Trustees Meeting 18th April - Agenda Item 6.1
SVWS – Trustees’ Meeting – 18th April 2024 – Item 6.1
The Sainsbury Veterans Welfare Scheme (Charity No; 1125046) Annual Trustees’ Report for the year ending 31 December 2023
Introduction
The Sainsbury Veterans Welfare Scheme (the charity) was afforded charitable status on 17 July 2008. It had become an independent trust on 11 July 2007, and prior to that had been operating within Sainsbury Supermarkets Ltd, as part of the company’s commitment to its veterans.
The charity exists to provide assistance to Sainsbury’s Veterans who are in need of help to enhance the quality of their lives. There are circa 20,000 Sainsbury Veterans. A Sainsbury Veteran is defined as a former employee who has retired from the company having completed a required period of continuous company service. For the purposes of the Welfare Scheme the definition also covers spouses and partners of Sainsbury Veterans and surviving spouses and partners of former Sainsbury Veterans. Whilst priority is given to the above categories, other Sainsbury employees who have retired but have not formally become Veterans, may also benefit.
The charity provides essential items to assist beneficiaries to better maintain independence in their lives in and around their homes. Such essential items might typically, but not exclusively, include bathroom enhancements and aids, walk-in showers, transport and other mobility aids, rise and recline beds and chairs, and household items. Support can also be provided for respite care and convalescence.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is constituted as a Trust and its governing document is a Declaration of Trust dated 11 July 2007, amended by 2 Deeds of Variation of Trust dated 25 June 2008 and 20 October 2022.
The Trustees use their best endeavours to ensure that one of their number is an independent person with experience of or a professional qualification in a discipline relevant to the objects.
Trustee appointments and re-appointments are for a period of 3 years, up to maximum of three re-appointments. There were no new appointments and no resignations in 2023.
The Trustees during 2023 were:
Name Date of Date of Re- Date of Appointment Appointment Resignation David Clapham 19/07/2018 19/07/2021 John Padgett 06/10/2019 06/10/2022 David Dahms 01/01/2013 01/01/2022 Tim Straker 16/05/2019 16/05/2022 (Independent Trustee) Douglas Parkin 28/10/2019 28/10/2022 John Dick 21/11/2021 Jayne Graham 21/04/2022
The Trustees are aware that they have a duty to act in the best interests of the charity. Accordingly, Trustees openly declare any personal and professional connections that might bring benefits to the work of the charity but which could also give rise to conflicts of interest.
Objectives and Achievements
The principal objective of the Trustees is to reach as many potential beneficiaries as possible. Significant efforts continue to be made throughout the year to communicate the existence and benefits offered by the charity to Sainsbury Veterans.
Communication was effected through ‘The News’, a magazine for Sainsbury’s Veterans which is published quarterly, and also digitally on the Veterans Website. A special Veterans Welfare Scheme leaflet was produced and distributed in April
2023 as a magazine pull out for keeping and easy reference. The leaflet is also available at Local Association meetings and Area Reunions as an aide memoire. To enhance communications further the Welfare Scheme registered with Turn2Us, an online portal where potential applicants can search for relevant charities that may be able to help. The Scheme is also registered with Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Trustees continue to explore additional ways to publicise the Welfare Scheme.
The updated Veterans website, improving the visibility and accessibility of information about the Veterans Welfare Scheme from the home page along with a “click thru” donation button to the ‘Just Giving’ website helped increase donations via this source in 2023.
In accordance with law and good practice the Trustees review the following written policies on a 2-year rolling basis;
Anti-bribery, Safeguarding, Data Protection, Environmental & Sustainability, and a Complaints procedure.
Financial Review
Income
Total income for 2023 was £40,171 compared with £57,157 in 2022.
The reduced income in 2023 was due to the charity choosing not to draw down both the £20k annual grants from the Sainsbury family trusts and opting to take only the £30k grant from J Sainsbury plc*. This was due to a healthy cash balance as a result of fewer grant applications than anticipated.
Excluding grant income from both years the remaining income rose by £3,014. Interest on the CCLA account increased by £2,740, based on both an increase in the balance of £45,000 from the grants acquired over the last two years and the increase in interest rate to 5.2%.
Total donations increased by £274 to £7,127
*The Linbury Trust and The Gatsby Charitable Foundation agreed to grant the charity £100k i.e. a total of £200k. The original agreement was to draw down 2 x
£20k each year from 2022 to 2026 inclusive. To date, only £20k has been drawn down from Linbury in 2022.
**J Sainsbury plc agreed to a £30k per annum grant, ringfenced for 3 years (to June 2025). To date £60k has been drawn down.
Expenditure
Total expenditure for the year was £18,070, an increase of £1,474 compared with the previous year
Eight grants were processed during the year totaling £15,727, an average of £1,966 per grant. This compares to five grants in 2022 totalling £14,332 at an average of £2,866.
Total Scheme assets at year end were £97,646, compared to £75,546 at year end 2022.
No paid staff were employed. No payments were made to Trustees, who are all volunteers. The Trustees are extremely grateful to Welfare Co-Ordinators Regional Chairs and Trustees who incurred expenses in undertaking voluntary work for the Welfare Scheme but who chose not to claim them. The Trustees also wish to thank Mr. Derek Salt FCA who undertook an independent examination of the Welfare Scheme’s financial records and statement on a pro-bono basis.
John Padgett 21/02/2024
Trustees Meeting 18th April - Agenda Item 6.2
The Sainsburys Veterans’ Welfare Scheme
Annual Financial Review for the Year ending 31[st] December 2023
Income
Total income for the year was £40,171 compared to £57,157 in 2022. The cause of this reduction being the £20,000 initial grant from the Linbury and Gatsby trusts received in 2022.
Excluding grant income from both years the remaining income rose by £3,014. Interest on the CCLA account increased by £2,740, based on both an increase in the balance of £45,000 from the grants acquired over the last two years and the increase in interest rate to 5.2%.
Total donations increased by £274 to £7,127, including £3,000 from the Southern region. The Doggett’s reunion raised £508 compared to £374 in 2022.
Expenditure
Total expenditure for the year was £18,070, an increase of £1,474 compared to the previous year.
Eight grants were made during the year totalling £15,727, an average of £1,966 per grant. This compares to five grants in 2022 at an average of £2,866.
the costs of the revised leaflet included in the Veterans News mailing. The 2022 costs include the legal costs of changes required to the Trust declaration to qualify for the Linbury and Gatsby grants.
Total Fund Assets.
Total fund assets at year end were £97,646, compared to £75,546 at year end 2022, reflecting the second annual grant of £30,000 from J. Sainsbury plc.
THE SAINSBURY VETERANS' WELFARE SCHEME
| Statement of Activity and Funds | 1st January -31 December | 1st January -31 December | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Cash Balance 1st January | 40,545.66 | 19,684.39 | |
| Income | |||
| Deposit Interest | 3,044.15 | 303.59 | |
| Donations | Individual | 4,126.88 | 3,853.52 |
| Southern Area | 3,000.00 | 3,000.00 | |
| Linbury & Gatsby Grants | 20,000.00 | ||
| J Sainsbury plc | 30,000.00 | 30,000.00 | |
| Total Income | 40,171.03 | 57,157.11 | |
| Grants Made | |||
| Bathrooms | 8,740.56 | 7,117.24 | |
| Furniture | 5,963.25 | ||
| Mobility Aid | 310.80 | 4,479.00 | |
| Respite Care | 712.00 | ||
| Stair Lift | 2,736.00 | ||
| 15,726.61 | 14,332.24 | ||
| Administrative | Costs | ||
| Bank Costs | 7.20 | 3.60 | |
| Leaflet Costs | 2,336.60 | ||
| Legal Costs | 1,960.00 | ||
| 2,343.80 | 1,963.60 | ||
| Total Expenditure | 18,070.41 | 16,295.84 | |
| CCLA activity | |||
| Transfer to CCLA | -45,000.00 | -20,000.00 | |
| Closing Current Account |
17,646.28 | 40,545.66 | |
| CCLA | Opening Balance | 35,000.00 | 15,000.00 |
| Transfer from Current Account | 55,000.00 | 20,000.00 | |
| Transfer to Current Account | -10,000.00 | ||
| Closing Balance | 80,000.00 | 35,000.00 | |
| Cash Balance 31st December | |||
| Current Account | 17,646.28 | 40,545.66 | |
| CCLA Deposit | 80,000.00 | 35,000.00 | |
| 97,646.28 | 75,545.66 |
| THE SAINSBURY VETERANS WELFARE SCHEME | THE SAINSBURY VETERANS WELFARE SCHEME | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Statements of Receipts and Payments | |||
| 1st January -31 December 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Account Balances1st January | |||
| 2023 | |||
| Bank | 40,545.66 | ||
| CCLA | 35,000.00 | ||
| TOTAL | 75,545.66 | ||
| Income | |||
| CCLA deposit interest received | 3,044.15 | ||
| Donations | 7,126.88 | ||
| Grants Received | 30,000.00 | 40,171.03 | |
| Expenditure | |||
| Grants Made | 15,726.61 | ||
| Administration Expenses | 2,343.80 | ||
| Total Expenditure | 18,070.41 | ||
| Net Income/Expenditure 1 Jan - | 31 Dec 2023 | 22,100.62 | |
| Opening Funds at 1st January | |||
| 2023 | 75,545.66 | ||
| Closing Funds at 31st December | |||
| 2023 | 97,646.28 |
THE SAINSBURY VETERANS' WELFARE SCHEME
GRANT POSITION 01 JANUARY 2008 TO 31 DECEMBER 2023
| GRANTS | AVERAGE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| MADE | £ VALUE | GRANT £ | |
| 2008 | 21 | 28,572 | 1,361 |
| 2009 | 15 | 15,599 | 1,040 |
| 2010 | 18 | 31,877 | 1,771 |
| 2011 | 33 | 59,008 | 1,788 |
| 2012 | 30 | 41,973 | 1,399 |
| 2013 | 49 | 84,467 | 1,724 |
| 2014 | 44 | 73,272 | 1,665 |
| 2015 | 35 | 55,910 | 1,597 |
| 2016 | 33 | 62,805 | 1,903 |
| 2017 | 28 | 51,800 | 1,850 |
| 2018 | 10 | 28,077 | 2,808 |
| 2019 | 16 | 26,182 | 1,636 |
| 2020 | 7 | 18,896 | 2,699 |
| 2021 | 4 | 9,322 | 2,330 |
| 2022 | 5 | 14,332 | 2,866 |
| 2023 | 8 | 15,727 | 1,966 |
| TOTAL | 356 | 617,818 | 1,735 |