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 2025
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 opera8ng 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. Upgrades to the property, to comply with the local district council’s regula8ons for supported accommoda8on, were completed beginning April 2024 and we welcomed our first two residents in May 2024. As at the end of the year we had four residents and since then one of them secured a job. He will be moving out once he is able to pay required funds to rent private accommoda8on and we will have a vacancy to accommodate another homeless person. This of course demonstrates what the house is about, helping people to find shelter, take a breath, find their feet and then move on with their lives. It is great that we have achieved this within a year of opening of the house.
Ac8vi8es at the house suppor8ng our residents to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives include the crea8on of a support plan for each person. Part of our support involves finding paid, odd jobs for our residents; we advise them to save funds towards the future for when they are ready to move on towards independent living. We offer a communal meal every week where residents can meet and socialise in a relaxed environment with supporters and fundraisers of our charity. This helps them to build their communica8on skills and self worth among folk who really care for them and are willing to help them get back on their feet. Guests mostly donate the ingredients for the meals and some of the residents help in meal prepara8ons. Two of our residents have created a beau8ful outdoor space for residents to relax and chat together.
Registered Charity no: 1199138 Registered Address: 41 Laburnum Way, Witham, CM8 2NY
We con8nued to engage in our fundraising programme which supports transport to medical appointments out of Witham; help towards gym fees for residents who find exercise to have a posi8ve impact on their mental health; providing storage boxes and garden tools for residents taking on odd jobs which require them to have basic tools handy. Funds were also used to provide tools and compost for our residents who transformed the courtyard garden. Other meaningful support involved taking residents on visits to garden centres, Na8onal Trust property and gardens. Such ac8vi8es foster 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 (predominantly drawn from Churches Together in Witham and District ) and are extremely grateful that we have had and con8nue to have access to their skills, 8me and enthusiasm.
At the end of the period the charity had a balance carried forward of £32,930.00 which will be used to pay off monthly lease payments; paying off money borrowed for upgrades for the next few years; paying u8lity bills and council tax. Trustees also ordered the replacement of the flat roof area of the property which started leaking quite badly - unfortunately not long a\er upgrades were completed. Funds for this project have been kept aside from the 2024 finances which included a small grant from the the local councillors and dona8ons from kind hearted individuals.
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 funds 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; salary and insurance related to employing a house manager, and bills (primarily) as a result of the benefits due to the residents and other fundraising ac8vity falling short of the amount needed.
Since the year end all residents have been in receipt of their monthly 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.
Registered Charity no: 1199138 Registered Address: 41 Laburnum Way, Witham, CM8 2NY
The charity is quite well known due to networking and keeping contact with referral agencies. We con8nue to get requests from other chari8es, organisa8ons or individuals to provide accommoda8on for the homeless in Witham.
During the period ending 31st March 2025 the charity employed a house manager/ administrator for eight hours per week. Employment commenced on 1st October 2024. We s8ll rely on trustees and volunteers to carry out maintenance and support work.
As at 31st March 2025 the charity has been paying a yearly fee to Thirtyone:eight charity which provides safeguarding training, DBS checks and ongoing training and advice as required. All trustees, volunteers and employee, are required to complete safeguarding training. Safeguarding appears on the agenda at every trustee mee8ng to ensure all people concerned have completed the training and are following correct procedures. Safeguarding leads’ photos and ID plus emergency phone number are displayed on no8ce board at the premises.
| Name of Trustee |
Date of original appointment |
Re-appointed | Term expires | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Brett | 17th August 2021 | 17th August 2024 | 16th August 2027 | |
| Alison Ives | 17th August 2021 | 17th August 2022 | 16th August 2025 | 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 | 16th August 2025 |
| Geoffrey Davey | 17th August 2021 | 17th August 2022 | 16th August 2026 | |
| Emmelia vd Walt James |
17th August 2021 | n/a | 16th August 2026 |
Registered Charity no: 1199138 Registered Address: 41 Laburnum Way, Witham, CM8 2NY
HOUSE OF GRACE WITHAM A/cs for year ended 31 March 2025
| BALANCE B/F | PAYMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current a/c | £ 8,613.42 | Boiler Service | £ 95.00 |
| Instant Access a/c | £ 20,009.97 | Broadband | £ 274.89 |
| TOTAL B/F | £ 28,623.39 | CCTV | £ 162.77 |
| Council Tax | £ 1,676.03 | ||
| RECEIPTS | Curtains / Flooring | £ 4,711.73 | |
| Donatons | £ 12,647.25 | DBS / Safeguarding | £ 824.70 |
| Donatons - Roof Repairs | £ 2,250.00 | Energy | £ 1,959.97 |
| Gif Aid | £ 1,379.25 | Fire Risk Assessment | £ 350.00 |
| Grants | £ 300.00 | Gardening Supplies | £ 48.50 |
| Housing Beneft | £ 35,636.37 | Gifs | £ 11.00 |
| Interest | £ 225.64 | Income Tax | £ 650.00 |
| Rental Income (Resident) | £ 1,238.10 | Insurance | £ 790.47 |
| Residents' Service Charge | £ 1,233.26 | Maintenance | £ 268.82 |
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £ 54,909.87 | Mobile Phone | £ 99.85 |
| Ofce Supplies | £ 63.83 | ||
| Refreshments | £ 96.06 | ||
| Rent (Green Pastures) | £ 34,826.87 | ||
| Residents' Support | £ 88.25 | ||
| Salary | £ 2,600.00 | ||
| Shoes | £ 287.45 | ||
| TV Licence | £ 169.50 | ||
| Water / Sewerage | £ 451.81 | ||
| Window Cleaning | £ 96.00 | ||
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £ 50,603.50 | ||
| BALANCE C/F | |||
| Current a/c | £ 2,694.15 | ||
| Instant Access a/c | £ 30,235.61 | ||
| TOTAL C/ F | £ 32,929.76 | ||
| TOTAL | £ 83,533.26 | TOTAL | £ 83,533.26 |
Wendy McWhirr Treasurer ###
Examined & found correct Robert Fleming ACAT Monday, July 28, 2025
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HOUSE OF GRACE WITHAM A/cs for year ended 31 March 2025
| BALANCE B/F | PAYMENTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current a/c | £ 8,613.42 | Boiler Service | £ 95.00 |
| Instant Access a/c | £ 20,009.97 | Broadband | £ 274.89 |
| TOTAL B/F | £ 28,623.39 | CCTV | £ 162.77 |
| Council Tax | £ 1,676.03 | ||
| RECEIPTS | Curtains / Flooring | £ 4,711.73 | |
| Donatons | £ 12,647.25 | DBS / Safeguarding | £ 824.70 |
| Donatons - Roof Repairs | £ 2,250.00 | Energy | £ 1,959.97 |
| Gif Aid | £ 1,379.25 | Fire Risk Assessment | £ 350.00 |
| Grants | £ 300.00 | Gardening Supplies | £ 48.50 |
| Housing Beneft | £ 35,636.37 | Gifs | £ 11.00 |
| Interest | £ 225.64 | Income Tax | £ 650.00 |
| Rental Income (Resident) | £ 1,238.10 | Insurance | £ 790.47 |
| Residents' Service Charge | £ 1,233.26 | Maintenance | £ 268.82 |
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £ 54,909.87 | Mobile Phone | £ 99.85 |
| Ofce Supplies | £ 63.83 | ||
| Refreshments | £ 96.06 | ||
| Rent (Green Pastures) | £ 34,826.87 | ||
| Residents' Support | £ 88.25 | ||
| Salary | £ 2,600.00 | ||
| Shoes | £ 287.45 | ||
| TV Licence | £ 169.50 | ||
| Water / Sewerage | £ 451.81 | ||
| Window Cleaning | £ 96.00 | ||
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £ 50,603.50 | ||
| BALANCE C/F | |||
| Current a/c | £ 2,694.15 | ||
| Instant Access a/c | £ 30,235.61 | ||
| TOTAL C/ F | £ 32,929.76 | ||
| TOTAL | £ 83,533.26 | TOTAL | £ 83,533.26 |
Wendy McWhirr Treasurer ###
Examined & found correct Robert Fleming ACAT Monday, July 28, 2025
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