**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1064952** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 FOR** ## **BABY BASICS MK** Rawlinson Pryde & Partners Chartered Certified Accountants Argent House 5 Goldington Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 3JY **BABY BASICS MK** ## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ||Page| |---|---| |Report of the Trustees|1 to 4| |Independent Examiner's Report|5| |Receipts and payments account|6| |Statement of assets and liabilities|7| **BABY BASICS MK** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued in March 2005. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** ## **Registered Charity number** 1064952 ## **Principal address** C/O Kings Church Community Centre Creed Street Wolverton Milton Keynes MK12 5LY ## **Trustees** S L Forbes - Chair S E McGrory - Trustee L J Cusdin – Trustee ## **Volunteers** D Parker - Treasurer **Independent examiner** Rawlinson Pryde & Partners Chartered Certified Accountants Argent House 5 Goldington Road Bedford, MK40 3JY ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust (resolution and amended deed adopted February 2017) and constitutes an unincorporated charity. ## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** Trustees are appointed after being interviewed by the panel of trustees then voted upon and appointed. ## **Risk management** The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. Baby Basics MK receives donations, sorts and prepares these donations into gift packages, and gives these to those in need. Page 1 **BABY BASICS MK** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ## Network of Referrals: All of this is done through referrals from Health Professionals, Children Centres, Nurseries, Churches, Social Services, MK University Hospital and General Practitioners and the like across Milton Keynes. ## MK Charity Hub: Baby Basics MK is situated in the Milton Keynes Charity Hub, alongside Foodbank MK, Xtra Project, St Marks Meals, which is sponsored by Milton Keynes Council. ## King's Church MK/King's Community Centre: King's Church give free office space to Baby Basics MK for daily use and work together supporting the local community. ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **Summary of the objectives of the charity set out its governing document** a) The prevention of relief of financial hardship, poverty or distress, among people living or working in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas, by providing such persons with children's clothing, toys and related children's furniture which they could not otherwise afford through lack of means and by the recycling and provision of furniture, clothes and other items specifically related to the needs of young people. b) The promotion of such other charitable purposes which may conveniently be carried on in connection with the above objects. ## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objectives** ## GIVING OUR BABYS THE BASICS FOR THE BEST START IN LIFE Baby Basics MK is a non-profit charity dedicated to supporting families living in Milton Keynes and the immediate surrounding area who are in financial hardship. ## All families can experience times of difficulty. For some families, these times can be overcome by the support of friends, wider family and access to services. For others they see no way out of the situation and the weight of their problems cause them to feel: Frustrated, afraid, not good enough, overwhelmed, isolated etc. Our team work tirelessly with the community and local businesses to re-use excellent condition second hand and new items that are donated to create gift packages that give families everything they need to start life with a new-born or support families with children from 0-6 years. We offer a wide range of essential items, some examples are; clothing, toys, sleeping equipment, feeding equipment, toiletries, and baby food/formula. Individuals and or families are referred to Baby Basics MK by professionals and we provide free of charge with the items they need. This may be a one-off gift or continued support with clothing etc. until their situation changes and improves. Baby Basics MK also works with many other agencies across Milton Keynes, regularly referring our clients to these agencies for further support needed. Page 2 **BABY BASICS MK** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** Baby Basics MK has a part-time Project Manager initially via a grant from Milton Keynes Community Foundation and now continuing from donations. There are many regular financial donations from individuals and companies/businesses of varying sizes that help to fund all of Baby Basics MK activities. Baby Basics MK is planning to extend its fundraising events next year in 2024. Baby Basics MK success is in no small part due to its enthusiastic volunteers who give their time and energy freely to help families across Milton Keynes. Our volunteer base has grown substantially in the past year, which has also involved training and support. ## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE** 2023 has been another very busy year with the financial crisis bringing so many into the realms of poverty and need. The following précis of the numbers of babies and children up to the age of 6 that we have helped since 2014 will best demonstrate this: - 2014 - gave out 64 parcels to babies/children - 2015 - gave out 486 parcels - 2016 - gave out 650 parcels - 2017 - 2019 gave an average of 1200 parcels each year - 2020 - gave out 1600 parcels (start of lock down) - 2021 - gave out 1931 parcels (start of Charity Hub) - 2022 - gave out 2987 parcels - 2023 - year to date 3389 parcels. Expected to finish at over 3500 plus parcels as we already have around 200 Christmas referrals. Baby Basics MK central and foundation role in the Milton Keynes Charity Hub has continued to grow and widen the use of Baby Basics across Milton Keynes with NHS midwives quoting "The families could not survive without this service; it is the only charity of its kind in the City". Baby Basic MK launched a Top Up Shop in September 2021, where families give a small donation for a bag of 10 or 20 additional baby items to top up their needs. In the current financial crisis where the likes of utility bills have been devastating familes the demand for this Top Up Shop is substantial. 2022; 1202 top up bags were taken, and in 2023; 1723 top up bags have been taken to date. ## AWARDS: February 16th 2023 - Shaaron Forbes, Chair of Trustees, and a Baby Basics MK volunteer were presented to King Charles III at the Charity Hub in recognition of the work Baby Basics MK does for the people of Milton Keynes. This was a part of King Charles III visit to Milton Keynes in recognizing its new City status. March 22nd 2023 - Shaaron Forbes, Chair of Trustees, and her husband were invited to 10 Downing Street for a Community Champions Reception in recognition of their charity work. Page 3 **BABY BASICS MK** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Reserves policy** The trustees seek to keep 2 months reserves. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 12[th ] January 2024 and signed on its behalf by: ## **SL Forbes** ............................................. S L Forbes – Chair of Trustees Page 4 ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BABY BASICS MK** I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages five to ten. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'). I have examined your charity's accounts as required under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 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. My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe: 1. that accounting records were not kept as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. that the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. that the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; or 4. that there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts. ## **Independent examiner's statement** I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention. ## _Tracey Walker_ T J Walker (Mrs) Rawlinson Pryde & Partners Chartered Certified Accountants Argent House 5 Goldington Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 3JY Date: 12[th ] January 2024 Page 5 **BABY BASICS MK** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 MARCH 2023** |||**31.3.23**|31.3.22| |---|---|---|---| |||**Unrestricted**|Unrestricted| |||**funds**|funds| ||Notes|**£**|£| |**CURRENT ASSETS**|||| |Cash at bank and in hand||**48,631**|40,607| |**NET CURRENT ASSETS**||**48,631**|40,607| |**NET ASSETS**||**48,631**|40,607| |**FUNDS**|8||| |Unrestricted funds||**48,631**|40,607| |**TOTAL FUNDS**||**48,631**|40,607| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 12[th ] January 2024 and were signed on its behalf by: ## **SL Forbes** ............................................. S L Forbes - Chair of Trustees ............................................. S E McGrory -Trustee The notes form part of these financial statements Page 6 ## **BABY BASICS MK** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** |**RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE**
**YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**||| |---|---|---| |**RECEIPTS**
Donations
Clothes recycling and cash fundraising
Top up shop sales
Grant
**Total receipts**
**PAYMENTS**
**Costs of charitable activities**
Supplies - general
Supplies - mattresses
Supplies - milk powder
Supplies - top up shop
**Total payments**
**Net receipts**
Cash Funds last year
Cash funds this year
Wages
Insurance
Advertising
Telephone
Sundries
Information technology
Accountancy
Bank charges|**31.3.23**
**£**
**28,985**
**2,723**
**2,253**
**33,961**
**500**
**34,461**
**19,250**
**577**
**325**
**365**
**740**|31.3.22
£
18,347
3,566
1,366
23,279
15,000
38,279
17,500
505
-
437
692| ||**23,296**
**248**
**-**
**-**
**2,893**
**3,141**
**26,437**
**8,024**
**40,607**
**48,631**
**960**
**1,074**
**5**|19.709
363
97
401
347
1,208
20,917
17,362
23,245
40,607
571
-
4| This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements Page 7