Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT 1st April 2024_ 31st March 2025 Helping to prevent homelessness The Office 2nd Floor. The Hub, Easton Street, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP11 1 NJ EMAIL: info TELEPHONE: 01494 528557 www.wrdgs.org.uk crent.or Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation - No. 1171222
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 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 area. The actions taken by the Scheme to meet its objectives include" 1. Providing a guarantee as an alternative to the cash deposit normally required by a landlord to secure a tenancy. The landlords can claim against the guarantee if they 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*mpt and address issues threatening a tenancy. 3. Giving free, confidential advi on housing-related matters. 4. Using restricted grants received from Buckinghamshire Council to help those who have been rough sleepers into accommodation. This help may include paying cash deposits, paying the first month's rent in advan, giving landlords incentives for housing people who are difficult to house and purchasing items of basic furniture needed to live in the accommodation. 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 staffj, the churches of High Wycombe would contribute towards running costs and The Guinness Partnership Limited would set aside £30,000 to cover the guarantees. VVRDGS applies for an annual grant from the Council (which is now Buckinghamshire Council (BC)). The Council grant no longer fully covers on-costs, so the Scheme has to raise money from other grants, donations and fund-raising activities. Achievements and Performance in 2024-25 In 2024125 we celebrated 29 years of helping to prevent homelessness in Wycombe District and, more rently, Buckinghamshire.
In 24-25 our staff provided highly specialised advi via 338 meetings with clients, some in person and some remotely. Some of our clients have only contacted us once, whilst we speak to others on a weekly basis. We housed 58 households with 8 different landlords. Using our tenancy support servi, most of our clients have renewed their tenancies without a guarantee being required. indicating that our landlords consider them to be reliable tenants. We helped 13 households rescue their tenancies and 57 households to sustain their tenancies thus preventing them from becoming homeless. Thanks must go to Buckinghamshire Council Housing Benefit Department for providing advice and discretionary housing payments also to the Wycombe Homeless Connection Housing Legal Clinic. Our staff have provided specialist benefit and housing advi for this project for many years. People helped by the Scheme from start until the end of 24-25 By the end of 2024-2025, the Scheme had HOUSED 1850 households, a total of 2023 adults and 757 children housed. Of these, 58 households (58 Adults and O children) were new to the Scheme in 2024-25 and 7 households (7 Adults and O children) renewed their tenancies with the help of the Scheme. By the end 2024-2025, the Scheme had RESCUED 719 clients, tenancies. Of these 13 were new in 2024-2025. We have also helped to SUSTAIN 528 tenancies in order to keep clients in their accommodation who would have been at risk of becoming homeless. Of these 57 were new in 2024-2025. 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: SECURING FOUR TENANCIES SIMULTANEOUSLY A landlord approached us with a four-bedroomed property, seeking potential clients for occupancy. After discussions with a local hostel. they referred three refugees who had been found sleeping rough after being granted indefinite leave to remain. The fourth client was also a refugee experiencing homelessness and residing in emergency accommodation. Using funds from the Rough Sleepers Initiative, we provided a month's rent in advance, a landlord incentive, and financial assistance for purchasing fumiture and bedding. Within a few weeks of securing their new tenancies, all four clients successfully found employment. FROM HOMELESSNESS TO STABILITY We also assisted two separate clients who had been found sleeping rough and placed into emergency accommodation. Both were housed in a local hostel, where we contributed a modest amount to cover their initial expenses. Both clients were older than the typical residents at this hostel. Subsequently, we were approached by a landlord, who was developing two new flats so we recommended these clients for consideration. Following interviews, both clients were successfully plad in the new accommodation, thereby freeing up space at the hostel for additional potential clients. A DIFFICULT TRANSITION" TENANTS AFFECTED BY SALE OF THEIR HOME A long-standing landlord decided to sell two of his properties. Although the new landlord initially indicated his intention to retain the tenants, eviction notices were served to all the residents. Many of these tenants sought assistance from our scheme to facilitate this transition. We helped some apply to local hostels while we rehoused others into affordable private sector accommodation. Additionally, several were referred to the Buckinghamshire Council housing team for further support.
WRDGS referred clients to the following during 2024-25 Buckinghamshire Council (buckinghamshire.gov.uk } Central Aid Society (central-aid.org.uk ) Wycombe Homeless Connection Connection Support {connectionsupport.org.uk ) hoc.or Vicars Relief Fund - St Martin-in-the-Fields Supporting people away from homelessness (smitfc.org ) One Recovery Bucks (onerecoverybucks.org ) One YMCA High Wycombe Hostel {oneymca.org.uk ) Old Tea Warehouse (riverside.org.uk ) Wycombe Women's Aid Youth Enquiry Service Financial Review In the 2024-25 financial year the total value of new guarantees written by the scheme was £7,360.00. By the end of 2024-25 the total value of Guarantees written by the Scheme Sin its inception was £447,954.48 with a total claim pay out of £4,863.26. This makes the Scheme's average claim rate 1.090/0 Many thanks to our Grant providers and donors in 2024-25= Buckinghamshire Council Rothschild Foundation St Augustine's Church, R. Balacanta, E. Ball, J. Briggs, C. and W. Bunting, S. Connolly, G & H Dodgson, N. Hanbury, P. Hogwood, St John Henry Newman Parish, St Peters Church Loudwater. Deacon P. Priestley. W.& C. Plummer, K. Russell, P. Webb. West Wycombe Chamber Choir (many thanks for putting on a concert in aid of WRDGS and for their generous donation and continued support). Thanks also to all who provided tombola prizes for our stand at the Hazlemere Fete and to those who helped us on the stall. Apart from the contribution towards our running costs. Buckinghamshire Council passed on to us money from a restricted grant which they had reiVed from the Government to help to house those who are particularly difficult to house (the Move on Prevention Fund). We already received a restricted fund in 22-23 from the Council from the Rough Sleepers, Initiative fund. Amongst other things, this has enabled us to pay off people's rent arrears, give them money for their first month's rent in advan, pay cash deposits if required and to buy essential furniture (eg. beds).
Policy for holding reserves and amounts at end of 2024-25 As we ended 23-24 with £42,000 undesignated reserves, we were able to set aside a reSee of 3 months, salaries and oncosts for 24-25. This has put our finances in a much healthier position. WRDGS had the following funds ear-marked for specific uses in 24-25. These are documented on the Balance Sheet of the annual accounts. a) Restricted fund from the Deposit Protection servi (DPS) for arrears payments and other expenses needed to help people into housing. b) Restricted fund from the Move on Prevention Scheme to be used to house those who are particularly difficult to house. c) Restricted fund from the Rough Sleepers Initiative to be used to house people who have been sleeping rough. d) Fund to cover our statutory redundancy liabilrties if our staff had to be made redundant. e) Fund to cover 26 weeks statutory sick pay. Fund to cover 3 months, salaries and oncosts. g) £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. It is not restricted. Funding for the Future It is estimated that WRDGS will need £85,700 to run during the year 2025-26 (including money required to topup its statutory liabilities for possible redundancy and sick pay). Before the end of 2024-25. VVRDGS had secured promises of several grants for 2025-26 as well as expecting £1,100 from our regular donors. The expected grants were as follows: £65,000 from Buckinghamshire Council, £40,000 from the People's Postcode Lottery as a local person won the lottery, £10,000 third instalment from Rothschild Foundation. WRDGS was noted as a key partner in Wycombe District Council's Homelessness Strategy and has continued to collaborate with Buckinghamshire Council as it did with Wycombe District Council.
Structure, Governance and Management IMIDGS 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 Senrfice, 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 2024- 25 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 staffj Tracey Thomas Client Servicing Officer (paid member of staffj. The trustees would like to thank the following people who donated their servIS free of charge: Anthony Peannain - Web site design and IT Consultant @ Stratmetrix Sharon Marshall - Keeping Books 4 U (Payroll) Steven Potts - Independent Examiner of End of Year Accounts We are very grateful to our many donors during 2024-25 who continued to support us in spite of cost-of-living increases. Future Aims of the Scheme To recruit more accommodation providers. To secure permanent long-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 recognise that, when seeking accommodation, certain groups and individuals are discriminated against and to oppose such discrimination. Through good management to maintain our low claim rate. To strive to improve our servi
Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees, Report above. Signed on behalf of the Charity's trustees: Signatures Full Name Catriona Plummer Eddie Maguire Position Chair of Trustees Treasurer Date
CHARITY COMMISSION roR INGLANO AND WALES WYCOMBE RENT DEPOSIT GUARANTEE SCHEME 1171222 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 01-Apr-24 31-Mar-25 To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last ygar tt> the nearest £ to th8 n•artst £ to the nearest £ to the neat £ A1 Recei Buckinghamshiie Council Grant Donations Ifrom the Publscl Other Grants. non-restrirted Other Grants - Restricted Interest Lotto Giftaid Tax Refund 62.500 62.500 5,229 10,000 76,341 1,273 72 62.500 9,321 42,000 31,623 1,009 10.000 76.341 119 1.154 72 80 Sub total(Gross income for AR) 78,460 155,458 146,$33 A2 Asset and investment sales, see tsble . tota 78,998 76.460 155,458 146,533 A3Pa ments Salaries,oncosts.pen5ion Print,Post,Stationery Phone/lT Mileage,parkin&trav Subscriptions Insurance Rent Bank Charges Sundry-Data protection Miscellaneous DBSICRB Update 79.059 130 79.059 130 75,683 1,057 129 189 295 29S 29S 713 713 120 3.995 120 3.960 120 26 Move On I PVention Rough Sleepèrs Intsfve 37,404 4,152 37.404 4152 19,315 Sub total 85.059 41.556 126.615 101.385 A4 Asset and investment urchases see tsble Sub total 85,059 41,556 126.615 101,385 Net of recelpts/(payments) AS Transfers bettryeen funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 6.061 28,843 45,148 82,629 76,568 46.876 81,780 129,505 158,348 Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme 1 of4
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted Restrlcted funds funds to nearest £ to rnar8St £ Endowment funds to n•amt £ Cateaories Detsils B1 Cash funds Nat Wesi CLHrnnt Amwnt 41,238 CAF Bank Curwt Acxxxjnt 25.330 91 CAF 8ank Current Ac¢crtJnt (R) 81,689 COIF 10,000 Total eash funds 76.568 81,780 rjthlsll Restrlcted funds to nearg•t É Endowment funds to nejrest £ funds to ne•re•t £ Fund to whkh J•set belon Cunnt valu• onal Cost loptlonal) B3 Investment assets Fund to whlch asset belon Unre5tiict&J Curytnt valu• ional Ct {ortloMII B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Office Fumrture 2 staff lapt UntE5trttgJ Fund to whkh AnKUllt du ona Wh•n du• tional Deta,,Is Potentid lithfty for Stattsw R&JuThJa 85 Liabilities Potentkn81 IFatM"bty for St8tut¢Yy Pay 3.035 SKJned by one or trustees on behalf of 811 tho twstees Date of roval Signature Print Name ATRIDNJPA fL rLI Z-11 20"L£ Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme 2of4
THE WYCOMBE RENT DEPOSIT GUARANTEE SCHEME STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 3110312025 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 3110312025 ACCOUNTING POLICIES The financtal stslements have been prepad on a cash basis in a¢¢ordanee with the Charities SORP {FRS 1021 as applble to Charities preparing their acLounts on a receipts and payrrents basis. UrKler this method. income is recognised when received and expendrture Fs recc4nised when paid. This approach is pennitted for charities with gr0$5 annual income under £250,000 and provides a straWJhtforyrd refiection of the charl$ finan081 acw during the year 2) RECEIPTS Othèr GRnts . not restricted Rothschild Foundation £10,0(XJ Other Grnnts - Restricted Bucks Council from Move on Prevenlion (MOP} fund But*s Counul fr¢wn R[gh Slee. Inibglivo (RSI) fund £31,547 P.44 794 31 FUNDS 31 March 2025 £2.000 £38.480 £3,035 £20.500 £25.690 £55.112 £978 £12.553 31 March 2024 £2,000 £35,728 Guinness Fund ststulory Redundancy Reserve ststulory Sick Pay Reserve 3 month Salary l Oncosts buffer reserve Restri¢ted Fund {Move on Prevenlionl Restricted Fund {Rough Sleepers Inibativel Restricted Fund from Deposit Protedion Scheme {DPSI Undestgnated Reserves £0 £31,547 £14,351 £978 £42,OS7 £158.348 £129.505 Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme A(xounts 2024 125 Page3of4
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme On accounts for the year ended 31 Marth 2025 Charlty no (rf any) 1171222 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 31103 12025. Responslbilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Tnjst's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5}(b) of the ACL I have o)mpleted my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention ( ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting rerdS were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no cOnmS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please delete the wtjrds in the brad(ets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: 11 Name: Steven Robert Potts Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (ff any): FCCA Address: 15 Hylton Road High Wycombe HP12 4BZ IER , 1 9S -.o" October 2018 ?