REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1119905
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
FOR
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
Venitt and Greaves Chartered Accountants 115 Craven Park Road South Tottenham London N15 6BL
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 4 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 | ||
| Statement of Financial Position | 7 | ||
| Statement of Cash Flows | 8 | ||
| Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows | 9 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 | to | 16 |
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objectives for which the charity was formed are the relief of poverty, sickness and infirmity amongst the members of the Jewish faith, and such other purposes as are charitable according to English Law.
In order to achieve the charitable objective, the charity is operating a soup kitchen to provide hot meals for those in the unfortunate position of being unable to provide for themselves.
Our mission:
Our mission is based on our understanding of the centrality of decent food to human existence. At the most fundamental level, nutritious satisfying food is essential for good physical and mental health. Access to food of a reasonable standard is therefore a basic human right. However, the importance of food goes beyond this: eating keeps us alive, but eating with friends and family makes life worth living. We therefore use food as a way of helping lonely and vulnerable people integrate into the community to the maximum possible extent, and to help fragile families become more functional and happy.
We aim to ensure that:
-
No-one should ever go hungry
-
No-one should have to resort to low-quality junk food for lack of an alternative
-
No family should find access to food an obstacle to maintaining a happy family life
-
No-one should be forced to eat alone on a regular basis
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THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Significant activities
The Chicken Soup Shelter is dedicated to helping vulnerable people lead healthy, meaningful, and dignified lives. We continue to expand our range of services in Hackney and Haringey supporting families and individuals struggling with poverty, hunger, and loneliness.
The charity currently operates four projects to achieve its mission.
1. The Soup Kitchen
The Chicken Soup Shelter was founded to ensure that no Jew in London has to go hungry or choose between keeping kosher and eating a decent meal. We provide hot, nutritious meals, 6 days a week throughout the year to anyone who walks through our doors with no questions asked.
The beneficiaries of the soup kitchen are diverse, but most fall into one of these three categories:
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People with physical or mental health problems that prevent them from being able to prepare their own food
-
People undergoing family breakdown or another form of life crisis
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Homeless people and people in inadequate or temporary housing without access to a kitchen
In addition, The Chicken Soup Shelter has become the first port of call for visitors to the community who lack a place to eat.
Relief from loneliness
A central feature of our soup kitchen is the benefit of community and belongingness that it gives to those who attend. For most vulnerable people in the 21st century, poverty is not so much about lack of access to money, as an absence of 'social capital', access to the social networks that all of us rely on every day to get on and get ahead.
In addition to the meal, those who attend our soup kitchen get the benefit of conversation, companionship, and camaraderie that they desperately need to improve their social situation. Our volunteers do much more than serve soup, they provide a listening ear, guidance, and assistance with the little things in life vulnerable people otherwise have to handle on their own.
A nutritious meal
In a country like Great Britain, poor people are more likely to be obese than those better off. Vulnerable people generally have limited access to high quality food which costs more and takes longer to prepare. Many studies confirm that excessive consumption of cheap and easily available junk food leads to depression, locking people in the cycle of poverty. Unhealthy diets are one of the main causes of chronic illness that makes it hard for people to hold down a job or lead a functional life.
That’s why we at The Chicken Soup Shelter are careful to serve up a balanced meal including protein, vegetables, and fruit each and every day.
Our soup kitchen now serves meals twice a day, providing dozens of vulnerable people with the hearty breakfast they need to kickstart their day, and a nutritious evening meal before they go to bed.
2. Meals on the wheels
Our soup kitchen serves hot meals to needy people six days a week, all year round. However, there are some people who cannot always make it to our location or for whom the soup kitchen is not an appropriate environment. For this reason, we deliver the same meals that we prepare every day in the soup kitchen to a wide range of people from across the Jewish community, including:
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Families who lack the time or resources to prepare their own meals, but still wish to eat together as family.
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Elderly people with mobility issues or health problems that prevent them from getting out in the evenings.
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Anyone who, for whatever reason, does not want to come to the soup kitchen, but nevertheless needs a hot, nutritious meal.
3. Family crisis support
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THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
One of our most important projects at The Chicken Soup Shelter is supporting families who are experiencing a crisis, and need extra help to ensure that their family life does not unravel. We help dozens of widows and orphans, as well as families where a parent is suffering a mental health crisis or has become suddenly unemployed.
The subsidies that we provide to these families give them the ability to maintain a dignified family life during these upheavals. When families in crisis have the security of knowing that the costs of food and decent accommodation are covered, they have the space to take the action they need to improve their situation. Intervention at crisis points is often instrumental in helping families stay together, avoiding untold pitfalls in future years.
In addition to the practical support that this programme provides to widows, orphans, and families in crisis, they are also consoled by the knowledge that they are not alone. Experiencing support from others helps these suffering people to look forward to the future with hope.
4. The Chagim Project
The Chagim project is an initiative designed to help low-income Jewish families who can make ends meet during the year, but struggle with the extra burdens imposed by the festivals and high holy days. For these families, the Chagim are often less a source of joy than a source of worry, forced to choose between going into debt or telling their children that they will not be able to celebrate Yom Tov in the normal way.
Our programme operates twice a year: before Pesah, and before the Yamim Noraim and Sukkot. In the run-up to the festivals, we negotiate special accounts with local providers of meat, fish and other festival essentials, to ensure that every Jewish family can celebrate yom tov in a dignified and appropriate fashion. This assistance helps needy families meet the prohibitive cost of kosher food and get through the Yom Tov season without falling into a spiral of debt. We also provide funds for these families to buy clothing and shoes for their children so they can celebrate with dignity.
Public benefit
The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aim and objectives and in planning the charity's future activities. The aims of the charitable company for the public benefit are detailed in the Objectives and Activities section of the report.
Grantmaking
Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees and in accordance with the principal objectives of the charity. During the year, the charity made donation totalling £35,000 [2024 - £48,690].
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
During the year the charity raised substantial funds, and has applied all of the funds towards activities, and some small charitable grants in furtherance of its objectives.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Principal funding sources
The charity is mainly funded many charitable organisations and individuals including those associated with the trustees.
Reserves policy
The reserves policy is to ensure there there is a sufficient stream of income to meet the ongoing needs of the charity.
Going concern
The trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the charity continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statement.
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THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
FUTURE PLANS
There are no current plans to change the activities or modus operandi in the foreseeable future.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a trust deed and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
It is not currently the intention of the trustees of the charity to appoint new trustees. Should this situation change in the future, the trustees will apply suitable recruitment and training procedures.
Related parties
Related party transaction and balances are disclosed in notes to the financial statement wherever necessary.
Risk management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1119905
Principal address
87 Vartry Road London N15 6QD
Trustees
J Margulies P Benedikt A Barchorin
Independent Examiner
Malcolm Venitt A.C.A. Venitt and Greaves Chartered Accountants 115 Craven Park Road South Tottenham London N15 6BL
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 9 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
A Barchorin - Trustee
Page 4
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Chicken Soup Shelter
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Chicken Soup Shelter (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
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:
-
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; or
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the accounts do 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.
Malcolm Venitt A.C.A.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Venitt and Greaves Chartered Accountants 115 Craven Park Road South Tottenham London N15 6BL
9 December 2025
Page 5
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 793,322 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 3 168 Charitable activities 4 Soup Shelter running cost 850,386 Charitable donation 26,150 Other - Total 876,704 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (83,382) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 219,654 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 136,272 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - |
31.3.25 Total funds £ 793,322 168 850,386 26,150 - 876,704 (83,382) 219,654 136,272 |
31.3.24 Total funds £ 927,260 209 876,462 48,690 5,008 930,369 (3,109) 222,763 219,654 |
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 31 MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 10 672 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 11 14,000 Cash at bank 446,320 460,320 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 12 (324,720) NET CURRENT ASSETS 135,600 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 136,272 NET ASSETS 136,272 FUNDS 13 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - |
31.3.25 Total funds £ 672 14,000 446,320 460,320 (324,720) 135,600 136,272 136,272 136,272 136,272 |
31.3.24 Total funds £ 840 14,000 531,933 545,933 (327,119) 218,814 219,654 219,654 219,654 219,654 |
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 9 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
P Benedikt - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 7
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Notes Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations 1 Net cash used in operating activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period |
31.3.25 £ (85,613) (85,613) (85,613) 531,933 446,320 |
31.3.24 £ (57,735) (57,735) (57,735) 589,668 531,933 |
|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 8
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1. RECONCILIATION OF NET EXPENDITURE TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
2.
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Net expenditure for the reporting period (as per the Statement of | |||
| Financial Activities) | (83,382) | (3,109) | |
| Adjustments for: | |||
| Depreciation charges | 168 | 209 | |
| Increase in debtors | - | (7,175) | |
| Decrease in creditors | (2,399) | (47,660) | |
| Net cash used in operations | (85,613) | (57,735) | |
| ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS | |||
| At 1.4.24 | Cash flow | At 31.3.25 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Net cash | |||
| Cash at bank | 531,933 | (85,613) | 446,320 |
| 531,933 | (85,613) | 446,320 | |
| Total | 531,933 | (85,613) | 446,320 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 9
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
Governance costs
Governance cost are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirement.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Motor vehicles - 20% on reducing balance
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
continued...
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THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES Donations Gift aid Grants Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: LB Hackney Grants Other Grant Other grants 3. RAISING FUNDS Raising donations and legacies Depreciation 4. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Soup Shelter running cost Charitable donation |
Direct Costs £ 806,385 - 806,385 |
Grant funding of activities (see note 5) £ 8,850 26,150 35,000 |
31.3.25 £ 622,277 46,920 124,125 793,322 31.3.25 £ - - 124,125 124,125 31.3.25 £ 168 Support costs (see note 6) £ 35,151 - 35,151 |
31.3.24 £ 650,768 56,881 219,611 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 927,260 | ||||
| 31.3.24 £ 155,672 63,939 - |
||||
| 219,611 | ||||
| 31.3.24 £ 209 Totals £ 850,386 26,150 |
||||
| 876,536 |
continued...
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THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 5. | GRANTS PAYABLE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Soup Shelter running cost | ||||
| 8,850 | - | |||
| Charitable donation | 26,150 | 48,690 | ||
| 35,000 | 48,690 | |||
| 6. | SUPPORT COSTS | |||
| Governance | ||||
| Finance | costs | Totals | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Soup Shelter running cost | ||||
| 2,121 | 33,030 | 35,151 |
7. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
8. STAFF COSTS
| STAFF COSTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 45,142 | 44,510 |
| 45,142 | 44,510 | |
| The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: | ||
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | |
| Kitchen | - | 3 |
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
continued...
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THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 9. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted fund £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 771,588 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 209 Charitable activities Soup Shelter running cost 720,790 Charitable donation 48,690 Other 5,008 Total 774,697 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (3,109) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 222,763 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 219,654 10. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS COST At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 DEPRECIATION At 1 April 2024 Charge for year At 31 March 2025 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 |
Restricted Total funds funds £ £ 155,672 927,260 - 209 155,672 876,462 - 48,690 - 5,008 155,672 930,369 - (3,109) - 222,763 - 219,654 Motor vehicles £ 4,000 3,160 168 3,328 672 840 |
|---|---|
continued...
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THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 11. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Other debtors Prepayments 12. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade creditors Other creditors Accrued expenses |
31.3.25 £ 5,000 9,000 14,000 31.3.25 £ 1 321,839 2,880 324,720 |
31.3.24 £ 5,000 9,000 14,000 31.3.24 £ - 321,839 5,280 |
|---|---|---|
| 327,119 |
Creditors in the sum of £321,839 represent funds held in respect of other projects to be carried out by another charity.
13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.4.24 £ 219,654 219,654 Incoming resources £ 793,322 793,322 |
Net movement At in funds 31.3.25 £ £ (83,382) 136,272 (83,382) 136,272 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (876,704) (83,382) (876,704) (83,382) |
At 31.3.25 £ 136,272 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 136,272 | |||
| (83,382) |
continued...
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THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| At 1.4.23 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 222,763 TOTAL FUNDS 222,763 Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming resources £ Unrestricted funds General fund 771,588 Restricted funds LB Hackney U19 & other 155,672 TOTAL FUNDS 927,260 A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows: At 1.4.23 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 222,763 TOTAL FUNDS 222,763 |
Net movement At in funds 31.3.24 £ £ (3,109) 219,654 (3,109) 219,654 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (774,697) (3,109) (155,672) - (930,369) (3,109) Net movement At in funds 31.3.25 £ £ (86,491) 136,272 (86,491) 136,272 |
|---|---|
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continued...
THE CHICKEN SOUP SHELTER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 1,564,910 | (1,651,401 ) | (86,491) |
| Restricted funds | |||
| LB Hackney U19 & other | 155,672 | (155,672) | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 1,720,582 | (1,807,073 ) | (86,491) |
14. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.
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