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← Grantham And District Poverty Concern Group

2024-12-31-accounts

GRANTHAM & DISTRICT POVERTY CONCERN GROUP

( Incorporating THE GRANTHAM PASSAGE) CIO Registered Charity No: 1060003

Reg. Address: c/o D Lynn, Charity Treasurer, 142 Harrowby Road, Lincs, NG31 9DU

AGM and ANNUAL REPORT for year ending 31 December 2024 for

Grantham Poverty Concern Annual General Meeting held on 3[rd] March 2025 at the Seventh Day Adventist church, Dudley Road, Grantham

Present:

Trustees: Andy Maddison (Chair), David Lynn (Treasurer), Ann Walker (Secretary), Pat Temple Fielder, Esme Sutton, Ian Whittle, Stephen Cameron, Maureen Griffiths, Sheila Knight

Apologies: None

Aims and Objectives

Andy Maddison walked everyone through the charity’s aims and objectives, below.

AIMS

‘The aims of Grantham Poverty Concern is to help in emergency need, to oversee the Grantham Passages which operates in the following churches:

With the provision by rota to provide food every day of the week. The Charity also sets out to act for the relief of poverty and helps children, young people and the elderly as well as the general public. Grantham Poverty Concern operates by making loans to individuals to alleviate hunger and deprivation. It gives a ‘listening ear’, networks with other agencies and signposts clients where to go for help.

The Charity is staffed entirely by volunteers and financed by donations, with the aforesaid churches giving their premises free.

OBJECTS

The objects of Grantham Poverty Concern are the relief of poverty and of elderly persons in Grantham and the surrounding area in the county of Lincolnshire as the trustees in their absolute discretion shall determine.

In furtherance of the Objects but not otherwise, the Charity may exercise the following powers:1. To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, bills, cheques and other instruments and to operate bank accounts in the name of the Charity.

  1. To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions; provided that in raising funds the Charity shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall confirm to any relevant statutory regulations

  2. To establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the Objects

  3. To co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in the furtherance of the Objects or similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them

  4. To pay out of the funds of the Charity the costs, charges and expenses of and incidental of the formation and registration of the Charity

  5. To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the Objects’

Grantham Poverty Concern – CIO Charity Number 1060003 CHAIRMANS REPORT FOR 2024

As with other preceding years I am starting my report with a thank you to everyone involved in the Passage, in however way they have provided help, to make our service run so smoothly. The Passage, at times, can be a challenging environment and it takes fortitude and a strong drive to continue supporting our clients in their good and not so good times.

I’d like to provide a specific thank you to all you, as Trustees, for another year of steady and wise guidance to help steer the Passage in such a positive direction. We have, as a group, come through some difficult times in the past year and these have been met by all parties with kindness, support and professionalism. We have also formally achieved CIO status as a charity, with all the work that has entailed, much to our future benefit. With her standing down as both Vice-Chair and a Trustee, I'd also like to extend and minute my thanks to Mary Howard for her years of dedication and support for the Passage. I wish her all the best for the future and for her knowledge and guidance from which I have drawn many times!

As with the previous year our provision of the meals, support and the wrap-around help that is the cornerstone of what the Passage is has been unwavering and busier than I think it ever has been. The cost of living crisis is still very much in the front of our clients minds, and even with a new government in place, things are still tight for those that we care about and support. There is no quick fix for this, but I truly believe the steady presence and invaluable help the Passage provides makes a huge difference, saving lives.

I would like to formally minute and personally thank Maureen for her unbroken support and expertise for the benefits and other help that is provided to those that come to us. The Passage truly values the innumerable and varied ways that you have helped so many over the previous year.

Looking outwards we continue to be well supported from the local community and our reputation precedes us. We have worked closely with many agencies and continue to be a key partner for discussions with SKDC Homeless Team as well as others that can make key decisions. As the Passage we have worked closely with the Ark project when they started recently and are a key source of information to help their great work. This is similar to our close relationship with the BHive where we have been supporting them in the work that they do. This is reciprocated with the help that they give to the clients of ours that use their services.

Following that particular vein, I would again like to thank those that have been involved in any way to work and promote what we do to the other agencies, charities and companies of the local area. We survive and grow with the links that we make and keep with the local community and this has continued and improved this year. Further thanks should be given to Chris Thomas and Esther Maddison for their organisation and implementation of the Passage Christmas meal. We supported over 200 people in the festive period, either on Christmas day or via the family food hampers, and this is a huge undertaking that gets busier every year. It's a huge logistical and time consuming process that benefits so many in our local area at such an emotive time.

Financially we are stable and in a position that many other charities would like to be in. The charity continues to be very well supported by a range of individuals and companies throughout the year to ensure that whatever we need to provide our service is well covered.

As mentioned in the report last year, I am looking to start a project to expand the Passage to another town. I have made links with Nottingham University and from May, will be receiving a thesis from them critically analysing data to show where will be the recommended place to start this project. When I have all the data Iwill present this to the Trustees for your consideration.

I’ll close my report by looking forward to 2025 and all the ups and downs that this will bring. We have a new kitchen at Mikes Place which is something to look forward to and no doubt some challenges with the work that we carry out. As quoted from Aesops fable the Lion and the Mouse, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

The Trustees have not received any emoluments other than authorised expenses.

Andy Maddison, Chair of Trustees 03 March 2024

Treasurer’s Annual Report for financial year ending 31 December 2024

David Lynn submitted a report of the annual accounts for the period 1 January to 31 December 2024. He had prepared accounts and had been examined by an Independent Examiner and no corrections were needed. They were signed off on 28 February 2024. Summary of accounts.

Bank balance at 01 January 2024
 49,202.05
Income:
Donations 30,399.55
Sale of surplus products 85.00
HMRC tax claim 0.00
Bank interest 0.00
Total Income 2024: 30,484.55
Expenditure:
Passage costs 26,721.70
Christmas food, hampers & presents for clients 3,500.00
Stock of mobiles, tents & sleeping bags 1,262.80
Food bags / containers 310.00
Donation for use of kitchens 500.00
Admin / Miscellaneous 1,605.81
Centre costs
 4,440.83
Total Expenditure 2024: 38,340.14
Bank balance at 31 December 2024
 41,346.46
Account held with:
Virgin Money Bank Total balance – 41,346.46
o General Account - balance 39,391.07
o Edith Meredith Account – Balance
1955.39

The Accounts had been Independently Examined by Virginia Leverton – see her report below.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

Report to the Trustees of Grantham Poverty Concern Charity Number 1166263

On accounts for the year ended 31st December 2024

Respective Responsibilities of trustees and examiner: The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (The Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s statement: My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement: In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached

Signed:

Date: 28 February 2025

Virginia Leverton

Name: Virginia Leverton 73/74 Main Street Denton Grantham Lincs NG32 1JZ