OPEN DOOR - ST ALBANS
Report of the Directors For the Year ended 31 March 2024
The Directors present their report with the financial statements for the Company[1] for the year ended 31 March 2024.
PURPOSES AND AIMS
The Charity’s purpose, as set out in the objects contained in its Memorandum of Association, is the relief of those in need, by reason of homelessness or other causes of vulnerability. The principal activity of the Company in the year under review was that of fundraising for the relief of financial need and the provision of accommodation and support for the homeless in St Albans and Hertfordshire. The Charity works in partnership with Hightown Housing Association (Hightown), which operates and manages the services provided at Open Door Night Shelter. It also provides additional accommodation for homeless people during the winter months; and makes occasional grants to other organisations.
Open Door – St Albans is a registered charity (reg no 1028528) and company limited by guarantee (no 02868633).
How our activities deliver Public Benefit
The Open Door – St. Albans Charity contributes to the running costs of the Open Door Night Shelter at 8 Bricket Road, St. Albans. The Shelter benefits from grants from Hertfordshire County Council’s Housing-related Support grant, and St Albans City and District Council.
The Shelter regularly gives single ensuite accommodation to up to 12 people each night. The facilities are available either by agency referral or by self-referral. Open Door Night Shelter also provides daytime drop-in services which offer support and advice, including on housing, health care, and the services available from other relevant agencies.
The Open Door Charity supports the Open Door Night Shelter homelessness service, which during 2023 supported 46 individuals into more settled housing. The Charity makes grants for specific purposes to supplement public funding, provides volunteers and raises awareness of homelessness issues. Our volunteers make an important contribution to the success of the project. In particular they prepare and serve lunch at the drop-in, and also provide residents and Winter Beds users with a hot evening meal. Volunteers also provide services for individuals, such as helping those for whom English is a second language, and a number of local businesses give practical help from the donation of food to working to improve the facilities provided and to enhance the environment for residents. These volunteers are recruited and overseen by our Publicity, Fundraising and Administration Coordinator, directly employed by the Charity.
The Charity provides grant funding to Hightown to employ the Safer Streets Outreach Worker, who makes contact with and supports those on the streets, to help rough sleepers to lead a more settled way of life. There are still people sleeping rough in St Albans – during 2023/24, on average 8 rough sleepers were verified at quarterly counts, though the
1 The Company is a registered charity (number 1028528). In this report, the Company is referred to on occasion as ‘the Charity’.
actual number is estimated at 12 to 15, unchanged from the previous year. Many of these have limited options for moving on both because there is a serious shortage of suitable accommodation, and/or because of their particular circumstances and issues.
The Charity also provides food supplies and a manages a volunteer team of 70 to prepare lunches and a hot evening meal; these are part funded by Hightown. We meet regularly with Hightown to review service provision through Street Outreach and the night Shelter, and to consider ways in which services might be developed.
Over the winter months the Charity provides volunteer–run direct services to rough sleepers, via the Winter Beds project. Since the introduction of COVID restrictions, this has been provided in purpose designed accommodation cabins sited at Emmaus St Albans.Accommodation was provided every night from December 2023 and extended to mid April 2024, to ensure provision was available for refugees leaving local hotels. In total, 22 individuals were accommodated, using 60 volunteers. This service was part funded by the Council, who contributed 50% of costs. We are exploring with Emmaus and other local organisations longer term options for the provision of extra winter beds
During the year the Charity continued to fund a counselling scheme, provided by Rephael House, to give access to early therapy for service users at the night shelter, those recently moved to supported accommodation, and rough sleepers. The service has been well received by clients, with relatively good levels of engagement, enabling them to begin to address often complex issues, as a prelude to engaging with further support. The Charity has also made a contribution to a pilot scheme with Druglink, for a part time support worker to work alongside the Street Outreach worker and also to provide drop in and group work activities at the night shelter, for those dealing with substance misuse issues.
The Charity provides small grants to assist resettlement of individuals, although none were made in 2023/24. We occasionally pay rent and services for people in need who have nowhere to stay and have no access to benefits or other public funds, to give some time to find them a place to go.
We continue to maintain strong relationships with other local charities and statutory agencies including St Albans District Council; for example, liaising in the provision of meals to rough sleepers, and in exploring options for our winter provision and for further daytime facilities.
The Charity's funding benefits the direct recipients of the services provided at the Night Shelter and also has indirect impacts on the wider community. We encourage charitable giving by local people, whether through volunteering or through fundraising and donations. Many of our supporters and fundraisers are young people, who want to help homeless and vulnerable people.
Our support for the Night Shelter over many years has helped improve the lives of homeless people, by enabling them to address their personal issues and live more settled lives, in turn helping them to play a fuller part in the local community.
2
DIRECTORS
The Directors (who are also trustees of the Charity, appointed by existing trustees) for the year ending March 2024 were:
David Lane (Chairman, to January 2024) Peter Graham (Vice Chairman and Acting Chair from January) Lindsey McLeod (Treasurer) Jacqueline Button (Secretary) Simon Carver (to July 2023) Rachel McFarlane (to October 2023) Richard Upton Andy Thoms Roger Gosine Ed Dunn (from September 2023)
The Directors have complied with the duty laid out in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
On behalf of the Board:
Peter Graham Date:
3
OPEN DOOR – ST ALBANS
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Year ended 31 March 2024
| Income (see note 2) Donations and legacies Investments Total Expenditure (see note 3) Raising funds Charitable activities Volunteer Coordinator, Publicity & Admin Total Net income/(expenditure) |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Total Funds 2023/24 Total Funds 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 86,382 27,684 114,066 85,004 10,790 10,790 5,167 |
|---|---|
| 97,172 27,684 124,856 90,171 - - 95,201 27,684 122,885 95,403 27,734 27,734 26,260 |
|
| 122,935 27,684 150,619 121,663 |
|
| (25,763) 0 (25,763) (31,492) |
4
OPEN DOOR – ST ALBANS
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024
| Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets/ (liabilities) Reserves Unrestricted funds: General Development Total Reserves |
Total 2023/24 Total 2022/23 £ £ 23,048 30,485 244,961 267,456 |
|---|---|
| 268,009 297,941 (16,642) (20,811) |
|
| 251,367 277,130 |
|
| 189,925 215,688 61,442 61,442 |
|
| 251,367 277,130 |
The Company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The members have not required the Company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:
-
a) ensuring that the Company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
-
b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of each financial year and of its profit or loss for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Section 396 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the Company.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:
……………………………………………………
Approved by the Board on ……………………………….
5
OPEN DOOR – ST ALBANS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 31 March 2024
1 Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the 2019 Charities SORP (FRS102).
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
-
the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
-
it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources;
-
the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses.
Legacies are included in the SOFA when receipt is probable, that is, where there has been grant of probate, the executors have established that there are sufficient assets in the estate, and any conditions attached to the legacy are either within the control of the charity, or have been met.
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
Donated services and facilities are included in the SOFA when received, at the value of the gift to the charity (if material) provided the value of the gift can be measured reliably.
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
6
2 Analysis of Income
| Donations and Legacies Donations and gifts Gift Aid Legacies Grants Fundraising Total Income from investments Interest income Total Income |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Total 2023/24 Total 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 64,242 64,242 50,966 2,412 2,412 5,681 2,500 2,500 5,000 27,684 27,684 19,422 17,228 17,228 3,935 |
|---|---|
| 86,382 27,684 114,066 85,004 10,790 10,790 5,167 |
|
| 97,172 27,684 124,856 90,171 |
7
3 Expenditure
| Expenditure on charitable activities Activities undertaken directly: Winter Beds Project Night Shelter - food provision Other Night Shelter support Grant funding of activities: Safer Streets Outreach Worker Counselling Druglink pilot Night shelter - furniture & equipment Total Expenditure on Charitable Activities Other Costs Volunteer, Publicity, Fundraising & Admin Coordinator Other Admin costs Fundraising Costs Total Other Costs TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total 2023/24 Total 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 17,997 17,530 35,527 26,729 2,825 10,154 12,979 9,136 610 610 792 45,569 45,569 44,880 13,200 13,200 13,366 9,500 9,500 500 5,500 5,500- |
|---|---|
| 95,201 27,684 122,885 95,403 23,416 23,416 20,946 4,318 4,318 5,314 - - |
|
| 27,734 - 27,734 26,260 |
|
| 122,935 27,684 150,619 121,663 |
8
4 Operating Surplus/ (Deficit)
The operating deficit for the year ended 31 March 2024 is £36,553 and the overall deficit after interest earned is £25,763. There were no reporting fees for accountancy, and no directors’ emoluments or other benefits accruing to Directors .
5 Taxation
The Company is a registered charity with no trading activities, and therefore not subject to corporation tax.
6 Company Status
The Company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital.
7 Related Parties
No transactions have been incurred where trustees hold related party interests.
8 Remuneration
No director or any party related to them has received any remuneration, expenses or other benefit during the year.
9 Employee Costs
The Charity employs one part time member of staff, with total salary, pension and employer’s national insurance costs less than £25,000.
10 Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
The employee is enrolled in a Defined Contribution pension scheme, to which both employer’s and employee’s contributions are made.
11 Grants to Other Organisations and Individuals
Grants to other organisations for the provision of homeless support activities at or from the Bricket Road Nightshelter comprise:
| Hightown Housing Association – Safer Streets Outreach Worker - Furniture Rephael House – Counselling Druglink – Early engagement |
£ 45,569 5,500 13,200 9,500 73,769 |
|---|---|
No other grants were made to other organisations and individuals during the financial year.
12 General Reserves
Movements on General Reserves are as shown in the Statement of Financial Activities. The balance on the General Fund at 31 March 2024 was £189,846, and on the Development Fund was £61,442.
Reserves Policy
The General Fund is held to support the ongoing activities of the charity.
9
It is the Charity’s policy to hold in reserves, as a minimum, the amount needed to meet running costs for 9 months. This reflects the uncertain nature of donations income, and the commitments made to grant funding and specific projects . The Charity’s expenditure budget for 2024/25 is £124,500, giving 9 months costs of £93,400.
The current level of the General Fund (£190k) represents a balance built up since 2010, during which time the Charity has benefited from reductions in the net annual running costs of the Open Door Night Shelter services, largely due to increased income from higher occupancy; continued generous donations, legacies and fundraising.
For the last three years, the Charity has run with an annual deficit of £25-30k. This reflects the cost of the Winter Beds project, along with more general cost increases. We are working to cover this shortfall by generating new sources of income, including grants, but we expect the General Fund to reduce in 2024/25 and possibly longer, until this additional income is achieved.
The Charity also holds a Development Fund account, which at 31 March 2024 stands at £61,442, and represents the balance of funding following the refurbishment of 8 Bricket Road in 2010. This fund is intended to provide for the long-term refurbishment and development of facilities to support its charitable services, including the premises at 8 Bricket Road, which is leased to Hightown Housing Association by St Albans City and District Council at a peppercorn rent..
The Trustees recognise the need to use its reserves to help address the continuing issues facing homeless people and those at risk of homelessness, in the St Albans area. Whilst support for the night shelter and drop in services provided at 8 Bricket Road remains a core activity, the Charity has the scope to use its reserves to fund and support new initiatives which help vulnerable people in St Albans, particularly the homeless, change their lives for the better, and to find suitable short or long term housing solutions which meet their particular needs. These may be either at or away from Bricket Road, with Hightown and/or in conjunction with other charitable organisations. We continue to fund research into opportunities to improve the coordination of services meeting the needs of people who are homeless or vulnerable, and to develop new support initiatives.
We will draw on reserves as we develop the portfolio of new projects based on these research findings and the changing homelessness situation, over the future months and years. We will also extend our fundraising activities to support new ventures if appropriate.
13 Restricted Funds
Income given to meet specific expenditure, and the related expenditure, are classified as restricted in the accounts. All such income received in 2023/24 (St Albans District Council contribution to Winter Bed Project, and Hightown Housing contribution to food costs) was fully spent in year.
10
OPEN DOOR - ST ALBANS
Report of the Directors For the Year ended 31 March 2024
The Directors present their report with the financial statements for the Company[1] for the year ended 31 March 2024.
PURPOSES AND AIMS
The Charity’s purpose, as set out in the objects contained in its Memorandum of Association, is the relief of those in need, by reason of homelessness or other causes of vulnerability. The principal activity of the Company in the year under review was that of fundraising for the relief of financial need and the provision of accommodation and support for the homeless in St Albans and Hertfordshire. The Charity works in partnership with Hightown Housing Association (Hightown), which operates and manages the services provided at Open Door Night Shelter. It also provides additional accommodation for homeless people during the winter months; and makes occasional grants to other organisations.
Open Door – St Albans is a registered charity (reg no 1028528) and company limited by guarantee (no 02868633).
How our activities deliver Public Benefit
The Open Door – St. Albans Charity contributes to the running costs of the Open Door Night Shelter at 8 Bricket Road, St. Albans. The Shelter benefits from grants from Hertfordshire County Council’s Housing-related Support grant, and St Albans City and District Council.
The Shelter regularly gives single ensuite accommodation to up to 12 people each night. The facilities are available either by agency referral or by self-referral. Open Door Night Shelter also provides daytime drop-in services which offer support and advice, including on housing, health care, and the services available from other relevant agencies.
The Open Door Charity supports the Open Door Night Shelter homelessness service, which during 2023 supported 46 individuals into more settled housing. The Charity makes grants for specific purposes to supplement public funding, provides volunteers and raises awareness of homelessness issues. Our volunteers make an important contribution to the success of the project. In particular they prepare and serve lunch at the drop-in, and also provide residents and Winter Beds users with a hot evening meal. Volunteers also provide services for individuals, such as helping those for whom English is a second language, and a number of local businesses give practical help from the donation of food to working to improve the facilities provided and to enhance the environment for residents. These volunteers are recruited and overseen by our Publicity, Fundraising and Administration Coordinator, directly employed by the Charity.
The Charity provides grant funding to Hightown to employ the Safer Streets Outreach Worker, who makes contact with and supports those on the streets, to help rough sleepers to lead a more settled way of life. There are still people sleeping rough in St Albans – during 2023/24, on average 8 rough sleepers were verified at quarterly counts, though the
1 The Company is a registered charity (number 1028528). In this report, the Company is referred to on occasion as ‘the Charity’.
actual number is estimated at 12 to 15, unchanged from the previous year. Many of these have limited options for moving on both because there is a serious shortage of suitable accommodation, and/or because of their particular circumstances and issues.
The Charity also provides food supplies and a manages a volunteer team of 70 to prepare lunches and a hot evening meal; these are part funded by Hightown. We meet regularly with Hightown to review service provision through Street Outreach and the night Shelter, and to consider ways in which services might be developed.
Over the winter months the Charity provides volunteer–run direct services to rough sleepers, via the Winter Beds project. Since the introduction of COVID restrictions, this has been provided in purpose designed accommodation cabins sited at Emmaus St Albans.Accommodation was provided every night from December 2023 and extended to mid April 2024, to ensure provision was available for refugees leaving local hotels. In total, 22 individuals were accommodated, using 60 volunteers. This service was part funded by the Council, who contributed 50% of costs. We are exploring with Emmaus and other local organisations longer term options for the provision of extra winter beds
During the year the Charity continued to fund a counselling scheme, provided by Rephael House, to give access to early therapy for service users at the night shelter, those recently moved to supported accommodation, and rough sleepers. The service has been well received by clients, with relatively good levels of engagement, enabling them to begin to address often complex issues, as a prelude to engaging with further support. The Charity has also made a contribution to a pilot scheme with Druglink, for a part time support worker to work alongside the Street Outreach worker and also to provide drop in and group work activities at the night shelter, for those dealing with substance misuse issues.
The Charity provides small grants to assist resettlement of individuals, although none were made in 2023/24. We occasionally pay rent and services for people in need who have nowhere to stay and have no access to benefits or other public funds, to give some time to find them a place to go.
We continue to maintain strong relationships with other local charities and statutory agencies including St Albans District Council; for example, liaising in the provision of meals to rough sleepers, and in exploring options for our winter provision and for further daytime facilities.
The Charity's funding benefits the direct recipients of the services provided at the Night Shelter and also has indirect impacts on the wider community. We encourage charitable giving by local people, whether through volunteering or through fundraising and donations. Many of our supporters and fundraisers are young people, who want to help homeless and vulnerable people.
Our support for the Night Shelter over many years has helped improve the lives of homeless people, by enabling them to address their personal issues and live more settled lives, in turn helping them to play a fuller part in the local community.
2
DIRECTORS
The Directors (who are also trustees of the Charity, appointed by existing trustees) for the year ending March 2024 were:
David Lane (Chairman, to January 2024) Peter Graham (Vice Chairman and Acting Chair from January) Lindsey McLeod (Treasurer) Jacqueline Button (Secretary) Simon Carver (to July 2023) Rachel McFarlane (to October 2023) Richard Upton Andy Thoms Roger Gosine Ed Dunn (from September 2023)
The Directors have complied with the duty laid out in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
On behalf of the Board:
Peter Graham Date:
3
OPEN DOOR – ST ALBANS
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Year ended 31 March 2024
| Income (see note 2) Donations and legacies Investments Total Expenditure (see note 3) Raising funds Charitable activities Volunteer Coordinator, Publicity & Admin Total Net income/(expenditure) |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Total Funds 2023/24 Total Funds 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 86,382 27,684 114,066 85,004 10,790 10,790 5,167 |
|---|---|
| 97,172 27,684 124,856 90,171 - - 95,201 27,684 122,885 95,403 27,734 27,734 26,260 |
|
| 122,935 27,684 150,619 121,663 |
|
| (25,763) 0 (25,763) (31,492) |
4
OPEN DOOR – ST ALBANS
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024
| Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets/ (liabilities) Reserves Unrestricted funds: General Development Total Reserves |
Total 2023/24 Total 2022/23 £ £ 23,048 30,485 244,961 267,456 |
|---|---|
| 268,009 297,941 (16,642) (20,811) |
|
| 251,367 277,130 |
|
| 189,925 215,688 61,442 61,442 |
|
| 251,367 277,130 |
The Company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The members have not required the Company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:
-
a) ensuring that the Company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
-
b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of each financial year and of its profit or loss for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Section 396 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the Company.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:
……………………………………………………
Approved by the Board on ……………………………….
5
OPEN DOOR – ST ALBANS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 31 March 2024
1 Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the 2019 Charities SORP (FRS102).
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
-
the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
-
it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources;
-
the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses.
Legacies are included in the SOFA when receipt is probable, that is, where there has been grant of probate, the executors have established that there are sufficient assets in the estate, and any conditions attached to the legacy are either within the control of the charity, or have been met.
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
Donated services and facilities are included in the SOFA when received, at the value of the gift to the charity (if material) provided the value of the gift can be measured reliably.
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
6
2 Analysis of Income
| Donations and Legacies Donations and gifts Gift Aid Legacies Grants Fundraising Total Income from investments Interest income Total Income |
Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Total 2023/24 Total 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 64,242 64,242 50,966 2,412 2,412 5,681 2,500 2,500 5,000 27,684 27,684 19,422 17,228 17,228 3,935 |
|---|---|
| 86,382 27,684 114,066 85,004 10,790 10,790 5,167 |
|
| 97,172 27,684 124,856 90,171 |
7
3 Expenditure
| Expenditure on charitable activities Activities undertaken directly: Winter Beds Project Night Shelter - food provision Other Night Shelter support Grant funding of activities: Safer Streets Outreach Worker Counselling Druglink pilot Night shelter - furniture & equipment Total Expenditure on Charitable Activities Other Costs Volunteer, Publicity, Fundraising & Admin Coordinator Other Admin costs Fundraising Costs Total Other Costs TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total 2023/24 Total 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 17,997 17,530 35,527 26,729 2,825 10,154 12,979 9,136 610 610 792 45,569 45,569 44,880 13,200 13,200 13,366 9,500 9,500 500 5,500 5,500- |
|---|---|
| 95,201 27,684 122,885 95,403 23,416 23,416 20,946 4,318 4,318 5,314 - - |
|
| 27,734 - 27,734 26,260 |
|
| 122,935 27,684 150,619 121,663 |
8
4 Operating Surplus/ (Deficit)
The operating deficit for the year ended 31 March 2024 is £36,553 and the overall deficit after interest earned is £25,763. There were no reporting fees for accountancy, and no directors’ emoluments or other benefits accruing to Directors .
5 Taxation
The Company is a registered charity with no trading activities, and therefore not subject to corporation tax.
6 Company Status
The Company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital.
7 Related Parties
No transactions have been incurred where trustees hold related party interests.
8 Remuneration
No director or any party related to them has received any remuneration, expenses or other benefit during the year.
9 Employee Costs
The Charity employs one part time member of staff, with total salary, pension and employer’s national insurance costs less than £25,000.
10 Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
The employee is enrolled in a Defined Contribution pension scheme, to which both employer’s and employee’s contributions are made.
11 Grants to Other Organisations and Individuals
Grants to other organisations for the provision of homeless support activities at or from the Bricket Road Nightshelter comprise:
| Hightown Housing Association – Safer Streets Outreach Worker - Furniture Rephael House – Counselling Druglink – Early engagement |
£ 45,569 5,500 13,200 9,500 73,769 |
|---|---|
No other grants were made to other organisations and individuals during the financial year.
12 General Reserves
Movements on General Reserves are as shown in the Statement of Financial Activities. The balance on the General Fund at 31 March 2024 was £189,846, and on the Development Fund was £61,442.
Reserves Policy
The General Fund is held to support the ongoing activities of the charity.
9
It is the Charity’s policy to hold in reserves, as a minimum, the amount needed to meet running costs for 9 months. This reflects the uncertain nature of donations income, and the commitments made to grant funding and specific projects . The Charity’s expenditure budget for 2024/25 is £124,500, giving 9 months costs of £93,400.
The current level of the General Fund (£190k) represents a balance built up since 2010, during which time the Charity has benefited from reductions in the net annual running costs of the Open Door Night Shelter services, largely due to increased income from higher occupancy; continued generous donations, legacies and fundraising.
For the last three years, the Charity has run with an annual deficit of £25-30k. This reflects the cost of the Winter Beds project, along with more general cost increases. We are working to cover this shortfall by generating new sources of income, including grants, but we expect the General Fund to reduce in 2024/25 and possibly longer, until this additional income is achieved.
The Charity also holds a Development Fund account, which at 31 March 2024 stands at £61,442, and represents the balance of funding following the refurbishment of 8 Bricket Road in 2010. This fund is intended to provide for the long-term refurbishment and development of facilities to support its charitable services, including the premises at 8 Bricket Road, which is leased to Hightown Housing Association by St Albans City and District Council at a peppercorn rent..
The Trustees recognise the need to use its reserves to help address the continuing issues facing homeless people and those at risk of homelessness, in the St Albans area. Whilst support for the night shelter and drop in services provided at 8 Bricket Road remains a core activity, the Charity has the scope to use its reserves to fund and support new initiatives which help vulnerable people in St Albans, particularly the homeless, change their lives for the better, and to find suitable short or long term housing solutions which meet their particular needs. These may be either at or away from Bricket Road, with Hightown and/or in conjunction with other charitable organisations. We continue to fund research into opportunities to improve the coordination of services meeting the needs of people who are homeless or vulnerable, and to develop new support initiatives.
We will draw on reserves as we develop the portfolio of new projects based on these research findings and the changing homelessness situation, over the future months and years. We will also extend our fundraising activities to support new ventures if appropriate.
13 Restricted Funds
Income given to meet specific expenditure, and the related expenditure, are classified as restricted in the accounts. All such income received in 2023/24 (St Albans District Council contribution to Winter Bed Project, and Hightown Housing contribution to food costs) was fully spent in year.
10
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section Arpp: :-: Independent Examinerfs Report..:_=-- Report to the trusteesldirectorsl members of oPeTrJ DooP ST PrLEpTrJs. On accounts for the year ended Charity no.: Idl 8j2Y Company no.: 0186Y633 Set out on pages I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees of the Company (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ("the 2006 Act"). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ("the 2011 Act"). In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's statement trhe company's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualrfied member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") which gives me cause to believe that: accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006. or . the accounts do not accord with such records. or the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a m2tta. ---- of an independent ex2mi. I have no concerns and have come across no other 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. Please delete the words in the braGkets if they do not apply. Date: OL Signed: Name: èLAr41 Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: I MAR. Ll tLD.