2024-03-31-accounts - Soul Kitchen Chester

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 10 November 2022 to 31 March 2024

Charity name: Soul Kitchen Chester

Charity registration number: 1200960

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The prevention or relief of poverty or financial hardship in Cheshire West & Chester and the surrounding area by providing items and services to individuals in need, including but not limited to providing food, furniture, bedding, clothing, fuel, heating appliances, washing machines and fridges, payments of fees for instruction, examination or other expenses connected with vocational training, including language, literacy, numerical or technical skills.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	The main activities are a weekly open Drop In where food, clothing and toiletries are provided and the provision of food parcels to those in need as and when required. A key project has been the development of our Soul in a Bowl activity which provides cookery groups to develop cookery skills, numeracy skills, team working and self confidence and self esteem with a view to moving attendees into employment and encouraging them to take food hygiene examinations.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	We confirm we have had regard to public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	The charity does not make grants available.


Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Soul Kitchen has c. 50 volunteers who give their time and effort to the charity. Volunteers are the backbone of our organisation. We estimate approx. 3,000 volunteer hours are donated per year.
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Every Saturday evening during the period 10/11/22 – 31/03/24, Soul Kitchen provided support, food, toiletries and clothing to an average of 40 people per week. In addition to providing essential items, the Drop In session is able to signpost people to relevant specialist support services for mental health, substance misuse, housing and health care. Soul Kitchen ran two weekly Warm Hubs from February 2023 – April 2023 in Hoole United Reformed Church and at Lache Community Centre. These Warm hubs provided a warm, safe space and food for those struggling with the cost of living crisis. The Hubs also played a large part in reducing social isolation, and on average were attended by 35 people per week across the two venues. Soul Kitchen supported people struggling with the rise in essential living costs such as food and fuel through the provision of groceries, grocery vouchers, support with school clothing, essential household items and utility payments. This was funded by the Government’s Household Support Fund. Soul Kitchen also helped people move out of temporary accommodation and into their own properties with the provision of transport to move and with

the provision of essential household items. Soul Kitchen supported families who were placed in temporary hotel accommodation with the provision of food, particularly during the school holiday period. From November 2023 to end March 2024, Soul Kitchen undertook a weekly walkabout every Wednesday night to check on the welfare of rough sleepers in Chester and to provide them with hot food and hot drinks, socks, hats and gloves. We also supported a number of these rough sleepers obtain accommodation during SWEP ( Severe Weather Emergency Protocol). We have continued and expanded our Soul in a Bowl project which offers cookery sessions to those who are homeless, in temporary accommodation or who have been homeless. We have introduced a second session in Chester and a new session in Ellesmere Port. We now run 3 sessions a week across the borough. The cookery sessions support the learning of cookery and numeracy skills, boost self confidence and self esteem, and encourage teamworking within the different groups. 5 members of the group have passed Level 2 Food Hygiene for Catering examinations, and 2 are enrolling for catering college. At Christmas 2022 and 2023, Soul Kitchen provided a serviced sit down full Christmas meal at the Drop In provision. On each occasion, we provided meals for 35/40 people. In addition, on Christmas Day 2022 and 2023 we delivered Christmas meals to those in temporary hotel or hostel accommodation.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set Performance of fundraising

activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	At year end the charity had £29,400 in the bank
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Soul Kitchen’s reserves policy equates to 3 months of operating costs which will ensure that the charity has sufficient continuity of cash flow to enable it to continue to operate in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, and will provide the opportunity to identify and attract additional revenue funding if necessary.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£7,500
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	Given the strong cash position of the charity, there is no uncertainty surrounding the charity continuing as a going concern.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	The charity is controlled by its governing document, Foundation Constitution of a CIO.
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Recruitment of Trustees is by interview based on skills, knowledge they can bring to the charity. Trustees will be eligible for retirement/re- appointment as per the conditions of our Constitution (First Charity Trustees 4 year term, all other Trustees 3 year term).

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Soul Kitchen Chester
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1200960
Charity’s principal address	The Bluecoat Upper Northgate Street Chester CH1 4EE

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Helen Anthony	Chair
Katie Mason	Secretary
Gail Harrison		6 November 2023

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

None

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Helen Anthony Full name(s) Helen Anthony

Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc)

Date

27/08/2024

Soul Kitchen			No (if any)
	Receipts andpayments accounts			CC16a
For the period from	April 1, 2023	To	March 31, 2024

Section A Receipts and payments	Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ A1 Receipts Donation - Cheshire West 23,715 Donation - Football 500 Donation - John Lewis 2,000 Donation - Others 14,117 Donation - Soul Kitchen 180 40,512 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). Opening Cash Sub total - Total receipts 40,512 A3 Payments *Sub total*(Gross income for AR)		Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - -	to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - Endowment funds	Total funds to the nearest £ 23,715 500 2,000 14,117 180 - 40,512 - - 40,512	Last year to the nearest £
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Expenses - Soul Kitchen Van	6,850	-	-	6,850	-
Expenses on Food support	28,470	-	-	28,470	-
Expenses on Utilities support	30			30
Insurance - Soul Kitchen	281			281

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**Sub total **	35,631	-	-	35,631	-

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Section A Receipts and payments	Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ A1 Receipts Donation - Cheshire West 23,715 Donation - Football 500 Donation - John Lewis 2,000 Donation - Others 14,117 Donation - Soul Kitchen 180 40,512 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). Opening Cash Sub total - Total receipts 40,512 A3 Payments *Sub total*(Gross income for AR)		Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - -	to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - Endowment funds	Total funds to the nearest £ 23,715 500 2,000 14,117 180 - 40,512 - - 40,512	Last year to the nearest £
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					-


					-

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Expenses - Soul Kitchen Van	6,850	-	-	6,850	-
Expenses on Food support	28,470	-	-	28,470	-
Expenses on Utilities support	30			30
Insurance - Soul Kitchen	281			281

				-
**Sub total **	35,631	-	-	35,631	-

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Soul Kitchen			No (if any)
	Receipts andpayments accounts			CC16a
For the period from	November 10, 2022	To	March 31, 2024

Section A Receipts and payments

Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Endowment funds	Total funds to the nearest £ 29,045 500 2,000 26,799 5,035 - 63,380 12,112 12,112 75,492 6,850 38,876 30 337 - 46,093 46,093 29,400 29,400	Last year to the nearest £
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-	-	46,093	-
-	-	29,400	-
-	-	29,400	-

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Soul Kitchen

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Soul Kitchen for the year ended 31 March 2024.

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

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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 Act.

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:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act;

the accounts do not accord with those records.

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.

Signed:

Nicola McCann MAAT

60 Pytha Fold Road, Manchester, M20 4UJ

17.06.2024