Support Our Military Veterans (Registered charity, number 1190432) Financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2024 Page Contents Trustees, annual report Independent examiner's report Receipts & payments account Statement of assets & liabilities Notes to the accounts capLUS COMMUNITY ACCOUNTING ## **Support Our Military Veterans Trustees' annual report for the year ended 31 July 2024** **Full name** Support Our Military Veterans **Organisation type** Charitable incorporated organisation ## **Registered charity number** 1190432 ## **Principal address** Enterprise Centre 6 David Lane Basford Nottingham NG6 0JU ## **Trustees** Neil Fox, Chair Johnathan Fox, Treasurer Robert Coughtrey, Secretary Peter Bath, Veterans Affairs ## **Independent examiner** John O'Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL ## **Governance and management** The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 16/07/2020. **The methods adopted for the recruitment and appointment of new trustees** The charity use guidelines from the Charity Commission. This has not been an easy task due to the after effects of Covid, and the current economic situation. The Trustees have discussed requirements & potential candidates at trustee meetings, looking to the Veteran community in particular. NF has looked to address this through Facebook Veteran Groups, asking for interested individuals to make contact. Also advertised on Linkedln website. SOMV are looking to appoint a further Trustee from the Veteran community in FY5. ## **Objectives and activities** - (1) To relieve financial hardship, need, suffering and distress amongst veterans of all branches of the armed forces and their partners, spouses and dependents in such ways as the trustees shall think fit, particularly but not exclusively by: a) providing grants of money, providing or paying for accommodation, advice and assistance in obtaining suitable housing; b) providing or paying for vocational training, development of personal skills, advice and mentoring; c) providing or paying for medical services, items, counselling or facilities; d) providing grants, items or support for suffering caused by age or infirmity. 2 Support Our Military Veterans {2} To promote the resettlement and rehabilitation of former armed forces personnel into the civilian community by such means as the trustees decide, including by providing training and support and by fostering good relations be￿een former armed forces personnel and the wider community. {3) To advance education and vocational training for former armed forces personnel by the provision of grants, providing or paying for courses, learning materials and providing other items or services. Public benefit statement Provision of services and supported structure that provides the local military community with a range of integrated ServI￿S that provides intervention to support those that are experiencing a significant stressful life event and need immediate support. A reduction in the level of rough sleeping and homelessness amongst Ihe ex-military population, a reduction in the level of crime associated with a homeless lifestyle of veterans, an increase in the number of military community sustaining resettlement in the community, an increase in the number of ex-service personnel accessing education, training, volunteering and employment opportunities, an increase in the number of the military community accessing appropriate healthcare including specialist substance misuse and mental health services. SOMV work with and link service users into the range of community based support agencies which exist locally. The aim is to develop a network of support with individuals actively encouraged to support each other. The development of mutual aid will be crucial to successful sustainable resettlement in the community. The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit,. Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit SOMV provides a focal point for veterans & the military community. The main aim of the charity is to help military veterans that have need of support to respond to life events that present welfare needs, by advising I signposting to all appropriate services. In addition, we look to support those disadvantaged, in isolation, in need of educational support & development. Through support from fundraising and grants, additional aims are to provide 'crisis' accommodation to veterans that find themselves homeless at short notice, progressing them through to permanent housing. Relief of poverty (daily needs) are supported where possible. Support & guidance in addressing past service related injuries, medical conditions is also provided. Mental Health and Well-Being support is being developed with service providers, ensuring that our veterans have access to a range of specialist ServI￿S that can meet their individual needs. Support Our Military Veterans Summary of the main achievements during the period This is SOMV'S FY4, so the building of a firm foundation continues. As with FY3, this has been a struggle due to the effects of the Energy Crisis / Cost of Living impact on the economy, and the public & business COn￿rnS on future prosperity. So for the charity, it has been an achievement to have stability financially, and to have increased services & support to our Veterans. This FY SOMV have funded 260 individual counselling sessions and 52 group counselling sessions for Veterans, provided transportation, supported welfare needs, and have advised on a wide range of care, disability, housing, and mental health requirements. SOMV have received excellent feedback and support from our donors, in the fom of many unsolicited letters, and have added to our 'book of pledges, page {website). A number of testimonials from Veterans have also been received, adding further weight to the positive feedback. SOMV have provided a number of Veterans Grants this year. These are for furnishings I white goods for Veterans who have found accommodation but, need additional support. SOMV have worked closely with Joboppo Senior Management this FY, as Joboppo offer a great service to Veterans by providing a wide range of employment related support. Neil Fox is a Charity (Third Sector) Champion, and has provided specific dats and information that will help Veterans gain employment within the Charity Sector through Joboppo. Increased awareness has been achieved through Google business, and other social media platforms such as Linkedln and Meta. SOMV have attracted funding from Charity Aid Foundation, PayPal, Give as You Live, Smart Giving, as well as grants from Trusts and Foundations directly, or working with Company Solutions. We have worked closely with Raisemore to gain funding, and have received Gift Aid from HMRC. Example of Response Letters from Our Funders. (Extract) "Dear Mr Fox, Thank you for your application for funding dated 21st May, which was discussed by the Trustees at our June meeting. l am pleased to let you know that a grant has been awarded by the Foundation. We were all very impressed by the work you are doing to support Servi￿ men and women suffering from PTSD and related mental health issues. We Lvish you well for the continued success of this valuable work." Support Our Military Veterans Financial review AlliaGting funding has been difficult, as the effects of energy Go5t5 & the curient economic situation have impacted on revenue streams. This being SOMVS fourth year of operalion, Ihe charity would anticipate a slow burn start lo funding fevenue in FY5, but inGreasing through the year. The positive new8 18 that SOMV'S financial posits'on at the end of the reporting pefiod FY4 will be in a surplus of approx. £3,000. Funding streams I revenue are the key risk factor for SOMV. This is why SOMV are working with an external source, Raisemore, who are a fund raising I marketing company. They specialise in mailings, and have an exstensive contact data base. We will be developing grants through Trusts & Foundations in FY5, as this will see mproved financial revenue for both core & project work. We will be working closely wilh Company Solutions to achieve Ihis, as Itiey specialise in this fEld and have an established data base of contacts. Legacies l Gifts through Wi118, are a further medium that is being promoted through SOMV W￿bSite, as this has the potential for longÈr term, large donations. The charlty's policy on reserves At this early stage of the charites existence there would be a limited target level. for obvious reasons. Having reserves will however be an important part of the financial plan as the charity moves forward. as this will provide cover fjor future risks (ie pandemic). £3k 18 our target. Signed on behalfof the Gharity's tru tees.. Signed Nes1 Fox. Trustee Date Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Support Our Military Veterans for the year ended 31 July 2024 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Support Our Military Veterans (the charity) for the year ended 31 July 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the trustees of the charity 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 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){bl of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no 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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act., or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 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. Signed John O'Brien MSC, FCCA, FCIE Employee of Community Accounting Plus Date 0811012024 Support Our Military Veterans Receipts & payments account for the year ended 31 July 2024 2023 2024 Note Receipts Grants & donations sU￿ry receipts Raisemore donation income Loan Total receipts 19789 171 8550 23543 10735 2000 36278 28510 Payments Advertising & marketirYJ GrantslDonatiorE paid Office and general administration Counselling seNces Insura￿￿ 3352 400 352 13020 584 1992 432 586 509 168 668 780 4413 1413 18690 740 3260 552 795 645 202 980 780 453 Legal & professional Events Phone costs Printing, stationery & postsge Raisemore costs Rent & seNces Sundry payments Trustees expenses Veterans trarBport Total payments 39 5370 28252 4451 37374 258 3963 4221 Net receiptsl(payments) Cash funds at start of this period Cash funds at end of this period (1096) 4221 3125 Support Our Military Veterans Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 July 2024 2023 2024 Gash assets Bank aGGounts Note 4221 4221 3125 3125 Liabilities Credltors 456 (456) 2540 12540 These financial statements are ac￿pted on behaff of the charity by: Signed Johnathan Fox, Trustee Dated J la LQ Support Our Military Veterans Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024 1. Receipts & payments accounts Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand. 2. Grants & donations HMRC Gift Aid Sundry grants & donations 3771 19772 23543 3. Creditors Independent Examination fee Loan 540 2000 2540 4. Trustees, remuneration During this period, a total of £4,574 was reimbursed to a trustee for mileage and expenses incurred for veteran transport etc. 5. Related party transactions There were no related paty transactions during the period. 6. Glossary of terms Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity, but not paid during the accounting period.