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
3*5
497
361
4>7
1,748
847
Lunch9¥
Sale of Cttri8lma8 ¢ard8
100 Club tsUbs¢rtpll￿$
ShopplDg &9￿1C
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&th*ts ¢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(x*no
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
$01
(Jgm be￿n(¥&￿thr￿WpI6aThy pay￿
I￿nI18)I
Unreltrfetod
funds
Rèstrlct•d
funds
Endowment
funds
Detai15
to n•or••t É
to n•arnBt É
to nw•st£
Fund w whl¢h
***•t b•lo
Unroiirlcted
CMt lopllonll
214.069
Curr¢nl v41u•
83 Investment as•ots
Irbcome
Incom• unli¥
RMtrl¢t•d
29.131
Fund to whlch
•BB•t b•lon
CUrrnntv￿u*
Detalls
84 As¥ot• rotalned for th•
charity's own use
Fund Iv whlch
4nountdu•
0Tr41
Wh•n du•
Details
85 LlabllStlo8
Slgned byone cf trustee$ 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