The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charity's act, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".
Amalgamation of Brendan’s Bridge Charity with Jigsaw Community Co-operative
Final Trustee Meeting
At the final trustee meeting held on 22/01/2024, a significant decision was reached to amalgamate Brendan’s Bridge Charity into Jigsaw Community Co-operative. This decision reflects a commitment to sustaining the essential services provided by Brendan’s Bridge while expanding its reach and impact through alignment with Jigsaw’s diverse service offerings.
Details of the Amalgamation
Effective Date: The amalgamation which take place on the 1st of April 2024
As part of the amalgamation process, the following changes in trustee positions were agreed:
Resignations: All current trustees of Brendan’s Bridge will resign from their positions immediately following the meeting.
Transitional Role: Trustee A.H. has agreed to remain in position to liaise with Jigsaw Community Co-operative throughout the transition and amalgamation process. A.H. will officially resign on 1st April 2024 upon the completion of the amalgamation.
Impact of the Amalgamation
The decision to integrate Brendan’s Bridge Charity into Jigsaw Community Co-operative is driven by shared values and a commitment to enhancing community-focused services. Key benefits of the amalgamation include:
Sustaining and Expanding Services: The amalgamation will sustain the core services previously offered by Brendan’s Bridge and expand their reach within the county.
Strengthened Youth Provision: A stronger focus will be placed on delivering comprehensive youth services, providing greater support to young people in the community.
Mental Health and Counselling Services: Jigsaw Community Co-operative will build on its existing capacity to offer a robust mental health and counselling service, supporting individuals and families. The amalgamation will also enable Jigsaw to become CQC registered, ensuring high standards of care and professionalism.
Community Support: This transition enhances the broader community support sector within Jigsaw (main focus area Matson, Robinswood and White City), offering a more integrated approach to supporting residents in more key areas including Barton and Tredworth, Kingsholm, Westagte, potentially Kingsway and throughout the county.
Next Steps
Transition Planning: A.H. will work closely with Jigsaw Community Co-operative to ensure a smooth transition. This includes administrative processes, service continuity planning, and communication with stakeholders.
Community Engagement: Efforts will be made to inform and involve the community, ensuring transparency and maintaining trust throughout the amalgamation process.
Implementation: By the 1st of April 2024, Brendan’s Bridge’s services and resources will be fully integrated into Jigsaw Community Co-operative’s operations including the charity number being retained.
This amalgamation represents a forward-thinking step to safeguard and enhance the invaluable services that Brendan’s Bridge Charity has provided. By joining forces with Jigsaw Community Co-operative, we ensure these services continue to thrive and evolve, addressing the changing needs of our community with resilience and innovation.
Approved by the Trustees of Brendan’s Bridge Charity
Angela Hooper
Trustee/Treasurer
31/03/2024
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Brendan's Bridge (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2024.
As the trustees of the Charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Brendan's Bridge is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is City Works, Alfred Street, Gloucester, GL1 4DF.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The Charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The Charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The 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.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The Charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the Charity's balance sheet when the Charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the Charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Charitable Expenditure
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
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.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).