FREEDOM CENTRE (Working with adults with physical and moderate learning disabilities) CHARITY NO. 1007683 ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024
THE FREEDOM CENTRE workln with adults with h sical and moderate learnln disabillties CHARITY INFORMATION CHARITY STATUS The Freedom Centre is registered with The Charity Commissioners under Charity No. 1007683 and is governed by a constitution adopted on 8, January 1992. OBJEcrs The Freedom Centre Is established to support adults with physical and moderate learning disabllities, primarlly in the Isle of Sheppeyi Sittingbourne and throughout Kent, in particular offering day care, structured educational services and social activities. PRINCIPAL ADDRESS The Freedom Centre St. Georges Avenue Sheernes5 Kent ME12 IQT TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE cOMMIEE DURING THE YEAR President Chalrman Secretary Treasurer Trustees Vacant Peter Lalng Peter Laing Peter Taylor Christine Brew Ross Elderfield Georgina Jemmett Brenda Hammond Peter White Ross Elderfield Nathan Arnold Ron Marsh REPORTING ACCOUNTANT Lee Seal F.C.C.A., F.A.l.A. Pritchard Pritchard Bluetown, Sheerness Kent, ME12 IRN BANKERS Barclay5 Bank plc and Nat West Bank plc
THE FREEDOM CENTRE workin with adults with h sical and moderate learnin disabilltie REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their Annual Report together with the Financial Statement for the year ended 31 March 2024. The results for the year are presented in the form of a Statement of Financial Activities which incorporate the traditional Income and Expenditure account, in order to comply with the revised Statement of Recommended Practise for charities as issued by the Charity Commission in 2015 and as identified in the Charities Art 2011. INTRODUCTION The Freedom Centre was started a5 a project of the Delta Group, which was the local branch of Scope. The objective of the project was to establish a member led support centre for people with physical disabilities, in particular offering day care, structured educational services and social activities centred in Sheerness to meet the needs of people with physical disabilities aged between 16 and 64 lat the time of joining) in the Swale area. The Freedom Centre became an independent charity in January 1992 and assumed full responsibility for the running of the Centre on ISI April 1993.The Freedom Centre now offers support to adults with physical and moderate learning disabilities and is open to adults aged 18+. RISK REVIEW The Trustees conduct perlodlc review5 of the major rlsks to which the Charlty Is exposed, and Systems and procedures to manage those risks identih'ed are implemented so as to minimlse any potential impact on the charity should any of those risks materialise. REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS, AcfiviTIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS A review of Developments. Activities and Achievements is contained within the Chairman's Report. No Trustees received any remuneration for services, as members ofthe Committee, neither were any expenses paid in the financial year. No Executive Committee member had any beneficial interest in any contract with the charity during the year. PUBLIC BENEFIT The Charity acknowledges its requirement5 to demonstrate clearly It must have charitable purposes or objectives that are for the public benefit. Details of how the Charity has achieved this are provided in thls Trustees, Report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefi't before deciding what activities the Charity should undertake. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES IN RESPECT OF THE ACCOUNTS The Trustees are required under the constitutlon of the Charity to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charlty and of its results for the period. In preparlng those fi'nancial statements the Trustees are required to: Select Suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently. Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP. Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. d. State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended prathce have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial Statements. Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis, unle55 it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting record5 that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial Statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguardlng the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. APPROVAL This report was approved by the Executive Committee on 2. October 2024 and signed on their behalf Peter Laing (Chairman)
THE FREEDOM CENTRE workin with adults with h sical and moderate learnin disabilities CHAIRMAN'S REPORT- AGM 2024 Dear Members, l am pleased to report that despite ongoing difficulties, The Freedom Centre has continued its mission to support adults with physical and moderate learning disabilities, primarily on the Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne but also throughout Kent, in particular offering day care, structured educational services and social activities. We have managed to maintain our instructional courses, entertainment, a respite break and, most importantly companionship. This is entirely due to the untiring loyalty of the staff, management and volunteers who have all worked so hard to meet our members diverse needs. For this I must express my gratitude and that of my fellow Trustees. They too deserve my gratitude for their guidance and support, not only at our meetings but also for the fundraising activities which many of them, along with members of Staff, have organised or participated Attracting new members has not been easy, but we have had some success, and I hope that this will continue. I must, sadly, advise that we have lost some treasured friends. Our thoughts are with their loved ones. Without stealing any of our treasurer's thunder, l am pleased to be able to tell you that, thanks to his efforts and those of our staff, members and trustees, our financial position remains strong and should enable us to weather any storms that the economic situation may bring. Unfortunately, despite my heartfelt plea at last year's AGM, we have not been able to recruit a new Chairman and so, subject to your approval, I shall be fulfilling that role for the coming year. If anyone feels willing and able to take on this position, I should be extremely grateful. Once again, my sincere thanks to my fellow trustees, to the management team, the staff, the volunteers and the members for all their hard work. Peter Laing, Peter Laing Chairman of Trustees
THE FREEDOM CENTRE (working with adults Mth physical and modefate learning disabilities) INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT Forthe Year ended 31st March 2024 TOTAL TOTAL General Designated funds Resirl¢ied funds fut¥J5 Notes fund8 1024 2023 £,8 £8 E'$ INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntary income direct giving 33,833 33.833 39,411 Othervoluntary income 550 550 11.054 Income from events and activities 3,347 3.347 3.112 Other ordlnary income 174,279 174.179 17g.786 Income from Investments 6,423 6,423 1,857 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 218,332 218,332 235,220 RESOURCES USED Dlrectly relatSng to the work of the centre 113.830 113,830 126,831 Centre management and admlnlstration 77,078 77,078 72.985 Depreciation 14,561 14,561 14,566 TOTAL RESOURCES USED 205,469 205,469 214,382 Net movement in resources before other galnsllosses Other 8ain5 and losses Surplus on sale of assets Net movement on re50urce5 after other gainsoSseS Transfer between funds - 12,863 12.863 20,838 12,863 12.863 20.838 fixed asset equlty redundancy reserve fund asset replacement fund NET MOVEMENT ON RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR .L319 19.519 12,863 12,863 Balances brought forward 27L771 109,721 35,598 417,090 397,S71 BALANCES AT 31ST MARCH 2024 284,634 ID9,721 35,598 429,953 417,090 STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES The Charity made no recognised gains or losses in either the curronl or prior year other than as shown In the Statement of Flnancial Activities The notes ori pages 6-9 form part of these account5
THE FREEDOM CENTRE Iworkins with adults with physical and rnoderate learnlng disabilities) BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH 2024 2024 2023 Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible Fixed Assets 138.94l 153.503 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors and prepayments Redundancy reserve Account Cash in hand and at bank io 16.184 23,104 29,443 26,078 254,833 219,077 300,460 270,259 Less: amounts fallin8 due within l year NET CURRENT ASSETS li 9,449 6,672 291,011 63.587 NET ASSETS 429,953 417,090 FUNDS Unrestricted General Funds 12 284,634 71.771 Unrestricted deslgnated funds Fixed Asset Equlty Redundancy costs reserve Asset replacement fund 109,721 109,721 35,598 35,59 145,319 145,319 429,953 417,0gD The notes on pages 6-9 form part ofthese accounts These Accounts were approved by the Trustees on 2nd October 2024 and Figned on its behalf by: Peter Laing Chairman Peter Taylor Treasurer