2024-01-31-accounts

C4WS Homeless Project

Trustees’ Report and Statement of Financial Activities for the year to 31 January 2024

Trustees’ Report

The Trustees present their report for the year to 31 January 2024.

Structure and Governance

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee governed by articles of association. Its directors, during the year, who are the charity Trustees were:

Andrew Penny (Chair) Henry Wilson (Treasurer) Max Mills Lauren Pleydell-Pearce Nicholas Price CBE

The Trustees meet, including virtually, about four times a year and ad hoc as necessary.

Nikki Barnett, Director, was assisted by Lorraine Kinnear, Shelter Coordinator, Marc Mora, Services and Data Manager, Rahel Tadesse and Curd de Vries, our two Welfare Coordinators, and Bernadette Dickson our bookkeeper.

Objects and Activities

The Charity’s objects are:

The relief of poverty and in particular homelessness in the London Borough of Camden, by providing (a) immediate temporary accommodation and assistance to the homeless; and (b) longer term help in securing and maintaining stable housing for the homeless and those previously homeless.

Our core activity is the running of a cold weather shelter for 16 guests (homeless men and women (over 18)) between November and April. In conjunction with the shelter, which provides dinner, a bed and breakfast, we also provide welfare help aimed at securing sustainable long term accommodation for each guest, ideally after 28 days. This may involve sorting out identity papers (passports etc.) and immigration status; ensuring that all entitlements to welfare benefits are claimed; English language tuition; and assisting in finding employment (the Jobs Club). Increasingly it has involved continuing help in the form of mentoring and a hosting scheme “Home from Home” (whereby guests stay in a volunteer’s home for a more extended period). We also run a Friday Lunch Club (see below).

The shelter has traditionally been housed in churches and church halls of all denominations in Camden. The churches are organised into two rotas (November to January and January to March) of seven churches operating one night a week each. We are grateful to those volunteers, both from churches and independent, who could help and on whom we relied to run the shelter (and Friday club).

Thanks to building works which were completed in January 2023, we were able to offer showers, laundry facilities, luggage and document storage in our offices, based in Euston. These additional amenities proved hugely popular, and helpful to guests. We were also able to host Sunday Club on site, in our new Community Room, which doubled up during the week as an extra meeting room and donation area – where guests could avail themselves of clothing and accessories at their leisure.

We accommodated 85 guests over the 2023/4 season whose average length of stay was XX nights. Of the guests willing to engage with the welfare help we could offer, XX were found

sustainable accommodation. As in previous years, we have continued to support ex-guests beyond the season, either as part of Home from Home, or on an ad hoc basis whilst they settle into their new accommodation.

The Friday Club continued to run successfully at the Salvation Army in Chalk Farm, where members enjoy a hot and hearty lunch prepared by Corporate Volunteers. Thanks to the café style nature of the space, we have been able to include an extra group of volunteers every week to manage the front of house, and have consistently seen around 40 members visit each week for a meal, showers, clothing donations and welfare assistance. In September 2023 we took a group to the Brighton seaside, enjoying a meal together in the sunshine, and some beach based activities.

Public Benefit

The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and believe their activities and the figures showing their impact demonstrate clear compliance.

Financial review

In the year to 31 January 2024, C4WS received grants and donations of £313,760, earned interest of £19,260 and incurred expenditure of £339,457, creating a small funding shortfall of £6,438.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees believe that to safeguard the charity’s services and meet obligations to staff and creditors in the event of reduction, and/or delays in the receipt of, grants and donations, approximately twelve months’ running costs (c £350,000) should be held in free reserves (unrestricted reserves less fixed assets). At 31.01.24, C4WS had £350,023 of free reserves.

Investment Policy

C4WS does not have any investments but places funds not required in the short term on deposit, in notice and fixed term bank accounts. Amounts on deposit are reviewed regularly to ensure that funds will always be available when required.

Risk Policies

The Trustees’ policies on financial risk are kept under review. Risk in the cold weather shelter, in the Home from Home scheme, and in the Friday Club is closely monitored.

Going Concern Assessment

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Trustees have considered whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on C4WS’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Approved by the Trustees and signed by

Mr A H Penny on 8 June 2024

Administrative Information

Company Number 12433154 Charity Number 1189622

Registered Address and Office: St Pancras Church House 1, Lancing Street London NW1 1NA

www.c4wshomelessproject.org

Banker: CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Mill Avenue Kings Mill West Malling ME19 4JQ

Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the Trustees of the C4WS Homeless Project (‘the Company’)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 January 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

The Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:

• accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

• the accounts do not accord with those records; or

• the accounts do not comply with the relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

• the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102).

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.

Mai Charissa Tran-Ringrose ACA 8 June 2024 71 Elm Park Gardens London SW11 9QE

fFin l Activi Yearto 31 Jan 20Y3 funds funds 31 Jan 2W24 Note Giants and Donatlons Grants Crjnations Totsl 249.528 251.958 61.￿2 313.760 219.795 61.802 64.232 249.528 Interest Income 19,260 19,260 Operating expense5 243.447 96.010 339.457 370.gJ5 Net Income 6.081 112.5191 16.4381 1102.5531 31 Jan 2024 31 Jan 20ZJ Fixed Assets ICQ.519 Current Assets Cash Cash on deposit Interest income accrual Prepayments Other debtors 72.4EiI 383.925 12.842 2.642 1.139 473.C(48 lo7.￿ 3￿.024 2.326 499.359 credito￿ falling due wlthin one year Pension creditor Lease liabilities Other creditors 220 25.899 27.497 27.547 26.120 Net Current Assets 445.461 473.239 CreditOTS lalling due after more than one year Lease liabililies 26.693 54.189 Net Assets 513.131 519.569 Restricted Unrestrlcted Total 31 Jan 2(r23 Reported at 31 Jan 2023 Prior Year Adjustment At 31 January 2023 Net income for year At 31 January 2024 .771 214.798 1242.1071 242.107 62.664 456.9)5 6,081 112.5191 69.745 444.386 519.569 519.569 16.4381 513.131 622.122 1102.5531 519.569

For the year ending 31 January 2024, the Charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The Trustees have not required the Charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 8 June 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

Mr A H Penny, Trustee

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year to 31 January 2024

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the Charity, which is a public benefit entity as defined by the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, FRS 102 and the Charities Act 2011.

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Income recognition

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

Expenditure recognition

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings.

Fixed Assets: Lease Right of Use

The Charity entered into an agreement to lease the extended premises at Lancing Street for 3 years from 1 January 2023 for £2,500 per month. In line with the IFRS 16 Leases accounting standard, the lease was reported on balance sheet as a Right of Use asset and a Lease Liability in the amount of £82,178, being the 3 years’ rental payments discounted at the Charity’s estimated borrowing rate of 6%. The asset will be fully depreciated over the term of the lease and rental payments will be reported as interest expense and repayments of the lease liability.

Fixed Assets: Leasehold Improvements and Office & IT Equipment

Depreciation is charged on Leasehold Improvements at 33% (per annum) to write them off over the terms of the current lease. Office & IT Equipment is depreciated at 25% to write it off over its estimated useful life.

Restricted and unrestricted Funds

Restricted funds can be used only in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor. Unrestricted funds can be used for any purpose in furtherance of the Charity’s objectives.

Pension costs

The Charity operates defined contribution pension schemes. Contributions payable to the schemes are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

Taxation

The Charity is exempt from corporation tax.

2. Prior Year Adjustment

At 31.01.23, restricted funds were overstated, and unrestricted funds were understated, by £242,107. The mis-statement arose over a number of years because restricted funds were calculated as the brought forward amount plus in-year restricted grants less in-year restricted expenditure, and the latter amounts consistently understated the total amount of restricted expenditure. Carried forward restricted funds were therefore increasingly overstated.

For 2023-2024, the restricted funds calculations are based on a detailed, grant by grant analysis of restricted funding received versus expenditure specifically allocated against it. The year-end amounts reported here are the corrected figures, representing the total, on a grant by grant basis, of unspent restricted funds.