OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

← Step Up Hub

2025-03-31-accounts

Registered Charity No. 1059876

STEP UP HUB

(PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS HELP SOMALIA FOUNDATION)

Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025

Selby Centre, Selby Road London, N17 8JL Tel: 020 88013199 Mob: 07748287303

Contents Page Legal and administrative information…………………………………………………………… 1 Trustees’ report……………………………………………………………………………………….2 – 6 Independent Examiner’s report…………………………………………………………………….7 Statement of financial activities…………………………………………………………………… 8 Balance Sheet……………………………………………………………………………………………….9 Notes to the accounts……………………………………………………………………………10 – 14

STEP UP HUB

Legal and Administrative Information For the year ended 31 March 2025

Status: The organisation is a charity registered with the Charities
Commission in England & Wales.
Charity Number: 1059876
Registered Office & Headquarter
Business Address: Moran House
449-451 High Road
Willesden
London NW10 2JJ
Trustees: Mr Deeq Qaaje - Chair
Ms Safo Mohamed - Treasurer
Mrs Hassina Yassin - Secretary
Mr Yassin Ali - Trustee
Dr Lawrence Akwetey - Trustee
Mr Hanad Mohamoud - Trustee
Bankers: TSB Bank
Harlesden Library, Craven Park Rd
London NW10 8SE
Independent Examiners: Bennic Ltd
Chartered Certified Accountants
Selby Centre
Selby Road
London N17 8JL

1

STEP UP HUB

Our purpose

Step Up Hub is a charity dedicated to addressing social injustice and inequalities in Brent and its surrounding boroughs. Our work seeks to ensure that people have the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to assert their rights, make positive contributions, and reach their full potential. Step Up Hub is also a platform for people of all protected characteristics as well as other dimensions of difference not currently recognised by the Equality Act 2010 such as immigration status. Through support and releasing of capacity we aim to achieve more inclusive and valued communities. We do this through a range of work including:

Our Aims and Objective

Our aims are set to reflect the aims of our community. Every year our trustees review our objectives and activities to ensure they continue to address the needs of the local community. In carrying out this review the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

Step Up Hub exists to provide appropriate cultural services for members of the community whose needs often are not met by mainstream service providers. We respond to the health, social, cultural, educational and employment needs of diverse members, particularly those who are socially excluded.

This year we have worked hard to challenge the barriers, stereotypes, and taboos which prevent intersectional BAMER people from accessing support either in the community or mainstream services so that no community member is forced to endure their problems in silence.

Activities and achievements 2024-25

Welfare Advice Services

We provided welfare advice and information to ensure that our service users are receiving the benefits and support that they are entitled to, and we used their experiences of navigating the welfare system to challenge the policies and practices that hinder rather than support people in need. In the past twelve months, there has been a high demand for our general welfare support due to increased cost of living and against a backdrop of lower economic opportunities. Housing insecurity is another major issue that our service users are struggling. The welfare provision is needed more than ever due to the severe cost of-living pressures facing low-income residents, We support more than 3000 clients during past year, most of the client were concerned with cost of living, 78% of our clients we supported with applying resident support grant, PIP, benefits claims and appeals. As the results lot of families increased their entitlements. Beneficiaries have benefited from our online and remote delivery provision that we developed directly to address the inability to come together face-to-face due to the impact of Covid-19. They have found comfort in their ability to pick up the phone from the safety of their own homes. Due to positive feedback from our service users, we have decided to keep this as well as our usually face-to-face service.

Step Up Hub is also part of the Brent Hubs Partnership which has enabled us to have greater outreach, across the borough. We have provided services from two Brent Hubs venues (Living Room and Wembley localities). We deliver the same level and range of general welfare/benefits advice, to a broad variety of clients and can refer people on to other specialist services, (like in-depth debt advice) which are available under the same roof.

2

Reducing school exclusion

Step Up Hub worked with community partners in Brent and Ealing as well as a University of London to tackle barriers experienced by children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) that result in low attainment and aspiration, and school exclusion. We co-delivered workshops to over 50 parents and care givers and contributed to blogs, toolkits, and research. Positive outcomes included an increase in awareness of rights, and the ability and confidence to exercise those rights among care givers, in relation to obtaining a SEND diagnosis, an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and preventing or challenging school exclusion.

I Am Brent – My Ends 2.0 programme

To help keep our young people and their families safe, Step Up Hub led a consortium of six charities to use money secured from the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction unit to deliver meaningful change at the neighbourhood level using a public health approach. We delivered or oversaw the delivery of a wide range of interventions, from talks in schools to pre-release work with youth offenders in prison, offering help, early intervention, or intensive support. In addition, through the management of a community microgrant and provision of capacity building support, we strengthened local collaborative networks that included statutory agencies. The impact of work saw us helping over 900 people during the year. Positive outcomes included improved resilience to grooming, reduction in young people carrying weapons, raising of aspiration, strengthening of family and community ties, and raising the number of young people who got into employment. We have created a strong foundation to build on this work over the coming years.

Family Support Service

We continue to deliver Parenting and Befriending Programmes to support families and caregivers in Brent. Step Up Hub delivered four “Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities”, parent programmes (SFSC) during the year. Incorporating social learning theory and behavioural theories with practical experience, our trained facilitators worked with groups of parents in three-hourly sessions, over 13 weeks. Over 50 parents successfully completed our courses. We targeted parents known to social services, schools or the police as well as those who self-referred. We empowered them to empower their children through a better understanding of child development, use of positive discipline techniques, and promotion of children’s social skills and self-discipline. Positive outcomes achieved included improved family relationships, decrease in anti-social behaviour, and improved aspiration. Importantly, we also supported parents to help their children connect with their heritage and roots, drawing from this well to overcome barriers and contribute to our shared success.

Health Inequality

In partnership with Brent Council, NHS and local voluntary organisations we continue to provide information and support to help local people access services that sustains good mental and physical health and wellbeing. We delivered clear and accurate information to engage minority ethnic groups to take up health checks, cancer screening, vaccinations and to increase confidence in mainstream NHS services.

We hosted workshops to discuss mental health, substance misuse among young people, and how to prevent and manage diabetes.

Cultural Celebration and Community Cohesion

Step Up Hub organised a successful community and cultural event highlighting the big contribution minority ethnic communities make to our larger community. In particular, this year we promoted the achievements of members of the Somali community in Brent. Our work seeks to positively celebrate local culture, heritage and promote community cohesion and inclusion in Brent.

3

Representation

Step Up Hub provides accountable community leadership and a focal point for minority ethnic communities in Brent. Step Up Hub continued to represent service users in local and national strategic partnerships and advice panels to ensure that community needs are always on the agenda when planning new initiatives and strategies for community development.

Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their report with financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees confirm that the financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Plans

The trustees have agreed the Step Up Hub's Strategic Plan 2024-2026 to improve our focus on the things we most want to achieve; trustees have selected priorities for strategic development the priorities are:

Priority One: Finding a suitable office spaces for our staff and activities. We will actively seek to find a community centre which could host our expanding staff and activities that will meet our needs

Priority Two: A High-Performing Organisation. We will drive high performance at all levels of the organisation activities. We will understand our community needs better and build links so that our work reflects the needs and priorities of the people we serve.

Priority Three. A Well-Funded Organisation. We will continue to grow and diversify our sources of income.

Structure, Governance and Management

Legal structure

Step Up Hub have been established on 13[th] December 1996 when a constitution was adopted, Step Up Hub operates as a registered Charity (No. 1059876) registered on 19th December 1996.

Organisational Structure

The board of trustee is not subject to maximum trustees but there must always be a minimum of five trustees. The board meets regularly to discuss development, finance and to facilitate effective operations and the delivery of projects. The trustees are responsible for policy formulation and ensuring that the organisation complies with its legal obligations and pursues its objectives.

Induction and training of trustees

New trustees are invited to a trustee meeting to brief them of their legal obligations under the charity law, the content of the governing document, the committee and decision-making process, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. Several publications from charity commission are provided including the guidance on charities and public benefit. Trustees are aware of their responsibilities to keep abreast of development in relation to the governance of charities under Charities Act.

4

Trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risk to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and errors. The trustees oversee preparation of financial statements, select suitable accounting policies and make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent to give the true state of affairs of the charity. Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity. They are elected and replaced as set out in the constitution.

Statement of Values

Step Up Hub is underpinned by a set of beliefs and principles that guide all activities and operations and all staff and volunteers embrace these values:

Financial Review

Reserves policy:

The charity currently operates with minimal reserves. The trustees are endeavouring to build up its donor base with a view to having reserves equal to £35,000, which represents three months’ operating expenditure, excluding expenditure coming from grants for projects.

Risk(s) review:

The trustees have recently reviewed the major risks faced by the charity. This has resulted in efforts to look for funds to employ a youth co-coordinator, funding & finance manager in order to increase charity’s donor base and to finalise the health and safety review.

Principal funding sources

The charity’s main sources of income are payments in relation to the supply of donations and grants. During the year the charity received funding from various organisations such as LB of Brent, City Bridge Trust and Mayor’s fund (I Am Brent – My Ends 2.0 programme) totalling £ 359,316. In addition, the charity also received generous donations and obtained funds from various fundraising activities carried out during the year totalling £ 9,029.

Plans for the future periods

We will continue to promote the charity’s activities with both the public and private sectors towards successful obtaining funding. This will include bidding from monies available from local and central government and various manageable grants.

How our activities deliver public benefit

The charity supports a wide range of advice and advocacy, education, and social inclusion activities in furtherance of its charitable objects. The activities supported by Step Up Hub provide benefit to a wide selection of the community in UK for children and people of all ages, abilities and both sexes are eligible to participate. The trustees have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the commission.

5

Statement of Trustees responsibilities

The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and 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 requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each 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, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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 applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.

This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf by: Chair

Mr Deeq Qaaje Date: -------------20 /10/2025------------------

6

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Step Up Hub

For the year ended 31 March 2025

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Charity are not required to be audited under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 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

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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.

fie~— Fidelia Igbodo FCCA Bennic Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants Selby Centre, Selby Road London N17 8JL

7

Step Up Hub

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Note
Income from:
Donations
3
Charitable activities
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
Total Expenditure
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
Transfer between funds
Net movements in funds
Funds balance brought forward
Funds balance carried forward		 2025
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
9,029
-
9,029
49,559
-
359,316
359,316
19,691
9,029
359,316
368,345
69,250
8,158
381,844
390,002
87,074
8,158
381,844
390,002
87,074
872
-22,528
-21,657
-17,824
-
-
-
-
872
-22,528
-21,657
-17,824
99,634
26,581
126,215
144,039
100,505
4,053
104,558
126,215

8

Step Up Hub

Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Notes
Current Assets
Debtors
7
Cash at Bank and in Hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
Creditors and accruals
8
Current Liabilities less Current Assets
General Fund
Restricted Funds
Fund Balance as at 31 March 2024		 2025
2024
£
£
-
45,000.00
109,558.00
84,614.67
109,558.00
129,615
(5,000.00) (3,400.00)
104,558
126,215
100,504.78
99,633.28
4,053.22
26,581.39
104,558
126,215

Approved by the Board of Trustees on and signed on its behalf by:

………………………… Ms Safo Mohamed Treasurer

9

STEP UP HUB

Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (July 2014) and the Companies Act 2006.

Going Concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

No key judgements have been made by the charity which have a significant effect on the accounts.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

Income

Income, including income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Grants are credited to incoming resources when they are receivable as the charity's own money, unless they are for activities that relate to a specific future period, in which case they are deferred to that period.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

●Costs of raising funds comprise of the costs incurred by the charity in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose.

●Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of training, events, advice and capacity building undertaken to further the purposes of the charity.

10

Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2025

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash at bank and cash in hand but not banked yet.

Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

11

2 Detailed comparatives of the financial statements

Income from:
Donations
Charitable activities
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total Resources Expended
Net income/(expenditure) for the year
Transfer between funds
Net movements in funds
Balance brought forward
Balance carried forward
3 Donations
Donations
Accrued donations
Services income		 Note
3
4
Unrestricted
Funds
£
9,029		 Unrestricted
Restricted
2025
Funds
Funds
Total Funds
£
£
£
9,029
-
9,029
-
359,316
359,316
9,029
359,316
368,345
8,158
381,844
390,002
8,158
381,844
390,002
872
-
22,528
-
21,657
-
-
-
872
-
22,528
-
21,657
99,634
26,581
126,215
100,505
4,053
104,558
2025
2024
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds

£
£
£
-
9,029
4559
45,000
5360
-
9,029
54,919
9,029

12

4 Income from charitable activities

Note
Income from:
Brent Council
Brent CVS
Mayor's Fund VRU
City Bridge Trust
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities:
Salaries & Social Security
Event expenses
Office rent
Membership
Office expenses
Prof fees
Consultancy fees
Publicity
Partner payment
Pension
Accountancy & payroll services
Total expenditure		 2025
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total

Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
26666.00
26666
10,631
-
3,700
300,650
300,650
-
32,000
32,000
-
-
359,316
359,316
14,331
9,029
359,316
368,345
69,250
Unrestricted
Restricted
2025
2024
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
-
88,492
88,492
28,757
4,332
64,901
69,233
21,547
-
18,684
18,684
12,184
1,550
- 1,550
1,067
- 1,731 1,731
1,092
100.00
1,169 1,269 400
-
24,171
24,171
17,377
1,176 2,601 3,777
1,650
-
175,948
175,948 -
- 647 647
4,500 4,500
3,000
7,158
382,844
390,002
87,074		 2025
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total

Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
26666.00
26666
10,631
-
3,700
300,650
300,650
-
32,000
32,000
-
-
359,316
359,316
14,331
9,029
359,316
368,345
69,250
Unrestricted
Restricted
2025
2024
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
-
88,492
88,492
28,757
4,332
64,901
69,233
21,547
-
18,684
18,684
12,184
1,550
- 1,550
1,067
- 1,731 1,731
1,092
100.00
1,169 1,269 400
-
24,171
24,171
17,377
1,176 2,601 3,777
1,650
-
175,948
175,948 -
- 647 647
4,500 4,500
3,000
7,158
382,844
390,002
87,074
7,158
382,844
390,002
87,074

5 Expenditure on:

13

6
Net Income (expenditure) for the year
This is stated after charging:
Independent Examination Fees
7
Debtors
Donations
8
Creditors falling due within one year
Independent Examination
Accountancy, Payroll & Advice		 2025
2024
£
£
500.00
400.00
2025
2024
£
£
0.00
45,000
2025
2024
£
£
500.00
400.00
4500.00
3000.00
5000.00
3400.00

9 Emoluments of the trustees

The trustees did not receive remuneration during the year 2024-25. The employee benefits to key management personnel in the year 2024-25 were nil.

10 Related party transactions: there were no related party transactions to disclose.

14