BEGINNING AGAIN Accounts and Annual Report For the period ended 31st March 2023 Registered Charity Number 1185334 CONTENTS Trustees Annual Report Independent Examiners Report Receipts and Payments Accounts Statement of Assets and Liabilities
ANNUAL REPORT OF BEGINNING AGAIN For the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 THE CHARrrY • Beginning Again (BA) w&8 registered on 16 seNnber 2019 ty the Charty Commission as a Chaniable Incorr Organisation (CIO), regkstered number 1185334. Adminislraticn has been C8TT*d out ty one of the Trustees (Christopher Armstrong) from hk8 home address. which has been registered with the Charty C¢)mmissK)n as th8 Charivs base. Z THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARrrY The Charllable obJe¢lW of Beginn9 are: To promote the re8ettthent and rehabilitation of offendern, ex-offendern and those at risk of offending in order to reduce rates of rffendIng and to contribule to the creation of safer communities through, Ixrt not exclusNety. the provisn of mentoring, aoh4ice and 0ppKKtUnrtK kn work 8xp8ri8nc8. The Trust•os bell•v• that th• aclfvlilo• of th• Ch•rlty durfng thg r•port pwlod havo 8UPPOrtod the•e objoCtIvM. THE TRUSTEES During the reFLYt pgrlod, th8 TrustO08 d Beglnnlng fv4aln wer8.. lan Wlliam Lewls Parker Christopher John Arnistrry Hilary James Clarke Alison Margaret Newcome Patricia Anne Rogw8 Tlmothy John Shddon (f 7 February 2023) Sharon Elizabeth Vknllard (from 7 February 20231 The Chanty's governing document provides that new Trnstees 8r8 appointed by the existing Trustees. To promote conlinuty. it has been agreed that each Trustee would serve for a Ilrntted period of time wior to seeklng rethapwnlmtt. No Trustee may serve for a period exceeding 3 years wrlhout re4ppointment. A Trustee who has sep4ed for three consecutple temis may nol be re4pFointed for a fourth consecutbve te but be rwpwinted ats an interval of at 81 one year. Efforts lo strengthen the Board by the addit of ffinance, human resources and buslness sknlls are cTrgthng. Christopher Am)strong has indK2ted his intention to resign as a Trustee wrth effect from 31 March 2023. From1 Awil 2023. his &Jministrative roles are to bo carri8d out by Timothy Sheldon (a$ Treasurer) and Sharon wlIard (as Sry and Charity Commissmjn contact). The Trustees have met. mainty wa vmleo confwencww, on 9 oc(xions during th8 reporting year to discuss prc¥Jress and make decisions.
THE CHARITfs ACTMTIES AND ACHIEVEIIJENTS The Background On 25 March 2019. a group of people met to consider the setting up of a charity aimed at providing support for offenders and ex-offenders in Cumbria. FM knowledge ofthe County. it had been identified that therè vras a gap in the provision of communty help t(A¥ards rehats.litat1 those within the target group. It was decided to fonn a new charty and Beginning Again was subseque registered wtih the Chartty Commk$sn as a Charrtabk IncorF(fyrated Organisation. Those present at that first meeting aweed to ba the first Trustees. Undorplnnlng B•ll•f• It was agr88d that the charity WOU underpin1 ty the folkyrting stalement of Beliefs: Inspired ty the Chvi8tian vakJe8 of 8cKi81 ¢on¢wn. our belief8 we: Every individual is of value. Change in attitudes and values can be brougm about, Local communty invotrrfemeDt ha8 the potential to make a p081tlve contribUn to re8etU6ment and rehabllitative prc¢e6868. dr¥ersty 18 a po8itN8." sorvlco Fo¢u• The f(Kus for the Charity ts to give service users the opportunty to prepare for work and for reintegration into thelr communty, with Support provKled by mentoring and certificated work expenen. A wojecl malntalnlng a local churchyard remalned a8 lega of 8 defunct charity and it was agreed that tsklng over Ihls prde¢t, wlth the agreement and enthusi8Stic supwt ofthe Church authorities, vh)uld be 8 good starting pnI for the new charty's operalK)n8. Thal project remains the COTr8t0n8 of the Charity's activities. 4.4 Advhl As explalned In our Annual Rert for 2021-2022. 8eglnnlng Agaln's progress following rts forniation vns effecti¥ety suspended by the impact of the Covid pandemic. The year under review, 2022-2023, has theffjfore been onty the $o¢ond lull year of p1anr Operatn. Recognising the fragilty of exislence in the Third Sector. with the need to develop ¢tts. estatlSh a fim basè and the in8Vitabl8 reliance on the gen¢rosty of donry8 •NI other vOntsry funders. the Tru8t888 adopted a"8ofty sow approach. Thanks to both financial and moral supwt frorn Torp8nhthY District Church Council and the Team Rector. we vtte abie to continue to empby a part-time Operations Manager to oversee the regular Ma1rrten of a large churchyard. By c¢ynmon consent. the service users- ex-offenders- who have corried (Krt the w(xk have done so enthusiaslicalty and to a hh standard. The senior Church Warden of St Mthael and AJI Angels Church. Torpenhow has said.. On beh8Mof myself and Torpenhow Distri* Chuth Cwncl. l %vould like to exprgss our thanks for the 8xcelknt WO (the Operatkms M8n&3er) and his ta8m hgve dtJne in St MKhaels Chuthyarf this year. Knowiw h(AV diffUl1 rt is to maintain this18r96
area, not only have they maint8ined the cuffent and newerparts of the ChuhY8rf to a much appreciat&Y standard, but have alK worted to clear an additkwl area in the burial area and cut back a large part of the old churchyard. I petsonally would likè to add my thanks kythe ffexibmify shown in m66tiTrJ our n86ds when we have had weddings and fiinernls other spec1 requests. BesKles the regular at TorpenhcAv, the prOjt has carried out wotk at other sites and tslks are in pro3ress to secure regular contracls at other locations, Including expansion inlo Ihe 60ulh of the c(nty. Naluralty this wlll require addressing issues of super11sn. manrthver and the purchase of more equipment. The undeTtying purpose of the project included the provlslon of approprlate training for service users, with the aim of improving their ernptyment prospects. Consequentty the Operthns Manager continued to use the fomal LANTRA qualifications in the use and maintenance of hoitthttural equipment, heath and safety, first aid and training technKiues. obtarned thanks to a grant from the Cumbria Police and Crime C¢)MmS1on8r. Under hré tutelage, servKe users who demonstrate capalility in the use of the rn&hinery and also their relkgbilty and commitment, will have their achievements recorded in ¢ertific•tes thi¢h can supwt their search for employment. However helping attendeos roach compet8n(x in the use of machinery 1$ onty part of the role oflhe Operations Manager who, with adive 8UPPOrt from Trustees, take8 personal interest in each participant, offering advti and SUPFQrt for them 88 they d881 with the everyday issues that can wise in life. When I started comiw, I was m8d8 to f881 w81(x and n8ver feft judged. Over tho time I've be8n 8tt8nding. ltre188m8d new skims. people have notKed drff8rnnc8 in my confklence. my WO rnt& has improved 8nd18hv8ys look fOard to going every Wgek and the enery 18 amazing. It gNes me piid8 and sanse of rnw8nJf to see the job w8 do keeping the church kIng tty and getplenty of oynplimants Irom the locals whKh ts or88t lorsell-est88m. Going h8s liternlly saved my lrfe. It has gNen me the confidence to leave the house and mix wrth otherpeople and showBd me that I have a fvtura in stity. The proi8Ct has 8180 encouraged me in my quest to seek employment. I realty enjoy attending 8ry %*ek. it gNe8 me great s8tisfadn in what l 8chiev8 Ihere, in 8 place where I won't be judg8d and h8ve fingers pointed at me. To date. the h8$ benefftted 7 8efvMX U8evs. of ¥¥ 4 have received offers of emOyMent and onty one has r&entered the (ximinal ju$ti¢e system, fcff an historic offence committed vffjll befor8 invofvement with the project. The progress of each individual is measured by use of a widety-reccgnised tool called CrimePic8. Participants, who are risk-assessed before belng referred to Beginning Again by the Probalion Service or their agent Achieve Northwest Connect. are asgessed on entry and then wularty thereafter. Even though the sample stze remains small. it is FM)881b to detecl prcgress In the attItleS and thinking prc¢es8es of indriiduals. Trustees rwnise the Thprxtan of relalionship with ty stakeholders. especial the Probation SepiKe. Eaty meetings with the Probation Sep4ice and their agent Achieve North West Connect (ANW). estsblished the bona fides of the new Charty and began the discussion into h(M the Chanty could work wrth those l)0dS to support their work on rehabilttation. A Memorandum of Understanding on h¢)w the organisations would work together was agreed with Probation. That dose liaison
continues to tE crucial to both Beginning Again and those referred to the project. It is of key importance that Confiden in ¥¥that Beginning Again can offer remains high, because the project is nothing wthl referral of sutlable candidates for participation. In the past PrObatIc has accepted acc¥editing hrS spent ty a service user against unpaid WO hours mandated under a court Lyder. It hoped that this prath'ce will be extended to other service users. In a fvrther developmen( it was identified that service users very often required assistano wrth handling money. Beginning Again has thefOre developed a mcKlular prrJJramme of training tailored to Servi usèrs arKI others who find diffk%lty in budgetlng on a limited income. As part of onoing to make the Charity elllcient, effeclive and viable, the Trustees have drafted and implemented a Development Plan to underpin their efforts, and have implemented a websrte, containing contsct details, to introduce the Charity to funder¥ and lo the wider public and lo T rts progress. Havlng con81d•r th• Charfty Commlmlon guIdan, th• Tru•tw• bdl•v• that thelr actlvltles are contrlbutlng to the publlc tsan and that thoy havo omplled wlth that guldanc•. THE CHARrrws FINANCES AND RESERVES The agreement with T(xpenhrAV Church CnCil for the upkeep ofthe churchyard has secured a regular donation, enabling the emkknment of a member of staff to supervtse users and grants have been r01ved from the Cumbria Police & Crime Commissioner, the Cumbria Methodist Circuit and the Aspoth'a & District Communty Charity AssoGFatK)n. The Charity has aL receNe(I several other helpful donations and has generated additional funds through work MPl8t8d in other kcations. The Truste8s are grateful to 811 of OUT fundèrs for their generous SUPPOrt and contrnue to seek other stre8 to furlhw strengthen th8 Charlty. It 1$ inevitae wréh Third Sector charitable organations that there is a never-ending need to Sdentify a variety of fundlng sources. Given that charities such as Beginning Again make a Signffjnt contribulion to delNery of national prthies, it is important for govemment- national and local- to accept some resp)nsibilty for ensuring that such bodie8 do not peri8h through *k of financial sUPFrL In vlew of the fact that the Charlty18 sllll very small, the Trustees have decldod that st currenty has sufflclent furKlg to cov•r unavoldablo ¢0gts If nxessary but that It 1$ too •arly to havo a mor• formal Reserves Pollcy. Hover th1• matt•r VAII be under r•gul•r T19. 81gnod on behall of B•glnnlng Ag•ln Trt Trts• 3 1023
Indepathrt Examlner's Report to The Tnstees of Beginning Agaln I report on the accounts forthe year ended 31 March 2023. whkh are set out below. Respective Yesponsibilllles of the Tntsteesand the 11)dendent Examin The charity's trustees are fesponsible forthe prepardtitin of the accounts and tt¥nsidÈr that an audit is not required for this year under 5ectlon 14412} of the Charltles Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Actl and that an independent examination is rbeeded. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accoLtnts under sectlon 145 of ihe 2011 Act follow the procedures lald down In the general DIrectn5 8htn by the commisslon under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Art state whether parthlar matters have me to my attention Basls of Ind•pefthnt ex•mlner'$ r•port My examination was carried out In accordance wlth the general Directions by the Charity Comm15slon. An examination includes a review of the accounting record5 kept by the charity and a comparlson of the accounts presented with those records. It also Includes consideration of any unusual Items or dlsclosure5 in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustee5 conceminB any suth matters. The procedures undertaken do Mlt provide all the evideno that would be reqUId In an audlt and consequentty I do not express an audtt olon on the accourts. Ind•p•nd•nteM•mlner'5 Slem•nt In connectlon wlth my examlnatlon. no matter has come to my attention= 111 whkh 8lve5 me reasonable cause to believe thai in any material respect the requlrements: to keep accounti records in accordance wlth sectkn 130 of the 2011 Act and to prepare attounts which attord 7Mth accountin8 records and CoMY with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been mel or 121 to whlch, in my opinion. attention 5uld be drawn In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Sl8ned: Nam• In Full: Mr5 Joyco KwU•y Address: Stonehav¢ty Tower C4wrL WaYtOP• Applth CA16 6NL Date:25" Juty 2023
BEGINNING AGAIN RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS AccouKr Period l April 2022 to 31 March 2023 Unrestrfctad Funds £ Re5tr1cted Funds £ Total £ RECEIPTS Grants 721. 7250.00 RCharged exp8ns8s Grft Aid 254.43 254.43 271.40 271.40 Bank intsrest 16.02 16.02 Conlr8Ct8d work 947.25 947.25 DonatSon8 391.04 INCOME 130.14 130 ME Accountancy Bank charg88 Consultancy 67.60 67.60 72.00 72.00 2684.95 2584.95 Loan rèpayment 1CQO.C(I 1000.00 Equipment hlre Staff tsxpense8 S•rW¢¢ user expens 1649.43 1649.43 670.05 670.05 In8uranc8 1(.44 1000.44 Purchase of equlpmonl 591.cil 591.00 staff Balgrles $996.68 Trmining Website 1122.86 1eiJ.00 1282.86 11 EXPEND 70.40 160.0 NET RE PAYM 2099.74 Cagh Funds bfoughl lOard Cash Funds at 31 M8r¢h 2023 6462.15 160.00 6622.15 STATEMENT F ASSETS AND LIABILMES Cash al Bank 8721.89 Cash Funds at 31 March 2023 21. Approved by the Trustees on and sKJned on theii bèhalf by TJ.Sh8ldon. Trustee 0*3