Charity number: 1121746
FRIENDS R US
Unaudited
Trustees' report and financial statements
for the year ended 31 October 2023
FRIENDS R US
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers | 1 |
| Trustees' report | 2 - 4 |
| Independent examiner's report | 5 |
| Statement of financial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 8 - 10 |
FRIENDS R US
Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers for the year ended 31 October 2023
Trustees
Faigye Goldman Rose Hoffman Sarah Just Rebecca Katz Sonia Mossberg
Charity registered number 1121746 Principal office 65 Amhurst Park London N16 6DL Bankers Lloyds TSB 172-174 Clapton Common London E5 9AQ
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FRIENDS R US
Trustees' report for the year ended 31 October 2023
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023.
The trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity's governing document and the provisions of The Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (Charities SORP - FRSSE) (effective January 2015), the Charities Act 2011 and applicable regulations.
Objectives and activities
Policies and objectives
The charity provides culturally appropriate social and drama activities for children and young people from BME communities in Hackney and Haringey, by running a youth club.
In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
Achievements and performance
Review of activities
Friends R Us continues to flourish with membership now reaching over 800 children and young people. As previously reported, we have been working with our supporters and stakeholders for several years, planning refurbishments and a building extention.
TWe are also pleased to report on the continued success of the Friends R Us annual showcase. 450 children and young people performed on stage through singing, dancing or acting. Participants thrived on the unique opportunity to develop their talents and join a live performance that attracted an audience of 2,000 local people. Verbal and written feedback has told us what an impact joining the project has on users, who reported increased confidence, improved self-esteem, and better physical and emotional wellbeing. The trustees are looking forward to planning another drama and song performance next year.
The charity also continues to run its weekly youth club on weekends, where children and young people aged 7- 16 years come together and meet friends from other local schools to sing, dance and play. Light refreshments are served. We also arranged social activities around the year and during school holidays, including day-trips attended by over 300 girls, and an annual 'weekend sleepaway' for 150 girls in Years 10 and 11.
Friends R Us is proud to be a volunteer-led organisation, with a 70-strong team of volunteers, most of whom are under 19 years old. Our volunteers coordinate all aspects of our activities, under the direction of the trustees. 'Friends R Us' Board of Trustees would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank it’s phenomenal team of volunteers, whose talents and hard work made such a difference to so many children and young people.
We feel privileged to be part of an INTERLINK consortium of Hackney organisations that has been commissioned by Young Hackney to deliver out of school activities to Hackney’s young people. Being a commissioned organisation has required us to strengthen our governance, and has led us to achieving the London Youth Quality Mark - Silver level. Achieving the accreditation has been a interesting learning curve, and we feel confident that it has led to a more efficient, robust, young people-focused organisation committed to meeting users’ needs in the best possible way.
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FRIENDS R US
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 October 2023
Achievements and performance (continued)
Fundraising activities and income generation
The charity raises funds through grants and donations. It also receives voluntary contributions towards its activities and showcase production, and occasional hire of its premises.
The trustees would also like to thank all their funders for their financial support this year.
Financial review
Going concern
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
Reserves policy
The charity aims to raise funds for its programmes before they commence, in line with forecasted costs.
Structure, governance and management
Constitution
The charity is governed by declaration of trust dated 30 April 2006, and is run by the trustees.
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FRIENDS R US
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 October 2023
Statement of Trustees' responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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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 adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and 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, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed. 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.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Rose Hoffman Trustee
Date: 14 August 2024
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FRIENDS R US
Independent examiner's report for the year ended 31 October 2023
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Friends R Us ('the Charity')
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 October 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared the accounts in accordance with 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) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has been withdrawn.
I understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.
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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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 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.
This report is made solely to the Charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.
Signed: Dated: 14 August 2024 Esther Royde FCCA
123 Clapton Common, London E5 9AB
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FRIENDS R US
Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 October 2023
| Note Income from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 Total income Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Net movement in funds Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 14,000 79,937 93,937 1,156 76,621 77,777 16,160 52,114 16,160 68,274 |
Total funds 2023 £ 14,000 79,937 93,937 1,156 76,621 77,777 16,160 52,114 16,160 68,274 |
Total funds 2022 £ 23,190 49,190 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72,380 2,225 70,648 |
|||
| 72,873 (493) 52,607 (493) |
|||
| 52,114 |
The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 8 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
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FRIENDS R US
Balance sheet as at 31 October 2023
| Note Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 6 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Total net assets Charity funds Unrestricted funds 7 Total funds |
68,274 68,274 - |
2023 £ 68,274 68,274 68,274 68,274 68,274 |
53,814 53,814 (1,700) |
2022 £ 52,114 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52,114 | ||||
| 52,114 | ||||
| 52,114 | ||||
| 52,114 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Rose Hoffman
Trustee Date: 14 August 2024
The notes on pages 8 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
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FRIENDS R US
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2023
1. Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements 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), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published in October 2019.
Friends R Us meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
1.2 Income
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
1.3 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.
Costs of generating funds are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the charity's operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
1.4 Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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FRIENDS R US
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2023
1. Accounting policies (continued)
1.5 Income
All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Grants are included in the statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.
1.6 Financial instruments
The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
2. Income from donations and legacies
| Donations Government grants |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ - 14,000 14,000 |
Total funds 2023 £ - 14,000 14,000 |
Total funds 2022 £ 16,440 6,750 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23,190 |
3. Income from charitable activities
| Activities for raising funds Hall hire |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 49,486 30,451 79,937 |
Total funds 2023 £ 49,486 30,451 79,937 |
Total funds 2022 £ 33,920 15,270 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49,190 |
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FRIENDS R US
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2023
4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities
| Stage Art Production - Venue hire Stage Art Production - Technical, scenery and props Stage Art Production - Transport Stage Art Production - Other costs Social activities |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 27,574 25,373 4,450 2,837 16,387 76,621 |
Total 2023 £ 27,574 25,373 4,450 2,837 16,387 76,621 |
Total 2022 £ 25,496 24,900 4,120 2,989 13,143 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70,648 |
5. Trustees' remuneration and expenses
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2022 - £NIL).
During the year ended 31 October 2023, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2022 - £NIL).
6. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| 2023 £ Accruals and deferred income - Statement of funds Statement of funds - current year Balance at 1 November 2022 £ Income £ Expenditure £ Unrestricted funds General Funds - all funds 52,114 93,937 (77,777) |
2022 £ 1,700 |
|---|---|
| Balance at 31 October 2023 £ 68,274 |
7. Statement of funds Statement of funds - current year
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