## **Trustees Annual Report** ## **First Steps New Forest** **Charity No: - 1037064** **5[th] April 2023 to 4[th] April 2024** ## **Charity Websites** www.firststepscharity.org www.newforestromanygypsytraveller.co.uk www.firststepshealthandwellbeing.co.uk ## **The Aims of First Steps New Forest:** The Charity aims to engage primarily with the local settled Gypsy/Traveller Community to enhance their development, education, health and welfare and that of other members of their family group. Offering appropriate facilities and opportunities for individuals to engage in new activities, education, and social events and receive support and advice. Ensuring that such groups offer equal opportunities for everyone regardless of gender, age, colour, disability, race, culture, religion or means. Promoting public interest in the recognition of the needs and difficulties faced by the local Settled Gypsy Community. 1 ## **Trustees 2024 -2025** Brian Gumbrell David John Cook Christopher Cooper Kay Sanders-Fox Daniel Nutbeam Amy Pidgley Joanne Cooper ## **Review of recent year** We have been busy supporting the local settled Gypsy Traveller Community over the past year, dealing with issues such as housing, benefits including P.I.P and Universal Credit, education, health issues, etc. Our Mental Health Support Worker, although only having a few hours a week with First Steps, has provided valuable one-to-one support to individuals. The last year has been particularly challenging for Community Members and the supporting staff. When dealing with government agencies by phone, everything takes so much longer to achieve and replies to letters take far longer to receive as there still seems to be a backlog or possible staff cutbacks. During this past year, we have needed to help more and more families and individuals with food parcels, and quite a few of these families are in employment. Unfortunately, the cost of living is having a significant impact on everyone. Those community members with a mortgage or private renting will be finding it extremely hard; the cost of food has shot up for everyone, but those that can’t get out of the village to the supermarkets will struggle to have to rely on buying all their food from the village shop. Trying to find an N.H.S. dentist has continued to be a challenge, and some community members haven’t accessed a dentist for two years or more and have needed to remove their teeth. We have continued to hold craft sessions at the hall and have made some excellent items. It’s been lovely talking to community members in a relaxed environment. 2 ## **Audited Accounts: -** Daniel C Short 70 Seabourne Road Bournemouth Dorset BH5 2HT **Number of Clients on the database at present:** - 204 **Number of regular paid part-time staff: -** 3 **Number of regular Volunteers: -** 13 3 FIR TEP NE FORES R THE PERIOD FROM 5 APRIL 2023 T 04 APRIL 2024 R Istered Charl No 1037064 FIRST STEPS NEW FOREST Approval statement We approve the accounts, which comprise of tbe Profit and Loss Account and tbe Balance Sheet. We acknowledge our responsibility for the aeeounts. including the appropriateness of the applicable rinance reporting framework and for providing Dvdnlel C Short Ltd with all the information and explanations necessary for their compilation. Trustee Trustee Trustee Date J an ￿￿L( Report to the tru8ts88lmombor8 of First Steps New Forest On accounts for tho Extended Porlod: 5 April 2023 to 4 April 2024 Sot out on pago8 3to4 R8$pKtsve re8pon8lbllltlo8 of tru8to08 and oxamlner The charitys trustees are responsible for the preperation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Acl) and that an examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by Ihe Charity Commission {und8r section 43171 (bl of the 1993 Acl and to stale whether particular matters have come to my attention Ba•ls ol Independent èxaminor8 •tatemènt My 8xamination was Carrled out in accordance with general Dlreclions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosur8s undertaken do nol provide all the evidence thal would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'tru8 and fairf view and the report Is limlted lo those matter5 set out in the statement below. Independent •xamlnorf8 8tatoment In connection with my examinatlon, no matter has come to my attention 1) which gives me resonable Cause to believe that in, any material aspect, the requiremènl$'. to keep aGcounting records in accordance with seGtion 41 of the 1993 Act., and lo prepare accounts which accord with the accounting re¢ords and comply with the accounlSng requirements of the 1993 Act have not been met., or 2) to which, in my opinlon, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandlng of the aeKounls lo be reached. Signed Date 3110112025 Daniel C Short Ltd Address 70 Seabourne Road Southbourne Bournemouth Dorset BH5 2HT TE E AND EXPENDIT Ye4r End•d 04￿￿2024 Year Ended 0410412023 Re81rfcted Unr8$1rf￿ed INCOME The Lottery Fund Hampshlre County Coun¢ll Sovefelgn Housing Enham Trnsl Fr8ncI8 Rosllgna Inle¥e81 received TOTAL INCOME 15,668 3.808 1,000 5,3go 15,668 3,808 1,000 5,390 15,668 2,000 3,136 25,866 25,867 20,804 EXPENDITURE Rent, headng and claanlng Salarles and Nl Pensbon conlrlbutlons RefreshmantS and ￿nsuM8￿188 New &quSpment Po818ge Ptlnllng & slalionery Temp staff & Iralnlng Travel & 8ub6istsnc8 Soclal & Irlp8 out Legal & profèsslon81 cos18 Inc In8urance Depreciation IniemeV￿ebB￿eI¢oMpU1gr Pler He8llhcare re Francis Burt Ro8llgina Enh&m Healthcare re Fianc58 Burt RoBll9lna Bgnk tharges Other expendllure TOTAL EXPENDITURE 380 19,656 425 452 58 267 380 19,656 425 452 58 267 819 16.215 329 947 352 285 192 1,702 221 2,112 108 1,331 221 2,112 108 1,331 21 199 1,238 26 335 21 199 2,770 52 1,790 30,047 2.770 52 21 28,852 Surplu•lld•fl¢ltl lor th1• ymr 4.181 20 4,201 6.048 RE CE 04￿￿2024 0410412023 Flx•d A•••ts Capllal equlpment 105 Current Ai•ots 88nk- after 8chool club account Bank ¢urrenl a¢￿U￿1 Cash al bank & In hand Oeblors & prepayinents Totsl Curr•nt A88otg 3.225 31 152 32 897 2,230 3,409 TOTAL ASSETS 2,313 3,514 Ll•bllltl••'. Currgnt Lljbllltl c￿ditOr5 Loan from Erica Amold Total Llobllltle• 3,000 3,000 N•t ILl•blllllo•VA•••ts 687 3,514 Fund• Balance brought forward For thls ￿ar{lO$S)1pr0fll Al end of Year 3,514 9.582 887 3.514 Roport to the trusteoslmombers of First steps New Forest On accounts for the Extsndod Period: 5 Awil 2023 to 4 April 2024 Set out on pages 3to4 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charitls truslees are responsible for the preperalion of the accounts. The chartys trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43 {2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an examination is needed. It is my responsibilty to: examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act. to follow the procedures latd down in the general Directions given by the Chartty Commission (under section 4317) (b) of the 1993 Act and to state whether part￿ular matters have come to My attention Basis of independont examiner8 Statement My examination was carried out in accordance wrth general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wf(h those records. It also includes conshderation of any unusual items or disdosures undertaken do not provide all the evideni that would be required in an audit, and consequentty no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and faif view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examinerfs statement In connection with my examinat￿n. no matter has come to my attention 1) vthich gives me resonable cause to believe that in. any material aspect, the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordan￿ with section 41 of the 1993 Act. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply wtlh the accounting requirements of the 1993 Acl have not been met.. or 2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enab￿ a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed Date 31101f2025 Daniel C Short Ltd Address 70 Seaboume Road Soulhbourne Bournemouth Dorset BH5 2HT