1 ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** **1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023** _Celebrating 27 Years of Helping to prevent homelessness_ **The Office 2[nd] Floor, The Hub, Easton Street, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP11 1NJ** **EMAIL: info@wycrent.org.uk TELEPHONE: 01494 528557 www.wrdgs.org.uk** **Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation - No. 1171222** 2 ## **1 Objectives and Activities** The Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme (WRDGS) is a charity set up for the relief of poverty amongst people who are homeless or inadequately housed in the Wycombe District area. The Scheme provides guarantees for rent deposits, and other assistance on behalf of said persons who are in need of accommodation and who would otherwise be unable to secure accommodation in the Wycombe District. The Scheme meets its objectives by: **1.** Providing a Guarantee as an alternative to the cash deposit normally required by a landlord to secure a tenancy. The landlord can claim against the guarantee if he would be entitled to make deductions from a pre-paid deposit. This can help those who are able to pay rent, for example if they qualify for Universal Credit Housing Costs, but who cannot afford a deposit. 2. Maintaining and sustaining existing tenancies by liaising with tenants, landlords, benefits agencies and other support bodies to pre-empt and address issues threatening a tenancy. 3. Giving free, confidential advice on housing-related matters. ## **2 Background** The early planning stages of the Scheme were started in 1995 by a partnership between the members of The Wycombe District Council Housing Forum and The Source Group - a lay ecumenical Christian covenant community based in High Wycombe. The Charity was registered in 1996 as a charitable trust but converted to being a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) for the year 2017-18. The charitable objects, staff and trustees remained the same but a CIO is the recommended legal structure for a small charity like WRDGS. At WRDGS’ inception it was agreed that Wycombe District Council (WDC) would provide an annual grant to pay for on-costs (the costs of employing staff), the churches of High Wycombe would contribute towards running costs and The Guinness Partnership Limited would set aside £30,000 to cover the guarantees. WRDGS applies for an annual grant from the Council (which is now Buckinghamshire Council). The Council grant no longer fully covers on-costs so the Scheme has to raise money from other grants, donations and fund-raising activities. ## **3 Achievements and Performance** In 2022 - 23 we celebrated **27** years of helping to prevent homelessness in the Wycombe area. Our 2 members of staff provided highly specialised advice via 520 calls or meetings with **303** individual people. Some of these clients only contacted the Scheme once, whilst others are contacted on a weekly basis. We housed **52** households with **9** different landlords. Using our tenancy support service, most of our clients have renewed their tenancies without a guarantee being required, indicating that our landlords consider them to be reliable tenants. 3 Our Operations Manager also assisted at a local legal drop-in which the general public can attend for free housing-related advice. Different experts helped including a solicitor and our Ops Manager attended as a Benefits advisor. In 22-23 he had 68 interactions with people in this capacity. We helped **20** households rescue their tenancies and **58** households to sustain their tenancies, thus preventing them from becoming homeless. Thanks must go to Bucks Council’s Housing Benefit Department for providing advice and Discretionary Housing Payments, and also to the Wycombe Homeless Connection Housing Legal Clinic. This year has been our busiest for some time, with demand returning to pre-pandemic levels. We have worked closely with Buckinghamshire Council, Connection Support and Wycombe Homeless Connection, to help clients access local hostels and then move on to private sector accommodation. For example, One YMCA refers clients to us who are considered ready and able to sustain a tenancy. In 22-23 moved 11 of their residents into self-contained studio flats. We have had no claims against our guarantees this year proving that, with our help, our tenants are reliable and manage their finances well. As we offer local landlords a free professional service (the Operations Manager is a Fellow of The National Association of Estate Agents) they continue to house our homeless clients. ## **People Helped by the Scheme since inception as at 2022/2023** By the end of 2022/2023, the Scheme had HOUSED 1754 households, a total of 1927 adults and 757 children housed. Of these, 52 households (53 Adults and 1 child) were new to the Scheme and 12 households (12 Adults and 0 children) renewed their tenancies with the help of the Scheme. By the end 2022/23, the Scheme had RESCUED 683 clients’ tenancies. Of these 20 were new in 2022/23. We also helped to SUSTAIN 58 tenancies during 22/23 in order to keep clients in their accommodation who would have been at risk of becoming homeless. 4 ## **4 People helped by the Scheme in 2022-23** The figures below show breakdowns by household type and ethnic origin of people housed and advised by the Scheme this year. **HOUSED HOUSEHOLD BREAKDOWN** Couples 01 Families 00 Single Females 09 Single Males 41 Single-Parent Families 01 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Ethnic Breakdown of Clients Advised
White British 152
European 04
Irish 03
Any other Background 20
Black British 04
European 00
Caribbean 07
African 12
Any other Black Background 00
Asian British 02
Indian 00
Pakistani 00
Bangladeshi 01
Chinese 00
Any other Asian Background 00
Mixed White and Black British 01
White and Black European 00
White and Black Caribbean 00
White and Black African 02
White and Asian 00
Any Other Mixed Background 00
Other Ethnic Groups 00
Other Not known/Prefer not to say 312
**----- End of picture text -----**
5 ## **2022-23 SCHEME APPLICANTS – REASON FOR HOMELESSNESS** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Relatives can't accommodate
Relationship breakdown
Domestic abuse, harassment
Rent arrears
End of AST
Leaving hospital
Leaving prison
NFA/sofa surfing
Referred from hostel YMCA, OTW
Partnership referral WHC, Connection, P3 etc
Evicted from PR, YMCA, OTW etc
Bucks Council Housing Services
Housing Legal Clinic
End of Covid T/A/Rough Sleeping
Overcrowding
Sub standard property
Tenancy Sustainment
Renewal of tenancy
Other
0 50 100 150 200 250
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **The following case studies are based on real people, although names and details have been changed to preserve anonymity. Much of the work that we do is more complicated than simply housing someone…** Isabelle approached us as she remembered that, many years ago, we had helped her father resolve some benefit issues that had put his tenancy at risk. She had lived with him in this house virtually all her life. Sadly, her father had died and consequently her social landlord wished to regain possession of their property. The house was too big and unaffordable for her, but she needed some time to look at her future housing options as she had to give up work due to ill health. We helped her claim Universal Credit and other benefits, which enabled her to pay the rent. We also negotiated with her landlord who agreed to transfer her to an affordable 1-bedroom property as soon as one is available. Bill was sleeping in his car when he contacted us. Due to previous addiction issues, his relationship had failed, he lost his job and was homeless. He had been sober for a year and was looking for work, but having no address was hindering his job search. We found him an affordable room and, within 2 months, he had found employment and no longer needed assistance to pay his rent. Jimmy had become homeless due to a family bereavement and this has led to a mental health crisis. He was referred to us by his GP’s social prescriber. We sourced an affordable flat for him, paid his first month’s rent in advance, covered his deposit and provided him with furniture. His mental health has improved immeasurably and as part of his recovery, he is now volunteering for a local charity. 6 ## **5 Organisations who referred Clients to WRDGS during 2022-23** Buckinghamshire Council Housing Options Team Buckinghamshire Council Customer Service Centre Buckinghamshire Social Care Connection Floating Support – Bucks Connection Reset – Bucks Thrive Homes Citizens Advice Bureau H.M. Prison & Probation Service GP Surgeries –Social Prescribers Job Centre Plus Oasis Partnership Thames Valley Police Chiltern Adult Mental Health Team Old Tea Warehouse Padstones Private Sector Landlords P3 Housing Support Service Saunderton Lodge Wycombe Women’s Aid Wycombe Homeless Connection Youth Enquiry Service YMC ## **6 Organisations who WRDGS referred clients to during 2022-23** Central Aid www.central-aid.org.uk Wycombe Homeless Connection www.wyhoc.org.uk/ P3 www.p3charity.org Connection Support www.connectionsupport.org.uk/buckinghamshire/ St Martin in the Fields www.smitfc.org/ YMCA High Wycombe Hostel https://oneymca.org/ Old Tea Warehouse https://www.riverside.org.uk/ ## **7 Financial Review** ## **Guarantee Funds** In the 2022/23 financial year the total value of new guarantees written by the scheme was £12,023.09. By the end of 2022/23 the total value of Guarantees written by the Scheme since its inception was £432,261.02 with a total claim pay out of £4,863.26. This makes the Scheme’s average claim rate 1.13% ## **Review of the Charity’s Financial Position at the end of the Period** During 2022-23 the Scheme’s operation was financed by: - a revenue grant from Buckinghamshire Council - a grant received from the National Lottery Community Fund at the end of 2021-22 - St Peter’s Church Loudwater - All Saints Parish Church High Wycombe 7 - St Francis of Assisi Church - Private donors - Buckinghamshire Council Lottery WRDGS has the following funds ear-marked for specific uses. These are documented on the Balance Sheet of the annual accounts. - a) Restricted fund holding grant from Deposit Protection Service for general rent in advance payments: £978 left at the end of the year. - b) Restricted fund holding grant for Buckinghamshire Council Grant Scheme to assist people to move on from temporary and hostel accommodation (eg. money for deposits, rent in advance, arrears payments). This fund was set up in 2018-19 as a result of receiving a grant of £20,000 from Wycombe District Council for this purpose. It has been topped up several times since then. In 2022-23 a further £20,000 was received from Buckinghamshire Council funds and £33,590 was passed on from the Council from a grant received from Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC). In 22-23 the receipts to and payments from this fund were also shown on the Income and Expenditure page but a note was made that this fund cannot be used by WRDGS for its general running costs. With the income and Expenditure for this fund, the accounts show a surplus of £25,392 in the income for the year. Whereas, for operating there was actually a deficit of net receipts of (£11,840). - c) Fund to cover our statutory redundancy liabilities if our staff had to be made redundant. - d) Fund to cover 26 weeks statutory sick pay. - e) £2,000 given to the Scheme by Guinness Partnership Ltd in the early days to alleviate cash flow problems. It is kept aside to enable a quick payout of a claim on a deposit guarantee while the Scheme waits for Guinness to pay the claim. ## **Funding for the Future** It is estimated that WRDGS will need £86,552 to run during the year 2023-24 (including money required to top-up its statutory liabilities for possible redundancy and sick pay). Before the end of 2022-23, WRDGS had secured a grant from Buckinghamshire Council of £62,500 for 2023 – 24. This grant has remained the same since 2014 so a request for an increase will be made during the next financial year. During 2022 – 23, fundraising proved to be difficult and this has resulted in our having just £2,146 of unrestricted, undesignated reserves to carry forward into 2023 - 24 at the end of the year. Further funds will have to be raised from donations from local churches, private donors and grants. WRDGS was noted as a key partner in Wycombe District Council’s Homelessness Strategy and has collaborated with Buckinghamshire Council as it did with Wycombe District Council. 8 ## **Policy for holding reserves and amounts at end of 2022 - 23** WRDGS has the following reserves: - Liability for Statutory Redundancy Pay if staff had to be made redundant: £31,700 - Liability for 26 weeks’ Statutory Sick Pay for one member of staff: £2,583 - Money from Guinness Partnership’s reserve for guarantees: £2,000. (Guinness Partnership Ltd holds a further £30,000 for guarantees in its bank account) ## **8 Structure, Governance and Management** WRDGS is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) whose governing document is a constitution. As well as individual people applying to be trustees, the following organisations can nominate trustees for the charity: - Buckinghamshire Council, - Guinness Partnership Ltd., - Churches Together High Wycombe, - The Youth Enquiry Service, - The Citizen’s Advice Bureau. The Scheme is managed by a steering committee comprising the trustees and its two members of staff. ## **The Scheme’s Steering Committee during 2022 - 23** **Catriona Plummer** Trustee nominated by Churches Together High Wycombe (Chair of trustees) **Cllr. Paul Turner** Trustee nominated by Buckinghamshire Council **Nancy Bradshaw** Trustee (Fundraising) **Clive Bradshaw** Trustee (Secretary) **Eddie Maguire** Trustee (Treasurer) **Phil Thomas** Operations Manager (paid member of staff) **Tracey Thomas** Client Servicing Officer (paid member of staff). The trustees would like to thank the following people who donated their services free of charge: **Anthony Pearmain** – Web site design and IT Consultant @ StratMetrix **Sharon Marshall -** Keeping Books 4 U **Steven Potts –** Independent Examiner of End of Year Accounts We are very grateful to our many donors during 2022 - 23 who continued to support us in spite of the difficulties arising from the cost of living crisis. Future Aims of the Scheme To recrutt more accommodation providers. To secure pernianent lorKJ-term funding to ensure a more secure financial position., to increase our general unrestricted reserves. To improve the conditions in private rented accommodation, especially Houses of Multiple Occupation, by ensuring that reasonable standards are met. To reccgnise that, when seeking accommodation. cwtain groups and indiwduals are discriminated against and to oppose such discrimination. Through good management to maintain our low claim rate. To strive to improve our seryice. Declaratlons The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Slgned on behalf of the charlty's trustees Slgnature(s) Full namelsl Posltlon (eg s￿retary, Chalr. etc) CATrK(J NbPt (lo ILqA£./ grKIcLtrx JJ THE WYCOMBE RENT DEPOSIT GUARANTEE SCHEME STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31st March 2023 Total Total 314•lar-23 31-Mar.22 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE Note INCOME Donalions BC Grant Other Income COIF Deposit Int8ré5t Bank Interest Gift Aid Tax Refund BC RIA Grant Top-up TOTAL INCOME 2,380 62,500 13,897 62,500 176 135 782 53,590 119,564 48 10,000 86,451 12 EXPENDITURE Salaries & On-costs Printing, Postage & Stationery Telephone I IT Travel & Parking Subscriptions Bank Charges Rent Insurance PPE Equipment Miscellaneous BC RIA Grant Spending TOTAL EXPENDITURE 71,563 87 884 127 295 121 3,810 860 70,717 27 1,020 252 280 192 3,600 965 83 168 12,236 89,540 66 16,359 94,172 12 TOTAL NET SURPLUS IDEFICITI FOR THE YEAR NET SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FOR RUNNING COSTS FOR THE YEAR 25,392 13,089) 14 The notes on page 3 and 4 fomi part ofthese accounts. Page 1 THE WYCOMBE RENT DEPOSIT GUARANTEE SCHEME BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st MARCH 2023 Note 31-Mar-23 31-Mar-22 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Bank COIF Deposit BOSHIDPS Account Debtors & Prepayments 30,019 10,000 45,803 280 42,032 10,000 5,550 10111 86,102 57,582 CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors & Accruals 1,869 1,869 1,764 1,764 NET CURRENT ASSETS 84,233 55,818 NET ASSETS 84,233 55,818 FUNDS Guinness Fund Redundancy Reserve SSP Reserve DPS Fund BOSH RIA Fund BC RIA Fund (Restricted) BC Cllr Funds x2 Undesignated Reserves 2,000 31,700 2,583 978 2,000 28,547 2,535 978 123 4,449 10 12 13 44,826 2,146 84,233 17,175 55,818 Approved by the Board of Trustees on 7th November 2023 and signed on its behalf by Catriona Plummer Chairman Page 2 The notes on pages 3 and 4 form part of these accounts. 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I report in respect of my examinatlon of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of Ihe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515){bl of the Act. Independent tThe c-h8T4ty-S-gross incame 8xceeded£250,000 and l am qualified to examinerfs ststement undertakethtrexafftinatitin by*ein￿qUaknfwI rnembeFgfftnseFtrn8￿ OL 7ppltcth115FTr. Delete I l rf not applicable. I have Completed my examination. l confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination f8th8P th$el88*￿') which gives me cause to beliav8 that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance wth section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records. or the accounts did not comply wth the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts sel out in the Charities {AGcounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'tnJe and fair, view which is not a matter considèred as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wlth the examlnalion to which attention should be drawn in this report in ordér to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Pleas8 delete the words in th8 brackets rffhey do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: sfE R6EE£T foTTS Relevant professlonal quallflcatlon{s) or body IER Oct 2018 {If any): Address: Section B Disclosure Only complete w ine examlner need5 to highlight material matters of conr£rn Isee CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts= dir8Ctions and guidanc8 for examiners). Give here brlef details of any Items that the axaminerwishes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018