Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association (Registered charity, number 522269) Financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025
| Page | Contents |
|---|---|
| 2 - 4 | Trustees’ annual report |
| 5 | Independent examiner’s report |
| 6 | Receipts & payments account |
| 7 | Statement of assets & liabilities |
| 8 - 9 | Notes to the accounts |
Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 30 September 2025
Full name Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association
Other names by which the charity is known DOLCA, Dunkirk Community Centre
Registered charity number 522269
Principal address
The Old School, Montpelier Road, Dunkirk, Nottingham, NG7 2JW
Trustees
Helen Randle, Chair Sue Astle Elizabeth McGuirk, Treasurer Paul Moore Deborah Ramage, Secretary Vivienne Avamanthodo
Independent examiner
Eva Stevens, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL
Governance and management
The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 17 December 1971 and most recently amended 27th November 2008.
Trustees are elected usually at the AGM and other gatherings held throughout the year.
Objectives and activities
The objects of the charity include;
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to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Dunkirk and Old Lenton and the neighbourhood without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race, physical and mental disabilities or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants;
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to establish or secure the establishment of a Community Centre and to maintain and manage the same (whether alone or in co-operation with any local authority or other person or body) in furtherance of these objectives.
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to promote such other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined.
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Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit
Trustees manage the centre, employ staff to ensure its smooth running, manage resources and funds sufficient to run the centre to provide facilities for the whole community. The aim is to provide opportunities for social, training and sporting activities, leisure time activities and to promote education of all kinds for all age groups.
The centre has been a popular focus for the community, providing opportunities for leisure time activities, festival celebrations, training, educational facilities and as a meeting place for all, whatever age group, whatever interests. We normally host a wide variety of activities, cultural, social, religious and fitness and also maintain a place for local people to celebrate their lives. Our numbers have increased and new projects commenced.
Public benefit statement
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'.
Summary of the main achievements during the period
This past year has been one of building up the range of bookings we take and developing some of our own projects. It has also seen us begin negotiations with the City Council, alongside other Community Centres in the City, for a 25-year lease. We also began the process of becoming a CIO which will manage the day to day running of the Centre leaving the Charity to focus on fundraising in the future.
The Centre continues to host regular groups for Worship, Mutual Interest Societies and Clubs, Art Workshops, Cultural and Modern Dance and Martial Arts. First Aid and Pain Management providers still offer regular training courses in the Centre.
The Centre has also been the venue for some very successful Malaysian Food Festival events with clients queuing around the block to get in! We have also had a booking for a National Chess Tournament which was very successful and hopes to return on a regular basis. It was wonderful to see 100 people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, silently playing Chess in our hall.
Although, we have some availability, the Centre is well used in both the daytime and evenings. During the school holidays the UHDN continues to run its Playscheme providing day care for the older children of Hospital Staff.
Our Robyn’s World Community Role Play Project continues to thrive and develop. The hall and side room are used every weekday morning by up to 25 toddlers and their parents or carers. It is a hive of activity and noise. Many of the regular attendees have become real supporters of the Centre; taking part in fundraising ventures; attending other events such as our popular Psychic nights and being a source of reasonably priced trades people!
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Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association
As part of an increased focus on fundraising activities, the centre ran a Psychic Supper during the summer and has another one planned for this Autumn. It was well attended and appeared to be enjoyed by those attending. An opportunity to experience a ‘Sound Bath’, ‘Past-life regression’, Tarot Reading and a Medium alongside a delicious ‘grazing board’ supper. We also held a less successful ‘Table Top’ Sale, donations from local residents were plentiful however there was a distinct lack of those wishing to buy! We live and learn.
The centre continues to run its weekly Coffee Mornings for local residents and is applying for funding to develop it further to become a warm hub in the winter including a range of social activities for participants to engage in. The University Hospital Day Nursery visited just before Christmas to sing and give gifts to some of the older residents of Dunkirk which was very well received and we hope it will become an annual event.
Financial review
Our quarterly returns looked reasonably healthy and our bank balance stabilised. We are just about meeting our commitments each month and have a small amount in reserve. However, we realise we need to begin fundraising in earnest if we are to take on a 25-year full repairing lease. Once we have a lease, we will hopefully be able to apply to some of the bigger grant providers to secure a contribution towards running costs and future refurbishment of the centre.
The charity’s policy on reserves
The association’s policy has always been 3 month’s running costs in reserve to ensure ability to pay any liabilities in case of closure or major difficulties. However, we are currently holding reserves close to this minimum level.
Financial risks
We continue to keep a very close watch on our funds - reviewing the situation at every meeting - to ensure enough funds would be available for our costs, but gas and electricity prices remain a massive cause for concern, particularly in the light of local authority pressures. In the future a full repairing lease will be a massive financial risk to the association if we are unable to increase revenue streams and successful grant applications.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
14/07/26 Signed ______ Date _ Helen Randle, Trustee
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association for the year ended 30 September 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association (the charity) for the year ended 30 September 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible 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 the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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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 which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
15/07/2026 Signed ____ Date _______ Eva Stevens BSc, CPFA Employee of Community Accounting Plus
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Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association Receipts & payments account for the year ended 30 September 2025
| 2024 Total Unrestricted Funds Funds £ Note £ Receipts 14568 Grants & donations 2 201 855 Balances transferred - - Fundraising 630 730 Party deposits - - Psychic night 875 22660 Robyn's World bookings 17753 40560 Room hire & rents 48724 467 Sundry receipts - 79840 Total receipts 68183 Payments 6363 Activities, events & hospitality 200 - Bank charges 692 5759 Cleaning & hygiene 6748 579 Donations & grants given 9000 5262 Equipment & renewals - 2514 ICT support 751 738 Independent examination fee 762 635 Insurance 714 - Other costs 283 130 Party deposits refunded - 2973 Premises maintenance & security 1850 28 Printing, postage & stationery - 838 Robyn's World expenses - - Staff expenses 22 10 Sundry payments 615 159 Training - 10980 Utilities 15675 37518 Wages, NI & other payroll costs 35803 74486 Total payments 73115 5354 Net receipts/(payments) (4932) 17924 Cash funds at start of this period 14237 23278 Cash funds at end of this period 9305 |
2025 Restricted Total Funds Funds £ £ - 201 - - - 630 - - - 875 - 17753 - 48724 - - - 68183 1895 2095 - 692 - 6748 9000 2820 2820 - 751 - 762 - 714 - 283 - - - 1850 24 24 - - - 22 - 615 - - - 15675 3452 39255 8191 81306 (8191) (13123) 9041 23278 850 10155 |
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Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association Statement of assets and liabilities at 30 September 2025
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2024 2025
£ Cash assets Note £
23236 Bank accounts 10064
42 Cash in hand 91
23278 10155
Other monetary assets
2090 Debtors -
122 Prepayments - insurance 39
2212 39
Assets retained for the charity’s own use
General equipment.
Liabilities
(997) Creditors 3 (2210)
(997) (2210)
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These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by:
14/07/2026 Signed _____ Date _____ Elizabeth McGuirk, Trustee
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Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2025
1. Receipts & payments accounts
Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.
2. Funds analysis
| Restricted funds Chairs Consultation fund Robyn's World Unrestricted funds General fund |
Opening balance £ 850 2808 5383 9041 14237 14237 |
Receipts (Payments) £ £ - - - (2808) - (5383) - (8191) 68183 (73115) 68183 (73115) |
Closing balance £ 850 - - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 850 | |||
| 9305 | |||
| 9305 |
The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows: Chairs – funds from Nottingham City Council to purchase new chairs. Consultation fund – funds for consultation costs specifically relating to the change to CIO.
Robyn’s World – funds specifically for the Robyn’s World project.
3. Creditors
| Independent examination fee Wages, NI & pensions - HMRC Wages, NI & pensions - Pensions |
£ 786 1290 134 |
|---|---|
| 2210 |
4. Premises & staff
The premises are provided by the local authority.
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Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Association
5. Trustees’ remuneration
During this period, Deborah Ramage received total remuneration of £13,700 (2024, £5,996) for her role as Administrator.
6. Related party transactions
During this period, Helen Randle’s son, Nicholas Randle, received total benefits of £611 (2024, £535) for work as a part-time handyman. During this period, Debbie Ramage’s daughter, Rebecca Ramage, received total benefits of £15,210 for work as Administrator.
7. Glossary of terms
Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity, but not paid during the accounting period.
Debtors: These are amounts owed to the charity, but not received in the accounting period.
Prepayments: These are services that the charity has paid for in advance, but not used during the accounting period.
Restricted funds: These are funds given to the charity, subject to specific restrictions set by the donor, but still within the general objects of the charity.
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