The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 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 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".
Introduction
As we reach the close of another transformative year at Rotunda Ltd, there is a great deal to be celebrated. 2024-25 has brought much change - locally, regionally and nationally - along with great opportunities, which we have used as a team to build even stronger foundations for the future, taking time prior to our 40th birthday in August 2026 to review learning to date and identify future goals.
Rotunda has been serving people in North Liverpool since 1986 and been adept at moving with the times, as local need dictates. Though much has already been achieved, there remains much more to do, most painfully demonstrated by the flare in far-right activity seen in the aftermath of the Southport attacks in Summer 2024. This along with wider community need, has shaped our strategic goals for 2024-27, which are as follows:
Grow: work with more people, develop our services, increase our partnerships
Strengthen: establish suitable infrastructure and mechanisms to support our vision and future
Deepen: position ourselves to achieve maximum impact, for people
These ambitions have been supported by significant developments in Rotunda's infrastructure, strategy and operations. We have reviewed key strategies, refined our monitoring and evaluation processes and invested in organisational communications, to further our reach, amplify our impact and best serve local people. We continue to receive resounding support for our efforts from Public Health, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and Liverpool City Council. Rotunda were invited to submit evidence of our impact to Liverpool's successful application for Marmot City Status; were one of five organisations nationally to receive Locality investment in our community cohesion activity; and have presented findings from our contribution to the groundbreaking Economies for Healthier Lives programme to the Health Foundation. Our work continues to contribute to the Liverpool City Plan, and our results secure further investment, such as Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine funded suicide prevention activity and Torus Foundation Healthy Neighbours, in support of our transformative community led approach. We uphold our responsibility to influence local policy and best practice by maintaining the visibility of resident's voices via several local leadership boards (i.e. Well-Placed Health Leaders Board, Pathways Alliance, LCRCA Strategic Investment Fund Panel).
"Thank you. I didn't know I needed support until the attack triggered me, and I realised I haven't been coping, I feel I can plan my future now."
Rotunda Participant
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The Trustees of Rotunda Ltd extend as ever our great gratitude to the dedicated staff, volunteers and community members who make our wheels turn. It is the efforts of our fantastic people, who consistently give their time, skill and care to make us the much-loved, respected and valued organisation we continue to be. The trust placed in us is built upon our reputation for quality and compassion, delivered by our hard-working team, who keep community at the heart of all we do. Our people are everything to us, and we wish to thank all who have come through Rotunda's doors over the past year - whether to complete a course, buy a coffee, or sit in the garden on those hot summer days - for their continued trust and participation.
Our funders of course make our work possible, and we extend great gratitude to them all: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool Charitable & Voluntary Services, Locality, Arnold Clark, Torus Foundation, Reach Fund, Rotary Club, Cash for Kids, Shoulder to Shoulder, Liverpool City Council, Feeding Liverpool, Total Energies, Sefton Council, Men's Sheds, National Institute for Health & Care Research, Sutton Croft, John Moores Foundation, VOLA, Garfield Weston, Workers Educational Association, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and Adult Skills Budget.
Alongside financial investment is the invaluable continued support of those partners who share their professional expertise in service of our development: Brabners LLP, Nugent Care, Sovini Group and Halsall Lloyd Partnership.
Education
Our Education Team continue to drive our mission to deliver quality, community-based education options for people facing the greatest barriers to engagement. Key to these organisational aims has been our partnership with VOLA, to deliver The Progress Partnership (TPP) Project, through which we have engaged economically inactive individuals with high-level needs. This programme alone has delivered direct support to 36 participants, many of whom faced significant social challenges, whilst offering signposting to stakeholders and partner services ensuring learners have access to further support and opportunities in step with individual need. We are delighted with the programme outcomes, which have been included:
Qualifications achieved
Progression into employment
Engagement in volunteering opportunities
Attainment of personal development goals
Rotunda is a chosen partner of LCRCA's Digital Inclusion Initiative, successfully allocating 37 tablets and providing training to community members without digital access, empowering people marginalised by their circumstances to engage online and access essential services with confidence. Rotunda has complimented this offer through the Learn My Way Project, a digital initiative designed to help digitally excluded citizens gain confidence and essential online skills allowing them to safely navigate the internet, set up emails, access online services such as banking, healthcare and job search.
In 2024-25, Rotunda College engaged a phenomenal 321 individuals, delivering 'private' and 'Adult Skills Fund' (ASF) courses. We continue to reach those at most risk of being marginalised, ensuring ours is an offer for all:
37.4% of participants identified as being from Black, Asian and/or 'any other background', highlighting our commitment to provide environments and provision which engages a diverse cohort of learners
33.5% of our learners reported having a disability or additional learning support needs, much higher than the national average (15-20%, British Medical Bulletin), demonstrating the efficacy of our personalised holistic approach to education.
73% of learners declared themselves as unemployed, making clear anew the ongoing need in North Liverpool for accessible education, employment pathways and a long-term view for local people facing multiple barriers to secured work and income.
498 qualifications were delivered, with an impressive 98% retention, 88% pass rate; Rotunda continues to both ‘reach and keep’ our learners through our comprehensive offer.
The credibility of our educational endeavours is further validated by Rotunda's three Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) officers and our team of five fully qualified educators, all of whom regularly review our offer. To amplify impact, Rotunda College facilitates powerful employment pathways with local schools, Daisy Employment Services, Tradewinds, Nugent Care and Hugh Baird, strengthening our links with the Department for Work & Pensions.
We have introduced several new qualifications in 2024-25 to best support people to move into employment, in response to feedback from our learner community.
Certificate in Mental Health
Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Neurodiversity
Behaviour that Challenges
Introduction to early Years
Level 1 Award in Early Years Practitioner
Award to Work in Adult Social Care
Each qualification compliments our existing offers and provides learners with enhanced skills and sector relevant knowledge. These additions create opportunities for learners to strengthen their CV's, close skills gaps within key employment sectors and improve progression routes in further learning or work opportunities. We are delighted to have maintained Direct Claim status for each qualification delivered, as another indication or our commitment to delivering excellent services, in line with national quality assurance standards. Access to the Additional Learning Support facilitated the following to support our cohort:
19 learners received subsidised childcare
93 learners received subsidised travel and meals from our onsite cafe
External Audits and Quality Assurance
Throughout the year, external auditing exercises have confirmed the quality of our provision. The Workers Education Association, Sefton Community Learning and VOLA conducted multiple Observations of Teaching & Learning, all of which gave highly positive feedback e.g. tutors delivered with a high level of subject knowledge and engaged the students well; wider skills are effectively supported to develop wide range of skills including presentation skills and communication and listening; all learners are encouraged to research effectively to encourage independent learning.
Early Years’ at Rotunda
Led by compassionate professionals dedicated to providing high-quality early years education, our nursery and preschool services continue to offer vital provision to local families, regardless of household income. Despite a necessary price increase amongst our general nursery and pre-school offer this year, we are still the lowest cost provider in the area; we do not charge anything at all for children on funded places, making this a completely free offer for those families.
This year, we filled 53 places across nursery (34) and pre-school (19). 21 places were offered to parents engaged in Rotunda College courses, increasing access in line with findings showing the enormous impact of childcare costs upon parents' ability to gain employments (Gingerbread 2022).
We pride ourselves on inclusivity and care. 13 of our children have SEND need, with 12 gaining additional support via outside agencies (e.g. speech and language, OTs, educational psychologists) via engagement with Rotunda and four have EHCP plans. Our in-house SENCO staff oversee play plans and individual learning plans. We continue to invest in this provision, with an additional staff member undertaking training in 2025. We draw upon support from Liverpool City Council's SEND Team to access training, inform strategies and gain ideas for service improvements. As a result, in 2024-25 we have introduced regular reviews with parents of children who have a SEND need to explore children's progress and next steps.
21 of our children have English as an additional language, with parents who have recently moved to Liverpool, or who do not speak English in the home. We recognise the additional support these children can require and use techniques such as communication boards and key words gained from their families to assist children making the transition to a wholly English-speaking environment. When communicating with parents who do not speak English, we translate via wider family members, friends and technology to support communication. We can also signpost parents to ESOL courses, if desirable.
Our success hinges on our uncompromising insistence that children are the centre of everything we do, with activities designed to meet their needs and interests. Our service pedagogy is informed by Rotunda core values, and our curriculum meets Ofsted’s three ‘I’s - Intent, Implementation, Impact. Our nursery team have added a fourth: we start all we do with Interest, personalising our service to children as individuals, with profound results - even for children facing significant challenges.
Our biggest area of learning is communication and language, in keeping with Liverpool City Council’s School’s Improvement agenda, which seeks to raise the city’s average reading age (currently placed at nine years old).
We maintain a focus upon social, academic and pastoral investment, embedding these themes across activity. Highlights from our varied timetable this year have included Forest School and hatching chicks in spring 2025, offering opportunities to learn about life cycles, new vocabulary and changes in season. The excitement and interest prompted by a rich and creative timetable also supports children who are struggling to separate from mum and dad. This all gets children ready for next step in their learning and development journey, in keeping with Development Matters: Early Years Foundation, building upon existing assets and embedding additional ‘cultural capital’ through exposure to greenspace and varied opportunities.
We also continue Rotunda’s overarching aim to reduce poverty and health inequity, working with local children’s centres around oral health and hygiene to distribute toothbrushes and toothpaste following the State of Health in the City report (2024) showing tooth decay to be affecting around 37% of 5-year-olds, leading to well above average extractions for young children. We signpost families to our Right fed Shed food pantry, tackling child poverty rates which are as high as 36% in our neighbouring wards (Liverpool City Council, 2024). Access to Early Years Pupil Premium means that 7 children in nursery and 9 in pre-school gain extra funding for food and resources.
In support of all our aims, we remain committed to developing our team. In this year alone, staff have received the following training:
Targeted interventions for children with SEND needs
Family Help training; how to support families with two or more services involved
Safeguarding: including essential refreshers, county lines, professional curiosity, domestic abuse awareness and reducing parental conflict
Champions; all staff have a role as parent, partnership, language, SENCO or PANCO Champion, to support the unique functions associated with these titles
We work in collaboration with Rotunda’s wider offer to join up partners and offer the best possible experience to our families. We are currently operating a green with School Improvement Liverpool and have a key role within Consortia, sharing best practice and learning with this local SEND support network Our nursery manager sits on panel, allocating levels of funding and targeted support.
Women’s Hub
In 2024-25, our Women’s Hub engaged 63 women with its transformative programme of wellbeing, confidence-building and employability skills, celebrating our women’s achievements at a wonderful graduation event held later that spring.
100% of our women achieved a social justice outcome
34% identified as being from an ethnic and/or cultural minority background
61 women progressed onto sector specific training programmes e.g. Support Teaching & Learning; Health & Social Care. 68% of learners on these programmes gain paid employment following training
30 women have gained employment as a direct result of taking part in Women’s Hub.
3 women progressed onto volunteering opportunities in areas such as hospitality, primary education, advocacy, retail, community work and horticulture due to taking part in Women’s Hub.
We engaged the most marginalised local citizens, integrating our successful employment support service with Desian, a recruitment agency which shares Rotunda’s person-centred ethos. Desian staff regularly visit learners, conducting learner interviews on site to reduce barriers, boost engagement and improve outcomes. By working closely together with the right partners, our Wellbeing Coordinator has been able to process applications swiftly, providing employer feedback to tailor individual plans and ultimately support people into work. This Learning-to-Earning model crucially uses trauma informed approaches to ensure our more vulnerable learners receive the support they need, at a suitable pace. One radical adjustment to much of the employability sector has been the acknowledgement from local employers that the skills, diversity and strength of mothers seeking Teaching Assistant positions is immeasurable, changing the landscape of how applications are assessed and how we serve the ‘hardest to reach’.
In another win for social justice efforts, Rotunda is working closely with charities who support survivors of domestic abuse, embedding targeted support into our education, employability and enabling programmes. SWACA are now providing case workers for students and an updated community directory (e.g. food banks, welfare advice) is made available to all our participants along with the offer of a counselling referral.
We know from conversations with local mental health care providers that stretched statutory services mean people are ‘pushing against open doors’ (Mersey Care, 2024). To meet this need, Rotunda College tutors are coming together with the Women’s Hub to build partnerships to support students struggling with caring responsibilities, domestic violence, poverty, addiction and mental health difficulties. In illustration of need, most women accessing our services have experienced domestic abuse.
We stay informed on the intersections between work, health, and government policy, attending the Women’s Health Strategy Workshop led by Public Health in December 2024, refining our approach in line with local findings. Responding to the alarming statistics around women’s health and unemployment, we partnered with Lush Cosmetics to host a pamper event for 20 women receiving Universal Credit, reaching women living in Whitechapel Centre homeless hostels and in areas of serious deprivation in the city. The event also introduced them to Rotunda’s Women’s Hub and to the work and education services at the Rotunda.
“I come to the women’s group at Rotunda to meet other women and I get a lot of strength to take back to my own family the group helps relax and feel included.”
Women’s Hub Participant
Community Hub
Rotunda’s Community Hub is the link between our offer and the people it exists to serve. Community owned and led, we take direction from our members, co-producing a timetable of activities curated to meet evolving needs, never more important than in the wake of far-right activity in Liverpool in August 2024. This year, we estimate Rotunda has engaged approximately 1,500 people through our Heritage Cafe, Community Garden, Wellbeing Activities Programme, Children & Young People’s Programme, Food Pantry and Seasonal Events, bringing people together in our inclusive, welcoming spaces.
Heritage Cafe
We’ve invested in our cafe team and volunteers, to boost footfall, community engagement and unrestricted revenue through sales. With a new Community Development Coordinator in post since July 2024, we have immediately seen a significant improvement, achieved through menu revision, activities taking place in the cafe and on-the-ground publicity efforts. Our cafe also provides home cooked, hot meals for our learners, holiday club members and nursery children, embedding anti-food poverty action and healthy options across our programmes.
Community Garden
Our beautiful garden is now equipped with pizza ovens, offering a unique source of income through events and community Cook & Share activities. However, our biggest development this year has been our popular Men’s Shed. Established in March 2024, this vital provision has been developed from community insights drawn from our ReCite programme suicide prevention strategy delivered in partnership with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and supports local men’s mental health in response to their requests for social activities which do not centre around alcohol and recreational drugs.
Wellbeing Activities
We have an ever-evolving programme of Seasonal Events, In 2024-2025 we delivered:
Santa’s Grotto, funded by Options for Supported Living: delivering gifts and cheer to 80 families
Halloween, funded by Peel Ports Group: 90 families engaged
Folly Fest, funded by Liverpool City Council Social Cohesion & Communities Together Funds: 200 community members joined us for a day of music, laughter and connection
Holiday Club, funded by Holiday Activity Fund: 480 fully funded places for primary school aged children in receipt of benefit related school meals, providing food and fun to keep them busy!
Knit & Natter: 10 local women join us each week and enjoy a fully funded day out together each year
Chair Yoga, funded by Liverpool City Council Neighbourhood Fund & Cllr Tricia O'Brien (Labour; Kirkdale East): 180 people attended for a much-needed weekly unwind
Live Well Bus, funded by Cheshire & Merseyside NHS: 105 community members received access to vaccinations, health checks and advice on their doorstep over three visits from the bus this year.
Blood Pressure Champions, funded by Cheshire & Merseyside NHS: 70 people received free blood pressure checks via our trained staff
Community Insight Gathering, funded by the School of Tropical Medicine: 100 participants fed back on mental health needs amongst local populations
Volunteer & Work Experience Programme
2024-25 saw over 100 volunteer placements within Rotunda services. We support the following volunteer roles:
Community Volunteers: support groups, keep our vital work alive and contribute to organisational development.
Corporate: local businesses (e.g. Brabners; Uber) who donate their time and resources in support of the local environment children, families and the elderly.
An additional source of great pride is our Intern to Work programme, a Liverpool Council funded initiative, engaging young people aged 18-24 years who have an Education, Health and Care Plan or disability in tailored, meaningful opportunities. Rotunda has now hosted five six-month placements, offering young people personalised pathways to achieve their goals. One of our talented interns has progressed to a Teaching Assistant course in Rotunda College, transitioning seamlessly to our education offer via support from the Community Hub team and inhouse partners Ladders of Life ADHD Support, who have crafted a personalised learning and development plan with Rotunda College staff. We have also employed another of our impressive Intern to Work graduates into our Engagement Team, where they continue to thrive. Our success has led to Rotunda being invited to speak on an employability panel at the Liverpool City Council Intern to Work Employer Forum – specifically regarding inclusive interview processes, encouraging businesses across the region to welcome apprentices – leading the way on a region wide innovative scheme supporting the next generation of workers.
Further still, after being selected to partner with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on the trailblazing Economies for Healthier Lives programme, in September 2024 Rotunda presented our outcomes and impact to the Health Foundation, in Leeds informing future national policy for employers.
Our Community Hub also provides numerous opportunities for Rotunda College learners to gain skills, confidence and experience in a range of roles, whether during our weekly Homework Club, supporting administrative tasks or trialling customer facing posts. In March 2024, we welcomed one of our skilled Women’s Hub graduates to a crucial role in our core operations. We could not be more delighted with the appointment and are as ever proud to nurture local talent and ability.
The results for the year and the charity's financial position at the end of the year are shown in the attached financial statements.
Total income in the year was £1,122,771 (2024: £974,628) before accounting for the release of deferred income in relation to the refurbishment project of £300,000 (2024: £nil) and the insurance claims totalling £nil (2024: (£29,900) (see note 7). Expenditure was £1,110,336 (2024: £965,748). The surplus for the year is £312,435 (2024: £38,780).
As at 31 August 2025, the charity had reserves of £3,162,925 (2024: £2,850,490). Included within these reserves are £1,122,751 (2024: £882,676) of restricted funds (see note 27) and £9,980 (2024: £29,900) of designated funds (see note 25). Included within unrestricted funds are fixed assets totalling £1,902,046 (2024: £1,858,659), the balance of the fixed assets are included within the restricted funds. These funds can only be realised upon sale of these assets. The charity had free reserves of £128,147 as at 31 August 2025 (2024: £79,254).
Reserves policy
The charity aims to hold free unrestricted funds to a level equivalent of three months' total expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will provide financial stability whilst additional funding is sought. Reserves at the year end were equivalent to one and a half month's expenditure and so has currently fallen short of the ideal reserves.
Risk policy
The Trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the charitable company may face and believe that all major risks have been identified. The Trustees have adopted a formal Risk Assessment procedure and have established systems to ensure that the necessary steps can be taken to mitigate these risks.
A Future Built by Our Community: Looking Ahead With Purpose
The year ahead marks a pivotal moment for Rotunda and for the communities we serve across North Liverpool. We are entering a new chapter—one shaped by ambition, collaboration, and a deep belief that local people deserve high‑quality, locally led services that genuinely transform lives. Our plans for the future are not simply organisational goals; they are a commitment to ensuring that North Liverpool residents and beyond have the tools, opportunities, and support to shape their own destinies.
Community‑Led Housing: Breathing New Life Into Our Area
One of the most exciting developments is our expanding community‑led housing offer. This work is more than bricks and mortar—it is about creating safe, stable, and empowering homes with wraparound support for those who need it most. By placing residents at the heart of decision‑making, we are building neighbourhoods that reflect local priorities, strengthen social connections, and create long‑term resilience. These homes will become anchors for wellbeing, opportunity, and pride.
Health, Wellbeing, Skills, and Employment
Rotunda’s long‑standing programmes in health, wellbeing, employment, and skills continue to be a lifeline for many. Over the coming year, we will deepen and expand this work, ensuring that every resident—regardless of background or circumstance—can access the support they need to thrive. Our integrated approach means that people are not just supported in one area of life, but across the full spectrum of challenges and opportunities they face.
A Legacy of Local Growth and Place‑Making
The combination of community‑led housing, skills development, and holistic support will create a lasting legacy for North Liverpool. We are investing in people, in place, and in the belief that communities flourish when they are trusted to lead. This work will drive local economic growth, nurture enterprise, and strengthen the identity and vibrancy of our neighbourhoods. It is a long‑term commitment to building a fairer, healthier, and more prosperous future—designed and delivered by the community itself.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 28 August 1986 and registered as a charity on 17 July 1987. The charity was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the company and is governed under its Articles of Association.
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:
Rotunda has a Trustee Board which currently consists of 8 people from various social and professional backgrounds and it meets bi-monthly. The role of the Trustee Board is to ensure strong organisational governance across the breadth of Rotunda's activities. It does so by providing an appropriate balance of guidance, support and challenge to the Management Team to develop Rotunda's strategy; to oversee the day-to-day operational activities; to evaluate new opportunities; to manage the various risks that may arise; and to foster a culture of excellence in all that Rotunda does. It is important to ensure that the membership of the Trustee Board has a good blend of knowledge, skills and experience to continue to provide, and grow, the services offered by Rotunda to its community in a sustainable way. Two new Trustee Board members have recently been recruited to enhance that blend with expertise in different areas which will help to contribute to the continued success of Rotunda.
A Chief Executive is appointed by the Trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity.
A Remuneration Committee will determine the salary of members of the Executive Team.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
On behalf of the board of Trustees
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Rotunda Ltd. for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Rotunda Ltd. (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 August 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, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
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.
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the company through discussions with directors and other management;
we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company, including the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation and data protection, anti-bribery, employment and health and safety legislation;
we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance; and
enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
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.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Investments
Other income
Raising funds
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
Investments
Other income
Raising funds
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
Rotunda Ltd. is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Rotunda College, 109 Great Mersey Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L5 2PL.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". 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 general funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds - these are funds that 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.
All donations received are recognised at the time of receipt. Unless specifically designated, all income received from donations will be treated as unrestricted funds for the Charity to do with as they see fit.
Goods and services provided free of charge to the Charity are recognised as other income using the trustees' estimate of the amounts the Charity would have to pay in the open market for their equivalents.
Grants received are recognised at the time the charity becomes legally entitled to them. Any grants received that are restricted to future accounting periods are deferred and recognised in those future periods. Grants received for specific purposes are accounted for as restricted funds.
Rental income is accounted for on an accruals basis.
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.
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charitable company to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses, including support costs and governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings in the Statement of Financial Activities. Support and governance costs are applied to unrestricted funds unless specifically included in the restrictions, as specified by the donor.
Expenditure on charitable activities relate to the operation of the charity comprising of direct charitable expenditure to meet the objectives of the charitable company. Support and governance costs relate to the management and operation of the organisation and also compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements in producing the annual report. These are dealt with in the Statement of Financial Activities when payment has been approved by the charity.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. The investment property is included as tangible fixed assets and is measured at cost as the fair value cannot be measured reliably without undue cost or effort.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Freehold land is not depreciated.
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.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the charity. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
Fixed asset investments are stated at cost.
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).
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
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.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged as an expense on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease.
Taxation
The charity benefits from various exemptions from taxation afforded by tax legislation and is not liable to corporation tax on income or gains falling within those exemptions.
The charity is not able to recover Value Added Tax. Expenditure is recorded in the accounts inclusive of VAT.
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.
A provision is based on the timing of differences for income received and earned. If income has been received relating to work performed in subsequent periods then amounts will be deferred. For work done in the financial period but not invoiced until after the financial period, income will be accrued.
Donated services are an estimate of the benefit of volunteer time based on hours spent and notional salary, together with time donated by the CEO. Also included in this figure is pro-bono support and guidance in relation to legal and professional fees.
Included in the balance in the prior year are also goods donated to the charity.
Support and governance costs are recharged in accordance with charitable activity and usage.
None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year (2024: £nil).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The carrying value of land included in land and buildings comprises:
A Charge was issued on 12 October 2011 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund over 107 Great Mersey Street in accordance with the grant agreement dated 22 June 2011 between Rotunda Ltd. and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. The charge will last for 25 years from the agreement date.
The Big Lottery Fund have placed a restriction on the sale of 107, 109, 113 and 115 Great Mersey Street until 31 August 2027.
A Charge was issued on 16 May 2025 by the Steve Morgan Foundation over 117 Great Mersey Street in accordance with the mortgage agreement dated 15 March 2024 between Rotunda Ltd. and the Steve Morgan Foundation. The charge will last for 10 years from the agreement date.
The trustees consider that the net book value of tangible fixed assets is a true and fair representation of their value in use at the year end.
Land and buildings and building improvements includes investment property. The trustees deem approximately 20% is investment property producing rental income. The asset is shown under tangible fixed assets only. The fair value of this component part of the property cannot be reliably measured without undue cost to the charity.
The company holds 100% issued shares in Rotunda Enterprises C.I.C. which was incorporated as a trading subsidiary on 9 December 2004.
The long-term loans are secured by fixed charges over the properties.
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 income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:
Minibus fund
This relates to insurance money received for a minibus that was written off. The funds are to be used to purchase a new minibus which has been purchased during the year.
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.
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.
Expenditure
Income
Expenditure
107 Project
Funding was received from Heritage Lottery Fund for the refurbishment of 107 Great Mersey Street. All refurbishment work is now complete and The Rotunda Heritage and Enterprise Centre opened on 30 August 2013. The Heritage Lottery Fund hold a legal charge over 107 Great Mersey Street for a period of 25 years from October 2011. The restricted fund relating to the 107 project will be released over the remaining period of the legal charge through a transfer in accordance with the grant terms.
DWP Kickstart Gateway
Rotunda became a DWP Kickstart Gateway organisation in January 2021, working with 38 employers to support young people aged 16-24 years into six-month employment positions. Transfers relate to admin fees for operating the scheme and training fees for apprentices taken on by Rotunda.
Refurbishment fund
Funding was received from the Mayoral Fund and The Northern Impact Keyfund Investments for the refurbishment of the Grade II listed building owned by the charity.
117 Project
Funding was received from Albert Gubay for the refurbishment of 117 Great Mersey Street. The refurbishment project is currently ongoing and the funding will be released through a transfer in accordance with the grant agreements once the work is completed.
Learning Revolution
Learning Revolution is a programme to engage people in the community in various ways i.e., knitting groups/art groups etc. During the year this project has been reclassified as restricted funds and so a transfer has been included to bring in the unspent funds from prior years.
Men's Shed
Men’s Shed is a men’s mental health programme which is user/peer led. Activities range from working in the garden or other tasks such as maintenance/painting.
LCC Youth & Community Grant
LCC Youth and Community grant is a 4 year programme for various community engagement activities. Outcomes are reported to LCC.
ReCite
ReCite is a men’s mental health suicide prevention programme in partnership with the School of Tropical Medicine.
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
Included within other debtors is a balance of £65,513 (2024: £86,050) which is due from Rotunda Community Land Trust Limited, a registered society of which the trustees Mr P Cashen and Mr P Musa and the CEO Ms M Ennis are also directors. Also included in prepayments is a balance of £201,944 (2024: £nil) which is the balance of funds paid to Rotunda Community Land Trust Limited in advance for the ongoing renovation work of 117 Great Mersey Street as at 31 August 2025.
Also included in debtors is a balance due from subsidiary of £9,377 (2024: £10,062) which is due from Rotunda Enterprises C.I.C., a community interest company of which Ms M Ennis, CEO, is also a director.
Rotunda Limited is incorporated under the Companies Act as a company limited by guarantee. The liability of the members is limited to £1.