Leeds Destitute Asylum-Seekers Support Charity Number 1190001
DRAFT Annual Report and financial statements for the period 1[st] July 2023 to 30[th] June 2024
LEDAS (Charity Number: 1190001)
Charity Information
DIRECTORS: G Tober (Chair) S Brown J Willison (Secretary) M Thornfield (Treasurer) P Lewis T Pickles* REGISTERED OFFICE: 20 Moss Gardens Leeds LS17 7BH REGISTERED NUMBER: 1190001 (England and Wales) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: T P Lawler
- retired 30[th] September 2024
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Trustees’ report for the year ended 30 June 2024
Review of the year
Throughout the year, the charity has provided accommodation and support to 9 destitute asylum seekers in two rented houses in Leeds.
These individuals have no recourse to public funds, are not permitted to work and have no entitlement to claim benefits. They are destitute and street-homeless at the point of referral.
We are able to accommodate 8 individuals at any one time, and have had full occupancy over the year, other than for four nights during changeover of residents. We aim to effect the changeover in as speedy a way as possible to reduce the risk and duration of street homelessness for successful applicants.
As well as providing the physical building for the individuals to live in (with their own bedroom and shared use of living room, kitchen and bathroom facilities) we have been providing the residents with food, household consumables, mobile-phone top-ups, bus tickets, and a small weekly allowance for food and their personal needs. We are exceptionally grateful for the various funders who have made it possible to provide these. They have had a big impact on the quality of life of our residents and allow them to live with a sense of dignity, which is one of the key aims of the charity. We accompany residents to healthcare appointments and casework meetings where necessary, to ensure that they are well supported in pursuing improved health and well-being and their asylum claims.
The charity received a very generous donation of £155,000, for the purpose of purchasing a property. This was at the time that another charity in Leeds, The Brothers of the First Order of the Society of St Francis notified us that they would be vacating two of their properties in Leeds – these offered the opportunity of similar accommodation to that which we had been renting, but in a better overall state of repair. As a result, the charity was able to negotiate the outright purchase of one of these properties, and an agreement to rent the second. In the latter half of the financial year, we vacated the properties we had previously been renting and moved to these two new properties.
This property move is a very significant event for the long term viability of the charity. Having a property we own halves our ongoing rent costs (albeit with the responsibility for maintenance and building insurance). The second property provides us with better security of long term availability, expected low levels of increasing rent over time, and the security that comes with having a caring and supportive landlord.
A number of additional one-off costs and expenses were incurred in relation to the property purchase and move, most of which was fully funded by grants and donations. These are detailed in the notes to the accounts.
The trustees are incredibly grateful to both the donor and the Brothers for helping us to make this happen. The trustees wish to also express their thanks to all those who have supported the charity over the year, whether financially, with donations of food, clothing or other items, or with offers of practical help and support.
Summary of current operations and activities
We have two 4-bedroom properties in Leeds, providing accommodation and services to 8 individual asylum seekers who would otherwise be street homeless.
We meet the residents every week and offer practical assistance and support.
The other main activity undertaken by the trustees over the year was fundraising, to cover the costs of running the charity.
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Reserves Policy
The trustees have decided that the charity should hold reserves of £26,000, made up of 3 months’ forecast operating costs at £11,000, together with a further £15,000 as a contingency for unexpected emergency costs in relation to the property that the charity owns.
Trustee appointments
The charity is run by the trustees with a small number of occasional volunteers. It does not employ any staff.
The current trustees are those who founded the charity, with one additional trustee appointed during the previous year. Trustees are appointed for a 2 year term, and may stand for reappointment.
One trustee, Tony Pickles, retired from his position after the year end (noted on page 2).
Risk Management
To manage the risks faced by the charity, the trustees have put in place a number of policies covering topics including safeguarding, health and safety and data privacy. Procedures to cover risk assessment at the point of referral of potential new residents have been updated on the basis of experience gained directly or in consultation with other providers. This has enabled trustees to feel more confident in being able to accommodate applicants with more complex cases of physical disability, mental ill-health and more complex asylum claims. All residents sign a document confirming their agreement to abide by the charity’s rules and procedures for living in our accommodation.
_____ Dr Gillian Tober Chair of trustees
12[th] December 2024 ____ Date
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF LEDAS
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30[th] June 2024, which are set out on pages 6, 7 and 8.
Responsibilities and basis of the report
As the charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act, and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that, in any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records, or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the account 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.
Name: T. P. Lawler BA (Hons) FCA
Address: 20 Park Wood Close, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1QW
Qualification or body: Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (retired member)
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LEDAS (Charity Number: 1190001)
Statement of Financial Activities (prepared on a cash basis) for the Year Period 1 July 2023 - 30 June 2024
| INCOME June 2024 Restricted June 2024 Unrestricted June 2024 Total June 2023 Total Grants and donations from charitable trusts National Lottery Leeds City Council B&Q Foundation Hilden Charitable Trust Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux West Riding Masonic Charity Ltd Masonic Charitable Foundation Church Homeless Trust Lush Allen Lane Brelms Garfield Weston 23,499 11,448 10,000 5,380 5,000 1,500 1,500 1,440 1,000 10,079 33,578 11,448 10,000 5,380 5,000 1,500 1,500 1,440 1,000 11,000 960 3,000 5,000 5,000 Donations and fundraising Donations eligible for gift aid Other donations 155,000 3,604 2,189 3,604 157,189 1,430 745 Other income Gift aid reclaim 0 0 543 TOTAL 215,767 15,872 231,639 27,678 EXPENDITURE June 2024 Restricted June 2024 Unrestricted June 2024 Total June 2023 Total Properties and residents’ expenditure Rent and Landlords’ costs Weekly allowances and phone top ups Bus passes and travel Utilities (Gas, Electric, Water) Council tax TV Licences Resident fitness and welfare Broadband Other general expenses 29,642 12,808 4,369 8,000 1,314 318 720 411 73 29,642 12,808 4,369 8,000 1,314 318 720 411 73 21,534 11,859 4,150 6,934 906 317 673 179 188 General expenses and one-off purchases Property purchase Associated property costs including repairs, equipment & appliances Insurance Organisation membership fees 155,000 17,811 1,190 9,038 120 155,000 26,849 1,190 120 125 740 60 TOTAL 231,656 9,158 240,814 47,665 Net surplus / (deficit) (15,889) 6,714 (9,175) (19,987) |
INCOME June 2024 Restricted June 2024 Unrestricted June 2024 Total June 2023 Total Grants and donations from charitable trusts National Lottery Leeds City Council B&Q Foundation Hilden Charitable Trust Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux West Riding Masonic Charity Ltd Masonic Charitable Foundation Church Homeless Trust Lush Allen Lane Brelms Garfield Weston 23,499 11,448 10,000 5,380 5,000 1,500 1,500 1,440 1,000 10,079 33,578 11,448 10,000 5,380 5,000 1,500 1,500 1,440 1,000 11,000 960 3,000 5,000 5,000 Donations and fundraising Donations eligible for gift aid Other donations 155,000 3,604 2,189 3,604 157,189 1,430 745 Other income Gift aid reclaim 0 0 543 TOTAL 215,767 15,872 231,639 27,678 EXPENDITURE June 2024 Restricted June 2024 Unrestricted June 2024 Total June 2023 Total Properties and residents’ expenditure Rent and Landlords’ costs Weekly allowances and phone top ups Bus passes and travel Utilities (Gas, Electric, Water) Council tax TV Licences Resident fitness and welfare Broadband Other general expenses 29,642 12,808 4,369 8,000 1,314 318 720 411 73 29,642 12,808 4,369 8,000 1,314 318 720 411 73 21,534 11,859 4,150 6,934 906 317 673 179 188 General expenses and one-off purchases Property purchase Associated property costs including repairs, equipment & appliances Insurance Organisation membership fees 155,000 17,811 1,190 9,038 120 155,000 26,849 1,190 120 125 740 60 TOTAL 231,656 9,158 240,814 47,665 Net surplus / (deficit) (15,889) 6,714 (9,175) (19,987) |
|---|---|
Property purchase Associated property costs including repairs, equipment & appliances Insurance Organisation membership fees TOTAL Net surplus / (deficit) |
|
| 231,656 9,158 240,814 47,665 |
|
| (15,889) 6,714 (9,175) (19,987) |
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LEDAS (Charity Number: 1190001)
Balance Sheet at 30 June 2024
| June 2024 | June 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | ||
| Fixed assets | ||||
| Property | 155,000 | 0 | 155,000 | 0 |
| Current assets | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 14,580 | 23,923 | 38,503 | 47,679 |
| Debtors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Net current assets | 14,580 | 23,923 | 38,503 | 47,679 |
| Creditors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total assets less current | 169,540 | 23,923 | 193,503 | 47,679 |
| liabilities | ||||
| Net assets | 169,580 | 23,923 | 193,503 | 47,679 |
| econciliation of movement of funds | ||||
| o 30 June 2024 | ||||
| £ | ||||
| Opening balance 1 July 2023 | 47,679 | |||
| Deficit on financial activities | (9,175) | |||
| Closing balance 30 June 2024 | 38,504 |
Reconciliation of movement of funds to 30 June 2024
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Notes to the accounts
During the year the charity received a very generous substantial donation of £155,000 to allow it to purchase a property. This will significantly help with the long term sustainability of the charity, reducing the ongoing rent costs by approximately £10,800 per annum.
As this was a one-off transaction, and to keep the accounts preparation work simple, the trustees have elected to continue to report the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
The charity moved from its previous two rented properties to the now owned property and an alternative rented property during the last part of the financial year. The newly rented property is of a higher standard and in a better state of repair than that previously used by the charity.
The figure of £26,849 for “Associated property costs including repairs, equipment & appliances” includes the fitting of a new kitchen at £10,601, and re-roofing work at £7,187, together with various the fees and costs associated with purchasing the property (such as surveyors and solicitors), costs to furnish and repair both properties and bring them to the standard required.
The trustees do not consider that any of these costs will impact the resale price of the purchased house, and so have reported the house the accounts as an asset at the purchase price.
There are some further costs associated with the property purchase and move which will be incurred in the following year. This includes planned improvements to a bathroom to make it more easily usable by a disabled resident, at a cost of £5,600, which will be covered by grant funding which has been received after the current year end.
The rent figure included above includes a pre-payment of rent of £10,800 on the rented property.
The last gift aid claim was submitted in December 2022. A further claim is being submitted after the year end which will cover all outstanding claimable gift aid to June 2024, of £944.75.
The trustees have decided to assign £15,000 of the funds as a designated fund to provide for any unforeseen emergency costs in relation to the property it now owns.
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