NATIONAL_CRIMEBEAT - Accounts

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019).

The charity’s objectives are as follows:

• to promote for the public benefit, and in particular for the young and for the elderly, in England and Wales a safer and increased quality of life through the prevention of crime and the protection of people of all ages and property from criminal acts and anti-social behaviour;

• to secure the advancement of education, particularly amongst those between the ages of five years and twenty-five years of age but also for the public benefit generally, in all matters relating to crime and to anti-social behaviour.

The Trustees have encouraged High Sheriffs in England and Wales to find new schemes in their counties. Whether or not there is an existing Crimebeat or other High Sheriff Award scheme, youth groups who are running suitable projects can apply to their High Sheriff for support and nomination for an award.

The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Very successful annual Awards Ceremonies continue to be held, but in March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic caused the usual Awards Ceremony in London to be cancelled. Instead, many counties arranged their own local award ceremonies at which the recipients of prizes received them on behalf of National Crimebeat. A National Crimebeat Trustees attended as many of those ceremonies as possible.

Projects should have a beneficial effect on the community outside the group. They should be aimed either at directly reducing crime or anti-social behaviour, or preventing them. Projects have to be established and running with benefits being achieved.

Awards are given to qualifying projects delivered by youth groups in two categories as outlined below:

YOUTH LED, where the project was devised and delivered by young people and where the young people were responsible for managing the delivery of the project;

ADULT LED, where the project was devised by adults, but where the young people have a significant role in the management and delivery of the project.

Out of the 37 submissions from 17 counties, prizes were awarded for Youth Led (first, second and third), Adult Led (first, second and third), and an award by the High Sheriff’s Association of England and Wales for the project which would be both replicable in other counties and which could continue for years to come. Details are in the tables below.

As previously stated, the National Crimebeat Awards Ceremony was cancelled at short notice due to the COVID-19 situation, as many police authorities and local councils had stopped all non-essential travel. Even though the Awards Ceremony was due to take place before the national lockdown was announced, the decision to cancel was, in hindsight, the correct and responsible decision.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Charity was held on the 17 November via ZOOM due to the continuing COVID-19 restrictions. At the AGM, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, which is incorporated into the Company’s Articles of Association, all the Trustees and Members of the Company reviewed that Articles of Association and decided not to recommend any changes.

The main achievement of the charity during the year was to give recognition to young people who come up with schemes to beat crime and anti-social behaviour through its Annual Awards.

The Charity received £6,600 in donations and gave out £4,500 in awards. The expenses incurred by the charity were £1,272.79.

National Crimebeat Award Winners 2020

Youth Led

Winner         Clwyd & Gwynedd        Sharing Stories Sharing Strength

Runner Up     Derbyshire        Targeting Substance Abuse in Young People

Third         Merseyside        Savera UK Youth

Adult Led

Winner        Berkshire            Reading Community Court

Runners Up     Mid Glamorgan        OPSCEPTRE Operation Canary    

Third        West Yorkshire        Community Jam

Hugh Burnett Award

As there were no presentations ‘in person’ this award was unable to be made this year.

High Sheriffs’ Association Award

Mid Glamorgan        OPCANARY

The Statement of Financial Activities on page 6 shows that resources retained for future use at 31 December 2020 amount to £25,270 (2019 - £24,443). Reserves are held to fund the activity of the charity and for making grants to qualifying charitable projects.

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

National Crimebeat is a registered charity, number 1068034, and a company limited by guarantee and is therefore governed by its Articles of Association and has no share capital.

The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:

Mr A J Rayment was appointed as Secretary and Treasurer of National Crimebeat as from 17 November 2020 in place of Mr D C F Jones DL who had held that position for the previous six years.

The Trustees have discussed the skills and experience required for the appointment of new Trustees, any appointment of which is always confirmed at the AGM. Mr Andrew Tuggey was appointed as a Trustee. The Trustees were assisted for a third year in the judging of awards by His Honour Shaun Lyons CBE.

The Trustees shall consist, when complete, of a minimum of four competent persons appointed as follows:

• The Chairman of Trustees who shall be a member of the High Sheriffs’ Association and who shall be nominated and appointed for a term of three years by the Council of the Association according to the ordinary practice of the Association and whom the Council of the Association can change at any time for the remainder of the term of the Trustee being replaced, and;

• A minimum of three and no maximum of other Trustees who may but need not be members of the Association who shall be appointed for a term of three years at an Annual General Meeting or Special Meeting of the Trustees of the Charity that is to say until the third Annual General Meeting after the one at which they were appointed. When Trustees are appointed at a Special Meeting of Trustees their appointment will be confirmed at the next Annual General Meeting.

• Trustees may be reappointed at an Annual General Meeting for one further term of three years. Any further period of appointment must be proposed by the Chairman and approved by the Trustees at an Annual General Meeting.

• The Trustees may admit to meetings such advisors as are helpful to the objects and business of the Charity. The Chairman of the Association is an ex-officio advisor who shall receive all notices, agendas and minutes which are received ordinarily by the Trustees, and has a right to attend all meetings and may comment but not vote.

None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.

The Trustees, who are also the directors of National Crimebeat 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.

Independent examiner

Rob Hall FCA, Mitchell Charlesworth LLP, was appointed examiner for the current period and has been re-appointed for the ensuing year.

The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 6 to 13.

The charity’s Trustees, who are also the directors of National Crimebeat for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

examine the financial statements under section 145 of the 2011 Act;

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and

to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities;

to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn 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 company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 December 2020.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

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

National Crimebeat is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 24 Nicholas Street, Chester, CH1 2AU.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

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 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.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

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 receipts 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.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

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.

Award Costs

Insurance

No Trustees were reimbursed during the year (£Nil) (2019 - £Nil) for travelling expenses incurred undertaking board related duties.

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2019 - none).

The charity had no debt during the year.