MINUTES
of the
West Berkshire Homeless (Newbury Area)
Annual General Meeting
Held on Monday 23rd January 2023
Present: Catherine Knight (Chair) Erica Gassor (Trustee & General Secretary) Kevin Gallagher (Trustee) Lynda Jones (Treasurer) plus 18 supporters
Apologies: Apologies were received from John Coleman, Chris Winchester, Helen Randall, Carol Currey, Norma Murray, Simon Pearson and Libby Goldsack.
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Cathy Knight welcomed all present and thanked them for their continuing support for WBH and its work.
2. CHAIR’S REPORT
Cathy Knight gave an outline of the charity’s work during the year. We celebrated our 5[th] anniversary in February 2022 with over 400 people helped up until then, and over 100 helped so far this year. Our aim is to eliminate homelessness in West Berkshire. The trustees and our volunteers are instrumental in helping the charity to move forward by donating not only their generous donations but offering their time free of charge. We are truly blessed and this year we plan to help more people than ever before.
3. THE FUTURE
We need to keep learning and finding ways to eliminate risk when housing complex individuals with complex needs; we need to be able to change people who sometimes don’t see the need or have the desire to change.
This year we are keen to invest more money on rehab. In the past we have used Betel which is a Christian rehab but they won’t take anyone with medical difficulties. We have sent 5 people to rehab so far with 3 being successful, one of whom has completely turned round and is now a counsellor. We are hopeful of finding a private hospital who will give us a deal to try something different.
The Loose Ends and Befriending Initiative that Kevin brought to us has proved to be an excellent extension to our charity. Preventing homelessness is key and to this point a lot of money for emergency needs is required. Each house is receiving extra fuel money up until March but that doesn’t cover everything.
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We receive calls from many organisations during the Council’s non-working hours and continue to give emergency accommodation prior to dealing with the person’s issues.
I would like to thank, as always, everyone that helps us to help others.
4. OPERATIONS REPORT
2022 has been a busy year for us. We have, as always, been working very closely with the West Berkshire Council Rough Sleeping Initiative Team and others in the Voluntary Sector and currently the homeless numbers in Newbury are in the low single figures.
Our ‘Befrienders’ help folk who are struggling with life. We have been very fortunate to be able to use Loose Ends based at the Cricket Club who provide food five days a week and chat with folk about their difficulties, with the Loose Ends Committee and staff making us very welcome. We help those newly in accommodation to cope with the everyday challenges that come with living in a property, we are a conduit to get people the assistance they require.
During our work we have become very aware of the shortage of mental health and social service support for those with difficulties, which is the vast majority of those people we work with.
The cost-of-living crisis has hit hard and we have been supporting these people in their emergencies with vouchers via Charis, which is an organisation that does vouchers via text or email which can only be spent on utilities or food.
As a result of the generosity of our supporters, we provided 58 Christmas hampers, with meat products supplied by donations from companies, to individuals on the poverty line.
Our work continues with those in our move-on houses. The flat we have been renting has been sold and hence we will now have only two houses, moving those in the flat into other appropriate accommodation.
It is hard work and our phones are on 7 days a week from 7am to 11pm; however, it is so worthwhile when we see how the clients blossom with support and move onwards and upwards.
None of this would be possible without the wonderful support we have from the local community and companies, raising and donating funds to enable us to continue our work.
5. TREASURER’S REPORT
The treasurer gave her report on the end of year accounts (i.e. FY November 21 to Oct 22). Income was £2,393.51 over expenditure, with over £80,000 being spent on supporting those newly in accommodation, those on the poverty line and maintaining the move on houses in support of 7 clients. All those involved in the Charity are volunteers and there are no paid employees.
A query was raised with regard to the – against ‘donations’ – this was believed to be the fee that Greenham Common Trust charge on the monies donated.
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QUESTIONS
A number of questions/suggestions were taken from the floor with regard to the ongoing work of West Berkshire Homeless:
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a) Father Peter suggested publicising our budget for this year and what our plans are going forward. This would be a basis to know what people are supporting and letting them know what we need so we can do even more.
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b) Lorraine North brought up the subject of the shortage of mental health support – it was agreed that we should look at all the services available in the area – it was noted that WBH already work with CRISIS, CAMHS, Eight Bells and Talking Therapies.
The meeting finished at 8.34pm.
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West Berkshire Homeless West Berkshire Homeless
Financial Activities Balance Sheet
November 2021 - October 2022 As of October 31, 2022
Total Total
Nov 2021 - Nov 2020 -
Oct 2022 Oct 2021 (PY) Change % Change Fixed Asset
Income Total Fixed Asset
Grants - Direct 19,611.25 15,333.75 4,277.50 27.90% Cash at bank and in hand
Non Profit Income 41,977.96 66,982.10 -25,004.14 -37.33% Cash on hand 54,673.57
refund 0.00 0.00 petty cash 0.00
Rent recieved 20,390.00 16,270.00 4,120.00 25.32% Total Cash at bank and in hand £ 54,673.57
Donations 525.30 525.30
Uncategorised Income 0.00 0.00 Net current assets £ 54,673.57
Total Income £ 82,504.51 £ 98,585.85 -£ 16,081.34 -16.31% Net current assets (liabilities) £ 54,673.57
Total assets less current
Total £ 82,504.51 £ 98,585.85 -£ 16,081.34 -16.31% liabilities £ 54,673.57
Expenditures Total net assets (liabilities) £ 54,673.57
bank fees 40.00 -40.00 -100.00% Charity funds
council tax 4,388.46 3,037.26 1,351.20 44.49% Opening Balance Equity 10,300.83
donations -60.00 60.00 100.00% Retained Earnings 43,305.30
emergency accomodation 994.59 6,587.71 -5,593.12 -84.90% Surplus/(Deficit) 1,067.44
Facilities and Equipment 561.00 561.00 Total Charity funds £ 54,673.57
Facilities and Equipment-Property Insurance 905.26 905.26
Operations 15.00 15.00 Bank statement @ 31 Oct 2022 54673.57
Operations-Books, Subscriptions, Reference 91.96 360.00 -268.04 -74.46%
Operations-Postage, Mailing Service 14.50 -14.50 -100.00%
Operations-Printing and Copying 20.00 -20.00 -100.00%
Operations-Telephone, Telecommunications 384.85 852.97 -468.12 -54.88%
Poverty Fund 13,972.28 11,763.40 2,208.88 18.78%
purchases 425.13 4,927.13 -4,502.00 -91.37%
Rent paid 45,726.21 46,801.31 -1,075.10 -2.30%
Repair and maintenance 800.99 477.40 323.59 67.78%
training 1,200.00 480.00 720.00 150.00%
travel 3,082.27 716.55 2,365.72 330.15%
Uncategorised Expenditure 0.00 0.00
utilities 7,200.36 4,706.92 2,493.44 52.97%
website costs 362.64 143.86 218.78 152.08%
Total Expenditures £ 80,111.00 £ 80,869.01 -£ 758.01 -0.94%
Net Operating Income £ 2,393.51 £ 17,716.84 -£ 15,323.33 -86.49%
Other Expenditures
Awards and Grants 842.00 637.20 204.80 32.14%
Contract Services-Fundraising Fees 40.00 40.00
Good exchange fees 444.07 410.33 33.74 8.22%
Total Other Expenditures £ 1,326.07 £ 1,047.53 £ 278.54 26.59%
Net Other Income -£ 1,326.07 -£ 1,047.53 -£ 278.54 -26.59%
Net Income/(Expenditure) £ 1,067.44 £ 16,669.31 -£ 15,601.87 -93.60%
Reviewed by Dave Carter ACMA/CGMA 1/2/2022
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I, David Carter confirm I have carried out an Independent review of the the above FinanciaI Statement to 31st October 2022 and confirm the statement is a true representation of the Financial affairs of West Berkshire Homeless Charity.
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