REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
Report of the Trustees and |
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
for |
Leading-Link |
REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
Report of the Trustees and |
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
for |
Leading-Link |
Leading-Link |
Contents of the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
Page |
Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 4 |
Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
Balance Sheet | 7 | to | 8 |
Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 | to | 14 |
Leading-Link (Registered number: 07528154) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 30 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 30 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 charity's objectives are restricted to the following: |
1) to act as a resource for young people up to the age of 25 living in South East Northumberland by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of physical, educational and other activities as a mean of:- |
a) advancing in life and helping young people by developing their skills, capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals. |
b) advancing education. |
c) relieving unemployment. |
d) providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interest of social welfare for people living in the are of benefit who have need by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, poverty or social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons. |
2) To advance the education by such means as the trustees deem fit, in particular but not exclusively by assisting the provision of facilities not required by the local education authority and promoting learning for pleasure of people no longer in full time employment through the continues development of their individual capabilities, skills and understanding in subjects of educational value. |
3) To promote the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged communities of South East Northumberland in such a way that they are better able to identify and help meet their needs and to participate more fully in society, |
4) To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society. |
Leading-Link (Registered number: 07528154) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
Significant activities |
As we look back on yet another busy year for the organisation, we would like to thank all the staff, volunteers and young leaders for their time, effort, hard work and passion that allows Leading Link to develop, grow and support children, young people and families across Northumberland. |
As ever we have enjoyed working alongside Northumberland County Council, Blyth Town Council as well as other partner organisations across the year. We also entered the final year of a three-year project with the North East Child Poverty Trust via funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. |
Easter is always a busy time for the team as the Easter Holiday events are in full swing with the Northumberland Holiday Provision programme - part of the government HAF Funding. A range of multi day events / camps take place across Northumberland together with a wide range of family activities that families can book using the website. This runs for two weeks at Easter there is a huge amount or planning and follow up work to be done with the project. Northumberland Holiday Provision also covers the six-week Summer and two-week Winter holidays so there is a huge amount of administration to wade through to ensure we have quality provision taking place across Northumberland. There was around 108,000 hours of holiday provision across Summer alone, so this is a huge project to manage. |
Easter also saw Leading Link working with Q20 Events with their touring show - Alice in Wonderland - supported fantastically by the young leaders who toured across eight venues across Northumberland over four days sorting out food, seats, ticket, goodie bags - all centred around children and their families enjoying a theatre environment and having a break from real life with a little escapism. We teamed up with local bakers Glenton's who provided the "Wonderland" themed food such as scones, cakes and the team set about making jam sandwiches for all! |
Blyth Carnival in July is always a great day working with Blyth Town Council on the event with a huge parade with local school children, traders, performances and Leading Link young leaders of course. It was a great day and the Market Square in Blyth was packed with people and the weather was on our side for a change. |
July and August is always busy as the team prepare for the summer holidays. With multiple camps / events across Northumberland and a wide range of activities the build up to the summer holidays are always busy and there are thousands of bookings, emails and phone calls to make to ensure a smooth delivery period. |
During the summer of 2024 we hosted a camp based at St Benet Biscop School in Bedlington where we entertained 90 children for four weeks of the summer holidays. Our fantastic young leaders were out in force mentoring, supporting and engaging with the children attending. We did a range of activities including fantastic sports and games, crafting t-shirts and caps as well as practical art projects. We had visits from external providers such as Fun Little Foodies and were accompanied by Time Step Activity Centre every day providing a range of physical outdoor and indoor pursuits. We had fabulous food delivered in each day provided by Brent and his team from La Torre restaurant in Bedlington. |
We launched into the summer school term running a range of afterschool projects working with Burnside College, Wallsend Primary School, St Peters Primary School and Walkergate Primary School organising sessions such as arts & crafts and laser tag. These sessions were put together by our Young Leaders for the younger children to enjoy. The Young Leaders learnt a range of skills such as planning, teamwork, risk assessments as well as the all-important delivery of the activity. |
In October we headed to Broomley Grange in Stocksfield with a group of 24 young people for a residential. The young people were put through their paces with a range of team building activities, challenges and experiences. They had to design their own menus, help to prepare the food, took a trip to Humbles Wood Farm in Prudhoe for the day where they helped to lay down new tracks in the woods, looked after the animals and took a stroll with the lama's! Prior to the residential the young leaders took part in a series of Escape Room challenges with Dan and his team from Pirate Escape Rooms in Whitley Bay. Following this the leaders worked in teams to come up with their own "Escape Room" challenges that they had to build on the residential trip for their peers to take part in. Dan joined us for the day whist they out each other through the challenges and gave them lots of expert guidance! As it fell on Halloween, of course we had a UV spooky themed party and were joined by our resident storyteller, Paul Lowder, who led the young people around the woods, with lanterns and effect telling the "Spooky Tales from Broomley Grange". |
Leading-Link (Registered number: 07528154) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
November and December saw the team overseeing the Northumberland Holiday Provision winter offering working again with fantastic partners across Northumberland to offer a range of activities for both children and their families to attend and enjoy. Teaming up with Q20 events again this time with a touring production of the Justin Credible Superhero Show our Young Leaders were up early and home late on our minibus supporting the production and making sure the children and families had the best time possible. All the children had superhero masks to wear, and all went home with a goodie bag and a 16-page workbook jam packed with activities to do when they got home - to help keep them occupied during the long week before returning to school in the new year. |
In January Leading Link, following a tendering process, were awarded to run the Blyth Town Carnival for a further 3 years which confirmed the hard work and success of the events in the past. |
Early February saw Lyn Horton step down as CEO and leave the organisation. |
Leading Link worked together with Gateshead Council, Street Games and the Mayors Fund for London to hold the first HAF conference in the North East at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead in mid-February. The conference highlighted the developments made with HAF Plus and the opportunities that were available to those young people who are aged 13+ in the area. There were speakers on the day, and the event was hosted by the fantastic Alfie Joey and we were entertained by the hilariously talented author and illustrator Liz Million. The conference was a huge success and led to many conversations both regionally and locally. Young People from both Northumberland and Gateshead were involved in the day and gave a valuable input in sharing their thoughts and plans for the future. |
Straight after the conference the team heading on their second residential trip of the year - again to Broomley Grange in Stocksfield. This time round we did a "Traitors" theme loosely based on the hit BBC series. There were those who were "faithful" and "traitors" and they had to work out who was who and at a round table event every evening they had to make a selection, give their reasons and then banish a fellow contestant. There was a picture board and every morning the young people would come down for breakfast to see who had been murdered though the night. This went down well and along with the usual skills building tasks, cooking and planning sessions it was noted as being one of the most fun residentials. |
All in all, a very busy year for the team, supporting as many children and families as possible, whilst continuing to develop their Young Leader Programme. In March of 2024 we learned we were having to move from our business home of 12 years as the school we were based in was over capacity and the space we used was needed to support their ongoing capacity issues. The search began for new premises, and we picked Blyth as our new home and work began preparing for the move to Regent Street in Blyth for the next exciting stage of life for Leading Link. |
FINANCIAL REVIEW |
Financial Review |
During the period, £278,920 restriced funding was received for various different specific projects, as listed below. |
£115,953 NECPT |
£34,000 HAF |
£107,000 NCC |
£12,700 Blyth Town Council Funding |
£9,267 Citizens Advice |
At the end of the reporting period, there is £7,605 unspent of the NECPT Funding, £66,987 unspent of the NCC funding and £10,000 unspent of the Ballanger Funding. |
Reserves |
The Charity intends to maintain a positive cash flow and thus hold reserves to enable it to continue in the event of funding releases. |
Leading-Link (Registered number: 07528154) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
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. |
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
Registered Company number |
Registered Charity number |
Registered office |
Trustees |
Independent Examiner |
AWS Accountancy Limited |
3 Berrymoor Court |
Northumberland Business Park |
Cramlington |
Northumberland |
NE23 7RZ |
Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of |
Leading-Link |
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Leading-Link ('the Company') |
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 30 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 |
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, 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: |
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. |
Miss Amber-rose Rebair |
AWS Accountancy Limited |
3 Berrymoor Court |
Northumberland Business Park |
Cramlington |
Northumberland |
NE23 7RZ |
27 January 2025 |
Leading-Link |
Statement of Financial Activities |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
30.3.24 | 30.3.23 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
fund | fund | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Donations and legacies |
Charitable activities |
Total |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Raising funds |
Charitable activities | 2 |
Total |
NET INCOME |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 145,844 |
Leading-Link (Registered number: 07528154) |
Balance Sheet |
30 March 2024 |
30.3.24 | 30.3.23 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
fund | fund | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
FIXED ASSETS |
Tangible assets | 8 |
CURRENT ASSETS |
Debtors | 9 |
Cash at bank and in hand |
CREDITORS |
Amounts falling due within one year | 10 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
NET CURRENT ASSETS |
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
NET ASSETS |
FUNDS | 11 |
Unrestricted funds | 108,531 |
Restricted funds | 37,313 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 145,844 |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 30 March 2024. |
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30 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. |
Leading-Link (Registered number: 07528154) |
Balance Sheet - continued |
30 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 |
Leading-Link |
Notes to the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 30 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. |
Fixtures and fittings | - |
Motor vehicles | - |
Computer 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. |
Leading-Link |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
2. | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS |
Support |
costs (see |
note 3) |
£ |
Direct charitable expenditure | 180,871 |
Depreciation of assets | 8,058 |
188,929 |
3. | SUPPORT COSTS |
Governance |
Management | costs | Totals |
£ | £ | £ |
Direct charitable expenditure | 178,560 | 2,311 | 180,871 |
Depreciation of assets | 8,058 | - | 8,058 |
186,618 | 2,311 | 188,929 |
4. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
30.3.24 | 30.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Depreciation - owned assets |
5. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 March 2024 nor for the year ended 30 March 2023. |
Trustees' expenses |
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 March 2024 nor for the year ended 30 March 2023. |
Leading-Link |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
6. | STAFF COSTS |
30.3.24 | 30.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Wages and salaries |
158,428 | 144,860 |
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
30.3.24 | 30.3.23 |
Employees |
7. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
fund | fund | funds |
£ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Charitable activities |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Raising funds |
Charitable activities |
Total |
NET INCOME |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward | 79,164 | 34,536 |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 108,531 | 37,313 | 145,844 |
Leading-Link |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
8. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
Fixtures |
Freehold | and | Motor | Computer |
property | fittings | vehicles | equipment | Totals |
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
COST |
At 31 March 2023 and 30 March 2024 |
DEPRECIATION |
At 31 March 2023 |
Charge for year |
At 30 March 2024 |
NET BOOK VALUE |
At 30 March 2024 |
At 30 March 2023 |
9. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
30.3.24 | 30.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Other debtors |
10. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
30.3.24 | 30.3.23 |
£ | £ |
Other creditors |
Accruals and deferred income |
11. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
Net |
movement |
At 31.3.23 | in funds | At 30.3.24 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 108,531 | 1,840 | 110,371 |
Restricted funds |
General Fund | 37,313 | 47,279 | 84,592 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 49,119 | 194,963 |
Leading-Link |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
11. | 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 | 176,074 | (174,234 | ) | 1,840 |
Restricted funds |
General Fund | 278,921 | (231,642 | ) | 47,279 |
TOTAL FUNDS | ( |
) | 49,119 |
Comparatives for movement in funds |
Net |
movement |
At 31.3.22 | in funds | At 30.3.23 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 79,164 | 29,367 | 108,531 |
Restricted funds |
General Fund | 34,536 | 2,777 | 37,313 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 113,700 | 32,144 | 145,844 |
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Movement |
resources | expended | in funds |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 273,162 | (243,795 | ) | 29,367 |
Restricted funds |
General Fund | 184,487 | (181,710 | ) | 2,777 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 457,649 | (425,505 | ) | 32,144 |
Leading-Link |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 30 March 2024 |
11. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows: |
Net |
movement |
At 31.3.22 | in funds | At 30.3.24 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 79,164 | 31,207 | 110,371 |
Restricted funds |
General Fund | 34,536 | 50,056 | 84,592 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 113,700 | 81,263 | 194,963 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Movement |
resources | expended | in funds |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 449,236 | (418,029 | ) | 31,207 |
Restricted funds |
General Fund | 463,408 | (413,352 | ) | 50,056 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 912,644 | (831,381 | ) | 81,263 |
12. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |