ABOVE US ONLY SKY
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022
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 2022 remained low in comparison to pre-pandemic figures, and stock held was more than enough to meet the current needs. A total of 133 arctic-grade sleeping bags were given out during the year in London and the surrounding areas by our partners. The charity was able to benefit from a further grant from Goldman Sachs Gives, which is restricted to the purchase of toiletries. We continued to provide much-needed toiletries to our regular partners, but also met an urgent need for toiletries from a local charity providing a refuge for women and children who are homeless due to domestic abuse.
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 89 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 £11,512 in income during the year (2021: £7,578). Regular donations were down slightly on the previous year. A grant of US$ 5,000 was received from Goldman Sachs Gives (£4,073), restricted to the purchase of toiletries for the homeless. Expenditure was low this year, at a total of £1,886 (2021: £1,637). This was mainly due to the fact that no sleeping bags were purchased during the last two years. The resulting net increase in funds for the year was £9,626 (2021: £5,941).
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 £35,552 will enable the charity to continue meeting the needs of the homeless into 2023 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 2022
| 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 |
£ £ 3,585 3,028 4,073 826 11,512 - - - 704 50 1,132 1,886 9,626 2022 |
£ £ 3,930 3,017 - 631 7,578 - - - 691 50 896 1,637 5,941 2021 |
|---|---|---|
Above Us Only Sky?
| Balance Sheet at | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 31st December 2022 | |||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Current Assets | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 35,552 | 25,926 | |
| Opening balance | 25,926 | 19,985 | |
| Net increase/ (decrease) in funds | 9,626 | 5,941 | |
| Closing balance | 35,552 | 25,926 |
Above Us Only Sky?
Funds for the year ended 31st December 2022
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||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Opening|Income|Payments|Adjustments|Closing|
|balance|balance|
|Restricted Funds|
|Warm Fund|536|360|896|
|Grant Fund|1,553|4,073|(1,132)|4,495|
|-|
|2,089|4,433|(1,132)|5,391|
|Unrestricted Funds|
|General Fund|18,007|6,253|(360)|23,900|
|Gift Aid|5,829|826|(394)|-|1,500|4,761|
|23,836|7,079|(754)|-|1,500|28,661|
|Designated Funds|
|Emergency Accommodation|1,000|1,000|
|Travel home|500|500|
|-|-|-|
|1,500|1,500|
|Total Funds|25,926|11,512|(1,886)|-|35,552|
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