## Gateway into Life _(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Charity number 1184557_ Annual Report Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31[st] December 2024 ## CONTENTS ## Administrative Information Annual Report of the Trustees 2024 Financial Report and Accounts ## **Gateway into Life Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31[st] December 2024** The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 ## **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 renewed until 22/07/2026 Dr Joss Bray Friendship and Support Group link trustee Initial appointment 01/03/2021 renewed until 01/03/2027 Mr David Harbertson DBS recruiter and Safeguarding Officer Initial appointment 23/07/19 renewed until 22/07/2027 Mr Steve Hardwick Initial appointment 24/04/22 until 23/04/2025 Mrs Susan Pearsons Treasurer Initial appointment 24/01/2022 until 23/01/2025 ## Resignations No trustees have resigned ## **Independent Examiner of Accounts** Mr J Archer ACA, Chartered Accountant, 4 Willoughby Park, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1ET **Bankers** – Current Account: Lloyds Bank (TSB) Deposit Account: Kingdom Bank ## **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. There have been no changes in 2024 to the constitution. ## **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. ## **Responsibilities of the Trustees** The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the charity is true to the 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** Our treasurer, Mrs Susan Pearsons, was appointed as a Trustee early in 2022 and took over full responsibility for the charity accounts at the start of 2023. ## **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 - 2. 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 - 3. 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 gave us access to a model that enabled us to quickly establish our first house and also policies, guidance and regular support both remotely and through face to face meetings. As part of the franchise agreement, HiA routinely assesses the quality of our work, every 6 months, using a Quality Assurance Matrix (QAM). One check is carried out remotely to ensure that our records and compliance are up to date. The other check is an in person visit when different partners and users are interviewed. The resulting QAM provides a clear picture of what we are doing well and if necessary action points to improve our operation. We have received positive feedback from our QAM’s . ## **Houses** The Alnwick house that opened in March 2020 continued in early 2024 to provide supported accommodation for ex-offenders. During 2024 the house investor indicated that they may need to sell the property. A new investor has been found and the intension is for the house to change ownership early in 2025. Meanwhile, the house has been empty since the final tenant left in October 2024. A new house in Rothbury has been purchased by a different investor and following some refurbishment is available to take tenants, supported by Armstrong Hall Christian Fellowship. Presently this house is empty. ## **Empowerment Worker (EW)** The Empowerment Worker provides professional support to tenants. In July 2023 we appointed a new EW following the resignation of the existing EW. The EW hours were reduced from 22 hours a week to 18 hours a week in November due to there being no tenants in the houses at that time. ## **Volunteers** In addition to the Trustees volunteers from local churches have been supporting the work. All volunteers receive safeguarding training and role specific training. ## **Church Support** During 2024 the work of Gateway into Life has benefited from the support of 3 churches. Gateway Church Northumberland, based in Shilbottle has provided tenant support for 5 years. They have now stepped down from this role. Both Alnwick Baptist Church in Alnwick and Armstrong Hall Christian Fellowship in Thropton have newly formed Friendship and Support Groups. Both groups are preparing themselves to support the Alnwick house and the Rothbury house respectively. ## **Safeguarding** The charity takes safeguarding seriously although technically the adults that we work with are not classed as vulnerable. Nevertheless, 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. When houses are occupied we receive housing benefit payments direct from Northumberland County Council. Tenants also pay a personal charge. This helps to pay for TV licence, internet connection and water charges. Some additional support has come from HiA UK as a result of their national appeals. ## **Reserves** In keeping with Charity Commission recommendations, the trustees have agreed to aim for a 6 month running cost reserve. At the end of 2024 we held £13,599 in a Kingdom Bank deposit account. ## **Plans for the future** 2024 has not been the easiest of years due to there being 2 empty house by the end of the year. It is hoped that the change of ownership for the Alnwick house will go smoothly so that this house will again be occupied in 2025. Plans for the Rothbury house are less clear as at present no suitable referrals have been received. The use of this house will need to be kept under review. Trustees are still committed to supporting ex-offenders but are considering single occupancy housing as this may be ma more suitable option for these tenants. ## **Independent Examiner of Accounts** Mr J Archer ACA, Chartered Accountant,has examined our accounts and 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 14/07/24 and signed on its behalf by Mr Paul Allen (Chair) ## **APPENDIX 1: G2L Annual Accounts 2024 & Examiners Report** 03 May 2025 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REpoirr TO THE TRUSTEES OF GATEWAY INTO UFE l ￿port on the accounts for the year ended 31 t)￿mber 2024 Res ective res onsibilities of mernbers and eyaminer As member5 {trusteesl with responsibiltty for the preparation of the accounts. you consider that an audit in not required thi5 year under 5ettion 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 {-the 2011 Act") and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibiltty to: Examine the accounts under sectk)n 145 of the 2011 Act: Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions glven by the Charity Commission under section 14515llb) of the 2011 Act.. and Stste whether portrcular matter5 have come to ry attention. Basis of Inde ndent Examinerfs Re ort My examination was carried out in accordan￿ wtth the general Direthons given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It 0150 includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you a5 member5 (trustees) concerning any such matter5. 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 next Statement. Inde endent Examinerfs Statement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to rny attention: which gives me reasonable cause to belteve that in any material respert the requirements: o To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and o To prepare accounts which accord w5th the accounting records and comply with the accounting regulations contained within the 2011 Act. have been met; or 2. to which. in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Jon ArcherACA Chartered Accountant 4 Willoughby Park Alnwick Northumberland NE66 IET