Brecon Volunteer Bureau Trustees, Annual Report For the year ending 31 March 2025 1. Introduction The trustees are pleased to present the Annual Report for the Brecon Volunteer Bureau (BVB). This year has seen strong community engagement, continued partnership working, and the delivery of a wide range of activities that support wellbeing. volunteering, and social connection across Brecon. Alongside these achievements, the organisation has faced challenges around funding sustainability, particularly for informal volunteering and co staffing. The trustees remain committed to securing long-term stability to ensure BVB can continue to serve the community effectively. 2. Objectlvos and Activities BVB exists to strengthen communty lrfe by promoting volunteering, reducing social isolation, and supporting grassroots inrtiatives. Our chantable aims include.. Connecting individuals with volunteering opportunities Supporting communty groups and local projects Providing inclusive spaces for social interaction Encouraging environmental and wellbeing-focused activrties Enhancing communty resilience through partnership working All activities undertaken during the year were aligned with these charitable purposes and delivered clear public benefit. 3. Achlevements and Perfomiance 3.1 Numeracy Level 2 Funding BVB secured funding to deliver Numeracy Level 2 activities. Participants engaged enthusiastically, developing their mental maths skills through practical, confidence-building sessions. Feedback highlighted enjoyment, improved numeracy, and increased self-belief. 3.2 Local Places for Nature The Brecon Wildlife Habitats Initiative aimed to enhance biodiversty across Brecon's urban areas by creating and distributing bird boxes. bat boxes. and hedgehog homes. These were placed in private gardens and communal spaces, enabling residents to support local Idlife. Activities incFuded: Designing and creating I￿g boxes and bee hives Commissioned work for On The Verge and the local allotment society Collaboration with BBNPA, local allotments, and Scout and Cub groups Hands-on workshops delivered by the Men's Shed (Ihe Shedders.) These activities strengthened community engagement and increased awareness of local biodiversity. 3.3 Infonnal Volunteerlng Pilot Scheme - Social Value Forum (PAVO) The Informal Volunteering Project supported a wide range of community initiatives over the past year. Volunteers contributed to environmental projects, communty events, and one-off tasks that offered tangible outcomes and team-based working. Volunteer insights: Preference for one-off outdoor activities Strong interest in environrnental and conseprfation projects Limited capacty for indoor or ongoing indNidual support Challenges Included: A smaller pool of volunteers available for individual support Inability to cover travel expenses, restricting support to central Brecon Occasional inappropriate requests for volunteer assistance Despite these challenges, the project delivered meaningful communty value. Unfortunately, there was no further funding available for this project, so rt concluded at the end of March 2025. 3.4 COOP Community Scheme Funding from the COOP Community Scheme enabled BVB to provide a warm, welcoming space for residents, helping to reduce so￿al isolats'on and strengthen communty connections. Activities supported included: Men's Shed and Repair Café Saturday breakfasts. which became a valued weekly gathering Creative projects such as cardboard aeroplanes for VE Day The thriving Shanty Crew, which continues to grow and enrich Brecon's cultural lrfe These initiatives fostered camaraderie, creativty, and a strong sense of belonging. 3.5 Powys County Council Warni Space Grant The Warm Hub at BVB provided a supportive, nurturing environment for individuals seeking warmth, safety, and companionship. The hub has become a model for community wellbeing, offering a refuge during times of hardship and everyday challenges. 3.6 Brecon Town Council Funding supported the continued development of the Brecon Men's Shed. which plays a vital role in reducing social isolation and improving mental wellbeing. Current and future plans: Weekly Saturday moming sessions Planned expansion to Wednesday evenings Funding to support coordination and utilities Development of community projects and member4ed initiatives that may generate income The Men's Shed aligns dosely with BVB'S mission of strengthening community cohesion. 4. Public Benefft Statsment The trustees confimi that they have complied with their duty to have regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefrt. All activities undertaken during the year were designed to support community wellbeing, reduce isolation, promote volunteering, and enhan￿ local environments. 5. Financlal Review Overall income for the year was £6.000 lower than in the previous financial year. This reduction reflects both the challenging funding landscape and the timing of grant payments, as several final instalments from current projects will not be re￿iVed until the 2025126 rinanGial year. These delays have created short-term pressure on cash flow, though the trustees expect the outstanding funds to be received as scheduled. Opportunities for core funding remain limited, and this continues to be a signfficant strategic concern. Core funding is essential for sustaining key staff roles, maintaining the building, and ensuring the continuity of BVB'S services. The trustees are actively reviewing the organisation's financial position and exploring additional funding avenues, including partnership approaches, new grant streams, and income-generating activities. The trustees remain committed to strengthening BVB'S long-temi financial resilience and will continue to prioritise securing stable. sustainable funding to support the charity's core work. 6. Structure, Governance and Management Brecon Volunteer Bureau (BVB) is govemed by a board of trustees who oversee strategic direction, financial stewardship, and compliance with charity law. Trustees meet regularly and work closely with staff, volunteers, and partner organisations to ensure that BVB continues to meet community needs effectively. During the year, trustees held extensive discussions about the organisation's long-term sustainability and the importance of developing a joint working approach with other local charities. Organisations such as MIND. along with other communty partners, were identified as potential collaborators for shared funding bids, coordinated Servi￿ delivery, and joint community initiatives. Trustees agreed that partnership-based fvnding models may offer greater stabilty in an increasingly compets'tive funding environment. A significant focus of governance discussions centred on the ongoing challenge of securing core funding. which remains essential for sustaining key staff roles. particularly the BVB manager. Trustees noted that more reliable core funding would create the opportunity to establish a full-time post, providing much-needed continuity and capacity. This would also enable BVB to expand its services, including offering evening sessions for community groups and increasing the availabilty of hireable space. Additional income from room hire could contribute to the long-temi sustainabilty of BVB'S core services. Trustees also emphasised the need to undertake comprehensive research and dats gathering to better understand what the local community would like to see delivered or funded at BVB. This evidence-based approach will ensure that future servI￿S reflect genuine community need. on￿ the research is completed and a report compiled, the findings will be incorporated into a detailed business plan to support applications for continued core funding. Across all govemance discussions, the trustees reaffirmed that the organisation's primary strategic priority is to secure long-tem core funding to safeguard BVB'S future and ensure the continuation of rts vital communty services. 7. Plans for the Future The key priority for the coming year is to Secu￿ long-temi cor• funding to support essential staff roles and ensure the sustainability of BVB'S services. This includes.. Completing communty research and data gathering Developing a comprehensive business plan Strengthening partnerships with local organisations Exploring opportunrties to expand room hire and evening activities Continuing to support grassroots communty initiatives BRECON VOLUNTEER BUREAU (CHARITY No 514686) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Administrative Inforniatlon Eletted Trustees: John Powell Michelle Talbot- resigned February 2025 Chair: Vice-chair: Treasurer: Secretary: Su5ie Kinghan, appointed February 2025 Michael Evans, appointed February 2025 Cerian Martln Kirsten Jones Mortan Keet (Chalr) resigned December 2024 Liam Fitzpatrick was appointed Chair December 2024, reslgned February 2025 Accounts Approved by Board on 27th June 2024 Flnanclal Accounts for the year 2024-2025- Brecon Volunteer Bureau The statement of Flnancial Activities is shown on the fi)Ilowing pages for the year ended 31¥1 March 2025. The overall position is a deficit of £7,754. The reporting to the Board through the year has been to monltor Spend against grant funds and provlde periodic reports to the fundlng bodies. The 8alance Sheet is a consolidated account. Core Buslne The Core Business of Brecon Volunteer Bureau is the runnln8 of the office. which includes rent and associated office overheads, as well as costs for one office manager. As noted last year, fundlng was received as part of an Inft)rmal Volunteerin8 inltiatlve to cover an additional twenty hours per week of staff time. Thls commenced October 2023 and ran for a period of eighteen months. The level and timing of the funding was not sufficient to cover the full salary costs in 202412025, with the final instalment not being received until the end of the initiatlve In April 2025. In addition, BVB successfully applied for a grant from Local Places for Nature Funding to recover expenditure incurred during the year but again the funding was not received during the 2024125 accounting period. Both these timing differences contributed to the recorded deficlt. During the year BVB received funding from several other sources including PAVO, Powis County Council. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Powys Teaching Health Board, and Brecon Town Council. However, due to a non- recurring grant from the National Lottery the previou5 year, the level of funding in 2024/25 decreased slgnlficantly. Signed: Date Name Bri Kerlev Independent Examlnerfs Report on the Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Report to the Trustees of Brecon Volunteer Bureau - Charity No 514686 Respectlve The charitys trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. Responsibilltles of The chariW5 trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year Trustees and Examiner under sectlon 144 of the Charities Art 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is neeijed. I have examined the accounts provided to me under section 145 of the Charities Act, and followed the procedures laid down in the general Direction5 gNen by the Charity Commission (under section 145151(b) of the Charities Art), and state whether particular matter5 have come to my attention. Basls of Independent My review was carried out in accordance with general directions given by Examlnerfs the Charity Commission. An examination include5 a review of the Statement accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent Examinerfs Statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attentlon l. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, In any material respect, the requirements: To keep accounting records in accordance with sectlon 130 of the Charities Act; and To prepare accounts whlch accord wlth the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached Sl8ned: Date as Name Bri Kerley FCCA Address Sutherland Beck. Didcot, Oxon BRECON VOLUNTEER BUREAU, INCLUDING COMMUNITY KITOIEN INCOME AND EXPENDrruRE STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 2023-24 £ INCOME Grants 3.092 Powys County Council 4,114 BBNP 7,983 Other via PAVO O Powys Teachin8 Health Board 5,402 Lottery 7,681 Informal Volunteering 2,000 Brecon Town Councll 1,173 Accommodatlon Sharinyjvault hSre 31,445 202*25 3,120 9.483 1,433 7,681 2.184 420 25.365 Other 194 Repair Café 6,289 Community Kltchen 138 Bank Interest 160 Petty Cash 250 Other- catering O Donations- Men's Shed/Shanty Group 2,257 Donatlons 9,288 40.733 TOTAL INCOME 5.935 2(X) 891 1,659 9,166 34.531 EXPENDITURE Sala and Associated 16,219 Salaries O Debt Recovery 16,219 27,045 325 27,370 Runnin Costs 3.675 Electricity, Heat & Light 3,350 Rent 437 Insurance 59 Photocopy & Ststionery 384 Telecomms O Local Places for Nature Funding 130 Advertising & Promotion 86 Other 165 Training 7,959 Fixtures & Frttings 246 Repair café 1,784 Community Kitchen Food Purchases 27 Refreshments 18,302 34.520 TOTAL EXPENorruRE 4,085 3.675 25 3.016 127 1.579 154 899 14,915 42,285 6.213 NEf SURPLUS/IDEFiaT) 17.7541 BRECON VOLUNTEER BUREAU. INCLUDING COMMUNITY KITCHEN BALANCE SHEEf AS AT 31 March 2025 2023-24 £ Current Assets 15.990 Lloyds Current Account 5,318 Investment- Monmouthshire O Debtors 154 Repair Café Petty Cash 172 CORE Petty Cash 21,635 202+25 13.869 12 13,880 Curr nt Llabilities O Accrualslcreditors 21,635 CURRENT ASSEfs LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 13.880 Ca Ital and Reserves 15,422 Balance brought forward 21.635 Net Surplus/(Loss) for the Year 6.213 Core Business 17,754) 21.635 FUNDS CARRIED FIXWARD 13,880