YOU MATTER
Charity Registration No: 1194554
Trustee’s Annual Report
January 2024-December 2024
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 able 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.
On the 9[th] June You Matter organised a free family fun day on the Meridan Park.
Several service providers ie: Family centre, Women’s centre, Citizens Advice, Staying Active, Watford Borough Council, local housing association and many more had stools that provided information to the local community.
The Watford Mayor attended as well as the local councillors.
There were also fairground rides and food and drinks, provided for free as well as a local band with local talent.
During October half term, , for the third year running, 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, poispinning 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.. 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 new-found 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 2025.
Trustee’s
Androulla Best – Trustee/chair
Kathy Stewart - Trustee
Alice Watson - Trustee
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
CHARITY NAME Charity Registration Number
YOU MATTER
1194554
Charity Registered iin England & Wales 20 May 2021
Accounting Period
01 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
| Income Expenditure |
2024 2023 Jan - Dec Jan - Dec Sales 36,335 40,265 Donations 7,800 0 Government Grants 3,500 4,870 Interest Income 0 Income Earned from Other Activities 0 0 TOTAL INCOME 47,635 45,135 Rent 24,076 24,065 Rates 487 710 Utilities 1,269 1,057 Insurance 499 341 Advertising 2,430 1,887 Staff Expenses 18,000 12,392 Property Maintenance 0 0 Accountancy Fees 250 0 Legal Fees 0 0 Other Business Expenditures 13,416 8,291 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 60,427 48,743 SURPLUS INCOME / (DEFICIT) (12,792) (3,608) |
|---|---|
Accounts Prepared By: Leroy Goodman Date: 01-October-2025
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of YOU MAThER On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Charity no lif any} 1194554 Set out on pages iud akne nrIbe L. I report to the trustees on my. examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust.) for the year ended 31112 12024 Responsibilities and As the charty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with tho requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the ACV'I. 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 Charf(y Commission under section 145(5}{bl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below "l in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance wtth section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement 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 Ljnderstanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Signed: Date: 01 Oct 2025 Name: Clive Goodman Relevant professional qualification(s) or body {if any): Address: Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs lo highlight matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018