2024-04-05-accounts - Little Acorns Baby Charity

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Little Acorns Baby Charity (registration no. 1194199)

Trustees’ Report

6[th] April 2023 to 5[th] April 2024

Structure, Governance and Management

Little Acorns Baby Bank was set up on 7[th] December 2020 and was registered with The Charities Commission for England and Wales as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 22[nd] April 2021 and became Little Acorns Baby Charity (registration no. 1194199).

Trustees:

Rebecca Anderson

Neil Garlick

Sally Garlick

The charity is managed and run by the trustees.

As detailed in the charity’s constitution, there must be at least three trustees, new trustees will be appointed by a meeting of the existing trustees, and appointed for a minimum term of 2 years.

Principal Address: 1 Carr Row, Leamside, DH4 6QH

Objectives and Activities

The purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document:

The prevention and relief of poverty among socially and/or economically disadvantaged individuals and families in Durham/Chester le Street and the surrounding areas who are pregnant or have children aged, in particular but not exclusively under 2 years and are unable to provide basic equipment, consumables, food, clothing and toys for babies and children by supplying them with new and recycled items free of charge.
To preserve and protect good health of babies and children under 2 years in Durham/Chester le Street and the surrounding area by facilitating projects relating to parenting and the health and wellbeing of babies and children.

The original aim was to set up a baby bank service to help those struggling during the pandemic by collecting good quality used and new baby items from the public and re-distributing them to families

in need free of charge. We initially explored projects and partnership working in order to reach more people quickly. We have for the last 2 years established donation points, collected and stored enough items to enable us to meet requests without partnership grants to fund buying in items.

Where we are based/area covered

We continue (since June 2021) to rent the upper hall at Bethel United Reform Church in Chester le Street. Rent remains at £25 a month (since September 2022). We delivered referrals to postcodes DH1,2,3 and 4 but accepted referrals from across County Durham providing collection could be made and there wasn’t a closer baby bank service to the family.

What we collect and supply

We accept items such as baby clothing, toiletries, nappies, sterilisers and maternity items. We had three donation points this year: Chester le Street Methodist Church, Clart About Sensory Café in Consett and The Little Wardrobe NE shop based in Newton Hall Durham. We used a wishlist of items to match high need/low stock. This was advertised on our Facebook page and donations were dropped off or purchased through our Amazon wishlist.

We continued a relationship with the Community Champion at Morrisons Chester-le Street who supported us through their ‘Pick Up Packs’ when we were in need of support.

The only large equipment item we supplied were safety gates purchased new through a wholesaler that sold to charities.

Referral process

We continued to use our Google form for professionals to refer individuals for support. Referrals are then packed and then either collected by the professional or are delivered directly to the family by a member of the Little Acorns team.

Donations/Fundraising

The charity Just Giving page is set up for donations from the public.

The Little Wardrobe NE held a second hand uniform sale and raised £55 for us in year.

Public benefit statement

The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit as published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. In setting our objectives and planning activities our Trustees have given consideration to the public benefit and in particular to the prevention or relief of poverty.

Achievements and Performance

Little Acorns Baby Charity received and fulfilled 40 referrals this year. We were able to give generously with clothing bundles due to the established stock built up through public donations and able to offer other items requested from our stock. We had very little buying in of items apart from safety gates, which we buy new, and formula when we did not have the right brand in stock.

We built a relationship with Grace Stewart at The Little Wardrobe NE who offered to become a donation point for us and also fundraised in year for us.

Financial Review

Little Acorns Baby Charity accounts for the period 6th April 2023 to 5[th] April 2024 shows a deficit of £582 in year and cash at bank at year end of £480.

The £374 of donations shown in the accounts is made up of £55 raised by The Little Wardrobe NE and £319 from the public. We are very grateful for the support of both.

The £75 gift card received from Morrisons shown in the 22/23 accounts was not fully spent in that year. £27.19 was in the cash in hand figure at 22/23 year end and spent early this financial year on baby items.

We have no reserves policy set. Our current costs are £25 a month rent and annual insurance cost £99. We undertake a monthly bank reconciliation and spending is very much dependent on income. We have established a good level of public donations and community support through Morrisons Chester le Street and find we need to buy in very little to fulfil our referral requests. The main items we buy in are baby gates and formula when not in stock. If public donations do not cover buying in these items going forward, we would apply for further grants or fundraise before making purchases.

We remain in a good position moving forward and there are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern.

Declaration

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustee’s report above.

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s trustees

Sally Garlick (Chair)

Date: 14.01.25

	Little Acorns Baby Charity Charity Name	Little Acorns Baby Charity Charity Name	Little Acorns Baby Charity Charity Name	1194199 No (if any)	CC16a
	For the period from	6th April 2023 Period start date	To	5th April 2024 Period end date

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 374 - - - - - - - 374 - - - 374 300 99 14 543 - - - - - 956 - - - 956 - 582 - 1,062 480	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 374 - - - - - - - 374 - - -	Last year to the nearest £
Donations	374				701
Gift card	-				75
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	374				776

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
				374	776
				300 99 14 543 - - - - - 956 - - - 956 - 582
Rent	300				340
Insurance	99				99
Expenses	14				21
Baby/Maternityitems for referrals	543				488
Storage	-				894
Other costs	-				4
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
**Sub total **	956				1,846

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-
	-
**Sub total **	-				-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
					1,846

	- 582	-	-	- 582	- 1,070
	-	-	-	-	-
	1,062	-	-	1,062	-
	480	-	-	480	- 1,070

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

14/01/2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Signature Details Cash at bank Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details Shelving/storage	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 480 - - - - - 480 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) unrestricted 1,004 - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Sally Garlick Print Name	Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
		Sally Garlick	14.01.25

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

14/01/2025