Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/04/24 Period start date To 31/03/25 Period end date
Charity name: Barlow Homes for Aged Persons
Charity registration number: 203035
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Barlow Homes provides accommodation of 37 bungalows for elderly and disabled residents with links to the local area of Oldbury. There is a community hall on the estate that is used by the residents, local community groups and for local elections. |
| 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 |
The Trust provides bungalow accommodation for elderly and disabled residents with links to Oldbury. |
| 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 had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public- benefit-rules-for-charities |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | The Trust does not undertake any social investment activities, or a policy on grant making. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | The Trust does not undertake any social investment activities, or a policy on grant making. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | The Trust does not employ volunteers. |
| Other |
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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 | A high quality of homes on the estate which are popular and short periods of void lets. The community hall is used by a local dementia charity as well as residents. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The Trust continues to provide quality housing for elderly and disabled residents. |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The Trust does not undertake fundraising activities and is funded from rents and income from the rent of the community hall to a local dementia charity. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | The Trust has not made any investments in the last financial year. |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The final outturn as at 31/3/25 was a surplus of £84,447 which was transferred into reserves. This was higher than expected due to a reduction in repairs spend and interest received on cash balances, offset by increased voids costs during the year. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | There is no definitive policy but as a guide the Trust looks to have at least 10% of its annual rent income set aside in balances. The actual level of balances as at 31/3/25 is significantly above this level. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £545,483 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the |
Para 1.23 |
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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 | Rental income from the properties is the main source of income. |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trust deed |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Independent Trust |
| 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 | Appointed by Sandwell MBC |
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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 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Barlow Homes For Aged Persons |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 203035 |
| Charity’s principal address | Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Democratic Services Oldbury Council House, West Midlands B69 3BS |
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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 (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandwell MBC | Sandwell MBC PO BOX 2374, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 3DE |
|||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
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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)
| ditional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
ditional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
ditional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
| Mike Jones - Assistant Director for Legal and Assurance and Monitoring Officer. |
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
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Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
----- Start of picture text -----
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Ellen Fenton
Position (eg Secretary, Chair
Chair, etc) Barlow Homes Management
Committee
Date
19.1.2026
----- End of picture text -----
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Appendix A
BARLOW HOMES 2024/25 REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2024/2025
| Budget 2024/25 |
Description | Outturn 2024/25 |
Variance Actual vs Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ 0 (300) (162,900) |
INCOME Interest Receivable Hire of Hall Rents of Dwellings Total Income EXPENDITURE Maintenance of Grounds Treeworks Response Repairs/Call Out/voids Gas - Community Hall Electricity - Community Hall Council Tax - Void Properties Water Charges - Community Hall Internal Cleaning Recharge Insurance Premiums Printing Postage Community Alarms Line Rental Broadband ICT hardware / software Events / miscellaneous Recharge from SMBC Legal Charges National Non Domestic Rates Total Expenditure Interest Receivable |
£ 0 0 (155,463) |
£ 0 300 7,437 |
| (163,200) | (155,463) | 7,737 | |
| 26,550 3,000 48,000 1,500 1,500 800 700 1,200 8,000 50 100 600 1,000 100 500 8,700 0 600 |
26,314 0 37,190 2,474 2,761 0 1,270 984 9,253 50 100 0 1,567 0 925 9,600 1,000 349 |
(236) (3,000) (10,810) 974 1,261 (800) 570 (216) 1,253 0 0 (600) 567 (100) 425 900 1,000 (251) |
|
| 102,900 | 93,837 | (9,063) | |
| 0 | (22,821) | (22,821) | |
| (60,300) | Deficit/(Surplus) | (84,447) | (24,147) |
| Statement of Movement in Reserve Balance at 1st April 2024 Surplus in Year |
(461,036) (84,447) |
Balance at 31 st March 2025 1545,4831