2024-12-31-accounts

Woodside Bereavement Service

Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2024

1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk

WOODSIDE BEREAVEMENT SERVICE

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Waterside Centre 26 Avenue Road London SE25 5DX GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution dated adopted June 1994, amended April 2019 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1041666 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Vincent Atigla MANAGING THE CHARITY Anne Barcellos (resigned June 2025) Andy Bebington (appointed September 2025) Christine Carter Charles King (resigned June 2025) Linda Nicholas BANKERS The Co-operative Bank p.l.c. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB INDEX Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-3 Trustees' Report Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 7 Notes to the Accounts

Page 1

WOODSIDE BEREAVEMENT SERVICE

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Aims and purposes

Woodside Bereavement Service (WBS or 'the Service') is established to relieve persons resident in the London Borough of Croydon experiencing severe or prolonged shock or depression, arising from bereavement and loss.

Objectives and activities

WBS is committed to providing free support by trained volunteers to bereaved people through one-toone counselling with selected and trained Christian counsellors. It assists them through their period of mourning and encourages acceptance of loss and re-adjustment. It also aims to educate and increase awareness of the nature of grief and bereavement. The Service is available to all those residing in the Borough of Croydon, regardless of race, colour, nationality, belief, age, gender, sexual orientation or physical disability.

In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.

Volunteers

The Service would not be able to operate its current model without the time and input given freely by the volunteers both as counsellors and in the administration and management functions. Heartfelt thanks go to all the volunteers and friends in the community who help the Service to deliver its aims and objectives.

Structure, governance and management

The Service is constituted in accordance with its Constitution which is agreed in consultation with Trustees, Management Team [MT] and members.

The Service is overseen by the Trustees, who receive reports from the Management Team and consider any issues raised at their quarterly meetings. The Service continues to monitor and manage challenges in several key areas (Treasurer vacancy, available administrative hours, social media and marketing the service to attract donations, funding sources, access to suitable rooms and future use of the Waterside Centre). We have been unable to fill our Treasurer vacancy despite numerous adverts.

The day-to day management of the Service is carried out by the Management Team comprising representatives of the main operating areas. Their role consists of assessment of service performance, issues affecting delivery, following up fundraising possibilities and taking decisions on service amendments where necessary. A new procedure for DBS checks for renewals for existing and new counsellors (DBS Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders) was adopted in July.

The position of Children and Young People’s Team Leader at Woodside Bereavement Service was accepted in October on a 2-year contract for 10 hrs per week.

Page 2

Challenges into 2025/26

The National Lottery grant ended on 31 March 2025. The MT continues to work with trustees to identify and secure alternatives sources of funding. A joint meeting took place in February to service priorities which include strengthening our financial position and financial management, raising our profile on social media to attract regular donations, appointing more trustees (two trustees have recently stepped down) and a treasurer, and individual service priorities. Our commitment is to meet once or twice a year to discuss and review service plans, finances and our vision.

WBS is now one of two charities supported by the Mayor Croydon (May 2025-May 2026).

Financial review

During the year income decreased by £11,900 to £28,200, and expenditure increased by £2,600, to £29,200. As a result the cash held by the charity decreased by £1,000, to £49,000, of which £41,500 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.

Reserves policy

The Trustees seek to retain one year's cover for expenditure, given the uncertainty of grant aid and (in particular) the financial position of Croydon Council, a former major funder. One year's cover is roughly £30,000, based on the expenditure for 2024. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £41,500 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.

Responsibilities of trustees

Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.

We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.

We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.

Approval

This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

L.Nicholas

_________ L.Nicholas (Oct 27, 2025 22:25:42 GMT) Linda Nicholas

Chair of Trustees

Oct 27, 2025 Date:_____

Page 3

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

WOODSIDE BEREAVEMENT SERVICE

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Woodside Bereavement Service ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2024 on pages 5 to 7 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

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

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

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

Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date:

Page 4

WOODSIDE BEREAVEMENT SERVICE

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts National Lottery grant 4 Training income Interest Memberships Other Total receipts Payments 2 Total payments Transfers between funds 4 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly		General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 4,764 - 202 - - - 889 - 756 - 60 - 67 - 6,738 - 2,937 - 2,937 - 3,801 - - - 3,801 - 37,738 - 41,538 - Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds £ - - 21,435 - - - - 21,435 26,218 26,218 (4,783) - (4,783) 12,196 7,413	2024 £ 4,764 202 21,435 889 756 60 67 28,173 29,155 29,155 (982) - (982) 49,934 48,951	2023 £
		General Funds £ 4,764 202 - 889 756 60 67 6,738 2,937 2,937 3,801 - 3,801 37,738 41,538
					5,052 1,522 30,840 2,235 400 60 -
					40,109
					26,590
					26,590
					13,519 -
					13,519 36,415
					49,934

The notes on page 7 form part of these accounts.

Page 5

WOODSIDE BEREAVEMENT SERVICE

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Petty cash B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Other C Liabilities Falling due within one year Fee for Independent Examination Accrued expenses		General Designated funds funds £ £ 41,538 - - - 41,538 - 390 - 247 - 637 - 750 - 1,208 - 1,958 - Unrestricted Funds	Restricted funds £ 7,413 - 7,413 - - - - - -	2024 £ 48,951 - 48,951 390 247 637 750 1,208 1,958	2023 £
		General funds £ 41,538 - 41,538 390 247 637 750 1,208 1,958
					49,922 12
					49,934
					481 -
					481
					700 1,040
					1,740

D Assets retained for charity's own use

The charity owns minimal assets.

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

L.Nicholas L.Nicholas (Oct 27, 2025 22:25:42 GMT) _____Linda Nicholas Oct 27, 2025 Date:_____

The notes on page 7 form part of these accounts.

Page 6

WOODSIDE BEREAVEMENT SERVICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1 Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.

2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs Note 3 Office rental Travel Insurance Office costs Equipment and resources Professional fees Training Other costs		Unrestricte	Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - d Funds	Restricted Funds £ 11,089 9,328 445 668 2,186 - 385 2,118 - 26,218	2024 £ 11,089 9,328 445 668 2,301 1,490 1,581 2,118 136 29,155	2023 £
		General funds £ - - - - 115 1,490 1,196 - 136 2,937
						11,532 8,850 257 578 1,478 360 1,523 1,690 322
						26,590

3 Transactions with related parties

No payments were made to trustees or connected persons other than reimbursement on behalf of the charity.

4 Movement of funds

vement of funds
General funds Restricted funds National Lottery grant Total funds	Opening balance £ 37,738 12,196 12,196 49,934	Receipts £ 6,738 21,435 21,435 28,173	Payments £ (2,937) (26,218) (26,218) (29,155)	Transfers £ - - - -	Closing balance £ 41,538 7,413
					7,413
					48,951

Page 7