YOU MATTER
Charity Registration No: 1194554
Trustee’s Annual Report
January 2023-December 2023
You Matter Charity continues to see to the needs of the Meridan (Watford) Community.
With our Charity shop, based in the heart of the Meridan, we can identify what support/help the community may need, we do this by developing relationships with our community and by being a listening ear to those who want to talk.
From our charity shop we provide pre-loved good quality clothing, furniture and household goods at affordable prices
We continue to have a Hub space where people come in for a free cup of coffee/tea/biscuits and during the winter months we offer hot soup and a warm space for people to sit down and chat with others. This has been of great benefit, especially for those who are isolated. The community can pick up general information from our leaflet dispenser ie: managing finances, mental health, what’s on etc.
Supported by Wenzel Bakery, we are abled to provide food (bread, hot pastries, cakes, sandwiches etc) to local families and the elderly. We deliver to their homes which makes it easier for them as well as keeping matters private. Some people are understandably embarrassed to go to food banks, this way makes things more confidential.
We continue to support a local church once a week by providing food, sleeping bags, clothing etc, for the homeless in Watford.
We work in partnership with the local Family Centre and help to provide families in crisis with free bedding, food and household items.
During October half term, the You Matter Charity hosted a free Performing Arts Week for children aged 8-14yrs. Held in the Meriden Community Centre, 40 children of all abilities, from the local community, were given an opportunity to learn a range of entertainment skills. .With a fun and action packed day starting at 9.30am and finishing at 3pm each day, the children were taught a series of energetic dance moves and choreographed routines, they also had singing lessons and learnt the lyrics to three popular songs, tried their hand at acting, spontaneous improvisation and script reading, and they were taught gymnastics routines and picked up a range of circus skills including juggling, stilt-walking, poi-spinning and ribbon wand sequences during their breaks.
The transformation of the children from arriving on Monday morning to leaving on Friday afternoon was nothing short of a miracle. Not only had they mastered a range of new skills and had an amazing time, but they’d grown in confidence, made new friends and discovered a passion for performing arts. As a result of their performance, five of the children were lucky enough to be offered a scholarship to attend the dance and musical theatre group, managed by one of the professional coaches. Running a project like this, gives children who live below the belt an opportunity to experience Performing Arts at no cost. Stage schools would not be affordable and so this gives children a chance to explore their creativity in Performing Arts.
Throughout the week, the children were given a free healthy meal, bottled water and fresh fruit.
The week was rounded off with an opportunity for the children to show off their newfound skills as they put on a fantastic show on Friday afternoon, supported by an excited audience packed full of their families and friends. It was a proud moment for the parents, as well as the children, as they took to the stage and provided a fantastic 90 minutes of non-stop singing, dancing, acting and all-round entertainment.
The You Matter Charity Shop has become pivotal in the community and people will come in for a chat, buy nice clothes, ask for advice, we sign post if we can’t deal with the issues. We have a strong connection with our council and the local councillors.
You Matter will continue to service its community for the coming year 2024.
Trustee’s
Androulla Best – Trustee/chair
Kathy Stewart - Trustee Alice Watson - Trustee
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
CHARITY NAME Charity Registation Number
YOU MATTER 1194554
Charity Registered in England & Wales 20 May 2021
Accounting Period
| Accounting Period | |
|---|---|
| 01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023 Income Expenditure Operating Overheads |
2023 Jan-Dec Sales 40,265 Donations 0 Government Grants 4,870 Interest Income 0 Income Earned from Other Activities 0 |
| TOTAL INCOME 45,135 Rent 24,065 Rates 710 Utilities 1,057 Insurance 341 Advertising 1,887 Staff Expenses 12,392 Property Maintenance 0 Accountancy Fees 0 Legal Fees 0 Other Business Expenditures 8,291 |
|
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE 48,743 |
|
| SURPLUS INCOME/ (DEFICIT) (3,608) |
Accounts Prpeared By: Date:
Leroy Goodman 22-October-2024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of YOU MATTER On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 Charity no lif any) 1194554 Set out on pages Irfrmemhftr lo incliide naae nuinb&rs of addiliongl sh&8ts1 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust } for the year ended 31 Dember 2023. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparalion basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)Ibl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention {other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the aGGounting records Independent examiner's ststement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 28 Oct 2024 Name: Clive Goodman Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body lif any}: Address: IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018