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← Homeless People And The Oxford Churches(gatehouse)

2025-12-31-accounts

Charity Number: 1002741

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Accounts

for the year ended 31st December 2025

Wenn Townsend

Chartered Accountants

Oxford

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Contents

Page
Trustees’ annual report 1 - 7
Independent examiner’s report 8
Statement of financial activities 9
Balance sheet 10
Notes to the financial statements 11 - 24

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Reference and administrative information

Charity Number

1002741

Trustees

(who served since 1st January 2025)

Mr Michael Crofton-Briggs (resigned 7 October 2025)
Dr Catherine Dolbear (resigned 14 June 2025)
Ms Deidre Garson
Sir Brendan Gormley
Mr Rupert Sheppard
Ms Elizabeth Wade - Chair
Mr John Davis
Ms Alexandra Salisbury (appointed 14 June 2025)
Mr Timothy Grier (appointed 7 October 2025)
Mr Riki Therivel (appointed 7 October 2025)
Dr Neo Tapela (appointed 7 October 2025)
Dr Jane Jana (appointed 7 October 2025)
Project CEO Ms Sasha East
Operations Manager Ms Zoe Wright
Principal Office Saint Giles Parish Rooms
10 Woodstock Road
Oxford
OX2 6HT
Investment Managers Quilter Cheviot Ltd
85 Queen Victoria Street
London
EC4 4AB
Bankers CAF Bank Ltd
25 Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ
Independent Examiner L J Baker FCA
Wenn Townsend
30 St Giles
Oxford
OX1 3LE 
1

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Trustees’ Report

for the year ended 31st December 2025

Trustees’ Annual Report

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Charity’s Declaration of Trust, the Charities Act 2011 and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities.

Objectives and activities for public benefit

The Gatehouse is an award-winning community drop-in centre supporting adults who are homeless, vulnerably housed, on low incomes, or seeking connection and community. We offer open access to practical support and meaningful companionship for guests who often face barriers leading to marginalisation and isolation. By providing pragmatic advice from experienced individuals who understand the system and functional resources, we believe that our work contributes to reducing homelessness. We help our guests move into new accommodation and work with individuals to retain tenancies when accommodation is at risk.

Originally launched in 1988 by Oxford City Churches as a winter shelter, the Gatehouse quickly evolved into a broader support hub due to the increased need for day services among those experiencing homelessness. The Gatehouse has operated as an independent registered charity since 1991 under the official name Homeless People and the Oxford Churches (Gatehouse) (Charity No. 1002741). It is governed by a Deed of Trust.

Our approach to supporting our guests is rooted in listening, consultation and co-production. Guests play a central role in shaping decisions and developing services tailored to their needs. Many guests are unwilling to disclose personal information due to past trauma, mistrust of services or fear of negative consequences. The Gatehouse therefore operates a “no-questions-asked” model to remove barriers to access for people experiencing homelessness. Consistent patterns of use, established referral routes and our central location provide us with confidence that those accessing the service are experiencing significant hardship. Alongside this we continue to work to strengthen the evidencing of need.

Oxford is facing a deepening housing crisis. Between January and March 2025, the number of households in the city threatened with homelessness more than doubled—from 62 to 131—a stark contrast to a national 4.5% decline over the same period. With average monthly rents recorded as being the highest outside London, Oxford’s cost pressures compound the challenge. The dramatic rise in homelessness and poverty in Oxford reinforces our commitment to listen, learn and respond to the evolving needs of those we serve.

Our approach

We seek to ensure that our services remain relevant and focused by listening to our guests and involving them in decision making. We aim to encourage and empower personal progress, grounded in responsiveness, inclusivity, compassion, and respect. 

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Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Trustees’ Report (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

Service Offerings

Throughout 2025, the Gatehouse delivered essential services including the following:

Community Centre and Café

The Community Centre and Café is a vital guest and volunteer led service. In 2025, we worked alongside 696 named guests and 150 anonymous guests, providing a safe, welcoming space for connection and support.

Key services including Casework support, shower and clothing provision and practical assistance to reduce fuel and food poverty for hundreds of individuals, are embedded within the Community Centre and Cafe. During the year, our records indicate that we provided:

Workshops and Activities

Practical, and purpose-driven workshops continued to run during opening hours, shaped by guest input. These included IT support clinics, mental health and wellbeing sessions and creative writing and art workshops. These help guests to develop their skills and confidence and provide community and belonging.

Volunteers: The Heart of Our Work

Our diverse volunteer team is central to delivering consistent, compassionate services and creating a strong sense of community. In 2025, we worked with 301 front-line volunteers and 300 food group volunteers who together contributed over 9,870 volunteer hours. Their commitment and varied skills ensure that the Gatehouse remains a welcoming and responsive space for all who need it.

Counselling Service

Mental health remains the most pressing barrier facing our guests and is often the hardest area to access support for through mainstream channels. In 2025, the Gatehouse doubled its counselling team, expanding both capacity and flexibility in response to this critical need.

Our trauma-informed, person-centred counselling achieves exceptional engagement with a regular waiting list. This appears to challenge misconceptions about the usefulness of therapeutic support for homeless and 

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Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Trustees’ Report (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

vulnerably housed individuals. In 2025 alone, the service supported 14 guests, delivering over 166 one-to-one counselling sessions.

We are also piloting therapeutic group sessions, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy groups, to offer additional support pathways that build resilience and community.

This growth reflects our deep commitment to making mental health care accessible as a fundamental lifeline— because no one’s need should be ignored.

One to One Casework

In 2025, our casework service continued to adapt to the growing complexity of challenges faced by our guests. Many of those we support fall through the gaps of mainstream provision—unable to access housing, welfare or financial advice through traditional routes. In response, we are developing specialist support in these areas, delivered by trusted and suitably qualified individuals who understand the realities of homelessness and vulnerability.

This service provides information, guidance, advocacy, and practical assistance in areas such as safeguarding, housing access and retention, budgeting and welfare, health and wellbeing and reducing isolation and loneliness. We also offer practical help to overcome barriers to housing.

Our goal is to offer short to medium term support that enables our guests to become independent and reintegrate into the local community with stable housing and employment.

To reach those most in need, the casework team delivers support in The Gatehouse’s Women’s Space, provides partnership work, offers dedicated sessions within the Community Centre and Café and undertakes regular Street Outreach in central Oxford.

A dedicated welfare fund continues to provide practical items that make a real difference to our guests. We can provide support ranging from essentials like mobile phone top-ups, bus passes, and ID documents to larger items such as furniture and household goods. These resources help guests deal with crises, thereby reducing homelessness, and assist moves into new accommodation or support the retention of tenancies for those at risk of homelessness.

In 2025, the casework service worked alongside 143 individuals, delivering over 2,296 recorded outcome, each representing a step toward stability and independence.

The Lived Experience Advisory Forum

The Lived Experience Advisory Forum (LEAF) remains a cornerstone of our mission to ensure that the voices of those who have experienced homelessness shape services across Oxfordshire and beyond. In 2025, we undertook a major review of LEAF, culminating in a re-launch event in July. Since then, we have introduced structured training and workshops for members, ensuring they fully understand the role and function of LEAF, the values and approach of the Gatehouse, their own role expectations, and how to deliver high-quality input when working with agencies. This investment means that when LEAF members contribute to co-production work, talks, training and feedback, agencies receive informed, consistent, and impactful insights from Experts Through Experience. This has enabled us to ensure that we are effectively harnessing the experience of people who have 

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Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Trustees’ Report (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

been homeless to drive change.

Looking ahead, we have plans to develop a new accreditation for agencies—the “LEAFmark”. This accreditation will recognise services that demonstrate they are tailored to the needs of people experiencing homelessness, setting a new standard for inclusive and responsive practice.

Throughout 2025, LEAF continued to deliver consultancy, co-production, and advocacy services, creating opportunities for members while influencing service design locally and nationally. During the year, LEAF worked with 25 members and 38 services. Our commitment is clear: lived experience must remain at the heart of service development to achieve better outcomes for all.

Our staff team

As the complexity and scale of need in Oxford continues to rise, we have taken decisive steps in 2025 to ensure our organisation is resilient and equipped to deliver the best outcomes for guests. Our aim with staffing has been to continue strengthening our team to be able to better sustain and support growing demand for our services.

Following a comprehensive review of staff roles and salaries, we have created a more stable structure that shares responsibilities across a wider team, reducing reliance on individuals and building long-term sustainability. We have also expanded on-site staffing, reducing home working to prioritise face-to-face engagement and improve service delivery.

We remain proud to employ people with lived experience, ensuring our work is informed by real understanding and empathy. Behind the scenes, our team continues to drive efficiency through robust management information systems, enabling us to remain focused on our purpose and our guests.

These changes reflect our commitment to adaptability, collaboration, and delivering the highest quality support to those who need it most.

Organisational resilience

In 2025, we strengthened the organisation of the Gatehouse, building a robust team of staff, volunteers, and trustees and preparing for the challenges ahead. This has been essential in navigating the shifting sands of funding, government and local authority policy, alongside the unique geographical pressures in Oxford, where land is costly and scarce but demand for services remains high.

A key priority has been advancing our plans to incorporate as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), providing greater security and flexibility for the future. The Charity Commission has now approved the establishment of a CIO for the Gatehouse and we have recently submitted applications to enable the transfer of assets and liabilities to the new entity.

The Gatehouse occupies the Parish Rooms at St Giles under the terms of a licence which expires at the end of 2027. We have begun the process of assessing options to remain at our current base in St Giles while also exploring relocation opportunities within the City of Oxford. 

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Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Trustees’ Report (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

Future plans

Our future focus remains on ensuring that our services are optimised to meet escalating demand while laying the foundations for long-term sustainability and impact. Our key objectives are to:

These priorities continue to be framed within a dynamic and uncertain external landscape. Our commitment is clear: to build a resilient, forward-thinking organisation that delivers exceptional outcomes for those who need us most.

Principal Sources of Funding

The Gatehouse raises funds from a wide range of sources. Our principal funders in 2025 included: Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, National Lottery Community Fund RC London & South East Region, Lloyd’s Bank Foundation for England and Wales, Oxfordshire Community Foundation, Oxford City Council, OxPAT, St Aldate’s Parochial Charity, St. Joseph’s Province Passionists, Hobson Charity, Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Freemasons. We have also received funding from local faith groups, educational establishments, businesses, individual donors, community fundraisers and supporters. We were fortunate to receive a final instalment of a legacy from the estate of Sylvia Christine Groves. We are enormously grateful to all those individuals and institutions who have supported our work in 2025.

Financial Position

The financial position of the charity is set out in the accounts. At the end of 2025 our reserves amounted to £2.123 million (2024: £2.044 million ). This made up of the permanent endowment fund (the Jacob Bobart fund) which had a capital value of £1.548 million at 31 December 2025 (2024: £1.395 million), restricted funds of £51k (2024: £94k), unrestricted funds of £438k (2024: £492k) and designated funds totalling £86k (2024: £20k). Our total funds were represented by investments of £1.551 million (2024: £1.395 million), fixed assets of £11k (2024: £20k) and net current assets of £562k (2024: £584k) which included current liabilities of £17k (2024: £25k). As of 31 December 2025, the charity had no long-term liabilities. 

6

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Trustees’ Report (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

Reserves

In 2025 the Gatehouse has met its reserves target to hold between nine to twelve months of operating costs as an unrestricted reserve fund. This target is reviewed annually by the Trustee Board considering the future plans of the charity, the certainty of future funding streams and any other key risks identified during review of the Charity’s risk register. The trustees consider it prudent to hold absolute minimum unrestricted reserves sufficient to cover six months of operating costs. At the year end the trustees resolved to transfer £75k of unrestricted reserves to a designated leasehold premises fund in recognition of the significantly increased costs associated with negotiating and entering into a lease for the premises we currently occupy under a licence at the Parish rooms at St Giles.

Investment Policy

The permanent endowment is invested to balance the needs of current and future beneficiaries. The trustees have delegated day to day investment decisions to professional fund managers Quilter Cheviot, who act on a discretionary basis as investment managers. The investment objective for the permanent endowment is to maintain the real capital value of the endowment (after inflation and fees) while generating a sustainable level of investment income to support current charitable activities. The key risk to the longer term sustainability of the permanent endowment is inflation and the assets should be invested to mitigate this risk over the long term. The trustees understand that this is likely to mean that investments will be concentrated in real assets and that capital values will fluctuate. The trustees are able to tolerate volatility of the capital value of the permanent endowment as long as the permanent endowment is able to maintain a reliable income stream. The assets of the permanent endowment can be invested widely according the general power of investment and should be diversified by asset class and by security. Asset classes could include cash, bonds, equities and property indirectly held. The charity does not acquire or use derivatives or other complex financial instruments or invest in investments associated with alcohol or armaments. In 2025, the permanent endowment generated net income after management fees of £36k (2024: £46k) while the value of the assets invested increased by a net amount of £120.6k as at 31 December 2025 (2024: £45.7k). The total return on all investments after charges for 2025 was 11% (2024: 5.9%) and the income yield was 3.1% (2024: 3.3%). Total return is measured against the return on a Charities Composite Benchmark Index for 2025 which was 15.3% (2023:11.5%) before charges or other investment costs.

Risk Management

The trustees have worked on and agreed a risk management strategy, risk register and plan during the year. The trustees recognise that any major risks to which the charity is exposed need to be reviewed and systems put in place to mitigate those risks. To that end, we are continually monitoring and managing our risks, reviewing the risk register quarterly and ensuring action plans are in place to mitigate the key risks. The risk to investment performance of the permanent endowment is mitigated by retaining expert investment managers and having a diversified investment portfolio.

Structure, governance and management

The Gatehouse is a registered charity and is constituted as a trust, the governing document being a Deed of Trust dated 20 March 1991. The trustees should number no fewer than five and no more than ten people. One half of the trustees are required to retire every three years but are eligible for re-nomination or re-election for a further period of five years. The trustees meet approximately four times each year and agree the broad strategy and 

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Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Trustees’ Report (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

areas of activity for the charity, including consideration of investment, reserves, risk management and policies and performance. The day to day performance and running of the drop in centre is delegated to the Project CEO and Operations Manager.

Key management personnel remuneration

The trustees consider the Board of Trustees, the Project CEO and the Operations Manager as comprising the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling the charity and running and operating the charity on a day to day basis. All trustees are unpaid. The pay of the project CEO and Operations Manager is reviewed annually and normally increased in line with inflation. Remuneration is also periodically benchmarked against similar roles in the charity sector.

Trustees’ responsibility in relation to the financial statements .

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales/Northern Ireland 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 of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping 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 Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust Deed. 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 are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website.

Approved by the trustees on 13 April 2026 and signed on their behalf by

Elizabeth Wade Chair of the Trustees

8

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Homeless People and the Oxford Churches – Gatehouse

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st December 2025 which are set out on pages 9 to 24.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

L J Baker FCA Wenn Townsend 30 St Giles Oxford OX1 3LE

14th April 2026

8

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st December 2025

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Restricted Endowment
Designated		 Total Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Restricted Endowment Designated Total
Note Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025 Funds
Funds		 Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
£		 £ £ £
Income from:
Donations, grants and legacies 3 192,083 166,816 - - 358,899 350,211 230,279 - - 580,490
Investments 4 65,559 - - - 65,559 6,878
-		 46,212 - 53,090
Trading Income 4,626 - - - 4,626
Total income 262,268 166,816 - - 429,084 357,089 230,279 46,212 - 633,580
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 5 32,601 - 9,913 - 42,514 30,058
-		 9,658 - 39,716
Charitable activities 6 209,154 209,680 - 9,283 428,117 204,365 252,229 - 9,283 465,877
Total expenditure 241,755 209,680 9,913 9,283 470,631 234,423 252,229 9,658 9,283 505,593
Net income/(expenditure) 20,513 (42,864) (9,913)
(9,283)		 (41,547) 122,666
(21,950)		 36,554 (9,283) 127,987
Net (loss)/gains on investment assets
7		 - - 120,656 - 120,656 -
-		 45,751 - 45,751
Net income/(expenditure) before transfers 20,513 (42,864) 110,743 (9,283)
79,109		 122,666
(21,950)		 82,305 (9,283) 173,738
Transfers between funds (75,000)
-		 - 75,000 - 46,212
-		 (46,212)
-		 -
Net movement in funds (54,547)
(42,864)		 110,743 65,717 79,109 168,878
(21,950)		 36,093 (9,283) 173,738
Total funds brought forward 492,414 94,196 1,437,561 19,915 2,044,086 323,536 116,146 1,401,468 29,198 1,870,348
Total funds carried forward 437,927 51,332 1,548,304 85,632 2,123,195 492,414
94,196		 1,437,561 19,915 2,044,086

All activities are continuing. There are no gains or losses other than those recognised through the Statement of Financial Activities.

The notes on pages 11 to 24 form part of these accounts

9

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Balance Sheet

31st December 2025

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||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment Designated|Total|Total| |Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|2025|2024| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Fixed Assets| |Management data system|9|-|-|-|10,632|10,632|19,915| |Investments|10|-|-|1,550,804|-|1,550,804|1,394,666| |───────|───────|─────── ─────── ───────|───────| |-|-|1,550,804|10,632|1,561,436|1,414,581| |═══════|═══════|═══════ ═══════ ═══════|═══════| |Current Assets| |Debtors & prepayments|11|20,736|-|-|-|20,736|16,528| |Cash at bank and in hand|431,246|51,332|-|75,000|557,578|637,838| |───────|───────|─────── ─────── ───────|───────| |Total current assets|451,982|51,332|-|-|578,314|654,366| |═══════|═══════|═══════ ═══════ ═══════|═══════| |Current liabilities (amounts| |falling due within one year)| |Creditors|12|14,055|-|2,500|-|16,555|24,861| |───────|───────|─────── ─────── ───────|───────| |Net current assets|437,927|51,332|(2,500)|75,000|561,759|629,505| |───────|───────|─────── ─────── ───────|───────| |Total net assets|437,927|51,332|1,548,304|85,632|2,123,195|2,044,086| |═══════|═══════|═══════ ═══════ ═══════|═══════| |Funds of the charity| |Unrestricted funds|15|437,927|-|-|-|437,927|492,414| |Restricted funds|14|-|51,332|-|-|51,332|94,196| |Endowment funds|17|-|-|1,548,304|-|1,584,304|1,437,561| |Designated funds|16|-|-|-|85,632|85,632|19,915| |───────|───────|─────── ─────── ───────|───────| |Total funds|437,927|51,332|1,548,304|85,632|2,123,195|2,044,086| |═══════|═══════|═══════ ═══════ ═══════|═══════|

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Approved by the trustees on 14th April 2026 and signed on their behalf by

Elizabeth Wade Chair of the Trustees

The notes on pages 11 to 24 form part of these accounts

10

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts

for the year ended 31st December 2025

1 Accounting policies

i) Basis of preparation and assessment of going concern

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) (issued October 2019) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

The Trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

ii) Funds structure

The charity has a single permanent endowment. The Jacob Bobart Fund derived from the proceeds of sale of land in West Oxford and transferred to the charity from the Jacob Bobart Charity in November 2001. The trustees have power to invest the capital and allocate the income from the endowment to the general charitable purpose of the charity.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor. There are several restricted funds all of which relate to the ongoing activity of the charity but where the donor has requested that the funds be used for a specific item or type of expenditure.

Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in the furtherance of the charity’s objects. Unrestricted funds may include designated funds where the trustees, at their discretion, have created a fund for a specific purpose.

Further details of restricted and designated funds are disclosed in notes 12 and 14.

iii) Income recognition

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, there is sufficient certainty of receipt and so it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations are recognised when received or when they have been notified in advance to the charity in writing with both the amount and settlement date stated. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Legacy gifts are recognised on a case-by-case basis following the granting of probate when the administrator/executor for the estate has communicated in writing both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a gift is in the form of an asset other than cash or financial asset traded on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the gift being measurable with a degree of reasonable accuracy and the title to the asset having been transferred to the charity.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank or other deposit holder. Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.

Gift Aid tax claims are recognised at the same time as the associate gift.

The value of donated goods and voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in more detail in the trustees’ annual report. 

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Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

1 Accounting policies (continued)

iv) Expenditure recognition

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.

No expenditure is recognised in the accounts in respect of donated goods and voluntary help received which are used by the Gatehouse to meet its objectives.

v) Irrecoverable VAT

Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.

vi) Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs have been differentiated between governance costs and other support costs. Governance costs comprise those costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.

The charity has taken advantage of the exemption for smaller charities and chosen not to follow the SORP and does not allocate support costs across functions; all support costs are allocated to charitable activities.

vii)

Cost of raising funds

The cost of generating funds consist of investment management fees, monthly fees charged by an online charity website, fundraising salaries and other incidental fundraising costs. Voluntary donations received via third party internet charity sites are recognised net of fees and commissions.

viii) Charitable activities

Expenditure on charitable activities relate to the provision of a drop-in-centre and associated activities including property rental and associated costs, food and other consumables, newspapers, salary costs, governance and administrative costs.

ix) Tangible fixed assets

There are fully expensed and no values are stated on the balance sheet.

x) Other fixed assets

Investments are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their market value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted price. The Statement of Financial Activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluation and disposals throughout the year.

The charity does not acquire or use put options, derivatives or other complex financial statements.

xi) Realised gains and losses

All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their opening carrying value or their purchase value if acquired subsequent to the first day of the financial year. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value. Realised and unrealised investment gains and losses are combined in the Statement of Financial Activities.

xii) Pensions

The charity provides pension benefits in accordance with the auto enrolment regulations; these benefits are provided via the National Employment Savings Trusts. The charity has no liability beyond making its contributions and paying across the deductions for employees’ contributions.

2 Related party transactions and trustee expenses and remuneration

The trustees all give freely of their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind (2024: £Nil). Travel expenses of £nil (2024: £nil), calculated at the standard rate applicable to staff, were paid to one trustee for the delivery of food parcels to guests of the Gatehouse. 

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Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

3 Analysis of donations, grants and legacies

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|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted Restricted|Endowment|Designated|Total|Total| |Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|2025|2024| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Voluntary income| |Grants| |- Lloyds Bank Foundation for| |England and Wales|25,000|-|-|-|25,000|25,000| |- Garfield Weston Foundation|-|-|-|-|-|25,000| |- MacFarlane Family Foundation|-|-|-|-|-|24,000| |- OHM LEAF|-|27,785|-|-|27,785|46,069| |- OCF Counselling Grant|-|-|-|-|-|20,000| |- National Lottery Community|-|85,000|-|-|85,000|85,000| |Fund RC London & South| |East Region| |- Other < £20,000|1,298|50,329|-|-|51,627|44,603| |Churches/other religious bodies|12,119|-|-|-|12,119|7,949| |Individuals|82,154|100|-|-|82,254|64,488| |Colleges & schools|5,290|-|-|-|5,290|8,744| |Commercial organisations|7,044|3,312|-|-|10,356|19,285| |Gift aid tax reclaim|3,472|-|-|-|3,472|2,263| |Legacies|41,714|-|-|-|41,714 197,428| |Other sources|13,992|290|-|-|14,282|10,661| |─────|─────|─────|───── ───── ─────| |192,083|166,816|-|- 358,899 580,490| |═════|═════|═════|═════ ═════ ═════|

----- End of picture text -----

4 Investment income

==> picture [490 x 90] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted Restricted|Endowment|Designated|Total|Total| |Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|2025|2024| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Bank interest|9,983|-|-|-|9,983|6,878| |Income from invested funds|55,576|-|-|-|55,576|46,212| |65,559|-|-|-|65,559|53,090|

----- End of picture text -----

5 Trading Activities

==> picture [490 x 90] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted Restricted|Endowment|Designated|Total|Total| |Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|2025|2024| |£|£|£|£|£|£| |Primary Purpose Trading|4,602|-|-|-|4,602|-| |Other Trading|24|-|-|-|24|-| |4,626|-|-|-|4,626|-|

----- End of picture text -----

13

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

6 Analysis of cost of raising funds

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Fundraising salary 30,243 - - - 30,243 28,344
Fundraising sundries 2,358 - - - 2,358 1,714
Investment management fees - - 9,913 - 9,913 9,658
32,601 - 9,913 - 42,514 39,716

7 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Food and other consumables 10,984 12,391 - - 23,375 23,257
Welfare payments 122 7,081 - - 7,203 9,596
Newspapers - - - - - -
Staff salaries 126,576 143,666 - - 270,242 292,517
Staff employers’ NIC 10,724 5,164 - - 15,888 18,576
Staff pension contributions 5,498 5,494 - - 10,992 9,096
Staff and volunteer expenses 2,944 3,699 - - 6,643 4,501
Equipment purchase and repairs 2,301 5,837 - - 8,138 5,823
Training staff and volunteers 2,969 2,324 - - 5,293 3,996
Insurance 4,240 - - - 4,240 2,169
Premises rental and rates 3,249 13,070 - - 16,319 22,703
Cleaning costs and waste disposal 6,300 45 - - 6,345 7,626
HR support 5,633 - - - 5,633 19,456
Other resources expended 9,147 10,568 - - 19,715 11,881
Telephone and internet 1,354 29 - - 1,383 4,639
Legal and professional fees 5,898 - - - 5,898 6,168
Accountancy 11,215 312 - - 11,527 14,590
Amortisation charge - - - 9,283 9,283 9,283
209,154 209,680 - 9,283 428,117 465,877 
14

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

8 Analysis of gains on investment assets

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Realised gain / (loss) on disposal
of assets against carrying value
or cost if purchased during the year - - 5,616 - 5,616 7,480
Revaluation gain at the end of the year
-		 - 115,040 - 115,040 38,271
Net gain / (loss) during the year - - 120,656 - 120,656 45,751

9 Analysis of staff costs

Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Gross pay:
Project workers 119,009 94,137 - - 213,146 229,959
Fundraising 26,784 - - - 26,784 26,180
Women's hub - - - - - -
Caseworkers 12,407 29,553 - - 41,960 41,372
Counselling services (4,871) 20,006 - - 15,135 21,186
153,329 143,696 - - 297,025 318,697
Employer’s national insurance 13,181 5,164 - - 18,345 20,239
Employer’s pension cost 6,500 5,494 - - 11,994 9,597
Staff expenses - - - - - -
19,681 10,658 - - 30,339 29,836
Total staff costs 173,010 154,354 - - 327,364 348,533
2025
2024
Average number of employees in the year 16
18
Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year 10
9

No employees received emoluments of more than £60,000 

15

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

10 Tangible fixed assets

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Management data system
Cost at 1st January 2025 - - - 46,414 46,414 46,414
Transfers between classes of assets
-		 - - - - -
Additions during the year - - - - - -
Cost carried forward
at 31st December 2025 - - - 46,414 46,414 46,414
Amortisation b/fwd - - - 26,499 26,499 17,216
Amortisation charge - - - 9,283 9,283 9,283
Amortisation c/fwd - - - 35,782 35,782 26,499
NBV b/fwd - - - 19,915 19,915 29,198
NBV c/fwd - - - 10,632 10,632 19,915

The additions represent the cost of hardware, the system and the salary of a dedicated member of stuff for this data base system.

11 Investment assets

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated
Total		 Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds
2025		 2024
£ £ £ £
£		 £
Movement in fixed asset listed investments
Market value at 1st January 2025 - - 1,394,666 - 1,394,666 1,335,884
Additions at cost - - 338,004 - 338,004 264,010
Disposals at carrying value - - (325,134)
-		 (325,134) (243,499)
Net gain on revaluation - - 115,040 - 115,040 38,271
Market value at
31st December 2025 - - 1,522,576 - 1,522,576 1,394,666
Investments at fair value comprised:
Equities - - 1,101,044 - 1,101,044 993,626
Fixed interest securities - - 296,686 - 296,686 269,080
Alternative investments - - 124,846 - 124,846 131,960
Total investments - - 1,522,576 - 1,522,576 1,394,666

Investments are listed on a recognised stock exchange or held in common investment funds, open ended investment companies, unit trusts or other collective investment schemes. 

16

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

12 Analysis of current assets

Analysis of current assets
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Gift Aid tax claims outstanding 5,500 - - - 5,500 6,419
Accounts receivable 5,000 - - - 5,000 193
Accrued income 986 - - - 986 1,117
Dividend income outstanding 5,686 - - - 5,686 6,341
Prepayments 3,564 - - - 3,564 2,458
20,736 - - - 20,736 16,528
Cash and other bank deposits 431,246
51,332		 - 75,000 557,578 637,838
451,982 51,332 - 75,000 578,314 654,366

13 Analysis of current liabilities

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Creditors 9,174 - - - 9,174 14,442
Accrued expenses 4,881 - 2,500 - 7,381 10,419
14,055 - 2,500 - 16,555 24,861 
17

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

14 Net assets by fund

2025 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Investments - - 1,550,804 - 1,550,804
Data base system - - - 10,632 10,632
Assets under construction - - - - -
Gift aid tax claims outstanding 5,500 - - - 5,500
Accounts receivable 5,000 - - - 5,000
Accrued income 986 - - - 986
Dividends income outstanding 5,686 - - - 5,686
Prepayments 3,564 - - - 3,564
Cash and other bank deposits 431,246 51,332 - 75,000 557,574
Creditors (9,174) - - - (9,174)
Accrued expenses (4,881) - (2,500) - (7,381)
437,927 51,332 1,548,304 85,632 2,123,195
2024 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Designated Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Investments - - 1,394,666 - 1,394,666
Data base system - - - 19,915 19,915
Assets under construction - - - - -
Gift aid tax claims outstanding 6,419 - - - 6,419
Accounts receivable 193 - - - 193
Accrued income - 1,117 - - 1,117
Dividends income outstanding 6,341 - - - 6,341
Prepayments 2,458 - - - 2,458
Cash and other bank deposits 497,427 95,016 68,084 - 637,838
Creditors (11,942) - (2,500) - (14,442)
Accrued expenses (8,482) (1,937) - - (10,419)
492,414 94,196 1,437,561 19,915 2,044,086 
18

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

15
Analysis of restricted funds
2025 1 Jan Incoming Resources 31 Dec
2025 Resources Expended Transfer 2025
£ £ £ £ £
B & Q Foundation - 3,312 (3,312) - -
LEAF NHS Rough Sleeping Peer Support Training 6,646 - (6,646) - -
MacFarlane Family Foundation 9,076 - (9,076) - -
Misc - 8,516 (8,270) - 246
National Lottery Community Fund RC London &
 42,500 85,000 (85,000) - 42,500
South East Region
OCC General 24/25 1,912 6,138 (8,050) - -
OCC Rough Sleeping & Homelessness - 5,000 (690) - 4,310
Initiatives 2026
OCF Community Capacity Fun 2024
 18,116 - (18,116) - -
OCF Living Essentials 2024 - 10,000 (10,000) - -
OCF Step Change Fund Follow on Grant 23-24 451 - (451) - -
OHM Leaf 24/5 9,439 27,535 (34,563) - 2,411
Oxpat fund 502 5,315 (3,952) - 1,865
St Joseph’s Province Passionists - 6,000 (6,000) - -
St Aldates Parochial Charity - Workshops - 5,000 (5,000) - -
Tessll8 5,554 - (5,554) - -
Thames Valley Police Community Fund - 5,000 (5,000) - -
94,196 166,816 (209,680) - 51,332 
19

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

15
Analysis of restricted funds (continued)
2024
Albert Hunt Trust
CMI/LEAF Impact Chapter - Festival of Feedback
Communications Fund
Household Support Grant
Leaf Co-production
NHS South East 3rd Sector Homelessness and
Rough Sleeping Peer Support Worker Training
MacFarlane Family Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund RC London
OCC CIF Round 2 Small/Medium Grant 2024/25
OCC Counselling
OCC LEAF Expansion
OCC/OCF Community Capacity Autumn 2023
OCF Community Capacity 24
OCF Step Change Fund Follow on Grant 23-24
OCF/OHM LEAF Coordinator Fund 23/24
OHM Leaf 24/5
OHM/High Sheriff Fund - Story Methodology
Ox Diocese / St Giles
OXFAP
Oxfordshire 500
Oxpat fund
Passionists re Counselling
PYE Charitable Settlement
Skipton Food and Drink
Society of the Holy Child
St Aldates Parochial Charity - Workshops
Stanton Ballard Trust
Tessll8 Food
Thames Valley Police re LEAF
The Grocers Charity
Womens group
OCC General 24/25
1 Jan
Incoming
Resources
31 Dec
2024
Resources
Expended
Transfer
2024
£
£
£
£
£
-
10,000
(10,000)
-
-

694
-
(694)
-
-
56
-
(56)
-
-
584
-
(584)
-
-
1,287
-
(1,287)
-
-

6,970
-
(324)
-
6,646
-
24,000
(14,924)
-
9,076
42,500
85,000
(85,000)
-
42,500
-
1,200
(1,200)
-
-
-
600
(600)
-
-
4,039
-
(4,039)
-
-
15,000
-
(15,000)
-
-
-
20,000
(1,884)
-
18,116
3,809
6,940
(10,298)
-
451
9,809
-
(9,809)
-
-
-
47,554
(38,115)
-
9,439
369
-
(369)
-
-
-
6,678
(6,678)
-
-
-
300
(300)
-
-
5
-
(5)
-
-
8,824
-
(8,322)
-
502
4,552
-
(4,552)
-
-
10,000
-
(10,000)
-
-
2,000
-
(2,000)
-
-
1,998
-
(1,998)
-
-
3,500
-
(3,500)
-
-
-
427
(427)
-
-
-
17,000
(11,446)
-
5,554
50
-
(50)
-
-
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
-
100
-
(100)
-
-
-
5,580
(3,668)
-
1,912
116,146
230,279
(252,229)
-
94,196		 
20

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

16 Analysis of restricted funds (continued)

Details of the restricted fund grants received in the year are as follows:

==> picture [745 x 152] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Donor Fund Amount Purpose
B & Q Foundation B & Q Foundation 3,312 New external doors
National Lottery Community Fund RC National Lottery Community Fund RC London & South-East 85,000 Community centre/café staff salaries, casework staff salaries,
London & South East Region Region workshops, food, hall rental, volunteer costs, IT & Systems
Manager salary
Misc Misc 8,516
Oxford City Council OCC General 25 - 26 6,138 Café/community centre
Oxford City Council OCC Rough Sleeping & Homelessness Initiatives 25-26 5,000 Training, travel, repairs and IT
Oxford Community Foundation OCF Living Essentials 2024 10,000 Café and clothes store project worker salaries
Oxfordshire Homeless Movement OHM LEAF 24 - 25 27,535 LEAF staff salaries and overheads
Oxpat Oxpat 5,315 Service user welfare costs
St. Joseph’s Province Passionists St. Joseph’s Province Passionists 6,000 Counselling
St Aldates Parochial Charity St Aldates Parochial Charity 5,000 Training for LEAF
Thames Valley Police Community Fund Thames Valley Police Community Funds 5,000 Casework
----- End of picture text -----

21

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

16 Analysis of restricted funds (continued) Details of the restricted fund grants received in the previous year were as follows:

==> picture [745 x 200] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Donor Fund Amount Purpose
Albert Hunt Trust Albert Hunt Trust 10,000 CEO salary
MacFarlane Family Foundation MacFarlane Family Foundation 24,000 Casework
National Lottery Community Fund National Lottery Community Fund RC London & South-East 85,000 Community centre/café staff salaries, casework staff salaries,
RC London Region workshops, food, hall rental, volunteer costs, IT & Systems
Manager salary
OCF OCF Community Capacity 24 20,000 Counselling
OCF OCF Step Change Fund Follow on Grant 23-24 6,940 Systems & IT Manager salary and Lamplight
Oxford City Council OCC CIF Round 2 Small/Medium Grant 2024/25 1,200 Casework staff salaries
Oxford City Council OCC Counselling 600 Counsellor staff salary
Oxford City Council OCC General 24/25 5,580
Oxford Diocese/St Giles Church Oxford Diocese/St Giles Church 6,678 Counsellor staff salary
Oxfordshire Homeless Movement OHM LEAF 23 – 24 47,554 LEAF staff salaries and overheads
OXFAP OXFAP 300 Furniture for casework client
Stanton Ballard Trust Stanton Ballard Trust 427 IT equipment for casework client
Tessll8 Food Tessll8 Food 17,000 Community centre/cafe
The Grocers Charity The Grocers Charity 5,000 Casework, counselling and community centre/cafe
----- End of picture text -----

22

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued) for the year ended 31st December 2025

17
Analysis of unrestricted funds
2025
Unrestricted fund
2024
Unrestricted fund		 1 Jan
Incoming
Resources
31 Dec
2025
Resources
Expended
Transfer
2025
£
£
£
£
£
494,414
262,268
(241,755)
(75,000)
437,927
494,414
262,268
(241,755)
(75,000)
437,927
1 Jan
Incoming
Resources
31 Dec
2024
Resources
Expended
Transfer
2024
£
£
£
£
£
323,536
357,089
(234,423)
42,212
492,414
323,536
357,089
(234,423)
42,212
492,414

18 Analysis of designated funds

2025

Fixed asset fund
Leasehold premises fund
2024
Fixed asset fund		 1 Jan
Incoming
Resources
31 Dec
2025
Resources
Expended
Transfer
2025
£
£
£
£
£
19,915
-
(9,283)
-
10,632
-
-
-
75,000
75,000
19,915
-
(9,283)
75,000
85,632
1 Jan
Incoming
Resources
31 Dec
2024
Resources
Expended
Transfer
2024
£
£
£
£
£
29,198
-
(9,283)
-
19,915
29,198
-
(9,283)
-
19,915

The transfer relates to a decision to designate £75,000 towards the significantly increased costs associated with negotiating and entering into a lease for the premises we currently occupy under a licence at the Parish rooms at St Giles. 

23

Homeless People and the Oxford Churches - Gatehouse

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31st December 2025

19 Analysis of endowment fund

2025
Endowment fund
2024
Endowment fund		 1 Jan
Incoming
Resources
Gains/
Transfer
31 Dec
2025 Resources
Expended
(losses)
2025
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,437,561
-
(9,913)
120,656
- 1,548,304
1,437,561
-
(9,913)
120,656
- 1,548,304
1 Jan
Incoming
Resources
Gains/
Transfer
31 Dec
2024 Resources
Expended
(losses)
2024
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,401,468
46,212
(9,658)
45,751
(46,212) 1,437,561
1,401,468
46,212
(9,658)
45,751
(46,212) 1,437,561

20 Trustee remuneration, key personnel and related party transactions

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the CEO. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £73,315 (2024: £60,895).

Apart from that, no trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year.

21 Post balance sheet events

Since the balance sheet date, no events have occurred which would have a material effect on these financial statements. 

24