HOUSE of GRACE WITHAM Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity no: 1199138 Address: 41 Laburnum Way CM8 2NY
Trustees: Report For the year ending 31st March 2024
The trustees present their annual report together with their financial statement.
The charity is a charitable incorporated organisa8on (founda8on model) governed by its cons8tu8on dated 30th May 2022. Trustees are selected by the exis8ng trustees on the basis of their skills, experience and knowledge needed for the effec8ve administra8on of the CIO. The CIO exists to further the preven8on of poverty amongst the homeless by provision of temporary accommoda8on.
Our main ac8vity during the year was to con8nue our journey towards opening the House of Grace as provision, for the public benefit, of supported accommoda8on in Witham for the homeless, in conjunc8on with our partner, Social Enterprise organisa8on, Green Pastures. Green Pastures were finally able to complete the purchase of the property on 19th January 2024 and our lease from them commenced at that 8me. We then started to carry out extensive improvements and necessary upgrades as required by the local authority, an ac8vity which was s8ll in process at our year end but is complete as at the date of this report. During the year we con8nued to engage in our fundraising programme. In addi8on to funding the refurbishments, this will help to provide necessary furnishings for each resident’s private room as well as communal areas; also provide a fund to support meaningful ac8vi8es such as communal meals, cooking lessons and gardening, fostering social integra8on which is such an important factor in keeping people off the streets.
In carrying out the above ac8vi8es the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
We have relied heavily on the skills of our knowledgeable volunteers and trustees (many of whom are drawn from local Chris8an communi8es) and are extremely grateful that we have had and con8nue to have access to their skills, 8me and enthusiasm.
Thanks to the work that was carried out by professionals as well as volunteers to upgrade and prepare the property for safe and warm habita8on, we are pleased that as of the beginning
Registered Charity no: 1199138 Registered Address: 41 Laburnum Way, Witham, CM8 2NY
May 2024, we moved in our first two residents who have been sleeping rough for the past few years.
At the end of the period the charity had a balance carried forward of £28,623.39 which will be used to pay off the debt of outstanding lease payments incurred ini8ally when the property was undergoing refurbishment for three months; paying off money borrowed for upgrades; paying u8lity bills and council tax since exchange of contracts. The trustees are not in a posi8on to adopt a formal reserves policy at the present stage in the charity’s development as all funds are currently likely to be needed to support our current ac8vi8es and we con8nue to raise fund to make sure we have the financial stability to support our beneficiaries.
Having said that, there is no reason to believe there is any fundamental uncertainty about the charity con8nuing as a going concern. The trustees have iden8fied that the main risk for the charity is failing to pay the monthly lease and bills primarily as a result of the benefits due to the residents and other fund-raising ac8vity falling short of the amount needed.
Since the year end the residents have begun to receive their first month’s housing benefit which is paid into the charity’s account directly; the council has a legal obliga8on to pay the monthly housing benefit as long as residents are in recovery of addic8on or being supported in many ways to become confident and qualified to take on employment and or to move into their own accommoda8on. So far the model seems to be working.
Since the first two residents moved in, the charity gets regular requests from other chari8es, organisa8ons or individuals to provide accommoda8on for the homeless in Witham.
During the period ending 31st March 2024 the charity had no employees, relying on the hard work of trustees and other volunteers but plans are in now in hand to recruit an administrator, as the workload has increased drama8cally now the House is open and we are required to look a\er our beneficiaries who are vulnerable people.
As at 31st March 2024 the charity had no major interac8on with its poten8al beneficiaries but had iden8fied the need for safeguarding procedures once the facility opens. These are now in place and will be commented on in detail in next year’s report.
| Name of Trustee | Date of original appointment |
Re-appointed | Term expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Brett | 17th August 2021 | 17th August 2024 | 16th August 2027 |
| Alison Ives | 17th August 2021 | 17th August 2022 | 16th August 2025 |
| Audrey Kennedy | 17th August 2021 | 17th august 2023 | 16th August 2026 |
| Martin andrews | 17th August 2021 | 17th august 2023 | 16th August 2026 |
| Muriel Heppinstall | 17th August 2021 | 17th August 2024 | 16th August 2027 |
| Geoffrey Davey | 17th August 2021 | 17th August 2022 | 16th August 2025 |
| Emmelia vd Walt James | 17th August 2021 | n/a | 16th August 2025 |
Registered Charity no: 1199138 Registered Address: 41 Laburnum Way, Witham, CM8 2NY
HOUSE OF GRACE WITHAM
FINANCIAL STATEMENT - YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2024
| RECEIPTS | PAYMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Donatons | £10151.45 | Publicity | £176.69 |
| Concerts | £2290.10 | Website | £195.00 |
| Grants | £750.00 | Donaton | £100.00 |
| Gif Aid | £974.66 | Safeguarding | £346.05 |
| Bank Interest | £9.97 | Utlites | £153.14 |
| Council Tax | £313.33 | ||
| Furnishing | £1437.32 | ||
| Overheads | £84.00 | ||
| Insurance | £752.73 | ||
| TOTAL | £14176.18 | TOTAL | £3558.26 |
| BALANCE B/F | £18005.47 | BALANCE C/F | £28623.39 |
| TOTAL | £32181.65 | TOTAL | £32181.65 |
Wendy McWhirr
Treasurer
4 May 2024
Audited and found correct