Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ending 31 May 2024
Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport
CIO
Registered Charity Number 1194360
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Index
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Charity Information | 3 |
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 4 to 6 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 7 |
| Unaudited Receipts and Payments Account | 8 |
| Unaudited Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 10 |
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Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport CIO
Registered Charity 1194360
Information for the year ended 31 May 2024
Trustees Jennifer Broben-Darney Ken Gulson Philip Rutt Charity Correspondent Philip Rutt 20 Hillside Mews Sarisbury Green Hampshire SO31 7LQ Charity Registered Number 1194360 Charity Registered Address Aspect House Westbury Road Fareham Hampshire PO17 7XU Bankers Barclays Bank PLC Independent Examiner Louisa Burton 9 Bellamy Close Belbroughton Stourbridge DY9 9AN
Website www.friendsofthehomeless.org.uk Email
enquiries@friendsofthehomeless.org.uk
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Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport
Registered Charity 1194360
Trustees' Report
For the year ending 31 May 2024
Who are we?
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The Friends of the Homeless is a Christian based group. The charity became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) during 2021 and transferred all its assets, operating processes and procedures from the previous Registered Charity (1041277) of the same name, becoming fully operational from 28 February 2022.
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The CIO operates the Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank.
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This project provides short term support to individuals and families who find themselves in a crisis or emergency situation.
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It is accessed through a number of agencies in this area that come into contact with people that are likely to require assistance.
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The service is available to anyone in need. In 2023/2024 we handled on average some 300 referrals per month which represents an average of some 650 individuals fed, about one third of whom are children.
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The group is wholly operated by volunteers and is totally dependent on voluntary donations and gifts.
In more detail
The Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank is the charity’s principal project. This provides food support and relief to those who find themselves in a short run crisis or emergency situation. This represents an outworking of the biblical principle of ‘loving your neighbour as yourself’.
This is enabled by operating two food banks which supply food parcels to last for a period of up to a week completely free of charge. We are also able to offer toiletries and nappies. We operate an on-line, cloud based referral system which is accessed by over 150 agencies. Such pre-qualification gives some real assurance that service users are receiving help for background issues such as debt, homelessness, mental or physical illness, unemployment and benefit problems. We rely on the agencies to manage the relationship with their client.
The agencies include a homeless direct access centre, the women’s refuge, social services, health visitors, the probation service, Citizen’s Advice, council housing offices, school outreach workers, health visitors, social workers and a number of other charities and others who come into contact with people in severe need or crisis.
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Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport
Registered Charity 1194360 Trustees' Report Cont.
For the year ending 31 May 2024
We cover the local authority areas of Fareham and Gosport and a part of the City of Winchester area.
Our centres are within easy access of Fareham and Gosport town centres, where people can come and collect the required items. People may access the service up to four times in one year. This limit is designed to prevent people from becoming dependant on the service and also ensures that we can support as many people as possible.
The level of food and toiletry donations declined during the year under review. However, we received generous support financially which has enabled us to make up any shortfall and to continue to provide fresh fruit and vegetables, together with bread, eggs and milk. Thus, the charity remains self sufficient. Our donors include schools, churches, commercial organisations and individuals.
Drop off points in local supermarkets also provide valuable support outside the peak Harvest to Christmas period when donations of food and toiletries are at their highest. That donations during these ‘festival’ periods were generous during the cost of living crisis is a tribute to all those who donate to us.
Our volunteers are a significant asset. These are people of faith and no faith who work to achieve the common goal of trying to make a difference to the vulnerable in our community. They do this unstintingly with good humour and great commitment, with compassion, no small degree of sadness and without passing judgement on those whom they help. We are grateful for all they contribute.
Looking ahead into 2025 there are two important aspects to be managed successfully. First, the renewal of leases which run out in September 2025 and the upgrade of the referral system parts of whose software has become unsupported. There are key to the long run sustainability of the Charity’s food bank operations.
Contact details
Fareham: Aspect House, Westbury Road, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7XU Phone - 01329 822204
Gosport: Unit 1, The Old Railway, Spring Garden Lane, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 1FQ Phone - 07826 305900
Website: www.friendsofthehomeless.org.uk Email: enquiries@friendsofthehomeless.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/farehamandgosportbasicsbank
Open: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
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Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport
Registered Charity 1194360 Trustees' Report Cont.
For the year ending 31 May 2024
Our background
The Friends of the Homeless started in 1991 by providing a nightly soup run in the local area for homeless people. A centre was opened in 1995 where people were able to get free meals and clothing every day (with access to washing facilities). This developed into a 24 hour direct access centre with 16 beds. This was transferred in January 2003 to Two Saints, a charity who also run a number of other hostels in the area.
Following the success of the transfer, the group started the Basics Bank project which has been operational from Aspect House since July 2003. A second centre opened within Jacobs Well Care Centre in Gosport in June 2007, moved to the David Bogue Hall in January 2013 and to its current premises in The Old Railway in September 2018.
The Trustees declare that they have approved this trustees' report and the unaudited accounts on pages 8 and 9.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
P.L Rutt Name: Philip Rutt (Chair) Date: 3 March 2025
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Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees of Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport
I report to the trustees on my examination of the receipts and payments accounts of the Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport CIO for the year ended 31 May 2024, which are set out on the accompanying pages.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met.
There are no other matters which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Louisa Burton
9 Bellamy Close, Belbroughton, Stourbridge, DY9 9AN Date: 3 March 2025
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Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport CIO
Registered Charity 1194360
Unaudited Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ending 31 May 2024
| 2024 2023 |
|
|---|---|
| Income | |
| Donations and Grants Subscriptions Bank Interest Debt repaid |
67,982 75,853 - - 2,474 316 - - |
| 70,456 76,169 |
|
| Expenditure | |
| Rent Telephone Insurance Food and Supplies Sundry Expenses Stationery and Administration Light & Heat Travel Expenses Repairs & Maintenance Legal Fees |
19,645 18,277 696 1,079 863 863 43,202 32,014 2,663 4,020 801 1,424 1,158 920 110 - 1,196 388 - - |
| 70,333 58,985 |
|
Surplus (Deficit) for Year
122 17,184
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Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport CIO
Registered Charity 1194360
Unaudited Balance sheet as at 31 May 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Assets | ||
| Cash at Bank Cash in Savings A/c Debtors |
13,014 155,474 |
19,666 148,700 |
| 168,488 | 168,366 | |
| Current Liabilities | ||
| Creditors and Accruals | Nil | Nil |
| Net Current Assets | 168,488 | 168,366 |
| Represented By | ||
| Accumulated Fund | ||
| Balance brought forward Surplus (Deficit) for Year |
168,366 122 |
151,182 17,184 |
| Cash at bank | 168,488 | 168,366 |
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
P.L Rutt Name: Philip Rutt (Chair) Date: 3 March 2025
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Friends of the Homeless in Fareham and Gosport CIO
Registered Charity 1194360
Year Ending 31 May 2024
Notes to the accounts
1. Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
2. Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
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