2024-04-05-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 22 September 2023 To 5 April 2024 Charity name: BLUNHAM GOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEME Charity registration number: 1204874

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To relieve, either generally or individually, persons resident in the Area of Benefit within the county of Bedfordshire, who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress. To provide practical services to bring help quickly, informally and confidentially to such persons and to offer assistance directly from local resources an a "Good Neighbour" basis or referring people to specialised services.
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	For the public benefit to relieve poor, sick, elderly, needy or disabled persons in Blunham, Bedford by providing or assisting in the provision of services calculated to reduce the need, hardship or distress of such persons. Our core activities include lifts for medical appointments, collection of medication, assistance with gardening and minor DIY jobs, befriending lonely residents and help with form filling or other administration activities.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	We can confirm that the trustees have had due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit

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

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	Not applicable
	Para 1.38

Policy on social investment including program related investment		Not applicable
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Some volunteers occasionally donate expenses received from clients to BGNS funds.
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	We have now completed our first year having carried out 110 jobs within the core activities identified above and are happy to report a positive response to the support we are providing. The flower bouquets are continuing to bring a lot of joy to the recipients and must thank the company who are supporting us with this gift. We have recently been involved in a village event showcasing the different groups available to the residents of Blunham and beyond. It was a great time to network with the other volunteer and community groups. We would like to thank the Parish Council for their continued support.

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

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Not applicable
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Not applicable
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	Not applicable

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	All as separate document BGNS Financial Report 2023 – 2024_000050
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	See above
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	See above
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	None
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	BGNS currently has no financial uncertainties about its future 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	Occasional donations from volunteers, grateful clients, and other members of the public.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	N/A
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The main risk facing BGNS is the uncertainty regarding its annual income. Hence the need for a retained financial buffer.
Other		None

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:		None
Type of governing document	Para 1.25	Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members
How is the charity constituted?	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	The appointment of BGNS trustees is governed by the charity’s constitution document. Paras 5 and 7 refer.

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	Provide new trustee with relevant documents:  Trustee Welcome Pack  BGNS Constitution  Latest BGNS accounts  BGNS_Notes for Volunteers._ Meet current trustees at bi-monthly steering group meetings
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	BGNS has a total of 24 volunteers of whom 8 are on a steering committee. BGNS work closely with Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and Blunham Parish Council
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	BRCC provide an umbrella organisation for all Bedfordshire good neighbour schemes and our group contribute to quarterly statistics and best practice
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Blunham Good Neighbour Scheme
Other name the charity uses	None
Registered charity number	1204874
Charity’s principal address	7, The Hill Blunham Bedfordshire MK443NG

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)
	Geoffrey Paul McCulloch	Chair
	Philip Anthony Rose	Trustee / Hon Treasurer
	Mark Andrew Brazier	Trustee / Hon Secretary

– 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
None

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity	None
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects	None
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets	N/A

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address
None

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

None

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

Other optional information

None

Declarations The Irustees declare that they have apwoved the In￿tea$, rewt above. Signed on behaifof the chaiity's trusiees Signthrels) Full name(s) Posluon leg Secretary. Chalr. etc) Mark Andrvw Brazier DeLwnber 2024

Blunham Good Neighbour Scheme Registered Charity No. 1204874 Accounts for the year ending 5th April 2024 INTRODUCTION The Blunham Good Neighbour Stheme IBGNS) was set up in January 2023 under the umbrella of Bedfordshire Rural Community Charity IBRCC). There are 40 such schemes in Bedfordshire where volunteers offer help and assistance to people in a defined location. Initially the organisation was set up using the 8RCC Constltution. However, the Trustees decided to become a Charitsble Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and obtained charitsble 5tstus in September 2023, at which time the Trustees decided to change the period to the financial year to 6 April to 5 April. Hence this report covers an initial period of 15 months. In order to set up the organisation, BGNS approached Blunham Parish Council for financial assistance and were awarded a Stsrt Up Grant of £3749.15 to cover operations over first two years. INCOME and EXPENDITURE The buslness plan for BGNS seeks to obtain funds from donatlons for work carried. For drNlng operations. a donatlon 15 suggested based on HMRC pence per mlle. whlch is offered to volunteer5 to c¢)ver their costs. Any other donations are banked to 5UPPOrt the charity. ExpendItU￿ is agreed by the Trustees at their regular meetin85. All Income and e¥pendlture is managed through a Uoyd5 Bank Account. with expenditure requirlng a two layer authorisatlon process. Records of all income and expenditure are recorded against jobs through a duplicate book and schedule, where detsils of the Job, Job type. Volunteer. Client, Client details, and income are recorded. This is reconciled with the Bank Statement on a monthly basis. FINANCIAL STATEMENT January 2023 to 5th April 2024 Please see Appendix I In total we have recorded 110 jobs from April 2023. Income from these job5 by way of donotions has totalled £599. Expenditure slnce January 2023 was £1710.03, however£llO.80 refers to expenditure for 2024/25 IGifGaf £10 for April and £100.80 An5Var Insurance for 241251 and a further £424.30 for the period 2022123. Itwo payments to Smarty of £8. £319 for the moblle phone and £89.96 for Insurance) Hence comparing April to April income £599. expenditure £1147.93, an annual loss of £575.93. However, as this was our first year there are items in the accounts relating to the initial set up of the or8anisation, such as the purchase of the mobile phone. display stands. lanyards and printing. This comes to approximately £650. Income from jobs made a good stsrt with reoipts reathin8 £120 for May. £125 for June, £68 for July and £131 for August. However, this has tailed off significantly and slnce Ottober we have only re￿IVed £90 wlth zero in February and £18 in March. CHARITY WORK The Trustees recognise the financial dlfficulty dlents are under and are looking at further opportunlties to seek fundlng In order to support the most needy in our community. There is clearly a need within our area

for the type of support we offer and the Tfustees are open to suggestions on how we can assist those in need better. FUTURE FUNDING In order to support better our most needy clients, the Trustees are looking at changing the financial model to one where financial support is obtsined by a Mixtu￿ of donations and grants. with the latter tsking a greater role in the long term. This model is similar to many of such schernes running in Bedfordshire, some of which rely entirely on grants for their financial support. SAFEGUARDING We have a dedicated Safeguarding Trustee and all Trustees undergo safeguardin8 training. In additlon, all Trustees and Volunteers a￿ checked by the D8S scheme. This was initfally completed via BRCC but Is now being moved to a PriTrrdte Company as BRCC no longer support this. INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT Attached to this report is the independent examiners report of the accounts from Or. Roy ripping to which I extend my thanks. Phil Rose Treasurer Trustee May 2024.

QPPkt4ts1 x I Blunham Good NeSghbourS¢herne-ae¢ountsforyearendingSAprll2024 RrflsteiedChavtyNo. 1204874 Balance sheel Descrlptlon Thls year Lastyear Current assets Bank current account Cash in hand Total assets 2.688.12 0.00 2.688.12 0.00 0.00 0.00 Liabilities Accounts payable Uncleared cheques Total iiabllltles 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 NetAssets Reserves Excesslldeficitl to date Starting balances Total Reserves 2.688.12 0.00 0.00 2.688.12

FlnanclalActl¥ltles Prlor year Income Donations Grants Job donations 50.00 3,749.15 599.00 0.00 Total Income 4.398.15 Expendlture Monthly phone charges Mobile phone purchase Insurance Slationery haidware Printing 136.00 319.00 I￿.40 0.00 385.80 Fll Boxes & lanyar¢Js Website Advertising Refund ljob 251 Training day 136.67 42.00 90.00 20.00 318.10 0.00 0.00 Totsl expendlture 1,710.03 Net Incomellexpendlturel 2.688.12

Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of li iai i I vvvu iyriyi 1sJvui Iri li On accounts for the year ended 51412024 Charity no (if any) 1204874 Set out on pages 1and2 Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The responsibilities of charty's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section trustees and examiner 144 of the Charrties Act 2011 (the charib.es A¢ll and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility lo". examine the accounts under sect￿￿ 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the pr(￿edureS laid down in the general Directions given by the Charrty Commission (under section 145151{bl of the Charit￿S Act, and to state whether partrular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance wtth general Directions given by the examIne￿S ststement Charity Commiss￿n. examination includes a review of the accounting words kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considerab.on of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanation5 from the trustees conc£rning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. and Consequent￿ no opinion is given as lo whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the reKk)rt is limiled to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent In connects.on wrth my examinabon. no matter has come to ry attention examinerfs statement 1. which gives me reasonab￿ cause to beI￿ve Ihal in. any material respect, the requirements.. to keep accounb.ng records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act.. and lo prepare ac&)unts which ac￿rd with the aco)unting records and comply th the accountsng requirements of the Charities Act have not been met", or 2. to wttth, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 241412024 Name: Dr. Roy Tipping Relevant professional qualificationls) or b04Jy (if any): Address: 60 Barford Road Blunham Bedford MK44 3ND IER March 2012

Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems. Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER March 2012