The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2023.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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).
The charity's objects and principle activities are to:-
Promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Melincryddan/Neath Cluster and the neighbouring areas together defined by the boundaries of the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot, (hereinafter called "area of benefit"), to advance the area of benefit economically, socially, environmentally, culturally and through the provision of opportunities'.
Promote urban regeneration for the benefit of the inhabitants of Melincryddan/Neath Cluster and neighbouring areas.
Encourage participation of the inhabitants in the regeneration of the community.
The trustees have had due regard to public benefit and consider that each of the activities that the charity is engaged within helps promote the aims of the charity in respect of improving the conditions of the life of the inhabitants of Melincryddan and the county of Neath Port Talbot as defined below.
The main activities for the year continue to focus upon the charity's objectives and included the following:-
Melin Advice Centre:
This is our head office where we also provide a venue for the provision of advice and education and where we facilitate local groups and services.
DIY Store:
The DIY Studio formerly known as the Melin Technology Centre. This facilitates the community in learning basic DIY skills for in and around their homes, to prevent them having to get tradesmen in at a cost and get them upskilled and interacting socially.
Art Class
Wayne’s art facilitates both learning and socialization. The club is growing in popularity and friendships and new skills are being developed weekly. The class focuses on all the different forms of painting and how to master the fundamental techniques required.
Promoting Digital Inclusion
The promotion and facilitation of digital inclusion in venues, and with groups, across Neath Port Talbot through the Get NPT On-line and other Digital outreach support projects.
The provision and facilitation of friendship groups with the objective of alleviating loneliness in the Neath East area and beyond.
Work with volunteers and volunteering
The recruitment, training and support of volunteers in all our projects with emphasis on: - volunteer involvement in the design and operation of those activities.- building the confidence, skills and employability of volunteers according to their needs and wants.
The charity provides Christmas fete whereby stalls are rented out to local traders in exchange for a donation to the centre. Santa also makes an appearance to entertain the local children with story time and a gift.
Environmental Projects
The charity continues to support the work of the environmental organisations and has become a litter picking HUB working alongside Keep Wales Tidy, doing weekly litter picks in the area.
Adult Literacy
The charity is facilitating volunteer led activities to help adults with literary difficulties learn to read.
Community engagement and support for local organisations
This has continued throughout the year.
Health and Well-Being Activities. The charity continues to support activities that improve health and well-being including funded mental and physical health enhancement projects.
The charity has a desire for continuing improvement and in effectively demonstrating good practice. The move towards a task-orientated structure has continued with the aim to encourage more non-Board members of the community to play a greater role in defining, designing and delivering a greater contribution to the regeneration of our (and their) communities.
The charity has a mission statement which is as follows:
"Our mission is to work with individuals and groups to identify and build on their strengths to enhance community wellbeing through active participation, volunteering, engagement and empowerment."
The board of trustees meets monthly excluding December including the AGM and has additional training meetings to plan for future developments. The executive group which includes the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and the Manager (staff member) meet as required, and reports at the following board meeting.
Melin Advice Centre: Our purpose-built Melin Advice Centre continues to be an invaluable asset to the charity and the community we serve. Since our inception, having an Advice Centre has been central to all the charity's activities. Not only does it provide a base for giving direction to the public where they may seek advice and many other community-linked activities, with 60 to 100 participants each week. Further, because our community told us it was needed, it also demonstrates very clearly our belief in the "bottom-up" community-led approach and our readiness to help realise community aspirations. It is a quality building which reinforces the message that second-best is not good enough for our community. Finally, as a source of rental income, it is a critical component of our financial activities and therefore the board will take steps to keep this centre open even on quiet days.
The DIY Studio formerly known as the Melin Technology Centre. This facilitates the community in learning basic DIY skills for in and around their homes, to prevent them having to get tradesmen in at a cost and get them upskilled and interacting socially. This club has been running successfully now for over two years and proves to be very popular within the community.
Health and Well-being initiatives: MCT continues to support the Melin Walkers and has created additional support services that include Men's only support group. The Melin Friendship Group is ongoing and integral to mental health and wellbeing. MCT has developed initiatives to support the community it serves with Art and DIY club as well as our Friendship groups.
Community Safety Initiatives: The charity continues to have regular contact with South Wales Police local community officers, as well as regular monthly meetings with local councillors.
Housing: The charity has continued to work with and support residents' organisations. Close links have also been maintained with Social Landlords that serve the area and with the Neath East Renewal Area Team. Monthly surgeries are held at the centre with local housing officers to allow local residents to voice any concerns.
Environment: Concern for the environment, natural and built, remains a major driver for the charity. We continue to support local environmental action working with Keep Wales Tidy, the Neath East Renewal Area Team, Neath Port Talbot CBC and other local groups. We also started our own weekly litter pick and are a litter hub for the area.
Help for people claiming benefits: The charity continues to support and work alongside Welfare Rights officers at NPT and provide help in overcoming barriers that people face when making claims.
Employment responsibilities: MCT currently employs 2 members of staff and has 6 volunteers
MCT is working to improve its position with regard to funding, in comparison to 2020 and this has been achieved via an increase in applications submitted and a more strategic approach to financing the needs of the organisation. We have improved our governance with a revision of our policies and procedures and introduction of many new ones, and regular financial reports at our monthly board meetings.
A strong business plan and strategies are now in place and will be continually reviewed and updated to meet ever changing opportunities and challenges
MCT will always ensure 3 months running costs are available in addition to wind up fees and at least £1,000 for unforeseen expenses.
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The organisation is a Charitable Company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 24th October 2002 and registered as a charity on 26th September 2005. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objectives and powers of the Charitable Company and is governed under its Articles of Association.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
The number of trustees is subject to a maximum of twenty and a minimum of five.
A Trustee can be appointed at an general meeting if
(1) he is recommended by the trustees; or
(2) not less than fourteen nor more than thirty five days before the meeting, notice executed by a member qualified to vote at the meeting has been given to the charity of the intention to propose that person for appointment.
Trustees must be at least eighteen years of age and cannot have been disqualified from acting under the provision of Article 38.
Notice of between seven and twenty eight days before the general meeting must be given of any person who is recommended by the trustees for appointment as a trustee.
The charity may by ordinary resolution appoint a person who is willing to act to be a trustee, subject to the above conditions.
One third of the trustees must retire and be re-appointed at every annual general meeting. The trustees retiring by rotation are those that have been longest in office since their last appointment or re-appointment.
A new trustee appointed will only hold office for one year and must be re-appointed in the following annual general meeting. These trustees are not taken into account when deciding the trustees to retire by rotation.
It is important to mention that the Trust has since been involved in rebranding exercises since the last report and in some ways that rebranding is still an on-going exercise
The trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Melin Community Trust (the charity) for the year ended 31 October 2023.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
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:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Melin Community Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Melin Advice Centre, 80 Briton Ferry Road, Melincryddan, Neath, SA11 1AP.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Performance related grants
Postage and stationery
Travelling
Subscriptions and licences
Counselling
Rates and water
Household and cleaning
Therapeutic drumming
Community renewal
DIY project
Christmas lighting
Wellbeing workshops
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The building was purchased by Melin Community Trust in 2007 from NPTCBC.
If the charity decides to sell the building it is committed to ensure that the building is put back into the community and hence is still available for use by the Melin residents.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The purpose of the restricted funds are detailed below;
Garfield Weston
This was funding for counselling services.
The Waterloo Foundation
This was funding for therapeutic drumming.
Neath Port Talbot
This was funding for therapeutic drumming.
Song & Rhyme
This was funding for song and rhyme.
Swansea Bay
This was funding for ALD crafty potters.
Moondance
This was core cost funding for the Melin Advice Centre.
West Glamorgan Crimebeat
This was funding for cuppa with a copper (melin mingle).
The Foyle Foundation
This was core cost funding for the Melin Advice Centre.
National Lottery
This was funding for art classes.
The Prince of Wales
This was funding for the DIY workshop classes.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
During the year the charity has transferred unrestricted funds to various restricted funds for matched funding.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).