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 2024
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 Rahel Biddle (Treasurer) Lonne Maree Cannon Brookes (appointed 24[th] January 2024) Laura Ferreira Anupa Damle Grant Helen Margaret Hodges Frances Houston 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
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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
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 2024. 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 115 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
How do we know that the work of Home Start is making a difference? How can we be sure that our involvement is improving the lives of young families? These are key questions to ask as we review another year of support to the youngest children and their families in Richmond, Kingston, and Hounslow. The work of the family teams and the role of our volunteers in supporting families is the bedrock of our service. Everything we do in relation to fundraising, awareness raising and marketing is to enable us to work better and more effectively with the children and families that need us. So, these questions need to be at the front of mind as we look back on the year.
The answers are found in the information captured by our volunteers and coordinators showing the impact made when we are invited into the home of a family, when a family comes along to one of our groups or when we offer support in other ways. For example, the emotional health of the primary carer in the family improved for 89% of families visited by a volunteer, 84% of families were delivering more effective basic care, including hygiene, sleep, and nutrition and 75% of families attending the family groups saw their child’s confidence improve.
So, we can be confident that our work is changing lives for the better, but it doesn’t mean that we are complacent or believe that we can’t improve or work in different, more effective ways. There are many ways to support families and we are prepared to challenge ourselves and be open to new ideas to deliver a relevant and vibrant service. We continue to listen to the views of our families and other stakeholders and build on the growing body of evidence that shows the importance of early years and ways to ensure that the first 1001 days of a child’s life are as rich and rewarding as possible.
A huge thank you as always to our volunteers, staff, trustees and generous supporters. We could not do any of this vital work without you. 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.
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A snapshot of our achievements
Families
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Support provided to 290 families with 462 children, through face-to-face and remote contact that flexed to meet the needs of families through the challenges of the year
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Total hours of support to families remained similar to the previous year at 4344 hours (4321 in FY2022-23). Face to face contact made up half of these hours.
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78 families attended Family Groups in person and online, with group contact hours increasing from 842 in FY2022-23, to 956 in FY2023-24
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37% of families supported identify as Black, Asian and minority ethnic
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Referrals into our service remained at similar levels, with 304 received (289 in FY2022-23), with 48% from health sources (49% in FY2022-23, and 41% in FY2021-22)
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Improvements observed in outcomes for families across all measures of family life and wellbeing, with families most often making improvements in the primary carer’s emotional health, and level of access to services and the community
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9 family events and activities attended by 140 families and 300 children; 23 Chromebooks loaned to families; and £2,390 distributed to families in grants for emergency essentials
Volunteers
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24 new volunteers joined the team of 115
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28 volunteers trained in Women and Money, Refugees and Asylum Seekers and the Impact of Faith on Safeguarding Children
Funding & Operations
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Developing a long term, sustainable and diversified funding strategy has been a priority for FY2023-24, following a potential 50% reduction of our statutory funding in Richmond and Kingston. This included applications to long term funders, leveraging new opportunities (eg Heathrow Community Trust), and further developing relationships with large multiyear funders such as Garfield Weston and National Lotteries. We continue to build on fundraising success using the Big Give platform and our proven model of leveraging match funding campaigns which allow donations to be doubled. This gives supporters an even greater incentive to donate, building brighter futures for local families and children. We were delighted to be chosen as a charity partner of The Richmond May Ball in 2023, together with Skylarks. The significant commitment in planning and executing the Ball delivered a groundbreaking sum which we were able to double through match-funding. The event additionally provided us with an invaluable platform to raise awareness of our work.
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We continue to review all our family support journey processes, ensuring they are rigorous and effective, efficient and streamlined. We held staff workshops to share best practice, surface issues and find solutions, resulting in more relevant and streamlined data collection processes.
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Listening to our service users and stakeholders and embedding their experiences at the heart of our service, has been an important workstream this year. Families, volunteers and referrers are all asked to input into regular feedback survey. As new initiatives, we held Family Feedback Sessions to gather insight on service user experience and conducted family peer to peer interviews. Feedback allows us to identify where we can further develop our service, through more explicit and open exploration of needs and response plans with families at the start of support; and more transparent communication about preparing for transitioning out of support.
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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. As this report is being prepared a QA self-assessment process is underway, involving staff and trustees, with submission to HSUK on 31st May 2024.
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 £144,679 (previous year £20,782) was a very strong performance in an uncertain 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 2024 was £647,139 (£157,240 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 was a key source of funds, providing just under 50% of our income.
Total expenditure during the period was £502,460, increased by 7% from the previous year reflecting our investment in the staff team. 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 recently adopted a revised reserves policy that the unrestricted funds held by the charity should be equivalent to at least six but not more than nine months expenditure at the current average monthly
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rate. This is to reflect the uncertainty around a couple of our key, historic funding sources. Our reserves held at the year-end are within this policy.
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 • Barnes Fund • Bellinger Donnay Charitable Trust • Champions Funds • Fullers • Garfield Weston Foundation • Goldman Sachs Gives • Greater London Authority • Hampton Fund • John Lewis Partnership • Kingston Charitable Foundation • London Borough of Hounslow • National Lottery Community Fund • Richmond May Ball • Richmond Parish Lands Charity • Royal Borough of Kingston • 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.
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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 2024.
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:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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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: 13[th] June 2024
Rebecca J Tweed ACA
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
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Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow
Statement of Financial Activities
For the year ended 31 March 2024
| 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 31/03/2023 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ 35,901 580 36,481 40,415 0 455,432 455,432 331,803 140,813 0 140,813 114,455 14,414 0 14,414 3,225 191,128 456,012 647,139 489,899 101,575 0 101,575 80,361 21,923 376,594 398,517 388,569 2,368 0 2,368 186 125,866 376,594 502,460 469,116 65,262 79,418 144,679 20,782 0 0 0 0 65,262 79,418 144,679 20,782 339,758 47,119 386,877 366,094 405,020 126,537 531,556 386,876 Year ended 31 March 2024 |
|---|---|
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Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow
Balance Sheet
As at 31 March 2024
| Note | 2024 | 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| Tangible fixed assets | 4 | 1,657 | 4,391 | ||
| Current Assets | |||||
| Cash at bank and at hand | 5 | 590,924 | 436,209 | ||
| Prepayments | 12,190 | 1,507 | |||
| Debtors | 6 | 21,315 | 2,717 | ||
| Total Current Assets | 624,429 | 440,433 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling | |||||
| due within one year | 7 | 5,000 | 5,759 | ||
| Income received in advance | 8 | 89,530 | 52,189 | ||
| 94,530 | 57,948 | ||||
| Net Current Assets | 529,899 | 382,486 | |||
| Total Net Assets | 531,556 | 386,877 | |||
| Funds of the Charity | 9 | ||||
| Unrestricted Reserves | 405,020 | 339,758 | |||
| Restricted Reserves | 126,537 | 47,119 | |||
| 531,556 | 386,877 |
For the year ending 31/3/2024 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 3rd July 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Rahel Biddle - Treasurer
Company Number: 5386801
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Home-Start Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2024
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- 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.
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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 Garfield Weston Foundation Greater London Authority - Mayors Skills Grant 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 - Family Hubs Perinatal Peer Support London Borough of Hounslow - MINT London Borough of Hounslow - Thriving Communities National Lottery Community Fund Richmond Parish Lands Charity Royal Borough of Kingston - Community Resilience Fund - |
Restricted £ 180,000 3,500 20,000 26,985 35,500 1,750 11,066 60,000 34,944 12,000 16,115 10,000 38,500 5,072 455,432 |
2024 2023 £ £ 180,000 180,000 3,500 - - 366 20,000 - 26,985 - 35,500 35,000 - 4,779 1,750 970 11,066 3,689 60,000 60,000 34,944 - 12,000 12,000 16,115 - 10,000 - 38,500 35,000 5,072 - 455,432 331,803 |
|---|---|---|
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| Donations Barnes Charity Fashion Show Featherstone Leigh Estate Agents Ham Open Gardens John Lewis Partnership/Waitrose Kew Midsummer Fete 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 & expenses 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 staff c 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 £ 3,400 2,200 21,096 9,205 35,901 140,813 14,414 191,128 Unrestricted £ 99,631 250 1,694 101,575 Unrestricted £ 21,923 21,923 Unrestricted £ 1,597 771 2,368 125,866 osts: Unrestricted £ 91,070 7,038 (1,202) 6,297 16,400 119,603 20,478 |
Restricted £ 580 580 - 456,012 Restricted £ - Restricted £ 322,094 2,270 2,390 1,068 14,116 20,838 13,818 376,594 Restricted £ - 376,594 Restricted £ 269,262 22,234 (3,798) 19,227 8,200 315,125 30,717 |
2024 £ 3,400 - - 2,200 - - 21,676 9,205 36,481 140,813 14,414 647,139 2024 £ 99,631 250 1,694 101,575 2024 £ 344,017 2,270 2,390 1,068 14,116 20,838 13,818 398,517 2024 £ 1,597 771 2,368 502,460 2024 £ 360,332 29,272 (5,000) 25,524 24,600 434,728 51,195 |
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 |
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| 402,239 | ||||
| 46,771 |
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 16.2, or 10.2 full-time equivalent (FTE). In 2023, it was 17.4 staff and 10.5 FTE.
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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 £ |
|---|---|
| Isleworth & Hounslow Charity | 350 |
| Kingston Charitable Foundation | 1,750 |
| Surbiton Rotary | 230 |
| The Richmond Charities(prioryear funding) | 60 |
| 2,390 |
Grants were made to 4 families at an average of £598 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 2023 8,045 Additions 1,898 Disposals - At 31 March 2024 9,943 Depreciation At 1 April 2023 7,574 Charge 712 Disposals At 31 March 2024 8,286 Net Book Value At 31 March 2024 1,657 As at 31 March 2023 471 5 Cash at bank and in hand 2024 £ Bank accounts 590,924 Petty cash - 590,924 6 Debtors 2024 £ HMRC Gift Aid 3,483 Accrued income 16,832 Sundry debtors 1,000 21,315 7 Creditors: amounts falling due for payment within one year 2024 £ Trade creditors - Other 5,000 Total 5,000 |
Computers Total £ £ 21,370 29,415 - 1,898 - - 21,370 31,313 17,450 25,024 3,920 4,632 - 21,370 29,656 (0) 1,657 3,920 4,391 2023 £ 436,148 61 436,209 2023 £ 1,717 - 1,000 2,717 2023 £ - 5,759 5,759 |
|---|---|
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8 Income received in advance
Funding received during the current period relating to the following year
| Bellinger Donnay Charitable Trust Hampton Fund London Borough of Hounslow National Lottery Community Fund Richmond Parish Lands Charity Royal Borough of Kingston |
2024 2023 £ £ 5,000 - 18,750 - 11,510 3,689 - 10,000 39,270 38,500 15,000 - 89,530 52,189 |
|---|---|
9 Movement in funds
| Restricted funds Home visiting and family support Unrestricted funds General fund Total |
As at 31 March 2023 Income Expenditure Transfers As at 31 March 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 47,119 456,012 (376,594) 126,537 |
|---|---|
| 47,119 456,012 (376,594) 0 126,537 |
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| 339,758 191,128 (125,866) 405,020 |
|
| 386,877 647,139 (502,460) 0 531,556 |
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.
11 Trustee remuneration and related party transactions
The expenses of the trustees amounting to £79 (2023: £95) 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.
During the year, donations were received from trustees, key management personnel and related parties, totalling £400 (2023: £7,495). No restrictions or conditions were attached to any of these donations.
£8,818 (2023: £7,092) was paid to Home-Start UK to cover the annual membership levy for centralised services provided, such as branding, policy guidance and legal services.
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