Charity Number: 1199225
The People’s Recovery Project
(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024
1
The People’s Recovery Project
(Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
CONTENTS
| Page 3 | Legal and Administrative Information |
|---|---|
| Page 4 | The Chair’s Foreword |
| Page 5 | Refections of a Community Member |
| Pages 6 to 8 | Statement from the Board of Trustees |
| Page 9 | Independent Examiner’s Report |
| Page 10 | Statement of Financial Activities |
| Page 11 | Balance Sheet |
| Pages 12 to 18 | Notes to the Financial Statements |
2
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity Number 1199225 Date of Registration 9th June 2022 Start of Financial Period 1[st] April 2023 End of Financial Period 31st March 2024 Trustees at 31 March 2024 David Brown (Chair of Trustees) James Shoreland (Appointed 12 October 2023) Jessica Harris (Appointed 3 October 2023) Gemma Beagley (Appointed 28 September 2023) Robert Robinson Thomas Allen Legal Status Charitable Incorporated Organisation Governing Instrument CIO - registered with the Charity Commission 9th June 2022 Objects For the public benefit, to preserve and protect the health of people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless who are experiencing addiction and drug dependency, by the provision of treatment and recovery opportunities. Correspondence Address 7 Bell Yard, London, WC2A 2JR Primary Bankers Barclays Bank, 1 Churchill Place, E14 5HP
3
THE CHAIR’S FOREWORD
Most people overestimate what they can get done in a year – but under estimate what they can get done in ten years.
Recovery is a long process – any truly transformational journey is. What I’ve learned from my involvement with The People’s Recovery Project, and from my professional work in collective and individual transformation, is that people who successfully change their lives are good at looking long-term and short-term simultaneously. They have the courage to look deep into the future and imagine a different life a decade from now, and they have the spark and energy and humility to take the step in front of them, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.
Ed and Nathan started this project with transformational goals and a huge commitment to long term transformation. This report shows that they have also taken huge steps in this massively important first fully operational year. They have surpassed my expectations from a year ago of what might have been possible. They have raised seriously significant funds, built robust community practices and places in both the preparatory and aftercare phases of recovery and they have learned valuable lessons about how treatment can work for those experiencing homelessness. All this alongside making potent partnerships in the academic, public and medical sectors.
They have surprised themselves, I think, by the level of their success. And this has raised my personal expectations of what will be possible over the next few years.
I got involved with The People’s Recovery Project not only because I believe in what Ed and Nathan are setting out to achieve (to make detox and rehab treatment a viable and sustainable pathway for people experiencing homelessness) but because I believe in how they wanted to do it.
They asked me to be chair of the board of trustees due to my background in organisational development, to help them keep the structures and practices they employ always reflective of their values and their goals for themselves, their colleagues, and the people they exist to serve. This, for me, is as close as I think it is possible to get in this moment to real ‘systems change’ in action: the system changes when it becomes undeniably clear that a new system has emerged which makes the old one obsolete. It is not always glamorous, or slick or fully formed, but this new way of being around homelessness and addiction embraces the messy-wholeness of all the humans involved. Ed and Nathan have collaborated with incredible people working in creaking systems and somehow worked out ways of doing things differently. This is, I believe, the work of our age.
So, at the end of this financial year, let us look forward not only to 2025, but to 2035, and allow ourselves to imagine what a world would look like if The People’s Recovery Project continues to succeed as they have this year, year-on-year, every year. It is a vision that gives us a glimpse of a society that actually works – that is mature enough to relate to the most vulnerable amongst us with compassion, complexity-consciousness, and practical support. I’m looking forward to it.
David Brown (Chair of the Board of Trustees)
4
REFLECTIONS OF A COMMUNITY MEMBER
I have a history of over 20 years using illicit substances and I could not find a way out of homelessness and addiction. In 2015 when I was living on the streets I met one of the co-founders of The People’s Recovery Project and at this point my journey towards recovery started. It was not easy but I managed to get myself into residential rehab and I am now seven years clean. At the beginning of last year I was able to reconnect with the person who supported me on the streets and it quickly became clear that I wanted to contribute to the development of The People’s Recovery Project.
Looking back on my experience of homelessness and addiction I can now see that there exist so many barriers that prevent people like me from ever having the opportunity to access treatment and recovery. When someone is in this situation and decides they are ready to change you have a really short window to intervene. This is not the point where hurdles should be placed in front of someone. Too often people who have already experienced so much rejection in their lives are faced with yet more rejection - and this is not helping people to recover.
Over the last year I feel that I have been a crucial part of The People’s Recovery Project, and not only am I able to use my experiences to support other people who are struggling but I have also realised how beneficial being part of this organisation is to me. When I was in the midst of chaos my family suffered a lot. In the last 7 years they have seen my journey of recovery but I do not think they could visualise the work that I have been doing over the last year. My recent experience speaking at the Pathway UK health inclusion conference meant that I was able to share with my family the work that I am undertaking and make them proud.
I am looking forward to being involved with The People’s Recovery Project over the next year and am confident that we can achieve the goals that we are setting out to achieve, and this is due to the authenticity of the people within this organisation. Everyone involved in the project is so passionate about what we are doing, and we seek to offer solutions, not get stuck in the same old problems. I believe that this organisation will reach as far as it wants to, and that we will be able to support lots of people who would otherwise not have opportunities to access treatment and recovery. By helping people in addiction your reach is huge - it goes far beyond the individual you’re working with - but impacts on their family and whole community as well.
My experience is not something for me to keep, and I want to use it to be able to give back to my community and support people who are in similar situations that I once found myself in. With The People’s Recovery Project I have found a place where this is possible.
Khosru Miah (TPRP Community Member)
5
STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Objects of the Charity
The People’s Recovery Project achieved charitable status in June 2022. The charity aims to create additional, alternative and faster routes out of homelessness and into recovery for people experiencing homelessness and addiction in order to see more people who have experienced homelessness and addiction achieve fulfilling lives in sustained recovery.
Main Activities for the benefit of the public in the Period
The trustees have read the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and will deliver the charity’s projects within the guidance.
Main Achievements of the Charity in the Period
The end of the financial year brings an important milestone for The People’s Recovery Project as it represents exactly one year since our co-founders started working full time progressing this new organisation. In 2022-23 a team of executive volunteers put in place the foundations of a new organisation which achieved charitable status on 9th June 2022. Throughout 2022-23 significant progress was made but it soon became clear that without a commitment to working solely on The People’s Recovery Project, our team of executive volunteers had taken the organisation as far as it could go. The decision to leave their jobs at the end of last financial year was one that brought significant personal risk to our co-founders, but one that felt like the correct decision as they sought to continue to develop the organisation.
We set out to create an organisation that has at its core a commitment to kindness, compassion and the promotion of positive wellbeing. Staying true to these values is integral to our organisational journey as we seek to build a community that is driven by shared purpose, connection and belonging. With these core values at the heart of everything we do we hope that we can be in the best possible position to support people who are beginning to think about new ways of living following traumatic experiences of long term homelessness and addiction. Given the complex nature of the environment that we are operating in there will undoubtedly be significant challenges and setbacks that we have to overcome, but by staying true to our values we aspire to create the conditions where people are able to make decisions to undertake transformational journeys away from the streets: making recovery both achievable and sustainable.
The last year has been an exceptional journey for our organisation as we have developed all areas of our operation and work. There has been so much learning as we have created much of the infrastructure that is required to operate a small sized charity, putting in place foundations that mean that as we continue to test the feasibility of the work we are undertaking we can also be responsive and scale up our operation to have wider impact for the community we are supporting. In our first year we have facilitated 36 aftercare community groups, a pilot project of 20 community prep groups and we have supported 2 people to access residential detox. We have developed employment opportunities for our community members and have undertaken a data analysis of our existing community members as we progress towards establishing a new evidence base. These core strands of work are co-designed with our community of individuals with lived experience who are living in sustained recovery. It is this experience and knowledge that is crucial to building an organisation that can support individuals through difficult transitions: a community of individuals with lived experience
6
who continue to inspire our organisational approach and who act as beacons of hope for others who are considering embarking on transformational journeys of recovery away from the streets and the chaos of addiction.
Looking to the future
We have achieved more than we expected to in the last year and that is because we have seen first hand the potential impact that the work we are undertaking can achieve. Through building our community we have created the foundations that can elicit positive change in the people we are seeking to support. Over the next few months it is our ambition to reach out to our networks to start to promote more widely the work that we are undertaking and ensure that we are meeting more people who are interested in exploring the potential opportunity from treatment and recovery. We know that there are many people currently on the streets and in insecure accommodation who are trapped in cycles of addiction and homelessness. Among them are so many people with huge potential who, given the opportunity, can become productive members of society, and through a process of individual healing can contribute to wider societal recovery. We cannot compromise on our approach, which is rooted in community, which promotes the development of shared purpose, connection and belonging, as we seek to make recovery from homelessness and addiction achievable and sustainable.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
In its first full year to 31 March 2024, total income was £163,202 (2022/23 £17,889) and expenditure was £81,824 (2022/23 £434) hence the surplus for the year was £81,378 (2022/23 £17,455).
The trustees are grateful to the following trusts for their support:
London Housing Foundation The Linbury Trust London Catalyst The Serlin Family Foundation The Albert Hunt Trust Hackney Parochial Charities The Cameron Mackintosh Foundation
Closing reserves as at 31 March 2024 are at £98,833 (2022/23 £17,455) with cash reserves of £105,270 (2022/23 £17,455).
The accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis.
Reserves Policy
The reserves target is £35,000 which is equal to three months running costs to pay the core team and to continue fulfilling the charity’s objectives.
Going Concern
The accounts have been prepared on the basis that the Charity is a going concern and has sufficient cash reserves to operate into the foreseeable.
7
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
The People’s Recovery Project is a charity constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Its purpose and administration arrangements are set out in the constitution. The constitution was adopted on 9 June 2022.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
Recruitment and appointment of trustees is done by the charity. Gaps in experience and expertise will be identified and a search for trustees from our own networks will be carried out. As written in the constitution, trustees of the charity should be:
-
Over 16 years old
-
Not disqualified from directorship
-
Not disqualified from charity trusteeship
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
David Brown Chair of the Board of Trustees
8
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The People’s Recovery Project. I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which comprise the statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and the related notes.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). The Charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, and state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
Where the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants which is one of the listed bodies.
(1) In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that, in any material respect:
-
∙the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
∙the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
∙the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Report) Regulation 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of independent examination.
(2) I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Chaweevan Williams FCCA Date: 1[st] May 2024 Verdant Accountants Limited Chartered Certified Accountants 20-22 Wenlock Road,
London N1 7GU
9
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2024
| (Incorporating Income and Expenditure Account) Notes INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming Resources from Generated Funds Donations, Grants & Legacies 3a Earned Income 3b TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES EXPENDED Cost of Generating Funds Charitable Activities 4a Governance Costs 4b TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET INCOMING / (OUTGOING) RESOURCES Balance Brought Forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds 2023/24 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 122,622 - 122,622 17,889 40,580 - 40,580 - |
|---|---|
| 163,202 - 163,202 17,889 |
|
| 81,024 - 81,024 434 800 - 800 - |
|
| 81,824 - 81,824 434 |
|
| 81,378 - 81,378 17,455 17,455 - 17,455 - |
|
| 98,833 - 98,833 17,455 |
Movements on all reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above. All of the charity’s operations are classed as continuing.
The notes on pages 12 to 18 form part of these financial statements.
10
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | TOTAL | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March | 31 March | ||||
| Note | Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| Tangible Assets | 2 | 590 | - | 590 | - |
| Current Assets | |||||
| Debtors & Prepayments | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| Cash at Bank and in Hand | 5 | 105,270 | - | 105,270 | 17,455 |
| Total Current Assets | 105,270 | - | 105,270 | 17,455 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 7 | 7,027 | - | 7,027 | - |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 98,243 | - | 98,243 | 17,455 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due in more than | |||||
| one year | - | - | - | - | |
| TOTAL ASSETS less current liabilities | 98,833 | - | 98,833 | 17,455 | |
| NET ASSETS | 98,833 | - | 98,833 | 17,455 | |
| Funds of the Charity | |||||
| General Funds | 98,833 | - | 98,833 | 17,455 | |
| Restricted Funds | - | - | - | - | |
| Total Funds | 98,833 | - | 98,833 | 17,455 |
The accounts were approved by the Trustees on the 16th April 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
David Brown, Chair of the Board of Trustees
11
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost of transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014.
The charity constitutes a public benefit as defined by FRS 102.
Assessment of Going Concern
The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Incoming Resources
Recognition of Incoming Resources
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when:
-
the charity becomes entitled to the resources
-
the Trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
-
the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability
Incoming Resources with Related Expenditure
Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resource and related expenditure are reported gross in the SOFA.
Grants and Donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources
Tax Reclaims on Donations and Gifts
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the OFA in the same financial period as the gift to which they relate.
Contractual Income and Performance Related Grants
This is only included in the SOFA once the related goods or services have been delivered.
Gifts in Kind
Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised. Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity. Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SOFA as incoming resources when receivable.
12
Donated Services and Facilities
These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received.
Volunteer Help
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Directors' annual report.
Investment Income
This is included in the accounts when receivable.
Investment Gains and Losses
This included any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year.
Expenditure and Liabilities
Liability Recognition
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Governance Costs
Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of the Directors' meetings and cost of any legal advice to Directors on governance or constitutional matters.
Changes in Accounting Policies and Previous Accounts
This is the set of accounts for the organisation.
Grants Payable without Performance Conditions
These are only recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and there are no conditions to be met relating to a grant which remain in control of the charity.
Unrestricted funds
These funds can be used for the general objectives of the charity as set out in the trustees report. The movements of the unrestricted funds are given in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Restricted funds
These funds are where the donor has specified a purpose for the donation made. These restrictions often arise as a result of appeals for special offerings for specific purposes.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
13
Legal status of the Charity
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Fixed Assets
These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £500. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt.
Depreciation Expense
Depreciation is calculated at a rate to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets over their estimated useful lives. The rates applied per annum are as follows: Equipment Cost 33% straight line basis
2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| IT Equipment 3. INCOMING RESOURCES a) Donations, Grants & Legacies Donations Grants & Trusts b) Earned Income Research Training |
Balance Balance 01-Apr-23 Cost Depreciation Transfer 31-Mar-24 £ £ £ £ £ - 890 300 - 590 - 890 300 - 590 Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds 2023/24 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 30,531 - 30,531 11,889 92,091 - 92,091 6,000 |
|---|---|
| 122,622 - 122,622 17,889 |
|
| 40,380 - 40,380 - 200 - 200 - |
|
| 40,580 - 40,580 - |
14
4. RESOURCES EXPENDED
| a) Charitable Activities Staff Costs Insurance Telephone Print, Postage and Stationery Advertising & Promotion Travel General Office Expenses Office Equipment Community Meeting Costs Beneficiary Costs Treatment Costs Community Involvement Costs Training & Development Staff Wellbeing Depreciation b) Governance Costs Accountancy & Audit |
Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds 2023/24 2022/23 £ £ £ £ 72,773 - 72,773 - 988 - 988 - 292 - 292 - 36 - 36 - 2,417 - 2,417 309 1,971 - 1,971 125 19 - 19 - 34 - 34 118 - 118 - 239 - 239 - 1,057 - 1,057 - 460 - 460 - 260 - 260 - 60 - 60 - 300 - 300 - |
|---|---|
| 81,024 - 81,024 434 |
|
| 800 - 800 - |
|
| 800 - 800 - |
15
5. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 31-Mar-24 | 31-Mar-23 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cash at Bank and in Hand | 105,270 | - | 105,270 | - |
| 105,270 | - | 105,270 | - | |
| **6. DEBTORS AND ** | PREPAYMENTS | |||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| Funds | Funds | 31-Mar-24 | 31-Mar-23 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Sundry Debtors | - | - | - | - |
| - | - | - | - |
7. CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| Payroll Liabilities Accruals & Deferred Income |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 31-Mar-24 31-Mar-23 £ £ £ £ 6,227 - 6,227 - 800 - 800 - |
|---|---|
| 7,027 - 7,027 - |
8. CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR
The Charity held no long-term liabilities during this financial year.
16
9. NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Fixed Assets Net Current Assets Long Term Liabilities |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 31-Mar-24 31-Mar-23 £ £ £ £ 590 - 590 - 98,243 - 98,243 17,455 - - - - |
|---|---|
| 98,833 - 98,833 17,455 |
10.RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENT ON CAPITAL AND RESERVES
The Charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is registered with the Charity Commission (1199225) and does not have a Share capital and has no income subject to Corporation Tax.
| Profit / (Deficit) for the financial year Other recognised gains Balance Brought Forward Closing Funds at 31 March 2024 |
TOTAL TOTAL 2023/24 2022/23 £ £ 81,378 17,455 - - 81,378 17,455 17,455 - 98,833 17,455 |
|---|---|
11. STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS
The Charity paid 5 employees in the year. No members of staff received emoluments of over £60,000. Payments were made on a self-employed basis to 2 members of staff until transferring onto PAYE in September 2023. 3 community members were paid as sessional workers where budgets allowed.
12. TRUSTEES AND RELATED PARTIES
During the financial year, no payments were made to the Trustees or any persons connected with them. No other material transaction took place between the organisation or any person connected with them.
17
13. RISK ASSESSMENT
The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.
14. RESERVES POLICY
The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs. This is based on the charity's size and the level of financial commitments held. The Trustees aim to ensure the charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The directors will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily.
15. PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Charity acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the charity has achieved this are provided in the Trustees report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
18