## **Trustee’s Report and Accounts** 

For the period: 3rd February 2020 to 5th September 2020 

Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) 

The Courtney Foundation Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) www.thecourtneyfoundation.org 



## **Administrative details** 

Charity name: 

The Courtney Foundation 

Registered charity number: 

1187689 (England and Wales) 

Principal address: 

126 Five Springs, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 3LJ 

## **Structure and governance** 

Trustees: 

Structure: 

Courtney Cuffy 3rd Feb 2020 - current Husna Rasul 3rd Feb 2020 - current Melissa Llewellyn 3rd Feb 2020 - current Charitable Incorporated Organisation 

Governing document: 

Constitution 

New trustees are selected with consideration of their skills, knowledge and experience, and are appointed by resolution passed by the existing trustees. Trustees must read and understand all organisational policies, which reflect statutory and legal requirements and good practice procedures. 

For this period, the charity has operated directly under the trustees, with no other staff or volunteers. 

## **Adopted policies:** 

1. Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy 

2. Code of Conduct and Ethics 

3. Conflict of Interest Policy 

4. Data Protection Policy 

5. Privacy Policy 

6. Whistleblowing Policy 

7. Challenging Behaviour Policy 

8. Equality, Diversity and Meaningful Inclusion Policy 

9. Complaints Policy 

- 10.Health and Safety Policy 

- 11.Volunteer Policy 

- 12.Volunteer Disciplinary Procedures 

- 13.Financial Management Policy 

- 14.Reimbursements of Expenses and Purchases Policy 

- 15.Business Ethics and Anti-Bribery Policy 

- 16.Environmental and Sustainability Policy 

- 17.Hardship Projects Policy 18.Reserves Policy 

The Courtney Foundation Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) www.thecourtneyfoundation.org 



## **Objectives and activities** 

Charitable objects: 

a) 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 

b) The prevention or relief of poverty in England by providing: items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty 

In the seven months since the charity registered and started operations, we have seen unprecedented changes to community life due to Covid-19. We paused all plans for in-person activities, and faced significant delays in setting up our bank account which prevented us from applying for grant funding or accepting donations. During this time we focused on implementing robust governance policies and systems, and running two strategic projects that reflected the current climate, within the limitations of our capacity as a new charity and restrictions due to Covid-19 safety measures. 

## **Projects** 

## **Stories from Lockdown** 

We launched the Stories from Lockdown project as a way for people to process the experience of lockdown and share positive stories, to bring awareness to the different impact this had on individuals, families and organisations, and to highlight the community efforts taking place in our town. 

We collected and shared the stories of 27 local people. This included people involved in charity work and schools, how people adapted their own businesses operations, how people continued to practice their faith in a lockdown environment, shielding, valuing time with family, and struggling with health and changes to services. 

We thank each person and organisation who gave their unique perspective on the lockdown experience for us to share. 

The Courtney Foundation Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) www.thecourtneyfoundation.org 



This project gave us opportunities to reach out and engage new people, organisations and communities in our work. We received positive messages about the value of both sharing their own experiences and reading other people’s stories as a way of processing the difficult and uncertain times. 

This snapshot of the pandemic and Luton people’s Stories from Lockdown can be read on our website here: https://thecourtneyfoundation.org.uk/stories. 

## **Narrative: online discussion group for 18-25 year olds** 

The goal of Narrative is to develop and improve young people’s sense of self and their position within society. Through exposure to different narratives; knowledge, history and rich perspectives that they can relate to, as well as knowledge of their rights and opportunities, our vision is that young people will be better able to navigate and overcome adversity with resilience and resolve. 

We launched an online discussion group for 18-25 year olds as the first strand of the Narrative project, with the purpose of growing perspectives through books and film. The project is open to all interested in exploring African and diaspora authors, producers and social figures, history, and social movements around race, gender and class. 

With the heightened discourse around race and racism following worldwide protests and action against racism and anti-blackness, we sought to create an affirming space for young people where they can become informed about and discuss issues that are important to them in a constructive way, using books, film and other materials to frame discussions. 

## **Future plans** 

We are happy with the pace of operations during our first seven months despite the unexpected changes, delays and needs that have presented. We are similarly looking forward to developing our work over the next year as we adjust to the ‘new normal’ and continue to assess the needs of our community and the ways we can promote social inclusion and relieve and prevent poverty. 

Our immediate plans involve developing our Hardship Projects and providing support to people in poverty and those facing financial hardship. We’re also excited to develop and implement our vision for Narrative and expand the ways we support young people. 

The Courtney Foundation Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) www.thecourtneyfoundation.org 



## **Financial review** 

## **Reserves** 

Our reserves limit is currently £3000. We aim to only have an amount of reserves that is proportionate to what is required to continue our existing operations for up to 12 months, and to respond to any urgent operational needs that may arise due to unexpected financial implications. Our reserves limit will be adjusted accordingly as our work progresses, and this will be reflected in our Reserves Policy. Income from any sources are principally used to further our charitable purposes and benefit those we work with. 

## **Transactions** 

The charity, as an entity, has carried out no transactions for this period. There have been minimal costs that relate to website and email costs and online meeting packages. Since we experienced significant delays in setting up a bank account for the charity due to Covid-19, these costs were covered by the trustees personal funds. Full records including invoices and receipts have been kept for all purchases. These costs will be reflected in the next accounting period as reimbursements paid, in order to reflect the true costs of our activities in our accounts. 

## **Declaration** 

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustee’s report above. 

|**Full name**|**Signature**|**Date:**|
|---|---|---|
|Courtney Cuffy||18.10.20|
|Husna Rasul||29.09.20|
|Melissa Llewellyn||29.09.20|



The Courtney Foundation Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) www.thecourtneyfoundation.org 



## **Receipts and payments accounts** 

Charity name: Charity number: For the period: 

The Courtney Foundation 1187689 (England and Wales) 3rd February 2020 to 5th September 2020 

## **Receipts and payments** 

|**Receipts**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Unrestricted<br>funds (£)|Restricted<br>funds (£)|Endowment<br>funds (£)|Total funds<br>(£)|Last year  (£)|
|Donations and<br>legacies|0|0|0|0|0|
|Grants|0|0|0|0|0|
|Fundraising<br>events|0|0|0|0|0|
|Fees for<br>services|0|0|0|0|0|
|Other|0|0|0|0|0|
|**Sub total**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|Sale of fixed<br>assets|0|0|0|0|0|
|Sale of<br>investments|0|0|0|0|0|
|Loans<br>received|0|0|0|0|0|
|**Sub total**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|**Total receipts**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|||||||
|**Payments**||||||
||Unrestricted<br>funds (£)|Restricted<br>funds (£)|Endowment<br>funds (£)|Total funds<br>(£)|Last year  (£)|
|Salaries and<br>related costs|0|0|0|0|0|
|Rent/hire|0|0|0|0|0|



The Courtney Foundation Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) www.thecourtneyfoundation.org 



|Insurances|0|0|0|0|0|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Telephone<br>and internet|0|0|0|0|0|
|Stationary,<br>printing and<br>office<br>supplies|0|0|0|0|0|
|Subscriptions,<br>including<br>digital and<br>online<br>packages|0|0|0|0|0|
|Bank charges|0|0|0|0|0|
|Website costs|0|0|0|0|0|
|Volunteer<br>expenses|0|0|0|0|0|
|Trustee<br>expenses|0|0|0|0|0|
|Advertising<br>and<br>promotion|0|0|0|0|0|
|Other project<br>costs|0|0|0|0|0|
|**Sub total**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|Purchase of<br>fixed assets|0|0|0|0|0|
|Purchase of<br>investments|0|0|0|0|0|
|Loans repaid|0|0|0|0|0|
|**Sub total**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|**Total**<br>**payments**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|||||||
||Unrestricted<br>funds (£)|Restricted<br>funds (£)|Endowment<br>funds (£)|Total funds<br>(£)|Last year (£)|
|**Net of**<br>**receipts**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|**Transfer**<br>**between**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|



The Courtney Foundation Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) www.thecourtneyfoundation.org 



|**funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Cash funds**<br>**last year end**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|**Cash funds**<br>**this year end**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|**0**|



## **Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period** 

||Details|Unrestricted<br>funds (£)|Restricted funds<br>(£)|Endowment<br>funds (£)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Bank account||0|0|0|
|**Total cash funds**||**0**|**0**|**0**|
|Other monetary<br>assets||0|0|0|
|Investment<br>assets||0|0|0|
|Assets retained<br>for the charity’s<br>own use||0|0|0|
|Liabilities||0|0|0|



The trustees declare that they have approved the accounts above. 

|**Full name**|**Signature**|**Date:**|
|---|---|---|
|Courtney Cuffy||18.10.20|
|Husna Rasul||29.09.20|
|Melissa Llewellyn||29.09.20|



The Courtney Foundation Registered charity number: 1187689 (England and Wales) www.thecourtneyfoundation.org