2023-03-31-accounts - Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow

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Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow Charity Number 1108975 Company Number 5386801

Report of the Trustees and Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

Here for parents when they need us most because childhood can’t wait

Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow

Legal & Administrative Information

Charity Name Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow Charity Registration Number 1108975 Company Registration Number 5386801, company limited by guarantee Address Parkway House, Room 211, Sheen Lane, East Sheen, SW14 8LS Telephone, email and website T: 020 8487 8500 E: info@homestart-rkh.org.uk W: homestart-rkh.org.uk Governing Documents Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 8[th] July 2020 Objects 1. To safeguard, protect and preserve the good health, both mental and physical of children and parents of children 2. To prevent cruelty and maltreatment of children 3. To relieve sickness, poverty and need amongst children and parents of children 4. To promote the education of the public in better standard of childcare within the areas of the London Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames, Hounslow and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and their environs Trustees Alison Goodbrand (Chair) Nancy Jo Baldwin Ian Andrew Bellinger (appointed 2[nd] November 2022) Rahel Biddle (Treasurer) Laura Ferreira (appointed 2[nd] November 2022) Anupa Damle Grant (appointed 2[nd] November 2022) Michele Harris (resigned 21[st] November 2022) Helen Hodges (appointed 2[nd] November 2022) Frances Houston (appointed 2[nd] November 2022) Margaret Annette O’Connor Gina Vyvyan Roughan Miranda Jane Tottman Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cristiana Camisotti Key Management Personnel The CEO is responsible for managing the charity on a day-to-day basis Bankers CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ Independent Examiner Rebecca Tweed ACA, 5 Well Lane, East Sheen, SW14 7AJ

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purpose of the Companies Act, present their annual report and the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31[st] March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practices (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” in preparing the report and the financial statements.

About us

The first 1001 days of a child’s life are essential to their life-long development and our goal is to give every child the best start in life. Through one-to-one and group support in the home, in community spaces and online, we partner with families and help them to get the most from being parents. Each family’s situation and needs are unique and so is their Home-Start support, grounded in a nonjudgmental ethos that meets every family where they are. We support families to build attachment and confidence, create nurturing home environments and connect to their community. At the core of our charity is our network of 120 highly trained and experienced volunteers who provide lifechanging support to the families we serve: families with children under the age of five and mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy.

A statement from Alison Goodbrand, our Chair of Trustees

This has been another tough year for Home-Start families. The cost-of-living crisis affects the poorest families the hardest and for the most vulnerable in our community the impact has been enormous. Our volunteers see high levels of mental health problems in 66% of families, and parental emotional wellbeing remains the most common area of need in 93% of families. Alongside the practical support to meet the changing needs of our families, we prioritised demonstrating the unique role of HomeStart in our community. We wanted to highlight the value of being alongside families and children in their earliest years and how Home-Start meets this need.

We started the year with a prestigious event at the Houses of Parliament supported by a cross party group of politicians, all passionate about the importance of early years. We heard from Cristiana, our CEO, about the way a Home-Start volunteer transformed her experience of motherhood and I talked about the many ways our work improves the lives of children and families in Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow. We were proud to host our supporters, celebrity ambassadors, families, volunteers, trustees and staff in such historic surroundings, and raised funds to support our work.

Continuing the theme of reaching out, we were delighted to recruit five new trustees to our Board and they took up post in November. The range of backgrounds, skills and experience of our new trustees means that we are well placed to meet the challenges ahead. Cristiana has also made some excellent appointments to her team and we have been able to develop effective relationships to ensure that Home-Start is seen as a key player in the local children and family support network. This focus on partnerships and collaborative working across a range of statutory and voluntary organisations means the work we do is recognised by the key stakeholders in Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow.

However, we have also experienced a turbulent funding environment this year. We can no longer rely on statutory funders who have supported us previously and we have worked hard to diversify our funding base. This will continue to be a pressing theme as the funding landscape is changing and we need to secure income to support our vital work. The needs in the community are increasing at the same time as our resources are under the greatest pressure. Next year we will continue to prioritise funding partnerships, look out into our communities and embed ourselves further in the early years landscape.

A huge thank you as always to our volunteers, staff, trustees and generous supporters. With your help we will ensure that a child’s earliest years continue to be a priority and Home-Start will be here, providing life- changing support for parents, when they need us most.

A snapshot of our achievements

Families

Support provided to 286 families with 476 children, through face-to-face and remote contact that flexed to meet the needs of families through the challenges of the year
Total hours of support to families increased from 3722 in 21-22, to 4321 in 22-23. Face to face contact increased from 1910 hours to 3215 hours
87 families participated in Family Groups in person and online, with group contact hours increasing from 686 in 21-22, to 842 in 22-23
37% of families supported identify as Black, Asian and minority ethnic, an 11% decrease on 21-22
Referrals into our service stabilised, with 289 received (288 in 2020-21), with 8% more referrals from health sources
Improvements achieved in all measures of family life and wellbeing from 2021-22, except financial stability
14 summer events and activities attended by 43 families / 80 children; Christmas Party attended by 57 families / 100 children; 8 Chromebooks loaned to families; and £1,815 distributed to families in grants for emergency essentials

Volunteers

34 new volunteers joined the team of 120
15 volunteers trained in perinatal / infant mental health; and 87 volunteers participated in specialist training sessions on autism parental support, financial wellbeing, positive parenting, safeguarding and services offered by Citizens Advice

Funding & Operations

Innovative approach to funding and fundraising to target more sustainable and diverse funding streams: we are working with a grant writer and funding advisor to develop a pipeline of multi-year national and local funding opportunities across a wider funding base including philanthropic donors, charity brokerages and established funders, as well as investing in our long-term relationships with current funders. We are also evolving and growing our community fundraising efforts, using match funding and digital fundraising around core events and campaigns to leverage and maximise donations through The Big Give.
We have standardised family support journey processes, introducing templates and online tools to improve efficiency. We have innovated our approach to data and impact by standardising and bringing increased rigour to surveys and feedback mechanisms. We have introduced regular team retrospectives and ‘Lunch & Learns’ to review and iterate service delivery design, and increasingly bring service users into service development.

Structure and Governance

The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is therefore governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The Board of Trustees ensures the charity operates in line with the objectives stated in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Together with the charity’s CEO, the Board is responsible for setting the charity’s strategic direction.

The Board is reviewed regularly to ensure the diversity and skill mix is fit for purpose. As a family support charity, all trustees are required to undertake safeguarding training.

Trustees serve for a term of three years. After a term of three years, trustees can be re-elected for a maximum of two more terms. Any trustee reaching nine years of service is required to retire.

Prospective trustees are recruited through an advertisement followed by an application and interview with a minimum of two trustees. Trustees receive a comprehensive induction based on the Home-Start UK trustee induction framework.

Quality Assurance

As a member of the national Home-Start UK network, Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow works to the Home-Start Quality Assurance (QA) framework, based on the Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations (PQASSO) framework. In the latest quality assurance audit undertaken by Home-Start UK in 2019, a 99% performance rating was achieved: Demonstrating High Quality across all areas. Home-Start UK are currently piloting a new QA framework, and we expect to be audited in 2024/25.

Home-Start has clear, regularly reviewed and updated policies across all aspects of its operations including for example safeguarding, confidentiality and health and safety. Home-Start UK provides templates and updates for mandatory policies, which are reviewed and adopted at a local level.

Financial summary

The annual surplus of £20,783 (previous year £5,270 deficit) was a very strong performance in a competitive fundraising environment. Our ability to deliver a strong financial result was due to our high-performing senior management team, a well-designed and executed fundraising strategy and tight control of expenses.

Total income received for the 12 months to 31st March 2023 was £489,899, £95,815 more than the previous year. Funding received from Achieving for Children (on behalf of the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames and The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames), and the London Borough of Hounslow continues to be a key source of funds, providing over 50% of our income.

Total expenditure during the period was £469,116, increased from the previous year at £399,354, reflecting our investment in the staff team and an increase in fundraising activities. Other expenses were very closely monitored, with indirect costs carefully controlled.

Reserves

Our reserves policy complies with the Accounting and Reporting Standards for charities set out in the Statement of Recommended Practice, SORP (FRS 102). The Board of Trustees has adopted a reserves policy that the unrestricted funds held by the charity should be equivalent to at least three but not more than six months expenditure at the current average monthly rate.

Our reserves at the year-end are slightly more than this policy, at just over seven and a half months. The Board of Trustees considers that it is prudent to hold enhanced reserves to mitigate the uncertain funding and inflationary environment.

Thank you to our funders and fundraisers

Thanks to the kind generosity and support of our funders, fundraisers and those who give their support in kind, we have been able to help hundreds of local families over the last year, providing a

reliable, empathetic source of connection and understanding during what has been a difficult and challenging time for so many. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last year and helped us to provide such vital support to families.

Achieving for Children • Barnes Fashion Show • Champions Funds • Department for Culture, Media and Sport • GlaxoSmithKline • Goldman Sachs Gives • Ham Open Gardens • Hampton Fund • HomeStart UK • John Lewis Partnership • Kew Midsummer Fete • Kingston Charitable Foundation • London Borough of Hounslow • Richmond Parish Lands Charity • Teddington & The Hamptons Rotary • The Big Give • The Childhood Trust

Together with those organisations listed above, we are indebted to the many individual donors whose generosity and ongoing support through this year has been especially important in enabling us to respond quickly to families in need. Thank you.

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees who, as a body, 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and 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

The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS).

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

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did 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.

Signed:

Date: 24[th] June 2023

Rebecca J Tweed ACA

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)

Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow

Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Note
Income from:
2
Donations
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Total
Expenditure on:
3
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Governance costs
Total
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
9
Net movement in funds
Balance of funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward

Year ended
31/03/2022
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total funds
Prior year
funds
£
£
£
£
39,915
500
40,415
33,857
0
331,803
331,803
325,729
114,455
0
114,455
33,216
3,225
0
3,225
1,282
157,596
332,303
489,899
394,084
80,361
0
80,361
48,460
19,628
368,941
388,569
348,865
186
0
186
2,029
100,175
368,941
469,116
399,354
57,421
(36,638)
20,783
(5,270)
0
0
0
0
57,421
(36,638)
20,783
(5,270)
282,337
83,757
366,094
371,364
339,758
47,119
386,877
366,094
Year ended 31 March 2023

Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow

Balance Sheet

As at 31 March 2023

Note £ Fixed Assets Tangible fixed assets 4 Current Assets Cash at bank and at hand 5 436,209 Prepayments 1,507 Debtors 6 2,717 Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 7 5,759 Income received in advance 8 52,189 Net Current Assets Total Net Assets Funds of the Charity 9 Unrestricted Reserves Restricted Reserves	2023 £ 4,391 440,434 57,947 382,486 386,877 339,758 47,119 386,877	2022 £ £ 8,764 388,802 5,820 4,698 399,320 6,991 35,000 41,991 357,330 366,094 282,337 83,757 366,094

For the year ending 31/3/2023 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

They were approved by the Trustees on 5th July 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Rahel Biddle - Treasurer

Company Number: 5386801

Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

______________

1 Accounting policies

Statutory information

Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow is a charitable company and is incorporated in England & Wales. The charity is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The registered office is Parkway House, Room 211, Sheen Lane, East Sheen, SW14 8LS.

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the 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 (Charities SORP (FRS 102), effective 1 January 2019) and the Companies Act 2006.

Going concern

The Trustees believe that the Charity is a going concern in accordance with Charities SORP (FRS 102), effective 1st January 2019.

Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

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.

Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis method over the estimated useful life of the asset. The depreciation rates in use are as follows: - office equipment 25% and computer equipment 33%.

Small capital items (cost of under £500 each) are written off in the year of purchase.

2 Income

Unrestricted Charitable Activities £ Grants and Contract Income Achieving For Children - Family Support Services Barnes Fund DWP - Access to Work Hampton Fund Home-Start UK: Empowering Women Grant Kingston Charitable Foundation London Borough of Hounslow - Borough Based Partnerships London Borough of Hounslow - Early Years London Borough of Hounslow - MINT London Borough of Hounslow - Thriving Communities Masonic Charitable Foundation; Big Hopes, Big Future Richmond Parish Lands Charity -	Restricted £ 180,000 366 35,000 4,779 970 3,689 60,000 12,000 35,000 331,803	2023 2022 £ £ 180,000 180,000 - 6,050 366 2,013 35,000 35,000 4,779 - 970 340 3,689 - 60,000 60,000 12,000 12,000 - 4,726 - 10,000 35,000 15,600 331,803 325,729

Donations Barnes Charity Fashion Show Featherstone Leigh Estate Agents Ham Open Gardens John Lewis Partnership/Waitrose Kew Midsummer Fete St Margaret's Fair Surbiton Farmers Market Teddington & The Hamptons Rotary Other donations Gift Aid refunded Other trading activities Fundraising and events Investment Income Bank interest Total Income 3 Expenditure Raising Funds Staff & personnel costs Publicity Events Charitable Activities Staff & personnel costs Volunteer training & support Direct grants to families Direct support to families and family events Office costs Premises costs Affliations and fees Governance costs Management committee expenses Other Total Expenditure a Staff Costs Included within expenditure are the following Wages & salaries Employer's national insurance Employment allowance Pension contributions Consultants Of which the following staff costs including pension contributions and employer's national insurance were in respect of key management personnel	Unrestricted £ 3,500 675 6,000 334 1,094 19,162 9,150 39,915 114,455 3,225 157,596 Unrestricted £ 68,400 280 11,681 80,361 Unrestricted £ 19,628 19,628 Unrestricted £ 95 91 186 100,175 staff costs: Unrestricted £ 72,453 5,238 (956) 4,842 5,560 87,137 11,693	Restricted £ 500 500 - 332,303 Restricted £ - Restricted £ 318,987 2,539 1,815 1,980 14,609 21,548 7,463 368,941 Restricted £ - 368,941 Restricted £ 276,057 22,146 (4,044) 20,143 800 315,102 35,079	2023 £ 3,500 675 6,000 334 1,094 - - 500 19,162 9,150 40,415 114,455 3,225 489,899 2023 £ 68,400 280 11,681 80,361 2023 £ 338,615 2,539 1,815 1,980 14,609 21,548 7,463 388,569 2023 £ 95 91 186 469,116 2023 £ 348,510 27,384 (5,000) 24,985 6,360 402,239 46,771	2022 £ - 900 - 2,001 - 2,000 1,100 - 23,095 4,761
				33,857

				33,216

				1,282

				394,084
				2022 £ 47,603 541 316
				48,460
				2022 £ 287,891 2,100 4,061 3,267 13,491 28,741 9,314
				348,865
				2022 £ 1,892 136
				2,029

				399,354
				2022 £ 294,474 20,931 (4,000) 20,497 -
				331,902
				32,692

3a Staff Costs

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000 in the current or the previous financial year. The average number of employees of the Charity in the year was 17.4, or 10.5 full-time equivalent (FTE). In 2022, it was 15 staff and 9 FTE.

3b Direct grants to families

Included within expenditure are the following direct grants to families that were distributed as goods, supermarket vouchers or payments made directly to the family's utility provider:

Funds received from:	Grants made £
Kingston Charitable Foundation	970
The Richmond Charities(prioryear funding)	696
Grants made fromprioryear reserves	149
	1,815

Grants were made to 6 families at an average of £303 per family. Support costs allocated to grant making activities were not material as grants were made to families already in receipt of our support.

4 Fixed Assets
Office
Equipment
£
Cost
At 1 April 2022
8,045
Additions
-
Disposals
-
At 31 March 2023
8,045
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
7,337
Charge
237
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
7,574
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2023
471
As at 31 March 2022
708
5 Cash at bank and in hand
2023
£
Bank accounts
436,148
Petty cash
61
436,209
6 Debtors
2023
£
HMRC Gift Aid
1,717
Sundry debtors
1,000
2,717
7 Creditors: amounts falling due for payment within one year
2023
£
Trade creditors
Other
5,759
Total
5,759

Computers
Total
£
£
21,370
29,415
-
-
-
-
21,370
29,415
13,314
20,651
4,136
4,373
-
17,450
25,024
3,920
4,391
8,056
8,764
2022
£
388,740
61
388,802
2022
£
3,248
1,450
4,698
2022
£
1,232
5,759
6,991

8 Income received in advance

Funding received during the current period relating to the following year

Income received in advance Funding received during the current period relating to the following year
2023 £ London Borough of Hounslow 3,689 National Lottery Community Fund 10,000 Richmond Parish Lands Charity 38,500 52,189	2022 £ 35,000
	35,000

9 Movement in funds

Restricted funds Home visiting and family support Unrestricted funds General fund Designated fund Total	As at 31 March 2022 Income Expenditure Transfers As at 31 March 2023 £ £ £ £ £ 83,757 332,303 (368,941) 47,119
	83,757 332,303 (368,941) 0 47,119
	279,377 157,596 (100,175) 2,960 339,758 2,960 (2,960) 0
	366,094 489,899 (469,116) 0 386,877

10 Description of funds

Home Visiting and Family Support - Funds received to further the core purpose of Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow which is to provide a network of trained home visiting volunteers, who together with expert staff, support families with children under five years old who are experiencing challenging times.

Designated Reserve - a portion of unrestricted funds set aside to invest in appropriate tools and technologies to optimise remote working for staff, support digital and organisational development and enhance sustainability.

11 Trustee remuneration and related party transactions

The expenses of the trustees amounting to £95 (2022: £1,892) in relation to costs incurred in fulfilling their duties, including for training, travel and subsistence, accommodation, equipment and other expenses were met during the year.

No trustee or person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year.

£7,092 (2022: £8,599) was paid to Home-Start UK to cover the annual membership levy for centralised services provided, such as branding, policy guidance and legal services.