CARE UK Charity
Charity number: 1167299
Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 May 2021
CARE UK Charity
Charity number: 1167299
Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 May 2021
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2021.
Administrative and contact details
The registered office of CARE UK Charity is:
2 Old Farm Burley Lane Warrington Cheshire WA4 4RP
CARE UK Charity can be contacted by email:
info@careukcharity.org.uk
Contact with supporters and volunteers, including requests for help in both material and practical ways, is principally achieved through our Facebook page which currently has over 4,000 members.
Our Facebook page can be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/careukcharity/
Our website address is: www.careukcharity.org.uk/
The Trustees who have served during the period covered by this report and to date were:
Alison Collins Appointed 17/07/2021 Pauline Dickinson Retired 17/07/2021 Kate Farnell Diane Hubbard Appointed 17/07/2021 Emma Kennedy Retired 16/11/2021 Christopher Ross Appointed 17/07/2021 Helen Speed John Stott Mohammad Abdul Waheed
Structure and Governance
The charity was first established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation under a constitution on 31 January 2016. Charitable status was recognised by the Charity Commission on 24 May 2016.
The constitution was amended on 21 September 2019 when the name of the charity was changed from “Charity and Recycling Enterprise UK” to “CARE UK Charity”.
The day-to-day administration of CARE UK Charity is carried out by a small management team led by Nora Carlin, the founder of the charity, and our General Manager, along with our highly committed team of staff and volunteers.
We are extremely grateful to our volunteers and supporters without whose generous donations of time and practical support we would be unable to achieve our objectives.
The Trustees acknowledge their duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and ensure that appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
Objectives and Activities
The objectives of CARE UK are:
-
To prevent and relieve poverty and hardship and protect the vulnerable in such parts of the world as the Trustees shall determine by providing grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations, working to prevent or relieve poverty.
-
The relief of those in need suffering hardship across the world providing such persons with goods which they could not otherwise afford.
-
Such charitable purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable according to the Laws of England and Wales as the Trustees may from time to time determine.
Achievements and Performance
The year and our operation were punctuated by the various lockdowns that were imposed by the UK Government.
The first month of the year coincided with the first national lockdown caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. Our depots and shops had been closed since this lockdown was imposed in March 2020 and staff were placed on furlough.
During this lockdown we continued to do what we could, safely, to support any individuals or groups requiring our help. Of necessity we were working with a small team of volunteers.
Our Foodbank which was established at the start of the first lockdown continued to provide weekly food parcels to support families whose income had dropped significantly as a result of lockdown. At the peak we were supporting well over fifty families. We were grateful for the continuing support of individuals and retailers for much needed donations.
Our Homes Team continued to help and support those in need in our community who are referred to us by Social Services, the Probation Service and other charities. The number of referrals fell
initially during lockdown but gradually started to increase again to pre-pandemic levels as lockdowns eased. We are able to provide furniture and household goods to help those who have been provided with accommodation but have little or no material possessions.
On 15[th] June 2020 we were able to reopen our shops although we initially only opened our Northwich and Kingsley shops as we were unsure as to how quickly shoppers would return. We need not have worried about shoppers returning as they quickly returned enabling us to generate funds to support our charitable work. In addition, we received a large amount of donated goods – clearly people had been using lockdown to sort out and clear their homes. We reopened our shop in Cockhedge Centre, Warrington on 21[st] July 2020 and were greeted with same enthusiastic support from both shoppers and donors.
Our ability to send containers of aid to organisations overseas supporting refugees was curtailed somewhat during the year due to a combination of factors. Firstly, with the pandemic containers were not as readily available and the costs associated with shipping had risen dramatically. Secondly, the effects of Brexit brought further complications with increased administrative paperwork. We were advised by some organisations that we had supported that they were having to pay large customs charges on goods received from the UK. Thirdly, our ability to sort aid and load containers was complicated by volunteers having to comply with social distancing rules.
Our volunteers slowly started to return after lockdown to help sort donations. We were grateful to the small band of volunteers, many of whom came from the same households, so that they could work together safely, who helped us to load and dispatch three containers of aid in late Summer and Autumn 2020.
From 5[th] November 2020 we had to close our shops and depots once again as the second national lockdown came into effect. Most staff were once again placed on furlough. We continued to operate at a reduced level thanks again to our small team of volunteers who kept our Foodbank and Home Team operations running.
Our depots and shops reopened on 2[nd] December and were once again very busy with both shoppers and donors.
We ran a Christmas appeal in order to provide festive hampers and gifts for children in the families supported by our Foodbank, refugee families who we support and others referred to our Homes Team by other agencies. We were able to provide over one hundred Christmas treat hampers to families in the local area. We had many ‘elves’ wrapping and delivery gifts, making and delivering the hampers. It was a very busy but rewarding time!
Our depots and shops were open until 30[th] December 2020 when we entered Tier 4 restrictions and this was followed by a third national lockdown which started on 6[th] January 2021. Once again staff were placed on furlough and we were again forced to operate at a reduced level but thanks again to a small team of volunteers we were able to keep our Foodbank and Homes Team operating.
In early 2021 we were offered the use of a large vacant unit in Cockhedge Shopping Centre. This happened about the same time that we were required to vacate the property on Bridge Street, Warrington from where our Homes Team had been based since October 2019. The new unit now houses our Home Store (which sells donated furniture and household goods) as well as being a base for our Warrington Homes Team operation and a donation station and sorting centre.
On 12[th] April 2021 we were able to open our shops, including our new Home Store, our donation stations and to welcome back customers and volunteers. A huge amount of work had been undertaken by staff and volunteers in order to be ready to reopen.
Our principal mission remains the same – to collect items that are no longer wanted whether they be clothes, furniture, household items etc and pass these on to people in need. Where items cannot be used in this way, we sell them in our shops in order to raise funds to purchase aid. During the year we used our shops in Warrington, Northwich and Kingsley to raise funds for our work and also to serve as donation stations.
We depend on our amazing team of volunteers who continued to give generously of their time and energies, even during the pandemic, to further our work. They helped us to collect and sort donations and distribute this aid including medical equipment and supplies, clothing and hygiene products, to groups and organisations requiring our help.
We were very grateful to receive financial donations from individual donors and from fundraising activities organised by our supporters.
Our mission statement can be reduced to: "Helping people in their time of need", and we continue to strive to use our resources to achieve our aim.
Financial Review
The following statements set out the financial position of CARE UK Charity for the year ended 31 May 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic meant that this was an unusual year in many ways. Whilst our shops were closed for periods during the national lockdowns customers quickly returned once we were able to reopen and sales were strong. Our donations and other general income held up well despite the pandemic.
During the national lockdowns we were able to place staff on furlough and benefit from the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and retail lockdown grants.
Due to the lockdowns our activity was somewhat reduced as compared to earlier years. For example, we were unable to send as many containers of aid as in previous years due to a combination of factors. This meant that our charitable expenditure was down compared to the previous year.
Consequently, we finished the year with a surplus of £134,102 on our general fund. The trustees believe that this places us in a strong position to meet the ever-increasing needs of the communities which we are trying to serve.
During the year we received a further bequest of £57,438 specifically to be used to support the work of Becky’s Bathhouse AMKE, which is a Greek registered charity, based in Lesvos. In recent years we have established links with Becky’s Bathhouse and have been able to send aid on our containers. We have accounted for these funds separately as a restricted fund.
The Trustees have adopted a Reserves Policy to maintain cash reserves equal to three months of running costs of the organisation.
The Trustees declare that they have approved this report and financial statements for the year to 31 May 2021.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees
John A Stott Chair of Trustees 31 March 2022
CARE UK Charity Charity number: 1167299 Independent Examiners Report for the year ended 31 May 2021 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of CARE UK Charity for the year ended 31 May 2021. Responsibilities and basis of report The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity'5 trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Art 20111"the Charities ACV'I and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedure5 laid down in the general Direction5 given by the Charity Commission (under sertion 14515llb) of the Charities Act), and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wtth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me any cause to believe that in any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records- or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities IAccoLtnts and Reportsl Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concern5 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. Jonathan Rigby F 31 March 2022 The Annexe, Walton Lodge Hill Cliffe Road Walton Warrington WA4 6NU
CARE UK Charity
Profit and loss account for retail activity for year ended 31 May 2021
| Year ended | Year ended | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 2021 | 31 May 2020 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Income | ||
| Shop sales | 224,453 | 156,517 |
| VAT reclaimed | 834 | 2,180 |
| Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme | 39,862 | 16,402 |
| Grants during lockdown | 58,586 |
- |
| Total income | 323,735 |
175,099 |
| Expenses | ||
| Property expenses | 28,604 | 18,136 |
| Wages and salaries | 138,004 | 84,075 |
| Vehicle and transport costs | 6,454 | 5,097 |
| Finance charges | 3,075 | 2,474 |
| General expenses | 14,405 |
3,756 |
| Total expenses | 190,542 |
113,538 |
| Net profit from retail activity | 133,193 |
61,561 |
CARE UK Charity
Income and Expenditure account for the year ended 31 May 2021
| Income Profit from retail activity Donations from individuals Bequests Donations from groups and organisations Gift Aid claimed Fundraising activities Recycling of goods Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Other income Bank interest Total income Expenditure Aid for refugees overseas Donations to aid organisations overseas Container costs and shipping Support for refugee families in the UK Homes team costs Food Bank Flood relief Vehicle and transport expenses Premises costs Wages and salaries General expenses Depreciation (Note 1) Total expenditure Net surplus for the period Accumulated surplus brought forward Net reserves at 31 May 2021 |
Year ended 31 May 2021 Year ended 31 May 2020 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds £ £ £ £ 133,193 41,183 10,000 13,592 3,020 25,712 12,800 7,757 10,333 18 - 7,915 57,438 1,000 - 6,197 - - - - 61,561 27,345 - 19,411 1,542 7,362 22,416 3,565 7,975 28 - 3,272 50,000 3,000 - 20,339 - - - - |
|---|---|
| 257,608 72,550 151,205 76,611 |
|
| 21,070 18,132 10,980 1,156 12,916 7,605 1,640 6,105 4,245 31,769 6,638 1,250 - 39,163 - - - - - - - - 765 - 26,460 5,006 35,224 12,550 19,944 - - 10,132 3,817 27,455 8,624 1,250 2,285 - - - - - - - - - 992 - |
|
| 123,506 39,928 150,462 3,277 |
|
| 134,102 32,622 743 73,334 |
|
| 56,350 73,450 55,607 116 |
|
| 190,452 106,072 56,350 73,450 |
CARE UK Charity
Balance sheet at 31 May 2021
| Balance at | Balance at | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 2021 | 31 May 2020 | |
| £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | ||
| Motor vehicles (Note 1) | 2,292 | 3,542 |
| CURRENT ASSETS | ||
| Trade debtors | 1,974 | - |
| Prepayments | 3,293 | - |
| Bank current accounts | 135,869 | 80,181 |
| Bank deposit accounts | 159,637 | 59,719 |
| PayPal account | 299 | 571 |
| Cash in hand | 6,227 | 392 |
| VAT repayable | 2,765 |
469 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 312,356 |
144,874 |
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||
| Accruals |
15,832 |
15,074 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 15,832 |
15,074 |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS AT 31 MAY 2021 | 296,524 |
129,800 |
| Represented by: | ||
| Unrestricted Funds | 190,452 | 56,350 |
| Restricted Funds | 106,072 |
73,450 |
| TOTAL NET RESERVES AT 31 MAY 2021 | 296,524 | 129,800 |
CARE UK Charity
Notes to the accounts for year ended 31 May 2021
1. Fixed Assets
| Fixed Assets | |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicles | |
| £ | |
| COST | |
| As at 1 June 2020 | 5,000 |
| Additions during the year | - |
| As at 31 May 2021 | 5,000 |
| DEPRECIATION | |
| As at 1 June 2020 | 1,458 |
| Charge for the year | 1,250 |
| As at 31 May 2021 | 2,708 |
| NET BOOK VALUE | |
| As at 1 June 2020 | 3,542 |
| As at 31 May 2021 | 2,292 |
Depreciation is provided at an annual rate of 25% on a straight line basis to write off the asset over its estimated useful life.
2. Trustee remuneration
During the year, no Trustee received any remuneration. No members of the Board of Trustees received reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses during the year.
3. Related party transactions
During the year there were no related party transactions.