| REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND |
| UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026 |
| FOR |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND |
| UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026 |
| FOR |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| Page |
| Chair's Foreword | 1 |
| Report of the Trustees | 2 | to | 8 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 9 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 10 |
| Balance Sheet | 11 | to | 12 |
| Cash Flow Statement | 13 |
| Notes to the Cash Flow Statement | 14 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 15 | to | 24 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| CHAIR'S FOREWORD |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| Like many small organisations Voluntary Action Coventry has felt the impact of the cost-of-living crisis alongside an overall decline in grant income as key programmes such as UK Shared Prosperity Fund have ended with no replacement funding yet in place. |
| Despite the challenges the staff team at VAC has demonstrated the ability to do more with less (or even nothing at times), seeking new ways of working that enhance the support offered to clients. The Get Involved Coventry platform has been embedded and locally we are seeing usage increase month on month; by organisations offering volunteering roles; Coventry residents seeking volunteering opportunities to share their skills and knowledge as well as businesses using the platform to offer resources or practical support. |
| Moving into the year ahead we will continue to encourage and support resilience in communities and within our Sector, build capacity where we can and ensure the contribution of volunteers and our VCSE Alliance members is valued and recognised. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 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 2026. 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). |
| Organisation |
| VAC is a small charity, and many operational decisions are taken by the Chief Executive. Decisions are delegated to other members of staff as appropriate. The Board adopts the Business Plan, which is the key strategic and planning document for VAC and includes action plans, risk analysis, etc. Major strategic decisions are taken by the Board, together with the setting of the annual budget and the adoption of policies and procedures. The Board receives a detailed bi-monthly report on progress against the Business Plan. |
| OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
| Objectives and aims |
| The Objects of VAC are: |
| 1. The advancement of citizenship and community development, to include the promotion of volunteering and of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. The promotion of civic responsibility, good citizenship and neighbourliness. The provision of capacity building/education to develop individual/community capabilities, competences, skills and understanding. |
| 2. The relief of those in need in Coventry, by reason of; youth, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage. |
| 3. To promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in the Area of Benefit, and in particular the advancement of education, the furtherance of health and the relief of poverty, distress and sickness. |
| The area of benefit is the Midlands area and in-particular the city of Coventry. |
| VAC meets these objects by: |
| " Promoting volunteering and helping volunteers find suitable opportunities |
| " Providing supported volunteering projects for those experiencing disadvantage |
| " Circulating information, including through newsletters and social media |
| " Providing advice on volunteer involvement and retention |
| " Providing occasional training or briefing sessions |
| " Providing practical resources such as meeting rooms |
| " Signposting to other agencies with more specialist expertise |
| " Promoting the voluntary and community sector in general |
| Public benefit |
| Voluntary Action Coventry achieves public benefit through direct services to the public and through the support we provide to voluntary, community and social enterprises: |
| " Volunteer Centre/Get Involved Coventry platform - promotion and brokerage of volunteering opportunities |
| " Supported volunteering/community participation - tailored support to help people with barriers play an active part in their communities through volunteering |
| " VCSE Alliance - providing information and advice to voluntary, community and social enterprises |
| " Involvement in local networks, partnerships and collaborations that address disadvantage/inequalities |
| VAC seeks to encourage resilience in communities, supporting people to build their capacity and enabling them to do more for themselves. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE |
| Charitable activities |
| Through funding from a range of sources, most notably The National Lottery, UKSPF and Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Care Board we have delivered the following activities: |
| Get Involved Coventry Community Engagement Platform |
| This year usage of our engagement platform has continued to grow with 2,611 new registered users on Get Involved Coventry (GIC) platform. www.getinvolvedcoventry.org.uk |
| In total 2,339 applications were made by users for voluntary roles, workshops and community activities provided and organised by our alliance members. An extra 1,062 applications were made through this platform to join our own opportunities including the Improving Lives course, Chat Central activities and the Introduction to Volunteering workshops. |
| 2,314 applications were made for 333 different voluntary roles with 114 Coventry VCSE Alliance member organisations. 859 applications to volunteer by users were 'accepted' by organisations. |
| The most popular voluntary roles involved the outdoors, retail, advice and mentoring and administration. |
| The overall impact of donations of time/resources is difficult to quantify, but if every person that registered on our Get Involved Coventry platform went on to volunteer 7-hours a week for 48 weeks that would equate to £9,882,075.80 (based on the national minimum wage of £12.71 per hour). That's almost £10 million pounds of freely given time/resource enhancing the work of our VCSE Alliance members and enabling many organisations to sustain their activities for vulnerable clients in the city. |
| Face-to-face drop-in service & internal enquiries |
| Our drop-in service provides an opportunity for members of the public to speak face to face to a member of the team about volunteering, our supported volunteering programmes and give them the tools to independently engage in community activities and give their time through volunteering. |
| 160 people attended our in-house drop-in service including members of the public, VCSE organisations and referral partners. We supported clients in a number of ways including: |
| " Providing tailored volunteering recommendations based on individual needs, interests and aspirations |
| " Supporting clients to access and use the Get Involved Coventry platform, including creating accounts and suggesting opportunities |
| " Signposting to the Improving Lives course, Introduction to Volunteering workshop and Chat Central activities |
| " Supporting clients to register interest and complete applications particularly for those with limited English or digital skills |
| " Referring clients to other appropriate organisations when their needs fell outside our services (e.g. housing, benefits, or VCSE start-up support) |
| Those who attended our face-to-face drop-in service presented a range of barriers to accessing volunteering. Those with mental health, neurodiversity & learning needs frequently preferred face-to-face support, valuing the opportunity to explain their situation and receive practical assistance with tasks such as account creation and role applications. |
| Those experiencing unemployment and those with a lack of work experience were another main group of people accessing drop-in. We regularly received referrals from Coventry Job Shop and the Job Centre. Drop-in offered an immediate and accessible route to explore volunteering to gain skills, confidence and experience to support their employment goals. |
| Those who have language barriers, particularly those who have recently migrated to the UK and have limited English skills were another core user group. Clients valued having the reassurance from a member of the team who could advise them accordingly. We also found that when speaking to someone face-to-face, they could use translation tools such as Google Translate to aid communication which is easier done in person. |
| We also supported those who lacked digital skills or devices and wanted a more 'in person' appointment to help them find and secure a voluntary role. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 5,262 messages were exchanged between volunteers and organisations during the application process enabling volunteers to ask questions, add information about themselves as well as volunteer co-ordinators being able to organise interviews and initial induction dates. |
| Workshops |
| 654 applications were made to attend workshop style activities. These were held not only by Voluntary Action Coventry, but by alliance members who wanted to provide a learning opportunity or information session. |
| Community events |
| During the year 131 applications were made by users to join 51 different community events. These were held by 31 different alliance member organisations across the city and ranged from volunteer open days, fundraising events to creative cafes. |
| Chat Central |
| Chat Central aims to engage with people that lack social connections to reduce loneliness and isolation. This is achieved through offering an array of activities to appeal to the diverse range of participants the project works with, offering support and introductions to groups and organisations throughout Coventry. Chat Central aims to support at least 80 people each year to take-up and sustain community-based activities. |
| During the year 177 people registered to join Chat Central. We facilitated 95 sessions including arts and crafts, Tai Chi, breathwork, yoga, games sessions, sports taster sessions such as pool, canoeing and tennis, visits to art exhibitions and heritage sites, monthly history group meet ups, singing and drama sessions and attending community events. Group volunteering sessions included litter picking, gardening, events support and community projects. |
| By visiting community organisations and delivering events, participants can explore new interests in an encouraging and supportive environment. The aim of these activities is for participants to identify activities they enjoy and continue to sustain their involvement independently over time. |
| Of the 177 participants who registered for Chat Central from across Coventry, 56% were male and 44% female, with ages ranging from 18 to 91. Participants identified themselves as being lonely, isolated or wanting to increase social connections for numerous reasons including being new to the city, recently retired, bereaved, recovering from addiction, recently out of prison, struggling with mental or physical health issues or a lack of confidence. |
| Having registered on Voluntary Actions Coventry's community engagement platform, or introduced to staff through referral pathways, participants are personally engaged via email or telephone. Interests and needs are identified, and a tailored package of support and events is developed through a range of targets and person-centred approaches. |
| Chat Central supported 72 participants into sustained community-based activities. |
| 67% took up a voluntary role |
| 25% joined a community group |
| 5% started education or training |
| 3% gained employment |
| Of these 72 participants, 52 expressed an increase in confidence (72%) |
| Participants took up volunteering roles throughout the city at community allotments, clothing and food banks and repair cafes in roles such as marketing support, habitat management, activity lead and event support. Participants joined sports, drama, history, wellbeing and support groups, such as bereavement groups and autism support groups. |
| The range of age and postcode representations demonstrates that the programme is successfully reaching residents across multiple communities with a broad age spread, with the 51-65 bracket being the most represented, accounting for over one-third of participants. This indicates that the project is effectively engaging adults across a wide age range, with particularly strong engagement among those in mid to later adulthood. |
| At the end of the year 61% of participants who attended at least one Chat Central session went on to sustain community-based engagement. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| Improving Lives |
| The Improving Lives course supported adults aged 18+ who were unemployed or NEET and furthest from the job market. The programme aimed to build confidence, develop employability skills, and introduce participants to volunteering as a pathway into regular volunteering or paid work. |
| The course consisted of 12 structured sessions delivered twice weekly over six weeks, combining classroom learning, group activities, external visits, and one-to-one support. 6 courses took place and group sizes ranged from 7 to 18 participants. In total 82 people completed the course. |
| Participants completed seven classroom sessions and five external visits to a variety of volunteer involving organisations. One-to-one support was available throughout. |
| We identified several common barriers faced by participants throughout the year: |
| " Low confidence and social anxiety |
| " Limited work experience, especially for those new to the UK |
| " English as a second language |
| " Disabilities including Autism and ADHD |
| " Limited digital skills |
| " Gaps in employment due to health issues |
| " Anxiety, depression and social isolation |
| Participant feedback of external visits highlighted increased confidence, enjoyment of hands-on activities, and a deeper understanding of volunteering. |
| Participants completed pre-and post-course evaluations, based on the short WEMWBS wellbeing scale. 75 participants (92%) reported developing new or existing transferable skills. 73 participants (91.25%) reported increased confidence in accessing employment, volunteering or training. |
| Participants also reported improvements in communication, teamwork, time management, writing, IT, listening, questioning, adaptability, self-discipline, initiative, goal setting and problem-solving. |
| Following the course: |
| 39 participants progressed into volunteering or sustained community activity |
| 25 participants progressed into training |
| 12 participants progressed into paid employment |
| 6 participants are currently completing volunteer applications |
| We found that some participants experienced multiple and complex barriers that impacted their ability to attend regularly and sustain engagement. These included low levels of education and skills, limited digital confidence, and additional needs such as autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. As a result, participants often required additional, tailored support to engage fully in sessions. Low confidence and motivation were also significant factors. While participants were keen to take part, some expressed a preference to remain at home where they felt safe and comfortable, which at times affected attendance and progression. |
| Despite this, consistent support including regular phone calls and text reminders, helped to maintain engagement and encourage continued participation wherever possible. |
| For those participants eligible for UKSPF support we were able to offer more one-to-one sessions and refer into/between the Coventry Job Shop and two other VCSE organisations. |
| During the year we tested a new relationship with Community Education who now offer their Build Your Skills programme from our location, undertaking an introductory session with our Improving Lives cohort to explain what they can deliver and assessing what each person needs support with i.e. basic budgeting, digital skills or job interview practice. We hope to expand on this approach to partnering with other providers to offer a holistic approach to clients. |
| Healthwatch Coventry |
| We continued to deliver the functions of a local Healthwatch for the first quarter of 2025/2026, responding to enquiries from the public in need of advice or information. We maintained a presence within key decision-making consortia and networks reflecting a Coventry patient/user perspective and finalised the 2024/25 annual report to Healthwatch England. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| Healthwatch Coventry transitioned to a new provider in June 2025. |
| Coventry VCSE Alliance support |
| Our Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Alliance is a free membership that brings together third sector organisations based in Coventry or operating services in our city. Members receive information and access to events, training and resources. |
| 101 applications were made by volunteer coordinators to join 12 Volunteer Co-ordinator Support Network meetings held monthly. These provided an opportunity for those with volunteer management responsibility to network and access peer support and benefit from group problem-solving. |
| In February 2026 we facilitated a Bank of England Community Forum bringing representatives from the Coventry VCSE Alliance together with Bank of England staff to discuss the impact of the cost of living on their beneficiaries, staff and the organisation. |
| We also convened Sector networking sessions enabling our VCSE Alliance members to connect with each other. |
| We issued: |
| " 10 Member e-news editions, and 4 special updates regarding VCFSE Collaborative and VCSE Alliance Networking events |
| " Perspectives e-news: 2 issued to wider stakeholders, plus five news in brief focused on sharing information about the VCSE Sector in the city and wider. |
| " Volunteer e-news: 3 long-form bulletins issued plus three-monthly automated updates with new and tailored volunteer roles for anyone interesting in volunteering. |
| ICB VCFSE Collaborative |
| With Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA) we continued to build the Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Voluntary, Community, Faith Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Collaborative membership, attending reference group meetings, cascading information to our VCSE Alliance membership and reflecting a Coventry VCSE perspective within Coventry focused meetings. |
| The second Coventry & Warwickshire VCFSE Collaborative Assembly event was held in March 2026, bringing together VCSE organisations and Integrated Care Board colleagues. |
| Coventry HDRC |
| Alongside other Coventry based VCSE organisations we continue our involvement in the Coventry Health Determinants Research Collaboration voluntary sector reference group, sharing a VCSE perspective in meetings and contributing to grant panels/research opportunities. |
| FINANCIAL REVIEW |
| Financial position |
| The organisation made an overall deficit of £23,402 as of 31st March 2026 but continues to ensure it has the necessary resources and reserves to meet future obligations. |
| Staffing |
| The average number of employees was 9 for the year. |
| Investment policy and objectives |
| The surplus funds of the organisation are currently held in interest-bearing accounts. |
| Reserves policy |
| Trustees aspire to hold up to six months of core running costs as reserves, together with enough to cover lease obligations of over 1 year and the full redundancy cost of all employees. The potential redundancy cost and lease obligations are held in a designated fund. As of 31st March 2026, the aspirational reserves figure is £104,034. As of 31st March 2026, unrestricted reserves amounted to £218,824. The trustees will continue to work towards maintaining their reserves target, whilst ensuring delivery of charitable objectives. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| FUTURE PLANS |
| Under the focus of our current business plan, we continue to seek out and build stronger relationships with funders and other organisations to use our collective knowledge and resources to make a difference in Coventry. |
| Key areas of focus include: |
| " Exploring diversified income streams, including social enterprise, to support sustainable funding for ongoing and new programmes |
| " Increasing strategic partnerships by collaborating with public sector bodies, private companies, and other voluntary sector organisations to share expertise, resources, and knowledge, leading to mutual benefits |
| " Continuously evaluating and adapting existing programmes based on community feedback, social impact metrics and emerging local needs |
| " Strengthening engagement with marginalised groups and ensuring services are responsive to the changing demographic profile of the city |
| " Embracing digital tools to improve service delivery, enhance communication with partners and reach wider audiences |
| STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
| Governing document |
| The charity is a company limited by guarantee governed according to its Memorandum and Articles of Association updated 19th June 2019. All voluntary and community organisations active in Coventry are encouraged to apply for membership of the VCSE Alliance and to register to use the Get Involved Coventry platform. There is also a facility for individual membership used on an occasional basis. |
| Recruitment and appointment of new trustees |
| The membership elects a Board of at least five and not more than nine individuals, who each serve a term of up to three years and who can each be re-appointed twice before a rest period is required. Nomination forms are issued with the AGM mail-out. The Board meets bi-monthly with detailed papers circulated a week in advance. |
| Induction and training of new trustees |
| All trustees are offered one-to-one induction with the Chief Executive and Chair and receive a trustee induction pack. |
| Risk management |
| The trustees have examined the major strategic risks of the charity and have an ongoing process of examining operational risks. This includes assessing risks according to their impact and likelihood and listing potential mitigating actions. This analysis then influences the actions and priorities of the wider Business Plan. |
| REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
| Registered Company number |
| Registered Charity number |
| Registered office |
| Trustees |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
| Company Secretary |
| Independent Examiner |
| M D Spafford FCA FCCA |
| LDP Luckmans |
| 1110 Elliott Court |
| Coventry Business Park |
| Herald Avenue |
| Coventry |
| West Midlands |
| CV5 6UB |
| Bankers |
| Kings Hill |
| West Malling |
| Kent |
| ME19 4JQ |
| Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Voluntary Action Coventry ('the Company') |
| I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2026. |
| 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 |
| 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 Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, 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: |
| 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; or |
| 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 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 accounts to be reached. |
| M D Spafford FCA FCCA |
| LDP Luckmans |
| 1110 Elliott Court |
| Coventry Business Park |
| Herald Avenue |
| Coventry |
| West Midlands |
| CV5 6UB |
| 15 July 2026 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
| funds | funds | funds | funds |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
| Donations and legacies | 3 |
| Charitable activities | 5 |
| Investment income | 4 |
| Other income |
| Total |
| EXPENDITURE ON |
| Charitable activities | 6 |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
| Total funds brought forward |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 244,688 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| BALANCE SHEET |
| 31 March 2026 |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
| funds | funds | funds | funds |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| FIXED ASSETS |
| Tangible assets | 12 |
| CURRENT ASSETS |
| Debtors | 13 |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
| CREDITORS |
| Amounts falling due within one year | 14 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
| NET ASSETS |
| FUNDS | 17 |
| Unrestricted funds | 244,688 |
| Restricted funds | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 244,688 |
| The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2026. |
| The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026 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. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY (REGISTERED NUMBER: 01752003) |
| BALANCE SHEET - continued |
| 31 March 2026 |
| 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 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| CASH FLOW STATEMENT |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| Notes | £ | £ |
| Cash flows from operating activities |
| Cash generated from operations | 1 | (51,917 | ) | (81,550 | ) |
| Net cash used in operating activities | (51,917 | ) | (81,550 | ) |
| Cash flows from investing activities |
| Sale of tangible fixed assets | - | 350 |
| Interest received | 6,531 | 8,747 |
| Net cash provided by investing activities | 6,531 | 9,097 |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period |
(45,386 |
) |
(72,453 |
) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period |
2 |
241,818 |
314,271 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period |
2 |
196,432 |
241,818 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 1. | RECONCILIATION OF NET EXPENDITURE TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Net expenditure for the reporting period (as per the Statement of Financial Activities) |
(23,402 |
) |
(15,057 |
) |
| Adjustments for: |
| Depreciation charges | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Profit on disposal of fixed assets | - | (350 | ) |
| Interest received | (6,531 | ) | (8,747 | ) |
| Increase in debtors | (9,830 | ) | (7,582 | ) |
| Decrease in creditors | (13,154 | ) | (50,814 | ) |
| Net cash used in operations | (51,917 | ) | (81,550 | ) |
| 2. | ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Cash in hand | 342 | 300 |
| Notice deposits (less than 3 months) | 219,197 | 256,020 |
| Overdrafts included in bank loans and overdrafts falling due within one year |
(23,107 |
) |
(14,502 |
) |
| Total cash and cash equivalents | 196,432 | 241,818 |
| 3. | ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS |
| At 1.4.25 | Cash flow | At 31.3.26 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Net cash |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 256,320 | (36,781 | ) | 219,539 |
| Bank overdraft | (14,502 | ) | (8,605 | ) | (23,107 | ) |
| 241,818 | (45,386 | ) | 196,432 |
| Total | 241,818 | (45,386 | ) | 196,432 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 1. | LIABILITY OF MEMBERS |
| The Charity is a company limited by guarantee. It does not have share capital and the liability of each member is limited to the guarantee given by that member which shall not exceed £1. |
| 2. | 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 incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. |
| Incoming resources from grants are included in incoming resources in the year in which they are receivable. Where income is received in advance of performance, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors. |
| Investment income and other income are included when receivable. |
| Expenditure |
| Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of Value Added Tax. Liabilities are recognised as resources expended as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. |
| Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. |
| Expenditure which is directly attributable to specific activities has been included in these cost categories. Where costs are attributable to more than one activity they have been apportioned across the cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of these resources. |
| Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the company. |
| Tangible fixed assets |
| All individual assets costing less than £1,000 per item are to be written off in the year of purchase. Assets above this amount are to be capitalised in the month of purchase and subjected to the appropriate level of depreciation as stated below. |
| Refurbishment 20% Straight Line |
| Office Furniture 20% Straight Line |
| IT Equipment 50% Straight Line |
| Taxation |
| The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. |
| Fund accounting |
| Restricted Funds - Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets this criteria is charged to the fund together with a fair allocation of management costs. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued |
| Fund accounting |
| Unrestricted funds - Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Board in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. |
| Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Board for particular purposes. |
| 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. |
| Contributions in respect of earnings paid by the charity to defined pension contribution schemes are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are payable to the schemes. |
| Hire purchase and leasing commitments |
| Rentals applicable to operating leases where all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they fall due. |
| 3. | DONATIONS AND LEGACIES |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Donations |
| 4. | INVESTMENT INCOME |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Rents received |
| Deposit account interest |
| 5. | INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| Activity | £ | £ |
| Grants | Charitable activities | 333,205 | 619,611 |
| Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Coventry City Council | 160,464 | 483,420 |
| The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| National Lottery | 99,644 | 64,568 |
| Coventry & Rugby CCG | 52,097 | 50,663 |
| Sheldon Charitable Trust | - | 5,000 |
| Warwickshire CAVA | 15,000 | 10,960 |
| E&D Cadbury Charitable Trust | 1,000 | - |
| 333,205 | 619,611 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 6. | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS |
| Support |
| Direct | costs (see |
| Costs | note 7) | Totals |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Charitable activities | 250,575 | 123,484 | 374,059 |
| 7. | SUPPORT COSTS |
| Governance |
| Other | costs | Totals |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Charitable activities | 117,818 | 5,666 | 123,484 |
| 8. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
| Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Depreciation - owned assets |
| Surplus on disposal of fixed assets | ( |
) |
| 9. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
| There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2026 nor for the year ended 31 March 2025. |
| Trustees' expenses |
| There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2026 nor for the year ended 31 March 2025. |
| 10. | STAFF COSTS |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Wages and salaries |
| Social security costs |
| Other pension costs |
| 293,159 | 460,573 |
| The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| Provision | 5 | 11 |
| Support | 3 | 3 |
| Governance | 1 | 1 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 11. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
| funds | funds | funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
| Donations and legacies |
| Charitable activities |
| Investment income |
| Other income |
| Total |
| EXPENDITURE ON |
| Charitable activities |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
| Total funds brought forward | 193,768 | 65,977 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 244,688 | - | 244,688 |
| 12. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
| Fixtures |
| and | Computer |
| fittings | equipment | Totals |
| £ | £ | £ |
| COST |
| At 1 April 2025 |
| Disposals | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| At 31 March 2026 |
| DEPRECIATION |
| At 1 April 2025 |
| Charge for year |
| Eliminated on disposal | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| At 31 March 2026 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 March 2026 |
| At 31 March 2025 |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 13. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Trade debtors |
| Other debtors |
| Prepayments |
| 14. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Bank loans and overdrafts (see note 15) |
| Trade creditors |
| Other creditors |
| Accruals and deferred income |
| Accrued expenses |
| The following income has been received during the year relating to activities taking place in subsequent years: |
| £ | £ |
| At 1st April 2024 | 8,475 | 21,774 |
| Released during the year | (333,205 | ) | (629,059 | ) |
| Deferred during the year | 327,205 | 615,760 |
| At 31st March 2025 | 2,475 | 8,475 |
| 15. | LOANS |
| An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below: |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Amounts falling due within one year on demand: |
| Bank overdrafts |
| 16. | LEASING AGREEMENTS |
| Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows: |
| 31.3.26 | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ |
| Within one year |
| Between one and five years |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 17. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
| Net | Transfers |
| movement | between | At |
| At 1.4.25 | in funds | funds | 31.3.26 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 190,828 | (25,865 | ) | 22,150 | 187,113 |
| Personnel | 50,093 | - | (19,848 | ) | 30,245 |
| Equipment | 3,767 | - | (2,302 | ) | 1,465 |
| (25,865 | ) |
| Restricted funds |
| Community Fund - Get Involved Coventry |
- |
2,463 |
- |
2,463 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | (23,402 | ) | 221,286 |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 74,499 | (100,364 | ) | (25,865 | ) |
| Restricted funds |
| Healthwatch | 68,278 | (68,278 | ) | - |
| Improving Lives | 5,000 | (5,000 | ) | - |
| UK Shared Prosperity fund | 87,236 | (87,236 | ) | - |
| Community Fund - Get Involved Coventry |
99,644 |
(97,181 |
) |
2,463 |
| E&D Cadbury Charitable Trust | 1,000 | (1,000 | ) | - |
| VCFSE Collaborative | 15,000 | (15,000 | ) | - |
| ( |
) | 2,463 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | ( |
) | (23,402 | ) |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 17. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
| Comparatives for movement in funds |
| Net | Transfers |
| movement | between | At |
| At 1.4.24 | in funds | funds | 31.3.25 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 144,746 | 50,920 | (4,838 | ) | 190,828 |
| Personnel | 42,639 | - | 7,454 | 50,093 |
| Equipment | 6,383 | - | (2,616 | ) | 3,767 |
| 193,768 | 50,920 | - | 244,688 |
| Restricted funds |
| Healthwatch | 27,714 | (27,714 | ) | - | - |
| Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund | 1 | (1 | ) | - | - |
| Community Fund - Chat Central | 20,584 | (20,584 | ) | - | - |
| Coventry 4 Good | 765 | (765 | ) | - | - |
| Community Mental Health Transformation |
2,281 |
(2,281 |
) |
- |
- |
| VCSE Leaders Network | 12,507 | (12,507 | ) | - | - |
| Improving Lives | 2,124 | (2,124 | ) | - | - |
| UK Shared Prosperity fund | 1 | (1 | ) | - | - |
| 65,977 | (65,977 | ) | - | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 259,745 | (15,057 | ) | - | 244,688 |
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 88,789 | (37,869 | ) | 50,920 |
| Restricted funds |
| Healthwatch | 279,722 | (307,436 | ) | (27,714 | ) |
| Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund | - | (1 | ) | (1 | ) |
| Community Fund - Chat Central | 62,432 | (83,016 | ) | (20,584 | ) |
| Coventry 4 Good | - | (765 | ) | (765 | ) |
| Community Mental Health Transformation |
10,960 |
(13,241 |
) |
(2,281 |
) |
| VCSE Leaders Network | 2,146 | (14,653 | ) | (12,507 | ) |
| Improving Lives | 10,000 | (12,124 | ) | (2,124 | ) |
| UK Shared Prosperity fund | 198,748 | (198,749 | ) | (1 | ) |
| 564,008 | (629,985 | ) | (65,977 | ) |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 652,797 | (667,854 | ) | (15,057 | ) |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 17. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
| A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows: |
| Net | Transfers |
| movement | between | At |
| At 1.4.24 | in funds | funds | 31.3.26 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 144,746 | 25,055 | 17,312 | 187,113 |
| Personnel | 42,639 | - | (12,394 | ) | 30,245 |
| Equipment | 6,383 | - | (4,918 | ) | 1,465 |
| 193,768 | 25,055 | - | 218,823 |
| Restricted funds |
| Healthwatch | 27,714 | (27,714 | ) | - | - |
| Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund | 1 | (1 | ) | - | - |
| Community Fund - Chat Central | 20,584 | (20,584 | ) | - | - |
| Coventry 4 Good | 765 | (765 | ) | - | - |
| Community Mental Health Transformation |
2,281 |
(2,281 |
) |
- |
- |
| VCSE Leaders Network | 12,507 | (12,507 | ) | - | - |
| Improving Lives | 2,124 | (2,124 | ) | - | - |
| UK Shared Prosperity fund | 1 | (1 | ) | - | - |
| Community Fund - Get Involved Coventry |
- |
2,463 |
- |
2,463 |
| 65,977 | (63,514 | ) | - | 2,463 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 259,745 | (38,459 | ) | - | 221,286 |
| A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 163,288 | (138,233 | ) | 25,055 |
| Restricted funds |
| Healthwatch | 348,000 | (375,714 | ) | (27,714 | ) |
| Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund | - | (1 | ) | (1 | ) |
| Community Fund - Chat Central | 62,432 | (83,016 | ) | (20,584 | ) |
| Coventry 4 Good | - | (765 | ) | (765 | ) |
| Community Mental Health Transformation |
10,960 |
(13,241 |
) |
(2,281 |
) |
| VCSE Leaders Network | 2,146 | (14,653 | ) | (12,507 | ) |
| Improving Lives | 15,000 | (17,124 | ) | (2,124 | ) |
| UK Shared Prosperity fund | 285,984 | (285,985 | ) | (1 | ) |
| Community Fund - Get Involved Coventry |
99,644 |
(97,181 |
) |
2,463 |
| E&D Cadbury Charitable Trust | 1,000 | (1,000 | ) | - |
| VCFSE Collaborative | 15,000 | (15,000 | ) | - |
| 840,166 | (903,680 | ) | (63,514 | ) |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 1,003,454 | (1,041,913 | ) | (38,459 | ) |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 17. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
| Personnel - to fund redundancy situations. |
| Equipment - to fund unscheduled replacement of major capital items. |
| Commitments - potential amounts due in settlement of equipment and property leases. |
| Property - potential dilapidation and restoration costs due on vacating property. |
| Healthwatch - delivery of Healthwatch Voice function and contract management of the Healthwatch Coventry contract funded by Coventry City Council. |
| Building Better Opportunities - Progress - in partnership with other local organisations and lead by Groundwork UK delivery of Building Better Opportunities Progress project. Funded by European Social Fund and National Lottery Communities Fund. |
| Building Better Opportunities - Accelerate - in partnership with other local organisations and lead by Coventry & Warwickshire Co-operative Development Agency delivery of Building Better Opportunities Accelerate project. Funded by European Social Fund and National Lottery Communities Fund. |
| The 29th May 1961 - a charitable trust funding group support. |
| William A Cadbury - a charitable trust funding group support. |
| Henry Smith - delivery of Improving Lives programme funded by Henry Smith Charity. |
| Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund - working in partnership with Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre and Foleshill Women's Training delivering Your Future - Your Integration, helping refugees integrate through community activity. Funded by UK Responsible Authority through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. |
| Community Fund - Chat Central - delivering a range of interventions to tackle loneliness and isolation in Coventry funded by the National Lottery. |
| Heart of England - project related to changing the organisational activities to deliver services in a different way |
| Coventry 4 Good - a VAC initiative to raise funds for local groups within Coventry. |
| 18. | EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS |
| The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost represents contributions payable by the Charity to the fund and amounted to £16,374 (2025: £26,939). |
| At 31st March 2026 contributions amounting to £380 (2025: £628) were payable to the fund and included in creditors. |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION COVENTRY |
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
| for the year ended 31 March 2026 |
| 19. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |