BABY BASICS CHELMSFORD FINANCIAL sfATEMEMrs FOR INillAL PERIOD FROM 12.9.23 TO 31.324 A. Reference and admlnlstr8tion details- Page 2 B. Trustees reportforthe Initial period 1. Structure. governanc8 8nd management- Page 3 2. Objects and activitie3- Page 4 3. Achievements and perfomi8nce- P8ge 6 4. Financial revlew- P8ge 7 5. Declaration- Page 8 C. Receipts & Payments 8ccount8 12.9.23to 31.3.24- Page 9
BABYBASICS CHELMSFORD INMAL PERIOD FROM 12.923 TO 31 a.24 A. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS Charfty namo: Baby Basics Chelrnsford The charty is not known byany othern8mes R•gi•t•r•d charfty numbor 1204686 Prlnclpal addreu: 257 Linnet Drive, Chelmsford. Essex CM2 8AZ Tha charltytru•t••8 who manay th• ¢harlty ar•: Mr8Joelle Mortimer. Chair. Mr8 Stephen Mortimer. Tr88surer, Mrs Gillian Booth, Mrs Susan Hardy, Mrs lknnne Good8ll, Mrs Eleanor Cleland, Ail the above were in p08t for the whole period There 8re no trust888 for the charlty, e.g. custodian trustees
BABY BASICS CHELMSFORD INMAL PERIOD FROM 12.923 TO 31.3.24 8. TRusfEES' REPORT FOR THE INMAL PERIOD 1. Structure. govemance and managomont Structurn and governanc• Baby Basics Chelmsford has a constitution as its gov8rningdocument and th8 charity 18 constltuted a8 a foundation model Charitable Incorporated Organlsatlon ICIO). Trustoos. soloctlon mothod Appointment oftrustees is governed by s.10.1 ofthe charity's constitution from resolution passed 8t a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. Managomont The charty is managed bythe trustees and othervolunteers wlth no pald staff. Wldor network The charity is affiliated with the charity Baby Basic8 UK 88 Part of the Baby Basic8 UK netsvork of 88by B8nk8 and Is a memberof th8 B8by 88nk Alli8nce. Othar rnlat•d partl•• Baby Ba8ics Chelm8ford has kindly been allocated space, free of charge, at Mouisham Lodge Methodlst Church, Chelmsford. E8sex. for u8e in storing donatlon8. preparing ba8ket8 and as a collection pointforthe health and socialc8re prof8S8ional8 who in turn pa8Sthe glfts over totheir cllents in need. Tha u88 ofth18 8P8¢e 18 8t the Church'8 discretlon and there18 no18888 or hlre agreement in operation. We areverygratefulforthe ongoingsupportfromthe Church. both material and spiritual in the forrn of prayers. that has enabled this Charityto operate. Rlsk revlew In meetingstrustees have discussed and identified areas of riskand from thisthe following policies, procedure and measures have been adopted: Handling goods training; safeguarding policy with designated safeguarding lead appointed" h8alth and safety policy: volunt88rs' policy; ffjserves policy.
- ObJ•¢t8 and aetfvftles Oblocts The objects of the charity are set out in Its constltution as follows: The rellef of poverty in England and Wales by providing clothing. toiletries and equipmentforbabies,childrenandtheirparentslcarersto personswhoareinconditions of need, hardship ordistress by reason oftheirsocialand l oreconomic circumstances. And/or¢harities, orotherorganis8tionworkingwith peoplein need. hardshipordistress by reason of their soci8l8nd l or economic circumstsnces. Pubuc b•n•fft When planning8Cthiltles, thetrustees have conslder8d the Charlty Commlssion'8 guld8nce on public benefit. The provision of Moses baskets and related itemsto vulnerable Mums, Carers and thelr b8bles18 b888d upon referrals received from health and soci81 care professionals who In turn pa&8 the glfts overtothe ctients in need. This methodology aims to ensurethat the beneficiary 18 eng8gingwlth a health and social care professionalwho can provide ongoingsupport. We have no cont8Ctwith the beneficiariesv4ho remain anonymous to us. The charity relles upon the referrer's professionaljudgement asto whether a donation 18 required and subject to their decision rnaking. our service is open to all. Actmtl The following m8in 8Ctlvitle8 8r8 for the public benefit in furth8r8nc8 of the above object8: The core aCtlty of the charity is to provide Moses Basket Starter Packs to families struggiingwith the provision of the essentialsto supportthe arrivalof a new born in the Chelmsford and mid Essex Ioc8lity. referred by a health or social care professional or other charitable organisation tovthich they are known. We a¢¢eptthe referrer's declslon and requestfor help for their ¢'ent. Each pack consists of". Moses basket to provide 8 Safe sp8C8 for b8byto sleep New mattress to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Cot Death) Spare bedding Additional blankets Newborn sized baby clothes 0-3 months baby clothes
3-6 months baby clothes Bibs and muslins Bath towel Cuddlytoy Nappi6s and toiletri8sfor baby Toiletriestor Mum totske into hospitsl Ailthefamllles recemng a Moses basketare referred byhealth and soci81 care professionals 8nsuring notonlyth8tthe need is valid. but more importantly. that as vulnerable family there is ongoing professional support. In carryyng out these actiVTties the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Cornmission on publi¢ benefft. Most items given to beneficiaries have been received bythe Charityas donations. We gratefully accept donations from our local communityof both new and pre-loved items. Over time we have made many connection8 with local craft groups and knltting circles who provlde u8 With beautllul new ttem8. Mary members are 8ld8riy and this in turn provldes purp08e to thelr activity and reduces soc181 i801ation. We 8180 are fortunate th8tf8mllles who have had babies donate items to help those that are currently in need. We have on occasion been profoundly moveil when we one of our beneficiarie8 has taken thetirne and troubleto18t8r locate us 8nd donate b8ckthe Items received by us in their time of need for re-use again. Ail pr8-lov8d Items are checked for qu81ity8nd c8refully laundered and ironed by our volunteers before Inclusion In a basket. We aim forall items given to beneficlarles to ideally be"88 good as new." Volunteers Th8 voluntoers who have work8d closely alongside the trustees throughout the whole of this perlod are: Mrs Susan Reynolds, Mrsjulie Braine and Mrs Louise Mccormack We thankthem fortheirfantasti¢ hard work and commitinentto the charitys cause: their contribution has been verysignificant inde8d.
- A¢hl•vom?nts and portomianc• Tho charlty's work has mado the foiiowlng posltlvo dlfferonce to tho Glrcumstances of Its beneflclarles and to wldor soclety as a whoio Baby Basics Chelmsford stsrted actsvitses on 81h September 2019 and was registered as 8 CIO with the Chartycommission on 12th Septernber2023. From its commencement until 31" March 2024there have been a totsl of 326 baskets glven out to vulnerable Mums and thelr babies. 74 of these duringthethis accounting period of being a new CIO. We are experiencing increased demand for our services and believe that this will continue for the foreseeable futur One measure of Baby Baslcs chelmsford impact would be the monetary value of its giftsto beneficiaries however. this can never be accurately established because most of Items have been kindly donated to us. We conser4atively estimatethat each basket and Its contents would cost at least £350. Therefore. to date, Baby Baby Basics Chelmsford has prowded c. £114,000 worth of vital itemsto vuiner8ble Mum3 and their b8bies. many who sadly have iiteralty nothing in terms of the nece&8ary equiprnent. clothlng and 8&8oclated Items needed to C8refor8 new born baby. What also cannot be quantified 18 the positive irnpactth888 gifts brlngto society as a whole. However, we knowfrom 8necdotal evidence given by feedback from th8 referr8r8 that many of the reciplent8 have been ov8Th¥helmed bythe gifts, when from often being In 8 Situation of poverty. loneliness or being exploited. they reaiise that there ara p8opI8 who care 8boutthem. Many of thesevuLnerable Mums and famllles are havlng8 baby In very challenging circumstan¢e8. As 8 Positive sign, with every basket there is a little card attached. with 8 quote from the Old Testament book of Isai8h--You 8rn wonderfullym8de."hopingthat these Wfts maybe the start of newdirectionsforthe benefici8rieswhich. llth the ongoing support of the carers and health care profesyionais. may lead to better outcomes In thelr Ilves. One key mom8ntforth8 charitywas -Fanfare forthe Future"on 19 January2024 vthen we had a major promotional event to celebrate Baby Basics Chelmsford becoming a rewstered charity and as an opportunity to bring together Mary of our donors. partners and ref8rring professionals. The event was attended by Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst. His Majetys Lord Lieutenant of Essex and th8 Mayor of Chelmsford, Councilior Lind8 Mascot.
Fundralslng In this period the charity has limited its fund-raising acttvities to discussions of its finances at meetings of trustees and seekingsmall donationsfrom interested indiwduals. e.g. making a presentation at a meeting of a local community group: and applying for grarrts from various sources. The charlty does not employ outside or commercial fund- rdiser& nor emp ary statf itself for this purpose and therefore. has not subscribed to anyfundraising regulator. We thank the mary individuals who. within this accounting period. made personal donationswheth8rfin8ncialor of newand prtrloved itemsfor passingonto beneficiaries and the following organisations who also generously gave support. either financial or In supplying items for dlstrlbution to beneficiaries: Save the Chlldren. In 888ociatlon with Ashley Loul8e J8rn88 Essexcounty Council New Cityvoices event Mum 2 Mum Market 4. Flnanclal r•vlew Ro8orv•s pollcy The restrlcted fund8 are made up of 8 number of funds recelv8d for Specific purposes. The tru3tse8 have determined that Batry Basics Chelmsford holds the equivalent of a minirnum of 6 months nomial exp8nditur8 as FrBe R8serves so as to provtde a bufferto give trustees time to properly respond to circumstances when it needs to b8 drawn dovrfn. At 31 st M8rch 2024. free r8S8rves 8mount8d to £1.418 whlch are considered adequate to meet running costs as per the policy and wilL in the future. hop8fully grow in line with the incr88sing dem8nd for the Charit$ 8eTvices 80 88 to always provrde a buffer against future operatingdeficits as the potentialfor larger cash flowvariations increases. Flnanclal perft>miance durlng rnportlng perlod: Incom• Totsl income for the period of £4.403 included £3.135 into restricted funds and £1.268 into unrestrlcted funds. Expendituro Tot818XP8nditure forthe period of £4.159 included £2.699 from restricted funds and £1.460 from unrestricted funds, of the latter, £1.071 on purchasing items to be given directlyto charitys beneficiaries and £389 on support costs vthich enable the
preparntlon of baskets and other items (nSiSt1ngOf donated goods and purchases) being given to the charitys beneficiarie& Flnanclal posltlon at 31 A24 Over the period the General Fund had an operating deficit of £192. resulting in it having a free reserves balance of £1.418 atthe period end. In*monts Because of the small scale of the charivs finances. at this stsge. there has been no need to consider Investment poilcy and obJectlKw. Includlng an ethical pollcy. The trustees wlll consider such matter5 a8 and when financlal clr¢um8tsnces are In an appropriate position. Golng concorn The tru8tee8 believe that. at 31•1 March 2024. the ch8rlty is flnanciallyviable and are not aware of any circumstances fin8nci8lor otheThvi88 which challengethis opinion. The tru8tees declare thatthey have approved thetru8t888' report 8bM atthelr meetlng on December 2024 Signed on behalf of the chari8 trustees Signature8: Ile Mortimer alr Stephen Mortimer Treasurnr
BABY BASICS CHELMSFORD INMAL PERIOD FROM 11923TO 31J24 C. RECEIPTS & PAYMENfsACCOUP115 11923 to 31J24 Gon8r81 unrestrfcted donatlons 8•t UP CO8ts to support th• 8dmlnlstrnllon ond pr•parntlon ol Itwn• 10 th• 2.1315 2.13 purchaaq trf bakrythangbng ba forgmng dlr•cttyto th• bw•flclarf of It 1.1100 Il•rns purcbowl foTrtMn8dlr•wroth• b•narw•rI ol th0charliab aCll¥ll• 1.071 C08t•to to Ppttheadm1n1SIr3I1n prowrthiion of Jt•m bdng fvito the b•Trrtlcl8rf•0 ol th• chariiabl• •Cll¥ttl•• upportth•8Omlnl•tr•¥on 8nd pryt•tlon ot It•rn# t>lng toth• 2.136 Iha b•n•ficlarl•8 oltho ch•rttsbi• acts11 Ca•hlunda heid t •tsrt of Ivrtftll p*lod 1.•1• 1.610 ChorftyComml••lon T¢)tsi Approved bythe trustees on 2 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by: lle Mortimer. Chalr en Mortimer. Trnasurnr