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2025-03-31-accounts

KAIROS HOUSING

Report and Accounts Year ended 31st March 2025

1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

INDEX

Page 1 Contents Page 2 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 3 - 10 Trustees' Report Page 11 Independent Examiner's Report Page 12 Receipts and Payments Account Page 13 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 14 Notes to the Accounts

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

Reference and Administrative Details

Board of Trustees

The trustees who served during the year (or up to the date of signing) were:

Report of the Trustees for the year ending 31 March 2025

The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report and the financial statements for Kairos Housing for the period covering 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document and the Charities Act 2011.

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

A Message from our Chair & Project and Fundraising Manager

This has been a year of foundational growth and professionalisation for Kairos Housing. Against a backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis and an increasingly hostile political environment for those we serve, the need for our work has never been more urgent. Homelessness during the refugee move-on period for new refugees and the policy-driven destitution facing those with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) remain profound challenges in Blackburn with Darwen.

Despite these challenges, 2024-2025 was a year of strategic investment. We are delighted to have grown our dedicated team and, in February 2025, approved a strategic restructure to strengthen our operational readiness and capacity for intensive support. This was marked by two significant practical steps: the implementation of a new CRM system (Lamplight) to professionalise our case management, and our relocation to a new, prominent, larger and more secure office base including space to develop a wellbeing hub within Blackburn Cathedral grounds.

A highlight of this year was the May 2024 independent report from The Open University , which validated the heart of our model. As you will read later, it confirmed that our guests feel seen, loved, and respected, which gives them hope and self-worth. It is this hope that drives us forward.

As you will read in this report, our financial position is stable. We have intentionally invested in the staff and systems that will allow us to meet our ambitious new 3-year strategy (2026-2028) —a strategy that aims to double our housing capacity and develop a specialist legal support pathway.

Our work is only possible through partnership. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated staff and volunteers, our partners at ARC and DARE, our host of supporters including local churches, and the funders who have entrusted us with their resources. Thank you for standing with us as we provide sanctuary, build community and seek justice for some of the most vulnerable individuals in UK society looking to rebuild their lives in Blackburn with Darwen.

Hein Ten Cate (Chair) & Lisa Norcross (CEO)

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

Our work is a direct and practical outworking of our faith, uniting local churches in an ecumenical partnership to serve our community.

Our Mission

To show the love of Jesus as we provide sanctuary, build community and seek justice for asylum seekers and refugees.

Our Vision

We envision a future where asylum seekers and refugees in Blackburn with Darwen are free from homelessness and destitution, living stable, integrated and self-sufficient lives, with fair access to justice and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Our Values

Our work is guided by our Christ-centred ethos and our core values:

Summary of our Main Activities

Kairos Housing provides a vital safety net and a pathway from destitution to stability. Our core activities are:

Statement on Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. The activities outlined in this report are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.

Our core purpose is the relief of financial hardship and homelessness among asylum seekers and refugees. We achieve this by providing safe

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

accommodation, which prevents street homelessness and reduces strain on local health and social services.

Our holistic support and essential non-legal casework empower highly vulnerable individuals to access justice, resolve their immigration status, and transition into stable, independent living, enabling them to become self-sufficient and contribute to their new communities.

The Wider Context: The Need for Our Work

The 2024-2025 period was defined by a challenging external environment. Our guests face multiple, compounding disadvantages, which can include severe trauma, unaddressed mental and physical health issues, a lack of understanding of UK systems and procedures, language barriers and profound social isolation. These challenges are exacerbated by a systemic crisis:

  1. Policy-Driven Destitution: Asylum seekers whose claims are refused are forced into destitution. Barred from all mainstream support, they cannot work, rent or claim benefits, leaving them vulnerable to street homelessness and exploitation. This is compounded by a local legal aid desert, making it almost impossible to pursue a fresh claim.

  2. The Refugee Move-On Crisis: Newly recognised refugees face homelessness. They are given just 28 days to leave Home Office accommodation, find work and/or apply for universal credit, open a bank account etc, a policy that frequently results in homelessness, just as they are beginning to rebuild their lives.

This year, these systemic issues were amplified by a volatile social climate, including far-right, anti-immigration protests in August 2024. During this time, we worked closely with local police to ensure the safety and security of our guests and properties. It is in this context that Kairos Housing intervenes. Our support is not just helpful; it is a complete lifeline.

Achievements and Performance 2024-2025

This year's achievements were focused on professionalising our services and building the capacity to meet our long-term strategic goals.

Goal 1: Our Homes & Hub

Our achievements in providing high-quality, safe, and supportive homes.

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

premises. This strategic move provides a larger, more strategic, and secure base for our operations and a safe space for our new wellbeing programme.

Goal 2: Our Support & People

Our achievements in providing holistic, expert support.

Case Study: 'A' was our very first guest, referred to us after suffering a decade of destitution. The stability of a safe home unlocked his potential, and with our support, he won a scholarship to the study a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with the Open University. This year, after a gruelling 14-year legal battle, he was finally granted refugee status.

Proving Our Impact: The May 2024 Open University Report

A key event of this financial year was the publication of an independent report by Dr. Xuereb of The Open University, titled "Residents' experience of supported accommodation at Kairos Housing." The research, based on in-depth focus groups and interviews with 12 current and past residents, provided powerful, external validation of our model.

Key findings from the report include:

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

These findings were brought to life through initiatives like our 'Tastes of Home' Club, where guests shared recipes, cooked for one another and built community. In direct response to the report's finding that guests desired more outdoor activities, we also organised several wellbeing trips during the year, including visits to Blackpool Zoo and Illuminations, and a staff wellbeing day to the Yorkshire Dales.

The Open University report also captured the profound impact of our work in the words of our guests, with one stating: ‘Kairos gives hope... and hope is everything in this immigration system.’

Goal 3: Our Voice & Sustainability

Our achievements in building a resilient organisation and championing justice.

● Produced High-Quality Media: As part of Refugee Week 2024, we produced the short film Our Home , featuring guests and staff with lived experience of the asylum process reflecting on what ‘home’ truly means for them. This film serves as a powerful advocacy tool to foster empathy and understanding. You can watch it on our YouTube channel @KairosHousing.

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

Our People & Volunteers

Our team is our greatest asset. This year, our core team consisted of our Project and Fundraising Manager, and our full-time Support Worker who worked provide safe housing and specialist support for 15 residents.

In February 2025, a strategic decision was made to grow the team and restructure our leadership. This saw the promotion of our Project & Fundraising Manager to CEO and the beginning of the recruitment process for a new Operations Manager and an Emergency Out-of-Hours Support Worker. In the next financial year this will expand our team to four and significantly increasing our capacity.

We are guided by a passionate and expert Board of Trustees, who volunteer their time to steer our mission. Our mission is amplified by a wider community of volunteers and supporters including local churches who provide donations, support and friendship to our guests.

Structure, Governance, and Risk

Kairos Housing is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by its Constitution dated May 2022. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the charity. The Board meets regularly to review operational performance, financial health, and strategic risk. Day-to-day management is currently delegated to the CEO.

Risk Management & Challenges This Year: The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed. This year highlighted several key challenges:

  1. Funding & Growth: Reliance on grant funding is a primary risk. We are working to diversify our funding pipeline to mitigate this.

  2. Property & Safety: The security of our properties and guests is paramount. There was a second

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

Plans for the Future

Having invested in our staff and systems this year, we are now looking forward to delivering our ambitious Strategic Plan for 2026-2028 . Our key priorities for the coming year are:

  1. Launch the Wellbeing Programme: To deliver a 6-month 'Wellbeing and Independent Living Programme' pilot (starting September 2025) and secure long-term funding to embed it as a core service.

  2. Strategic Accommodation Growth: To begin our plan to double our capacity from 10 to 20 beds by 2028 we are looking to secure two new 2-bedroom properties, with a priority on acquiring energy efficient and accessible accommodation.

  3. Develop Legal Support Pathways: To address the legal aid desert by investigating creative partnership options alongside exploring the feasibility of gaining IAA Level 1 & 2 accreditation for staff or volunteers.

  4. Secure Multi-Year Funding: To prepare and submit major, multi-year funding applications to key strategic funders to secure our long-term financial sustainability.

Fundraising

Our work is funded by the generosity of grant-making trusts, local churches and individual supporters alongside statutory funding through Housing Benefit.

We are deeply grateful for all our financial partners. Our fundraising efforts are led by our staff and trustees, and we adhere to the highest standards of the Fundraising Regulator.

Financial review

The charity raised income of £140,369 (2024: £156,121) and incurred expenditure of £144,600 (2024: £113,225) resulting in a deficit of funds at the year end of £4,231 (2024: surplus £42,896). These funds are held in the bank account, £15,807 of which are restricted for purpose (2024: £43,616).

Reserves Policy

The trustees of Kairos Housing recognise the importance of a reserves policy to help demonstrate good stewardship and financial management and to manage its reputation. Our policy is to retain sufficient reserves:

The trustees have adopted a reserves policy which aims to hold unrestricted cash equivalent to

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT: YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2025

approximately three months of unrestricted expenditure. This is in line with our policy to responsibly build our

reserves to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.

Approval

This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Hein Ten Cate (Chair) H. ten Cate

Date: Dec 2, 2025

10

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

KAIROS HOUSING

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Kairos Housing ('the charity') for the year ending 31 March 2025 on pages 12 to 14 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  1. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

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.

Lisa Darby

Lisa Darby (Dec 3, 2025 12:45:12 GMT)

Lisa Darby FCA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date: Dec 3, 2025

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KAIROS HOUSING

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes
Income receipts
Donations
Gift aid receipts
Other grants
Income from letting of facilities
Interest Income
Other
Total receipts
Payments
2
Total payments
Transfers between funds
4
Net movement in funds
Cash funds as at last year end
Cash funds at this year end
A
Net of receipts / (payments) before
Payments in relation to charitable activities
undertaken directly		 General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£
20,269
-
2,845
-
56,149
-
33,687
-
97
-
3,962
-
117,009
-
93,492
-
93,492
-
23,517
-
(10,438)
10,500
13,078
10,500
11,800
-
24,878
10,500
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
23,360
-
-
-
23,360
51,108
51,108
(27,748)
(62)
(27,809)
43,616
15,807		 2025
£
20,269
2,845
79,509
33,687
97
3,962
140,369
144,600
144,600
(4,231)
-
(4,231)
55,416
51,185		 2024
£
20,290
-
121,215
14,513
96
8
156,121
113,225
113,225
42,896
-
42,896
12,520
55,416

The notes on page 14 form part of these accounts.

12

KAIROS HOUSING

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes
A Cash funds
Cash at bank with immediate access
Petty cash
B Other monetary assets
Gift aid due to charity
C Liabilities
Falling due within one year
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
Total
D Assets retained for charity's own use		 General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
24,217
10,500
661
-
24,878
10,500
553
-
553
-
1,470
-
-
-
1,470
-
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
funds
£
15,807
-
15,807
-
-
-
-
-		 2025
£
50,524
661

51,185
553
553
1,470

-
1,470		 2024
£
55,316
100
55,416
2,547
2,547
1,320

352
1,672
Land and buildings (give brief details)
Computers and IT
Furniture		 Fund to
which asset
belongs		 Cost
£
-
3,133
865
3,998		 Current
value
£
90,000
2,322
576
92,898

Current asset values have been estimated by the trustees.

E Guarantees and secured debts

The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

H. ten Cate

H. ten Cate (Dec 2, 2025 18:39:27 GMT) _____ Hein Ten Cate (Chair)

Dec 2, 2025 Date:_____

The notes on page 14 form part of these accounts.

13

KAIROS HOUSING

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.

2
Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly
Staff costs
Operation costs including administration
Rent
Maintenance of buildings & equipment
Utilities
Charitable donations to individuals in need
Independent examination
Drop-in Provision expenses		 General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
12,830
-
10,171
-
33,656
-
9,525
-
24,893
-
-
-
1,320
-
1,097
-
93,492
-
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
Funds
£
38,774
2,924
-
874
-
6,813
-
1,721
51,108		 Total
2025
£
51,604
13,096
33,656
10,400
24,893
6,813
1,320
2,818
144,600		 Total
2024
£
General
funds
£
12,830
10,171
33,656
9,525
24,893
-
1,320
1,097
93,492
37,507
7,166
30,576
9,552
22,615
2,357
810
2,642
113,225

3 Transactions with related parties

There were no transactions with related parties during the year

4 Movement of funds

General funds
Designated Funds
General Reserve Fund
Restricted funds
Project Manager Fund (Anna Lancaster Grant)
Warm Meals Fund
Specific Donations Fund
Destitution Fund (Gay and Keith Talbot Trust)
Hub Of Hope (Restricted)
The BMT (3 yr funding) - Support Worker
Pebbles Grant
People Postcode Lottery - Support Worker
BwD Refugee Week
Total funds		 Opening
balance
£
11,800		 Receipts
£
117,009		 Payments
£
(93,492)		 Transfers
£
(10,438)		 Closing
balance
£
24,878
-
12,394
4,633
-
2,392
3,783
-
1,707
18,708
-
43,616
55,416		 -
-
85
440
7,835
-
10,000
-
-
5,000
23,360
140,369		 -
(12,393)
(597)
(440)
(5,776)
(2,325)
(9,993)
(874)
(18,708)
-
(51,108)
(144,600)		 10,500
10,500
-
(1,000)
-
-
(55)
(7)
-
-
1,000
(62)
-		 10,500
10,500
-
3,121
-
4,451
1,402
-
833
-
6,000
15,807
51,185

The Project Manager Fund was created to track the expenditure of the grant received from the Lancaster Foundation to fund the new post. The Warm Meals Fund was created by a grant from the local council for the months January - March 2023 for the provision of hot food. The Specific Donations fund holds donations received relating to specific renovation and equipment purchase grants. The Destitution Fund was created specifically for payments to destitute people in need.

Hub Of Hope: Specific funding from the National Lottery for drop in costs and enrichment activities.

The BMT (3 yr funding) - Support Worker: Specific Funding from Brian Mercer Trust to put towards salary and associated employment costs for Support Worker. Pebbles Grant (hoover, bedding, curtains): Specific grant for hoovers and energy savings measures, e.g. blankets, bedding and warm curtains. People Postcode Lottery - Support Worker: Funding for salary for support worker.

The BwD Refugee Week Fund: Funds held in support of the Blackburn with Darwen Refugee Week.

Transfers during the year:

Restricted fund monies were transferred to General funds when expenditure was incurred there in relation to the purpose of the fund. General Fund monies have been transferred to Restricted Funds to cover any fund deficits. General Fund monies have been transferred to a Designated Reserve Fund.

Restricted Fund transfer between the Warm Meals Fund and BwD Refugee Week to cover food costs, as permitted by the terms of the original grant.

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