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2021-03-31-accounts

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Registered Charity No 1003569

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


Trustees: Parvin Ahmed - Chairman Narinder Singh - Treasurer Samitra Kaur Tarannum Toor Registered Office: 435 Westgate Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 8RN Accountants: Counting North Salvus House Aykley Heads Durham DH1 5TS Bankers: Unity Bank Plc 9 Brindley Place Birmingham B1 2HB

1

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charity the year ended 31 March 2021.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the constitution adopted on 18 June 1991 and the Charities SORP (FRS102).

Legal Status

The Charity is unincorporated and is registered with the Charities Commission under charity number 1003569.

Method of appointment of Trustees

The appointment of trustees is as set out in our constitution. Policies and procedures adopted for the recruitment of trustees is also detailed in the Charities Governing document. Induction is undertaken by the existing members and the Project co-ordinator and training is undertaken as identified.

Objectives

The charity is constituted to address the issues of social, economic and political inclusion and social cohesion in a multi-racial context. First Step seeks to ensure that all migrant women living in Newcastle’s West End have accessible opportunities to transform their lives and achieve their goals, and seeks to share its model more widely in Newcastle and across the North East.

Mission statement

First Step engages, nurtures and supports migrant women of all nationalities in Newcastle’s West End, enabling the achievement of personal development objectives.

Vision statement

First Step seeks to ensure that all migrant women living in Newcastle’s West End have accessible opportunities to transform their lives and achieve their goals, and seeks to share its model more widely in Newcastle and across the North East.

As for many others this year has been very torrid extreme firefighting meeting many additional demands – old and new. To some extent this was mitigated by already being a close community group. We moved quickly to online using social media/zoom. As the initial lockdown eased, we moved to blended learning socially distanced in safe spaces especially for those women who were digitally excluded. We managed to remain in close weekly contact via zoom with 78 women (21 new), trained 8 new volunteers making 20 in total, connected to 200+ on social media. In addition, we ran two creative projects ‘Women in Lockdown’ written witness and Inside Out’ pictorial witness used to publish two 16 page translated News Mags. delivered to 400 local homes in our efforts to reach the most isolated women. We are very grateful that funding providers moved very quickly to enable access to both capital and revenue funding designed to keep the voluntary sector afloat and improve resilience it worked very well for us! In addition, we would like to acknowledge the fabulous contribution made by our volunteers, locally, nationally, and internationally, ex First Steppers who zoomed in from across the world to offer their support. We were often moved to tears by their love and friendship.

Many of the women who use First Step have multiple and complex needs which existed pre pandemic but have been exacerbated and brought into sharp focus, particularly emotional wellbeing, and mental health and which is now presenting as a shadow pandemic - Northern Health Science Alliance Impact of Pandemic on the Region Sept. 2021 – ‘the North had the largest drop in mental health wellbeing and the greatest rise in anti-depressant prescriptions.’ This will be our focus going forward.

In their own words:

2

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


Financial review

In the current period the net outgoing resources have increased from net outgoing resources of £22,328 in 2020 to net incoming resources of £13,833 in 2021. Overall net assets have increased from £313,817 in 2020 to £327,660 in 2021.

The aim of the charity is to at least be at break-even point at end of year. We aim to do this by constantly reviewing our outgoings. Where costs can potentially be saved which will further improve the financial position of the charity we will aim to do so whilst balancing the needs of our core services.

Unrestricted Reserves Policy

There are no easy answers to the issue of sustainability in the current economic climate. The strengths of First Step and the aspirations that the organisation needs to protect, require financial support for effective delivery to be maintained. We will continue to be predominantly dependent on grant or project income achieved through funding applications and philanthropy. The Management Committee recognises the risk that not being able to attract sufficient funding poses and have established an unrestricted account that will be used to maintain a reserve of £25,000 to be utilised to cover unforeseen expenditure.

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to First Step’s success this year and look forward to their continuing support in the future.

Statement of Trustee’s Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed 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 charity or that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to 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.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees

Tarannum Toor Tarannum Toor (Mar 13, 2022 10:29 GMT) Signed: Tarannum Toor

Date: 11 March 2022

3

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


Total Total
Note Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds
2021 2020
£ £
Incoming resources
Charitable activities 2 81,706 15,468 97,174 54,433
Investment income 3 - - - -
Other 4 3,800 - 3,800 3,800
____ __ __ ______
Total incoming resources 85,506 15,468 100,974 58,233
____ __ ____ __
Resources expended
Charitable activities 5 66,787 20,354 87,141 80,561
__ _ ___ __
Total resources expended 5 66,787 20,354 87,141 80,561
__ _ ___ __
Net incoming / (outgoing) resources
for the year before transfers 18,719 (4,886) 13,833 (22,328)
Transfers between funds 12 - - - -
__ __ ___ ___
18,719 (4,886) 13,833 (22,328)
Total funds brought forward 68,260 245,567 313,827 336,155
_ __ ____ ____
Total funds carried forward
12 86,979 240,681 327,660 313,827
====== ======= ======= =======

4

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2021


2021 2020
Note £ £
Fixed Assets
8
Tangible assets 319,424 325,498
____ ____
Current Assets
Debtors 9 - 8,445
Cash at bank and in hand 36,727 13,055
____ ____
36,727 21,500
Current Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling
due within one year 10 (6,008) (6,888)
____ ____
Net Current Assets 30,719 14,612
____ ____
Total Assets Less Current Liabilities 350,143 340,110
Creditors: Amounts falling due in more
than one year 11 (22,483) (26,283)
____ ____
Net Assets 327,660 313,827
======= =======
Funds
Restricted income funds 12 240,681 245,567
Unrestricted funds 12 86,979 68,260
____ _____
Total Funds 327,660 313,827
======= =======

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 11 March 2022 and were signed on its behalf by:

Tarannum Toor

Tarannum Toor (Mar 13, 2022 10:29 GMT) ~~…………………~~ ……………………. Tarannum Toor

5

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


1 Accounting policies

General Information

The charity is an unincorporated organisation registered under Charity Number 1003569. The address of the charity is 435 Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 8RN.

Statement of Compliance

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

Going Concern

The financial viability of the charity is dependent upon the ability to secure the forecast levels of incoming resources.

The trustees have considered the impact of Covid-19 and other financial risks affecting the charity for the period of one year after the signing of these financial statements, and, based on known levels of funding and reasonable assumptions of future funding are confident that there is sufficient funding to more than cover salaries and general running costs.

On this basis, the charity’s trustees believe it is appropriate for the charity’s financial statements to be prepared on the going concern basis.

Incoming Resources

All incoming resources are included within the Statement of financial activities when the charitable company is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold. Donated facilities are included at the value to the charitable company where this can be quantified and a third party is bearing the cost. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.

Donated services or facilities which comprise donated services, are included in income at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such a cost is quantifiable and measurable. No income is recognised where there is no financial cost borne by a third party.

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of donation.

6

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


1 Accounting policies (continued)

Resources Expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributable to particular activities, they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.

Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities. Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charitable company. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charitable company and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Fund Accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charitable company and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors which have been raised by the charitable company for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.

Fixed Assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. No assets are capitalised unless over £250. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Leasehold land and buildings – 2% per annum straight line Equipment – 15% per annum reducing balance and 33% straight line

Loan

The loan from the Council of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne is for a period of 25 years after which time it will be written off subject to abiding by certain covenants and restrictions. The policy is to write off the loan over this period on a straight-line basis.

7

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


2 Charitable activities

2 Charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
2021 2020
£ £
Tudor Trust - - - 30,000
Rosa Fund 6,112 - 6,112 -
Syrian Women’s Group - - - 1,543
ESF - 6,416 6,416 9,400
Tynexe - - - 4,070
Police & Crime Commissioner Fund 4,010 - 4,010 -
Community Resilience Fund 32,200 - 32,200 -
Awards For All - 9,052 9,052 7,300
Smallwood Trust 20,235 - 20,235 -
HMRC Job retention scheme 5,156 - 5,156 -
Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations
Recovery Scheme 10,000 - 10,000 -
Sundry income 3,993 - 3,993 2,120
___ ___ ___ ___
81,706 15,468 97,174 54,433
====== ====== ====== ======
3 Investment income
Unrestricted Restricted 2021 2020
£ £
Bank interest receivable - - - -
====== ====== ====== ======
4 Other
Unrestricted Restricted 2021 2020
£ £
Release of council loan 3,800 - 3,800 3,800
====== ====== ====== ======

8

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


5 Expenditure on charitable activities

Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Wages and salaries 25,393 2,921 28,314 25,846
Depreciation 244 10,345 10,589 10,154
Loss on disposal of fixed assets - - - -
Telephone 1,380 986 2,366 2,537
Travel & volunteer costs 3,692 218 3,910 1,966
Crèche 82 229 311 6,685
Tutor costs 14,891 1,917 16,808 20,862
Training costs 2,346 272 2,618 -
General running costs 4,132 3,132 7,264 9,974
Repairs - - - -
Sundry expenses 2,305 84 2,389 583
Administrative costs 8,013 - 8,013 -
Publicity costs 3,205 250 3,455 -
Independent examiner’s fee 1,104 - 1,104 1,104
Other accountancy fees - - - 850
___ ___ __ __
66,787 20,354 87,141 80,561
========== ========== ========= =========
6
Staff costs
The aggregate payroll costs were:
2021 2020
£ £
Wages and Salaries 11,100 10,232
Subcontractors 16,545 14,922
Social security costs 669 692
Pension costs - -
__ ___
28,314 25,846
====== ======

Tarannum Toor received £nil (2020 £nil) from the charity for sessional work. Shirin Hussain received £11,100 (2020 £10,232) from the charity as remuneration. No other trustee of the charity received any remuneration or expenses from the charity.

Particulars of employees:

The average number of staff employed by the charity during the financial year amounted to:

Total Total
2021 2020
£ £
Number of administrative staff 2 2
======== ========
No member of staff was paid £60,000 or more during the year.

9

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


7 Fees for examination of the financial statements Fees for examination of the financial statements
Total Total
2021 2020
£ £
Independent examiner’s fees 1,104 1,104
======== ========
8 Tangible Fixed Assets
Leasehold Land Equipment Total
and Buildings
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 April 2020 483,104 89,141 572,245
Additions - 4,515 4,515
Disposals - (3,144) (3,144)
____ ___ ____
At 31 March 2021 483,104 90,512 573,616
======= ====== =======
Depreciation
At 1 April 2020 160,389 86,358 246,747
Charge for the year 9,662 927 10,589
Eliminated on disposal - (3,144) (3,144)
____ __ ____
At 31 March 2021 170,051 84,141 254,192
======= ====== =======
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2021 313,053 6,371 319,424
======= ===== =======
At 31 March 2020 322,715 2,783 325,498
======= ===== =======
All assets are used for direct charitable purposes.

10

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


9
Debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
10
Creditors:Amounts falling due within one year
Accruals
Loans
11 Creditors:Amounts falling due in more than one year
Loan
Less included in current liabilities
Loan
Loan brought forward
Credit to income and expenditure account
2021
£
-
=====
2021
£
2,208
3,800

6,008
======
2021
£
26,283
(3,800)

22,483
======
2021
£
30,083
(3,800)
___
26,283
======
2020
£
8,445
=====
2020
£
3,088
3,800

6,888
======
2020
£
30,083
(3,800)

26,283
======
2020
£
33,883
(3,800)
___
30,083
======

The loan is secured on the property at 435 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne.

11

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

12 Statement of Funds

Balance at
1 April
2020
£
Restricted Funds
Building Fund
235,390
Tudor Trust
10,177
ESF
-
Awards For All
-
Unrestricted –
Designated Funds
Rosa Fund
-
Police & Crime
Commissioner Fund
-
Community Resilience
Fund
-
Smallwood Trust
-
HMRC Job Retention
Scheme
-
Covid-19 Community-
Led Organisations
Recovery Scheme
-
Unrestricted –
General Fund
68,260
313,827
=======
Incoming
£
-
-
6,416
9,052
6,112
4,010
32,200
20,235
5,156
10,000
7,793
100,974
=======
Outgoing
£
(10,055)
(4,445)
-
(5,854)
(5,664)
(4,016)
(27,467)
(15,775)
(5,156)
(6,112)
(2,597)

(87,141)
=======
Transfers
£
Balance at
31 March
2021
£
-
225,335
-
5,732
-
6,416
-
3,198
-
448
6
-
-
4,733
-
4,460
-
-
-
3,888
(6)
73,450

-
327,660
=======
=======

The Tudor Trust provided funding to support salary and general running costs.

European Social Fund provided funding for pre-employment activities and training.

Awards for All provided funding for Human Rights courses, development of materials and online delivery.

Police & Crime Commissioner Safety Fund provided funding to provide a quick response to Covid 19 particularly to the most deprived communities in the West End of Newcastle.

Rosa Fund - funding to support resilience activities for black and minoritised women.

Community Resilience Fund - National Lottery Corona Virus Community Support Fund (CCSF) provided funding to support our activities and resilience during lockdown and immediately afterwards.

The Smallwood Trust – provided funding to support our activities and resilience during lockdown and immediately afterwards.

HMRC Job Retention Scheme - Furlough Scheme funding to protect jobs.

Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme (CCLORS) - awarded to community led organisations affected by the Covid crisis to enable continuation of activities.

12

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021


13 Analysis of net assets (between restricted and unrestricted funds)

Tangible
fixed assets
£
Restricted
319,291
Unrestricted
133
319,424
=======
Other net
assets
£
(78,610)
86,846


8,236
=======
Total
£
240,681
86,979

327,660
=======

13

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF I'IRST STEP NORTH EAST

I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021 which are set out on pages 4 to 13.

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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives 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.

GERALD HENDERS0N FCCA ACA COUNTING NORTH Salvus House Aykley Heads Durham DH1 5TS

Date: 11 March 2022

14

The following pages do not form part of the statutory financial statements which are the subject of the independent examiner’s report on page 14.

15

FIRST STEP NORTH EAST

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2018

__________________

I
Income
The Tudor Trust
ESF
Tynexe
Rosa Fund
Awards For All
Police & Crime Commissioner Fund
Community Resilience Fund
Smallwood Trust
HMRC Job Retention Scheme
Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme
Awards For All
Syrian Women’s Group
ESF
Unrestricted
Charitable expenditure
Wages and salaries
Depreciation
Telephone
Travel and volunteer costs
Crèche
Tutor costs
Training costs
General running costs
Repairs
Sundry expenses
Administrative costs
Publicity costs
Governance costs
Accountancy costs
Total expenditure
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year
2021
£
-
-
-
6,112
-
4,010
32,200
20,235
5,156
10,000
9,052
-
6,416
7,793

100,974
28,314
10,589
2,366
3,910
311
16,808
2,618
7,264
-
2,389
8,013
3,455

86,037
1,104

87,141
13,833
2020
£
30,000
9,400
4,070
-
7,300
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,543
-
5,920

58,233
25,846
10,154
2,537
1,966
6,685
20,862
-
9,974
-
583
-
-

78,607
1,954

80,561
(22,328)

16

2022-03-13

First Step Accounts

Final Audit Report

Created: 2022-03-11 By: Ged Henderson (ged.henderson@countingnorth.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAA4yBoBbSH8wBNKG_NY4eW6gqmXaJxlAFg

"First Step Accounts" History

Document created by Ged Henderson (ged.henderson@countingnorth.co.uk)

2022-03-11 - 15:00:41 GMT- IP address: 217.23.224.253

Document emailed to Tarannum Toor (tarannumtoor@hotmail.com) for signature

2022-03-11 - 15:01:33 GMT

Email viewed by Tarannum Toor (tarannumtoor@hotmail.com)

2022-03-12 - 12:21:17 GMT- IP address: 94.194.194.114

Document e-signed by Tarannum Toor (tarannumtoor@hotmail.com)

Signature Date: 2022-03-13 - 10:29:09 GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 94.194.194.114

Document emailed to Ged Henderson (ged.henderson@countingnorth.co.uk) for signature 2022-03-13 - 10:29:11 GMT

Email viewed by Ged Henderson (ged.henderson@countingnorth.co.uk) 2022-03-13 - 13:41:34 GMT- IP address: 217.23.224.253

Document e-signed by Ged Henderson (ged.henderson@countingnorth.co.uk) Signature Date: 2022-03-13 - 13:41:45 GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 217.23.224.253

Agreement completed.

2022-03-13 - 13:41:45 GMT