Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 25[th] July 2023 Period start date To 31[st] December 2024 Period end date
Charity name: Alternative Angels
Charity registration number: 1204095
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 in Swindon and the surrounding area by providing; - meals and food items - services to individuals in need - essential furniture items - clothing, and any other items to meet basic standard of living |
| 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 |
Alternative Angels supports Swindon's most vulnerable, including survivors of abuse, those facing homelessness due to financial struggles, and individuals battling addiction. Alternative Angels is dedicated to enhancing well-being. Our core mission revolves around providing essential aid, hot meals, clothing, and furniture, to uplift lives, improve circumstances, and promote holistic wellness. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. The trustees consider that they have acted in the public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment
Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers 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 | In 2024, Alternative Angels made a significant impact on the homeless community in Swindon, serving 9,844 meals, a 3% increase from 2023. We continued to collaborate closely with the local council, connecting individuals in crisis to essential services, supporting those transitioning into housing by providing necessary items, and offering aid to rough sleepers during Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) activation. Our charity formed valuable new partnerships, including with Swindon Fire Station, where we helped launch and continue to support their Saturday Soup Kitchen, which is now a regular fixture. We also teamed up with Outside Clinic to provide free eye checks to our beneficiaries during our service in National Eye Health Week. Additionally, we partnered with Tog24’s ‘Swap A Coat’ campaign, collecting coats to provide warmth to those facing homelessness in Swindon during the winter months. We proudly continued to support young volunteers working towards their Duke of Edinburgh's Award, offering opportunities to cook and prepare sandwiches for the homeless. This initiative not only helps students develop new skills but also allows them to make a meaningful contribution to their community. We also continue to receive ongoing support from groups like Swindon Big Knit, whose donations of handmade hats and blankets are always appreciated by our beneficiaries. |
During the festive seasons, we provide extra support, including donated Easter eggs and our much-loved Christmas Festive evening, where we hand out donated shoe boxes filled with essentials and homecooked roast dinners. These efforts ensure that those experiencing homelessness can take part in holiday celebrations and feel connected to the community. Our marketing initiatives continue to contribute to increased engagement, with a 41.4% growth in Facebook reach, a 227.8% rise in LinkedIn followers, and a 185% increase in website traffic. This growth enabled us to connect with new donors and volunteers, raising awareness of homelessness and further expanding our reach. Additionally, we welcomed 24 new volunteers in 2024, many of whom joined through our newly launched website.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
Para 1.41 Investment performance against objectives Other
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The total funds at 31 December 2024 were £28,130. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Our current monthly expenditure is approximately £1,600, which covers rent, salaries, food, petrol, and operational expenses to support the 900 people we feed each month. To provide financial security, we aim to maintain at least 12 months’ worth of reserves, ensuring we can continue delivering our services even in periods of funding uncertainty. Looking ahead to 2025, we are making strategic investments to strengthen our operations and sustainability: • Hiring an Administrative Assistant (£4,000 per year) to support day-to-day operations. • Enhancing our marketing efforts (£4,000 per year) to improve visibility and boost fundraising efforts. • Van maintenance and running costs (£3,000 per year) to ensure continued service delivery. • Accounting and compliance costs (£1,000 per year), with expected increases due to HMRC’s Making Tax Digital requirements. • Additional safeguarding training and trustee development to keep up with evolving governance and regulatory expectations. By maintaining adequate reserves, we can continue to operate sustainably, plan for growth, and respond to changing demands without compromising our core mission of supporting those in need. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | The total funds at 31 December 2024 were £28,130. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 |
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 deficit Explanation of any Para 1.23 uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern
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 | Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | 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 | Trustees of Alternative Angels are appointed through a structured selection process to ensure alignment with the charity’s mission and governance standards. 1. Application & Initial Screening – Prospective trustees submit an application outlining their experience, skills, and alignment with Alternative Angels’ values and objectives. 2. Interview Process – Shortlisted candidates undergo an interview process with existing trustees, assessing their suitability, expertise, and commitment to the role. 3. Final Interview & Approval – Candidates who progress are invited for a final interview with the Chair Trustee, who provides the final approval before appointment. 4. Formal Appointment – Upon successful selection, trustees are formally appointed and onboarded in accordance with the charity’s constitution. |
| 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 | |
| Para 1.51 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Relationship with any related parties Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | Alternative Angels |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charitynumber | 1204095 |
| Charity’s principal address | 62 CALLINGTON ROAD SWINDON SN25 2BF |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhavna Somaiya Plummer |
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| Cara Leanne Hiscock |
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| Gemma Bolton | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for 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
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) Full name(s) Bhavna Somaiya Plummer Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 14th March 2025
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Charity Name Alternative Angels On accounts for the 31 December 2024 Charity no 1204095 period ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 and 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
Report to the trustees
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the period ended 31/12/2024 Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in basis of report 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.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my examiner's statement attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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: Date: 20 March 2025 Name: James Gare Relevant professional FCA. DChA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Monahans, Hermes House, Swindon, SN2 2GA
Oct 2018
IER
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| Alternative Angels | Alternative Angels | Alternative Angels | 1204095 No (if any) |
1204095 No (if any) |
1204095 No (if any) |
CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | |||||||
| For the period from |
25/07/2023 | To | 31/12/2024 | ||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ £ 19,299.91 £ 38,939.72 £ 58,239.63 £ - £ - £ 58,239.63 £ 4.45 £ 13,728.47 £ 1,440.58 £ 1,985.51 £ 209.97 £ 1,807.80 £ 395.20 £ 2,537.64 £ 8,000.00 £ 30,109.62 £ - £ - £ 30,109.62 £ 28,130.01 £ - £ - £ 28,130.01 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ £ - £ 2,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ - £ - £ 2,500.00 £ - £ 2,500.00 £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ 2,500.00 £ - £ - £ 2,500.00 £ - £ - £ - £ - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - £ - |
Total funds to the nearest £ £ 19,299.91 £ 41,439.72 £ 60,739.63 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
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| Funds transferred on charityset up | £ 19,299.91 | - | |||||
| Donations,legacies andgrants | £ 38,939.72 | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | £ 58,239.63 | £ - | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). | |||||||
| £ - | £ - | £ - | |||||
| Sub total Total receipts A3 Payments |
£ - | £ - | £ - | ||||
| £ - | |||||||
| Bank interest and charges | £ 4.45 | £ - | |||||
| Costs of charitable activities | £ 13,728.47 | £ - | |||||
| Governance costs | £ 1,440.58 | £ - | |||||
| Insurance |
£ 1,985.51 | £ - | |||||
| Printing, postage, stationery and computer supplies |
£ 209.97 | £ - | |||||
| Rent/ hire of rooms | £ 1,807.80 | £ - | |||||
| Repairs and maintenance | £ 395.20 | £ - | |||||
| Volunteer expenses | £ 2,537.64 | £ - | |||||
| Wages / salaries and national insurance | £ 8,000.00 | £ - | |||||
| Sub total | £ 30,109.62 | £ - | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see ~~table)~~ |
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| £ - | £ - | ||||||
| Sub total | £ - | £ - | £ - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
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| £ - | |||||||
| £ 28,130.01 | £ - | £ - |
£ 28,130.01 | £ - | |||
| £ - | £ - | £ - | £ - | £ - | |||
| £ - | £ - | £ - | £ - | £ - | |||
| £ 28,130.01 | £ - | £ - |
£ 28,130.01 | £ - |
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| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B2 Other monetary assets B1 Cash funds B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities |
Total cash funds Details Lloyds ( g p payments account(s)) Details Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 28,130 - - - - 28,130 - £ - £ - Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which ~~liability relates~~ Amount due ~~(optional)~~ - - - - - Print Name Bhavna Somaiya Plummer |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due ~~(otional)~~ |
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| Date of approval 14th March 202 |
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| Bhavna Somaiya Plummer | ||||
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