STARFISH ALLIANCE
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REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
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C Management Services 69 Velindre Road Whitchurch Cardiff CF14 2TF
STARFISH ALLIANCE
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
CHARITY INFORMATION
| Trustees: | Bryan Elliott |
|---|---|
| Misty Elliott | |
| Kathleen Winston | |
| Christopher Mark Winston | |
| Clayton Sandry | |
| Judith Sandry | |
| Alastair Cope | |
| Charitable position: | Registered Charity number 1182198 |
| Governing Document: | CIO Foundation Constitution dated 25thFebruary 2019 |
| Address for correspondence: | Britannia House C1 |
| 3 Caerphilly Business Park | |
| Caerphilly | |
| CF83 3GG | |
| Independent Examiner: | Paul Burnell ACMI |
| C Management Services | |
| 69 Velindre Road | |
| Whitchurch | |
| CARDIFF | |
| CF14 2TF | |
| Bankers: | CAF Bank Ltd |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | |
| Kings Hill | |
| West Malling | |
| Kent | |
| ME19 4JQ | |
| CONTENTS | |
| Page | |
| Charity Information | 2 |
| Trustees Report | 3-4 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities 7 |
|
| Notes to the Accounts | 8 |
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year to 31[st] December 2024.
Objects of the Charity
The following objects will be carried out with a Christian ethos:
- 1.1. to advance children and young people in life, in particular looked after children, especially but not exclusively through:
1.1.1. the provision of leisure time activities so as to develop their capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society; and
1.1.2. the improvement of the quality of service given to children and others in care (including foster care) by but not limited to, the provision of support, advice and guidance to representatives of services and organisations engaged in providing, improving and advancing foster care; and
1.2. to preserve and protect the physical and mental health of carers of looked after children, principally but not exclusively, by offering a respite service to the children in their care.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Starfish Alliance, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, is governed by a board of trustees, appointed for a period of no more than three years by a properly convened meeting of the board of trustees. Trustees will meet at least four times per year to make decisions regarding the structure, governance, financial operations, and other relevant business.
The income of The Starfish Alliance is comprised of charitable giving by organisations and individuals, either by monthly standing order or individual, “one off” donations, and grants from interested entities (be they government, lottery, business, or otherwise).
Responsibilities of the Trustees
Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which give a true and fair view of the state of the charity and of its income and expenditure for the year.
We are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts
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Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. We also have a responsibility to
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safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Our Aims and Objectives
The Starfish Alliance seeks to promote and establish new camps and mentoring initiatives for children in care in the United Kingdom. All funding and efforts therein are for the purpose of promotion, training, and advocacy of our camps and mentoring programs.
Activities this last year
Starfish KIDS Camps is now active in two locations: Cardiff and Aberdare. We saw 66 children come to camp with over 120 volunteers serving them. More work is needed to expand into other geographical areas of Wales, but much has been done to build up a network of camps in England and Scotland.
The Starfish Alliance web site has been reworked, with the intent of streamlining product orders and camp communications.
We were honoured to be identified as one of five finalists in the Cinnamon Network’s Incubator Programme for young faith-based initiatives, and were further honoured to be recognised as the winner of the £20,000 grant, which will be disbursed in 2025 and 2026.
The Alliance added another trustee to our board. Alastair Cope, who leads Foster Wales, has joined our board of trustees for a term of three years. We will seek to add another position in 2025.
Much of the future work of our charity will focus on two areas: fundraising and church engagement.
Public Benefit requirement
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in December 2008.
Financial Review
Finances are reviewed at each trustee meeting, with an annual review of accounts to be carried out at the end of year and submitted to the Charities Commission.
Independent Examiner
Paul Burnell of CMS was appointed as the organisation’s independent examiner during the year.
This Report was approved by the Trustees on 11th June 2025 and is signed on their behalf by Bryan Elliott
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
STARFISH ALLIANCE
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31[st] December 2024, which are set out on pages 4 to 7.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Paul Burnell
Paul Burnell ACMI
C Management Services (trading name of C Mgmnt Services Ltd) 69 Velindre Road Cardiff CF14 2TF
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STARFISH ALLIANCE
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] DECEMBER 2024
| Note RECEIPTS Receipts from generated funds 2 Receipts from charitable activities 3 Other receipts 4 Interest received Total Receipts PAYMENTS Charitable activities 5 Total payments Net Receipts/(Payments) Transfers between funds Fund balances at 1stJanuary 2024 Fund balances at 31st December 2024 |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2024 £ Total Funds 2023 £ 16,634 - 16,634 5,768 5,246 - 5,246 - 7,000 - 7,000 7,600 9 - 9 10 |
|---|---|
| 28,889 - 28,889 13,378 |
|
| 22,893 - 22,893 19,787 |
|
| 22,893 - 22,893 19,787 |
|
| 5,996 - 5,996 (6,409) - - - - 2,041 - 2,041 8,450 |
|
| 8,037 - 8,037 2,041 |
The notes on page 6 form part of these accounts.
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STARFISH ALLIANCE
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
1. Fixed Assets
| Insurance Value 2024 £ The value of assets owned are: Equipment - - 2. Bank & Cash Balances 2024 £ Cash at bank and in hand 8,037 8,037 3. Other Assets and Liabilities 2024 £ Assets Gift aid tax recovery not yet received - Liabilities Unbilled fee for Independent Examination 100 100 |
Insurance Value 2023 £ - - 2023 £ 2,041 2,041 2023 £ - 100 100 |
|---|---|
The accounts were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on xxxxxxxx
The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.
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STARFISH ALLIANCE
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
1. Accounting Policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis with a statement of assets and liabilities
| 2. Voluntary receipts Donations Tax recovered 3. Receipts from charitable activities Income 4. Other Receipts Grants 5. Charitable activities a. Direct Charitable Costs Employment & volunteer costs Projects –Virtual Mentoring & Camp b. Support and Administration Premises costs General admin expenses c. Grants Hardship support |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2024 £ Total 2023 £ 16,634 - 16,634 5,768 - - - - |
|---|---|
| 16,634 - 16,634 5,768 |
|
| 5,246 - 5,246 - |
|
| 5,246 - 5,246 - |
|
| Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2024 £ Total 2023 £ 7,000 - 7,000 7,600 |
|
| 7,000 - 7,000 7,600 |
|
| Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2024 £ Total 2023 £ 7,292 10,685 - 7,292 10,685 6,340 9,903 |
|
| 17,977 - 17,977 16,243 |
|
| 500 - 500 1,906 4,416 - 4,416 1,638 |
|
| 4,916 - 4,916 3,544 |
|
| - - - - |
|
| - - - - |
6. Staff and Trustees
The charity has one part-time employed member of staff, first employed in July 2020. Its activities are mostly carried out by volunteers
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No remuneration or trustee expenses were paid to any trustee during the year, nor to any person connected to them.
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