Company registration number: 5485321 Charity registration number: l 111171 Home-start West Berkshire (A company Itmited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements ror the Year Ended 31 March 2024 E J Business Consultants Limited 2 Toomers Wharf Canal Walk Newbury Berkshire RG14 IDY
Home*Start West Berkshire Contents Reference and Administrative Delails Trustees, Report 2to5 Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities Independeni Examinefs Report Statement of FinancTal Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Staiements Ioto 15
Horne•Start W'est Berkshire Reference and Administrative Details Trustees Alan Stark (resigned 14 September 2023) Rachael Lomian Claire Carless, Chair Janel Sugden Deirdre Carr Juliet Penley Karen Smiih {resigned 28 February 20?4) Sue Onniston Holly King, Treasurer Senior Management Team Grace Green. Scheme Direclor Principal Office Broadway Houie. 4 - 8 The Broadway. Ne'bury Ilerkshire RG14 IBA The charity is incorporated in England and Wale5. 54853?1 Compan) Registration Yumber Charity, Registration Number Independent Examiner E J Business Consultsnts Limited 2 Toomers Wharf Canal Walk NcH'bury Berkshire RG14 IDY Page I
Home-start West Berkshire Trustees, Report Statement from the Chair Wel¢om¢ to the 2023124 Annual Report and Accounts for Horne-start Wesi Berkshire. Having joined the Charity a5 a Trustee in 2019. 1 feel priN'ileged to hae taken over Ihe Tole of chair in September 2023. 1 would like to thank Alan Stark for hi5 lime in thi5 role and the support he gave to the Charity during that period. A5 WTlh all charities. Ihe year brought us ils share of challenges. M051 of our multi-year funding came lo an end with no offer of renewal, and farnilies came lo us with more complex needs. We also lost Ihe contract for our R¢silienl Families project, limiiing the support we could provide lo families with children with additional needs. Whilst the security and stsbiltry that longcr tcrn) multt-year grant funding offers is hugely valuable for a small harity, we were successful in filling th¢ funding gaps with gran15 from small funders. matched funding from Greenham Trusi, fantsstic support from Helix Con5trurt and other corpordte supporteT5. and some atnazing events that we held during the year. We were extremely grateful to be otTered the opportunity to fundraise ai Englefjeld House in August 2023. Englefield House is the home of Lady Zoe Benyon. our Patron. and th¢ gardens and enticement of lea and cake brought out ihe crowds on a beautiful sunny day. We wer¢ delighted to welcom¢ around 1,500 people and raised over £8,000. Staff from Helix raised funds Ihrough a stsff sponsored walk {which some of our staff and voluni¢ers joined) and supported other events durtng ihe year. M ¢ arc so gratcful for their ongoing support. The biggest fundraiser of the year wa5 the Mini Escalator that wa5 sponsored by Greenham Trust. The challenge involved raising fund5 each day for a 'eck. with increasing amounts of matched funding as the week went on. Over the w'eek we held a coffee morning and a quiz night. local sch(K)I pupils held a number of fun events, we delivered cream teas to local companies and I did a once in a lifetime (!) tandem Sky dive! With the matched funding from Greenham Trust we raised £32k in a week: an amazing achievement. which was only possibl¢ because of the enthusiasm and dedicalion of our Iruslees. staff and voluni¢¢rs. It was quite a week! In February the Trustees met to review and renew the Charity s strategy and the staff met a few weeks later to propose new values. We now have a clear way fotward for the nexl three years. focussing on the families we support. our people, strong finances and effeciii'e operational support, underyiinned with an approach that values and priorilises Kindness, Approachability. Empowernient. Adaptability and Reliability. 202312024 will be another challenging year. bul I have every confidence that our extraordinary team of Trustees. Staff and Volunteers we will continue to positively impact the lives of some of the Wesl Berkshire families who are going through the mosl challenging times. ,My thanks go to all of thenL and io you. our supporters, for all of your ¢n¢ouragement and cngagemeni in our ongoing work. atLo Claire Carles$ Chair Page 2
Home-start West Berkshire Trustees, Report Introduction The board of trustees prcsenis its r¢pon and lh¢ audited financial ststemenis for the year ended 31 March 2024. Th¢ financial slatements comply with Cuent slatutory requirements. the Memorandum and Articles of Assoeiation. the requlrements of a director's report as laid dow) by company law. and the Statement of Recommended Practice- Aciounting and Reporting by Charilies= SORP applicable lo charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. Purpose Home-start West B¢rkshirc was sei up in 1997 with its charitsble objectives being the provision of relief of children or parenis in despair and distress and the preveniion of emotional and physical abuse of such children. Home-start believes thai children need a happy and secure childhood and ihai parents play a key role in gii'ing their children a good start in life and helping ihem to achieve iheir full p)tential. Vision For every parent to have the support they need io ¥i.e their child the besi start in life. Because childhood can't wait. Mission To provide emotional and practlcal support to families with young children in West Berkshire at a time when they need us mosi, through sthff and volunieer run groups. home visits and other projecls, helping parents to develop their parenting skills and grow their relationships with their children. Our storj, A child's earliest years are Ieplaceable. W ithout a siable. loving And nurturing environment, a very young child will not develop ihe foundaiions thcy necd. Home-start is ihere for paren when they need u5 the mosl, because childhood can't wait. Our local community network of trained volunieers and expert support helps families with young children through iheir challenging limes. Why we do it The earliest years make the biggest impact. Home-start makes sure ihose years count so that no child's future is limited. How we do it Home-stsrt offers no judgement, just compassionate, confidential help and support. Starting in the home. our approach is a5 individual as the people we're helping. Today and everyday across Wesi Berkshire, Home-sthrt volunteers are working alongside families, helping them change their lives for the better. We are tackling some of the big issues facing families today. with more families than ever coming to us because they are struggling with: Mental health and wellbein Loneliness and isolaiion Building supportive. nurturing and loving r¢lalionships with their children or Money worries and financial pressure Page 3
Home-start West Berkshire Trustees, Report Principle activities Home Visits Our volunteers are highly valued and respected providing the core of our service delivery. Volunteers provide visits of 2-3 hours to a family in their oNs7] home. Our trdining course is a hybrid model of online modules and virniav fa¢¢-to face training sessions to provide more flexibility and enable us to continue lo recruit volunteer. We welcomed 17 new volunteers to the Home-siart family during Ihe year. Famil). Groups Our three family group5 SUPPOrted 66 families with 77 children under 5. an increase of 18(/ko on the previous year. Postnatal Peer Support Groups Our support group has also resumed to ils normal capacity. The project supported 47 new tnotheTS with 53 under 55 during this period. One mother said "I had been in hospitsl with postnatal psychosis and when I was discharged I was alone and felt unable lo do regular things like baby groups. 13150 losl my driving license lo my menial h¢alih condiiion. Home-start Poslnatal Group allowed me to access a safe place and even better they supplied a taxi lo get me there and home. I believe Home-start contribuied hugely to my recovery. li was the only place I could go for support and feel safe to speak. It may have actually helped ve my life. I wa5 so isolated a5 1 live rurally and had no way lo gel lo any other baby group5. 1 had no idea where to turn." Financi21 Revie The summarized financial numbers for this year are: Incoming resources of £242.777 Resources expended of £230.622 Unrestricted reserves of £85,242 Designated reserves of £1 0.000 The charity ended the financial year to March 2024 with a SUluS of £12.155 The tste¢S are required io Prepa financial 5taiements for each financial year in accordance with United Kingdom Accounling Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The financial slatcments are required by law io give a trne and fair N'iew of ihe stale of affair5 of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial sthtements the trustees should follow best praciice and: Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consislently Make judgements and estimates that are Teasonable and Prudent Stalc wh¢th¢r applicablc UK AccountlDg Standards have been followed, subject lo any material d¢partures disclos¢d and ¢xplain¢d in thc financial slalemcnts Prepare the financial statements on a going concem basis unless ihe trustees decide that approach isn't appropriate Page 4
Home-start West Berkshire Trustees, Report Structure, Governance & Management Homc-stsrt West Berkshire i5 governed by the Horne-start UK Agreement and its Memorandum and Articles of Associaiion which esiablishe% objecis and powers. Th¢ charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee. incorporated on 20ih June 2005. The direLlor% of the ¢ompany are also Lharity trustees for the purpose of Lharity law. The trustees, the Scheme DireLtor and other advisors form the full Managemeni Comminee meei a minimum of 6 times a year. Trust¢cs ar¢ rcsponsible for straiegi¢ decision making, whil¢ day to day operational matters are delegated to the Scheme Dirccior. The trustccs have complied with their duty under S¢¢lion 17 of the Charilies Act 2011 io have due regard io public benefit guidance published b). the Charity Commission. Home-siart Wesl Berkshire is affiliated to Home-start UK and adopts policies and processes whil¢ being ind¢p¢ndcntly fundcd. Risk Management The Trustees and Scheme Director annually review the major risks to which ihe charity is exposed. and ensures appropriate systems are in place io miiigaie those risks. This is reflected in the Strategic Plan. Reserves Policy Home-start West Berkshire has a Reserves Policy lo enable it lo maintain ihe service of its core activities in periods of foreseeable dilculty. These reserve5 are made up of unrestricted funds and aim to maintain the ¢harity for a period of 3 months of operdting Losts. Principle Funding Sources Home-start Wesi Berkshire's funds are obthin¢d from gran(s such as the Big Lottery. Henry Smith. Children in Need and Greenham Trust and donations from Town Councils and other local and national funders. Home-start West Berkshire has a corporate sponsor, Helix Ltd. The annual report was approN'ed by truslee5 of the charity on . Iq.oq.I And signed on its behalf by: Claire Carless Chair
Home-start West Berkshire Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities The tnte¢S (who are also the directors of Home-start West Berkshire for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing ihe trnstees, repon and the financial statemenls in accordance with the United KingdoTn Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generdlly Accepled Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. Company law require5 the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law th¢ mjslees musl not approve the financial slalements unless they are satl8fied thai they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming Tesources and application of resources. including its income and expenditure. for Ihal period. In preparing ihese financial slalements, the trustees are required 10: select suitable accounting policies and apply thcm consisicntly: observe the methods and principles ID the Charities SORP- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudenl" state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed. subject to any Material departures disclosed and explained in the finanLial staiements. and prepare the financial statemenls on the going concern basis unle55 it is inappropriate to presulne thal the ¢haritable company will conlinue in business. The trusi¢es are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transaciions and disclose '1th reasonable accuracy at an), time ihe financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure ihai the financial ststements comply wtth the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assels of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and deteclion of fraud and other irregularities. 11.09:1* Approved by the Irustees of the charity on ........ d Sign on its behalf by: Claire Carless Trustee Page 6
Home-start West Berkshire Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Home-start West Berkshire I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are sei out on pages 8 to 15 Respective responsibilities of trustee$ and eT2miner The trustecs Iw"ho are also the direc10 of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for ihe preparation of the accounts. Th¢ trusi¢es ¢onsid¢r thai an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of ilie Cli&trili¥s ALi 2011 (Ih¥ 201 I ALI) (Ind ilidl &tT] ind¥p¥iid¢nt ¥X&llTiiwiaiivii is ii¢L"dcd. Having 5alisfied myself that the charity is noi subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my r¢spon%ibility lo: examine the accounts under seclion 145 of ihe 201 l Act. to follow the procedures laid down in the generdl Directions given by the Charity Commission und¢r section 14515)(b) of the 201 l Aci- and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent eiaminer's report My examination wa5 carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. examination includes a re.leW of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounls presenled with those records. It also includes considerJlion of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounls. and seeking explanaiions (rom you as trusiees concerning any such maiters. The procedures undertak¢n do noi provid¢ all th¢ ¢viden¢e ihat would be required in an audit and consequ¢ntly no opinion is given as to whether the accounts prescnt a 'mie and fair view. and the report is limited to those matiers set out in the staiement below. dependent examiner's stalemenl In connection with my examinalion. no matter has come to my attention" ( l) which gives me reasonable cause io believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance Viith section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and lo prepare accounts which accord with the accounling records. comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of ihe Compani¢s Acl 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practic¢: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met. or (2) to which, in my opinion. attention should be draw in order to enable a proper underslanding of the accounts to be reached. ess Consuliants Limited ICAEW 2 Toomers Wharf Canal Walk Newbury Berkshire RG14 IDY Page 7
Home-start Il'est Berkshire Statement of Financial Actii'ities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 {Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses) Unreslricted funds Restricled funds Total 2024 Ilote Income and Endowrnents from: Donalions and legacies Charitable activities Investment income 27.486 27.486 213.534 .757 213,534 .757 Total Income 213,534 242,777 Expenditure on.. Charitabl¢ activities (12.110) (218.512} (230,622) Total Exp¢ndityre (12.110) (218,512) (230.622) Net incomel(expenditure) Transfers between fijnds 17.133 114.978) {4.978) 14,978 12.155 Net movement in funds 2,155 10,000 12,155 Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 83.087 83.087 Total funds carried forward 12 85.242 Unrestricted funds 10.000 Restricted funds 95.242 Total 2023 ote Income and Endowments from". Donations and legacies Charitabl¢ activities Investment income 12.852 12,852 197,837 1.095 197,837 1.095 Total Income 13.947 197,837 211,784 Expenditure on: Chariiable aclivili¢s (17.215) (221.224) (238.439) Total Expenditure (17,2151 1221.224} (238.439) Net expenditure {3.268) (23.387) (26.655) Ne( movement in funds (3,268) {23.387) (26,655) Reconciliatlon of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried foTward 86.355 23.387 109,742 12 83,087 83,087 Page 8
Home•Start West Berkshire (Registration number: 5485321) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Note Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 10 5.216 141,408 175.987 175.987 146.624 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one vear (80.745} (63,537) Net assets 95,242 83.087 Funds of the charity: Restricted funds 10,000 Unrestri¢ted income funds Unresiricied lunds 85.242 83,087 Total funds 12 95,242 83,087 For the financial year ending 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relaiing to small companies. Directors, responsibilities.. The members have not required the charity io obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. and The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. financial siatemenls on pages 8 10 15 were approved by the trustees. and authorised for issue on signcd on their behalf by: Claire Carless Trustee Page 9
Home-start West Berkshire Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 I Charity status The charity is a charity limited by guardntee and consequenily does noi have share capital. Each of th¢ trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding Ll towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation. 2 Accounting policies Summarv of significant accounting policies and ke!. accounting estimates The principal accounting policies applied in Ihe preparation of these Iinancial stalements are set out below. These policies have been consisiently applied to all the years presenled. unle55 oihenvise stated. Going concern The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainly ihal affect the Carrying value of assets held by the charity. Income and endoTh'ments All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income. it is probable that the incom¢ will be received and th¢ amounl of the income reccii'able can be measured reliably. Donalions and legacies Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement dale. In the event thal a donation is subject to conditions thal require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is enlitled io the funds, the income is defeed and not recognised until either those conditions are fully mel, or ihe fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable ihat thesc conditions will be fulfilled in the reporling period. Deferred income Deferred income represents amounts received for future periods and is released io incoming resources in the period for which, it has been received. Such income is only defeed when.. The donor specifies that the grant or donation must only be used in future accounting periods. or - The donor has imposed condilions M'bicb musi be mei belore the charity has unconditional entiilement. Jnveslmenl income Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis. Expenditure All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or cunstructii'e obligation to ihat expenditure. it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocaled lo the appliLdbl¢ expenditure heading that aggregale similar cosls lo thai caiegory. Where costs cannol be directly atiributed to particular headings they have been allocaled on a basis consistent with the use of resources. with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation ¢harg¢s allocated on the portion of ihe asset's use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs. Page 10
Horne•Start W'est Berkshire Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 Charilable activiftes Charitablc expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for ils beneficiaries. It includes both costs Ihat can be allocaled direcily to such activities and those costs of an indirect naiur¢ nccessary 10 support them. Support costs Support cosls include cenlrdl funclions and have been allocaied to aclivity cosi categories on a basis consislent with the use of resources. for example. allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita. stsff costs by th¢ time spenl and other costs by th¢ir usage. Governance costs These include the costs attributable to the charity's COTnpliance '1th conslitulional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and irusiees's meetings and reimbursed expense5. Taxatio Th¢ Charity is consider¢d io pass th¢ tests s¢1 out in Paragraph I Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefor¢ il m¢¢LS the d¢finilion of a charithble company for LK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is poientially exempi from taxaiton in respeci of income or capital gains received within caiegories covered by Chapicr 3 Part I l of th¢ Corporaiion Tax Aci 2010 or Seclion 256 of the Taxaiion of Chargeable Gain5 Act 1992, to the extent (hat such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes. Tangible fixed assets Individual fix¢d assets costing £500 or more are initially recorded al cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequeni accumulated impainnenl losses. Depreciation and amortisation Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to TIte off the c05t or valuation. less any estimated residual value. over their expecied usefvl economic life as follows.. Asset class Furniture and equipment Depreciation method aDd rate 330/0 straight line Casb and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits. and other short-temj highly liquid investments that are readily convertlble io a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificani risk of change in value. Fund structure Unrestricted income funds are general fun(is that are available for use at the ttustees'5 discretion in furtherdnce of the objectives uf the Lhariiy. R¢slricted income fijnds are ihose donated for use in a particular ar¢a or for specific purposes. the use of which is restricted io thai ar¢a or putTYOSe. Page 11
HoTne•Start West Berkshire Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 3 Income from donations and legacies Unrestricted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Other Donalions and legacie5- Donations from individuals 27.486 27.486 12.852 27.486 27,486 12,852 4 Ineome from charitable actiTrities Restricted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Big Lotto Children in Need Baby Bank Resilient Families Maternal Mental Health/Henry Smith GT Transport Preventing Poverty 50,088 13,159 17.445 26.272 49.466 3.265 48.623 50,088 13,159 17,445 26,272 49,466 3,265 48.623 45,159 9,875 2,717 36,159 53.503 8.642 41,782 208.318 208.318 197,837 Page 12
Horne•Start West Berkshire Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 5 Investment income L nrestricled funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Other Inierest receivable and similar income- Inierest receivable on bank deposits 1,757 1,757 1,095 6 Anal)sis of governance and support costs GovernAnce costs Lnrestrieted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 oiher Other govcrnance costs Allocated support cos15 4.086 702 4,086 702 4,086 702 4.788 4,788 4,788 7 Trustees remuneration and expenses No trustees, nor any persons connected with ihem. have received any remuneration from the charity during the year. 8 Staff costs The aggregate payroll costs were as lollows: 2024 2023 Staff eostg durlng the year were: Wages and salaries 174.095 180,723 The monthly average number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows: 2024 2023 Charitable activities No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year. Page 13
Home-start IN'est Berkshire Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 9 Taxation The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt frorn laxation. 10 Debtors 2024 2023 Accrued income 5,216 I I Creditors: amounts falllng due within one year 2024 2023 Other taxation and social security Other creditors D¢f¢rred income 2.018 2.750 75.977 2.378 3,275 57.884 80.745 63,537 Page 14
Horne•Start West Berkshire Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 12 Funds Balance at 31 March 2024 Balance at I -4pril 2023 Incoming resources Resources expended Transfers Unrestricted funds General Unrestricted income fund 83.087 29,243 {12,110) (14,978) 85.242 Restricted funds Big Lotto Children In Need Malemal Mental HealthlHenry Smith Resilient Families Preventing Poverty Baby Bank GT Transport 50.088 13.159 {50,088) {13.159) 10.000 10.000 49.466 26.272 48.623 17,445 8,481 {49.466) (31.250) (48.623) (17.445} {8.481) 4.978 Total restricted funds 213.534 (?18,512) 14,978 10,000 Total funds 83.087 242,777 (230,622) 95,242 13 AnAl>'sis of net assets befv'een funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds General Totydl funds Currenl assets Current liabilitics 61,877 (4,768) 114.110 (75.977) 175,987 (80,745) Total n¢t assets 57,109 38,133 95,242 Page 15