Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021 Registered charity number – 1174060
**Supporting local people out of homelessness**
## **Contents**
## **1. Introduction To Our Year**
|**1.**|**Introduction to our Year**|**1**|
|---|---|---|
||**Welcome**|**2**|
||**About Robes**|**4**|
||**Chair’s Statement**|**5**|
|**2.**|**What we do**|**6**|
||**Where are our guests now?**|**7**|
||**Static Shelter**|**8**|
||**How we supported stay and move on**|**10**|
||**Our guests**|**11**|
||**Outcomes**|**12**|
||**Simon’s story**|**13**|
||**Tuesday Club**|**14**|
||**Outcomes**|**15**|
||**Mary’s story**|**16**|
||**Volunteer comment**|**17**|
||**Advice Work**|**18**|
||**Day in a life of an advice worker**|**19**|
||**Julia’s story**|**20**|
|**3.**|**How to get involved**|**21**|
||**Events and Future plans for 2021–2022**|**22**|
||**SleepIn and Out**|**23**|
||**Our Supporters**|**24**|
|**4.**|**Financial Information**|**26**|
||**Operational Information**|**27**|
||**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**32**|
||**Statement of Financial Activities**|**34**|
||**Balance Sheet**|**35**|
||**Notes to the Financial Statements**|**36**|
||**Legal & Admin**|**48**|
||**A Word from our Patron**|**49**|
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Tuesday Club guest enjoying hot drink.
Photo by Eve Milner.
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## **Welcome**
Helping local homeless people out of homelessness is at the heart of the Robes Project. As a small charity operating in two south London boroughs, we achieve this aim through our close partnerships with 29 churches and community centres, 750 volunteers and other charities and day centres in the area. Robes primarily focuses on providing local homeless adults with shelter, food, laundry, and advice. Despite the pandemic, we were able to come together and continue to deliver our invaluable services safely to the people most in need. Robes has done exceptionally well this past year in diversifying its fundraising and has been able to secure over £260,000 in grant funding.
## **Impact this year**
## **48**
Guests supported in static shelter (Covid-safe accommodation)
## **145**
Guests supported with advice support
## **30**
Guests set for long-term accommodation
## **13**
**Robes is a small local charity that works with over 750 volunteers and 29 Churches and Community Centres. It helps homeless people in the area to find their way to a better quality of life.**
**Robes is so blessed to have volunteers who have been with the programme for the past 14 years.”**
**Nick Faraday** Charity Manager
Guests moved into temporary accommodation
## **289**
Food vouchers provided to 28 guests
## **2,223**
Meals provided in Tuesday Club
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021 **3**
## **About Robes**
**Robes has been working across Southwark and Lambeth for the past 14 years, providing shelter to local homeless people.**
## **Services we’ve provided in 2020–2021:**
- Supporting the stay and move on of 37 guests at the Best Western Hotel in Peckham from Nov 2020 – March 2021, in partnership with Southwark Council.
- Covid-safe static shelter for 11 guests in Friendship House for April.
- Weekly support packages provided by winter night shelter teams for 48 guests; of these 48, 30 guests are set for long-term accommodation.
- Advice to access housing, welfare benefits, health support, legal advice, employment, and training.
- Tuesday Club takeaway service in partnership with Holy Trinity Church – hot lunch meals, advice service and care packages.
- Winter Night Shelter (On hold due to pandemic).
- Wednesday Club (On hold due to pandemic).
Robes guest staying in Best Western, Peckham. Photo by Eve Milner.
## **Chair’s Statement**
**It is my great privilege to take over the role of Robes Chair from George Martin, one of Robes’ founding fathers, and I would like to offer him my personal thanks for his help in bringing me on board.**
Our Chair: Paul Venning.
Following in George’s footsteps would be a significant challenge in itself; little did I know the impact that the pandemic would have on Robes’ work. Facing up to and adapting to the evolving challenges of Covid and its variants has been at the forefront of our work every day of this past year. But amidst all the uncertainty, one thing did remain constant: the continuing need to provide shelter, care, comfort and, where possible, a nourishing meal to the homeless in Southwark and Lambeth.
pandemic from providing our traditional winter night shelters through our fantastic network of partner churches and magnificent volunteers.
Robes is also running a Tuesday Club in partnership with Holy Trinity Clapham, where we have provided 2,223 hot meals and 1,500 care packages and 168 advice sessions since we opened in November 2020.
None of this would have been possible without you, our dedicated Robes staff, trustees, volunteers and partners, and the generosity of our funders, and I want to say a very heartfelt “Thank You” to you all. Our 2022 ‘SleepOut’ on Friday November 26th will be a great opportunity for us all to come together again in a common cause!
In spite of lockdown, the 2020 ‘SleepIn’ raised over £51,000! This last winter, Robes has looked after 48 guests, of whom 30 guests are set for long-term accommodation (20 guests already in permanent accommodation and council duty to support achieved for 10 guests), as well as providing hot meals, practical advice, phones, 471 personal care packages – donated and provided by our 16 Shelter teams on a weekly basis – and much more. All this was achieved while prevented by the
## **Paul Venning**
Chair of Trustees
**4** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**5**
## **2. What we do**
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Spencer (Tuesday Club Volunteer) preparing lunch for Tuesday Club guests. 6 Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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Charity number – 1174060
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## **Where are our guests now?**
## **Callum (Season 2019/20)**
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Tuesday Club guest. Photo by Eve Milner.
To protect guest identity, the photo and
the story are unrelated.
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When Callum stayed in Robes’ shelter, he had been sleeping rough in London. He was unable to engage with any services as he had no proof of ID.
Robes paid for a new passport and referred him to Hope 2 Steps, who in turn put him in touch with a local charity which helps people at risk of social exclusion find accommodation.
He is currently still in accommodation, and he now works for a catering company.
## **Adam (Season 2018/19)**
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Wednesday Club guest. Photo by Eve Milner.
To protect guest identity, the photo and the
story are unrelated.
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Unable to rely on friends any longer for a place to stay, Adam became homeless and came to the Robes’ shelter. For all his determination, getting back into work was proving impossible without secure housing.
After his stay with Robes, he secured private rented accommodation in Lewisham, a borough in which he feels happily integrated, enjoying its cultural diversity and sense of community.
Two years have passed since Adam came to Robes. He is thriving, and actively involved in local community projects, co-curating an exhibition in the People’s Heritage Museum which explored the transatlantic Slave Trade, struggles for freedom and the implications for the local area today. He is also a Trustee for a local charity in Deptford for historical conservation.
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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## **Static Shelter**
Due to COVID-19, we were unable to operate a church-based winter night shelter this year. Instead, we partnered with Southwark Council to support the stay of 37 guests at Best Western Peckham, and to plan their moving on. We also provided accommodation in Friendship House for 11 guests received from various referral agencies for the month of April. All these guests had Covid-safe individual rooms with en suite facilities.
Our main focus during their stay was to ensure guests’ physical survival needs were being met. Our 16 Shelter teams donated and provided care packages to our guests in both Best Western and Friendship House on a weekly basis. In total, we provided 471 care packages to 48 guests. We also supported their stay by providing laundry vouchers, food vouchers, clothing items, phones and tablets and weekly check-in calls.
Robes supported the stay and move on of 37 guests at Best Western in Peckham from November 2020 till March 2021. Photo by Eve Milner.
Our advice workers also worked with Robes guests to provide support and encouragement in making helpful changes and finding a sustainable solution out of homelessness. During the Winter of 2020/2021, we provided for 48 guests. We set up 30 guests into long-term accommodation (20 are already in permanent accommodation, and for a further 10 the local council has accepted their duty to provide suitable housing, following Robes’ advocacy). Additionally, we supported 13 guests into temporary accommodation.
Robes acquired 11 self-contained rooms at Friendship House in Borough for the month of April 2021. Photo by Eve Milner.
Camilla (Shelter Volunteer at St. John the Divine Kennington) with support packages for Robes guests staying in Best Western.
Volunteers from St. Paul’s Herne Hill providing support packages for Robes guests staying in Best Western.
**Thank you very much for the care packages. It’s nice to know that somebody cares, and people still practise generosity.”**
## **Robes Guest, 2021**
**This partnership successfully included two dedicated Robes workers providing assistance to 37 residents who were placed in temporary accommodation within a hotel procured by the council. Robes provided essential key assistance for these residents including welfare checks, health referrals, employment assistance, move on support and provision of essential items such as mobile phones and/or tablets.”**
## **Ricky Bellot**
Interim Head of Housing Supply (Southwark Council)
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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**9**
## **Static Shelter**
## **How we supported stay and move on**
## **Step 1**
Advice workers carry out risk assessment with referred guests
Guests accepted into Robes Project
## **Step 2**
## **Stay support**
## **Move on support**
Advice workers provide tailored support plan for each guest
Shelter teams provide care packages on a weekly basis
Provide deposit and first month’s rent
Check-in and chat with each guest on a weekly basis
## **Static Shelter Our guests**
## **Total guests between 2020–2021**
## **Age**
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65+ 4 [(3)]
55–64 7 [(13)]
45–54 8 [(18)]
35–44 7 [(20)]
25–34 16 [(35)]
18–24 6 [(9)]
38 [(78)] 10 [(20)]
male female
Guests 0 5 10 15 20
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* The number in brackets show last year’s statistics, which have been included for comparison. Please note, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to run our usual shelter pattern alternating between a number of different communal venues. This winter season, we partnered with Southwark Council to support 37 guests. We also provided static shelter for an additional 11 guests.
## **Nationality of shelter guests**
Provide guests with laundry vouchers
Provide guests with phone or/and tablet
Provide starter pack items. e.g. furniture, white goods, kitchen items
Provide first month’s groceries
Guests placed into accommodation
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20 7
United Europe
Kingdom
2
Southern 6
Europe Asia
3 12
South America Africa
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**10** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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## **Static Shelter**
## **Outcomes**
## **Key outputs**
**10** Deposits and rents paid
**471**
Care packages provided to 48 guests
**289**
**21**
Food vouchers provided to 28 guests
Phones provided
**122**
**28**
Laundry vouchers provided to 48 guests
Tablets provided
**29**
**3**
Move in packages provided to 29 guests
Laptops provided
## **End of static shelter outcomes**
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Permanent accommodation 20
Council duty to support achieved* 10
Temporary accommodation 13
Emergency accommodation 5
Guests 0 5 10 15 20
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- Please note, ‘council duty to support achieved’ means that, as a result of successful advocacy by Robes staff on behalf of our guests, the council has accepted their duty to provide suitable accommodation.
## **Static Shelter**
## **Simon’s story**
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Once we had met Simon at
Southwark’s hotel, we knew
he needed more support;
assessments by phone
just hadn’t revealed the
vulnerabilities which led
him to become homeless.
He had a long history of homelessness
and was anxious, afraid, and overwhelmed.
After our concerns were raised, a specialist
Housing First council worker came to meet
with Simon and Robes, and we began
working together. Simon’s confidence
grew the more he felt supported. He was
encouraged to open a bank account,
transfer his old-style benefits to Universal
Credit, and was happy for Robes to upgrade
his phone.
Robes guest at Tuesday club. Photo by Eve
Milner. To protect guest identity, the photo
and the story are unrelated.
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**Simon contacted Robes after securing his flat and was ecstatic:**
**I cannot believe I got my own flat today! It has a secure entrance, and I have my own balcony. It is around the corner from the shops and next to the bus stop so I can look for jobs and get my life sorted. It is so, so wonderful! I can sleep at night now. Without Robes’ help I would be homeless and sleeping on the bus again. I am over the moon.”**
**12** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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## **Tuesday Club**
## **Tuesday Club Outcomes**
## **In the future**
## **The Tuesday Club represents a space for vulnerable individuals to access support.**
In November 2020, we opened our Tuesday Club in partnership with Holy Trinity Clapham. Here guests can access hot lunch meals, hot drinks, care packages, clothing items and advice support. We opted for an open-door policy where anyone seeking the services we had on offer was welcomed, as distinct from our Wednesday Club which was provided for Robes’ current and ex-guests only. This enabled us to reach a wider group of vulnerable individuals within the community and allowed us to tackle issues that put people at risk of homelessness.
Since the opening of Tuesday Club, the number of attendees has increased from 45 to 80-90 guests every Tuesday. We have provided 2,223 hot meals and 1,500 care packages and given supporting advice to 97 guests. 10 Tuesday Club guests have been supported into long term accommodation.
Currently we have 11 volunteers who dedicate their time by helping with registration of guests, cooking, serving lunch, providing care packages and cleaning.
We are hoping to incorporate more guest enrichment activities and engage with corporate partners to support the day-to-day running of the Tuesday Club.
**After the Wednesday Club closed, I didn’t have anything to do. I was mostly sick at home. I missed the whole Robes staff. After the Tuesday Club opened, I started visiting it because it is a home away from home. The advice workers at the Tuesday Club are doing very well to continue supporting me. She is like my sister helping a brother.”**
**Robes Guest, 2018**
## **2,223**
## **10**
Hot lunch meals provided
Guests supported into long term accommodation
## **1,500**
## **13**
Care packages provided
Phones provided
## **168**
## **8**
Advice sessions provided
Tablets provided
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Ian (Volunteer chef) and Margot (Tuesday Club Volunteer)
preparing meals for Tuesday Club Guests. Photo by Eve Milner.
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**14** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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## **Tuesday Club Mary’s story**
Mary was living precariously, paying rent to a friend also living in poverty. She had no money for food or clothes. Her immigration lawyer was also asking for payment, and all her savings had been used.
**Mary came to Tuesday Club on her local church’s advice. She explained how, after working in a good job, she suddenly lost her right to work and found herself with no recourse to public funds.**
Robes advisors provided Mary with a voucher for food, clothing, phone credit and a tablet. They also referred her to a local refugee and asylum seeker organisation with access to free immigration advice. Mary immediately followed this up and was quickly assigned an immigration advisor and free weekly counselling sessions.
Mary attends Tuesday Club regularly, reporting on progress and talking through her current situation. Some weeks she needs to focus on her difficulties, and at other times she’s able to share her hope, talking joyfully about her culture and faith.
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Robes guest with Isabel (advice worker). Photo by Eve Milner.
To protect guest identity, the photo and the story are unrelated.
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## **Tuesday Club Volunteer comment**
My name is Ian; I volunteer as a chef at the Tuesday Club. The pandemic has impacted the catering and hospitality sector a great deal. It has not been possible for me to work since March 2020.
I am responsible for all the cooking which includes choosing how much to cook and what to cook. I also keep the kitchen clean and sanitised for safety during this time. Currently, we are catering for 80-90 guests every Tuesday.
I applied for this role when I saw an ad on Facebook asking for volunteer chefs. I wanted to use my skills in the only way I can. To be honest, it was as much a benefit for me - I was able to go out, meet and talk to people and give back to the community at the same time. I look forward to Tuesdays as we all get along with each other and at the same time know we are helping those less fortunate than us.
When I told my work that I was volunteering, they decided to promote the idea to all my colleagues. Because of this, a couple of my colleagues are now helping at their local food bank.”
## **Ian Waltisbuhl**
Tuesday Club Chef
Ian (Volunteer chef) at Tuesday club preparing meals for Tuesday Club guests.
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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**17**
## **Advice Work**
## **Advice Work**
## **Day in a life of an advice worker**
with temporary accommodation and food, and receive financial support to make sure that they can get to appointments and access services.
The Advice Team’s main goal is to support our guests in finding their way out from homelessness.
Our advice workers have experience in the Welfare System, Accommodation Options and Case Management, and constantly work to maintain and improve a network of associations that assist our guests with employment support and legal aid.
If successful, our guests will move into safe accommodation. It’s the beginning of a new life for them, but also the start of a range of new challenges (flatmates, neighbours, landlords, utility bills, loneliness). For this reason, the Advice Team is always happy to support guests after the shelter season, and we encourage them to contact us again in case we can be of any help.
They start by interviewing people referred from local day centre and other charities. These associations are not just a source of referrals; they are also a main actor in the outcome of the guests, as they tend to know them better, including their strengths and risks. Those interviewed are provided
## **Advice support provided**
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Accommodation 189
Employment 65
Health 50
Immigration 33
Legal 13
Welfare 187
Number of measures taken 0 50 100 150 200
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*Please note that the figures above record the total advice support offered to guests staying in static accommodation and those attending the Tuesday Club.
Our day starts early in the morning, allowing us to meet guests at the shelter and share breakfast with them. This enables us to engage in a conversation, to create a simple plan for them for the day and to complete referrals to local services.
**During the shelter season, the life of an advice worker is mostly on the go. We tend to avoid being based in an office, but instead travel to interview guests and support them getting to the shelters. We also accompany guests to various appointments for support or encouragement.**
We never forget the importance of personalised support, and we try to meet our guests in person whenever possible. This year, we’ve had to adjust to the reality of the pandemic by following COVID-19 regulations and guidelines so guests weren’t put at risk, and be creative when supporting guests. But social interaction, especially in times where guests’ mental health could deteriorate due to loneliness or isolation, is vital, and face-to-face meetings are helpful for people who have limited English or who lack confidence with modern technology.
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Isabel (advice worker) with guest at
Friendship House. Photo by Eve Milner.
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**18** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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## **Advice Work**
## **Julia’s story**
**Julia once worked as a medical secretary, but after developing a health condition and suffering poor mental health her life drastically changed. She lost independence and became isolated from loved ones.**
After treatment, Julia lived next to a neighbour who harassed her so terribly she fled the property.
Becoming homeless, she endured sleepless nights riding buses. Thankfully, she was referred to Robes shelter, where she gradually developed trusting relationships with staff and volunteers.
As the pandemic hit in Spring 2020, she was moved into an emergency hotel across London. Lockdown alone in a hotel room was a huge challenge; she constantly feared losing the accommodation and reliving her traumatic experiences of homelessness. Through regular in-person contact, Robes worked hard to ease Julia’s fears and support her in managing her finances and submitting a homeless application to the council.
After so much uncertainty and 2 years of Robes’ intermittent support, Julia finally secured a spacious flat! It’s a two-year tenancy within sheltered council housing. Finally, she has independence, security, and a loyal support network close by for whenever she needs it.
## **3. How to get involved**
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Robes guest staying in Best Western, Peckham. Photo by Eve Milner.
To protect guest identity, the photo and the story are unrelated.
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Charity number – 1174060
Wootton (Tuesday Club Volunteer and Bedding Team Lead) preparing hot drink for Tuesday Club guests. Photo by Eve Milner. Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021 **21**
**20** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
## **Events and Future plans for 2021–2022**
## **Static Shelter**
**At Robes Project, we are always looking for new fundraising opportunities and partners to ensure we can continue to provide support to our guests.**
This past winter shelter season, we have had to adapt our services according to government guidelines and offer Covid-safe accommodation (self-contained rooms with en suite) for guests. Homeless forums and shelter networks we are part of have advised us that this coming winter, we will only be able to operate Covid-safe accommodation as in 2020–2021. We have secured Davies Court in Canary Wharf for 18 guests which will start on November 1st to March 31st. We are in the process of securing funding for this project.
## **September 2021**
AGM and Shelter Launch Event Online, September 23rd 2021
## **1 November 2021**
Start of Shelter Season
## **Circuit 1**
There is a small chance we could have Circuit 1 up and running in a Covid-safe manner. We are currently in talks with all our Shelter Team Leaders to see if this can be a possibility for Winter 2021–2022.
## **26 November 2021**
SleepOut 2021 Online Registration NOW OPEN (see details on page 23)
## **Tuesday Club**
## **31 March 2022**
In partnership with Holy Trinity Church, we are currently operating a Tuesday Club in takeaway format. We provide advice sessions, hot take away lunch meal and essential items to 90 guests every week.
End of Shelter Season
## **25 November 2022**
Robes SleepOut @ Southwark Cathedral
If you are interested and would like to participate, please contact: robes.admin@robes.org
## **Thursday Club**
In the autumn, we are planning to open in Elephant and Castle a similar service to our Tuesday Club, for ex- and current guests. We had to close our Wednesday Club for current and ex-guests as the venue closed and the whole country went into several lockdowns.
## **SleepIn and Out**
11 years ago, the first Robes SleepOut was held. It’s our major fundraising event, hosted annually by Southwark Cathedral and generating the bulk of our income. By giving up their cosy beds and sleeping out in the open air, those taking part help alleviate local homelessness, show solidarity and make a difference.
In this year of the pandemic, we hosted a SleepIn. Instead of the Churchyard, our supporters slept in their garden, balcony or anywhere that was safe. Our entertainment was streamed online, and we had an amazing turnout, with 100 people collectively joining in on the night. Thanks to our supporters and donors, we were able to raise £51,000.
This season, we have planned a SleepOut at Southwark Cathedral for November 26th 2021. We are very much hoping that we can go ahead with the usual format of us all being together in the Cathedral for some entertainment followed by sleeping in the Churchyard. Keeping in mind that circumstances might change, one possibility is to enable teams to host their own satellite SleepOut event, running alongside the main SleepOut – or come up with an alternative idea. This could be families, groups of friends, teams from the workplace, schools and colleges or church-based groups. Please sign up on **www.robes.org.uk/ sleepout-robes** if you are interested.
The Very Rev’d Andrew Nunn hosting Southwark Cathedral sponsored Robes SleepIn 2020.
## **Be part of Robes SleepOut 2021**
## **Friday November 26th 6.30pm–6am**
Help us to help local homeless people by giving up your bed for a night. Register now: **www.robes.org.uk/sleepout-robes**
**There will be an evening of live entertainment**
**22** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
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## **Our Supporters**
## **Partners and Donors:**
1. Holy Trinity Clapham
2. Bridgepoint
3. Homeless Link and Housing Justice
4. National Lottery Community Fund
## **Referral agencies:**
1. Ace of Clubs
2. Crisis
3. Crisis at Croydon
4. Glassdoor
5. Manna Day Centre
6. Shelter
7. Spires
8. St. Mungo’s
9. The Big Issue
10. The Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers
11. Webber Street
## **Winter Night Shelters:**
1. Ace of Clubs
2. All Saints Clapham Park
3. Bermondsey Central Methodist Church
4. Chatsworth Baptist
5. Christ Church Clapham
6. Christ Church Southwark
7. Copleston Church
8. Finnish Church
9. Holy Spirit
10. Holy Trinity Clapham
11. Montgomery Hall
12. Mostyn Road Methodist Church
13. New Park Road Baptist
14. Norwegian Church
15. Salvation Army, Elephant and Castle 16. St. Anne and All Saints 17. St. George the Martyr 18. St. John the Divine 19. St. John’s East Dulwich 20. St. John’s Waterloo 21. St. Luke’s Peckham 22. St. Luke’s West Norwood 23. St. Mary Magdalen 24. St. Matthew’s at the Elephant 25. St. Michael’s Stockwell 26. St. Paul’s Clapham
27. St Paul’s and St. Saviour’s Herne Hill
28. St. Peter’s Vauxhall 29. St. Peter’s Walworth
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021Robes Advice Sessions with Guests. Photo by Eve Milner. **25**
**24** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
## **4. Financial information**
## **Operational Information**
**Structure, Governance And Management**
**The Trustees are pleased to present their Annual Report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2021.**
## **Governing document**
The Robes Project was initially set up as an un-incorporated charity by a Constitution adopted 1 October 2008, amended by Special Resolution on 20 July 2009. It was registered as a charity on 10 November 2009 and is governed by a Committee of Trustees elected at the Annual General Meeting. The areas of benefit are the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.
On 1 August 2017 the charity set up a separate Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) called ‘Robes Project’. The charity and the CIO were merged on 18 January 2020. An asset transfer order was signed on 18 January 2020. The assets have now been transferred to the CIO and the old un-incorporated charity closed.
The number of Trustees shall not be less than 5, and until otherwise determined by a General Meeting, no more than 9.
Tuesday Club guest. Photo by Eve Milner. **26** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**27**
## **Operational Information**
## **Objectives**
The objects of the CIO are the relief of poverty among people who are homeless in the London boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth by the provision of winter night shelters, food and advice, support and re-settlement services so as to help them re-build their lives.
## **Public benefit statement**
The Trustees consider that the work of the Robes Project is to provide relief to poor and disadvantaged people in the London Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth by the provision of winter shelter, food and support helping to make these boroughs a safer, more humane place for everyone. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and no Trustee receives any private benefit from the charity.
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities act 2006 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in determining the activities undertaken by the charity.
## **Governance and management**
The charity is run by its Trustees who meet bi-monthly to determine the strategy of the charity, to discuss operational matters and to formulate policy. The Charity Manager attends all Trustee meetings. Sub-committees dealing with specific
functions support the Board of Trustees and certain items of executive responsibility are delegated to individual Trustees to facilitate decision-making and to support staff efforts. All delegated matters are closely reported upon to the Trustee Board.
The Trustees delegate responsibility for delivering day to day services to our guests primarily to the Charity Manager, staff and volunteer teams.
The Charity Manager is responsible for individual supervision of the staff team and also ensuring that the team continue to develop their skills and working practices in line with good practice.
## **Recruitment and appointment**
## **of new trustees**
The Committee actively seek to recruit Trustees from across a range of diverse individuals, including from among the churches participating in the Project, who have relevant skills and experience to assist in running the Project. New Trustees are given a full induction programme and information pack.
If you are interested in finding out more please contact Paul Venning: paul.venning@robes.org.uk
## **Risk Management**
The Trustees recognise that there are risks to which the charity is exposed. Systems have been established to mitigate known risks, including financial controls, employment procedures, agreements with participating churches and volunteer training. The Trustees keep proper accounting records and take reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Health and safety, equal opportunities and quality standards are prioritised. Records and archives are securely stored and electronic data carefully protected.
A significant risk the charity faces is its over reliance on the SleepOut as a fundraising event, as reflected in the events of both the current and previous year. However, despite the event being replaced with the SleepIn this year, over £50,000 was still raised for the charity. It looks to mitigate against this risk by diversifying its funding sources which has continued to prove a successful venture. Another significant risk would be if a serious safeguarding issue were to cause the charity to lose the confidence of guests and referring partners. The charity mitigates against this by thorough training for staff and volunteers.
## **Financial review**
Total expenditure for the year ended 30 April 2021 was £293,382, up from £215,306 in the previous year. This reflects a significant increase in the costs incurred supporting our guests during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the year, income increased by £37,776, an increase of 13% on the previous year, due to a number of significant successes on grant applications; however there was a significant decrease in non-grant income within the year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual SleepOut in the grounds of Southwark Cathedral was cancelled this year, for the second year in succession due to, this time, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – the previous year had been cancelled due to the terrorist incident in the lead up to it. A replacement SleepIn held by supporters in their own gardens and homes still managed to raise £53,411.
At 30 April 2021, the total reserves stand at £389,574, Of these reserves, £11,842 is restricted to our continual support for our guests as part of our ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other projects. Another £80,000 of unrestricted reserves is designated to support ‘Inn from the Cold’ moving forward, leaving £297,732 as general funds.
**28** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**29**
## **Operational Information**
## **Reserves Policy**
As part of the annual review of the reserves policy, the Trustees of the Robes Project assess the financial risks surrounding the charity’s ability to provide the services we offer to the homeless in Lambeth and Southwark. In so doing the Trustees aim to hold a minimum free reserves level of £80,000 – £150,000. The current free reserves of £297,732 are safely above this limit.
## **Statement of Board of Trustees’ Responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law they are required to prepare the financial statements in accordance with UK Accounting Standards and applicable law (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Under charity law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a ‘true and fair’ view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the excess of income over expenditure for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and,
- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue its activities.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the charity and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
In addition, the Trustees confirm that they are happy that the content of the annual review in pages 2 to 31 of this document as well as the legal and administrative information on page 48, meet the requirements of the Trustees’ Annual Report under charity law.
They also confirm that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published on 16 July 2014.
This report was approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 19 August 2021 and signed on its behalf by:
**Paul Venning** Chair of Trustees
**30** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**31**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the Board of Trustees of Robes Project Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Robes Project (charity number 1174060) for the year ended 30 April 2021 set out on pages 34 to 47.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The CIO’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act). The CIO’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 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 procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and,
- To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
This report, including my statement, has been prepared for and only for the CIO’s trustees as a body. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the CIO’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the CIO and the CIO’s trustees as a body for my examination work, for this report, or for the statements I have made.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
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 CIO and a comparison of the accounts presented with 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.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
Since the CIO’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 a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- Accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or
- The accounts do not accord with those records; or
- The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## **Shaun Brownsmith FCA**
For and on behalf of Haines Watts Chartered Accountants
Dated: 19 August 2021
4 Claridge Court Lower Kings Road Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 2AF
**32** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**33**
## **Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 30 April 2021**
||||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|funds||
||||**year ended**|**year ended**|**year ended**|year ended||
||||**30 April 2021**|**30 April 2021**|**30 April 2021**|30 April 2020||
||Notes||**£**|**£**|**£**|£||
|**Income from:**||||||||
|Donations||2|**130,455**|**169,073**|**299,528**|279,107||
|Charitable activities||3|**18,092**|**–**|**18,092**|–||
|Investments||4|**591**|**–**|**591**|1,328||
|**Total income**|||**149,138**|**169,073**|**318,211**|280,435||
|||||||||
|**Expenditure on:**||||||||
|Raising funds||5|**12,403**|**–**|**12,403**|12,905||
|Charitable activities|5 & 6||**112,593**|**168,386**|**280,979**|202,401||
|**Total expenditure**|||**124,996**|**168,386**|**293,382**|215,306||
|||||||||
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|||**24,142**|**687**|**24,829**|65,129||
|Transfer between funds||12|**20,000**|**(20,000)**|**–**|–||
|**Net movement in funds**|||**44,142**|**(19,313)**|**24,829**|65,129||
|||||||||
|**Reconciliation of funds:**||||||||
|Total funds brought forward|12|& 13|**333,590**|**31,155**|**364,745**|299,616||
|Total funds carried forward|12|& 13|**377,732**|**11,842**|**389,574**|364,745||
The notes on pages 36 to 47 form part of the financial statements.
## **Balance Sheet As at 30 April 2021**
||||**Total**||Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**funds**||funds||
||||**30 April 2021**||30 April 2020||
||Notes|**£**|**£**|£|£||
|**Fixed assets**|||||||
|Tangible fxed assets|9||**7,279**||9,409||
||||||||
|**Current assets**|||||||
|Debtors and prepayments|10|**7,216**||4,973|||
|Cash at bank and in hand||**382,305**||359,257|||
|||**389,521**||364,230|||
||||||||
|**Creditors:**amounts falling due within one year|11|**(7,226)**||(8,894)|||
||||||||
|**Net current assets**|||**382,295**||355,336||
|**Net assets**|||**389,574**||364,745||
|**Funds of the charity**|||||||
|Restricted funds|12 & 13||**11,842**||31,155||
|Unrestricted funds:|||||||
|Designated funds|12 & 13|**80,000**||80,000|||
|General funds|12 & 13|**297,732**||253,590|||
||||**377,732**||333,590||
||||**389,574**||364,745||
The notes on pages 36 to 47 form part of the financial statements.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 19 August 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
Luke Whiteman
## **Trustee**
**34** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**35**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
## **Basis of preparation of the financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with ‘Charities SORP (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 (FRS 102) second edition (effective 1 January 2019)’, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Designated funds comprise of unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund are set out in note 12 of the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds that are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or that have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in note 12 of the financial statements.
The effect of any event relating to the year ended 30 April 2021, which occurred before the date of approval of the financial statements by the Board of Trustees has been included in the financial statements to the extent required to show a true and fair view of the state of affairs at 30 April 2021 and the results for the year ended on that date.
## **Income**
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance indicators attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.
Under the exemption available to smaller charities the Board of Trustees has chosen not to include a Statement of Cash Flows within the financial statements.
The functional currency of the charity is sterling and amounts in the financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.
Donations and income from fundraising events are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when entitled, receipt is probable and when the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Gift aid receivable is included when claimable.
## **Going concern**
The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis as the Board of Trustees is confident that future reserves and future income is more than sufficient to meet current commitments. There are no material uncertainties that impact this assessment and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has no impact on this assessment due to the high reserves held by the charity.
Grant income is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when received or receivable whichever is earlier, unless the grant relates to a future year, in which case it is deferred.
Income from charitable activities is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when received or receivable whichever is earlier, unless it relates to a specific future period or event, in which case it is deferred.
## **Legal status**
The Robes Project is a charitable incorporated organisation registered in England & Wales and meets the definition of a public benefit entity. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The registered office is 11B Park Street, London, SE1 9AB.
Interest is recorded when it is receivable.
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT**
## **Debtors and prepayments**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities.
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount is applied. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Indirect costs, including governance costs, which cannot be directly attributed to activities, are allocated proportionate to direct staff costs allocated to each project area, as outlined in note 5 of the financial statements.
## **Creditors**
Creditors 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.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of expenditure for which it was incurred.
## **Critical estimates and judgements**
## **Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
In preparing financial statements it is necessary to make certain judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts recognised in the financial statements.
All assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised.
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their residual value, over their useful life, on a straight-line basis. The useful life used is:
In the view of the Trustees in applying the accounting policies adopted, no judgements were required that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements nor do any estimates or assumptions made carry a significant risk of material adjustment in the next financial year.
Leasehold improvements – 5 years (life of the lease).
## **Operating leases**
Rentals payable under operating leases are taken to the statement of financial activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
## **Financial instruments**
Basic financial instruments are measured at amortised cost other than investments which are measured at fair value.
## **Pensions**
The Robes Project operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Pension contributions are charged to the statement of financial activities when due and payable. These contributions are invested separately from the charity’s assets.
## **Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash in hand, deposits with banks and funds that are readily convertible into cash at, or close to, their carrying values, but are not held for investment purposes.
**36** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**37**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **2. Income from donations and legacies**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021
£ £ £
Donations 71,534 730 72,264
SleepIn 53,411 – 53,411
Other fundraising events 3,010 – 3,010
Trusts and foundations 2,500 168,343 170,843
130,455 169,073 299,528
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020
£ £ £
Donations 100,068 6,250 106,318
SleepOut 85,997 – 85,997
Other fundraising events 2,699 – 2,699
Trusts and foundations 65,000 19,093 84,093
253,764 25,343 279,107
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **3. Income from charitable activities**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021
£ £ £
Contracts with statutory authorities 18,092 – 18,092
18,092 – 18,092
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **4. Income from investments**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021
£ £ £
Bank interest 591 – 591
591 – 591
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020
£ £ £
Bank interest 1,328 – 1,328
1,328 – 1,328
**----- End of picture text -----**
**38** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**39**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **5. Total expenditure**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Staff Other Indirect Total
costs direct costs costs costs
year ended year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021
£ £ £ £
Raising funds – 10,466 1,937 12,403
Charitable activities 125,639 111,453 43,887 280,979
125,639 121,919 45,824 293,382
Staff Other Indirect Total
costs direct costs costs costs
year ended year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020
£ £ £ £
Raising funds – 11,094 1,811 12,905
Charitable activities 131,567 42,432 28,402 202,401
131,567 53,526 30,213 215,306
**----- End of picture text -----**
Indirect costs, including governance costs, which cannot be directly attributed to activities, were allocated between cost centres proportionate to the direct costs allocated to those activities. The prior year figures have been reallocated to show the support costs attributed to each activity.
All expenditure on raising funds was unrestricted in nature in both the current and previous financial years.
An analysis of charitable activities split between restricted and unrestricted funds can be found in note 6.
An analysis of staff costs can be found in note 7.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Total Total
costs costs
year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2020
Indirect costs include the following costs: £ £
Office rent 10,150 7,302
IT and communications 7,383 7,517
Administrative costs 3,245 6,075
Finance support 11,044 4,744
Depreciation on leasehold improvements 2,130 1,243
Governance costs 11,872 3,332
45,824 30,213
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Total Total
costs costs
year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2020
Governance costs include the following costs: £ £
Independent examination fees 1,340 1,340
Statutory accounts preparation 1,464 1,080
Trustee recruitment 4,687 –
Governance review 1,800 –
Legal and other consultancy 1,074 540
Insurance 1,507 372
11,872 3,332
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **6. Expenditure on charitable activities**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021
£ £ £
Staff costs 73,046 52,593 125,639
Other direct costs 25,755 85,698 111,453
Indirect costs 13,792 30,095 43,887
112,593 168,386 280,979
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020
£ £ £
Staff costs 115,769 15,798 131,567
Other direct costs 36,050 6,382 42,432
Indirect costs 27,469 933 28,402
179,288 23,113 202,401
**----- End of picture text -----**
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**40**
**41**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **7. Staff numbers and costs**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Total Total
costs costs
year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2020
£ £
Gross salaries 116,130 121,395
Employer’s national insurance 6,845 7,956
Employer’s pension 2,664 2,216
125,639 131,567
**----- End of picture text -----**
The average headcount during the year was 5 persons (2020: 5 persons).
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 (2020: NIL).
The total remuneration paid to key management personnel during the year was [£39,480] (2020: £35,999).
## **8. Pension costs**
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the charity in independently administered funds. Contributions payable by the charity amounted to £2,664 (2020: £2,216).
£222 of employer contributions were outstanding at year end (2019: £200).
Pension costs are allocated between activities and funds on the same basis as relevant salary costs.
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **9. Tangible fixed assets**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Leasehold Total
improvements assets
year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2021
£ £
Cost
As at 1 May 2020 10,652 10,652
As at 30 April 2021 10,652 10,652
Accumulated depreciation
As at 1 May 2020 1,243 1,243
Charge in year 2,130 2,130
As at 30 April 2021 3,373 3,373
Net book value
As at 1 May 2020 9,409 9,409
As at 30 April 2021 7,279 7,279
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **10. Debtors and prepayments**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Total Total
year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2020
£ £
Prepayments 3,591 1,348
Rent deposit 3,625 3,625
7,216 4,973
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **11. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Total Total
year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2020
£ £
Trade creditors 2,095 1,919
Accruals 2,804 2,420
HMRC control account 1,809 4,088
Pension control account 518 467
7,226 8,894
**----- End of picture text -----**
**42** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**43**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **12. Analysis of charity funds**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance Transfers Balance
brought Income Expenditure between carried
forward for the in the funds forward
year ended year ended year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Inn from the Cold 80,000 – – – 80,000
80,000 – – – 80,000
General funds 253,590 149,138 (124,996) 20,000 297,732
333,590 149,138 (124,996) 20,000 377,732
Restricted funds
COVID-19 funding 4,628 22,730 (27,358) – –
Winter Transformation Fund – 65,000 (65,000) – –
Coronavirus Community Support Fund – 50,000 (50,000) – –
Guest support – 20,000 (14,109) – 5,891
Love Your Neighbour – 11,343 (11,343) – –
Inn from the Cold 25,951 – – (20,000) 5,951
ACTS 4:35 159 – (159) – –
Glasspool 417 – (417) – –
31,155 169,073 (168,386) (20,000) 11,842
364,745 318,211 (293,382) – 389,574
**----- End of picture text -----**
The **Inn from the Cold** designated fund has been earmarked for growing this project over the next few years.
The **COVID-19** funds were funds received to support the organisation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic on beneficiaries from March 2020 to October 2020.
The **Winter Transformation Fund** funds were received to support moving beneficiaries from temporary accommodation to more permanent accommodation in early 2021.
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
The **Inn from the Cold** restricted fund consists of donations and grants to support guests in accessing the private rented sector by providing help with the up-front costs of housing, direct access to landlords and ongoing support once in accommodation. During the year one of the main funders of this project agreed to release the funds for the charity’s ongoing work across all areas.
The **ACTS 4:35** funds consists of funds given to directly support guests with specific needs/requirements.
The **Glasspool** funds consists of funds given to directly support guests with specific needs/requirements.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance Transfers Balance
brought Income Expenditure between carried
forward for the in the funds forward
year ended year ended year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
Inn from the Cold 80,000 – – – 80,000
80,000 – – – 80,000
General funds 190,691 255,092 (192,193) – 253,590
270,691 255,092 (192,193) – 333,590
Restricted funds
COVID-19 funding – 10,000 (5,372) – 4,628
Shelter support – 14,093 (14,093) – –
Inn from the Cold 28,381 – (2,430) – 25,951
ACTS 4:35 204 400 (445) – 159
Glasspool 340 850 (773) – 417
28,925 25,343 (23,113) – 31,155
299,616 280,435 (215,306) – 364,745
**----- End of picture text -----**
The **Shelter support** funds were two grants received from Housing Justice to support specific costs related to the shelters in the 2019–2020 season.
The **Coronavirus Community Support Fund** funds were received from the National Lottery Community Fund to support beneficiaries with temporary accommodation in early 2021.
The **Love Your Neighbour** funds were received to support the running of the Tuesday Club drop-in centre.
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**44**
**45**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **13. Analysis of net assets**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
General Designated Restricted Total
funds funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021 30 April 2021
£ £ £ £
Fixed assets 7,279 – – 7,279
Current assets 297,679 80,000 11,842 389,521
Current liabilities (7,226) – – (7,226)
297,732 80,000 11,842 389,574
General Designated Restricted Total
funds funds funds funds
year ended year ended year ended year ended
30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020 30 April 2020
£ £ £ £
Fixed assets 9,409 – – 9,409
Current assets 253,075 80,000 31,155 364,230
Current liabilities (8,894) – – (8,894)
253,590 80,000 31,155 364,745
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **15. Related party transactions**
During the year there were no transactions carried out with related parties (2020: £NIL).
## **16. Other financial commitments**
At 30 April 2021 the charity had future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases (all relating to land and buildings) as set out below:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Total Total
year ended year ended
30 April 2021 30 April 2020
£ £
Operating leases due:
Within one year 14,500 8,458
Within two to five years 35,042 49,542
49,542 58,000
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **17. Guarantees and secured charges**
As at 30 April 2021, the charity did not have any outstanding guarantees to third parties nor any debts secured against assets of the charity (2020: £NIL).
## **14. Trustee remuneration**
During the year, no trustee received any remuneration (2020: £NIL). No members of the Board of Trustees received reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses (2020: £NIL).
**46** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**47**
## **Legal & Admin**
Legal and Administrative Information for the year ended 30 April 2021.
## **Trustees**
Paul Venning Wendy Thompson Luke Whiteman Jeremy Metson Timothy Howse Neil Tryner
## **Treasurer**
Luke Whiteman
## **Principal Bankers**
The Co-operative Bank PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
## **Independent Examiner**
Haines Watts 4 Claridge Court Lower Kings Road Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 2AF
## **Accountants**
Andy Nash Accounting & Consultancy Units 24 & 25 Goodsheds Container Village Hood Road Barry CF62 5QU
## **Charity Registration Number**
1174060
## **Registered Address**
11B Park Street London SE1 9AB
## **Contact us**
robes.admin@robes.org.uk @RobesProject 020 7407 5623 robes.org.uk
## **Recruiting Trustees**
If you are interested in finding out more please contact Paul Venning: paul.venning@robes.org.uk
## **A Word from our Patron**
The pandemic has challenged everyone in the charitable sector to respond in new and imaginative ways, often by developing partnerships with renewed focus or by forging new ones. The Robes Project has been no exception, working with Southwark Council to continue caring for some of the most vulnerable in our City even though Covid restrictions meant that traditional night shelters were not possible. There have been remarkable results, however, and thirty of the project’s guests are set for long-term accommodation.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we will need to take its lessons to heart and continue to work for a just future for all. We have been reminded of our interdependence in many powerful ways and valued publicly those who are often forgotten or ignored. We are still in the early phase of the economic ‘fall out’ from the pandemic and I am thankful that there are professionals of the calibre found at the Robes Project to respond to those whose dignity is threatened.
I am proud to be a Patron of the Robes Project and deeply grateful for its work.
**The Right Revered Christopher Chessun** Bishop of Southwark
**Selection of photography including cover taken by Robes volunteer, Eve Milner (evemilner51@gmail.com).**
**48** Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
Charity number – 1174060
Charity number – 1174060
Robes Annual Report and Accounts – Year ended 30 April 2021
**49**
**Robes SleepOut 2022 @ Southwark Cathedral Friday November 25th 6.30pm to Saturday morning 6am**
Further details can be found at www.robes.org.uk or @RobesProject. Experience sleeping out for a night and fundraise for local homeless people.