Bromley CAP Partnership CIO
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the period from 1[st] April 2023 to 31st March 2024 Charity registration number: 1189103
Charitable objects
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The relief of poverty for persons living and/or working within the London Borough of Bromley and elsewhere who find themselves in conditions of need, hardship or distress by reason of their social and or economic circumstances by providing and promoting debt advice and other services as the Trustees of the CIO may from time-to-time think fit.
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The advancement of education of the public living and/or working within the London Borough of Bromley and elsewhere in all matters relating to the management of their personal finances as the Trustees of the CIO may from time-to-time think fit.
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The advancement of the Christian faith within the London Borough of Bromley and elsewhere as the Trustees of the CIO may from time-to-time think fit.
Public Benefit Statement
The main activities of the Bromley CAP Partnership CIO are described below and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit. In planning these activities, the trustees have given due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.
Objectives and Activities
The Bromley CAP Partnership CIO works in close partnership with the National charity, Christians Against Poverty (CAP), which aims to work with local churches to provide free debt help in many locations across the country. The Bromley CAP Partnership receives advice, training, and other support from the CAP National office to assist local people with their debt and with pastoral support as they resolve their problems.
The Bromley CAP Partnership is supported by eight churches comprising of six denominations and members of the public and has continued to support those in debt or at risk of becoming in debt within the borough of Bromley. The charity has expanded some of its activities through its free Job clubs, Life Skills courses and Money Management courses which aim to provide support and advice to those who are at risk of finding themselves in debt.
Structure, Governance and management
The Trustees have overall control and responsibility for policy and major decision making and, as of 31[st] March 2024, there were five trustees in post who met four times over the course of the reporting period. They also connect informally through the means of regular electronic communications, such as email. The Bromley CAP Partnership CIO employs a part time Debt Centre Manager to lead the Debt Centre work and to help coordinate the other CAP services provided. The Debt Centre manager is assisted by two Debt Coaches who work on a voluntary basis. This team, along with the teams who lead and support the Job Club and Life Skills courses, are all volunteers and are drawn from 20 local churches.
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The Debt Centre Manager meets with the chair of trustees for regular one-to-ones and provides a report to each trustees’ meeting. We believe that our efforts ensure that our charity works to the public benefit in accordance with the Charity Commission Guidelines.
Achievements and Performance
The Debt Centre aims to support individuals who have found themselves in debt and to work alongside them to achieve the goal of becoming debt free. During the period of this report, our Debt Centre helped 50 people with their debt. Our results have been good with 5 people becoming debt free and over £80,339 worth of debt cleared during the period of this report. In addition to its legal assistance, its debt help differs from that of many other organisations in that it is provided free and, importantly, provides befrienders to help individuals stay committed to their debt reduction programme. As of the 31[st] March 2024, since the charity’s formation, it has successfully helped 43 people with £902,388 of debt.
CAP Job Clubs provide a safe and friendly environment where people can find help and practical support to seek employment. Each course enables clients to meet other jobseekers and, within an encouraging and positive atmosphere, gain the tools needed to find work. They provide motivation and training to write CVs and job applications as well as support throughout their search for employment. The Bromley CAP Partnership has three Job Clubs, one based at the Unity Church in Orpington, the second located in Central Bromley and the third is in St Pauls Cray. The Orpington site ran two courses during the year, with an average attendance of seven clients each week. The Central Bromley Job Club ran three courses over the period with an average attendance of thirteen each week and the St Paul’s Cray Job Club was launched in this period and ran one course with 8 participants. Each course last eight weeks and within the period a total of nine clients secured paid employment and seven found voluntary work.
CAP Life Skills courses provide clients with the confidence and decision-making skills required to survive on a low income. The course offers practical money savings techniques such as how to shop and cook on a budget. Over the course of the reporting period the Bromley CAP Partnership has held one course at the Unity Church.
Financial
Our financial position is satisfactory; our assets grew by £5465 during the year, despite the increased services that we provided. This is very welcome after two years of losses and is due to the increased fundraising efforts by our part-time manager. Our income is derived about half from individuals and half from churches, mostly through regular monthly donations. This provides stability to our income. Our operating costs are low due to the freely given work of our volunteers and the donation of free office space by a church. Our main costs are payments to our part time Debt Centre Manager and to the National Office of Christians Against Poverty for their support, which is essential to our work. It should be noted that, although we are in a close relationship with the National Office, we are financially independent.
The accounts have been prepared by a trustee, Edwin Tree, and independently verified to be correct by Stuart Spence.
Signed by
Derek Holl (chair of Trustees)
Edwin Tree (Accounts preparer and Trustee)
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| N | OTES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
01/04/2024 01/04/2023 01/04/2022 INCOMING RESOURCES Donations,individual 14377.71 11085 9596.40 Donations,churches 14166.66 10719 9421.75 Bank charge refund 0 30 Bank interest 122.4 HMRC Gift Aid 1098.84 Grants 930 470 388.00 Total incoming 30695.61 22304 19406.15 RESOURCES EXPENDED Salary 14416.58 11681.97 10134.35 Miscellaneous Expenses 155 263.15 889.25 Client Expenses 270 28.00 Office Expenses 410.13 447.77 214.99 DBS Checks 391.04 402 CateringExpenses 451.04 578.08 Travel Expenses 218.94 Bank Charges 0 130.00 Christians Against Poverty 6800 7840 8430.00 CAP Course Materials 1392.5 800 440.00 Insurance 482.87 328.67 209.09 Fundraising 191.04 Training 150 Grant 100 Debt relief orders 290 Total Outgoing 25230.2 22830.58 20475.68 BROMLEY CAP PARTNERSHIP CIO Registered Charity 1189103 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis. |
|---|---|---|
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | ||
| Salary | ||
| Miscellaneous Expenses | ||
| Client Expenses | ||
| Office Expenses | ||
| DBS Checks | ||
| CateringExpenses | ||
| Travel Expenses | ||
| Bank Charges | ||
| Christians Against Poverty | ||
| CAP Course Materials | ||
| Insurance | ||
| Fundraising | ||
| Training | ||
| Grant | ||
| Debt relief orders | ||
| Total Outgoing |
NOTES
(6) NET INCOMING 5465.41 -526.58 -1069.53
BROMLEY CAP PARTNERSHIP CIO Registered Charity 1189103 BALANCE SHEET
| ASSETS | 1st April 2024 | 1st April 2023 | 1st April 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash in Bank | 34848.04 | 29,382.63 | 29,909.21 | |
| Change in assets | 5,465.41 | -526.58 | -1,069.53 |
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
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(1) Salary is for one part time manager. All other work is by volunteers
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(2) Office expenses are primarily phone costs as office space is donated by a church
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(3) DBS checks are required for volunteers and staff
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(4) Catering expenses are mostly related to the running of training classes
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(5) Payments to Christians Against Poverty are for professional advice and training materials. (6) Net Income equals change in assets