Registered Charity no. 1114773
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025 FOR THE THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT CONTENTS PAGE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
| Page | |
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| Report of the Trustees | 3 to 6 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 7 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 8 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 9 |
| Notes to the Receipts and Payments Accounts | 10 - 12 |
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered charity number 1114773
Principal address
24 Bank Street Brierley Hill DY5 3DA
Trustees
Adrian Lowe - Chairman Judith Forster Anna Fellows Samuel Cowley (appointed 2nd April 2025)
Independent examiner
Sally-Ann Reeves FCCA
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT TRUSTEES REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
The Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 November 2025.
Organisational structure
The Brierley Hill Project is constituted by a Deed of Trust and is a registered charity, No. 1114773.
Governance and Management
New trustees are appointed by existing trustees. The trustees meet on a regular basis and are supported by a management team to whom the administration of the practical issues arising from the daily activities is delegated. The board of trustees aims to have a broad range of skills represented, in particular finance, business management, organisational development, training and education, social work and service to the community through other charity trusteeships.
Objectives and activities
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(I) TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE MENTAL, SPIRITUAL, MORAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH A FRAMEWORK OF CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES SO AS TO DEVELOP THEIR FULL CAPACITIES AND ENABLE THEM TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY SO THAT THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE MAY BE IMPROVED.
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(II) TO PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INHABITANTS OF BRIERLEY HILL AND THE SURROUNDING AREA AND THE BLACK COUNTRY THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABLEMENT, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES OR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF LIFE FOR THE SAID INHABITANTS.
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(III) THE PREVENTION OR RELIEF OF POVERTY IN BRIERLEY HILL AND THE SURROUNDING AREA AND THE BLACK COUNTRY BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ITEMS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OR TO OTHER CHARITIES AND ORGANISATIONS WORKING TO PREVENT OR RELIEVE POVERTY.
Achievements and Performance
The project remains focused in providing targeted life support and mentoring services for adults. We support clients with a diverse range of issues such as benefits, housing, addiction, finance, health, and crime, recognising that many issues are linked together and affect mental health and well-being.
Our work prioritises building good relationships and partnerships with other organisations which is key to our success and allows us to offer an extensive range of support.
The project also continues some limited work with youth. Creating a space where young people feel safe and are listened too. This includes detached-working and limited 1-to1 mentoring.
The statistics below give you a flavour of our work. Whilst statistics are important, data is only one way of recording our performance. Those who use our services tell remarkable individual stories of change and transformation.
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We gave out 1940 foodbank vouchers during our drop-in service to people in crisis, on average 30% of these people go on to receive/access additional support.
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Just over 29% of adults access the project receive 1-to-1 life support and mentoring. We delivered 597 adult one to one support sessions.
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We delivered 118 one-to-one support sessions to young people.
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
Achievements and Performance (cont.)
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We delivered 40 football sessions which were attended by 426 young people.
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We continue to have strong relationships with Black Country Foodbank, Dudley MBC Welfare Rights and Dudley MBC Homeless Team, alongside Kid’s Clothes Project, Brierley Hill Baby Bank, Provision House and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
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Working in partnership with grass route information and case studies enables us to lobby at a local and national level.
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We have reviewed the way we record our work with clients and re-designed data capture to enable clearer reporting of our impact. We can now report that on average clients report that they experience the following benefits;
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50% Improved Mental Health
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25% Improved Physical Health
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30% Improved Financial Situation
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8% Supported with Addiction
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24% Relationships Supported
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We have held a promotional day for the work of the project resulting in the recruitment of 7 additional monthly givers.
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We have appointed a new trustee, a business entrepreneur Samuel Cowley.
Financial review
The net outgoing unrestricted and designated resources before transfers for the year amounted to -£24,993 (2024: net incoming £13,928), and net incoming restricted resources amounted to £19,930 (2024: net incoming £3,832). See note 3 for transfers between funds.
At 30 November 2025 the unrestricted and restricted funds after transfers total £43,025 (2024: £73,325) of which £19,143 in designated funds (2024: £20,740) and £23,882 in general funds (2024: £47,284) Restricted fund balances after transfers total £25,237 (2024: £5,301).
Reserves and reserves policy
The policy agreed by the trustees is to aim to hold in unrestricted reserves not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (the ‘free’ reserves) sufficient to cover the general overhead expenses and salary costs not specifically funded by external agencies, for a period of six months. At this level, the trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding. It would then be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced or activities changed. The amount of ‘free’ reserves at 30 November 2025 amounts to £43,025 (2024: £68,024), and equates to approximately 8 months expenditure.
Risk policy and review
The trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks that the charity faces and consider that they are adequately mitigated through insurance, strategic planning, policies, systems and procedures.
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
Future developments
We are looking at several priority areas for the future year –
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We are recruiting a two day a week Youth Outreach worker to develop our our work with youth and young adults.
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Applying for some larger grants to clear our projected deficit and enable long term sustainability.
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Continue to encourage fundraising and build up our regular givers.
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Continuing to sit on local strategic partnerships to be a voice into policy and local decision making.
Trustees
The trustees holding office during the whole year unless otherwise stated were as follows:
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Adrian Lowe - Chairman
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Judith Forster
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Anna Fellows
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Samuel Cowley (appointed 2nd April 2025)
In accordance with the trust deed, trustees hold office for three years, and are eligible to be re-elected. No trustees are due for re-election during the forthcoming year.
Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity's website.
Approved by the trustees on and signed on their behalf by
A Lowe
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
I report on the accounts for the year ended 30th November 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report.
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’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
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:
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Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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The accounts do not accord with those records.
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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 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
S A Reeves FCCA Broadway Worcestershire
18th February 2026
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RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
| Notes RECEIPTS Gifts 4a Donations 4b Gift Aid tax recovered 4c Grants 4d Receipts from charitable activities 4e Interest and dividends 4f Other income 4g TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Direct charitable activity 5a Donations and gifts 5b Costs of generating funds 5c TOTAL PAYMENTS NET OF RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS Transfers between funds CASH FUNDS AS AT 30/11/2024 CASH FUNDS AS AT 30/11/2025 3 |
Unrestricted Funds 2025 £ - 29,704 2,376 - - 1,399 - 33,479 56,463 135 277 56,875 (23,396) (6) 47,284 23,882 |
Designated funds 2025 £ 148 5,540 1,265 - - - 250 7,203 8,800 - - 8,800 (1,597) - 20,740 19,143 |
Restricted Funds 2025 £ - - - 30,720 - - - 30,720 10,790 - - 10,790 19,930 6 5,301 25,237 |
Total Funds 2025 £ 148 35,244 3,641 30,720 - 1,399 250 71,402 76,053 135 277 76,465 (5,063) - 73,325 68,262 |
Total Funds 2024 £ - 48,893 4,691 38,135 1,710 792 1,260 95,481 77,394 82 245 77,721 17,760 - 55,565 73,325 |
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
| Notes Unrestricted Funds 2025 £ Cash funds Current account 4,279 Deposit accounts 19,558 Petty cash 45 3 23,882 Other monetary assets Gift aid recoverable 198 |
Designated funds 2025 £ - 19,143 - 19,143 99 |
Restricted Funds 2025 £ - 25,237 - 25,237 - |
Total Funds 2025 £ 4,279 63,938 45 68,262 297 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 1,172 72,108 45 73,325 225 |
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The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on …...................... and were signed on its behalf by:
A Lowe Chairman and Trustee
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
- 1 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses and related parties
----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
Salaries and wages 28,150 25,065
Pension costs 657 565
28,807 25,630
----- End of picture text -----
The average monthly number of employees during the year was 1 (2024: 1)
No other Trustees were paid any remuneration or received benefits during the year (2024: £Nil)
3 Movement in funds
The movements in designated and restricted funds during the year were:
| General (unrestricted) Designated Youth Fund Homeless Fund Restricted WMCA Homelessness Awards 4 All Football fund PCC West Midlands Baron Davenport Youth Cadbury Youth Mentors G H Collins Adult Support Dudley Poverty Fund Total funds |
Balance b/fwd Receipts Payments Transfers Balance c/fwd 01/12/2024 30/11/2025 £ £ £ £ £ 47,284 33,479 56,875 (6) 23,882 19,585 6,405 8,138 - 17,852 1,155 798 662 - 1,291 20,740 7,203 8,800 - 19,143 1,044 500 1,550 6 - - 20,000 3,126 - 16,874 4,257 2,990 2,194 - 5,053 - 3,730 3,920 - (190) - 500 - - 500 - 2,000 - - 2,000 - 1,000 - - 1,000 - - - - - 5,301 30,720 10,790 6 25,237 73,325 71,402 76,465 - 68,262 |
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Movement in funds for the year ended 30th November 2024
| General (unrestricted) Designated Youth Fund Asda Advertising Homeless Fund Restricted WMCA Homelessness Lottery Fund 2024 Football fund PCC West Midlands Dudley Community Forum Dudley Poverty Fund Total funds |
Balance b/fwd Receipts Payments Transfers Balance c/fwd 01/12/2023 30/11/2024 £ £ £ £ £ 32,647 56,564 42,161 234 47,284 19,781 8,175 8,341 (30) 19,585 - - - - - 1,464 1,885 2,194 - 1,155 21,245 10,060 10,535 (30) 20,740 - 2,000 956 - 1,044 - 16,122 16,122 - - - 7,000 2,743 - 4,257 251 2,412 2,693 30 - - 2,323 2,323 - - 1,422 (1,000) 188 (234) - 1,673 28,857 25,025 (204) 5,301 55,565 95,481 77,721 - 73,325 |
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
4 Further analysis of Receipts
| Receipts a) Gifts One off gifts b) Donations Regular donations Fundraising c) Gift Aid Gift Aid tax recovered d) Grants Grants from institutions e) Receipts from charitable activities Mentoring fees f) Interest and dividends Deposit account interest g) Other income Other income TOTAL RECEIPTS |
Unrestricted Funds 2025 £ - 29,654 50 29,704 2,376 - - 1,399 - - 33,479 |
Designated funds 2025 £ 148 5,540 - 5,540 1,265 - - - 250 250 7,203 |
Restricted Funds 2025 £ - - - - - 30,720 - - - - 30,720 |
Total 2025 £ 148 35,194 50 35,244 3,641 30,720 - 1,399 250 250 71,402 |
Total 2024 £ 0 45,101 3,792 48,893 4,691 38,135 1,710 792 1,260 1,260 95,481 |
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THE BRIERLEY HILL PROJECT NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2025
5 Further analysis of Payments
| Payments a) Direct charitable activity Salaries and NI Pension costs Departmental expenses Client support gifts Property insurance Repairs & renewals Maintenance contracts Heat, light and water Cleaning Sessional workers pay Telephone & Broadband Stationery, printing and postage Subscriptions Advertising DBS checks Travelling & subsistence Hire of equipment (3D pitch Equipment for activities Equipment for general use Refreshments Training and worker development Rent and room hire Consumables Sports Coaching Management consultancy Bank charges IT support and software Independent examination Legal fees Accountancy b) Donations and gifts Other gifts c) Costs of generating funds Fundraising costs Website TOTAL PAYMENTS |
Unrestricted Funds 2025 £ 25,317 657 463 140 1,110 246 557 2,004 1,042 3,676 636 43 - 435 63 - - - 122 - - 4,800 251 - 11,000 47 834 485 - 2,535 56,463 135 - 277 277 56,875 |
Designated funds 2025 £ - - 87 707 - - - - - 7,950 41 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,800 - - - - 8,800 |
Restricted Funds 2025 £ 2,833 - - 1,549 - - - - - 2,481 - - - - - - 3,921 - 6 - - - - - - - - - - - 10,790 - - - - 10,790 |
Total 2025 £ 28,150 657 550 2,396 1,110 246 557 2,004 1,042 14,107 677 58 - 435 63 - 3,921 - 128 - - 4,800 251 - 11,000 47 834 485 - 2,535 76,053 135 - 277 277 76,465 |
Total 2024 £ 25,065 565 760 4,188 1,040 20 641 2,285 1,017 11,852 780 23 - - 264 - 4,041 122 252 - 631 4,800 228 - 14,390 68 555 485 300 3,022 77,394 82 - 245 245 77,721 |
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