07810 005763 office@acts4sharing.org acts4sharing.org
## Annual Report 2022-23
## **Introduction by the trustees**
This is Acts4Sharing’s ninth year as a charitable organisation, thankfully as you will read, we have managed to satisfy the growing demands of our service users and continue to meet the charity’s objective in bringing relief of poverty, encouragement, love, and compassion to all those referred to us. The provision by the staff, volunteers and all those associated with Acts4Sharing has significantly grown this year to meet this ever-increasing challenge.
As always, we give a special ‘thank you’ to all our wonderful volunteers, our partner churches and organisations, the trustees, referral personnel and the many donors for their amazing support. Also, and as important all those praying for the work of Acts4Sharing, as we have seen so many times the difference this has made in helping and supporting so many needy people - praise be to God!
Thank you so very much!
‘Acts4Sharing’ is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission in England. No.1158033, so read on and be encouraged with what God is doing through A4S. We hope that you find this report helpful and informative and if you want to know more just visit our website: acts4sharing.org
## **Thank you**
We give thanks and praise to God, our heavenly Father, for guiding us through another year at Acts4Sharing. Our work is undergirded by constant prayer, with many continuing to join together each month to pray for the people we have been involved with and also the practical aspects of the ministry, both in the immediate and for the steps we should be taking as we move forward with Him and for Him.
donations arriving just at the right time for those in need of it; the right volunteers being available to carry out the necessary tasks, and sometimes even the right tasks needing to be done to suit the volunteers who are ‘on duty’ at Hope HQ on any given day.[ 1]
We continue to thank God for the privilege of serving Him and being able to ‘Share His love in practical ways’ in our local community
Obviously, the ministry of Acts4Sharing needs many willing and enthusiastic hands for it to be carried out. We are hugely thankful for the amazing team of volunteers who serve faithfully. Some are at Hope HQ on a weekly basis helping to sort out and clean incoming donations and preparing outgoing deliveries. Others drive the van and still more assist on the van with collecting and delivering all the necessary items.
We are indebted to our trustees, advisor and landlords who continue to give amazing support, both in the day-to-day running of Acts4Sharing, as well as behind the scenes with all that being a charity involves.
We also need financial donations and we are enormously thankful to each individual, church and organisation who continue to choose to give to us regularly or as a one-off. See more later in the report.
So, now with all this in mind, let’s head into the Acts4Sharing annual report 1/4/22-31/3/23 …
> 1 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
## **Hope HQ and garden**
Looking back to last year’s report, it is safe to say that we are all very glad that the restrictions put upon us by Covid-19 are no longer with us.
We thank God that our prayers are answered and we never cease to be amazed at the way in which He pulls everything together - furniture
Acts4Sharing is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission in England no: 1158033
Over the past year we have been delighted to invite clients and referral partners to visit us to choose kitchen items, bedding, towels, curtains, and clothing. It is such a joy to see their faces light up as they are told that they can choose whatever they need. One lady who was choosing clothes commented, “It’s just like going shopping,” it was great to know that she was feeling like those of us who are able to afford to browse and buy at the shops.
Despite being able to open our doors again, we have decided not to return to ‘skill sharing’ for the time being. The main issue is that Hope HQ is always so busy and often the table is filled
with boxes of items ready for delivery, hence leaving no room for doing things such as cooking and eating together; alongside this, Sue, who was the original coordinator of the cookery club, is usually busy with admin as the ministry has grown. Maybe one day we will have a bigger space and the right staff or volunteers to run ‘skill sharing’ groups. We trust God to lead us forward accordingly.
Once again donations have continued to flood in, with many items being labelled ready for delivery as soon as they come in the door, if they come into store at all!
We no longer have our containers, with the second one being sold in September 2022 as it was proving too complicated to manage having furniture on two sites.
This has obviously decreased the amount of space that we have for storage, however, it does not appear to have cut down on the number of people who we have been able to help.
Many times, items are collected from one home and delivered directly to another, thus there is no need for us to store them in the interim.
The garden continues to be everyone’s favourite place. It has now been planted out mostly with flowers which add to the beauty of our location. Volunteers and clients alike thoroughly enjoy spending time out there as it is so tranquil. Although we did not manage a team gathering there in the summer, we do hope to meet together later in 2023.
We have chosen to slightly trim down the type of items that we accept inwards due to knowing that certain things were clogging up the store as no-one seemed to have need of them. We do have occasions when the furniture store is very full and the bed linen shelves are bursting, but as always, it does not last very long and we are soon praying for more to be donated.
## **Transport**
The van has continued to serve us well, passing its MOT without fault. Generally, its being used on every weekday. Often, multiple deliveries and collections are achieved on one shift; we are thankful that those working on the van are able to work through the, sometimes complicated, logistics that all this entails.
We continue to work together with Foodbank, providing transport for them at least two mornings per week. This enables the food donations to be collected from the local supermarket to be delivered to their warehouse, as well as taking food from the warehouse to the three distribution centres.
## **Local work**
Our team of volunteers has, once again, been added to with seven new people joining us. These include two drivers, three van assistants, one helper at Hope HQ and one who is very capable in IT. We have been delighted to welcome them all on board; they are all a great asset to the team.
We have been especially grateful to have new drivers, enabling us to have two who sign up regularly to drive for Foodbank, as well as willingly driving for other tasks too, which has been a great help due to the increased workload.
Having additional van assistants is wonderful too as we now have two available on a weekly basis with others helping as and when needed.
It is great to have a bigger team, enabling us to share out the workload.
Many more of the items we receive are coming in from semi-house clearances which means that, although the number of donors looks like
Acts4Sharing is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission in England no: 1158033
they have barely increased, there are more items coming in from each one. We also continue to have several people who bring their own donations to Hope HQ, inclusive of smaller items of furniture. We have received donations of items from at least 224 locations.
We are aware that internet searches are still playing a big part in people finding us as people continue to choose to pass items onto charity rather than dumping them at the tip or trying to sell them. Probably our biggest donation of items came from the staff hub after the local, year-long, roadworks came to an end.
We were thankful to **RACE** (Ringwood Actions for Climate Emergency) for passing on our contact details to the site manager, who gladly donated five sofas, six fridges and seven microwaves, along with many mugs, kettles, and chairs!
In addition to all of these, we were very happy to receive a Christmas offering from **Crowe Hill Methodist Church** which included many useful kitchen items.
## **Over 224 donors**
We realised as the year progressed that we were obviously doing a bit more than the previous year. Although the numbers of people helped has not increased as dramatically as last year’s 45% (160 more people helped), we have seen an increase of an additional 179 people being helped which is 35% more than last year. That is 691 receiving items from us at absolutely no cost to them. This is extremely important as many of those we help have absolutely nothing and once housed are often faced with a bare room, flat or house with no means to furnish it and make it into a home.
homelessness as the reason for needing help. For 15 of these homes, very sadly, domestic violence was the cause of them needing to leave their previous home.
## **338 homes**
As always, we have heard so many life stories of difficulties and hardship. It is a privilege to get alongside people to give them a step-up to a better life.
So many clients say that our help has, “Made a huge difference”, “We can sit and have a meal together”, “Made me feel better”, “I can sleep on a bed”, “Really helpful”, “Made my flat into a home”, “A lot happier”, “Good to have help”, “I can sit down”, “Helped us get on the right track”, “Improved our quality of life”.
The list of referral partners has continued to grow as we are recommended amongst staff, particularly in the local councils. As we work across a 25-mile radius of Ringwood it means that we serve across several council areas. We partner with people in various roles including homelessness teams, housing officers, social workers, support workers and tenancy sustenance workers. They are all pleased to work with us in helping their clients to receive the things they need but cannot afford.
As expected, we also saw a rise in the tonnage of items being delivered. This has not been as much of an increase as last year, most likely due to less of the heavier items being delivered. We do not have records of the complete impact of waste saved from landfill as we only keep approximate weights of the larger items and kitchen items, so the following figure does not include bedding, curtains, and clothing. This year we delivered at least 25 tonnes.
## **25 tonnes**
## **691 people helped**
We aim to give value and love to each person who we help, encouraging them as they set up their home. For many this is a fresh start following a time of homelessness – this year of the 338 homes we visited 117 cited
This included 14 fridge freezers, 22 washing machines, 25 microwaves, 40 dining tables and 157 chairs, 123 sofas/armchairs, 79 chests of drawers and 127 beds of varying sizes. The items which we have seen the biggest rise in are the additional 60 dining chairs compared to last year and the additional 25 sofas/armchairs.
Acts4Sharing is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission in England no: 1158033
We also gave away 301 bedding sets, 378 towels, 126 pairs of curtains and 87 cushions! We have seen the biggest rise in the bedding with an additional 105 sets being given out, along with an additional 31 pairs of curtains being given to new homes.
As always, there are many more items that have passed through Acts4Sharing during the past year which we have not mentioned in detail such as crockery, cutlery, pots and pans, kettles, toasters, table lamps … the list could go on and on as we continue to accept donations of ‘everything from a teaspoon to a double bed’.
The Blessings Box has continued to be a source of delight for many of our clients as we enable them to add a few extra items to help make their house or flat into a home, things such as pictures, clocks, ornaments, vases and even jigsaw puzzles.
We all know that time flies, especially, so they say, when you are having fun! Even so, it seems unbelievable that we have now been registered for over nine years. It is still hard to consider the fact that we are still needed and that even more people have been referred to us in this past year. We still count it as a privilege and a joy to get alongside those who are struggling, to help to make a positive difference in their lives and to ‘Share God’s love in practical ways’ with them.
We continue to offer a Bible and, most times, prayer to each person that we give items to, no matter whether they only have one thing or a whole van full. Most people happily accept the Bible, with many expressing great joy at receiving it. One couple whose first language is not English, pointed out their difficulty and asked if we could provide one in Pakistan Urdu, which we managed to do a few days later. Many people also accept the offer of prayer, with some commenting, often with tears in their eyes, that no-one has ever done that for them before.
We still have several boxfuls of Bibles at Hope HQ, so we have plenty to see us through the next year or two. Also, in June, we received a few boxes of brand-new Christian books for children, which we have been able to gift to some of the families we have helped.
We also continue to be aware of how much our referral partners appreciate all that we do to support their clients. Our partnership with them is highly valued.
## **Funding**
We remain utterly grateful to all those who give to Acts4Sharing on a regular basis, this includes individuals, churches, and an organisation. In addition, in this year we have been given a few surprises of one-off gifts, including one in January which will cover our whole rent into the year ahead. The next one arrived in February for a further £1,000. Also, on occasion a client or donor will offer a contribution, for which we are very thankful. We are extremely grateful to all those who choose to support this ministry and enable it to continue to do what it was set up for, to ‘Share God’s love in practical ways’.
Acts4Sharing makes no charge to any of its clients, not even for delivery, which, alongside the offer of a Bible and prayer, makes us a unique organisation. There are many times when those we help are simply overwhelmed by the love shown to them, and are just so grateful that they do not need to find any money to receive the items that they so desperately need.
The main costs involved in running Acts4Sharing are the monthly rent and utility costs for Hope HQ; costs of insuring, taxing, and running the van; insurance; and the wage for one part time employee.
## **Communication and collaboration**
We continue to work closely with **Poulner Baptist Chapel** whose Mission Group provide financial, prayerful, and pastoral support. Some of our trustees and many of our volunteers are a part of this church, as well as other local churches.
We still network with **Wardrobe Foundation** as we occasionally refer some of our lady clients to them. They provide a bespoke bag of clothes and accessories at no cost. Most often they are delivered to us, but sometimes they deliver direct. The feedback from our ladies is always positive.
We continue to liaise with **Love Ukraine** as many of those who moved to the local area at the start of the conflict are now finding their own independent homes after residing with host families for many months.
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This Photo by
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Acts4Sharing is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission in England no: 1158033
With permission of donors, we also give some items to **Ukraine Relief** to be sent out to Ukraine to help those in need there in the midst of the conflict.
The local Facebook group aimed at **Friendship, Kindness and Recycling** has continued to network with us in both provision of items needed as well as Acts4Sharing providing some smaller items to those in need.
We continue to liaise with **Foodbank** , providing transport for them at least twice a week. We also refer clients to each other as necessary. Along with Foodbank, local schools, Citizens Advice,
local churches together and NHS support staff we’ve been involved in conversations about a new initiative for a Financial Hardship Support Worker to be employed in Ringwood who can reach out to those who are struggling financially.
We also continue to liaise with **HOPe** who help older people in the New Forest, providing them with items that we are not in need of, which they can sell in their shops. In return they have provided us with useful items such as bedding, curtains and crockery.
Most of the items we pass to HOPe are teacups and saucers, teapots and wine glasses. We deliberately do not give out any items related to alcohol so as not to be seen to encourage those who may be struggling with addiction.
A more unusual collaboration came into place in December after **Forestry England** approached us. They had set up a Christmas decorations collection at one of their Christmas tree selling spots and along with these, they delivered spare trees to several of our clients, who were all so delighted to receive these gifts, helping to give them a happy Christmas.
We have been members of **Communities First Wessex** since we registered in 2014. They provide support to us in a variety of ways. This year we have taken the opportunity to use their training courses for safeguarding and first aid.
## **Trustees and advisor**
Our trustees continue to be involved both behind the scenes and handson with most of them getting involved at Hope HQ or out on the van at some point during the year. In this past year they have been busy updating and adding to our policies to ensure that we are running safely and correctly.
We are planning to approach others next year with a view to a new trustee joining us.
We are all thankful to our advisor who keeps us up to date with any changes in regulations for charities.
## **Looking forward**
As we continue to grow and the numbers of people we are helping and the numbers of households being visited increases we are still hoping to be able to pay our CEO/administrator for more of the hours she works, as well as considering the possibility of employing a second person. Thus far we have been unable to secure funding to enable this to happen, but we trust God to lead us forward in this and provide what and who is required as the need arises.
We are delighted that the team has also grown in this past year, and hope that yet more will make the decision to join us, even if they can only volunteer once a month. The more team we have, the more we can share out the tasks that need to be accomplished.
We are grateful that one of our team has been able to learn the ropes for giving admin cover when our administrator takes time off. It would be amazing if another team member would also be willing to do this, and we hope to find that person within the next year.
As we say at the end of every year …
We look forward to being able to continue to:
- give people the dignity of choosing their own items;
- show people God’s love as we share time and skills with them;
- let people know that they are valued as we take time to listen to them.
The financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2023 are available on request to office@acts4sharing.org
Acts4Sharing is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation with the Charity Commission in England no: 1158033
## **Financial Report for the Year Ending 31 March 2023**
## **Basic Information**
Acts 4 Sharing was registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 28 July 2014 (registration number 1158033).
The Trustees are:
Bev Whalen Judy Thomas (appointed May 2023) Keith Melrose Paul Budgen Operating Office and Registered Office Hope HQ, 29 Parkside, Ringwood BH24 3SG Telephone: 07810005763 Web site: www.acts4sharing.org E-mail address: office@acts4sharing.org
1
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Acts 4 Sharing
Income and Expenditure Account
for the Year Ending 31 March 2023
2021/22 Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £ £
Income:
11,796 Gifts from individuals 1 18,425 18,425
6,123 Gifts from churches 6,535 6,535
826 Gift Aid recovered 2 1,892 1,892
3,105 Grants etc 3 3,000 3,000
1,503 Other contributions / donations 4 1,700 1,700
23,353 Total income: 28,552 3,000 31,552
Expenditure:
18,933 Employee costs 5 12,020 8,400 20,420
244 Travel and subsistence 0 0
0 Containers - expenses 0
5,604 Van - running costs and depreciation 6 4,231 998 5,229
6,769 Hope HQ expenses 7 4,599 3,000 7,599
2,380 Admin, insurances and other costs 8 2,228 2,228
33,930 Total expenditure: 23,078 12,398 35,476
(10,577) Surplus / (deficit) 5,474 (9,398) (3,924)
59,857 Balance brought forward: 18,222 31,058 49,280
49,280 Balance in hand at end of year: 9 and 10 23,696 21,660 45,356
**----- End of picture text -----**
|As at 31
March 2022
(£)
Notes
£
3,780
Assets:
Van
11
1,260
46,353
Balances at Bank
12
44,096
50,133
45,356
(853)
Current liabilities - Creditors
13
0
**49,280**
Net Assets and Liabilities
**45,356**
18,222
Reserves:
Unrestricted
9
23,696
31,058
Restricted
10
21,660
**49,280**
**45,356**
**Acts 4 Sharing**
**Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023**|As at 31
March 2022
(£)
Notes
£
3,780
Assets:
Van
11
1,260
46,353
Balances at Bank
12
44,096
50,133
45,356
(853)
Current liabilities - Creditors
13
0
**49,280**
Net Assets and Liabilities
**45,356**
18,222
Reserves:
Unrestricted
9
23,696
31,058
Restricted
10
21,660
**49,280**
**45,356**
**Acts 4 Sharing**
**Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023**|
|---|---|
|As at 31
March 2022
(£)
3,780
46,353|£
1,260
44,096|
|50,133
(853)|45,356
0|
|**49,280**|**45,356**|
|18,222
31,058|23,696
21,660|
|**49,280**|**45,356**|
|||
The notes are on the next page.
2
## **Disclosures to the above accounts:**
- 1 A number of these gifts are regular monthly donations - the remainder being one-off gifts.
- 2 Gift Aid is recovered from qualifying gifts and includes £490 under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme
- 3 This grant is from New Forest District Council and is for Hope HQ expenses.
- 4 Included here is £1,200 for sale of the last container.
- 5 There is one part time employee. The £8,400 relates to specific gifts for pay and pensions given in previous years.
- 6 Van running costs are as follows:
|sts are as follows:||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Insurances
Road Fund Licence
Servicing / repairs / MOT etc
Fuel
Contribution from Foodbank
Depreciation (see note 11 below)||2021/22 (£)
1,688
284
477
1,553
(918)
2,520|2022/23 (£)
1,547
298
477
2,088
(1,701)
2,520|
|||5,604|5,229|
|7
Expenses were as follows:
Rent
Energy, water etc
Other costs||2021/22 (£)
6,000
512
257|2022/23 (£)
6,000
1,355
244|
|---|---|---|---|
|||6,769|7,599|
- 8 Included here is the cost of liability etc insurance at £1,005 (£1,053 in 2021/22).
- 9 The balance on the Unrestricted element of the account can be used for anything considered appropriate by the Trustees and in keeping with the Charity's objects.
- 10 The balances on the Restricted Fund are as follows:
|n the Restricted Fund are as follows:||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Van (see note 11)
Pay and Pensions (see note 1)||2021/22 (£)
2,258
28,800|2022/23 (£)
1,260
20,400|
|||31,058|21,660|
- 11 The purchase cost of the van was £12,600. It will be depreciated over five years - leaving a book value of £1,260 at 31 March 2023.
|12
This is made up of:
Lloyds Bank||2021/22 (£)
46,353|2022/23 (£)
44,096|
|---|---|---|---|
|||46,353|44,096|
13 In 2021/22, this relates to employee costs for March paid in April.
Sue Wall July 2023
3
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
Charity 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 charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:-
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue to operate, and
- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The Trustees are also responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with regulations made under the Charities Act. 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.
The Trustees are also responsible for the contents of the Trustees' report, and the responsibility of the independent examiner in relation to the Trustees' Report is limited to examining the report and ensuring that, on the face of the report, there are no inconsistencies with the figures disclosed in the financial statements.
Signed on behalf of the Board Keith Melrose, Trustee 04 July 2023
4
## **Acts 4 Sharing**
**Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **Accounting policies**
The financial statements of the Charity have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and Section 1A of Financial Reporting Standard 102 effective April 2008, as modified by the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting issued by the Charity Commissioners for England & Wales, under the historical cost convention and the accounting policies set out in these accounts and as a going concern.
Incoming resources and outgoings are accounted for on an accruals basis.
The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.
There are two restricted funds. These relate to Pay and Pensions (note 1 above and the van (note 6) above. See also note 10 above.
If upon winding up or dissolution of the charity there remain any assets, after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, the assets represented by the accumulated fund shall be transferred to some other charitable body or bodies having similar objects to the charity.
Neither the Trustees nor any persons connected with them have received any remuneration, either in the current year or the prior year
The Disclosures to the Accounts on page 3 should be read alongside these accounting policies.
## **Reserves policy:**
The Trustees believe that the Charity should hold sufficient balances on its general and other accounts to allow it to continue operating even if there was a significant reduction in the level of giving.
This is the Charity’s seventh year of operation in its CIO status, and the Trustees’ consider there should be a reserve sufficient to cover at least three month’s operating costs on expenditure included in the unrestricted element of the accounts. On the basis of current estimates of expenditure in 2023/24, this should be in the order of £15,000 - and the balance at the beginning of the year, at £23,700, is more than adequate.
5
## **Acts 4 Sharing**
## **Statement of Public Benefit for the year ended 31 March 2023**
The Objects of A4S are as follows:
1. To advance the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the basic tenets of historical Biblical Christianity.
2. To prevent and relieve poverty initially in Hampshire and its neighbouring counties by providing: grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty.
3. To relieve financial hardship by the recycling and provision of furniture, clothes and other household items.
4. 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.
5. To advance education for persons of any age by providing or assisting in the development of their mental, physical and moral capabilities through leisure time activities and by supporting other charities in England, the UK or abroad.
We consider that Object [1] above passes the “public benefit test” because advancing the Christian religion in our community has a positive impact on the moral and ethical behaviour of those with whom we come in contact. Furthermore, our Christian faith and our relationship with God – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit - gives meaning to our lives and encourages us to live in such a way as to benefit the wider society by being good citizens and following the Bible’s teaching on how we should conduct ourselves in society.
Objects 2 – 5 demonstrate public benefit because A4S:
- provides the basic necessities for those in deprived circumstances who otherwise could not afford to live at the most basic level.
- recycles household goods by redistributing them to those and need thus preventing them going to landfill sites. This has worthwhile environmental benefit.
- benefits those communities by providing better housing and community facilities by the provision of skills, building materials and other resources.
- encourages other organisations with similar objects to work in their own communities so that outside intervention will eventually be reduced.
6
## **Acts 4 Sharing**
## **Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2023**
I report on the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out in this Financial Report.
## **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 Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
- 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 next statement.
## **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 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
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.
## Andrew J Clarke cpfa
The date upon which my opinion is expressed is 4 July 2023.
7
## **Financial Report for the Year Ending 31 March 2023**
## **Basic Information**
Acts 4 Sharing was registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 28 July 2014 (registration number 1158033).
The Trustees are:
Bev Whalen Judy Thomas (appointed May 2023) Keith Melrose Paul Budgen Operating Office and Registered Office Hope HQ, 29 Parkside, Ringwood BH24 3SG Telephone: 07810005763 Web site: www.acts4sharing.org E-mail address: office@acts4sharing.org
1
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Acts 4 Sharing
Income and Expenditure Account
for the Year Ending 31 March 2023
2021/22 Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £ £
Income:
11,796 Gifts from individuals 1 18,425 18,425
6,123 Gifts from churches 6,535 6,535
826 Gift Aid recovered 2 1,892 1,892
3,105 Grants etc 3 3,000 3,000
1,503 Other contributions / donations 4 1,700 1,700
23,353 Total income: 28,552 3,000 31,552
Expenditure:
18,933 Employee costs 5 12,020 8,400 20,420
244 Travel and subsistence 0 0
0 Containers - expenses 0
5,604 Van - running costs and depreciation 6 4,231 998 5,229
6,769 Hope HQ expenses 7 4,599 3,000 7,599
2,380 Admin, insurances and other costs 8 2,228 2,228
33,930 Total expenditure: 23,078 12,398 35,476
(10,577) Surplus / (deficit) 5,474 (9,398) (3,924)
59,857 Balance brought forward: 18,222 31,058 49,280
49,280 Balance in hand at end of year: 9 and 10 23,696 21,660 45,356
**----- End of picture text -----**
|As at 31
March 2022
(£)
Notes
£
3,780
Assets:
Van
11
1,260
46,353
Balances at Bank
12
44,096
50,133
45,356
(853)
Current liabilities - Creditors
13
0
**49,280**
Net Assets and Liabilities
**45,356**
18,222
Reserves:
Unrestricted
9
23,696
31,058
Restricted
10
21,660
**49,280**
**45,356**
**Acts 4 Sharing**
**Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023**|As at 31
March 2022
(£)
Notes
£
3,780
Assets:
Van
11
1,260
46,353
Balances at Bank
12
44,096
50,133
45,356
(853)
Current liabilities - Creditors
13
0
**49,280**
Net Assets and Liabilities
**45,356**
18,222
Reserves:
Unrestricted
9
23,696
31,058
Restricted
10
21,660
**49,280**
**45,356**
**Acts 4 Sharing**
**Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023**|
|---|---|
|As at 31
March 2022
(£)
3,780
46,353|£
1,260
44,096|
|50,133
(853)|45,356
0|
|**49,280**|**45,356**|
|18,222
31,058|23,696
21,660|
|**49,280**|**45,356**|
|||
The notes are on the next page.
2
## **Disclosures to the above accounts:**
- 1 A number of these gifts are regular monthly donations - the remainder being one-off gifts.
- 2 Gift Aid is recovered from qualifying gifts and includes £490 under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme
- 3 This grant is from New Forest District Council and is for Hope HQ expenses.
- 4 Included here is £1,200 for sale of the last container.
- 5 There is one part time employee. The £8,400 relates to specific gifts for pay and pensions given in previous years.
- 6 Van running costs are as follows:
|sts are as follows:||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Insurances
Road Fund Licence
Servicing / repairs / MOT etc
Fuel
Contribution from Foodbank
Depreciation (see note 11 below)||2021/22 (£)
1,688
284
477
1,553
(918)
2,520|2022/23 (£)
1,547
298
477
2,088
(1,701)
2,520|
|||5,604|5,229|
|7
Expenses were as follows:
Rent
Energy, water etc
Other costs||2021/22 (£)
6,000
512
257|2022/23 (£)
6,000
1,355
244|
|---|---|---|---|
|||6,769|7,599|
- 8 Included here is the cost of liability etc insurance at £1,005 (£1,053 in 2021/22).
- 9 The balance on the Unrestricted element of the account can be used for anything considered appropriate by the Trustees and in keeping with the Charity's objects.
- 10 The balances on the Restricted Fund are as follows:
|n the Restricted Fund are as follows:||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Van (see note 11)
Pay and Pensions (see note 1)||2021/22 (£)
2,258
28,800|2022/23 (£)
1,260
20,400|
|||31,058|21,660|
- 11 The purchase cost of the van was £12,600. It will be depreciated over five years - leaving a book value of £1,260 at 31 March 2023.
|12
This is made up of:
Lloyds Bank||2021/22 (£)
46,353|2022/23 (£)
44,096|
|---|---|---|---|
|||46,353|44,096|
13 In 2021/22, this relates to employee costs for March paid in April.
Sue Wall July 2023
3
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
Charity 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 charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:-
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue to operate, and
- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The Trustees are also responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with regulations made under the Charities Act. 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.
The Trustees are also responsible for the contents of the Trustees' report, and the responsibility of the independent examiner in relation to the Trustees' Report is limited to examining the report and ensuring that, on the face of the report, there are no inconsistencies with the figures disclosed in the financial statements.
Signed on behalf of the Board Keith Melrose, Trustee 04 July 2023
4
## **Acts 4 Sharing**
**Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023**
## **Accounting policies**
The financial statements of the Charity have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and Section 1A of Financial Reporting Standard 102 effective April 2008, as modified by the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting issued by the Charity Commissioners for England & Wales, under the historical cost convention and the accounting policies set out in these accounts and as a going concern.
Incoming resources and outgoings are accounted for on an accruals basis.
The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.
There are two restricted funds. These relate to Pay and Pensions (note 1 above and the van (note 6) above. See also note 10 above.
If upon winding up or dissolution of the charity there remain any assets, after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, the assets represented by the accumulated fund shall be transferred to some other charitable body or bodies having similar objects to the charity.
Neither the Trustees nor any persons connected with them have received any remuneration, either in the current year or the prior year
The Disclosures to the Accounts on page 3 should be read alongside these accounting policies.
## **Reserves policy:**
The Trustees believe that the Charity should hold sufficient balances on its general and other accounts to allow it to continue operating even if there was a significant reduction in the level of giving.
This is the Charity’s seventh year of operation in its CIO status, and the Trustees’ consider there should be a reserve sufficient to cover at least three month’s operating costs on expenditure included in the unrestricted element of the accounts. On the basis of current estimates of expenditure in 2023/24, this should be in the order of £15,000 - and the balance at the beginning of the year, at £23,700, is more than adequate.
5
## **Acts 4 Sharing**
## **Statement of Public Benefit for the year ended 31 March 2023**
The Objects of A4S are as follows:
1. To advance the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in accordance with the basic tenets of historical Biblical Christianity.
2. To prevent and relieve poverty initially in Hampshire and its neighbouring counties by providing: grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty.
3. To relieve financial hardship by the recycling and provision of furniture, clothes and other household items.
4. 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.
5. To advance education for persons of any age by providing or assisting in the development of their mental, physical and moral capabilities through leisure time activities and by supporting other charities in England, the UK or abroad.
We consider that Object [1] above passes the “public benefit test” because advancing the Christian religion in our community has a positive impact on the moral and ethical behaviour of those with whom we come in contact. Furthermore, our Christian faith and our relationship with God – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit - gives meaning to our lives and encourages us to live in such a way as to benefit the wider society by being good citizens and following the Bible’s teaching on how we should conduct ourselves in society.
Objects 2 – 5 demonstrate public benefit because A4S:
- provides the basic necessities for those in deprived circumstances who otherwise could not afford to live at the most basic level.
- recycles household goods by redistributing them to those and need thus preventing them going to landfill sites. This has worthwhile environmental benefit.
- benefits those communities by providing better housing and community facilities by the provision of skills, building materials and other resources.
- encourages other organisations with similar objects to work in their own communities so that outside intervention will eventually be reduced.
6
## **Acts 4 Sharing**
## **Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2023**
I report on the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out in this Financial Report.
## **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 Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
- 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 next statement.
## **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 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
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.
## Andrew J Clarke cpfa
The date upon which my opinion is expressed is 4 July 2023.
7