Registered number: 5659531 Charity number: 1114860
HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON
(operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON
(operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative information | 3 |
| Report of the Trustees | 4 - 7 |
| Independent Examiner's report | 8 |
| Statement of financial activities | 9 |
| Balance sheet | 10 |
| Notes forming part of the Financial Statements | 11 - 13 |
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON
(operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
Legal and Administrative Information for the year ended 31 March 2025
Constitution
Home-Start Banbury and Chipping Norton Limited is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed by its memorandum and articles of association. Previously Home-Start Banbury & Chipping Norton operated as charity number 296837. The company was formed on 20 December 2005.
Directors and trustees
The directors of the Charitable Company are its trustees for the purposes of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the trustees.
The trustees' liability is limited to £1, provided that they do not act negligently, or fraudulently, and do not allow the Charity to continue when it is insolvent.
The trustees serving during the year and since the year-end were as follows:-
Nick Case Chair (from November 2024) Chloe Woodhead Chair (until November 2024) John Karslake Laura Sharpe Maxine Bennett Appointed May 2025 Kate MacIntyre Appointed May 2025 Douglas Keir Resigned November 2024 Amanjit Dhillon Resigned April 2024 Jo Graves Resigned November 2024 Anne Waters Resigned November 2025 Pete Welply Resigned November 2025 Douglas Keir Treasurer Louise Sansom Senior manager Registered Office: Britannia Road Children's Centre Grove Street Banbury OX16 5DN Accountants: Mercer Lewin 41 Cornmarket Street Oxford OX1 3HA
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON (operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Objects of the Charity
The objects of the Charity are to offer practical help and supportive friendship to parents who have young children in local communities across the area. We offer a unique service, visiting families with at least one child under five to offer them informal, friendly and confidential support in their own home surroundings. We also offer group 'Stay and Play' sessions in Bicester and Banbury.
Governance Principles
HSBBCN is aware of and follows the guidelines laid down in the Charity Governance Code for smaller charities. In particular it adheres to the core principles contained within the code.
Organisational Purpose
The Board is clear about the Charity’s aims and ensures these are being delivered effectively and sustainably. This includes:
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Periodic reviews of the Charity’s charitable purpose and the environment in which it operates to ensure it remains relevant;
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Consideration of potential benefits of working in partnership with organisations with similar purposes, and
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Regular reviews of its financial sustainability.
Leadership
Board members take collective responsibility for ensuring the Charity has a clear vision and strategy to achieve its aims. This includes:
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Clearly defined Trustee’s responsibilities both within the Board and in relation to staff members, and
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Effective processes to recruit, train and supervise staff and volunteers.
Integrity
The Board acts at all time with integrity in achieving its agreed aims and delivering its stated purpose. This includes:
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Objectivity in all decisions about delivering its purpose;
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No undue power imbalance within the Charity’s overall structure;
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Ensuring appropriate safeguarding processes are in place, and
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Identifying and recording any conflicts of interest.
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON (operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Decision-making, Risk and Control
The Board ensures its decision-making processes are informed, rigorous and timely. Trustees delegate authority to those working in the Charity whilst recognising that ultimate responsibility for the decisions and actions of the Charity lie with the Board. This includes:
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Established committees of the Board with responsibility for specific areas such as Finance and Personnel;
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Oversight of services provided by third parties;
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Regular monitoring of overall organisational performance, and
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Processes in place for the active management of risks both within the Charity and in its relationships with third parties.
Board Effectiveness
The Board works as an effective team recognising and making use of the range of background, skills and experience of its members. This includes:
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Regular meetings of the main Board and the different committees;
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Clear procedures in place for the recruitment and induction of new Trustees as required;
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Duty of the Chair to ensure Trustees receive all information required in a timely fashion to allow them to make informed decisions, and
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Duty of the Chair to manage the Board such that all views are heard and any potential differences resolved.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Board has a clear approach to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion throughout the organisation and in its own practice. This includes reviews of Trustees’ backgrounds, avoiding bias in Trustee recruitment as well as giving consideration to how Board meetings and their proceedings can be made more accessible, as appropriate.
Openness and Accountability
- The Charity is open in its work and how it serves those in its community, within reasonable guidelines of trust, confidentiality and legitimacy.
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON (operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Summary of activities 2024-25
We began the year feeling slightly vulnerable due to a weakened financial position which, fortunately, became much more positive as the year progressed with multi-year funding from Oxford Health, The Henry Smith Charity (now the Henry Smith Foundation), The National Lottery Community Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation and Oxfordshire Community Foundation, alongside some significant single year grants from Active Oxfordshire and OCVA Well Together.
Despite the financial pressures, our family support continued to blossom with 79 families receiving home-visiting support and 184 families enjoying our Stay & Play sessions – in total 711 individuals benefitted from interacting with Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton this year! Referrals received continue to be higher than we can accept, and we know there is still more to be done to support local families.
Of particular note during the year has been the expanding teamwork with other local Home-Starts for the purpose of essential fundraising, supported by an enjoyable tennis tournament, the successful Oxford Half Marathon and the Big Give Week. We are so grateful to the participants and donors.
The Trustees would like to reiterate our thanks and appreciation to the whole team, both volunteers and staff, for their contribution to the benefits to growing families.
A fuller description of our activities can be found in the Annual Report at www.homestartbanbury.org.uk
Review of Financial Affairs
Last year saw a dramatic recovery in our income: the result of strongly focused efforts by the new fund-raising team. Total income rose by £84,000 (53%) to £241,000 (2023-24: £157,000). Within this, it is pleasing to note that statutory funding (County, Town, District and Parish Councils) also grew strongly from £8,000 to £58,000, better reflecting our contribution to statutory bodies’ social responsibilities. Another very positive aspect is the increased number of multi-year grants received.
Expenses in 2024-25 rose by 6% to £204,000 (2023-24: £193,000) largely due to the increased cost of fundraising. Other costs were held at much the same levels as in the previous year.
The combined effect of the substantial rise in income and the constrained increase in expenses led to a very welcome surplus of £37,000, more than offsetting the previous year’s deficit of £35,000. The total year end reserves consequently rebounded to £102,000 (2024: £65,000). The unrestricted, uncommitted, year-end reserves represented 35% (4 months) of the year's expenditure. The Trustees are aware that this is below their target minimum reserves, and are continuing to take steps to ensure their improvement. At the time of writing, (October 2025) we are optimistic of once again seeing a modest surplus in 2025-2026.
We very much appreciate all the financial support we receive, as well as the outstanding family and other support provided by the staff and volunteers, always in the face of increasing need and complexity.
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON
(operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee) Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
Trustees' Responsibilities
Company and charity 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 state of affairs of the Charity and of the surplus or deficit of the Charity for that period.
In preparing those financial statements the trustees have:
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selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently;
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made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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stated whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepared the financial statements on a going-concern basis.
The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the Charity has an appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise. They are also responsible for keeping proper 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 Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the detection and prevention of fraud and other irregularities
This report is prepared in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies.
This report was approved by the trustees on 5 November 2025 and signed on its behalf, by:
Douglas Keir Treasurer
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Independent examinerfs report to the trustees or Home-start Banbury & Chipping Norton (operating as Home-slart Banbury* Bicester & Chipping Norton) for the year ended 31 March 2025 (A company limited by guardntee) I rcpwt on the accounts of H(Mne Start Banbury and Chipping Norton for th¢ year ended 31 March 2025 set Oltt on pages 4 to 12. Respective responsibilities of trustees as directors and examiner. The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act") and that an independent examination is needed. Having satisfied myself that the Charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination. it is my responsibility to- Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 201 l Act- . To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) of the 2011 Act. and . to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commi55ion. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosu5 in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you &s trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts psent a Irue and fair view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Opinion In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attenlion which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect: a) the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charitie5 Act" or b) the accounts did not accord with the accounting Cor(ts- OT c) 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 fairf view which 15 not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in thi5 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. I l December 2025 A Churchill Stone FCA DChA Mercer Lewin Ltd Chartered Accountants 234 Botley Road Oxford OX2 OHP
HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON
(operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
Statement of Financial Activities
| Notes Incoming Resources Grants, fundraising & donations 5 Interest income Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Direct charitable expenditure 2 Fund-raising costs 2a Management & administration 3 Governance 4 Total Expenditure Operating deficit/surplus for the year Transfers between funds Net deficit/surplus for the year Accumulated Funds Brought forward Current year surplus Total funds at 31 March |
2025 2025 (Restricted) (Unrestricted) £ £ 137,243 103,478 - 516 137,243 103,994 119,610 17,771 14,925 31,776 3,309 15,731 - 1,334 137,844 66,612 -601 37,381 - - -601 37,381 1,297 63,902 -601 37,381 696 101,283 |
Total 2025 £ 240,720 516 241,236 137,382 46,701 19,039 1,334 204,456 36,780 - 36,780 65,199 36,780 101,979 |
Total 2024 £ 156,842 536 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 157,377 | |||
| 135,808 34,277 21,181 1,468 |
|||
| 192,735 | |||
| -35,358 | |||
| - | |||
| -8,785 | |||
| 100,557 -35,358 |
|||
| 65,199 |
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON
(operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash at Bank and in Hand | £ | £ | |||
| Current Accounts | 76,836 | 28,830 | |||
| Savings Accounts | 73,201 | 44,060 | |||
| Cash in Hand | 323 | 368 | |||
| Liabilities: Amounts Falling due in One Year | 150,360 | 73,258 | |||
| Net of current assets | 6 | -48,381 | -8,059 | ||
| -48,381 | -8,059 | ||||
| Net Current Assets | 101,979 | 65,199 | |||
| Accumulated Funds | |||||
| Restricted | 7 | 696 | 1,297 | ||
| Unrestricted | 101,283 | 63,902 | |||
| 101,979 | 65,199 |
The Charitable Company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
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(a) ensuring that the Charitable Company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
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(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charitable Company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the Charitable Company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of the Trustees on 5 November 2025 and signed on their behalf, by:
Douglas Keir (Treasurer)
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON (operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
1 Accounting Policies The following accounting policies were used consistently: Accounting basis:
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost basis and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008). The statement of Recommended Practice by Charities, issued by Charities Commissioners has also been followed.
Grants:
Grants received are credited to the Financial Activities when they are receivable, split between restricted and unrestricted funds.
Resources expended:
All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis, inclusive of VAT and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. The value of volunteers' time has not been reflected in the accounts.
Depreciation:
Depreciation is calculated to write off the assets on a reducing balance basis. Items for which grants have been received, as well as all other items under £1,000 are written off to revenue.
| 2 2(a) 3 4 |
Direct Charitable Expenditure Salaries, NI & Pension Note 9 Payroll expenses Staff/Volunteer Expenses Training Staff / volunteer recruitment Drop-in Groups Direct family assistance Total Direct Expenditure Fund-raising Expenditure Salaries, NI & Pension Note 9 Other fund-raising costs Total Fund-raising Expenditure Management & Administration Salaries (Management) Note 9 Office Costs IT Costs Stationery Telephone / internet Insurance Fees Premises Total Management & Admin Governance AGM related Trustee travel and miscellaneous Total Governance |
Restricted Funds £ 2025 114,398 378 2,257 1,029 - 0 1,549 119,610 14,925 - 14,925 0 79 1,142 - 0 726 711 651 3,309 - - 0 |
Unrestricted Funds £ 2025 6,698 8,131 384 200 2,327 32 17,771 30,527 1,249 |
Total Funds £ 2025 121,095 378 10,388 1,413 200 2,327 1,581 137,382 45,452 1,249 46,701 0 2,040 4,701 545 614 1,452 3,714 5,974 19,039 608 727 1,334 |
Total Funds £ 2024 119,709 648 10,000 1,531 390 1,710 1,820 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 135,808 | |||||
| 18,024 16,254 |
|||||
| 31,776 0 | 34,277 | ||||
| 0 1,961 3,559 545 614 726 3,003 5,324 15,731 608 727 1,334 |
0 3,009 4,662 330 788 1,362 3,298 7,732 |
||||
| 21,181 | |||||
| 370 1,098 |
|||||
| 1,468 |
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON
(operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee) Notes to the Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| 5 | Incoming resources | |||||
| Charitable trusts | 73,015 | 67,450 | 140,464 | 114,321 | ||
| Statutory bodies | 57,603 | - | 57,603 | 8,160 | ||
| Corporate bodies | 6,625 | 1,300 | 7,925 | 7,688 | ||
| Individuals (including gift aid) | - | 4,029 | 4,029 | 8,359 | ||
| Unclaimed expenses | - | 565 | 565 | 88 | ||
| Fund-raising events | ||||||
| Organised by Home-Start | - | 27,314 | 27,314 | 11,980 | ||
| Organised by others | - | 2,820 | 2,820 | 6,244 | ||
| Total | 137,243 | 103,478 | 240,720 | 156,841 | ||
| 6 | Liabilities: Amounts falling due within one year: | |||||
| Accruals in respect of HMRC | - | 2,926 | 2,926 | 5,020 | ||
| Accruals in respect of pension contributions | 1,135 | 1,135 | 1,515 | |||
| Accruals: staff & volunteer expenses | - | 150 | 150 | 150 | ||
| Prepaid grants | Note 6a | 42,703 | - | 42,703 | 0 | |
| Prepaid accounts | - | -933 | -933 | -297 | ||
| Other creditor | - | - | - | |||
| Other accruals | 569 | 1,320 | 1,889 | 1,161 | ||
| Accruals in respect of Accountant's Fees | - | 510 | 510 | 510 | ||
| Total Liabilities falling within | one year | 43,272 | 5,108 | 48,380 | 8,059 | |
| Liabilities: Pre-paid grants (deferred income) | ||||||
| National Lottery | 18,164 | - | 18,164 | - | ||
| Society of the Child Jesus | 10,000 | - | 10,000 | - | ||
| Active Oxfordshire | 8,540 | - | 8,540 | - | ||
| Oxford. Comm. Foundation | 5,000 | - | 5,000 | - | ||
| S Oxford District Council | 1,000 | - | 1,000 | - | ||
| Total | 42,703 | - | 42,703 | - |
6a Liabilities: Pre-paid grants (deferred income)
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HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON
(operating as Home-Start Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton)
(A company limited by guarantee) Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2025
7 Restricted funds
| Family Holiday Association Bodicote Church Bounty Fund Cherwell DC Home-Start UK Oxfordshire Comm. Found'n Rotary Club of Banbury Total restricted funds |
£ 2025 182 64 - - - 450 696 |
£ 2024 182 - 867 16 203 30 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,297 |
8 Reserves Policy £
The trustees believe that the minimum level of uncommitted reserves should be the equivalent of at least four-and-a-half months', preferably six months', operating costs, plus an element to cover redundancy, outstanding leases, and other wind-up costs. The minimum amount, at 31.3.25 is 107,077 Prudent reserves amount (50% expenses + close down costs) 132,634 The total unrestricted, uncommitted, funds at 31.3.25 are: 70,877
The Trustees are aware of the shortfall in unrestricted funds compared to the minimum reserves required by as at 31.3.25, and are confident that the shortfall has been addressed. The fund-raising team has been strengt and a number of significant multi-year grants were awarded for 2024-25 and 2025-26.
| 9 Staff costs and emoluments Gross salaries (including maternity pay) Employer's National Insurance Employer's Pension Contributions Employment Allowance (statutory reduction in employer's NI) Numbers of full time employees or full time equivalents |
£ 2025 152,414 12,751 6,382 -5,000 166,547 2025 4.9 |
£ 2024 127,125 10,335 5,272 -5,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 137,732 | ||
| 2024 4.9 |
There were no employees with emoluments in excess of £60,000 per annum.
The Charity has a defined contribution pension scheme, which complies with the auto-enrolment regulations The pension contributions shown represent the contributions paid by the Charity in the year.
10 Trustee remuneration and expenses:
None of the trustees received any remuneration for their services. Where trustee travelling expenses were paid, donations were also received to cover the costs.
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