Homeless Friendly Report for Trustees April 2020 - March 2021
Background
Homeless Friendly has been established over 3 year, being registered as a charity in April 2019.
In March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic brought about changes for all walks of life including charity work, also greatly affecting people who are homeless. ‘Everyone In’ a government initiative which was strongly supported within Greater Manchester resulted in people who are homeless being offered temporary accommodation in rooms where social distances guidelines could be adopted. Charities changed the way they worked, some started offering support within the ‘Everyone In’ temporary accommodation, some continued to work out reach offering support to people who felt unable to take up the offer of this short term accommodation, some used the time to work from home, undertake essential repairs, whilst others were furloughed.
Homeless Friendly’s work changed within days, understandably GP practices were no longer able to meet to discuss becoming Homeless Friendly their efforts were all directed towards combatting the effects of COVID-19. We had to rethink how we could offer meaningful support, initially working from home until the office could become COVID secure. This resulting in moving the main office from Lime Square to Medlock Suite in Failsworth. The registered office still remains at Lime Square and Homeless Friendly still has a base within the main office.
Areas of growth and change within the last 12 months
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We sent out Freedom of information requests to the 10 Greater Manchester’s Authorities. We asked how they were ensuring that their current policies practices were in line with COVID guidelines and fully included people who were homeless. We received replies from 9 of the 10 authorities and this information was used as a reporting mechanism.
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Lock down presented challenges for people in many different aspects of their lives, Homeless Friendly devised a leaflet which signposted people to helpline services. Our leaflet has been used across Greater Manchester, with recognition from Street Support for the worthwhile collation and distribution of this material.
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Leading on from our first information leaflet. We became aware that all GM local authorities had closed their housing and homeless ‘front door’. We reached out to all 10 boroughs, collating and distributing a further leaflet on accessing local authority support for people who are homeless during the pandemic.
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We continue to review and update these leaflets on a regular basis.
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Further reflection on how we could support people who are homeless led us to developing a hygiene pack which could be given out to people who are homeless to help keep safe during the lockdown restrictions.
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We secured £500 from Tesco plus a small amount from donations provided by people in the local community. With this money were able to make over 500 of these small kits.
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Homeless Friendly also reached out to local organisations being given donations of hand sanitisers and also antiseptic plasters for the kits.
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The kits were given out to organisations in all 10 Greater Manchester Boroughs.
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We were contacted by LHM Medical Technology asking if we could distribute surgical masks on their behalf across Greater Manchester. We undertook this task on the understanding that they gave a substantial amount of masks for our kits.
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●Being able to distribute the kits and donated masks resulted in us further developing our working links with other charities within the10 Greater Manchester Boroughs.
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We have continued to apply for grants being successful in obtaining £8,000 funding for the Government to continue offering kits to people who are homeless.
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We sought feedback on the kits and whilst they were clearly gratefully received, we have now added further items to the kits including soap flannel toothpaste and a toothbrush.
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Homeless Friendly needed to recruit volunteers to help with preparing the kits. We have one volunteer who helped with contacting suppliers, Sanctuary Trust suggested we use their volunteers to make up the kits. This has led to a close working relationship with Sanctuary Trust and the local Impact Church. In exchange for their assistance we have ensured that they have masks and hand sanitisers for all their volunteers.
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To date we have distributed over a 1000 of the larger kits across operational charities within GM.
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We have also offered to assist the volunteers with CV writing and act as a referee for people who assisted Homeless Friendly.
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Homeless Friendly has embraced virtual meetings attending GM wide events, also meeting virtually with GP practices as appropriate.
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Due to not being able to undertake face to face meetings we have continued to develop standards which ensure that services are able to offer meaningful support to people who are homeless.
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We are now post out the homeless Friendly pledge on receipt of completed standards and have continued with our work encouraging organisations to become Homeless Friendly.
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●We felt that at times Homeless Friendly lacked the technology to record information in a consistent format. This has led to developing a CRM system which is currently being built by a local organisation and is hoped to go live in summer.
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Homeless Friendly has supported Dr Zahid Chauhan in setting up the first vaccination clinic which offered the Covid-19 vaccine to people who are homeless. We have set up further clinics and ensured that people have been able to access their second vaccination.
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Homeless Friendly are an active member of the ‘Homeless and Rough Sleepers Seasonal Flu Working Group’ which supports people who are homeless having access to the annual flu jab. We facilitated Oldham homeless population accessing the flu jab winter 2020 and will be doing so later this year.
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Homeless Friendly were an intrinsic part of the ‘Homeless Vaccination Campaign Group’ who lobbied government to ensure that people who are homeless were able to access the Covid 19 vaccination.
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We are developing links within the field of dentistry and have trialed training with Roderick’s in Manchester, with the intention supporting dentists to sign up to the homeless friendly pledge.
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Gail Sutcliffe received a certificate for her efforts relating to ‘Homeless Support’ People’s Choice Commendation issued by Health Watch Oldham.
Areas of Growth for the next 12 months
Hot Line – Whilst we have yet to officially launch our hot line we in a small way currently assist with problem solving and signposting, The phone lines at both Lime Square and Medlock have answer phone facilities and are checked by Homeless Friendly on a regular basis with the necessary assistance and support being offered. The behind the scenes work continues, we have explored linking to our current NHS server without success. We will now have a standalone system and intend for this to be live late summer. We intend to produce our own information cards. The purchase of a printing machine will enable us to offer ID printing to other organisations whilst charging for undertaking this work.
We will continue with the recruitment of volunteers to support the Hot Line and also support the signing of pledges.
Continue applying for further grants to enable Homeless Friendly to become selfsufficient and expand to other areas of the United Kingdom.
There are many schemes within England which offers a form of paying for vulnerable people to receive a hot meal one such being ‘pay it forward’ Homeless Friendly would like to collate a directory and publish where these supportive services are situated.
Homeless Friendly recognises the difficulty that people who are homeless have in accessing local dental care . We with the support of Dr Ben Atkins intend to develop and offer a pledge that dentists can sign up to.
Our training continues to evolve, the intention in the next 12 months is to offer an online training package that can be accessed via our website
We recognise that our trustees, partners and the local community continue to donate to our good cause, we ensure that donations are allocated to appropriate people or services and want to end by thanking everyone that has helped Homeless Friendly over the last 12 months.
Financial Statement
At close of business on 31st March 2021
Balance £18,118.01
The accounts are being audited at this current time which will then be forwarded to the charity commission and a copy of the full accounts forwarded to the trustees.
Gail Sutcliffe salary is paid by Beacon GP Care hence not showing as an expenditure as are the hours that Jayne Livesey works supporting our charity. BARDOC pay for Homeless Friendly’s mobile phone
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1182814 HOMELESS FRIENDLY REPORT OF THF. TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMF.N R TIIE YEAR F.NDED31 MARCH 2021
HOMELESS FRIEf4DLY CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THF. YF.AR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Pag¢ Report of the Trustees Independent Examiner's Repon Siatement of Financial Activi¢i¢s Balance Sheel Not¢s to the Financial Statements 5t06 Detailed Staiemenl of Finan¢ial Activitie5
HOMELESS FRIENDLY REPORT OF THE TRUSTF.ES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2 The trnstees present their rep)rt with the financial statements of the chartty for the year ended 31 March 2021. The trllstees have adopted the provisions of the Ststemenl of Recommend¢d Practic¢ {SORP)'Accounting and Reporting by Charities, issued in March 2005. RF.FF.RF.NCE AND ADMIP415TRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 1182814 Prineipal addres5 Lime Squar¢ M¢di¢al Centre Ashton Old Road Openshaw Greater Manchester MII IDA Trustees Dr Z M Chauhan Mrs V A Riding Dr T M Chauhan GP Chi¢f Exeeutive GP Independcnt exarniner Andrew w fJcr¢ns FCA. Chart¢red Accountant 48 RingFley Drive Whitefield Manchesier M45 7LR Bankers Lloyds Bank Plc Binningham OSC 4 Ariel 14ouse. 2138 Coyenty Road Sheldon Binningham B26 3Jll' STRVCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document The charity 18 controlled by lis governin8 document, D deed of trust. and con5titut¢$ an unin¢orporated charity. liisk managemertt The truste¢s have a dtsty to identify and review the risks to which the ¢harity 1$ exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in pla¢¢ to provide re&sonable a55urdnce against fraud and error. Approved by order of the board of tn]5tees on 29 September 2021 and signed on its behalf by.. Trnstee Page I
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HOIKELESS FRIENDLY I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages three to Six. Re$ponslblllties and 515 of report As the rharity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the a¢counts in accordance with the requtremeDts of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act,). I have examined your charity's accounis as r¢quir¢d Lder section 145 orth¢ Chariti¢s Act 2011 ('the Act'}. In ¢arying out my examination I have followed the Direcuons given by th¢ Charity Commission under section 145{5Xb) of th¢ 2011 Aci. My role is to slate whetheT any material matters have come to my att¢ntion giving me cause to believ¢.. that accounting re¢ords were not kept as required by s¢clion 130 of the Act- or that the accounts do not accord with those recoTds: or that the ac¢vunlS do not Lomply with th¢ accounting requirements of th¢ A¢t,' or that there is funher information needed fur a pro[ und¢r5tandin8 of the accounts. IndL'pendent examiner's $t8lemtnt have L(>mpleied my ¢xaniinytion and have no con¢emi in respect of the matters (l ) to (4) listed above an¢L in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission I have found no matiers ih01 require drawing 10 your attention. Andrew W B¢rens FCA. Chartered A¢countartl 48 Ringley Drive Whilcficld Manchester M45 7L,R 30 Sepiember 2021 Page 2
HOIWELESS FRIENDLY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 314IARCH 2021 Period 24.6.19 Year Ended 31.321 31.3.20 Unrestricted Totsl fimd5 fllDd Notes INCOMING RF.SOURCES Incoming re$ourees from gener¥ted fvDds Voluntary income 24,763 881 RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of %enerating fuThds Costs of 8cn¢rating voluniary income 834 NET INCOMING RESOURCES 47 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Totxl funds brought forward 47 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIV.D FORWARD 47 The notes forni part of these financial ststements Pag¢ 3
HOMELESS FRIENDLY BALANCE SHEET AT31 MARCH 2021 2021 2020 Unrestrieted Total funds rund Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 733 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank 1&118 97 CREDITORS Ainouiits falling due within one year (250) (50) NET CVRRENT ASSETS 47 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 18.601 47 NET ASSETS 18,601 47 FUNDS Unrestricted funds 18,001 47 TOTAL FUNDS 47 The fancial statetnents were approved by the Board of Trustees on 29 September 2021 and were sigDed on its behalf by.. Trustee The notes forrn part of these finatjcial statememts Page 4
HOMELESS FRIENDLY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 ACCOUNTING POLICIES Accounting conventio The financial statements have been prepared under the hÉ5torical cost conv¢ntÈon, and in accordance with the Financial Reporti118 Standard for S]naller Entities (effettive April 2008), the Charities Act 2011 and the rwuirem¢nts of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities. Incoming resources All incoming r¢50ur¢cs are in¢luded on th¢ Sta¢em¢nt of Financial Activitie5 when the charity is legally entitled to the income and th¢ amount Can be quantified with r¢&sonable ac¢urdcy. Re%ourees expended Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs catjnot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocat¢d to activities on a basis eonsistent with the use Of resources. Tangibl¢ fixed assels Depreciation is provided at th¢ followang annual rat¢s sn order to write off each ass¢t over its estimated useful life. Taxation The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. FuDd 8ccouDting Unrestricted fund5 caTk be used in ac¢ordance with the charitable objectives * the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for parti¢ular restricted purpose5 within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for parttcular restricted PUTposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fiEnd is included in the not¢s to the financial statem¢nts. TRUSTEES, REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no trustees, remuneration or other ben¢fits for the year ¢nd¢d 31 Ma 2021 nor for the period ended 31 March 2020. Trustee5' expenses There were no trnstees, expenses paid for the year ended 31 March2021 nor for the period ended 31 March 2020. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Fixtures and rittings COST Additions 916 DEPRECIAT10Tr4 Char8e for year 183 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2021 733 At 31 March 2020 Page 5
HOMELESS FRIENDLY NOTESTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMFNTS- CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLif4G DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2021 2020 Other creditors 250 50 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Net movement i runds At 1.&20 At 31.3.21 Unrestricted funds General fund 47 18,554 18,601 TOTAL FUNDS 47 18.554 18.601 Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows= Incoming resollrces Resour¢¢s Movement in expended funds Unrestricted funds General fund 24,763 (6309) 18,554 TOTAL FUNDS 18,554 Comparntives for movement in funds Net movement i fund5 At 31.3.20 Unrestrlcted Fullds General fund 47 47 TOTAL FUNDS 47 47 CoTnparative net movemetti in fimd¥ included in the above are as follows.. Incoming resources Resources expended Movernent in funds Unre51ricted funds Generdl nd 881 (834) 47 TOTAL FUNDS 47 Page 6
HOMELESS FRIEf4DLY ETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTtvrTIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Period 24.6.19 io 31.3.20 Year Ended 31.3.21 INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntory Income Donations Compensation 24,763 771 110 24.763 881 Total Incoming re$ouT¢e$ 24.763 881 RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of gener¥tlng voluntary Income Insurance Telephon Postage and stationery Sundri¢s Cl¢aning and Hygiene Computer consumables Subscriptions Adverts Reimbursed travel Don8tion A¢couniancy Fixrures and fLttin8S 99 99 883 20 3,738 908 78 20 290 80 48 200 200 834 Tol&l resources expended 6,209 834 Net income 47 This page does not forni part of the statutory fmancial staternents Pa8e 7