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TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2006

 

Constitution

 

The Oxfordshire Community Foundation is governed by a trust deed dated 25 April 1995 and is a registered charity, number 1046432.

 

Vision: to be the lead partner for community based charitable grant making in Oxfordshire.

 

Mission Statement

 

To develop income streams and capital funds to support the unmet needs of Community groups working with disadvantaged people across the County.

 

Objects of the Foundation

 

OCF raises funds in the Community to support a grantmaking programme currently targeted at:

·Education and Employability

·Health

·Poverty relief

·Diversion from crime

 

Trustees’ responsibilities for the financial statements

 

Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements that reflect a true state of affairs of the Foundation.

 

In preparing these statements the trustees are required to:

 

·select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently

 

·make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

 

•  state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

 

·Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Community Foundation will continue in business.

 

Financial Review

 

The Foundation enjoyed a successful year financially.

 

Our total income, comprising donations and investment income, totalled £485,000 (2005­£507,000). This income supported our grant-making programme and our operational expenditure. Grants made (which are analysed in more detail in Appendix 1 to the financial statements) totalled £349,000 (2005- £398,000), a fall of 12% primarily due to a variation in government supported funding. Around 60% of our total operational running costs for the year of £97,000 (2005- £90,000) were funded by administration charges for managing grant programmes for government agencies.

 

Our investment portfolio grew as a result of gains of £123,000 (2005 - £75,000) as market conditions continued to be favourable. Overall there was a year on year increase of 14% in the total capital funds of the Foundation.

 

Post Balance Sheet Events

 

Since year end, the Trustees have made two significant operating changes.

 

Firstly a long leasehold interest has been acquired in a new property. The cost of purchase was £277,000 and was funded by diversifying the investment portfolio. The property will form the Foundation’s new offices and will provide an opportunity for rental income from subletting part of the space.

 

Secondly, in May 2006 the Director, Emma Tracy, was succeeded by a new Chief Executive, Barry Tanswell.

 

Projects

 

A total of 131 projects benefited from grants made by OCF. A breakdown of these grants appears in Appendix 1.

 

OCF receives funding from the following sources:

·individual donors

·trust funds

·companies

·UK Government Local Network Fund (ends late 2007)

·European Union European Social Fund (ends early 2008)

·Sport Relief

Future Developments

 

The funding situation for voluntary and Community groups in Oxfordshire presents an ever challenging prospect. Many governmental funding schemes are due to conclude. Whilst these may be replaced by other forms of funding, the Trustees are very aware of the need to be more pro-active in attracting funding to the Foundation.

In particular, with the appointment of a new Chief Executive, greater emphasis will be given to the following in the coming year:

 

·attracting `high level giving’ individual donors.

·developing partnerships with the corporate sector.

·raising awareness of the Foundation through the media.

 

In addition, the Community Foundation Network, our membership body, will be bidding on behalf of all Foundations for other forms of funding.

 

 

Grant making Policy

 

·he Grants Panel identifies projects where our funds will make a real impact on the ground. The process is highly targeted and designed to deliver a reasonable `spread’ of grants across the County. In 2005 - 2006 we have been running the following grant programmes:

 

·Local Network Fund for children and young people, funded by the DfES, granting up to £7,000 to projects benefiting young people suffering disadvantage.

 

·The Improving Employability Fund, granting up to £10,000 by the European Social Fund, supporting projects which increase the employability of certain target groups e.g. women returners to work, people with disabilities.

 

·Community Grant Fund, into which all unrestricted donations designated for grant-making are pooled, allowing OCF to make grants for equipment or start up costs (up to £2,500)

 

·Sport Relief, granting up to £5,000, to distribute to community projects using sport and exercise to strengthen communities.

 

·Emergency Smalt Grants Fund, under which small organisations can apply for up to £500 and we will respond within a month.

 

Organisations are asked to complete a concise application form, which enables an initial assessment of:

·eligibility

·proposal quality

·the likely impact on social needs in the area

·monitoring and evaluation

·financial status

 

The Grants Panel meets bi-monthly and consists of four of the Foundation’s Trustees, one of whom acts as chair. A rotating range of volunteers from the community assist in the deliberations. We aim to make a decision on applications within three months of an initial

enquiry.

 

Investment Policy

 

The capital of OCF is invested through our brokers, Hargreave Hale. The Fund was initially equally divided between equities and bonds. As previously stated, an investment was acquired in a long leasehold property in July 2006. Equal amounts were diversified from the portfolio to fund the purchase of the property.

 

Reserves Policy

 

The Trustees have agreed to maintain a minimum of three months cash reserve to cover commitments to operating costs.

 

Risk Statement

 

The Trustees have prepared a risk statement for the Foundation, which is regularly updated. In addition, in the coming year the Foundation will seek accreditation under a programme devised by Community Foundation Network in association with Government agencies. This will assist the network in their bidding process for new sources of funding. One of our trustees, Nigel Williams has agreed to manage this programme.

 

Organisation Structure

 

The Trustees meet quarterly. Any subcommittees meet in between Trustee meetings with their recommendations discussed and approved at a full Trustee meeting. The day-to-day responsibility is delegated to the Chief Executive, who together with the Grants Manager, are full time employees. There is also a part time Outreach and Support Officer, contracted specifically to work on the Local Network Fund. In July 2006, a part-time administrator was appointed to enable the Chief Executive to maximise his effectiveness by concentrating on establishing new funding, raising the profile of the organisation and leading the strategic direction of the Foundation.

 

Trustee Changes

 

John Briggs was appointed a Trustee in July 2005 and became Chairman in November 2005. Anna Moon was appointed a Trustee in April 2005.

Michael Lear was appointed a Trustee in July 2005.

Colin Alexander was appointed a Trustee in October 2005.

Nigel Williams was appointed a Trustee in July 2006.

 

Nigel Hamway and Gavin Isle retired in April 2006. The Hon. Peter Jay and Simon Stubbings will retire at the conclusion of the AGM in 2006. We thank them all for their considerable contributions. Potential new trustees are currently being identified.

 

Connected charities

 

The Charity is a member of the Community Foundation Network, number 1004630. This network promotes the work of Community Foundations but has no executive involvement with any individual members.

 

The OCF acts as treasurer for a payroll giving consortium -Abingdon Charities Working Together. The consortium consists of: the Abingdon Bridge, the Local Youth Mentoring .Scheme, the Friends of Abingdon Citizens Advice Bureau and PACT. This consortium represents a very small component of OCF’s activities.

 

Auditors

The accounts have been audited by King Loose & Co. who seek re-appointment.

 

Acknowledgements

The Trustees would like to place their thanks on record to all our donors, supporters volunteers and staff.

 

 

On behalf of the trustees

John Briggs Chair

Date: 20/10/06

 

Independent auditors’ report to the trustees of

Oxfordshire Community Foundation

We have audited the financial statements of Oxfordshire Community Foundation for the year ended 31 March 2006 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes. These financial statements have been prepared under and the accounting policies set out therein.

This report is made solely to the trustees in accordance with section 43 and 44 of the Charities Act 1993. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors’ report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

 

 

Respective responsibilities of trustees and auditors

 

As described in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland).

We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 1993. We also report to you if, in our opinion, the Trustees’ Report is not consistent with the financial statements, if the charity has not kept proper accounting records, if we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit, or if information specified by law regarding trustees’ remuneration and transactions with the charity is not disclosed.

 

 

Basis of audit opinion

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the charity’s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming an opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements.

 

Opinion

 

In our opinion:

·the financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with United Kingdom

Generally Accepted Accounting Practice of the charity’s state of affairs as at 31 March

2006 and of its incoming resources and application of resources in the year then ended;

·the financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 1993; and ·the information given in the Trustees’ Report is consistent with the financial statements.

 

King Loose & Co.

Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors

St John’s House

5 South Parade

Summertown

Oxford

OX2 7JL

 

OXFORDSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES For the year ended 31 March 2006

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investment fixed assets to market value, and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting for Charities”, as revised in June 2005

 

Incoming resources - Grants and Donations

 

Income from grants is recognised when the terms of the grant have been met. Typically this is on a receivable basis. Income from donations is recognised when received.

Income received for restricted purposes is credited to specific restricted funds in accordance with any restrictions placed by the donor.

 

Incoming resources -Investment income

Income from investments is recognised on a receivable basis, other than dividend income, which is recognised on a received basis.

 

. Investment income arising from endowment funds is available for unrestricted purposes.

 

Basis of allocation of Expended resources

Expended resources have been allocated between the expense heading on the Statement of Financial Activities to the activity, where possible, to which the expenditure directly relates.

Expenditure which relates to several expense headings has been apportioned between these on appropriate proportions of each expenditure which the activity utilises.

 

Costs of generating funds

This represents costs of events, publicity and 10% of employment costs

 

Charitable activities

Grants payable are recognised on a payable basis.

Support costs of charitable activities represent all other costs incurred in achieving the charity’s objects, including 85% of employment costs -

 

Governance costs

This represents the costs of the statutory audit, and 10% of employment costs to represent time spent liaising with and supporting the trustees in discharging their governance obligations.

 

Fixed assets

Individual assets with an original cost of over £200 are capitalised.

Depreciation is provided to write off the cost of these assets to their residual amount over their useful economic lives as follows:

 

Fixtures, fittings and equipment - over 4 years

IT equipment - over 4 years

 

Taxation

As a registered charity, the Community Foundation is not liable to taxation on its charitable activities. On the basis of these financial statements, no provision has been made for taxation.

 

Restatement of comparatives

 

Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2005 have been restated to comply with the requirements of the revised Statement of Recommended Practice and to more fairly represent the allocation of expenditure between expense headings.

 

There was no impact on the reported surplus for the period, or on funds balances.

 

OXFORDSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2006

Abingdon Charities Working Together

This is a fund representing a consortium of Abingdon-based charities pooling together resources and contacts to build up payroll giving. OCF is acting as Treasurer and Banker for this fund and intends to build up an Abingdon Fund from which small grants can be paid.

Sport Relief

This is a fund representing restricted grants received from the Sports Relief charity.

Other restricted funds

These represent small, restricted donations from anonymous sources.

12. Commitments

 

The Charity had no capital commitments at 31 March 2006. 13. Post Balance Sheet Events

Since the year end, the trustees have approved the acquisition of a long leasehold interest in a property to act as a permanent base for the Charity’s operations.

14. Related Party Transactions

 

Where a Trustee of the Charity has an interest in other charitable organisations, the policy of the Board is to have the interest declared and for the Trustee to take no part in discussions or decision making process involving that charitable organisation.

 

Where a Trustee’s related charity or organisation stands to benefit from an allocation of the Charity’s funds, they are not allowed to participate in the decision making process. Where they have personally, or through a related charity, donated the funds concerned, they are allowed to participate in the decision making process in accordance with the Charities Act 1993,

Simon Stubbings, a trustee, is also a trustee of the following .charities who donated movies in the year: Mr and Mrs JA Pye’s Charitable Settlement £7,500 (2005: £12,500) and Dandia Charitable Trust £7,000 (2005: £6,000). No amounts were due from these charities at the year end.

15. Restatement of comparatives

 

Comparative balances have been restated for compliance with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting for Charities” (revised 2005). There was no impact on the reported surplus for the year ended 31 March 2005.

 

Part 2