Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre
Annual Report & Accounts
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Registered Charity Number: 1192644
1
Reference & Administrative Details
| Charity Name: | Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre |
|---|---|
| Registered Charity Number: | 1192644 |
| Charity’s Principal Address: | 19 West Street |
| Hereford | |
| HR4 0BX | |
| Trustees: | Samantha Lewis (Chair) |
| Philip Chandler | |
| Alice McAlpine | |
| Christopher Tipping | |
| Shaun Leavy | |
| Sarah Kaye | |
| David Catchpole | |
| Bank: | CAF Bank Limited |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | |
| Kings Hill | |
| West Malling | |
| Kent | |
| ME19 4JQ | |
| Independent Examiner: | R J Francis & Co Ltd |
| Suites 1 & 2 Marshall Business Centre | |
| Faraday Road | |
| Hereford | |
| HR4 9NS |
2
Trustee’s Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022
Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre
Charity Registration No: 1192644
Purpose of the Charity
To promote the health, wellbeing and resettlement into the community of any and all ex HM Armed Forces personnel, ex HM Armed Forces Reservists or former members of the Merchant Navy who have served alongside their Armed Forces comrades during a conflict (also referred to as veterans) along with their families, carers and dependents who reside in Herefordshire or the surrounding area and who are in charitable need including those who are suffering from mental or physical illness of any description or are in need of rehabilitation as a result of such illness, who are experiencing difficulties adjusting to post service civilian life, are experiencing hardship, unemployment or homelessness in such ways as the trustees of the charity think fit by:
-
Providing a single point of contact to assist in the provision of physical, psychological, practical support, advice and encouragement to relieve a veteran’s distress, illness or hardship.
-
Providing or assisting in the provision of activities and facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time activities with the object of improving veterans’ wellbeing, self-esteem, self-confidence and aiding their transition back into local society.
-
Providing or arranging provision of education, vocational skills training, or other assistance and to create and facilitate job opportunities along with assisting hm armed forces veterans to prepare for and find employment.
-
Operate a drop in and activity centre staffed by volunteers, and HM Armed Forces veterans to provide advice, empathy, support and a sign posting service to help HM Armed Forces veterans who are experiencing problems due to one of the above challenges. To assist them with access to local service providers and support organisations that may be able to provide help or support.
Public Benefit & Review of the Year
The charity has continued to operate as a physical drop-in centre in 2022 allowing serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families and carers to obtain support and signposting on a variety of issues facing the Armed Forces and veteran community in Herefordshire. There has been increased engagement from the veteran community in Herefordshire with 368 veterans assisted during the year together with 100 family members. In addition, 36 individual organisations have used the centre to provide services and support to veterans.
3
A number of initiatives were run or supported by the centre for veterans during the year, which included book exchanges, a model making session, mental health days and a BARs session (holistic treatment). Towards the end of 2022 we also began a weekly brunch club which provided veterans with a regular opportunity to meet up for brunch and a chat. These sessions proved very successful and have continued into 2023.
The charity participated in a series of profile-raising and fundraising activities during the year including hosting an Afternoon Tea at The Castle House which incorporated An Audience with Paul Vicary and a Christmas Silent Auction. There was also continued support of the South Wye Boxing Show which provides further local exposure for the charity.
In planning the charity’s activities this year, the charity’s trustees have kept in mind the Charity Commission’s Guidance on Public Benefit.
Financial Review
As a result of increased fundraising efforts and successful grant applications income generated by the charity this year has increased to £64,570 from £12,219 in 2021. Significant grants were received in the year from The Eveson Trust and the Veterans’ Foundation.
As of 31 December 2022, the charity had reserves of £52,943 (2021: £3,269). The aim for the year was to build up and maintain free reserves in unrestricted funds at a level which equates to approximately twelve months of unrestricted charitable expenditure. The Trustees consider that this level will provide sufficient funds to ensure that the centre can be kept open and staffed to bridge any possible delays in receiving grants or issues with applications for grants required. 2022 has seen progress being made towards this target but further fundraising plans have been made to move towards this goal in 2023.
The charity remains reliant on individual charitable donations and grant awards.
4
Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre for the year ended 31 December 2022, which are set out on pages 6 to 7.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre 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 Trustee’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 2011 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.
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: A A Houston FCA
On behalf of R J Francis & Co Ltd Chartered Accountants Suites 1 & 2 Marshall Business Centre Faraday Road Hereford HR4 9NS
Date: 30 October 2023
5
Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre Registered Charity No 1192644
Income & Expenditure Account For the year ended 31 December 2022
| INCOMING RESOURCES Funding & donations received Interest received Total Incoming Resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Rent Water rates Light & heat Telephone & internet Repair & renewals Insurance Bank charges Fundraising expenses Brunch costs Sundry expenses Total Resources Expended NET INCOME / (EXPENDITURE) TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
£ 30,429 26 30,455 9,694 121 1,420 355 953 330 81 684 - 226 13,864 16,591 3,269 19,860 Unrestricted Funds |
£ £ 34,115 64,544 - 26 34,115 64,570 - 9,694 - 121 - 1,420 - 355 138 1,091 - 330 - 81 450 1,134 444 444 - 226 1,032 14,896 33,083 49,674 - 3,269 33,083 52,943 Restricted Funds Total Funds |
|---|---|---|
6
Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre Registered Charity No 1192644
Statement of Assets & Liabilities As at 31 December 2022
| £ Assets Cash at Bank CAF Bank Account 19,860 Liabilities - Total Charity Funds 19,860 These Accounts were approved by the Trustees on 20 October 2023. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Samantha Lewis Chair Unrestricted Funds |
£ £ 33,083 52,943 - - 33,083 52,943 Restricted Funds Total Funds |
|---|---|
Date: 20 October 2023
7