NEM Annual Trustees Report Night Shelter Secton 2023
Objectives and Activities
The objectives of North East Mission are: the prevention or relief of poverty and homelessness in the North-East of England by providing: services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty; and to advance the Christian religion in the north-east of England for the benefit of the public through the carrying out of educational and outreach work and to enlighten others about the Christian religion.
For the last four years, the charity has focussed on the delivery of Durham Winter Night Shelter (DWNS). The Night Shelter is a Christian initiative that seeks to answer the Christian call to social justice and care for the vulnerable in society. It is a project that aims to provide emergency winter accommodation for the homeless population of Durham City. It had a capacity to provide emergency overnight shelter for 15 guests over the winter period (between January and March). Each guest was accepted regardless of individual life choices, sexuality, gender or religious affiliation. The Shelter is a safe space in which each guest can get a good night’s sleep, food and access to vital services that will help them start on the road towards permanent housing.
DWNS successfully opened for three years between 2018-2021. This included facilitating the Night Shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. For reasons outlined in our last annual report, the night Shelter was unable to open in Durham during the winter of 2021-2022. The primary reason for this was the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences on securing hosting premises of the Night Shelter.
Night Shelter 2022/3
The Night Shelter reopened in 2022-23, successfully hosting rough sleepers during weekend nights between January-March 2023. North East Mission identified a critical gap within the homeless provision offered in County Durham at the weekend. During this time, it was felt that, due to no fault of their own, more permanent support services drew down their aid between Friday and Sunday night. To combat this, NEM wanted the Night Shelter to offer a consistent Night Shelter presence in the winter months.
The Night Shelter based itself in Salvation Army premises, Sanctuary 21, within Durham City Centre. This space is used regularly by rough sleepers and is a vital lifeline for many of the city’s vulnerable adult population.
The Facts
DWNS opened from the 13[th] January to the 12[th] March 2023. In that time, 206 night sleeps were provided to rough sleepers[1] with 56 different rough sleepers accommodated over the 9 weekends.
The total figures were as follows:
1 This equates to one person taking up one bed.
Total nights = 25
Total Sleeps = 206
Average Night Attendance = 8.24 (8 people)
Notable statistics include that the 2022/23 season was the first time since the charity started that the night shelter’s maximum capacity of 15 was hit. This happened on 28[th] January 2023.
The Night Shelter 2023 received an influx of rough sleepers between 20/01/23 and 29/01/23 with average attendance sitting at nearly 11 rough sleepers per night.
For contrast, during the winter of 2020-2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), the shelter opened 19 nights (roughly twice a week for 11 weeks) providing 21 warm beds for 11 different rough sleepers.
The Volunteers
North East Mission is sustained and supported by a fantastic group of volunteers from the local community, churches and student groups. The whole charity is volunteer led with one specific volunteer coordinating the project without financial reimbursement. We will not name them but it should be placed on record that NEM is incredibly grateful to the support and dedication they showed to the Shelter in 2022/2023.
Over 50 volunteers supported the Night Shelter in 2022/23 .
The Finances
Please see the annual financial report.
The Future – Night Shelter 2023/24
The Night Shelter constantly adapts itself to the demands of homelessness in Durham City and the capacity of our charity to contribute to tackling rough sleeping. This year, we have altered our model again, offering Severe Weather accommodation at the time of acute need rather than having a week-by-week accommodation offer.
The details of this will be described in the next annual report but we are excited to see what God has in store for NEM going forward.
NEM has been sustained over the years but determined and committed local supporters and volunteers. Our fantastic partners include Durham County Council, Sanctuary 21 Durham, the Old Cinema Laundrette, St Chads College, Just Love Durham and all the church communities who have donated and prayed for our project.
Total Rough Sleepers Each Night 2023
13/01 – 6
14/01 – 7 15/01 – 6 20/01 – 13 21/01 – 12
22/01 – 11 27/01 – 1 28.01 – 15 29/01 – 13 03/02 - 5 04/02 – 5 05/02 – 8 10/02 – 5 11/02 – 3 12/02 – 6 17/02 – 5 19/02 – 8 25/02 – 8 26/02 – 5 03/03 – 8 04/03 – 10 05/03 – 14 10/03 – 6 11/03 – 10
12/03 – 6
Total nights = 25
Total Sleeps = 206
Average Night Attendance = 8.24 (8 people)
Charity Registration Number: 1185097
North East Mission Financial Statements For the year ending 31 August 2023
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North East Mission
Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31 August 2023
Contents
Objectives and Activities........................................................................................................................3 Financial Review....................................................................................................................................4 Reserves Policy......................................................................................................................................4 Structure, Governance and Management.............................................................................................5 Administrative Details...........................................................................................................................5 Statement of Financial Activities...........................................................................................................6 Statement of Financial Position.............................................................................................................7 Notes to the Financial Statements.........................................................................................................9
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Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31 August 2023
North East Mission
The Trustees of North East Mission, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, present their Annual Report and unaudited accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102) 2014.
Objectives and Activities
The objectives of North East Mission are: the prevention or relief of poverty and homelessness in the North-East of England by providing: services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty; and to advance the Christian religion in the north-east of England for the benefit of the public through the carrying out of educational and outreach work and to enlighten others about the Christian religion.
For the last three years, the charity has focussed on the delivery of Durham Winter Night Shelter (DWNS). The Night Shelter is a Christian initiative that seeks to answer the Christian call to social justice and care for the vulnerable in society. It is a project that aims to provide emergency winter accommodation for the homeless population of Durham City. It had a capacity to provide emergency overnight shelter for 15 guests over the winter period (between December and March). Each guest was accepted regardless of individual life choices, sexuality, gender or religious affiliation. The Shelter is a safe space in which each guest can get a good night’s sleep, food and access to vital services that will help them start on the road towards permanent housing.
DWNS successfully opened for three years between 2018-2021. During the Winter of 2020-2021, adjustments were required to be made to the systems and processes of DWNS to ensure that it was compliant with the standards required during the Covid-19 pandemic. This included the construction of temporary sleeping pods, working on an entirely referral basis with Durham Council, and the extensive use of PPE.
However, due to complications outlined in the section below, the Night Shelter was unable to open in Durham during the winter of 2021-2022. The primary reason for this was the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences on securing hosting premises of the Night Shelter.
Why did the Shelter not open 2021-2022?
North East Mission intended to run DWNS during the winter 2021-2022. Following on from the safe and successful opening of the shelter during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the charity felt able to provide emergency accommodation that could comply with public health restrictions put in place by the Department for Health and Social Care and Local Authorities.
The model used in the 2020-2021 winter season relied upon the use of permanent wooden pods to enforce social distancing within the night shelter space. This was a successful intervention and was practical given most buildings were left dormant during the pandemic. However, ahead of the 20212022 season, it became hard to both comply with the health restrictions which demanded the use of individual wooden pods and to secure access to premises.
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Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31 August 2023
North East Mission
By December 2021, most church buildings had returned to pre-pandemic use levels (or had aspirations to do so). As such, they were unable to offer us use of the premises because the static wooden pods would have rendered their space inoperable for the 12-week period. Without access to a location, it became clear that facilitating a night shelter would have been impossible.
To that end, the charity decided to pause preparations for a night shelter and entered into a holding pattern. This meant that 2021-2022 incurred minimal fundraising or spend. This should be reflected in the accounts below.
Night Shelter Restart 2022
The Night Shelter reopened in 2022-23, successfully hosting rough sleepers during weekend nights between January-March 2023. This also reoccurred in the 2023-2024 season which will be reflected in next years’ accounts.
We are incredibly grateful for the support that has been provided to North East Mission for many years. This is especially true of our volunteers, Sanctuary 21 Durham, the Old Cinema Laundrette, St Chads College, Just Love Durham and all the church communities who have donated and prayed for our project.
Financial Review
During the year North East Mission received income of £2,666 (2022: £3,606) and expended £5,998 (2022: £788) of funds, leaving a net expenditure of £3,332 (2022: net income of £2,818). £12,527 (2022: £9,709) of unrestricted funds were brought forward from the prior year.
Income
27% (2022: 82%) of donations during the year were from organisations rather than individuals (Elvet Methodist Church).
Expenditure
Of the £5,998 (2022: £788) expended in the year, there was £4,550 (76%) (2022: nil) was spent on Durham Winter Night Shelter and £1,448 (24%) (2022: £788, 100%) was spent on the central running costs of North East Mission.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees aim to hold unrestricted reserves to cover at least 3 months of expenditure.
The total value of unrestricted reverses at 31 August 2023 was £9,195 which is equivalent to 18 months expenditure, making the charity compliant with the reserves policy.
The charity has no committed expenditure, such as salaries or rent, meaning the charity is able to respond to increases and decreases in income.
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North East Mission
Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31 August 2023
Structure, Governance and Management
North East Mission is a Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), which is a corporate body, whose only members are the Trustees. The CIO operates under a constitution and is registered with the Charities Commission.
Trustees are selected through a written application to the Trustee board, followed by an interview and then a consensus agreement from the Trustees.
Administrative Details
Registered Charity Name: North East Mission Charity Registration Number: 1185097 Principle Address: 39 Long Acres, Durham DH1 1JF
The Trustees who have served between 1 September 2022 and the date this report was approved are:
Trustees: John Oliver (Chair) Alastair Taylor Ruth Lackenby Joe Cottrell Amy Hawkin
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Annual Report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees:
John Oliver
John Oliver Trustee 18/06/2024
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North East Mission
Statement of Financial Activities Year Ended 31 August 2023
Charity Registration Number: 1185097
| Note Income from: Donatons and legacies 3 Charitable actvites 3 Investments 3 Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 4 Charitable actvites 4 Other 4 Total Net (expenditure)/income Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward 6 Total funds carried forward 6 |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds Total Funds £ £ £ £ 2,643 - 2,643 3,606 - - - - 23 - 23 - |
|---|---|
| 2,666 - 2,666 3,606 36 - 36 216 4,550 - 4,550 - 1,412 - 1,412 572 |
|
| 5,998 - 5,998 788 |
|
| (3,332) - (3,332) 2,818 |
|
| (3,332) - (3,332) 2,818 12,527 303 12,830 10,012 |
|
| 9,195 303 9,498 12,830 |
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North East Mission
Statement of Financial Position As at 31 August 2023
Charity Registration Number: 1185097
| Note Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand 5 Other current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilites Total net assets Funds of the Charity Unrestricted funds 6 Restricted Funds 6 Total funds |
2023 2022 £ £ 9,498 12,830 - - |
|---|---|
| 9,498 12,830 - - |
|
| 9,498 12,830 | |
| 9,498 12,830 | |
| 9,498 12,830 | |
| 9,195 12,527 303 303 |
|
| 9,498 12,830 |
These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18/062024, and are signed on behalf of the board by:
John Oliver
John Oliver
Trustee
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements
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North East Mission
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 August 2023
1 Basis of Preparation
Basis of Accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with:
-
the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014,
-
and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102),
-
and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
Going concern
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
At the time of writing, the charity is continuing and planning to continue into the future.
2 Accounting Policies
2.1 Income
Recognition of income These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
· the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
- it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources;
· the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Offsetting
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.
Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met (5.10 to 5.12 FRS102 SORP). In the case of performance related grants, income must only be recognised to the extent that the charity has provided the specified goods or services as entitlement to the grant only occurs when the performance related conditions are met (5.16 FRS 102 SORP).
North East Mission
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 August 2023
| Government grants | The charity did not receive government grants in the reportng period |
|---|---|
| Donated goods | Donated goods are measured at fair value (the amount for which the |
| asset could be exchanged) unless impractcal to do so. | |
| The cost of any stock of goods donated for distributon to benefciaries | |
| is deemed to be the fair value of those gifs at the tme of their receipt | |
| and they are recognised on receipt. In the reportng period in which | |
| the stocks are distributed, they are recognised as an expense at the | |
| carrying amount of the stocks at distributon. | |
| Donated services and | Donated services and facilites are included in the SOFA when received |
| facilites | at the value of the gif to the charity provided the value of the gif can |
| be measured reliably. The cost of using donated halls and spaces for | |
| the shelter could not be reliably measured as these were provided free | |
| of charge with no fee equivalent to compare to, therefore, no cost for | |
| these was included in the accounts. | |
| Donated services and facilites that are consumed immediately are | |
| recognised as income with an equivalent amount recognised as an | |
| Support costs | The charity has incurred expenditure on support costs including |
| Insurance, Safeguarding checks and a volunteer coordinated on a | |
| contractng basis. These have been allocated to actvites based on their | |
| tme spent and purpose. | |
| Volunteer help | The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts |
| but is described in the Trustees’ Annual Report. | |
| 2.2 Expenditure & liabilites | |
| Liability recogniton | Liabilites are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a |
| legal or constructve obligaton commitng the charity to pay out | |
| resources and the amount of the obligaton can be measured with | |
| reasonable certainty. | |
| Redundancy Costs | The charity made no redundancy payments during the reportng period. |
| 2.3 Assets | |
| Tangible fxed assets | These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and |
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North East Mission
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 August 2023
for use by charity
cost at least £500. They are valued at cost. There were no purchases of tangible fixed assets in the year.
3. Analysis of Income
| Donatons and legacies: Donatons and gifs Investments: Interest income Total income |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total funds funds funds funds £ £ £ £ 2,643 - 2,643 3,606 |
|---|---|
| 2,643 - 2,643 3,606 23 - 23 - |
|
| 2,666 - 2,666 3,606 |
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North East Mission
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 August 2023
4. Analysis of Expenditure by fund type
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| funds | funds | funds | funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Expenditure on raising funds: | |||||
| Giving Platorm Fees | 36 | - | 36 | 216 | |
| 36 | - | 36 | 216 | ||
| Expenditure on charitable | |||||
| actvites: | |||||
| Building hire | 3,420 | - | 3,420 | - | |
| Shelter Food & Sundries | 275 | - | 275 | - | |
| Workshops | - | - | - | - | |
| Training | 855 | - | 855 | - | |
| 4,550 | - |
4,550 |
- | ||
| Expenditure on other items: | |||||
| Insurance & Safeguarding | 654 | - | 654 | 479 | |
| Volunteer Appreciaton | 698 | - | 698 | - | |
| Bank Fees | 60 | - | 60 | 93 | |
| 1,412 | - | 1,412 | 572 | ||
| Total expenditure | 5,998 | - | 5,998 | 788 | |
| Other informaton | |||||
| Analysis of expenditure on charitable actvites: | |||||
| Actvites | Grant | Support | 2023 | 2022 | |
| undertaken | funding | costs | Total | Total | |
| directly | of actvites | funds | funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| North East Mission |
- | - | - | - | - |
| Durham Winter Night Shelter | 4,550 | - | - | 4,550 | - |
| 4,550 | - | - | 4,550 | - |
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North East Mission
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 August 2023
5. Cash at bank & in hand
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||||
| Cash at bank and on hand | 9,498 | 12,830 | ||||
| 9,498 | 12,830 | |||||
| Charity Funds | ||||||
| Fund Name | Type* | Opening | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | Closing |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| General Fund | U |
12,527 | 2,666 | (5,998) | - | 9,195 |
| Durham Winter Night Shelter |
R |
303 | - | - | - | 303 |
| Total funds | 12,830 | 2,666 | (5,998) | - | 9,498 |
6. Charity Funds
- U – Unrestricted, R – Restricted
7. Transactions with Trustees and related parties
During the year, no Trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with their charity or a related entity.
During the year, 1 Trustee was reimbursed £698 for expenses incurred on volunteer appreciation (2022: none, £nil).
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