## **C4WS Homeless Project** ## **Trustees’ Report and Statement of Financial Activities for the year to 31 January 2025** ## **Trustees’ Report** The Trustees present their report for the year to 31 January 2025. ## **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, occasionally virtually, about four times a year and ad hoc as necessary. The direction and operational delivery of C4WS is overseen by Nikki, our Director, who is accountable to the Board of Trustees. The Director leads a small, experienced team: Sian, our Shelter Coordinator, oversees shelter logistics, church coordination, and volunteer management; Jessica, our Caseworker, provides one-to-one support and tracks guest outcomes; and Marc, our Services and Data Manager, monitors data, informs practice, and supports performance reporting. We welcomed Sian Smith as our new Shelter Coordinator in December 2024, after the departure of Lorraine Kinnear. We are grateful to all past and current staff for their contributions. We also worked with Central Care to provide temporary staffing support for both Friday Club and evening shifts at the shelter. We were extremely fortunate with the placement of Mary Masango, who quickly became a regular presence, covering three evening shifts each week throughout the season. Mary was well liked by both volunteers and guests, and her calm, reliable presence was a hugely welcome addition— especially at a time when our small team was facing recruitment challenges. ## **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 mission is to provide immediate, compassionate shelter and long-term, sustainable support for people experiencing homelessness in the London Borough of Camden. Through our winter night shelter and holistic, person-centred services, we empower individuals to move forward into stable, independent living. C4WS Homeless Project operates a winter night shelter annually from November until the end of March, providing emergency accommodation and essential support services to individuals experiencing homelessness. We expect to provide shelter to around 80 guests, offering them an initial 28-day stay in our shelter and access to a wide range of wraparound services designed to support long-term stability and independence. This shelter offers 16 beds every night for the duration and operates out of a network of Churches who provide dinner, bed and breakfast. Our team works year-round to cover all elements of guest welfare: - Welfare support for housing, immigration, accessing services, benefits, etc. - Jobs Club, supporting people into training and employment - Home from Home, our hosting scheme - English Classes in partnership with Speak Street - Individual grant applications for guests moving into accommodation - Legal Advice in partnership with the Camden Community Law Centre - Counselling for guests during their shelter stay in partnership with Brett Grellier Psychology Services • On site (at our offices in Euston) amenities including showers, laundry, luggage and document storage. 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). The newly refurbished additional rooms at the Euston office continued to be popular and helpful providing showers, laundry facilities, luggage storage. 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 relax and find clothing and accessories at their leisure. From November 2024 to April 2025, our winter night shelter supported exactly 80 guests. Despite internal challenges due to staff turnover, our small, dedicated team ensured continued delivery of holistic welfare support to every referred guest. This year’s 22-week season marked our 21st shelter cycle, hosted across a network of welcoming church venues. Each site, coordinated by trained Church Coordinators and supported by over 350 volunteers, provided a warm, safe, and dignified environment for our guests. C4WS’s Season 21 was marked by both the diversity of its guests and the significant impact of its services. Between November 2024 and April 2025, the majority of the 80 guests were young adults aged 18–24, demonstrating the urgent need for early intervention in homelessness. The shelter was a truly international space, welcoming guests from over 30 countries—including Eritrea, Sudan, Romania, Sri Lanka, and the UK— reflecting the global nature of housing insecurity and the inclusive ethos of C4WS. Our data on gender shows: 79% of guests were male 20% were female and 1% identified as non-binary. These figures highlight the ongoing trend of homelessness disproportionately affecting men, while also underscoring the importance of having inclusive, safe services that accommodate guests across the gender spectrum. When looking at age, younger adults made up most of our guest population. Of the 80 guests: 45% were aged 18–24 and 29% were aged 25–34. Only 26% of guests were over the age of 35, with a notable drop-off in representation among those aged 45 and above. This youth-heavy demographic is consistent with the challenges noted in our partnership with New Horizon Youth Centre, where many newly recognised refugees and displaced young adults are arriving in London without stable housing. Most notably, 97% of those who engaged with the service achieved a successful move-on outcome. 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. As is now usual, in September we took a group for a day at the seaside in Margate. ## **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 2025, we received grants and donations totalling £300,594, earned interest of £22,648 and incurred expenditure of £313,755, resulting in a funding surplus of £9,487. ## **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, at least twelve months’ running costs (currently c £315,000) should be held in free reserves (unrestricted reserves less fixed assets). On 31 January 2025, we had £465,272 of free reserves. ## **Investment Policy** We do not have any investments, but place funds not required in the short term on deposit in 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, with policies on safeguarding and physical risk in place. ## **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 1 September 2025 ## **Administrative Information** Company Number 12433154 Registered Address & Banker Charity Number 1189622 Office CAF Bank Ltd www.c4wshomelessproject.org St Pancras Church House 25 Kings Mill Avenue 1, Lancing Street Kings Mill, West London Malling NW1 1NA 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 2025. ## **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 on 1 September 2025 71 Elm Park Gardens London SW10 9QE Statement of Financial Activities for the ear to 31 Janua Income & Ex enditure Account Restricted Unrestricted Year to funds funds 31 Jan 2025 Year to 31 Jan 2024 Note Grants and Donations Grants Donations Totsl 217.￿9 49.378 266.387 34.207 34.207 83,586 3ts),594 251.958 61.802 313,7 217,CN)9 Interest Income 22.648 22.648 19.2 Operating expenses 269.034 44.721 313.755 339.457 Net Income 152.0251 61.512 9.487 16.438) lance Sh 31 Jan 21r25 31 Jan %)24 Fixed Assets 40.627 Current Assets Cash at bank Cash on deposit Interest income accrual Prepayments Other debtors 80,178 412.019 14,382 2.106 72.4￿1 383.925 12,842 2.642 1,139 473.(KJ8 Creditors falling due within one year Lease liabilities Other creditors 26.693 27.497 26,693 27,547 Net Current Assets 481,991 445,461 Creditors falling due after more than one year Lease liabilities 26.693 Net Assets 522.618 513.131 Restricted Unrestricted Total 31 Jan %r24 At 31 January 2024 Net income for year At 31 January 2025 68.745 444.386 152,0251 61,512 16.720 15.898 513.131 9.487 522.618 blhvd 519.569 16,4381 clhvd 513.131 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year to 31 January 2025** ## **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 in the period to which they relate. ## **Taxation** The Charity is exempt from corporation tax. 2. Operating expenses Note 2W2415 2023124 Stsff costs Depreciation Shelter & guest costs Office costs Insurance Lease interest expense Bookkeeping Volunteer entertainment Marketing Subscriptions & training Bank charges Consultancy fees Travel & subsistence t)onalions Other expenses 207.741 53.736 29.785 9,867 3.922 224.514 55.249 20.856 13.671 1.599 4.101 5,720 1.428 1,152 4.525 1.023 1.098 4.485 771 1.595 250 339.457 133 313.755 3. Staff Costs 2024125 2023124 Salaries & wages Employer s Nl contributions Employer's pension contributions Agency staff Human Resources Recruitment Statutory Sick Pay Slaff entertainment Payroll fees 175,220 13.154 10.369 1%,558 15.305 11.766 207.741 224.514 4. Trnstees. Remuneratlon & Benefits There were no Trustees, remuneration. benefits or expenses paid in the year to 31 January 2025 5. Fixed Assets Leasehold Improvements Office & IT Equipment Total Right of Use Cost 1 February 2024 Additions Cost 31 January 2025 82.178 77.338 167.825 82.178 77.338 167.825 Depreciation 1 February 2024 Charge in year Depreciation 31 January 2025 29,675 27.393 57.C68 36.042 25.779 61.821 7,745 73,462 53.736 127.198 Net Book Value l February 2024 Net Book Value 31 January 2025 52.502 25.110 41.296 15.517 40,627