Charity Registration No. 228352
Company Registration No. 00634588 (England and Wales)
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
C Hayward MBA NPQH
Dr N J Busfield MA, PhD
P W E Fitt FCA
Dr M P Hickman MB B.Chir DCH
Dr S MacDonnell MBBS FRCA FFICM
M F Pertwee BA (Hons)
E Thrower DipCOT, MHCPC
I S Turner MA MBA
J Davis
(Appointed 27 January 2025)
Secretary
P W E Fitt FCA
Charity number
228352
Company number
00634588
Registered office
14 Dedham Vale Business Centre
Manningtree Road
Dedham
Essex
CO7 6BL
Auditor
Streets Audit LLP
c/o The Old Exchange
64 West Stockwell Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1HE
Bankers
National Westminster Bank plc
Colchester
Solicitors
Birkett Long
Colchester
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
CONTENTS
Page
Chairman's report
1
Administrator's report
2 - 6
Main grants and donations over £4,000
7
Development Manager's report
8 - 12
Trustees report
13 - 15
Statement of Trustees responsibilities
16
Independent auditor's report
17 - 20
Statement of financial activities
21
Balance sheet
22
Statement of cash flows
23
Notes to the financial statements
24 - 31
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 1 -
I am very pleased to write this introduction for the 2024 Colchester Catalyst Charity Annual Report and hope that you will be inspired and touched by the stories and case studies which Rodney Appleyard and Stephanie Grant write about in their commentaries. It is these which are the raison d'etre of the Charity and we are so very pleased that, even in difficult economic times, there is so much good work which is done and which we can, in some small way, support. Rodney Appleyard has also built up excellent relationships with other funders and planners so that Catalyst can continue its ability to catalyse as well as to help financially.
It is a credit to our Finance Committee of Peter Fitt, Iain Turner, Mark Pertwee, Max Hickman and Keith Songhurst, that they have made very sound recommendations to the Board regarding our investments and what amounts might be available for grant making and we thank them for their work in this area.
As well as our general grants, Catalyst also supports our Counselling Scheme, our Special Individual Needs Scheme and our Respite Scheme. The Counselling Scheme, overseen by Dr. Max Hickman and Dr. Joan Busfield (PhD), contributes funding to counselling organisations for people who cannot afford to fund counselling sessions which a GP or health professional has recommended. The Special Individual Needs Committee, chaired by Dr Sean MacDonnell and assisted by Liz Thrower, Marie Pagett and the Wheelchair Service team, helps to fund certain health based equipment for individuals, equipment which would not be available on the NHS but which would enable those people to live their lives more comfortably. The Respite Scheme chaired by Stephanie Grant, assisted by Peter Fitt and range of Respite Service providers, grants funding to enable organisations to help fund respite services for their users.
This year, all these individual based schemes were reviewed to assess whether they were still useful, fit for purpose and should continue. With a few minor tweaks to their running, the Board agreed that they should all be maintained – it remains very important to us to continue to support individuals with health needs as well as grants to bigger organisations. I'd like, too, to take this opportunity thank all the individuals who help us to run the schemes. Your help is invaluable.
It's also very gratifying, as we look at the range of grants this year, to see a good mix of new charities emerging and those which have stood the test of time and the vagaries of funding streams over many years. We are very pleased that one of the latter, The Ark Family Resource Centre, based in Harwich since 1953, will be talking to us at the AGM about their journey and how Catalyst has been a helper on the way.
At the end of December, we said goodbye and a big thank you to Keith Songhurst who has been a member of the Board for nine years. His thoughtful and perceptive contributions will be missed and we wish him well as he takes on new challenges in his career and potential house move! Hopefully we will be able to announce his replacement early in 2025.
Our wonderful team of Rodney Appleyard, Development Manager; Stephanie Grant, Administrator and Wendy Larkin, Assistant to the Administrator, continue to be the beating heart of the Charity. They are both good on the detail and also being able to put our strategic objectives into action. They get things done with kindness, compassion and humanity. Thank you too to the Board – as you have read, everyone is involved in something! Each person gives their time with generosity and compassion, as well as with clear thinking and good decision making. All this makes my job as Chair, and Mark Pertwee's as Vice-chair, both a pleasure and a privilege.
I commend this report to you and in doing so, also thank all the charities and funders who create such a rich helping network across the CO postcode area and who continue to work so positively with us.
Christine Hayward
Chairman
24 February 2025
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 2 -
This is my fifteenth Administrator's report for Catalyst and we continue to work closely with a small dedicated team comprising Rodney Appleyard, our Development Manager, Wendy Larkin, Assistant to the Administrator and myself.
In 2024 we were able to increase our overall budget by £20,000 as we recovered from the recent turbulent economic situation. I think that it is amazing that in its 34th year the Catalyst Charity not only continued to grow, but at the same time, was able to carry on its invaluable work of providing support and making a positive and ongoing contribution to the improvement of health care within the CO postcode area.
It is very encouraging to note that there has been a 5% upturn on the value of our investments from last year which makes for a strong position to end 2024.
It is over 30 years since Catalyst became a grant making charity and since that time £11 million has been given in grants and the charity is now worth over twelve million pounds.
We had a very successful AGM at Wivenhoe House with interesting presentations from CARA who provide counselling support for young people. We heard a very moving presentation from one of the young beneficiaries about the difference the counselling programme has made to her life and how she felt lost before being helped by the project.
We also had a presentation from FaNs (Friends and Neighbours) who help older people to become more active and to improve their mental health and well-being. A number of mobility sessions were set up in 13 care homes that have lifted the spirits of 79 residents and helped to bring them closer together.
During 2024, the Catalyst Board considered 46 General Applications (47 last year) from various organisations in our area of operation, of which 24 (52%) (21 - 45% last year) were successful. During this period £169,850 was spent on general grants, (£157,770 last year).
In 2024 our priorities were to focus on hub development, health inequalities, including obesity, mental health including suicide prevention and to consider waiting times and how this could be improved. Catalyst likes to get involved with projects that have a strong health focus with a proven sustainable future and to work with groups to encourage and enable them to seek match funding from other organisations, thus unlocking further funding,
I would now like to tell you about some of the grants that we have made this year to give you a flavour of the wide range of organisations and projects that we supported in 2024.
We were pleased to make our largest grant of 2024 to Age Well East. Age Well East aims to alleviate poverty and reduce loneliness for those in Colchester and outlying villages. There are an estimated 106,000 people aged 65 and over living in Colchester postcodes. The population of Tendring in particular has a high proportion of older people with those aged over 65 making up 30% of this community.
Our grant of £24,496 will help to support and inform people diagnosed with dementia as well as those who care for them. The specialist dementia team focusses on providing holistic interventions. Their services prevent the need for further and complex support from local health or social care services.
The new scheme will allow Age Well East to meet clients pre-diagnosis or shortly afterwards. They will have activities and strategies to maintain independence and connection to the community. This innovative new service will allow them to keep engaging with their clients all the way through their dementia journey.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 3 -
In 2024 we continued to support projects that address health inequalities. The Ark Centre is an organisation that is well known to us. It provides practical and emotional support to families facing difficulties. Its criteria cover health inequalities arising from people living in deprived areas. The team offers counselling/play therapy, holiday schemes, respite care and a preschool nursery.
We made the Ark a grant of £15,500 to enable them to build/remould a space within the centre for a nursery, to support younger children than they currently help – many with Special Needs. It will also enable children with Special Needs to be diagnosed earlier. This new provision will be for children aged 3-24 months. Our grant will also allow two new rooms to be converted into a place for new health check-ups/services, including counselling and mental health support for domestic violence victims and their families.
Muscle Mind Care CIC was set up to offer free fitness classes to ensure that everyone can access them regardless of their financial background. Free parent and baby exercise classes have been set up in and around Essex/Suffolk to ensure that there is more support for a holistic approach to better perinatal and postnatal care. Our grant of £15,000 will fund a project, in more deprived areas such as Greenstead and the Hythe, to offer free fitness classes at the community centre, catering to pregnant women, new mums and dads navigating mental and physical health challenges. Their specific aim is to target those with high BMI, gestational diabetes, PND and pre-eclampsia.
We made a grant of £11,700 to St Helena Hospice to fund a cuddle bed in the inpatient unit in Myland Hall, Highwoods where specialist palliative and end of life care is offered. This bed has made a real difference to patients allowing them to share their bed with a loved one and to stay close to them throughout their stay.
Another grant for equipment was made to Shaftesbury Treetops in Highwoods. Our grant of £11,410 was used to supply 7 ceiling track hoists to enable individuals with disabilities to move more freely and independently within their own space. This increased mobility allows them to perform daily activities such as transferring from bed to wheelchair, using the toilet and accessing other areas of their space without assistance.
In 2024 mental health remained on our list of priorities and with this in mind we were very pleased to support the Armed Forces Business Centre with a grant of £10,000. The mission statement of this organisation is to create positive impactful change.
Our grant will allow veterans, active service members and their families a comprehensive accessible therapy and diagnosis initiative to enhance their overall well-being and resilience.
Changing Lives is a Non-Profit Community Interest Group that increases physical activity and mental and physical wellbeing, as well as eliminating barriers that prevent people from accessing physical activity. They also aim to prevent children and young adults from involvement in anti-social behaviour and gang activity by participation in sport. Our grant of £10,000 will allow the group to set up a gym for the use of low-income families, refugees, carers and the disabled and also addresses our intention to focus on obesity and to provide PT trainers, nutritionists and mental and wellbeing practitioners as part of the total package.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 4 -
One of our priorities for 2024 was to focus on hub development and so we were pleased to support Headway's exciting and innovative pilot for a proposed new service in collaboration with the University of Essex Health Wellbeing and Care Hub. Our grant of £9,149 will enable Headway Essex to establish a specialised transition service for patients with acquired brain injury and to support their return to community life after their discharge from hospital. This funding would allow Headway Essex to provide support to adults with ABI, one day per week within the premises of the University of Essex. Headway Essex would be able to work collaboratively with students to meet the need for comprehensive and tailored support for these individuals with ABI. The hub would also provide student placements to experience a social setting alongside a clinical setting thus providing training placements for more students.
A grant of £8,780 was made to Open Road to provide equipment for their SOS bus. The bus has recently been commissioned as a mobile welfare hub for the communities of North Essex, offering a wide range of primary healthcare services, including dentistry, cancer screening, hypertension management, podiatry, optometry and more.
We often hear about the beneficial impact of nature on mental health and well being. Together We Grow believe that therapeutic horticulture activities provide psychological and/or physical benefit. The transition from primary to secondary school with its change in teaching styles and increased workloads can be quite traumatic for some children, particularly those experiencing anxiety and low self-esteem. Our grant of £7,800 will offer children, referred by their special educational needs coordinator or GP, an outdoor counselling experience to support these struggles.
Our grant of £7,500 to St. Anne's Church will provide equipment to make the access better for those with limited mobility in an area of health inequalities in Greenstead
A grant of £7,060 was made to Cancer Support Suffolk, (CO Postcode area) to buy prosthetic equipment for an educational project.
Heads2Minds want to create a world in which everyone experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges feels safe, understood, and respected. The grant we made of £7,000 will support people when they are discharged from Colchester hospitals to ensure and prevent relapses back into hospital. Tailor-made holistic therapy support is offered to manage their mental, emotional and physical health to enable them to integrate back into society with a view to obtaining the necessary skills to get them back into employment.
Heads2Minds will be working with Essex NHS Partnership Trust who have agreed to be involved with this programme as part of the discharge procedure.
We supported the Dedham Therapy Farm with a grant of £5,100 towards an OT pilot which will enable them to provide occupational and animal assisted therapy to support young people in overcoming barriers to their daily living. Many have mental health difficulties, and some individuals may have diagnoses of ASD, PDA, ADHD or other developmental needs. Participants will take part in gardening, animal care and feeding, dog walking and training, bushcraft, alpaca walking, woodwork, nature and conservation work.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 5 -
Some of our grants are made to support educational needs and with this in mind we were pleased to make a grant of £5,000 to the MAZE group. This group offers early support to parents/carers of children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions and special educational needs and disabilities. Our grant will fund a qualified counsellor with specialist training in neurodivergence and a specialist nurse practitioner to work on a 1-1 basis with some parents/carers who often find themselves bounced between services, with no support and The MAZE group wants to offer tailored support through grant funding for the next 12 months to go above and beyond what is currently on offer.
Living with unmanaged Eosinophilic Oesophagitis (EoE) means not being able to eat without
pain or fear of food impaction, this impacts all aspects of a person's life including social isolation and mental health problems. It is hoped that our grant of £5,000 to EOS Network will increase disease awareness and lead to more patients and families getting the help they need locally and without unnecessary delay.
A grant of £5,000 was made to Walk Colchester in respect of the Colchester BOMA project. This electrically powered off road chair needs a full electrical and mechanical refit and has been used by many disabled people right around the year to access the Highwoods Country Park and enjoy the benefit of being outdoors and enjoying green spaces. Great mental health benefits have also been identified.
Many of our grants involve providing help/equipment for children. Our grant of £4,000 to The Laughter Specialists has been used to set up laughter therapy sessions for those with special needs, complex needs and autism. Laughter is significant because it allows individual emotional expression and regulation, social connection and communication and cognitive development and learning. A grant of £2,500 will allow Clowns in the Sky to purchase sensory items for children in hospital and Happy Days Charity received a grant of £1,116 towards providing breaks for those children in need.
Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) received a grant of £3,509 to purchase 12 Resuscitation mannequins and 12 Defibrillator training devises to train volunteers on how to use them to save lives in the CO Postcode area in Suffolk.
Other grants included £3,380 to Sailship in respect of art therapy, £1,200 to Heads2Minds for a project to empower young people and £417 to the Robin Cancer Trust for cancer education.
During 2024 we have again supported a diverse range of projects addressing many different needs both physical and mental, from equipment to training and right across the age spectrum.
All our grants are monitored regularly, and we ask for feedback, reports and photos where appropriate.
Special Individual Needs (SIN) grants continue to be an important part of our work. There were 151 (196 last year) applications of which 123 (161 last year) were successful. This year we spent £64,122 on SIN (£83,357 last year) Once again the vast majority of grants provided mobility equipment for those who could not obtain it from the statutory providers.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 6 -
We continued to work in partnership with the Neuro Rehabilitation Unit at Colchester General Hospital to bulk purchase 3 and 4 wheeled walkers which they distribute as necessary. This will come to an end in 2025.
Sean MacDonnell chairs the SIN Committee, who meet every 4 to 6 weeks via Teams, and is made up of health professionals.
We regularly receive letters and cards of thanks from individuals and their carers who are so grateful for the help provided. Some of these can be found on our Facebook page or website.
The Catalyst respite scheme continues to represent a significant part our budget and in 2024 £120,714 (last year £125,267) was spent on arranging short term respite care. This scheme allows full-time carers to have a break from their caring duties. We work in partnership with over a dozen care organisations, listed on the inside front cover of this report. Our partners are trained as assessors, and each organisation has an agreed annual budget. We monitor the activity and keep in touch throughout the year.
In communicating Catalyst's activities, our website www.colchestercatalyst.co.uk provides a wealth of information about our services and grants in addition to having links to partner sites providing advice, support and services to help improve healthcare within the CO postcode area. Application forms for General and Special Individual Needs grants are available to complete or download from the site, as well as copies of past Annual Reports together with a regularly updated news section. Our website has undergone a facelift. We can also now be found on Facebook which is updated on a regular basis.
Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues, Catalyst's Chairman Christine Hayward, Peter Fitt, Company Secretary, Mark Pertwee, Vice Chairman, the Board, Development Manager Rodney Appleyard, assistant Wendy Larkin and our partner charities and organisations for all their help, support and encouragement during the past year. We all feel very happy and privileged to be working for the Catalyst Charity, by bringing help to those people who fall outside the statutory remit.
Stephanie Grant
Administrator
24 February 2025
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
MAIN GRANTS AND DONATIONS OVER £4,000
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 7 -
Organisation
Project
£
Age Well East
New Proactive Dementia Service
24,496
The Ark Centre
New Health Services
15,500
Muscle Mind Wellness
Pre & Post Natal Health Support
15,000
St Helena Hospice
Cuddle Bed
11,700
Shaftesbury (Livability)
Ceiling Hoist
11,410
Armed Forces Business Centre
Counselling Support for Veterans
10,000
Changing Lives
Health Practitioner
10,000
Headway Essex
Support for Patients with ABI
9,149
Open Road
Equipment for SOS Bus
8,780
Together We Grow
Counselling
7,800
St Anne's Church
Disability Adaptations
7,500
Cancer Support Suffolk
Equipment
7,060
Head2Minds
Hospital Discharge Support
7,000
Dedham Therapy Farm
O.T. Support
5,100
The MAZE group
Support for parents of those with LD
5,000
EOS Network
Health Care Support
5,000
Walk Colchester
BOMA Project
5,000
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 8 -
I am delighted to report that 2024 was another excellent year of delivery for Catalyst, which involved us meeting the main principles of our strategy through supporting several imaginative projects that have already improved the health of many people in the CO postcode.
This strategy focused on developing services in existing and new hubs; addressing health inequalities in certain areas of the region; targeting support for people living with obesity; providing mental health support for those in need, particularly those at risk of suicide; and committing a special focus on health problems caused by people having to wait too long for vital operations.
As has always been the case with Catalyst, when considering any project for a potential grant award, it is essential we provide support for areas of need that are not the responsibility of the statutory services.
One of the common problems we find when researching into the biggest health problems within the CO postcode each year is some people must wait too long to receive vital support that can drastically improve their health.
However, these findings galvanise us to focus on funding new solutions to address these health problems, although we appreciate some of these interventions can only go so far.
This is why each year we review what we can and cannot do, to optimise our ability to boost new services in the sector.
Our 2024 strategy, as mentioned above, was based on comprehensive consultations with many community organisations, fellow funders, commissioners and other statutory leaders in the sector.
These consultations included the National Lottery Community Fund, the North East Essex Health and Well-Being Alliance, Essex Community Foundation, Healthwatch Essex, Commuity360, CVST, the local councils, as well as many more relevant organisations.
Hubs and waiting lists
Our conversations about supporting new hubs are still ongoing, but we have managed to pump-prime a number of new projects in existing hubs that have already delivered valuable health benefits for many people in their local communities.
This work included our support for the community building at St. Anne's Church, with a grant of £7,500 to make modifications to its structure. This work will enable more people with disabilities to receive tailored services unavailable elsewhere.
Another big priority for us, as mentioned above, was to focus on helping people who find their health deteriorating each week due to being on long waiting lists for operations. We funded a few projects aimed at supporting them while they wait for these procedures, such as the St. Anne's project, which has big plans to bring important health services closer to people in pain due to the long waits, via the support of experienced health professionals.
Additionally, with these strategic aims in mind, we focused on addressing health inequalities in the region, especially in remote areas of the CO postcode. People in these locations often feel crucial health services are out of reach for them.
This was definitely the case with the £15,500 we awarded to the Ark Centre in Harwich, to change, refurbish and rebuild some of its rooms for the purpose of creating a new service within the hub to diagnose young children with Special Needs. This work focused on helping families with children between 3-24 months.
The project also enabled the Ark Centre to increase its income to fund other new services in the building. Plus, it helped to free up another room for health professionals to visit and provide greater support for families. These services include a wide range of health checks and more counselling services.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 9 -
Health inequalities
As part of our drive to address health inequalities and expand services in hubs, we were keen to help people suffering from health problems brought on by obesity. In respect of this focus, we provided assistance to Changing Lives with a grant of £10,000, to set-up a new project targeted at people who are over-weight.
Our funding covered part of the costs of a new practitioner, who will guide people with obesity, diabetes and disabilities, on how to improve their physical and mental health through specialist training programmes set-up at the gym.
Active Essex also funded this project and it has received strong media coverage recently, including being featured on the BBC's One Show.
Mental health support
Furthermore, we focused on new projects aimed at improving people's mental health and preventing people from committing suicide. This is of course such a complicated area to address, but we supported a strong case from the Armed Forces Business Centre. They requested a grant of £10,000 to launch a new counselling programme to help veterans, their children and the rest of their family, which expanded the services offered in the AFBC's existing hub.
Many of the veterans and their families helped by the AFBC also suffer due to health inequalities in the region, as a result of living in remote areas without much access to the services they need.
We were also delighted that many of our awards last year led to other grant-making organisations providing additional funding to keep these projects going beyond the lifetime of our funding.
Ambitious ideas
We are pleased that some of the projects we supported to address the issues of waiting lists have been very ambitious in their aims. This includes a new Headway project, which involves a close collaboration with the new Health and Well-Being Care Hub at the University of Essex.
We awarded this project £9,149 to pump-prime a new service to help people with acquired brain injuries who have been discharged from hospital, but are on long waiting lists to receive follow-up support. This project is designed to help them recover while they wait.
A new dementia project designed by Age Well East was another big and innovative project we supported last year. We awarded the organisation a grant of £24,496 to kick-start a new service focused on identifying dementia early, so steps can be put in place to help them and their family manage living with dementia.
Although we addressed many of the health priorities we identified effectively last year, we know that many of these big problems still exist. So we will need to keep building on last year's momentum as we look to the future. We will also keep working closely with funding partners and commissioners, to help more people who feel isolated and need services brought closer to them.
We are looking forward to working with many of you in 2025 on new ideas that will help to relieve the pain and suffering of many people in the CO postcode.
Finally, I would like to send a big thank you to everyone on Catalyst's Board, as well as Stephanie Grant and Wendy Larkin, who work so passionately to assist the people we work with, for enabling us to deliver our strategic aims so effectively each year.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 10 -
£7,800 to support outdoor counselling for children
We awarded Together We Grow £7,800 to set-up a new outdoor counselling service at a two-acre community garden inside Colchester's Highwoods Country Park, which enables young children to experience therapeutic support in a natural setting.
Each child receives this service for at least six weeks, which also encourages them to be active and take a break from screens.
Dale Connelly, who runs the project, and is a BACP Registered Psychotherapist, said the project also targets children between 4-11 who are on long waiting lists for critical mental health support.
The children are referred to the project from a number of local schools, primary care services, parents and carers. Many have Special Educational Needs and disabilities, plus some suffer from issues caused by health inequalities in the region. Dale said these children have benefitted from having the freedom to be themselves and relax in nature.
“Our service has become known as a new go-to intervention, which offers a judgement-free, confidential, open space for the children to express their feelings and work through their serious concerns. It also helps them to build stronger bonds with their family.
“We're excited to offer children in Colchester this alternative option to improve their mental health and well-being. We have also become a strong option for GPs and teachers to refer children for outdoor therapy.”
Additionally, the project has now received funding from National Lottery Community Fund's Awards for All programme to expand the project even further. He added: “This is critical so that we can support even more children in the future.”
Testimonial from a parent – Anon - “Being outside and exploring made my daughter a lot more comfortable and helped her open up more than ever before!”
£10,000 for new gym to help people struggling with extreme weight gain
Thanks to crucial funding from Catalyst, combined with other funding from Active Essex, Colchester Borough Council and the National Community Lottery Fund, the Changing Lives gym has become a lifeline for over 200 free members, including individuals suffering from obesity, young carers suffering from isolation and people with disabilities.
Its resources and facilities have been instrumental with improving people's physical health and creating a sense of belonging for those who might otherwise lack access to similar opportunities.
The funding from Catalyst has enabled Changing Lives to take on a new personal trainer to deliver high quality sessions and offer self-care support.
David Simmons, the co-Director of Changing Lives, said the impact is reflected in stories like Nina's: “She was struggling with isolation, poor mobility and extreme weight gain. Since joining the Changing Lives Gym and working with our personal trainer, she has improved her mobility, increased her strength, and regained her confidence. She now lifts heavier weights and feels much healthier, both physically and mentally.
“Similarly, Mathew's life has been transformed. After losing his job and becoming homeless, he found a safe space at our gym. Unable to afford other gyms, Mathew built a routine, gained strength, and dramatically improved his mental well-being through the support of our community.”
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 11 -
Changing Lives has also extended its outreach through personal training sessions for homeless individuals with health problems at Beacon House and tailored health-based school programmes for Year 10s and 11s. David adds that across all its initiatives, participants have experienced remarkable improvements in their physical and mental health.
“These stories illustrate how this kind of funding reduces barriers to fitness and poor health, empowering individuals to thrive. At our gym, physical and mental well-being go hand in hand, making fitness accessible for all and creating a brighter future for them too.”
£11,700 for a new cuddle bed at St Helena Hospice
We awarded St Helena Hospice £11,700 for a new Cuddle bed for its Inpatient Unit. The bed arrived in March 2024 and since then has been invaluable for patients.
Most recently, Catherine Loring benefitted from the bed when she received care from the Hospice, following a visit to A&E after her family became concerned that she was muddled and behaving oddly.
But she has little recollection of what happened at A&E. After having an assessment, the hospital palliative doctors arranged for Catherine to be admitted to the Hospice, where she stayed for a few weeks before going home with the support of the Hospice in the Home team and SinglePoint.
While she had been at the Hospice, Catherine witnessed her daughter's marriage blessing and shared her joy. She also took great comfort from being able to use the cuddle bed to spend quality time with her family.
"I'm on a big bed, a cuddle bed, and my family can get in with me and we have had cuddles on the bed, which is fantastic to have that closeness,” said Catherine. “When you're in a wheelchair or laying on a bed where you can't actually cuddle somebody properly, to have that personal contact and closeness and just blubber together, and then start saying silly things to each other, just having that smile and that family silliness, that is very important."
Lianne Keen, the Trusts and Commissioning Manager for St Helena Hospice, said: “As you can see, the bed has made a huge difference, and we can't thank Catalyst enough.”
£9,149 to rehabilitate people with head injuries
Headway Essex was delighted to receive a grant of £9,149 from Catalyst to pilot a new rehabilitation programme for adults with an acquired brain injury, in collaboration with the University of Essex's Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub (HWCH).
The project addresses the gap in services and long waiting lists experienced by adults with an ABI. They usually require additional intensive rehabilitation, but find themselves unable to access timely help through the statutory health or social care organisations.
The project is called the ‘Next Steps' programme, which offers rehabilitation from the hub's clinicians and therapy students (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy). They work alongside Headway Essex staff to provide cognitive and social rehabilitation, supporting them to adjust and cope with the effects of their brain injury.
The weekly sessions are tailored according the individual's particular brain injury and symptoms, making them meaningful to each participant.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 12 -
From an anonymous beneficiary: “They were so tailor-made and beneficial for my speech, swallowing, cognitive processes, diarising, monitoring my energy levels and following exercises to carry on with.”
At the end of the programme, participants understood their brain injury better; how to manage the effects; plus they also gain practical strategies for coping with daily life and recovering.
From an anonymous beneficiary: “I have gained a better understanding of the type of brain injury I have experienced and how it affects me. I have also learned that it is OK to feel the way I do.”
Without the grant from Catalyst, Headway Essex said it would not have been able to run this pilot so successfully. The charity can now use the positive results from the pilot to apply to other grant-makers to fund even more future sessions at the hub.
Rodney Appleyard
Development Manager
24 February 2025
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
TRUSTEES REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 13 -
The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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 2016)”.
Objectives and activities
The objective of the charity is the relief of the sick and suffering of North East Essex. The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when planning its future activities and setting the grant making policy for the year.
Details of the charities activities and achievements during the year are set out in the chairman's Report, administrator's report and the development manager's report.
Grant making policy
The Charity's detailed grant making criteria are set out on the Charity's website, www.colchestercatalyst.co.uk. All applications for grants are considered by the Trustees and where successful are formally approved. An annual grants budget is set by the Trustees.
Financial review
The results are shown in the financial statements of which the following is a summary:-
31/12/2024
31/12/2023
£
£
Direct Charitable Expenditure
457,743
452,130
Surplus / (Deficit) before Gains or Losses on Investments
(108,172)
(57,861)
Realised Gains /(Losses) on Sales of Investments
(55,335)
23,458
Unrealised Gains / (Losses) on valuation of Investments
799,785
389,854
Total Net Assets at 31st December
12,756,682
12,120,404
Future financial performance will be affected by the investment income and growth achieved in future years.
The current reserves policy is to endeavour to maintain a Capital Reserve of at least £12,000,000 as at 31 December 2023 in real terms. Therefore the target Capital Reserve as at the reporting date is £12,324,000. This level of reserves has been met throughout the reporting period.
Investment policy
The investment policy is determined by the Trustees, with the benefit of external advice, after considering income requirements, risk profile and stock market prospects in the short and medium term.
Risk statement
The Trustees confirm that the major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and systems established to mitigate these risks.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
TRUSTEES REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 14 -
Plans for future periods
The Trustees plan for the foreseeable future to continue making grants with a view to making a positive contribution to improving care of the sick or suffering in the CO postcode area.
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee (number 00634588), governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association and is a Registered Charity (number 228352).
At 31st December 2024 there were forty three members.
Colchester Catalyst Charity became a grant making charity in 1990 following the sale of the Colchester Oaks Hospital, in Oaks Drive, to Community Hospitals PLC. The sale was conditional on Community Hospitals PLC building a new hospital, to an agreed high specification, by 1994 - this was done and the new Oaks Hospital off Mile End Road was opened in January 1994.
With the agreement of the Charity Commissioners the directors decided to devote the income, from the invested funds resulting from the sale 'for the relief of the sick or suffering of North Essex'.
The Charity is administered by a Board of Trustees.
Trustees
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:
C Hayward MBA NPQH
Dr N J Busfield MA, PhD
P W E Fitt FCA
Dr M P Hickman MB B.Chir DCH
Dr S MacDonnell MBBS FRCA FFICM
M F Pertwee BA (Hons)
K Songhurst LLB(Hons)
(Resigned 9 December 2024)
E Thrower DipCOT, MHCPC
I S Turner MA MBA
J Davis
(Appointed 27 January 2025)
Nominations for the appointment of new Trustees are made based upon the established knowledge and experience of the candidate and on the likely contribution that the candidate may make to the work of the charity. All Trustee appointments are subject to election at an AGM and all Trustees are subject to re-election at an AGM every three years.
Trustees are provided with appropriate information and guidance on induction; no other formal training is provided to trustees.
Administrator and assistant:
S Grant & W Larkin
Development Manager:
R Appleyard
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
TRUSTEES REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 15 -
Disclosure of information to auditor
Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
P W E Fitt FCA
24 February 2025
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 16 -
The trustees, who are also the directors of Colchester Catalyst Charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
- 17 -
We have audited the financial statements of Colchester Catalyst Charity (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 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:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
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.
Conclusions relating to going concern
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.
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, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, 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.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE MEMBERS OF COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
- 18 -
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
-
the information given in the Trustees report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
-
the directors' report included within the Trustees report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the Trustees report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
-
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
-
the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
Responsibilities of trustees
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.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
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.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE MEMBERS OF COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
- 19 -
We made enquiries of the trustees, including:
• How they have identified, evaluated and complied with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;
• Their process for detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and
• Which internal controls have been established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations.
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the Charity. These include, but are not limited to, compliance with the Companies Act 2006, UK GAAP, Charities SORP and tax legislation.
In addition, the Charity is subject to many other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation. We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: employment law and data protection.
The Senior Statutory Auditor has assessed and concluded that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence and capabilities to identify or recognise non-compliance with laws and regulations. During our audit:
• We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested to supporting documentation to assess compliance with relevant laws and regulations discussed above;
• We made enquiries of the trustees;
• We read minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
We considered opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including revenue recognition and the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to management override of the Charity's grant awarding process. Due to the Charity's extensive controls in place and regular oversight from the Board, the risk of fraud in this area is low.
The specific procedures we performed to address this area was as follows:
• We reviewed the integrity of the controls in place and discussed with management where any amendments had been made to ensure processes are up to date;
• Performed walkthrough tests on a sample of grants awarded covering General, SIN, Respite and Counselling grants;
• Ensured that all grants sampled had been approved by the board by reviewing meeting minutes of the Trustees and the SIN board committee;
• Through review of the meeting minutes we concluded that adequate controls are in place for the identification of potential conflicts of interests such that grants are not awarded to those with a financial interest in the Charity.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
TO THE MEMBERS OF COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
- 20 -
Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.
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.
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members 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 charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Michael Greene BSc FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Streets Audit LLP
24 February 2025
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
c/o The Old Exchange
64 West Stockwell Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1HE
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 21 -
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
2
310
300
Investments
3
349,261
393,969
Total income
349,571
394,269
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
4
457,743
452,130
Total expenditure
457,743
452,130
Net gains/(losses) on investments
7
744,450
413,312
Net income and movement in funds
636,278
355,451
Reconciliation of funds:
Fund balances at 1 January 2024
12,120,404
11,764,953
Fund balances at 31 December 2024
12,756,682
12,120,404
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT
31 DECEMBER 2024
31 December 2024
- 22 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
11
166,697
166,697
Investments
12
12,420,545
11,661,605
12,587,242
11,828,302
Current assets
Debtors
13
538
911
Cash at bank and in hand
204,187
334,960
204,725
335,871
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
14
(35,285)
(43,769)
Net current assets
169,440
292,102
Total assets less current liabilities
12,756,682
12,120,404
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds
20
12,756,682
12,120,404
12,756,682
12,120,404
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 24 February 2025
C Hayward MBA NPQH
P W E Fitt FCA
Company registration number 00634588 (England and Wales)
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 23 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash absorbed by operations
19
(465,544)
(483,109)
Investing activities
Purchase of investments
(1,750,000)
(898,232)
Proceeds on disposal of investments
1,735,510
994,205
Investment income received
349,261
393,969
Net cash generated from investing activities
334,771
489,942
Net cash used in financing activities
-
-
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
(130,773)
6,833
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
334,960
328,127
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
204,187
334,960
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 24 -
1
Accounting policies
Charity information
Colchester Catalyst Charity is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 14 Dedham Vale Business Centre, Manningtree Road, Dedham, Essex, CO7 6BL.
1.1
Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum of Association, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 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, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2
Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
1.3
Incoming resources
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Other income including income tax recoverable is accounted for on an accruals basis as far as it is prudent to do so.
1.4
Resources expended
Grants and donations payable are recognised as expenditure when the grant is approved.
1.5
Tangible fixed assets
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:
Freehold land and buildings
0% depreciation
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.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 25 -
1.6
Fixed asset investments
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at quoted sale value at the close of business on the balance sheet date. Changes in market value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year and carried to the capital fund. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
Quoted investments are included at quoted saleable value as at the close of business on the balance sheet date, any surplus or deficit arising on such valuation is carried to capital fund.
1.7
Impairment of fixed assets
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
1.8
Basic financial assets
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised cost.
Financial assets comprise cash at bank and in hand, together with other debtors. Cash at bank and in hand is defined as all cash held in instant access bank accounts and used as working capital.
Financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise all creditors except social security and other taxes, deferred income and provisions.
1.9
Employee benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
1.10
Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
1.11
Grants and donations payable
Grants and donations payable are recognised as expenditure when the grant is approved.
1.12
The Charity receives the benefit of work carried out by volunteers. No value is placed on this in the financial statements.
2
Income from donations and legacies
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2024
2023
£
£
Donations and gifts
310
300
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 26 -
3
Income from investments
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2024
2023
£
£
Other income
349,261
393,969
4
Expenditure on charitable activities
2024
2023
£
£
Direct costs
Staff costs
63,248
58,369
Office expenses
11,526
8,766
74,774
67,135
Grant funding of activities (see note 9)
372,174
375,036
Share of support and governance costs (see note 10)
Governance
10,795
9,959
457,743
452,130
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
457,743
452,130
5
Trustees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration, benefits or payments for expenses from the charity during the year.
6
Employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
2024
2023
Number
Number
3
3
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
6
Employees
(Continued)
- 27 -
Employment costs
2024
2023
£
£
Wages and salaries
61,415
56,669
Other pension costs
1,833
1,700
63,248
58,369
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
7
Gains and losses on investments
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2024
2023
Gains/(losses) arising on:
£
£
Revaluation of investments
799,785
389,854
Sale of investments
(55,335)
23,458
744,450
413,312
8
Taxation
The company is a charity and is not liable to corporation tax on income. It is entitled to receive certain types of investment income without deduction of Income Tax at source.
Expenditure includes where appropriate irrecoverable Value Added Tax.
9
Grants payable
2024
2023
£
£
Grants to institutions:
Charities etc
169,850
157,770
Special Individual Needs
64,122
83,357
Respite Care
120,714
125,267
Counselling
17,488
8,642
372,174
375,036
A detailed analysis of Grants and Donations over £4,000 made in the year can be found on page 7.
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 28 -
10
Support costs
Support costs
Governance costs
2024
Support costs
Governance costs
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
Audit fees
-
5,710
5,710
-
5,362
5,362
-
918
918
-
1,050
1,050
-
4,167
4,167
-
3,547
3,547
-
10,795
10,795
-
9,959
9,959
Analysed between
Charitable activities
-
10,795
10,795
-
9,959
9,959
Governance costs includes payments to the auditors of £5,710 (2023: £5,362) for audit fees. An amount of £918 (2023: £1,050) was payable to an associate of the auditor, Streets Whittle & Partners LLP, for non-audit work.
11
Tangible fixed assets
Freehold land and buildings
£
Cost
At 1 January 2024
166,697
At 31 December 2024
166,697
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024
166,697
At 31 December 2023
166,697
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 29 -
12
Fixed asset investments
Listed investments
£
Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2024
11,661,605
Additions
1,750,000
Valuation changes
799,785
Realised gains/(losses)
(55,335)
Disposals
(1,735,510)
At 31 December 2024
12,420,545
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024
12,420,545
At 31 December 2023
11,661,605
2024
2023
Investments at fair value comprise:
£
£
Charifund:
-
1,790,845
Blackrock Charities UK Equity Fund (formerly Charishare):
3,372,260
1,462,045
Schroders Charity Multi Asset Fund:
2,225,145
2,039,373
Newton Growth & Income Fund for Charities:
6,823,140
6,369,342
12,420,545
11,661,605
13
Debtors
2024
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Prepayments and accrued income
538
911
14
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
2023
£
£
Other creditors
29,785
38,341
Accruals and deferred income
5,500
5,428
35,285
43,769
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 30 -
15
Outstanding grants payable
The analysis of grant funding and the balance outstanding included in other creditors for the period is as follows:
Note
2024
2023
Grants approved not yet paid - brought forward
38,072
69,009
Grants approved in period
9
372,174
375,036
Grants paid in period
(380,889)
(405,973)
Grants approved not yet paid - carried forward
29,357
38,072
16
Retirement benefit schemes
2024
2023
Defined contribution schemes
£
£
Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes
1,833
1,700
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
17
Related party transactions
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).
18
Non-audit services provided by auditor
Streets Whittle & Partners LLP, an associate of the auditor, have processed the charity's payroll from information provided to them (note 10).
19
Cash generated from operations
2024
2023
£
£
Surplus for the year
636,278
355,451
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
(349,261)
(393,969)
Loss/(gain) on disposal of investments
55,335
(23,458)
Fair value gains and losses on investments
(799,785)
(389,854)
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
373
(618)
(Decrease) in creditors
(8,484)
(30,661)
Cash absorbed by operations
(465,544)
(483,109)
COLCHESTER CATALYST CHARITY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 31 -
20
Unrestricted funds
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.
At 1 January 2024
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Gains and losses
At 31 December 2024
£
£
£
£
£
General funds
12,120,404
349,571
(457,743)
744,450
12,756,682
Previous year:
At 1 January 2023
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Gains and losses
At 31 December 2023
£
£
£
£
£
General funds
11,764,953
394,269
(452,130)
413,312
12,120,404
2024-12-312024-01-01falsefalseCCH SoftwareiXBRL Review & Tag 2024.2006345882024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director12024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director22024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:CompanySecretary12024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director32024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director42024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director52024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director72024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director82024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director92024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Director62024-01-012024-12-31006345882024-12-31006345882023-12-31006345882023-01-012023-12-3100634588bus:FRS1022024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:Audited2024-01-012024-12-3100634588bus:FullAccounts2024-01-012024-12-31xbrli:purexbrli:sharesiso4217:GBP