The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.
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 Charitable company'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 charitable company's objectives include the following:
To promote the inhabitants of Chell and the neighbourhood thereof without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or 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 interest of social welfare for recreation and other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the general public health and welfare of the said inhabitants;
To establish or secure the establishment of a family 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 objects.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit
To achieve its objects, the charity operates several parallel projects from the building known as the Whitfield Valley centre at Fegg Hayes
Ofsted Registered Nursery
Creche
Youth Club
Reaching Communities
Café
Gardening
Charity Shop
Making Connections
Room Hire
Gym
Social Groups
Volunteering
As CAFAG continues to develop and consolidate its position in the third sector, delivering its services to all in the community whilst developing new opportunities and tackling new challenges in the changing world. The focus has been on health and wellbeing for the people of Fegg Hayes as well as increasing volunteering opportunities.
The Board of Trustees continue to guide CAFAG and opportunities to join the Board are still available and suitable candidates are being sought.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charitable company should undertake.
Achievements and Performance:
Summary of the main achievements during the year:
Nursery:
The Whitfield Valley Centre Nursery provides a childcare facility in the local area, the Nursery continues to improve its facilities and services. In March 2023, the Nursery received a ‘requires improvement’ rating from an unexpected Ofsted inspection. The Nursery Managers and team are working tirelessly to meet the actions and objectives set by Ofsted for required and necessary improvements to be made. Ofsted will return within the next twelve months for a reinspection in which the Nursery hopes to reobtain its ‘Good’ standard rating.
The Nursery has decreased its maximum number of places at the setting, which will begin from September 2024, to enable a calmer environment and improve quality of services, rather than quantity. This will enable greater engagement for each individual child to support engagement and development.
The Nursery is providing activities through Early Year Pupil Premium (EYPP) and Special Education Needs (SEN) inclusion funding to recruit one-to-one supervision staff for children that require direct support.
New games and educational play have been introduced, including break out zones that enable more one to one engagement and observation on progression and development whilst following Early Years practice and guidelines as an Ofsted Registered Nursery.
The setting has had a revamp; it has been newly painted and seen the introduction of natural colours and resources, to provide a calming environment, bringing the nature and outdoors, inside. A ‘Sensory Area’ and ‘Calm Area’ will also be introduced. Staff have recently started to develop the Nurseries curriculum to provide age-appropriate learning activities and encourage curiosity.
All staff have recently attended refresher training and specific skill focused workshops in an Early Years setting to use this specialised knowledge.
We continue to regularly monitor the financial situation of the Nursery and carry out monthly meetings to monitor progress, staffing and development.
Creche:
Crèche received continuation funding from Children in Need (CIN) in March 2022, which has enabled the continuation of this service for a further three years, providing a Crèche service to all ages, which allows childcare to support and engage families in using additional facilities at the Centre such as the gym, café, training, charity shop and much more.
The Centre has an outdoor garden space for the Crèche and Nursery children to use and grow fruit and vegetables, plant seeds and learn in a safe outdoor environment. The Crèche service remains competitive with an affordable cost of £1 per hour, which previously contributed to running costs. Regular fundraising for Children in Need is also carried out and monies are raised annually.
Due to the current financial crisis and minimum wage salary increases, the charity has had to use Crèche unrestricted funds raised towards the salary costs not covered by the CIN funding, which has had an impact on the Charity as this no longer supports the running costs of the Centre.
The new Crèche supervisor has made a great start in change, development, and improvement of this childcare service. Focusing on training development of volunteers who support in the Crèche and providing activities that focus on English as a second language, motor skills and social engagement.
Youth Club:
We have been lucky in receiving funding again from Henry Smith which has enabled us to continue our Youth Service for a further three years. This funding will help to cover staffing, annual residentials, trips, equipment and resources, sessional workers and contribute towards oncosts.
Services include a ‘Transitional Group’ for ages 9-12 yrs, focusing on a small group of young people that are interested in social action, aspire to develop further, take a leadership role, or would like to build in confidence. Supporting them at a transitional age from primary school, getting them high school ready as well as continuing to provide a youth service for young people aged between 10-19yrs. Additionally, providing a play group for ages 5-10yrs, as it has been identified that there is a lack of provision which targets this specific age bracket. The unique offering now offers age-appropriate activities for children and young people aged from 5-19 yrs.
The Youth Club run a ‘Youth Café’ providing affordable healthy, nutritional meals and snacks to tackle malnutrition, educate in food, cooking, and nutrition for the children and families. This is to help tackle the significant increase in overweight or obese children. Actively engaging in sports to promote overall physical health and wellbeing, reducing illness and diseases.
Furthermore, we are also in partnership with Dizzy Heights non-profit youth service who have been delivering extra youth club sessions and trips across the holiday periods and providing workshops around, safety, e-safety, sexual health, knife crime and other specific focused subjects.
Reaching Communities:
In November 2021, we received five years of funding from the National Lottery, Reaching Communities Fund, totalling to £498,248. The purpose of this funding is to help cover our core costs of senior management salaries and commence our business enterprise strategy to sustain the Charity for future generations.
Leadership and direction is the main role as Charity Manager, which includes service provision, volunteering, and fundraising. Maintaining relationships with key external partners. Focusing on the strategic planning, expansion and development of the charity’s services and increasing current and potential income streams. Operational annual planning, maintaining and incorporating the charity’s mission in the services in which are provided and the overall responsibility for policy development, fundraising, finance, HR, communications and liaison between management and the board.
The Operations Manager responsibilities include overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of the organisation. This involves co-ordinating and supervising various departments including finance, HR, and marketing. Responsible for monitoring processes, analysing, and improving overall productivity and efficiency within the charity. Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, managing resources and contributing to the functioning of the organisation.
The Funding Officers main role and focus is obtaining small and large grants, writing funding bids, planning, and delivering fundraising and networking strategies, collating statistics, case studies and report writing. The Business Administrator supports in the day-to-day administration tasks, filing of confidential data, ensuring data protections and GDPR is followed. Creating be-spoke documentation, finance and, additionally, includes health & safety duties.
Our strategy includes developing a new business plan where we aim to increase revenue over the next five years. The target is that by Year five, our current enterprise projects aim to cover the core running costs of the Charity, recognising that activities such as the youth club and crèche will always require funding.
We have successfully received funding from Henry Smith COVID-19 Recovery Scheme, which has enabled us to set up a team of staff to support in major community services. The team offer support to those affected by COVID-19, and this will benefit the Community in the recovery stages from economic and emotional impact and those with complex needs and low mental health.
This Lottery funding has allowed CAFAG to provide more employability opportunities to one of the most deprived areas in the North of Stoke on Trent.
CAFAG’s Board of Trustee members collectively have a wide range of knowledge in business, management, philanthropy, environmental and community involvement. Trustee meetings are carried out on a quarterly basis to allow more time for in-depth reports to be provided and monthly finances are provided to the trustee board and treasurer for review. Measurable outcomes will enable us to achieve the charity’s aim in becoming self-sustainable. We continue to update technical software systems and evaluate data electronically to record, monitor and collate feedback.
CAFAG aims to become more economical and energy efficient as an organisation. Looking at eco-friendly and energy efficient resources that will reduce long term costs and help the environment, this will be a focus for future grant applications in the coming years.
Over the last twelve months the charity has supported on average 8709 Community members through the services we offer which has increased compared to last year by 999 new community members using The Whitfield Valley Centre. This funding has allowed for CAFAG’s restructured sustainability plan to take effect, allowing opportunity to continue and provide the necessary services for the local community. We have involved members when evaluating projects, carrying out a public AGM in November 2023, requesting regular feedback, online public surveys, and questionnaires. This funding also contributes to the general running costs, utilities, training, and consultancy costs.
Café:
Since January 2023, the Café has increased its income significantly. Awards for All’ initially covered the manager’s salary, but came to an end in January 2024 and we now continue to cover the Café manager’s salary through unrestricted funds and café profit. The focus is to develop the Café, restructure marketing techniques, training opportunities for volunteers and improve food quality and standards. The café has seen huge growth in only a short number of months and continues to grow and increase its footfall. We plan to develop and expand into catering in 2024-2025 and plans are currently underway. This is the central space of the community centre, used by the public and all departments. A new menu has been created and costs have increased slightly which were set at the beginning of 2024 due to the increase in cost of goods, but even with this change, the café is still at a competitive low-cost affordable rate. The café had a random food quality and hygiene standard inspection and we maintained our ‘Five Star’ food hygiene rating.
We will further develop the Whitfield Valley Centre as a community hub offering a range of services and activities aimed at breaking the cycle of social and economic deprivation that currently exists in the area. This includes expanding upon the range of contracted services, which we currently offer, and making ourselves procurement ready. We provide volunteers with refresher training for existing members and full training for all new volunteers to ensure that they all have up to date Food Hygiene qualifications.
The volunteers have shown true dedication and support to the charity and they have been pivotal in allowing our café to remain open to the public whilst enabling individual confidence levels to flourish within the team.
Gardening:
Our gardening service and gardener is at full capacity in the local and wider community areas and is one our first self-sustainable enterprise service, generating enough income to cover salary cost, plus making a profit that goes back into the Charity. Funding by Garfield Weston supported this project up to August 2023 with a team of volunteers that work on external gardening jobs as well as maintaining the Centres gardens and grounds.
We are planning to set up a gardening club for the Centre with access to our men in sheds workshop’ to complete woodwork workshops and for men who enjoy or have an interest in gardening.
The Gardening enterprise supports those members of the community who are unable to look after their gardens or those at risk of eviction. In partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we receive referrals for members of the public who are at risk of eviction, so help them to maintain their gardens and offer advice, tools, and resources.
During the winter months, the gardener supports the centre by carrying out and repairing minor maintenance issues, helping to lower maintenance outgoing costs, and is a valuable member of the team and well respected by the community. Gardening services are costed at an affordable price.
Completing a wood workshop for 12 weeks during the winter with community residents, building candle tea lights and bird boxes.
Funding was obtained by The Lottery, Know your Neighbourhood to cover the lead gardener’s salary and recruitment processes are currently underway for an Environmental Engagement Officer. The role will include supporting the lead gardener, setting up community social groups, researching eco-friendly changes and approaches for workplaces and maintaining the centre grounds.
Charity Shop:
A good case study includes a local resident who used the Crèche service then went on her own journey with us at CAFAG and became a Charity Shop volunteer initially and after seeing such potential, growth and progression, she is now the CAFAG Charity Shop Manager who runs a team of volunteers in the shop and is involved in management and running of the shop. She has now also gone on to become the Making Connections Co-ordinator who provides frontline work with a team focusing on the health and wellbeing of Fegg Hayes and Stoke on Trent residents. Through the efforts of the Charity Shop Manager and Operations Manager, this now runs successfully and generates a monthly income between £400-800 per month. This service contributes to the charity’s financial stability as well as its environmental footprint by upcycling materials and encouraging recycling, reusing items and as the Centre is based in a deprived area of Stoke on Trent, the Charity shop has become a lifeline for many families.
CAFAG Community Gym:
The charity decided from a petition signed by over thirty members in two days urging that the gym facility at the Centre remain open. The Charity Manager put measures in place, plans, and new software systems in place in an extremely short turn around to allow the continuation of the gym facility. Since re-opening and relaunching as CAFAG Community Gym in September 2023, the gym continues to grow, and this has become a consistent regular income as a non-profit organisation
Gym memberships continue to grow, and we are currently averaging between 10-20 new sign ups per month and current income is above expected targets and we will continue to monitor over the next 6-12 months.
We continue to look for other funding sources and potential long-term solutions such as Sport England funding and relevant sports relating grants for staffing assistance. As this is significantly pulling time from staff and as Charity Manager, a long-term sustainability plan is required to ensure the success, continuation and growth of the gym. Furthermore, we had applied and was successful in obtaining capital funding from Sport England for purchase of new gym equipment.
Making Connections:
This is a 3-year funded project to support a Health & Wellbeing called ‘Making Connections’. Funded by Henry Smith COVID-19 funding, this service provides projects and activities, such as Arts & Crafts club, Armchair Fitness, Dinner Club, Free Breakfast Wednesdays, Lunch Club, Litter picking group, Charity Shop Auction, Pumpkin Party and much more. The team provide weekly, monthly, and annual social groups and clubs for different ages. Also, providing low-cost UK trips for families and fundraising fun day events throughout the year.
The team have received over 30 referrals so far who are actively being supported through the making connections team of staff and volunteers.
Through the befriending service and referral system, over 65 contacts are on file and have received support.
Referral case support includes:
Financial Wellbeing
Emotional Wellbeing
Physical Wellbeing
Parenting guidance and support
Confidence building
Making friends
CV writing
Work experience and volunteering
Benefit forms
Tackling:
Loneliness
Isolation
Low level mental health cases or can be signposted.
Domestic Violence low level or can be signposted.
Raising awareness
General Signposting
Joining a social group
Other organisations which provide services at the centre include:
NSPCC / NSPCC Youth Forum.
Changes for mental health support.
Care Today training providers.
Parent and Toddler Stay and Play Group every Wednesday 1-3PM for 0 months up to 3-year-olds.
Monthly Financial support and advice from Potteries Money Wise.
Foster Caring.
Sign Health.
Yoga every Wednesday 10AM-12PM and 6:15-8:15PM
Glow - Domestic Violence support.
Disability Solutions – these support with any disability and higher risk referrals.
Sky Engineers – CAFAG got chosen and Sky delivered a volunteering day supporting the centre with maintenance and leafleting.
Vast – delivered Community Health Literacy Training – CAFAG is now on the list as A Community Health Champion Organisation.
Regular volunteering opportunities.
Plus, much more.
Networking connections made in the last year are as follows:
Expert Citizens – support drug awareness and alcoholism mental health cases
Appetite – support with family get together events in the community.
Residential Energy Services – supported with low energy costs to the most vulnerable.
Stoke on Trent City Council – Trading standards – delivered Scam Awareness programmes to the community.
Coop pioneer – supporting with donations for events and building relationships with coop customers who support CAFAG with the loyalty rewards scheme.
Tesco – Hanley/Kids grove – in communication with community champions.
Vast and Stoke North Big Local are working closely with volunteering opportunities.
Delivering over 500 easter eggs to community members and children most in need.
Youth workshops on confidence building, leadership, awareness, and self-care.
Fun Day events.
Animal Sanctuary event.
Adults craft club.
Story Quest and free books provided to children.
Christmas Market event with a total of 187 attendees, raising £348.00 and received over £200 worth of donated gifts and chocolates given out to families which included X77 children receiving a gift.
Free Christmas Buffet provided for families.
Christmas lunch – over 55’s
Warm package boxes delivered out to children in need, in partnership with Dizzy Heights.
Warm Space and free hot drinks during the Centres opening hours in December and January.
Games Night club.
And more.
Room Hire:
Over the last financial year room hire bookings have increased. The multipurpose room, training room and kitchen facility at The Whitfield Valley Centre are hired out to professionals, local organisations, businesses, and community members. We have longstanding professional relationships and some additionally purchase our in-house catering service offer. This generates a significant income that supports with the ongoing running costs of the Centre. One room is permanently rented within the building:
LadsXclusive – Clothing Company for storage and office use
With regular meeting spaces rented for:
Changes – Mental Health Wellbeing weekly
YMCA/NSPCC – Youth Provision Partnership
Weekly Yoga classes
Care Today – Training Courses
Fundraising/Networking Events:
British Science Association for £500 received to put on a science workshop in partnership with Sublime Science for British Science week March 2024.
Stoke-on-Trent Council Winter food and essential supplies Fund to distribute 75 emergency food and hygiene parcels to the most vulnerable of households within the area.
BlueSpark Foundation; This funding facilitated an excursion to Eurika! Science and Discovery Museum for 30 young people during October 2023 half term.
National Grid for £1000 to cover the costs of the charity’s utility bills and distribute winter warm packs to the most in need.
National Grid Community Fund for £9874.20 to cover the centres utility bills until 31st March 2024, allowing us to become a Winter Warmth Hub for community members between the hours of 10am-2pm. This funding allowed us to distribute 50 Winter Warm Packs to those most in need, comprising of thermal blankets, hot water bottles, radiator foil and keys and draught excluders. NEA Housewarming Event during February 2024 half term. This event was held on Free Breakfast Wednesday to provide information and advice to help vulnerable households regarding energy advice.
Sport England: Purchase of new equipment for the gym £14,362. Sue Akkurt Councillor ward budget £479 funding towards new lighting in the centre. Totally Stoked £500 received towards new gardening equipment.
Volunteering:
Currently, there are 27 volunteers on the books who help to support in all different areas, providing a range of employability experience, opportunity, confidence building, learning new skills and training/workshops that can be accessed. Volunteers are overseen by the Making Connections Team; Department leads and Charity Manager.
As a Charity, we are dependent on the support from volunteers to maintain our services, which include our centre gardens, gardening jobs, charity shop, café, childcare assistants, admin, events, small projects, community inclusion, café, and networking.
Over the last twelve months three of our volunteers have now become paid staff members here at CAFAG and have grown in confidence. We continue to help all our volunteers if that be through employability, reducing loneliness, building on skills, or starting a new hobby or interest. We obtain strong evidence in the work that we are currently doing with our community members and continue to build this with the community, helping residents to thrive.
Funding:
Year 2023-2024 has been successful in terms of funding as we received the following so far in this period.
Lottery – Know Your Neighbourhood – Started: March 2023 - £45,000 – Ending: August 2025
Sport England – Started: February 2024 - Capital - £14,362
Blue spark – Started: October 2023 - £735
British Science Association – Started: March 2024 - £500
Winter food and essential supplies fund – Started: November 2023 - £2,000
National Grid Community Fund – Started: December 2023 - £9,874.20
National Grid - £1,000 – winter warm packs
Ward Budget - £479
Totally Stoked - £500 – New Gardening Equipment
During the year income exceeded expenditure leaving net income for the year of £43,682 (2023: £15,379). This has resulted in a surplus on unrestricted funds of £42,360 (2023: deficit £26,306) and a surplus in restricted funds of £1,322 (2023: £41,685).
It is the policy of the trustees to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, to enable the charity to continue to operate if funding were to fall whilst replacement funding was obtained. The trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (the 'free reserves') held by the charity should be between 3 and 6 months of the unrestricted expenditure.
At present the free reserves, excluding long-term net assets stand at a surplus of £125,211 (2023: £90,966).
The trustees have considered the major risks, which are faced by the charity and confirm that systems have been established to lessen these risks.
Investment policy
The trustees have considered the most appropriate policy for investing funds and have found that CAFCash high interest bank accounts, designed for the charity sector, meet their requirements to generate both income and capital growth. The trustees consider the return on investments to be satisfactory.
Exemptions
The trustees have taken advantage of the exemptions available to small companies, including the audit exemption (see statement on balance sheet).
Funds held as custodian
No funds are held by the Chell Area Family Action Group as a custodian on behalf of others.
The Charitable company is a company limited by guarantee and is a registered charity in England and Wales. The day to day operations are undertaken using the name CAFAG and is operated under the rules of its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 26 August 1999 and most recently amended by special resolution in February 2012. It has no share capital and the liability of each member in the event of a winding-up is limited to £10.
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 charity is required to have between five and fifteen trustees. The congregation of St Michael's Church Chell, Stoke-on-Trent are entitled to appoint up to three Trustees. The congregation of the Church of the Saviour, Chell Heath, Stoke-on-Trent are entitled to appoint one trustee. The existing Trustees are entitled to appoint the remainder.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Chell Area Family Action Group (the Charitable company) for the year ended 31 March 2024.
As the Trustees of the Charitable company (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 Charitable company 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 Charitable company’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.
Since the Charitable company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.
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 Charitable company 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.
Chell Area Family Action Group is a private charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Whitfield Valley Centre, Fegg Hayes Road, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 6QR.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charitable company'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 Charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The Charitable company has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Charitable company. 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 Charitable company 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.
Donations, are recognised when they have been communicated and received in writing with notification of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
Legacy gifts are recognised on a case by case basis following the granting of probate when the administrator/ executor for the estate has communicated in writing both the amount and settlement date. In the event that the gift is in the form of an asset other than cash or a financial asset traded on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the gift being reliably measurable with a degree of reasonable accuracy and the title to the asset has been transferred to the charity.
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 settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses, including support costs and governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings in the statement of financial activities.
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 directors consider that freehold properties are maintained in such a state of repair that their residual value is at least equal to their net book value. As a result, the corresponding depreciation would not be material and therefore is not charged in the profit or loss account.
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 Charitable company 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 Charitable company 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 Charitable company's balance sheet when the Charitable company 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 Charitable company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Chell Area Family Action Group 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. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
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 Charitable company 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 Charitable company’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.
At the year end there were no estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.
Room hire
Other Centre activities
Nursery fees
Gardening Activities
Charitable activities
Other charitable expenditure
Food purchase
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows: £59,685 (2023: £55,433)
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
All tangible fixed assets are held for direct charitable purposes.
The freehold land and buildings are subject to a legal charge in favour of the Secretary of State for Health, which will take effect if the charity fails to comply with the conditions set out in the Memorandum of Grant dated 30 June 2000.
The Charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Charitable company 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.
Children in Need: To provide crèche and play facilities to children aged 0 – 9 in a highly deprived area. Through the positive support and engagement children will improve their personal and educational development and their social skills.
Henry Smith Making Connections: Supporting those who are lonely and/or isolated, those with mild mental health issues, providing opportunities for people to connect, to integrate back into society and therefore to improve their health & wellbeing. The main beneficiaries of the project will be those people who are most in need, under-represented, people who struggle to access mainstream provision, who have fallen through the mainstream provision net or for whom mainstream provision is not appropriate and those who struggle to overcome barriers to education, work and healthcare.
Awards for All:Ensuring a high quality, standard and regulated Cafe for community members. Nutritious healthy meals will be provided, additionally setting up cooking workshops to teach families how to cook at home. Plus use our CAFAG gardens to enable residents to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Providing affordable low-cost nourished meals to reduce malnutrition and create a social space where people can connect. Local, wider residents, volunteers and community members will benefit from this service. Encouraging more members to use the Centre and the other facilities we have to offer.
Sports England:Chell Area Family Action Group (CAFAG) have recently taken over the gym service in September 2023 as a charity and require funding to enable the continuation and expansion of this service. We have set up a community gym based at the heart of our centre and require funds to purchase the equipment from the former company who previously ran the gym alongside additional equipment to expand the facility for the public to avoid risk of closure. By purchasing this fitness equipment, it will preserve and enhance the fitness facility, which holds immense value for the local community.
Social Care: Work with Locality Connectors within Social Care to deliver support to people in the community who have been discharged from hospital.
Refurbishment of Building: A restricted fund provided by Stoke on Trent City Council for the refurbishment of the charity's cafe and kitchen.
National Lottery KYN Gardening: This funding will help to support the salary of our current Gardener and Gardening Services at CAFAG and help to further expand our services, including creating workshops based at the Centre and Centre Gardens. The additional services will include a gardening club, gardening workshop and training based at the Centre, woodwork shop, bird watching, creating bird feeders, restoring the Centres greenhouses growing fruit and vegetables and maintaining the Centre and Garden grounds. The listed workshops and services will be managed, organised, and led by the Engagement Officer who will be making connections with local and wider residents that are at risk of loneliness, to network with other local gardens and businesses, advertise services and train volunteers. The Engagement officer’s main roles and responsibilities will include building contacts, engaging in the community based at the Centre and support the Gardener with local gardening jobs, alongside volunteers.
Community Wellbeing: With the ongoing challenges posed by the economic downturn, rising food prices, increased cost of living and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, CAFAG recognise the increased vulnerability faced by many families and individuals in Stoke-on-Trent. Our proposed project aims to provide immediate relief through the distribution of emergency food and hygiene parcels to those in need that use our services at the Whitfield Valley Centre, as well as any referrals from other partnered organisations who have individuals and families in need. We aim to provide 75 emergency parcels containing a variety of basic hygiene products.
National Lottery Reaching Communities: Through the employment of a Community Enterprise Officer, a Community Café Cook and a Community Gardener we will deliver community enterprise projects that not only meet the needs of individuals, communities and organisations but, will also increase the employability and development skills of those individuals volunteering within these projects. Initially the project will focus upon the establishment of community enterprises such as a Community Café, Community Gardening Project and Meals on Wheels. The funding will also cover a percentage of the Centre Manager’s time and a Project Administrator role.
Henry Smith Youth Project: This is 3 years of continuation funding for the Youth Project which includes three youth session per week targeting 10 to 19 year olds and includes one issue based workshop per week in addition to outreach and detached youth sessions, an annual residential stay and day trips to provide young people with new experiences. The project is staffed by a fully-qualified Youth Worker and two part-time Peer Youth Workers.
Social Inclusion (included in smaller funds): We will operate a Warmth Hub within the Whitfield Valley Centre Monday-Friday between 10am-2pm which will offer accessible, immediate refuge for community members struggling with heating costs. Free hot drinks vouchers will be given to those who fill in relevant paperwork and meet the criteria set out by the charity, and we also operate ‘Free Breakfast Wednesdays’ where everyone is welcome. Our Making Connections team will offer general support and signpost to Residential Energy Services if needed. We will provide 50 Winter Warm Packs to those most in need who meet referral criteria consisting of a thermal blanket, hot water bottle, radiator foil, radiator key, and 2 brush draught excluders. Our maintenance department will conduct home visits to the households in receipt of these Warm Packs and help install the heat-saving items as well as offering support and tips on how to further save energy.
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.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).