes with our Young Carers Support Workers. 10 young carers have been referred to our internally funded ‘Talking Therapy’ counselling provision. An additional 40 young carers have benefited from 1:1 support sessions through our Targeted Splash & Project Inspire services.

Splash – supported 501 young people ‘facing challenge in their lives’, including 302 new referrals engaged with and benefited from Splash 1:1 & group work provision. In total 2000 contacts were completed (a contact is an activity place, a webinar attendance or a 1:1 session). 151 young people attended a total of 382 1:1 mentoring or coaching sessions with our Splash support workers, 187 young people completed support plans, 55 young people attended a total of 295 webinar places and 295 young people attended 1136 group activity places. On average each engaging young person attended 4 contact sessions with a member of the Splash team. Returns from our April 2023 parent/referrer feedback survey recorded the following:

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COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023

Inspire 12 young people gained a qualification or accreditation. There were 19 qualifications achieved, 9 Emergency First Aid Work (EFAW), 5 Food Hygiene, 2 ASDAN Leadership and 3 ASDAN Conservation.

Youth Club – We have undertaken remote & face to face training for 56 voluntary Youth Leaders covering Emergency first aid, food hygiene, Health & Safety & Risk Management, Listening & Community Organising & ‘How To Run’ arts & group work sessions, along with residential Leadership training for 20 new Young Leaders. 6 young leaders from 2021-22 continued their personal development and leadership skills throughout 2022-23

Governance, volunteer recruitment & fundraising support has been provided for 8 groups & Winterslow youth club has received intensive support during its set-up & launch.

Financial Review

The year’s total incoming resources of £2,300,961 were 8% higher than 2021/22 and the year’s total resources expended of £2,327,031 were 17% higher than in 2021/22. An analysis of incoming resources and resources expended is shown in the charts on page 9.

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COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
Income Resources £2,300,961
Donations and
Other Funders, 15% membership, 12%
Activities and
Landfill Tax Credits,
investment, 12%
21%
Central Government,
Local Authorities, 7% 33%
----- End of picture text -----

Resources Expended £2,327,031

----- Start of picture text -----
Grants Payable, 18%
Fundraising &
Trading, 4%
Tackling
Disadvantage, 52%
Strengthening
Communities, 25%
Encouraging
Enterprise, 1%
----- End of picture text -----

The changes in operating income and the expenditure resulted in a £26,070 reduction in funds (2021/22: surplus of £150,298).

9

COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023

The increase in operating income was due to a number of factors. Grant funding increased due to the generosity of several funders – including Wiltshire Council and the Underwood Trust. The Charity also benefited from three legacies totalling £84,419. The higher expenditure was partly caused by an additional £153,022 expenditure in relation to the Charity’s adventure centres – Oxenwood and Linkenholt as well as an increase in grants payable from £370,896 to £414,117 and some one-off central investment.

The net movement in funds for the year was a deficit of £26,070 (2021/22: £150,298 surplus). Unrestricted free reserves (i.e. excluding designated funds) increased from £199,153 to £221,390.

The designated fund representing property and fixed assets is not freely available to spend and has been excluded from the calculation of free reserves. Similarly, the Strengthening Communities fund was created from a legacy and the Trustees feel a moral obligation to spend this gift on an identifiable project which would otherwise not have funding. Trustees identified the funds for use of the Oxenwood Developments. A further £40,000 is being held in a future investment fund to match the costs to invest in the charity’s infrastructure – including replacement vehicles and further capital repair to the Charity’s outdoor educational projects.

The reserves policy agreed by Trustees is:

General or “free” reserves, defined as all unrestricted and undesignated funds readily available for spending are to be maintained at a level designed to protect the Charity’s work against risks relation to:

Reserves should cover 3-6 months of expenditure on central costs (around £38,000 per month) as well as central service redundancy costs (as 31 March 2023 this was around £36,000). Community First also owns assets that could be used if readily available finds were not enough to cover any large liabilities.

Designated funds are set aside by Trustees for particular purposes as described in note 17 of the financial statements. These finds include the book value of property and fixed assets in use of the Charity’s activities and the Strengthening Communities fund.

Plans for the Future

The key Strategic Priorities for the next financial year include:

Governance and Central Support

  1. Ensure the reserves levels increase and are in the range of 3-6 month’s cover.

  2. Review office costs and investigate feasibility of offering more external rental space at Hopton

  3. Continue to review investment opportunities.

  4. Review our banking arrangements across the various services

  5. Appoint at least two new Trustees

  6. Review the Finance IT systems in partnership with Monahans.

  7. Review the telephone and supplier arrangements for the organisation to reduce costs

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COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT

For the year ended 31 March 2023

  1. Continue to influence VCSE developments including the new Integrated Care System (ICS), Integrated Care Alliance (ICA) and Youth Partnership

  2. Ensure the work we do is celebrated and understood including the implementation of the new Communications and Fundraising strategies

  3. Secure £443,820 fundraised income

  4. Undertake a feasibility study of specific youth club insurance being added to our Community Insurance Services.

  5. Secure at least £35,000 in surplus income from Community Insurance services

  6. Secure at least £5,000 in surplus income from BOLD creative services

  7. Review branding and logo development

  8. Review our approach to legacy development as part of a fundraising efforts

Outdoor Education

  1. Achieve the LOTC Quality Mark, including new ways of engaging schools & young people in planning their outdoor education programmes.

  2. Continue to promote to new markets to grow income

  3. Produce architectural plans for the Oxenwood Outdoor Education centre Capital build by December 2023

  4. Ensure the Centre breaks even financially.

  5. Deliver the Centre Business Plan including feasibility of a new Medieval Hall to create additional day activity bookings and private hire opportunities.

  6. There is the potential to increase booking through use for phases 1 of NCS.

  7. Develop Tourism overnight packages linked to Linkenholt.of Heritage, Artists and Walking in Nature packages

  8. Explore the possibility of developing the centre as an instructor training centre linking with Shared Prosperity Fund and links with partners such as military.

  9. Develop a Forest School, environmental and field study offer.

Youth Action Wiltshire

  1. Respond to the new Wiltshire Council tender for carers in Autumn 2023

  2. Respond to the Victims of Crime tender in Autumn 2023

  3. Offer support to 120 of the most vulnerable young carers in Wiltshire.

  4. Offer an evening, weekend & school holiday, face to face respite programme is provided for young carers recognised as most vulnerable.

  5. A minimum of 350 young people ‘facing challenge in their lives benefit from Splash 1:1 & group work provision.

  6. A minimum of 24 Youth Leaders are supported and achieve accreditation

  7. The Inspire service (part of the Shared Prosperity programmes) in Swindon and Wiltshire and support 100 young people per year

Wiltshire Association Local Councils

  1. Increase membership to 230

  2. Increase training offer and provide 50 training sessions

  3. Develop and renew the WALC website

  4. Celebrate the work of the network through an annual conference and the Community First AGM Awards

  5. Continue to delivery a membership service which is valued and has high satisfaction levels

Link and Community Transport

  1. Review the Link audit process and undertake this in March 2024

  2. Increase volunteer numbers to 1,700

  3. Review Link data bases to improve efficiency

  4. Advocate on behalf of the Community Transport groups for increase operational funding

  5. Continue to delivery an excellent membership service

11

COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2023

  1. Award £20,000 of Link grants

Village Halls

  1. Increase membership to 186

  2. Support the platinum jubilee grant process

  3. Continue to delivery an excellent membership service

  4. GOGA Seek continuation funding past September with a target of £15k per year

Youth Clubs & Groups

  1. Seek funding for a youth support worker

  2. Increase affiliation and membership fees by £1,000

  3. Working with the Youth Partnership secure a role to support the membership and advocate for youth work across the County

  4. Deliver a programme of training for the network – at least 10 courses

  5. Pilot some countywide activity events at Oxenwood and Linkenholt

  6. Extend the clubs survey to investigate future needs

Community Development

  1. Work with the neighbourhood collaborative pathfinders and embed Community Organising within it

  2. Secure sustainable funding (£60K)

  3. Delivery the rural youth project

  4. Direct volunteer recruitment for Link Schemes and CT groups – 50 new volunteers for both the Link schemes and CT groups

  5. Review the Volunteer Connect platform and develop it further

  6. Continue to support the WCLT in accordance with the funding agreement

  7. Continue to be an active member of the following steering groups – Celebrating age / MCI / Community partnership collaboration / Rural economy / Cross County’s transport network / CTA (MiDAS development)

  8. Development a general neighbourhood survey offer for CLT and parish council groups – both analytical and direct engagement

  9. Seek funding to continue to deliver BB listening’s and support work with a target income of £5,000

MiDAS

  1. Continue to delivery quality training with at least 80% satisfaction from learners

  2. Increase generated income to £15,000

  3. Contributed to the national review of the MiDAS offer

Landfill grants

  1. Continue to build and develop relationships with partners

  2. Continue to distribute grants to meet required distribution target of £350,000

Bold

  1. Increase the neighbourhood survey offer to parish councils and CLT’s

  2. Generate a targeted income of £5k

Building Bridges

  1. The regular audits of the BBO delivery on Building Bridges by the DWP Managing Authority and Government Internal Audit Agency will remain ongoing until the end of 2025.

  2. In Wiltshire, support a minimum of 195 participants per year who face significant challenges and barriers to achieving & sustaining education and employment, including those aged 16+ who are NEET or at risk of becoming so.

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COMMUNITY FIRST

TRUSTEES' REPORT

For the year ended 31 March 2023

  1. In Swindon, through Inspire Swindon the funding will be focused on supporting 100 young people aged 15-25 per year from four priority groups:

  2. Those aged 15-18 who are NEET or at risk of becoming so

  3. Those aged 15-18 who are engaged with the Swindon Youth Justice Service

  4. o Those aged 19-25 who are care experienced.

  5. Those aged 19-25 with an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP)

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the members of Community First will be held on 11[th] October 2023

This report has been prepared having taken advantage of the Small Companies exemption in the Companies Act 2006.

By order of the Board of Trustees

James Moody Chairman of the Board of Trustees

DATE: 22 August 2023

13

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY FIRST

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Community First (‘the charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account), the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions related to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, including the trustees’ report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY FIRST

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 4, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under Section 151 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY FIRST

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

16

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY FIRST

Due to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls.

We are not responsible for preventing fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations and cannot be expected to detect all fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.

This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

David Owen & Co is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charitable company by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s trustees, as a body, in accordance Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

----- Start of picture text -----
David Owen & Co
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David Owen & Co Statutory Auditors Chartered Accountants 17 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1HT

Date:………………………………………………….12 September 2023

17

COMMUNITY FIRST (company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (including income & expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2023

Note
INCOMING RESOURCES
Income
2
3
4
5
Other incoming resources
RESOURCES EXPENDED
7
Fundraising and publicity
Commercial trading operations
Charitable activities
Strengthening Communities
Encouraging Enterprise
Tackling Disadvantage
Transfers between funds
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
17
TOTAL
RESOURCES
EXPENDED
NET INCOME /
(EXPENDITURE)
Gain on revaluation of
investment property
NET MOVEMENT
IN FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS
BROUGHT
FORWARD
TOTAL FUNDS
CARRIED
FORWARD
Donations and legacies
TOTAL INCOMING
RESOURCES
Trading activities
Membership and
affiliation fees
Charitable activities
Investment income
Gain on disposal of
fixed assets		 Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
97,776
143,735
1,557
201,397
15,671
1,990
462,126
-
74,586
304,318
519
66,058
445,481
16,645
-
(5,743)
10,902
788,809
£
799,711
£ 		Restricted
Funds
2023
£
151,006
118,440
10,819
1,557,102
83
350
1,837,800
6,886
-
288,552
436,796
1,148,281
1,880,515
(42,715)
-
5,743
(36,972)
1,141,449
£
1,104,477
£ 		Endowment
Funds
2023
£
1,035
-
-
-
-
-
1,035
1,035
-
-
-
-
1,035
-
-
-
-
Nil
£
Nil
£		 Total
Funds
2023
£
249,817
262,175
12,376
1,758,499
15,754
2,340		 Total
Funds
2022
£
216,529
217,919
9,569
1,682,216
10,323
800
2,300,961 2,137,356
7,921
74,586
592,870
437,315
1,214,339		 7,143
77,705
442,127
386,310
1,083,773
2,327,031 1,997,058
(26,070)
-
-		 140,298
10,000
-
(26,070) 150,298
1,930,258
_£ _		 1,779,960
_£ _
1,904,188
£ 		1,930,258
_£ _

The notes on pages 22 to 38 form part of these financial statements

18

COMMUNITY FIRST (Company registration 01757334)

BALANCE SHEET As at 31 March 2023

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
12
Investments
13
Investment property
13
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
CREDITORS: amounts
falling due within one year
15
NET CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS LESS
CURRENT LIABILITIES / NET
ASSETS
FUNDS
17
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds
General funds		 2023
2022
£
£
250,087
261,222
100
100
100,000
100,000
350,187
361,322
310,240
145,071
1,475,007
1,603,434
1,785,247
1,748,505
(231,246)
(179,569)
1,554,001
1,568,936
1,904,188
£
1,930,258
£
1,104,477
1,141,449
578,321
589,656
221,390
199,153
1,904,188
£
1,930,258
£
-
-
Consolidated		 2023
2022
£
£
250,087
261,222
200
200
100,000
100,000
350,287
361,422
343,823
178,374
1,380,606
1,523,520
1,724,429
1,701,894
(170,528)
(133,058)
1,553,901
1,568,836
1,904,188
£
1,930,258
£
1,104,477
1,141,449
578,321
589,656
221,390
199,153
1,904,188
£
1,930,258
£
-
-
Charity		 2023
2022
£
£
250,087
261,222
200
200
100,000
100,000
350,287
361,422
343,823
178,374
1,380,606
1,523,520
1,724,429
1,701,894
(170,528)
(133,058)
1,553,901
1,568,836
1,904,188
£
1,930,258
£
1,104,477
1,141,449
578,321
589,656
221,390
199,153
1,904,188
£
1,930,258
£
-
-
Charity
361,422
178,374
1,523,520
1,701,894
(133,058)
1,568,836
1,930,258
_£ _
1,141,449
589,656
199,153
1,930,258
_£ _
-

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2023 although an audit has been carried out under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011. No member of the company has deposited a notice, pursuant to section 476, requiring an audit of these accounts under the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The annexed notes form part of these financial statements

19

COMMUNITY FIRST (Company registration 01757334)

BALANCE SHEET As at 31 March 2023

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies. They were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 22 August 2023.

JAMES MOODY, Chair SANJEEN PAYNE KUMAR, Trustee

The annexed notes form part of these financial statements

20

COMMUNITY FIRST

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the year ended 31 March 2023

Note
Cash flow from operating activities (see below)
Cash flow from investing activities
Proceeds from the sale of property, fixtures and equipment
Purchase of fixed asset additions
12
Investment income received
5
Net cash used in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents bought forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward
Surplus / (deficit) for the year
Depreciation charges
12
Dividends interest and rents from investments
5
Loss / (Profit) on sale of fixed assets
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
14
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
15
RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASH		 2023
£
(132,431)
£		 2022
£
180,517
_£ _
(2,340)
(9,410)
15,754		 (800)
(11,851)
10,323
4,004
**£ **		 (2,328)
£
(128,427)
1,603,434
1,475,007
**£ **		 178,189
1,425,245
1,603,434
_£ _
2023
£
(26,070)
20,545
(15,754)
2,340
(165,169)
51,677		 -
2022
£
140,298
18,248
(10,323)
800
112,049
(80,555)
(132,431)
£		 180,517
_£ _

21

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the preceding year unless otherwise stated.

(a) Basis of accounting

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity, 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) and the Charities Act 2011. The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value and 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 financial statements have been prepared in Sterling.

The financial statements have been consolidated to include the results of Community First Trading Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Community First.

No separate Statement of Financial Activities or Income and Expenditure Account have been presented for the Charity alone as permitted by paragraph 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

(b) Fund accounting

General reserves are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of designated funds is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of the various restricted funds is set out in the notes to the financial statements. It is the Charity’s policy to transfer funds from general reserves to eliminate deficits incurred by services funded from restricted funds which will not be recoverable from future restricted income.

Endowment funds are restricted funds received for the specific purpose of establishing a donor advised fund with The Community Foundation to be invested where only the income generated can be expended to benefit Youth Action Wiltshire services. The funds have been invested with The Community Foundation’s other endowment funds.

22

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

(c) Income recognition

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Donations are accounted for when received and related gift aid when receivable. Legacies are accounted for when received or when entitlement arises, it is reasonably certain they will be received and amounts can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Membership income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year of receipt.

Grants receivable are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year to which they relate.

Income from government grants are recognised at fair value when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met then these amounts are deferred.

Rental income is included when receivable.

Trading income is included when receivable. This includes insurance administration fees, oil bulkbuying commission, and branding and design work.

(d) Expenditure recognition

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs 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.

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.

Support costs, which include management and administration costs incurred in the Charity’s office and governance costs, which are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the Charity, have been allocated to the Charity’s activities based on office space occupied, time spent and resources managed.

Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fees and costs linked with the strategic management of the charity.

23

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

Expenditure directly attributable to a specific activity category (e.g. charitable activities, governance costs) has been included in the relevant category. Where costs are attributable to more than one activity, they are apportioned across activities based on the time spent by staff on those activities and their use of shared resources.

(e) Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets with an individual cost of £1,000 or more are capitalised and included at cost or valuation.

Depreciation is not charged on freehold land. Depreciation on other tangible fixed assets is charged

(f) Investments

Investment properties are valued at market value. Fixed asset investments are valued at cost.

(g) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short term liquid investments.

(h) Debtors and creditors receivable / payable

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Creditors and provisions are recognised when 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 can be measured or reliably estimated. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at the settlement amount.

(i) Irrecoverable VAT

Due to partial exemption and the receipt, for VAT purposes, of non-business income, some VAT input tax is irrecoverable. This is allocated in the accounts as part of support cost.

24

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

(j) Financial Instruments

The charity has only 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 investments which are measured at fair value.

(k) Leases

Operating lease rentals are charged to the income and expenditure account as incurred.

(l) Pension schemes

A defined contribution scheme with Royal London (previously known as Scottish Life) is in place for staff who are not members of the Wiltshire Pension Fund and who wish to be members of and contribute to a pension scheme. All eligible staff were auto-enrolled into this scheme as from November 2014. The rate of employer contribution is 7.0%.

(m) Tax

The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.

(n) Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

2. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

General donations
Legacies
HMRC Job Retention		 Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
33,357
64,419
-
97,776
**£ **		 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
131,006
20,000
-
151,006
**£ **		 Endowment
Funds
2023
£
1,035
-
1,035
**£ **		 Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
165,398
215,913
84,419
-
-
616
249,817
£
216,529
_£ _

25

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

3. INCOME FROM TRADING ACTIVITIES

Events
Expenses recovered
Other earned income
Insurance administration fees
Other miscellaneous income		 Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
-
-
45,780
96,523
1,432
143,735
**£ **		 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
25,175
903
92,255
-
107
118,440
**£ **		 Total
Funds
2023
£
25,175
903
138,035
96,523
1,539
262,175
**£ **		 Total
Funds
2022
£
31,861
2,930
95,698
87,430
-
217,919
£

26

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

4. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Grants:
ACRE
Blagrave Trust
DEFRA
Greensquare Housing
Henry Smith Charity
Primary Care Trusts
Underwood Trust
Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Total grants
Fees:
Wessex Community Action
Community Transport Association
Community Foundation
Police & Crime Commissioner for
Wiltshire
Wiltshire and Swindon Sports CIC
Family Trusts and Various Small
Grants
The National Lottery Community
Fund/ ESF
The National Lottery Community Fund
Landfill Tax Credits
(redistributable grants)
Carers Support Wiltshire
Bradenstoke Solar Community Fund
Oxenwood and Linkenholt
Department for Work and Pensions		 Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
-
12,500
-
-
270
-
13,095
-
2,837
-
-
-
-
-
-
15,500
-
-
-
3,890
-
48,092
153,305
201,397
**£ **		 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
-
27,500
62,369
62,964
15,828
12,600
28,000
3,733
-
12,000
-
438,802
27,696
503,269
134,706
24,250
50,000
-
15,180
135,705
2,500
1,557,102
-
1,557,102
**£ **		 Total
Funds
2023
£
-
40,000
62,369
62,964
16,098
12,600
41,095
3,733
2,837
12,000
-
438,802
27,696
503,269
134,706
39,750
50,000
-
15,180
139,595
2,500
1,605,194
153,305
1,758,499
**£ **		 Total
Funds
2022
£
1,000
48,120
57,500
78,892
11,325
-
41,095
18,220
10,545
12,000
29,800
445,472
40,376
473,535
110,706
34,258
25,000
7,000
15,180
115,887
4,524
1,580,435
101,781
1,682,216
_£ _

27

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

5.
INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS
Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
Bank interest
5,246
Rental Income
10,425
15,671
£
6.
NET INCOME / EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR
Net income / expenditure for the period includes
Depreciation
Professional indemnity insurance
Fees payable to auditor
Audit work
Non - audit work
Audit work re subsidiary
Non - audit work re subsidiary		 Restricted
Funds
2023
£
83
-
83
**£ **		 Total
Funds
2023
£
5,329
10,425
15,754
£
2023
£
20,545
2,866
12,600
2,308
-
762		 Total
Funds
2022
£
103
10,220
_£ _
10,323
_£ _
2022
£
18,248
2,915
12,754
2,350
750
2,878

7. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE

Cost of generating
Fundraising costs
Trading Company
Charitable activities
Strengthening
Communities
Encouraging
Enterprise
Tackling Disadvantage		 Activities
directly
undertaken
2023
£
7,921
51,042
58,963
491,534
27,706
874,085
1,393,325
1,452,288
**£ **		 Grants
(see Note
8)
2023
£
-
-
-
-
406,993
7,124
414,117
414,117
**£ **		 Support
Costs
(see Note 9)
2023
£
-
23,544
23,544
101,336
2,616
333,130
437,082
460,626
**£ **		 Total
Total
2023
2022
£
£
7,921
7,143
74,586
77,705
82,507
84,848
592,870
442,127
437,315
386,310
1,214,339
1,083,773
2,244,524
1,912,210
2,327,031
£
1,997,058
_£ _

28

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

8. GRANTS PAYABLE

During the year the following institutional grants were made:-

Community Transport Development Grants

0 grants (2022: 3) of less than £10,000 was paid to a voluntary organisation to improve the local environment:

Projects under £10,000
Landfill Community Funds Grant		 2023
£
Nil
£		 2022
£
1,278
_£ _

45 grants (2022: 39) were paid to assist community groups and voluntary organisations to improve their local environment:

Avebury Cricket Club
Avebury Sports & Social Club
Calne Borehole Football Club
Chippenham Rifle & Pistol Club
Christian Malford Cricket Club
Clarendon Junior Football Club
Cricklade Development Foundation
Cricklade Petanque Club
Cricklade Rugby Football Club
Devizes Green Lane
Down Ampney Parochial Church Council
FLiSCA
Goatacre Cricket Club
Harnham Parish Hall
Hightworth Skate Park
Hilmarton Jubilee Play Park
Lyneham Village Hall
New Blunsdon Community Shop
Purton & Cricklade Young Farmers Club
RWBSA – Mowers
St Mary's Church. Broughton Gifford
St Sampson's Church,Cricklade
Stratton St Margarets PC
Swondon Cricket Club
Swindon & Cricklade Railway
West Wheels Track Swindon
White Parish PCC
Wilcot Cricket Club
Projects under £10,000		 2023
£
30,000
11,500
13,986
-
-
-
17,753
-
-
-
-
10,000
30,500
10,000
-
31,000
-
28,049
-
48,715
-
-
12,000
15,000
-
22,000
10,000
10,000
106,490
406,993
**£ **		 2022
£
-
10,000
-
10,000
23,425
10,000
-
25,000
35,000
10,000
20,000
-
-
-
10,000
-
52,143
-
20,000
-
10,000
12,000
-
-
30,000
-
-
-
85,055
362,623
_£ _

29

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

Link Good Neighbour Scheme Grants

4 grants (2022: 3) each of less than £10,000 were paid to provide transport and other services to local people in need.

Projects under £10,000
Total grants payable		 2023
£
7,124
£
414,117
**£ **		 2022
£
6,995
_£ _
370,896
_£ _

9. SUPPORT COSTS

Charitable
Activities
Governance
2023
2023
£
£
Staff costs
181,960
34,185
Premises costs
58,588
-
Depreciation
20,545
-
Other costs
131,483
33,865
392,576
£
68,050
£
10. STAFF NUMBERS AND COSTS
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs - defined contribution scheme contributions
The average number of staff during the year was
Employees earning over £60,000
£70,001 - £80,000		 Total
2023
£
216,145
58,588
20,545
165,348
460,626
£
2023
£
1,091,075
97,467
82,629
1,271,171
£
49
Number
1		 Total
2022
£
199,952
48,032
18,251
113,836
380,071
_£ _
2022
£
1,022,932
84,167
75,164
1,182,263
_£ _
47
Number
1

30

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

11. TRUSTEES AND KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

During the year, none of the Trustees, received any remuneration (2022: Nil). No Trustee received reimbursed expenditure (2022: 1 Trustee, £100).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees and the Leadership Team (as shown on page 2). The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity were £357,133 (2022 : £345,433).

12. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS - CONSOLIDATED AND CHARITY

Cost
At 1 April 2022
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
Charge for the year
On disposals
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2023		 Freehold
Land &
Buildings
£
52,001
-
-
52,001
2,080
1,040
3,120
49,921
£
48,881
**£ **		 Leasehold
Land &
Buildings
£
197,448
-
-
197,448
30,275
3,949
-
34,224
167,173
£
163,224
**£ **		 Furniture &
Fixtures
£
75,977
-
-
75,977
70,900
2,091
-
72,991
5,077
£
2,986
**£ **		 Equipment
& Vehicles
£
118,606
9,410
(11,049)
116,967
79,555
13,465
(11,049)
81,971
39,051
£
34,996
**£ **		 Total
£
444,032
9,410
(11,049)
442,393
182,810
20,545
(11,049)
192,306
261,222
_£ _
250,087
**£ **

13. FIXED ASSETS INVESTMENTS

Share holding in:
Wiltshire Enterprises Ltd
(company 01741853)
Community First Trading Ltd
(company 08360063)		 20232
2022
£
£
100
100
-
-
100
£
100
£
Consolidated		 20232
2022
£
£
100
100
100
100
200
£
200
£
Charity

31

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

Community First holds unlisted investments, stated at cost, in two wholly-owned subsidiaries. Both companies are registered in England. Wiltshire Enterprises Ltd was dormant throughout the year. The wholly owned subsidiary, Community First Trading Limited, earns insurance commissions from the sale of insurance policies to Village Halls, Playing Fields and Parish Councils. It also receives subscriptions from a Bulk Oil Buying Scheme. It is the policy of the directors to pay over the whole of its profits each year to the Charity and its accounts have been consolidated in these financial statements. A summary of the trading results is shown below:

Turnover
Interest receivable
Total income
Cost of sales and administrative expenses
Profit in the year
Retained profit bought forward
Gifted to parent charity
The assets and liabilities of the company were
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors falling due within one year		 20232
£
100,975
227
101,202
(71,017)
30,185
-
(30,185)
Nil
£
288
94,402
(94,590)
100
**£ **		 2022
£
102,183
6
102,189
(67,247)
34,942
-
(34,942)
Nil
£
1,640
79,914
(81,454)
100
_£ _

As at 31 March 2023 Community First Trading Ltd had net assets of £100 and share capital of £100.

Valuation
As at 31 March 2022 and 31 March 2023		 Leasehold
Land &
Buildings
£
100,000
**£ **

The investment property was last professionally valued as at 31 March 2022. The valuation was carried out by Huw M Thomas MRICS on behalf of Huw Thomas Commercial. The market valuation was estimated having regard to the property's age, nature and type, the terms applicable to the existing lease, the terms applicable to the renewed lease and the current state of the commercial property market.

The investment property is currently leased at £10,220/annum on a five year lease with a three year break clause.

32

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

14.
**15. **		 DEBTORS
20232
2022
£
£
Due within one year
Trade debtors
105,398
94,387
Other debtors
105,799
9,947
Prepayments and accrued income
99,043
40,737
310,240
£
145,071
£
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
20232
2022
£
£
Trade creditors
88,926
80,315
Taxation and social security
34,765
37,377
Other creditors
1,217
1,257
Accruals and deferred income
106,338
60,620
231,246
£
179,569
£
Deferred income
Balance at 1 April 2022
Amount released to incoming resources
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at 31 March 2023
Consolidated
Consolidated		 20232
2022
£
£
105,108
92,748
105,799
9,947
132,916
75,679
343,823
£
178,374
£
20232
2022
£
£
36,471
39,899
34,470
35,860
1,217
1,257
98,370
56,042
170,528
£
133,058
£
799
3,385
(799)
(3,385)
53,958
799
53,958
£
799
£
Charity
Charity		 20232
2022
£
£
105,108
92,748
105,799
9,947
132,916
75,679
343,823
£
178,374
£
20232
2022
£
£
36,471
39,899
34,470
35,860
1,217
1,257
98,370
56,042
170,528
£
133,058
£
799
3,385
(799)
(3,385)
53,958
799
53,958
£
799
£
Charity
Charity
133,058
_£ _
3,385
(3,385)
799
799
_£ _

33

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

16. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fund Balances at 31 March 2023 represented by:

Consolidated
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
Charity
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
17. STATEMENT OF FUNDS
Brought
Forward
£
GENERAL FUNDS
199,153
£
DESIGNATED FUNDS
Property and fixed
361,422
Strengthening
188,234
Future investment
40,000
589,656
**£ **		 Incoming
Resources
£
462,126
£
-
-
-
Nil
£		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
£
£
250,087
-
100,100
-
680,770
1,104,477
(231,246)
-
799,711
£
1,104,477
£
250,087
-
100,200
-
619,952
1,104,477
(170,528)
-
799,711
£
1,104,477
£
Transfers and
Resources
investment
Expended gains/(losses)
£
£
(424,936)
£
(14,953)
£
(20,545)
9,210
-
-
-
-
(20,545)
£
9,210
**£ **		 Total
£
250,087
100,100
1,785,247
(231,246)
1,904,188
**£ **
250,087
100,200
1,724,429
(170,528)
1,904,188
**£ **
Carried
Forward
£
221,390
**£ **
350,087
188,234
40,000
578,321
**£ **

"Properties and fixed assets in use" represents the asset value of properties owned by the group, separately shown from General Funds. The amounts include the net book value of properties purchased by the charity. The transfer in the year represents the value of assets purchased.

"Strengthening Communities" represents a legacy of £188,234 that was received in previous periods. The Trustees agreed to earmark these funds to be used for Strengthening Communities and therefore transferred them into a designated fund for that purpose. The Trustees are scoping potential capital work to the Oxenwood Outdoor Education Centre and have earmarked the funds to go towards this project.

34

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

"Future investment" represents funds that the Trustees have earmarked for investing in the Charity's infrastructure in the next financial period. This includes funds to cover the cost of some replacement vehicles and other capital and repair work to the Charity's outdoor education projects.

RESTRICTED FUNDS
Brought
Forward
£
Youth Action Wiltshire
Fundraised income
21,727
Community Development
Community
145,245
Village Halls
17,066
Local Councils
-
YAW Club Programme
-
Linkenholt
5,523
167,834
Encouraging Enterprise
Accelerate
55
Grants Programme
44,084
44,139
Tackling Disadvantage
Community Transport
11,709
Link Schemes
48,453
Splash
68,000
YAW Young Carers
70,000
Building Bridges
-
YAW Project Inspire
-
198,162
Grants Payable
Business Grants & Loan
17,863
Community Transport
-
Landfill Communities
609,091
Link Grants Fund
82,633
709,587
1,141,449
**£ **		 Incoming
Resources
£
59,661
60,839
27,676
57,499
35,122
-
181,136
24,888
30,900
55,788
40,241
51,412
216,388
249,214
448,521
62,748
1,068,524
-
-
464,941
7,750
472,691
1,837,800
**£ **		 Transfers and
Resources
investment
Carried
Expended gains/(losses)
Forward
£
£
£
(6,886)
(71,188)
3,314
(119,800)
-
86,284
(24,131)
-
20,611
(57,499)
-
-
(34,008)
6,217
7,331
(5,523)
-
-
(240,961)
6,217
114,226
(14,112)
-
10,831
(47,591)
-
27,393
(61,703)
-
38,224
(38,048)
13,902
(55,665)
-
44,200
(244,752)
12,000
51,636
(261,180)
28,471
86,505
(448,521)
-
-
(92,991)
30,243
-
(1,141,157)
70,714
196,243
-
-
17,863
-
-
-
(422,684)
-
651,348
(7,124)
-
83,259
(429,808)
-
752,470
(1,880,515)
£
5,743
£
1,104,477
**£ **

Youth Action Wiltshire

35

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

Tackles disadvantage and supports young people through difficulties, including SPLASH programmes which support young victims of crime, those struggling with challenges who may be out of education, employment and training (EET) and young carers who may have significant caring responsibilities for a family member. We also support a network of youth clubs across the county.

Community Development

Strengthens communities and includes a range of services which supports local communities and volunteers and brings people together to take action around their common concerns. Services include support to the Wiltshire Village Halls Association, The Wiltshire and Swindon Local Councils Network, (WALC), community organising and youth voice, Community Led Housing through the partnership Homes of Our Own. Community First administrates the Landfill Communities Fund and the Wiltshire Community Transport Development Fund and other grant programmes to improve community facilities. We also support local community transport services and LINK schemes and volunteers.

Tackling Disadvantage

The Building Bridges Programme tackles disadvantage and is a partnership of organisations in Wiltshire and Swindon who are helping people overcome their barriers to employment and education. The programme is jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund. The transfers in the year represent transfers from Youth Action Wiltshire fundraised income, which is applied to other projects helping young disadvantaged people.

ENDOWMENT FUNDS

The Charity has been fundraising to establish an endowment fund in relation to Youth Action Wiltshire. During the year £1,035 (2022: £1,540) was received and passed to the Wiltshire Community Foundation who hold the fund for the benefit of the Charity.

SUMMARY OF FUNDS
Designated Funds
General Funds
Restricted Funds		 Brought
Forward
£
589,656
199,153
788,809
1,141,449
1,930,258
**£ **		 Incoming
Resources
£
-
462,126
462,126
1,837,800
2,299,926
**£ **		 Transfers and
Resources
investment
Carried
Expended gains/(losses)
Forward
£
£
£
(20,545)
9,210
578,321
(424,936)
(14,953)
221,390
(445,481)
(5,743)
799,711
(1,880,515)
5,743
1,104,477
(2,325,996)
£
Nil
£
1,904,188
**£ **

Transfers between funds represents the value of fixed assets purchased with restricted funding or the reallocation of fundraised income to direct projects.

36

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

18. LEASE COMMITMENTS

The charity has financial commitments in respect of operating leases of office equipment. The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Not later than one year
Later than one and not later than 5 years
Later than five years		 2023
£
1,256
-
-
1,256
**£ **		 2022
£
5,622
-
-
5,622
_£ _

19. PENSION COMMITMENTS

On 30 September 2019 Community First purchased Oxenwood Field Study Centre and the staff were TUPE'd across. These staff members were and remain members of the Wiltshire Pension Fund. Community First make employers contributions to this scheme. The pension came over as a new fund with no associated deficit. Wiltshire Council have agreed to act as guarantor and cover any future deficit arising on the fund and therefore no potential deficit on this fund is disclosed in these accounts. The cost of the employers contributions in the year was £21,793.

A defined contribution scheme with Royal London is in place for staff who are not members of the Wiltshire Pension Fund and who wish to be members of and contribute to a pension scheme. All eligible staff were auto-enrolled into this scheme as from 31 October 2014. The rate of employer contribution is 7.0%.

The cost of employers contributions in the year was £60,836.

There were outstanding pension contributions at the balance sheet date of £2,154 (2022: £8,821).

20. RELATED PARTIES

Various Trustees, officers and employees (and members of their families) of Community First have in their personal capacities, links with organisations which to some degree either fund or are funded by Community First. This is a large, diverse organisation reaching into the community and links are inevitable.

The Trustees monitor these links and the Company Secretary maintains a register of declared interests in order to foster a policy of transparency. The Trustees strive to promote fairness and consider that no transactions have been influenced by interests other than the Charity's. Inspection of the register can be arranged by contacting the Company Secretary.

37

COMMUNITY FIRST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2023

21. CONTROLLING PARTY

The Trustees consider that the charity is jointly controlled by the Trustees and that there is no ultimate controlling party.

38

COMMUNITY FIRST

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS For the year ended 31 March 2023

The work of Community First has been made possible with financial support and contributions from the following groups and organisations:

Accommodation Welfare Committee The Inchcape Foundation ACRE Integrated Care Board Active Plumbing Supplies (Malmesbury) Ltd The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust Avon Valley Runners The Julius Silman Charitable Trust AW Gale Community Trust John Lewis plc/Waitrose BDP Imports JH King Charitable Trust The Beaufort Christmas Bazaar Knight Frank Sponsorship Bingham Kindergarten Lansdowne Lodge of Unity The Blagrove Trust The Lions Club of Bradford on Avon Bradenstoke Solar Community Fund The Lions Club of Devizes Bradford on Avon Rotary Club Mrs A Lloyd Brewster Maude Charitable Trust The Malthouse Nursery Buzz Action Foundation Mr & Mrs R McCulloch Children’s Chance Melksham Rotary Club Children’s Choice Melksham Town Council Chippenham Lions The National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund Crapper & Sons Landfill Ltd The National Benevolent Charity Community Foundation The National Lottery Community Fund Corsham Town Council OJM Advisory Limited Corston Architecture Police & Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire & Swindon Crudwell Bike Ride Pucklechurch Developments Dauntsey 6[th] Form Parents Radnor Charitable Trust DEFRA – Department of The Environment Mr John Rendell DWP Kickstart Programme Salisbury City Community Lottery players EAP Sells 2007 Trust Stampede Sports Easy Fundraising St James Place Charitable Foundation Edington Parish Council St James Trust E&S Shops Ltd Seend Community Centre The Estate of Diana Maud Jones Sweell Mullings Ltd The Finlay Foundation SVO (Calne) Ltd Friends of Youth Action Wiltshire Tesco Groundworks Garfield Weston Foundation Tristenagh Trust Greensquare Accord Trowbridge Town Trust Groundwork UK TW Partners Ltd Happy Days Childrens Charity The Underwood Trust Hedley Foundation VCS Emergency Partnership Henry C Hoare Charitable Trust The Vernon Smith Family Charitable Trust Hills Minerals & Waste Limited Walker Logistics Limited James Ware Foundation Wiltshire Community Foundation Warminster Lions Wiltshire Council Area Board Youth Grants WASP – Wiltshire & Swindon Sport Wiltshire Council Community Led Housing Wilkins Builders Limited Wiltshire Council Whatley Manor Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Wiltshire Association of Local Councils Zuru Media Ltd

We would also like to acknowledge the support of all our partners.

The Charity has also benefited from the generous support of many individuals whose donations and gifts have enabled services to be maintained and expanded.

39