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2022-06-30-accounts

Trustee Annual Report

Cirencester Signpost “Embracing Hope, Creating Community”

01 July 2021 to 30 June 2022

Registered Charity Number 1175014

Introduction

The trustees of Cirencester Signpost present their annual report for the period from 01 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

This report sets out how we deliver for the benefit of many in our community as we seek to help people get their lives back on track.

Our charitable year was set against the gradual lifting of Covid restrictions. However, due to the prolonged period of disruption that the pandemic brought about and the nervousness across all sectors of the community about gathering again, it was obvious that as a charity we would not simply be able to return to ‘business as usual’.

We sought to evaluate the impact of our changed world not only as Cirencester Signpost but also as individuals. This report reflects our activities as we endeavoured to be flexible in our outreach, whilst keeping everyone safe and being true to our charitable objectives.

Objectives and Activities

In accordance with Christian principles, the relief of poverty for those in need with a particular focus on those who are homeless in Cirencester and the immediate surrounding area in particular, but not exclusively by:

With a view to integrating such people into society.

Review of Activities and Achievements

At Cirencester Signpost, we strongly believe that hope and encouragement can be found by coming together. During the summer of 2021, Covid restrictions gradually began to ease but many were apprehensive about what this would mean for them stepping over the threshold to meet others.

Against this backdrop, we launched our well-being café held every Saturday in response to the hidden consequences of the pandemic on people’s mental well-being, especially the impact of prolonged social isolation and the incessant negative news media. We undertook risk assessments to ensure that this was done in a safe manner and alleviate any concerns amongst those that wanted to come including our volunteers. In total over 1,000 breakfasts were served throughout the year.

Recognising the importance of mental health to each of us, our focus is on the benefits of being with friends, making new ones, having a laugh and going away feeling uplifted. The café also provides an opportunity to come alongside anyone dealing with personal challenges who needs a listening ear or someone to advocate for them.

With assisting those finding themselves homeless remaining at the core of our activities, we provided 54 home-starter packs of key kitchen, bedding, bathroom and cleaning essentials to those previously homeless moving from emergency accommodation into a new home of their own.

Those we come alongside are not looked upon as ‘clients’, we regard them as part of our Signpost family. Getting lives back on track can take countless hours of effort often over many months working with agencies. Our commitment is to journey for as long as it takes, never giving up on anyone. Throughout the year we provided this level of support to 20 individuals/families.

On 22 occasions, we helped people who found themselves in a sudden crisis. This included those who faced having to sleep on the streets over a weekend because most outreach services are closed.

To keep them safe and offer encouragement, we provided emergency accommodation, toiletries and food until the Monday when we engaged with support services on their behalf to get them the help they needed.

The trustees have fully considered and taken into account the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in determining the activities undertaken by the charity.

Financial Review

For the period from 01 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, our expenditure totalled £29,805. The main area of expense was outreach support direct to those in need within our local community totalling £20,746. Our charity is run by the goodwill of volunteers so we have no salaries to pay resulting in the overwhelming majority of our donations being targeted on directly helping others.

Our monies were received as a result of the kindness of individual donors, local community groups and churches across Cirencester and nearby villages along with a grant from St. James’s Place Wealth Management.

Cirencester Signpost is committed to being an ongoing and sustainable organisation benefiting all of those in need who come to us. In order to do this, we will aim hold at least two years’ operating costs to create a “sustainability surplus”.

The amount of the reserves will be a minimum of £60,000 based on our full financial year’s expenses and at 30 June 2022. This will be regularly reviewed at trustee meetings as we are review our offering to ensure it remains resilient to changing circumstances.

Structure, Governance and Management

Cirencester Signpost is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a constitution as its governing document, its members being the trustees. Our registered charity number is 1175014.

Currently, trustees are recruited from those who are volunteers. Charity means more than having worthy aims. A charity must be a living example of charitable conduct. It must, therefore, be good as well as do good. Our trustee group recognises that legal and regulatory compliance are the central pillars of governance ensuring that we fulfil our obligations incorporating key areas such as charity law, health and safety, financial, data protection and insurance.

As we deal with the most vulnerable in our community safeguarding is at the core of our governance. We are committed to providing a safe and trusted environment, establishing an organisational culture that prioritises safeguarding, having adequate policies, procedures and measures to protect people and ensure they are regularly reviewed and handling incidents as they arise and reporting them to the relevant authorities.

To facilitate this governance, any potential trustee must be fully conversant with our framework of policies and procedures, which includes: -

together with signing a trustee certificate of eligibility confirming they are a fit and proper person to hold the position of trustee, declare any conflicts of interest and confirm they have read and understood the Charity Commission’s document ‘the essential trustee’.

The trustees are responsible for ensuring our safer recruitment process is adhered to and where appropriate volunteers must provide satisfactory references and be made aware of and sign up to our core polices and codes.

Beyond our policies and procedures, we recognise the need for practical application and for this reason any potential trustee must undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check and pass a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited safeguarding course as agreed by the trustee group.

Looking Forward

It is vital as a charity that we remain focused on the delivery of our charitable objectives whilst recognising the need to remain agile and flexible to the needs of those we serve. We look to continue to work with other agencies and professionals striving to add value and never simply replicating what others are doing. We will continue to be separate and distinct whilst valuing the collaboration that partnerships bring.

We confirm that this report complies with the requirements of the Charities Act 1993, as amended by the Charities Act 2006 and the Charities SORP 2005.

Reference and Administration Details

Charity name: Cirencester Signpost

Registered Charity Number: 1175014

Charity’s contact and principal postal address:

Mrs Juliette Harris Office 4 Betec Business Park Love Lane Cirencester GL7 1YG

Who are the trustees?

Trustee Name Date where not acted for
wholeyear
Graham Harris
Jayne Taylor
Juliette Harris
Charlotte Gorman

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Full name: Graham Harris

Position: Chair Date: 25 January 2023

Cirencester Signpost Cirencester Signpost 1175014
Receipts andpayments accounts CC16a
For the period
from		 01-Jul-21
Period start date		 To 30-Jun-22
Period end date
Section A Receipts and payments Section A Receipts and payments Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £		 Restricted
funds
to the nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £		 Total funds
to the nearest £		 Last year
to the nearest £
Donations 20,899 - - 20,899 21,243
Grants 10,000 - - 10,000 2,500
Gift Aid 3,012 - - 3,012 546
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)
33,911		 - - 33,911 24,289
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- -
-
 -
~~Sub total~~ - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
33,911 24,289
Provision of communitymeals 4,059 -



-



4,059 -
Outreach support 20,746 - - 20,746 14,833
Hire/rental costs 3,352 - - 3,352 2,879
Insurance 274 - - 274 275
Admin & marketing 1,374 - - 1,374 1,176
Sub total 29,805 - - 29,805 19,163
-
-
-		 -
-
-		 -
-
-		 -
-
-
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- -
- -
**Sub total ** - -
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
**Cash funds this year end **
29,805 - - 29,805 19,163
4,106 - - 4,106 5,126
- - - - -
61,196 - - 61,196 61,196
65,302 - - 65,302

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

25/01/2023

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities
B3 Investment assets		 Signature
Lease of office in Love Lane
Details
Details
Catering equipment
Lockable storage cabinets
Santander account
Details
Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
65,302
-
-
-
-
-
65,302
-
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
Print Name
Juliette Harris		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of
approval
Juliette Harris 04/01/2023

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

25/01/2023

2

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Cirencester Signpost On accounts for the year ended 30 June 2022 Charity no (if any) 1175014 Set out on pages I report to th8 trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust.) for the year ended 3010612022. Responslbilities and basis of report As the Gharity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charrties Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in resped of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(bl of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. l Gonfirm that no mat8rial matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination {other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe Ihat in, any material respect.. the accounting records were nol kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Charities Acl., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities {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 Ihe examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 0510112023 Nam&: Anna Blake Relevant professional qualification(sl or body (if any): Chartered Financial Planner IER Oct 2018

Address: 97 INhite Eagle Road Swindon, Wiltshire SN25 1 PY Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material mallers of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018