
## **The Heart of Marston** 

**Trustees' Report and Annual Accounts for the Period Ended 30 April 2024** 

**Charity Registration Number: 1204893** 



## **The Heart of Marston** 

## **Charity Information** 

|**Trustees**|Kylie Storey (Acting Chair)|
|---|---|
||Kathryn Inwood|
||Katrina Widdicks|
||Maureen Barrett|
|**Principal Address:**|7 St. Marys Close|
||Marston Morertaine|
||Bedford|
||Bedfordshire|
||MK43 0QY|
|**Bankers:**|Santander|
||Santander Business Banking|
||Sunderland|
||SR43 4FW|
|**Independent Examiner:**|Mr Joshua Cottingham MAAT|
||72 Broadmead Road|
||Folkestone|
||Kent|
||CT19 5AR|





## **The Heart of Marston** 

## **Contents Page** 

||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|1 - 3|
|Indpendent Examiner's Report|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Balance Sheet|6|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|7-9|





Trustee’s Report – For the period ending 30 April 2024 

The Objects of The Heart of Marston are: 

1. For the public benefit, to promote and protect the physical and mental health of children and young people aged up to 17 in Marston Moretaine and its surrounding areas, with a focus on those who are socially and economically disadvantaged through assisting in the provision of funding to access mental health support and counselling. 

2. For the public benefit, to advance the education of children and young people in Marston Moretaine and its surrounding areas aged up to 17, with a focus on those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, primarily through providing funding to educational establishments, community groups and other organisations to assist in the provision of facilities, enhanced teaching skills, resources, activities and educational projects to improve children’s learning and standards of education. 

3. To relieve poverty or financial hardship amongst people in Marston Moretaine and its surrounding area, primarily by assisting in the provision of essential items and educational supplies which they could not otherwise afford. 

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects 

_1. to promote and protect the physical and mental health of children and young people aged up to 17 in Marston Moretaine and its surrounding areas, with a focus on those who are socially and economically disadvantaged through assisting in the provision of funding to access mental health support and counselling._ 

The charity has been able to support local schools and in particular the school within the village, to provide systematic support for children facing emotional challenges. This has been achieved through the provision of resources and training for staff within the schools to give dedicated time to emotional well-being. 

_2. providing funding to educational establishments, community groups and other organisations to assist in the provision of facilities, enhanced teaching skills, resources, activities and educational projects to improve children’s learning and standards of education._ 

As a grant awarding charity, we have been able to support schools in a number of ways. From our own fundraising activities, we have been able to provide training in a speech and language support programme which gave specific support to one child and provided training for staff that would be transferable to their practice going forward. We have 



funded resources for the outdoor area to ensure that the quality of play during lunchtimes and breaks could be enhanced. 

We were also able to facilitate a digital art project which enhanced the work of the school in providing an ongoing and aspirational love of learning. Children worked with a digital artist who introduced them to readily available art-based software to produce digital art which was displayed and shared with parents. 

In addition to grants awarded from our own funds we were able to bid for a local grant which provided a much-needed sensory room for a local special school. 

_3. To relieve poverty or financial hardship amongst people in Marston Moretaine and its surrounding area, primarily by assisting in the provision of essential items and educational supplies which they could not otherwise afford._ 

Much of the charity’s work has involved support for families in financial need. We regularly provide funds for the purchase of food for the school’s Breakfast Project, vital for may of our children to set them up for the school day. We have provided support to a number of families in need through the purchase of hot water bottles, blankets, Christmas presents and on occasion larger items of furniture as need arose. 

Over the initial eight months of our charity’s work, we have been able to hold over twenty separate events, ranging from stalls and pop-up sales at local venues, second hand fund raisers, to a multitude of Christmas activities. 

We have organised one-off events aimed at bringing the community together as well as raising funds. These have included a scarecrow competition, the family fun day and holding events at local coffee mornings. 

All of our fundraisers and community events were well attended with positive feedback from many who 

attended. We had no negative feedback at all. On several occasions we were asked if we’d do a similar 

event next year, in particular the Family Fun Day, Scarecrow Competition, Christmas Grotto, Garage 

Sale Trail and Easter Egg Hunt. 

The local community appreciated our events being at a low cost, particularly in comparison to events 

run by other groups. The low cost meant that their children could take part in activities that they 

wouldn’t otherwise been able to access. 



## Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves 

The charity is carrying reserves forward to the 24/25 financial year and these will be used to continue meeting our objectives for public benefit in this period 

## Details of any funds materially in deficit 

n/a 



## _Independent Examiner’s Report to The Heart of Marston Trustees_ 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30[th] April 2023 which are set out on pages 5 to 9. 

## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** 

As the charity’s trustees of The Heart of Marston you are responsible for the preparation of accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’) 

I report in respect of my examination of The Heart of Marston 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 examiner’s statement** 

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: 

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of The Heart of Marston as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning 

the form and content of accounts set in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement 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. 

……………………………………. Mr J Cottingham MAAT 



**The Heart of Marston** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities For the Period End 30 April 2024** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
NOTES 2024<br>Unrestricted Restricted Total<br>INCOMING RESOURCES £ £ £<br>TOTAL INCOME 2a 13,597 2,000 15,597<br>RESOURCES EXPENDED<br>Charitable Activities 3a 6,430 2,000 8,430<br>Fundraising Expenses 3b 2,161 - 2,161<br>Governance and Professional Fees 3c 313 - 313<br>TOTAL EXPENDITURE 8,904 2,000 10,904<br>Net Incoming Resources before Transfers 4,693 - 4,693<br>Fund Transfers - - -<br>Net Movement in Funds 4,693 - 4,693<br>Carried Forward at 30 April 2024 4,693 - 4,693<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **Continuing Operations** 

None of the Charities operations were acquired or discontinued during the above financial years. 

## **Total Recognised Gains and Losses** 

The Charity has no recognised gains or losses other than the income and expenditure for the two above years. 

the notes on pages 7-9 form part of these financial statements 

5 



**The Heart of Marston** 

## **Balance Sheet As at 30 April 2024** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
2024<br>Unrestricted Restricted Total<br>£ £ £<br>FIXED ASSETS<br>Tangible Assets 6 - - -<br>- - -<br>CURRENT ASSETS<br>Debtors 7 - - -<br>Cash and Bank in Hand 19,668 2,000 21,668<br>19,668 2,000 21,668<br>CURRENT LIABILITIES<br>Creditors falling due within One Year 8 - - -<br>NET CURRENT ASSETS 19,668 2,000 21,668<br>TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 19,668 2,000 21,668<br>REPRESENTED BY:<br>Free Reserves 9 19,668 2,000 21,668<br>TOTAL FUNDS 19,668 2,000 21,668<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


This statement of account was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by Kylie Storey, Acting Chair of Trustees 

**----------------------------------------------------------------------------For and on behalf of the Trustees** 

------------------------------------------------ 

**Dated** 

6 



**The Heart of Marston** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements For the Period End 30 April 2024** 

## **1) Accounting Policies** 

## **a) Basis of Accounting** 

The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP FRS 102). 

The Heart of Marston meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for Land and Buildings which is carried at deemed cost under the transitional provisions of FRS 

## **b) Funds** 

Free reserves represent the funds of the church that are not subject to any regulations regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the Charity 

The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the Charity is responsible in law. 

## **c) Incoming Resources** 

## _**Voluntary Income and Capital Sources**_ 

Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the Charity. 

Income tax recoverable on gift aid donations is recognised when the income is recognised. 

Funds raised by fetes, garden parties and other similar events are accounted for gross. 

## _**Income from Investments**_ 

Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable. Tax recoverable on such income is recognised in the same accounting year. 

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**The Heart of Marston** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements (cont.) For the Period End 30 April 2024** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
NOTES 2024<br>Unrestricted Restricted Total<br>INCOMING RESOURCES £ £ £<br>Charitable Income 12,300 - 12,300<br>Donations 1,297 - 1,297<br>Grants - 2,000 2,000<br>VOLUNTARY INCOME 2a 13,597 2,000 15,597<br>RESOURCES EXPENDED £ £ £<br>Families Work 2,330 - 2,330<br>Breakfast Project 1,512 - 1,512<br>General School Work 3,517 - 3,517<br>Easter  - - -<br>Christmas 1,070 - 1,070<br>CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES 3a 8,429 - 8,429<br>Equipment 33 - 33<br>Internal Purchases - - -<br>Stock 2,113 - 2,113<br>Van Hire - - -<br>This statement of account was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by Adam Schwalm , Chair of Trustees<br>Fundraising Expenses 16 - 16<br>FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 3b 2,162 - 2,162<br>Training 63 - 63<br>Finance Costs 250 - 250<br>- - -<br>Fundraising Expenses<br>FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 3c 313 - 313<br>TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 10,904 - 10,904<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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**The Heart of Marston** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements (cont.) For the Period End 30 April 2024** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
FIXED ASSETS 4<br>Land &<br> F&F   Total<br>Buildings<br>COST / VALUATION<br>- - -<br>Balance Brought Forward<br>Additions - - -<br>- - -<br>Disposals<br>Balance Carried Forward - - -<br>DEPRECIATION<br>- - -<br>Balance Brought Forward<br>- - -<br>Charge for the Year<br>- - -<br>Eliminated on Disposal<br>Balance Carried Forward - - -<br>NET BOOK VALUE<br>- - -<br>As at 25 September 2022<br>As at 25 September 2023 - - -<br>B/F 26<br>September  Income Expenditure Balance Transfers C/F 30 April<br>2023 2024<br>CHARITY FUNDS - 2024<br>FREE RESERVES 16,975 13,597 10,904 2,693 - 19,668<br>RESTRICTED RESERVES - 2,000 - 2,000 - 2,000<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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