2025-09-30-accounts - Open House Bedford

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Open House Bedford Trustees’ Annual Report

Year ended 30th September 2025

The trustees present their report and the unaudited accounts of the charity for the year ended 30[th] September, 2025.

Registered Charity name: Open House Bedford Charity Registration Number: 1180204 Location of Principal Office:

St Mark’s Church Community Centre

Calder Rise

Bedford

MK41 7UY

The Trustees

Mrs Morag Stewart (extended for further 3 years to October 2026) Mrs Lynne Seymour (extended for further 3 years to October 2027 Mrs Laura Farthing, {extended for further 3 years to October 2026) Revd Jennie Cappleman (extended for further 3 years to October 2026)

Mr Michael Cooper (extended for further 3 years to October 2026)

Structure, Governance and Management,

The charity was registered on 5[th] October 2018, as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and the trustees were appointed for the above terms. There have been no changes to the membership of the Trustees since the last annual report. Michael continues to be the safeguarding lead for Open House.

Objectives and Activities

The key objective of Open House Bedford:

To provide relief of sickness and the preservation of health of people with Learning Disabilities residing permanently or temporarily in Bedford Borough, by the provision of day centre facilities for learning, social engagement and recreational activities.

We do this by:

providing a range of activities and experiences which promote:

independence, dignity, self-confidence and respect for self and others
physical and mental health and wellbeing -
social interaction
providing opportunities to extend knowledge and learn new skills

The session continues to run for four hours with a break at midday for everyone to enjoy their packed lunch. The tea/coffee bar is very popular and clients enjoy choosing their drinks and snacks. The format of the session remains largely unchanged with regular activities including our ‘circle of news’, gentle exercise, physical activity, singing and musical activities.

We have an excellent group of volunteers with different skills and talents who jointly plan the activities for each session and engage with the clients. Weekly numbers have dropped slightly during the last year with an average of 15 clients and 8 carers attending each week. This is partly due to losing three regular clients who passed away during the year and a couple who have moved out of the area.

Highlights 2023-24

This year as well as focusing on the key calendar events of Easter, Harvest, Christmas and the patron saint days we introduced a few new themes. We had a focus on birds during Big Garden Birdwatch in January. We looked at the common birds that visit our gardens and how to identify them. We also celebrated World Bee Day in May by talking about the importance of bees as pollinators and understanding why people are encouraged to plant bee friendly plants in their garden and why local councils have started planting wildflower areas. In June we celebrated World Music Day and enjoyed singing and playing the musical instruments as well as learning about the different kinds of instrument. Our local line dancing group came back to demonstrate a few dances and at the end clients were encouraged to try out a few easy routines. This year we tried pottery painting for the first time. Clients had the choice of painting a tile or a coaster. The pottery was then taken away to be fired and glazed and was returned three weeks later. Everyone really enjoyed this activity and we plan to repeat it next year.

The new display boards have been well used, with clients contributing to the themed displays we have had throughout the year.

We held a Macmillan coffee morning in October where the group raised £76.56 from a cake sale and a raffle.

On our last session in December, we had our annual Christmas party where we played games, joined together in singing Christmas carols accompanied by our local vicar on his guitar and had a visit from Father Christmas who had presents for everyone.

Financial Review

The unaudited financial statements show excess of expenditure over income for the year totalling £-3,124.44. The charity holds funds of £19,691.68. Of this, £5,150.80 is restricted funds for purchasing specific items to support the club and £14,540.88 unrestricted funds to support day to day running costs and activities. £549.66 has been spent on our insurance premium, website, and other essential expenditure. We did not do any fundraising this year as the money we raised last year had put us in a much stronger financial position.

Future Plans

We continue to run the club with volunteers and this is working very well. However, during holiday periods we would benefit from having a few extra people to call on, so recruiting new volunteers continues to be a priority.

Charity Registration Number 1180204 Open House Bodford Unauditod Financial Statements Year Endlng September 2025

Open House Bedfryd Balance Sheet for year endlw 3010912025 202412025 202312024 Current Assets Cash in Hand CAF Bank Account 249.64 19,442.04 19.691.68 310.35 22,505.77 22,816.12 Debtors,Loans and ppayrnents Creditors and provisions 19.691.68 22.816.12 Represented bv Brought forward from previous year Exces5 of Expenditure over Income 22.816.12 -3,124.44 19.691.68 21.120.59 1.695.53 22,816.12 Funds of the Charlty Restricted Funds Unre5trfcted Fund5 Totsl Charity Funds 5,150.80 14.540.88 19.691.68 6,744.42 16.071.70 22,816.12 Independent Examiners Report I have examined the books of the Charity and agree thatthe Income and Expenditure Account fortheyear and the Balance Sheet presented above grve a true and fair representation of the financial position Si8n Mr J Williams Dated d £.11.4L(. Open House Bedford is a regtstered chartty number 1180204

Open House 8edlord Income and Expefidire Account for year ending 3010912025 202412025 202312024 Income Day Centre Donations 1,39).40 1,427.37 other Donations 215.35 100.oo Grants {11 7.187.06 Other income 41.25 60.09 Total Incomlng Resources 1.647.LK) 8.774.52 Expendlture Day Centre Service Provlder Day Centre Supplies 1,075.55 1.109.83 Day Centre Room Rental 1,552.61 1,810.96 Activity Items 1,593.62 1,289.49 Fundraising Expenses 2.200.00 Misc Expenses 549.66 668.71 Total Resources Exponded 4,771.44 7.078.99 Income Less Expendlture -3,124.44 1,695.53 1.647.00 8.774.52 Notss Open House Bedford is a registered charity nurnber 1180204