REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
Report of the Trustees and |
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
for |
Community By Nature Limited |
REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
Report of the Trustees and |
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
for |
Community By Nature Limited |
Community By Nature Limited |
Contents of the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
Page |
Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 3 |
Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
Balance Sheet | 6 | to | 7 |
Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 | to | 13 |
Community By Nature Limited (Registered number: 03030362) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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). |
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
Objectives and aims |
The charities main aim is to enhance the wellbeing and life chances of children and adults in areas of deprivation in Sefton and surrounding local authorities by encouraging participation in community learning and support, play and forest school. |
Significant activities |
The charity strives to achieve its aim by providing the following services: |
- Play and forest school sessions, events and programmes for children and young people; |
- Play and forest school training and support; |
- Community training and support activities including youth activities. |
The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing it's aims and objectives. |
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE |
Charitable activities |
The charity is grateful for the efforts of its volunteers who are involved in all service provision. It is estimated that over 2,000 volunteer hours were provided during the year. The charity offers training and progression opportunities to volunteers. |
FINANCIAL REVIEW |
Principal funding sources |
The principal funding sources are grants from external funding bodies, local authorities and associated local government agencies together with income generated from play and forest school provision, community support services, training, room hire and other charitable activities. |
Reserves policy |
The trustees have reviewed the reserves of the charity. |
Unrestricted Reserves: |
a) to provide funds which can be designated to specific projects to enable these projects to be undertaken at short notice; and |
b) to cover administration fund raising and support costs without which the charity could not function. |
The trustees consider it prudent that unrestricted reserves should be sufficient |
a) to avoid the necessity of realising fixed assets held for the charity's use; and |
b) to cover 3 months administration, fund raising and support costs. |
The trustees continue to monitor and review reserves, continually seeking to identify and develop opportunities for new sources of income. |
Designated Fund |
The trustees have considered it prudent to set aside an amount that would provide for the contractual redundancy liabilities and 3 months operational costs to cover the contractual notice of redundancy period for employees in the event that there was a decrease or withdrawal of income. |
Community By Nature Limited (Registered number: 03030362) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS |
The trustees have considered continuity of the charity for a period of 12 months from the date of approving the accounts. Operational and cash flow activity is reviewed and monitored by the board of trustees on a regular basis and with new sources of funding secured, the trustees are confident of ensuring continued provision of the services provided by the charity. The charity will continue to develop its core activities particularly its community, play and forest school provision and training. |
The trustees and management continue to seek and develop opportunities to work with similar minded organisations to expand its activities throughout the local area. |
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
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 |
Applications for trusteeship are sought by advertisement. A trustee is appointed at a general meeting having been recommended by a serving trustee and appropriate notice to members eligible to vote has been given. A simple majority of members eligible to vote is required to appoint a trustee. |
At the first Annual General Meeting all the trustees retired from office and were re-elected if they wished to continue. At every subsequent Annual General Meeting, one third of the trustees are subject to retirement by rotation. Trustees serve for a three year period and may be re-elected for a further 3 years. |
Organisational structure |
The number of trustees shall not be less than three, and until otherwise determined by a General Meeting more than 10. |
The trustees meet six times a year to review strategy and performance, to look at budgets and finances and operating plans of the Charity. |
Induction and training of new trustees |
New trustees receive information packs about the charity showing the previous years financial statements, various officer's reports, business plans and organisational structure. Trustees will obtain training by experience of various functional committee meetings. |
Wider network |
The charity continues to play an active part in all aspects play and forest school provision for children and young people of play and forest school training in the local area. In addition the charity facilitates a range of community support services for the local neighbourhood. |
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 reviewed the controls in place and are satisfied that the risks mentioned above are minimised. |
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
Registered Company number |
Registered Charity number |
Registered office |
Community By Nature Limited (Registered number: 03030362) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
Trustees |
Company Secretary |
Independent Examiner |
V & R Accountancy Services Limited |
Chartered Certified Accountants |
Cropton House |
Three Tuns Lane |
Formby |
Merseyside |
L37 4AQ |
Solicitors |
Black Norman |
67/71 Coronation Road |
Crosby |
Liverpool |
L23 5RE |
Bankers |
HSBC Bank Plc |
107 Stanley Road |
Bootle |
Liverpool |
L20 3DX |
Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of |
Community By Nature Limited |
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Community By Nature Limited ('the Company') |
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024. |
Responsibilities and basis of report |
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). |
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the 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 your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. |
Independent examiner's statement |
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: |
1. | accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or |
2. | the accounts do not accord with those records; or |
3. | the accounts 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 |
4. | the accounts 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 accounts to be reached. |
G J Rummens FCCA |
V & R Accountancy Services Limited |
Chartered Certified Accountants |
Cropton House |
Three Tuns Lane |
Formby |
Merseyside |
L37 4AQ |
13 November 2024 |
Community By Nature Limited |
Statement of Financial Activities |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
funds | funds | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Donations and legacies | 2 |
Charitable activities | 5 |
Other trading activities | 3 |
Investment income | 4 |
Total |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Charitable activities |
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 117,046 |
Community By Nature Limited (Registered number: 03030362) |
Balance Sheet |
31 March 2024 |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
funds | funds | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
FIXED ASSETS |
Tangible assets | 10 |
CURRENT ASSETS |
Debtors | 11 |
Cash at bank and in hand |
CREDITORS |
Amounts falling due within one year | 12 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
NET CURRENT ASSETS |
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
NET ASSETS |
FUNDS | 13 |
Unrestricted funds | 70,859 |
Restricted funds | 46,187 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 117,046 |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024. |
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. |
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for |
(a) | ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and |
(b) | preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. |
Community By Nature Limited (Registered number: 03030362) |
Balance Sheet - continued |
31 March 2024 |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on |
Community By Nature Limited |
Notes to the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
1. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of preparing the financial statements |
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. |
Income |
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. |
Expenditure |
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. |
Tangible fixed assets |
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. |
Play equipment | - |
Fixtures and fittings | - |
Motor vehicles | - |
Office equipment | - |
Taxation |
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. |
Fund accounting |
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 purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. |
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits |
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. |
Community By Nature Limited |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
2. | DONATIONS AND LEGACIES |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Donations |
3. | OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Room hire income | 2,942 | 2,573 |
Catering income | - | 790 |
Other income | - | 320 |
4. | INVESTMENT INCOME |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Deposit account interest |
5. | INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
Activity | £ | £ |
Forest school training | Play and forest school provision | 44,381 | 25,300 |
Grants | Play and forest school provision | 200,943 | 184,269 |
Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Sefton CVS | 8,500 | 9,000 |
Steve Morgan Foundation | - | 17,412 |
BBC Children In Need | - | 61,220 |
WEA/ESF | 25,000 | 14,919 |
National Lottery | 68,065 | 19,980 |
PH Holt Foundation | 8,000 | - |
23 Community Foundation | - | 24,988 |
Holiday and Activities Food Programme | 31,500 | 33,000 |
Asda | - | 300 |
Ford | - | 2,950 |
Platinum Jubilee Fund | - | 500 |
Merseyside Youth Association | 2,250 | - |
Frank Rogers | 5,000 | - |
Liverpool Environment Fund | 14,988 | - |
Community Foundation | 14,650 | - |
Sefton Council | 20,000 | - |
Police Crime Fund | 2,990 | - |
200,943 | 184,269 |
Community By Nature Limited |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
6. | SUPPORT COSTS |
General |
support | Governance |
Finance | costs | costs | Totals |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
Play and forest school provision | 92 | 30,797 | 2,160 | 33,049 |
7. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Depreciation - owned assets |
8. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023. |
Trustees' expenses |
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023. |
9. | STAFF COSTS |
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
Charitable activities | 3 | 4 |
Management and administration | 1 | 1 |
Community By Nature Limited |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
10. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
Fixtures |
Play | and | Motor | Office |
equipment | fittings | vehicles | equipment | Totals |
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
COST |
At 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 |
DEPRECIATION |
At 1 April 2023 |
Charge for year |
At 31 March 2024 |
NET BOOK VALUE |
At 31 March 2024 |
At 31 March 2023 |
11. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Trade debtors |
Other debtors |
12. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
31.3.24 | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Trade creditors |
Accruals and deferred income |
13. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
Net |
movement | At |
At 1.4.23 | in funds | 31.3.24 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 70,859 | 36,614 | 107,473 |
Restricted funds |
BBC Children In Need | 43,207 | (25,014 | ) | 18,193 |
National Lottery | 2,980 | (2,980 | ) | - |
PH Holt Foundation | - | 4,000 | 4,000 |
Holiday Activities and Food Programme | - | 4,000 | 4,000 |
(19,994 | ) |
TOTAL FUNDS | 16,620 | 133,666 |
Community By Nature Limited |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
13. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Movement |
resources | expended | in funds |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 48,126 | (11,512 | ) | 36,614 |
Restricted funds |
BBC Children In Need | - | (25,014 | ) | (25,014 | ) |
WEA/ESF | 25,000 | (25,000 | ) | - |
National Lottery | 68,065 | (71,045 | ) | (2,980 | ) |
PH Holt Foundation | 8,000 | (4,000 | ) | 4,000 |
Holiday Activities and Food Programme | 31,500 | (27,500 | ) | 4,000 |
Sefton CVS | 8,500 | (8,500 | ) | - |
Frank Rogers | 5,000 | (5,000 | ) | - |
Liverpool Environment Fund | 14,988 | (14,988 | ) | - |
Merseyside Youth Assciation | 2,250 | (2,250 | ) | - |
Sefton Council | 20,000 | (20,000 | ) | - |
Community Foundation | 14,650 | (14,650 | ) | - |
Police Crime Fund | 2,990 | (2,990 | ) | - |
( |
) | (19,994 | ) |
TOTAL FUNDS | ( |
) | 16,620 |
Comparatives for movement in funds |
Net |
movement | At |
At 1.4.22 | in funds | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 85,884 | (15,025 | ) | 70,859 |
Restricted funds |
Steve Morgan Foundation | 6,692 | (6,692 | ) | - |
BBC Children In Need | 28,599 | 14,608 | 43,207 |
Youth Endowment Fund | 16,504 | (16,504 | ) | - |
National Lottery | - | 2,980 | 2,980 |
PH Holt Foundation | 9,240 | (9,240 | ) | - |
23 Community Foundation | 1,470 | (1,470 | ) | - |
Cash4Kids | 1,500 | (1,500 | ) | - |
64,005 | (17,818 | ) | 46,187 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 149,889 | (32,843 | ) | 117,046 |
Community By Nature Limited |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
13. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Movement |
resources | expended | in funds |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 30,173 | (45,198 | ) | (15,025 | ) |
Restricted funds |
Steve Morgan Foundation | 17,412 | (24,104 | ) | (6,692 | ) |
BBC Children In Need | 61,220 | (46,612 | ) | 14,608 |
Youth Endowment Fund | - | (16,504 | ) | (16,504 | ) |
WEA/ESF | 14,919 | (14,919 | ) | - |
National Lottery | 19,980 | (17,000 | ) | 2,980 |
PH Holt Foundation | - | (9,240 | ) | (9,240 | ) |
23 Community Foundation | 24,988 | (26,458 | ) | (1,470 | ) |
Cash4Kids | - | (1,500 | ) | (1,500 | ) |
Holiday Activities and Food Programme | 33,000 | (33,000 | ) | - |
Asda | 300 | (300 | ) | - |
Ford | 2,950 | (2,950 | ) | - |
Sefton CVS | 9,000 | (9,000 | ) | - |
Platinum Jubilee Fund | 500 | (500 | ) | - |
184,269 | (202,087 | ) | (17,818 | ) |
TOTAL FUNDS | 214,442 | (247,285 | ) | (32,843 | ) |
14. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |