## **Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Homelessness Action Collaborative** A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Annual Report: 31[st] March 2024 ## REGISTERED OFFICE at End of Financial Year c/o CITIZENS ADVICE, BCP Council Civic Centre BOURNE AVENUE, BOURNEMOUTH BH2 6DX Charity number 1182745 _Faithworks Wessex_ **CONFIDENTIAL** ## **Report of the Trustees for the year to March 31[st] , 2023** ## **Our Aims and objectives** The BCP Homelessness Action Collaborative (“the Collaborative”) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation formed on 2[nd] April 2019; it has the following object in its constitution: “…to relieve hardship, need and distress among those in Dorset and surrounding areas who are homeless or threatened with homelessness” ## **Background and current role:** The Collaborative was set up to bring together agencies, charities and businesses to find ways to “do more by doing it together” and thus reduce homelessness in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It worked informally prior to and after its formal CIO formation, to encourage strong partnerships and provide excellent information to all those working with the vulnerably housed and rough sleepers in the area. It played a key role in the development of the Homelessness partnership (BCP). Since the formation of the Partnership, the Collaborative has taken on new specific roles: - It is the **membership** body: as it is a legal entity, organisations can become members (on signing the partnership charter). - It will provide the primary means of **communicating** with partnership members; there will be a regular Forum meeting to feedback on the actions and plans from the HRB and partnership action groups. - It develops and promotes on-line **sources of help** and information for the whole conurbation - It will be a key source of **ideas** to feed into the rest of the partnership; ie. membership is about 2-way communication, allowing proposals from all sectors that will then be considered at HRB and in action groups - It will provide a **funding route** for non-statutory sources of money that are needed across the rest of the partnership. ## **Changes to the Homelessness Partnership in BCP, and Homewards** The Collaborative’s early influence in driving the homelessness partnership has borne fruit in the extraordinary level of partnership working that continues to deliver. For example, the regular monthly forums (chaired by the HAC chair) have seen increased attendance by 50-60 people from over 50 organisations every month making sure that partners know what is happening, and as importantly, what is fact and what is rumour. These partners are from statutory, charitable, educational, business, and faith sectors and many local councillors attend the Forum as a key way of keeping up to date. This year has seen some significant changes for the partnership. Prince William’s Royal Foundation programme, Homewards, chose BCP as one of the 6 UK sites for a 5 year programme to end homelessness. After some initial teething problems, a new structure and plan for the partnership is coming into effect: - A new Strategic coalition of leaders from key sectors will come together regularly to seek to remove barriers to creating the conditions to prevent and relieve homelessness quickly _BCP-HAC annual report 2023-24 final_ _page 2 of 7_ _20/12/2024_ _Faithworks Wessex_ **CONFIDENTIAL** - A new delivery board with an independent chair (and at least 3 members of the HAC) will have increased power to drive the change outlined in the updated plan which focuses on 3 key commitments: - Preventing homelessness - Where it does occur, keeping it short, rare and non-recurring - Ongoing improvement and sustainability in the partnership’s work - Homewards are leading on some of the elements (e.g .youth homelessness and employment) through their local lead; they bring national experts and ideas to the table - Meanwhile there is a new “Reshaping the narrative” strategic comms group alongside the continuing internal comms of the HAC-chaired Forum As trustees of the HAC, we are committed to making sure that the new structures use the advantages of the HAC such as the ability to raise non-partisan funds. Discussions are planned with the new chair and Director of Housing (previous chair) of the delivery board to agree on the HAC’s future role. ## **Key projects involving the Collaborative:** ## _1. Contactless giving_ The Change for Good contactless giving fund has been put on hold during this year; window giving points were not seen as value for money (and in one case was stolen), and so have been returned to the supplier. 2 podium giving points remain in branches of HSBC, for which we are grateful. ## _2. Partnership website_ A new website www.hpbcp.org was launched this year after extensive work by supplier Green tambourine, funded through grants successfully gained by the HAC. It is seen as a leading example for other areas around the country, and is a great way of sharing stories of what the partnership is doing, as well as giving people basic information on how to help someone in need. ## **Financial Review** Sadly, an event originally due to be hosted at the Chewton Glen Spa and Hotel in Autumn 2023 had to be cancelled: the arrival of Homewards and its work with big local employers meant that it was deemed to be the wrong time to attempt such an event. Sadly deposits were lost costing the collaborative £3500 (close to what Chewton Glen had raised for us in the previous year). We were also grateful for the following grants: - The Valentine Trust gave £7500 towards the cost of the new website - The Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Foundation gave £2000 towards the cost of the new website The costs shown in the accounts are largely from 3 sources: - The costs of developing the new website - The lease of the Contactless points _BCP-HAC annual report 2023-24 final_ _page 3 of 7_ _20/12/2024_ _Faithworks Wessex_ ## **CONFIDENTIAL** - Basic running costs including insurance and book-keeping Note that the accounts show income from Change For Good (“contactless donations” – see restricted fund line at bottom of the page) and that income then being sent on (ie. a transfer cost) to the Dorset Community Foundation. At the end of March 2024, the Collaborative had £4,840 in their accounts, with £738 in unrestricted funds. Further spending will depend on discussions with the new Delivery Board as to the future work of the HAC. ## **Governance & internal Controls** ## _Trustee team_ The trustees meet 3 times in the year; they continue to ensure that there is sound governance in place: - Banking systems and book-keeping (outsourced to Oak Accounting) - Policies especially around Safeguarding, volunteer management etc. - Communications with members (the wider Partnership forum provides this) As part of the ongoing development of the Homelessness Partnership (BCP), the Council Partnership manager attends the trustee meetings to cement links, and enhance communications across the partnership. ## _Statement of trustees’ responsibilities_ Company law and charity law require the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently - Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provision of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. _BCP-HAC annual report 2023-24 final_ _page 4 of 7_ _20/12/2024_ _Faithworks Wessex_ ## **CONFIDENTIAL** This report was approved by the trustees on 17 December 2024. Signed: Dated: 17 December 2024 (Alistair Doxat-Purser, Chair of Trustees) ## Appendix 1: Trustees The following are trustees of the CIO on 31[st] March 2023: - Alistair Doxat-Purser, CEO, Faithworks Wessex (Chair) - Zoe Bradley, CEO, BCP Citizens Advice (Treasurer) - Ian Jones, Head of Engagement, Bournemouth University - Richard Marshall, Manager, Premium Event Productions Ltd - Kate Parker, Manager, Shelter Dorset - Emma Lee, Partnership Manager, CAN (Community Action Network) _BCP-HAC annual report 2023-24 final_ _page 5 of 7_ _20/12/2024_ _Faithworks Wessex_ ## **CONFIDENTIAL** ## Appendix 2: Annual Accounts to end March 2024 _BCP-HAC annual report 2023-24 final_ _page 6 of 7_ _20/12/2024_ _Faithworks Wessex_ **CONFIDENTIAL** **BCP – Homelessness Action Collaborative Charity ref: 1183745** ## **Independent Examiner’s Report for the Year to 31[st] March 2024** I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2024. Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner As the charity Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 43(7)(b) of the Act, 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 Commissioners. 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## Independent examiner’s statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; have not been met or; or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Date 19th July 2024 ## … … N Jeffery Natalie Jeffery 51 Kimmeridge Avenue Parkstone Poole Dorset BH12 3NU _BCP-HAC annual report 2023-24 final_ _page 7 of 7_ _20/12/2024_