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2023-03-31-accounts

Organisation

Status

The Centre opened in June 1993. Neutral Ground became a registered Charity in October 2001. Registered Charity No 1088970

Governing Document

The new Constitution was adopted on 27[th] September 2000 and was amended by resolutions passed on 18[th] July 2001 and 26[th] September 2001. Changes and amendments to the Constitution were adopted on the 1[st] July 2015.

Objects of the Charity

The object of the Centre is to alleviate the hardship and distress of children resident in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and surrounding areas according to demand caused by the break-up of marriage, relationship and family and to preserve and protect the mental and physical health of such children by providing and maintaining a centre and facilities whereby such children can more readily enjoy the company and love of their nonresidential parent or other significant persons.

Trustees

The Trustees are Stephen, Ivor, Jean, Paul, Joanna, Liz, Ruth & Stanley.

Management

The project is managed by the “Management Committee” comprising the Trustees who meet regularly bi-monthly, and at other times if necessary.

The Co-ordinator

Liz Cutajar was the Co-Ordinator at Neutral Ground from August 2012 to March 2017 employed on a part time basis. Gemma Smith (nee O’Sullivan) commenced as Coordinator from the 1[st] April 2017 until the present time.

The Volunteers

Jean Peck, Ivor Kinsey, Donna Lear, Denise Ostick, Daryl Osullivan, Kelly Whelan, Karen Swan, Ryan Scott, Karen Elliot-Seeds, Philippe Ladvocat, Adrien Teixeria, StaceyJune Strong, Blaeke Downie-Shaw, James Downie-Shaw, Emma James, Christina Seabrook, Edgar Chan, Dominic Walsh, Viola Beharry-Bhudial.

Affiliations

We are fully accredited members of the National Association of Child Contact Centres.

Training

The Co-ordinator and volunteers have all undergone extensive training which is updated from time to time as opportunities arise.

Finance

The Accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2023 are attached.

The Centre

The Centre opens every Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm . The Centre is closed on bank holiday weekends and Christmas.

Outside Area

We have the great advantage of being able to use the secure outside area during the summer months. We have started creating a new and exciting outside space with a new football pitch and we are looking at more developments.

The Premises

We have two rooms for contact with one used as a lounge with comfy chairs and TV and the other with a range of play activities. We also have a coffee bar and kitchen for parents to use if they wish.

The Children

We are always looking for ways to improve the service we give. Our priority has always been to the children, and this remains our prime motivation.

Reports

Chair of Trustees Report:-

This year has been a very stable one. The Centre is busy on Saturdays and operating in much the same way as it did before the covid pandemic; Trustee meetings have returned to face to face meetings – with some trustees attending by zoom on occasion. The Trustees have met regularly and routinely to provide governance and support. We were fortunate to have the support of Simon Rivers to finalise last year’s accounts and this year’s as well. We are grateful to him for his involvement and experience.

There was a break-in to the church and Neutral Ground office in November 2022 which was distressing, created inconvenience and resulted in the loss of some Christmas presents being collected for our children. More importantly, there was a fantastic response from the local community which resulted in donations and offers of support which completely outstripped the losses incurred.

More positively, a nursery has now begun to operate from the William Temple community hall, new security doors have been fitted and the outdoor football area is up and running again. We have received a Good Hygiene rating 5. These, together with steady financial support and a stable group of Trustees and volunteers, have meant that we have had a successful year supporting local families and consolidating links with our partners.

As we approach our 30[th] year, I would like to remember Pam Rackshaw our first coordinator who did so much to establish our ethos and set Neutral Ground on a stable footing and who was above all else a kind and compassionate person with an unending focus on the best interests of our children. Similarly, we have been so fortunate with her two successors, Liz Cutajar and Gemma Smith: Liz brought strong values, organisational skills and understanding of the roles of volunteers and Gemma has given us her fresh perspective, modernisation and community focussed approach. We are fortunate to have Liz’s continuing involvement and expertise in her role as a valued Trustee.

Finally, I would like to thank all the Trustees and volunteers for their amazing and unerring work for our families and children over this year and reaching back over the last

30 years. Their dedication has made Neutral Ground a successful, flexible and resilient centre adding to the quality of life for our local children.

Stephen Whitmore, Chair of Trustees

Report from Co-ordinator:-

It is now my sixth year at Neutral Ground I would once again like to thank the Trustees and the volunteers for the continued love and support they have shown me.

In the last year at Neutral Ground we have had a break in, new security doors, a nursery and a new monarch!

In 2022-2023 we supported 41 children of 33 families = 107 people (including both parents)

We have continued to provide our services to families free of charge thanks to our National Lottery funding which will finish this year.

In July 2023 we celebrate 30 years of Neutral Ground being open.

We take this time to reflect and give thanks and remember Pam first coordinator of Neutral Ground, along with

Rackstraw the

secretary of the trustee

Muriel Danpure the first board.

Without these people along with Neil and Jill McKinnon we wouldn’t have had the foundations on which to grow and been able to achieve all that we have done.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead Neutral Ground through many more years of success.

Gemma Smith, Co-ordinator.

Wanted…

We still need to increase our number of volunteers. If you feel you would like to help in this way (or if you know of anybody else who would) please speak to Gemma Smith or ring her on 020 8310 0727 or 07954 211103 email contact@neutralground.info.

There are also vacancies on the Management Committee! If you feel you might be able to help, please speak to any member of the committee.

We also need help with fundraising!

Thanks…

The National Lottery The Tudor Trust NACCC Santander Foundation PwC Blackheath Golf Club CafCass All Saints, Blackheath The Bishop’s Lent Appeal Waitrose Hudgel & Partners Sainsbury DODS Parliamentary Teresa Pearce MP Other private donors CCK Church Co-op Tesco

, Childhood Trust United Reform Church The Welling Freemasons Mr Lucas Ainscough Benevity Giving Platform Mr & Mrs Kehinde

Neutral Ground Child Contact Centre Charity Commission registered number 1088970

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 20

GENERAL FUND

Notes 31-Mar
2023
RECEIPTS £
Grants
The Big Lottery Fund - main grant 20,521
Child & Family Court Advisory &
Support Service (CAFCASS)
Minstry of Justice grant 2,500
YAPP
ASDA 1,411
Donations
Charitable Giving 297
Severndroog Castle 350
CO-OP 1,654
Nest Pension 117
Arnold Clark
Jumble Sale
WT Church
Parent(s) 210
ECE 100
TOTAL Receipts 27,160

PAYMENTS

Charitable Activities
Co-ordinator's Salary
Telephone and Internet
Insurance
Play Equipment
Sports Equipment
Provisions
Management and Administration
National Assoc. of Child Contact Centres Subscription
Rental of Premises
Volunteers Week
Garden Equipment
Ofce Equipment
Car Park Repairs
Furniture for Waiting Room
Carpet Cleaning
AGM Expenses (catering)
Sundries
Diference in Payroll S/O
Payroll Bureau Fees
TOTAL Payments
Surplus for the Year
Accumulated surplus at the beginning of the year
Accumulated surplus at the end of the year		 15,696
681
378
128
11
16,894
3,460
154
20
279
448
4,361
21,255
5,905
31,023
36,928

The following notes form an integral part of these accounts.

Notes to Receipts and Payments for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

2
Statement of Monetary Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2023		 2
Statement of Monetary Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2023
Monetary Assets 2023
(a) Bank current account 36,928
Represented by:
(b) General Fund 36,928
Bank Reconciliation
Balance on Statement 31.03.23 36,928.13
Less: unpresented cheque 0
Balance as above 36,928.13

Memorandum

These accounts are prepared on a cash basis. There remains a balance of funds held by th at 31/03/2023 and carried forward into the financial year beginning 01/04/2023 in the sum

£
Balance brought forward 01/04/2022
Co-ordinator's Salary
16,673.50
Diference in Payroll S/O
278.90
Payroll Bureau Fees
447.60
Payments made Apr 22 - Mar 23
Payroll Costs Apr 22 - Mar 23
Refunded by Payroll Bureau
Payroll Bureau Fees Apr 22 - Mar 23
Balance carried forward 31/03/2023		 £
Balance brought forward 01/04/2022
Co-ordinator's Salary
16,673.50
Diference in Payroll S/O
278.90
Payroll Bureau Fees
447.60
Payments made Apr 22 - Mar 23
Payroll Costs Apr 22 - Mar 23
Refunded by Payroll Bureau
Payroll Bureau Fees Apr 22 - Mar 23
Balance carried forward 31/03/2023		 £
870.68



17,400.00
(16,673.50)
(977.15)
(447.60)
172.43

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Signature(s)

Print Name(s)

Date of Approval

023

31-Mar 2022 £ 20,310 2,500 1,000

69 1,242 58 1,000 150 344 10

26,683

16,557 568 356 31 37

17,549

368 2,595 243 1,000 950 40 50 50 396 448 6,140 23,689

2,994 28,029 31,023

income and paid in cash.

2022 31,023 28,893

e Payroll Bureau of £172.43:-

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Neutral Ground Child Contact Centre

31st March 2023 1088970

Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) Set out on pages

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2023.

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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

Signed: Date: 6[th] July 2023 Name: Simon Paul Rivers Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 38 Chalkstone Close IER 1 October 2018

October 2018

Welling

DA16 3DJ

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

2

IER