Friends of 'Holcot'
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'Holcot' Group Holidoy Centre. Hilders LTiie. Murlpif Hill Nr EdlbrIdge, Kent. TN8 6LQ Emoil.. frndsotrholcotCtybiconnecl.co The Friends of Holcot Charit Re istration No 1092332 Trustees Re ort & Annual Accounts 2020-2021 Le al and Administrative The Friends of Holcot is governed by Declaration of Trust, executed on the 24 day of th April 2002, registered by the Charity Commission on the 5 day of June 2002. The principal address of the Charity is Holcot (Group Holiday Centrel, 34 Spile Bank, Hilders Lane, Marlpit Hill, Edenbridge. Kent. TN8 6LQ. The charity maintains a bank account with Lloyds Bank. It does notemploythe services of a solicitor or accountant. nor does it use the services of a third-party fundraiser. Financial records are kept using the simple 'receipts & payments, method. The accounts were independently examined by Mrs A Boylan, 36 Wellingtonia Way, Edenbridge. Kent. TN8 5RA. Trustees and Governance Trustees that served during the accounting period were: Mrs Anne Jennings, Chairperson Miss Lesley Andrews, Treasurer Mrs Audrey Batchelor Miss Lauren Martin BA, Secretary The Treasurer is responsible for ensuring all Trustees are aware of their responsibilities and for maintaining records. including DeclaratFons of Suitability based on HMRC 'Fit and Proper Persons Test,. Trustees serve a four year term and have the power to appoint new by majority decision. The Trustees do not receive any remuneration nor repayment of expenses etc. Resi5tertd awily I(191332 OVLITY
Objects and Operations
The Charity has two main aims. The first is to support the work of Holcot as a charitably run (not for profit) group holiday centre primarily for the benefit of organised children’s groups, including those considered to be disabled and/or having ‘special needs’.
This is achieved by raising funds and managing volunteers to cover what are deemed the ‘core costs’ eg general maintenance, including of the gardens, multi-purpose ball court and indoor recreation/games hall, as well as laundry expenses, the provision of WiFi and an emergency landline telephone. Further grants and donations are sought to assist with ad hoc projects to provide all that is needed, eg equipment, as well as repairs and renovations as necessary.
The second aim is to improve the lives of local (Edenbridge and surrounding Parishes) disabled and/or otherwise disadvantaged children and their families through the provision of a Community Project. All funds secured for this purpose are considered ‘restricted’ and the policy is to not have a reserve amount. Instead, activities and outings are arranged immediately funding becomes available. NB full information on beneficiaries can be found in the Community Project Policy.
Volunteers
All volunteers receive formal training (as appropriate) in first aid, food safety and safeguarding. They are subject to DBS checks and required to sign a volunteer ‘contract’ (available on request).
Policy Making
All policies are reviewed annually – the following are available on request:
Community Outreach Complaints Conflict of Interest Data Protection Equality and Diversity Financial Control Harassment, Bullying & Abuse Safeguarding Volunteer
Accreditations
At the beginning of January we achieved the Charity Excellence quality mark, followed immediately by accreditation as a Living Wage Employer.
Achievements and Performance
The Friends of Holcot are supported by donations from individuals and approx. 30 Charitable Trusts and Foundations. They do not raise funds from the public.
This time last year we proudly announced a truly exceptional year for income. Although the pandemic was upon us, we had no idea it would last this long and affect so many. Several projects had to be put on hold for a year and variances were granted from the funders in question.
It was in February/early March 2020 that we turned our attention to our emergency response and put most of our efforts into our Community Projects. Having surveyed supported families we found most had concerns around loss of income/affordability of nutritious food, education and mental health/wellbeing.
These responses were used to form our main projects, and by the end of the financial year, our food poverty/healthy eating project had spent £15,589 on hundreds of boxes of healthy fresh food items, plus 35 substantial Christmas hampers, all delivered by our willing volunteers. We had gifted 78 educational laptops to local disadvantaged children at a cost of £18,345, and working with larger funders, we helped 16 families with low incomes access hardship grants totalling £7,900. Youngsters (aged 14-25 years) continue to benefit from a separate referral scheme through which we helped a further 16 access grants totalling £5,990 for a variety of purposes. Games, competitions and various activities were (and continue to be), run through our face book page, together with our 100 day good mental health challenge, which has formed the basis for our Wellness Project. This will be expanded during the coming summer/autumn and include free family swimming as well as regular private inflatable sessions for the children.
We have been involved with some of our benefiting families for in excess of ten years and aim to provide appropriate support for the long term, basically until they either leave the area, the children finish their education or they themselves feel they nolonger need us. This level of commitment and extra demand for our services during the pandemic has meant that it became necessary to employ a part time member of staff for 10 hours a week, with effect from January 2021.
In between running our Community Projects we still managed to exceed our targets as far as Holcot itself is concerned. Further works were found to be needed on the games hall which included strengthening of the far wall and minor structural works to the side entrance. Thanks to several grants we have also replaced the old metal games equipment store and do some long overdue landscaping, including completion of a new paved picnic area dedicated to the memory of Friends no-longer with us.
In preparation for our re-opening, the house itself has been completely redecorated and we have been able to replace the old fire doors with much nicer, modern versions more in keeping with the age of the building. We can also report that, thanks to a lottery grant, we have finally finished upgrading ALL the windows to modern doubleglazed versions plus replaced the curtains which now all match beautifully!
Finally, thanks largely to donations from our neighbours we have been able to install a public access defibrillator on the front wall.
FOH Income & Ex enditure 2020 21 F from reviou5 ear 2.79 INCOME Donations Grants Grants IHardship/Referral Partners) HMRC Interest ILloyds Bank) 22.771.89 68.142.99 5.990.00 3,405.00 0.80 100,310.68 ICJ) 310.68 100.313.47 EXPENDITURE Activities & Entry Fees Administration Educational Laptops Equipment {Holcotl Food Poverty Project Hardship Awards (Referral Partner Grants) Household (incl Laundry and Cleaning) JCCT- Gas and Electricity JCCT- Telephone and WiFi Maintenance {Garden and Grounds) Maintenance and Renovations {House) Mis¢'. Audit Charity Accreditation Gifts Google Domain Facebook Activities Health & Safety LG Therapy Bike TV Licence Volunteer Expenses 1,176.51 873.32 18,345.08 10,626.47 15,589.65 5,990.00 163.57 21JO.00 547.11 2,335.07 21,406.24 50.IXI 72.00 217.86 30.00 11.98 70.55 240.IXI 157.50 377.26 1,197.15 1,197.15 2,295.00 1.245.31 1,299.90 6 618.20 89,908.58 Picnic arealgames store Romani Classroom Staffing- Salary & Payroll Costs Supported Grp Holiday- Butlins 2021 89 908.58 £10,404.89. Balance at Bank *Re5tricted for next financial year: Stsffing Costs £4,400.10, Community Days Out Icommitt8d expenditure) £3k, wellne Project £3k. Unrestricted funds available for use £4.79. The Trustee5 declare that they have appro their Annual Report & Acc(wnts and authorise the Treasurer to sign on their behalf. Le51ey F And5. Treasurer
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl membèrs of The Friends of Holwt On accounts for the year ended Charty no (rf any) 51h April 2021 1092332 Sot out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 0510412021. Responslbllltles and As the charfty trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in a(ordan wth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 Phe Acr). I report in respect of my examinatton of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in caryin9 Out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Chartty Commission under section 145(51(b) of the Act. I have (rnpleted my examination. I confimi that no material matters have cotne lo my attention in (xjnneclion the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: accounting records were not kepi in accordan seclion 130 of the Act or the acuntS do not ac(xird wtih th8 accounts'ng rerxsrds Independent axaminer's statement I have no concems and have come across no matters in connection with the examinalion to which attention should be drawn in order to 8nable a proper understanding of the aCUnts to be reached. Signed: Date: 1410412021 Name: Alison BOan Address: 36 Wellingtonia Way EdenbrKlge KENT TN8 5RE Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to high1ht tnatters of Goncem (see CC32, Independent examinatK)n of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018