## **Home-Start London**
**(Charity number: 1161629)**
**Trustees’ report and financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024**
**Home-Start London** Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Reference and administrative information**
**Charity number** 1161629 **Business and registered office** Stephens House 17 East End Road London N3 3QE **Trustees** Julia Roberts – Chair Christina Smyth Helen Anastasi Lydia Lezama Margaret O’Connor Karen Robertson Alison Cross Fran Boto Ian Jesnick Jeannie Pitt (Joined on 02 May 2024) Silva Hrabar (Resigned 02 May 2024) Alex Williams (Resigned 04 September 2024) **Treasurer** Raphael Harris **Accountant Accountability Europe Limited** Omnibus Workspace 39-41 North Road London N7 9DP
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**Home-Start London** Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Home-Start London Report of the Trustees for year ended 31 March 2024**
## **Introduction**
The board of trustees presents its report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102).
## **Objectives and Activities**
The objectives of Home-Start London (HSL) are to promote and facilitate the provision of Home-Start services throughout London, and in particular:
- To research and provide funding opportunities for members that may not otherwise be accessible to them, enabling them, with support, to extend services in their area;
- To provide a voice for and promote the work of members collectively, in London;
- To apply for funds for projects to involve some or all members;
- To raise the profile and awareness of the collective work of members, the extent and breadth of volunteer support, families reached and successful outcomes in London;
- Using collective membership data to influence policy and strategic planning of children and health services in London;
- To identify efficiencies through savings on back-office functions, training, marketing, and fundraising; and
- To reach larger numbers of vulnerable families across London, in areas where a Home-Start service may not already exist.
HSL was established in 2015 with 14 London Home-Starts operating across 15 boroughs, our membership and operations have evolved, responding to new challenges and opportunities. Over the course of this year, HSL supported and coordinated joint initiatives with 16 London Home-Starts collectively delivering Home-Start services across 26 London boroughs.
## **Achievements and Performance**
In a tough year, London Home-Starts continued to show strength, resiliance and courage. High demand for services was coupled with the pressures of high costs, high competition for funding and, in many boroughs, falling volunteer numbers. HSL’s small team worked hard to connect, strengthen and champion our network of local Home-Starts across the capital. In line with our strategy, we focused on building new partnerships; supporting shared learning and collaboration; and raising profile and collective voice. In our annual member survey, 100% reported HSL had supported them to share learning and good practice; 84% to develop new partnerships; 84% to increase organisational effectiveness; and 64% to engage in influencing.
Over the year, 750 Home-Start volunteers and 165 staff from 16 London Home-Starts collectively provided vital services and support to over 6,000 families. Highly trained Home-Start volunteers and skilled staff teams offered home visiting alongside group support and specialist services for families in
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**Home-Start London** Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
need. The proven Home-Start model of volunteer-led, compassionate, relational support focused on the whole family continued to deliver impressive outcomes for children, families and communities.
## _Building new partnerships to sustain and extend Home-Start services to more London families._
Through our partnership with Berkeley Homes North East London, we supported three local HomeStarts to provide a range of support to over 100 families across four boroughs. Alongside home visiting, other services offered to families included group support, referrals to baby/food banks, housing advice, and money management support. As one parent shared, “Having Home-Start at a very difficult time in my life has made me more confident and helped me bond with my children. Home-Start has helped me find myself again, now I enjoy life and feel strong and capable to be a good mum.”
We delivered our first, London-wide volunteer recruitment campaign #My2Hours, working closely with Volunteer Managers, Communications Leads and volunteers across the network. We secured pro-bono support from Ogilvy, a leading media agency, to help develop the campaign and launched it across our digital platforms while supporting local Home-Start teams to integrate it into their local communications plans. The campaign more than doubled engagement rates across HSL platforms and boosted volunteer enquiries. Meanwhile, local Home-Starts teams now have timeless assets and have continued to use them in regular recruitment campaigns.
At the end of the year, we were delighted to launch a new corporate partnership with Elite Landscapes Ltd. The partnership recognises our shared commitment to building thriving communities across the capital. Over the year ahead, Elite Landscapes Ltd. will support HSL through a combination of staff fundraising and skills-based volunteering connecting families to nature. This builds on our partnership with ZSL London Zoo which, over the year, created unforgettable days out for Home-Start families and volunteers across London.
_Sharing learning and supporting collaboration to ensure services best meet the evolving needs of London’s diverse communities._
Throughout the year, we continued to facilitate our vibrant peer learning groups for Volunteer Leads, Communication Leads and Managers. These groups provided a safe space to share ideas, skills and resources to address shared challenges in areas ranging from strategy and governance to corporate partnerships to volunteer development. As one Manager shared, “HSL is a vital umbrella for HomeStart schemes and managers. We are stronger together than working in silos. Shared practice, skills and expertise enable us all to work smarter and more cost effectively.”
We successfully completed our Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support project in partnership with Central North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust. Building on an initial pilot, the project supported three local Home-Starts to provide a home-visiting service for new mothers with mild to moderate mental health difficulties across five boroughs. Of the 53 women supported, over 80% reported improved mental health, reduced social isolation and increased access to local services. In their feedback, Community PMH teams and Home-Start staff highlighted how partnership had resulted in a smoother referral process and more flexible, holistic package of support for families.
_Raising profile and our collective voice in support of vulnerable London families._
This year HSL delivered our second London Family Voices research and campaign profiling the experiences of families a year into the cost-of-living crisis. We surveyed London parents supported by
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**Home-Start London** Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
Home-Start, exploring how they were coping and what support they needed. Financial worries were their main concern, followed by housing, combining caring responsibilities and paid employment, their own physical and/or mental health, and their child’s development. Families were also able to share their feedback on engagement with Home-Start. We worked with London campaigning group 4in10 to profile our research, including convening a panel discussion on the early years with Little Village and London Councils at the Childhood Trust’s annual London Child Poverty Summit. Meanwhile, local Home-Starts shared the research with commissioners, funders, and councillors.
HSL also coordinated several joint communications campaigns championing the voices of Home-Start families and the impact of Home-Start services. This included representing Home-Start in relevant platforms including regional Perinatal Mental Health networks, the London Poverty Alliance, the GLA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion forum and the newly established London Volunteer Strategy Steering Group convened by London Plus. Alongside this, we continued to engage and build our profile with partners and funders including the Anna Freud’s Centre for Family Hubs, Trust for London, and the London Housing Panel.
## **Thanks to our partners**
We would like to thank all our partners for their commitment and support for the work of Home-Start across London. Alongside our funding partnerships, we received valuable pro bono support from partners including Pilotlight, Media Trust/Ogilvy and ZSL London Zoo. In the current challenging operating environment, we are particularly grateful for this support. Continuing our efforts to build a sustainable funding base for HSL and our wider network of local Home-Starts across London remains a priority for the year ahead.
## **Public Benefit**
The board of trustees confirms it has complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Home-Start London became a CIO in May 2015. The governing documents are the Home-Start London Constitution and the Members Agreement. The board of trustees comprises an appointed trustee from each of the member schemes. Trustees bring skills and expertise to ensure the sound governance of the charity and representation of the member schemes. Trustees have overall responsibility for setting the strategy of the charity. The Director is responsible for delivering the strategy and for dayto-day operations.
## **Financial Review**
During the 12-month period, the charity generated total incoming resources of £188,953 (2023: £330,235) and expended total resources of £168,289 (2023: £288,449). The decrease in income relates to significant funding partnerships for HSL coming to a close. We focused on developing our funding proposal pipeline, raising our profile and building new relationships, and scoping a new membership fee model to help drive income growth.
As of 31 March 2024, Home-Start London held £109,740 (2023: £89,076) in total reserves. Of this, £57,625 (2023: £44,930) was held as general funds, £32,115 (2023: £22,146) was held as restricted
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**Home-Start London** Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
and £20,000 (2023: £22,000) was designated by the trustees for the purpose of fundraising and business development to support the development of new funding partnerships for HSL.
## **Reserves Policy**
The trustees review the reserves policy on an annual basis. It was agreed that unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, should be set at a level that equates to at least approximately six to nine months of unrestricted expenditure (£4 8,00 0-£70 ,0 00). This provides sufficient funds for management and administration and support costs. It also recognises the current challenging funding environment for HSL and our wider network. The unrestricted general funds at the end of the year were £57,625.
## **Statement of Trustees Responsibility**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities requires 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 for that period and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102)
- make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provision of the trust deed. 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.
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**Home-Start London** Independent Examiner’s Report For the year ended 31 March 2024
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Home-Start London for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT**
As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’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 matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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.
………………………… **Aamer Shehzad FCA**
Accountability Europe Ltd Omnibus Workspace 39-41 North Road London N7 9DP
## **Date: 20/01/2025**
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## **HOME-START LONDON**
## **Statement of financial activities**
(including summary income and expenditure account)
## **For the year ended 31 March 2024**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
**2**
**3**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
**9**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
**Transfer between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/ (expenditure)**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**Total income**
Grants & donations|2024
**£**
48,806
**Unrestricted**|2024
**£**
140,147
**Restricted**|2024
**£**
**188,953**
**Total**|2023
£
54,803
Unrestricted|2023
£
275,432
Restricted|2023
£
330,235
Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**48,806**
38,111|**140,147**
130,178|**188,953**
**168,289**|54,803
23,642|275,432
264,808|330,235
288,449|
||**38,111**
10,695
-|**130,178**
9,969
-|**168,289**
**20,664**
-|23,642
31,162
-|264,808
10,624
-|288,449
41,786
-|
||**10,695**
66,930|**9,969**
22,146|**20,664**
**89,076**|31,162
35,768|10,624
11,522|41,786
47,290|
||**77,625**|**32,115**|**109,740**|66,930|22,146|89,076|
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**HOME-START LONDON**
## **Balance sheet**
## **As at 31 March 2024**
||||**2024**|2023|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|£|
|**Current assets:**|||||
|Debtors|**9**|**-**||3,938|
|Cash at bank and in hand||**113,018**||102,198|
|||**113,018**||106,136|
|**Liabilities:**|||||
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year|**10**|**(3,278)**||(17,060)|
|||**(3,278)**||(17,060)|
|**Net current assets**|||**109,740**|89,076|
|**Total net assets**|**11a**||**109,740**|89,076|
|**Funds**|**8a**||||
|Restricted funds|||**32,115**|22,146|
|Unrestricted funds:|||||
|General funds||**57,625**||44,930|
|Designated funds||**20,000**||22,000|
||||**77,625**|66,930|
|**Total charity funds**|||**109,740**|89,076|
Approved by the trustees on ________________________ 10th December 2024
and signed on their behalf by:
Filab> **Julia Roberts**
…………………………………….
**Chair of Trustees**
The attached notes form part of the financial statements.
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**HOME-START LONDON**
**Notes to the financial statements**
**For the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below, and have been consistently applied within the accounts.
## **a) Basis of accounting**
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102), the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), Accounting and Reporting by Charities published in 2019 SOBP (FRS102) and applicable charity and company law. The charity has taken advantage of the reduced disclosure framework and has not prepared a Cash Flow statement.
## **b) Incoming Resources/ Income**
Incoming resources are recognised an accruals basis. except that donations and legacies are recognised only upon receipt unless the donor advises otherwise. Grants and contracts are treated as income for the period to which the funder assigns the funds so matching the income for the period to which the funder assigns the funds with the associated costs of the services.
## **c) Charitable activities expenditure**
Charitable activities consist of expenses incurred to further the company's aims and objectives of developing and maximising the effectiveness of the charity. Charitable expenditure includes the costs of training, sponsorship, grants and support to member organisations. The costs of liaising with member organisations, the preparation of directories, events and conference are included.
## **d) Stocks of materials and literature**
Stocks of materials and literature are written off as incurred.
## **e) Going concern basis**
The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis.
## **f) VAT**
Where appropriate expenditure includes irrecoverable value added tax.
## **g) Fund Accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use in the furtherance of the charity's objectives. Restricted funds are subject to restrictions imposed by donors as set out in the notes to the accounts. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
## **h) Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
## **i) Creditors**
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
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**HOME-START LONDON**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
**For the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **2 ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES INCOME**
|**Unrestricted**|**2024**
**£**|2023
£|
|---|---|---|
|General Fund|48,806|54,803|
|**Total Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
Berkeley Homes (North East London) Ltd
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
City Bridge Foundation
Children England
**Total Restricted**
**Total Income**|**48,806**
98,544
20,853
20,000
750
**140,147**
**188,953**||
|||54,803|
|||140,142
114,290
20,000
1,000|
|||275,432|
||||
|||330,235|
||||
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**HOME-START LONDON**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **3 EXPENDITURE**
|**EXPENDITURE**||
|---|---|
|Project costs
Staff costs
Legal and professional
Independent Examination
Office and admin
**Total Expenditure**
Support costs|**Total**
**Total**
**2024**
**2023**
77,017
213
**77,230**
205,698
35,873
14,853
**50,726**
52,561
-
4,488
**4,488**
5,142
14,912
20,333
**35,245**
24,449
-
600
**600**
600
**Charitable**
**Activities**
**Support costs**|
||**127,802**
**40,487**
**168,289**
288,449
40,487
(40,487)
- -|
||**168,289**
**-**
**168,289**
288,449|
Of the total expenditure, £38,111 was unrestricted (2023: £23,642) and £130,178 was restricted (2023: £264,808).
- **4 STAFF COSTS**
|Staff costs were as follows:
Salaries & SociaI Security costs
Defined contribution pension costs|**2024**
2023
**£**
£
**48,462**
50,358
**2,264**
2,203|
|---|---|
||**50,726**
52,561|
The average number of persons employed by the charity in the year was 2 person (2023: 2) The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel was £39,829 (2023: 29,456)
**5 NET OPERATING SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)**
The net operating surplus/(deficit) of income over expenditure is stated after charging:
||**2024**|2023|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Independent examination|600|600|
## **6 TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
No Trustees had expenses reimbursed or paid directly in the year (2023 - Nil)
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## **HOME-START LONDON**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **7 TAXATION**
The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.
## **8a MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
|**8a**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Current year**
**Unrestricted Funds:**|At the start of
the year
Income
**£**
**£**|Expenditure
& loses
**£**|Transfers
At the
end of
the year
**£**|
|General Fund|44,930
48,806|(36,111)|-
**57,625**|
|City Bridge Foundation
Children England
**Total Funds**
8b
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
prior year
City Bridge Foundation
HUSK ICAP
Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation
The Invesco Cares Foundation
Children England
Total Funds
**Restricted Funds:**
Berkeley Homes (North East London)
Ltd
**Total Restricted Funds**
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
Central and North West London NHS
Foundation Trust
Designated Fund
Total Restricted Funds
Designated Fund
Unrestricted Funds:
General Fund
Central and North West London NHS
Foundation Trust
Berkeley Homes (North East London)
Ltd
Total Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds:
London Community Response Fund
Wave 5|22,000|(2,000)|-
**20,000**|
||**66,930**
**48,806**|**(38,111)**|**-**
**77,625**|
||11,709
98,544
10,437
20,853
-
20,000
-
750
|(78,138)
(31,290)
(20,000)
(750)|-
**32,115**
-
**-**
-
**-**
-
**-**|
||**22,146**
**140,147**|**(130,178)**|**-**
**32,115**|
||**89,076**
**188,953**|**(168,289)**|**-**
**109,740**|
||At the start of
the year
Income
£
£
35,768
54,803|Expenditure
& loses
£
(23,642)|Transfers
£
(22,000)
44,930
22,000
22,000
At the
end of
the year|
||35,768
54,803|(23,642)|-
66,930|
||1,868
140,142
-
114,290
-
20,000
3,402
-
2,552
-
2,600
-
1,100
-
-
1,000
|(130,301)
(103,853)
(20,000)
(3,402)
(2,552)
(2,600)
(1,100)
(1,000)|-
11,709
-
10,437
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
||11,522
275,432|(264,808)|-
22,146|
||47,290
330,235|(288,449)|-
89,076|
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**HOME-START LONDON**
**Notes to the financial statements**
**For the year ended 31 March 2024**
## 8c **Purpose of restricted funds**
**Berkeley Homes (North East London)** : Development and delivery of Home-Start services in North East London.
**Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust** : Delivery of Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support Project.
**City Bridge Foundation** : Contribution to Home-Start London Director salary.
**Children England** : Communications campaign.
**HSUK ICAP** : Development of a training resource on domestic abuse.
**LCRF Wave 5** : Fundraising support to London Home-Starts.
**Invesco Cares** : Growth of Home-Start volunteer network.
**Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation** : Promotion and development of Home-Start Perinatal Mental Health services.
## **8d Purpose of Designated funds**
Funds have been designated by the Trustees for the purpose of fundraising and business development to support the development of new funding partnerships for Home-Start London.
## **9 Debtors**
|**10**
Accruals and Deferred Income
Taxation and Social Security
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other debtors
Other Creditors|**2024**
2023
£
£
**-**
3,938|
|---|---|
||**-**
3,938|
||**2024**
2023
**£**
£
**1,500**
15,824
**602**
798
**1,175**
438|
||**3,278**
17,059|
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**HOME-START LONDON**
## **Notes to the financial statements**
**For the year ended 31 March 2024**
|**For the year ended 31 March 2024**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**11a**
Current year
Current Assets
11b
prior year
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Net assets at the end of the year
Current Liabilities
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
**ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**
**Net assets at the end of the year**|**General**
**Unrestricted**
57,625|**£**
20,000
-
**Designated**|**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
35,393
**113,017**
(3,278)
**(3,278)**|
||**57,625**|**20,000**|**32,115**
**109,740**|
||General
Unrestricted
44,930|£
22,000
-
Designated|Restricted
Total
funds
£
£
39,206
106,136
(17,060)
(17,060)|
||44,930|22,000|22,146
89,076|
## **12 Related party transactions**
There are no related party transactions to disclose for 2024 (2023: none).
There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.
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