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Oct 2024
Harrogate community action group reports surplus — but warns of financial uncertainty
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Harrogate and District Community Action, which supports more than 200 voluntary organisations, recorded a surplus of £42,879 in its latest accounts.
But the organisation's income fell and staff numbers reduced by four amid mounting funding uncertainty.
HADCA revealed its results for the financial year ending March 31, 2024 at its annual general meeting in Harrogate on Thursday. About 100 stakeholders attended.
Income declined from £506,421 in 2023 to £463,186. Expenditure went down from £470,222 to £420,307 over the same period.
The organisation, which is based at Community House on East Parade, still benefits from a strategic grant pledged by Harrogate Borough Council before its abolition last year. But this is due to end in April 2025 and North Yorkshire Council has yet to reveal what financial support, if any, it will offer then.
Victoria Oldham, chair of HADCA's finance committee, told the meeting its members “pick the pieces when other people don’t have the resources or the on-the-pavement knowledge” but the organisation would have made a loss and had to dip into its reserves this year if it hadn’t been for an unexpected legacy donation.
She said HADCA was having to “cut our cloth to make the books balance”, adding:
It’s not going to be as easy ride in the coming months and years but if we stick together I’m sure we can make it happen.
A Community Fit volunteer speaking at the meeting.
Delegates at the meeting.
Chief executive Frances Elliot said the organisation was “working on sustainability and looking for new ways to raise income”.
HADCA's 200-plus members range from Macmillan Cancer Support and Nidderdale Plus to Starbeck Community Library.
Some of those who benefit from its work spoke at the meeting, including Community Fit, which organises weekly sessions where volunteers in bright orange combine gentle running or walking together with some form of community activity, and The Power of 10 initiative in Ripon in which young people aged up to 18 take part in volunteering.
HADCA's accounts can be viewed here.
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