This has been another challenging year for many within the VCSE sector including Reaching People. Our hard-working, flexible and dedicated staff team continue to work with our members to deliver critical projects that make a significant difference to the lives of many local people who have the greatest needs. Through collaboration, discussion, research, learning, development and delivery together, we are stronger and achieving far more than we could separately.
Our work has continued to build on our previous learning and project experience. We all know from experience how poverty and digital exclusion impact on mental health, employability and access to many essential services. That’s why collaboration across service delivery, learning together, sharing practice and expertise is so important in making a lasting difference for so many individuals and also for our sector delivery models. We are pleased that our work on Alzheimer’s Research Dementia Community Champions, Community Food Coordination, Refurb IT, Health Plus, and Moneywise Living has been able to continue and reach more people than ever before. Our Just ASK initiative was extended providing vital targeted and digital inclusion support, linking across projects and training volunteers, to reach even more service users. Through these projects we have built the skills, capacity and resilience of over 2,500 local people, trained volunteers and influenced working practices to ease access to services in the future.
As ever, thank you to our member organisations for working together with us and for their on-going commitment to partnership, leadership and sector-wide change. We also extend our thanks and appreciation to our dedicated and hard working Board of Trustees. Our mix of independent and member organisation Trustees gives us a unique strength, a huge range of experience and great balance of strategy, skills, and sector engagement. We were joined this year by Josie Barnard, who brings us invaluable experience in research. We give our huge thanks to Mandy Wardle-McLeish who left us after 7 years as a trustee including 2.5 years as Chair. Mandy has continued to be an individual member of Reaching People and a great friend and advocate for our work on Health Literacy and the wider public health agenda.
Finally, a huge thanks to all our staff who, as a very small team, continue to work tirelessly to ensure we remain at the forefront of the community and voluntary sector locally.
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).
Our Aims
We aim to:
deliver significant, improved, and positive lasting impact and outcomes for local people who are in need and experiencing inequalities; and
develop and provide high quality services which provide a significant return on investment and value for money.
Our Values and Approach
Our values underpin and guide all we do and our relationships with stakeholders:
Cooperation, collaboration and partnership. We work with others to deliver our mission.
Respect. We are professional and act with integrity, trust and mutual respect.
Equity and Inclusion. We promote equity, fairness and diversity.
Informed. Our work is evidence based and demonstrates best practice.
Listen and learn. We listen to understand, learn and respond.
Transparent. We are open, honest and clear.
Commitment. We are passionate about overcoming barriers and seeking effective solutions.
Reaching People believes that through cooperation, collaboration and partnership we can create a sector that is ‘greater than the sum of its parts’, maximising its effectiveness and impact by:
sharing learning, expertise, knowledge and skills
accessing, pooling and targeting resources
minimising duplication and maximising reach
influencing decision makers and agenda setting
being creative and responsive
Objectives
We strive to:
Encourage, initiate, facilitate, coordinate and manage collaboration and partnership working.
Build the capacity and capability of individuals, communities and VSCE organisations.
Support the VSCE sector to have a voice and influence wider change.
The trustees have given due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Review of the period
During the year Reaching People and many of our member organisations felt the impact of reduced funding from statutory services and charitable funds. The current funding environment has become increasingly competitive overall as well as more short term in nature. Membership stands at 30 organisations this year, representing an impressive aggregate turnover of nearly £58 million, a testament to the strength, scale and resilience of our network.
Reaching People employed 11 staff directly, most of whom are part-time. Our full-time equivalent staffing during the year was 6.7. Our total income for the current trading year is £627,453.
Activity and projects
Activities and projects are described under each of our objectives:
1. To, encourage, initiate, facilitate, coordinate and manage collaboration and partnership working.
Our Moneywise Living partnership was extended for a further year from April 2025. Although on a reduced budget it continued with two original members (Action Homeless and Leicestershire Cares) and Reaching People, supporting 308 participants in the year. We have been offered a further time extension until the end of May 2026 to continue delivery.
Our newest partnership, Alzheimer’s Research UK, was formed in 2024. The Community Dementia Champions project has been building on our existing networks and our reputation, connecting with a range of South Asian communities in Leicester and Leicestershire. The project lead and volunteer team of 16, have reached approx. 1,320 people through community events and have engaged new 18 new community and faith groups including Sikh, Bangladesh and Sri Lankan communities creating the potential to collaborate with these groups in other ways.
Refurb IT and Health+ continue to broaden our connections, reach and impact across sectors. Significant relationship building led to Watches of Switzerland donating 57 laptops and joining our work to tackle digital exclusion and raise awareness of the environmental impact of tech waste. Similarly, Health+ has a positive reputation for working among communities across Leicester, connecting them to GP and NHS health services.
Reaching People hosts regular formal and informal opportunities for members to share learning, resources and network such as the monthly CEO forum. This forum invites CEOs to raise, discuss and respond to issues impacting on our communities be they national or local issues or opportunities to collaborate. In the year, a member organisation led consultation with members and young people, to develop a partnership proposal to build unity and address divisions created in the community through outside actors.
Over several years, Reaching People has been collaborating with De Montfort University’s research into creative approaches to digital inclusion. Dr Josie Barnard has worked with several Reaching People members and their service users. The importance and effectiveness of working with Reaching People to reach communities was highlighted in ‘Digital Creativity Live’ exhibition at Leicester Museum in June 2026. We have also strengthened our partnership with the national digital charity ‘The Good Things Foundation’. We were invited to participate on a West Midlands consultation on building local capacity to refurbish and recycle IT. Good Things Foundation was also a key note speaker along with AbilityNet at our 2025 AGM/annual event, raising awareness of digital inclusion.
2. To build the capacity and capability of individuals, communities and VSCE organisations
All of our work goes beyond service delivery. Reaching People has continued to effectively build capacity and capability at all levels using several approaches.
The Just ASK (Access Services Know-How) highlights Reaching People’s approach and ambition. The project ended in February 2026. It trained and coached 77 volunteers and staff, across 15 food and community hubs to engage and support their users to better access essential online services. 274 residents were coached to access information and services from the council (e.g. to report pot holes and make housing applications) to the DWP and NHS and the Joy platform (to access social prescribing). The training focused on developing the volunteers’ skills to better engage users and equally, to pass on their digital ‘know-how’ to others. Reaching People built capacity at organisational, community and individual levels, through this project.
Our underlying focus on building skills, knowledge and resilience, differentiates our energy and cost of living advice project from others. Moneywise Living reached 308 people. Alongside an increase in £18,570 in direct monetary benefits to participants, 66% reported an increase in financial/digital skills and resilience. Moneywise Living Plus supported 319 household to increase their financial stability. 74% were better equipped to understand and feel more in control of personal finances; 64% demonstrated greater confidence in their ability to budget and manage finances and 85% gained skills and knowledge to increase income, reduce expenditure and maximise ability to access relevant savings options.
The demand for Health Plus continues to grow. The project has supported 743 individuals through community groups and organisations and 43 health professionals to use the NHS app and navigate NHS services. 80% of individuals and 99% of staff reported feeling confident in registering for and using the app.
We have maintained a scaled down Refurb IT project through the year, through fundraising efforts and voluntary support. Our reputation and word of mouth have sustained a reduced pipeline of devices, and we have endeavoured to meet demand. From 101 donated devices, 20 were refurbished and regifted to individuals via referral organisations with each recipient also receiving the support they need to use the device to achieve their goals from seeking social connection, to saving costs and finding work. A further 9 were donated to organisations to increase their capacity to tackle digital inclusion within their communities.
We have helped to strengthen the community food partnership and supported its 22 food hubs with a focus on moving towards a more sustainable model and building the capacity, resilience and confidence of residents by providing access through food hubs to wrap around services such as English classes, digital support, specialist information, advice and guidance services. Reaching People’s projects continued to provide some of these services via the food hubs. In a single quarter 16,703 households were supported with 12,890 children and £167,000 spent on food.
Reaching People trained, supported, coached and developed 23 volunteers to support our work and service delivery. Volunteers supported Reaching People centrally, Health Plus and Dementia Champions projects.
3. To support the VSCE sector to have a voice and influence wider change.
Reaching People has been active in networks and collaborations within the community sector e.g. we have been vocal at VCSE Alliance meetings about the NHS’s ambition to move from analogue to digital, sharing our experience, the lived experience of our service users to influence local and national decisions.
Reaching People is a member of the city’s Community Public Health Steering Group and was invited as a key stakeholder to take part in an external evaluation of the Community Wellbeing Champions project as part of the National Institute of Health Research programme which looks at government public health interventions.
We continue to be key in the ‘Feeding Leicester’ stakeholder network especially in sharing information, an analysis of trends, and critically to give the 22 food hubs in the partnership, a voice.
Digital focus on the AGM event sought to raise awareness of inclusion issues, highlight solutions and encourage the sector to share their experience with stakeholders and decision makers present such as NHS and local councillors.
Through our Dementia Champions, 6 people signed up to take part in research to enable voices and lived experience of South Asian communities to be recognised in national research.
Review of the finances and reserves
The results for the year ended 31 March 2026 are shown in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 10 and the position of the Charity as at 31 March 2026 is shown on the Balance Sheet on page 11.
Trustees are pleased to report that the year ended in a positive position, with a small surplus achieved despite ongoing sector challenges. This reflects prudent financial management and the continued diversification of our funding streams, which has strengthened our resilience. The surplus, while modest, provides reassurance of stability and enables us to invest in supporting our members and the communities we serve. Careful stewardship of resources, alongside collaboration with partners, remains central to our financial strategy and sustainability.
There has been a modest reduction in income, primarily due to a reduction in food grants funded by the Household Support Fund, however we received additional funding for our Moneywise Living Plus project through Leicester City Council’s Housing Support Fund. Trustees remain confident that the financial model in place has enabled Reaching People to reach the people in most need.
The staff team remains relatively small and continues to use specialist external support where opportunities arise and need a quick turn-around, for example report writing. Sub-contracted arrangements with partner members through Service Level Agreements are used for project delivery. Staff are also directly employed to deliver specific projects giving Reaching People direct lines of accountability to the funders and ensuring that Reaching People maintains the appropriate quality assurance and risk management for projects delivered by member organisations on behalf of Reaching People. Reaching People is a real living wage employer and the pension contribution for staff is set at 5%.
Previously, designated funds were identified for use in the development of partnership opportunities including bid writing, management, and infrastructure development however new bids written during the year were managed within the income generated.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees review the reserves policy not less than annually to ensure that all relevant risk areas are included in accordance with guidance issued by the Charity Commission. Thus, the relevant risks included are the impact of a loss of funding, and the potential impact of restructuring costs and liabilities required to downsize the organisation in an orderly manner, if an income reduction was anticipated.
The trustees’ current policy is to maintain free unrestricted reserves to meet its objectives:
Provide sufficient working capital to ensure continuity of core operations
Provide a level of funding for unexpected opportunities or needs
Protect against financial risks, such as unforeseen expenditure or sudden loss of income (e.g. redundancy liabilities)
In addition to free reserves, the Board of Trustees has designated reserves to:
Support future business development, including one-off, non-recurring costs that build organisational capacity – such as research, staff development, bidding expertise/capacity or systems investment
Cover between three and six months of core operating costs to safeguard the organisation in the event that funding should cease
This policy requires that free and unrestricted reserves are maintained at a level that would ensure Reaching People’s core activities could be maintained in the short to medium term in the event of a substantial drop in funding. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that they will be able to continue the Charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This cover will help fund running costs and provide adequate working capital.
The board considers carefully the Charity’s commitments, taking into account their inherent risks and the activities generally. It monitors, on an on-going basis, the fund balances available relative to its financial plans and to the meeting of its objectives in both the medium and longer term.
Reserves Cover
The total reserves funds of the Charity at 31 March 2026 are £183,906. This is made up of:
General unrestricted reserves: £20,000.
In accordance with our reserves policy Designated Funds of £25,000 are set aside for three to six months operating costs and the balance of £128,752 is set aside for future business development.
Restricted Funds: £9,537 which relates to Alzheimer’s Research UK, £332 for Refurb IT and £285 for Feeding Leicester. All our projects fall within Restricted Funds.
Financial Effect of Any Significant Events
The wider charity sector continues to be affected by the cost-of-living crisis, increased demand for services, and ongoing economic uncertainty. These factors have placed additional pressures on organisations, with many expected to deliver more with fewer resources. Reaching People has inevitably felt these sector-wide challenges; however, by adapting delivery models and seeking diverse funding opportunities, we have been able to maintain stability. The Board continues to monitor the external environment closely to manage risk and respond effectively to significant events that could affect our financial position in the future.
Risk management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to major risks.
The board regularly reviews the risks that the organisation faces and identifies the actions that need to be carried out over the year to either eliminate the risk, control and reduce the risk, or accept the risk. The trustees are satisfied that policies and procedures covering all the main areas of risk are in place and applied and a new process this year identifying Trustee leads for specific policies has been adopted.
Future Strategy and Plans
Trustees are confident that the current strategic plan, informed by member organisations engagement, will be effective in bringing organisations together and delivering services to more people with higher levels of need. Our approach to a small core staffing resource and diversification of funding through a range of funding bids is also key to future sustainability for Reaching People and the support we provide to our member organisations.
We will continue to focus on ensuring our key projects are delivered effectively and efficiently with lasting results. We will also continue to learn from our own and others practice with the aim of extending our reach and influence over the coming year.
Structure, governance and management
Constitution
Leicestershire Voluntary Sector Resource Agency (LVSRA) is a registered charity and is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, registered in England. The charity trades as Reaching People following its merger with Reaching People in June 2013. LVSRA is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association which are on public file at Companies House and available at the registered office. The extent of each voting member's liability in the event of a winding up is limited to £10.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:
Method of appointment or election of trustees
Trustees are recruited as independent individuals and also from Voluntary and Community organisations operating in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who are members of Reaching People. Nominations are received through members of LVSRA/Reaching People and trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
No trustee received any remuneration for services as a member of the Board of trustees or had any beneficial interest in any contract with the charity during the year. Travel or other expenses incurred in discharge of the trustees’ duty are made available.
Organisational structure and decision making
The Board is responsible for all decisions by LVSRA. During the year, Mandy Wardle-McLeish and Rachel Hall, stepped down as trustees. Dr Alison Josephine Barnard was appointed as a director.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Leicestershire Voluntary Sector Resource Agency (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Leicestershire Voluntary Sector Resource Agency is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is First Floor, 42 Tower Street, Leicester, LE1 6WT.
The accounts 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). 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, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Incoming resources made available for specific purposes as declared by the donor have been treated as restricted funds. Expenditure for those purposes is charged to the fund together with a fair allocation of overhead and support costs.
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charitable company without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.
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.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure and the objects of the charity. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance, with constitutional and statutory requirements
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measures at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans, which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Grants receivable
Other income
Membership
Charitable Expenditure Unrestricted
Charitable Expenditure Restricted
Equipment & maintenance expenses
Stationery & office expenses
Telephone
Travel & subsistence
General charitable expenditure
Project costs
Advertising
Project consultancy costs
Premises costs
Insurance
Sundry expenses
Bank charges
Governance costs includes payments to the independent examiner of £3,500 (2025- £3,240) for independent examination and accountancy fees.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year. Trustees were reimbursed £0 in total for travelling expenses (2025- £0).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
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.
These are unrestricted funds which are material to the charity's activities. They comprise designated funds that the trustees have set aside from unrestricted funds for specific purposes.
Designated reserve
This amount has been set aside to cover the work of the organisation in the event that funding should cease. This is set to cover approximately three-six months running costs. This amount may vary annually depending on business development.
Funds designated for future business development
This amount has been set aside by the Board of Trustees for future business development.
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.
Leicester Community Advice and Law Centre (LCALC)
Elizabeth Chahal a trustee of Leicestershire Voluntary Sector Resource Agency trading as Reaching People, is also in a position of influence at LCALC a member of the Charity.
During the year the charity charged membership fees of £528. We were supplied with invoiced services from LCALC to the value of £34,306. The outstanding creditor at the 31 March 2026 was £23,930.
The Centre Project
Eric Waweru was a trustee of Leicestershire Voluntary Sector Resource Agency trading as Reaching People and resigned on 16 October 2024. He is also in a position of influence at The Centre Project a member of the Charity.
In 2025, the charity charged membership fees of £132 to The Centre Project.
Falcon Support Services
Marie Davis and Rachel Hall, both trustees of Leicestershire Voluntary Sector Resource Agency trading as Reaching People, are also in a position of influence at Falcon Support Services a member of the Charity.
During the year the charity charged membership fees of £528 to Falcon Support Services.
The Emerald Centre
Kiran Kala, a trustee of Leicestershire Voluntary Sector Resource Agency trading as Reaching People, is also in a position of influence at The Emerald Centre a member of the Charity.
During the year the charity charged membership fees of £132 to The Emerald Centre. We were supplied with invoiced services from The Emerald Centre to the value of £28,437. The outstanding creditor at the 31 March 2026 was £11,662.
Friends of Reaching People
The following trustees were Friends of Reaching People and made donations as follows:
Jenny Hand £240
Mandy Wardle-McLeish £72
The charity had no material debt during the year.