DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
North London Action for the Homeless
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No. 07178434. Registered Charity No. 1139024.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
The objects of NLAH are to run a drop in centre that is open to all who are homeless or in need, within an ethos of service, respect and acceptance. We also run a wellbeing gardening project as an educational programme to increase the knowledge and skills of people to address food poverty where they learn to grow and cook different food. NLAH strives to influence policy and overcome barriers to accommodation and other services to which homeless and excluded people are entitled.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative information | 4 |
| Report of the trustees | 5 |
| Independent examiner’s report | 9 |
| Statement of financial activities | 11 |
| Statement of financial position | 12 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 13 |
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
Trustees
Jessica Hodge (Chair) Conor Gibson (Vice Chair) George Currie (Treasurer) (appointed 8 January 2023) Elizabeth Barnes Sarah Baker-White (appointed 1 July 2021) Jayne Doherty (appointed 1 July 2021) James Nguyen (appointed 30 November 2022)
Registered Office
St Paul’s Church West Hackney Stoke Newington Road London N16 7UY
Charity and Company Registration
Registered charity 1139024
Company limited by guarantee in England and Wales 07178434
Independent examiner
Kim D Hooper 132 Admirals Tower 8 Dowells Street London SE10 9GE
Banker
Unity Trust Bank plc Nine Brindleyplace 4 Oozells Square Birmingham B1 2HB
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
Activities, Achievements and Performance
This year we continued to adapt to the challenges presented by Covid whilst reintroducing more social contact to our services. We re-opened the hall for sit down meals and re-started our gardening sessions. Serving meals in both the garden and the hall, catering to the different preferences of our service user guests.
We changed how we ran our drop-in service in line with the evolving health guidelines throughout the year. We were particularly pleased to provide more advocacy support than in previous years. The social distancing rules provided an opportunity for staff to build stronger relationships with our guests, due to having more one on one conversations, which we observed in turn reduced the potential for conflict at drop-in sessions.
Due to lockdown restrictions, we suspended the Evering Road Wellbeing and Garden Project for much of the 2020 year. We were pleased to re-start the sessions in 2021 to provide a supported social activity for our guests.
While we are functioning well as an organisation, for many, the Covid crisis has been swiftly followed by a cost of living crisis, and the voluntary sector is as critical as ever in supporting the community.
NLAH is turning 30 next year, our core values of providing a meal to all those who visit us remains at the heart of what we do. We cannot control the political and economic context we are in, but we choose as an organisation, as a group of people, to come together every week to look out for each other, to be a friendly face, to provide practical help and support, to care for one another.
Our key outputs were:
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Adapted our twice weekly drop-in sessions to safely provide more than 5,500 nutritious meals, offered either as a sit down three course meal or as a take away.
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Ran 14 gardening sessions and 2 events to celebrate and socialise in the garden.
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Provided support 189 times to our guests, such as providing letters of support for PIP claims, liaising with health care providers, calling utility companies, acting as a care of address, arranging foodbank vouchers and other referrals.
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Provided 911 food parcels with suitable shelf stable foods and toiletries. We wound down this service towards the end of the year, as donations of shelf stable items declined from local mutual aid groups.
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Continued to be a hub for other organisations to offer support services such as health checks.
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Provided access to 245 hot showers and 137 laundry washes and 122 free haircuts.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
Service User Survey December 2021 Snapshot
Our annual survey of service users showed the following:
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Decrease of female service users to 18% (2020: 24% 2019: 13%)
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Less Hackney based service users at 74% (2020: 80% 2019: 69%)
● Decrease in unemployed service users at 74% (2020: 84% 2019: 72%); 1% reporting as employed (2020: 0% 2019: 7%). 15.9% reporting as retired (2020: 7%).
● Decrease in respondents reporting mental health problems at 56% (2020: 63%) and decrease in reporting of long term illness or disability at 57% (2020: 65%)
● Increase in rough sleepers at 16% (2020:6%, 2019: 25%). There was a programme to house more people following the Government’s ‘Everyone In’ programme during the pandemic. 40% of our service users reported being homeless (2020: 36%)
Our plans for 2022-23
Based on feedback from our guests, we plan to run a Social Isolation Project where we host an activity once per month to provide social opportunity for our guests.
We intend to find ways we can provide additional support for the cost of living challenges, either through discretionary financial support or referrals.
Recruit additional trustees to the NLAH board, to ensure we have the skills required to support our future development.
Continue to review our diversity and inclusivity behaviours and monitoring.
Financial Review and Reserves Policy
NLAH continues to enjoy strong local support from charitable funds and trusts, businesses and individuals.
During 2021-22, NLAH received over £52,000 in donations from the community and local businesses. The generosity of our local community ensured we were able to continue to focus on our service delivery supported by a secure financial position.
NLAH also received £15,000 in grant funding. Details of our grant funding are shown in note 2 to the accounts.
A large numbers of individuals volunteer their time at the twice weekly drop in sessions, with an active pool of 80 volunteers. The charity is also grateful to all those local businesses and individuals who have supported it during the year by donating food or other items and services.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
Expenditure increased during the year by over £4,000 to £90,000 (5% increase). This was largely due to increase in staff costs, attributable to additional hours and wage increases.
The charity aims to hold between three and six months running costs in reserve. There has been no change to the Reserve Fund over the period, maintained at £45,000, reflecting approximately six months of expenses.
Structure, governance and management
North London Action for the Homeless (NLAH) has been supporting homeless and vulnerable people in Stoke Newington for 29 years. NLAH was formed by members of the local community in 1993 and held its first drop in session that year.
NLAH originally formed as an unincorporated charity, registration number 1032580. The present charity was incorporated in 2010 and on 31 March 2010 the activities of charity number 1032580 were transferred to it.
The Charity’s trustees are appointed by the board and stand for re-election by the Charity’s Members at the Annual General Meeting. The trustees meet on average every six weeks, together with Management Committee including staff and members.
On a day to day basis, NLAH is run by five part-time staff. The Co-Centre Managers have responsibility for overseeing the running of the drop in sessions (twice weekly), volunteer recruitment and the gardening Wellbeing project. We have a Support worker that assist the Co-Centre managers with running the drop in sessions. The Cook oversees the running of the kitchen for the drop in sessions. NLAH also employs a Mental Health support worker for the Wellbeing project.
Fundraising
NLAH raises money from charitable trusts (noted in the financial reports), a donation page on JustGiving, Charities Aid Foundation, and a small number of fundraising events. Companies or individuals can set up campaign pages on the JustGiving to raise funds on behalf of NLAH.
NLAH invites supporters to fundraising events. NLAH also promotes our annual Winter appeal, where we collect donations on JustGiving. We also make it known if we are looking for particular items for donation on our social media channels. NLAH does not contact individuals requesting donations.
THANK YOU
We would like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters. Big or small, all of the assistance we receive is the reason we can keep our doors open to all those in need. Firstly, to all of our drop-in session volunteers, thank you for all your work supporting our sessions.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
For attending our sessions to provide services to our guests or accepting referrals:
Dual Diagnosis Rough Sleep Project Groundswell Hackney Migrant Centre Hackney Street Outreach Response Team Hackney Winter Night Shelter Homerton Hospital Homeless pathway Project Money A+E NHS Rough Sleepers Mental Health Project (RAMPH) Salvation Army Employment Plus Turning Point Substance Misuse Service UCL Mobile Health Unit WISER Project
For financial grants and donations:
Apex Mobiletach Castle Gibson Doteveryone Hackney Comic and Zine Fair Highgate School Irusu candles Moveable Ink Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects Rose & Crown Pub Quiz University College School Hampstead West Hackney Parochial Charity Wolf and Moon
For food and goods donations:
Akdeniz Amhurt GoBalls Castle Gibson City Pantry Faith in Nature Francis Holland School Growing Communities Hackney Council Winter Grant Hackney Hygiene Bank Laptops 4 Charity Lush Stratford Moveable Ink Mutual Aid Group (Stoke Newington) Sai Baba Curry Jessica Hodge Chair 26 January 2023
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of North London Action for the Homeless
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2022, which are set out on pages 11 to 15.
This report is made solely to the trustees as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. My examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the 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 trustees as a body, for my examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Kim D Hooper 132 Admirals Tower 8 Dowells Street London SE10 9GE
Date: 27 January 2023
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2022
| Notes Incoming resources Grants 2 Donations and fundraising activities Total incoming resources Resources expended Drop In Centre running costs Wellbeing Programme running costs Advocacy Service running costs Accounting and governance costs Fundraising / publicity Total resources expended Net incoming / (outgoing) resources Transfer between funds Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
2022 2021 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total 0 15,000 15,000 44,800 52,814 0 52,814 72,885 |
|---|---|
| 52,814 15,000 67,814 117,685 |
|
| 44,445 26,517 70,962 73,686 5,769 0 5,769 3,228 11,853 0 11,853 7,098 1,328 0 1,328 1,608 562 0 562 436 |
|
| 63,957 26,517 90,474 86,056 |
|
| (11,143) (11,517) (22,660) 31,629 0 0 0 0 |
|
| (11,143) (11,517) (22,660) 31,629 78,791 21,517 100,308 68,679 |
|
| 67,648 10,000 77,648 100,308 |
The notes on pages 13 to 15 form part of these accounts.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
| Statement of Financial Position as of 31 March 2022 | Statement of Financial Position as of 31 March 2022 |
|---|---|
| Notes | 2022 2021 |
| Total Total |
|
| Tangible fixed assets 5 |
0 0 |
| Current assets | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 79,938 100,808 |
| Creditors falling due within one year | |
| Creditors and accruals 6 |
2,290 500 |
| Net current assets | 77,648 100,308 |
| Net assets | 77,648 100,308 |
| Funds | |
| Restricted Income Funds 9 |
10,000 21,517 |
| Reserve Fund - Designated 9 |
45,000 45,000 |
| Unrestricted Income Funds - not designated 9 |
22,648 33,791 |
| 77,648 100,308 |
Audit Exemption Statement
For the year ended 31 March 2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors’ (who are also trustees of the charity) responsibilities:
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the members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476;
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the directors’ acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of the accounts;
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these accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
Approved by the directors on 26 January 2023 and authorised for issue and signed for on their behalf by:
Jessica Hodge Chair
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
Notes to the Financial Statements
1 Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
Grants
Grants are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) as received following the satisfaction of any pre-conditions.
Donations and other income
Donations and other income are recognised when received.
Gifts in kind
Much of the food used by the charity is donated by local businesses. No value is assigned to contributions of food or clothes donations passed onto service users, or the provision of the services of a health access worker and a hairdresser. Similarly, the contribution by volunteers is not recognised in the accounts. Other gifts in kind are valued at their value to the charity.
Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis.
Allocation of expenditure
Expenditure is allocated directly to the appropriate fund, and where this is not possible costs are apportioned on the basis of time spent on the relevant activity.
Fixed assets
Expenditure on renewals, fixtures and fittings which exceeds £400 is capitalised.
Provision for depreciation of capitalised fixed assets held for use by the charity is made at annual rates calculated to write down their cost over their useful lives.
Kitchen equipment three years Office equipment three years
Provisions
Where the charity has an obligation to transfer economic benefits but no liability has been recognised, a provision is raised in accordance with FRS 12.
Taxation
No provision for taxation is included in the accounts as the charity is entitled to exemption from tax afforded by Section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.
Funds structure
The charity has a single unrestricted income fund and some of the grants received are restricted to a particular purpose. Part of the unrestricted income fund has been designated by the Management Committee as a Reserve Fund. See note 9 for further details.
Cashflow
The charity qualifies as a small company and therefore, in accordance with FRS1, no cashflow statement is required.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
2. Grants
| Grants | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| West Hackney Parochial Charity | 15,000 | 15,000 | ||
| National Lottery Covid-19 Fund | 20,000 | |||
| Merchant Taylors' Company | 19,800 | |||
| Hackney Parochial Charity | ||||
| (Covid-19) | 1,000 | |||
| South Hackney Parochial Charity | ||||
| (Covid-19) | 1,000 | |||
| BettyMessenger Foundation | 3,000 | |||
| Total | 0 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 44,800 |
3. Salary costs
During the year the charity employed five (2021: five) part-time employees. No employee earned more than £60,000 per annum.
Salary costs are allocated across the different activities of the charity.
4. Insurance
Public & employer's liability Insurance was purchased at a cost of £316 (2021: £316).
Trustees Indemnity insurance was purchased for £351 (2021: £510).
5. Creditors and accruals
| 2022 2021 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Accounting and governance costs | 1,000 500 |
|
| Payroll expenses | 841 0 |
|
| Accrued pension costs | 449 0 |
|
| Total | 2,290 500 |
6. Trustees remuneration and expenses
None of the trustees were remunerated directly or indirectly (2021: nil). During the year, £23 in expense reimbursements were paid to trustees (2021: nil).
7. Contingencies and contractual commitments
In the opinion of the members of the management committee, as at 31.03.2022 there were no contingent liabilities and no contractual commitments (2021: nil). No assets are held under leases.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 48F0BE47-5E0B-47EE-AB36-DA4DEE4676DD
North London Action for the Homeless Trustees Report and Financial Statements - 31 March 2022
8. Funds
| 8. Funds | |
|---|---|
| Restricted Funds National Lottery Covid-19 Fund Merchant Taylors' Company West Hackney Parochial Charity Total Restricted Funds Reserve Fund - designated Unrestricted Income Funds Total Funds |
At 31/03/2021 Income Expenditure Transfers At 31/03/2022 £ £ £ £ £ 6,667 - (6,667) - - 14,850 - (14,850) - - - 15,000 (5,000) - 10,000 |
| 21,517 15,000 (26,517) - 10,000 |
|
| 45,000 - - - 45,000 33,791 52,814 (63,957) - 22,648 |
|
| 100,308 67,814 (90,474) 0 77,648 |
Details of the restricted grants were as follows:
National Lottery Covid-19 Fund
Purpose/service Use of grant
Drop in service Dec 2020 – May 2021
Staff costs & rent costs
Merchant Taylors's Company Purpose/service Use of grant
Drop in service 2020 - 2022 Staff costs & running costs
West Hackney Parochial Charity
Purpose/service
Use of grant
Drop in service Dec 2021 – Nov 2022 Staff Costs & running costs
The trustees have designated £45,000 as a Reserve Fund in line with the charity’s reserves policy to hold three to six months operating expenses in reserve.
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