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2024-03-31-accounts

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 & Accounts 2022-24

redhenproject.org Registered Charity No. 1183845

The Red Hen Project – Annual Report & Accounts 2022-24

About Red Hen

Legal Status/Registration

Charity Registration Number: 1183845 (previously 1072190, formed 1998)

Registered Address: North East Cambridge Charity Hub, Byron House, Cambridge Business Park Cambridge, CB4 0WZ

Trustees

Lesley Ford (Chair) Sara Garnham (Vice Chair) Bobby Ford Helen Skaer Miranda Gomperts Sophie Evans Christopher Parsons Liezel Hanley

CEO

Sarah Crick

Independent Examiner

Lisa King − Burdett King Accountancy Ltd 8 The Hamiltons, Newmarket, CB8 0NF

Contents

Our 2023-24 Impact Report 2
Our Vision, Values & Outcomes 9
Our Achievements & Highlights 10
Our Work & Reach
Our Team 11
Our Partners
Our Strategic Plan 2022-25 12
Key Developments
Our Thanks 13
Our Governance 14
Finance Report & Annual Accounts 15

Bankers

Lloyds Bank, 125 Chesterton Rd, Cambridge, CB4 3AU

Structure and Governance

The charity is governed by a constitution adopted in 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

2023-24 Impact Report suppoilin our community lo roise ho independent (hildien- workin heolihy ond piomoling positive. confi enl poienling and (ooperalive relotionships between lomilies. schools and other service5 3HI more -668_ have ac￿SSed Red Hen support +llll+l+l+l+lt+ili+i+i+i+l++i+i+i+i+i+l+llli+i+ill*ll•I•+I1l11llIlIll?1•I•I•llllIl1l1l1l 100%

intensively supported for on average 153.,,- ,64 families months At first I was resistant to receive help but after a while it helped me do more with my family Absolutely amazing Easy, helpful Brilliantl Great Excellent Very Good Great, Gemma is very understanding, I was slightly sceptical about having a red hen family worker as I felt it came with a negative stigma, I have completely changed my outlook on this and I'm very glad I took the help '.74-: Brilliant! Amazing -Guod' Good Fantastic Amazing Very pleasant Very Good Brilliant It's been great- had ups and downs but very much on top Wonderful and very useful 1289 visits to our weekly drotTrins 2500+

CHILDREN ARE HAPPIER IN SCHOOL. MORE CONFIDENT AND HAVE BETTER WELLBEING FAMILIES REPORT CHILDREN gr/ 93/ better wellbelng ¢onfidefiee Improvlng h4ppl¢r at $¢hool SCHOOLS REPORT IMPROVEMENTIM CHILDREN HAVING INCREASED EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE. IMPROVED SCHOOLATTENDANCE. AND ENGAGEMENTWITH EDUCATION. AND BETTER MENTAL HEALTH 96/ physi¢￿ wellbd ?r/ self4sh•m PARENTS CARERS HAVE BETTER WELLBEING. INCREASED PARENTING CONFIDENCE. IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF ADDITIONAL NEEDS OF THEIR CHILD(REN). AND BE￿ER PRACTICAL SKILLS (MONEY. WORK. ETC) PARENTS REPORT IMPROVEMENT IN / 90/ 100/ access to Yes•ums thal Iheiy family •¢ds t• by confldenee I parenting general confiden¢e amd wellbeing ?r/ parents report they understand better how lo address their ¢hildYen's needs leaj lo BETTER ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES- INCLUDING AS VOLUNTEERS. INCREASED SENSE OF COMMUNITY fr BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

FAMILIES FEEL LESS ISOLATED. ARE BETTER LINKED TO RIGHT SERVICES AND CONFIDENTTO ASK FOR HELP. HAVE IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS. ACCESS MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO RESOURCES 91/ report'finding it easieyto talk to people like iea¢hm. doctors. murses. about my children's needs, leadi FAMILIES HAVING FEWER CRISES. RECEIVE THE RIGHT SUPPORT- INCLUDING TO MEET ADDITIONAL NEEDS. AND FAMILYLIFE IS BE￿ER gr/ Yeport family life is better. gr/ Yeport'feellng more able to find and gel support for ihem and rny f4mlly' COMMUNITIES SEE INCREASED VOLUNTEERING. PARENTS ACTING AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS. & BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY 96/ parents say they now know feel ihey (an play a part in good parenting tips they helplng make thls communlty ¢an share wilh others a b*fter place for chlldren / zd/ feel m•ro eonfldeni to help out itt th•iY e•mmunity of parents have voluntttyed thelr tlme ea WIDER RANGE OF SERVICES fr ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY BEING USED. FAMILIES BECOMING SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY ACTIVE. REDUCTION IN ANTI-SOCIAL AND RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOUR

COMMISSIONERS & SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE BErrER COORDINATED SERVICES AROUND FAMILIES. AND BETTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SERVICES AND FAMILIES tg/ 90/ of families f•POrt ihlr of faTnili•s r•portthey r•larfpn5hip with th•lr fe1 more abl to ¢op ¢hlld's sehool Is If thlng$ go wY•m hTrpr•vlm4 SCHOOLS REPORT IMPROVEMENT 93/ 100/ b•tt•r ¢••Ydlmat•d $upportf•Y famlly r•lailom$ wlth tueh•r$ by ¢hlld famlly leaJin REDUCTION IN NEED FOR HIGHER COST CRISIS SERVICES. SAVINGS TO THE PUBLIC PURSE. fr INCREASED SOCIAL CAPITAL inclusive reassuring • cuiiiiE¢tion family caring. appreciative non-judgemental SUPPORTIVE. dopendable brllllantx ? appropriat TOR¥ riirii

1001. SCHOOLS REPORT agreed action taken by Red Hen was appropriate and would seek support from Red Hen for children in their class in future if the need arose 'Eed Hem AAf coknpleted PAre I￿9 ¢ottr¢e Af Il•toved outcokner At ¢eAoo/. AA¢ 6eeA wotkihg to put ihto plAee e i'deA¢ ked Aem 9ivei Aer ttsitA cA,Id At Aothe. I AAve ¢eek Muht'¢ ¢e/f- eoAf,'deAee 9tOLts, rae AAC 6eeh 9QiM9 to tAe 9ykn Amd 1¢ knucA thote Wi/lih9/y to cothe Ahd di¢C(4¢¢ A￿Y witA ¢eAool ¢tAff. TAAk you Kot A//yout 9teAt work WitA tAir fas>v/y. tho er. "Very pleased with the support the fdmily have had, Mum seems Much happier settled oppears to have really tur￿ed it arou￿d. The dou9hter is ow 41$0 talki￿9 thore about ¢hildrey)s I￿tereSt5 a￿d ￿0t 0￿ey, which seems to be her C0￿cer￿ before, .1 struggle to day Whenever et out OP bed, let alone the house, when I'm having a bad strug activities calendar Re led over the holidays my little one would brin9 the Hen gave us over to me to see if we can get out and o and have some fun together We ended up going to most of the even s that they put on and even gettin9 ready to leave the house to go became enJoyable. I've seen her confidence grow massivel over these weeks. She has tried so Nany new activitles and skills wlth he Red Hen tearr by her side. She started the holldays relucyant to leave my side unless it was wlth a worKer that she Knew. By the end of it she was skipping off through Thetford Forest with her friends leaving us to run to catch up with them. She was so nervous to start K52 this year but the Red Hen family friends she made along the way all watched out for her all day on her flrst day and came running over to me at the end to tell me what she had been up to. The support I have had as a parent has always been incredible. When I started Red Hen I was cotmpletely recluse and dldn't talK to anyone. I was strugglln my life. mentall flnanclally and as a parent due to man events In ut with heir help, I've flnally found who l am aga n. I never thought I would 90 to groups and the Idea alone would give me panic attacks. But now I'm always one of the flrst people to get to a Wednesda way and t Wellbeing Iroup I made the most amazing friends along the at's all than to youl l am so much better now than when I flrst came to you but l always Know that you would be the first people to help me in any way you can if life were to turn around again. Thank you from the bottom of my heart 3h,, (J351- 3:ILO8q

Our Vision, Mission, Values and Outcomes

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.

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 families and schools and families .

Children affected by poor wellbeing and engagement with learning and school, are happier , more confident and have better wellbeing . This, in turn, creates increased emotional resilience and better mental health, and improved school attendance and engagement with education

Families affected by poverty, stressed family relationships, isolation, and poor access to opportunities have improved family relationships , feel less isolated , access more opportunities and resources and are better linked to and able to seek help . This, in turn, leads to fewer crises and families receiving the right support - including meeting additional needs. Family life is better.

Parents who are struggling with children’s needs, parenting challenges, poor wellbeing, and poor access to services have increased parenting confidence and a better understanding of the additional needs of their child(ren), better wellbeing and practical skills (work, money etc). This, in turn, creates an increased sense of community and engagement with it and improves mental health.

Communities affected by low inequality and socio-economic challenges see parents acting as positive role models , an increase in volunteering and better relationships within the community. This, in turn, creates an increase in engagement , families becoming socially and politically active and a reduction in anti-social and risk-taking behaviour

Overstretched services and infrastructure that struggle to engage some families and with high demand for costly crisis support see better so-ordinated services around families and relationships between families and services. This, in turn, leads to increased social capital and savings to the public purse by prevention of crises.

Our Achievements and Highlights

Our Work and Reach

We have reached over 668 individuals during this year – creating positive impact across our community.

In 2023-24, the needs within our community increased both in scale and complexity, with a range of diverse and interconnected issues affecting children’s lives. Red Hen has been at the forefront, working closely with families to help them navigate and overcome the many challenges they face during these difficult times.

This reflects the national trend of rising poor mental health among both parents and children, increasing financial pressures on families, and incidents of domestic abuse. It also highlights the strain caused by reduced services and long waiting lists for specialised support, such as mental health care, social services, and assessments for additional needs. Additionally, lengthy waits for suitable housing are further exacerbating the mental and physical health struggles of families.

Our family workers have intensively supported 153 children in 64 families, delivering long-term one-to-one casework support for an average of 6 months.

We are proud to provide our family workers with the time they need to support families in addressing the root causes of challenges and creating real, lasting change. This dedicated time not only ensures better outcomes for families but also fosters a positive, motivated team. By prioritising the well-being of our staff, we help maintain high morale and avoid the burnout that can be common in emotionally demanding roles, enabling them to continue delivering exceptional care.

In addition to our intensive support, our community outreach program offers a variety of activities that contribute to positive outcomes and strengthen Red Hen's impact.

These activities provide practical and emotional support, such as personalised advice on parenting challenges, access to well-being drop-in sessions, assistance with fuel grants, and referrals to food banks. Families benefit from participating in parenting courses and joining summer trips and school holiday activities, all of which build resilience, foster community connections, and address immediate needs while promoting long-term well-being.

1289 visits were made to our four weekly drop-ins across North Cambridge, offering more than 2500 hours of open access support in a safe, non-judgmental environment where we reduce isolation and build resilience.

This ‘wrap-around’ outreach support is highly effective in identifying unmet needs, linking the families we are working with into their community, and continuing support as families move towards independence. Knowing that should a problem re-emerge, Red Hen is just a phone call or text message away, or they can pop into a drop-in for a chat, prevents issues from escalating into more serious crises.

Our Team

We are incredibly fortunate to have an outstanding team of dedicated individuals who continue to embody the values and ethos that have been at the heart of the organisation for the past 25 years.

Head of Service Delivery, Rachel Bennett , led the delivery team with exceptional skill and care over the year, ensuring the high-quality support for which we are known. Her leadership has been invaluable in overseeing and developing our services to meet the changing needs of our community.

Our family workers, Maria David, Gemma Pavitt, Bec Kelly and Hilary Briley are kind, non-judgemental and dedicated professionals, who advocate for, and support children and families, building confidence, independence and resilience in our community.

Project worker Stacy Bainbridge quickly proved to be an excellent addition to the team, supporting numerous families with great dedication, further strengthening our ability to provide vital assistance to the community.

Jen Rutter ’s focus on business engagement, community fundraising, grants and supporter stewardship has ensured we can fund our crucial work and grow our reach to more children and families. She is supported by Paula Carter who also coordinates our volunteer program alongside giving support to to the team, playing a key role in supporting the organisation across a multitude of areas, including finance.

Going above and beyond to help children and their families with kindness and passion throughout the year, our team ensure families are treated with dignity and compassion whilst building their confidence and supporting them to independence.

Our Partners

Our schools continue to play a crucial role in highlighting families that may benefit from support, but also joint working to improve the lives of children in our communities. Funding and staffing challenges in all schools mean our colleagues there face rising demands on limited resources. Our service offers some peace of mind to staff as we know the pressures increase, especially concerning child protection and safeguarding, playing an important part in their wellbeing and therefore staff retention.

Recognising that not all families can approach their school for help, our new referral routes are enabling us to support even more families, reducing the barriers to help. Hundred Houses have now completed over a year as a referral partner and we now have a busy and full caseload and are beginning to see some great results. We’re also excited this year to have secured funding to start working alongside our two local GP surgeries with a small caseload.

As part of CB4Ward we have strengthened our partnership with Cambridge Acorn Project , with one of their therapists providing support to our Wednesday Wellbeing drop-in group.

Many new partnerships and joint projects have thrived this year. These have included joint course delivery with Sew Positive , poverty relief with The Liberation Cycle , improving the life of the whole family including pet care with Woodgreen ,

We are particularly grateful to the support of Cambridge Aid and Cambridge Community Nursing Trust who help us provide a safety net to those living ‘on the brink’ of significant financial stress.

More than 70 other partnerships continue to strengthen the impact we make for children and families, as well as enable us to access help and advice, share our experience and best practices, and work together to create solutions to issues facing our community and partnerships to address challenges.

Our Strategic Plan 2022-25

Our strategic plan was launched at our 2022 AGM, and we continue delivering on its seven aims to:

As we move into the final year of our strategy, we start thinking about the next chapter of our story. We invite everyone to respond to calls for involvement in that process.

Key Developments

CB4Ward , is a collaboration of four local charities (Blue Smile, Cambridge Acord Project, CPLS Mind and ourselves), supported by Fullscope and funded by Public Health. It aims to develop and test joint practice to achieve a more sustainable impact for CB4 families with 3–11-year-olds who face multiple challenges. Our central involvement means building on our expertise to do things differently for families that may have previously found the structure of services ineffective or disengaging. We are being inspired by the work of Hilary Cottam and the families we work with.

Our new Evaluation Framework is helping us find meaningful but proportionate ways to measure and demonstrate our impact. Still in the early stages of implementation, gathering baseline data from referrers, parents and where possible children, is helping, along with our use of the Family Plus Outcomes Star™, to show the journey and distance travelled by families working with us.

We are currently implementing a Contact Management System (CRM) which is improving our efficiency and effectiveness across the whole organisation. From taking referrals, recording case notes and logging safeguarding concerns to taking donations, processing Gift Aid claims, and tracking our grant applications it is helping every element of the charity’s operations.

During the year we have also completed Cyber Essentials accreditation,

We have seen a significant rise in referrals of families with complex needs who want support for children with neurodivergence, often where parents are also struggling with their own neurodivergent traits. We have prioritised working with Dr Sara Ireland from the Atrium Clinic to develop and deliver a four-module bespoke course to equip and support the delivery team in supporting families, their own practice and the wellbeing of our team. Providing information about neurodivergence, diagnostic tools and assessments, this program has offered support in ways to positively communicate with schools, innovative activity ideas to try with families and the opportunity for clinical reflective practice on cases with Sara herself.

Our Thanks - funding and broader support

Cambridge continues to reflect stark contrasts of inequality, and over the past year, we’ve worked diligently to engage the generosity and support of the broader community and local businesses in and beyond the wards we serve. Rather than relying on a single funding source, we have successfully diversified our funding streams, ensuring more sustainable support for the future.

Our finance report highlights the contributions of our funders and donors—many of whom have requested anonymity—and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all. Particular thanks to

We thank the organisations and individuals who have contributed their time, expertise and resources, often alongside financial support. Their belief in what we do and the help they give remain crucial to our survival.

Our finance report outlines thanks to our supporters, fundraisers and donors, too many to mention individually, and many have requested anonymity.

Particular thanks to the following special friends

Huge gratitude goes to our growing family of regular donors who provide a critical backbone of support for the charity, enabling us to plan and build our capabilities and services to meet the needs of more children.

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

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 CEO, 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 2023-24. 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.

----- Start of picture text -----
Annual Finance Report Gift Aid
& Accounts 2023/24 9%
Fundraising
12% Donations
33%
INCOME
Other Income £337,032
13%
Fundraising Costs
1%
One-Off / Capability
Grant Funding
Building 6% 33%
Running
Costs
15%
EXPENDITURE
£250,047 Direct
Management Service
& Admin
Delivery
18%
60%
----- End of picture text -----

Governance

As the Charity has evolved, it has also improved its governance arrangements. The Finance and Risk Sub-Committee reviews the Charity's financial performance, strategy, and risk profile on a quarterly basis.

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. The Charity prepares its accounts on an accrual basis.

Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 are available for inspection.

Year-end position

Income £337,031
Expenditure (£250,047)
The in-year surplus was £86.984
With the 2022/23 carry forward, we ended the year with an overall balance to be carried
forward as of 31 March 2024 of £202,812

In the year ending 31 March 24, our year-end outturn was £96,000 better than we had planned.

This success is due to our investment in fundraising and raising awareness of the impact of our work which led to us achieving just over £82,000 more income than budgeted, along with a modest underspend.

We started the financial year with a deficit budget, planning to use unrestricted surplus funds to invest in our capacity following a strategic review that highlighted several under-resourced areas.

As part of the details provided within the financial statements, we have shown the balances brought forward as unrestricted and restricted. The movement between unrestricted and designated funds is in line with the designated funds policy.

Income

The difference between the original income budget and the year-end position is due mainly to:

Income: plan and actual 2023-24

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140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Donations Fundraising Grants Other Income Gift Aid
Income
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Budget £000 Actual £000
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Our drive to diversify our income streams continues with more than 52% of these unrestricted sources of income.

Many thanks to those who granted and donated funds so generously; please see the end of the report for more details.

This income meant we were able to continue to provide support to families experiencing complex challenges.

Referrer 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 continued contributing towards the costs of the service they receive. Our newest school increased their caseload significantly soon after starting the partnership due to the value it found in our service.

We also welcomed a new partnership with Hundred Houses, a social housing provider. Their new referral stream is now fully utilised, and they can offer a unique and valuable service to their tenant families in the CB4 postcode.

Grant funders

We are grateful to have received grants from several funders, including Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cole Charitable Trust, Global Charities and the Warwick and Dominey Fund at Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.

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Corporate
23%
Individual
donations
47%
Groups &
organisations
13%
Regular
donors
17%
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Donations

This financial year we have received more than £72,000 from individual supporters, £19,800 of this was from supporters giving regularly. These funds have been crucial to allowing us to embark on numerous initiatives that have aided children and families in the community through this challenging time.

Close to £15,000 has been received in donations from groups and organisations, including our local Masonic Charitable Trust, The Hawks Club, The Rudd Centre, Reach Community Solar Farm, Rosmarinus, St Benet’s Church, St John’s Church Orchard Park and ESG Robinson.

Fundraising

Our own fundraising events included a team running the Cambridge Half Marathon, and our trustees organising a 25k on Jesus Green. Red Hen family workers organised both a Zumbathon and prize bingo and our Head of Service Delivery raised funds for the charity and Breast Cancer UK by completing the Three Peaks following her successful cancer treatment.

A range of other fundraising activities have taken place, including those with our active involvement and unexpected gifts from others undertaking activities independently.

Rotary Club of Cambridge raised £6,800 through fundraising activities, the Bourne Players chose us as their charity for their Christmas show, and the Turnstone & Conisbee quiz raised much-needed funds.

Cambridge New Singers chose us as their charity of the year and supported us through collections at concerts over the year, plus both Vocal Remix and Accord Choir put on fundraising concerts for our benefit.

Grants for individuals

Great value was received from these activities, taking us into communities where we may have had little presence previously and, therefore, enabling us to reach new potential supporters.

A wide range of other fundraising activities were undertaken throughout the year, including by Abcam, ARM, The Haymakers, Marks & Spencer, Savills and Sanofi.

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Red Hen
organised
events
36%
Other fundraising
64%
----- End of picture text -----

We continue to apply for and distribute funds to individual families experiencing hardship. We are particularly grateful to Cambridge Aid and Cambridge Community Nursing Trust, along with other niche funders.

Expenditure

This year’s expenditure has been kept within the overall budget, finishing the year spending £12k less than planned.

This underspend was due to careful management of costs in difficult times, with some delayed expenditure. Savings in staff costs due to recruitment cycles offset the following additional costs (several non-recurrent).

Managing new risks

Skills development

Delivering to meet increased need

Reserves and designated funds

Purpose

The Red Hen Project holds reserves to ensure the continuation of its services, meet its charitable aims and objectives, and meet financial commitments in the event of unforeseen events. These funds are split between reserves and designated funds.

Reserves

The Charity aims to hold sufficient reserves to cover operating costs for three months in the event of a significant reduction in income. This would allow family casework to be completed or passed on to appropriate support.

The reserves provide the project with adequate financial stability and the means 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 March 2024 is as follows:

Unrestricted funds: Reserves £80,000
Designated Funds:
Core Family Work £51,000
Drop-In Groups £24,000
Poverty Relief Project £18,000
Summer trips & Parenting Courses £5,000
Premises Fund £5,000
General Funds £16,233
Total funds £195,247

The Red Hen Project 51 Cambridge Road Milton CAMBRIDGE CB24 6AW

Lisa King Burdett King Accountancy Limited 8 The Hamiltons Newmarket CB8 0NF

26 May 2024

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 2024. 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 202 4 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

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

GRANTS AND DONATIONS

As minuted by the trustees at their meeting on 23 May 2024.

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 2024.

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:

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:

have not been met; or

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Lisa King
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THE RED HEN PROJECT CHARITY No: 1183845

Year ended : 31 March 2024

THE RED HEN PROJECT
CHARITY No: 1183845
Year ended : 31 March 2024
2024 2023
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Notes Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
RECEIPTS
Donations 2. 97,580 15,926 113,506 67,925
Fundraising 35,527 5,863 41,390 11,551
Grant funding 3. 110,707 110,707 27,467
Grants for individuals 4. 1,825 1,825 2,279
Interest received 991 991 157
Referrer contributions 39,500 39,500 26,000
Other income 29,112 29,112
163,210 173,821 337,031 135,380
PAYMENTS
Allocated individual grants 41 2,909 2,950 3,838
Clinical supervision 1,333 1,333
Drop in groups & courses 5 5,630 5,635 2,908
Family work resources 1,851 1,851 333
Family workers 85,714 85,714 88,043
Project spends 18 11,944 11,962 7,217
Project workers 31,978 31,978 23,045
Room hire 38 2,946 2,984 4,165
Telephones 727 240 967 1,276
Travel & subsistence 120 1,430 1,550 2,519
Fundraising costs 520 520 1,066
Insurance & compliance 1,654 375 2,029 544
IT, office equipment & depreciation 3,219 3,219 286
Marketing costs 870 150 1,020
Memberships 434 434 60
Subscriptions (software & IT support) 8,261 8,261 3,752
Miscellaneous & governance 1,936 1,936 670
Volunteering 3,157 3,157
Premises 6,667 6,667 1,925
Professional fees (bookkeeping & payroll) 13,050 13,050 7,000
Consultancy fees 4,700 2,000 6,700 3,974
Management and admin salaries 27,178 20,994 48,171 26,397
Stationery and postage 480 15 495 1,327
Training 7,375 90 7,465 1,065
77,292 172,755 250,047 181,409
Surplus/(deficit) for the year 85,918 1,066 86,984 (46,030)
Accumulated reserves brought forward 113,315 2,513 115,828 161,858
Transfers between funds (3,985) 3,985
Accumulated reserves carried forward 195,247 7,565 202,812 115,828
BALANCE SHEET 2024 2023
£ £
Fixed assets 1,176 999
Treasurer's account 114,766 45,249
Business account 83,840 82,956
E quals Money 565
Petty Cash 10 157
Debtors 7,832 29,832
Outstanding invoices (1,942) (3,320)
Payroll/ pension/ PAYE/NI (3,435) {2,213)
Deferred Income 5. (37,833)
202,812 115,828

The accounts were approved by the trustees on 8 August 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Chair of Finance & Risk Sub-Committee .. 9- A:��.: ............. Christopher Parsons

THE RED HEN PROJELT CHARITY No.. 1183845 Year ended.. 31 March 2024 Notes l. Accountlng pollcles lal Basls of preparatlon and assessmentof 8oln8 concem The accounts Ifinanci315tatement51 have been prepared under the historical c05t convention with item5 recogni5ed at cost ortran5action value unless otherwise srated in the relevant noielsl to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance wilh the second edition of the Charities Statemeni of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019. the Financial Reponing Standard applicable in the Uniied Kingdom and Republicof Ireland IFRS 1021 and the Charities Act 2011. The charity constltJies a public beneflf entity as deflned by FRS 102. Thetrustee5 consider that there are no material uncertaintie5 about the Charitfs 3bilityto continue as 2 8oin8 concern. Ibl Funds strurture Restricted funds are fund5 which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed bythe donoror trust deed. Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the trustees ère free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Unrestricted funds include design8red funds where the trustees. at their discreiion. havecreaied a fund for a specilic purpose. lel Intome retOEnition All income 15 recognised oncethe charity h35 entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the arnount of income receivable can be measured reliably. DonatiOn5, are recogni5ed whenthe Charity ha5 been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the eveni Ihtt a donation is subjett to conditions thai require a level of performènce bèforethe charity is entitled to the fvnds, the income charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period. Le8acy8ifts are recognised on a case by case basis following the grantin£ of probate when the administratorlexecutor for the estate ha5 communicated in writing both the amount and Settlement date. In the event that the gift is in the form ol an èssèt otherthan cèsh or è financial èsset tr3d&d on a recognised stock exthènge, recognition is subject tothe value of Ihe gift being reliably me8sur8ble with a degree of reasonable accuracy and Ihe title 10 the asser having been iransferred to rhe charity. Interest on fund5 held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity,. this 15 normalty upon notification of the interest paid or p3yablè bythe bank. Idl ExpEndf(ure recognition probableth21 settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure Is accounied for on an accruals basis. All expenses includin8 5UPPOrt C05tS and 8overnance cost5 are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headin£s. Gr3nt5 payable are payment5 made to third parties in the furtherance of the 1h3rit3ble object5 of the Charity. In the ¢35e of èn unconditional grant offer this is accrued once the recipienr has been notilied of the grant award. 2024 2024 2024 Total Fund5 2023 Total Funds 2. Donatlons at)d Fundralslng Restricted Fund5 Funds Be3m Group Bourne Players Cadence City & University of Cambridge M3sonic Charit3bleTrust D&CLon£ Dè553uII Systemes 1,419 1,075 2.800 3,000 10,000 3,480 1.000 2,500 1,000 I,soo 1.500 2,722 25,000 2,000 1.750 6,800 1,279 1,000 1.000 1,473 1.419 1.075 2.8rx) io,w) 3.480 2.5(X> ESG Robinson 1.5LX) 1.5(K) 1722 lack's Gelato john Lewis & Waitrose Reèch Community Solèr Farm Rosmarinu5 Charitable Trust Rotary Club of Cambridge St Benet's Church Thè Hawks, Club (University of Cambridge) The Rudd Centre Iuniversity of Cambridgel Turnstone & Conisbee 1.750 6.8(X> 1,279 1.473 Annoymous, regular and less than £1,￿0 84.071 84.071 154.896 154.896 79.476

  1. Grants 2024 Bentley Advancin8 Life Chan8e Carnbridge CoTnmunity Foundation- Warwick and Doffliney Fund Cambridge Cily Councll- Community Grant (Poverivl Cambridge Ciiy Council- Community Grant (Drop-lnsl Carnbridge City Council- Are3 Grant1Summer Trips) Cambridgeshire County Council- Public Health- (Drop-insl Deferrgdfrom 22/23 Cambridgeshire County Council Cultivaie Grant 2,520 15.(KXI 1354 18,333 15.(KXI Fullscope ICambrid8eshire County Council- Public Health Grant) Green Hat- Deferredfrom 22/23 io,(Ky) Tesco (Groundworks) 110.707

  2. Grants for individuals We applied and received funds for individual families from the following grant-giving organisations during durin8 theyear.. 2024 2023 C3mbrid8e Aid Cambridge Community Nursing Trust 1.383 375 189 Other 67 1.825 2.279 S. Oeferred intome 2024 Deferred income broughr forward 37,833 Income received in 22123 and deferred to 23124.. Cambridgeshire Counry CoJncll- Publlc Health Green Hat Foundation Hundred Houses Society IHHSI -18,333 -10,000 -9,5(N) -37,833 Delerred Sncome carrled lorward @ 3110312024

  3. Projects Projecrs lunded from a varlety of sources and funds Irestritted. designated & unrestrictedl. Core staff costs and overhead5 are often not included In Project. or only covered in part. Openlng Balances @ 1117412023 Total Income (Grants & Total Expenditure Donations) l<knrllUnder Balance @ 3110312024 225 93 Summer Trips. Ibl Club Cook Icl 6,860 6,485 22.234 2.446 16,8601 434 5.807 122.2341 12,4461 598 520 412 39 M3thworksC05y Xma5 Fund Igl Origin31 FW Projert Ihl 14811 173,7551 73.755 33.518 3,686 599 537 I.￿5 119 1401 17,4531 TuesdayTea & Toast Iml Thursd3y Drop-ln Inl Wednesday Wellbeing lol. Winter Food & Fuel- South (pl 7.453 7,816 7,883 17,8831 1401 2,514 172,735 1167,6831 7.565 131 Fund created by donation frotn Beatn Group Ibl Part-funded bycambridge Cltycounril alongside donarion5 frTrm Beam Group 4nd Da554uItSv5terne5' It) pirt-funded by Te&tO and Ctrop If) Fund Ireated bydonation from The Ly's School ￿ Mathworks Igl Fund treated byfundrai51ng by M2thwor Ill Part-fvnded bywarvdirk & DominevFund via Cambridgecornmuniiy Foundation and the MasonicTru Iml Parr-fuDOed by Cambridge COU￿1¥ Council- Pvblic Heamh ?long51de donated fvnd51rorn John Lewis Inl Part-funded bycambridge County(ounoil. Publir Health alongside dgnated funds frgm Mi115 & Reeve. lol Part-funded byCimbridgeCountyCoun¢il- Publit Health alonÈside donated funds fromJatk5Gelatts' In mosttases intern31 projettdefitits are notcarried forward tothe followin$year, inite3d the shortfall is tsk2nfrum unrestricted funds, whereaviilible.

  4. Movement in fund5 Th&r& ha5 been mov&Tn&nt in unre5triEted fund5 in Drderto ourrE5erves lev&1 and to SUPPDrtourdesignated funds poliiy. Designated fund5 have beÈn put In plÈtÈ by the bo2rdftsrspetifi¢ tim&limited purpose&. Net m¢)vement In Transfers funds between fund5 1104123 31103124 Unrestricted Fund5 Gener31 funds 1,027 85,918 16.233 Designated Funds Core family work Drop-ln Groups Poverty relief project Summer Trips & Parenting Course Future offitelstorage costs Tr3n5formational fund5 3.428 47.572 24,0(M) 9.0( 5.000 51.rxii 24.L 18,L¥X) 9,000 5.000 29,000 129,(MM)I Reserves 65.860 14.140 Restricted Funds 2,513 1,066 3,985 7.565 Totsi Funijs 115.828 86.984 202.812