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 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)".
Objects of the charity
1) To promote any charitable purpose and Social Enterprises for the benefit of the community in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire and, in particular, the advancement of education, the protection of health and the relief of poverty, distress and sickness.
2) To promote and organise co-operation in the achievement of the above purposes and, to that end, to bring together in council representatives of the voluntary organisations and statutory bodies within the area of benefit.
Objectives and aims
The charity aims to achieve its objects by working closely with a wide range of partners, including other Voluntary and Community sector groups, the public and private sectors and health organisations. Beneficiaries come from all walks of life and include children through to older people.
Ensuring our work delivers our aims
We review our aims, objectives and activities each year. The review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of our work in the previous 12 months. The review looks at the success of each key activity and the benefits they have brought to those we aim to support. These are incorporated into an annual operational plan, which is supported by a three-year strategic plan.
Significant activities
The charity, as a council for voluntary services (CVS), undertakes 5 core functions with the additional volunteering function:
Development work
Identifying local need through a range of activities such as delivering specific programmes on co production, lived experience and community resilience. In addition to partnership working with others to develop appropriate action and working strategically to benefit the local voluntary and community sector.
Liaison
Liaison: Helping to maintain links with a wide range of voluntary and community organisations and promoting cross sector relations.
Representation
Representation: enabling the local voluntary and community sector to present its views on service design and delivery to statutory sector agencies through consultation, networking, seminars and workshops.
Services and support
Funding, legal, financial, management and constitutional information and guidance, training, providing local and strategic information via a range of methods, back office support, office lettings and room hire.
Strategic partnership
Forming partnerships between the major Public, Community and Voluntary sectors with the aim of improving Southend for the benefit of all within our local area.
Volunteering
To provide stimulation and support for individual volunteers and organisations that involve them.
Public Benefit
The Trustees have referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission's general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
The Trustees always consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set for the charity.
In consideration of the significant activities stated above the Trustees are satisfied the Charity meets all requirements for the provision of providing a Public Benefit.
Our work as an organisation:
Our Vision is a strong empowered, inclusive Third Sector, made from organisations, communities and individuals that are catalysts for change.
Our Mission is to promote, develop and support a thriving, responsive, influential and inclusive voluntary and community sector in Southend.
We do this across all of the work and services we deliver to communities, built on a foundation of our values; Equality, Inclusion, Diversity, Independence, Innovation & Collaboration.
Southend’s Council for Voluntary Services
SAVS is an independent charity known as a Council for Voluntary Services or CVS. We work behind the scenes to help local charities and community groups achieve their full potential. As of the end of this year, we have over 440 individuals and organisations signed up as members.
CVSs are located across the country with funding predominately secured via Local Authorities. Southend City Council went out to tender in late 2022 for a five plus five year contract to deliver infrastructure across Southend. SAVS submitted a bid, and was awarded the contract in February 2023. This work began in April 2023 with a particular focus on supporting new and emerging groups, volunteering and embedding new technologies to support the delivery and accessibility of the work.
Our service is tailored to the unique and specific needs of the organisations we support; however, it can be summarised into three main themes;
Support: We directly support emerging and existing organisations as well as supporting individuals. Each group is supported based on their specific needs, with help provided on topics such as setting up a charity, governance, capacity building, fundraising, partnership working and involving volunteers. This year we provided over 354 instances of support, via phone, email and in-person meetings. Throughout the year we held a number of events, workshops and meetings to further support the sector. In 2023-2024 We delivered 67 events covering training (17), Engagement (4), Networking (27), Awareness and Promotion (12) and Meet the Funder (7) formats. Across the year, there were over 1,500 attendances. We also provide funding support, including completing tailored funding searches, reviewing funding applications, helping groups be ‘funding ready’ and hosting events to build relationships with local groups and funders.
Promotion: A key element of our work as a CVS is promoting the Voluntary Sector, the groups within it and their work. This year we have seen a continual growth in our Digital Reach, which now stands at over 15,000 contacts. This includes over 2,200 people that receive our weekly email update, containing on average 30+ pieces of shared content from the sector. Our Social Media channels help to share useful and relevant information across the City and beyond, with over 100 posts per month. We have also heavily invested in our digital infrastructure, marketing and communications to help evolve and adapt so that we are in a position to best promote the sector over the coming years. This work is enhanced by the Networks we host including our; Networking Brunches, Southend Police IAG meetings, Southend Homeless Action Network, Southend Family Network and the Voluntary Sector Leadership Network.
Representation & Partnerships: We continue to play a key role in representing the Voluntary Sector at Key Strategic Partnerships both Southend focused and across the wider South East Essex footprint. Examples include: Health Inequalities, Safeguarding, Community Safety and Domestic Abuse. The partnerships support SAVS and our sector relationships with key partners such as Southend City Council, South East Essex Alliance (SEE), Essex Police, EPUT, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) and many others. This helps us ensure the voice of the VCFSE sector is heard, valued and considered in the delivery, development and design of services. This year we have built further upon these relationships in order to influence and help shape strategy and policy SAVS holds significant positions i.e. SEE Alliance Chair, Domestic Abuse Vice Chair, Safeguarding Partnership Vice Chair (Adults & Children) and Co-chair of Safeguarding Neglect Group. In 2023-2024 SAVS attended 196 meetings to represent the sector, totalling over 330 hours.
Community Based Delivery
We deliver a number of our own Community projects that support and empower the rich and diverse communities of Southend. These projects provide residents with a voice and opportunities to help shape the future of where they live. They also help to identify gaps in provision, champion local assets and promote strength based working.
The work of our community projects continues to develop into new areas with the key theme being that of engaging with the public to raise awareness, provide information, seek their views, keep them safe and build resilience. By engaging with the public in their neighbourhoods, we were able to identify and support the most vulnerable people in the community, many of whom have little or no social contact.
Community Support
Social Prescribing: We host Social Prescribing Link workers in three of the four Southend Primary Care Networks (PCN). Social prescribing is open to patients aged 18+ who present to their GP with issues that have a non – clinical underlying cause. Patients may have a social need, on-going health conditions, regularly attend their GP surgery or are at risk of unplanned admission. Social Prescribing Link Workers meet patients referred by their GP at their practice before referring and signposting to appropriate voluntary and community sector services. Patients are treated holistically with the point of referral determined by individual need; this could include information to support health, finance or social isolation. This year SAVS’ Social Prescribing Team completed 2411 referrals.
The SAVS’ Reception Team: Our front of house team is there to support residents with any queries relating to the Voluntary Sector in Southend and beyond. Residents are welcome to call or visit the team five days a week with any questions and are then either directly supported, or signposted to groups or organisations across the City. Paid members of staff lead the team, but the majority of people are volunteers who donate their time to supporting those who need a helping hand.
HomeSafe SOS Community Hub: In order to provide patients, family members and the community with essential support, nine Community Hubs were setup across Mid and South Essex. An ICB grant-funded pilot programme was run between December 2022 and May 2023 and then provided with ongoing funding to date. HomeSafe SOS is the service delivered in Southend, a partnership project by; Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS), South Essex Advocacy Services (SEAS) and Citizens Advice Southend. Utilising existing assets and the experience and knowledge of partners, it provided an effective gateway to community-based support accessible by all residents in Southend.
Foodbank Vouchers: SAVS is a referral partner for Southend Foodbank, a network of foodbanks across Southend funded by the Trussell Trust. We provide a free referral service, either in-person or over the phone to help vulnerable Southend residents access food support. This year we made 2551 referrals to Southend Foodbank.
Southend Volunteer Hub: A new initiative in its first year. The Hub delivers a brokerage service promoting volunteering offers and opportunities across Southend. Charities and group list their opportunities with the Hub, via the Volunteer Essex platform; exclusively available to Essex CVS organisations, including SAVS. These opportunities are promoted throughout our networks and to the wider Volunteer Essex audience.
Our effective brokerage service ensures all individuals interested in volunteering are able to access information about the range of volunteering roles through a variety of different media including; website, phone, email and face to face. Prospective volunteers receive impartial person-centred advice and guidance on a range of volunteering options. Opportunities will have undergone a quality check prior to promotion and organisations will be supported to enhance those opportunities and ensure volunteering best practice. A successful year with over 600 volunteers signing up in the first year with 138 organisations registered to the Hub sharing over 200 opportunities.
Southend Centres for Warmth: Southend Centres for Warmth is an innovative collaborative project led by SAVS and being delivered by 11 VCFSE sector partners in Southend for Cadent, the national gas infrastructure company. A first of its kind for the business, the model utilises a one-to-many approach to engage and reach residents in Southend with activities that; promote energy safeguarding and raise awareness of Carbon Monoxide (CO) safety issues, provide support to vulnerable groups within the community (i.e. debt, mental health, low- income, marginalised groups etc.) and create a positive social return. Launched in January 2024, the project has a targeted 2-year reach of 11,640 residents in Southend with a predicted 5-year social return on investment for Cadent of over c. £7 million.
Youth & Family Development
A Better Start Southend: A Better Start Southend is a 10-year programme to develop and test new ways of supporting Southend’s children and families. This year marked our sixth year of supporting the programme, with our contracted role primarily focussing on parent engagement and co-production. Our work includes empowering local parents through our Parent Champions/Ambassador programmes and supporting them to become the voice of parents and participate in the various governance meetings of ABSS.
Triple Ts: Children from central Southend have Triple T’s clubs to help inspire them and raise their aspirations with thanks to funding from BBC Children in Need. We provide weekly sessions for youngsters aged 8-12 years through a programme of activities, designed to develop each individual child in a safe environment. We aim to give the youngsters opportunities to build confidence, improve mental & physical wellbeing and participate in community initiatives. In 2023-2024, the Triple T Youth Clubs supported 90 young people through the delivery of 108 sessions.
HAF: The Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) is a free and exciting holiday programme for children and young people aged 5 to 16 who get benefits related free school meals. The programme runs over the Easter (1 week), summer (4 weeks) and Christmas (1 week) school holidays and is funded by the Department for Education (DfE). SAVS is a leading partner of the HAF programme in Southend. This year we supported 52 young people with 22 sessions that enabled them to access free healthy and nutritious meals, as well as learning about food and nutrition, take part in healthy level of physical activity. Above all, the young people have fun and meet new friends, feel safe and secure, get access to support services and return to school feeling engaged and ready to learn.
Wellbeing
Supported Volunteering: this project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund supports people who may have experienced mental ill health into volunteering. The aim of the project is to give volunteers one to one support to increase confidence and reduce isolation, to highlight skills and experience and help identify the type of volunteering they might wish to do. Each year the project supports over 40 individuals.
Folk Like Us: This National Lottery Community Fund funded initiative provides support and advice to people over the age of 55, living in the borough of Southend who are experiencing loneliness and isolation. These people are supported by Turning Tides Community Team and where required will be signposted to services who can assist them further. This year the team have continued to support hundreds of older people in Southend via one to one home visits, group social sessions, trips out and large-scale Connect events. In 2023-2024, we saw the number of beneficiaries of this project reach 141 people.
Community Development
Community Builders – This year we continued our work empowering residents in Southend via our ‘Community Builders’ project. Two members of paid staff deliver the initiative in three areas across Southend, operating in a strength-based way; they are out in local communities, helping residents connect with each other and to amplify their voice. They discover local skills and resources, supporting residents to take action on what matters to them. In 2023-2024 the Community Builders project completed over 1,500 conversations with local residents.
COPD Community Connectors: A pilot programme delivered in partnership with Healthwatch Southend designed to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experience of those living with COPD in Southend when accessing support and living a healthier life. It is also an opportunity to share what works well. This programme forms part of the national drive to reduce health inequalities focusing on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and supported through the CORE20Plus5 framework. Programmes are taking place across all seven regions in England and encompass the five clinical areas of focus outlined in the Core20PLUS5 approach: maternity care, severe mental illness, respiratory disease, cancer and cardio-vascular disease.
Facilitated Community Funding
Community Investment Board: With the aim of building a culture of community ownership and resilience, SAVS supports an independent board made up of local experts by experience. The Community Investment Board is responsible for investing £1.5m of Southend City Council funding to realise a vision of a sustainable Southend, where residents engage in their wider communities and are empowered to achieve their full potential. This allows residents to demonstrate influence and positive impact in a city they are proud of, feel safe in and enjoy healthy and fulfilling lives. By the end of March 2024, the board had distributed £1,269k of the £1.5m in grants to local groups.
Southend Emergency Fund: As part of the emergency response and support to residents in Southend, SAVS supports the Southend Emergency Fund, which is independent of SAVS. The Fund provides a vehicle to distribute financial based relief to individual residents via local Voluntary Sector organisations. Particular work of the Fund this year has been with Household Support (for energy, bills and food). The Fund is led by an independent panel and has awarded over £600,000 in grants.
Health Inequalities Fund: Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board have contracted SAVS as the Trusted Partner in South East Essex to administer the Health Inequalities Fund. A first round of funding was awarded to four organisations in Q3 of 2023-2024, totalling £170,000, which will be settled in 2024-25.
Principle funding sources
The principal funding sources for the charity are currently by way of grants and commissioned project income under service level agreements from our projects. A secondary source of income is from renting office space within the SAVS building.
Investment policy and objectives
The charity continues to review its investment policy, and our policy is to spread cash investments across a selection of reputable banking providers. Where possible deposits are within the government backed protection limits.
Reserves policy
We are pleased to report that SAVS financial position continues to be sound and that the organisation continues on a firm financial footing. This achievement is due to a dedicated and committed workforce, who work with enthusiasm and imagination to meet the changing needs of the Southend Voluntary and Community Sector and the Southend Community.
At the year end, the charity had unrestricted reserves of £291,972 (2023; £256,786) of this amount £126,838
(2023; £108,970) has been designated for future repairs and renewals and a contingency fund should redundancies be required. This leaves an unrestricted fund position of £165,134 (2023; £147,816).
Given that the majority, approximately 90%, (2023; 91%), of the charity's income is derived from grants and contract income, renewals of which are not guaranteed beyond their current agreement periods. The trustees feel that it is necessary to accumulate unrestricted reserves to a level, which, in their opinion, will safeguard its continued operation for a period long enough to obtain alternative sources of funding, should its current sources of grant funding cease completely.
Target reserves for 2024/25 are £300,724. The reserves policy is to add to unrestricted reserves until that level is reached, and thereafter review the position to ensure that any surplus funds are correctly used.
Going concern
Whilst preparing these financial accounts the continued operation of the Charity has been given due consideration. On the back of the pandemic period, SAVS continues to work in an agile way with remote and homebased working embedded in our delivery. The cost of living crisis and high inflation has affected the Charity, with significant increases across our general running costs including utility bills and resources. Where available uplifts in funding or additional funds have been successfully secured to help mitigate some of the risk within this period. Therefore, these accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis.
Funds in deficit
There were no funds in deficit at the end of the Financial Year.
FUTURE PLANS
Our key focuses for 2024/25 include:
To develop our work under five strategic objectives:
1. Capacity Building and Infrastructure Support
2. Building Dynamic Communities
3. Empowering voices
4. Develop successful partnerships, collaborations and relationships
5. Sustainability
Governing document
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.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Trustees are recruited through a formal and transparent process and are appointed at the Annual General Meeting. Provision exists for trustees to be co-opted onto the board for skills availability purposes.
Organisational structure
Southend Association of Voluntary Services has a Board of Trustees that meets every 3 months and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the organisation. The Board is made up of individuals from a variety of different professional backgrounds, with the technical expertise to support the services provided by the charity.
A scheme of delegation is in place and the day-to-day responsibility for the provision of services rests with the Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer along with the Finance Manager and Management Team.
The Chief Officer is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the services and that the key performance indicators are met. The Finance Manager is responsible for the day to day management of the finances. The management team has responsibility for individual supervision of their staff and ensuring that the team continue to develop their skills and working practices in line with good practice.
Induction and training of new trustees
Trustees new to the charity take part in the induction programme, which introduces the following:-
-Memorandum and Articles of Association
-Latest minutes and financial statements
-Annual report
-Resourcing and current financial position as set out in the latest financial statements
-Future plans and objectives
-Contact information for fellow trustees and staff
All new trustees receive a comprehensive Induction Pack for ease of reference. In addition, trustees have received a copy of Trustee and Management Committee - National Occupational Standards.
All of our trustees are familiar with the work of the charity and are involved in annual planning days for both staff and trustees.
Risk Management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
The trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and have put in place a system to mitigate these risks.
A risk register has been established which will be reviewed and updated annually.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Azets Audit Services be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
Registered Company number
03351855 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number
1063655
Registered office
SAVS Centre
29/31 Alexander Street
Southend on Sea
Essex
SS1 1BW
Trustees
Gabrielle Rydings
Adrian Buggle
Paul Hill
John L Lamb (resigned 07/11/2023)
Janice Walker
Sarah Mitchell
David Hurst
Chris DeBond
Roshan Romal
Auditors
Azets Audit Services
Chartered Accountants
7-8 Britannia Business Park
Comet way
Southend on Sea
Essex
SS2 6GE
Solicitors
BTMK Solicitors
19 Clifftown Road
Southend on Sea
Essex
SS1 1AB
President
His Worship, The Mayor
Chief Officer
Anthony Quinn
FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN FOR OTHERS
The charity sometimes holds funds on behalf of a small number of local voluntary organisations who are themselves in the process of obtaining charitable status. This is a sponsorship and governance service which we provide in the formative months of an emerging charity and Social Enterprise only.
The funds are accounted separately for in our accounting records. These funds are only distributed on receipt of appropriately authorised requests from the organisations involved.
At the year-end £800 (2023: £0) was held in this manner.
In addition, SAVS holds funds on behalf of the Southend Emergency Fund (SEF), the Southend Community Investment Fund (CIF) and the Health Inequalities Fund (HIF). SAVS is acting as an agent for the distribution of these funds, which come from local Government and the Health Sector. As at 31st March 2024 funds held on behalf of SEF was £8,956 (2023: £8,510), CIF £118,356 (2023: £108,336) and HIF £220,410 (2023: £0).
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Southend Association of Voluntary Services (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees report; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the statement of Trustees responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above and on the Financial Reporting Council’s website, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.
We obtain and update our understanding of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework. Based on this understanding, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we designed procedures which included:
Enquiry of management and those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims as well as actual, suspected and alleged fraud;
Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
Assessing the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations considered to have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the entity through enquiry and inspection;
Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
Performing audit work over the risk of management bias and override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for indicators of potential bias.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Azets Audit Services is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Southend Association of Voluntary Services is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is SAVS Centre, 29-31 Alexandra Street, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, SS1 1BW, United Kingdom.
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 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. Further information relating to going concern can be found in the Report of the Trustees.
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purposes of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
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 a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Expenses are allocated per project on a controlled and calculated basis depending on work load and funding agreement as per grant applications.
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:
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.
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
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.
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.
Charitable Income
Charitable Income
Resource office lettings
Sundry income
Grants
Service level agreement income
Bank deposit interest
Charitable expenditure
There was no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
No director/trustee received any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses during the year (2023 - none).
No director/trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year (2023- none).
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was: 37
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Trade debtors disclosed above are classified as loans and receivables and are therefore measured at amortised cost.
The loan above was received from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in 2005 to finance the deficit on the Alexandra Street project. It is interest free and repayable in annual instalments of £2,500, the last instalment falling due on 30th November 2027.
Transfers between funds
Transfers between funds
The aggregate compensation paid to key management personnel in the period was £150,022 (2023: £142,179).