Richmond Funiiture Scheme
Annual Report 2020-2021
For your safety &
the safety of others
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i$-t
Be Kind
Be Bold
Be eatIve
Registered Charity L133019 Company 7(KJ14k7
## **Contents**
|**Contents**|**Contents**|
|---|---|
|**_Welcome to our Annual Report for 2020-2021 ...................................................................3_**||
|**_Chair's foreword ...............................................................................................................4_**||
|**_Trustees’/directors’ report ................................................................................................6_**||
|**1.**|**2020 – 2021 key numbers and activity ............................................................................... 6**|
|**2.**|**Customers ........................................................................................................................ 7**|
|**3.**|**Funding and grants ......................................................................................................... 10**|
|**4.**|**Strategy and values. Be kind. Be bold. Be creative ........................................................... 11**|
|**5.**|**Systems development ..................................................................................................... 12**|
|**6.**|**Team development ......................................................................................................... 13**|
|**7.**|**Volunteering ................................................................................................................... 14**|
|**8.**|**Marketing development .................................................................................................. 14**|
|**9.**|**A volunteer story – community support........................................................................... 15**|
|**10.**|**Doing the right thing – [Kind. Bold. Creative. Ed] .......................................................... 16**|
|**11.**|**Location, location, location… ....................................................................................... 17**|
|**12.**|**And in other news… .................................................................................................... 18**|
|**13.**|**Outlook for 2021/2022 ................................................................................................ 22**|
|**_Information about how and why we operate .................................................................. 23_**||
|**1.**|**Principal activities ........................................................................................................... 23**|
|**2.**|**Background .................................................................................................................... 23**|
|**3.**|**Objectives....................................................................................................................... 23**|
|**_Governance .................................................................................................................... 23_**||
|**1.**|**Board ............................................................................................................................. 23**|
|**2.**|**Management and staff .................................................................................................... 24**|
|**3.**|**Risk and internal controls ................................................................................................ 24**|
|**_Administrative details ..................................................................................................... 24_**||
|**1.**|**Status ............................................................................................................................. 24**|
|**2.**|**Registered Office and Business Address ........................................................................... 25**|
|**3.**|**Contact Details ............................................................................................................... 25**|
|**4.**|**Trustees/Directors at Year End ........................................................................................ 25**|
|**5.**|**CEO ................................................................................................................................ 25**|
|**6.**|**Accounts Examiner ......................................................................................................... 25**|
|**7.**|**Bankers .......................................................................................................................... 25**|
|**8.**|**Insurance ........................................................................................................................ 25**|
|**_Financial statement ........................................................................................................ 26_**||
1
**1. Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 ........... 27**
**2. Independent Examiner’s Report ...................................................................................... 30**
2
## Welcome to our Annual Report for 2020-2021
**Principle objectives of the Scheme**
## **Relief from hardship**
**Alleviate the effects of poverty by providing access to affordable furniture**
## **Reducing waste**
**Reduce waste to landfill through furniture re-use and recycling**
## **Volunteering**
**Offer the community opportunities to volunteer, gain work experience and learn new skills**
In this year’s annual report, we look at the financial year ending March 2021 and review plans for the future.
2020-21 was the year of the **Covid-19 pandemic** :
- **income** increased from 2019-20 by 20% to **£183.8k** ;
- **329** households in need were supported;
- customers **transactions** were **1766** , +13%;
- **Software development to launch a fully functioning web shop and enhance management reporting**
- Our **Putney** pop-up closed but helped **raise a further £5k**
- **Gift Aid and donation income** increased to **£14k,** +250%
3
## Chair's foreword
2020/21 was dominated by the pandemic. Activities of staff, volunteers, and our community were hampered by lockdowns, and we all had to adapt to new ways of living and working. At the time of writing this report, its effects are still felt deeply.
The Scheme’s income increased by £37.5k (-£7.4k FY19/20). Revenue from sales was down by £37.8k but income from restricted grants (£14.5k), Furlough and business interruption grants (£52.7k) and other donations including Gift Aid (£14k) accounted for the increase. Revenue from grant referrals declined by £3.6k, but this was due largely because of lockdown disruption. Costs rose by £15.1k. This is accounted for by Volunteer Coordinator recruitment and salary, increase paint stock and some costs associated with the running of pop-up stores.
We said goodbye to our pop-up store in Putney 12 months after opening. In all, the Scheme generated about £24k in revenue and we are looking at other opportunities within the borough to see whether we can generate additional revenue and interest.
Covid 19 caused disruption to operations. April through to 12 June 2020 saw an almost total shut down of activity at the Scheme. Around our community, many of the homeless were found accommodation, people moving into social housing declined to a trickle and, as a nonessential retailer, the Scheme closed its doors. During the second and third lockdowns, the Scheme was called upon to support those with essential furniture needs. To facilitate this, the Scheme is extremely grateful to the volunteers who stepped into supporting furniture deliveries and, the occasional collection to help bolster stocks.
Frenchic paint became popular as customers realised that the Scheme was one of the few places available with stock. Sales rose by a third on 2019-20 despite lockdowns.
Some volunteers could not support the Scheme during the pandemic because of shielding. However, we still saw 15 new starters. In total, 55 volunteers worked in the Scheme over the FY2020-21. Lucy Stepan, Volunteer Coordinator, joined the team 1 October 2020 and has really helped to drive recruitment and retention. The role was made possible by the generosity of Hampton Fund who supported our vision to drive volunteering.
In fact, one volunteer, Derek Papworth, deserves another special mention (we, quite rightly, praised his efforts last year too). Derek has built on the systems and processes he developed in the previous year by rebuilding our website, developing a webshop integrated with our inventory, further simplifying our Gift Aid process, and he has started work on enhancing our pricing labelling process. We owe Derek a huge debt of gratitude for his time, and for the additional revenue that is resulting from his work; truly outstanding!
A big thanks must go to our local partners including, Hampton Fund, Richmond Parish Lands, Barnes Fund. Richmond Council support us and the community by supporting people who are being rehouse by supplying them with grant money to spend at the Scheme. The council also supplies 1a Fortescue Avenue rent free. Everyone’s financial support is hugely valued by the Scheme and really helped us during this last turbulent year.
4
For the financial year 2020-21, the trustee team was unchanged from the prior year. However, for 2021-22 we have changes to report. Cllr Annie Hambidge retired 31 March 2021. Annie was a terrific servant and supporter of the Scheme and brought her tremendous knowledge of the local council and community to bear. Thanks, Annie for your help and support.
We are also sad to say farewell to Mithu Sengupta due to work and family commitments. Her experience in IT has helped shape the Scheme’s strategy and her input will be greatly missed.
Three new trustees have joined the board, Helen Higgins, Helen Pugh and Ryan Richardson. Between them, they bring years of senior sales, marketing, governance, safeguarding and project management experience to the Scheme. Their contribution is adding tremendous value to the work that we do.
I too will be leaving the board after 10 years of service. Jack Stephen has taken over as Chair. Simon Westgarth, CEO, supported by his team, has taken over the financial reporting and company filing duties of the Scheme.
## J.W.Hallett
**Chair**
## **A big thank you to John Hallett**
As John said above, he will leave the Board of Trustees in November after 10 years, the latter three as Chair. I and our other trustees thank John for his commitment and the great service he has given to our charity throughout.
John exemplifies what is best in the charity sector in Richmond.
We will all miss him.
## Jack Stephen
**(Chair from April 2021)**
5
## Trustees’/directors’ report
## **1. 2020 – 2021 key numbers and activity**
Normal operations were interrupted by lockdowns and other Covid related issues. **Sales** were **down 32% to £80k v 2019/20** .
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Sales £'000s
140
130
120
110
100
90
Covid
80
interupted
70
2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21
**----- End of picture text -----**
We supported **330** households who needed help. **55** volunteers contributed an estimated _**3,000**_ **hours** to help the Scheme
## **Sales**
## **Donations**
**70 tonnes** of furniture donated. This makes a total of **580 tonnes** of furniture donated in the last 11 years.
**53 tonnes** of furniture sold. Around **490 tonnes** of furniture sold in the last 11 years.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
110
100
90
80 Covid
interrupted
70
60
50
40
2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21
Donated Sold
**----- End of picture text -----**
Our Scheme **van** operated for **153 days** completing **886 visits** .
6
## **2. Customers**
Richmond Furniture Scheme’s customers include people receiving benefits and members of the public. The figure below shows that members of the public have increased as a proportion of the overall sales. However, the past year may not be part of a trend given the level of disruption experienced from the pandemic.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2000 2019/20 split %
1500
Agency referred 10
Self-referred 9
1000
General public 81
500
0
2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21
Agency referred Self-referred General public Total
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Grant referrals**
Most grant referrals come via Richmond Council and the Local Assistance Scheme. The figure opposite shows the trend for the last three years and how last year, activity was hampered by the first lockdown.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Local Assistance Scheme cumulative
applications #
250
200
150
100
50
0
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
2018/19 2019/20 2020/21
**----- End of picture text -----**
7
## Customers
**----- Start of picture text -----**
TW2
128
147 117
TW1
76
TW12
76
TW11
355 69
TW10
64
TW9
SW15
TW13
628
Other
Donations
TW2
101
126
TW1
87
TW11
TW9
77
TW12 172
TW10
67
SW14
37
SW13
242
Other 25
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Where do customers and donors come from?**
We collect a lot of post code information to analyse where our customers and donors are from.
While we had the pop up in Putney, perhaps unsurprisingly, transactions increased from that end of the borough. The most popular post codes remain on the Twickenham side of the river Thames.
We would like to see more donors and customers from SW13 and SW14 if at all possible.
As with last year, although the majority of activity was within the borough, we did see some interesting outliers including Brighton, Plymouth and Cambridge.
The illustrations below give an idea of the spread of customers and donors that we have supported in the past 12 months.
8
Customer map
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## **3. Funding and grants**
Richmond Furniture Scheme works with a range of agencies and grant providers. In 2020/21 The Scheme received **£22.5k** in agency referred-grant funding, for people in need, to help them acquire essential, affordable furniture. Here are the groups we worked with in the last financial year.
The Scheme also benefits financially in other ways.
|**Benefactors**|**Donation or benefit**|
|---|---|
|**London Borough**|**£15,700**rentable value of the site at|
|**of Richmond**|Fortescue Avenue|
|**Upon Thames**||
|**Hampton Fund**|**£14,000**salary support|
|**Richmond Parish**|**£5,800**to salary support and**£950**to|
|**Lands**|help construct temporary mobile|
||storage for the yard|
There was a significant increase in income outside of income from the sale of furniture. UK Government provided tremendous support through Furlough and grant support.
|**Source**|**Donation or benefit**|
|---|---|
|**Gift Aid & other donations**|**£14,000**|
|**Furlough support**|**£29,500**|
|**Business interruption grants**|**£23,300**|
10
## **4. Strategy and values. Be kind. Be bold. Be creative**
The Scheme always keeps one eye on future direction. In November 2020, the trustees held a virtual meeting to discuss strategy and to begin work on developing a long-term plan. Little did we appreciate then that COVID would be so disruptive.
One outcome of this work was the desire for some Scheme values that would underpin any future direction and development. We launched a consultation with volunteers and staff. We asked everyone what the Scheme meant to them, and the resulting word cloud shows this in words and short phrases.
**Be kind. Being friendly, compassionate, supportive, and welcoming to the RFS community. Seek to understand before being understood. Being inclusive and non-judgemental. Be bold. Do it now and do it properly. Show leadership. Show courage. Be creative. Always find a way. Innovate and empower action. Make a difference.**
These values are important for the future. They are already supporting decision making, and we are learning to use them; hopefully well.
11
In terms of strategy: we agree that we can and should do more where possible. As well as supporting more people in need of affordable furniture, we need to be more conscientious about the environment, and do more to collect and re-use as much furniture as we can. And, of course, volunteering will play a greater role in this process. There are challenges that need to be addressed as we look to grow:
- **Space** – Fortescue is a great base but there is a limitation on what we can store on site. It can also limit space for volunteers to work.
- **Logistics** – we could collect more, but we will have a challenge to store it. The Scheme van is also showing its age, so we need to review and look at suitable replacement that is compliant with the ultra-low emission zone.
- **Deepen impact across the River Thames** – our base in Twickenham may be lessening our impact across the East of the Richmond borough, we and need to seek solutions to this challenge.
## **5. Systems development**
2020-21 continued the developments from the previous year, adding new features and functions.
In February, we launched our **web shop** . Customers are able to view and buy a wide range of products online. We also designed it so that anyone with a grant or who is set up as a self-referral, can use the site to choose items.
At the same time, we revised the current website to improve performance as well as simplify our web address from www.richmondfurniturescheme.co.uk to www.rfsonline.co.uk . We also upgraded our payments so that we can take payment online, over the phone and via card terminal.
Other systems have been enhanced to improve access, reporting and simplify processes including further work on Gift Aid.
**Derek Papworth** continues to be the chief architect and programmer. His IT skills drive the system development, and we are extremely grateful for his help and ongoing support. We also benefit from Microsoft’s support for charities whereby we receive free access to their suite of office products and databases.
_1 screen shot from the web shop_
12
One area for development is labelling. We are hoping that we can help customers access our store in more novel ways using their own tech. It’s early days but watch this space.
## **6. Team development**
Lucy Stepan, Volunteer Coordinator, joined the team in October 2020. This is a new position for the Scheme which was made possible by the tremendous support from Hampton Fund. The role is focussed on three main areas:
- Volunteer recruitment and retention,
- Volunteer policy and procedure and,
- Understanding more about how we can improve the volunteer experience.
Lucy has made a big impact in a short space of time and our volunteer numbers a very healthy as we write this report.
One of our biggest challenges was coping with the pandemic and most of the team were furloughed at some point or another during various lockdowns. Like many organisations, we adapted our communications to be via Teams or WhatsApp. It’s never quite the same as meeting in person.
There have been more recent changes though. Liliana Tomas, Manager Assistant, has left to pursue a career in interior design with a business in West London. Doubtless, Liliana will dazzle them with her administrative prowess. We have also had two new team members join as part of the Government’s Kickstart initiative. Both settled in well and one, Joeseph Bracken, has now joined the Scheme as Liliana’s replacement.
13
## **7. Volunteering**
Volunteers at the Richmond Furniture Scheme come in all shapes and sizes. We had volunteers from the general public, from schools and colleges, some who were homeless and even the odd trustee. We are a very eclectic mix of people and we are keen to support as many volunteers as we can in order to offer opportunities to the community.
Volunteers engaged in a wide range of tasks and listed below are areas that we benefited greatly from help:
- Retail and warehouse support
- Van operations
- Office support
- Tidying and cleaning (this one never stops)
- Furniture repair
- Up-cycling
- Re-cycling
- Construction and site repair
- Gardening
- Training
Paul Skilling (pictured above), celebrated seven years as a volunteer with the Scheme. We marked the occasion with cake! Paul volunteers in our warehouse supporting customers as well as operations.
- Social media (see below for more information)
- Emergency support!
## **8. Marketing development**
During many a Trustee meeting we said; ‘we must do more to promote the Scheme to the wider public.. know anyone good with Social Media?’ Fortunately, one volunteer, Jessica Andrews, does. She has done an enormous amount of work for the scheme. What Jess looks after includes Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linked-in. Jessica developed our branding and signage too, and we are working on more ideas for the website and beyond – a big thank you to Jessica Andrews.
14
## **9. A volunteer story – community support**
There’s one adventure from the last 12 months that we wanted to share. It involves a chap called John who has consented to us sharing his story.
In 2016, John was homeless. His personal life was in tatters, he was sleeping rough by the Thames, and he was suicidal. To complicate matters, John has learning challenges, ADHD and suffers with physical and mental ill health. Spear stepped in and helped him to get a roof over his head in a house of multiple occupancy in Feltham. With income support, once his rent was paid, John was left with around £10 per week to live on.
To survive, John walked miles and was a frequent visitor to local food banks and community drop ins. One such place was the Vineyard Church in Richmond and, through an association the Scheme developed with the Vineyard, John became a volunteer at the Scheme in the summer of 2020.
John’s always helpful and happy to put a shift in. A big strong guy, he throws himself into physical work, moving furniture, helping to construct our yard shelters, and keeping the Scheme ship shape. Often part of a team of volunteers, his contributions and achievements include:
- Helping to shift furniture into storage when we left Putney,
- Rolling up carpet from Putney that we were able to donate to people who needed it (there was well over a tonne of it),
- Collecting and delivering furniture during lockdowns two and three,
- Helping to clear furniture from a pop-up storage in Fulham (accompanied by show tune renditions blasting out of
- another volunteer’s speaker – he does love a show tune).
Despite having a cheerful disposition, John was dependent on food handouts and his mental health was in a bad place. To make matters worse, while John was tidying up his room a resident brandished a knife at him. Understandably, John was shocked and frightened. He came back to the Scheme looking as white as a sheet. The Police were informed, an arrest was made, but John was too frightened to go back to his room.
Richmond Furniture Scheme has great friends. One, when called upon, stepped in to help and was able to find hotel accommodation for a few nights paid for by a Richmond benefactor. Through our network, we found John seasonal work at a local golf club and, with a large slice of good fortune and tremendous help from our friends in the borough, he moved into a small flat in Twickenham.
We could write a novel about all of John’s trials and tribulations. Suffice to say, John has provided superb support to the Scheme, and we were proud and delighted to have been there for him when he needed help.
15
## **10. Doing the right thing – [Kind. Bold. Creative. Ed]**
There are occasions when the Scheme is called upon to help someone in a pickle. Usually, we receive a referral from one of our many community partners. One such case came from a primary school in Barnes who, because we had worked with a family of their’s before, contacted the scheme about one of their families.
In short, a single mum with four children aged seven and under needed help. She had one family bed, no placed to store clothes, was surviving on benefits and was clearly depressed. Things had got so bad that the children were complaining about coming home and would rather stay with friends.
The Scheme stepped in. Following a visit to assess the situation, we prioritised furniture that would help the family and organised a team of staff and volunteers to go in and assist. Among the tasks we needed to clean, clear out some of the old furniture, construct bunk beds, move in a new sofa, create space for a dining area, put in a stand for the TV, move wardrobes in, make the beds and provide the children with a few toys.
16
The photos tell a little of the story. Clearly, **RFS** was able to help this time ( **we donated the furniture and support free of charge** ) but, we are sure that there are other families, and individuals who need this type of help.
There are other examples of where the Scheme has supported people around our community include:
**The case of a** Help, a child has come to school with scratches from sleeping with a **broken bed!** broken bed. We were able to supply a new cabin bed for the child and a new bed for the mum and dad. **RPLC supported this family with a grant.**
- **Refugee crisis** A family who recently arrived from Afghanistan with three children and a Mum who was eight months pregnant, needed support. Items supplied included chests of drawers, wardrobes and places to sit. **RFS donated the furniture free of charge to the family.**
- **‘Living in a shoe’** We supported a family with six children at home, a mum with a congenital heart condition and the partner. The key requirements were beds, chests of drawers, wardrobes. **RPLC supported this family with a grant.**
## **11. Location, location, location…**
The Scheme broke new ground by having a pop-up shop in Putney on the Upper Richmond Road. RFS worked in partnership with Wandsworth Oasis and shared the space. Many volunteers helped out and one in particular, Raymond Figgins, became as tremendous supporter of the shop from Christmas 2019 until we had to vacate in August 2020.
While Putney has closed, what we learned from our experience will enable us to replicate the model elsewhere and we are looking for new retail opportunities.
17
The Scheme expanded its storage facilities in Surbiton, Kingston and also in the Heart Shopping Centre, Walton. These locations are on pop-up leases which means we get the space free of charge.
## **12. And in other news…**
Apart from Lockdown, Furlough here a couple of initiatives we have been involved with.
**How to handle Covid – Furniture Scheme style**
When the risk assessments have been written, government guidance is flying in from all angles, we needed to take action to see how we could address the needs of operating while trying to stay safe. **Paul Riley** , workshop volunteer, came up with the idea of making gel dispensers from old bed slats and tissue dispensers from left over MDF.
18
**A stitch in time…**
During lockdown, we discussed setting up upholstery at the Scheme. A wonderful volunteer, **Delyth Fetherston-Dilke** [please check out her work on line
https://www.delythupholstery.com/, fantastic sfuff], offered to train up volunteers on the dark arts of upholstery. Of course we said yes and work has now started. Above is the tool cupboard built by workshop volunteers to house the
equipment with special thanks to **Martin Smith** . We have pictures of work in progress too.
**St Margaret’s Fair -** A difficult year for the community, but as soon as we could, we were there!
19
**‘Ready** We’ve been developing our merchandising skills often make up displays of **for the** furniture which have proved popular when we publish the pictures. Google **weekend’** reckons that our photos have been viewed around 50,000 times! Here’s a few set up by Chandra and Chris, we hope you like them.
20
- **And** Lots of us like dogs. The little fellow, Alfie, in the picture posed for a photograph
- **finally** on the back of our van with our CEO. This was one of our more popular social
- **…** media posts too! Alfie has his own Instagram page, @alfie_sits_up if you’d like to follow him.
21
## **13. Outlook for 2021/2022**
The future is uncertain for many. Measures put in place to cope with Covid in 2020 were a great sticking plaster over many social issues. As mentioned earlier in this report, the Scheme benefitted from some of these measures. However, as furlough finishes, rules governing landlord powers to evict are relaxed in favour of landlords and there is a £20 reduction in Universal Credit, pressure will mount on sectors of our community. The demand for our service seems to show no signs of abating.
The Scheme will have to grow and adapt to meet demand. This will mean:
- More furniture collections,
- More furniture to manage,
- More repairs,
- More refurbishment,
- More marketing of our services…
These are challenges that we are excited to take on providing we can support more people in need, reduce waste and provide more opportunities for volunteering.
If you are interested in volunteering for the Scheme, we’d love to hear from you. Volunteering roles vary from warehouse, customer support, administration, furniture repair and refurbishment to upcycling.
For more information and to arrange a meeting, please email us: admin@rfsonline.co.uk or call 020 8755 4665
Here’s to a busy year ahead.
22
## Information about how and why we operate
## **1. Principal activities**
Richmond Furniture Scheme accepts and collects donations of furniture from the general public in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It stores, repairs as necessary, displays and sells at discounted prices to people in need and at marginally higher prices to the general public. The Scheme also provides volunteering opportunities, training and work experience.
## **2. Background**
Richmond Furniture Exchange was established in 1990 and became a registered charity in 1992, changing its name in 1997 to the Richmond Furniture Scheme. From 1st April 2010 the assets of the Scheme were transferred to Richmond Furniture Scheme, a newly formed company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity.
## **3. Objectives**
The Scheme’s objectives, as specified in its Memorandum of Association and agreed by the Charities Commission are the:
- Prevention and relief of poverty by supplying donated furniture and household goods at minimal cost to people in need
- Protection and preservation of the environment by encouraging reuse/recycling of donated furniture and household goods
- Relief of unemployment for the benefit of the public in such ways as may be thought fit, including the provision of training, employment, work experience and volunteering opportunities.
## Governance
## **1. Board**
The governing body of the scheme are the Trustees/Directors, none of whom is paid. The Trustees/Directors who supported the Scheme in 2019 and 2020 are:
23
**Trustee/Director**
**2020/2021**
John Hallett full year (resigned as Chair March 21) Cllr Annie Hambidge Resigned March 21 Mithu Sengupta Resigned June 21 Jack Stephen full year (Chair from April 21) Nicola Anson full year **New starters for 2021** Helen Higgins April 21 Helen Pugh April 21 Ryan Richardson April 21
Trustees/directors are recruited by advertisement, networking and personal contact; they are all asked to identify areas of interest. Their main responsibility is to ensure the good governance of the Scheme by strategic and financial planning, approving and monitoring expenditure, and ensuring sufficient funding is in place. The Trustees hold regular meetings with their appointed CEO where they review operational and financial performance reports and discuss and take decisions on the direction of the Scheme.
## **2. Management and staff**
We have seven paid employees (six FTE). We have Chief Executive Officer, Simon Westgarth, who oversees all aspects of day-to-day business. Simon is supported by two part-time Office Administrators, a Volunteer Coordinator, a Showroom/Warehouse Supervisor, a Van Driver and a Van Driver’s Assistant.
## **3. Risk and internal controls**
The trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the Scheme has an appropriate system of controls in place - financial and otherwise. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Scheme and hence for taking reasonable steps in the prevention and detection of fraud and to ensure data protection and other assurance against irregularities such that:
- The Scheme’s assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use
- Proper records are maintained so that financial information used within the Scheme or for publication is reliable
- The Scheme complies with relevant legislation and regulations.
As part of the Scheme’s system of internal control, the trustees supported by the CEO, record and review risks including their likelihood of occurrence and potential impact and review associated actions to mitigate these.
## Administrative details
## **1. Status**
24
Richmond Furniture Scheme is registered as a Charity in England and Wales (1133019) and as a UK Registered Company Limited by Guarantee (7001417).
## **2. Registered Office and Business Address**
1a Fortescue Avenue Twickenham Middlesex TW2 5LS
## **3. Contact Details**
Telephone 020 8755 4665 Email admin@rfsonline.co.uk Website www.rfsonline.co.uk
## **4. Trustees/Directors at Year End**
Nicola Anson John Hallett (Treasurer and Secretary) Annie Hambidge Jack Stephen Mithu Sengupta
## **5. CEO**
Simon Westgarth
## **6. Accounts Examiner**
Hyatt & Co Onslow Hall Little Green Richmond TW9 1QS
## **7. Bankers**
Cafbank Ltd, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent
## **8. Insurance**
David Edwards Insurance Brokers Ltd WRS Insurance Brokers Ltd Ansfar Insurance
25
## Financial statement
## **Richmond Furniture Scheme Statement of Financial Activities - April 2020 to March 2021**
|**_Incoming Resources_**
notes
1
**Grants**
Hampton Fund
LBRT (Notional Rent)
Richmond Parish Lands (salary support)
Richmond Parish Lands (yard mobile storage)
**Income From**
Sales to Referred Clients
**Charitable**
Sales to Non- Referred Clients
**Activities**
Sales Retail Outlets
Online media traders
Training/Work Experience
Carousel
Paint Sales
**Other Income**
Bank Interest
Donations incl Gift Aid
Furlough receipts for salary support
Covid Business interruption grants
Other
**Total Incoming Resources**
**_Resources Expended_**
**Collection &**
Transport Costs
**Distribution**
**Overhead costs**
Employee Costs
2
Volunteer Expenses
Rent & Rates (LB of Richmond)
Insurance
Utilities
Office equipment/telecoms./computer
Repairs/maintenance/tools/materials
Outdoor Mobile Storage supported by RPLC
Printing & Publicity & Postage & Stationery
Training/health & safety
Retail Outlet Cost
Carousel Materials
Paint Supplies
Depreciation
Covid-19 Hygiene Expenses
Sundry Office Expenses
Fees & Charges
**Capital Expenditures Funded by Grants**
New Portacabin
**Total Resources Expended**
**Net Movement in Funds**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
31,305
35,674
6,445
278
-
273
6,217
80,192
409
14,018
-
23,286
6
37,719
**117,911**
38,828
42,048
4,233
-
2,299
3,577
4,415
258
-
762
-
546
-
3,894
-
743
943
1,604|**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**2020/21**
**£**
**£**
14,000
14,000
15,700
15,700
5,800
5,800
950
950
36,450
36,450
31,305
35,674
6,445
278
-
273
6,217
-
80,192
409
14,018
29,450
29,450
23,286
6
29,450
67,169
**65,900**
**183,811**
38,828
49,250
91,298
4,233
15,700
15,700
2,299
3,577
-
4,415
258
950
950
762
-
546
-
3,894
-
743
943
1,604
-
**65,900**
**170,049**
**-**
**13,762**|**Total**
**2019/20**
**£**
-
15,700
6,300|
|---|---|---|---|
||||22,000|
||||34,934
60,992
17,188
-
125
571
4,100
|
||||117,910|
||||645
5,657
-
-
-|
||||6,302|
|||||
||||**146,212**|
||||35,317
69,408
4,872
15,700
2,625
4,813
8,236
2,008
-
1,153
-
2,848
152
2,995
1,099
-
2,133
1,607
-|
||**104,149**
||**154,966**|
|||||
||**13,762**||**(8,753)**|
26
## **1. Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021**
## **Basis of preparation**
## **Accounting convention**
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities – Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) and with the Charities Act 2011.
## **Incoming resources**
These are included when the charity becomes entitled to them.
## **Resources expended**
Expenditure is included on an accruals basis.
## **Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
All assets costing more than £500 are written off on a straight-line basis over a period of 3-5 years.
## **Note**
## **1. Grants Receivable**
Unrestricted grants are those provided to meet the general running costs of the Scheme. Restricted grants are provided for specific purposes. Most grants received in 2020/21 were restricted.
|Restricted Grants
Purpose
LBRT Grants
Notional Rent
Rent
New Workshop
New Workshop
Hampton Fund
Volunteer Coordinator
Richmond Parish Lands
Employee Costs
Richmond Parish Lands
Yard Storage project
Richmond Parish Lands
Carousel|Balance
b/fwd
Additions
Utilised
Balance
c/fwd
£
£
£
£
0
15,700
15,700
0
1,843
1,843
0
14,000
14,000
0
0
5,800
5,800
0
0
950
950
0
2,500
2,500|
|---|---|
||4,343
36,450
36,450
4,343|
## **2. Staff costs and trustees’ remuneration**
No employees received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in the year. Trustees received no remuneration (2020/21 – Nil) and were not reimbursed for any expenses in the year (2020/21– Nil).
## **3. Fixed Assets**
||**£**|
|---|---|
|Cost at 1stApril 2020|62,267|
|-
Additions in year|Nil|
|Cost at 31stMarch 2021|**62,267**|
27
Depreciation at 1[st] April 2020 60,056 - Depreciation for year 0 Depreciation at 31[st] March 2021 **61,156** Net book value at 1[st] April 2020 12 Net book value at 31[st] March 2021 **12**
**4. Debtors** Sales: £ 13,694 VAT: -£ 359 **Total: £ 13,335**
**5. Creditors Amounts falling due within one year** Suppliers: £9,060 Accruals: £ 300 **Total: £12,660 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year** There were no such liabilities due.
## **6. Designated Funds**
£7,000 is designated for property refurbishment.
28
|**Richmond Furniture Scheme**||**(Company No**|**7001417)**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Balance Sheet as at 31st March**|**2021**|||**2021**||||**2020**|
||Notes|**£**|**£**|**£**||**£**|£|£|
|**Fixed Assets**|||||||||
|Property and|||||||||
|Equipment|3|||12||||12|
|**Current Assets**|||||||||
|Stock of Paint||2,474||||1,190|||
|Debtors|4|13,694||||7,369|||
|Cash at Bank||111,181||||105,274|||
|Petty Cash||659||||349|||
||||128,008||||114,181||
|**Current Liabilities**|||||||||
|Suppliers/accruals|5|3,968||||3,903|||
||||3,968||||3,903||
|**Net Current Assets**||||124,040||||110,279|
|**TOTAL NET ASSETS**||||**£124,052**||||**£110,290**|
|**Representing**|||||||||
|**Unrestricted Funds**|||||||||
|Beginning of the year||98,947||||105,700|||
|Surplus/(Deficit) for the year||_13,762_||||_(6,753)_|||
|End of the year|||112,709||||98,947||
|**Restricted Funds**|1||||||||
|Beginning of year||4,343||||6,343|||
|Surplus/(Deficit) for the year||-||||(2,000)|||
|End of the year|||4,343||||4,343||
|**Designated Funds**|6||||||||
|Beginning of the year||7,000||||7,000|||
|Designations released for the year||-|||-||||
|End of the year|||7,000||||7,000||
|**TOTAL RESERVES**||||**£124,052**||||**£110,290**|
For the year ending 31st March 2021 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors Responsibilities:
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts 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 the preparation of accounts
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the provisions of the small companies' regime
J W Hallett - Director/Trustee
Approved by the Board of Directors/Trustees on 19th October 2021
29
2. Independent Examinerfs Report
Indopendent Examiner's Rèport to thg Trustees of Richmond Furniture Scheme
I report on the accounts of the Richmond Fumiture Scheme for the year ended 31Èt March
2021.
Respective responsibilities of trust and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the pr6paration of the accounts. Thè charity's
trustees consider that an audit is not requirad for this year under section 144 of the Charities
Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. 11 is my
responsibility to..
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Ad",
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the
Charity Commissioners (under section 14515llb} of the Charities Act". and
to stale whether particular matters have ¢orne to my attention.
Basls of independent ex•mln8rfs report
IAY examination was carried tsut on accordance with the General Diredions given by the
Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a VIeW of the accounting records kept by
the charity and a comparison of the a¢counts presented with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unusual items or disc105ure in the 8ccounts. and seeking explanations
from you as trustees con¢erning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not
provide all the evidence that would be required In an audit, and consequently I do not
express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examinerfs ststement
In connection wrth my examination, no matter has come to my attention,"
111 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any materi81 respect the
requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities
Act,. and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and lo comply
with the accounting requirements tsf the Charities Act have not been met.. or
121 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a yoper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Name:
Relevant professional qualiflcat
on or body..
Address:
h4lLL
Date:
30