## **THE CHRISTOPHER CENTRE**
## **Trustees’ Report**
For the year ended 31 March 2023
## **Administrative Information**
The Christopher Centre is a company limited by guarantee, registration no: 6173167 and registered with the Charity Commission no. 1120942.
Registered office:
The Christopher Centre, 10 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2EU
## _**Trustees**_
Robin Hodgkinson (Chairperson) (SAVO CIC)
Jennifer Wilkins
Kathleen Leigh
David Lowe (Treasurer)
Karoline Wells
Susan Ayres
Dave Sullivan
Jesse Carter
Belinda Green (appointed November 2022)
## _**Centre Co-ordinators**_
Linda Adams Kathy Lee-Rimmer
## _**Company Secretary**_
David Lowe
## _**Cleaner**_
Gregory Bishop
## _**Volunteers**_
**Receptionists:** Jane Benton, Sarah Dovell, Belinda Green, Sue Howting, Jenny Ince, Jennie Wilkins, Lizzie Alexander, Judy Parmenter, Connie Gourlay and Liz Ward.
## **Volunteer Handyman** : Niall Hennessy
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**Volunteer Gardener:** Lee Young
## **Structure, Governance & Management**
## **1. Nature of governing document**
The activities of _The Christopher Centre_ are governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association that were incorporated by Companies House on 20 March 2007 and approved by the Charity Commission on 21 September 2007.
## **2. Recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees and staff are always on the lookout for potential new trustees who can bring their skills and expertise to assist in the organisation’s governance. Potential trustees have access to both the chair and the manager to discuss their involvement. When recruited, new trustees are inducted through meetings and an induction pack, which not only covers information about the organisation but their roles and responsibilities as trustees.
## **3. Review of the financial position**
Total income for 2022/3 was £50,776 an increase of £348 on the previous year due to an increase in Rent & User Charges.
Expenditure for 2022/3 was £51,995, a decrease of £8,176 on 2021/22.
The net result was a decrease of £1219 in the fund balances carried forward of £31,579. This is less of a decrease than last year therefore improving the overall financial position.
## **4. Financial Management**
The Christopher Centre accounts are managed by a Treasurer who is one of the trustees.
Bank accounts continue to be held at the Sudbury branch of Barclays Bank. All cheques require two signatories. The signatories are Robin Hodgkinson (Chair) and Jennie Wilkins, in addition to the Treasurer.
The systems of internal control include written reports submitted by the Treasurer at the quarterly trustees’ meetings. Also, consideration of the financial results and forecasting of possible funding shortfalls are discussed in detail at trustee meetings.
## **5. Reserve Policy**
The Christopher Centre has built up a reserve for possible redundancies (£3000). There is also a general reserve fund of £26,738, which includes a maintenance contingency.
## **6. Risk analysis and plan**
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There are a number of areas that the Trustees consider as potential risks. These are as follows:
a. The Christopher Centre Building – being an old building there is always a risk of the need for major structural repairs.
b. The Christopher Centre Users – losing potential hirers of office accommodation and meeting rooms always remains a risk. Organisations’ and people’s circumstances change and this is obviously out of our hands. The Trustees ensure that rents and meeting room charges are kept at a competitive level to avoid losing users who might otherwise remain. However, office users who do decide to vacate the accommodation, are required to give three months’ notice of their intention and this provides a reasonable window of opportunity to find a replacement.
c. Energy costs – Energy costs have only slightly increased in the year since having a more efficient boiler purchased last year.
## **7. Funding**
The running of the Christopher Centre is financed from renting out office space and casual hire of rooms for meetings and community activities and the occasional donation or grant.
A number of donations were also received totalling £530.
We are very grateful to all our benefactors for their support and encouragement.
## **8. Objectives and Activities**
The Christopher Centre’s objects are primarily for the benefit of the inhabitants of the district of Babergh and surrounding areas (in practice, the Sudbury district) to:
- provide premises for the use of local and community groups, advance education through the provision of advice, advocacy, guidance, training, resources and associated activities
- facilitate and encourage opportunities for local and community groups to come together to identify charitable need, express views on matters of local interest and to establish projects or policies to meet these needs. This includes running its own activities such as drop-ins, a community choir, a vegan supper club, arts and crafts activities.
- develop the capacity and skills of said inhabitants in such ways as is thought fit, and particularly to enhance voluntary participation within the area of benefit
- develop and promote community services for said inhabitants who are in need of such a service because of age, sickness or disability (mental or physical), or poverty, or because of a lack or availability of adequate and safe public services
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- improve or assist in the improvement of the physical and social environment in an effort to enhance the quality of life for said inhabitants.
The Christopher Centre has continued to fulfil its objects in a number of ways:
- by providing office space within the building for affordable and reasonable rents for a number of different voluntary and community groups
- by providing rooms available for hire by voluntary, community and statutory local groups
- by offering space free of charge within the reception area for local groups and services to promote their work, display leaflets and posters etc
- by utilising volunteers as reception staff who have a good knowledge of the local area and who can therefore offer information about local activities.
- by looking at ways of supporting or setting up community groups to help people who are disadvantaged or vulnerable to provide them with opportunities to learn new skills, make friends and build their confidence and self-esteem.
## **9. Meeting the Principles of Public Benefit**
The Christopher Centre has continued to fulfil its objects in a number of ways:
- through its facilities, activities and information services which are open to all voluntary and community groups, The Christopher Centre provides services which help local groups to meet, exchange information and develop their own services to a wide variety of people within the local community. It also develops its own services to help vulnerable and isolated members of the community through activities such as the Monday morning Drop-in Coffee and Chat, the Monday lunchtime Community Lunches, the Community Choir, monthly Community Markets etc.
- it provides a community resource which members of the public can visit to find out information about local groups, events and services.
- The Christopher Centre is a Grade 2 listed building and the staff, volunteers and trustee board are therefore maintaining and preserving an important piece of Sudbury heritage, ensuring that any improvements and refurbishments made are in keeping with local heritage regulations.
## **10. Achievements & Performance**
Teresa Bishop and Helen Martin retired at the end of March 2022 and so April saw the start of two new Centre Co-ordinators, Linda Adams and Kathy LeeRimmer. Since joining the Christopher Centre in April 2022, their aim has been to continue to bring the Centre to the forefront of the community. Regular columns in publications such as the local Community News has brought in new hirers and new volunteers.
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Room bookings have increased significantly with the addition of some exciting and vibrant groups including Weight Watchers, U3a Whist, Boomerang Petfood Bank, Turning Point and the Makers Market to name but a few. The Diabetic Eye Clinic has continued to use the Centre on a regular basis. The Pet Food Bank has been using the Centre’s Cart Lodge to distribute much needed pet food to local residents on a regular basis.
One significant development came out of Linda and Kathy’s attendance at a local Health Awareness Day. An issue that cropped up was the need for older women to have more menopause support. This led to the creation of a Support Group in the Autumn with monthly meetings offering a range of support and talks by a variety of speakers offering advice on medical, dietary and exercise issues. The inaugural meeting would have featured on BBC’s Look East Programme had a certain East Anglian MP not resigned as Prime Minister on the same day!
The Centre’s own groups have continued to flourish with the Monday morning Drop-in sessions and Community Lunch proving as popular as ever. The Community Singers have met on a regular basis and have given a number of concerts locally. C’Art continues to offer the centre a variety of workshops and its Jubilee Window display in the Summer drew many favourable comments.
The building is looking very smart with a number of improvements made, including new carpets and the redecoration of some of the downstairs rooms. Some of the lighting has been replaced with more efficient LED lighting and further grant applications will be submitted in the future to replace all the lighting in the building. A welcome addition to the exterior of the building has been the purchase of a defibrillator, funded by the Curly Wurlies (the Christopher Lane Residents Group).
Work has also been undertaken to re-brand the centre and update the website. Hopefully this work will be completed by September 2023.
The Centre received various grants that have allowed many of the above groups and plans to take shape. This included £1000 from Cllr Carter’s Locality Budget for the Monday Drop-in, a £1000 Winter Warmth grant from Babergh District Council, £250 from Sudbury Common Lands and £272 from Cavendish Church.
Gregory Bishop has continued to give an excellent service in ensuring that the building is smart and tidy and our volunteer receptionists, gardeners and handymen have helped to ensure the smooth running of the building.
## **11. Future Plans**
The Centre will continue to offer an excellent service to the local community and through increased marketing, will attract even more hirers to the building. Plans are already afoot to increase our funds through holding events such as Quiz Evenings to ensure that we can keep our hire charges as low as possible.
Many thanks must go to the wonderful work undertaken by our volunteer receptionists and others who have continued to provide a great service.
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I would finally pay tribute to my fellow trustees, who have discharged their duties and responsibilities as trustees and directors with pragmatism and good sense. Thanks must also go to Adrian Walters and the Sudbury Common Lands Trustees for their help during the year and also to those who have donated money or given grants to The Christopher Centre.
Robin Hodgkinson 29 September 2023 Chairperson
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Christopher Centre**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 7 to 11.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no 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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1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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: or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
_Signed:_
Name: Nick Farr FCA Moore Green
Address: 22 Friars Street Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2AA
Date: 02/10/2023
## **The Christopher Centre**
(Registered Charity No: 1120942)
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year ended 31 March 2023**
|Note
s
**Income & Expenditure**
**Incoming Resources**
Voluntary income
2a
Activities for generating funds
2b
Income from investments
2c
Charitable activities
2d
Other incoming resources
2e
**Total Incoming resources**|Unrestricted
Funds
530
-
59
44,353
44,942|Restricted
Funds
5,834
5,834|2023
530
-
59
50,187
-|
|---|---|---|---|
||||50,776|
**Resources Expended**
7
|Cost of generating voluntary income
3a
Fund raising trading costs
3b
Charitable activities
3c
Governance costs
3d
**Total Resources Expended**
**Net movement in funds**
**for the Year**
Fund Balances Brought Forward
**Fund balances carried forward**|-
-
44,510
1,050
45,560
(618)
27,355
26,737|-
-
6,435
6,435
(601)
5,443
4,842|-
50,945
1,050|
|---|---|---|---|
||||51,995|
||||(1,219)
32,798|
||||31,579|
## **The Christopher Centre**
(Registered Charity No: 1120942)
## **BALANCE SHEET as at 31 MARCH 2023**
|Notes
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible assets
6
**Current Assets**
Bank Current Account
Tracker Account
7
Petty Cash
Prepayments|2023
£
-
4,771
27,191
152
-|2022
£
-|
|---|---|---|
|||6,156
27,132
151
13|
8
## Debtors
|Dbt|||
|---|---|---|
|eors
**Current Liabilities**
Creditors
Accruals
8
**Net Assets**
Represented by
**Funds**
Unrestricted (General)
Restricted|-
32,114
-
535
535
31,579
26,737
4,842
31,579|-|
|||33,452
-
654|
|||654|
|||32,798|
|||27,355
5,443|
|||32,798|
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime and in accordance with FRS 102. The Financial Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
For the year ended 31st March 2020, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
## **Directors' responsibilities:**
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476;
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act
with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements
29/09/2023
Robin Hodgkinson - Chairperson
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The notes form part of these financial statements
## **The Christopher Centre**
(Registered Charity No: 1120942)
## **Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2023**
## **1 Accounting Policies**
a
- . The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
b
- . Income is not anticipated, but recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities only when it is received. Grants and donations are credited to income in the year to which they relate.
- c. Full provision is made for all known liabilities (expenses and losses) whether the amount is known with certainty or is a best estimate in the light of the information available.
d
- . Only fixed assets under five years of age are capitalised and depreciation is calculated
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on a straight-line basis from the year of purchase so as to reduce their value to nil at the end of five years. Computer equipment is depreciated over three years.
|**2**
**Incoming Resources**
a
.
Voluntary income
Donations
b
.
Activities for generating funds
Fund raising
c.
Income from investments
Bank interest
d
.
Charitable activities
Grants
Other income
Rent & user charges
e
.
Christopher centre activities
f.
Other incoming resources
Total Incoming Resources
**3**
**Resources Expended**
a
.
Cost of generating voluntary
income
b
.
Fund raising trading costs
c.
Charitable activities
Restricted grant
Salaries
Staff travel
Christopher centre activities
Council tax & waste
Rent & Insurance
Stationery & postage
Advertising
Telephone
Volunteer expenses
Repairs & maintenance
Gas, electric & water
Furniture & equipment
Cleaning
Other admin
Depreciation
d
Governance costs
Independent examination
Company House
Total Resources Expended|Unrestricted
Funds
530
0
59
500
17
43836
0
44942
0
0
14091
0
0
1915
16326
564
0
1274
515
1936
4861
1997
207
824
0
44510
1050
0
1050
45560|Restricted
Funds
5834
0
5834
.
0
0
6435
6435
0
0
6435|Total
2023
530
0
59
6334
17
43836
0
0
50776
0
0
6435
14091
0
0
1915
16326
564
0
1274
515
1936
4861
1997
207
824
50945
1050
0
1050
51995|Total
2022
1007
0
3
13875
430
32865
2248
0|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||50428|
|||||0
0
12833
11810
0
2021
1852
16096
546
601
828
514
6225
4424
245
738
466
0|
|||||59199|
|||||972
0|
|||||972|
||||||
|||||60171|
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## **4 Donations**
Donations received from private individuals, local businesses and charitable trusts. The amount does not include any Gift Aid tax refunds.
## **5 Lease**
The 21 year lease for the Christopher Centre expired 4[th] July 2014 and has been extended for a further 10 years with 3 yearly reviews. The current cost of the lease is now £14,000 per annum, Paid quarterly with building insurance payments to the trustees of _the Sudbury Common Lands Charity._
## **6 Tracker Accounts**
The tracker account is an interest earning account with Barclays Bank.
## **7 Accruals**
Expenses received after the year end which related to goods received or expenses incurred during the year ended 31.3.23
## **8 Trustee Remuneration & Related Party Transactions**
No member of the Trustee Board received any remuneration during the year.
No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year (20189- nil).
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