Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 October 2024
Reg. Co. 07826095 Reg. Charity. 1144669
The LifeHouse Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the Year Ended 31 October 2024
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These accounts have been approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Mr Michael Morell Trustee and Treasurer Date: 16/08/25
The notes on pages 1 to 12 form an integral part of these financial statements.
The LifeHouse
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2024
1. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005)', issued in March 2005, the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008) and the Companies Act 2006.
Fund accounting policy
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
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Incoming resources
Donations are recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the statement of financial activities at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
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Activities Undertaken Directly Total Funds Year Ended Totsl Funds Year Ended Restricted 31st Oct Funds 31st Oct 2024 £13.676 £3.018 £25,505 £3.184 2023 Salarie5 & Wages Volunteer Expenses Rent and Venue Hire Ministry Gifts & Donations Hospitality Light & Heat LifeHouse Food Maintenance& Refurbishment other LifeHouse Costs Client Help Equipment Vehicle Expenses £10,578 £3.279 £20,025 £3,857 £22 £8.815 £26.092 £3.290 £1,703 £4.131 £13,690 E456 £103.560 £7,839 £18,370 £7,908 £1,579 £3,711 £3,751 £0 £0 £80,919 Support Costs Total Funds Year Ended 31st Ort 2023 Unrestrirted Funds Insurance Travel & Subsistente £1,631 £778 £224 General Expenses Office Cost, Stationery. postage Repairs & renewal Bank Charges Book5 & Subscriptions Conference Costs Auditing & Accountancy Fees Legal & Profesional £645 £2.496 £517 £148 £216 £2,199 £2,006 £7,289 £347 £448 £260 £1.296 £1,158 £8.367 £620 £1.296 £63 £15.270 Page 4
Restricted funds have been given for specifically use in refurbishment and re-equipment, e.g. purchasing of new fridges and freezers. Also for the running of the LifeHouse Homeless Food Kitchen, e.g. specifically for food purchasing. These are in addition to grants and funding that is unrestricted.
Taxation
The LifeHouse is a registered charity and is, therefore, exempt from taxation.
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The LifeHouse Reference and Administrative Details
| Charity name | The LifeHouse |
|---|---|
| Charity registration number | 1144669 |
| Company registration number | 07826095 |
| Principal Office | 153 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4 0JW |
| Registered Office | 153 Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4 0JW |
| Trustees | Mr Peter John Robinson, (Appointed 13 November 2016 – Chair of Trustees) |
| Mr Helen Robinson, (Appointed 16 December 2021) | |
| Mrs Paula Bettina Jolly (Appointed 1 September 2018) | |
| Mr Michael Morell, (Appointed 6 September 2016) | |
| Bankers | CAF BANK |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, | |
| West Malling, Kent, | |
| ME19 4JQ | |
| Independent Examiner | Jeremy Brown |
| 14 Marion Road | |
| Southsea | |
| Portsmouth | |
| Hampshire | |
| PO4 0QX |
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The LifeHouse
Trustees' Report
The Trustees present their report and accounts for the period ended 31 October 2024.
The LifeHouse was incorporated on 27th October 2011 and granted charitable status on 15[1h] November 2011.
Structure, governance and management
The company is a company limited by guarantee. The liability of the members is limited by their guarantee. In the event of the company being wound up during the period of their membership (or within a year following), members undertake to contribute such amounts as may be required, up to a maximum of £1.
Objectives and activities
The company's charitable objects are:
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a) to relieve hunger, sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind, including through the provision of counselling, training in life skills and support in such parts of Portsmouth, the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees from time to time may think fit.
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b) to provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.
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c) to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the statement of beliefs in ways that the trustees from time to time may think fit.
Overview
Our staff team at LifeHouse have continued to work hard to deliver the best possible service to callers and guests in need throughout this year. We meet new people on a daily basis, many new to the area and many in substandard accommodation or rough sleeping.
It’s good to reflect how we have recruited many excellent volunteers during this period, many specialising in specific roles, spreading responsibilities amount the team and less on key staff and the manager.
We continue to offer a choice of food at our public meals on Wednesdays and Thursdays to 100+ guests each time, our food parcel and ready meals deliveries to those who can’t or shouldn’t come out, food parcel service on our kitchen door 3-4 days a week, free clothes, bedding and equipment, as well as care services for hair, feet, ears and pets. In addition, we have the service offered by Advice Portsmouth on a Wednesday morning, during our breakfast, for a myriad of concerns and problems our guests may have, including rent, benefit and financial issues.
When our new van collection and delivery van was purchased second hand, we put together a team of van drivers to share the work and maximising effective use of the vehicle.
We have continued to make venue and building improvements, like a rebuilt larder, new coffee bard in our dining room, cupboards and shelf in the kitchen hatch area. These projects make our venue more efficient, hygienic and effectively future proofed. We have started to plan our new, allstainless-steel kitchen due to be built next year.
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The LifeHouse
Trustees' Report Continued….
Other Achievements
The LifeHouse supports and encourages other Food Kitchens and Parlours across the City, working with them to help care for those that are homeless, vulnerable and mentally ill. We share food and resources with other Centres to do this and minimise food wastage.
The LifeHouse continued to provide financial support to Compassion International (child schooling sponsorship in Togo).
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity and company should undertake.
Financial review
Financially the charity is secure. The unrestricted fund balance has increased this year by some 25% to £59,523 which includes £15,218 of our medium and long-term saving in the Hampshire Trust Bank and Aldermore Business Savings exceed the reserves policy of three months' expenditure as agreed by the Trustees, and reflects both stability in the charity finances and vigilance by the Trustees.
The Trustees continue to review the major risks to which the company is exposed in order to establish systems to manage those risks. Our Safeguarding and other Policies and Risk Assessments continue to be reviewed.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the small company regime under the Companies Act 2006.
Approved by the Board of Trustees for The LifeHouse on its behalf by:
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Date: 16/08/25
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The LifeHouse
Trustees' Responsibilities in relation to the Financial Statements
The Trustees (who are also Directors of The LifeHouse for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, of the charitable company 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 in the Charities SORP;
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of
The LifeHouse
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 October 2024, which are set out on the preceding pages.
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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i. examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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ii. 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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iii. 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.
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:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and 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.
Jeremy Brown
Independent Examiner Date: 31/08/2025
Jeremy Brown
14 Marion Road
Southsea
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO4 0QX
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