SOUTHEND CAP DEBT ADVICE CENTRE ACCOUNTS AND TRUSTEE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31" DECEMBER 2024
SOUTHEND CAP DEBT ADVICE CENTRE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS 2024 2024 Client Support 2024 2023 General fund Total Total RECEIPTS Individual giving Church giving Gift aid Fundraiser Grants received Other Ba nk Interest 8,019 12,761 2,697 1,780 1,230 9,249 12,761 2,697 1,780 3,300 380 473 30,639 11,965 14,884 1,346 10,075 2,260 344 40,874 300 473 29,109 1,530 PAYMENTS Salary Nest Pension HMRC CAP Insurance Office expenses Travel expenses Client Support- Hampers Client Support- food & misc Other Equipment 18,129 1,714 2,951 8,700 477 1,234 18,129 1,714 2,951 8,700 477 1,234 17,365 10.210 434 983 1,408 1,221 1,402 2,468 30 35,521 1,864 226 1,864 226 1,104 1,104 35.389 2.090 37.479 Opening balance OI/OV2024 Profit / (Loss) Closlng balance 3111212024 36.647 16,280) 30,367 2,140 1560) 1,580 38,787 (6,840) 31,947 33,434 5,353 38.787
SOUTHEND CAP DEBT ADVICE CENTRE YEAR ENDED 31" DECEMBER 2024 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABIUTIES 2024 2023 CASH FUNDS Barclays Current Account Barclays Active Saver 1,711 30,236 31,947 2,024 36,763 38,787 LIABILITI ES NET CASH FUNDS 31,947 38,787 General Fund Client Support Fund ( Restricted) 30,367 1,580 36,647 2,140 Signed Date ..................... /.?../.a./¥..r........ Mrs Julie Eady- Chairman Signed Mr Geoff Fulford- Treasurer
SOUTHEND CAP DEBT ADVICE CENTRE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024 TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT The charity is a Registered Charity No.1159193 established in 2014. The Charity's principal address is Shoeburyness and Thorpe Bay Baptist Church, Thorpedene Gardens, Shoeburyness, Essex SS3 9JD. The Trustees of the Charity are: Mrs Julie Eady (Chair) Mrs Melanie Venables {Secretary} Mr Geoff Fulford {Treasurer)-Appointed 18 September 2024 Mr Robert Briant Mrs Joanna Hellenbrand Mr Richard Higgs Mr Derek Nash- Appointed 18 September 2024 th th th Mr Paul Wilson- retired 18 September 2024 Structure. Governance and Management Southend CAP Debt Advice Centre has over 190 5UPPOrting members drawn from over 15 churches acros5 the borough of Southend on Sea. In addition to social events and volunteers meetings, these members are invited to meet twice a year- one of these occasions being the AGM of the organisation. Trustees are elected by the members at the AGM. At each AGM one third of the Trustees- those who have served longest since their last election - must retire but are eligible for re- election unless they have served three consecutive terms, when they are not eligible for election for a further two years. The Trustees are responsible for the governance of the CIO. Southend CAP Debt Advice Centre has a paid, part time manager. The manager is accountable to the trustees and manages the day to day running of the Centre, including line managing the volunteer debt coach and approximately 40 volunteers, who act as befrienders for our clients. The organisation works in partnership with Christians Against Poverty (CAPI, based in Bradford. They are accredited by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide financial and legal support and advice to clients. Our role is to explain the advice provided by CAP and provide pastoral sUPPOrt. Objectives and Activities The objects of the CIO are The relief of poverty, including the provision of money management and debt advice; The advancement of the Christian religion; within the area of Southend on Sea, including the borough of Southend and parts of Rochford and Castle Point. We provide face to face debt advice by visiting clients and potential clients in their own homes. Our manager and volunteer Debt Coaches are trained to collect information and explain budgets and the advice drawn up by Christians Against Poverty in Bradford. We have found the provision of prartical support such as emergency food shops and fuel top-ups extremely beneficial to clients. Personal encouragement by the debt coaches and befrienders continues for as long as it takes for the client to become debt free.
The annual Christmas Hampers and Easter gifts to all of our clients is a way of showing God's love in a practical way. The door-stop deliveries also provided an opportunity to encourage clients on their journey to being debt free. We offer to pray with clients and invite them to services and other activities in local churches as appropriate. We are conscious that many clients are vulnerable, so these offers are made without pressure. It is always emphasised that we provide our services unconditionally. All our services are free of charge to clients. Achievements and Perfomiance It was our 10 year anniversary in 2024. This occasion was marked by a celebration service at Leigh Road Baptist Church in September, followed by tea and cake. A Cream Tea before the service was held for current and past debt coaches, befrienders and Trustees to say a special thank you to them for their commitment and service to SCDAC over the years. It was also a time to say goodbye to Richard Leadley as our Centre manager. Richard was the Centre Manager since the charity was formed, his passion for the charity and clients is one of the reasons we have been able to celebrate these 10 years. We were delighted when he decided to continue as a debt coach after handing over the reins to the new Centre Manager Robert Simpson. Robert started his debt Coach training in March 2024 enabling a hand over period with Richard of the Centre Manager role. By the end of 2024 we were back to seeing 6 new clients a month. During the year, we corresponded with 50 potential clients. These were people in debt, all of whom had contacted us to enquire about our seices. Of these, 46 became clients. During the year, we celebrated 8 people becomin8 debt free as a result of our work. Since we started the charity in 2014, 166 have become debt free. Since the charity started, 16 people have made first time commitments to Jesus Christ. We owe a huge thank you to the Debt Coaches and befrienders who commit their time and care working face to face with clients. We have found the client cases are becoming more complex and therefore require additional support beyond Debt help. These complexities make the Debt Coach role even more challenging and much patience is required. Our work has resulted in benefit to the public. From the moment people become clients, all discussions with creditors are handled by Christians Against Poverty and clients receive a budget to help them manage their finances. These actions have the effect of relieving clients of a great deal of stress and pressure. Although the effects of this vary from client to client, for many this results in an improvement in well-being and a reduction in mental health problems. Many clients have partners and children. so the beneficial efferts are experienced by a greater number of individuals than the clients alone. In some cases, potential relationship breakdowns have been avoided. Our work has resulted in an increase in social inclusion. A number of clients have begun attending local churches. There they have built new friendships and gained wider support networks in addition to finding a degree of spiritual peace and comfort. Every client we deal with is unique with unique situations.
We are Partnered with the charity Acts435, and have an advocate managing this for client support items such as Debt Relief Orders and emergency items. Financial Revlew The sources of general fund income to the end of 2024 have included donations from partner churches (approx. 44¥0), donations from individuals and gift aid (approx. 37%), grants IIO%I, fund- raising events lapprox. 6*0), and Other lapprox. 3%). The restricted Client Support fund raised £1,530 mainly from individual giving for the Christmas Hamper appeal. This fund ensures Christmas Hampers and Easter gifts can be provided and adhoc food shops and practical support when needed. The grants received in 2023 enabled us to have a paid hand over period between the Debt Centre Managers ensuring continuous service of the centre and client visits. In October we held a charity fundraising meal and auction raising £1,780 for the 8eneral fund. Due to the 10 year celebration we only ran one fundraiser in 2024. We aim to hold a sum equivalent to at least ten months, general fund expenditure in reserve. If, at any time, reserves were to drop below nine months, costs, the trustees would actively pursue additional external grant funding and assess the current operational structure of the charity. We are always actively looking for grants that can be applied for. Expenditure is used to support key objectives. The two largest Costs are the salary of the Centre Manager and fees paid to Christians Against Poverty headquarters in Bradford as a contribution towards their professional financial and legal services on behalf of our client5. We are fortunate to have capable trustees who provide a good level of governance voluntarily. We also have enthusiastic volunteers who organise fundraising and manage other administrative functions. This enables us to spend a very high proportion of our income directly on our charitable objectives.