2021-12-31-accounts

Gateway into Life

(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Charity number 1184557

Annual Report Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31[st] December 2021

CONTENTS

Administrative Information

Annual Report of the Trustees

2021 Financial Report and Accounts

Gateway into Life Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31[st] December 2021

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2021

Administrative Information

Charity Name: Gateway into Life Charity registration number: 1184557 Charity Registration: 23[rd] July 2019

Registered Office and operational address : Ryehill Farmhouse Thropton Morpeth Northumberland NE65 7NG

Trustees Mr Paul Allen Chair Initial appointment 23/0719 until 22/07/2023 Mr Robert Burston Treasurer 2021 Initial appointment 18/11/19 until 17/11/2022 Mr David Harbertson DBS recruiter and Safeguarding Officer Initial appointment 23/07/19 until 22/07/2021 Mr Joss Bray Management Team link trustee Initial appointment 01/03/2021 until 01/03/2024 Mrs Susan Pearsons Treasurer 2022 Initial appointment 24/01/2022 until 24/01/2025 Resignations Mrs Joan Verity Appointed 05/08/19 resigned 31/07/2021 Mrs Sarah Fenwick Appointed 16/09/19 resigned 26/07/2021

Independent Examiner of Accounts

Mr J A Farndale, Treasurer of The District of Alwinton with Holystone in the Parish of Upper Coquetdale.

Bankers - Lloyds Bank (TSB)

Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document

The organisation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered as a charity on 23[rd] July 2019. The charity was established with a constitution with charity trustees as the only voting members.

The constitution allows for between 3 and 12 trustees, a maximum of 7 of these may be appointed by Gateway Church Northumberland.

Recruitment and Appointment of the Trustees

Under the requirements of the Constitution, except for the initial Trustees, every Trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Trustees.

There shall be a minimum of three and a maximum of twelve Trustees.

Any person retiring as a Trustee is eligible for reappointment.

All member of the Trustees give their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity.

Gateway into Life was set up as a result of a small working group that looked into how best to support prisoners upon their release. Gateway Church Northumberland was instrumental in setting up Gateway into Life as a CIO. The Church also agreed to underwrite the Charity as it was set up and until it received sufficient independent support. The commitment of the Church is reflected in the Constitution that allows for the Church to appoint up to 7 trustees thus ensuring that the ethos of the Church is maintained in the charity.

Responsibilities of the Trustees

The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the charity is true to its’ objectives, fulfils all legal requirements, account for all giving to the charity and ensures that funds are used appropriately. To this end the treasurer prepares financial statements for each Trustee’s meeting which give a true and accurate view of the state of the finances of the charitable company.

The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose accurately at any time the financial position of the CIO and to enable the trustees to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the CIO and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In addition to the above responsibilities the trustees recognise their legal responsibility to safeguard all vulnerable people who are beneficiaries, volunteers or paid workers.

As the CIO’s Trustees, we certify that so far as we know, there is no relevant financial information of which the charity’s reviewer of accounts is unaware. We have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the charity’s reviewer also knows that information.

Treasurer

The treasurer asked to stand down from this responsibility at the end of the 2021 financial year but to remain as a trustee. A new trustee was found early in 2022 who was willing to take over the role of treasurer.

Purposes and Objectives

Our charity's purposes as set out in the objects contained in the CIO’s constitution:

The Objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit:

• 1. The advancement of the Christian religion in the United Kingdom in accordance with the statement of faith produced by the Evangelical Alliance
• 1. To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind, including the provision of accommodation, in Northumberland and other such parts of the United Kingdom as the Trustees from time to time may think fit
• 1. To advance the rehabilitation of vulnerable adults including ex-offenders, people with addiction problems and the homeless, in such ways that the trustees think fit, including through the provision of mentoring, advice and supervision to assist them to break the cycle of reoffending, relapse and homelessness by developing their capacity, skills and experience in such a way that they are better able to identify and meet their needs and to participate more fully in society.

Hope into Action UK

Since the registration of Gateway into Life (G2L) as a charity on 23rd July 2019, the Trustees have worked to fulfil the Charity Objectives by establishing a franchise with Hope into Action UK (HiA). HiA is a national housing charity with a similar Christian ethos to G2L. We are indebted to HiA for the excellent support they have given to us. Our franchise has given us access to a model that is enabling us to quickly establish our first house and also policies, guidance and on line support. Face to face training has also been accessed.

Alnwick House

By the end of 2019, working with HiA, an investor was found to purchase a house. Our search for a house resulted in a house being purchase in Alnwick in November 2019. A business lease was signed between the investor and G2L in March 2020 with a tenant moving in during March 2020. This tenant stayed with us until October 2021.

During 2021 the Covid pandemic limited our work, but even so we have been able to house a total of 3 other tenants. Of these, 2 were short term (less than a month) and the other tenant who came to us in November 2021 is still resident with us.

Empowerment Worker (EW)

The Empowerment Worker provides professional support to tenants. During 2021 we had a change of EW following the departure of our first EW due to family pressures. The new EW has a background as a Local Authority solicitor working with vulnerable families. In addition she is a committed Christian who is equipped to help fulfil the objectives of the charity. The new EW commenced work in March 2021.

Volunteers

In addition to the work that the Trustees are undertaking, there is a Hope into Action Northumberland (HiAN) Management Team comprising a trustee, our Empowerment Worker and Church Friendship and Support Group representatives. This Team takes responsibility for the day to day running of the Alnwick house and supporting both the tenants and the EW.

Safeguarding

The charity is working with vulnerable adults and so all trustees, workers and volunteers are recruited using recognised safer recruitment procedures. All are formally vetted and DBS checked. Safeguarding training is undertaken on a regular basis.

Finances

The charity has a number of individuals who generously give to G2L each month with much of this being gift aided. During 2021 we received a generous grant from The Vardy Foundation. This helped in the Covid pandemic to offset the reduced income from tenants due to the house having an unfilled vacancy for a lot of the year. The Vardy grant also enabled some refurbishing of the house.

Reserves

In keeping with Charity Commission recommendations, the trustees have agreed to aim for a 6 month running cost reserve. Presently the reserve target is £9,000 and it has been possible to earmark £7,000 by the close of the 2021 accounts.

Plans for the future

Now that the first Alnwick based house is running smoothly, the Trustees are looking to expand the provision by finding other Northumberland churches that want to support new houses. It can take up to 12 months from finding a church to getting a house ready for occupancy. It is therefore likely to be 2023 for this plan to become a reality. Meanwhile, trustees will also look into other ways to support homeless people into training and employment.

Independent Examiner of Accounts

Mr J A Farndale who is the treasurer of The District of Alwinton with Holystone in the Parish of Upper Coquetdale has examined our accounts. These are attached as an appendix.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (issued in March 2005) and in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 relating to small entities.

Approved by the Trustees on 13[th] September 2022 and signed on its behalf by

Mr Paul Allen (Chair)

APPENDIX 1: G2L Annual Accounts 2022 & Examiners Report

INDEPENDENf EXAMINER'S REpO￿r TO THE TrUSTEES OF GATEWAY IF￿) UFE audlt ts not requirwl this year under s8Ctlon 144P) of ts chariti￿ Act 2011 2011 fvLt) and 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act: and gulatiorts (xxtt81￿ within ts 2011 P£t.

Treasurers report on the accounts of Gateway into Life 2021 The finances of the trust reflect the following IThere is a consistent level of regular donations by a small and committed number of individuals. 20ne-off gifts amounted to a total of £2985. Much of this income was related to church visits by the Chairman 3A very generous grant of £7200 was received from the Vardy Foundation 4Churches continue to be vital supporters 5Some restrictions on anticipated income arose because of under occupancy of the Trusys house. This was largely due to issues arising from the pandemic. 6A considerable advance in the establishment of the Trusys reserve fund has been made. The current level of reserves is £7000.00. To fulfil the Trust's stated reserve policy there is need to expand this sum further to at least £9000.￿. Further growth in reserves will be required if current hopes to expand the work of the Trust is realised. Despite all of the pressures arising during the time of the pandemic the Trust continues to establish a firm financial foundation to all artivities. Concerning the future; if expansion of the work is to take place then our current accounts suggest that future funding must be based on a number of elements lexpansion of the number of regular individual givers 2the seeking of support from local churches and individual members of those churches in one off gifts 3the seeking of support from grant giving bodies both within the 'household of faith. and beyond Revd Canon Bob Burston Treasurer for 2021

GATEWAY INTO LIFE Accounts1Janua 2021 to 31 December 2021 Income ndlture Direct ivin One off Gifts Vard Foundation Grant Armstron Hall Rent T1 Service cha individuals 7120.00 2985.00 7200.00 2000.00 6120.00 345.00 EW 1 Sala EW 1 Pension EW 2 Sala EWE ment EW Phone EW Travel EWPa EW leavin House intemet House fumrlure, ca House maintenence House water House council tax House electricit Ho into Action ui ment & IT G2L Travel ex G2L Trainin G2L Insuran G2L Statione & Pos PPE Professional fees Rent to Investor 1562.51 164.00 3756.70 28.51 30.00 110.25 118.00 12.50 425.59 1463.99 1584.30 134.46 1152.06 25.00 920.00 1704.00 48.00 285.64 668.00 7.70 95.66 529.25 2618.40 eT1 nses & Conference TOTALS £25.770.00 £17.444.52 Bank Statement nin income ex ndtture balance 01.01.2021 £6,506.32 £25,770.00 £17.444.52 £14.831.80 Bank Statement Closin balance 31.12.2021 £14,831.80 The Vardy Foundation Grant was allocated to wages in part, the purchase of PPE supplies, the refurbishment of the house and IT equipment and software. Contribtions were also made to other running costs Mr Allen submitted a detailed account of our spending lo the Vardy Foundation and this was approved by them.

Notes to the 2021 accounts of Gateway into Lrfe IThe Trusys reserve policy seeks to earmark a figure equal to six months running costs as a contingency for unforeseen circumstances. The trustees have earmarked £7(XM).00 of present balances as their reserves. 2The Trust employed a new empowerment worker in the spring of 2021.our current EW chooses not to pay into a pension scheme and therefore receives the employer pension contribution as part of salary. 3 There was a small shortfall in salary payments to the current EW in 2021 arising from payroll issues. A sum of £162.30 p was paid in February 2022 to correct this matter. 4The current EW made an expenses claim in January 2022 for expenses that related to 2021. The figure was £611.16p

INDEPENDEKf EXAMINER'S REPORTTOTHETRusfEES OF GATEWAY lfvffo UFE audit is rK)t requirnd this year urKler section 144P) of th8 Ch*iti8s Act 2011 itt￿ 2011 Act) wid 145(5Mb) of the 2011 kt. arKI regulalions corrtained wlthln th8 2011 Act.