Voscur Limited Report and Financial Statements 31 March 2013

Company no. 3918210 Charity no. 1148403

Voscur Limited Report and Financial Statements 31 March 2013

Voscur Limited Legal and administrative details For the year ended 31 March 2013 Status

The organisation is a mutual company and a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 31 January 2000.

Company number

3918210

Charity number

1148403

Registered office and operational address

Royal Oak House Royal Oak Avenue Bristol BS1 4GB

Honorary officers

Max Beseke Richard Pendlebury Steph Mustoe Paul Hazelden Anna Smith

Chair Chair Treasurer Vice-Chair/Interim Treasurer Vice-Chair

Principal staff

Wendy Stephenson Rebecca McDougall

Chief Executive/Company Secretary Resource Manager

Bankers

Lloyds TSB Bank plc 282/4 Wells Road Knowle Bristol BS4 2PY

Auditors

Sayer Vincent Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 8 Angel Gate City Road London EC1V 2SJ

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 The board of Trustees presents its report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2013.

Introduction Voscur Ltd (Voscur) is a Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) in Bristol; a member-led, generalist infrastructure organisation. Voscur works with voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and the private and statutory sectors to ensure VCS representation at a range of strategic partnerships and decision-making bodies. Voscur offers a range of services to its members, associate members and the wider VCS including the provision of information, advice, training and networking opportunities.

Aims and objectives Voscur's purpose is to:  benefit the public by supporting and developing a thriving, effective and influential voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Bristol - in particular by building the capacity of voluntary groups to pursue or contribute to any charitable purpose, and  promote, organise and facilitate co-operation and partnership working between third sector, statutory and other relevant bodies to achieve a thriving voluntary sector.

Voscur's strategic aims are therefore:  Development: Find out what local communities need and help organisations to meet      

those needs.

Support: Help organisations to function more effectively and improve their services.

Liaison: Help organisations communicate and collaborate effectively together.

Representation: Represent the views of the VCS to public bodies and policymakers to help improve the environment in which we all work.

Strategic partnerships: Foster effective working between the public and voluntary sector to inform and influence local planning and policymaking.

Equality: Increase the participation of all equalities groups in civil society.

Sustainability: We will be entrepreneurial and responsive to ensure Voscur’s own sustainability.

Ensuring our work delivers our aims Voscur's board reviews its aims, objectives and activities on an ongoing basis, and at least every year. These are set out in our business plan, a live document that guides both strategic and day-to-day developments. We consider the relative achievements of all our activities, and how they have had a positive impact on the individuals and groups it is our purpose to help.

This ensures our operational objectives and activities remain focused on our longer-term strategic goals, and therefore our constituted objects. The board's reviewing of past activities and planning future aims and strategies is underpinned by reference to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 Our focus in 2012-13 Our specific operational objectives this year have continued to be the strengthening and expansion of support and development services. To achieve these objectives, our strategies have included:   

 

Consolidating our Support Hub service to give customers more coherent and comprehensive capacity building.

Improving our external communications and information services so the organisations we support are better informed and more effective in their work.

Maintaining the promotion of equality and diversity through a range of projects to develop the capacity of specific equalities groups, especially as equality related issues and funding opportunities appear to have dropped down the public agenda.

Promoting and facilitating participation in local democracy and decision-making, especially among communities and target groups that are typically underrepresented.

Supporting collaboration within the VCS, and between sectors. For example, Voscur actively identifies opportunities to work with other organisations to increase our collective impact and make best use of limited resources, and we support collaboration between local groups to ensure smaller organisations have equal access to development opportunities.

How our activities deliver public benefit Our main activities and the individuals and groups we help are described below. All our charitable activities focus on increasing the impact of local voluntary and community organisations in achieving their own charitable purposes more effectively, and we undertake these activities to further our own charitable objects for the public benefit.

Who uses and benefits from our services?

Our services are primarily provided to individuals and community groups based or working in the city of Bristol. A majority are provided free to our members (c. 550 organisations) and client groups (c. 1,500 - 2,500 organisations) in the city.

Of constant concern to our trustees is that we are providing support where it is needed most.

However, measuring need is subjective to some extent, and certainly complex. Our Support Hub services are therefore specifically focused on groups that are, amongst other things, new, small, addressing key needs in disadvantaged areas and are led by or serve Equalities communities. Any such criteria or framework are inevitably imperfect, and must change over time, but this is a practical way of ensuring our limited resources create the most possible impact.

Voscur makes a small charge for a relatively small proportion of its services. These include, for example, some training courses, specialist development (consultancy) projects and supporting specific collaboration initiatives. These services are paid for on a case-by-case basis for two reasons. First, because an increasing proportion of the work we do is not covered or subsidised by our infrastructure contract with the Bristol City Council. Second, because there is a free market for such services in which for-profit companies compete, so if Voscur must compete against them on quality, it is fair that we should be able to also compete with them on price - especially as any surplus generated is used to further contribute to our charitable aims and hence create additional public benefit.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 Whilst most of the direct benefits are clearly gained by specific groups, the impact of our work extends far beyond such obvious outputs to wider but significant outcomes for voluntary organisations, public bodies and individual citizens. These wider benefits are harder to quantify.

Voluntary and community groups that we help to collaborate on projects and share experiences, for example, could simply benefit from helpful advice but sometimes discover radical new opportunities or ways of working. Public bodies may benefit from new potential providers being able to bid for contracts but may also gain creative new approaches to longstanding social problems. One individual might learn how to vote but another will gain the confidence to lead a whole organisation, or community group.

The precise range of our activities changes each year, but all flow clearly from our aims and objects, and the achievements of each are outlined below.

Governance The governance of the organisation is the responsibility of the board of trustees of the charity who are also the directors of Voscur Ltd. The board comprises at least three and not more than fifteen individuals. Thirteen trustees must be nominated by and be active in member organisations. Up to two additional trustees can be co-opted by the board to bring specialist skills or experience to the organisation's governance. The trustees appoint a chair, two vice chairs and a treasurer. The board meets every six weeks, and delegates the day-to-day management of the organisation to the chief executive who is a paid member of staff.

Activities for generating funds Membership As at 31 March 2013, Voscur’s membership comprised 561 full members including 98 associate members and 3 honorary members. Membership fees are charged in relation to member groups’ income and membership status; groups with an income of less than £10,000 per annum are not charged membership fees. Support Hub customers are given an introductory offer of 1 year’s free membership.

Charitable activities Service delivery Voscur’s main area of activity since February 2011 has been the delivery of the Infrastructure Support Services Contract on behalf of Bristol City Council. The contract outcomes are: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

The Bristol VCS has increased capacity, sustainability and quality.

The Bristol VCS is well-informed and well-connected.

Bristol VCS groups have a strong and influential voice.

The Bristol VCS has strategic involvement.

Bristol VCS groups contribute effectively to meeting the changing needs of the city.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 In order to achieve these outcomes Voscur has established the Support Hub and the Voice and Influence Service. Both are underpinned by Voscur’s information services and enhanced by our partnership work with other VCS, public and private sector organisations.

Following the first year of the delivery of the Infrastructure Support Services Contract on behalf of Bristol City Council, we have analysed groups’ needs, reviewed our service offer and restructured, in order to better meet the needs of service users and the demands of the contract. We have employed additional staff within the Support Hub, and allocated more resources to the management and development of Equalities initiatives.

Support Hub activity Organisational development support Voscur’s Support Hub service provides organisational development support, information and training for Bristol’s Voluntary and Community Sector groups and organisations. Support is provided under the following headings.(1*) 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)

Funding and financial stability Service provision Managing your organisation (strategic planning) Managing people Developing skills Physical resources and environmental impact Influencing

Typical Support Hub customers have an income of less than £50,000 per year, are new and emerging groups meeting an identified need in the community, providing services in Bristol’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, led by and/or providing services to equalities communities, interested in bidding for public service contracts or are in crisis.

The Support Hub service is delivered by a team of staff skilled in training, fundraising, governance, commissioning, equalities, the Compact and organisational development. In addition, the service is extended by our contracted partner agencies: Social Enterprise Works (providing business planning and social enterprise advice); Ethical Property Foundation (providing property advice); Avon and Bristol Law Centre (providing advice on legal structures and constitutions); and Volunteer Bristol (providing advice on volunteer management and placement of volunteers).

(1*) Performance Domains as described in the VCS Support Service contract; we use the term ‘area of development’ in our communications with VCS groups.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 This year the Support Hub provided intensive capacity building to 58 groups; 32 of these were BME led and 14 provided services to Children and Young People. Additionally, the Support Hub reported 579 instances of achievement of significant improvement by individual VCS groups within a single performance domain (listed above).

Open training programme, Kick-start and Locality training The Support Hub service is delivered by a team of staff skilled in training, fundraising, governance, commissioning, equalities, the Compact and organisational development. In addition, the service is extended by our contracted partner agencies: Social Enterprise Works (providing business planning and social enterprise advice); Ethical Property Foundation (providing property advice); Avon and Bristol Law Centre (providing advice on legal structures and constitutions); and Volunteer Bristol (providing advice on volunteer management and placement of volunteers).

We offered 1392 learning opportunities at 38 training/learning events; 995 places were taken up; of the 899 participants who completed evaluation forms 739 reported increased skills or capacity.

Information services All of our activities are underpinned by our information services: websites, a quarterly magazine, weekly e-bulletins, and social media.

86,318 unique visitors accessed the Voscur website between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013, which received an impressive 1,522,150 page-views.

Our quarterly magazine, Thrive!, was sent to 560 VCS organisations in 2012/13; of these 204 (36%) were groups with an income of under ÂŁ10,000, 70 Bristol City Councillors, all public libraries, a number of public sector partners, regional and national VCS umbrella bodies, and a number of external stakeholders.

Subscriptions to our weekly VCS e-bulletin in 2012/13 have risen to 2114 (an increase of 22% from 2011/12). From April 2012 - March 2013 the e-bulletin had 16,100 tracked opens and 55,860 click-throughs.

During 2012/13 the number of Twitter followers has reached 1199 compared with 493 in 2012 (an increase of 143%).

The number of YouTube views of our videos between April 2012 - March 2013 reached 2520.

The top viewed videos were on a CYP Network meeting presentation on Safeguarding, a presentation on the Bristol e-procurement system, and videos on the PCC and Mayoral election.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 Equalities activities A significant number of Equalities-led organisations are Voscur members; these organisations are prioritised in Support Hub delivery, as are groups working in deprived neighbourhoods.

As at 31 March 2013, Voscur membership groups self-identified as: BME led 83 LGB led 12 Women led 43 Children and Young People led 45

Disabled people led 45 Older people led 28 Faith led 30 Transgender led 2

Additionally, from time to time we undertake targeted work with specific communities.

BME Community Connector Following the closure of the local B.M.E. led infrastructure organisation in 2011, in partnership with Bristol City Council and the Legacy Commission Voscur set up a steering group comprising local BME led VCS organisations, individuals and statutory sector partners. The group commissioned independent research into the needs of Black and Minority Ethnic communities in Bristol. Recommendations from the report have been taken forward into an action plan that will be delivered by a Community Connector employed by Voscur and hosted by a local BME led organisation. The Community Connector is now in post and will be based at Ujima Radio.

Deaf Transitional Work Voscur responded to a request to support Deaf people in Bristol by working with Deaf people to explore and identify the needs, aspirations and outcomes that need to be addressed in order to help Bristol City Council work out what it should commission in the future for Deaf people and those with a significant hearing impairment. The project also provided short-term focused support to the Deaf Community through a time of change. This was an ambitious and challenging project that we achieved through linking it to our Voice and Influence team, and Equalities and Support Hub trainers. As at March 2013, the final report from the project is in draft; however this work has already led to two expressions of interest for follow up projects.

Voice & Influence activities The past year has seen significant change in decision-making structures in the city. The referendum and subsequent election of the city’s first Directly Elected Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner, the creation of the new Health and Wellbeing Board and Clinical Commissioning Group and the ongoing commissioning processes have each led to challenges for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations. Throughout these changes the Voscur’s Voice and Influence Service has supported and facilitated VCS organisations to ensure that their voices and views are heard and that they have been strategically involved in influencing the new decision makers and decision making structures.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 Our Voice and influence work is reported on comprehensively in our Influence Achieved (2*) report - this demonstrates how the Voice and Influence team has supported the VCS to have strategic influence during 2012/13. Examples in the report include how:  

 

the VCS has influenced the roll-out of self directed care (personalised budgets) through a VCS working group; the VCS has influenced the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, with particular targeted effort to ensure the views of equalities groups and those working with CYP groups and in the area of H&SC have been engaged; the Troubled Families (TF) programme has been informed by VCS involvement through a VCS stakeholder reference group and VCS representatives on the TF steering group; the VCS has engaged with and influenced the newly elected Mayor of Bristol and Police and Crime Commissioner, influencing their priorities and the role they see for the VCS.

Assembly Our annual survey shows that there is high awareness of respondents about the work of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Assembly, with high awareness of Assembly and Network meeting (averaging 80%), Special information and consultation meetings/events (85%), Website and e-information (92%), with slightly lower awareness of the work of VCS Advocates (63%), V&I reports and publications (60%), and the work of the Bristol Compact officer (52%).

Police Crime Commissioner The introduction of directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC's) were included as part of the coalition government’s agreement in 2010. The introduction of these important new decision making roles provided an opportunity for VCS organisations to engage with candidates and the PCC election process. Voscur was awarded a small grant from the Home Office to lead the development of a Safer Future Communities Network for Avon and Somerset to inform VCS organisations and groups about the introduction of PCC's and help engage them with the PCC candidates.

Mayoral elections Voscur worked with partners (including neighbourhood VCS organisations, community radio stations, and Further and Higher Education institutions) to hold four 'Question Time' events with the Mayoral candidates. Each event was held in an area of the city where voter turnout in the mayoral referendum had been low. More than 1,000 people attended the events which were promoted by working closely with local voluntary and community organisations, through the distribution of postcards and posters.

(2*) http://www.voscur.org/reports

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 Restorative Justice The Voice and Influence service worked with Avon and Somerset Probation Trust and Safer Bristol to secure additional funding (from the Home Office ‘Innovative Partnerships Fund’) to deliver the Restorative Bristol Conference in December 2012 (3*). The conference involved 100 delegates from VCS, public and private sector organisations. The event was attended by the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Mayor of Bristol, both of whom gave their support to making Bristol a ‘Restorative City’.

Neighbourhoods and Communities Network This network brings together groups working at a local community level in Bristol and particularly engages groups who are active in their local neighbourhood partnership. During this year, network members raised a number of issues and concerns about the role and function of Neighbourhood Partnerships. The Voice and Influence service convened a working group of groups and residents involved with Neighbourhood Partnerships to look at how they could be improved. The working group produced a report with 29 recommendations that was presented to Bristol Councillors, and to candidates for the Mayor and PCC election. In response to the working group’s report, Bristol City Council officers agreed to action many of the report’s recommendations. Following the election the new Mayor initiated a wide review of Neighbourhood Partnerships.

Health & Social Care Network Building on the work of our recently established health and social care network, Voscur led the successful Bristol bid to be one of 12 'Building Health Partnership' (BHP) pilot areas. Building Health Partnerships is a learning programme designed to improve collaboration between Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) and local voluntary and community organisations and social enterprise sector. This network has supported the VCS in influencing the roll-out of self directed care (personalised budgets) through a VCS working group; and the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, with particular targeted effort to ensure the views of Equalities groups have been heard.

Children & Young People’s Organisations Network The introduction of the government’s payment by results (PbR) Troubled Families Programme, raised many questions from VCS organisations working with families being targeted by the programme. The network has helped to clarify and allay many of the VCS concerns. The network has also supported groups in responding to the Bristol Youth Links Commissioning process. This process highlighted the fact that many groups needed support with safeguarding issues. The CYP Network co-ordinator compiled a checklist/safeguarding tool for VCS groups to use, which was cross-checked with Bristol City Council Safeguarding Policy and Projects Officer, BAND and PEYTU. In addition to developing the safeguarding tool, a training course has been organised for VCS groups on writing a safeguarding policy. Working with the Avonsafe partnership which focuses on child safety, particularly accident prevention, a training session on preventing child injury was organised.

(3*) http://www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk/restorativebristolconference

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 Community Learning Network Voscur supported VCS organisations to engage with the West of England bid to become a Community Learning Trust and partnered with Bristol City Council’s Community Learning Team to develop a project to support VCS involvement in the new Community Learning Trust.

Partnerships Compact Liaison Voscur continues to host the Compact Liaison Officer. This work is overseen by the Compact Partners Group, (a cross-sector board comprising statutory and VCS representatives).

Commissioning and contracting* remains a concern for Bristol VCS organisations and much of the Compact Liaison Officer’s work has been advocating for and supporting VCS groups within generic commissioning activity and specific commissioning processes. This has included meeting with Councillors and officers, planning, organising and participating in joint events for VCS organisations and commissioners, providing one-to-one support for organisations and maintaining an up-to-date, informative website.

Volunteer Bristol Following the joint work on our BASIS 2 project that came to an end in March 2012, Volunteer Bristol commissioned Voscur to develop a plan that would ensure the sustainability of the training programme that had been developed as part of the BASIS 2 project.

University of Bristol Proving Our Value, Voscur's three-year knowledge partnership with the University of Bristol and South West Forum, has continued to develop towards the production of an impact measurement tool this year. Throughout 2012 a total of 54 members participated in the research phase of the work. This has gathered data about the extent to which groups improved (or reduced) their organisational performance and impact for beneficiaries. Once this phase is complete, the changes in performance and impact will be correlated with the level of support organisations received from Voscur. This will indicate how far Voscur's input contributed towards increasing members' impact, and put an economic value on this contribution. The final phase of the project, in 2013, will focus on turning the research methodology into a practical tool that can be used by other infrastructure organisations. *partnership development, financial risk, T.U.P.E., communication about commissioning intentions and commissioning cycles, unrealistic timescales, breaking down contracts into smaller lots, allowing room for innovation, and lack of awareness by commissioners of the challenges faced by smaller organisations.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 Activities and review of the year Governance and management We have strengthened and improved Voscur’s governance, offered Media and Equality and Diversity training to board and staff members, held a joint board and staff development day, and established a sustainability sub-group comprising board and staff members. We have submitted a file of evidence to NAVCA (our umbrella and accrediting body) who have audited our work before renewing our NAVCA Quality Mark, which we first achieved in 2008.

Charity registration Following a period of consultation, legal advice and an extraordinary general meeting, Voscur registered as a charity in August 2012. Voscur has operated for some time as if it were a charity, so registration will not make a significant difference to its operations. However, funders will be reassured in that there is an additional level of reporting and higher standard of governance required for registered charities. Charitable status offers Voscur additional fundraising opportunities.

Voscur and Volunteer Bristol Almost two years after discussions first began about the possibility of joining forces to form a stronger and more responsive support organisation, (and having followed a number of due diligence processes), Volunteer Bristol and Voscur held Extraordinary General Meetings in July 2013 and sought the support of their members to merge into one organisation. This work has been facilitated by a grant from the Esmee Fairburn Trust’s merger fund. With the approval of their respective memberships, the organisations aim to merge in October 2013.

Pro bono supporters It is important that we recognise the pro bono support that has been offered during the past year. Voscur has established excellent relationships across all sectors and greatly values the partnership working that enhances and adds considerable value to our work with VCS organisations in Bristol.

Our Focus in 2013-14 Future funding strategy Voscur has retained the post of Business Development Officer who has continued to work with the Chief Executive to develop income generation activities, and respond to funding and investment opportunities. In February 2013 Bristol City Council commissioners committed to a 2 year extension of the Infrastructure Support Services Contract (to March 2016) subject to successful renegotiation of Key Performance Indicators. Voscur has developed relationships with key new structures and is conscious of the importance of developing and fostering relationships with potential partners from all sectors. The Local Enterprise Partnership and the potential for working in partnership with organisations across the West of England provide new opportunities for Voscur and its members.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 Reserves policy Voscur has a reserves policy of £115,000 based on core operating costs. The resources subcommittee, in accordance with guidance from Voscur’s auditors, reviews the level of reserves annually. This was reviewed by the resources committee in May 2013. Voscur has transferred £5,000 to its contingency reserve to increase its reserve figure to £96,000 and will continue to build its reserves to reflect its reserves policy figure. Voscur also seeks to maintain sufficient unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets to cover funding shortfalls or interruption to normal operating activities.

Members of the board of Trustees and their interests Members of the board of Trustees, who are Directors for the purpose of company law, who served during the year and since the year-end were as follows: Max Beseke Richard Pendlebury Steph Mustoe Paul Hazelden ) Paul Hazelden ) Anna Smith Joanna Holmes Frances Fox Abdullahi Farah Poku Osei Philip Parry Hen Wilkinson Mike Zeidler

Chair Chair Treasurer interim Treasurer Vice-Chair Vice-Chair

until 26 September 2012 from 26 September 2012 from 05 September 2012 until 05 September 2012

from 26 September 2012 until 27 February 2013 from 26 September 2012

Members of the company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the company in the event of a winding up. The total number of members with such guarantees at 31 March 2013 were 495 (2012 - 485) with 78 new joiners, 179 free members and 68 leavers (including non-paid) during the year. Members of the board of Trustees and staff have signed declarations of interest in the organisation and a register of any interests is kept.

Statement of the board of Trustees’ responsibilities The board of Trustees who are also directors for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable Company law requires the board of Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the board of Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the board of Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and the profit or loss of the company for that period.

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Voscur Limited Report of the board of directors For the year ended 31 March 2013 In preparing these financial statements, the board of Trustees are required to:    

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and accounting 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; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in operation.

The board of Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company 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 company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The board of Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Each of the board of Trustees confirms that to the best of his/her knowledge there is no information relevant to the audit of which the auditors are unaware. Each of the board of Trustees also confirms that he/she has taken all necessary steps to ensure that he/she is aware of all relevant audit information and that this information has been communicated to the The board of Trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Auditors Sayer Vincent were re-appointed as the company's auditors during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the board of Trustees on 4 September 2013 and signed on its behalf by

Richard Pendlebury - Chair

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Independent auditors' report To the members of Voscur Limited We have audited the financial statements of Voscur Limited for the year ended 31 March 2013 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, balance sheet and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members 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 charitable company and the charitable company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and auditors As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the charitable company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the trustees; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the trustees’ report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on financial statements In our opinion the financial statements: •

• •

give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2013 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended; have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

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Independent auditors' report To the members of Voscur Limited Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 In our opinion the information given in the report of the board of directors for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: • • • • •

adequate accounting records have not been kept or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies exemption in preparing the trustees’ report

Catherine L Sayer (Senior statutory auditor) 1 October 2013 for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent, Statutory Auditors Sayer Vincent, 8 Angel Gate, City Road, LONDON EC1V 2SJ

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Voscur Limited Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2013

Restricted Note £

Unrestricted £

2013 Total £

2012 Total £

2

729 -

200 35,885 75

200 36,614 75

494 34,102 78

3 4 5 6 7

36,427 7,990 41,333

247,382 81,088 16,124 142,818 -

247,382 81,088 52,551 150,808 41,333

244,236 87,088 19,657 142,839 40,494

86,479

523,572

610,051

568,988

-

27,207

27,207

16,257

30,090 10,573 44,175

252,174 86,458 13,932 147,600 -

252,174 86,458 44,022 158,173 44,175

231,590 85,032 21,403 138,978 41,695

299

5,737

6,036

6,070

85,137

533,108

618,245

541,026

(Deficit)/Surplus for the year before tax 9 and transfers

1,342

(9,536)

(8,194)

27,962

Transfers

8,937

(8,937)

-

-

10,279

(18,473)

(8,194)

27,962

1,025

141,489

142,514

114,552

11,304

123,016

134,320

142,514

Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds

Voluntary income Activities for generating funds Investment income Incoming resources from charitable activities Support Hub activity Information services Equalities activities Voice & Influence activities Partnerships Total incoming resources

Resources expended 8 Costs of generating funds: Costs of generating voluntary income Charitable activities Support Hub activity Information services Equalities activities Voice & Influence activities Partnerships Governance costs Total resources expended

Net movement in funds Funds at the start of the year Funds at the end of the year

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All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 15 to the financial statements.

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Voscur Limited Company No. 3918210

Balance sheet 31 March 2013

Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand

Creditors: amounts due within 1 year

2013 £

2012 £

Note

£

11

57,014 135,259

49,695 131,071

192,273

180,766

57,953

38,252

12

Net current assets

134,320

142,514

Net assets

134,320

142,514

11,304

1,025

99,878 23,138

102,987 38,502

134,320

142,514

Funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Designated funds General funds

14

Total funds

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the board of directors on 4 September 2013 and signed on its behalf by

Richard Pendlebury - Chair

17

Voscur Limited Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2013 1.

Accounting policies

a)

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Companies Act 2006. They follow the recommendations in the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005).

The accounting policies have been applied consistently.

b)

The charitable company is dependent on receiving future funding from key providers. At the current time, the management team and the directors are in negotiations with key funders. The directors are confident these negotiations will be successful and accordingly have prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis.

c)

All income is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable and measurable with accuracy. Income is deferred if it has been received but relates to a specific future period or is dependent upon conditions to be fulfilled by the organisation.

d)

Grants, including grants for the purchase of fixed assets, are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are receivable. Grants receivable are only recognised when any conditions for receipt have been complied with.

e)

Contractual income and performance related grant income are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the related goods or services have been delivered.

f)

Income from other activities such as membership or training are included in the Statement of Financial Activities once the related goods or services have been delivered.

g)

Resources expended are recognised in the year in which they are incurred. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.

h)

Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred and are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned on the basis of staff time spent on each activity. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.

i)

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the company's objects at the discretion of the board of management.

j)

Designated funds are funds set aside by the board of management out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects.

k)

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the company. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.

l)

The organisation from time to time may need to transfer funds between funders. These transfers are usually made between funds that finance the project or where restricted funds are in a deficit and funds are transferred from unrestricted funds.

18

Voscur Limited Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2013 1.

Accounting policies (continued)

m) The organisation offers a defined contribution scheme offering 7% of gross pay towards either Voscur's group personal pension plan or employees' personal pension plans. The cost of providing pension and related benefits is charged to the income and expenditure account within staff costs. n)

Under FRS 1, the company is exempt from the requirement to prepare a cash flow statement on the grounds of its size.

2.

Activities for generating funds

BNHC consortium Facilitation/training income Newsletter/website income Membership income Reimbursement of costs

3.

Unrestricted £ 7,150 13,453 14,638 644

2013 Total £ 729 7,150 13,453 14,638 644

2012 Total £ 5,224 5,604 12,201 11,073 -

729

35,885

36,614

34,102

Restricted £ -

Unrestricted £ 220,462 20,400 6,520 -

2013 Total £ 220,462 20,400 6,520 -

2012 Total £ 220,462 16,054 7,720

-

247,382

247,382

244,236

Restricted £ -

Unrestricted £ 81,088 -

2013 Total £ 81,088 -

2012 Total £ 81,088 1,000 5,000

-

81,088

81,088

87,088

Support Hub activity

Bristol City Council - ISSP Training income ChYP Business Support Facilitation & Support

4.

Restricted £ 729 -

Information services

Bristol City Council - ISSP Voluntary Value - SWF Connecting Bristol

19

Voscur Limited Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2013 5.

Bristol City Council - ISSP BCC/Neighbourhoods - BME BCC/H&SC - Centre for Deaf Facilitation/Training income BCC/Neighbourhoods - BME

6.

Restricted £ 12,292 24,135 -

Unrestricted £ 13,657 2,467 -

2013 Total £ 13,657 12,292 24,135 2,467 -

2012 Total £ 13,657 6,000

36,427

16,124

52,551

19,657

Restricted £ 4,910 3,080

Unrestricted £ 138,589 -

2013 Total £ 138,589 4,910 3,080

2012 Total £ 138,589 3,000

-

1,000 1,729 1,500

1,000 1,729 1,500

1,250

7,990

142,818

150,808

142,839

Restricted £ 5,312 10,221

Unrestricted £ -

2013 Total £ 5,312 10,221

2012 Total £ 17,367 -

7,800 18,000 -

-

7,800 18,000 -

4,547 18,000 580

41,333

-

41,333

40,494

Equalities activities

Voice & Influence activities

Bristol City Council - ISSP Community Learning Service navca - Police Crime Avon & Somerset Police Restorative Justice Quartet CLinks

7.

Partnerships

Lottery - BASIS II - Volunteer Esmee Fairbairn University of Bristol - Proving our Value Bristol Compact Facilitation

20

Voscur Limited Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2013 8. Total resources expended Cost of generating funds

Support Hub activities

Information services

Equalities activities

Voice & Influence activites

£

£

£

£

£

Staff costs (Note 10) Research & developments Training programme Recruitment fees Travel Training & Conference Attendance fee Meeting costs Bursaries Library resources Subscriptions/memberships Advisors support Rent Telephones Office stationery Photocopying Postage/carriage IT costs Grants payable Professional fees Newsletter and directory Office equipment, hire & maintenance Insurance & legal fees Audit & accountancy Bank charges Miscellaneous

13,084 430 2,604 1,309 1,079 2,890 16 277 1,669 255 287 130 195 706 303 636 540 693 104 -

168,996 688 18,111 950 649 2,874 2,300 494 326 4,910 10,525 1,761 1,581 791 1,158 4,435 28,046 216 502 1,231 1,367 263 -

65,651 299 119 265 494 601 182 592 3,768 617 583 294 434 1,684 89 9,750 439 508 89 -

33,753 221 180 568 728 34 502 23 107 4,895 197 337 252 444 468 23 310 848 116 16 -

Total resources expended

27,207

252,174

86,458

44,022

21

Governance Costs

2013 Total

2012 Total

£

£

£

£

126,876 426 141 985 251 10,718 254 1,038 6,673 1,091 1,035 521 750 2,752 160 2,669 778 897 158 -

33,084 358 64 331 283 276 243 1,414 221 214 215 162 986 4,798 244 553 697 32 -

164 340 5,532 -

441,444 2,422 21,219 568 4,732 3,130 17,861 2,300 510 1,305 6,647 28,944 4,142 4,037 2,203 3,143 11,031 28,046 5,589 14,111 4,389 4,278 5,532 662 -

397,007 19,578 12,402 1,133 3,216 (6,000) 7,326 2,160 488 2,021 1,750 27,079 2,906 2,548 1,043 2,399 9,180 28,339 6,329 6,221 2,669 3,881 6,314 598 439

158,173

44,175

6,036

618,245

541,026

Partnerships

Voscur Limited Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2013 9.

(Deficit)/Surplus for the year This is stated after charging / crediting:

Board of directors' remuneration Board of directors' reimbursed expenses * Operating lease rentals:  Property Auditors' remuneration:  Audit  Taxation services

2013 £

2012 £

504

459

28,944

27,079

5,532 660

5,400 850

2013 £

2012 £

376,110 27,883 24,608 12,843

315,617 28,825 21,575 30,990

441,444

397,007

400,718

337,192

2013 No.

2012 No.

2.40 7.34 3.48

3.50 4.40 2.96

13.22

10.86

* 7 trustees received reimbursements for expenses 10. Staff costs and numbers Staff costs were as follows: Salaries and wages Social security costs Pension contributions Non-salary staff costs

Total emoluments paid to staff were: No member of staff earned remuneration over £60,000.

The average weekly number of employees (full-time equivalent) during the year was as follows:

Management Projects Administration

22

Voscur Limited Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2013 11. Debtors

Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income

12. Creditors: amounts due within one year

Trade creditors Accruals Advance income Other taxation & social security VAT

13. Operating lease commitments The company has annual commitments under operating leases as follows: Expiring within one year 1 - 2 Years

2013 £

2012 £

46,270 10,744

33,434 16,261

57,014

49,695

2013 £

2012 £

13,197 7,050 11,875 6,040 19,791

2,939 5,400 4,712 25,201

57,953

38,252

Property 2013 £

Property 2012 £

19,101 -

21,376

19,101

21,376

14. Movements in funds 31 March 1 April Incoming Outgoing 2012 resources resources Transfers 2013 £ £ £ £ £ Restricted funds: Centre for Deaf Transitional Work Bristol City Council Compact Liaison: Bristol City Council BME Community Connector Bristol City Council Esmee Fairbairn Proving Our Value - University of Bristol Volunteering Bristol BASIS II Community Learning Network Comminity Learning Service Infrastructure Support Service Project Police Crime Commissioning - SCF/Navca Green Volunteering - BHNC Total restricted funds

-

24,135

(21,784)

-

2,351

-

18,000

(26,109)

8,109

-

-

12,292 10,221 7,800 5,312

(8,308) (5,252) (7,800) (5,312)

-

3,984 4,969 -

-

4,910

(4,910)

-

-

2,100 (1,075) 1,025

3,080 729 86,479

(5,662) (85,137)

482 346 8,937

11,304

Purposes of restricted funds Funds are restricted by each project's funder, and the funds are used for the purposes described in the directors' report.

The transfer included in restricted funds has arisen due to more being spent than was received.

23

Voscur Limited Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2013 14. Movements in funds (continued) 1 April Incoming Outgoing 31 March 2012 resources resources Transfers 2013 £ £ £ £ £ Unrestricted funds: Designated funds: Infrastructure Support Service Project - Bristol City Council - Support Hub Plus - ChYP Business Support Infrastructure Support Service Project - Quartet Community Foundation - Clinks - Innovation Partnerships - Avon & Somerset Police Restorative Compact Liaison: Bristol PCT Contingency reserve

-

453,796

(482,894)

29,098

-

-

6,520

(6,520)

-

-

-

1,729 1,500 1,000

(1,729) (1,500) (1,000)

-

-

11,987 91,000

-

-

(8,109) 5,000

3,878 96,000

102,987

464,545

(493,643)

25,989

99,878

38,502

59,027

(39,465)

(34,926)

23,138

Total unrestricted funds

141,489

523,572

(533,108)

(8,937)

123,016

Total funds

142,514

610,051

(618,245)

-

134,320

Total designated funds General funds

Voscur has transferred £5,000 to its contingency reserve to increase that reserve to £96k.

Voscur has transferred (£8,109) to support its work under Partnerships for Compact Liaison Voscur has transferred £29,098 from its general funds to support the work of the Bristol City Council's Infrastructure Support Service Project (ISSP)

24