Charity Number 1158760
THE SHELTER PROJECT HOUNSLOW
TUUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR TO 31 Aug 2021
The Shelter Project Hounslow was awarded The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2017
1. Overview
The Shelter Project Hounslow (TSPH) was launched in January 2012 and brought together volunteers from Christian churches of many denominations across the London Borough of Hounslow. Our volunteers provided a hot meal and shelter to rough sleepers each night of the week over the coldest winter months in their church or a church hall.
The focus was very much on the quality of service to guests, extending a friendly welcome and hospitality, giving them respect and dignity as well as food and a bed. This proved successful in engaging with those who had previously been unable or unwilling to work with mainstream support.
Due to escalating concerns about the then new Covid-19 virus over the spring of 2020, it became clear that TSPH would have to close its Shelters before the end of on the December 2019 to March 2020 winter season. Fortunately, we still had enough volunteers willing to staff our shelters until the morning of Sunday 22 March 2020. This was the day on which the Government implemented the ‘Everyone in’ scheme to shelter rough sleepers. Thanks to the efforts of our Project Co-ordinator, all our guests were accommodated.
At first, we had expected that we would be able to provide shelter again over the winter season from December 2020 to March 2021. However, as communal shelters with shared facilities did not meet newly introduced government guidelines, this was not possible.
The Trustees, together with our project coordinator explored different ways of sheltering the homeless or, alternatively, offering assistance and ‘sign-posting’ to the lonely and vulnerable in society more generally, including those under threat of homelessness.
By the end of our financial year on 31 August 2021, it was becoming a concern that we might not be able to operate a night shelter over the over the winter season from December 2021 to March 2022. By then, the trustees were putting more emphasis on seeking a new direction for TSPH than an expectation that we would be able to operate as before.
2. Project Coordinator
For many years, the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) referred homeless men to TSPH and contributed a grant of up to £20,000 towards the engagement of a Project Coordinator.
Just before the December 2019 to March 2020 season, we learned that LBH would not be referring any men to us, nor contributing any grant. As we had sufficient reserves due to the generosity of our church communities, local corporates, and individuals, we were able to operate for that season without the need for a grant from LBH.
In November 2020, as government guidelines could not be met by communal shelters, it was evident that we could not expect a grant from LBH. We had to give our project coordinator formal notice of the obvious risk that the position might become redundant.
However, as we still expected that we would be able to operate over the next winter season (December 2021 to March 2022), we were pleased to be able to retain our project coordinator with the benefit of refunds from the Government’s Job Retention Scheme.
As of the end of our financial year on 31 August 2021, it was clear that this position was still at risk. By then, it already seemed unlikely that we would be able to operate a winter shelter that winter.
3. Subsequent developments
3.a Redundancy of Project Coordinator role
Shortly after this financial year end, in September 2021, we formally advised our project coordinator again that the position was still at risk.
Since having to close our shelters in March 2020, including throughout the financial year to 31 August 2021, we had engaged our project coordinator in a thorough consultation process which included attending meetings of the Steering Group. We first considered how we might provide homeless shelters in compliance with government regulations, and we also explored how we might provide some different services to the vulnerable in society.
As we approached the end of 2021, when we should have been opening shelters for the winter season, offering some form of ‘drop-in centre’ congruent with an initiative of LBH’s community relations team, seemed the most promising way forward. However, we had not yet identified any alternative way of operating which would attract sufficient funding to retain any employee.
Regrettably, we had to make our project coordinator redundant on 9[th] January 2022.
3.b Future of Night Shelters National Taskforce
Our chairman, Jennifer Corbin, was recently asked to join the Future of Night Shelters National Taskforce. This is a new venture administered by Housing Justice with the support of The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The purpose of the Taskforce is to draft a set of common aims and standards which it is hoped the majority of homeless projects in England will be moved to commit to and champion. A summit event is planned to launch
3 c Café Connect
We are planning to pilot a new venture from 9[th] June 2022. For one evening a week over an initial period of two months, we will host a café style supper over which people can meet, enjoy a home-cooked meal in friendly company and, if necessary, be sign-posted towards agencies which might help them if they have any problems or concerns.
LBH’s Community Relations Team will be represented at each meeting of Café Connect as it is our intention to offer a service which helps them to meet a need in society.
This initiative will focus on the vulnerable in society with the intention of helping them to address their difficulties before the crisis stage.
This will be a low-cost venture as churches will provide the venue and volunteers will give of their time for free. We will learn from the pilot and determine how to develop this idea.
4. Trustees and Steering Group
The Steering Group members overseeing the operation of TSPH are:-
Jennifer Corbin – Chairman, Trustee and Member of the Steering Group
Bill Hodgson - Trustee and Member of the Steering Group
Steve Joyce - Trustee and Member of the Steering Group
Mary Macleod - Trustee and Member of the Steering Group
Tony Mobbs – Trustee
Margaret Logan – Member of the Steering Group
Peter Simons: Treasurer and Member of the Steering Group
5. Contact details:
Jennifer Corbin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Shelter Project Hounslow
Member of the Future of Night Shelters National Taskforce:-
Telephone: 07809 490004. Email: jpcorbin195@btinternet.com
May 2022
1, Balance Sheet
The Shelter Project Hounslow
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Balance Sheet as of: 31-Aug-20 Balance Sheet as of: 31-Aug-21
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
Assets
Fixed Assets
Stock & Debtors £210.00 £210.00
£38,984.07 £1,124.37 £40,108.44 Cash in bank £33,511.38 £33,511.38
£38,984.07 £1,124.37 £40,108.44 £33,721.38 £33,721.38
Liabilities
Creditors < 1 year £1,175.72 £1,175.72
Creditors > 1 year
£1,175.72 £1,175.72
£38,984.07 £1,124.37 £40,108.44 Net Assets £32,545.66 £32,545.66
£38,984.07 £1,124.37 £40,108.44 Income Funds £31,421.29 £1,124.37 £32,545.66
Other funds/reserves
£38,984.07 £1,124.37 £40,108.44 Funds of the charity: £31,421.29 £1,124.37 £32,545.66
2, SOFA The Shelter Project Hounslow
31-Aug-20 Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year to: 31-Aug-21
Including a summary Income and Expenditure account:
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
Income
London Borough of Hounslow
Income from Govt, Grants £14,328.23 £14,328.23
£16,328.61 £16,328.61 Church commmunities £1,594.94 £1,594.94
£3,020.87 £1,200.00 £4,220.87 Individuals & businesses £1,422.17 £1,422.17
£19,349.48 £1,200.00 £20,549.48 £17,345.34 £17,345.34
Expenditure
£25,257.37 £342.01 £25,599.38 Charitable Activities £22,848.20 £22,848.20
£2,208.47 £2,208.47 Other £2,059.92 £2,059.92
£27,465.84 £342.01 £27,807.85 £24,908.12 £24,908.12
(£8,116.36) £857.99 (£7,258.37) Net Income (£7,562.78) (£7,562.78)
£47,100.43 £266.38 £47,366.81 Opening balance brought fwd £38,984.07 £1,124.37 £40,108.44
£38,984.07 £1,124.37 £40,108.44 Closing balance carried fwd £31,421.29 £1,124.37 £32,545.66
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*Income from Govt. Grants = Employment Costs refunded by Job Retention Scheme