The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" 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)".
Cheshire West Voluntary Action’s (CWVA) vision is championing the community sector - building trust, influencing, inspiring. This is achieved through four key strategic aims.
Connecting by building trusted relationships and capacity within and across sectors
Championing our members and providing opportunities for people’s voices to influence change locally, regionally and nationally
Sharing and growing opportunities for the sector
Building resilience to respond to key societal issues and crises creatively and appropriately
CWVA has been rooted in the local community since 1914 and continues to offer a wide range of invaluable support for the community sector in Cheshire West.
Our Values
Passion
Independence
Volunteering
Collaboration
Inclusiveness
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) has been supporting voluntary, community, faith groups, and social enterprises (VCFSE sector) across west Cheshire for nearly 110 years. Our role is to enable local organisations to thrive by offering practical support with governance. volunteering. funding, training, networking, and representation. We advocate for the sector through strategic partnerships and create opportunities for our members.
Our Vision
CWVA's vision is to champion the community sector by building trust, influencing change, and inspiring action.
We achieve this by:
Connecting sectors and building trusted relationships.
Championing our members and amplifying their voices to influence policy.
Sharing and expanding opportunities for the sector.
Building resilience to address societal issues with creativity and care.
Key Areas of Work
Our team of 13, led by Chief Executive. Gary Cliffe. has played a significant role in shaping the local health and social care landscape. As an equal partner in Cheshire West Place. we are recognised for our ability to support early intervention and prevention. helping to reduce the burden on statutory services. However. there is an ongoing need to invest in the sector to deliver these services effectively.
CWVA continues to act as a strategic bridge. representing a diverse range or organisations and enabling a unified conversation with statutory partners. Our work is vital in building the capacity of the sector to respond to increasing demand and prevent people from falling into crisis.
Overview of activity for 2024-25
During 2024-25, CWVA actively supported more than 900 people from 257 organisations, equating to almost 3,300 collective hours of support and nearly 2,000 collective attendances at events, training and one-to-one support sessions. CWVA’s reach is far wider, however, through its extensive digital and in-person networks.
Below is a breakdown of individual workstreams and the outcomes that have been achieved.
System leadership
As a champion for the community sector, CWVA offers extensive system leadership and a strong voice for the sector, helping make sure it is seen as an equal partner and can influence a wide range of agendas. The CWVA team, supported by member organisations, regularly attend more than 50 meetings and boards to offer system leadership. Alongside the work of CWVA’s themed alliances and partnerships, this has opened many opportunities for the community sector. CWVA is now coordinating Community Partnerships, playing a leading role in the borough’s work at a neighbourhood level, and is heavily engaged with emerging agendas like devolution, working with the Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership (CWIP) to develop a community sector manifesto.
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance
CWVA delivers the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance in Cheshire West, funding and supporting community engagement projects aimed at promoting early cancer diagnosis. Cancer messaging has been fed into projects in engaging and interactive ways, helping reach under-served communities that can be traditionally more difficult to engage with. The Our Best Chance project, delivered by Live! Cheshire for people with learning disabilities, had a social return on investment (SROI) of £ 4.33 per £1 invested – based on the value of being part of an active social group, and improved confidence among people with disabilities when discussing cancer. The approach of this award-winning Cancer Alliance project, embedding early intervention and prevention messages in communities, is being explored by CWVA more broadly for other projects.
Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) Alliance
During 2024-25, the CYPF Alliance has continued to mature, with a membership of more than 50 community sector organisations. The Alliance has set its vision and strategic priorities, forming sub groups to feed into the main Alliance meetings. A first CYPF Alliance Conference was held, and it played a key role in developing a new neurodevelopment pathway for Cheshire and Merseyside, coordinating the initial coproduction and creating resources to support the launch of the new pathway.
Development offer
More than £340,000 of funding has been distributed by CWVA to the community sector, working with funders like Cadent Gas, Entep Properties Ltd, the Household Support Fund and UK Shared Prosperity (UKSPF). £150,000 of funding distributed on behalf of Cadent Gas delivered a social return on investment (SROI) of £4.48 per £1 invested - based on signposting for other services, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide by fitting alarms, and support with dampness and condensation issues in the household.
CWVA has developed a Vision for Volunteering, helping create a framework for investing time and resources into volunteering, elevating its importance and extending its reach far and wide. The Volunteer Managers Network has been relaunched, creating a space for volunteer managers to come together and drive forward the Vision for Volunteering. CWVA has also been leading a bespoke project with funding from the Westminster Foundation, coproducing a training package for community sector organisations that can support them with encouraging more younger people to volunteer and remove some of the existing barriers.
Training continues to be a key part of CWVA’s offer to community sector organisations, delivered by both the CWVA team and external trainers. This programme is delivered in line with the needs of member organisations, covering an extensive range of topics like managing conflict, fundraising, impact, First Aid, safeguarding, food hygiene and much more. 83 per cent of people providing post-training feedback said it was excellent, while 97 per cent said their knowledge in the subject area had improved.
Mental Health Alliance
Now a couple of years old, the Mental Health Alliance has reviewed its vision and strategic priorities, making sure it continues to meet its members’ needs and can influence the local mental health system effectively. The Alliance has helped lever in £240,000 of funding over two years for Cheshire Young Carers and Youth Fed to deliver a mental health coaching project in schools, delivering a social return on investment (SROI) of £8.73 per £1 invested - based on preventing school exclusion, an improvement in confidence and self-awareness among nearly 400 pupils, and the cost of mental health therapy. The Alliance also worked with eight community sector organisations to deliver a Positive Mental Health for Us project, capturing the lived experience of under-served communities and the challenges faced when trying to access mental health services. This project included two in-person events, as well as an online resources, to help professionals in their roles supporting these communities.
West Cheshire Food Partnership
After the transition from the Welcome Network to the West Cheshire Food Partnership, it is aiming towards a Sustainable Food Places bronze accreditation. The Food Partnership brings people and organisations together across sectors, helping make sure everyone in our communities can access the food support they need. A second West Cheshire Food Summit was held to help set the vision for the Food Partnership, with nearly 70 people from 27 different organisations in attendance and 82 per cent of people rating the event as excellent. Food for All reports were developed by several community sector organisations, understanding the barriers to accessing healthy and affordable food, while innovative projects like Brio Bites, delivered by Council company Brio Leisure, have helped create nutritious and affordable pre-packed meals that can be accessed by older people and others who might benefit from them in the local community.
Conclusion
As highlighted in the summary of CWVA’s activities, the charity continues to be committed to its vision of championing the community sector - building trust, influencing, inspiring. While these are challenging times for the sector, with increased demand for services at a time when funding is stretched, CWVA has built trusted relationships with partners, helping make sure the sector is seen as an equal partner and well-placed to access future funding and opportunities.
During 2024/25, CWVA had an increased income of over £1milion which has led to us having a full audit for the first time - which has been an interesting and fruitful exercise (as well as needing hard work and resources). We showed a small deficit but within acceptable parameters of our budget for the year. We again distributed funds on behalf of public sector partners, charitable trusts and private organisations, retaining a modest management fee to support our core operations. These funds enabled frontline VCFSE organisations to sustain essential services amid ongoing financial pressure within communities, particularly around poverty, mental health and access to basic support.
Unrestricted reserves decreased slightly during the year by £5,489 to £276,468, reflecting prudent cost control and sustained partnership income in difficult times. Core income has slowed due to uncertainty around major funding streams, including the conclusion of UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations. While our reserves remain within policy tolerance, Trustees are alert to future risk and are actively reviewing income diversification and scenario planning. CWVA entered 2025/26 financially stable but cautious, with robust financial controls and governance in place to manage potential funding volatility.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The charity does not have an investment policy. The funds of the charity are held in interest bearing bank accounts to maximise returns.
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.
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:
New Trustees are appointed by the Board after advertisement of the vacancies and short listing against the published role description. followed by an interview with three existing trustees. The interviewing group reports to the Board who decide whether or not to appoint. Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association. appointment as a trustee is immediate but it is confirmed by members at the organisation's next Annual General Meeting to serve for a period of three years. after which they may be re-appointed for one further period of three years.
In accordance with the charity's governing document, the Board meets at least four times a year. The Board comprises representatives of voluntary and community organisations and other members with appropriate skill sets. the Board of Trustees forms sub-committees and ad hoc working groups to address particular issues. including finance and governance matters with recommendations. which are considered by the full Board.
New trustees are provided with an induction to the charity to familiarise themselves with the organisation and the context in which it operates. jointly delivered by the Chair and the Chief Executive. New trustees are also provided with a welcome/ induction pack which includes Charily Commission guidance on the roles and responsibilities of trustees: CWVA's Code of Conduct: Declarations of Interests Guidance; CWVA's Governing Document; most recent Annual Accounts und Annual review: and Strategic Plan.
The Charity has a full time Chief Executive who reports to the Board of Trustees and is line managed by the Chair. and a Deputy Chief Executive line managed by the Chief Executive.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Cheshire West Voluntary Action 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; 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.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Champion Accountants LLP be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Cheshire West Voluntary Action (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees' report; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Extent to which the audit is considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
The responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities, including fraud, lies with the trustees and with those charged with governance. The objectives of our audit in respect of irregularities and fraud are to assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud, to obtain sufficient, appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit.
Audit procedures
We determine significant applicable laws and regulations through discussion with those charged with governance and our own knowledge of the industry and design audit procedures to help identify instances of non-compliance with those laws and regulations that may have a material effect on the financial statements.
We consider the applicable laws and regulations to be the financial reporting framework (FRS 102 and the Companies Act 2006), charity law, employment law, and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
We consider the control environment and the procedures in place to address identified risks, including management override, non-compliance with laws and regulations and to prevent and detect fraud or irregularity. Our procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement or error and include: enquiries of management and of staff in key compliance functions; review of reported incidents and reports from regulators; review of minutes of meetings of those charged with governance; review and testing of manual journals, relevant nominals and significant transactions outside the normal course of business; review of financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation; performance of analytical procedures.
We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and due to the inherent limitations of an audit, as described above, the audit cannot be relied upon to detect all instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations.
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.
Other matters
The financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 were not audited and were subject only to an independent examination. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the comparative figures included within these financial statements. We have obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence that the opening balances do not contain material misstatements that materially affect the current period's financial statements.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Champion Accountants LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Cheshire West Voluntary Action is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Bluecoat, Upper Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 4EE.
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" 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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
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.
Management fees are earned by the charity for the administration of funds on behalf of third party funders. The fees are calculated as a percentage of the funds or as a fixed sum, depending on the project being funded. Fees are recognised when performance conditions have been met.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
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.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
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).
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.
None are considered to have a significant impact.
The charity acts as an agent in respect of certain funds received for distribution on behalf of third parties. These funds are not recognised as income or expenditure of the charity. The movements on these funds during the year were as follows:
Funds held at beginning of year: £nil
Amounts received in year: £60,183.90
Amounts distributed in year: (£33,815.50)
Management fee retained by the charity: (£250.00)
Funds held at end of year: £26,118.40
The charity retained a management fee of £250, which is recognised as income in the Statement of Financial Activities under Income from charitable activities.
The charity awarded grants to institutions to administer projects directly in furtherance of its charitable objectives. The charity does not provide grants to individuals. Grants were awarded to fund local projects, as described above, and included donations of £125,155 to Youth Federation Limited, £28,000 to Mid Cheshire Hospital Trust, £26,500 to Cheshire Community Action, £23,555 to Healthbox CIC, £23,130 to Dial West Cheshire and £22,500 to Age UK Cheshire. Total grants awarded can be analysed as follows:
Individually material grants - £248,840
Others - £441,042
Total grants payable - £689,882
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
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.
Active Cheshire – funding comprises support for community food organisations to help families become more active, through the provision of training and grants to purchase a range of play equipment.
Anne Duchess of Westminster’s Charity Fund – funding to be distributed to small grassroots community groups to support projects and activities that address mental health and wellbeing, tackle isolation and loneliness, and strengthen community initiatives in disadvantaged areas.
The Chester Bluecoat Charity – represents funding distributed through a community fund to provide small grants of up to £500 for start-up or one-off costs, supporting projects that aim to tackle the root causes of poverty and inequality across the city and surrounding areas.
Candent Centres for Warmth Grant Project – includes grant funding from Cadent (National company providing gas network). Grants are awarded to those organisations who can deliver significant impact to the most vulnerable residents in Cheshire West while fulfilling Cadent’s ambition to keep the community safe, warm and connected.
Cheshire Community Foundation – Thriving Families Programme – funding to provide support and monitoring services to the programme and ensure compliance with programme objectives.
CWaC Household Support Fund – represents grants funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC), distributed to organisations supporting households most in need with food, energy, water bills, and other essential costs.
CWAC West Cheshire Food Partnership – funding to host the West Cheshire Food Partnership, a collaborative network of organisations and individuals from across the whole food system in west Cheshire.
CWAC E&D Mental Health in Under-served Communities Project – to provide Positive Mental Health For Us project grants to 8 participating organisations.
CWAC Refugee and Asylum Seeker Team – to provide support to members delivering Sanctuary Funded projects to embed lived experience into their work.
CWP – MHA Lived Experience Communities Project – funding to provide grants to organisations to develop their work with people with lived experience as part of the Developing Lived Experience Communities Project.
Good Food Movement – is funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) for the delivery work around the good food movement project.
Half term leisure activities for families living in temporary accommodation – funding from the Marjory Boddy Charitable Trust to fund family activities, pool vouchers and fuel vouchers during school half terms.
ICB Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance - to deliver a community engagement project aimed at promoting early cancer diagnosis.
ICB CWP Commissioning Report – funding awarded by Voluntary Sector North West to lead on improving VCFSE partnership working, commissioning, investment, and VCFSE delivery models.
Neurodiversity Project -funding from the ICB to work with Children, Young People and Families and their representatives and support networks to coproduce what an inclusive neurodevelopment culture should be in terms of the health and care system.
Place – CVD – grant awarded to Healthbox CIC to deliver a Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention Project across Cheshire and Ellesmere Port.
Place – Health inequalities – grant awarded to Youth Fed to deliver Mental Health in Schools programme extension across Winsford and Northwich in collaboration with Cheshire Young Carers.
Place – Mental Health Schools programme – for the monitoring and support of a grant awarded to Youth Fed to deliver the Mental Health in Schools Project in Ellesmere Port in collaboration with Cheshire Young Carers.
Place - Community Home First – funding via Cheshire Community Action. CWVA is a partner organisation of the Community Home First Project, and the funding is utilised for programme advancement and strategic engagement.
Place Income – Community Partnerships - funding to host and support seven Community Partnerships across west Cheshire.
UKSPF Capacity Building (via CCA) – funding via Cheshire Community Action for the delivery of training and support to build capacity of the community sector to be more financially resilient.
UKSPF CWVA Arts Grants Programme – funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) for the delivery of grant programmes for grassroots arts and cultural activity and capacity building across Cheshire West and Chester.
UKSPF Employer Training Project – funding awarded by Cheshire West and Chester Council to provide mental health awareness sessions and accredited mental health first aid courses to 60 beneficiaries.
UKSPF Innovation Fund – grant awarded by Cheshire West and Chester Council to support bringing forward investment in the capacity, productivity and efficiency of our organisation through the introduction of new impact technologies and products.
Westminster Foundation – Youth Project – received funding towards the cost of a conference to support the Children Young People and Families Alliance and towards a co-produced youth volunteering campaign.
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 (2024 - none).