## **Trustees Annual Report for period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022**
## Charity Name: **Open House Shaftesbury**
Registered charity number: **1184625**
||Charity’s principal address:|Father’s House Christy’s Lane
Shaftesbury
Dorset
SP7 8PH|
|---|---|---|
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Trustee Name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole year
Andrew Baddeley Chair
Linda East 1 April 2021 to 31 May 2021
Alan Kirkham Treasurer
Sheela Upton
Helen Jupp 1 May 2021 to 31 March 2022
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
|**Description of the charity’s trusts**|**Description of the charity’s trusts**|
|---|---|
|Type of governing document
Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation adopted
29thJuly 2019||
|How the charity is constituted
Charitable Incorporated Organisation [CIO].||
|Trustee selection
methods|(a) Apart from the first charity trustees, every appointed trustee must be
appointed for a term of 3 years by a resolution passed at a properly convened
meeting of the charity trustees.
(b) In selecting individuals for appointment as appointed charity trustees, the
charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience
needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
(c) Nominated trustees. Fathers House Shaftesbury (“the appointing body”)
may appoint 1 charity trustee. Churches Together Shaftesbury (“the appointing
body”) may appoint 1 charity trustee.|
Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8PH – 01747 852994
info@openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk www.openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk Registered Charity No: 1184625
## **Additional governance issues**
Changes to Trustees - The following changes in Trustees took place during the year:
We were delighted that Helen Jupp was appointed a Trustee, effective from 1 May 2021, as Churches Together, Shaftesbury representative.
Linda East resigned as a Trustee effective from 31 May 2021. We were very sorry to lose Linda who has moved to Yorkshire. In addition to being a Trustee, she has also been a key person in the setting up of Open House, heading up the Welcome Team and acting as Duty Manager prior to the appointment of our Open House Manager.
Our Manager and Administrator are supported in, the day to day running of the charity by our Operational Team, comprising lead volunteers heading up various aspects of the charity’s work with Operational Team meetings held monthly.
## **Objectives and activities**
|Summary of the objects of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|The CIO is established for the following purposes for the public benefit
in Shaftesbury, Gillingham and the surrounding villages. Such activities
to be carried out within a Christian ethos:
(1) To relieve persons who are in conditions of need, by reason of their
youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other
disadvantage and in particular but not exclusively by the provision of
advice, support and information**.**
(2) To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing
people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those
people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into
society.|
|---|---|
|||
|Summary of the main
activities undertaken for the
public benefit in relation to
these objects.|Open House is a community drop-in service. Within a friendly "coffee
shop" environment, a number of different services are offered,
including but not limited to:
● Emergency Aid, including distribution of food bank packs &
non-food aid
● Benefit advice [Trained & accredited counsellors].
● Housing Advice [Trained & accredited counsellors]. ,
● Other support services, including letter writing, personal
budgeting & help with preparing C.V. & job applications
● Store House (Distribution of donated furniture & white goods to
qualifying clients).|
Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8PH – 01747 852994 info@openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk www.openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk Registered Charity No: 1184625
● Open Fridge – opened 31 May 2021
All these services are provided on a Tuesday between 10-2pm by a team of volunteers. _[Open Fridge – Mon, Wed, Fri]_ We also work with other local agencies and arrange networking events. Many of our clients are single parents, some of whom have been in abusive relationships. We have assisted several women after they have left the Dorset Women’s Refuge by providing food and emergency aid packs and helping to furnish and equip new homes provided by Social Services.
## **Additional details of objectives and activities**
We are grateful for the many hours volunteers have spent assisting our clients. Without this valuable contribution of time, energy and expertise, we would not have been able to achieve so much.
We are also grateful to Father’s House who provide the accommodation in which we hold our weekly drop-in sessions
## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year.**
The start of the year saw Open House continue to operate at a reduced scale as a result of Coronavirus restrictions with many of our regular volunteers shielding. Social distancing and restricting the number of clients also reduced activity although, unsurprisingly, requests for emergency aid, including food parcels, remained constant. As Covid restrictions were eased, so demand for our services increased. Sadly, with the impact on the cost of living filtering through from significantly higher rates of inflation, we expect demand to rise even more strongly. Indeed, a comparison of our records shows that overall activities in April 2022 were 75% higher than in April2021!
A summary of our main activities over the 12 months to 31March 2022 was as follows:
Food parcels and/ or emergency aid packs – **169** distributions
Benefits advice **95** consultations
Housing advice - **49** consultations
Support services - **71** consultations
Storehouse - **71** deliveries ( closed during lock down period)
Activity packs for children during lockdown - **22**
In addition to our volunteers, we are also very fortunate to have the services of two remunerated support staff.
Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8PH – 01747 852994
info@openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk
www.openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk Registered Charity No: 1184625
Our Project Manager, Nikki has already suggested some exciting new developments, one of which is to open a Community Fridge facility, named “ **Open Fridge** ”; this was officially launched by the Mayor of Shaftesbury on 19 May and has proved to be very popular and we are grateful for the many varied contributions of produce for this facility. From May 2021 to March 2022 Open Fridge distributed 9,794Kg of food and had 2,905 customer visits. Food is sourced from many local supermarkets and businesses, local allotments, farms and individual donations. Food is largely from the surplus that these facilities generate that would otherwise go to landfill.
Helen Beecham is our Administrator and has made a significant contribution to the efficient operation of Open House, as well as a key role in contributing to the original setting up of the legal frame work of the charity.
Our Storehouse delivery service was able to resume as Covid restrictions were eased but this was dependent on our delivery van which was showing its age and the decision was made to replace it rather than spend ever increasing bills to get it through another MOT. In a step of faith we set a budget of £7,500 to find a replacement. An ideal vehicle became available and this was purchased on 31 March. By then we had received a grant & donations that covered around a third of the cost and since year end we are pleased to report that additional grants received have now covered the cost of the vehicle.
We publicise our services through several local channels, including “This is Alfred” and the Blackmore Vale Magazine. We have an active Facebook and Instagram page and are in the process of revamping our website with plans for an online giving button.
## **Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves**
Our policy is to hold sufficient funds to cover a minimum of 3 months operational costs in the event of any loss of income and to meet any unforeseen expenditure that may occur.
Supporting this is a policy to spread regular donations and grant applications over a wide base so as not to be dependent on a limited income source.
## **Details of any funds materially in deficit**
The restricted fund to cover the replacement of the Storehouse van was in deficit by £4,500 at 31 March [Van purchased on 31 March] but this was cleared by 31 May, following receipt of additional grants.
Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8PH – 01747 852994
info@openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk www.openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk Registered Charity No: 1184625
## **Further financial review details**
The charity provides a service to clients and does not award grants. Income received is therefore used to provide services over the ensuing 12 months and, as It is not in receipt of any significant legacies or endowments, it is not necessary or appropriate to invest any funds. A charity investment policy is therefore not applicable
In addition to our faithful regular donors, we have been fortunate in receiving several one off donations and grants throughout the year thus providing a relatively secure financial position at the end of the year. However, this level of income will need to be maintained throughout the coming year to ensure the continued development of the project.
We are so grateful to the following companies, organisations and trusts that awarded us grants during 2021/22:
- Hubbub Foundation – Open Fridge
- Shaftesbury Charitable Trust
- Groundworks [Tesco] – StoreHouse Van
- Meditech
Also, to Virginia Hayward for donation of food hampers distributed to clients at our clients’ Christmas Party.
Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8PH – 01747 852994 info@openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk www.openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk Registered Charity No: 1184625
## **Other information**
Although Coronavirus continued to have an impact during the early 2021/22, Open House continues to develop and expand its work with demand for its services already increasing, both following the fallout from Coronavirus and now the impact of the current cost of living crisis
Levels of poverty are increasing across the country and although Shaftesbury and the surrounding area is to many an idyllic place to live, the effects of rural poverty, including lack of public transport and need to travel greater distances for medical, benefits, etc. appointments is a matter often overlooked.
Finally, Open House is blessed with many volunteers and although some have retired we have had a number of highly qualified and passionate individuals joining our team. Open House intends to train new benefits and housing advisors to assist with an increase of clients.
## **Declaration**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above.
## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
|Signature||
|---|---|
|Full name|Alan Kirkham|
|Position|Trustee; Treasurer|
|Date|18 October 2022|
Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8PH – 01747 852994 info@openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk
www.openhouseshaftesbury.co.uk Registered Charity No: 1184625
**Open House Shaftesbury 1184625 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period** Period start date Period end date **To from** 01/04/2021 31/03/2022
|**Section A Receipts and payments**|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest**
**£**
**10,303**
**1,700**
**1,605**
**186**
**224**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**14,018**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**14,018**
**69**
**1,142**
**1,096**
**181**
**458**
**3**
**909**
**12,237**
**524**
**1,151**
**-**
**-**
**17,770**
**1,000**
**-**
**1,000**
**18,770**
**- 4,752**
**20,656**
**15,904**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**6,500**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**6,500**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**6,500**
**-**
**329**
**614**
**-**
**2,469**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**3,412**
**6,500**
**6,500**
**9,912**
**- 3,412**
**300**
**- 3,112**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**10,303**
**8,200**
**1,605**
**186**
**224**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**20,518**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**20,518**
**69**
**1,142**
**-**
**1,096**
**510**
**458**
**617**
**909**
**14,706**
**524**
**1,151**
**-**
**-**
**21,182**
**7,500**
**-**
**7,500**
**28,682**
**- 8,164**||**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|Donations|**10,303**|||||**13,299**|
|Grants|**1,700**|||||**25,692**|
|Gift Aid recovered|**1,605**||||||
|Fundraising|**186**|||||**-**|
|Other income|**224**|||||**533**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
|Balance of funds transferred from Father's
House Shaftesbury|**-**|||||**3,022**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for_
_AR)_|**14,018**|||||**42,546**|
||||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**|||||||
||**-**||||||
||**-**|||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**-**|||||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_**
**A3 Payments**|||||||
|||||||**42,546**|
||||||||
|Children's Activities|**69**|||||**346**|
|EmergencyAid|**1,142**|||||**990**|
|Donation to charities||||||**114**|
|Client Events|**1,096**|||||**1,084**|
|Open Fridge|**181**||||||
|Fundraising|**458**|||||**160**|
|Volunteer Training|**3**|||||**630**|
|StoreHouseproject|**909**|||||**1,365**|
|Staff Pay|**12,237**|||||**7,514**|
|Insurance|**524**|||||**524**|
|General Administration & other costs|**1,151**|||||**980**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_ **|**17,770**|||||**13,707**|
||||||||
|**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**|||||||
|StoreHouse Van|**1,000**||||||
|Laptopcomputer||||||**644**|
|Open Fridge Project|**-**|||||**7,239**|
|**_Sub total_ **|**1,000**|||||**7,883**|
|**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**|||||||
|||||||**21,590**|
||||||||
||**- 4,752**|**- 3,412**|**-**|
**- 8,164**||**20,956**|
||||**-**|**-**||**-**|
||**20,656**|**300**|**-**|**20,956**||**-**|
||**15,904**|**- 3,112**|**-**|**12,792**||**20,956**|
CCXX R1 accounts (SS) H:\Documents\Open House\O H Annual Return\2021_22\R&P_CIO_2021_22_F.xlsx1
17/10/2022
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B5 Liabilities**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B1 Cash funds**|Signature
**Details**
**Details**
Motor Vehicle - Storehouse
Storage Container - Storehouse
4 Laptop computers
Laptop computer
Storage container - Open Fridge Proj.
Fridge - Open Fridge Proj.
Freezer - Open Fridge Proj. [Donated]
**Details**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
Balance Bank Account
Balance Petty Cash
**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**15,858**
**- 3,112**
**46**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**15,904**
**- 3,112**
OK
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
General
**7,500**
General
**-**
General
**-**
General
**644**
General
**3,414**
General
**512**
General
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Alan Kirkham|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**7,500**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of
approval|
|||Alan Kirkham|18/10/2022|
|||||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS) H:\Documents\Open House\O H Annual Return\2021_22\R&P_CIO_2021_22_F.xlsx2
17/10/2022