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2024-02-29-accounts

Charity number: 1188070

My Sisters’ House CIO Unaudited Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

My Sister’s House CIO

Contents

Page
Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers 1
Trustees’ Report 2 - 14
Independent Examiner’s Report 15 - 16
Statement of Financial Activities 17
Balance Sheet 18
Statement of Cash Flows 19
Notes to the Financial Statements 20 - 34

My Sisters’ House CIO Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers For the Year ended 29 February 2024

Trustees Chair of Trustees-Dianne Smith
Sylvie Collier
Heather Prescott
Louise Hastings
Stephanie Emery
Kim Hosier (Appointed August 2023)
Chief Executive Officer Lucy Budge
Acting Chief Executive Officer Avril Robinson (from February 2024)
Registered Charity no. 1188070
Principal office 108b/c London Road
Bognor Regis
PO21 1BD
Accountants Kreston Reeves
9 Donnington Park
Chichester
PO20 7AJ
Bankers The Co-operative Bank
164/165 Western Road
Brighton
BN1 2BB
CAF Bank
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ

Page 1

My Sisters’ House CIO

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024

The Trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 29 February 2024.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 2 to the financial statements and comply with the “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019) and the Charities Act 2011.

Organisational purpose

The CIO’s purpose, as set out in our governing document is to relieve the needs of women in West Sussex who have complex needs - in particular, but not exclusively, who have suffered domestic and/or child abuse - through the provision of information, workshops and support groups.

Objectives and Activities

Our Vision

That no woman within our community should experience abuse, poverty, mental illness or other disadvantages without the support that will help them to live healthy lives and realise their full potential.

Our Mission

“Helping women to thrive, not just survive.”

To provide a range of support to women from all backgrounds facing all kinds of issues, where their strengths are recognised, their difficulties acknowledged and where they can achieve positive change, they are proud of.

Our Objectives

We support vulnerable women in the Arun and Chichester Districts who experience multiple disadvantage due to a combination of complex and overlapping problems, including histories of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, addiction, social isolation, trauma and mental health problems.

Page 2

We support women who may be having a difficult time in their lives; for example, a recent loss such as bereavement, suffering poverty from unemployment, experiencing relationship breakdown, having been the victim of crime or living with the impact of accident or illness/disability.

We support women with complex needs who may lead chaotic lives, and experience repeated crises. They often lack social confidence, have low self-worth, and feel isolated and outcast from society. This frequently means that they are unable or unwilling to sustain engagement with statutory support agencies.

We work to reduce the factors which affect the ability of women to benefit from the support available to them. This can include an unwillingness to seek help, distrust of helping organisations, perceptions of services as irrelevant, and feelings of hopelessness or not being ‘ready’ for change or support.

What do we do?

In premises in Bognor Regis and Chichester, we offer the confidential support of specialist staff with knowledge and experience in the fields of domestic abuse, housing and finance, skills and employability, mental health and emotional wellbeing, and welfare.

We help by providing one-to-one keywork and coaching, free counselling, peer support groups, courses and workshops, creative and holistic wellbeing and welfare support and practical support.

Our varied programme of activities and events provides a vital sense of safety and community, which in turn, reduces isolation, improves women’s confidence, wellbeing and ability to feel empowered to effect real change. Through our domestic abuse support, we aim to improve safety and break cycles, including inter-generational cycles of trauma and abuse.

We are now open 30+ hours per week (including evenings and weekends) across our two sites. In addition, we offer out-of-hours live messaging support in English and Eastern European languages via our website.

All services are free of charge to clients.

The support we have offered in the past year includes:

General support

Welfare and Wellbeing Support

Page 3

Domestic Abuse Support

Skills and Employability

Partner Agencies

We host, and are supported by, a number of external agencies to support our clients. This year, these have included:

Page 4

Volunteers

As well as 32 paid members of staff, through this year, we have had between 40 and 50 volunteers at any given time, representing thousands of hours of volunteer time each year, and providing the organisation with enormous social value. Volunteers are integral to the work of My Sisters’ House. We have a volunteer facilitated Wellbeing Team, who offer a step-down support service for our clients once they have finished their main pieces of work with our staff. Volunteers support our staff to facilitate our groups, courses and workshops, as well as dropins. We have volunteer administrators, and volunteers who support the organisation and the running of events.

We are proud that a number of our volunteers have been successful in obtaining paid roles within the organisation.

Structure, Governance and Management

On 1st March 2020, My Sisters’ House converted from a CIC (Community Interest Company) to a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). We adopted our Memorandum and Articles of Association as My Sisters’ House CIO’s Constitution on this date. In addition, the existing Directors of My Sisters’ House CIC became the Charity Trustees of My Sisters’ House CIO.

Our Chair is an experienced and skilled Chair, who is also involved with another trust, and our other Trustees are recruited for their range of professional skills and experience. We have Trustees with expertise in safeguarding, delivering women’s services, HR, business, media, and finance. Our trustee recruitment process is a three-part process: firstly, we would welcome a CV from an interested party. We then invite them for discussions with our Chair of Trustees and the prospective Trustee would be asked to complete a skills audit. They would be invited to meet the CEO, in person and view the centre/s. Thirdly, we would invite them to observe one of our Board meetings. Following the Board meeting, existing Trustees would discuss the candidate’s suitability before welcoming them to join the Board.

Following recruitment, our Trustees are invited to attend a Senior Management Team meeting, and to join a sub-committee which is appropriate to their skill set.

Day-to-day management of My Sisters’ House is the responsibility of CEO, Lucy Budge, who is assisted in her duties by a Chief Operations Officer (appointed in March 2022), a Business Manager (appointed in May 2022), a Chief Finance Officer who is a chartered accountant (appointed in September 2022) and a Senior Fundraiser (appointed in November 2022). During this financial year we undertook a re-structuring of our Senior Management Team (SMT) replacing the Chief Operations Officer and the Business Manager with the appointment of a Deputy CEO who would assume responsibility as Acting CEO with the forthcoming maternity leave of the CEO from February 2024.

There are currently three Service Managers, and three Team Leads. This structure allows for more professional progression through the organisation. Fortnightly SMT meetings and weekly

Page 5

Operational Management meetings are held, with key information escalated to the Board and SMT meetings, respectively.

The SMT and other staff salaries were originally set using the NJC pay scales from 2021. In January 2023, all staff were awarded a 3% pay rise, in recognition of the increased cost of living, and having been awarded this 3% by one of our major funders. Staff are not guaranteed annual pay increases and, unfortunately, we were not able to award pay increases in this financial year. Going forward any SMT pay reviews will occur in line with performance review, and in conjunction with reviews of the cost of living, and charity finances. The CEO will make recommendations to the Board for SMT and staff salary reviews.

The Chair of the Board of Trustees will make recommendations to the Board for CEO salary reviews.

Staff all receive a comprehensive induction and safeguarding training, as well as any additional training relevant to their roles. All staff currently attend staff training and regular staff meetings.

Financial Review

The Charity are currently holding unrestricted funds at the year-end totalling £160,710. Details of our reserves policy are below.

As in previous years, restricted funding for some of the job roles has now come to an end. However, the requirement for the posts has not. In fact, the roles are more important than ever, as demand for our services is higher than ever. Whilst we hope that funding can be obtained to secure these roles into the future, the Board recognises that a break in client services whilst seeking funding would be detrimental to the charity’s objectives. The Board has therefore agreed that certain roles can continue to be funded from unrestricted funding until such time as dedicated funding is secured for these roles. This is regularly reviewed at Board and Finance & Human Resources Committee meetings to ensure the necessity of critical roles. We now have a dedicated Fundraising Team, whose primary focus is on generating revenue for My Sisters’ House, in line with our strategic aims.

The Board recognises the importance of the generation of unrestricted funds which will allow the Board to be more risk averse as they make longer-term decisions around staff recruitment and premises, without the need for a break in client services. Generating unrestricted funds is a priority for the Board going forward.

Risk

The Board are currently undertaking a review of the risk register. Once completed, all areas of risk will be continually reviewed and systems and procedures updated to manage those risks. The risk register will be reviewed quarterly by the Board following intensive interrogation by the Finance and Human Resources Committee.

Reserves Policy

It is the policy of the Trustees to establish and maintain free reserves at a level sufficient to enable the Charity to continue to deliver its range of services during periods of lower income and meet all responsibilities in the case of closure.

My Sisters’ House CIO has maintained this method for the continuous assessment of risk, including a valuation of the level of reserves that we might need based on the review of each of our current services and the flow of funds.

Page 6

It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to at least six month’s expenditure (excluding funded projects); this is to allow the charity to be managed efficiently and to provide a buffer for uninterrupted services.

The view of the Trustees for the year of the overall position of the charity at the year-end was the balance of funds was sufficient to continue to operate charitable services at the levels agreed, and there are sufficient liquid assets to enable restricted and designated funds to be applied, as necessary.

The total funds held at the balance sheet date were £348,530 (2023: £247,718) which includes £187,820 (2023: £159,739) held in restricted funds and £15,660 (2023: £20,208) held as tangible fixed assets. This gives free reserves of £145,050 (2023: £67,771).

Going Concern

The Trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the Charity to continue as a going concern. The Trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of at least one year from the date of authorisation for issue of the financial statements and have concluded that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and there are no material uncertainties about the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern, thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Achievements and performance

Criteria and measures used to assess our success during this financial year include the end of month, and end of year statistics, produced by our Office Manager. These measure our progress and growth against previous years, in terms of client numbers, activities, outcomes and recording.

The Housing and Finance Team also record their monthly and annual financial gain, illustrating the financial difference they make to clients in real terms.

Our Domestic Abuse Team measures change/ reduction in domestic abuse risk using the Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment Risk Indicator Checklist (DASH) risk assessment, a nationally recognised tool.

Other teams within the organisation measure client progress using the Triangle Outcomes Stars; most notably the Pathways and Empowerment Stars.

More qualitatively, we also record all client feedback and testimonials, and these are collated monthly.

As stated below, we continue to develop our client feedback process, and are working to increase the voice of the client in our service development.

Page 7

Achievements and performance l March 2023 untll 29 February 24 1,822 new clients accessed our services or re-enguged with us NUMBER OF PIEW CLIE14T5 A£C£SSING OR RE-EWGAGING Unknown 7J% 18-24 75% 65-74 601 (average) LIVE clients per month 15 % Chichester 85°A Bognor 102% 25.8% 3&54 445% 48% Age range of women accessing our services 2023-24 suffering or recovering from domestic abuse Page 8

How women interact with our services 37.6% Phone: 8.381 4 55.2¥, Emails'.122SI 6.9% Face-ttrfactr. 1.527 0.4% Live Chat. 84 1,460 Clients Triaged 639 Drop-ins Breakdown of phone interactions Texts *>Jt Calls Texts in K)J% Callsout $2Y

Welfare Support er*Crisi Fund oiletry packs 48 30 Type of support provided 138 IFD Safeguarding Referrals 483 Safety Planning sessions DASH/Issp MARAC 1,196 27 IFD Child 126 183 45 £322K 157 Housing Advocacy pip Advocacy Benefit gain Solicitor appointments Page 10

Glossary

Client Feedback

“I finally left my abusive relationship, thanks to the support of MSH. You have supported

me in many ways from emotionally helping me recover, to helping me sort out my

finances, and getting out of debt. You have always been there whenever I just needed to chat.”

Client – Thrive Employability and Wellbeing Programme

“Without you I would never be where I am today. I am so much more confident, and I can do anything. You have made me realise I don't need to ask permission, I can just do things for me, because I deserve it.”

Client – Thrive, Counselling and Wellbeing support

“Dear MSH, I just want to thank you all for your support. I needed help with my disability forms for universal credit. Without MSH staff, I wouldn’t have managed my forms, and I received £390 p/m disability help for 5 years. This really helps my day-to-day living.”

Client – Financial and Wellbeing support

The Past 12 Months and Moving Forwards

The past 12 months have seen another period of great change and development for My Sisters’ House. We have also continued to see exponential growth in terms of our new client numbers, whilst navigating a cost-of-living crisis, where the voluntary sector is notoriously under unprecedented pressure, and recruitment in the sector is anecdotally harder across the board.

We have also seen in line with other charities a significant drop in our success rate of applications for funding from trusts and other grant-making organisations.

Page 11

We have continued to be responsive to the needs of our clients, and are developing our services increasingly in line with client, volunteer and staff feedback. We have improved our client feedback processes and have developed an improved client evaluation form. We have been lucky enough to be supported this year, by a number of funds, from statutory agencies such as the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, West Sussex County Council, Arun and Chichester District Councils, and larger funders such as The National Lottery, together with local fundraisers such as the Chichester Inner Wheeland and our ever-invaluable individual donors.

Our Chichester ‘hub’ has seen rapidly growing need, and awareness of our support provision in Chichester has grown and thanks to funding from Hyde Charitable Trust we were able to move to new, larger premises in Chichester in Summer 2023. This enabled us to bring all groups inhouse, and facilitate drop-ins and groups, as well as staff meetings and support in more private spaces. From here, we continue to grow and develop our Chichester programme of services, with more staff facilitating more drop-in provision.

We have increased our number of partnerships and sponsors. Following liaison and networking, we are now working more closely in partnership with UK Harvest, the Probation Service, Survivors’ Network and Safe in Sussex.

We were privileged and proud that we have been selected as the chosen charity for the Markel Magnolia Cup 2024 on Ladies Day at the Qatar Goodwood festival.

Being mindful of the critical need to increase our fundraising capacity to secure sustainable unrestricted funds for the future we aim to use some of the proceeds from this sponsorship to build our fundraising capacity.

In line with our strategic aims, we wish to reach a higher number of clients in the more rural/ isolated areas of the districts we cover, including Midhurst, Selsey, Petworth and The Wittering's in the Chichester District, and Arundel and Littlehampton in the Arun District. We hope that partnership working with organisations such as the Probation Service and UK Harvest will enable us to do this, as well as improving other local links such as the WI.

We have increased our Eastern European domestic abuse support provision to include a second team member, speaking additional languages to those already available, and expanding our support provision to include a recovery group.

We continue to provide training for relevant staff members to undergo their Safe Lives IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) training. We now have 5 qualified IDVAs on the team.

We have identified the IT infra-structure needs we now have, as befit a growing organisation, and subject to future funding we plan to address this need going forward.

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have had regard for the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing their aims, objectives and activities, and are satisfied that they fully meet it.

Page 12

Conclusion

The Board of Trustees wishes to express thanks to all staff and volunteers who consistently work so hard to provide such high quality support to our clients, in the face of challenges and an unpredictable broader landscape. We are also ever grateful to our funders, large and small, for invaluable resources, which enable us to remain responsive in meeting changing and increasing need.

Approved by order of the members of the Board of Trustees on and signed on their behalf by:

D Smith

Trustee

Date: 10th December 2024

Page 13

My Sisters' House CIO

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

................................................

D Smith

Date: 10th December 2024

Page 14

My Sisters' House CIO

Independent Examiner's Report For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of My Sisters' House CIO ('the Charity')

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 29 February 2024.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent Examiner's Statement

Since the Charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared the accounts in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has been withdrawn.

I understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Page 15

My Sisters' House CIO

Independent Examiner's Report (continued) For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

This report is made solely to the Charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner's Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

Signed:

Lucy Hammond

Dated: 16 December 2024 BSc FCA

Kreston Reeves LLP

Chartered Accountants 9 Donnington Park 85 Birdham Road Chichester West Sussex PO20 7AJ

Page 16

My Sisters' House CIO

Statement of financial activities For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

Note
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other income
5
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
13
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
Total funds carried forward		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
6,119
487,805
-
493,924
82
458,608
458,690
35,234
(7,153)
28,081
159,739
28,081
187,820		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
77,364
161,154
2,007
240,525
1,181
173,766
174,947
65,578
7,153
72,731
87,979
72,731
160,710		 Total
funds
2024
£
83,483
648,959
2,007
734,449
1,263
632,374
633,637
100,812
-
100,812
247,718
100,812
348,530		 Total
funds
2023
£
61,998
427,783
386
490,167
2,490
519,525
522,015
(31,848)
-
(31,848)
279,566
(31,848)
247,718

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes on pages 20 to 34 form part of these financial statements.

Page 17

My Sisters' House CIO

Balance Sheet As at 29 February 2024

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
Current assets
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
12
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Total net assets
Restricted funds
13
Unrestricted funds
13
Total funds		 11,810
345,632
357,442
(24,572)		 29 February
2024
£
15,660
15,660
332,870
348,530
348,530
187,820
160,710
348,530		 19,403
232,782
252,185
(24,675)		 28 February
2023
£
20,208
20,208
227,510
247,718
247,718
159,739
87,979
247,718

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

D Smith

Trustee Date: 10th December 2024

The notes on pages 20 to 34 form part of these financial statements.

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My Sisters' House CIO

Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended 29 February 2024
Note
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities
15
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
16
The notes on pages 20 to 34 form part of these financial statements		 2024
£
115,249
(2,399)
(2,399)
112,850
232,782
345,632		 2023
£
56,830
(3,582)
(3,582)
53,248
179,534
232,782

Page 19

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

1. General information

My Sisters' House CIO is a charitable incorporated organisation.

2. Accounting policies

2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

My Sisters' House CIO meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

2.2 Going concern

The Trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate ie whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the Charity to continue as a going concern. The Trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of at least one year from the date of authorisation for issue of the financial statements and have concluded that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and there are no material uncertainties about the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern, thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

2.3 Income

All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Grants are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance Sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold.

Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.

Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service.

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My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.4 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

2.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets costing £500 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.

Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.

Depreciation is provided on the following basis:

Fixtures and fittings - 20% Straight line Computer equipment - 20% Straight line

2.6 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

2.7 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

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My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.8 Liabilities and provisions

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities as a finance cost.

2.9 Financial instruments

The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

2.10 Pensions

The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Charity to the fund in respect of the year.

2.11 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

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My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

3. Income from donations and legacies

Donations
Donations		 Restricted
funds
2024
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
£
6,119
77,364
Restricted
funds
2023
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
£
5,273
56,725
5,273
56,725		 Total
funds
2024
£
83,483
Total
funds
2023
£
61,998
61,998

4. Income from charitable activities

Income from charitable activities - Trading
Income from charitable activities - Grants
Income from charitable activities - Trading
Income from charitable activities - Grants		 Restricted
funds
2024
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
£
-
2,000
487,805
159,154
487,805
161,154
Restricted
funds
2023
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
£
-
1,980
388,422
37,381
388,422
39,361		 Total
funds
2024
£
2,000
646,959
648,959
Total
funds
2023
£
1,980
425,803
427,783

Page 23

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

5. Other incoming resources

Bank interest received
Bank interest received		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
2,007
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
386		 Total
funds
2024
£
2,007
Total
funds
2023
£
386

6. Analysis of expenditure by activities

Services to support women
Services to support women		 Activities
undertaken
directly
2024
£
627,595
Activities
undertaken
directly
2023
£
513,530		 Support
costs
2024
£
4,779
Support
costs
2023
£
5,995		 Total
funds
2024
£
632,374
Total
funds
2023
£
519,525

Page 24

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

6. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of direct costs

Staff costs
Depreciation
Staff training
Staff/Volunteer Welfare
Rent
Light and heat
Equipment
IT costs
Travel costs
Legal fees
Consulting fees
Advertising, marketing and website
Telephone and internet
Subscriptions
Postage
Printing and stationery
Facilitator and client welfare costs
Cleaning
General expenses
Insurance		 Services to
support
women
2024
£
508,946
6,947
3,205
6,431
30,165
2,347
3,041
10,415
871
8,500
1,584
2,039
10,882
409
9
1,316
21,971
3,933
2,206
2,378
627,595		 Total
funds
2024
£
508,946
6,947
3,205
6,431
30,165
2,347
3,041
10,415
871
8,500
1,584
2,039
10,882
409
9
1,316
21,971
3,933
2,206
2,378
627,595

Included within direct costs is expenditure from restricted funds of £458,608 (2023: £338,996).

Page 25

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

6. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of direct costs (continued)

Staff costs
Depreciation
Staff training
Staff/Volunteer Welfare
Rent
Light and heat
Equipment
IT costs
Travel costs
Legal fees
Consulting fees
Advertising, marketing and website
Telephone and internet
Subscriptions
Postage
Printing and stationery
Facilitator and client welfare costs
Cleaning
General expenses
Insurance		 Services to
support
women
2023
£
404,059
6,050
3,319
5,895
31,456
2,830
3,314
10,910
143
5,448
3,292
3,345
7,762
447
25
1,485
16,590
3,213
2,142
1,805
513,530		 Total
funds
2023
£
404,059
6,050
3,319
5,895
31,456
2,830
3,314
10,910
143
5,448
3,292
3,345
7,762
447
25
1,485
16,590
3,213
2,142
1,805
513,530

Analysis of support costs

Services to
support Total
women funds
2024 2024
£ £
Accountancy fees (including Independent Examiner's fees) 4,779 4,779

Page 26

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

6. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of support costs (continued)

Accountancy fees (including Independent Examiner's fees)
7.
Independent examiner's remuneration
Fees payable to the Charity's independent examiner for the independent
examination of the Charity's annual accounts
Fees payable to the Charity's independent examiner in respect of:
Accounts preparation and Corporation Tax services		 Services to
support
women
2023
£
5,995
2024
£
1,200
2,220		 Total
funds
2023
£
5,995
2023
£
1,200
1,980

8. Staff costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes		 2024
£
494,278
6,219
8,449
508,946		 2023
£
381,349
17,153
5,557
404,059

The average number of persons employed by the Charity during the year was as follows:

2024 2023
No. No.
Employees 32 27

No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.

The total remuneration paid to key management personnel during the year was £142,482 (2023: £99,583).

Page 27

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

9. Trustees' remuneration and expenses

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2023 - £NIL).

During the year ended 29 February 2024, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2023 - £NIL).

10. Tangible fixed assets

Cost or valuation
At 1 March 2023
Additions
At 29 February 2024
Depreciation
At 1 March 2023
Charge for the year
At 29 February 2024
Net book value
At 29 February 2024
At 28 February 2023		 Fixtures and
fittings
£
12,497
-
12,497
4,838
2,500
7,338
5,159
7,659		 Computer
equipment
£
20,290
2,399
22,689
7,741
4,447
12,188
10,501
12,549		 Total
£
32,787
2,399
35,186
12,579
6,947
19,526
15,660
20,208

Page 28

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

11. Debtors

Due within one year
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 29 February
2024
£
-
4,648
7,162
11,810		 28 February
2023
£
200
6,313
12,890
19,403

12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 29 February
2024
£
2,617
5,116
1,809
15,030
24,572		 28 February
2023
£
5,976
6,767
227
11,705
24,675

Page 29

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

13. Statement of funds

Statement of funds - current year

Unrestricted funds
General funds
Restricted funds
Aspire
Probation
Stronger Futures: Safe Space
SF DART 22-25
Thrive
Support: Empowerment Fund
Domestic abuse/IDVA role
Supp: Live Chat
SCF Crisis fund
Supp: Rotary Club
Supp: St James' Place
SCF Wills fund
Support: Toiletries
Chi: Settlement ADC
Chi: Settlement CDC
NLCF 22-25
Eastern European IDVA
Restricted - other
Total of funds		 Balance at 1
March 2023
£
87,979
4,565
6,956
15,957
50,924
-
657
-
-
925
1,000
4,575
517
6,496
7,798
7,798
12,289
37,738
1,544
159,739
247,718		 Income
£
240,525
5,586
94,988
20,237
64,697
46,440
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
-
-
-
1,867
1,867
154,453
51,070
32,719
493,924
734,449		 Expenditure
£
(174,947)
(10,151)
(85,891)
(17,716)
(63,031)
(17,720)
-
(2,195)
(5,035)
(571)
(1,000)
(4,575)
(517)
-
(8,973)
(8,973)
(162,762)
(50,929)
(18,651)
(458,690)
(633,637)		 Transfers
in/out
£
7,153
-
-
-
-
-
(657)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(6,496)
-
-
-
-
-
(7,153)
-		 Balance at
29 February
2024
£
160,710
-
16,053
18,478
52,590
28,720
-
7,805
4,965
354
-
-
-
-
692
692
3,980
37,879
15,612
187,820
348,530

Page 30

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

13. Statement of funds (continued)

Restricted funds

Restricted funds - Other is made up of a variety of individual funds that are being tracked by the Charity.

The brought forward balances of the Support: Toiletries and Support: Empowerment funds have been transferred to unrestricted funds in line with the terms of the original donations. These projects have been funded from unrestricted funds during the year.

The purpose of material individual funds are:

Aspire

One-to-one and group coaching in skills and employability, as well as regular 'jog club'.

Probation

Ministry Of Justice Core costs funding covering CEO, COO and Senior Fundraiser posts.

Stronger Futures: Safe Space

One-to-one, medium risk domestic abuse and domestic abuse peer recovery group support.

Stronger Futures: DART 2022 – 2025

NSPCC Domestic Abuse Recovering Together course for mothers and their children (age 7 – 14) to rebuild relationships after there has been domestic abuse in the home. 6 x 10 week course run annually in Bognor, Chichester and Littlehampton.

Thrive

One-to-one and group coaching in skills and employability, as well as a regular "job club".

Support: Empowerment Fund

This client crisis fund provides practical support for clients and covers the cost of toiletries and safety devices (including mobile phones).

Domestic abuse/IDVA role

Funding for our frontline domestic abose/IDVA role for a year.

Support: Live Chat

Live Chat instant messaging support service, available via our website, during and out of office hours.

SCF Crisis Fund

Used to cover a Complex Needs Workers post.

Support: Rotary Club

A facilitated craft club based in Bognor Regis.

Support: St James' Place

Facilitated anxiety and confidence courses, in-person and via Zoom, and venue hire for these.

Sussex Community Foundation Wills Fund

Covered room hire costs for peer groups.

Support and Wellbeing: Toiletries

Client toiletries purchased for free toiletries we give to our clients.

Chichester: Settlement ADC and CDC

Funding Complex Needs Worker: Resettlement, who works with women who have fled domestic abuse and been housed in the Arun and Chichester Districts.

National Lottery Community Fund ( NLCF) 22 - 25

Funding First Response Team (reception, triage and drop-in staff), as well as those staff facilitating Page 31

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

13. Statement of funds (continued)

services in Chichester (Service Manager, domestic abuse and welfare).

Stronger Futures: Eastern European IDVA (Independent Domestic Abuse Advocate)

One-to-one medium risk domestic abuse and domestic abuse recovery group support delivered on a ‘by and for’ basis by members of the Eastern European community, for the Eastern European community. Delivered in Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Russian and Ukrainian.

Statement of funds - prior year

Unrestricted funds
General funds
Restricted funds
Aspire
Probation
Stronger Futures: Safe Space
SF DART 22-25
Thrive
Support: Empowerment Fund
Support: Suicide Prevention
NLCF
SF: DART
SCF Crisis fund
Supp: Rotary Club
Supp: St James' Place
SCF Wills fund
Support: Toiletries
Chi: Settlement ADC
Chi: Settlement CDC
Chi: CDC
NLCF 22-25
Eastern European IDVA
Restricted - other
Total of funds		 Balance at
1 March
2022
£
174,422
808
-
3,439
-
-
1,982
7,815
10,598
40,961
5,998
-
-
3,691
1,762
-
-
-
-
-
28,090
105,144
279,566		 Income
£
96,472
40,019
6,956
40,000
64,697
3,181
750
-
-
-
965
1,000
4,575
596
5,858
12,500
12,500
5,801
142,987
51,070
240
393,695
490,167		 Expenditure
£
(183,021)
(36,262)
-
(77,696)
(13,773)
(3,181)
(2,075)
(7,741)
(10,551)
(1,230)
(6,038)
-
-
(3,770)
(1,124)
(4,702)
(4,702)
(5,842)
(130,744)
(13,332)
(16,231)
(338,994)
(522,015)		 Transfers
in/out
£
106
-
-
50,214
-
-
-
-
(47)
(39,731)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
41
46
-
(10,629)
(106)
-		 Balance at
28 February
2023
£
87,979
4,565
6,956
15,957
50,924
-
657
74
-
-
925
1,000
4,575
517
6,496
7,798
7,798
-
12,289
37,738
1,470
159,739
247,718

Page 32

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

14. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds - current period

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Total		 Restricted
funds
29 February
2024
Unrestricted
funds
29 February
2024
£
£
-
15,660
189,949
167,493
(2,129)
(22,443)
187,820
160,710		 Total
funds
29 February
2024
£
15,660
357,442
(24,572)
348,530

Analysis of net assets between funds - prior period

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Total		 Restricted
funds
28 February
2023
£
-
164,414
(4,675)
159,739		 Unrestricted
funds
28 February
2023
£
20,208
87,771
(20,000)
87,979		 Total
funds
28 February
2023
£
20,208
252,185
(24,675)
247,718

15. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income/expenditure for the period (as per Statement of Financial
Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Decrease in debtors
(Decrease) / Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities		 29 February
2024
£
100,812
6,947
7,593
(103)
115,249		 28 February
2023
£
(31,848)
6,050
71,195
11,433
56,830

Page 33

My Sisters' House CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 29 February 2024

16. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

Cash in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents		 29 February
2024
£
345,632
345,632		 28 February
2023
£
232,782
232,782

17. Analysis of changes in net debt

Cash at bank and in hand At 1 March
2023
£
232,782
232,782		 Cash flows
£
112,850
112,850		 At 29
February
2024
£
345,632
345,632

18. Operating lease commitments

At 29 February 2024 the Charity had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases as follows:

Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years		 29 February
Land and
buildings
2024
£
22,035
28,500
50,535		 28 February
Land and
buildlings
2023
£
21,512
4,035
25,547

19. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions during the year requiring disclosure.

Page 34