Michaelideswarner IT Accountants and Business Advisors Ms Eliiabeth Dawson Doorstep Library Network 34 Growenor Gardens London SWIW ODH 9January2024 Dear Elizabeth, Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Doorstep Library Network We report on the accounts of the Trust for the year period 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 23 to 36 of the Trustees Annual Report and Accounts and signed by the Trustees on 13.12.2023. Respertive responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charit¢s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is our responsibility to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to our attention. Basis of independent examiner's report Our examination was carried out in accordance with the general Direction5 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 5eekin8 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. 102 Fulham Palace Road London W6 9PL Tel.. 020 87414202 Fax.. 020 87413554 Email.. info@michaelideswarner.co.uk Web.. www.michaelideswarner.co.uk Full list of partners available upon request
Michaelideswarner '.1 Accountants and Business Advisors Independent examiner's stotement In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention.. 111 which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements= to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met,. or 121 to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Paul Michaelides ACA cfA For and on behalf of MICHAELIDES WARNER & CO 102 Fulham Palace Road London W6 9PL Tel.. 020 87414202 Fax.. 020 87413554 Email.. info@michaelideswarner.co.uk Web.. www.michaelideswarner.co.uk Full list of partners available upon request
Annual Review DOORSTEP LIBRARY 2022/2023 Words take you places
Annual Review 2022/2023
CONTENTS
| CONTENTS | |
|---|---|
| CEO's report | 3 |
| About us | 5 |
| Reading with Doorstep Library... | 6 |
| Organisational achievements | 10 |
| Annual income | 11 |
| Home Reading Projects | 12 |
| Online Reading Corner | 14 |
| Impact results | 16 |
| A year in volunteering | 18 |
| Thank you! | 19 |
| Trustees’ Report & Financial | 21 |
| Statements |
Annual Review 2022/2023
CEO's report
Since day one, our aim has been to give children the opportunity to step inside a story and to have access to books in the home, and we are more determined than ever before to share our passion for reading for pleasure with as many children as possible. Over the last thirteen years of delivering our home reading projects, we have had the precious opportunity of witnessing how reading can empower children in a million different ways, as they grow up and find their feet in the world.
Low literacy carries life-long implications. children from under-resourced areas are statistically less likely to have access to books and are more likely to start school already behind their more affluent peers. We know that the attainment gap between children from under-resourced areas and their better off peers is currently at its highest level in ten years. If you have a poor vocabulary at 5, then you are on average six times less likely, compared to other children, to reach the expected standard in English at 11. And you are more than twice as likely to be unemployed at age 34.
Part of the reason our unique home-based approach works is that we empower both the children and the parents, putting them at the heart of what we do. They welcome us into their homes, we base the sessions on their feedback and the books we bring are based on their interests. We take the time, returning week after week, to build trust, a love of books and the ability to read. We’ve found that this approach allows us to:
Engage the hardest-to-reach families/children by meeting them through door-knocking in disadvantaged areas;
Include the whole family in our reading sessions and promote reading for pleasure within the home; Offer interventions that challenge educational inequality before children even start school;
Support parents, reduce social isolation, and promote community engagement through our programme of signposting families to other supportive and enriching services.
The pandemic widened the attainment gap between the children we see and their more affluent peers, and the cost-of-living crisis is now impacting this further. Many families living in the top 10-20% areas of deprivation in London are experiencing increased feelings of isolation, with less access to books, and less time for joy. There are waiting lists of children who we can't reach because we don't currently have the volunteering capacity. We want to reach out to them.
This past year we have focused on supporting the families we work with on our existing projects, both in-person and online through our Online Reading Corner. To enable us to see as many families as possible we have worked extremely hard to increase the number of volunteers recruited, and looked at how we retain our volunteers by offering the best possible volunteering experience.
Increasing our volunteer team to 170 active reading volunteers has enabled us to expand on our existing projects, reaching more children and families. Throughout this year we have found that the families we visit have needed more support from other external agencies, where possible we have signposted them on and sometimes helped with form-filling and making calls on their behalf. With the cost-of-living crisis, this support has been requested more often than in previous years.
I am extremely proud of the Doorstep Library staff team, who have worked hard to ensure continued delivery of services, and to support the volunteers, enabling reading for pleasure to happen in the home environment. We have not been isolated from the current economic environment, and the increasingly difficult fundraising landscape, but we are proud to have been able to work with over 630 children this year.
As ever, we are extremely grateful to all our financial supporters, without whom we would not exist. We have continued working with some longstanding charitable trusts, some of whom have supported our work for over 12 years now, and we’re also delighted to be partnered with some new trusts and organisations. As we have expanded our reach and our team, so has our income and expenditure increased, we are so thankful to everyone who has donated towards our work this year, enabling us to run more reading sessions, improve our stock of books and bring more volunteers on board.
We know that the next few years will continue to be extremely challenging, for charities and for the families we work with. With the increasing attainment gap, and the cost-of-living crisis both putting more pressure on families we are determined to do all we can to keep them connected to their local communities and to share as many stories as we possibly can.
Katie Bareham, CEO
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"We are very happy with Doorstep Library, it has helped us greatly as a family to get through some very difficult times ... I feel that there would be something missing from our life, if we didn't have Doorstep Library to look forward to."
Doorstep Library Parent
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Annual Review 2022/2023
About us
Our mission:
Supporting children living in disadvantaged areas to become keen and confident readers; Supporting parents to take an active role in reading for pleasure with their children; Supporting families to connect to a wider range of cultural, social and support services.
What we do:
Doorstep Library is a community-focused literacy charity dedicated to bringing the magic of books and the joy of reading directly into the homes of children who need our support. Just 59% of 10 and 11 year-olds reached the expected standards in literacy, writing and maths in this year’s (2022) SAT results and the attainment gap between children from under-resourced areas and their better-off peers is at its highest level in ten years. The cost-of-living crisis is further adding to the problem with recent research* indicating that 1 in 5 children (aged 5-8) does not own a single book of their own, a figure we know is much higher among families facing economic disadvantage. We recruit and train home and online reading volunteers to go into disadvantaged areas of London to help introduce young children (aged 0-11 years) to the pleasure and benefits of reading.
Our unique home-based service, whether in person or online, enables us to find the most appropriate books for every child we visit and build a relationship with the whole family. Our goal is to help children develop the self-confidence and essential skills they need to access all the opportunities that will come their way in life.
Our values:
We want our brand to;
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Be passionate
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Be humble
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Be relatable
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Be ambitious
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History:
Doorstep Library was officially born in October 2010 with one project and a small team of volunteers. It followed the hard work of Agnes Paroissien who set up the first pilot project two years earlier in Fulham. Funding from Hammersmith and Fulham Council allowed the charity to begin its expansion.
In the past thirteen years, we have lent 138,500 books to over 2,000 children and 900 families. In 2021 in response to the pandemic, we launched our Online Reading Corner offering online reading visits and enabling us to now reach children remotely. We currently run 19 projects in four London boroughs and online, and are working to reach even more children and families.
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*National Literacy Trust
Annual Review 2022/2023
Reading with Doorstep Library... opens doors and empowers lives
Benefits
Words take you places. Here at Doorstep Library we believe that literacy is the foundation of every child’s future and we aim to fulfil every child’s right to read by giving families access to books and sharing stories in the home.
We want to help level the playing field for children living in disadvantaged areas. Our unique programmes go directly into the home and support both the child, and the family, to discover books and choose reading as a way of life. By helping to equip them with a love of books and the skill of reading, Doorstep Library empowers each child by giving them the tools they need to learn, enjoy and understand more about their world.
"My child was very behind in their reading and has made amazing progress. I really appreciate it . Thank you so much."
Doorstep Library Parent
Our impact is long lasting. Once literacy is embedded in a person’s life, it can never leave. It is the fundamental building block to further learning, development and achievement. It inspires imaginations. It triggers ideas. It can be a stepping-stone to new directions and greater opportunities in later life.
Our Impact 2022 - 2023
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93%
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of parents/carers said Doorstep Library has helped their child/ren to read better.
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“I would like to thank Doorstep Library for helping my son to read and to
give eye contact. In the past he struggled to pay attention or to give eye
contact, now he has started to speak and is really interested in reading.”
Doorstep Library Parent
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Annual Review 2022/2023
Reading with Doorstep Library...
brings people and communities together
Benefits
Doorstep Library’s work may be rooted in reading for pleasure and literacy, but our influence goes well beyond the page.
The regularity of our reading sessions and the long-term, supportive nature of the relationships with volunteers means that they are often focal points for the whole family. In addition the sessions contribute to enhanced family life by offering support for parents who might be experiencing difficulty.
In many cases our volunteers befriend the families and are warmly welcomed into their lives. They are there to lend a listening ear, to offer support, to have a friendly chat with parents and carers. In return our volunteers are able to watch the children develop and grow in confidence. They also have the opportunity to meet and spend time with a broad and diverse range of families, as well as other volunteers.
“Expand more to other boroughs and communities! I know a lot of parents who want to join and I always refer them to you!!”
Doorstep Library Parent
Having reached out and established a trusted link with the family, Doorstep Library is able to help families form bonds with the wider community through our signposting of local services. Books and reading form the basis of a contract of trust – it gives us a valuable platform to help fill in social gaps and forge community bonds that might otherwise be lost.
Our Impact 2022 - 2023
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89%
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of parents/carers found the community services and activities Doorstep Library signposted to them both useful and interesting.
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“They are so generous. We are extremely obliged to the team who even visit
in bad weather, sometimes extremely cold, hot or rainy. It is about their love
for the children and the community. Thank you so much all of the team who
make it possible.”
Doorstep Library Parent
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Annual Review 2022/2023
Reading with Doorstep Library...
promotes positive mental health and wellbeing
Benefits
At Doorstep Library we believe in children having fun. Children who read for pleasure in the home and families that share reading together are proven to have better mental health and general wellbeing. We aim to bring families together – helping to increase shared family time and encourage parents and carers to continue to spend time with children even after they are reading independently.
Our volunteers source books featuring characters from a diverse range of backgrounds and situations. We know that reading books with identifiable characters helps to create empathy and foster aspiration. Children become more aware of the richness and vastness of the world which opens their eyes to other cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. We also know that through books children can explore their emotions and vulnerability by observing a familiar feeling or situation from a distance.
“I want to thank Doorstep Library for their support with my child's reading - it has also really improved our relationship.
Doorstep Library Parent
We encourage parents to join our sessions and to continue to read with children after we’re gone because we know that sharing stories together improves child-parent bonds, which in turn enriches family life, leading to better literacy and enhanced life opportunities.
Our Impact 2022 - 2023
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98%
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of parents/carers said that Doorstep Library has had a positive impact on both theirs and their child/ren’s overall wellbeing.
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"My kids will never forget them.”
Doorstep Library Parent
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“Doorstep Library has been the best thing and I hope more parents are as lucky as me to receive a chance for their child to improve their confidence - just like my daughter has. She has come a very long way and I’m going to miss her having her reading sessions. A massive thank you!”
Doorstep Library Parent
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Annual Review 2022/2023
Organisational achievements
This year we ran 19 Home and Online Reading Projects across 4 boroughs.
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634
CHILDREN
BENEFITED
FROM DOORSTEP
LIBRARY VISITS
96
NEW FAMILIES
JOINED DOORSTEP LIBRARY
5,792
BOOKS SHARED
BOTH ONLINE
AND HOME
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14,855
BOOKS
BORROWED
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1,784 107,040 HOURS MINUTES OF READING OF READING
357 FAMILIES BENEFITED FROM DOORSTEP LIBRARY VISITS
186 NEW CHILDREN JOINED DOORSTEP LIBRARY
1,074 BOOKS GIFTED
5,354 READING SESSIONS CONDUCTED
314 SERVICES SIGNPOSTED
82 CHILDREN GRADUATED
Annual Review 2022/2023
Annual income
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income mainly from trusts and foundations
£828,487
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Corporates
£28,484
Individuals
£29,845
Fundraisers
£37,996
Schools
£39,826
Local Authorities
£45,336
Trusts and Foundations
£647,001
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15 full time employees
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part time employees
6
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6 trustees with a range of expertise
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Home Reading Projects
This year we:
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Carried out 4,054 home reading sessions Visited 529 children and 292 families
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Shared 1,351 reading hours or 81,060 reading minutes Gifted 400+ books and packs via Little Box of Books Recruited 80 new families and 144 new children Set up 1 new project in Camden Worked with 138 Home Reading Volunteers
We have had a busy year on our home reading projects, visiting 292 families and 529 children across 16 projects. At the start of the year, we were excited to return to indoor reading visits, after an extended period of reading on the doorstep for all families during COVID restrictions. After careful risk assessments and family surveys, we were able to safely re-launch our indoor visits for those families who wanted them. We never expect to be invited inside, so for some families, outdoor doorstep visits will always be the norm. However, volunteers and families who chose indoor visits were happy to be reunited!
In June we launched our newest Camden project, near Euston, and continued to grow those projects launched in 2021-22 - in Somers Town, Chalk Farm and Tulse Hill. As our reading projects returned to normal, we were able to kick-start volunteer recruitment in September, in order to start growing our child and family numbers.
We were also able to strengthen certain aspects of our service this year, such as family support. As the cost- ofliving crisis intensified in the winter months, we offered additional support to parents and carers, including signposting to financial grants, baby banks and warm hubs, as well as advocating in key areas such as housing issues and energy/heating needs.
Finally, we worked hard to diversify and update our book stock on all of our home reading projects, to ensure that there is a greater representation of the children we visit in the stories that we bring. We were delighted to once again partner with the inclusive and representative book company Little Box of Books. In January 2023 they donated a diverse book and activity pack to every child we visit, ensuring all of the children we visit have a book of their own to keep.
We hope to continue growing our existing projects and seeing even more children and families each week!
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"I’ve been volunteering for some time now - I continue to really, really, enjoy it and to look forward to Thursdays when I know everything else will just melt away as I enjoy the experience."
Doorstep Library Volunteer
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Online Reading Corner
This year we:
Carried out 1,300 online reading sessions Visited 105 children and 65 families Shared 1,766 books online
Shared 433 reading hours or 25,980 reading minutes Gifted 574 books through Doorstep Library Gifted a further 100+ books and packs via Little Box of Books Worked with 92 Online Reading Volunteers
This year has been one of consolidation for our Online Reading Corner. We have visited 65 families and 105 children over the year, continuing to offer reading sessions to families who have been reading with us for a couple of years now, whilst also extending our online service to new children.
We have worked hard to improve the range of gift books that are sent through the post to families participating in our Online Reading Sessions. We want to ensure children who read with us online still get access to physical books that are tailored to their reading ability as well as their individual interests. At Doorstep Library we know there’s nothing quite like holding a book, turning the page while wondering what is going to happen next ... So, we want to ensure all children we engage with, regardless of whether this is done online or in person, have access to this experience. When we surveyed parents last year, they asked us for more diverse representation in the books we gift. As a result, we set diversity as a priority in our book gifting and have looked at including more books with a wider spectrum of characters from different backgrounds. In addition, we have delivered training for volunteers on the importance of choosing titles that better represent the families we see and the communities they live in. This has been incredibly well received by parents and children, who are delighted with the selections they have been sent through the post.
Alongside Online Reading sessions, we have continued offering our Online Read and Play Groups aimed at children aged 0-4, reading stories, singing songs, and playing games with them. We have regular families who turn up every week, as well as families who drop in a few times per term. Children and parents who return week after week are familiar with session routines, pre-empting songs and engaging with games. Our Read and Play Groups have become a consistent part of the families’ weekly routines and also provide a fantastic opportunity for parents of young children to connect with each other too.
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“My daughter loves the books she is able to choose and receive in the post. She gets very excited when the parcel drops through the door and is usually found deep in the book as soon as it arrives. She is currently reading three different titles from three different genres!”
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Doorstep Library Parent
Annual Review 2022/2023
Impact results
At Doorstep Library we evaluate the impact of our Reading Programmes by capturing both quantitative and qualitative data through a range of methods, measuring success in terms of reading ability, parental engagement and an interest in books.
In addition, each year we survey our parents/carers to find out how they think our service has impacted on their child/ren and on themselves.
2022-2023 Impact Results – Parent/Carer feedback
Our Reading Programmes
93%
of parents/carers said Doorstep Library has helped their children to read better
91%
of parents/carers said Doorstep Library has encouraged them to spend more time reading with their children
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89%
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of parents/carers found the community services and activities we signposted them to useful and interesting
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“Both the reading with the volunteers and the group sessions are fun. The children enjoy both but they really love the group sessions as they get the interact with Martin and Marcel - the soft toy monkey!”
"They are very nice very helpful and very kind. I am so happy that they come every Monday and Leela is so excited. It helps her learn more and the visits are her favourite part of a Monday.”
Additionally ...
98%
95%
of parents/carers feel that Doorstep Library sessions have improved both their own and their child's wellbeing
of parents/carers are happy with the diversity of children’s books they have been gifted
“Coming together to read with my children and showing how exciting it can be - has had such a positive influence on their lives.”
"It is a lovely routine for the children, they say know that at least twice a week on both the individual and the group sessions (online) they will read something and my son says - readers are leaders!"
Results are based on respondents who answered 4 or 5 out of 5 on our annual survey (where 1 was ‘not at all’ and 5 was ‘very much’).
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A year in volunteering
This year we:
Worked with 230 volunteers overall
- 138 Home Reading Volunteers (84 Regulars/54 Stand-ins) 92 Online Reading Volunteers (50 Regulars/42 Stand-ins) Received 134 new applications – a 42% increase on 21-22 Increased our pool of Regular Volunteers from 55% to 63%
Throughout the year our Volunteer Engagement Team has maintained and developed partnerships with a range of universities, corporates and community organisations. For example, over the year we partnered with many new universities resulting in 31 university students starting with us, representing nearly a third of our new volunteer cohort. We have also grown our corporate partnerships and we now have many corporate partners actively encouraging staff to volunteer. We finished the year with 174 active volunteers, a 34% increase on last year.
We are continuously seeking ways to improve our volunteer experience and this year we invested time in our engagement strategy, working to ensure that our volunteers feel valued and supported. We hosted our first full cohort volunteer social since the pandemic in December to say thank you. There was a fantastic turnout and everyone enjoyed getting together to meet, in many cases for the first time. In addition, we launched our very first Volunteer Committee, developing the strategy, recruiting seven volunteer representatives and holding an inaugural meeting. We also encouraged all volunteers to get in touch with the Volunteer Committee and share their ideas on how we can improve the volunteer experience. This has already resulted in some positive changes being made to how we report back to our volunteers. Additionally, we asked our volunteers to reach out to their own networks and this has been successful in both promoting our volunteer offer and securing vital funds for the charity.
Alongside this, we have been working hard behind the scenes to transform the way we manage our volunteers internally. We have introduced new safer recruitment measures and updated our onboarding processes to ensure we continue to put child safety at the very heart of what we do. We have also introduced a new way of managing our regular volunteer absences, which our stand-in volunteers rated an incredibly positive 4.75 out of 5.
It has been a hugely successful year which has seen both our volunteer numbers and our partnerships grow. We look forward to building on this next year.
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Thank you!
Doorstep Library is funded by local authorities and partnerships, trusts and foundations, corporations, schools and individual supporters. We are currently working to diversify our income streams, ensuring longevity and sustainability and enabling us to expand even further. We are extremely grateful to all of our supporters in 2022 - 2023.
Trusts and Foundations:
Belron Ronnie Lubner Charitable Foundation Belvedere Trust Brighter Futures/ Young Westminster Cadbury Foundation City of Westminster Charitable Trust Derwent London Earls Court Community Fund Evening Standard/Childhood Trust February Foundation Hammersmith United Charities Immersion Capital Foundation John Lyons Charity Kusuma Trust UK Lightbulb Trust Lloyd's of London Foundation Mayhew Charitable Trust Mazars Charitable Trust The Mercers Company Monday Charitable Trust Pimlico Million Q Charitable Trust Queen's Park Community Council Quintessentially Foundation Schroder Charitable Trust Scouloudi Foundation Sobell Foundation St Giles in the Field & William Shelton Charity The Blue Thread Foundation The Children's Trust The Clothworkers Foundation The Daisy Trust The Drapers Company The Grace Trust The Grocers' Charity The John Coates Charitable Trust The McGrath Charitable Trust The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund The Swire Charitable Trust The Tanlaw Foundation The Weir Link Thomas's Foundation Two Magpies Foundation
Vinci UK Foundation Walcot Foundation Wellington Management UK Foundation West London Zone Westminster Foundation
Local Authorities:
LBHF 3rd Sector Investment Fund Westminster City Council
Schools:
St Paul's School Fulham Prep School Kensington Prep School
Corporates:
Lewis Communications Argo Global Residential Management Group Sage Publications HA Marks Limited
Other:
Chiswick Book Festival National Lottery University of Westminster
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@doorsteplib
Doorstep Library 0208 870 1476 enquiries@doorsteplibrary.org.uk www.doorsteplibrary.org.uk
@doorsteplibrary @doorsteplibrary @doorsteplibrary
DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
(Registered Charity No. 1158197)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 March 2023
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
Reference and Administrative Information
Trustees:
The following Trustees held office during the year to 31 March 2023 and up to the date of the
report: ‐
Mr H Raymant ‐ Pickard, resigned April 2022
Mr O. Minton, Treasurer, resigned July 2022
Mrs A. Kane, resigned September 2022
Mr J. Trevathan, resigned November 2022
Ms A. James, Chair, resigned November 2022
Mrs A. Lennon, resigned February 2023
Mrs C Campbell, resigned July 2023
Ms E. Dawson, Chair, appointed July 2022
Ms S. Gresty, Deputy Chair, appointed July 2022
Mrs A. Musiol Poole, appointed July 2022
Ms F. Jordan, appointed July 2022
Mr A. Seres, Treasurer, appointed September 2022
Mr P. Warwick, appointed July 2023
Trustees are appointed for a term of two years with a maximum of three terms. There shall not be more than ten
Trustees.
Management:
Mrs K. Bareham (Director)
Registered Office and operational address:
x+why Fivefields, ���� Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH
Charity number: 1158197
Independent Examiners:
Michaelides Warner & Co, 102 Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 9PL
Bankers:
Lloyds Bank Plc, 417 North End Road, Fulham, London SW6 1NS
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
Report of the Trustees ��� ��� ���� ����� �� ����� ����
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‐ Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).
Principal activities
Doorstep Library Network is a registered charity. Its principal activities comprise the advancement of education of young children in primarily low ‐ income families in deprived areas of the United Kingdom, through the provision of �eadin� and li��a�y se�vi�es, delive�ed in h��es and �nline .
Governing document
The charity was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 08 August 2014 with charity number 1158197. On 1 October 2014, all the activities, assets and liabilities of The Doorstep Library Network (charity number 1137861) were transferred to Doorstep Library Network (charity number 1158197).
Our Objectives
The Charity’s objectives are: ‐
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The advancement of education in particular for children aged 1 to 12 years from deprived areas of the United Kingdom and low ‐ income families primarily by providing doorstep library services;
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To provide books and book ‐ led learning;
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The relief of need by working with low ‐ income families to support them to increase and develop their skills and confidence s� that they may better participate in their community and meet their own needs;
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To further such other purposes as are charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the Trustees from time to time decide.
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����in� ahead, ��� ��s� si�nifi�an� finan�ial �is�s in�l�de�
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�he �hallen�in� e��n��i� envi��n�en� and �he i��a�� �n ��� a�ili�y �� a�hieve f�nd�aisin� �a��e�s
-
�hallen�es in �aisin� �n�es��i��ed f�nds �� ��ve� �ve�heads and ��ild �ese�ves �� a s�s�aina�le level
-
�isin� ��s�s and infla�i�n
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
Report of the Trustees � or the year ended 31 March 2023 �����������
�������� ������
�he �ene�al �ese�ve F�nd �f ���,��� ������ ���,���� �e��esen�s �he �n�es��i��ed f�ee �ese�ves �f �he �ha�i�y a�isin� f��� �as� ��e�a�in� �es�l�s� �he �es��i��ed �ese�ves �f ����,��� ������ ����,���� �e��esen� �he �ns�en� �alan�es �e�ainin� f��� in���e �e�eived �ha� has �een d�na�ed f�� s�e�ifi� �����ses and a�e n�� availa�le f�� ��he� �����ses� �he ���al �ese�ves fi���e �f ����,��� �e��esen�s a����xi�a�ely � ��n�hs� ex�endi���e� �he ���s�ees� ai� is �� in��ease �he �ene�al �ese�ve F�nd �� a level whe�e i� w��ld ��ve� � ��n�hs� ex�endi���e ��d�e�ed f�� �he f�ll�win� yea��
Independent examiner
A resolution will be tabled at the next Trustees’ meeting to reappoint Michaelides Warner & Co as the independent examiner.
Trustees � responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. 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 year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
-
Select suitable accounting practices and then apply them consistently;
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Observe the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting for charities;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any 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 charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy 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 Report) Regulations 2008, the provisions of the governing document and SORP (FRS 102). 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.
���������� ������
�hile �hese a����n�s �efle�� �he finan�ial yea� �� �� �a��h ����, s��se��en� �� �he yea� end, �isin� ��s�s and an in��easin�ly �hallen�in� f�nd�aisin� envi��n�en� led �he ��a�d and �eni�� �ana�e�en� �ea� �� �a�e s�e�s �� �ed��e ex�endi���e and safe��a�d �he delive�y �f se�vi�es� �his a��i�n saw �s �el��a�e �� a ���e ��s��effe��ive and flexi�le w���in� s�a�e, and �es�������e �he w���f���e, in�l�din� a �ed���i�n in head���n� �f f��� F�� �ana�e�ial ��s�s�
�ain�ainin� �he ����e�� delive�y �ea� ��les was �he ��i��i�y al�n�side fis�al se���i�y, and �his has ens��ed �ha� �he�e has �een n� �ed���i�n in �he level �f se�vi�es ���vided� The financial impact of these changes has
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i����ved li��idi�y as well as �he �ese�ves ��si�i�n, whils� ��e�a�i�nally, we ��n�in�e �� �efine ��� delive�y ��del �� �a�e s��e we a�e delive�in� ��� se�vi�es whe�e �hey a�e ��s� needed and as widely as ��ssi�le�
13/12/2023 �����ved �y �he ���s�ees �n and[signed][on][their][behalf][by:][‐][.]
Elizabeth Dawson
Chair Of Trustees
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
Chair’s Statement
For the year ended 31 March 2023
Doorstep Library’s aim has always been to give children the opportunity to step inside a story and to have access to books in the home. �e �elie�e it to �e a privilege to �e a�le to �o�� �ith children an� thei� families , ��inging the �o� of �ea�ing an� helping to a���ess the impact that lo�e� le�els of lite�ac� can ha�e on those f�om a�eas of socio�economic �isa��antage� �s o�� ��� sets o�t in he� �epo�t� if �o� ha�e a limite� �oca��la�� at �� then �o� a�e on a�e�age si� times less li�el�� compa�e� to othe� chil��en� to �each the e�pecte� stan�a�� in �nglish at ��� �n� �o� a�e mo�e than t�ice as li�el� to �e �nemplo�e� at age ���
Low literacy carries life ‐ long implications. Children from areas of socio ‐ economic disadvantage are statistically less likely to have access to books and are more likely to start school already behind those from more affluent communities. If you have a limited vocabulary at 5, then you are on average six times less likely, compared to other children, to reach the expected standard in English at 11. And you are more than twice as likely to be unemployed at age 34.
�oo�step �i��a�� has not �een imm�ne to the c���ent economic climate an� the inc�easingl� �iffic�lt f�n��aising en�i�onment� �e��i�ing �s to ma�e some �iffic�lt choices to ens��e that �e can contin�e to s�ppo�t as man� families as possi�le� �e a�e e�t�emel� g�atef�l to all o�� financial s�ppo�te�s� �oth the long� stan�ing cha�ita�le t��sts an� those �e a�e �o��ing �ith fo� the fi�st time� �itho�t them �e �o�l� not e�ist�
This has also �een a challenging time fo� �ol�ntee� �ec��itment� �e a�e loo�ing at �a�s �e can ma�e o�� offe� as fle�i�le as possi�le to �eflect the changes �e ha�e seen post pan�emic in the �a� people li�e an� �o�� an� �ill contin�e to inc�ease o�� effo�ts �oth to �ec��it an� �etain �ol�ntee�s� �e �o�l� not �e a�le to offe� o�� se��ices �itho�t theman� � �o�l� li�e to than� them fo� thei� in�al�a�le s�ppo�t�
�e �no� that the ne�t fe� �ea�s �ill contin�e to �e e�t�emel� challenging� fo� cha�ities an� fo� the families �e �o�� �ith� The contin�ing commitment of o�� staff team �ill help �oo�step �i��a�� �eli�e� on its aims an� � than� them fo� thei� ongoing effo�ts� �inall�� � �o�l� li�e to ac�no�le�ge m� fello� t��stees �ho ha�e gi�en so gene�o�sl� of thei� time an� a��ice�
Elizabeth Dawson Chair of Trustees
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year ended 31 March 2023
| Note 3 Note 4 Note 4 Note 4 Note 5 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCOMING RESOURCES ��l�n�a�y �n���e TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of generating voluntary income Charitable Activities Governance costs TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET INCOMING RESOURCES TOTAL FUNDS ������� ������� TOTAL FUNDS ������� ������� Note 5 |
���� ���� Unrestricted £ Restricted £ TOTAL £ TOTAL £ 372,681 455,807 828,487 640,599 372,681 455,807 828,487 ���,��� ��,��� ��,��� ������� 109,467 ���,��� ���,��� ������� 622,981 ��,��� ��,��� ������ 8,919 ������� ������� ������� ���,��� 4,594 �������� �������� ����,���� ������ ������� 243,378 344,146 53,795 142,582 196,377 ���,��� |
|---|---|
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year ended 31 March 2023
BALANCE SHEET
| Note� Note� Note�� FIXED ASSETS Office Equipment CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at Bank and in Hand CREDITORS Amounts falling due within 1 year NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS FUNDS OF THE CHARITY Restricted Funds General Reserve Fund TOTAL FUNDS |
31.03.2023 £ �,��� 6,062 17,855 215,779 233,634 ���,���� 190,314 196,377 142,582 53,795 196,377 |
31.03.2022 £ �,��� |
|---|---|---|
| 9,181 19,049 266,846 |
||
| 285,895 | ||
| ���,���� 234,197 |
||
| 243,378 | ||
| 194,177 49,201 |
||
| 243,378 |
The notes on pages �� to �� form part of these financial statements.
Approved by the Trustees on .......................................and signed on their behalf by:
Elizabeth Dawson Adam Seres Chair Treasurer
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year ended 31 March 2023
| STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net Income Depreciation Charges (Increase)/Decrease in Debtors Increase/(Decrease) in Creditors Total Adjustments to reconcile Net Income to Net Cash provided by operations: Net cash provided by operating activities INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchase of Office Equipment Net cash provided by investing activities Net cash ��crease for period Cash at beginning of period Cash at end of period |
2023 2022 Total Total £ £ �100,768� 3,943 1,825 1,194 �1,164� �8,379� �84,402� �������� |
|---|---|
| �3,242� �83,741� |
|
| �184,509� ���,���� |
|
| �824� �11,006� |
|
| �11,006� �824� |
|
| �195,516� 266,846 462,362 �������� |
|
| 215,779 266,846 |
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Year ended 31 March 2023
Notes to the financial statements
1 Basis of preparation
1.1 Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‐ Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Doorstep Library Network meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
1.2 Accounting period
The Financial Statements cover the period of 12 months from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. The
prior accounting period was for the period of 12 months from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.
1.3 Going Concern
The Board of Trustees has reviewed Doorstep Library’s financial position, taking into account the level of reserves and cash and considers there is a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the Board continues to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
2 Accounting policies
2.1 Incoming resources
Income is �e���nised when the charity becomes entitled to i� and the in���e ha s been received.
Grants and donations are �e���nised when received.
Tax reclaims on donations and gifts are �e���nised when received.
Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity and are �e���nised when received.
Volunteer help: The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees’ annual report.
2.2 Expenditure and liabilities
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay out resources.
�e����s a�e �e���nised a� �he se��le�en� a���n� d�e� ��e�ay�en�s a�e val�ed a� �he a���n� ��e�aid�
2. � ������������
- �e��e�ia�i�n is ���vided �n a s��ai�h� line �asis �ve� �he e��n��i� life �f �he asse�
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year ended 31 March 2023
Notes to the financial statements (cont)
3 Analysis of incoming resources
| Analysis of incoming resources | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Un�estricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Voluntary income | ||||
| Brighter Futures/ Young Westminster | ‐ | 13,750 | 13,750 | 7,500 |
| Calleva Foundation | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 16,459 |
| City of Westminster Charitable Trust | ‐ | 16,000 | 16,000 | ‐ |
| Earls Court Development Company | ‐ | 6,000 | 6,000 | ‐ |
| Fulham School | 9,736 | ‐ | ����� | ‐ |
| Grabiner Family / Blue Thread | ‐ | 10,000 | 10,000 | 5,000 |
| Grosvenor Estates | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 41,637 |
| Hammersmith United Charities | ‐ | 10,909 | 10,909 | 5,277 |
| Individuals | 43,984 | 23,856 | 67,841 | 92,299 |
| John Lyon's Charity | 5,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 25,000 |
| Kusuma Trust | 50,000 | ‐ | 50,000 | ‐ |
| LBHF 3rd Sector Investment Fund | ‐ | 34,736 | 34,736 | 32,000 |
| L��al ���n��i� ���i�n �a��ne�shi� ��EAP� | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 56,379 |
| Light�ulb Trust | ‐ | 40,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| Lloyd’s of London | ‐ | 25,000 | 25,000 | ‐ |
| �ocal schools, charities and��he� | 30,��� | 7,187 | 37,684 | 7,815 |
| organisations | ||||
| Mohn Westlake Foundation | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 10,000 |
| Monday Charitable Trust | 20,000 | ‐ | 20,000 | ‐ |
| National Lottery | 9,760 | ‐ | 9,760 | ‐ |
| Other Trusts�Foundations | 12,973 | ��,692 | ��,665 | ��,��� |
| Ovo Foundation | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 13,011 |
| Peter Sowerby Foundation | ‐ | ‐ | ‐ | 20,578 |
| Pimlico Million | ‐ | 5,000 | 5,000 | ‐ |
| Q Charitable Trust | ‐ | 10,000 | 10,000 | ‐ |
| Quintessentially | 50,000 | ‐ | 50,000 | ‐ |
| St Giles in the Field | ‐ | 1�,��� | 1�,��� | 1�,��� |
| St Pauls Juniors School | 15,730 | ‐ | 1�,��� | ‐ |
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year ended 31 March 2023
Notes to the financial statements (cont)
| The Alasol�ha�i�a�le F��nda�i�n The Childhood Trust The Clothworkers’ Foundation The David Cock Foundation The Drapers’ Company The Leathersellers�Company The Mercers�Company The Swire Charitable Trust Two Magpies Foundation �al��� F��nda�i�n Wellington Management Trust Westminster Foundation |
‐ ‐ 20,00� 50,000 4,153 54,153 9,368 ‐ 10,000 10,000 ‐ 10,000 ‐ 10,000 ‐ ‐ 26,766 26,766 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 10,000 ‐ 58,052 63,334 63,334 15,000 ‐ 15,000 ‐ ‐ 14,689 50,000 ‐ 50,000 41,000 ‐ 37,456 37,456 17,631 ��,��� 15,000 ‐ �,��� ����� ��,000 ‐ |
|---|---|
| 372,681 455,807 828,487 640,599 |
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Year ended 31 March 2023
Notes to the financial statements (cont)
| 4Analysis of resources expended Salary costs Administration costs Charitable activities Salary costs Administration costs Project costs Governance costs Salary costs Administration costs ���������� ��������� ������ |
2023 2022 Unrestricted £ Restricted £ Total £ Total £ 63,520 42,941 106,461 91,913 27,840 2,937 30,778 17,554 |
|---|---|
| 91,360 45,878 137,238 109,467 |
|
| 198,425 384,738 583,162 471,211 56,257 14,038 70,295 83,449 4,117 51,510 55,628 68,321 |
|
| 258,799 450,286 709,085 622,981 |
|
| 15,375 10,612 25,986 4,838 2,553 626 3,179 4,081 |
|
| 17,928 11,237 29,165 8,919 |
5 Movement In Funds
| Main Restricted Hammersmith and Fulham Lambeth Westminster Camden Online Total Restricted Funds Total Unrestricted Funds Total Funds |
Opening Balance Income Expenditure Transfers Closing Balance 63,672 189,511 �223,471� ‐ 29,712 7,838 70,561 �68,939� ‐ 9,460 24,957 43,000 �44,089� 23,868 28,574 92,503 ���,���� 67,659 66,719 58,052 �114,387� 10,384 2,418 2,180 �3,098� 1,500 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ |
|---|---|
| ‐ 194,177 455,807 142,582 ��������� |
|
| 49,201 372,681 ‐ 53,795 ��������� |
|
| 243,378 828,487 �875,488� 196,377 ‐ |
Restricted funds are, in most cases, restricted to one of the four London boroughs that we work in or to the Online program and funds are held for each of these. The ‘Main Restricted Fund’ is made up of smaller funds that are not restricted to either a specific borough or to the Online program but have other restrictions in place.
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year ended 31 March 2023
Notes to the financial statements (cont)
| 6Details of certain items of expenditure 6.1 Trustee expenses Number of Trustees who were paid expenses Total amount paid 6.2 Fees for examination of the accounts Independent examiner’s fees for reporting on the financial statements 7Paid employees 7.1Staff costs Gross salaries Employer’s National Insurance costs Pension costs Total staff costs 7.2 Average number of full‐time equivalent employees in the accounting period Generating funds Charitable activities Governance Total |
2023 2022 £ £ ‐ ‐ |
|
|---|---|---|
| ‐ ‐ |
||
| £ £ 960 864 2023 2022 £ £ 624,775 497,723 56,202 43,381 34,633 31,038 |
||
| 715,610 572,143 |
||
| 2023 2022 Number Number 2 3 16 1� 1 ‐ |
||
| 19 1� |
�he ���� n���e� �f s�aff ����a�a�ive has �een �es�a�ed f��� �� �� �� �� �efle�� a �han�e in �he ave�a�e s�aff n���e� �al��la�i�n s� �ha� �his is ��nsis�en� wi�h �he ���� �al��la�i�n�
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Year ended 31 March 2023
Notes to the financial statements (cont)
8 Tangible Fixed Assets
| Cost At 1 April 2022 Additions At 31 March 2023 Depreciation At 1 April 2022 Charge for the Year At 31 March 2023 Net Book Value At 31 March 2023 At 31 March 2022 9 Debtors and prepayments Other debtors Prepayments and accrued income Total |
Office Equipment Total £ £ 11,006 11,006 824 824 |
|---|---|
| 11,830 11,830 |
|
| 1,825 1,825 3,943 3,943 |
|
| 5,768 5,768 |
|
| 6,062 6,062 9,181 9,181 2023 2022 £ £ 5,491 6,089 12,364 12,960 |
|
| 17,855 19,049 |
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DOORSTEP LIBRARY NETWORK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Year ended 31 March 2023
Notes to the financial statements (cont)
10 Creditors and accruals
| Creditors and accruals | |
|---|---|
| Other creditors Accruals Other Taxes Deferred income Total |
2023 2022 £ £ 3,693 4,563 3,334 9,069 16,292 19,907 20,000 18,159 |
| 43,319 51,698 |
11 Transactions with related parties
There were no transactions with related parties in the year ended 31 March 2023, nor in the period ended 31 March 2022.
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