## Home-Start Bradford District
Charity number 1090435
## Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
## Home-Start Bradford District
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 9|
|Examiner's report|10|
|Statement of financial activities|11|
|Balance sheet|12|
|Notes to the accounts|13 to 18|
## **Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
1
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: **Name Position Dates**
Susan Milner Chris Comey Karen Bodger Richard Bott Louise Keith David Fairclough Tanya Marshall
Cassy Harrison Charlie Johnston
Acting chair
Safeguarding Lead
Resigned 15 September 2025 Appointed 6 January 2025 Appointed 12 May 2025 Appointed 9 September 2024 Resigned 5 May 2025 Resigned 6 January 2025 Resigned 22 February 2025
## **Charity number**
1090435
Registered in England and Wales
## **Registered and principal address**
## **Bankers**
The Thornbury Centre The Co-operative Bank Leeds Old Road PO Box 250 Bradford Delf House BD3 8JX Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
## **Independent examiner**
Rhys North ACA
## **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by a constitution, adopted 20 April 2020 and amended 18 November 2024. The liability of the members in the event of the CIO being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding £1.
In furtherance of its objects the charity conforms to the standards and methods of practice of HomeStart UK (charity number 1108837).
## **Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees of the CIO are appointed by the members at the AGM. Each year one third of trustees retire at the AGM and may be re-elected by the members. Trustees may co-opt additional trustees during the year but a co-opted trustee only holds office until the next AGM.
2
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Objectives and activities**
## **The charity's objects**
The charity’s objects are:
a) to safeguard, protect and preserve the good health, both mental and physical, of children and parents of children;
- b) to prevent cruelty to or maltreatment of children;
- c) to relieve sickness, poverty and need amongst children and parents of children; and
d) to promote the education of the public in better standards of childcare within the area of Bradford and its environs.
## **The charity's main activities**
Home-Start Bradford District is an independent charity in Bradford, providing early years support to parents with young children (0-4) through weekly visits from a volunteer. We aim to intervene early, reducing the likelihood of family crisis or breakdown, reducing mental health problems and isolation, and helping families to thrive.
Families from across Bradford District are referred by health agencies, children's centres and other statutory and community organisations, as well as self-referrals from parents themselves. Support is customised to each family, and typically includes one or more of: help with positive parenting; accessing community facilities and support networks; medical appointment attendance; help with mental and physical health issues; emotional support; help managing stress; healthy eating; and family wellbeing. Each family receives an initial visit, at which a Family & Volunteer Coordinator explores their situation with them in their own home, and helps the family to set goals for their support.
The Coordinator matches the family with an appropriate volunteer, who will have parenting experience of their own and have undergone a ten-week rigorous course of preparation. The volunteer visits the family on a weekly basis, helping them with their goals and providing a listening ear and emotional support. A programme of review visits, training and supervision ensures that support is delivered consistently and achieves the family’s goals.
Families respond well to our approach - we are non-threatening and non-stigmatising. Working in families' homes helps us to support 'hard-to-reach' families who may be marginalised or distrustful of support services. We work with families by negotiation and agreement, focusing on the specific needs identified by the family themselves.
Our work is carried out through a fantastic team of committed volunteers, and we are grateful to them all for the skills, support and dedication they so willingly bring to the charity.
## **Public benefit statement**
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit at its Trustee meetings.
## **Achievements and performance**
## **Highlights**
Our biggest highlight this year was again in volunteer recruitment, increasing our active volunteers up to 45 again by the end of the year, with another new cohort about to be signed off. The whole team having invested so much time and effort into supporting the volunteer journey, we celebrate the fruits of that hard work and the additional support it means we can provide to families in Bradford.
3
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Achievements and performance continued**
## **Highlights continued**
As well as our annual volunteer thank you meal, which this year was our biggest yet, we’ve grown our programme of regular training and support for volunteers to help them develop the help they can give families, as well as learning skills they can use in the rest of their life. This year that has included mental health training from Mind, domestic abuse awareness from Staying Put, and a fascinating session on genetics in the community. We’ve also held more peer support sessions, led by our Office Manager (and home-visiting volunteer) Salema, which have included coffee and cake at a local café and a walk and talk in the park. These sessions have been really important with growing numbers of volunteers coming along to share their experiences and learning with each other. We’ve also celebrated a number of volunteers reaching service milestones, and we presented them with commemorative certificates as a small token of much bigger thanks.
We also spent the year celebrating turning 25 as a charity. As well as putting a ‘25’ spin on many of our usual events, we used it as an opportunity to fundraise, with supporters encouraged to do 25 ‘somethings’ to raise money for us – anything from baking and selling 25 cakes, to climbing 25 mountains. We don’t think that anybody took us up on the mountains, but staff and volunteers did complete a 25km sponsored walk in the summer. Setting off from our offices in Thornbury, we made our way along the edge of Ravenscliffe down to the canal at Greengates, skirting round the northern edge of the city to lunch in Lister Park. Continuing up the canal to the edge of Bingley, we returned along the Greenway to finish in City Park in time to take the weight off our feet at the nearest hostelry. Sore feet and aching legs were assuaged by raising over £2,800 in sponsorship, which added to £300 raised from a delicious curry evening at Deeva restaurant, and £500 from various raffles and tombolas. The celebrations culminated in a very special event held at the Jubilee Centre in Bradford, attended by 50 current and former staff, trustees and volunteers, where we enjoyed a delicious meal with reminiscences, photos from the previous 25 years, video messages, plans for the future and a very special catch up with one of the first families ever supported by our Operations Manager, Christine, nearly 20 years ago.
With new funding from BBC Children in Need, we’ve now expanded our services to be able to offer group support and telephone befriending to families across the Bradford District, providing a more diverse range of ways that families can engage with our support, as appropriate to their needs and context. Our group sessions are led by a staff member and volunteer, and provide an opportunity for parents to meet and share with other parents, and receive some input on a range of parenting and other topics, over the course of around seven weeks. There’s also space for the kids to play and interact with other children, building important socialisation and language skills. Our first sessions took place in the Sangat Centre in Keighley, and we’ve got further groups planned next year for The Thornbury Centre in BD3, and Woodside Community Centre in BD6.
We were also delighted to be successful in bidding for Start for Life funding to deliver support to male and secondary carers. Although our main support is available to any parent, it is primarily engaged with by mums, and it has long been recognised across Home-Start that dads tend to engage with support in different ways not necessarily as well served by family support organisations like ours. This led Home-Start HOST (Oldham, Stockport and Thameside) to develop the Dad Matters programme, aimed at meeting dads in contexts where they already are such as antenatal classes and hospital appointments. With a proven track record of success, we’re really pleased to be partnering with Dad Matters and Start for Life to be able to support The ‘missing’ half of parents.
Our annual Christmas Party for families was our biggest ever, with 60 people attending. With disco tunes to get the kids dancing and a delicious buffet, the highlight as ever was a visit from Santa who made sure that all the children (and any siblings in the family) received one of the lovely toy gifts donated over the year, as well as a box of chocolates for the grown ups.
4
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Achievements and performance continued**
## **Highlights continued**
Finally, we again received a batch of complimentary tickets for Circus Starr, who distribute free tickets to some of their performances to enable families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend to have a little treat. One family shared:
“Just wanted to say that the circus was amazing. There was a lot of thought put in place to make it ‘safe’ and enjoyable, especially for neurodivergent kids like mine. The clown was funny and the mascots very charming and not scary. It was our first family circus outing and we all really had a lovely time. The staff at the venue were very accommodating as well, which always is a bonus. I would like to extend my special thanks to Circus Starr for accomplishing such a brilliant show. Last but not least, my special thanks to you and your wonderful team for the free tickets.”
In planning the activities for the year the trustees have kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
## **Home-Start Better Start**
Our involvement with the ten-year Home-Start Better Start project came to an end this year, with the project beginning to wind down and transition to legacy rather than delivery. Having been involved in establishing the project, there’s a sense of sadness, but also joy at all that has been achieved – with a wonderful event being held in Bradford Cathedral showcasing the impact made on some of the most financially deprived areas of Bradford.
As a research-focused project, a wealth of data has been collected and analysed, and there’s plenty of reports being produced, including a comprehensive evaluation of our home-visiting volunteer service.
Over the eight years we’ve been delivering our service, 89 volunteers have supported 197 unique families. All participants were asked to provide feedback in the form of a satisfaction questionnaire, in which 100% of respondents had a median score of 4 or more (out of 5):
95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the project was helpful to them
98% that the project gave them useful information
98% that they would recommend the project to family or friends
100% that they were satisfied with the support they received
96% that the project was easy to access
96% that they were happy with the project overall.
Alongside that, our wealth of journey of change data and case studies demonstrates scores of lives changed for the better.
Across the whole length of the project, parental wellbeing was the most acute area of need with 98% of assessed families scoring 3 or less on their coping scores in this area. Families were supported for around 6 months on average. On average, families were referred on for around three other services as part of their support.
There has been much brilliant learning from our involvement in the project which has shaped our service going forward – and we like to think that Better Start was able to learn from our experience and history of supporting families in Bradford too. It has been a great partnership.
## **Staff and trustees**
We have had several changes to our trustee Board this year. Both Cassy and Charlie stepped down from our Board after three years of great support and knowledge. Cassy was a lead trustee for safeguarding, but has agreed to stay involved as our external safeguarding advisor. We were delighted to welcome Louise to the Board, who brings GDPR and data protection expertise, and has already got stuck in to deliver GDPR and online safety training to all staff and trustees.
5
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Achievements and performance continued**
## **Staff and trustees continued**
In August we recruited two Dad Matters Coordinators to deliver our new Dad Matters work, and Mohammed and Louise have really settled into the team, and into local maternity wards and neonatal units where they are engaging with scores of dads. They’ve spent lots of time in the maternity unit, attending ‘stork walks’ and being present in online antenatal classes, supporting dads with attachment and bonding, and the importance of the first 1,001 days of a child’s life.
Two of our Coordinators, Trudi and Lisa, completed their Level 3 Award in Education and Training – congratulations to them on this achievement.
## **Key statistics**
Referrals and families support remained broadly the same as last year – with a very a slight increase in families supported. However that masks a significant increase in volunteer visits and hours, indicating that supported families for longer or with more visits than previously. This may partially reflect having more volunteers available meaning that we’re able to give families a little longer to fully reach their goals before moving volunteers on to a new family, however it may also reflect more complex families who need more time invested in them.
As noted above, we continued to recruit volunteers at a similar rate to last year, but also retained more volunteers then previous years so our overall volunteer pool grew which was great news.
## **Planning for the future**
The focus for the coming year is on securing further funding, with a couple of our big grants coming to an end this year and next. We are delighted to have secured three years’ funding from BBC Children in Need, and a further year of both Henry Smith and Start for Life funding, but we need additional grant funding to continue delivering the service we’d like to across Bradford District.
With continuing changes in the family support picture both locally and nationally, we are pushing to be involved in conversations and decision-making about how resources are invested in supporting families, drawing on our depth and breadth of experience and track record in supporting families.
6
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Planning for the future continued**
We continue to look to strengthen our trustee Board, and we’re also in the process of reshaping our staff team somewhat, both of which are ongoing processes.
We continue to promote our core family support offer locally, embedding it in the local family support networks – particularly the Family Hubs – and ensuring that our three strands of home-visiting support, telephone befriending and group sessions are widely known and available to those that need them.
Following the year end, our new Business Manager left the team unexpectedly which has caused a certain amount of difficulty, with other staff members stepping up to cover different areas. We are currently buying in expertise in some areas in the short term whilst we get to a position where we can be more certain about how we shape the team in the medium-long term.
## **Zena’s story**
“My daughter, who is now 11 months old, was born after a 24-hour labour, which resulted in a second-degree tear - I was in so much pain for the first two months of her life! I was struggling to be a mum and keep on top of all the housework – I barely had time to eat or shower. I was sinking lower and lower and I had totally lost my identity. Even though I had always wanted to be a mum, that’s all I felt I was.
I was at a baby massage group, when my daughter was a lot younger, and I got talking to one of the girls about how I was feeling and she told me about Home-Start Bradford District. She told me all about the support that she had been getting. I am quite a strong-minded person and very independent – I know what I want and I know what I don’t like and I didn’t want someone telling me what to do. She reassured me that the volunteer that supported her didn’t tell her how to parent, they were a ‘friendly ear’ and were there to help her and not to judge. I’m not the kind of person that asks for help, but I had to agree the volunteer peer support sounded ideal for me.
Before I knew it, the Family and Volunteer Coordinator at Home-Start Bradford District was at my house. She was fabulous and understood my personality immediately as she is very similar, I was confident that she would find a volunteer to match me and my needs.
And she certainly did! I was matched with my volunteer and she was great from the start. I didn’t want someone telling me how to be a mum and patronising me and she didn’t – she was simply fantastic. I know I am a good parent – I thrive on it, but I was sinking in all the things I was trying to get done and it couldn’t carry on – I was even doing an online course as I could feel my brain was ‘dying’ from not working.
I wasn’t managing my time at all and my volunteer helped. She showed me that the house did not have to be as clean as I was making it, as long as it was clean enough for my daughter. She simply saw me for me and didn’t judge me at all. We would take my daughter out for walks and we would talk and talk; about my daughter; me not working; how I was feeling and just like that my saving grace had come into my life. She kept telling me I had ‘got this’ and she helped me bring my sense of self back.
I wish I had known about Home-Start Bradford District from the very beginning, the support has been invaluable to me and I can’t stress enough how my Coordinator and volunteer brought me out of that ‘black hole’. Life is now back to normal and I don’t need volunteer support now – I am back to being me!”
## **Chloe’s story**
“When my twins were young babies, they suffered from reflux, where they were bringing back up milk after feeding - it was a really challenging time. Another twin mummy told me all about Home-Start Bradford District and the support that she had many years prior – her twins are now 11 years old!
I felt that having two pairs of hands would be of great help when it came to looking after twins. The Family and Volunteer Coordinator matched me to a volunteer who had experience of supporting families of multiples. My volunteer provided practical help - we could take a baby each and feed them their bottles and let them settle on us. My volunteer grew a particularly special bond with my baby boy, since she generally took him to feed.
My volunteer offered valuable advice on looking after two babies at once, including feeding advice and how to manage their reflux with little tips like showing me new ways to get the wind out of my babies.
7
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Chloe’s story continued**
My volunteer noticed that my baby boy was ready to start solids and helped me to start the weaning process by offering advice and practical help with solid mealtimes.
Having a volunteer made a real difference to me through my first steps in motherhood and made me feel more confident as a first-time mum. She offered a great listening ear to the challenges I was facing as a mum of twins and supported me with practical help and advice.
Not only did I benefit from support from my volunteer herself but also from my Coordinator. She listened to my challenges and was often able to help, for example she helped me access a HENRY weaning course, which I attended and benefited from.
If you need support, then please reach out. From my experience the Home-Start Bradford District service is supportive, tailored to your needs and solution focused.”
## **Andy’s story**
“Since the birth of my daughter, I have been extremely anxious about my life and my daughter's future - I was having nightmares, panic attacks and fear of coping and all those worst case scenarios about being a first-time dad – I had hit an emotional burnout.
I found out about Dad Matters Bradford and emailed them with my ‘cry for help’ and within a day or so someone had replied to my message.
One of the Dad Matters Coordinators spoke to me over the phone and arranged to come to my home for a oneto-one face-to-face meeting so she could listen to my thoughts, worries and concerns. She was open, friendly and kind with a good understanding of what family life can be like.
Since that first meeting, the Coordinator has been an outlet for me to vent and pour out my thoughts and fears without any prejudice or judgement. Having her and the team around just a call or text away has helped me a lot to manage my expectations, my fears and my skills as a dad.
The team have made a difference to me, allowing me to fear less, gain confidence and the reassurance that as a first-time dad, what I am doing is right!
I am grateful and thankful to have Dad Matters in my life. They have been the only people to reach out directly and quickly respond to my ‘cry for help’. The team have been lovely and I feel like I have made a new friend.
I hope to continue to work with the Coordinator and the team for myself and hope in the future to help give them support and give something back for their time and constant hard work.
Thank you Dad Matters!”
## **Kudirat’s story**
“I have a background working in the health sector, so I have always supported and helped people, and I found out about Home-Start Bradford District volunteers while surfing the internet searching for volunteering opportunities in the community.
I know what it is like to feel isolated with a young child. When I first came to this country, I felt lonely and occasionally got sad because I was in a new environment with no friends apart from my husband and son. In time I made friends in school and began to feel better and well-adjusted into the country.
I felt the need to help people who may also be needing some form of companionship and support. I have a really supportive husband and friends, who took care of my son, while I volunteered for a couple of hours each week.
The volunteer preparation course was very detailed, delivered by friendly, knowledgeable and experienced coordinators. It was delivered once in a week over a period of 7-weeks and it taught me all I needed to support my families.
It was all very interesting, but I found the training on safeguarding most useful, and it made me more observant. There were no challenges because the coordinators were often eager to support with any difficulties we faced.
8
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Kudirat’s story continued**
Volunteering comes with a sense of fulfilment and pride, and when it is with Home-Start Bradford District you get all the support and help you need to acquire the necessary skills to deliver life changing support whilst also getting support yourself if you need it.
So many families need support and would be happy to have your offer to help, it would make a whole lot of difference for them and I’m hoping to return to volunteering someday.”
## **Financial review**
The net income for the year was £75,483, including net income of £16,935 on unrestricted funds and net income of £58,548 on restricted funds, after transfers.
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (the 'free reserves') held by the charity should be at least 6 - 9 months of resources expended, which equates to between £115,800 and £173,800 in general funds based on budgeted 2025/2026 expenditure. At this level the trustees feel they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding or unexpected increase in costs.
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £109,328.
Although the reserves are nearly within the required range, the trustees are aware that this is a challenging time for the organisation in terms of funding, particularly with of the ending of several key longer-term grants. They are very mindful of the need to secure significant future funding as a matter of urgency to ensure the continued viability of the charity, and are monitoring the funding situation closely. The charity is working on a number of applications and bids to ensure that we can continue to support families across Bradford.
Approved by the board of trustees on 10/11/2025
Susan Milner (Trustee)
9
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Home-Start Bradford District
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 11 to 18.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the CIO 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 CIO's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since the CIO's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a fellow of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act.
I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a fellow of ICAEW which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act;
- 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Rhys North ACA
27/11/2025
## **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
10
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Statement of Financial Activities
## (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2025
|Notes
2025
Unrestricted
funds
£
**Income from:**
Grants and donations
(2)
2,314
Fundraising
3,132
Bank interest
1,412
Other income
1,268
**Total income**
8,126
**Expenditure on:**
Staff costs:
Salaried pay
(3)
-
Invoiced pay
-
Travel and subsistence
-
Recruitment
-
Training
-
Family direct support
-
Home-Start network fees
110
Governance:
Trustee meetings and expenses
-
Trustee recruitment and training
-
Independent examination
-
Premises:
Insurance
-
Rent
-
Rates
-
Running costs:
Equipment and maintenance
-
Fees and subscriptions
-
Printing and stationery
-
Hospitality
-
Postage
-
Telephone
-
Fundraising costs
119
Depreciation
935
Amortisation
3,900
Volunteer costs:
Expenses
-
Recruitment and initial training
-
Training and support
-
**Total expenditure**
5,064
**Net income / (expenditure)**
3,062
**Transfers between funds**
13,873
**Net movement in funds**
16,935
**Fund balances brought forward**
103,597
**Fund balances carried forward**
(4)
120,532|2025
Restricted
funds
£
282,870
-
-
-
282,870
149,215
22,111
736
1,231
746
492
8,992
422
-
1,860
1,197
9,960
339
1,493
1,957
121
1,100
109
1,654
86
-
-
1,668
3,807
1,153
210,449
72,421
(13,873)
58,548
24,042
82,590|2025
Total
funds
£
285,184
3,132
1,412
1,268
290,996
149,215
22,111
736
1,231
746
492
9,102
422
-
1,860
1,197
9,960
339
1,493
1,957
121
1,100
109
1,654
205
935
3,900
1,668
3,807
1,153
215,513
75,483
-
75,483
127,639
203,122|2024
Total
funds
£
198,619
79
-
-
198,698
132,269
19,706
818
125
247
520
3,481
807
-
1,386
1,074
10,510
258
1,230
2,060
24
128
68
2,054
-
979
8,640
801
4,859
1,245
193,289
5,409
-
5,409
122,230
127,639|
|---|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
11
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Balance sheet
|as at 31 March 2025
2025
Unrestricted
£
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
(5)
1,904
Intangible assets
(6)
9,300
**Total fixed assets**
11,204
**Current assets**
Debtors and prepayments
(7)
18,055
Cash at bank and in hand
(8)
96,588
**Total current assets**
114,643
**Current liabilities:**
**amounts falling due within one year**
Creditors and accruals
(9)
5,315
**Total current liabilities**
5,315
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
109,328
**Net assets**
120,532
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
120,532
Restricted funds
-
**Total funds**
120,532|2025
Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
82,590
82,590
-
-
82,590
82,590
-
82,590
82,590|2025
Total
£
1,904
9,300
11,204
18,055
179,178
197,233
5,315
5,315
191,918
203,122
120,532
82,590
203,122|2024
Total
£
1,023
2,400
3,423
19,311
109,628
128,939
4,723
4,723
124,216
127,639
103,597
24,042
127,639|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 10/11/2025
Susan Milner (Trustee)
12
Home-Start Bradford District Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of accounting**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year. No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
## **Going concern**
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, if it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Grants and donations**
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
## **Expenditure and liabilities**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
## **Taxation**
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets costing more than £500 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows: Fixtures and fittings: over 5 years Equipment : over 3 years
## **Intangible fixed assets**
Intangible fixed assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised and included at cost. Amortisation is calculated so as write off the cost of an asset over the useful economic life of that asset Software: over 4 years
## **Pensions**
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are recognised in the year they are payable.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
13
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 March 2025
|**2 Grants and donations**
BBC Children in Need
Bradford Trident Limited:
Better Start Bradford
Dad Matters Start for Life
Garfield Weston Foundation
The Henry Smith Charity
The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation
Legacy
The Brelms Trust CIO
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
Donations
**3 Staff costs and numbers**
Gross salaries
Social security costs
Employment allowance
Pensions
Payroll Charges|2025
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
667
-
-
-
1,647
2,314|2025
Restricted
funds
£
20,350
15,420
102,000
20,000
125,100
-
-
-
-
-
282,870|2025
Total
funds
£
20,350
15,420
102,000
20,000
125,100
667
-
-
-
1,647
285,184
2025
£
136,079
10,713
(5,000)
6,306
1,117
149,215|2024
Total
funds
£
-
78,857
-
-
64,300
-
29,210
5,000
20,000
1,252
198,619
2024
£
120,245
9,795
(5,000)
6,255
974
132,269|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The average number of employees during the year was 6.4, being an average of 4.4 full time equivalent (2024: 5.3, 4.1 FTE). There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.
|**Defined contribution pension scheme**
Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year
**4 Restricted funds**
Balance b/f
£
BBC Children in Need
-
The Henry Smith Charity
-
Bfd Building Family Resilience
22,188
Garfield Weston Foundation
-
Home-Start: Better Start
1,854
Start for Life - Dad Matters
-
24,042|Incoming
£
20,350
60,000
65,100
20,000
15,420
102,000
282,870|Outgoing
£
6,924
12,398
74,722
10,316
16,017
90,072
210,449|2025
£
6,306
Transfers
£
(344)
(344)
-
-
(1,257)
(11,928)
(13,873)|2024
£
6,255
Balance c/f
£
13,082
47,258
12,566
9,684
-
-
82,590|
|---|---|---|---|---|
**For fund descriptions see next page**
14
Notes to the accounts continued for the year ended 31 March 2025
## Home-Start Bradford District
## **4 Restricted funds continued**
## **Fund name**
## **Purpose of restriction**
BBC Children in Need To deliver early years support for children aged up to 5 years and their families in Bradford through our core home visiting support, plus developing group work and telephone befriending. The transfer is for the capitalisation of computer equipment.
The Henry Smith Charity To enable an extension to the Bradford Building Family Resilience project. The transfer is for the capitalisation of computer equipment. Bfd Building Family Resilience Funding from The Henry Smith Charity towards additional coordinators to support the recruitment and training of volunteers and associated safeguarding, management and administrative support. Garfield Weston Foundation To deliver early years support for children aged up to 5 years and their families in Bradford through our core home visiting support, plus developing group work and telephone befriending. Home-Start: Better Start Funding from Better Start Bradford to enable volunteer support, friendship and practical help for families with children under 4 years old and during pregnancy. The transfer to unrestricted funds is for expenditure incurred against this fund but not previously allocated. Start for Life - Dad Matters To enable the set up and delivery of the Male and Secondary Carers project as part of Start for Life through the Better Start Bradford Programme. The transfer is for the capitalisation of computer equipment and software.
|**Tangible assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2024
Charge for year
At 31 March 2025
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024|£
5,720
1,816
7,536
4,697
935
5,632
1,904
1,023
Office
equipment|Total
£
40,280
12,616
52,896
36,857
4,835
41,692
11,204
9,300
-
3,423|
|---|---|---|
## **5 Tangible assets**
15
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 March 2025
|**6 **
**7 **
**8 **
**9 **|**Intangible assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2024
Charge for year
At 31 March 2025
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
**Debtors and prepayments**
Prepayments
Other debtors
**Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank
Cash in hand
**Creditors and accruals**
Creditors
Accruals|£
34,560
10,800
45,360
32,160
3,900
36,060
9,300
2,400
2025
£
304
17,751
18,055
2025
£
178,954
224
179,178
2025
£
3,455
1,860
5,315
Computer
software|Total
£
34,560
10,800
45,360
32,160
3,900
36,060
9,300
2,400
2024
£
285
19,026
19,311
2024
£
109,540
88
109,628
2024
£
3,337
1,386
4,723|
|---|---|---|---|
16
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **10 Related party transactions**
## **Donations from trustees and related parties**
The total aggregate value of unconditional donations to the charity from the trustees or related parties was £nil (2024: £158).
## **Trustee expenses**
During the year no trustee expenses were paid (previous year: 1 trustee and £38).
## **Trustee remuneration and benefits**
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
## **Remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel**
The total employee benefits received by key management personnel were £62,627 (previous year: £60,127).
|**11 Funds held as agent**
Acts 435|Balance b/f
£
-
-|Incoming
£
150
150|Outgoing
£
150
150|Balance c/f
£
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
17
## Home-Start Bradford District
## Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2025
|2025
2024
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds
funds
£
£
**Income**
Grants and donations
2,314
30,462
Fundraising
3,132
79
Bank interest
1,412
-
Other income
1,268
-
**Total income**
8,126
30,541
**Expenditure**
Staff costs:
Salaried pay
-
162
Invoiced pay
-
-
Travel and subsistence
-
-
Recruitment
-
-
Training
-
-
Family direct support
-
-
Home-Start network fees
110
418
Governance:
Trustee meetings and expenses
-
-
Trustee recruitment and training
-
-
Independent examination
-
-
Premises:
Insurance
-
-
Rent
-
-
Rates
-
-
Running costs:
Equipment and maintenance
-
-
Fees and subscriptions
-
4
Printing and stationery
-
-
Hospitality
-
-
Postage
-
-
Telephone
-
-
Fundraising costs
119
-
Depreciation
935
979
Amortisation
3,900
8,640
Volunteer costs:
Expenses
-
-
Recruitment and initial training
-
-
Training and support
-
-
**Total expenditure**
5,064
10,203
**Net income / (expenditure)**
3,062
20,338
**Transfers between funds**
13,873
-
**Net movement in funds**
16,935
20,338
**Fund balances brought forward**
103,597
83,259
**Fund balances carried forward**
120,532
103,597|2025
Restricted
funds
£
282,870
-
-
-
282,870
149,215
22,111
736
1,231
746
492
8,992
422
-
1,860
1,197
9,960
339
1,493
1,957
121
1,100
109
1,654
86
-
-
1,668
3,807
1,153
210,449
72,421
(13,873)
58,548
24,042
82,590|2024
Restricted
funds
£
168,157
-
-
-
168,157
132,107
19,706
818
125
247
520
3,063
807
-
1,386
1,074
10,510
258
1,230
2,056
24
128
68
2,054
-
-
-
801
4,859
1,245
183,086
(14,929)
(14,929)
38,971
24,042|2025
Total
funds
£
285,184
3,132
1,412
1,268
290,996
149,215
22,111
736
1,231
746
492
9,102
422
-
1,860
1,197
9,960
339
1,493
1,957
121
1,100
109
1,654
205
935
3,900
1,668
3,807
1,153
215,513
75,483
-
75,483
127,639
203,122|2024
Total
funds
£
198,619
79
-
-
198,698
132,269
19,706
818
125
247
520
3,481
807
-
1,386
1,074
10,510
258
1,230
2,060
24
128
68
2,054
-
979
8,640
801
4,859
1,245
193,289
5,409
-
5,409
122,230
127,639|
|---|---|---|---|---|
18