REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 03560600 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1076911

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

FOR

HIGHER FOLDS COMMUNITY CENTRE (LEIGH)

LTD

Page

Chairman's Report

1

Operating and Financial Review

2

to

3

Report of the Trustees

4

to

7

Independent Examiner's Report

8

Statement of Financial Activities

9

Balance Sheet

10

to

11

Notes to the Financial Statements

12

to

18

Chairman's Report for the year ending 31 March 2025

This has been another very successful year for the Community Centre and Nursery and we continue to see increasing beneficial impact for local people across all areas of their day to day and longer term lives.

Our activities, the Nursery, Tiny Tots, Community Grocery, and the community activities we deliver ensure that we support over 450 people each week.

This number is growing as the cost of living crisis develops and people are taking advantage of the services we offer. These services are reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to be effective and useful.

The Board have supported management in developing new activities to ensure we have maximum social impact and operate the Charity in a business-like manner,

We have amazing staff who deliver our activities and they are a credit to the Centre and Nursery in what can be very difficult times.

I have to express my gratitude to all the funders who financially support to grow our activities and hope they will continue to support us over the coming months and years.

Mark Kendrick

Chairman of the Management Committee

Overview, Progress and Plans for the Community Centre, Nursery and Community Grocery

Introduction

The Community Centre is located on the Higher Folds estate in Leigh, Lancashire, postcode WN7 2UB. 3,395 people live on Higher Folds, the area is considered "deprived", borne out by these statistics:

Area of social impact

Overview, Progress and Plans for the Community Centre, Nursery and Community Grocery

Introduction

The Community Centre is located on the Higher Folds estate in Leigh, Lancashire, postcode WN7 2UB. 3,395 people live on Higher Folds, the area is considered "deprived", borne out by these statistics:

Area of Social

Higher Folds

England

HF Is Worse Than

Impact

Area

Average

England Average

Children aged 0-19 in

low-income families

27%

19%

Yes

Living with a limiting

long-term illness

28%

18%

Yes

Households with no

central heating

1%

3%

No

Overall crime rate is lower

than England

-

-

No

Have no formal

qualifications

23%

18%

Yes

In full time employment -

aged 16 - 74

64%

69%

Yes

Have no car

31%

24%

Yes

To summarise, many families are living with low income, many individuals have very poor health, educational aspiration is low and those with no car are often forced to use the very limited public transport to reach reasonably priced shops over 2 miles away.

Our work on the Higher Folds estate

We always work to support those living with low income or long-term illness, begin the education of young people, in our early years nursery, helping them to prosper at school and in further education, leading to better employment opportunities, give older people activities to reduce loneliness and stimulate their minds and at the same time give everyone access to low-priced, high-quality food and household goods.

At the same time the Centre and Nursery must strive to be financially self-sufficient. The Centre will always need grant support for specialist projects, however it is imperative for the Nursery and Community Grocery, both community businesses, to be financially self-sufficient.

Areas of activity our work covers

Tiny Tots - Sessions for 0-2-year-old children and parents to develop pre- Nursery skills and good parenting practice.

Higher Folds 2-Year-Olds and Pre-school Nursery - educating children to be school ready

Higher Folds Community Grocery - to address food poverty in the area

Addressing the Cost-of-Living crisis on Higher Folds

Community activities for residents

Journey to New Zero - reducing our carbon footprint and energy costs for residents and the Centre. We are in the midst of applying for investment in solar panels and building improvements to reduce our carbon footprint and considerably reduce energy costs.

Management of the business - covering staff, building management, financial management, marketing and other elements of operating a community business

Contact and social media marketing details

E: dave@higherfolds.co.uk

T: 01942 674548

W: www.higherfolds.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HigherFoldsCommunityCentre

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Higher_FoldsCC

Instagram: www.instagram.com/higherfolds_cc

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/higher-folds-community-centre

Financial summary

On 31 March 2025, the Community Centre had a bank and cash balance of £64,452 including appropriate reserves, in line with charity commission guidelines with the balance for designated projects. Other grants continue to be applied for and awarded to us for our work.

Management Board Trustees and Employees

On 31 March 2025 there are:

- 6 Trustees are members of the Management Board and 1 Wigan Council Advisory member

- 7 members of Nursery staff

- 2 Community Grocery staff

- 2 Community Centre staff

These are supported by volunteers across all areas.

Summary

The Community Centre, Grocery and Nursery are thriving community businesses, under the broader leadership and management of Higher Folds Management Committee. They support the people of Higher Folds and address both their day to day and longer-term issues with committed, talented, and well-trained staff. Financially the business is robust, and the business operation and planning are done using tried and trusted methods with support and guidance from experts in the relevant fields, including Wigan Council Early Years, Wigan Health Authority, The National Lottery, Power to Change, Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Goldman Sachs, and Express IT amongst others.

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The objectives of the Charity are to provide benefits for the inhabitants of Higher Folds in Leigh, Wigan, without distinction of sex, or of political, religious or other opinions. By associating with the local authorities, voluntary organizations and the local inhabitants in the following manner:

(a) To advance education for the public benefit by providing advice and guidance upon questions of housing, social welfare benefits, unemployment, health and related topics.

(b) To relieve sickness and preserve and protect the good health of persons resident in the area of benefit.

(c) The advance of education and training of young people and adults with particular reference to equipping them for employment and facilitating their obtaining work in industry, commerce and the professions.

(d) To provide in the interests of social welfare, facilities for the recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of persons who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social economic circumstances.

Significant activities

During the year the 2 years old and early years pre-school nursery provision has continued to support children following the damaging effects of the pandemic. This effect is now reducing as children move on to primary school education and the Nursery gives children a strong start in their early years education. The community food business continues to grow it's beneficial impact on local people, with growing numbers using the Grocery. It continues to be an invaluable support to isolated people and families facing food poverty. Overall, the organization has re-imagined it's activities since the pandemic and continues to make significant strides in supporting families and individuals and working with local public agencies during this continuing difficult period as a result of the local and national cost of living crisis.

Public benefit

During the year the Charity directly operated a community food shop and a nursery facility as well as providing space for a range of health related and social activities consistent with its charitable objectives. The Charity was also a source of employment with most staff being employed from within the local area.

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

STRATEGIC REPORT

Achievements and performance

Charitable activities

As previously mentioned, our work is always targeted at people facing both short- and long-term issues in their lives and our charitable activities cover from birth and throughout people's lives. Our activities include early years education, a community grocery to address food poverty, later life activities, and other health and social activities for people of all ages.

Fundraising activities

As an organization we always strive to be financially sustainable, and we continually review our business approach to ensure effective financial management. However, as we strive to meet the needs of residents and their inability to pay for many activities, we inevitably must raise funds through grants.

During 2024-25 as well as considerably increasing our trading income through the Grocery and Nursery, we benefitted greatly from grants to deliver our projects, mostly targeted at supporting families in need through the cost of living crisis.

The National Lottery have confirmed funding through the Reaching Communities Fund for a further three years from 1 April 2025.

A special thank you must be made to funders, including the National Lottery, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Children In Need, Garfield Weston, Power to Change, School for Social Entrepreneurs and more.

Internal and external factors

The early years Nursery has continued to grow in numbers and it is reflected in our Ofsted "Good" rating that we are giving pre-school children an excellent start to their education, thanks to the commitment and skills of our nursery practitioners.

Our Community Grocery has been a great success, we feed many people on the estate with high-quality, low-cost food. A special thanks must go to Fareshare, Waterfields Bakery and other organizations who donate food to us for redistribution.

Lastly, and not least, a special thanks to all our volunteers in all areas of our activities including support, guidance and positively responding to local issues by our Management Committee, and volunteers in Nursery, Grocery and other areas, who support our paid staff in carrying out our great work.

Financial review

Going concern

The Trustees have assessed the charity's current income and financial projections for income and expenditure in the forward 12 months, taking account of the ongoing effects of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis and have concluded the Charity will have sufficient funds to operate as a going concern over the next 12 months

Principal risks and uncertainties

Cash flow risk

The Community Centre carefully manages it's cashflow to ensure the organization remains financially viable.

Credit risk

The Charity's principal financial assets are bank balances, and cash, trade and other receivables, and investments.

The Charity's credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivables. The amounts presented in the balance sheet are net of allowances for doubtful receivables. An allowance for impairment is made where there is an identified loss event which, based on previous experience, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cash flows.

The credit risk on liquid funds and derivative financial instruments is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit-ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies.

The Charity has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over many counterparties.

Liquidity risk

To maintain liquidity to ensure that sufficient funds are available for ongoing operations and future developments, the charity uses a mixture of long-term and short-term debt finance.

Further details regarding liquidity risk can be found in the statement of accounting policies in the financial statements.

Financial and risk management objectives and policies

Financial review

Objectives and policies

The Charity's activities expose it to several financial risks including credit risk, cash flow risk and liquidity risk. The financial decisions taken to safeguard against the identified risks are governed by the Community Centre's policies and approved by the Board of Trustees. The policies provide written principles and guidelines to manage those risks.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The Charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The number of Trustees shall not be less than three, but is not subject to a maximum. The Chair of the Trustees is nominated and elected by the Board of Trustees. Trustees are recruited for their skills and expertise.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

03560600 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1076911

Registered office

Stirling Close

Higher Folds

Leigh

Gtr Manchester

WN7 2UB

Trustees

Ms H Dixon

M A Kendrick

Ms K H Knowles

D Orrell

F B Walker

Ms S Yates

A Mottram (appointed 4.12.24)

Company Secretary

Ms H Dixon

Independent Examiner

Ian Burns FCCA

Hayes & Co

Suite 2 Beswick House

Greenfold Way

Leigh

Lancashire

WN7 3XJ

Report of the trustees, incorporating a strategic report, approved by order of the board of trustees, as the company directors, on 23 December 2025 and signed on the board's behalf by:

M A Kendrick - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Higher Folds Community Centre (Leigh) Ltd ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement - matters of concern identified

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination.

We have been engaged to report on the current year and the prior year. We would note that there where errors in the 2023 accounts which affected the split of funds between restrictive and unrestrictive and we where unable to verify the balances on these funds brought forward from 2023.As a result, we are unable to confirm the balances carried forward in these funds are correct as at the 31st March 2025.

I confirm that no other matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect:

1.	accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; and

4.

the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Ian Burns FCCA

Hayes & Co

Suite 2 Beswick House

Greenfold Way

Leigh

Lancashire

WN7 3XJ

23 December 2025

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

2,896

24,934

27,830

116,247

Other trading activities

2

72,661

148,712

221,373

172,870

Investment income

3

-

32,599

32,599

34,918

Total

75,557

206,245

281,802

324,035

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

4

133,899

215,236

349,135

350,196

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(58,342

)

(8,991

)

(67,333

)

(26,161

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

109,809

10,260

120,069

146,230

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

51,467

1,269

52,736

120,069

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

9

7,363

8,663

16,026

17,088

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

10

527

-

527

1,603

Cash at bank and in hand

64,452

-

64,452

125,443

64,979

-

64,979

127,046

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

11

(7,603

)

(3,943

)

(11,546

)

(8,012

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

57,376

(3,943

)

53,433

119,034

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

64,739

4,720

69,459

136,122

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due after more than one year

12

(13,272

)

(3,451

)

(16,723

)

(16,053

)

NET ASSETS

51,467

1,269

52,736

120,069

FUNDS

14

Unrestricted funds

51,467

109,809

Restricted funds

1,269

10,260

TOTAL FUNDS

52,736

120,069

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 23 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

M A Kendrick - Trustee

H Dixon - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Fixtures and fittings

-

25% on reducing balance

Motor vehicles

-

25% on reducing balance

Computer equipment

-

33% on reducing balance

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

2.	OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

2025

2024

£

£

Sale of Food and Clothes

72,661

55,596

Nursery related income (incl.local authority grants)

148,712

117,274

221,373

172,870

3.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

£

Room hire

32,599

34,918

4.	RAISING FUNDS

Raising donations and legacies

2025

2024

£

£

Support costs

301,897

317,378

Investment management costs

2025

2024

£

£

Administrative expenses

-

92

Repairs and maintenance

9,607

9,832

Security costs

921

-

10,528

9,924

Aggregate amounts

349,135

350,196

5.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2025

2024

£

£

Companies house penalty

-

150

Depreciation - owned assets

5,071

5,016

Hire of plant and machinery

3,680

2,975

Other operating leases

16,473

9,064

6.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

7.	STAFF COSTS

2025

2024

£

£

Wages and salaries

207,071

202,752

Other pension costs

2,885

2,039

209,956

204,791

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2025

2024

Nursery Staff

10

7

Community Grocery Staff

2

2

Community Centre Staff

2

2

14

11

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

8.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

fund

funds

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

140

116,107

116,247

Other trading activities

55,344

117,526

172,870

Investment income

876

34,042

34,918

Total

56,360

267,675

324,035

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

45,755

304,441

350,196

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

10,605

(36,766

)

(26,161

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

99,204

47,026

146,230

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

109,809

10,260

120,069

9.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Fixtures

and

Motor

Computer

fittings

vehicles

equipment

Totals

£

£

£

£

COST

At 1 April 2024

17,755

19,740

4,262

41,757

Additions

4,009

-

-

4,009

At 31 March 2025

21,764

19,740

4,262

45,766

DEPRECIATION

At 1 April 2024

11,056

12,360

1,253

24,669

Charge for year

2,233

1,845

993

5,071

At 31 March 2025

13,289

14,205

2,246

29,740

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 March 2025

8,475

5,535

2,016

16,026

At 31 March 2024

6,699

7,380

3,009

17,088

10.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade debtors

527

1,603

11.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Bank loans and overdrafts (see note 13)

2,700

2,700

Social security and other taxes

5,966

3,027

Other creditors

-

485

Accrued expenses

2,880

1,800

11,546

8,012

12.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Bank loans (see note 13)

13,272

16,053

Deferred grant income

3,451

-

16,723

16,053

13.

LOANS

An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below:

2025

2024

£

£

Amounts falling due within one year on demand:

Bank loans

2,700

2,700

Amounts falling due between two and five years:

Bank loans - 2-5 years

13,272

16,053

14.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1.4.24

in funds

31.3.25

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

109,809

(58,342

)

51,467

Restricted funds

Restricted fund

10,260

(8,991

)

1,269

TOTAL FUNDS

120,069

(67,333

)

52,736

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

75,557

(133,899

)

(58,342

)

Restricted funds

Restricted fund

206,245

(215,236

)

(8,991

)

TOTAL FUNDS

281,802

(349,135

)

(67,333

)