Trustees Annual Report 23-24
Charity Number: 1159877
Our Aim: to enable children and school communities to explore Christianity, and reflect upon their own Spiritual Journey
Trustees:
Nicola Dann (Chair/Health and Safety) Wendy Yates (Treasurer) Dorothy Gough (Secretary) Irene Denison Jeff Trigg Andrea Hindson
The Trustees have had a busy year again this year.
Hand to Mouth has had another busy transition year as we prepared for Ruth’s retirement and Elizabeth taking over as manager,
We have navigated financial difficulties in the first half of the year and have made savings and the staff applied for lots of grants to ease the deficit. We were successful with several grants and supporters were generous in their giving, resulting in a much more reassuring financial position in the latter half of the year.
There has been significant administrative change implementing a management system to streamline processes within Hand to M ~~mo~~ uth and we have altered the mission statement and constitution to better reflect our ongoing work with Staff members as well as school children.
We have met every 2-3 months and as in previous years have reviewed, checked and updated policies and procedures where needed in conjunction with Elizabeth.
We had a successful away day along with staff, spending time getting to know everyone and planning for the future.
There have been some changes within the Trustees; Cathy Davie and Joanne Smith resigned during this year, we thank them for her contribution to Hand to Mouth over the last 5 years, Dot is standing down as Secretary and Trustee at the end of this year and Andrea is similarly standing down as a trustee. We all thank them for the many years’ service they have given to Hand to Mouth and wish them both a happy second retirement.
Hand to Mouth has continued to grow this year. Our staff have been fantastic both in their faithful delivery of the work in schools and in managing the administrative elements of Hand to Mouth.
The newer staff members Helen and Alison have quickly become integral to the wider team. We have taken on new schools and lost some school, mainly due to school’s financial pressures.
We have had successful fundraising events, including a Christmas fundraiser at St Hilda’s organized by Andrea, along with a coffee mornings run by founders Barbara and Margaret and another by Elizabeth our manager. Cathy held a summer garden party held by Cathy. All Hallows at Kirkburton held a fundraising supper evening and St Franc ~~iics~~ held a craft stall.
We continue to look to how we can raise the profile of Hand to Mouth in schools and in Churches and identify other potential funding streams.
Ruth retired in summer after 15 years with Hand to Mouth, we are all grateful for her committed service to Hand to Mouth over the years.
Elizabeth has taken on the mantle and done an excellent job of getting to grips with all aspects of managing the staff team, since starting the role in September.
On behalf of all the Trustees, a big thank you to all the staff without whom Hand to Mouth wouldn’t exist and also a thank you to our volunteers, supporters, fundraisers and prayer supporters who are also key to our ongoing success.
We look forward to what God has planned for Hand to Mouth as we move forward into the coming year.
Nicola
Chair of Trustees for Hand to Mouth
To Mou Icharfty Wlslraoon ll5*77 Accountslor Ye¥ Endd 31 2023 aedi Aotts"? aÉtEIFYS Schools Wo"rE" Travel charge Oonatkins from indu315"- Donatkjns from churches 36645 ""5275',_X 14 20254 3975 34675 2611",. 578, 4213-, riwrTr2 ". 37.1 ax Rtfijn Bank Interest r 458,, -381. TOTAL INfx)ME 39692. 61.2 'PAYMEpirs 'Staff Costs IncdIng P•n51on Imiieait Iparklr -5.5 2415 225 .31.1 ResOUfrn5 3350 -11021 -32 31W' 1313,: eoii 3180 938 i In5uwance 'Telephone & Int•rn•t Admlnlnstratlon & offlr•:" AOuntarY 375, 47, 40.0 .21 35 -25.9 186.1 ii. Webslte Payroll lPrintt Post•8• •nd stsd0ry 32È: -75.0,. 1051 12 77, 40, ISoare & Co"mput•r R•p•lrs '&Jndrl•s 263 105.3 i -16.9 196 Offic• Equlpmert TOTAL EXPENDITURE -331 3910 -ILx).o, 81073, 77163 I)eficItrplU3 23450 35782,,
HJnd To Mouth Ch•fffty R•ilstrnllw Pthmbw 1159m . Ac¢ounts for Yr Ended 31 Dw*mb•r 2021 2022 BANK AND CASH Current Account S•vln8s Account C•sh 9934 45876, 119 5458 26812 209 32479 55929 UAWUTIE&. FVNDS UNRESTRffED FUND Openlnrf BJl•nce Defl¢ltlSurplus for Ye•r Tr•nsl•r to/from Conth¥•ncy R•s•rb• Clojlno 8•hnce 11149 23450 28311 34599 11149 Openlni 8•18nce Trnnsf•r tolfrom Cthen¢y Reser Closlng 8alan¢e 21330 16500 4830 21330 21330 TOTAL FUNDS 55929 32479 Slined: N. D••n Irp•rson W Y•tes Treasur•r 6bk4 Page 2
Hand to Mouth
Treasures Report for Year Ended 31 Dec 2023
This has been quite a year for the finances of Hand to Mouth.
We started the year with £32479 in the bank accounts, having made a deficit of £12332 in 2022.
The Bad News
It became apparent in late spring of 2023 that if we did not receive a significant amount of money from grant funds in 2023, we would be facing another deficit in the region of £15000. If we continued operating with these levels of deficit, the trustees estimated the bank funds would only allow another 2 years.
Our Response
Staff put enormous effort into identifying and applying for grant funding. This took determination and patience. There were many rejections and some didn’t even respond.
The Chair, Treasurer and manager, looked in detail at how we can best manage the finances of the charity, to ensure it has a long term future. The costs of employing staff is greater than the amount received from paid schools work, and the amount received from supporters. We would prefer to move the charity to a position, where we do not need to rely on grant income, but this may not be achievable.
Supporters were contacted and asked to prayerfully consider their giving.
Everyone prayed.
God’s GOOD NEWS Response
Supporters and staff responded with immense generosity. Fund raising events were very successful.
Grants have flowed into the bank account. The seeds being sown from the spring onwards took a few months to bring results, but what a harvest! We finished the year having received £34675 in grants. This has increased the scope of what the charity can offer to schools. It allows us to take the Good News of God’s unconditional love to more children, giving them an opportunity to explore this as part of their spiritual journey.
It also provides financial resources we can use in future years.
The wonderfully generous provision God has made to Hand to Mouth in 2023, has served to encourage staff and trustees alike. I hope it has encouraged our supporters and volunteers as well.
We ended the year with a surplus of £23450, and bank assets of £55929.
Wendy Yates
Treasurer.