2025-03-31-accounts - Staple Hill Community Hub

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STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Charity Number 1156184

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

CONTENTS	Pages
Reference and administrative information	1
Report of the Trustees	2 – 6
Independent Examiner’s Report	7
Receipts and Payments accounts	8
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	9

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

REFERENCE AND ADMINSTRATIVE INFORMATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Status

The Hub was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 14 March 2014 with charity number 1156184.

Members of the Board of Trustees

The trustees who served during the period and since the period-end were as follows:

William Lee Chair & Treasurer (Stood down as Chair 19/9/24, resigned as Trustee 21/11/24, reappointed as Trustee and Chair 21/2/25) Tracey McCarthy Trustee (Appointed 20/6/24 Chair 19/9/24 Resigned 2/25) Clive Heath Trustee (Stood down Jan 2025 and re appointed 20/3/25) Angela Bragg Trustee (Stood down July 2025) David James Trustee Michael Bell Trustee Lynne Pick Trustee (Resigned June 2024) Mary Blestowe Trustee (appt 18 April 2024) Irene Draper Trustee (appt 21 November 2024) Ian Scott Trustee (appt 20 February 2025) Carolyn Donoghue Trustee (appt 20 March 2025) Sandra Holt Trustee (resigned May 2024) Lorraine Millard Trustee (appt 17 October 2024, resigned March 2025) Alice Hall Trustee (resigned May 2024) Gareth Raymond Trustee (appt 18 September 2025)

Secretary to the Board of Trustees

Carolyn Donoghue, Staple Hill Community Hub, 1a Berkeley House, Berkeley Road, Staple Hill, South Glos., BS16 5HS

Principal Office

1a Berkeley House, Berkeley Road, Staple Hill, Bristol, BS16 5HS

Independent examiner

Paul Brown FCIE DChA, Rose & Leaf Ltd, Suite 2 14 – 15 Triangle South, Bristol BS8 1EY

Bankers

Lloyds Bank Plc, PO Box 1000, BX1 1LT

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting this report and the unaudited financial statements of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) for the period ended 31 March 2025.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Trustee selection methods

The CIO operates under a 'Foundation' model constitution where the only voting members are its charity trustees. Trustee appointments are made as follows:

Appointed Trustees: Apart from the first charity trustees, every appointed trustee must be appointed for a term up until the AGM following their appointment. They, and any trustees being appointed at the AGM, can then be appointed for a term of three years by resolution passed at the AGM. In selecting individuals for appointment, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for effective administration of the CIO. At least two trustees should be members of the local community.

Nominated Trustees: The constitution provides for the Staple Hill Partnership to appoint up to two charity trustees for three-year terms. However, the Staple Hill Partnership was dissolved at the end of 2023, making this provision inoperative. The constitution has not yet been updated to reflect this change.

General Requirements: There must be at least six charity trustees, with a maximum of twelve. All trustees must be natural persons aged 16 or over (with at least one trustee aged 18 or over). Trustees who have served three consecutive three-year terms may not be reappointed for a fourth consecutive term but may be reappointed after an interval of at least one year.

Additional Information

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees: The trustees regularly review and update the Hub's policies, including Safeguarding, Equalities and Data Protection policies, ensuring they are fitting and proportionate. All trustees are involved in this process.

The charity's organisational structure and any wider network: The Hub operates from a ground floor flat within a social housing estate, directly embedded in the community it serves. The organisational structure includes a small professional staff team (Hub Manager, Assistant Manager, Admin Assistant, Lunch Club Manager, Cleaner) and a Board of Trustees.

The Hub works collaboratively with statutory bodies, community organisations, other charities, and local service providers including South Gloucestershire Council, local ward councillors, Kingswood Job Centre, various community learning organisations, local churches, schools, and housing providers.

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document

The Staple Hill Community Hub was established in 2007 with the core mission to reduce deprivation, support those experiencing disadvantage, and build community resilience in Staple Hill. The organisation benefits residents of the Staple Hill neighbourhood in South Gloucestershire. The services provided are generally free or involve a small charge and are open to the general public, with the majority of users being from the Staple Hill area. The Hub operates from a ground floor flat within a housing estate, strategically located in an area ranked among the 15% most deprived in England, ensuring direct access to those who benefit most. The Hub's strategic aims are:

Creating a welcoming and supportive environment
Promoting social connections and reducing isolation
Building community resilience through the provision of resources
Supporting skills development, confidence, and independence

Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit The Hub's service delivery model focuses on practical interventions across key areas: food security initiatives, employment support programs, social and community activities, and skills development opportunities. Activities include:

Lunch Club: Operates twice weekly, catering to vulnerable adults and the elderly to combat social isolation, poverty, and health disparities. Provides nutritious, subsidised two-course meals in a welcoming social atmosphere.

Job Searchers Support Group (JSSG): A weekly group providing tailored employment support for those facing significant barriers to entering the workforce, including personalised CV development, online application assistance, interview training, and IT skills coaching. Also offers a Benefits Advice service.

Singing for the Brain: A weekly group activity using singing and vocal exercises to help improve brain activity and well-being, supporting people with physical/neuro disabilities, including stroke and those living with dementia, along with their carers and families.

Friendship and Exercise Clubs: Three groups that encourage older people to stay active and form new social connections, tackling isolation among elderly residents.

Emergency Food Parcels: Provides immediate aid with food and hygiene essentials during financial crises, bill shocks, or while awaiting food bank referrals, without requiring formal referrals.

Children's Services: Terrapins After School Club provides opportunities for children aged 6- 11 to socialise, play, exercise, and includes a light meal. Sprouts is an after-school gardening and nature club for children aged 7-11, promoting gardening skills and biodiversity.

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Additional Services: Coffee Mornings offer a warm social space with complementary refreshments. Fresh Air and Free Food is a children's school holiday breakfast event held in Page Park. The Hub also provides signposting services, affordable kitchen use for local families, and room hire for aligned groups.

Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit

The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The Hub's activities are designed to address identified community needs and are developed through ongoing community consultation and responsive adaptation to emerging needs, ensuring maximum impact and efficient resource use for public benefit. The Hub has and implements an Equality and Diversity Policy to ensure services are equally accessible to all.

Additional Information

Contribution made by volunteers: The Hub's operations are heavily reliant on its 50 dedicated volunteers who form the backbone of the organisation. Volunteers contribute to various services including the Job Searchers Support Group, Lunch Clubs, children's gardening group, friendship clubs, emergency food parcels, and one-off events. Their collective contribution touched over 4,500 lives this year.

Achievements and Performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity

In 2024-25, Staple Hill Community Hub positively impacted over 4,500 lives through direct services and community connections. This includes 787 direct beneficiaries (individuals attending programs and services) and 3,800 indirect beneficiaries (family members, carers, and broader community members who benefit from the Hub's work).

Key achievements include:

Lunch Club: Saw a 61% increase in attendance, growing from 968 to 1,524 attendances per year, serving 1,524 meals over 92 sessions. Exceeded its target of 1,350 attendances by 13%. This service significantly reduces isolation, improves nutrition, and fosters social connections.

Job Searchers Support Group (JSSG): Supported 46 individuals (up from 28 in 2023-24) and achieved 17 placements into employment, training, or volunteering, exceeding its target of 15. Total attendee visits reached 236 against a target of 150 (157% of target).

Singing for the Brain: Had 422 total attendee visits over 49 sessions, exceeding its target of 400 (106% of target). This program helps improve brain activity, reduces social isolation, and provides peer support for those with long-term health conditions.

Friendship Clubs: Combined attendances totalled 1,830 across three groups, with the Tuesday club notably exceeding its target of 400 by 36%. These clubs are very popular with elderly residents and help tackle isolation.

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Emergency Food Parcels: Provided 72 food parcels over the year, supporting 88 adults and 24 children, offering immediate help without referral barriers.

Children's Services: Terrapins After School Club provided a safe, nurturing environment with 169 attendees over 34 sessions. Sprouts gardening club had 139 attendees over 23 sessions.

Room Hire: Generated £1,457 in income, surpassing its target of £1,200 by 26%.

Additional Information

Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set: The Hub's finances for 202425 showed a deficit of £17k, which does not pose an immediate threat due to healthy reserves. Fundraising efforts included £23,200 from the Service Level Agreement with South Gloucestershire Council. Other income sources totalled £13,949 in grants and donations, including £4,710 from Quartet Community Foundation, over £1,000 in local donations, and £1,500 from a local charitable trust. A significant achievement was securing three-year funding from The National Lottery, providing crucial financial stability moving forward.

Financial Review

Review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period

The Staple Hill Community Hub ended the 2024-25 financial year with a deficit of £17,000. The main source of income remained the funding from South Gloucestershire Council under their service level agreement, which has remained constant for several years despite increasing costs due to inflation and new services.

Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held

The Hub's policy is to maintain a healthy level of reserves to provide financial stability and enable the organisation to continue its services despite fluctuations in income or unexpected costs. Reserves are held to ensure that the Hub can address the need for new income sources from a position of strength and to safeguard against immediate cutbacks.

Amount of reserves held

At the year-end unrestricted reserves stood at £65,616 which represents 90% of the level of outgo for the year.

Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern There are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern. While the Hub ended the year with a deficit, this is mitigated by the healthy level of reserves. Furthermore, the recently secured three-year funding from The National Lottery provides significant financial stability, ensuring the future of essential services for Staple Hill residents.

Additional Information

The charity's principal sources of funds: Service Level Agreement funding from South Gloucestershire Council (main source), other South Gloucestershire grants, grants from organisations such as Quartet Community Foundation and National Lottery, donations, income from room hire and activities, and interest income on reserves.

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Risk review

The trustees confirm that the major risks, to which the organisation is exposed, as identified by it, have been reviewed and systems have been established to manage these risks. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of effective internal control procedures, which ensure both appropriate authorisation of all transactions and projects and consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the organisation. These procedures are periodically reviewed for their continuing effectiveness.

Organisational structure

The charity is run by the Trustees who meet on a regular basis. Powers are delegated to officers and volunteers as and when appropriate.

Responsibilities of the Trustees

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 and Wales 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements, and
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 sufficient accounting records that 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.

Principal Office Signed by order of the trustees 1a Berkeley House Berkeley Road Staple Hill Bristol William Lee BS16 5HS Treasurer

Approved by the Trustees on …………………….

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

I report on the accounts of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 8 to 9.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s 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.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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 Commissioners. 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 the seeking of 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, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
(a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
(b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act and the regulations made there under

have not been met;

to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Paul Brown FCIE DChA Rose & Leaf Ltd

2 Ger Y Mynydd Hirwaun Aberdare CF44 9RD

………………………..

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

RECEIPTS Other grants & donations Rental income Friendship & Exercise Club Lunch Club Staple Hill Reneration Project Investment income PAYMENTS Salary Friendship & Exercise Club Lunch club Terrapins after school club Job searchers Support Group Emergency Food Parcels Fresh Air & Free Food Volunteer Support costs Christmas Events Remembrance Sunday Singing for the brain Bee Bold & Sprouts Kids Lunch club Coffee Morning Staple Hill Christmas Tree Staple Hill Signpost newsletter Overheads Fundraising Staple Hill Partnership Net of receipts/(payments) Cash funds as at 31 March 2024 Cash funds as at 31 March 2025 South Gloucestershire Council - Service Level Agreement	Unrestricted Restricted Year Ended Year Ended Funds Funds 31-Mar-25 31-Mar-24 £ £ £ £ 23,200 - 23,200 23,200 4,468 13,837 18,305 29,032 1,582 - 1,582 3,535 5,502 - 5,502 3,544 4,686 - 4,686 3,496 - - - 16,709 2,493 - 2,493 719
	41,931 13,837 55,768 80,235
	33,396 - 33,396 22,638 8,460 1,627 10,087 7,307 3,752 5,250 9,002 6,759 1,839 902 2,741 1,398 - 1,505 1,505 2,420 - 1,819 1,819 1,040 83 217 300 379 755 - 755 585 386 661 1,047 1,095 9 964 973 - 280 1,155 1,435 422 315 1,766 2,081 10,069 - - - 61 30 4 34 314 - 2,133 2,133 860 381 430 811 235 1,329 3,185 4,514 5,938 79 - 79 382 - - - 8,250
	51,094 21,618 72,712 70,152
	(9,163) (7,781) (16,944) 10,083
	74,798 8,772 83,570 73,487

	65,635 991 66,626 83,570

STAPLE HILL COMMUNITY HUB

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

AT 31 MARCH 2025

CASH FUNDS Current account Deposit account Petty Cash Total Cash Fund Assets Other debtors LIABILITIES Other Creditors Independent examiners fee	Unrestricted Restricted Year Ended Year Ended Funds Funds 31-Mar-25 31-Mar-24 £ £ £ £ 12,514 990 13,504 32,998 52,493 - 52,493 50,000 629 - 629 572
	65,636 990 66,626 83,570
	- - - -
	- - - - 200 - 200 200

Signed by the trustee on behalf of the board of trustees

………………….. William Lee (Treasurer)

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