## **FORWARD HOUSING**
**Registered No: 03821702 Charity No: 1078391 OSCR Charity No: SC045082**
**TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
**31 MARCH, 2023**
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Introduction**|**1**|
|**Reference and Administration Information**|**2-3**|
|**Report of the Directors and Trustees**|**4-24**|
|**Report of the Independent Auditor**|**25-35**|
|**Summary of Money**|**36**|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|**37**|
|**Balance Sheet**|**38**|
|**Statement of Cash Flows**|**39**|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|**40-49**|
Widgit Symbols copyright Widgit Software 2023 Tel: 01926 333680 www.widgit.com
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INTRODUCTION**
**These papers tell readers what the charitable company has been doing between April 2022 and March 2023.**
**The directors have written about what has gone well and what needs development.**
**You can see how the charitable company has managed its money.**
**The accounts have been checked by our Auditor – Sayer Vincent LLP**
**Some of these papers must be written in legal language. We have introduced each section with an Easy Read text box.**
Page 1
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
# **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION**
The directors and trustees are pleased to present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March, 2023.
**CHARITY NAME** Forward Housing **COMPANY NUMBER** 03821702
**COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION** United Kingdom **CHARITY NUMBER** 1078391 **OSCR CHARITY NUMBER** SC045082
**COUNTRY OF REGISTRATION** England and Wales, Scotland **REGISTERED OFFICE** 134 Edmund Street Birmingham B3 2ES
**COMPANY SECRETARY** Martin Pilkington
Page 2
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION**
## **AUDITOR**
## **SOLICITORS**
## **BANKERS**
Sayer Vincent LLP Statutory Auditor Invicta House 108-114 Golden Lane London EC1Y 0TL Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP 134 Edmund Street Birmingham B3 2ES Barclays Bank PLC 43 High Street Sutton Surrey SM1 1DR
Reference and administrative information set out on pages 2-3 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association, the requirements of a directors’ report as required under company law, and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.
Page 3
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
# **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
## **BOARD OF DIRECTORS**
Members of the Board of Directors, who are directors for the purpose of company law and trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out below:
Sean Brew
(resigned 4 October 2022)
Simon Conway Jean Curd Chairperson Robert Graham (resigned 16 December 2022) Gareth Jackson Joshua Prince (appointed 27 October 2023) John Smith (appointed 11 May 2023) Matthew Smith Neil Yeomans (resigned 10 October 2022)
(resigned 16 December 2022) (appointed 27 October 2023) (appointed 11 May 2023)
## **SENIOR MANAGEMENT**
Ben Harrison (Managing Director) – Resigned February 2023 Gareth Jackson (Interim Consultant Director) February 2023 to May 2023 Harry McKeown (Managing Director) – Appointed May 2023
Page 4
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES year ended 31 March 2023**
**This section explains that directors are responsible for putting together accounts which must show a true and fair view. This is the law.**
## **RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE DIRECTORS**
The directors (who are also the trustees of Forward Housing for the purposes of charity law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Directors and Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Board of Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the charitable company’s incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing these financial statements, the Board of Directors are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
Page 5
**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
- state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Board is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Board is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Page 6
**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
## **What is Important for Forward Housing**[1]
Forward Housing is part of the Thera Group of companies. Thera’s Vision clearly sets out Thera’s philosophy of control and involvement by people with a learning disability:
1 Thera Trust is our parent company. Its charitable objects are “the relief of persons with learning disabilities, their families and carers by the provision of support services including services in the support of residential, respite and other suitable forms of care, education and work opportunities and to promote public awareness of the needs of such persons and to give support to their families“ and “the promotion of the effective use of charitable resources for the benefit of the public by the provision of services to organisations involved in the relief of persons with learning disabilities, their families and carers."
Page 7
**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES year ended 31 March 2023**
## **Helping More People**
The strategy adopted by Forward Housing is intended to support Thera in furthering its plans to work across England and Scotland and Wales and to provide bespoke housing solutions for people with a learning disability where a Thera Company provides support.
During the past year, we have utilised funds from Thera Trust’s charity bond to provide more accommodation for people with a learning disability. These properties have been purchased directly by Forward Housing and then leased to Empower Housing Association. Empower grant Assured Tenancies to the people nominated to live in the new property. By March 2023, over several years, Forward Housing had provided accommodation for 196 people.
As part of the Thera Group, Forward Housing applies Thera’s Vision to the work that it does, ensuring that people have control and choice over all aspects of their home.
Forward Housing will continue to work with people with a learning disability and their families as well as with other Thera companies and local authority commissioners to identify un-met housing needs. Appropriate properties will continue to be acquired either through an agreement with Cheyne Capital or directly by Forward Housing.
Page 8
**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES year ended 31 March 2023**
Forward Housing’s approach is to provide “an ordinary house on an ordinary street”. The properties are specially adapted by Forward Housing to meet the specific needs of each prospective tenant, whilst ensuring the longer-term marketability of the property either to alternative tenants or for sale.
## **Forward Housing is a Charity**
Forward Housing SW was incorporated on 9th August 1999, as a notfor-profit company limited by guarantee and having no share capital. Forward Housing SW was registered as a charity on 29 November, 1999. On 30[th] June 2020, the company’s name was changed from Forward Housing SW to Forward Housing.
The company is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.[2]
> 2 The Objects of Forward Housing are the relief of sickness, disability and suffering anywhere in the world and not particularly but not so as to limit the generality of the foregoing i) the provision and management, maintenance and improvement of housing for people with learning or other disabilities or who suffer from mental illness of any kind ii) the provision and funding of appropriate training and research facilities and other necessary services and support in connection with such people.
Page 9
**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
## **Fundraising**
Forward Housing does not fundraise and therefore, under Section 13 of The Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016, has no disclosures to make.
## **Forward Housing Provides Accommodation for People with a Learning Disability**
As of 31 March 2023, Forward Housing own 23 properties and lease 71 properties from Touchpoint Housing (FH) S.A.R.L. (a subsidiary of Cheyne Capital) (“Touchpoint”).
As at 31 March, 2023, there were 182 people living in properties owned or leased by Forward Housing; this included the provision of six places in short break properties (31 March, 2022, total 191 including the provision of six places for short breaks). Working with tenants and support companies to achieve a reduction in the number of vacant tenancies in these properties is a priority for Forward Housing in 2023/24.
In addition to the needs of people supported and commercial considerations, Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and believe that the objectives and activities of Forward Housing fulfil the Commission’s requirements. The content of
Page 10
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
# **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
this report sets out how the charitable company has achieved its objectives during the year.
## **What Happened in 2022-23**
Our principal objectives for the year ended 31 March, 2023, were broadly the same as previous years, namely:
- ✓ Work with other companies in the Thera Group to identify un-met housing needs of people they support, or intend to support, with a view to providing appropriate accommodation.
- ✓ Acquire properties to meet the needs of the people who will live with them.
- ✓ Continue to use the funding available to us and ensure targets on spend are achieved, including acquiring properties directly with the use of charity bond funding.
- ✓ Forward Housing also operates in Scotland and currently owns or leases 6 properties in a range of locations in Midlothian, providing housing for 10 people in total. We plan to increase our presence in Midlothian and other parts of Scotland in response to demand from people with a learning disability for high quality housing .
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
## **People Forward Housing Has Helped in 2022-23**
As stated above, as at 31 March, 2023, there were 182 people living in properties owned or leased by Forward Housing; this included the provision of six places in short break properties (31 March, 2022, total 191 and six short-break places).
During the year ended 31 March 2023, Forward Housing helped five people who are already supported by Thera to move into new properties adapted to meet their needs.
Access to capital funding, including from Thera Trust’s charity bond, has enabled Forward Housing to continue providing sustainable housing solutions for people that Thera companies support; which in turn has allowed people to enjoy the benefits of living in their own homes in the community and fully enjoy all of the benefits that this brings.
The people living in these new homes and being supported by Thera companies have come from a range of different backgrounds, but all now enjoy an enhanced quality of life.
Over the year, Forward Housing has been able to provide accommodation for a range of people, including people whom Thera already support but who need to move to a new property that better meets their needs
Page 12
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
## **STORY - Duxford, Cambridgeshire, Thera East Anglia**
Claire and Naomi* lived, with a friend, in a large 7-bedroom house in Cambridgeshire, which was far too big for them, expensive to heat and had stairs that they were finding increasingly difficult as they got older.
Their housing association wanted to move other people in with them to fill the empty rooms. The three friends were happy living together but did not want to live with other new people, so, in 2021, they began looking for a new place to live with the help of Forward Housing and their support team at Thera East Anglia. The ladies decided what sort of property would be best for them and the team began searching for the right fit.
They found a bungalow in a village in a quiet cul-de-sac, with friendly neighbours and local shops just a few minutes’ walk away – it seemed perfect! They visited the area and house to see what they thought and then began talking about how to adapt and update the property to suit them. The property was purchased in Autumn 2021 and extensive renovation work began. They chose an open plan living/dining/kitchen area, which was built on to the back as an extension, with French windows looking out on to a secluded back garden. They each have their own double bedroom and share two level-access shower rooms.
Once they had moved in in April 2022, they chose how they wanted to decorate and the green and cream colour scheme in the lounge was so successful that, having seen photos, several friends have copied it!
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES year ended 31 March 2023**
Naomi and Claire describe their new home as having a warm and welcoming atmosphere, unlike where they lived before, which was very institutional, with long echoing hallways. They love using the garden, where they often see World War 2 aircraft from the nearby Duxford Imperial War Museum - Britain's largest aviation museum - flying overhead and they are planning to upgrade the summerhouse in 2023 to make it a more usable space.
Naomi and Claire have enjoyed getting out and about again from their new place, since lockdown restrictions have eased. Claire continues with her regular activities, which include going horse riding, playing the drums at music therapy, and having regular body massages, so she is out almost as much as she is at home. Both ladies have been on their own holidays: Claire in Turkey and Naomi in Greece, with both planning more holidays, this time in the UK, for the summer.
Naomi and Claire like nothing better than to walk into the village centre (which Naomi now does independently), using local shops, dropping in for a cuppa at one of the many cafes. They have learned to make their way around the village and use the local buses to nearby towns for days out. The nearest train station also has direct trains to London, so days out visiting museums and exhibitions are a regular event, something which was just not possible where they lived before.
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
Having successfully managed the house move, Claire and Naomi’s friend decided that she wanted even more independence and was supported to move into her own flat in a nearby city. They are now looking for a new person to move in with them, but are taking their time with this important decision, to make sure they find the right person.
## **STORY - Loughborough, The Camden Society**
Property purchased Oct 2021, moved in 01/04/2022
Alison and Chloe are both in their 20’s and live in Loughborough. In 2021, Alison was looking to move out of her family home and Chloe was living in a shared house that was no longer working for her. Their parents knew each other and got talking about a house move for their daughters. They thought Alison and Chloe would get on and started introducing them. Alison and Chloe hit it off immediately and everyone agreed that they would be happy living together.
Both ladies use a wheelchair and have a variety of health and care needs, so they would need to live somewhere that was well adapted to them, including hoist and tracking and accessible bathing facilities. Chloe, Alison and their parents worked with The Camden Society and Forward Housing to find the right house in the town.
In the autumn, they found a detached four-bedroom bungalow in a quiet area, but with ready access to local transport and shops. The inside
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES year ended 31 March 2023**
layout was cramped, so it needed re-designing, which was achieved with the expertise of Forward Housing in consultation with Occupational Therapy services, the support team and families. The re-design involved turning the layout of the property back to front, with a small extension to create extra space. The interior was knocked through to create a spacious open plan lounge/kitchen/diner which is fully accessible throughout, with hoisting and tracking for Alison. French windows were installed to provide access to the large sunny patio outside.
Chloe’s parents also wanted to install a large hot tub with hoist in the back garden, as a present for them both to enjoy, and the groundwork for this was built in during the renovations.
Both ladies now have their own bedroom with en-suite and a levelaccess shower. They have created an activity and craft corner in the living room and built extra storage for both wheelchairs, Chloe’s tricycle and other personal items.
Completing the renovations over the winter, the house was ready a few months later and Chloe and Alison moved in at the beginning of April 2022. They have both settled into their new home really well and have put a lot of time and energy into making it their own, with pictures and photos on all the walls. Since moving, Chloe has also rekindled her friendship with people she used to live with, and Alison has also now become friends with them, so all four ladies visit each other regularly and go out together.
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
Alison’s parents were very anxious about the move due to bad experiences with other services in the past but have told the staff that they now have total confidence in them and the support they provide. Alison has settled in extremely well and is out most days for different things – including cycling with Wheels for All and enjoying a sensory movement class.
Chloe spends her time going swimming, which she loves, working at a local farm, using her tricycle, shopping and doing arts and crafts. Chloe is often very busy producing pictures and decorations for the house as they like to decorate each month to reflect the season/time of year!
Both ladies enjoy spending time in the garden, using the hot tub and socialising with friends and family. They both love parties, so birthdays, holidays, anniversaries of their move etc. so garden and pool parties are a regular feature, with family and friends all coming round to share the fun!
## **Forward Housing’s Money**
Forward Housing’s accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with Forward Housing’s Articles of Association, applicable company and
Page 17
**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
charity law and the requirements of the “Accounting and Reporting by Charities, Statement of Recommended Practice FRS 102”.
Total income from charitable activities in 2022-23 was £1.9m (2021-22 - £1.7m).
Forward Housing’s reserves at the end of the year were slightly lower than last year at £4.3m. (31 March, 2022 - £4.4m.). Whilst we made a loss on our charitable activities, property values went some way towards offsetting this, although there was an overall loss for the year of £-99k (31 March, 2022 - £-128k). Cash balances were £27k (31 March, 2022, £242k).
## **Reserves and Remuneration Policy**
Forward Housing has substantial overall charitable reserves relative to its annual income and expenditure. The majority of these reserves are however represented by investment property which is not easily realisable into cash. Expenditure on charitable activities largely relates to expenditure on rent and other property costs which is backed by income from property leases, which are considered a secure source of charitable income.
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
As a result, trustees do not have any intention to target a higher level of overall reserves nor to increase free reserves to meet property costs already backed by secure income.
Instead, trustees have determined that they should either maintain, or have access to, sufficient working capital to allow the charity to continue to be managed and to deliver its overall charitable purposes by being able to sustain six months of relevant costs. These costs are support activities, including the costs of management and operational staff. At present, net current liabilities of £-159k do not meet this target. Trustees are therefore reviewing their lease cost model including existing lease rents to increase revenue relative to costs.
Forward Housing’s Trustees are satisfied that the charity has sufficient access to overall reserves and to working capital, both as part of its reserves and from facilities available within the Thera Group, to fulfil its charitable objects on an ongoing basis.
Salaries to management and other staff are set in accordance with Thera Group’s pay policy. The pay of key management personnel is set by Thera Trust’s Remuneration and Pensions Committee. The Committee consists of three non-executive directors, who independently determine the remuneration of executive directors of the organisation, and of its subsidiary companies. In its remuneration policy, the Committee takes account of good practice guidelines in setting executive pay, including
Page 19
**FORWARD HOUSING**
# **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
the principles set out in the NCVO's April, 2014 report on Charity Senior Executive Pay.
## **Managing Forward Housing’s Risks**
The directors have assessed the major risks to which Forward Housing may be exposed, identified on our risk register, and are satisfied that systems are in place to minimise the incidence and impact of these risks. This register is reviewed annually.
In addition, the board of directors are aware of the inherent risks associated with property acquisition, adaptation, leasing and financing and have ensured that arrangements are in place to both manage and minimise risk to Forward Housing. For example, one of the risks we face are vacant tenancies, which is largely mitigated in lease terms and conditions, through agreements with Thera support companies and by agreeing property disposal options with our partners. In the light of the changed inflationary environment, Directors continue to monitor progress with tenant rent increases awarded to our registered providers and the onward increase in rent received by Forward Housing from them.
Page 20
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
# **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
## **Covid-19**
In relation to potential additional or specific risks associated with Covid19, the trustees acted in line with policy and guidance issued by Thera Trust, the parent company of Forward Housing.
## **Plans for the future**
The trustees intend to continue with Forward Housing’s core activities during 2023-24 and, subject to sourcing further funding, in future years.
## **What Is Happening after March, 2023**
Forward Housing continues to have access to a £10m. facility with Touchpoint (Cheyne Capital) to be deployed up until December, 2024. Negotiations with the funder have allowed that this facility have varying interest rates for single and multiple occupancy houses.
## **Forward Housing’s Trustees**
Members of the board of trustees, who are directors for the purpose of company law and trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report, are shown in the company information at the start of this report and accounts.
Page 21
**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
## **Management of Forward Housing’s Activities**
During the year to 31 March, 2023, Thera Trust was responsible for providing corporate services to Forward Housing and, as delegated by the Trustees, Ben Harrison was responsible for managing the activities of Forward Housing.
## **Forward Housing Makes Sure that it has Good Directors**
(Recruitment, Induction and Training of Trustees)
As Forward Housing is part of the Thera Group and in accordance with its Articles, the majority of trustees are now appointed by Thera Trust.
Thera Trust has recently appointed a Head of Governance who supports Forward Housing to find and recruit new trustees that add value and bring additional skills and experience to the Forward Housing Board.
All trustees in the Thera Group follow a formal induction process to ensure they know the organisation and its aims and are aware of their responsibilities. All trustees are subject to references and enhanced DBS checks.
Page 22
**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
# **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES year ended 31 March 2023**
**This section explains that the directors have told the Auditor everything they should and that they have worked within the law.**
## **DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO THE AUDITOR**
In so far as the Board of Directors is aware:
- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and
- the Board of Directors has taken all the steps that it ought to have taken to make itself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable company’s auditor is aware of that information.
Page 23
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
# **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES**
## **year ended 31 March 2023**
**This section asks the Company Members to agree that the Auditor, Sayer Vincent LLP, be chosen again as the company’s Auditor.**
## **RE-APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR**
In accordance with s.485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution is to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting for the re-appointment of Sayer Vincent LLP as auditor of the Company.
The directors’ report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies, subject to the small companies' regime.
This report was approved by the board on 18 December, 2023 and signed on its behalf.
**Gareth Jackson**
**Trustee**
**Simon Conway**
**Trustee**
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
**This page explains that the Auditor is reporting that the accounts give a true and fair view of the company and that they are put together as the law says they should be put together.**
## **OPINION**
We have audited the financial statements of Forward Housing (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March, 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
- Give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March, 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended
- Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
- Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended)
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## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
**This section explains that the Auditor has audited (checked) the accounts and that they are reporting to Company Members.**
## **BASIS FOR OPINION**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
# **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
# **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
## **CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on Forward Housing’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
**This section explains that the Auditor must tell us if they are unhappy with how the directors managed the company. The Audit report says that there is nothing bad the Auditor wishes to report to Company Members.**
## **OTHER INFORMATION**
The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **OPINIONS ON OTHER MATTERS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMPANIES ACT 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- The information given in the trustees’ annual report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- The trustees’ annual report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements
## **MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION**
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- Adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- The financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
- Certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- The directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ annual report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
## **RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES**
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the
Page 30
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF**
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
**Trustee Directors’ responsibilities are explained on page 5.**
**This page explains that it is the Auditor’s responsibility to audit (check) the accounts as the law says they should.**
charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
We have been appointed as auditor under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with regulations made under those Acts.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Page 31
**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
## **This page explains how the Auditor checks the accounts.**
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below.
## **CAPABILITY OF THE AUDIT IN DETECTING IRREGULARITIES**
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:
- We enquired of management, which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the charity’s policies and procedures relating to:
- Identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;
- Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud;
- The internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations.
- We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
Page 32
**FORWARD HOUSING**
**(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
- We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the charity from our professional and sector experience.
- We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit.
-
- We reviewed any reports made to regulators.
- We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
- In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events
Page 33
**FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF FORWARD HOUSING**
and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
## **USE OF OUR REPORT**
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Page 34
## **FORWARD HOUSING (A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF**
# **FORWARD HOUSING**
Jonathan Orchard (Senior statutory auditor) 19 December 2023
for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TL
Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006
**You will see that this report and accounts also includes accessible information so that the directors of Forward Housing are ensuring that all Company Members, including those with a learning disability, are able to fulfil their duties in law including to receive the accounts and to appoint the directors and Auditor. The law does not say we must provide this information, but Sayer Vincent LLP says it is in line with the statutory report and accounts.**
Page 35
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
|**SUMMARY OF MONEY**|||
|---|---|---|
|**For the year ended 31 March,**|**2023**||
|**What we have earned and what we have spent:**|**£**||
|DRAFT
Money we got in
What we spent on our staff
Other money we spent
Revaluation of houses
Money we spent more than money we got in
**What Forward Housing has at 31 March, 2023:**
Houses
How much cash we had in the bank
What we are owed by others
What we owe to other Thera companies
What we owe to others
Final amount the company had at 31 March, 2023|1,907,932
(141,622)
(2,133,948)
268,327
(99,311)
**£**
10,963,999
26,531
66,334
(6,504,321)
(252,202)
4,300,341||
Page 36
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
(incorporating an income and expenditure account)
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
|Note
**Income from:**
Donations
3
4
11
5
**Reconciliation of funds:**
**Total funds carried forward**
Total funds brought forward
Net gains on investment properties
**Net expenditure for the year being the net**
**movement in funds**
**Net expenditure before net gains on**
**investment properties**
**Total expenditure**
Charitable activities
Exceptional item
Covid-19 exceptional expenditure
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities|Unrestricted
£
-
1,907,932|**2023**
**£**
**-**
**1,907,932**
**1,907,932**
**2,275,403**
**167**
**2,275,570**
**-**
**2,275,570**
**268,327**
**(99,311)**
**4,399,652**
**4,300,341**
**(367,638)**|Unrestricted
2022
£
£
6,320
6,320
1,671,605
1,671,605
1,677,925
1,677,925
2,001,472
2,001,472
-
-
2,001,472
2,001,472
705
705
2,002,177
2,002,177
196,366
196,366
(127,886)
(127,886)
4,527,538
4,527,538
4,399,652
4,399,652
(324,252)
(324,252)|
|---|---|---|---|
||1,907,932|||
||2,275,403
167|||
||2,275,570
-|||
||2,275,570|||
||268,327
(367,638)|||
||(99,311)
4,399,652|||
||4,300,341|||
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 18 to the financial statements.
Page 37
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **as at 31 March 2023**
## COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER 03821702
|Note
**£**
**Fixed assets:**
10
11
**Current assets:**
12
**66,334**
**26,531**
**92,865**
**Current liabilities:**
13
**(252,202)**
14
17
18
**4,300,341**
Total unrestricted funds
Investment properties
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Debtors
Unrestricted income funds:
**The funds of the charity:**
Creditors falling due within one year
**Net current liabilities / assets**
**Total net assets**
Creditors falling due after one year
**Long term liabilities:**
Cash at bank and in hand
Tangible fixed assets
General funds
**Total charity funds**|Note
**£**
**Fixed assets:**
10
11
**Current assets:**
12
**66,334**
**26,531**
**92,865**
**Current liabilities:**
13
**(252,202)**
14
17
18
**4,300,341**
Total unrestricted funds
Investment properties
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Debtors
Unrestricted income funds:
**The funds of the charity:**
Creditors falling due within one year
**Net current liabilities / assets**
**Total net assets**
Creditors falling due after one year
**Long term liabilities:**
Cash at bank and in hand
Tangible fixed assets
General funds
**Total charity funds**|**2023**
**£**
**52,261**
**10,911,738**|£
3,810
241,547|2022
£
55,643
10,450,905|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**10,963,999**
**(159,337)**||10,506,548
30,329|
||**92,865**
**(252,202)**||245,357
(215,028)||
||**4,300,341**||4,399,652||
|||**10,804,662**
**(6,504,321)**||10,536,877
(6,137,225)|
|||**4,300,341**||4,399,652|
|||**4,300,341**||4,399,652|
||||||
|||**4,300,341**||4,399,652|
Approved by the trustees on 18 December 2023 and signed on their behalf by
Simon Conway Trustee
Gareth Jackson Trustee
Page 38
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
|Note
**Net expenditure for the reporting period**
**(as per the statement of financial activities)**
Net gains on investment properties
Net gains on fixed assets
Interest payable
Depreciation charges
(Increase) / decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors
19
**Cash flows from financing activities:**
**Net cash used in investing activities**
**Net cash provided by operating activities**
**Cash flows from investing activities:**
Payments to acquire investment properties
**Cash flows from operating activities:**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**
**Net cash used in financing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
Interest paid|**£**
**£**
**(99,311)**
**(268,327)**
**-**
**331,698**
**3,382**
**(62,524)**
**404,270**
**408,499**
**309,188**
**(192,506)**
**(192,506)**
**(331,698)**
**(331,698)**
**(215,016)**
**241,547**
**26,531**
**2023**|£
£
(127,886)
(196,366)
-
261,548
3,442
54,539
1,393,249
1,516,412
1,388,526
(1,318,329)
(1,318,329)
(261,548)
(261,548)
(191,351)
432,898
241,547
2022|£
£
(127,886)
(196,366)
-
261,548
3,442
54,539
1,393,249
1,516,412
1,388,526
(1,318,329)
(1,318,329)
(261,548)
(261,548)
(191,351)
432,898
241,547
2022|
|---|---|---|---|
||**(192,506)**|(1,318,329)||
||||1,388,526
(1,318,329)
(261,548)|
||**(331,698)**|(261,548)||
|||||
||||(191,351)
432,898|
||||241,547|
Page 39
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **a) Statutory information**
Forward Housing is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in the United Kingdom (England and Wales). The registered office address is 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham, B3 2ES. The operating address is The West House, Alpha Court, Swingbridge Road, Grantham, NG31 7XT. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.
## **b) 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) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
## **c) Public benefit entity**
The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## **d) Going concern**
The trustees consider that the company has the ability to continue operating as a going concern and there are no known material uncertainties to this. Further information is given in the trustees' annual report.
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.
## **e) Income**
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.
Income from charitable activities represents fees for the accommodation of tenants. These fees comprise charges payable by registered housing providers who then sub-let the properties to the tenants.
Any rentals receivable under operating leases are credited to the statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.
## **f) Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
## **g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Irrecoverable VAT is not separately analysed and is charged to the statement of financial activities when the expenditure to which it relates is incurred and is allocated as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Support costs are central administration costs which have been recharged to the various activities using a fair allocation.
Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the organisation’s assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
All expenditure has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs relating to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
The charity is exempt from income tax and capital gains tax under Section 505 ICTA1988.
Page 40
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **1 Accounting policies (continued)**
## **h) Operating leases**
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.
## **i) Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
- ˜ Property Adaptations
5% straight line
The capitalisation threshold for tangible fixed assets is £1,000.
## **j) Investment properties**
Investment properties are included at fair value. Any gain or loss on sale or revaluation is taken to the Statement of Financial Activities. Realised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and original cost. Unrealised gains and losses for the year are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and the opening fair value or purchase date if later. No depreciation is charged on investment properties in accordance with the Charities SORP.
If investment properties are occupied on a term long lease the fair value is reflective of the value in use. Investment properties which are excess to requirements (those held for sale) are valued based on vacant market possession, with any gains or losses being recognised when there is legal completion of a sale.
## **k) Debtors receivable within one year**
Debtors with no stated interest rate and receivable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.
## **l) Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 24 hours. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.
## **m) Creditors and provisions**
Creditors and provisions 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 or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## **n) Financial instruments**
The charitable company enters into only basic financial instrument transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other accounts receivable and payable, loans from banks and other third parties and loans from related parties. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
## **o) Pensions**
The pension cost charged to the statement of financial activities represents amounts payable by the charity in the accounting period. The charity makes payments to The Pensions Trust Ethical Fund. The scheme is a defined contribution scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable to the fund in respect of the year.
## **p) Parent charity and financial support**
An Intra-Group Agreement exists between Thera Trust and twenty seven of its subsidiaries. This Intra-Group Agreement incorporates a Funding Agreement which allows Thera Group companies to benefit from the movement of funds around the Group. Each subsidiary, other than The Camden Society, Equal Futures and Thera Limited, has acceded to this IntraGroup Agreement with Board approval. In addition to this, Thera Trust and its subsidiaries have all individually agreed not to demand the repayment of any inter-company borrowings within twelve months of the date on which the balance sheet is signed. Any amounts due to or from Group companies that have been shown as due within one year to balances arising from operational activities and gift aid. A market rate of interest has been charged on balances between group companies.
Page 41
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **2 Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty**
The directors of the company make estimates and assumptions concerning the future. Management are also required to exercise judgement in the process of applying the charitable company’s accounting policies. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are addressed below:
In preparing these financial statements, the directors have delegated authority to management to make the following judgements:
## **Group financial support**
The directors of all of the subsidiaries within the Thera Group that have acceded to the Intra-Group Agreement as referred to above, have received assurance from the board of Thera Trust that adequate financing is in place to meet the group’s financing needs and this has enabled the directors to confirm that management can prepare the accounts on a going concern basis.
## **Leases**
Management determines whether leases entered into by the company either as a lessor or a lessee are operating or finance leases. These decisions depend on an assessment of whether the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred from the lessor to the lessee on a lease by lease basis based on an evaluation of the terms and conditions of the arrangements, and accordingly whether the lease requires an asset and liability to be recognised in the statement of financial position.
## **Investment properties - owned**
Investment properties owned by the charity are valued based either upon vacant market possession, where appropriate, or upon the then current and future rental yields on properties where a lease to a Registered Housing Provider is currently in place.
## **Recognition of leased investment properties at donated value**
By way of a Framework Agreement between Touchpoint Housing (FH) S.A.R.L. (a subsidiary of Cheyne Capital), Thera Trust and Forward Housing completed in July 2015 and a variation to the Agreement effective from 31 March 2017, Forward Housing had control at 31 March, 2023, over a portfolio of 65 properties . These are by way of a 20 year, renewable lease, with the start date being the date of purchase (the earliest dates commencing in 2015) with the right to purchase at the end of the lease. These were sub-leased to Empower Housing Association, a Registered Housing Provider who granted assured tenancies in the properties to people with a learning disability.
The trustees have reviewed the accounting treatment of this portfolio and have decided to recognise a fixed asset on the balance sheet. The asset represents the economic benefit inherent in the sub-leases measured at fair value by the trustees on the basis of the net present value of future cashflows. The trustees will assess the fair value of the asset at each balance sheet date with changes in fair value being reflected in the statement of financial activities. Changes in the fair value will be affected by the changes in the rate of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) to which rental flows are linked.
No consideration has been granted in relation to the change in value of these properties.
Page 42
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **2 Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)**
## **Impairment of other assets**
Management reviews the carrying value of all other assets for indications of impairment at each period end. If indicators of impairment exist, the carrying value of the asset is subject to further testing to determine whether its carrying value exceeds it recoverable amount. This process will usually involve the estimation of future cash flows which are likely to be generated by the asset.
## **Recoverability of trade debtors**
Trade and other receivables are recognised to the extent that they are judged recoverable. Management reviews are performed to estimate the level of reserves required for irrecoverable debt. Provisions are made specifically against invoices where recoverability is uncertain.
Management makes allowance for doubtful debts based on an assessment of the recoverability of debtors. Allowances are applied to debtors where events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Management specifically analyse historical bad debts, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms when making a judgement to evaluate the adequacy of the provision for doubtful debts. Where the expectation is different from the original estimate, such difference will impact the carrying value of debtors and the charge in the statement of financial activities.
## **3 Income from charitable activities**
|Rent for accommodation of tenants
Service income|Unrestricted
£
1,853,112
54,820|**2023**
**£**
**1,853,112**
**54,820**
**1,907,932**|Unrestricted
£
1,653,424
18,181|2022
£
1,653,424
18,181|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||1,907,932||1,671,605|1,671,605|
Included in income from charitable activities are aggregate rentals receivable in relation to operating leases totalling £1,853,112 (2022: £1,653,424).
## **4 Analysis of expenditure**
|Property costs
Support costs
Total expenditure
Interest payable
Depreciation|Unrestricted
£
1,592,866
347,624
3,382
331,698|**2023**
**£**
**1,592,866**
**347,624**
**3,382**
**331,698**
**2,275,570**|Unrestricted
£
1,443,618
293,569
3,442
261,548|2022
£
1,443,618
293,569
3,442
261,548|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||2,275,570||2,002,177|2,002,177|
Page 43
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **5 Net expenditure for the year**
|This is stated after charging:|**2023**|2022|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Interest payable|**331,698**|261,548|
|Depreciation:|**3,382**|3,442|
|Operating lease rentals:|||
|Property|**1,453,045**|1,349,993|
|Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):|||
|Audit|**11,020**|10,020|
|Other services|**2,220**|2,000|
Auditor's remuneration for the group is disclosed in full in the parent charitable company and is recharged to the subsidiary as part of the overall recharge of the group's management and administration costs.
## **6 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel**
|Staff costs were as follows:
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes
Social security costs
Salaries and wages|**2023**
**£**
**123,128**
**14,869**
**3,625**|2022
£
132,540
15,246
3,225|
|---|---|---|
||**141,622**|151,011|
The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs and employer's national insurance) during the year between:
|These employees participated in the pension scheme during the year:
Employer pension contributions
£60,000 - £69,999|**2023**
**No.**
**-**|2022
No.
1|
|---|---|---|
||**2023**
**£**
-|2022
£
1,321|
The total employee benefits (including employer pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £56,197 (2022: £74,215).
The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2022: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2022: £nil).
There were trustees' expenses in the current year of £2,504 (2022: £1,436). They represented the payment or reimbursement of room hire and travel and subsistence costs incurred by 4 members (2002: 6) relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees.
Page 44
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **7 Staff numbers**
The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was 3 (2022: 3).
|Staff are split across the activities of the charitable company as follows:
Management and administration|**2023**
**No.**
**3**|2022
No.
3|
|---|---|---|
||**3**|3|
## **8 Related party transactions**
In 2022 there were no related party transactions to disclose other than intra-group transactions as disclosed below. In 2023, Gareth Jackson, a director of Forward Housing, undertook consultancy services. The amount invoiced from Gareth A Jackson to Forward Housing during the year amounted to £4,537 (2022: £nil).
Thera Trust is the parent charitable company of Forward Housing. Any balances due to or from entities within the Thera group are disclosed within the relevant debtors and creditors notes.
Thera Trust makes a recharge of management and administration costs incurred on behalf of the group to all of its subsidiaries. The specific amounts recharged to each entity are not being disclosed on the grounds that the Thera Group operates in a competitive commissioning environment and this information is commercially sensitive.
As in the accounting policies note for parent charity and financial support, a market rate of interest has been charged on balances between Thera Trust and Forward Housing of £331,698 in 2023 (2022: £261,548).
## **9 Taxation**
The charitable company is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.
## **10 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost or revaluation**
At the start of the year
At the end of the year
**Depreciation**
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
**Net book value**
**At the end of the year**
At the end of the year
At the start of the year|Property
Adaptations
£
68,837|**Total**
**£**
**68,837**|
|---|---|---|
||68,837|**68,837**|
||13,194
3,382|**13,194**
**3,382**|
||16,576|**16,576**|
||52,261|**52,261**|
||55,643|55,643|
The above assets are used for charitable purposes.
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## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **11 Investment properties**
|**Investment properties**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Fair value at the start of the year
Additions including donations
Revaluation during the year
Fair value at the end of the year|Owned
£
6,525,147
192,506
(272,653)|Leased
£
3,925,758
-
540,980|**2023**
**£**
**10,450,905**
**192,506**
**268,327**|Owned
£
5,206,818
1,318,329
-
6,525,147|Leased
£
3,729,392
-
196,366|2022
£
8,936,210
1,318,329
196,366|
||6,445,000|4,466,738|**10,911,738**||3,925,758|10,450,905|
In 2023, the trustees were provided with a valuation from Jones Laing LaSalle (''JLL'') Residential Advisory Team, in accordance with the current RICS Valuation – Global Standards November 2021 (effective from 31 January 2022), which incorporates the IVS, published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and the RICS Valuation – Global Standards 2017 – UK national supplement (the RICS Red Book) of the properties that it owns. This valuation was at market value as at 31st March, 2023. The valuation was based either on the then current and future rental yields on properties where an under-lease to a Registered Housing Provider is currently in place, assuming good and marketable title free from onerous or unusual restrictions, covenants or encumbrances not covered by appropriate insurances, long term CPI of 2% and leases, where in place, formally registered with HM Land Registry or, where appropriate, upon vacant market possession. All of the investment properties owned by the charity are located within the United Kingdom. The majority of these properties are held for use in operating leases.
Some properties are leased by the charity and then under-let to a Registered Housing Provider. There is an economic benefit inherent in certain leases granted on these properties measured at fair value over their extended lifetime. This has given rise to a re-valuation of that benefit at the year-end.
## **12 Debtors**
|**Debtors**|||
|---|---|---|
|Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2023**
**£**
**48,792**
**2,120**
**15,422**|2022
£
285
-
3,525|
||**66,334**|3,810|
## **13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|Taxation and social security
Accruals and deferred income
Trade creditors
Other creditors|**2023**
**£**
**161,485**
**423**
**55,037**
**35,257**|2022
£
53,240
4,572
4,158
153,058|
|---|---|---|
||**252,202**|215,028|
Page 46
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **14 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year**
|**Creditors: amounts falling due after one year**|||
|---|---|---|
|Amounts due to group undertakings|**2023**
**£**
**6,504,321**|2022
£
6,137,225|
||**6,504,321**|6,137,225|
The repayment period for the amounts owed to group undertakings is disclosed in the accounting policy called Parent charity and financial support.
## **15 Security**
A first legal charge is held by Barclays Bank in respect of the Forward Housing’s owned properties. These charges are in respect of borrowings due by Thera Trust, however equal liability is shared by the company.
## **16 Pension scheme**
## **The Pensions Trust Ethical Fund**
Forward Housing participates in The Pensions Trust Ethical Fund, which is a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. Contributions payable during the period amount to £3,625 (2022: £3,225). The amount outstanding in respect of this Scheme at the year-end was £nil (2022: £nil).
## **17a Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)**
|Investment properties - owned
Creditors due after more than one year
Investment properties - leased
Net current assets
**Net assets at 31 March 2023**
Tangible fixed assets|General
unrestricted
£
52,261
6,445,000
4,466,738
(159,337)
(6,504,321)|**Total funds**
**£**
**52,261**
**6,445,000**
**4,466,738**
**(159,337)**
**(6,504,321)**|
|---|---|---|
||4,300,341|**4,300,341**|
## **17b Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)**
|Tangible fixed assets
Investment properties - leased
Investment properties - owned
Net current assets
Creditors due after more than one year
**Net assets at 31 March 2022**|General
unrestricted
£
55,643
6,525,147
3,925,758
30,329
(6,137,225)|**Total funds**
**£**
**55,643**
**6,525,147**
**3,925,758**
**30,329**
**(6,137,225)**|
|---|---|---|
||4,399,652|**4,399,652**|
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## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **18a Movements in funds (current year)**
|**General funds**
**Total funds**|At 1 April
2022
£
4,399,652|Income and
gains
£
2,176,259|Expenditure
and losses
£
(2,275,570)
(2,275,570)|Transfers
£
-|**At 31 March**
**2023**
**£**
**4,300,341**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||4,399,652|2,176,259||-|**4,300,341**|
The narrative to explain the purpose of each fund is given at the foot of the note below.
## **18b Movements in funds (prior year)**
|**General funds**
**Total funds**|At 1 April
2021
£
4,527,538|Income and
gains
£
1,874,291|Expenditure
and losses
£
(2,002,177)
(2,002,177)|Transfers
£
-|**At 31 March**
**2022**
**£**
**4,399,652**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||4,527,538|1,874,291||-|**4,399,652**|
## **Unrestricted funds**
## _General funds_
Represents the amounts which are free of any restrictions or limitations.
## **19 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
|**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Cash at bank and in hand
**Total cash and cash equivalents**|At 1 April
2022
£
241,547|Cash flows
£
(215,016)
(215,016)|Other
changes
£|**At 31 March**
**2023**
**£**
**26,531**|
||241,547||-|**26,531**|
## **20 Operating lease commitments**
Forward Housing has entered into contracts with Touchpoint Housing (FH) S.A.R.L. to lease 65 (2022: 65) properties over a 20 year period, with the start date being the date of purchase. These properties were then sub-leased to Empower Housing Association at the same rental charge.
Forward Housing's total future minimum lease commitments payable and receivable under non-cancellable operating leases for these properties is as follows for each of the following periods:
|Less than one year
One to five years
Over five years|**2023**
2022
**£**
£
**1,498,150**
1,369,490
**5,992,598**
5,477,961
**13,683,142**
13,891,226
**21,173,890**
20,738,677
**Property**|**2023**
2022
**£**
£
**1,498,150**
1,369,490
**5,992,598**
5,477,961
**13,683,142**
13,891,226
**21,173,890**
20,738,677
**Property**|
|---|---|---|
||**21,173,890**|20,738,677|
Forward Housing has entered into contracts with Empower Housing Association to lease them 18 (2022: 14) of Forward Housing's owned properties over a 20 year period, with the start date being the date of purchase.
Page 48
## **FORWARD HOUSING**
## **(A charitable company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **20 Operating lease commitments (continued)**
Forward Housing's total future minimum lease commitments receivable under non-cancellable operating leases for these properties is as follows for each of the following periods:
|properties is as follows for each of the following periods:|||
|---|---|---|
|Less than one year
One to five years
Over five years|**2023**
2022
**£**
£
**395,000**
257,679
**1,580,000**
1,030,718
**4,129,511**
2,806,566
**6,104,511**
4,094,963
**Property**||
||**6,104,511**|4,094,963|
## **21 Ultimate holding company**
Forward Housing’s ultimate parent company is Thera Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee (company number 3593418) and registered in England and Wales (charity number 1090163). Thera Trust is ultimately controlled by the board of trustees.
Copies of the consolidated Thera Trust financial statements are available from Companies House or the Charity Commission.
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