Charity Number 1192217
WELLBEING IN ACTION
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
WELLBEING IN ACTION REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
Reference and administrative details
Registered Charity Number: 11992217
Status: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered 06/11/2020) Trustees: Mr B Wadlan, Mrs D Y Ridout & Mrs L Puryer
The power of appointment of new trustees is vested in the trustees. A new trustee would receive the training deemed appropriate to enable them to fulfil their role as trustee of the charity.
Treasurer: Ms E Warren Principal Office: 12A School Road Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 2JU
Objectives and activities
The object of the charity as given in the Constitution is to relive hardship amongst people whose facing circumstances causing harm and having a serious detriment on their financial, physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing.
The objectives of the charity are met by the provision of preventative and support services, the distribution of crisis aid and practical relief from the issues causing barriers.
WELLBEING IN ACTION
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the year and of its financial activities during the year in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards). In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
follow applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Charities SORP, disclosing and explaining any departures in the accounts;
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue to operate.
The trustees are responsible for ensuring that adequate accounting records are maintained that are sufficient to show and explain the charity transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity, and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and ensuring their proper application in accordance with charity law, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
The year spanning the financial reporting of these accounts has been one of mixed challenges and opportunities, where huge progress and advancement have been made, particularly in the development of the charity infrastructure and the voluntary workforce who serve it, the deepening of community collaboration and credibility across multi-sector networks, and recognition of the growing admiration of the charity demonstrated by the increased desire of grant makers to support and fund our services.
Notable achievements included the successful delivery of our largest grant of £30k from the Big Lottery Fund, and the application of diligence and willingness to learn by our team as they undertook a major evaluation and financial scrutiny exercise as part of this programme. This led to a programme of strengthening our internal mechanisms – partnership work to peer review evaluations, updating and revising our policies and practise guidelines and researching the best industry financial and data collection systems.
The leadership team embraced this task through investing in the new Beacon CRM database system to keep client and donor data safe and to derive clear information about the pathways and impact for beneficiaries, volunteers and partners to and through Wellbeing in Action.
We built on the learning gained from the Big Lottery audit to implement the Xero accountancy system to enable better information management, in a more timely manner and to enable better planning and risk assessment around budgeting. This is a new system brought in mid-way through the accounting year, and which will be a little scratchy to begin, as we align the accounting codes and headings from previous years spreadsheets. However, it is already saving time and being highly useful at generating quality reports instantly.
The workforce have risen to the challenges of adapting to these systems, applying diligence to the frontline changes in methods of data capture and reporting. They have been positive in their giving of time to train and persevere with learning. Given the limited capacity of many of our volunteers, their contribution to making this so smoothly implemented is to be congratulated.
We have also invested in equipment to make these more sophisticated systems possible -– computer equipment, software and subscription fees to online databases.
Another area of investment has been in our workforce, with our first proper spend on training in health which has enabled our volunteers to undertake the NIHR First Steps into Research programme, courses specific to public health such as blood pressure, vaccination, stop to swap smoking cessation, baby weighing, sexual health testing, female health chaperoning – and being able to offer these at the heart of the community. We acknowledge there is a high cost to enable our organisation to be on a level platform, credibly side by side with health services. A demonstration that this investment has been worthwhile has come in the form of being asked to equitably partner an academic research programme with Exeter University into osteoporosis.
On a less positive aspect, whilst making big gains in growing our income this year, we have had a very expensive period due to the requirement to relocate the entirety of our aid distribution centre, social supermarket and health drop in facility. The progress made in each of these areas has been formidable but was severely impacted by the ending of the lease by the district council (landlords) as part of their demolition plans under the Future High Streets Fund. Following the high costs of establishing that lease and poor communication about support alternatives for our charity, the risk to services was severe.
This has been compounded by the grief shared universally across our charity by the loss of Christopher Wills who unexpectedly passed in May, and took not only his legal expertise but also the continuous mentoring of our CEO and brilliance in his vision for health equality and set the example of positive collaboration as a key to our being. Wellbeing in Action feels very hollow with his empty space.
Despite this most harsh of years, with tenacity, creativity, determination and close comradeship of our teams and the support of the community, we are thankful that the integrity of frontline provision has been preserved. It has, however, come at a great cost with relocation, removal, building refurbishment, marketing and workforce training escalating – causing us to not meet our aspirationally increased target reserves, but nevertheless exiting a financially expensive year with a small surplus, despite the many expensive challenges thrown at short notice.
Our other target for this year was to secure a stronger Trustee Board and we’ve made steady progress by concentrating on quality and relevance to our needs which has secured three new Trustees who are in the process of induction and who bring enormous skill and experience which can only strengthen Wellbeing in Action for our next chapter. Investing in trustee training and development time will be anticipated for 2024/25.
Overall, the Trustees unanimously applaud our CEO and frontline team for their incredible positivity, energy and innovation in navigating project management of a huge practical upheaval, whilst sticking to the brief of implementing new systems and paying attention to improving their own skills and abilities through training. Despite a year which could have thrown us significantly off course, Wellbeing in Action have not dropped the ball and have continued to deliver impactful and loved services to the community, while growing, strengthening and protecting our charity - and still creatively speculating for adventurous avenues in health and poverty relief for the coming year.
We cannot expect this level of commitment and energy to sustain without securing infrastructural resource to invest in core costs relating to our workforce and this will be the priority for the next year. I recommend, endorsed soundly by my fellow trustees, a fundraising target of £25k to secure at least one leadership post to lead the strategic development of our work in one key area of either aid distribution or health support – freeing the CEO to concentrate on our strategy and partnerships, specifically enabling Wellbeing in Action to perform at the highest level of professionalism and be an exemplar organisation of the VCSE community whilst looking after the wellbeing of our delivery workforce who deserve that investment.
I close this report by thanking and congratulating everyone who has contributed to this extraordinary year and, on behalf of the entire Board, extending a welcome to those who are newly entering our next chapter.
CHAIR TO THE TRUSTEE BOARD
WELLBEING IN ACTION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
| INCOME AND EXPENDITURE | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
| £ | £ | |
| Incoming resources: | ||
| Public Donations | 15,491 | 17,778 |
| Recycle Income | - | 678 |
| Beneficiary Grants | 3,840 | 6,301 |
| Grant Funding | 49,337 | 12,913 |
| Bursary Grants | - | 6,401 |
| Total incoming resources | 68,668 | 44,071 |
| Resources expended: | ||
| Charitable activities: | ||
| Beneficiary aid and Services | 15,630 | 14,001 |
| Social Action Events and Marketing | 347 | 2,148 |
| Volunteers’ Expenses | 7,360 | 3,803 |
| Motor Vehicle Expenses | 1,942 | 1,541 |
| Legal and Financial Fees | 2,359 | 2,929 |
| Building and Utilities | 8,258 | 10,670 |
| Office and Administration | - | 74 |
| Retail Stock and Accessories | - | 2,207 |
| Volunteer Bursary and Training | 7,347 | 6,756 |
| Aid and Crisis Distribution Costs | 1,725 | - |
| Rent and Rates | 13,743 | - |
| Printing, Postage and Stationery | 909 | - |
| IT Expenditure | 1,936 | - |
| Total resources expended | 61,556 | 44,129 |
| Net movement in funds for the year | 7,112 | (58) |
| Reconciliation of funds: | ||
| Fund balances brought forward at 1 October | 380 | 438 |
| 2023 | ||
| Fund balances carried forward at 30 September 2024 |
7,492 | 380 |
WELLBEING IN ACTION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
| FIXED ASSETS Computer Equipment Motor Vehicles Office Equipment CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Bank TOTAL ASSETS FUNDS Unrestricted Funds |
2024 2023 £ £ 678 - 2,200 - 330 - 3,208 - 4,284 380 7,492 380 7,492 380 |
|---|---|
The Trustees confirm, in accordance with the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (General) Regulations 2012, that at the year end the CIO did not have any outstanding guarantees to third parties nor any debts secured on the assets of the CIO.
Approved by the Trustees on 10 October 2024
........................................ Mr B Wadlan – Chair
WELLBEING IN ACTION NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1.1 BASIS OF PREPARATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 (the FRS102 SORP) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a “true and fair” view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to give a “true and fair view”. This departure has involved following the FRS102 SORP rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
1.2 LEGAL STATUS OF THE CHARITY
The Charity is registered in England and Wales and the registered office is 12A School Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2JU. The registered charity number is 1192217. The charity has no share capital. Its principal activities are to provide services and relive financial hardship amongst people whose financial circumstances are having serious detriment on their physical, emotional and mental health.
1.3 INCOMING RESOURCES
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Income is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and value added tax. Major sources of income are recognised as follows:
Donations and gifts
Donations and gifts are recognised when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
1.4 RESOURCES EXPENDED
Donations and grants are accounted for on an accruals basis. Liabilities are recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure. Other expenses are recognised in the same way.
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
| Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages |
Wellbeing In Action |
|---|---|
| 30th September 2024 Charity no (if any) 1192217 |
|
| 1-7 |
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30/09/2024 .
Responsibilities and basis of 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 Trust’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)(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 gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content 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.
| Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: |
Date: | 14/10/2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Samuel Rigg | ||
| ICAEW (ACA) | ||
| 40 Sycamore, Wilnecote, Birmingham, B77 5HB | ||