Trustees Report 2023
As I sit to try to find the words that sum up the last twelve months it is not only difficult, it becomes even clearer how much of a challenge the last year has been for us at New Beginnings Community.
The engagement with the hub has increased and we have seen our operating hours extend over the course of the year as we assist more and more families. It cannot be ignored that the demand for our services in general and for our Baby Bundles project in particular has grown at an alarming rate during 2023. It brought us to a point with the Baby Bundles project when we were forced, for the first time ever, to suspend referrals for a period because the demand was far outstripping our capacity. Combined with that increase in need for our services we also encountered, along with many other charities, an increasingly complex and competitive arena for grant funding. The funders, themselves faced with huge increases in demand, had to make the grant process more rigorous and this meant it was taking more hours of my time to obtain even smaller pots of money.
I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of the trustees, to express our thanks to our CEO, Carrie and her absolutely incredible team of staff and volunteers who rose admirably to the challenges of 2023. By the end of the year, we had not only managed to meet the demands of our community in terms of service provision, we had also found ways of delivering the services costing less money. Meaning, as you will see later in this report, that despite the reduction in income we still covered our costs in the year.
Any review of 2023 cannot be complete without mention of that moment in November when it was announced that New Beginnings Community had been awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a charity can receive and is the equivalent of an MBE. Given the relatively young age of our organisation it makes this honour all the more outstanding. This award is a recognition of the tireless hard work of our volunteers to serve the community we are part of, and I can honestly say that I have never been prouder of something I have been part of.
In summary 2023 brought us bigger challenges, less money, stronger partnerships, and high rewards. I want to thank all who made this journey with us, and I look forward to even more in the year to come.
Peter Spence Chair of Trustees
Page.4. NEW BEGINNINGS CODTrIUNITY SCHEDULE OF FIXED ASSETS FOR THE ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023 DEPRECIATING ASSETS Fixtures and Plant & COST At 1st January 2023 and At 31st December 2023 3,606 2, 371 5,977 DEPRECIATION At 1st January 2023 541 3S6 897 Charge for the 460 302 762 At 31st December 2023 658 1,659 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 st December 2023 2,605 4,318 At 31 st Decelltser 2022 3,065 2,015 5,080
Page.3. NEW BEGINNINGS CODIMUNITY ALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECDIBER 2023 2023 2022 FIXED ASSETS Depreciating Assets 4.318 5.080 CURRENT ASSETS Bank Treasures Account Bank Instant Online Account 19. 121 5.281 23,385 220 24.402 23,605 NET CURRENT ASSETS 24,402 23,605 £ 28.720 £ 28.685 REPRESENTED BY: UI1RESTRIED CHARITY FLIPIDS Opening Surplus for the year 28.686 34 28,68S Closing £ 28,720 2 28,685 Approved
Page.2. NEW BEGINNINGS COMMUNITY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 RentaL Income Donations Grants other Income Bank Interest Received 32,689 9,780 io,000 2,474 44 17,070 38,537 14,287 4,756 54,987 74,650 COST OF SALES Food Decorations and Consu]nables Cleaning Kitchen Equipment 2,362 216 417 643 651 4,692 2,786 50,295 LESS EXPENDITURE Salaries and Wages Baby Equipment staff Training Saf eguarding Repairs and Renewals Telephone Charges Website Subscription Printing and Stationery Gardening Materials Travel Expenses General Expenses Ring Doorbell Subscription Ico Waste Insurances Rent Baby & Toddler Group Expenses Event Expenses Depreciation Depreciation 25,904 10,784 2,428 75 145 43 34 120 736 184 20 2,944 3, 131 35 517 12,081 3.546 673 4,755 4.899 541 356 Plant & Equiprnent Fixtures & Fittings 460 302 50.261 43,179 SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR E 34 £ 28,685
Paqè.1 NEW BEGINNINGS CouNITy FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT In accordance with your instructions, we have compiled, without carrying out an audit, the attached trading and profit and loss account and balance sheet frorn the accounting records and inforrnation and explanations supplied to us. R & A Burns Lirnited Chartered Certif led Accountants 181-183 Sumrner Road Erdington Birrningham B23-6DX
NEW BEGINNINGS COMMUNITY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023 CONTENTS Independent Exarniners Report Income and Expenditure Account Balancè Sheet Schedule of Fixed Assets
NEW BEGINNINGS CObffifUNITY REG CHARITABLE NO. 1195791 FINANCIAL ACCOU FOR THE ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023 R& ABURN LIMITED CHAR TERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS