The Trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006 present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The charity's principal activities and aims are to promote, support and develop volunteering in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire. We aim to make a positive impact on the quality of the volunteering experience for individual volunteers and organisations that work with them.
As a Volunteer Centre in Derbyshire, we all support our communities by:
Promote volunteer opportunities and introduce those offering to volunteer to local organisations (Brokerage).
We can help local organisations promote volunteer opportunities. We recruit volunteers online and through a tailored volunteer matching service for Derbyshire opportunities.
Development of volunteer opportunities
We work with people, local groups and organisations to improve the quantity, quality and diversity of volunteering locally.
Voice of volunteering
We shout about the mutual benefits of volunteering, share people's volunteering experiences and raise awareness of the impact (at local and county partnerships and in media).
Strategic development of volunteering
We engage with local networks, partnerships and decision makers to ensure that volunteering and voluntary action can flourish.
Share good practice and improvement
We work together as organisations to ensure that volunteer's experiences are valuable and safe.
We are members of Derbyshire Volunteer Centres Network; 3D; NCVO and NAVCA.
In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit.
Significant activities
The Volunteer Centre-Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire run the following services in the community:
ELDERFRIENDS BEFRIENDING SERVICE
Elderfriends was a face to face befriending project which provided a service to lonely and socially isolated people. The Elderfriends project was solely funded by Adult Care Derbyshire but this ceased with effect from 1st April 2025 and the project is being wound down.
SAFE & SOUND
Safe & Sound has been funded by a variety of funders during its life span and it remains a popular project with both clients and service users alike. The project has continued to run with no direct funder and has been run from the Centre's reserves. New funding has been acquired from the Big Lottery Awards For All Fund for a further eighteen months.
HOME FROM HOSPITAL
Now into its seventh year the 'Home From Hospital' project was a tender secured by the Volunteer Centre network which operates across Derbyshire. The project provides a six-week care and support package to individuals who have recently been discharged from hospital, or to prevent someone from being admitted to hospital. Chesterfield is one of five Volunteer Centres across the country involved in this project and, because we cover two local authority areas, we are by far the busiest. The project itself is funded by Derbyshire County Council.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR AWARDS
In 2013, The Volunteer Centre gave birth to the Voluntary Sector Awards, a celebratory evening looking to reward and recognise the fabulous work carried out by local volunteers and the organisations that work with them. The night has gone from strength to strength with an ever increasing number of categories. It's also a great chance for people from across the sector to get together and let their hair down and feel good about the terrific work they have done over the year. With Awards being sponsored by the private sector it's also a good chance to showcase themselves to a different section of the community.
CORE INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVITIES
The main services offered by The Volunteer Centre are to provide a bespoke brokerage service to individuals looking to access a volunteering role or from a Volunteer Involving Organisation (VIO) looking for advice or information about the specifics surrounding volunteer recruitment and engagement. These are services we have always provided but have never been adequately recompensed for. Following on from the removal of our befriending funding it was decided that Chesterfield Volunteer Centre should fall in line with other Centres in the country and be awarded such funding. We were therefore delighted when the Clinical Commissioning Group announced they would fund these activities in line with the rest of the County. On average the Volunteer Centre sees over 2,500 potential volunteers a year and has contact with organisations on around 3,500 separate occasions. We are the busiest Centre in Derbyshire outside of Derby City.
Charitable activities
During the year the charity continued to run services as outlined under Objectives and activities above.
Financial position
Total income increased in the year from £133,537 to £164,244. Expenditure increased in the year from £135,401 to £157,123 giving net income of £7,121
(2024: net expenditure £1,864).
The charity had funds carried forward at 31st March 2025 of £365,804 (2024: £358,683) of which £128,463 (2024: £132,245) are restricted funds and £237,341
(2024: £226,438) are unrestricted funds.
Principal funding sources
Principal funding sources for the charity for 2024/25 were by way of grants from major funding sources and ongoing tenders from The Clinical Commissioning Group, Derbyshire County Council and The Lottery Community Fund.
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. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
Reserves policy
The Board of Trustees has examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks of the organisation, including the risk of existing income streams not continuing beyond their current anticipated date of cessation. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds neither committed or restricted to achieving the charity's aims and objectives, nor set aside for other specific purposes, should amount to no less than three months of the total running costs of the Centre, approx. £33,000. At 31st March 2025 free reserves amounted to £146,341 (2024: £135,438), which is after designating funds of £91,000 (2024: £91,000), and is above the required level. However, maintaining and where possible, improving the level of reserves is increasingly important given the uncertainty that exists in the volunteering sector, coupled with the worsening in recent times of general economic conditions. The Trustees are therefore satisfied that the level of reserves held is appropriate.
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.
Charity constitution
The Volunteer Centre-Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association dated 11th January 2005 and is a registered charity number 1107942.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees
The charity has a board of up to fifteen ( but never less than six) Trustees elected by and from the membership. The Trustees of the company are also directors for the purpose of company law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the Board of Trustees are elected at each Annual General Meeting to serve for one year only. At the end of this period they can stand down or stand for re-election at the following Annual General Meeting.
The Board of Trustees may at any time fill casual vacancies on the board by co-option, provided that such co-opted persons are also members of the company; provided also that they do not number more than one third of the total number of the members of the Board, and their appointment comes to an end at the next annual general meeting following their co-option.
Due to the nature of The Volunteer Centre's work, the Board will seek to ensure that the various needs of the client group are appropriately reflected through the diversity of the Trustee body. To enhance the potential pool of Trustees, the charity will, through selective advertising, seek to identify new Board members to widen and strengthen the existing skills mix.
Organisational structure and decision making policies
The Volunteer Centre has a Board of Trustees of up to fifteen people who meet every six weeks and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. The Board consists of a number of people from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity. The secretary also sits on the Board but has no voting rights.
The Board is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the services specified. The manager has responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of the Centre, individual supervision of the staff team and also ensures the team continue to develop their skills and working practices in line with good practice.
Induction and training of new Trustees
All Trustees will be encouraged to attend training which will benefit themselves as Trustees. They will also undergo a short induction into the work of the Centre.
Related Parties
The charity is guided by local and national policy. At a national level, The Volunteer Centre- Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire, is a member of NCVO/ Volunteering England. As a local infrastructure organisation the charity is an active member of the Derbyshire Volunteer Centres network and feeds into all the local infrastructure provision.
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.
Plans for future periods
The charity plans to continue the activities outlined in the forthcoming years subject to satisfactory funding arrangements. We will also continue to represent the voluntary sector on various platforms and support organisations and volunteers to the best of our ability.
Supplier payment policy
The charity's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
The charity's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to make payment when a valid invoice has been received.
There were no trade creditors at the year end.
The Trustees, who are also the directors of The Volunteer Centre-Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire for the purpose of company law,are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Volunteer Centre-Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
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.
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.
The Volunteer Centre-Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 38 Knifesmithgate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1RQ.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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.
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:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
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.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Donated Services
General Volunteers
The contribution of general volunteers cannot be measured reliably and therefore is not included as income within the charity accounts. The work of general volunteers is however fundamental for the continuance by the charity of its charitable activities.
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
Sale of goods
Direct costs
Direct costs
Premises costs
Insurance
Light and heat
Professional fees
Telephone postage and stationery
Staff / volunteer expenses
Bank charges
Office equipment
Publications and subscriptions
There were no Trustees' remuneration, expenses or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
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 charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The 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.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).