Trustees Annual Report March 2023
The Voluntary Help Centre continues to provide a much needed and valued service to our local community, supporting the elderly and vulnerable.
Since the previous year when we were still coping with the effects of COVID and the lockdown things have settled down.
The Lunch Club has resumed on a fortnightly basis and was slow to get started with fewer attendees and fewer volunteers. However it is appreciated by those who come. The summer outing didn’t happen, because of uncertainty with numbers but an afternoon tea was held. There have also been challenges regarding use of the bus at St Felix; there have been weeks when we were unable to use the bus because of mechanical issues. We have a 5 year contract for the bus which ends in May 2023 and we will review the matter then.
Our coordinator was involved with the local community bus and arranging the timetable for drivers; however it had taken up too much of her time and it was decided to return the task to Sole Bay Care Fund.
The major part of the support we provide to our local residents is a driving service, mainly for medical and health appointments but also some social and other personal business. The miles recorded for these journeys have increased by around 40% indicating the return to normal after COVID. Regrettably we had to refuse some journeys because of a lack of drivers. Recruiting enough drivers is an ongoing difficulty. The mileage rate has not increased since 2011, and to show our appreciation the drivers were each given a £25 gift voucher, paid for by Southwold Parochial Charity at Christmas.
To address the lack of drivers, leaflets about the VHC were delivered to every house, and adverts are placed in all the local magazines and newsletters.
Safeguarding training for volunteers, staff and trustees has been discussed and begun.
The VHC continues to run at a substantial loss, however it does have sizable funds which mean the balance is healthy and we can continue to work for the foreseeable future.
We are very grateful to the volunteers who give their time and use of their own vehicle, and to our Coordinator and Car administrator for all their work and dedication.
Pat Hendrickson.
Treasurer
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Vtslufttary Holp C&ntre 1164155 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To 0110412022 3110312023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrlcted fundg io lh• Restricted fund$ Endowment fund$ Total fundg Last ye•r tothe near•t£ tr• thè n•wMt£ toth• n•arn•l t A1 Roc•1 Donalion¥ DTrvgFS' bonv8 C&rsoNice reco 10.259 11.803 so 12.344 300 35 497 361 4>7 1,748 847 Lunch9¥ Sale of Cttri8lma8 ¢ard8 100 Club tsUbs¢rtpll$ ShopplDg &91C Sulld incom 847 1,042 2,688 9,103 Sub total (Gross income for AR) 3D.042 32,688 30,461 A2 A8$•1 and n¥tment sales. (sea tabl•l. ¢om• 12.QQO 12.OQO Sub tot•1 12.000 12,00 5.OlJO Tot•1 r•cdpts 42,642 2,046 44.18B 35.461 A3Pa nts SBl&dp8 Rent and rnttr8 Office o¥ C8r8eNl¢o eyn8e8 Advert151n Priniing Chri&thts ¢4rd8 Covid-19 re8wn3e DrlveF5' 8oDus Lunch Club expvnaes 100 Club prizes Shop Sund 24,477 24.477 22,091 3.25 3,$113 3,T61 3,701 7.860 1,471 273 271 520 2,137 1,fTS 433 1.471 273 1.023 284 271 500 1,079 1,058 1,17S 1,080 8n8e8 433 320 Sub total 42,964 2,283 45,247 38.6Sg A4 As8•t and Inv•8kn•nt urchasèB. seè tobl• In(xno Sub total 42,984 2.283 44247 38,659 Ngt of r8colpts/(payments) A5 Transfèrs l)*tween ndS A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year 6nd 13221 12371 $62 176 15591 13,1981 5,532 4,648 5.708 5.149 8,9D6 5,708 501 CCXX Rl acLounts ISSI 1610112024
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlcted funds to n&qr&t£ Restri¢ted funds Endowment funds to n•r••t£ Categories Details to B1 Cash funds eurrent 8(%Unts 4.129 J01 Deposll accounts 800 PettytS8h 19 Total cash funds $01 (Jgm ben(¥&thrWpI6aThy pay InI18)I Unreltrfetod funds Rèstrlct•d funds Endowment funds Detai15 to n•or••t É to n•arnBt É to nw•st£ Fund w whl¢h **•t b•lo Unroiirlcted CMt lopllonll 214.069 Curr¢nl v41u• 83 Investment as•ots Irbcome Incom• unli¥ RMtrl¢t•d 29.131 Fund to whlch •BB•t b•lon CUrrnntvu Detalls 84 As¥ot• rotalned for th• charity's own use Fund Iv whlch 4nountdu• 0Tr41 Wh•n du• Details 85 LlabllStlo8 Slgned byone cf trustee$ o behalf of all thg tru5teoS Srgnature Print Name Date of roval 1610112024 CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 1610112024
CHARITY (OMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees VOLUNTARY HELP CENTRE On accounts for the year ended 31st MARCH, 2023 Charity no (if any} 1164155 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts ofthe abov6 charity I'the Trust") for the year ended 31 sl March, 2023. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparalion of Ihe accounts in accordance with the requiremènts of the Charities Act 2011 I'the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 AGI and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under seGlion 145151{b} of the Acl. Independent I have cornpleled my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examinerfs statement come lo my allenlion in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting rècords were not kept in accordance with seGlion 130 of Ihe Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirèments concerning the form and contenl 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. 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 bè reached. Signed: Date: Name: BENJAMIN LYNES Relevant professional qualification(sl or body (if any): FCA Address: CUNNINGHAMS, 61 ALEXANDRA ROAD, LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK NR32 1 PL