## ROUTE2FREEDOM FOR THE PERIOD: 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025 Report of the Trustees, the accounts and the independent examiner's report for the period 1st November 2024 to 31st October 2025 for Route2Freedom ## Charity name and number Route2Freedom, 1190159 ## Trustees Abigail Falola was (Appointed 05/12/2023) (Chair) Stephen Fenning (Appointed 29/06/2020) Christopher Bedford (Appointed 29/06/2020/Stepped down June 2025) Janet Watson (Appointed 02/05/2023/ Stepped down 06/06/2025) Maria Chisnall (Appointed 14/10/2025) Rachel Ball (Appointed 14/10/2025) John Collison (Appointed Feb 2025) ## Employees Nathan Denniston Liam Rutter Esme Kennedy (employed in October 2024) Helen Clarke (employed in October 2024, resigned 10/2025) ## Governing Document CIO registered 29 June 2020 Principal Address New Cottage, Town Yard, Church Road, Westhorpe, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 4SU Independent examiner David Sutherland of Worlingworth, Suffolk ## Trustee Report ANNUAL REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF ROUTE2FREEDOM 1190159 FOR THE PERIOD 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025 The objects of the CIO are: 1. To advance the Christian faith for the public benefit in Suffolk and the rest of the UK in accordance with the statement of beliefs and practices appearing in the Schedule of the CIO. 2. To relieve financial hardship and relieve the charitable needs of people in Suffolk and the rest of the UK, particularly those experiencing addiction, homelessness and financial hardship, in particular but not exclusively by: - a. providing grants, items, services to individuals in financial hardship, and advice and information on housing and welfare benefits. - b. providing advice and information directed to the preservation and protection of good physical and mental health. ## Structure, Management and Governance Arrangements: The structure of the trust and the trustees who held office in the year and up to the date of this report are listed in the charity information above. The powers of appointment or removal of a trustee rests with the existing trustees. The Trustees meet monthly to discuss the business of the CIO. Nathan Denniston and Liam Rutter have been employed by the CIO since April 2022. Esme Kennedy and Helen Clarke have been employed since October 2024, Helen Clarke moved on from the charity after a year. During the period there were five trustee changes, with John Collison joining in February 2025, Maria Chisnall and Rachel Ball appointed in October 2025 and Jan Watson and Christopher Bedford both stepping down, in June 2025. The Trustees' main duty is to ensure that the income and property of the charity are applied for the purposes set out in the Scheme. At their meetings, they also consider employer responsibilities, health and safety matters, insurance, the current position of named clients, the overall position of the finances and organisations that partner with the CIO. They provide managerial responsibility ensuring wellbeing of outreach workers and dealing with any issues arising. ## Relationships Route2Freedom have strong ties with several local Churches, namely: - Hope Church, Ipswich (1137936), - Burlington Baptist Church, Ipswich (1126207), - Ipswich International Church, Ipswich, - Greenfinch Church, Ipswich (1079252), - The Forge Community Church, Debenham (1101080), - Capel St Mary Community Church, - Ashcroft Church, - Nansen Road Baptist Church, Ipswich, - St. Augustine’s and - MIE Ipswich The CIO also liaises on an ad hoc basis with several other charities in the Ipswich and Suffolk area, particularly regarding addiction help and emergency housing. The Charity exists to help those who are caught in addiction and problems associated with addiction. Particularly it helps those with alcohol and drug abuse problems. It operates primarily in Ipswich, Suffolk and would look to walk alongside clients, to get to know them and point them in the right direction to help with the addiction. This may be towards recovery programmes, local churches, sometimes helping with housing issues, working with other agencies, all on a one-to-one basis. ## Outreach In the review period the charity maintained its approach of meeting people on the streets and referrals from local services or churches. Outreach workers were able to establish therapeutic relationships with multiple clients. As we were able to increase our financial funds through fundraising and increasing our supporting churches Route 2 freedom was able to hire another female outreach worker, this increased the number of women we were able to support. We were able to journey with 4 people out of their addiction issues and work alongside several more in assistance with housing, recovery and spiritual journeying. We attended 3 funerals to support the family of former clients and worked actively with the probation service to rehabilitate former offenders. Following the restructuring of last year we have focussed on team building and strengthening our internal ability to work effectively as a team and awareness of the charity activities amongst donors and supporters. We have seen our update subscriber list grow significantly along with our web presence. ## Interaction with donors The CIO has strong personal ties with many of the individual and Church donors (each Trustee and Outreach Worker are strongly involved with a supporting Church). As well as this, the CIO produce a monthly news and prayer sheet, updating supporters with information about individuals that are being helped, as well as ongoing plans. In summer 2025 we were able to hold a sponsored walk in which our outreach team did a 26 mile walk to raise awareness of the work the charity does and to encourage donations. We saw a massive increase in giving and awareness in the Ipswich area amongst local businesses, churches and within the community. ## Finances The cost involved in running Route2Freedom is largely met by several Churches who give a regular monthly donation, as well as several individuals giving regularly. Originally 5 local churches contributed to the CIO and we now have 12 supporting churches. We are constantly working to increase the number of supporting churches, hoping to add several more in the next financial year. The aforementioned walk raised just over £5000.00 and the Trustees consider the financial position of the CIO is strong ## **Policies** The Trustees constantly work to ensure that the Charity has appropriate policies in place and that these are regularly reviewed. ## Reserves policy The minimum level of reserves set by the Trustees was raised in August 2025 to £6,000 (the equivalent of approximately 3 months of essential running and employment costs). ## Plans for 2025/26 It is our ambition and intention to be able to increase the working hours of our outreach staff team. We are looking to share our expertise on faithbased support of the homeless and addiction recovery, with churches and other charity organisations. We wish to increase public awareness and increase the number of churches we are working with. We will continue to engage with specific individuals, struggling with addiction. We fully intend to place as many as possible in a rehabilitation facility, as well as helping with education, counselling, housing etc. ## Public Benefit Statement When planning the CIO’s activities for the year, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefits. The Trustees consider that the work undertaken is of direct benefit not only to clients, but also to the wider Ipswich community. The Trustees are therefore happy that the CIO demonstrates a good delivery of public benefit. ## Independent Examiner Peter Matthews our previous Independent Examiner, notified us of his intention to retire after the 2023/24 report. The Trustees appointed David Sutherland at their meeting on 23[rd] June 2026 to independently examine the financial books of the CIO. Abigail Falola – Chair of Trustees 11[th] August 2026 ## **ROUTE2FREEDOM – CIO : 1190159** ## **Receipts and Payments for Year Ending 31[st] October 2025** |**Receipts:**
Church Giving
Individual Giving
Appeals
Gift Aid Claims
Fund Raising
Bank Interest
**Total Receipts**
**Payments:**
Wages
Rehab Costs
Expenses – Clients and Meetings
Travelling and Parking Expenses
Insurance
Professional Fees
Conferences and Training
Equipment
Mobile Phones
Bank Charges
Sundry Expenses
**Total Payments**
**Surplus/(Defcit) for the year**
Balance b/fwd
**Balance c/fwd**
**Represented by:**
Bank Balances
Cash Float
Paypal Expenses Account|2025
2024
£
£
8690.00
15,863.00
6,963.75
8,040.00
240.00
223.71
1,184.71
1,891.97
5,721.16
4.29| |---|---| ||**22,803.91**
**26,018.6**
**8**| ||19,806.
20
13,924.20
0.00
360.00
2,146.65
1,384.95
791,35
320.20
375.97
249.52
637.66
450.00
196.00
30.90
383.70
614.50
0.00
133.41
0.00
391.72
0.00| ||**24,928.36**
**17,268.5**
**7**| ||**(2,124.45)**
**8,750.11**
13,172.54
4,422.43| ||**11,048.09**
**13,172.5**
**4**| ||10,998.09
12,972.54
0.00
200.00
50.00
0.00| ||**11,048.09**
**13,172.5**
**4**| ## **ROUTE2FREEDOM – CIO : 1190159 Independent Examiner’s Report to The Trustees of Route2Freedom For the Year Ended 31[st] October 2025.** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Route2Freedom (the Trust) for the year ended 31[st] October 2025. ## Responsibilities and Basis of Report As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’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 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the 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 contents 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. ## David L Sutherland David L Sutherland 14[th] August 2026