## **Home Community Cafe: Trustees’ Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Opening Statement**
It has been another successful year for Home Community Café with many regular groups and an encouraging footfall. Several of our volunteers have moved on taking with them newly developed skills and useful experience of a working environment and we have enjoyed making links with new organisations who are interested in placements at Home.
On the Trustee front, we were delighted to welcome Phil Birchenhall and Maggie Jackson during this year. They bring a wealth of experience in areas such as strategy, communications, fundraising applications and operational management. We have also been pleased that Virginia Alvarez was able to join us from the US for a year on a Tier 5 visa and have appreciated her warm approach and range of gifts.
There were some staffing changes over the year with the departure of both Christie Greaves and Mike Power who left to make career changes but are still regularly in contact. Development opportunities were provided for Mike Power who stepped up as Café Manager during the planned medical absence of Michael Pollard, Café Manager. We were delighted to appoint Andrea Ward as a new Shift Leader who joined us with café experience and a good understanding of what Home is about. She settled quickly into the Home team.
Although our volunteer and placement numbers vary over the year, we continue to see positive outcomes for those who connect with Home whether it is a longestablished relationship or a shorter stint. The contribution made by our volunteers was celebrated in a Volunteer Thank You event following the AGM on 22 Jan 2024 and was a great successa.
Miriam Jones (Chair of Trustees)
## **Home Trustees’ Annual Report**
This Annual Report is for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Section A: Reference and Administration Details**
Charity Name: Home Community Cafe Registered Charity No: 1161501 Principle Address: Home Community Café, Emmanuel Church 6 Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury, M20 6TR Website: htp://homecommunitycafe.org During the year the following served as trustees of the charity: Miriam Jones (Chair) Hilary Lowe Jason Leach Bernadette Lomas Phil Birchenhall joined May 2023 Maggie Jackson joined Sep 2023
## **Section B - Structure, Governance and Management**
Type of Governing Document: Constitution How the charity is constituted: Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustee selection methods: Appointed by Trustees
## **Additional Governance Issues**
Home Community Cafe operates from Emmanuel Church, Didsbury (Registered Charity 1131669: St. James and Emmanuel Church). The lease agreement with St. James and Emmanuel Church specifies that the PCC approve Home Community Cafe trustee appointments whilst the cafe operates from the Emmanuel premises. The lease agreement was reviewed, updated and signed by both parties in July 2023.
## **Consideration of Risks**
Financial sustainability is an ongoing challenge for the organisation and it is encouraging to report that it operated within budget with careful management of costs and review of prices. This continues to be kept under review.
A related risk concerns the VAT threshold which increased by £5k to £90k as of April 2024. However, Trustees continue to review options for Home as its vatable income hovers closely to this level.
Securing the right resourcing from both the small paid team and volunteers is also a risk that is carefully monitored and it is encouraging to see some stability in this area with the new Shift Leader appointment, and interest emerging from a wider group of volunteers.
## **Section C – Objectives and Activities**
## **Objectives of the charity as set out in its governing document:**
“To further or benefit the residents of Didsbury and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.
In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power: To establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects.”
## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in support of these objects, key achievements and performance review**
The popularity of the café with many regular groups using both the café and the Living Room community space illustrates the value that Home provides in the community. We have had to double the Stories and Songs sessions for babies/toddlers with their carers and the community space is regularly used throughout the week.
We continue to make a difference for volunteers and placements with individuals using Home as a springboard to paid work, having the opportunity to be part of a ‘work team’ and enjoying time for social connection and giving back to the community.
Community events were a great success this year again, with a Coronation Tea Party in May where we appreciated live music and cream teas. The Christmas Santa event was hugely popular with thanks to Sam Crowe and Bernadette Lomas whose input made this event so successful. We averaged 78 attendees on each of the 3 days that the Santa event ran and were able to provide generous donations to two charities: Withington Baby Bank and Hands Across the Mersey providing Christmas gifts to children and young people in Wythenshawe. The event was sponsored by Brsk and thanks to Phil Birchenhall and Shell Critchley for their work in setting this up and the generous donations from Brsk to our two charities.
Although Home works effectively within a tight budget, income generated is used to manage day to day operational costs. Consequently, funding for larger investment continues to be a priority for the trustees. Of particular concern is the need to refurbish the kitchen to ensure that it enables the café to offer the required range of products and to run efficiently and safely, particularly for our volunteers. In a challenging funding environment, the trustees work hard to submit applications to grant-making bodies where there is an appropriate fit of aims and purpose.
We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
## **Section D – Financial Review**
Of the total receipts for the financial year of £89,502, £83,986 (94%) was from café sales, £3,000 in grant funding, £1,930 from fundraising events, £556 in donations and £30 in bank interest. The sales were consistent with the previous year and were maintained at this level due to the proximity to the VAT registration limit.
The major cost to Home continued to be staff at £46,663, 53% of the total expenditure of the café of £87,881. The other main cost was the purchase of stock at £24,410, representing 28% of total spend. In addition, the charity repaid a further £2,000 of the original £8,000 loan, which reflects the ongoing financial viability of the café.
The cash accounts show a deficit overall for the year of £379 and our cash reserves now amount to £9,709.
## **Reserves Policy**
As Home's income is largely dependent on trading, vulnerable to seasonal changes and venue availability, we are just below our target level of reserves of one and a half month’s trading at £10,500. We anticipate a continuation of a difficult trading environment in 2025 where maintaining our reserves at their current level will be challenged and will necessitate grant funding to be forthcoming.
## **Section E - Declaration**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report and signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees by the chair of trustees:
Signature: Date: Full name: Miriam Jones
||Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|Charity Name
No (if any)
CC16a
Home CommunityCafé
1161501
Receipts andpayments accounts
Period start date
To
Period end date
4/1/2023
3/31/2024
For the period
from
~~ee ee ee ee_~~|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Section A Receipts and payments|||||||||||||
||Unrestricted
funds||Restricted funds||||Endowment
funds||Total funds|Total funds||Last year|
||to the nearest £|||to the nearest £|||to the nearest £||to the nearest £|||to the nearest £|
|A1 Receipts|||||||||||||
|Grants|3,000||-|-|||-||3|3,000||2,810|
|Sales|83,986||-|-|||-||83|83,986||83,960|
|Interest|30||-|-|||-||30|30||15|
|Donations|556||-|-|||-||556|556||2,298|
|FundraisingEvents|1,930||-|-|||-||1|1,930||-|
||-||-|-|||-||-|-||-|
||-||-|-|||-||-|-||-|
||-||-|-|||-||-|-||-|
|Sub total(Gross income for AR)|89,502||-|-|||-||89,502|89,502||89,083|
|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sub total-
-
-
-
-
Total receipts 89,502
-
-
89,502
89,083
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
~~——————~~|||||||||||||
|A3 Payments|||||||||||||
|Stock Purchases|24,410||-|-|||-||24,410|24,410||22,934|
|Staff Costs|46,663||-|-|||-||46,663|46,663||47,966|
|General Overheads|10,324||-|-|||-||10,324|10,324||7,357|
|Outdoor Space|-||-|-|||-||-|-||-|
|Events and Marketing|985||-|-|||-||985|985||1,306|
|Maintenance and Consumables|3,808||-|-|||-||3,808|3,808||6,301|
|Training|-||-|-|||-||-|-||-|
|Finance Charges|1,199||-|-|||-||1,199|1,199||1,228|
|Other Expenses|492||-|-|||-||492|492||-|
|Sub total 87,881|||-|-|||-||87,881|87,881||87,092|
|Loan Repayments
2,000
-
-
2,000
2,000
Assets retained for Charity's Own Use
-
-
-
-
-
Sub total 2,000
-
-
2,000
2,000
Total payments 89,881
-
-
89,881
89,092
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
~~——=——=—=~~|||||||||||||
|Net of receipts/(payments) - 379
-
-
- 379
- 9
A5 Transfers between funds
-
-
-
-
-
A6 Cash funds last year end
10,088
-
10,088
10,097
Cash funds this year end 9,709
-
-
9,709
10,088
~~===>=~~|||||||||||||
## Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
|Categories
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B5 Liabilities
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees|Details
Current Account
Deposit Account
Petty Cash
Details
Details
Details
Details
2017 Loan
Staff Costs
General Overheads
Consumables
Stock Purchases
Signature
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|to nearest £
to nearest £
5,442
4,167
-
100
-
9,709
-
OK
OK
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Unrestricted
2,000
Unreestricted
786
Unrestricted
233
Unrestricted
10
Unrestricted
## 86
Print Name
H A LOWE
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted funds
Fund to which asset
belongs
Fund to which asset
belongs
Fund to which
liabilityrelates
Amount due
(optional)|to nearest £
Endowment
funds|
|---|---|---|---|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||OK|
||||to nearest £
Endowment
funds|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||Current value
(optional)|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||Current value
(optional)|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||-|
||||When due
(optional)|
||||Open|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of
approval|
|||H A LOWE|4/9/2024|
|||||
## Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ members of
Charity Name Home Community Café
On accounts for the year ended
31 March 2024
Charity no (if any)
1161501
Set out on pages
1 to 6
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 March 2024.
As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
13 September 2024
Name:
7
Christopher John Smail
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):
FCA, DChA
Address:
2 Bamford Grove, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2FF
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose . None
7