_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2020-21_
**supporting our community to raise happy, healthy, and independent children – working directly with families, promoting positive, confident parenting and cooperative relationships between schools and families**
## Annual Report 2021-22
redhenproject.org Registered Charity No. 1183845
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **About Red Hen**
## **Registration**
Charity Registration Number: 1183845 (previously 1072190, formed 1998)
Registered Address: 51 Cambridge Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB4 6AW
## **Contents**
Vision, Mission, Values & Impact
- Achievements & Highlights
- Outcomes & Impact
- Governance
## **Trustees**
Lesley Ford (Chair) Sara Garnham (Vice Chair) Paul Connelly (Secretary) Jack Atkins (Treasurer) Bobby Ford Kirsty Cooke Miranda Gomperts Sophie Evans
- Our Thanks
- Treasurer's Report
- Audited Accounts
## **Project Lead**
Sarah Crick
## **Independent Examiner**
Lisa King − Burdett King Accountancy Ltd 8 The Hamiltons, Newmarket, CB8 0NF
## **Bankers**
Lloyds Bank, 125 Chesterton Rd, Cambridge, CB4 3AU
## **Structure and Governance**
The charity is governed by a constitution adopted on May 2019
The charity became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 1[st] April 2020
## **Other Relevant Information**
Independent External Evaluation Strategic Plan 2022-25
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **Our Vision, Mission, Values and Impact**
## **OUR VISION**
Our vision is a welcoming community where families are supported and empowered to raise happy, healthy and independent children who grow up to fulfil their lives and engage fully with society.
## **OUR MISSION**
To achieve this vision, we support children aged 3-11, their families and communities in North Cambridge, **focusing** our attention on those **experiencing challenges** in their lives. We **promote** and **enable positive** , **confident parenting** and **cooperative relationships** between **schools** and **families** .
## **OUR VALUES**
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||• We are**non-judgemental**and**respectful**||• We**value**our local**community**||
||• We are**committed**for the**long term**||• We are**kind**and**trustworthy**||
||For**children**and their|For our local**communities**||For our**staff**and**volunteers,**this|
||**families,**this means we:|and**partners,**this means we:||means we:|
|• are**warm**and**welcoming**||• work in**partnership**||• **listen**to one another and**share**ideas|
|• don't judge and are**honest**||• are**honest**about what we can||
• **value**teamwork and**invest**in our|
|• **empower**, and help||and can't do||team|
||families**connect**|**value**and**protect**the**assets**||• are**inclusive**and strive for**diversity**|
|• stay with families**as long**||in our communities||• **collaborate**within and outside the|
||**as needed**|||Red Hen Project|
## **OUR IMPACT**
Children experiencing trauma, crisis or challenging behaviour will have **improved emotional and physical wellbeing, and improved engagement with education**
Schools, support agencies and statutory bodies will be **better co-ordinated** to meet local needs and **reduce isolation** for families
Parents facing family crises will have **increased their parenting skills** , **confidence, and emotional wellbeing**
Families will have **improved links** with others in their communities and to be **better able to support others** with similar problems
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **Our Achievements and Highlights**
## **Our Reach**
Our final year of Lottery funding has enabled us to support children and families experiencing challenges that are making their lives difficult as we continued to battle the pandemic and then as life slowly began to return to a new 'normal.'
This support and other smaller funding contributions have enabled us to work intensively with children and their families for, on average, six months. In addition, it provided a robust platform on which we have been able to deliver a one-year County Council Innovate grant extending the City's Early Help team's capacity by supporting additional families.
57 families and approximately 217 individuals have received long-term casework support from The Red Hen Project family workers this year.
Alongside this intensive support, we have delivered 1101 separate outreach support interventions to other families in our communities. This outreach encompasses wide-ranging activities that lead to positive indicators towards the outcomes that underpin the project's impact. For example, help and advice with a particular parenting issue, attending a wellbeing drop-in, provision of a fuel grant or referral to the food bank, or a place on a summer trip for their family.
## **Our Independent External Evaluation**
Alongside our regular monitoring, the evaluation focused on the last two years and collected information from many different voices in our community - the people we support, our partners, our schools, staff, trustees, and other volunteers. The report tells us about the differences we are making through numbers and stories, concluding:
"There is remarkable coherence in the overwhelmingly positive views and opinions that people have expressed about the project. There is a strong picture of a much-appreciated organisation, with the parents, schools and other organisations speaking incredibly highly of the project, its workers and its impact."
Access the complete Independent External Evaluation online at redhenproject.org/evaluation
## **Our Evolving Service**
As a direct response to the regular feedback we seek from our families and communities, we increased the opportunities to access help and advice from family workers on an ad hoc basis and for families to build their peer support networks. We now hold four drop-ins over the week (where previously this was just one) in a broader range of locations to become more accessible and inclusive to families in need. From April 2021 to March 2022, we delivered 212 hours of sessions. We have also introduced families to other services and community groups in the 'safety' of an environment where they feel comfortable.
We have also increased the number of 'project' activities and created and recruited a new Project Worker role to support families where short 'one-off' support is needed, rather than complete casework.
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **Our Networks, Partnerships and Collaborations**
New, more efficient ways of working introduced during the pandemic have enabled us to become more involved and actively participate in more networks across the city and the council. For example, alongside the GET Group (Guidance Education and training), we are now members of the Food Poverty Alliance, Cambridge Mental Health Network, Cambridge City and South Charities Network, and the Financial Resilience Network.
Membership of these groups enables us to access help and advice, share our experience and best practice, and work together to create solutions to issues facing our community and partnerships to address challenges. For example, joint working on food poverty with Cambridge Sustainable Foods, getting families access to arts and crafts in conjunction with Cambridge Curiosity & Imagination, and supporting families in crisis with rapid help in conjunction Cambridge Aid.
## **Our Reputation in our Community**
Our community is well-established and has a long history with Red Hen. We are now working with parents who received support as children. This community memory means we are held in high regard locally by residents and are trusted, which leads to high levels of engagement. We often find people willing to work with us when they have refused statutory offers of help. We use this strength to reach those most in need.
## **Our Volunteers**
We have capitalised on the rise in community volunteering during Covid. Our volunteering offer has expanded as we brought extra resources to develop this area. By the end of this financial year, we had 59 registered volunteers who completed an onboarding and induction process. 1010 hours were gifted over the year by 22 volunteers regularly involved in the delivery of our outreach activities, and 34 took part in 'micro-volunteering', small and ad hoc opportunities that fit in around their availability.
## **Our Funding**
Cambridge is a city of two halves and is consistently identified as the most unequal city in England. We have worked hard over the past year to tap into the affluence and generosity of the wider community surrounding the wards in which we operate. Our success over the past two years means we now have a far more diversified income as we face the loss of our lottery funding.
## **Our Strategic Plan 2022-23**
Towards the end of this year, we started work on our Strategic Plan - several months of reviewing, thinking, and discussing our future. Our plan sets out our understanding of ourselves and what the past has taught us, our present and the work we see we must do, and how we will continue to meet the needs of families in North Cambridge in the future, developing and growing as a charity.
In writing this plan, we refreshed our vision, mission, and values, reaffirming our dedication and focus on children and families faced with challenges, and our ambition to work positively and holistically, embedded in our local communities and with our partners.
Read the full Strategic Plan at redhenproject.org/strategic-plan-2022-25.
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **Outcomes & Impact**
**The difference we're making - how we have improved the lives of children, their families and our community**
- **100%** • _**would seek support from Red Hen in future if needed**_ • _**would recommend others getting**_
- **of families receiving intensive support** _**support from Red Hen**_
## **This year, our independent external examination found we have …**
**'…successfully built relationships with families and provided them with support tailored to their needs. They report considerable benefits to themselves, their children and their family life.'**
"There is **remarkable coherence in the overwhelmingly positive views and opinions** that people have expressed about the project. There is a **strong picture of a muchappreciated organisation** , with the parents, schools and other organisations speaking incredibly highly of the project, its workers and its impact."
"The organisation's **clear and shared value base** and how the workers put this into practice are seen as the key ingredients to enabling Red Hen to support parents often at tough times of their lives. Their values inform their approach, and **they can engage with parents who often find it challenging to access support in other ways."**
Please read the full report of our Independent External Evaluation at redhenproject.org/evaluation. It focused on the previous two years and collected information from many different voices in our community - the people we support, our partners, our schools, staff, trustees, and other volunteers.
## **Our families say…**
- _"[Our Red Hen family worker] has been a steadying influence. I valued having support and encouragement, also having a small group to meet with on zoom has helped me alot." (Parent)_
- _"Experience of Red Hen has been really good. [Our Red Hen family worker] helped with confidence and learning new ways of doing things." (Parent)_
- _"Just to have the support and listening ear of someone on the outside of our family, has been so helpful. We've regained our strength as parents, and feel reassured that we are doing the right things and that we are good parents. [She] quickly became someone we felt able to confide in, trust and to allow to guide us through what was a super tough time. We were at breaking point, and we're so thankful for [her] stepping in and helping us get back on track and feel more confident. I honestly can say we couldn't have done it without [her], she's been incredible." (Parent)_
- _"Self confidence in my parental responsibility and how to face the challenges going on with the children. Visiting us putting in strategies to help. Let me know about drop in's, activities and events which me and my children have attended which have been very beneficial. Given support and encouragement" (Parent)_
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **Our school partners say…**
- _"[Red Hen] has offered_ _**superb support** for this family who have been through some very challenging events in life. Although the parents are willing to listen and talk, they do not consistently follow through with the advice and strategies that [Red Hen] has provided. [Red Hen] has been_ _**a rock during a turbulent time for the family** and has been able to support mum sufficiently to give her the confidence to sign up for counselling which if attended will have a very positive impact on family life." (Teacher)_
- _"This was a_ _**complex** case, [Red Hen] supported the family to get medical help and long term mentoring help, as well as support within the home. She built a_ _**trusting relationship** with everyone in the family and was able to help work through specific incidents with mum." (Teacher)_
- _"Red Hen supported this family during a period of significant change and upheaval. Mother was helped to access support with finances and benefits. [Red Hen] came into school once a week to work with [child] 1:1 to help him begin to explore his mixture of feelings. Mum is now attending 'drop ins' which has helped her feel_ _**connected** and not so isolated. Red Hen have been a_ _**source of enormous support for this family** . Thank you!" (Teacher)_
- _"This case was picked up in less than a week turn around, just before the end of the Summer term July 2021. [Red Hen] supported this family for a short amount of time as mum became suddenly ill and was taken into hospital. However in that short time, [Red Hen] had enrolled [child] in the Football Fun summer camp! I remember my last conversation with [mum] on the last day of term. She said " thank you so much for referring me to Red Hen. I met my family worker today and she was really nice. I am so pleased, I think she is going to help a lot."" The family is under Red Hen community support – family continues to receive weekly fresh food box and they will get Christmas presents, hamper, etc Thank you!" (Teacher)_
- _"This was a_ _**very sensitive situation** regarding the mental health of dad and knowledge [child] held. His diagnosis of autism further required a sensitive direct approach. Red Hen(co) built a superb relationship with the family and this supported [child] even through secondary transfer." (Teacher)_
- _"Red Hen supported this family with managing children's behaviours, rewards and toileting issues. She worked really hard at gaining [mothers] trust and worked hard to support [mum] accessing MH support ….. [Red Hen's] support with this family has been_ _**invaluable** , as [mum's] relationship with school had broken down. Through Red Hens support, [mum's]_ _**self esteem and self-confidence grew** . This resulted in her feeling_ _**empowered** and enabled her to make a huge decision for herself and her children. We are very thankful that Red Hen had built up this_
_**supportive, trusting relationship** with this family, as it has_ _**literally been life changing** for them! Thank you" (Teacher)_
**Our relationship with our schools is crucial to our mission to promote cooperative relationships between schools and families**
- 100% agreed that actions taken with the family were appropriate
100% of teachers would seek help from Red Hen in the future
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **Our data says …**
Our monitoring data has quantified our impact for both this year and the whole four years of the Lottery funding through the measurement indicators against our stated outcomes.
Where indicated as an issue, parents report an improvement in the indicators of the following outcomes:
|||this year / over 4 years|
|---|---|---|
|**Outcome 1**|**Children from disadvantaged families will have improved life chances, through**
**developing confidence and emotional resilience.**||
|Indicators:|Childrens' confidence|77 / 80 %|
||Childrens' emotional resilience|69 / 74 %|
||Child/rens' attitude to school|45 / 73 %|
||Parent's relationship with school|75 / 83 %|
|**Outcome 2**|**Parents have improved family relationships through developing practical,**
**responsible parenting skills**||
|Indicators:|Child's behaviour at home|71 / 79 %|
||Confidence in my parenting|100 / 97 %|
||My confidence/wellbeing|86 / 87 %|
||Family life|94 / 95 %|
|**Outcome 3**|**Families have improved engagement with the community, and reduced isolation.**||
|Indicators:|Links in the community|93 / 89 %|
||Support in the community|100 / 88 %|
||Ability to cope|93 / 92 %|
|**Outcome 4**|**Parents will have improved life chances, and less reliance on outside intervention.**||
|Indicators:|Accessing training/workshops|63 / 62 %|
||Volunteering|8 / 29 %|
||Accessing other support available|94 / 95 %|
**Outside of this intensive casework, we provided outreach support interventions to families in our communities - providing the following contributions to outcomes:**
||1101 / 2027|
|---|---|
|Outcomes|Interventions providing indicators|
|Improved life chances, confidence, and emotional resilience|746 / 1174|
|Improved parenting skills, confidence, and emotional well being|793 / 1474|
|Improved links with the community|217 / 473|
|Parents will have less reliance on outside intervention|191 / 646|
## **To back up these indicators, we seek feedback from schools**
Where highlighted as an issue, teachers reported an improvement in:
|-|behaviour|100 / 82 %|
|---|---|---|
|-|confidence/self-esteem|88 / 76 %|
|-|emotional/physical wellbeing|86 / 75 %|
|-|attendance/ punctuality|66 / 70 %|
|-|attitude to schoolwork|86 / 70 %|
|-|relations with peers|100 / 61 %|
|-|relations with teachers|80 / 71 %|
|-|contact between school & family|95 / 91 %|
|-|access to after-school activities|100 / 77 %|
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **Governance**
## **Charitable Objects**
The **charitable objects** of the charity as set out in our new Constitution, are
To advance the education and development of children and their parents/carers in North Cambridge by providing support, activities and services designed to
- develop the capabilities, competencies, skills and understanding of parents/carers
- support children and families facing emotional and behavioural challenges
- reduce the number of children and families with emotional and behavioural challenges
- improve school attendance and educational performance
- increase empowerment and participation of hard-to-reach families
- improve social integration, access, and participation in the community
## **Powers and delegations**
The Board of Trustees holds all the charity's powers and authorities. It is ultimately responsible for the charity's overall control and strategic direction and protection of its assets. Day-to-day running of the charity is the responsibility of the Project Lead, Sarah Crick.
The Trustees of the charity are appointed by the Board and are representative of our community, our families, and our schools, and they met four times during 2021-22. Trustees are re-elected annually at the AGM unless they choose not to stand for re-election. Our quorum is two, or the number nearest to a third of the total trustees, whichever is greatest. The names of Trustees served during the year are listed on page 2.
New Trustees attend an initial meeting where they are provided with a full report on the charity's activities and their roles and responsibilities as Trustees. Trustees are encouraged to call meetings of Trustees whenever they feel it is necessary to discuss any issues that arise. Ongoing training is available as needed.
## **Statement of responsibilities of the Trustees**
Red Hen's Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Trustees review and agree financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity.
The Trustees are responsible for ensuring the employees of the charity maintain proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity Commission's requirements.
The Trustees 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.
## **Statement of Public Benefit**
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'. That guidance addresses the need for all charities' aims to be demonstrably for the public benefit.
The Red Hen Project addresses its objectives by providing early intervention in the form of intensive family work, complemented by a range of outreach support designed to support children and families on their journey to independence. This report highlights the achievements of this work over the year.
We aim to help children and families experiencing challenges and disadvantages in our community. No person is excluded on the grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or social position.
_The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22_
## **Our Thanks**
## **Our staff and volunteers**
Our greatest thanks go to our team of amazing family workers - **Rachel Bennett** , **Maria David, Theresa Quarmby** and **Gemma Pavitt,** plus **Julie Kigira,** who worked with us during this year. They are complimented by our new Project Worker, **Vicky Waterton,** who has been a superb addition to the team with a focus on poverty-related help.
They have gone above and beyond to support children and their families throughout the year with kindness and passion. They have ensured families are treated with dignity and compassion whilst building their confidence and helping them to independence.
Alongside the core team of staff, **Jen Rutter** joined to support our Project Lead Sarah Crick, Kathy Skill Will Males and Rhianna Milton continue to play an important role in the delivery of ad hoc projects.
The role of **volunteers** has continued to grow in importance. We thank all those individuals who volunteered in any capacity and are grateful for all their hard work and commitment. We particularly thank
- our team of helpers at our drop-in groups
- our 'Nigella', **Hilary Duncan,** for all her dedication to the development and delivery of Club Cook
## **Our funders and supporters**
Particular thanks to
local software company **Elica** for both their kind donations and giving us our own office space
**Neil Bharadwa** and the incredible customers of **Cambridge Fruit Company**
- **The Bradfield Centre** for gifting us a co-working membership
**The National Lottery Community Fund, Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Amazon Cambridge, Arnold Clarke, Bango, Barratt & David Wilson Homes, Beam Group, Cambridge Consultants Ltd, Cambridge United Charities, Cambridge University Press, City & University of Cambridge Masonic Charitable Trust, Hornbeam Trust, Jesus College, John Lewis, KISS Communications, MathsWorks, One Stop, Reach Community Solar Farm, Redgate Software, Rosmarinus Charitable Trust, Steak and Honour, St John's Church Orchard Park, St John's College School PTA, Tesco, Barnabus Oley Trust (Clare College), Waitrose**
Our family of regular donors, including Verity Allan, Colin Bell, Elizabeth Brent, Rev & Mrs Blanchflower, Dr Helen Cook, Amy Cooper, Dr Lindsay Crisp, Thomas Flynn, Elaine Fulton, Quentin Golder, A & L Harris, James & Susie Lewis, Elizabeth Klaar, Dr David Parry, Andrea Senf, Dr Amanda Stranks, Mr & Mrs Walsh and Hester Wells
and many other fundraisers, individuals and groups*, including Red Hen Runners who took part in the Cambridge Half Marathon, Tandy & Roy Harrison and the friends and family of Iris Brown and Anne Knapp in memorium.
Your grants and donations have enabled us to deliver a professional and effective service helping those children and families most in need. Our lottery funding did not cover all our costs, and we count on your generosity to transform the lives of children and their families.
## **Our partnerships**
We thank our partner schools' heads, teachers and broader staff, especially during these challenging times.
We thank the many organisations and individuals* who donated their resources, expertise, experience, time and energy. Your belief in what we do and the help you give are crucial to our success.
**Beesom, Cambridge Aid, Cambridge Bikers Christmas Toy Run, Cambridge Community Nursing Trust, Cambridge City Foodbank, Cambridge Sustainable Food, Church of the Good Shepherd, Football Fun Factory, GrowKids, Jesus College, Kettle's Yard**
_* There are too many of you to mention individually, and many of you have requested anonymity. If we have missed you, please forgive us – COVID has stretched our capacity, and we have prioritised supporting families during this difficult time. Thank you for your understanding._
## **Treasurer's report 2021/22**
**Income** £232,236
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Management
and admin 13%
Running costs
16%
Expenditure
£208,437
Direct service delivery
72%
**----- End of picture text -----**
We ended the year 2020/21 with a surplus balance of £138,059 and ended 2021/22 with a credit balance of £161,031. Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2022 are available for inspection.
As the Charity has evolved, so has the complexity of the finances; this continues to be reflected in the financial statements within this report and in future annual accounts.
**Budget 2021/22**
|Income|£188,809.|
|---|---|
|Expenditure|(£201,938)|
|We set an in-year deficit budget of|(£13,129)|
|With the carry forward from 2020/21, we set an overall surplus to be carried forward as of 31||
|March 2022 of|**£124,930**|
## **Year-end position**
|Income|£232,236|
|---|---|
|Expenditure|(£208,437)|
|The in-year surplus was|£23,799|
|With the 2021/22 carry forward, we ended the year with an overall balance to be carried||
|forward as of 31 March 2022 of|**£161,858**|
The difference between the original budget and the year-end position is due to a substantial increase in grant income as the Charity seeks to diversify its funding streams given the end of the main lottery funding in April 22.
As part of the detail provided within the financial statements, we have shown the brought forward balances as unrestricted, restricted, and designated. The movement between unrestricted and designated funds is in line with the updated designated funds policy (see further details below).
## **Performance**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Income: plan and actual 2021-22
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Donations Fundraising Grants Other income
Budget £'000 Actual £'000
**----- End of picture text -----**
During 2021/22 we received £43,427 more income than budgeted.
Most of the additional income was generated through increased donations and additional grant funding. This was primarily due to the Project drive to diversify its income streams.
Many thanks to those who granted and donated funds so generously; please see the end of the report for more details. The additional income meant we were able to provide more support to families during the pandemic.
## **Funding**
## **Lottery and other grant funders**
Until April 2022, The Big Lottery funded our work through our second four year Reaching Communities grant. We are grateful to have received further support from several other funders, including Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City Council, and South Cambridgeshire Council.
## **Fundraising, groups giving and individual donors**
This financial year has seen continued support through fundraising, donations from groups and organisations, and individual supporters. These funds have allowed the Red Hen Project to embark on numerous initiatives that have aided those in the community through a particularly challenging time.
We had a team run the Cambridge Half Marathon, and we ran our own successful Spring Challenge where groups and individuals chose their own challenges and raised funds.
We were gifted funds from many individuals, including over £10,000 from supporters giving regularly.
Fundraising Individual donations Regular donors
**----- Start of picture text -----**
49%
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
32%
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **School Contributions**
Our schools continue to face huge pressures on their budgets, but in recognition of the value of our work and the funding constraints we face as a charity, our schools have increased their contributions towards the costs of the service they receive from Red Hen over the last 2 years.
## **Business engagement**
Our partnerships with Elica and Cambridge Fruit Company remain strong, plus we have had support other businesses, including significant support from Amazon, Arnold Clarke, Barratt and David Wilson Housing, Beam Group, Cambridge Consultants LLC, John Lewis, One Stop, and Tesco.
## **Grants for individuals**
We continue to apply for and distribute funds to individual families experiencing hardship. We are particularly grateful to Cambridge Aid, along with Cambridge Community Nursing Trust and other niche funders. We also were able to support families with fuel and food, distributing and administering funds for the City Council, and specifically in Orchard Park with funds from the district council. Finally, The Ley’s gave us support to set up a grant fund for families to apply for support to enable children to attend extracurricular activities – for example, Scouts, dance classes, etc.
## **Expenditure**
The increase in the income and size of the project has allowed us to invest in increasing the size of our team, taking on external professional advice and most importantly enhancing our services.
Our Innovate grant funded two part-time family workers for a one-year period. We were also able to employ a part-time project worker to focus on our poverty relief work and to support the growth in the number of our drop-in groups from one to four.
## **Reserves and designated funds**
## **Purpose**
The Red Hen Project holds reserves to ensure the continuation of its services to meet its charitable aims and objectives as well as have the ability to meet financial commitments of unforeseen events. These funds are split between reserves and designated funds.
## **Reserves**
The Charity aims to hold a sufficient level of reserves to cover the operating costs of a 3-month period in the event of a significant reduction in income. This would allow for family case work to be completed or pass on to appropriate support. These reserves can also be used for unexpected emergencies or unforeseen significant increases in operational expenditure.
The reserves provide the project with adequate financial stability and the means for it to meet its charitable objectives for the foreseeable future.
## **Designated funds**
Designated funds are unrestricted funds that have been earmarked for a specific purpose. The Board of Trustees has approved a designated funds policy. The policy has several areas identified by the Trustees as exciting opportunities for future growth of the Charity's work. These can be found in note 7 in the annual accounts.
The Red Hen Project’s reserves and designated funds position as at 31[st] March 2022 is as follows:
|**Restricted funds:**||||£1,542|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Unrestricted funds:**|-|Reserves||£49,000|
||-|Designated Funds:|||
|||-|Core Family Work|£40,000|
|||-|Poverty Relief Project|£20,000|
|||-|Transformational Funds|£15,000|
|||-|Premises Fund|£5,000|
||-|General|Funds|£31,316|
|**Total funds**||||**£161,858**|
## **Governance**
As the Charity has evolved, it has also improved its governance arrangements. The Finance and Risk SubCommittee reviews the Charity's financial performance, strategy, and risk profile on a quarterly basis.
**The Red Hen Project 51 Cambridge Road Milton CAMBRIDGE CB24 6AW**
Lisa King Burdett King Accountancy Limited 8 The Hamiltons Newmarket CB8 0NF
22 May 2022
Dear Lisa
## **Letter of representation**
The following representations are made on the basis of enquiries of management and staff with relevant knowledge and experience such as we consider necessary in connection with your report on the charity’s financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022. These enquiries have included inspection of supporting documentation where appropriate. All representations are made to the best of our knowledge and belief.
## **GENERAL**
1. We acknowledge that the work performed by you is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and that you do not express an audit opinion.
2. We confirm that the charity was entitled to exemption under section 144 of the Charities Act the requirement to have its financial statements for the financial year ended 31 March 2022 audited.
3. We have fulfilled our responsibilities as trustees as set out in the terms of your engagement letter dated Charities Act 2011, for preparing financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view.
4. All the transactions undertaken by the charity have been properly reflected and recorded in the accounting records.
5. All the accounting records and related financial information, including minutes of all management and trustee meetings and correspondence with The Charity Commission have been made available to you for the purpose of your work.
## **LOANS AND ARRANGEMENTS**
6. The charity has not granted any advances or credits to, or made guarantees on behalf of, trustee other than those disclosed in the financial statements.
## **LEGAL CLAIMS**
7. We have disclosed to you all claims in connection with litigation that have been, or are expected to be, received and such matters, as appropriate, have been properly accounted for and disclosed as applicable in the financial statements.
## **LAWS AND REGULATIONS**
8 We have disclosed to you all known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations whose effects should be considered when preparing the financial statements.
## **RELATED PARTIES**
- 9 Related party relationships and transactions have been appropriately accounted for and disclosed as applicable in the financial statements. We have disclosed to you all relevant information concerning such relationships and transactions and are not aware of any other matters which require disclosure in order to comply with the requirements of charity law or accounting standards.
## **SUBSEQUENT EVENTS**
10 All events subsequent to the date of the financial statements which require adjustment or disclosure have been properly accounted for and disclosed as applicable.
**GOING CONCERN**
- 11 We believe that the charity’s financial statements should be prepared on a going concern basis on the grounds that current and future sources of funding or support will be more than adequate for the charity’s needs. We have considered a period of twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements. We believe that no further disclosures relating to the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern need to me made in the financial statements.
## **GRANTS AND DONATIONS**
12 All grants, donations and other income, the receipt of which is subject to specific terms or conditions, have been notified to you. There have been no breaches of terms or conditions in the application of such income.
As minuted by the trustees at their meeting of 19 May 2022.
Lesley Ford, Chair of Trustees
**Registered Charity No:** 1183845
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Red Hen Project**
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2022.
## **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:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- 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:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- 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.
28 July 2022 Lisa King Burdett King Accountancy Limited 8 The Hamiltons Newmarket CB8 0NF
## **Burdett King Accountancy Limited**
8 The Hamiltons, Newmarket. CB8 0NF Tel: 07825 317323 Email: lisa@burdettkingaccountancy.co.uk
Burdett King Accountancy Limited is registered in England and Wales, company registration number 8571664. Registered Office: 8 The Hamiltons, Newmarket. CB8 0NF. Registered with the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.
CHARITY No: 1183845 Year ended : 31 March 2022
## **THE RED HEN PROJECT**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2022 2021
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Notes Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
RECEIPTS
Donations 1. 46,025 8,872 54,897 68,564
Fundraising 7,920 - 7,920 15,072
Grant funding
- Lottery - 79,930 79,930 77,965
- Innovate 2. - 37,337 37,337 12,446
- Other 3. - 23,600 23,600 19,143
Grants for individuals 4. - 6,147 6,147 8,000
Interest received 8 - 8 5
School contributions 20,491 - 20,491 22,394
Other income 1,906 1,906 -
74,444 157,792 232,236 223,590
PAYMENTS
Allocated individual grants 4. - 5,440 5,440 8,646
Clinical supervision 192 960 1,152 525
Drop in groups & courses - 2,861 2,861 1,977
Family work resources - 544 544 907
Family workers 1,507 90,591 92,098 64,478
Project spends 5. 5,238 9,158 14,396 19,852
Project workers 7,633 18,153 25,786 -
Room hire - 3,750 3,750 388
Telephones 171 1,505 1,676 1,033
Travel & subsistence 261 2,092 2,352 1,673
Fundraising costs 2,642 - 2,642 432
Insurance & compliance - 1,404 1,404 795
IT, office equipment 1,248 230 1,478 4,924
Marketing costs 3,645 - 3,645 -
Memberships & subscriptions 627 2,604 3,231 1,198
Miscellaneous 262 6 268 427
Premises 1,246 4,099 5,345 5,222
Professional & consultancy fees 3,286 9,395 12,681 1,474
Management and admin salaries 14,167 11,150 25,317 8,797
Stationery and postage 278 965 1,243 227
Training - 1,128 1,128 1,995
42,403 166,034 208,437 124,970
Surplus/(deficit) for the year 32,041 (8,242) 23,799 98,620
Accumulated reserves brought forward 128,275 9,784 138,059 39,439
Transfers between funds 6. - - - -
Accumulated reserves carried forward 160,316 1,542 161,858 138,059
BALANCE SHEET
2022 2021
£ £
Treasurer's account 83,107 57,277
Business account 82,649 82,281
Petty Cash 129 43
Debtors 1,528 -
Outstanding invoices (267) (313)
Payroll / pension / PAYE/NI (5,288) (1,229)
161,858 138,059
**----- End of picture text -----**
The accounts were approved by the trustees on 9 August 2022 and signed on their behalf by:
Chairperson……………....…...………...…………….………………….…….. ...Lesley Ford
Treasurer…………………...……………………............……………… …....Jack Atkins
**THE RED HEN PROJECT** CHARITY No: 1183845 Year ended : 31 March 2022
## **Notes**
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1. Donations Unrestricted Restricted Total
Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £
Amazon Cambridge 1,000 1,000
Arnold Clarke 1,000 1,000
Barratt and David Wilson Homes 1,000 1,000
Beam Group 1,000 1,000
Cambridge Consultants Ltd 1,100 1,100
Cambridge United Charities 1,600 1,600
Clare College 2,000 2,000
Hornbeam Trust 841 841
Jesus College 1,500 1,500
KISS Communications 500 500
City & University of Cambridge Masonic Charitable Trust 3,000 3,000
Reach Community Solar Farm 4,000 4,000
Redgate Software 500 500
Rosmarinus Charitable Trust 750 750
St John's Church 1,124 1,124
St John's College School PTA 3,000 3,000
Waitrose 1,000 1,000
Annoymous, regular and less than £500 27,951 2,031 29,982
46,025 8,872 54,897
**----- End of picture text -----**
**2. Innovate Funding** This is part of a £49,783 one-year Innovate grant, commencing April 2021 from Cambridgeshire County Council to provide our family support services as an extension of their Cambridge City Early Help team. Income of £12,446 was received in the previous financial year, of which £9,986 was carried forward to this year.
**3. Other Grants** Alongside our Lottery Reaching Communities Grant and Cambridgeshire Couny Council Innovate Grant we also received funding from the follow organisations:
|Awards for All (22-23)
Cambridge City Council - Area Grant
Cambridge City Council - Community Grant
Groundworks
- One Stop
- Tesco|£
10,000
4,500
5,000
2,000
1,000|
|---|---|
|Other|100|
||22,600|
## **4. Grants for individuals**
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4. Grants for individuals We applied and received funds for individual families from the following grant-giving organisations during
the year:
£
Cambridge Aid 2,120
Cambridge City Council - Food and Fuel Poverty 1,500
CCNT 1,177
The Ley's - Extra Cirricular Fund 1,000
South Cambs Council - Winter Grant Fund 800
Other 550
7,147
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **5. Project Spends**
This is spend specific to our project work, funded from a variety of sources and funds (restricted, designated & unrestricted). These are costs specific to that project, but core staffing and associated overheads typically are not included in this line item.
## **6. Movement in funds**
There has been movement in unrestricted funds in order to meet our reserves level and to support our designated funds policy. Designated funds have been put in place by the board for specific, time-limited purposes.
|**Unrestricted Funds**
General funds
Designated Funds
- Transformational funds
- Poverty relief project (2022-23)
- Core family work (Lottery gap) (2022-23)
- Future office/storage costs
- Translation services
- Reserves
**Restricted Funds**
**Total Funds**|**at 1.4.21**
**Net movement in**
**funds**
**Transfers**
**between funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
38,275
32,041
(39,000)
15,000
13,500
6,500
12,500
27,500
5,000
-
-
5,000
(5,000)
39,000
10,000
9,784
(8,242)
138,059
23,799
-|
**at 31.3.22**
**£**
**31,316**
**15,000**
**20,000**
**40,000**
**5,000**
**-**
**49,000**
**1,542**
**161,858**|
|---|---|---|