**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 06588338 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1162349** 

Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

for Stepping Stones (Luton) 

Hicks and Company Chartered Accountants Vaughan Chambers Vaughan Road Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 4EE 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

||Page|
|---|---|
|Report of the Trustees|1 to  8|
|Independent Examiner's Report|9|
|Statement of Financial Activities|10|
|Statement of Financial Position|11 to  12|
|Statement of Cash Flows|13|
|Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows|14|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|15 to  21|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|22 to  23|





Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

The Trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. 

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)(effective 1 January 2019). 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

## **Objectives and aims** 

To empower every vulnerable woman that walks through our door with the opportunity and freedom to transform her life and the lives of her children and family. 

## **Vision:** 

As a direct result of our work we will have built stronger communities by putting systems in place that enable women to thrive and be their best selves. 

## **Mission:** 

Stepping Stones (Luton) is an innovative woman-centred service that is driven by passion enabling vulnerable women to transform their lives and reach their full potential.  We empower and inspire women to make positive choices, creating a better future for themselves, their children, their families and the communities in which they live. 

## **Guiding principles** : 

Important to Stepping Stones (Luton): 

1) Gender: A service that acknowledges that gender makes a difference. 

- 2) Environment: Safety, respect and dignity. 

3) Relationships: Policies, practices, and programmes that are relational and promote healthy connections to children, family, significant others and the community. 

4) Services: Addressing domestic abuse, substance misuse and antisocial behaviour sometimes demonstrated by the most vulnerable for example, homeless women, and mental health issues through comprehensive, integrated services. 

5) Socioeconomic status: Providing women with opportunities to improve their socioeconomic conditions. 

6) Community: To partner with other key lead services in providing support and services to address unmet needs and overcome barriers. 

## **Charitable Objects:** 

The Charitable Objects of Stepping Stones (Luton) are for the public benefit and are restricted to the following: To relieve physical and mental sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health, in particular, through the provision of support services of any kind, for women and their children and families suffering from drug addiction and substance abuse and who may have offended or re-offended or be victims of domestic abuse, living in Luton or such other parts of Bedfordshire or the United Kingdom as the trustees from time to time may think fit. 

Page 1 



Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **Public benefit** 

The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity'. As explained further in the Achievements and Performance section set out below, the charity has addressed the activities undertaken in relation to its objects and their relationship to addressing the public benefit. 

## **Principal areas of work** 

Since 2008 Stepping Stones (Luton) has been dedicated to helping women and their children reach their potential and create healthier, happier lives. 

The charity works with vulnerable women and their children to transform the stumbling blocks of their lives into Stepping Stones through the provision of one to one and group support for women and support through an Ofsted registered childcare provision. The charity aims to: 

- Improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable women and their children 

- Improve the life prospects of vulnerable women and their children 

- Create stronger and more cohesive families 

## **2022/23 Summary** 

This year we supported 362 vulnerable women and delivered 2,339 hours of support which is in an increase on last year. More diverse referrals into our services and a growing number of women self-referring have contributed to this increase. To meet the complex needs of our service beneficiary community we have diversified our offers of support to include new course programmes, advocacy, and crisis intervention to ensure that we meet the women where they are on their respective journeys to freedom from domestic abuse, substance misuse and offending. To accurately reflect the voices of our service beneficiary community we have increased partnership working and developed our networking potential. We continue to be the only women's service within Luton that is contracted by the Ministry of Justice to support women who are subject to community orders or being discharged from custody to the local area. All of our services, post pandemic, have been fully operational this year and our childcare facility is available five days a week. 

Our largest referral source was through self-referral with 40% of our service beneficiaries referring themselves into service. Our second largest number of referrals this year was from Children's Social Care, followed by local mental health services. As the number of referrals to our services has risen so has the complexity of need presented by our service beneficiary community - 85% were affected by poor mental health, 37% of this cohort had a dual diagnosis with a mental health condition and substance misuse issues and two thirds of all the women we supported experienced more than one vulnerability. Emotional and physical abuse, and coercive control remained the three most common types of abuse with 45% of our service beneficiary community experiencing threats against their life, 39% being victims of attempted strangulation and suffocation and 70% experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts. 

This year has seen us developing a pan-county Survivor's Group to ensure that the current issues facing local women and their children affected by domestic abuse are accurately reflected in the services provided by both the statutory and voluntary sector. We have been consistently advocating for our service beneficiary community locally and ensuring that the voices of this marginalised collective are heard and acknowledged through system changes and process modification. We have continued to train our staff team to understand and respond effectively to the particular needs of women directly affected by FGM, honour-based violence, gang violence and sexual exploitation. 

During this reporting period, 1,989 childcare sessions were delivered to 102 children with the increase on last year due to more women with young children being supported by the charity and the acceptance of non-client children, at a fixed cost. Our childcare facility continues to provide a thorough learning curriculum cognition appropriate to the children we support and retains its Ofsted rating. Children are encouraged to learn, play, and socialise appropriately with their peers taking part in a calendar of events and receiving a warm, nutritionally balanced meal every day. 

Page 2 



Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE** 

During 2022/23 the following services were provided: 

|**Intervention / services**|**No. of women**|
|---|---|
|One to one support (Luton)|282|
|One to one support (Central Beds)|71|
|Probation|23|
|Group programmes (incl Own My Life, Serenity)|295|
|Education, Training and Employment support|41|
|Counselling|35|



## Services: 

**One-to-one support:** Following an initial assessment, our trained Women's Support Practitioners (WSPs) work collaboratively with the client to identify and develop an appropriate and dynamic support plan which accurately reflects and meets the client's immediate and longer-term needs. One-to-one support continues to be the most commonly offered service, which is underpinned by a holistic, therapeutic approach to building the client's mental, physical, emotional, and psychosocial wellbeing. A typical support plan would include the following: 

- Enabling the client to understand and move beyond domestic abuse 

- Fostering positive and healthy relationships and support networks 

- Support and advocacy to navigate statutory services such as Probation, Social Services, Local Authority 

- housing and the DWP, etc 

- Acknowledging and addressing substance misuse 

- Education and empowerment around parenting 

**Group programmes:** The charity offers an increased number and variety of programmes to our client community which are designed to inform, empower, and support clients experiencing specific issues. A summary of our groups (many of which can be delivered by a fully trained WSP on a one-to-one basis dependent on the client's needs) are as follows: 

**Own My Life -** All our practitioners are trained to deliver the Own My Life programme.  It is a 12-week course to support clients, who have suffered abuse, regain ownership of their lives. It looks at sexism, rape culture, violence, misogyny, disrespect in relationships and abusive behaviour. 

**Beyond Anger -** Explores anger and violence in different areas of the client's lives, focussing on strengths and how clients can express strong emotions in a safe and appropriate manner and make positive changes to their lives. 

**Resilience Parenting -** Enables and empowers clients to understand parenting and how to move towards safe, appropriate, and responsive parenting. Building strong bonds between parent and child. 

**Serenity -** Authored by the charity to support clients affected by anxiety and stress; enables clients to understand and recognise stress and to respond to distressing environs and panic in a proactive, meaningful manner. 

**NVR -** Non-Violent Resistance is aimed specifically at parents who are experiencing abusive behaviour from their child / children. Enabling parents to respond to these challenges in a proven, peaceful way that seeks to improve the relationship longer term with their child / children. 

**Love Languages -** A brand new course developed to enable clients to understand the way they give and receive love in both intimate and familial relationships and how they can navigate and respond to possible red flags in relationships that have the potential to become harmful. 

Page 3 



Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Report of the Trustees 

## for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **Broad outcomes for women support in the community include:** 

145 clients have exited our services this year. 

� 96% positive outcomes in relation to health (including clients reducing the symptoms of anxiety and trauma and accessing mental health support) 

- 61% positive outcomes in relation to finances (including clients feeling better able to manage their finances 

- and more able to manage debt) 

- 78% positive outcomes in relation to ETE 

� 98% positive outcomes in relation to parenting (including being supported through contact processes, increasing their confidence in parenting, increasing their understanding of the impact of DA on children and better relationships with their children) 

Further, of the clients exiting our services over the course of the year: 

- 97% strongly agreed or agreed that they are clear that the abuse they experienced was not their fault 

- 96% strongly agreed or agreed that they are better able to recognise abusive behaviour 

- 91% felt more confident in asking for help 

- 92% feel more confident in their parenting skills 

- 89% said they felt able to make up their own mind either all of the time or often 

- 94% said they felt optimistic about the future either all of the time or often 

- 91% said they felt safe either all of the time or often 

- 93% said they felt good about themselves either all of the time or often 

## **Operational challenges during the year 2022/23** 

Staff Changes: We were without a Women's Services Manager for the latter half of this reporting period meaning that the CEO and Office Manager saw their workloads increase to meet the service delivery staff and services needs during this absence. 

Fundraising and Income Generation: With the loss of the Business Development Manager a consistent approach to income generation was somewhat impeded. This has been resolved by the recruitment of a Women's Services Manager, freeing the CEO's time to focus on this vital area. 

National Cost of Living Increase: This has negatively impacted not just our client beneficiary community but the charity and its staff with rising costs seeing an increased output in the charity's regular payments to include utilities, telephony and IT and cost of services. The charity has increased applications to funders to cover core costs to meet mitigate this. 

## **Business Development and Fundraising** 

The charity was awarded £131,477 for core costs by the Ministry of Justice (covering the 3 years to 31/03/25) and £143,200 (ends: 31/03/24) by Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation. The CEO will be looking to invest more time into exploring the following fundraising areas, alongside cyclical bid writing this year: 

- Corporate sponsorship 

- Challenge events 

- Community fundraising 

- Legacy 

- Regular giving 

To support a planned fundraising strategy, the charity will look to increase its media presence, via both traditional and digital media outputs to not simply raise awareness of who we are but rather to support what we offer. The national cost of living crisis has also encouraged the charity to consider more diverse funding streams and support partnership funding applications where appropriate. 

Page 4 



Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **Partnership working** 

This period has seen the charity strengthen and extend its partnership working and professional networks. As members of the VARAC Strategic Board, Luton Borough Council's Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board, Central Bedfordshire Council's Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership, Luton New Migrant Partnership and the Vulnerable Women's Group, we ensure that the needs of our client community are accurately reflected at regional level. The charity works closely with other third sector providers within the local community as well as statutory agencies with the statutory care remit for many of our client community. We work in partnership with the relevant NHS Trust, Social Services directorate (both adult and child) and the local Criminal Justice System. 

## **Organisation Structure** 

The charity currently employs 19 staff members - 8 full time and 11 part time, three of whom comprise the charity's senior management team. All of our staff are highly trained and regularly refresh and expand their learning through both accredited and non-accredited courses and webinars. This period has seen three of our Women's Support Practitioners become qualified IDVAs. Mandatory training such as safeguarding, data protection and confidentiality are refreshed on an annual basis or if legislation changes occur prior to the annual review date. 

## **Pay Policy Senior Staff** 

Remuneration of staff is set with regards to market rates and will be reviewed in 2023/24 to ensure that the pay levels are fair. 

## **Principal risks and uncertainties** 

We have considered the main areas of risk and outlined in the Business Continuity Plan. The main areas of risk for the charity are: 

� Loss of workspace - building damage, unexpected structural faults, heating / plumbing failure and/or loss of utilities. 

� Loss of IT / data - Failure of computer hardware and/or IT systems, hacking or security breach, damage to phone lines / internet access. 

� Loss of key staff - inability of staff to attend workplace or permanent / temporary loss of staff. 

� Loss of income - inability to secure sufficient funding for the year, not receiving expected funding on time, not receiving funding at all. 

## **Plans for future periods** 

For the 2023/24 period we will be focusing on; 

� Promoting our childcare services through a series of open mornings for referring agents, the publication of newly developed promotional materials and outsourcing these services at cost where the caregiver is not a client of the charity. 

� Looking to expand and strengthen our offer to potential clients living in rurally isolated areas of Central Bedfordshire. 

� Innovating services by looking at areas of potential development within the framework of what we currently offer. 

� Developing the pan-county Survivor's Group. 

� Repositioning the charity as the region's leading provider of services to women. 

Page 5 



Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

## **Financial position** 

The detailed figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 are set out in the financial statements that follow this Trustees' Report. During the year, the Company received £418,661 (2022: £440,648) and spent £557,207 (2022: £500,127) leaving a deficit of £138,546 (2022: deficit of £59,479). 

The primary sources of income were from a service agreement contract with Advance (probation) and grants from Luton Rising, The Tudor Trust, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Early Years Masonic Foundation, BLCF, Ministry of Justice, The Henry Smith Charity and the National Lottery. Income and expenditure for the year were in line with budget. 

## **Reserves policy** 

The current reserves policy is to keep at least 25% of operating costs as reserves (excluding those relating to restricted income funds, endowment funds, tangible assets held for the Company's use and amounts designated for essential future spending) to ensure that the Company can continue to operate in the short term should it suffer an unexpected fall in incoming funds. At the balance sheet date, the Company held £200,330 (2022: £235,609) in reserves under the above definition, which represents 36.0% (2022: 47.1%) of operating costs for the year. 

## **Investment policy** 

The trustees have decided to maintain a low risk investment strategy. The main purpose of the Company is to provide support services to vulnerable women and their children and families and because of the uncertainty of income streams, it is necessary to ensure that funds are readily available to ensure that services are not adversely affected by short term income falls. As such the trustees choose not to risk funds in potentially higher return investments. 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

## **Governing document** 

Stepping Stones (Luton) is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 8 June 2015 (amended 11 January 2017). It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The maximum contribution required by members of the company is an amount not exceeding £1 in the event of the company being wound up. The Company was originally incorporated on 8 May 2008 as a Community Interest Company and passed a special resolution on 8 June 2015 to convert to a Charitable Company. 

## **Appointment of trustees** 

New Trustees are appointed by a majority ballot of the existing Trustees or by ordinary resolution of the members in general meeting. New Trustees appointed by the existing Trustees only hold office until the next AGM  at which time they may seek re-appointment. One third of the Trustees retire from office by rotation at each AGM following the first AGM and may seek re-appointment. 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** 

## **Registered Company number** 

06588338 (England and Wales) 

## **Registered Charity number** 

1162349 

## **Registered office** 

9a George Street West Luton Bedfordshire LU1 2BW 

Page 6 



Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **Company Trustees and Directors** 

The directors of the charitable company are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows: 

Sandra Brown (Chair) Sally Hopwood (Deputy Chair) (resigned 25.4.22) Sara Miles (joint Vice Chair) Hannah Hill (resigned 5.10.22) Rosemary Hughes (joint Vice Chair) Manoj Jain (resigned 4.5.23) Claire McInally (appointed 25.4.22) Sarita Jain (appointed 25.4.22) (resigned 8.8.23) Letitia Winston (appointed 25.4.22) (resigned 31.8.23) Charlotte Philip (appointed 31.1.23) (resigned 13.7.23) Aimee Clarke (appointed 10.3.23) 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Philip Dean, FCA (Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) Hicks and Company Chartered Accountants Vaughan Chambers Vaughan Road Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 4EE 

## **Patron** 

Meryl Dolling 

## **Bankers** 

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ 

## **CURRENT MANAGEMENT TEAM** 

Denise March-Palmer - Interim CEO Shazia Shah - Women's Services Manager Linda Rogers - Childcare Manager 

## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES** 

The trustees (who are also the directors of Stepping Stones (Luton) for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Company law 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP; 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. 

Page 7 



Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Report of the Trustees 

## for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. 

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 19 September 2023 and signed on its behalf by: 


Sandra Brown (Chair) - Trustee 

Page 8 



Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Stepping Stones (Luton) ('the Company')** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). 

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. 

## **Independent examiner's statement** 

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales which is one of the listed bodies. 

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 Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act 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. 


Philip Dean, FCA (Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) Hicks and Company Chartered Accountants Vaughan Chambers Vaughan Road Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 4EE 

19 September 2023 

Page 9 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

|Unrestricted<br>fund<br>Notes<br>£<br>**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**<br>Donations and legacies<br>2<br>**28,395**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>4<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>**38,943**<br>Investment income<br>3<br>**544**<br>**Total**<br>**67,882**<br>**EXPENDITURE ON**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>5<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>**103,210**<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>**(35,328)**<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**235,702**<br>**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**<br>**200,374**|Restricted<br>funds<br>£<br>**-**<br>**350,779**<br>**-**<br>**350,779**<br>**453,997**<br>**(103,218)**<br>**149,527**<br>**46,309**|**31.3.23**<br>**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**28,395**<br>**389,722**<br>**544**<br>**418,661**<br>**557,207**<br>**(138,546)**<br>**385,229**<br>**246,683**|31.3.22<br>Total<br>funds<br>£<br>11,204<br>429,438<br>6<br>440,648<br>500,127<br>(59,479)<br>444,708<br>385,229|
|---|---|---|---|



The notes form part of these financial statements 

Page 10 



## Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Statement of Financial Position 

## 31 March 2023 

|Unrestricted<br>fund<br>Notes<br>£<br>**FIXED ASSETS**<br>Tangible assets<br>11<br>**44**<br>**CURRENT ASSETS**<br>Debtors<br>12<br>**7,988**<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**211,167**<br>**219,155**<br>**CREDITORS**<br>Amounts falling due within one year<br>13<br>**(18,825)**<br>**NET CURRENT ASSETS**<br>**200,330**<br>**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**<br>**LIABILITIES**<br>**200,374**<br>**NET ASSETS**<br>**200,374**<br>**FUNDS**<br>15<br>Unrestricted funds:<br>General fund<br>Restricted funds:<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted<br>funds<br>£<br>**-**<br>**8,783**<br>**78,794**<br>**87,577**<br>**(41,268)**<br>**46,309**<br>**46,309**<br>**46,309**|**31.3.23**<br>**Total**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>**44**<br>**16,771**<br>**289,961**<br>**306,732**<br>**(60,093)**<br>**246,639**<br>**246,683**<br>**246,683**<br>**200,374**<br>**46,309**<br>**246,683**|31.3.22<br>Total<br>funds<br>£<br>93<br>21,045<br>448,352<br>469,397<br>(84,261)<br>385,136<br>385,229<br>385,229<br>235,702<br>149,527<br>385,229|
|---|---|---|---|



The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2023. 

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. 

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for 

- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and 

- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. 

The notes form part of these financial statements 

Page 11 

continued... 



Stepping Stones (Luton) (Registered number: 06588338) 

## Statement of Financial Position - continued 31 March 2023 

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 19 September 2023 and were signed on its behalf by: 


Sandra Brown (Chair) - Trustee 


Sara Miles (joint Vice Chair) - Trustee 

The notes form part of these financial statements 

Page 12 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

|Statement of Cash Flows<br>for the Year Ended 31 March 2023<br>Notes<br>**Cash flows from operating activities**<br>Cash generated from operations<br>1<br>Interest paid<br>Net cash used in operating activities<br>**Change in cash and cash equivalents**<br>**in the reporting period**<br>**Cash and cash equivalents at the**<br>**beginning of the reporting period**<br>**Cash and cash equivalents at the end**<br>**of the reporting period**|**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**(158,337)**<br>**(54)**<br>**(158,391)**<br>**(158,391)**<br>**448,352**<br>**289,961**|31.3.22<br>£<br>(36,673)<br>(224)<br>(36,897)<br>(36,897)<br>485,249<br>448,352|
|---|---|---|



The notes form part of these financial statements 

Page 13 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## Notes to the Statement of Cash Flows 

## for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **1. RECONCILIATION OF NET EXPENDITURE TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES** 

|**Net expenditure for the reporting period (as per the Statement**<br>**of Financial Activities)**<br>**Adjustments for:**<br>Depreciation charges<br>Interest paid<br>Decrease in debtors<br>(Decrease)/increase in creditors<br>**Net cash used in operations**|**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**(138,546)**<br>**49**<br>**54**<br>**4,274**<br>**(24,168)**<br>**(158,337)**|31.3.22<br>£<br>(59,479)<br>7,156<br>224<br>11,359<br>4,067<br>(36,673)|
|---|---|---|



## **2. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS** 

||At 1.4.22|Cash flow|**At 31.3.23**|
|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|**£**|
|**Net cash**||||
|Cash at bank and in hand|**448,352 **|**(158,391)**|**289,961 **|
||**448,352 **|**(158,391)**|**289,961 **|
|**Total**|**448,352 **|**(158,391)**|**289,961 **|



The notes form part of these financial statements 

Page 14 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** 

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. 

## **Income** 

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income: 

Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to them. 

Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts. 

Investment income is included when receivable. 

Incoming resources from grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance. 

## **Expenditure** 

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. 

Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income. 

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. 

The charity has one main activity being the provision of support services for vulnerable women. 

## **Allocation and apportionment of costs** 

Costs have either been directly allocated or have been allocated on the basis of the proportion of income to which they relate. Where depreciation is properly chargeable to restricted fund activities, this has also been allocated on the basis of the proportion of income between restricted and unrestricted activities. 

## **Tangible fixed assets** 

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. 

Short leasehold -  10% on cost Fixtures & equipment -  25% on cost 

## **Taxation** 

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. 

Page 15 

continued... 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued** 

## **Fund accounting** 

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. 

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. 

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. 

## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits** 

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme.  Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. 

**2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES** 

|Donations<br>Gift aid<br>**3.**<br>**INVESTMENT INCOME**<br>Interest received<br>**4.**<br>**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**<br>Activity<br>Service agreement<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>Sundry income<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>Grants<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>Government Job Retention<br>Scheme<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>Childcare services<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:<br>Luton Rising<br>Tudor Trust<br>Lloyds Bank Foundation<br>Ministry Of Justice<br>The Henry Smith Charity<br>Bedfordshire Luton Community Foundation (emergency Covid)<br>Carried forward||**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**26,729**<br>**1,666**<br>**28,395**<br>**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**544**<br>**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**38,740**<br>**-**<br>**350,779**<br>**-**<br>**203**<br>**389,722**<br>**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**143,200**<br>**25,000**<br>**34,250**<br>**9,986**<br>**26,900**<br>**8,000**<br>**247,336**||31.3.22<br>£<br>11,204<br>-<br>11,204<br>31.3.22<br>£<br>6<br>31.3.22<br>£<br>71,733<br>5<br>347,611<br>10,089<br>-<br>429,438<br>31.3.22<br>£<br>149,364<br>26,700<br>31,600<br>40,069<br>53,800<br>3,891<br>305,424|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||



Page 16 

continued... 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

|**4.**<br>**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - continued**<br>Brought forward<br>Police and Crime Commissioner<br>Pilgrim Trust<br>Steel Charitable Trust<br>Luton Borough Council<br>Masonic Charitable Foundation<br>DWP Resource Management<br>Awards For All (Lottery)<br>National Lottery<br>B&Q<br>**5.**<br>**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**<br>Support services for vulnerable<br>women<br>**6.**<br>**SUPPORT COSTS**<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>**7.**<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):<br>Depreciation - owned assets<br>Independent Examiner's remuneration<br>**8.**<br>**TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**|Direct<br>Costs<br>£<br>**464,751**<br>|**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**247,336**<br>**-**<br>**3,750**<br>**12,500**<br>**-**<br>**24,731**<br>**-**<br>**600**<br>**56,862**<br>**5,000**<br>**350,779**<br>Support<br>costs (see<br>note 6)<br>£<br>**92,456**<br>**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**49**<br>**3,000**|31.3.22<br>£<br>305,424<br>4,160<br>10,052<br>-<br>858<br>24,731<br>2,386<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>347,611<br>Totals<br>£<br>**557,207**<br>Other<br>£<br>**92,456**<br>31.3.22<br>£<br>7,156<br>2,250|
|---|---|---|---|



There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022. 

Page 17 

continued... 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **8. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS - continued** 

## **Trustees' expenses** 

During the year ended 31 March 2023, there were no expenses paid to Trustees (2022: £20 expenses was paid in connection with one Trustee). 

## **9. STAFF COSTS** 

|Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Other pension costs|**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>**406,861**<br>**19,032**<br>**6,861 **<br>**432,754 **|31.3.22<br>£<br>363,163<br>24,709<br>6,891|
|---|---|---|
|||394,763|



Pension costs are allocated to activities in proportion to the related staffing costs incurred. 

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: 

## Support services for vulnerable women 

|**31.3.23**|31.3.22|
|---|---|
|**20**|18|



No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. 

The employee benefits of key management personnel for the company were £84,618 (2022: £96,374). 

## **10. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

|Unrestricted<br>fund<br>£<br>**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**<br>Donations and legacies<br>-<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>82,685<br>Investment income<br>6<br>**Total**<br>82,691<br>**EXPENDITURE ON**<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>91,506<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>(8,815)<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>244,517<br>**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**<br>235,702|Restricted<br>funds<br>£<br>11,204<br>346,753<br>-<br>357,957<br>408,621<br>(50,664)<br>200,191<br>149,527|Total<br>funds<br>£<br>11,204<br>429,438<br>6<br>440,648<br>500,127<br>(59,479)<br>444,708<br>385,229|
|---|---|---|



Page 18 

continued... 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

|**11.**<br>**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**<br>Short<br>Fixtures<br>leasehold<br>& equipment<br>£<br>£<br>**COST**<br>At 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023<br>**129,248**<br>**46,085**<br>**DEPRECIATION**<br>At 1 April 2022<br>**129,247**<br>**45,993**<br>Charge for year<br>**-**<br>**49**<br>At 31 March 2023<br>**129,247**<br>**46,042**<br>**NET BOOK VALUE**<br>At 31 March 2023<br>**1**<br>**43**<br>At 31 March 2022<br>1<br>92<br>**12.**<br>**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>Trade debtors<br>**6,457**<br>Prepayments<br>**10,314**<br>**16,771**<br>**13.**<br>**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>Trade creditors<br>**3,570**<br>Social security and other taxes<br>**22,013**<br>Other creditors<br>**28,353**<br>Accruals and deferred income<br>**6,157**<br>**60,093**<br>**14.**<br>**LEASING AGREEMENTS**<br>Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:<br>**31.3.23**<br>**£**<br>Within one year<br>**20,000**<br>Between one and five years<br>**80,000**<br>In more than five years<br>**75,000**<br>**175,000**|Totals<br>£<br>**175,333**<br>**175,240**<br>**49**<br>**175,289**<br>**44**<br>93<br>31.3.22<br>£<br>5,081<br>15,964<br>21,045<br>31.3.22<br>£<br>2,489<br>21,215<br>24,611<br>35,946<br>84,261<br>31.3.22<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
|---|---|



Page 19 

continued... 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

|**15.**<br>**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**<br>At 1.4.22<br>£<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>**235,702**<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>**149,527**<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**<br>**385,229**<br>Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:<br>Incoming<br>resources<br>£<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>**67,882**<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>**350,779**<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**<br>**418,661**<br>**Comparatives for movement in funds**<br>At 1.4.21<br>£<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>244,517<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>200,191<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**<br>444,708|Net<br>movement<br>At<br>in funds<br>31.3.23<br>£<br>£<br>**(35,328)**<br>**200,374**<br>**(103,218)**<br>**46,309**<br>**(138,546)**<br>**246,683**<br>Resources<br>Movement<br>expended<br>in funds<br>£<br>£<br>**(103,210)**<br>**(35,328)**<br>**(453,997)**<br>**(103,218)**<br>**(557,207)**<br>**(138,546)**<br>Net<br>movement<br>At<br>in funds<br>31.3.22<br>£<br>£<br>(8,815)<br>235,702<br>(50,664)<br>149,527<br>(59,479)<br>385,229|
|---|---|



Page 20 

continued... 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

## **15. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** 

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: 

|**Unrestricted funds**<br>General fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Support services for vulnerable women<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming<br>resources<br>£<br>82,691<br>357,957<br>440,648|Resources<br>Movement<br>expended<br>in funds<br>£<br>£<br>(91,506)<br>(8,815)<br>(408,621)<br>(50,664)<br>(500,127)<br>(59,479)|
|---|---|---|



Purpose of restricted funds: 

The restricted funds are held and applied for the overall objects of the company. Due to the complex needs of all service users, it is not possible to allocate income and costs to specific services provided by the company. 

## **16. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** 

There were no transactions with related parties during the year ended 31 March 2023. 

## **17. ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY** 

In the opinion of the trustees, there was no controlling party during the year. 

## **18. GENERAL INFORMATION** 

The company is a private company registered in England and Wales. It is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of a winding up, every member has undertaken to contribute a sum not exceeding £1. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found in the Report of the Trustees. 

Page 21 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

||||31.3.23|31.3.22|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
||funds|funds|funds|funds|
||£|£|£|£|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**|||||
|**Donations and legacies**|||||
|Donations|**26,729**|**-**|**26,729**|11,204|
|Gift aid|**1,666**|**-**|**1,666**|-|
||**28,395**|**-**|**28,395**|11,204|
|**Investment income**|||||
|Interest received|**544**|**-**|**544**|6|
|**Charitable activities**|||||
|Service agreement|**38,740**|**-**|**38,740**|71,733|
|Sundry income|**-**|**-**|**-**|5|
|Grants|**-**|**350,779**|**350,779**|347,611|
|Government Job Retention Scheme|**-**|**-**|**-**|10,089|
|Childcare services|**203**|**-**|**203**|-|
||**38,943**|**350,779**|**389,722**|429,438|
|**Total incoming resources**|**67,882**|**350,779**|**418,661**|440,648|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||||
|**Charitable activities**|||||
|Salaries|**69,166**|**337,695**|**406,861**|363,163|
|Social security|**3,236**|**15,796**|**19,032**|24,709|
|Pensions|**1,166**|**5,695**|**6,861**|6,891|
|Staff training|**2,814**|**-**|**2,814**|11,195|
|Agency staff|**-**|**1,000**|**1,000**|-|
|Recruitment costs|**1,397**|**6,820**|**8,217**|230|
|DBS costs|**445**|**75**|**520**|506|
|Refreshments & canteen expenses|**796**|**3,877**|**4,673**|2,244|
|Travel expenses|**278**|**-**|**278**|1|
|Supervision costs|**1,330**|**6,485**|**7,815**|6,146|
|Materials|**189**|**702**|**891**|1,158|
|Service user support expenses|**106**|**-**|**106**|297|
|Accountancy|**5,683**|**-**|**5,683**|5,360|
|Trustee expenses|**-**|**-**|**-**|20|
||**86,606**|**378,145**|**464,751**|421,920|
|**Support costs**|||||
|**Other**|||||
|Fundraising and promotion|**304**|**-**|**304**|20|
|Carried forward|**304**|**-**|**304**|20|



This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements 

Page 22 



Stepping Stones (Luton) 

## Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 

## for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 

||||31.3.23|31.3.22|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total|
||funds|funds|funds|funds|
||£|£|£|£|
|**Other**|||||
|Brought forward|**304**|**-**|**304**|20|
|Rent & parking payable|**4,524**|**22,084**|**26,608**|18,000|
|Rates & water rates|**107**|**519**|**626**|1,151|
|Insurance|**1,777**|**8,670**|**10,447**|5,540|
|Telephone|**1,613**|**7,875**|**9,488**|9,758|
|Printing, postage & stationery|**530**|**2,582**|**3,112**|1,753|
|Repairs, renewals & alterations|**529**|**2,575**|**3,104**|6,951|
|Light & heat|**1,032**|**5,031**|**6,063**|3,554|
|Computer & software expenses|**3,184**|**15,538**|**18,722**|14,099|
|Subscriptions|**486**|**2,371**|**2,857**|1,731|
|Professional fees|**1,002**|**4,887**|**5,889**|3,717|
|Volunteer expenses|**125**|**-**|**125**|374|
|Refuse collection & cleaning|**753**|**3,678**|**4,431**|3,934|
|Sundry expenses|**577**|**-**|**577**|245|
|Depreciation of short leasehold|**-**|**-**|**-**|7,107|
|Depreciation of fixtures & equipment|**7**|**42**|**49**|49|
|Bank charges & interest|**54**|**-**|**54**|224|
||**16,604 **|**75,852 **|**92,456**|78,207|
|**Total resources expended**|**103,210**|**453,997**|**557,207**|500,127|
|**Net (expenditure)/income**|**(35,328)**|**(103,218)**|**(138,546)**|(59,479)|



This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements 

Page 23