Preston Community Network - Charities report

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 04566129 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1111153

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

for

Preston Community Network

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

5

Independent Examiner's Report

6

Statement of Financial Activities

7

Balance Sheet

8

to

9

Notes to the Financial Statements

10

to

14

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

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the economically and socially disadvantaged communities in the area of the City of Preston in such ways that they are better able to identify and help meet their needs and to participate more fully in society. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing in particular by:

- providing opportunities for people to learn through experience thereby gaining competencies realizing existing skills and developing their potential;

- involving people in activities which enable them to collectively gain confidence in their own abilities including their ability to influence decisions which affect them;

- by encouraging people to become involved in their community and wider society in a fuller way;

- the promotion of community cohesion

Mission statement

To encourage, influence, enable and support the local voluntary and community sectors to become involved in decision making processes and actions that affect their communities and improve their quality of life.

Significant activities

The overall aim of the Company is to work with and support the VCFSE sector and ensure it has a strong voice with decision-making bodies, and thereby has an active part in the planning and delivery of services to our local community.

This has been achieved as follows:

Membership and information

This year the network has continued to grow and has been actively promoting membership to VCFSE organisations in the City of Preston. The organisation continues to make efforts to ensure a diverse and inclusive membership, reflecting the local community, particularly with respect to newly formed and grassroots organisations. From 138 members at the beginning of the reporting period, PCN had expanded to 164 members by the end of the reporting period.

This year the network has been able to arrange five face to face network meetings for VCFSE organisations in Preston, all of which have been well attended with very positive feedback. The strategy of regular themed networking events will continue throughout the 2025-26 financial year, at a variety of community venues.

During this year, Members were sent information about community events, activities, funding and opportunities for engagement and involvement by means of a weekly electronic newsletter. This has been very popular, and by the end of this reporting period, was distributed to more than 200 contacts and members, who have used it to publicise their own services, activities and events.

The PCN website also carries full event listings which are updated on a daily basis, a thriving job and volunteer vacancies board, a training suite, archived copies of all weekly newsletters, plus a full rundown of all members, their activities and contact details.

PCN's Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts continue to be updated on a regular basis.

The Trustees have met four times during the year, and on Monday, December 2, 2024, the network held its Annual General Meeting at Preston Town Hall. There were presentations by Preston City Council deputy chief executive Sarah Threlfall, David Carter of the Preston Digital Co-operative Project and Christine Blythe of the LOCAL Project, followed by networking opportunities for PCN members.

Partnership Working

ICANN provided HR, finance and general administration support for the network.

PCN is located in Preston Town Hall within the Community Engagement team which is working well.

PCN Trustees represent PCN on the Central Lancs VCSE Leaders Partnership whose main focus is currently around health and wellbeing for communities, along with collaborative working with the ICB. PCN Development and Communications Officer Tony Dawber attends meetings of Preston Health and Wellbeing Partnership, Preston Inclusion Reference Group, Preston Youth Forum, Preston Network Collaborative Group and Lancashire Association of CVSs meetings on behalf of the group and its members.

Cancer Help Preston Ltd assists the network by providing meeting space.

Public benefit

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives, and in planning future objectives. The Review of Activities on page 1 shows the activities that have been undertaken to further the charity's purposes for public benefit

Volunteers

The work of PCN relies on volunteers, who represent the voluntary community and faith Sector (VCFS) or their own communities at meetings. They or their organization give their time free to ensure the VCFS and the local community have a strong voice in the local decision-making process. The Executive and Finance Committee which sets the strategic direction and policies of the Company is made up of Trustees who are also volunteers and representatives of their own organisations. The Company has a strong ethos of active member involvement and promoting equalities and inclusivity.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

The finances are reviewed on a regular basis, at all trustee meetings and the accounts are independently examined at the end of the financial year. The Trustees constantly consider fundraising and the sustainability of the organization.

Principal funding sources

The principal funding sources for the charity are by way of grants.

Reserves policy

The aim of the Reserves Policy remains to ensure the organization is sustainable.

Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

FUTURE PLANS

Preston Community Network will maintain and build on its current membership and continue supporting the voluntary, community and faith sector in Preston.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

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

Preston Community Network was incorporated on 17 October 2002 and registered with the Charity Commission (charity number 1111153) on 2 September 2005.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and are known as the Executive and Finance Committee. They are nominated by member organizations and elected by member organizations eligible to vote at the AGM.

Organizational structure

Under the requirements of the Articles of Association the Trustees/Executive Committee must hold at least four meetings each year. The Executive Committee are responsible for the strategic direction and policies of the charity.

The company's Executive and Finance Committee are responsible for all aspects of the company's activities in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Trustees consist of at least 3 and not more than 15 individuals. The names of directors/Executive and Finance Committee members acting during the year and changes to the date of this report are shown on page 1.

Induction and training of new trustees

Most of the Executive and Finance Committee/directors are familiar with the work of the company as they are drawn from member groups.

Members of the Executive and Finance Committee can request to attend relevant training courses and sessions, and have their expenses covered when doing so with the agreement of the rest of the Committee.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

It is recognised that the organization needs to increase and diversify its funding base for future sustainability

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

04566129 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1111153

Registered office

C/o ICANN

Howick House

Howick Park Avenue

Howick

Preston

Lancashire

PR1 0LS

Trustees

Mrs Z Coupland

Mrs J A Cullingford

Ms J Smalley

Company Secretary

Independent Examiner

CCW Limited

Chartered Accountants

295/297 Church Street

Blackpool

Lancashire

FY1 3PJ

Bankers

The Co-operative Bank

PO Box 250

Delf House

Southway

Skelmersdale

WN8 6WT

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 21 November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Ms J Smalley - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Preston Community Network ('the Company')

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

Responsibilities and basis of report

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

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

Independent examiner's statement

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.

Paul Ronson FCA

CCW Limited

Chartered Accountants

295/297 Church Street

Blackpool

Lancashire

FY1 3PJ

21 November 2025

31.3.25

31.3.24

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Charitable activities

Charitable Activites

-

25,500

48,790

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Charitable Activites

456

40,845

41,301

48,058

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(456

)

(15,345

)

(15,801

)

732

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

15,407

20,414

35,821

35,089

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

14,951

5,069

20,020

35,821

31.3.25

31.3.24

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

5

-

318

292

Cash at bank

15,407

5,005

20,412

36,009

15,407

5,323

20,730

36,301

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

6

(456

)

(254

)

(710

)

(480

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

14,951

5,069

20,020

35,821

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES

14,951

5,069

20,020

35,821

NET ASSETS

14,951

5,069

20,020

35,821

FUNDS

7

Unrestricted funds

14,951

15,407

Restricted funds

5,069

20,414

TOTAL FUNDS

20,020

35,821

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

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

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

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

(b)

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

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

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 21 November 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

Ms J Smalley - Trustee

Mrs J A Cullingford - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

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

Income

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

Expenditure

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

Taxation

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

Fund accounting

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

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

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

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

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

2.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

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

Trustees' expenses

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

3.	STAFF COSTS

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

31.3.25

31.3.24

Trustees

3

Employees

2

5

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

4.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Charitable activities

Charitable Activites

-

48,790

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Charitable Activites

432

47,626

48,058

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(432

)

1,164

732

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

15,839

19,250

35,089

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

15,407

20,414

35,821

5.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

31.3.25

31.3.24

£

Prepayments

318

292

6.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

31.3.25

31.3.24

£

Trade creditors

-

48

Accrued expenses

710

432

710

480

7.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1.4.24

in funds

31.3.25

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

15,407

(456

)

14,951

Restricted funds

Big Lottery

20,414

(15,345

)

5,069

TOTAL FUNDS

35,821

(15,801

)

20,020

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

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

-

(456

)

(456

)

Restricted funds

Big Lottery

25,500

(40,845

)

(15,345

)

TOTAL FUNDS

25,500

(41,301

)

(15,801

)

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1.4.23

in funds

31.3.24

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

15,839

(432

)

15,407

Restricted funds

Big Lottery

19,250

1,164

20,414

TOTAL FUNDS

35,089

732

35,821

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

-

(432

)

(432

)

Restricted funds

Big Lottery

48,790

(47,626

)

1,164

TOTAL FUNDS

48,790

(48,058

)

732

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

movement

At

At 1.4.23

in funds

31.3.25

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

15,839

(888

)

14,951

Restricted funds

Big Lottery

19,250

(14,181

)

5,069

TOTAL FUNDS

35,089

(15,069

)

20,020

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

-

(888

)

(888

)

Restricted funds

Big Lottery

74,290

(88,471

)

(14,181

)

TOTAL FUNDS

74,290

(89,359

)

(15,069

)

8.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.

9.	MEMBERS' LIABILITY

The liability of the members is limited. Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company if it is wound up whilst a member or within one year after ceasing to be a member, such amounts as may be required not exceeding one pound.