ABOVE US ONLY SKY
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2021
OBJECTS
The Objects of the charity are the relief of poverty for the homeless by meeting their immediate needs, as an expression of Christian faith.
THE CHARITY: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The charity began as a response to meeting homeless people who were developing hypothermia as a result of sleeping rough in the winter. The main thrust of the charity’s activities is to provide warm, waterproof military-grade sleeping bags. Another means of providing relief is through Bags of Hope, which contain necessary toiletries, underwear and winter accessories, such as hats and gloves. The charity has also been involved in contributing to ‘Starter Packs’ for the newly-housed.
The charity works very closely with Christian partner organisations, such as The Salvation Army and Church-Without-Walls, who are dealing with the homeless on a daily basis. This ensures that the needs that are being met by the charity are genuine. The work of the charity is conducted solely by a team of volunteers, who give their time and expertise freely to serve the needs of the homeless. The Trustees also volunteer with partner organisations, meeting with individuals who are homeless and assessing their needs.
THIS YEAR
The need for sleeping bags in 2021 was still very low in comparison to pre-pandemic figures. A total of 65 arctic-grade sleeping bags were given out during the year in London by our partners. These were distributed from stock already held. We continued to be in contact with the organisations who regularly support rough sleepers throughout the year and were able to provide much needed toiletries to the homeless.
Above Us Only Sky continues to focus on the immediate needs of the homeless, giving out life-saving sleeping bags and warm fleeces where there is need. A stock of 122 sleeping bags remained at the end of the year.
Our team of volunteers continued to manage the charity’s finances, administration and stock and the Trustees wish to express their grateful thanks to all who continue to work to meet the charity’s aims and objectives.
The Trustees have had due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
NEXT YEAR
The charity will continue to purchase and distribute warm, waterproof sleeping bags for as long as funds allow and the need remains. The Trustees will also consider supporting the homeless with their individual needs as they arise.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The charity received £7,578 in income during the year (2020: £11,289). Both one-off donations and regular donations were down on the previous year. Expenditure was minimal in 2021, coming in at a total of £1,637 (2020: £2,127). This was partly due to the fact that no sleeping bags needed to be purchased during the year. The resulting net increase in funds for the year was £5,941 (2020: £9,162).
The charity aims to hold enough in reserves to buy stocks of sleeping bags and bivvies to cover well into the next financial year. The trustees consider that the year-end balance of £25,926 will enable the charity to continue meeting the needs of the homeless into 2022 and beyond.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the profit and loss of the Charity for that period. In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:-
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
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Make adjustments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
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Prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Acts. 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. The trustees confirm that the accounts comply with current statutory requirements and those of the Charity’s trust deed.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on:
and signed on its behalf by:
Above Us Only Sky?
Receipts and Payments for the year ended 31st December 2021
| Income received Regular donations One-off donations Grants/Awards Gift Aid claims - HMRC Expenditure Sleeping bags, jackets, fleeces General support for homeless Starter packs Other expenses Fundraising expenses Grant fund - toiletries Net increase/ (decrease) in funds |
£ £ 3,930 3,017 - 631 7,578 - - - 691 50 896 1,637 5,941 2021 |
£ £ 4,510 6,021 - 758 11,289 184 - 183 1,175 50 536 2,127 9,162 2020 |
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Above Us Only Sky?
| Balance Sheet at | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31st December 2021 | ||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Current Assets | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 25,926 | 19,985 | ||
| Opening balance | 19,985 | 10,824 | ||
| Net increase/ (decrease) in funds | 5,941 | 9,162 | ||
| Closing balance | 25,926 | 19,985 |
Above Us Only Sky?
Funds for the year ended 31st December 2021
| Restricted Funds Warm Fund Grant Fund Unrestricted Funds General Fund Gift Aid Total Funds |
Opening Income Payments Adjustments Closing balance balance 176 360 536 2,449 (896) 1,553 2,625 360 (896) - 2,089 11,810 6,587 (390) 18,007 5,550 631 (352) 5,829 17,360 7,218 (742) - 23,836 19,985 7,578 (1,637) - 25,926 |
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