**Charity number: 1177687**
## **SAFE STEPS**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **CONTENTS**
||Page|
|---|---|
|**Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers**|1|
|**Trustees' report**|2 - 12|
|**Independent auditors' report on the financial statements**|13 - 16|
|**Statement of financial activities**|17|
|**Balance sheet**|18|
|**Statement of cash flows**|19|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|20 - 37|
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
|**Trustees**|M Aydeniz (appointed 26 July 2023)|
|---|---|
||E Daughters|
||L Parks, Treasurer|
||L Dye, Chair (appointed 29 March 2023)|
||L Hobbs (resigned 27 March 2024)|
||S Kilbey|
||K Imber (appointed 27 September 2023)|
|**Charity registered**
**number**
1177687
**Principal office**
4 West Road
Westcliff-on-Sea
Essex
SS0 9DA
**Contact Details**
enquiries@safesteps.org
www.safesteps.org
**Chief executive officer**
Sarah Conlon
**Finance manager**
Angela Hickman
**Independent auditors**
Venthams
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
Millhouse
32 - 38 East Street
Rochford
Essex
SS4 1DB
**Bankers**
Charities Aid Foundation
25 Kings Hill Avenue
West Malling
ME19 4JQ
**Solicitors**
Paul Robinson Solicitors
Old Bank
470-474 London Road
Westcliff-on-Sea
Essex
SS0 9LD||
Page 1
**SAFE STEPS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period 01 October 2022 – 30 September 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102 effective 01 January 2019).
## **FROM OUR CHAIR**
I knew when joining the board of trustees that Safe Steps had a long and rich history of providing excellent support to victims and families suffering from domestic abuse. Over the last year I have been hugely impressed by our dedicated and skilled staff who continue to be a driving force, positively responding to increasing demand and changing landscapes while strengthening partnerships to enhance service delivery and positive outcomes for all.
I assumed the role of chair of the board of trustees in the spring of 2023 and wish to thank departing chair, Caroline Venables for her leadership and valued contribution, improving board structures and governance. I have continued to work with fellow trustees to further strengthen governance undertaking a far-reaching selfassessment to ensure Safe Steps is a strong and sustainable organisation. We have also contributed to the completion of the 3 year strategy, which sets out our vision and objectives for the future.
I am also immensely proud to advise that Safe Steps have this year achieved Safe Lives Leading Lights accreditation. This recognises and validates the work our organisation does, together with the efforts of all our fantastic staff who keep the safety of victims and families at the heart of service provision every day.
Lastly, I wish to thank all donors and funders; without this support our vital work would not be possible. Together with thanking our CEO Sarah Conlon and all those who continue to drive the success and continued improvement of Safe Steps in our local community.
## Lesley Dye
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**SAFE STEPS**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Objectives and activities**
## **a. Policies and objectives**
Safe Steps are here to provide support to survivors, those at risk of, domestic abuse in all its forms to be and feel safer. We aim to ensure that everyone who comes to us is supported to be and feel safer.
The charity’s objectives are:
Relieve the needs of victims of domestic abuse from the South East Region of England by aiding provision on temporary accommodation, items, services or facilities and by any other means at the Trustees discretion.
To preserve and protect the mental and physical health of adults and children in necessitous circumstances in the South East Region of England.
To educate the public in the South East Region of England in the causes and effects of domestic abuse and the prevention thereof, including by understanding or contributing to research and to publish the useful results of such research.
We continue to be a provider that is able to support survivors of domestic abuse throughout their journey. From our prevention and awareness work in schools, to supporting those in crisis with our IDVA teams, to accommodating those with an emergency need in our refuge, to our bespoke recovery programmes and counselling. We continue to be able to provide holistic support, at any point in someone’s journey, a journey that is seamless and not fragmented. We understand survivors have differing needs and experiences, but once a survivor begins with us, they can remain until our practical and emotional support is no longer needed.
## **Our Vision, Mission and Values**
**Our Vision** For a brighter future free from domestic abuse
**Our Mission** Working with and for survivors, and those at risk of, domestic abuse in all its forms to be and feel safer. Together with our partners we will increase awareness of domestic abuse and advocate for change.
## **Our Values**
**Individuality** – _We recognise and value difference. Placing client needs at the centre of all we do. We celebrate that people are individuals, appreciate the value of diversity and recognise some sections of community need different interventions to achieve equality._
**Integrity** – _We understand the importance of an atmosphere of openness and honesty throughout Safe Steps that promotes confidence of our clients, colleagues, stakeholders, funders and regulators._
**Excellence** - _We review and improve our service delivery to ensure we remain a centre for excellence, going above and beyond, to support survivors of domestic abuse._
**Empowering** – _Empowering survivors to drive positive change. Listening to survivors and being led by their experiences and insight. Empowering staff to achieve and reach their full potential. We will work to empower staff talent and initiative._
**Responsive** – _We strive to be responsive to survivors needs applying a trauma informed response to all we do. We are responsive to changing service demands and a changing landscape, by being an organisation that is sustainable and scalable._
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Objectives and activities (continued)**
## **b. Strategic Plan 2023 - 26**
In this year we launched our new strategy. One in which we defined progress in five key areas:
## **Aim 1: Our People**
To achieve a culture across all services that supports and enables a skilled workforce that is resourced, informed and responsive.
## **Aim 2: Our Clients**
The people we serve will experience an approach that is trauma informed, respectful of their individual needs and understanding of intersectionality in a trusting safe environment.
## **Aim 3: Our Services**
Develop existing and new services in response to identified unmet support needs of survivors experiencing, or at risk of, domestic abuse.
## **Aim 4: Our Organisation**
To build a sustainable and scalable organisation that considers our current and longer term needs. Developing and diversifying our different revenues that enable us to grow our resources so we can deliver quality services, meet our contractual and legislative obligation, now and in the future.
## **Aim 5: Our Partnerships**
To work collaboratively, communicate and engage with a range of strategic and operational partners to build and strengthen our performance and influence.
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**SAFE STEPS**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Objectives and activities (continued)**
## **c. A Review of Activities and achievements directed by our strategic aims**
## **Aim 1: Our People**
A skilled, passionate and sustainable workforce is vital to our success. Investing in our staff is essential for our workforce to be in the best possible position to support survivors of domestic abuse. Our training budget currently sits at 3% of our staffing costs with 74% of frontline practitioners holding or working towards a professional qualification and a further 12% ready to begin. As well as professional external trainers, we recognise the extensive skillset we have within our Management Team and embarked on a model of bitesize learning, refresher sessions and opportunities for newer staff to learn from experienced. We call these our ‘lunch & learn’ sessions and are held monthly. The Leading Lights accreditation recognised our staff training as an area of excellence - ‘ **All staff have access to the range of training opportunities available; specialist training courses, or skills development are identified by staff/practice themes and accessed accordingly. This is a strong category of assessment for Safe Steps with numerous strengths'.**
All staff in the DA sector are increasingly asked to work harder, throughout the pandemic and since incidences of DA being reported are increasing and we are astounded by our staffs commitment this year. Demonstrating our values of ‘Excellence’ and ‘Responsive’ they have met changing service demands as well as the requirements to meet Leading Lights Accreditation. We aim to ensure we take care of our staff, as our greatest asset, so promotion of well-being and communication is central to all we do.
Since the pandemic, the emerging work model across all industries, is for hybrid working. A blend of face to face work, as well as working remotely using Zoom, Teams and telephone. Our IT, telecoms and digital solutions supports this model of working and assists us with time and resources efficiencies.
## **Aim 2: Our Clients**
We are committed to seeking out and listening to feedback about service delivery from our clients, and to modifying our model, processes and practice accordingly. We have a range of ways of including the voices of those that use our services in our work to ensure co-creation is at the heart of what we do. We are grateful to our survivor voices, young and adult, and for the feedback given. All is shared with our Board quarterly with a full analysis each year.
When clients face an intersection of challenges such as poverty, disability, mental health issues, addiction, homelessness, immigration status, language barrier then their vulnerability can be significantly increased. This year 4.8% of the clients we supported told us they were from the LGBTQ+ community, 18.8% were from black or minoritised communities, 46% told us they had a mental health need, 16% told us they had a physical health support need, 4.8% said they has issues with alcohol, 4.9% said their drug use was problematic, 2% had No Recourse to Public Funds. 3.3% required the assistance from an interpreter for which we continue to contract the services of ClearVoice. Each year our Board are provided with a detailed report outlining the Special and Protected Characteristics of our services users with comparisons against partner agencies and local demographics to support us in identifying gaps in our service provision or performance.
This year we have further invested in specialist training for our whole organisation on Housing and Homelessness Law, Impact of DA on BME Communities, Honour Based Abuse and Forced Marriage.
We continued our work to ensuring we are a fully Trauma Informed Organisation. By embarking on an accreditation with Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Trauma Alliance we successfully passed the first assessment this year and will be submitting our second assessment in March 2024. We hope to achieve this quality mark in 2024.
Our work in the community brings us closer to the communities we are here to serve. It is vital that we increase our visibility and make ourselves more accessible for all. By increasing the number of talks to faith organisations, involvement in Southend Summer and Winter Pride, Southend’s Wellbeing Festival and many other In Harmony events we have been proactive this year in taking ourselves and our services out to Southend’s rich and varied communities. This year we reached over 5000 people at community events.
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Objectives and activities (continued)**
## **Aim 3: Our Services**
**This year we achieved Safe Lives Leading Lights Accreditation** which we hold now until 2026. This is a coveted quality mark wished for by many DA organisation with many unable to achieve. Leading Lights, in their final report, described us as ‘ **Safe Steps is a progressive and client focused service that wraps their provision and support around their client’s needs. They describe themselves as a service with ‘no wrong door’ for access and this was evident throughout the completed review** .’
This year our Helpline received 6341 referrals, an increase of 37.5% from the previous year. The increase was in part due to changes in Essex Police processes. Last year referrals from Police accounted for 5.5% of referrals whereas this year it rose to 55%. COMPASS again received the highest proportion of referrals from Southend area, followed by Colchester and Chelmsford.
Safe Steps serve the people of Southend who are assessed to be at high risk of significant harm through our trained and skilled High Risk IDVAs. This service is funded by Essex County Council and the PFCC under the EIDAS contract.
Those in need who are not assessed as high risk are supported by our team of skilled Community IDVAs. This is a client centred, solution focused model of support for those at risk, in crisis but also those in recovery. This year we worked directly with 762 survivors across our adult services. These services are funded though Southend City Council, Ministry of Justice and A Better Start Southend.
Our impact: 87% of parents told us they had a better understanding the impact of DA had on their children, 75% agreed their ability to parent had been impacted, 84% told us they felt safer, 61% said they could feel a reduction in their feelings of anxiety and 62% said they felt optimistic about the future.
This year Safe Steps made further investments into our Group and Recovery Services, responding to feedback and survivor voices, we introduced new programmes, altered some of the content of our existing and varied our delivery models to additionally include evenings, online and digital.
Safe Steps vision is to achieve a brighter future free from domestic abuse and for our community, that needs to start with the youngest and often most vulnerable people. We have a range of services for children and young people affected by domestic abuse. The team are skilled, qualified and competent in a range of evidence based practices using an open referral approach which allows them to assess and determine the pathway of support with the child and non-abusing parent. Our dedicated Early Years IDVAs working with families who are pregnant and/or have an under 5 years in the home, our Youth IDVAs supporting survivors aged 13-19 years and our Fledglings Child & Family Service continued to provide vital support to children and their non-abusing parents. 92% of the children we worked with this year told us they directly witnessed domestic abuse. Safe Steps have always been committed to, and vehemently believe, that ‘ **children are not passive witnesse** s’. This year Safe Steps provided direct casework to 336 children and young people and delivered prevention and awareness sessions to a further 3400 young people. This work is funded by Southend City Council, The National Lottery Community Fund and A Better Start Southend.
Our impact: 70% told us they had improved social relationships, 74% said their confidence had improved, 84% said they knew where to get help, 84% said they knew more about respectful relationships and 86% told us they felt safer after working with us.
In partnership with South Essex Homes we have supported 22 families in safe accommodation. This service is commissioned by Southend City Council and DLUHC under the new statutory duties set our in the DA Act 21. We introduced a Housing IDVA into Southend City Council this year, it is a pilot project that forms part of the wider approach to support victims of domestic abuse who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Housing IDVA acts as a conduit between Southend Housing Team and Safe Steps to improve housing outcomes for victims.
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Objectives and activities (continued)**
## **Aim 4: Our Organisation**
Strong governance is essential to the success of Safe Steps. With an active and highly skilled Trustee Board we developed sub-committees into our governance structure. With our ongoing commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, our Safeguarding Sub Committee ensures we, as an organisation, are safeguarding vulnerable people as effectively and as competently at all levels.
Safe Steps continued its commitment to maintain our commissioned services whilst additionally forward planning to develop other sources of income. In this year 17% of our funding was from non-statutory sources. Reliance on statutory income is recognised as a risk by the Board of Trustees.
We continued to build on our culture of openness and integrity, operating as a learning organisation. Our collaborative approach to identify, respond to and to manage risks more effectively by continually improving is achieved by effective staff training, supervision and management, reflective practice and being held accountable by our Board of Trustees.
This year Safe Steps were recognised for our work and were awarded a **BBC Essex Make A Difference Award** . We were pleased to be recognised for the valuable work we do.
## **Aim 5: Our Partnerships**
Our partnerships are centred around improving the safety and wellbeing of survivors. By identifying new partnerships and developing existing ones we are able to provide the most effective support, close service gaps, inform local policy and improve all our learning. Safe Lives Leading Lights noted in their assessment of Safe Steps ‘ **Multiagency working is at the heart of the Safe Steps service** . Staff interviews gave plenty of examples of working in collaboration with key agencies to achieve safety and support for their clients’.
Safe Steps have continued to work in partnership with our consortium partners as EViE (Ending Violence in Essex) with Changing Pathways and Next Chapter, this being our 5th year working collaboratively. The EViE Partnership has delivered a consistent, county-wide IDVA and Community service for those at risk of, domestic abuse in all its forms to be and feel safer.
With thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund we have been able to continue our work with young people impacted by domestic abuse. Break The Cycle has been a consistent support service within Southend Schools for 7 years, this year the Young Persons IDVAs have continued to provide 1:1 support for young people at risk, have delivered training and workshops to 1300 young people and a further 2100 as part of the ‘Prince Charming’ theatre production.
A Better Start Southend have been a key partner again this year. We were commissioned by them to provide a dedicated IDVA service for families where there is pregnancy and/or a child under the age of 5 years. Working collaboratively we have provided a dedicated IDVA service, training, an awareness and recovery programme, supported programmes within Southend’s Childrens Centres and a short film for health visitors.
Safe Steps have been a training organisation since its inception. By sharing our knowledge and best practice with our partners, professionals and the community we are able to increase awareness, inform of the impact and promote the pathways to support. Safe Steps are valued locally as knowledge leaders. This year we have trained: Essex Police, Southend housing staff, our housing partners, schools, health staff and have spoken at a wider range of events. Over 300 professionals have benefitted from our training with excellent evaluations across the board.
‘ _Very thorough with a good balance between providing information as well as building on our existing ideas/understanding’ – Secondary school professional learner._
‘ _Thank you for a really well presented, interactive and informative day. I feel so much better equipped to know the signs to spot of DA and next steps’ – Southend housing professional learner._
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Objectives and activities (continued)**
‘ _We love the training you do and have very positive feedback from our police students. Your content is up to date and relevant to their specialist DA roles. The trainers are personable in their approach and delivery and their case studies enlightening and helpful’ – Essex Police Training College_
## **d. Delivering public benefit**
Trustees can confirm that they have complied with the duty of Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 and have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
The main activities of the charity are described above. The activities are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit. Further information regarding the charities achievements is provided in the Trustees report.
## **e. Volunteers**
The charity is committed to recruiting, training and retaining more volunteers from the community in the following year by identifying appropriate opportunities for volunteers to become involved in.
## **‘BY AND FOR’**
Safe Steps current position is in part due to the vision of local survivors of domestic abuse who set up Southend’s first women’s refuge, later becoming Southend Women’s Aid in 1976. Our focus as an organisation that began as, and remains committed to, being a ‘ **by and for** ’ service for those affected by domestic abuse continues to help as many people as possible whilst contributing to Southend and Essex’s understanding of the complex nature of domestic abuse.
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Achievements and performance**
## **Financial review**
## **a. Principle funding sources**
The charity is principally funded by commissioned contracts, and charitable grant making trusts and lotteries. The majority of this funding is restricted for projects providing measurable outcomes.
## **b. Investment policy and objectives**
The Trust Deed authorises the Trustees to make and hold investments using the general funds of the charity. The Trustees have the power to invest in any way that is appropriate and in the interests of the charity and its service users.
The charity ensures that all funds held in the UK bank accounts are held at balances within government assured levels.
## **c. Reserves Policy**
The Trustees have a reserves policy which states that the charity will hold reserves equal to 3 months of unrestricted expenditure plus £20k for cancelled contracts to cover expected costs in the event of having to close the charity.
The Trustees are aware that they are not currently meeting this policy due to the continuation of large restricted contracts in the year. As a result, the Trustees have addressed the need to increase the level of reserves as high priority within the three year strategic plan.
## **d. Future Plans**
We will continue to deliver excellent accredited services as part of our core contracts with Southend City Council, Essex County Council and the PFCC.
We will continue to work collaboratively with the people we serve, our staff and our partners to deliver on our strategic aims.
We will develop our Childrens and Young Peoples Services, broadening the reach and the range of the services we provide. By working collaboratively with our EViE Partners we will ensure there is a consistent county-wide provision for families, children and young people at risk of domestic abuse.
Towards the end of this year, Safe Steps were commissioned to deliver on an innovative model of support, a Flexible Fund. We know finances and the increasing cost of living crisis has created an additional layer of burden and barrier for the survivors we all support. We know necessary items to maintain a basic standard of living have become increasingly hard for survivors to afford and the cost of solutions to make, and keep, them safe such as emergency travel, emergency accommodation, phones impossible to obtain. It is the intention of ECC that this new Flexible Funding model will close those gaps.
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**SAFE STEPS**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **a. Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
## **b. Recruitment and appointment of Trustees**
As set out in the Constitution, The Chair of Trustees is nominated by her fellow Trustees. New Trustees are interviewed by a panel of existing Trustees to assess suitability for the charity.
## **c. Organisational structure**
The day-to-day operations of the charity are delegated to the Chief Executive Sarah Conlon, from December 2020 as Interim CEO and November 2021 as CEO. The Chief Executive appoints appropriate staff to ensure services and projects are delivered to a high standard.
Charity Management:
Chief Executive Officer - Sarah Conlon Finance Manager - Angela Hickman Director of Services - Julia Doughty Quality and Standards Manager - Rebecca Hathaway
## **d. Induction and training of new Trustees**
The Trustees maintain a good working knowledge of charity law and best practice by attending charity courses run by outside providers. New Trustees are supplied with an induction folder containing copies of the Constitution, current annual report, business plan and leaflets of guidance from the Charity Commission in order to perform their role diligently.
## **e. Related parties**
Safe Steps have relationships with related parties and other charity and organisations with which it co-operates in the pursuit of its charitable objectives.
Notable relationships exist with Essex Police, MARAC, Southend Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB), Essex County Council, Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner and more locally Southend City Council. Direct partnership working with The Next Chapter and Changing Pathways as part of the EVIE Partnership. Working with our statutory partners such as Southend, Essex and Thurrock Childrens Social Care and Adult Social Care, Education and Health providers to safeguard clients and their families. We have close working relationship with our voluntary sector partners; SAVS, HARP, ABSS and SEAS amongst many others who assist us in providing the best possible outcome for clients.
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Risk Management**
The Trustees confirm they regularly review the Risk Register and are satisfied systems are in place to manage and mitigate the risks identified. The Trustees consider the main risks to the Charity currently are;
Reserves: As we remain a relatively new Charity the Board have agreed that increasing the reserves held by Safe Steps is a priority.
Income generation: The contracts currently held with Essex County Council, Southend City Council and Police Fire and Crime Commissioner to provide a degree of certainty. The additional grants we are in receipt of mean we can expand on our core contract duties to meet the needs of survivors within the area. We will continue to seek to secure additional funding to meet the ‘gaps’ in local provision and areas of innovative work.
## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.
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, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the CIO Association. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **Disclosure of information to auditors**
Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees' report is approved has confirmed that:
- so far as that Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditors are unaware, and
- that Trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditors are aware of that information.
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **Auditors**
The auditors, Venthams, have indicated their willingness to continue in office. The designated Trustees will propose a motion reappointing the auditors at a meeting of the Trustees.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
**L Dye** Chair
Date: 26 June 2024
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF SAFE STEPS**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Safe Steps (the 'charity') for the year ended 30 September 2023 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet, the Statement of cash flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has been withdrawn.
This has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.
## In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 30 September 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
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**SAFE STEPS**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF SAFE STEPS (CONTINUED)**
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- the information given in the Trustees' report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
- sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF SAFE STEPS (CONTINUED)**
## **Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors' report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
Based on our discussions with the charity’s management and the Trustees, we identified that the following laws and regulations are significant to the entity:
• Those laws and regulations considered to have a direct effect on the financial statements include UK financial reporting standards and Charity Law.
• Those laws and regulations for which non-compliance may be fundamental to the operating aspects of the charity and therefore may have a material effect on the financial statements include compliance with the charitable objectives, public benefit, fundraising regulations, safeguarding and health and safety legislation.
These matters were discussed amongst the engagement team at the planning stage and the team remained alert to non-compliance throughout the audit.
Audit procedures undertaken in response to the potential risks relating to irregularities (which include fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations) comprised of: enquiries of management and the Trustees as to whether the entity complies with such laws and regulations; enquiries with the same concerning any actual or potential litigation or claims; inspection of relevant key risk assessments and inspection reports; review of Member meeting minutes; testing the appropriateness of journal entries; and the performance of analytical review to identify unexpected movements in account balances which may be indicative of fraud.
No instances of material non-compliance were identified. However, the likelihood of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is limited by the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the entity’s controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error. As explained above, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected, even though the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK).
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' report.
Page 15
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF SAFE STEPS (CONTINUED)**
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and its trustees, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Venthams**
Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Millhouse 32 - 38 East Street Rochford Essex SS4 1DB 1 July 2024
Venthams are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
Page 16
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Investments
6
Other income
7
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
8
**Total expenditure**
**Net income**
Transfers between funds
16
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried forward**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**500**
**993,504**
**548**
**-**
**-**
**994,552**
**902,434**
**902,434**
**92,118**
**(10,027)**
**82,091**
**437,033**
**82,091**
**519,124**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**13,782**
**64,200**
**180**
**2,287**
**180**
**80,629**
**80,341**
**80,341**
**288**
**10,027**
**10,315**
**75,223**
**10,315**
**85,538**|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**14,282**
**1,057,704**
**728**
**2,287**
**180**
**1,075,181**
**982,775**
**982,775**
**92,406**
**-**
**92,406**
**512,256**
**92,406**
**604,662**|_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_13,406_
_983,891_
_1,152_
_532_
_140_
_999,121_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_813,639_
_813,639_|
|||||_185,482_
_-_
_185,482_|
|||||_326,774_
_185,482_
_512,256_|
Page 17
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
13
**Current assets**
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
15
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets**
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
16
Unrestricted funds
16
**Total funds**|**168,099**
**479,859**
**647,958**
**(61,329)**|**2023**
**£**
**18,033**
**18,033**
**586,629**
**604,662**
**604,662**
**519,124**
**85,538**
**604,662**|_185,939_
_358,831_
_544,770_
_(51,776)_|_2022_
_£_
_19,262_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_19,262_
_492,994_|
|||||_512,256_|
|||||_512,256_|
|||||_437,033_
_75,223_|
|||||_512,256_|
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
**L Dye** Chairperson
Date: 26 June 2024
Page 18
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
|**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash used in operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
**Net cash used in investing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**|**2023**
**£**
**125,940**
**(8,327)**
**(8,327)**
**117,613**
**356,369**
**473,982**|_2022_
_£_
_44,379_
_(5,756)_
**(5,756)**
**38,623**
_317,746_
_356,369_|
|---|---|---|
Page 19
**SAFE STEPS**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **1. General information**
Safe Steps was registered in England and Wales on 26 March 2018 under registration number 1177687. It is constituted under a CIO Association, amended 17 April 2019 and 14 October 2021.
The Charity's website address is: https://www.safesteps.org.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the 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) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Safe Steps meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
## **2.2 Income**
All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.
Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service.
## **2.3 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
Page 20
**SAFE STEPS**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.4 Interest receivable**
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.
## **2.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, on a reducing balance basis.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
|Fixtures and fittings|-|25% reducing balance|
|---|---|---|
|Office equipment|-|25% reducing balance|
## **2.6 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **2.7 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **2.8 Liabilities and provisions**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
## **2.9 Financial instruments**
The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2.10 Pensions**
The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Charity to the fund in respect of the year.
Page 21
**SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.11 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.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
## **3. Income from donations and legacies**
|Donations
Gift aid
Donations
Gift aid|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
500
13,074
-
708
500
13,782
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_13,000_
_406_
_13,406_|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**13,574**
**708**
**14,282**|
|---|---|---|
|||_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_13,000_
_406_
_13,406_|
Page 22
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **4. Income from charitable activities**
|Grants
Commissioning income
Training fees
Grants
Commisioning income
Training fees|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
321,442
55,330
672,062
-
-
8,870
993,504
64,200
_Restricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_£_
_381,265_
_49,000_
_551,656_
_-_
_-_
_1,970_
_932,921_
_50,970_|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**376,772**
**672,062**
**8,870**
**1,057,704**|
|---|---|---|
|||_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_430,265_
_551,656_
_1,970_
_983,891_|
## **5. Income from other trading activities**
## **Income from fundraising events**
|Fundraising
Fundraising|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
548
180
_Restricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_£_
_37_
_1,115_|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**728**|
|---|---|---|
|||_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_1,152_|
Page 23
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **6. Investment income**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
Interest receivable
2,287
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
Interest receivable
_532_|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**2,287**|
|---|---|
||_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_532_|
## **7. Other incoming resources**
|Rental income
Rental income|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
180
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_140_|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**180**|
|---|---|---|
|||_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_140_|
Page 24
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **8. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities**
## **Summary by fund type**
|Community support services
Community support services|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
902,434
80,341
_Restricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_£_
_793,408_
_20,231_|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
**982,775**|
|---|---|---|
|||_Total_
_2022_
_£_
_813,639_|
## **9. Analysis of expenditure by activities**
|Community support services
Community support services|**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**2023**
**£**
965,266
_Activities_
_undertaken_
_directly_
_2022_
_£_
_800,815_|**Support**
**costs**
**2023**
**£**
17,509
_Support_
_costs_
_2022_
_£_
_12,824_|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**982,775**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_813,639_|
Page 25
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **9. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of direct costs**
|Staff costs
Rent and venue hire
Insurance
Light and heat
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Staff training and welfare
Travel and motor
Recruitment and redundancy
Project costs
Premises, water and security costs
Subscriptions
Repairs, renewals and cleaning
Sundries and refreshments
Legal and professional
IT and computer expenses|**Community**
**support**
**services**
**2023**
**£**
801,725
22,287
3,923
4,337
10,558
13,836
20,788
7,682
857
9,898
13,796
856
1,237
4,444
20,721
28,321
965,266|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**801,725**
**22,287**
**3,923**
**4,337**
**10,558**
**13,836**
**20,788**
**7,682**
**857**
**9,898**
**13,796**
**856**
**1,237**
**4,444**
**20,721**
**28,321**
**965,266**|
|---|---|---|
Page 26
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **9. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of direct costs (continued)**
|Staff costs
Rent and venue hire
Insurance
Light and heat
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Staff training and welfare
Travel and motor
Recruitment and redundancy
Project costs
Premises, water and security costs
Subscriptions
Sundries and refreshments
Legal and professional
IT and computer expenses
**Analysis of support costs**|_Community_
_support_
_services_
_2022_
_£_
_659,131_
_20,393_
_3,704_
_4,204_
_9,575_
_7,031_
_25,016_
_3,261_
_3,616_
_10,833_
_9,547_
_429_
_2,007_
_17,166_
_24,902_
_800,815_|_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_659,131_
_20,393_
_3,704_
_4,204_
_9,575_
_7,031_
_25,016_
_3,261_
_3,616_
_10,833_
_9,547_
_429_
_2,007_
_17,166_
_24,902_
_800,815_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|Bank and finance charges
Depreciation
Governance costs|**Community**
**support**
**services**
**2023**
**£**
540
9,487
7,482
17,509|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**540**
**9,487**
**7,482**
**17,509**|
|---|---|---|
Page 27
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **9. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of support costs (continued)**
|Bank and finance charges
Depreciation
Governance costs|_Community_
_support_
_services_
_2022_
_£_
_618_
_8,883_
_3,323_
_12,824_|_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_618_
_8,883_
_3,323_
_12,824_|
|---|---|---|
## **10. Auditors' remuneration**
||**2023**|_2022_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|Fees payable to the Charity's auditor for the audit of the Charity's annual|||
|accounts|**6,540**|_2,460_|
|Fees payable to the Charity's auditor in respect of:|||
|Payroll services|**942**|_863_|
## **11. Staff costs**
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|**2023**
**£**
**731,752**
**56,060**
**13,913**
**801,725**|_2022_
_£_
_598,861_
_47,772_
_12,498_|
|---|---|---|
|||_659,131_|
Page 28
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **11. Staff costs (continued)**
The average number of persons employed by the Charity during the year was as follows:
|Management
Administration
Service delivery|**2023**
**No.**
**2**
**2**
**27**
**31**|_2022_
_No._
_2_
_2_
_22_|
|---|---|---|
|||_26_|
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.
## **12. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits _(2022 - £NIL)_ .
During the year ended 30 September 2023, no Trustee expenses have been incurred _(2022 - £NIL)_ .
Page 29
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **13. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost or valuation**
At 1 October 2022
Additions
Disposals
At 30 September 2023
**Depreciation**
At 1 October 2022
Charge for the year
On disposals
At 30 September 2023
**Net book value**
At 30 September 2023
_At 30 September 2022_
**Debtors**
**Due within one year**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**£**
**2,167**
**815**
**(80)**
**2,902**
**924**
**506**
**(12)**
**1,418**
**1,484**
_1,243_||**Office**
**equipment**
**£**
**34,979**
**7,512**
**(7,403)**
**35,088**
**16,960**
**5,635**
**(4,056)**
**18,539**
**16,549**
_18,019_
**2023**
**£**
**157,557**
**272**
**10,270**
**168,099**|**Total**
**£**
**37,146**
**8,327**
**(7,483)**
**37,990**
**17,884**
**6,141**
**(4,068)**
**19,957**
**18,033**
_19,262_
_2022_
_£_
_176,621_
_-_
_9,318_
_185,939_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
||||||
## **14. Debtors**
Page 30
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **15. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2023**
**£**
**4,724**
**15,487**
**2,703**
**38,415**
**61,329**|_2022_
_£_
_3,204_
_14,286_
_-_
_34,286_|
|---|---|---|
|||_51,776_|
Page 31
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **16. Statement of funds**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General Fund
A Better Start Southend - IDVA
**Restricted funds**
Ministry of Justice - Stalking
Essex County Council -
Compass Project
Essex Community Foundation -
Website
Southend City Council - Refuge
ECC IDVA Project
Ministry of Justice - Critical
support
Essex Community Foundation -
Counselling
Active Essex
National Lottery Community
Fund - Break the Cycle (2)
Ministry of Justice - Victim
Support Grant
Ministry of Justice - IDVA
Essex Community Foundation -
Consultation room
Essex County Council - DA
Grant Housing
Various Youth and Childrens
funds
A Better Start Southend - IDVA
Southend City Council -
Housing
Essex Youth Trust -
Counselling
Southend Emergency Fund
Client Vouchers
Other small restricted funds|**Balance at 1**
**October**
**2022**
**£**
**75,223**
**-**
**75,223**
**-**
**14,617**
**8,218**
**187,811**
**5,192**
**-**
**3,686**
**2,023**
**1,587**
**45,976**
**61,904**
**-**
**21,776**
**5,925**
**639**
**71,164**
**1,412**
**369**
**4,734**|**Income**
**£**
**25,299**
**55,330**
**80,629**
**2,500**
**182,917**
**-**
**255,078**
**36,773**
**16,000**
**-**
**-**
**93,141**
**111,304**
**91,384**
**5,740**
**17,794**
**375**
**-**
**179,500**
**-**
**-**
**2,046**|**Expenditure**
**£**
**(24,296)**
**(56,045)**
**(80,341)**
**-**
**(155,126)**
**(7,394)**
**(216,587)**
**(24,430)**
**-**
**(3,686)**
**(1,053)**
**(69,226)**
**(118,434)**
**(133,101)**
**(5,740)**
**(35,501)**
**(3,646)**
**-**
**(126,083)**
**(1,412)**
**(369)**
**(646)**|**Transfers**
**in/out**
**£**
**9,312**
**715**
**10,027**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**(1,815)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**(1,795)**
**(907)**
**-**
**(998)**
**-**
**(639)**
**(1,997)**
**-**
**-**
**(1,876)**|**Balance at**
**30**
**September**
**2023**
**£**
**85,538**
**-**
**85,538**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**2,500**
**42,408**
**824**
**226,302**
**15,720**
**16,000**
**-**
**970**
**25,502**
**37,051**
**19,280**
**-**
**3,071**
**2,654**
**-**
**122,584**
**-**
**-**
**4,258**|
Page 32
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **16. Statement of funds (continued) Statement of funds - current year (continued)**
|**Total of funds**|**Balance at 1**
**October**
**2022**
**£**
**437,033**
**512,256**|**Income**
**£**
**994,552**
**1,075,181**|**Expenditure**
**£**
**(902,434)**
**(982,775)**|**Transfers**
**in/out**
**£**
**(10,027)**
**-**|**Balance at**
**30**
**September**
**2023**
**£**
**519,124**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**604,662**|
Page 33
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **16. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General Fund
**Restricted funds**
National Lottery Community
Fund - Breaking Free
Essex County Council -
Compass Project
Essex Community Foundation -
Website
Southend City Council - Refuge
ECC IDVA Project
Co-op Community Fund
Money Saving Expert Charity
Fund
Essex Community Foundation -
Counselling
Active Essex
National Lottery Community
Fund - Break the Cycle (2)
Ministry of Justice - Victim
Support Grant
Ministry of Justice - IDVA
Essex Community Foundation -
New Rental Property Work
Essex County Council - DA
Grant Housing
Various Youth and Childrens
funds
A Better Start Southend - IDVA
Southend City Council -
Housing
Essex Youth Trust -
Counselling
Southend Emergency Fund
Client Vouchers
Other small restricted funds|_Balance at_
_1 October_
_2021_
_£_
_24,647_
_30,840_
_1,723_
_-_
_160,168_
_3,978_
_1,876_
_720_
_3,286_
_2,327_
_1,587_
_31,578_
_57,414_
_4,530_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_2,100_|_Income_
_£_
_66,163_
_10,417_
_181,796_
_9,900_
_263,958_
_16,152_
_-_
_-_
_10,000_
_-_
_64,309_
_55,652_
_111,594_
_-_
_35,588_
_5,925_
_60,880_
_89,750_
_5,000_
_7,000_
_5,037_|_Expenditure_
_£_
_(20,231)_
_(41,257)_
_(168,902)_
_(1,682)_
_(236,315)_
_(14,938)_
_-_
_(720)_
_(9,600)_
_(304)_
_(64,309)_
_(41,254)_
_(107,104)_
_(4,530)_
_(13,812)_
_-_
_(58,513)_
_(15,670)_
_(3,588)_
_(6,631)_
_(4,279)_|_Transfers_
_in/out_
_£_
_4,644_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_-_
_(1,728)_
_(2,916)_
_-_
_-_
_-_|_Balance at_
_30_
_September_
_2022_
_£_
_75,223_|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||_-_
_14,617_
_8,218_
_187,811_
_5,192_
_1,876_
_-_
_3,686_
_2,023_
_1,587_
_45,976_
_61,904_
_-_
_21,776_
_5,925_
_639_
_71,164_
_1,412_
_369_
_2,858_|
Page 34
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **16. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year (continued)**
||||||||||||_Balance at_|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||_Balance at_|||||||||_30_|
|||_1 October_|||||||_Transfers_||_September_|
|||_2021_||_Income_|||_Expenditure_||_in/out_||_2022_|
|||_£_||_£_|||_£_||_£_||_£_|
|||_302,127_||_932,958_|||_(793,408)_||_(4,644)_||_437,033_|
|||||||||||||
|**Total of funds**||_326,774_||_999,121_|||_(813,639)_||_-_||_512,256_|
|||||||||||||
|**Summary of funds**||||||||||||
|**Summary of funds - current year**||||||||||||
||||||||||||**Balance at**|
||**Balance at 1**||||||||||**30**|
|||**October**|||||||**Transfers**||**September**|
|||**2022**||**Income**||**Expenditure**|||**in/out**||**2023**|
|||**£**||**£**|||**£**||**£**||**£**|
|General funds||**75,223**||**80,629**|||**(80,341)**||**10,027**||**85,538**|
|Restricted funds||**437,033**||**994,552**|||**(902,434)**||**(10,027)**||**519,124**|
|||**512,256**||**1,075,181**|||**(982,775)**||**-**||**604,662**|
|||||||||||||
|**Summary of funds - prior year**||||||||||||
||||||||||||_Balance at_|
|||_Balance at_|||||||||_30_|
|||_1 October_|||||||_Transfers_||_September_|
|||_2021_||_Income_|||_Expenditure_||_in/out_||_2022_|
|||_£_||_£_|||_£_||_£_||_£_|
|General funds||_24,647_||_66,163_|||_(20,231)_||_4,644_||_75,223_|
|Restricted funds||_302,127_||_932,958_|||_(793,408)_||_(4,644)_||_437,033_|
|||_326,774_||_999,121_|||_(813,639)_||_-_||_512,256_|
## **17. Summary of funds**
Page 35
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **18. Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - current year**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
**Total**
**Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year**
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
**Total**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
-
18,033
519,124
128,834
-
(61,329)
519,124
85,538
_Restricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_£_
_-_
_19,262_
_487,304_
_57,466_
_(50,271)_
_(1,505)_
_437,033_
_75,223_|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
**18,033**
**647,958**
**(61,329)**
**604,662**
_Total_
_funds_
_2022_
_£_
_19,262_
_544,770_
_(51,776)_
_512,256_|
|---|---|---|
## **19. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities**
|Net income for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities)
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Decrease in creditors
**Net cash provided by operating activities**|**2023**
**£**
**92,406**
**6,141**
**18,112**
**(8,241)**
**108,418**|_2022_
_£_
_185,482_
_6,425_
_(125,945)_
_(21,583)_
_44,379_|
|---|---|---|
Page 36
## **SAFE STEPS**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023**
## **20. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
|Cash in hand
**Total cash and cash equivalents**|**2023**
**£**
**473,982**
**473,982**|_2022_
_£_
_356,369_|
|---|---|---|
|||_356,369_|
## **21. Analysis of changes in net debt**
||**At 1**||**At 30**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**October**||**September**|
||**2022**|**Cash flows**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Cash at bank and in hand|**358,831**|**121,028**|**479,859**|
## **22. Pension commitments**
The charity operates a defined contributions pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund and amounted to £13,913 (2022 - £12,498). Contributions of £2,703 (2022 - £Nil) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date.
## **23. Related party transactions**
The Charity has not entered into any related party transaction during the year, nor are there any outstanding balances owing between related parties and the Charity at 30 September 2023.
During the year key management personnel received remuneration of £52,364 (2022 - £50,425).
Page 37