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)".
Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council's purposes and aims as set out in the objects contained in the Memorandum of Association are to: | |||||||||
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Promote any charitable purpose in order to benefit and enhance the conditions of communities and individuals in the administrative areas of the East Riding of Yorkshire, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, and Kingston upon Hull (collectively formerly known as Humberside), with particular reference to the advancement of education, relief of poverty, disadvantage or distress or in pursuing any other charitable purposes. | |||||||||
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Vision and Mission
Humber and Wolds Rural Action (HWRA) supports and encourages rural communities to develop, so they can influence their own futures and secure a range of community facilities and services. The support we provide empowers and represents rural communities, building capacity, improving connectivity, developing healthier lifestyles and increasing economic activity, by building on existing resources and assets and delivering quality services that meet the needs of people, places and partners.
Our aim is to support rural communities to be inclusive, sustainable and adaptable to change, and ensure equitable outcomes for everyone, improving individual wellbeing and quality of life. Thriving rural communities improve the quality of life of their residents and support those most in need. However, they are often poorly understood and ignored in policy development. As a result they have inequitable access to essential infrastructure, services and jobs, making it harder for people to access necessary resources and support.
Our vision is that no one will be disadvantaged by living in a rural community. Rural communities should be inclusive, vibrant, affordable, caring, connected, generous and welcoming…
where everyone plays a part
that are well served by vibrant village halls
where there is affordable housing for every generation
where people receive the care they need, whatever their circumstances
where there is opportunity for all
where people are conscious of their impact on the environment
and are fully engaged in the UK’s future policies and ambitions
Our mission is to be the rural specialists in community development. We will do this by:
focusing on rural communities
empowering and representing rural communities, making sure rural needs are reflected in policy making
raising the profile of rural residents
supporting, developing and representing rural residents and rural groups to develop so that they influence their own futures and secure a range of community facilities and services to meet their needs
and working to connect rural communities.
We can achieve this by:
Tailoring our delivery methods to suit the group we are working with
Delivering information and signposting
Cascading policy in a language people can understand
Supporting the rural infrastructure
Raising the profile of rural disadvantage
Working with communities in the long term
Being inclusive of all groups
Working in partnership with others
Our focus is people who live in rural communities across the East Riding of Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, particularly those who are facing the greatest needs and challenges as a result of where they live.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Achievements and performance
Humber and Wolds Rural Action (HWRA) continued to provide activities, services and support to rural communities across the East Riding of Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
A key element of this was working in partnership at strategic and community levels, building confidence in the voluntary sector and influencing partners to recognise the unique opportunities and solutions that the sector can offer. We work with local partners so we can increase our collective impact and enable rural communities to flourish and build new relationships and alliances so we can realise increased change quickly. Notably, we are active members of:
The ACRE Network, England’s largest rural grouping of community support charities which exists to provide a voice for rural communities, and to help them achieve great things locally.
East Riding Rural Strategic Partnership which aims to promote the economic and social wellbeing of residents living and working in rural communities across the East Riding and to inform, influence and act on behalf of the rural East Riding of Yorkshire.
North Lincolnshire VCSE Alliance acting as a conduit between Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership VCSE Leadership Group, North Lincolnshire Integrated Adults Care Partnership and the Alliance, creating opportunities to influence thinking and develop responses to local health and care needs.
The Voluntary Car Service is available to North Lincolnshire residents, over the age of 18, who have genuine transport difficulties. Our volunteer drivers use their own cars to take individuals to destinations of their choice, both within and outside of North Lincolnshire. Journeys may include hospital appointments, health related appointments, trips to local shops, support group meetings, and community activities. Demand for this service continues to increase and in this financial year the service fulfilled 5778 passenger journeys with 34 volunteer drivers supporting 528 registered passengers. The majority of journeys were for health appointments and whilst we have worked hard to increase the capacity of the service to meet the rising demand, 6% of bookings were turned down due to lack of available volunteer drivers.
We published a Community Transport for Health Report (commissioned by Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Collaborative) together with Hambleton Community Action and East Yorkshire Community Transport. The report aimed to support a greater understanding of community transport provision across Humber and North Yorkshire. As a provider of community transport services, and using insight from other organisations across the area, we were able to highlight the services being delivered, the capacity and demand on these services, and the opportunities for future growth and connectivity. A key pressure highlighted is the increased demand for community transport by patients who struggle to attend medical appointments due to lack of transport and who can no longer access non-emergency patient transport.
We were awarded £ 260,689 National Lottery funding for a 2-year project to support the further development of Men’s Sheds and to continue to facilitate the Humber Men in Sheds Alliance that supports Sheds across our area. Sheds are a safe space where men and women over 18 can make social connections, build friendships and share and learn new skills. The lottery award will enable us to facilitate the Humber Men in Sheds Alliance for a further 2 years and raise the profile of the Sheds at a local and regional level. We will set up five new sheds and provide support to 16 of the existing sheds through capacity building and training to enable them to become sustainable. The sheds in our area support 380 members. Sheds are a vital support provision, especially for men, in communities providing positive and meaningful things to do whilst reducing loneliness or isolation. Sheds have been described as a lifeline for some and in the extreme a purpose for continuing to live.
Our North Lincolnshire Community Development project undertakes Asset Based Community Development work that identifies the issues and needs, strengths and assets in the local area, and engages people at grass roots level, encouraging their involvement in activities, projects, volunteering, accessing learning, developing new and sustaining existing groups, that will enhance their lives and surroundings and sustain/develop community provision.
This year we provided intensive governance support to small rural charities - one trust to update their governing document and another to convert the existing trust to a CIO. This work also enables communities to link into our Rural Housing Enabler project as well as the Men In Sheds project along with receiving support for other community-based activity in the village and small towns across North Lincolnshire.
We continued to provide a Village Halls Advice Service through Action With Communities In Rural England (ACRE), interpreting the regulation and restrictions imposed on community and leisure spaces, providing timely information and advice to assist halls to operate safely and sustainably whilst supporting the volunteer management committees.
Over the year our Village Halls Advice Service provided 61 support sessions to 38 community buildings, 2 workshops/training sessions, 2 surgery sessions, 2 village halls bulletins, and local coordination of Village Halls Week. We also facilitated the Northern Lincolnshire Village Halls Network. Working in partnership with the East Riding Village Halls Network, we attended their AGM and conference as well as promoting them at a variety of events. This service enables rural community buildings to be managed and well-governed, able to gain better access to the funding they need to make them sustainable, and safe and suited to host activities and services for their communities.
Our Oil Buying Cooperative helps rural communities cut the cost of heating homes, businesses and community areas. It is open to householders, churches, village halls and businesses in the East Riding of Yorkshire and North & Northeast Lincolnshire and orders oil on a monthly basis, negotiating the cheapest price with a group of local oil suppliers.
From April 2024 to March 2025 the saving to the 325 members was £28,120 from a total of 693 orders - 394,600 litres in all. That is an average saving of £40 per order, with an average discount of 6.56p per litre compared to the average price. The biggest saving was realised during the winter months when oil prices are generally higher. But even in the summer, the saving on just one order is more than the £20 membership fee. The biggest discount was in January 2025 when members saved £46.04 on a delivery of 500 litres. The smallest saving was £22.50 in August 2024.
The Household Support Fund aims to help vulnerable low-income households in East Riding of Yorkshire with the rising cost of heating oil and LPG. 124 households received a total of £37,728 towards the cost of heating their homes from East Riding Council through government funding. Feedback from beneficiaries indicated the support made a huge difference to many people. This year, several oil cooperative members contacted were eligible, mainly pensioners who had not claimed Pension Credit and those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. In many cases households met both criteria. We are working with Age UK East Riding to make sure we appropriately refer people to them for benefits advice, and they refer people to our oil scheme. We also confirmed that other partner organisations are aware of the scheme and have provided leaflets to known off-gas areas.
In the East Riding we support Good Neighbours who offer help and support to fellow residents of their town or village. The support each Good Neighbour gives is individual and what they can offer will vary depending on the range of skills and time – for example driving, gardening, dog walking, shopping, sharing some time with someone or practical tasks like changing a lightbulb. Volunteers do not take on tasks best suited to trained professionals or the emergency services; but can help with the occasional things that can make all the difference. HWRA Staff visited 108 villages and held 18 events to promote the Good Neighbours project and speak to people who might either volunteer with or use the service. Over the year 102 volunteers/businesses were engaged, 79 people started the process of volunteering and by the end of the year 47 were active Good Neighbour volunteers providing a total of 97 hours/week of support.
We continue to lead on the North Lincolnshire VCFSE Alliance Volunteer Hub, providing volunteer brokerage and volunteer management support. We transitioned to and continue to promote the online brokerage system that enables volunteers and volunteer involving organisations to self-serve and increase the availability and reach of the volunteer brokerage across the local area with particular benefits to those in rural communities.
By the end of the year, there were 100 opportunities live on the online system from 50 organisations, with a further 25 organisations registered to use the system. There were 99 volunteers registered on the system, 15 of which had applied for opportunities through the system, 6 of which have been placed in opportunities. This does not include volunteers that have approached the organisations direct.
We also coordinated the volunteer managers network, attended by volunteer managers from charities and voluntary organisations across North Lincolnshire, and supported an event to encourage volunteers to “Get Involved In North Lincolnshire”. We continued to work with partners to build and assure the content of the North Lincolnshire Live Well resource, enabling groups to promote their activities and the public and professionals to access local assets.
Our Rural Housing Enabler project supports communities to establish whether there is a need for affordable homes in their local area and, where there is, works together with housing providers to create “local homes for local people”. Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) together with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are working to create a network of Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs) around the country. RHEs are specialists who can help rural communities consider the need for local affordable housing. Nationally, affordable housing is at an all-time low, with many more people applying for homes than the number available. Often people are unable to live in a village where they work or where they grew up due to housing prices. Affordable housing addresses the need for those unable to afford prices offered by the open housing market.
During this first year of funding, we worked with communities in Goxhill, Habrough, Westwoodside, Haxey and Kirton in Lindsey to undertake a Housing Needs Survey. Within those 5 housing needs surveys, we had replies from 71 people who are in a housing need either now or will be in the next 5 years. Four of the 5 areas progressed to the next stage of the project to see how best to support the Parish Councils through the process of looking for sites and working with Registered Housing Providers to create affordable housing for the members of the community in need.
We continue to support two Community Rail Partnerships, Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership (YCCRP) and Barton Cleethorpes Community Rail Partnership (BCCRP), to develop their work to support communities along the railway lines and increase rail use. HWRA employs the Community Rail Partnership Officers and provides financial reporting and budgeting support. Both partnerships have achieved their accreditation by Community Rail Network.
The Yorkshire Coast CRP Barrow Boy statue was unveiled at Bridlington Station in July 2024. YCCRP held 2 very successful “Try the Train” events that included a series of workshops and train trips designed to increase rail confidence and address the barriers that some people face when using the railway. Both CRPs started to plan and deliver events to celebrate Railway 200 - commemorating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. To kick off their Railway 200 activities, Barton Cleethorpes CRP began to install a permanent art exhibition along the Barton line. The first handpainted mural, "Our Railway; 200 years of the modern railway" was unveiled at Cleethorpes Station ticket office.
Working in partnership with Grimsby Cycle Hub, we continued to lead on an e-cycle project in North East Lincolnshire providing people with an opportunity to ‘Try an E bike’. The project started with funding from North East Lincolnshire Council and as this ended transitioned to become a project funded through the Barton Cleethorpes Community Rail Partnership. The aim of the project was originally to encourage healthy lifestyles by increasing active travel and contributing to net zero by reducing emissions and this has continued with the added outcomes of raising awareness of the green credentials of rail travel, especially in conjunction with walking, wheeling and cycling, encouraging people to explore the area around the Barton to Cleethorpes railway and perhaps even motivate people to consider buying an E-Bike and transition to using it regularly.
Funding for the North East Lincolnshire Wheels to Work scheme, providing mopeds and e-bikes enabling people to engage with training and access employment, came to an end and we reviewed the viability of the project. The demand for mopeds has decreased significantly but we will continue to provide support to the individuals who need this service during their transition to independent travel. The project will close during 2026.
HWRA continues to adapt and change to reflect the operating environment and the needs of the communities we serve. Short term funding and pilot projects present both challenges and opportunities. We focus on meeting the needs in communities through working on partnership, our charitable purposes and strategic plan – delivery where we are best placed to do so and ensuring a smooth transition when pilot projects end or are transferred.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The Income and Expenditure Account reports a surplus of £83,012 (compared to a surplus of £38,290 for 2023-24) and reserves £396,806 (2024 £363,329) is held for restricted purposes and of the balance, £10,152 (2024 £14,573) is represented in fixed assets. Of the unrestricted funds, the following has been set aside for designated purposes:
Redundancy Reserve - £38,303
Salaries Reserve - £52,000
General Purpose Reserve - £90,000
Premises Reserve - £3,000
The present level of funding is adequate to support the continuation of current activities and further funding is continually being sought for the future. The directors consider the financial position of the company/charity to be satisfactory and adequate reserves are available on a fund by fund basis.
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 considers 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.
Funds are kept in bank accounts which attract maximum bank interest without taking any financial risks but provide easy access to ensure project operations are not adversely affected. |
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council (HWRCC) is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.
The company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company.
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:
Appointment of directors/trustees is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Directors/trustees hold office for a period of three years after which they are required to retire but are eligible for re-election.
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 company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:
settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction;
ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and
pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations.
Trade creditors of the company at the year end were equivalent to 30 days purchases, based on the average daily amount invoiced by suppliers during the year.
Directors/trustees meet a minimum of four times a year and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the company. Additionally, when required, there are sub-committees which consider other specific matters. Directors/trustees delegate the day to day running of the organisation to staff led by the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive is appointed by the board of directors/trustees.
The Trustees have reviewed the activities of the Charity and confirm that they are in accord with its objectives. The directors also confirm that the Charity’s aims and objectives fall within the descriptions of purposes in the Charities Act 2011 and are recognised as charitable and carried out for the benefit of the public at large.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Humber And Wolds Rural Community Council (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 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. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ACCA, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements 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.
Grants Receivable
Investments
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Humber And Wolds Rural Community Council is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Wilderspin National School Museum, Queen Street, Barton-Upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire, DN18 5QP, England.
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.
Grant income will be deferred if received in advance of meeting performance conditions or if the provider specifically states that the income must be spent in a future accounting period.
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.
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.
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.
Grants Receivable
ACRE
East Riding Council
North Lincolnshire Council
NLCF RC Yorkshire & Humber
Other Grants
Grants received
Other grants includes the following material amounts:
Abellio East Midlands £31,390
Community Rail Network £39,199
Humber & North Yorkshire HCP £60,915
Northern Trains £34,592
The National Lottery Community Fund £34,527
Yorkshire Coast BID £25,000
Grants Receivable
ACRE
East Riding Council
North Lincolnshire Council
NLCF RC Yorkshire & Humber
Other Grants
Humber Coast & Vales STP
Grants received
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.
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
Balance brought forward £244,800
Released in year £(244,800)
Deferred in year £59,796
Balance carried forward £59,796
Deferred income is not recognised in the SOFA until the charity is entitled to the income. Deferred income is disclosed as a liability in the balance sheet
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.
During the year £222 (2024: £665) was paid to DAH Accountancy Services Limited, a company controlled by the trustees Mr D Hannam, for Xero accountancy software subscriptions.
The charity had no material debt during the year.