2025-03-31-accounts - Kentrelief

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Registered Charity Number: 1204501

KENTRELIEF

CHARITY ACCOUNTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

KENTRELIEF

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees

The trustees during the period ended 31 March 2025 were as follows:

Matthew Bowden Mary Catherine Prebble Iryna Kuzmych Simon Greenwood Patricia Sandra Lambert

appointed 25 January 2023 appointed 25 January 2023 appointed 1 February 2024 appointed 1 February 2024 appointed 28 August 2024

Principal Address

TN2 Community Centre Lakeside (off Greggs Wood Road) Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3LZ

Independent Examiner

Bells Accountants, 10a High Street, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5AN

Charity Number

1204501

KENTRELIEF

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

Name and Status

The name of the charity is KentRelief and this is the name under which it operates. The charity was constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation on 29[th] August 2023 under registration number 1204501.

Address

The charity’s registered address is KentRelief, TN2 Community Centre, Lakeside (off Greggs Wood Road), Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 3LZ. Its operational address is KentRelief, TN2 Community Centre, Lakeside (off Greggs Wood Road), Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 3LZ.

Trustees

Throughout the year the trustees were: Matthew Bowden (appointed 25[th] January 2023), Mary Catherine Prebble (appointed 25[th] January 2023), Iryna Kuzmych (appointed 1[st] February 2024), Simon Greenwood (appointed 1[st] February 2024) and Patricia Sandra Lambert (appointed as Treasurer on 28[th] August 2024).

Structure, governance and management

Governing Document: The charity is governed by its constitution.
Appointment of Trustees: Trustees are appointed in accordance with the governing document. Appointment of Trustees is done by internal recruitment, with the requirement that potential Trustees shall have at least 6 months volunteering experience with KentRelief to satisfy relevant knowledge and experience criteria for becoming a Trustee for KentRelief. All existing Trustees need to agree on an appointment and all relevant documents are sent to the potential Trustee prior to the appointment.
Management Structure: The trustees are responsible for the overall management and decision-making of the charity, supported by the CEO who is currently the only staff member, and the Chief Operating Officer.

Objectives and activities

Charitable Objectives: The charity’s objectives, as set out in its governing document, are:
For the public benefit, the relief of financial need and suffering of people who have been displaced by, or are victims of, armed conflict or other humanitarian disaster and the ensuing humanitarian crisis, with a current focus on those affected by the Ukraine war, For those living Kent or adjoining counties or for those living in those places affected by armed conflict of other humanitarian disaster by providing, or assisting in the provision of, items, goods and services for those in need.
Activities Undertaken: During the year, the charity has undertaken the following activities to achieve its objectives:
Activity 1, sending humanitarian aid to beneficiaries in Ukraine working with and through local and international partners
Activity 2, provision of local support to Ukrainian refugees in the Tunbridge Wells area including help with moving house, provision of household goods such as furniture and other household equipment, provision of clothing, liaising with Tunbridge Wells Homes for Ukraine scheme to help Ukrainian refugees settle in the Tunbridge Wells area.
Public Benefit Statement: The trustees are aware of their public benefit obligations and are satisfied that they have complied throughout the reporting period with the guidance published by the Charity Commission.
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KENTRELIEF

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (cont’d)

Achievements and performance

Key Achievements:
Achievement 1: Following our December 2024 consignment to Ukraine we have now sent over 100,000kg of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. For this reporting period we have now delivered 29,282kg to Ukraine in two lorry loads to 10 beneficiaries in Ukraine including to the charities’ “The Path Home” Odesa, “From Dreams to Reality” Brovary, “Aqua Venti” Boryspil, “Humane World” Konotop, as well as to the State Emergency Services of Ukraine, and community organisations supporting hospitals and civilians in Kremenchuk and Kharkiv, Bakhmut refugees in Cherkasy and an orphanage in Lviv.
Achievement 2: Successful field trip to Stockholm and then Ukraine in June 24 which allowed us to establish a partnership with the Swedish NGO Operation Change, which then secured us use of their Dnipro warehouse, thus getting our aid further into Ukraine and closer to frontline villages. Also met new beneficiaries and verified new partners within Ukraine, signing further official Partnership Agreements.
Achievement 3: Secured firefighting equipment from the UK charity FireAid in collaboration with the London Fire Brigade which was provided to the 4th State Emergency Services of Poltava and the UKRTatnafta Oil Refinery. Securing this included outreach such as attending key networking events to secure this equipment and allow for ongoing collaboration for further equipment.
Achievement 4: Secured a key medical contact which provided 26 pallets of medical aid (they wish to remain anonymous). This is also now an ongoing collaboration which will ensure further donations of medical equipment. These items were sent to hospitals in Kherson and Kharkiv.
Achievement 5: Over 50 local Ukrainians in the Kent area supported with provision of household goods, clothing and household moves. This included a Ukrainian family made homeless, whom through our direct intervention helped in securing them immediate temporary accommodation, and with ourselves providing them with a storage facility and help with moving to both temporary accommodation and then to their permanent accommodation.
Achievement 6: Temporary lease now in place at our operations hub, giving us more security accommodation wise to continue our operations.
Achievement 7: A surge in Duke of Edinburgh volunteer applications reflecting the increasing impact we are having and therefore increasing visibility we have in our local community, and a good reputational reflection for us.
Challenges Faced:
Challenge 1: Our main operational challenge during this period was continued insecurity over the use of our main operational hub. However following the raising of this ongoing issue with the council, we have now been given a measure of security through the provision of a lease. However we now have to pay for use of the hub so this may present a challenge, depending on fundraising.
Challenge 2: Another challenge this reporting year has been concern over lack of funds, however following various fundraising drives we managed to secure enough funds to enable us to continue to operate as well as send out humanitarian aid to Ukraine, despite encountering some unexpected financial shocks, including huge electricity bills at our charity shop, which we have now resolved.
Challenge 3: We encountered some difficulties with a UK partner who was not following our charity policy and procedures, however this was resolved by first explaining the issue and when the rules were still not being adhered to, we took the decision to part ways with them, thus ensuing the continued smooth running (and mitigation of risk) of our charity according to our agreed policies and procedures.
Challenge 4: The final challenge of the period was being given notice on our charity shop. However we managed to secure a second charity shop where we have now moved and are currently based, also on a rates only basis.
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KENTRELIEF

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (cont’d)

Financial matters

KentRelief’s income for the financial period was £62,563 and its expenditure was £67,572.

Income was derived from a combination of income from our charitable activities (£45,261), and donations from individuals (£17,302).

The main area of expenditure was carrying out the charitable objects of the company of which the largest part was spent on staff costs (£37,552). Running costs of £28,520 and governance costs of £1,500 made up the remainder of expenditure.

At the end of the year there was £1,659 of restricted expenditure.

Reserves policy: The charity’s policy is to maintain unrestricted reserves at a level of £10,000, which ensures financial stability and supports planned activities. At year-end, unrestricted reserves stood at £6,054. The Trustees are monitoring the position and expect reserves to rebuild.

Staffing

The charity employs 1 staff member, the CEO. The CEO is supported by a voluntary Chief Operations Officer. The Chief Operating Officer provided the necessary logistical and operational services needed to send humanitarian aid to as well as coordinating with TWBC to assist local Ukrainians with moves in the Kent area and managing social media. We are also supported by a dedicated team of 20 volunteers, who collectively contributed over 1,000 hours of service.

The charity is managed by a senior leadership team led by the Chief Executive, who reports to the Trustees. The CEO provides regular operational and financial updates to the trustees, and staff appraisals and training opportunities are regularly reviewed to ensure effective delivery of the Charity’s objectives.

Plans for 2025/26

The trustees plan to ‘continue to grow the charity through increased fundraising opportunities such as talks at schools and churches, as well as through increasing its volunteer base. A second charity shop is also planned if we can secure rates only from an estate agency.

Key goals for the next year include:

Goal 1: continue to look for opportunities to secure a second, rates only charity shop
Goal 2: Increase our volunteer base
Goal 3: secure enough funding so that we can:
send three aid trucks to Ukraine,
employ a second staff member,
Goal 4: continue to develop partnerships in Ukraine as well as securing ongoing use of our second warehouse in Lviv in order to bring down transport costs.

Trustees’ Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for ensuring that:

Proper accounting records are kept.
Financial statements are prepared in accordance with the applicable law and regulations.
The charity complies with its legal and regulatory requirements.

This report was approved by the trustees on 28/01/2026 and signed on their behalf by:

Matthew Bowden Chair, Board of Trustees Date: 28[th] January 2026

KENTRELIEF

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of KENTRELIEF

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 8.

Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act):
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act): and
to 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 Commissioners. 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 disclosure in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as 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 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

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention.

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with section s130 of the 2011 Act: and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

have not been met; or.

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Bells Accountants 10a High Street Chislehurst Kent BR7 5AN

21[st] July 2025

KENTRELIEF

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds £ £ Receipts Turnover 45,261 - Sponsorship - - Grants - - Gift Aid - - Donations 15,646 1,656 Total receipts 60,907 1,656 Payments Charitable expenditure Direct charitable expenditure_8,794 - _Support costs Administration: Staff costs 37,552 - Running costs 19,545 181 65,891 181 Governance costs: Accountancy fees 1,500 - Total payments 67,391 181 Net receipts/(payments) (6,484) 1,475 Net assets b/f 12,538 184 Net assets c/f 6,054 1,659		Total Funds 2025 £ 45,261 - - - 17,302 62,563 8,794 37,552 19,726 66,072 1,500 67,572 (5,009) 12,722 7,713	Total Funds 2024 £ 31,541 - - - 3,763 35,304 4,520 19,338 9,287 33,145 595 33,740 1,564 11,158 12,722

KENTRELIEF

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Cash funds Bank current account Stripe account Assets retained for own use Prepayments Liabilities Creditors		2025 £ 11,400 70 649 4,406 7,713		2024 £ 16,450 - - 3,728 12,722

We approve the accounts on pages 6 to 7 and confirm that we have made available all relevant records and information for their compilation.

Signed on behalf of the trustees

Matthew Bowden Chair, Board of Trustees

Date: 28[th] January 2026

KENTRELIEF

NOTES TO THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Trustees transactions

During the period, payments were made to trustees for their services provided to the charity. These payments were made in accordance with the charity's governing document or with explicit permission from the Charity Commission where required. The following payments were made to trustees during the year:

Patricia Sandra Lambert – Reimbursement of Motor Vehicle Costs - £350
Patricia Sandra Lambert – Reimbursement of Motor Vehicle Costs - £148

All payments made to trustees were properly authorised and documented. No other trustees received any remuneration for their role as trustees.