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2023-03-31-accounts

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER : 10348139

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 MARCH 2023

Charity Number : 1170940

Edmund Carr LLP

Chartered Accountants 146 New London Road

Chelmsford

Essex CM2 0AW

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

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CONTENTS PAGE
Trustees' annual report 1
Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees 11
Statement of financial activities 12
Balance sheet 13
Statement of cash flows 14
Notes to the financial statements 15
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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT

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 period ended 31 March 2023. The Trustees/Directors have prepared the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and 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).

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number 10348139 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1170940

Registered office Home-Start Essex Maldon District Council Princes Road Maldon Essex CM9 5DL

Trustees

Roselyn Bullen-Bell – appointed 16/09/2022 Johanna Burnett Bryan Burrough Rhian Capener – appointed 18/11/2022 and resigned 26/05/2023 Karl Davies – resigned 15/07/2022 Rebecca Dixon Joanna Georgiades – appointed 21/07/2023 Trudy Nash – resigned 20/05/2022 David Neale Neil Oakley – appointed 1/10/2022 Edwin Powell – appointed 20/01/2023 Nerisha Sethi – resigned 16/09/2022 Lance Spring – resigned 6/03/2023 Sarah St. Pierre (Chair) Dawn Taylor – appointed 16/09/2022 Ann Tomlins – resigned 20/01/2023

Company Secretary David Neale

Chief Executive Officer Nicola O'Brien

Ambassadors

Rex Howling KC Lady Rosemary Ruggles-Brise The Right Honourable Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Members Guarantee

The company is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee with liability of each of the members being limited to £1.

Independent examiner

Raymond Crace FCA Edmund Carr LLP 146 New London Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 0AW

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR

I have had the privilege of being Chair of Home-Start Essex since December 2019 during a period which has seen us as a local Home-Start grapple and overcome the challenges of a global pandemic and the subsequent impact of social isolation and more recently the cost-of-living crisis on both families and children. Despite these huge challenges, I am delighted to be able to celebrate the achievements of HomeStart Essex and in this Annual Report to share how we have responded and adapted to help families overcome the struggles they face.

In October 2022 we reviewed and revised our Strategic Plan to 2025, to reflect more accurately; the changing needs of the families we support, the increasing pressures which are affecting the availability of many of our volunteers, and the challenging environment in which we operate as the funding landscape gets harder. I am especially pleased that our strategy also acknowledges the need for us to take further action on diversity to ensure that we are inclusive and fully accessible to all of those in our communities. In November 2022 we signed a new Home-Start Agreement with Home-Start UK alongside a new HomeStart Handbook which underpins our relationship with them and lays out the Quality Assurance standards for our charity.

Our volunteers are essential to both the delivery and development of Home-Start Essex. We have established a Network group of volunteers who are bringing their experience and insights alongside feedback from families and staff to inform improvements in service delivery. It will also improve the volunteering experience at Home-Start Essex.

The Annual Report highlights many improvements across all aspects of our operations. I am particularly proud of the way in which we have tested out new ways of working to reflect and address the emerging needs for families, such as specialist behaviour support, support for new mothers, wellbeing support and we are about to launch in partnership with another charity, a specialist support group for families of children with additional needs in one of our districts. We have also been successful in gaining additional funding from several grants through HSUK to support families in different ways and are working closely with partner organisations to look at opportunities where our skills and experiences together can make the greatest impact for families.

We are enormously grateful for the funding given to us from trusts and foundations, local businesses and individuals who recognise the importance of the early years for a child’s development. Through our work supporting parents / carers and children in the early years, this will lay the foundations to help us to achieve our aim ‘ Helping to give children the best possible start in life’.

Sarah St Pierre , Chair of Trustees

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The Objects of the Charity are:

a) To safeguard, protect and preserve the good health, both mental and physical, of children and parents of children;

b) To prevent cruelty to or maltreatment of children;

c) To relieve sickness, poverty and need amongst children and parents of children;

d) To promote the education of the public in better standards of child care;

Principally, but not exclusively, within the area of Essex and its environs.

The vision of the Charity, as captured in our Strategic Plan is:

“For every child and young person in Essex to grow up in a family that is strong and resilient and able to access the support they need, when and where they need it.”

The Charity’s Mission Statement is:

“To provide high-quality, family-led services, by ourselves and in collaboration with others, which enable families to be strong and resilient.”

The financial year to 31 March 2023 was our sixth full year of trading since the merger of seven local Home-Starts in Mid, West and South Essex districts. It was a year that saw the emerging challenges of the cost-of-living crisis impacting on families and we had to consider this impact in shaping services. Accessing services was a key barrier for many families and we have focussed on providing many services both online and face to face to give more opportunities for support and additionally have supported transport costs to enable families struggling with finances to access our services.

In 2023 Home-Start, celebrates 50 years of supporting families during the early most vital years in a child’s life. As Home-Start Essex we remain dedicated to supporting parents to build their confidence in themselves and their parenting and to find ways to manage the challenges they face by building trusting, helpful relationships with families.

A key focus of our support to families remains our volunteer Home-Visiting services, alongside Family Groups, School Readiness programmes, Wellbeing services and our behaviour support programme.

Home-Start Essex recruits and trains volunteers, who provide regular weekly home-based support to families, usually with, at least, one child under five, and struggling with a wide range of factors affecting their ability to cope. They offer friendly and informal confidential support to help parents build their confidence, resilience and to improve their wellbeing. They are supervised, supported, and receive ongoing training from experienced Family Support Co-ordinators.

Volunteers also provide support on a 121 basis via telephone befriending, provide positive role models at the family groups, emotional and practical support within the wellbeing and behaviour support programmes, supporting family events, fundraising events and at community events.

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

All of the developments in our support to families are based on the belief that all children need a happy and secure childhood to help them to achieve their full potential and that underpinning this is a need for parents/carers to have the opportunity to have someone they trust alongside them to help them navigate when times are difficult.

Home-Start Essex’s support of parents and children helps them to grow in confidence, strengthens their relationships, builds local supportive networks within the community, and so ensures that children are given the best possible start in life.

Public Benefit

The trustees confirm that they have reviewed the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including guidance on charging for services, when setting and reviewing the aims and objectives of the Charity and making plans for the future.

The Charity currently provides services at no cost to beneficiaries, and these are funded through applications to the National Lottery Community Fund, public sector bodies, trusts and foundations, and through community fundraising, individual giving, and sponsorship.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Through the Charity’s work, the Trustees/Directors are pleased to report the following Outputs and Outcomes as highlights for the financial year to 31 March 2023:

During the year 2022-2023 the longer-term impact of social isolation caused by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis and increased poverty levels have directly impacted on child development, children’s behaviour and school readiness and we have an increasing number of parents/carers struggling to manage children's behaviour or be involved in supporting their children's developmental needs. Long waiting lists for children's specialist assessments leave parents frustrated, confused and anxious. As a result, we have expanded our service provision, to include a wider behaviour support programme (led by an experienced behaviour specialist), incorporating behaviour support within groups for parents struggling with common issues and 121 for those needing more focussed support around specific behavioural challenges. In addition, we have listened to family feedback via our annual survey and continued to provide telephone/video volunteer mentor support as some families are unable/uncomfortable in having support within the home.

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Mental health and isolation of families continue to be the highest expressed needs and we have focussed on removing barriers for families by, where necessary, supporting transport costs for families accessing our groups. Where possible, we are using our Family Group locations to distribute essential supplies and have expanded this, due to a successful funding application, to include slow cookers (to support healthy/cheaper eating) and carbon monoxide alarms to families. We also continue to be a conduit of Essex County Council’s Household fund so are able to give direct payments to families struggling to cope financially during the cost-of-living crisis.

During this last year, we have expanded services to give additional Wellbeing support to meet local demand. This includes the introduction of a Baby Massage Group in one of our districts in January 2023, which has proven to be extremely successful. In addition, both online and face to face group and 121 support, offering support for the whole family or just for parents/carers.

Expansions to service provision throughout the year have enabled Home-Start Essex to go a long way in meeting the emerging needs giving support when it is needed so issues are not becoming entrenched. During 2022-2023 the demand for our services grew to their highest levels and we supported 1859 children and a total of 869 families, this was an increase of 159 supported families and 492 additional children, from the previous year.

Volunteers are essential to our support for families. The pandemic reduced opportunities for volunteers to support families and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis, has resulted in many people being unable to consider volunteering due to needing paid employment. However, we have been focussed on building our volunteer capacity by broadening the scope of volunteer opportunities. 2022-2023 saw the implementation of a volunteer strategy to introduce more flexible opportunities to reach a wider demographic across Mid, South and West Essex and is an aspect of volunteering which we are looking to further develop. In total Home-Start Essex Volunteers have provided 7509 hours of their own time, which equates to a value of over £90,000 over the year.

Parent/Carers have told us that Home-Start support has been a lifeline for them. By providing complementing services for families as and when they need them, we are able to build a bespoke programme of holistic support, meaning that families have time to build trusting, helpful relationships with us and build their support networks.

'This support has changed my life, I am sad to lose [volunteer] but deep down I know I no longer need the support, and she needs to help others.'

Mum of 1 child, aged 4 months, who received Home-Visiting from a Volunteer.

With mental health difficulties being our highest referred need it is wonderful to see that 88% of supported parents experienced an improvement in their wellbeing following support and 87% felt less isolated.

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Fundraising activities

Total income fell slightly by 0.6% to £795,518. Our grants received reflected a broad spread of funders both new and old. We continued to be supported by the National Community Lottery Fund, BBC Children in Need and the Mulberry Trust. We were awarded new grants by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Provide Foundation. We were grateful for the continued help from Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and the grant from the Mid and South East Community Partnership. We also received grants from a number of ECF’s fund holders in particular the Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund and the Jean & Peter Davey Charitable Fund.

Contractual income decreased marginally to £251,198. This income represents the important sub-contract we have from the HCRG Care Group as part of the Essex Child & Family Wellbeing Service, and also the contract with A Better Start Southend.

Donation income fell from £80,439 to £16,196 but this mainly reflected a large donation the previous year of £60,000 from an anonymous donor. However, we received grant income of £15,000 from this source this year.

Income from fundraising activities grew from £16,094 to £27,983 as activities recommenced after the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We have been working closely with the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board to try to ensure that the Board understands the health and social care aspects of parental health and the impact on their children’s development. We plan to launch a funded Family Group in September 2023 for special educational needs and disability children. This project has involved Home-Start Essex working with a number of specialist charities in this field. Finally, we have created the role of a new Corporate & Community Fundraising Assistant in January 2023 and look to grow our income from these sources and thus diversify our income streams.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

During 2021-2022 we successfully adopted a model of hybrid working for the staff team and during 20222023 we decided to make further cost efficiencies by leaving our large head office premises in Chelmsford and relocating to an existing Home-Start Essex office location within Maldon District Council offices. This has been further supported by being able to utilise Essex Community Foundation’s offices in Chelmsford for staff and trustee meetings and also use of hot-desking space. We are so grateful for this opportunity which further aids partnership working within the VCFSE sector.

Safety remains a primary concern for staff and family support. To this end Family Support Co-ordinators now have personal safety devices to be worn when making home-visits. In addition, with the continued provision of online services to families we have expanded our safeguarding practices to supported families, staff and volunteers. This includes guidelines for facilitating and attending online support and resources for families as we want to better inform families of online safeguarding risks.

Digital development remains a priority and we have made improvements to our data management system to enable more detailed needs analysis for the communities we support and impact reporting data to better reflect the outcomes we achieve.

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

We have established an equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion working group to develop an action plan to attract, reach and support all communities within Mid, South and West Essex. Our aim is to reduce barriers that minority groups face due to inequalities of access to services.

During November 2022 we held our first in-person Networking Event where we launched our Impact report. It was a great success and brought together statutory sector partners, VCFSE partners, funders, volunteers, and supported families. Presentations of the difference that Home-Start Essex has made on their lives, from supported families and volunteers, made a lasting impact for those attending. This event was the trigger to initiate funding to support the establishment of a SEND Family Group within the Braintree District.

During October 2023 the Board and CEO held a Strategic/Annual Plan review but will invite further representation from the staff team and also the volunteer team to reflect on our current position and objectives for the year ahead, utilising a volunteer from Cranfield Trust to help facilitate the day.

The overall longer-term ambition for the Board and CEO continues to be the sustainability of Home-Start Essex. To this end the Chair of Trustees and CEO are engaging in a 6-month tailored programme initiated by Home-Start UK that focusses on involvement and income generation, sustaining and measuring impact, innovation and reviewing progress. During 2022-2023 we have invested in expanding the Fundraising department with the appointment of a Corporate and Community Fundraiser and dividing the roles of Fundraising and Marketing so that a Communications and Marketing Manager is able to focus on building the profile of Home-Start Essex which is vital to our sustainability.

The Trustees and staff of Home-Start Essex will continue to look forward and seek opportunities to develop our services further, taking into account the changing external factors impacting on family lives. Informed by feedback from the families, volunteers, staff and our partner organisations, we will also continue to strengthen and to demonstrate the outcomes and impact of our work with children and families.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

In the financial year to 31 March 2023, the Statement of Financial Activities shows a Net Movement in funds of -£3,547 for the year, which means that with the Total Funds brought forward figure of £525,787, we carry forward into the next financial year, a balance of £522,240. With Income remaining fairly stable, the reduction in the Charity’s net surplus was almost entirely due to an increase in Expenditure of £47,534 (6%).

Total Income
Total expenditure
Net Income / (Expenditure)		 2023
£
795,518
799,065
(3,547)		 2022
£
799,933
751,531
48,402

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The Income for the year, comprising Donations of £16,196, income from Charitable Activities of £749,314, income from other trading activities - fundraising of £27,983 and the income of £2,025 from Bank Interest. Donations were 80% lower than last year, but this was due to a very generous three-year donation coming to a close. Income from the Charity’s Fundraising activities increased by 74% and this was due partly to a new fundraising team, and partly because more events were possible with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Income from Charitable Activities, comprising Grants of £498,116 and from Contracts of £251,198, was 6.7% higher than last year. During the year, we were pleased to receive substantial grant income from several organisations including The National Lottery Community Fund (£211,197) and BBC Children in Need (£46,318). In addition, once again we were grateful to the Essex Community Foundation, through which we received funds from various organisations totalling £104,392. Contract income was down by just 1.9% and this included £175,000 from HCRG Care Group, and £70,960 from A Better Start Southend. There is more detailed information under the Fundraising Activities section (above), and also on page 21. We thank all those named in the Report, and all our other funders and donors, for their support in helping Home-Start Essex deliver their services to families in need of assistance.

During the year the Charity adjusted further its services to meet the changes in need, and together with the effects of inflation it resulted in an increase in costs. Staffing costs continued to be the largest element of our expenditure at £626,214 (78.4%), and this figure was £44,987 (7.7%) higher than last year. The continuing changes in the modes of delivering the Charity’s services meant that there were changes in the amounts being spent on different types of costs. There were increases in the Travelling and Expenses for staff and volunteers, in External Supervision and instructor fees, and in Computer and website costs. However, there were reductions in costs for Equipment and Materials, for Repairs and Maintenance, and for Advertising and Promoting.

The Trustees are confident that there are sufficient funds, both available and due to be received, to support the services being delivered by Home-Start Essex for, at least, the next twelve months. Monitoring procedures are in place to identify when grants and contracts are due to end, so that an early decision can be made, to either allocate alternative funding, or to re-plan service delivery.

Reserves Policy

The total funds held by the charity at the 31 March 2023, amounted to £522,240, of which £86,210 were restricted funds and £436,030 were unrestricted funds. The Home-Start Essex reserves policy is to hold sufficient funds to cover three to six months’ expenditure. In addition to having the funds to enable a proper winding down of the Charity, should that become necessary, the Trustees consider that it is essential to provide sufficient cover for the possible loss of one or more major funders. As of 31 March 2023, based on the Unrestricted Funds held and budgeted expenditure for 2023/4, this target was met.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Home-Start Essex is a registered Charity, number 1170940 (Registered in England and Wales), and a Company Limited by Guarantee, number 10348139, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Home-Start Essex governing document a Memorandum and Articles of Association sets out the significant structural rules relating to the organisation. It covers matters such as the minimum and maximum number of trustees, the powers of trustees, terms of office, and how important meetings are managed. The document also outlines the charitable objects (purpose) of the charity, which is the frame of reference for many of the decisions the trustees will make.

Governance

Home-Start Essex relies on a strong, effective board of trustees. They have a wide range of responsibilities, in ensuring that the charity complies with regulatory requirements and delivers on its charitable purpose. Our Board of Trustees, who are also Directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, have overall responsibility for setting the strategy of the Charity. Our Chief Executive, working with the Senior Leadership Team is responsible for delivering the Board’s vision and strategy and for its day-to-day operations.

The trustees annually review Board performance and make changes to the frequency and arrangements for Board meetings and as a result in 2022 moved to reducing the number of Board meetings to six a year and for committees to the Board aligning to this new arrangement. As a result of changes made during the pandemic, we have continued to use a hybrid approach with some meetings in person and some virtually. Early in 2023 we also reviewed our committee structure and have now incorporated Safeguarding Adults and Children (this was previously a separate committee) into the Operations and Governance Committee with the aim of managing the capacity of both trustees and staff more effectively. This committee along with Finance and Business Development and Human Resources Management formally report to the Board at each Board meeting under a Scheme of Delegation. The trustees ensure that Home-Start Essex complies with all requirements of its Agreement with Home-Start UK, and with the Home-Start Quality Assurance standards. We are required to report regularly on our compliance with the Quality Standards and are subject to external Quality Assurance reviews. We are also required to adopt and implement all mandatory policies provided by Home-Start UK. Home-Start Essex also leverages Home-Start UK model policies and produces its own additional policies as necessary.

Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees

Home-Start Essex regularly reviews the skills of trustees and identifies any specific skills gaps, and we endeavour to actively recruit new trustees with those skills. We also take into consideration the need to have a succession plan, either by preparing existing trustees to take on lead roles, or by actively advertising for trustees, so that we reduce the risk of losing essential skills on the Board. In an attempt to increase the diversity of the board’s membership we advertise widely for new trustees, and ensure, throughout the recruitment process, that all applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds have an opportunity to succeed.

The Board of Trustees has established procedures for recruiting and appointing trustees, including informal visits or discussions, formal application and a panel of trustees interview all prospective trustees to determine that they have the required skills to contribute to the charity’s management and development. New appointments are ratified by the full Board of Trustees. We have also introduced a new role of Special Advisor in order to strengthen and broaden the specialist support to our committees and the Board, for those who may not be able to commit to, or do not wish to have, a role as a trustee, or who may wish to consider this role in the future.

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Induction and training of new Trustees

Home-Start Essex is committed to full induction and ongoing training of trustees. A comprehensive induction pack and plan is agreed with all new Trustees, tailored to individual needs and previous experience, which includes meeting with operational staff, and opportunities to meet with families and volunteers. A Trustee Code of Conduct is signed by all new trustees and under the new Home-Start UK Agreement, all trustees will be expected to complete the Home-Start UK induction within six months of becoming a trustee. The Chair meets regularly with trustees in order to continually learn, and provide development opportunities, in support of the organisation.

Arrangements for setting pay and remuneration of key management posts.

When determining the salaries for key management posts, trustees collect information about comparable roles in other voluntary organisations as well as across the Home-Start Federation. This information is used to benchmark the Charity’s salaries, normally aiming to set them at a level that appears to represent the market average. The pay of the Chief Executive Officer comprises a single fixed salary point - i.e., no banding. The CEO’s pay is reviewed annually. Each year, the Trustees will consider whether an independent review of salaries is necessary. In reviewing the Charity’s Remuneration Policy and annual increments, the Trustees will consider available advice and best practice, including, but not limited to, the NCVO’s guidance on “Setting and Communicating Remuneration Policies”.

Risk management

The Board of Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the Charity is exposed and to ensure that appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. They have given careful consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that the systems which they have established are effective in managing the risks.

The Board of Trustees annually reviews the Strategic Risk Register and to support the Board, each of the formal Board Committees takes a direct role in leading on the ongoing review of a group of identified risks from the register, which are reported to the Board at a minimum six monthly. At any stage as deemed relevant by trustees or the CEO and Senior Management Team there may be a more detailed review to test the effectiveness of our approach to risk management.

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/Directors on 23 October 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

............................

D Neale

Trustee

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 12 to 25.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity 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 company’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 the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and 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 that in any material respect:

  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.

..................................... Raymond Crace FCA 146 New London Road Chelmsford CM2 0AW

................. 25 October 2023

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Note
INCOME FROM:
Donations
2
Charitable activities
3
Investments: Bank interest
Other trading activities: fundraising
Other income: Job Retention Scheme
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
4
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOME / (EXPENDITURE)
Transfers between funds
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Reconciliation of funds:
Total Funds brought forward
Total Funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
16,196
205,994
2,025
27,983
-
252,198
3,753
283,120
286,873
(34,675)
-
(34,675)
470,705
436,030		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
543,320
-
-
-
543,320
-
512,192
512,192
31,128
-
31,128
55,082
86,210		 Total Funds
2023
£
16,196
749,314
2,025
27,983
-
795,518
3,753
795,312
799,065
(3,547)
-
(3,547)
525,787
522,240		 Total Funds
2022
£
80,439
701,969
-
16,094
1,431
799,933
2,357
749,174
751,531
48,402
-
48,402
477,385
525,787

The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the period as set out above.

The notes on pages 15 to 25 form part of these financial statements.

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

Note
£
£
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
7
61,867
Cash at bank
479,568
541,435
CREDITORS: Amounts falling
due within one year
8
(19,195)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
522,240
NET ASSETS
522,240
FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Restricted funds
10
86,210
Unrestricted funds
11
436,030
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS
522,240
2023		 £
£
65,552
510,796
576,348
(50,561)
525,787
525,787
55,082
470,705
525,787
2022

For the period ending 31 March 2023 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors’ responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 23 October 2023 and are signed on their behalf by:

....................................

D Neale

Trustee

Company Registration Number: 10348139

The notes on pages 15 to 25 form part of these financial statements.

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HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Notes
Net movement in funds for the reporting period
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
(Increase) / decrease in debtors
7
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
8
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward		 Total
2023
£
(3,547)
3,685
(31,366)
(31,228)
-
-
(31,228)
510,796
479,568		 Total
2022
£
48,402
(24,272)
(7,835)
16,295
-
-
16,295
494,501
510,796

The notes on pages 15 to 25 form part of these financial statements.

14

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a) Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (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 (effective 1 January 2019) (Charities SORP FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

b) Legal Status

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. It is incorporated in England and Wales and its registered address is Maldon District Council, Princes Road, Maldon, England, CM9 5DL.

c) Income

Income from donations and grants, including capital and government grants, is included in incoming resources when these are receivable, except as follows:

When donors specify that donations and grants given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods, the income is deferred until those periods.

When donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred and not included in incoming resources until the preconditions have been met.

When donors specify that donations and grants, including capital grants, are for particular restricted purposes, which do not amount to pre-conditions regarding entitlement, this income is included in incoming resources of restricted funds when receivable.

15

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

d) Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and includes VAT as the charity is not VAT registered. Governance costs are associated with the governance arrangements of the charity. Support costs are apportioned between the funds based on budgeted expenditure at the start of the year.

e) Fixed Assets

Capital items costing in excess of £1,000 are capitalised. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset by the straight-line method.

There were no capitalised assets at the year-end date.

f) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

g) Creditors and provisions

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.

h) Fund accounting

Funds held by the charity are either:

Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.

Designated funds – these are unrestricted funds that the Trustees have set aside for specific designated purposes.

Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity.

16

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
2. DONATIONS
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
- - -
Large donations 60,000
General donations 16,196 - 16,196 20,439
-
16,196 16,196 80,439
Total 2022 80,439 - 80,439
3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Grants to support charitable activities 30,994 467,122 498,116 445,801
Contracts to provide charitable activities 175,000 76,198 251,198 256,168
205,994 543,320 749,314 701,969
Total 2022 188,837 513,132 701,969
----- End of picture text -----

17

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

4. CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE

Service Delivery
Events
Staff costs
Home-Start UK Levy
Support costs:
Rent and rates
Office costs
Equipment and materials
Travelling and expenses
Advertising
Training
Bank charges
Project costs
Other
Governance costs(note 5)
Total 2022
GOVERNANCE COSTS
Independent examination
Accounts preparation
Payroll fees
Fees payable to Independent Examiner
Other professional fees		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
172,952
12,000
11,940
46,021
-
-
3,900
-
72
11
23,786
12,438
283,120
200,733
Unrestricted
Funds
£
1,525
2,775
4,512
8,812
3,626
12,438		 Restricted
Funds
£
16,858
1,220
453,262
-
-
-
7,586
26,670
-
6,596
-
-
-
-
512,192
548,441
Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total Funds
2023
£
16,858
1,220
626,214
12,000
11,940
46,021
7,586
26,670
3,900
6,596
72
11
23,786
12,438
795,312
749,174
Total Funds
2023
£
1,525
2,775
4,512
8,812
3,626
12,438		 Total Funds
2022
£
11,724
2,212
581,227
10,000
11,940
41,853
25,340
12,500
12,656
11,870
113
-
16,220
11,519
749,174
Total Funds
2022
£
1,525
2,835
4,542
8,902
2,617
11,519

5. GOVERNANCE COSTS

18

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

6. ANALYSIS OF STAFF COSTS

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Staff expenses		 2023
£
572,527
35,664
15,523
2,500
626,214		 2022
£
522,373
31,867
13,991
12,996
581,227

Staff costs are allocated between funds based upon the time spent by staff members on restricted charitable activities and administration.

None of the employees' emoluments exceeded £60,000.

None of the trustees or persons connected with them received any remuneration for their services.

The average number of employees during the year, by head count, was 41 (2022: 40).

The remuneration benefits of key management personnel totalled £47,947 (2022: £43,735).

19

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

7. DEBTORS
Trade debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
8.
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Tax and social security
Accruals
Deferred income		 2023
£
60,434
1,433
-
61,867
2023
£
1,298
143
9,148
8,606
-
19,195		 2022
£
29,167
1,433
34,952
65,552
2022
£
9,222
3,089
8,807
5,115
24,328
50,561

9. COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES

Total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Within one year
Between 2 and 5 years		 2023
£
2,985
-
2,985		 2022
£
2,985
-
2,985

20

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

10 RESTRICTED FUNDS

1)
ABSS
2)
BBC Children in Need
Essex Community Foundation:
3)
The Henry Smith Charity
4)
Daphne Woodward
5)
Neighbourly
6)
Mid and South Essex Community Partnership
7)
Braintree District & Eastlight Community Fund
and Jean & Peter Davey Charitable Fund
8)
Provide Foundation
9)
Thriving Third sector - Digital Development
10) Fowler, Smith & Jones
11) Garfield Weston
Mulberry Trust:
12)
Mulberry - Core
13)
Mulberry - Carver Barracks
14) Uttlesford District Council
15) ECC DC Locality Fund
16) ECC - Thriving Third Sector Fund
17) CCC - family group
18) Rochford District Council
Home-Start UK:
19)
Pears Recovery and Resilience
20)
Masonic
21)
A Warm Spaces Cost of Living Award
22)
Brook Trust
23)
Volunteering Futures
National Lottery :
24)
National Lottery Community Fund
25)
Awards for All
26) Essex Youth Trust
27) Community Initiatives Fund
28) Co-Op Community Fund
29) The Places Foundation
30) Southend City Council: UK Shared Prosperity Fund
31) Tesco Groundwork UK (SR)
32) Tesco Groundwork UK (WB)
33) Anonymous		 Balance at
01/04/2022
£
-
17,194
15,000
-
700
3,478
750
-
-
-
-
1,667
-
-
-
-
2,500
-
8,420
850
-
-
-
-
3,940
583
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
55,082		 Income
Expenditure
£
£
70,960
(70,960)
46,318
(46,076)
-
(15,000)
8,136
(8,136)
1,000
(1,144)
36,976
(29,227)
25,670
(18,596)
19,500
(19,500)
13,110
(4,860)
3,000
(3,000)
25,000
(14,583)
8,333
(10,000)
5,177
(5,177)
8,250
(8,250)
6,981
(6,981)
1,000
(1,000)
-
(2,500)
1,000
(1,000)
-
(8,420)
-
(850)
1,000
-
2,800
(1,250)
5,000
(4,640)
211,197
(190,469)
9,999
(12,608)
2,917
(3,500)
1,743
(1,392)
1,265
-
5,000
(5,000)
5,238
(4,640)
1,000
(98)
750
-
15,000
(13,333)
543,320
(512,192)
Movement in resou		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
rces:		 Balance at
31/03/2023
£
-
17,436
-
-
556
11,227
7,824
-
8,250
-
10,417
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,000
1,550
360
-
20,728
1,331
-
350
1,265
-
598
902
750
1,667
86,210

21

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

10 RESTRICTED FUNDS

The purposes of the restricted funds are as detailed below:

22

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

10 RESTRICTED FUNDS Prior year restricted funds movement:

Prior year restricted funds movement:
1)
ABSS
2)
BBC Children in Need
Essex Community Foundation:
3)
Healthwatch
4)
The Henry Smith Charity
5)
Braintree District and Greenfields Community Fund
6)
Daphne Woodward
7)
Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust
8)
Neighbourly
9)
Turncole Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund
10)
Mid and South Essex Community Partnership
11)
Braintree District & Eastlight Community Fund
and Jean & Peter Davey Charitable Fund
Mulberry Trust:
12)
Mulberry - Uttlesford
13)
Mulberry - Core
14)
Mulberry - Perinatal
15) Uttlesford District Council
16) ECC Warm & Safe
17) ECC Covid Response Fund
18) CCC - family group
19) People's Postcode Lottery
Home-Start UK:
20)
Pears Recovery and Resilience
21)
Masonic
National Lottery :
22)
National Lottery Community Fund
23)
Coronavirus Community Support Fund
24)
Awards for All
25) Basildon Council Mental Health Fund
26) Essex Youth Trust - Covid 19
27) CCC Business Adaptation
28) Other restricted funds		 Balance at
01/04/2021
£
7,341
20,301
1,250
15,000
679
750
6,900
-
1,775
-
-
355
5,320
7,172
1,621
8,813
-
-
6,484
-
1,094
-
2,956
-
2,580
-
-
-
90,391		 Income
Expenditure
£
£
72,855
(80,196)
44,502
(47,609)
-
(1,250)
60,000
(60,000)
-
(679)
3,168
(3,918)
-
(6,900)
1,000
(300)
-
(1,775)
18,488
(15,010)
3,303
(2,553)
-
(355)
10,000
(13,653)
-
(7,172)
10,500
(12,121)
36,594
(45,407)
40,171
(40,171)
6,000
(3,500)
-
(6,484)
9,709
(1,289)
4,374
(4,618)
166,501
(166,501)
-
(2,956)
9,456
(5,516)
-
(2,580)
3,500
(2,917)
4,140
(4,140)
8,871
(8,871)
513,132
(548,441)
Movement in resou		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
rces:		 Balance at
31/03/2022
£
-
17,194
-
15,000
-
-
-
700
-
3,478
750
-
1,667
-
-
-
-
2,500
-
8,420
850
-
-
3,940
-
583
-
-
55,082

23

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

10 RESTRICTED FUNDS

The purposes of the restricted funds are as detailed below:

24

HOME-START ESSEX LIMITED COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

11 UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

General unrestricted funds
Designated funds		 Balance at
01/04/2022
£
457,743
12,962
470,705		 Income
Expenditure
£
£
252,198
(286,873)
-
-
252,198
(286,873)
Movement in resou		 Gains, losses
& transfers
£
-
-
-
rces:		 Balance at
31/03/2023
£
423,068
12,962
436,030

Designated funds relate to donations received that are intended for use in specific areas of Essex.

12 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS (between restricted and unrestricted funds)

General unrestricted
Designated
Total unrestricted
Restricted		 Tangible
fixed assets
£
-
-
-
-
-		 Other net
assets
£
423,068
12,962
436,030
86,210
522,240		 Total
2023
£
423,068
12,962
436,030
86,210
522,240		 Total
2022
£
457,743
12,962
470,705
55,082
525,787

13 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

One trustee was repaid for expenses of £83 in the year. (2022 - £0)

14 COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Company in the event of the same being wound up during the time he/she is a member, or within one year afterwards, for the payments of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before the time at which he/she ceases to be a member and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up the same, and for the adjustments of the rights of the contributors among themselves such amount as may be required not exceeding one pound.

25