## **Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre** ## **Annual Report & Accounts** **For the year ended 31 December 2023** ## **Registered Charity Number: 1192644** 1 ## **Reference & Administrative Details** |**Charity Name:**|Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre| |---|---| |**Registered Charity Number:**|1192644| |**Charity’s Principal Address:**|100 Widemarsh Street| ||Hereford| ||HR4 9HG| |**Trustees:**|Samantha Lewis (Chair)| ||Philip Chandler| ||Christopher Tipping| ||Shaun Leavy| ||Sarah Kaye| ||David Catchpole| ||Christopher Bailey| ||Andrew Bridgewater| ||Paul Guest| ||Harriet Dearden| ||Rosalind Kearney| ||John Richard Collyer| |**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 2023** ## **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 2023 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 497 veterans assisted during the year together with 64 family members. In addition, 195 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). The weekly brunch club successfully continued during 2023 and it provided veterans and spouses/carers with a regular opportunity to meet up for brunch and a chat. The Herefordshire Veteran Support Centre has continued to collaborate with other local charities and supporting organisations to provide much needed support and access to assistance. The Department for Work and Pensions hold a monthly clinic at the Centre, providing one to one support where required. The Charity is supported by a cohort of volunteers, that provide outreach support to those that may be experiencing social isolation, require support at home, or need assistance with every day tasks. The charity participated in a series of profile-raising and fundraising activities during the year including jointly hosting Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Living Dangerously with The Courtyard Theatre in January 2023. 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** The income generated by the charity this year from fundraising, donations and grants totalled £27,162 (2022: £64,570). As of 31 December 2023, the charity had reserves of £41,965 (2022: £52,943). Applications for significant grants were made for the 2024 year to enable the Centre to increase it’s opening times and become operational 5 days a week. 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 2023, 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: 28 October 2024 5 ## **Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre Registered Charity No 1192644** ## **Income & Expenditure Account For the year ended 31 December 2023** |**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Fundraising & donations received
Grants received
Interest received
**Total Incoming Resources**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
Wages
Rent
Water rates
Light & heat
Telephone & internet
Repair & renewals
Insurance
Bank charges
Force for Change
Fundraising expenses
Gym and Chat costs
Brunch costs
Fundraising consultancy
Travel costs
Sundry expenses
**Total Resources Expended**
**NET INCOME / (EXPENDITURE)**
**TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**£**
24,808
2,250
104
27,162
240
10,000
137
2,394
454
234
475
60
-
372
-
-
-
506
1,490
16,362
10,800
19,860
30,660
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**|**£**
**£**
-
24,808
-
2,250
-
104
-
27,162
15,000
15,240
-
10,000
-
137
-
2,394
-
454
347
581
-
475
-
60
1,097
1,097
372
387
387
2,946
2,946
1,500
1,500
-
506
501
1,991
21,778
38,140
21,778
-
10,978
-
33,083
52,943
11,305
41,965
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
**Funds**| |---|---|---| 6 ## **Herefordshire Veterans Support Centre Registered Charity No 1192644** ## **Statement of Assets & Liabilities As at 31 December 2023** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Total
Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £
Assets
Cash at Bank and in Hand
Cash in Hand 500 - 500
CAF Bank Account 29,267 12,198 41,465
29,767 12,198 41,965
Liabilities
- - -
**----- End of picture text -----**
**The trustees approve the Income & Expenditure Account and Statement of Assets & Liabilities.** ## **Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees** **Samantha Lewis Chair** **Date: 21/10/2024** 7