Rotherham Talking Newspaper Registered Charity number: 512545 Financial Statements for the period ending 31 December 2024 Voluntary Action Rotherham The Spectrum, Coke Hill, Rotherham. S60 2HX Tel.. 01709 829821 Fax: 01709 829822 Email: admin@varotherham,org.uk Web: www.varothert)am.org.uk Rotherham Talking Newspaper for the year ending 31 December 2024 Page Legal and administrative details Report of the Chair Trustees, annual report Independent Examiners Report Receipts and payments account Statement of assets and liabilities Notes to the accounts Rotherham Talking Newspaper Legal and administrative information for the year ended 31 December 2024 Registered Charlty number: 512545 Trustees Lisa Astle - Chairperson Sally Wilkinson - Vice Chair Wendy Birch - Treasurer Heather Lilleker- Secretary Doreen Atkinson Robert Wilkinson John Binstead Listener Representatlva Admlnlstrative address Rosehill Park Hall Rosehill Victoria Park Rawmarsh Rotherham S62 7HJ Bankers The Cfioperative bank 1 Balloon Street Manchester S60 1SN Accountant Melvyn Revitt Voluntary Action Rotherham The Spectrum Coke Hill Rotherham S60 2HX Rotherham Talking Newspaper Report of the Chair for the year ended 31 December 2024 Report of the Chalr I would Ilke lo start by taklng Ihls opportunlty to thank tha trustees, staff and our lovely vcluntéers for acllng tlrelessly for the benefit of our charity, service and our li51en8rs. l am proud of vknat we hav8 achl8vod Ihls year under challenglng drcumstances. We startèd the year with tho very real possibility thal we mighl have to wnd up the service as wrflnances were such that W8 only had enough lo cover several months op8rating coÈls and salarfes. The Trustees agreed that we would have a fundraising drive with adverts in the local papers, and on social media maklng people aware of our sitilation. This was well received, and we received an influx of donations from158tener3 and p8ople in the Ioc81 area whose relatives had received our 8eNlce In th8 past. It was heart- warmlna lo sea how much the local communllv values our servlce. Thls also18d lo an Increase in our1Sst8n8r Having applied to over forty granl funders, we were fortunale to receive a grant from the National Lottery and a grant from the Prevention and Early In18Nenlion Grant Programme to Combat Sodal Isolallon. we also recelved smaller grants from other funders. many of whom have supported us In Ihe past. The outcome of all thls fundralslng was Ihat our s8￿ce could conllnue, arKi V￿ could afford to glve our slaff a sm811 but well deseNed pay ris8. Yet agaln Ihls year we have stlll been affected by dalays vllh th8 Post. this has been ongohg for the last year leadlng to delays wlh both the r8cordlngs bolng dellvered to our Ilsteners and de18ys vAth Items belng relurned to us. The Talklng News Federation had a meellng wllh Royal Mail as Ihls Is a countsy￿de problem experlenc8d by many Talklng Newspaper seTvices. We aro fortunate Ihal grants from Mordsons Supermarket and Hlllard's Trust have enabled us to buy extra pouches lo help allevlale the Impact on our ServIe￿ and 8nsur8 that It contSnues unlnterrupled. The postal issu8s have Improved sllghlly bul we are sllll oxpartendng delays as are our Ilsleners. I would Ilke to take Ihls opportunlly lo thank the folk)wing granl funders have ensured that our servlce could conllnue Ihls year YAPP. National Lollery Prevenllon 8nd Early Fund Monfsons Foundallon Souter Trust Wakeham Trust Inman Charfty Archar Trust Mollie Croysdale Hillard's Trusl And ffnally, a huge thank you to Rolherham Chailty Cup for tholr tsnwaverfng support for our charfty both Ihls year and over tha years. This SUPPOrt Is greatly 8pprecialed. Addlllonal thanks musl be extended to our Tnjstees. staff and volunteers WI￿ have all workéd tlrelessly to kaop the Talklng Newspaper oper8tion81 throughout the year, We wer8 dellghted to welc(Nn8 two new members Plp and Tony to the recordlng team In 2024 Ih8lr Input has made a blg difference. 2024 has proved to be one of the most challenging years to date. The rlslng cost of Ilvlng & current economlc sltualion. means that our $8rvlce Is n88ded more than ever to help reduce isolation, make people feel more Involved wllh thelr community. Llsa Astlo. Chalrperson. Rotherham Talklng N8wspap6r. Rotherham Talking Newspaper Trustees. annual report for tho year ended 31 December 2024 Structure, Governance and Management Rolherham Talking Newspaper is a registered charity and was first registered with th6 charity commission on 22 January 1982. The charily is operated under the wles of the constitulion Appointment of Trustees The maximum number of charlty trustees is 12. Trustees are appointed at each Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for 12 months Charitable Alms and Objectlves Provide support to visually impaired people or those peopb whose disability or incapacity prevents them r8adlng local news and Information, by the provision of audio recordings. Main activities undertaken for public benèfit Rotherham Talking Newspaper produce a local newspaper, together with a magazine, which is sent out to listeners each week on memory stlcks. tapes cassettes or CD'S. Rotherham Talking Newspaperfs activity is in accordance with the Charity Commlssion guldellnes, Rotherham Talking Newspaper employs two part-time staff so the bulk of the work is carried out by volunteers. Financial review Rotherham Talking Newspaper has been f(%lunate to receive a number of granls during 2024. The grants have helped to cover all expenditure and general running expenses. The Income frorn our Ilsteners generous donatlons and fundralslng activities has allowed the charity to accumulate reserves. Reserves Pollcy At 31 December 2024 the charity held free reseN8s of £18,806 (2023 £g,010) To be able to continue its work, Rotherham Talklng Newspaper is reliant on donations, fundraislng and grant awards. The trustees declare that they have approved the above report: Signed on behalf of the trustees Signed: Date: 27-10-2025 Name and position: I RP Independent examiners report to the trustees of Rotherham Talking Newspaper for the year ended 31 December 2024 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Rotherham Talking Newspaper (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As charity trustees of the Charity you are r8sponsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of RTN accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Independent examlners statement I have completed my examination. I conflrm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to whlch attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Dale: 17-10-2025 Melvyn Revitt Community Accountancy Voluntary Action Rotherham Ltd The Spectrum, Coke Hill Rotherharn S60 2HX Rotherham Talking Newspaper Receipts and Payments for the year ended 31 December 2024 2024 2024 Unrestrlcted Restrlcted 2024 2023 2023 Total Unrestricled Restricted 2023 Total Incomlng resources Charitable donatlons Listeners donations Friends of RTN donations Baquasts Fundraising & events Raffle sales Grft aid Grants & contracts Miscellaneous income 720 4.439 720 4.439 93 2.331 585 400 165 1,217 2,500 10,057 36 93 2.331 585 400 165 1,217 2,500 14.332 36 3.421 3,421 835 835 12.650 28,200 40,850 4,275 Total Incomlng resources 22,065 28,200 50,265 17,384 4,275 21,659 Resources expended Cost of actlvlties In furtherance of the charIt￿$ objects WageslNlJadmln RMBC seNice charge. Equlpment Te18phone & ICT Insurance Office expenses Professlonal fees Hardware repalrs Publlclty Payroll charges CDITapes Pouches & transport 9,975 700 166 942 517 9,960 2.100 19.935 2.800 166 1.204 517 2,109 300 19,437 2,100 1,618 766 524 382 300 295 130 123 19.437 2,800 2,124 766 524 1,302 300 915 130 123 50 700 507 262 1,260 921 300 84 20 620 600 620 190 997 997 50 Asset and Investment purchase Purchase of Equipment Total expensed rosources 13,743 15.179 28.922 25,676 2.797 28,473 Net Incomel(deflcit) for the year 8,322 13.021 21,343 (8,292) 1,477 (6,814) Funds brought foTward Transfer batween funds 9,010 1,474 7,268 (1,474) 16.278 17,265 37 5,827 {37) 23,092 Funds carrled forward 18,806 18.815 37.621 9,010 7.268 16,278 Rotherham Talking Newspaper Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the year ended 31 December 2024 2024 2023 Cash funds Current account Cash in hand 37,594 27 15,655 623 Total Cash funds 37,621 16,278 Represented by funds Unrestricted funds General funds Restricted Funds q8,806 18,815 9,010 7,268 Total Funds 37,621 16,278 Assets retalned for charIt￿S own use Erasing and copying equipment Com puterlPrinter Recording Equipment Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: Signed: Name and position: Rotherham Talking Newspaper Notès to thè accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 q Recelpts and payments accounts Receipts and payments accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the charlty during the financial year. In this context "cash" includes cash equivalents. for example, bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due. Fund Accountlng The charity maintains an unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Unrestricted funds may arise from general donations, fundralslng activiti6s, grants of a general nature, fees for service provision and payment for service delivery contracts. Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes and may only b8 spent for the purposes for which they were given. Any balance remaining outstanding on restricted fund at the end of the year is carried forward as a balance on the fund. unless permission has been given by the funder to remove the restriction on the balance outstanding. Restricted funds will arise from grants and donations given to the charity for specific purposes. 2 Grants and contracts Unre8trfcled Restrlctad fund fund Total Unrestrictéd R•8trfcled 2024 fund fund Total 2023 The Y8pp Charllable Trust Archer Trust DavldlBarnby Hunl Ch8rtiy Cup Lennox Hannay r Walts Marsh Charllable Tru8t Harry Bollom Trust Fre8 Masons Sheffield Hallam Universlty orrisons Communlty Wakeham Trusl Nallonal Lottery Souter Charllable Trust The Inman Charity Mollie Croysdale Wickersley Funeral Care RMBCIVAR Prevention Fund Hillards Charitable Trust 3,000 2.000 3,000 2,000 3,000 3,000 1,057 1,000 1,000 600 400 3,000 3,000 1,057 1,000 1,000 600 400 2,800 1,475 1,000 1.000 2,800 1,475 500 500 2.000 750 20.000 3,000 1.750 400 450 5,000 1.000 40,850 2,000 750 20,000 3,000 1,750 400 450 5,000 1,000 12,650 28.200 10.057 4.275 14,332 Rotherham Talking Newspaper Notes to the accounts continued for the year ended 31 December 2024 3 Restrlcted funds Opening Receipts Balance Payments Transfer Closing Balance c￿0p Community Fund {Round 3) Harry Bottom Trust Free Masons Co-op Community Fund {Round 2) Rotherham Charity Cup Tesco Covld Fund Th6 Scurrah Walnwrlght Charlty Souter Charitab16 Trust Skipton Bullding Society Morrison Communlty Fund Wakeham Trusl Nallon81 Lottery RMBCNAR Preventlon Fund Wickersley Funaral Care Total Funds 2,176 2,100 1,475 668 400 375 45 27 997 2,100 1,179 1,475 664 400 375 45 27 2,000 750 20,000 5,000 450 28.200 1,196 804 750 13,248 1,531 450 18,815 6,752 3,469 7,268 15,178 1,475 4 Trustee payments, benefits and expenses No trustee received any remunerationor expenses during the year (2023 none) 5 Accountancy services During the period, the cost of accounlancy services was £300 {2023: £300).