2020-12-31-accounts

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THE PADDINGTON CHARITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2021

INTRODUCTION

This is the Annual Report of the Paddington Charitable Estates Educational Fund (Charity No. 312347) and the Paddington Relief in Need Charity (Charity No. 810132). The two organisations are distinct in terms of their beneficiaries, but organisationally they operate as one body. This is referred to as The Paddington Charities. They both derive income from the Paddington Charitable Estate (Charity No. 212102).

In accordance with the scheme approved by the Charity Commission, the net annual income of the Paddington Charitable Estate is transferred to the Educational Fund (four-fifths) and the Relief in Need Charity (one-fifth).

The Registered Office is 19th Floor, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP. The Trustees are : Honorary Alderman Michael Brahams, The Reverend Gary Bradley, Honorary Alderman Jan Prendergast, The Reverend Alastair Thom, Honorary Alderman Barrie Taylor, Councillor Barbara Arzymanow, Councillor Rita Begum, The Reverend David Ackerman and Councillor Margot Bright.

ACTIVITIES OF THE CHARITIES

THE EDUCATIONAL FUND Background

The income from the Educational Fund is applied in a variety of different ways so as to meet the objectives of the Charity’s scheme. Essentially it is there to provide support for people under the age of 25, who are resident in the area of the former Metropolitan Borough of Paddington and who, in the Trustees’ opinion, are in need of financial assistance to enable them to pursue their education.

This support can be given in terms of scholarship or bursaries to schools and other places of learning; individual educational trips; provision of financial support to assist individuals to enter into a profession, trade, or to study music and other arts; or financial assistance generally in the education of people meeting the criteria of the scheme. The Fund also makes an annual contribution to the running of voluntary-aided Church of England schools in Paddington to be used to keep those schools in good repair or make physical alterations so that they can continue to provide proper education for their pupils.

Grants to Schools

So far as application of charity funds to the voluntary schools is concerned, there are currently eight such schools in the Paddington area. One is a secondary school and the remainder are primary schools. The practice of Trustees has been to decide how much money should be allocated, which in 2020 was £65,000, and then to apportion this to the various schools on a per capita basis according to the number of pupils resident in Paddington on each school roll. The total number of children assisted in this way was around 1,500 in 2020.

Grants to Organisations

Trustees have traditionally made grants to organisations providing activities for children and young people within Paddington. Last year, these amounted to £14,900, including a grant of £2,500 to St Marylebone Scout Group; £1,500 for IT equipment at Westbourne Park Family Centre; £7,500 to The Avenue Youth Project for after school activities; and £1,800 to St John Evangelist Church for printing a children’s book. Various Paddington organisations are assisted in providing holiday and other activities. These have included making grants to schools to enable them to take pupils on summer outings, and to other organisations to allow them both to take children on summer trips and to provide supervised activities and play during school holidays.

Grants to Individuals

A number of grants to individuals are approved each year. These are made, entirely at Trustees’ discretion, to people falling within the scope of the scheme to assist in some way in furthering their education. Grant assistance is given with school and course fees, and this is generally intended to assist children from Paddington who are particularly gifted, or in need of special tuition. By their very nature, awards of this type are long-term, expensive and therefore a substantial burden on the charity’s resources. Last year, one young person was assisted in this way.

RELIEF IN NEED

Background

The Welfare Fund is used for the relief of need and sickness of persons resident in the area of Paddington. There are, within the scheme, two specific restrictions that are placed on the Trustees. They may not use funds to relieve money available from public funds (although they may supplement income derived from these sources), and they may not commit themselves to any on-going support in any case, except pensions.

Grants to Individuals and Organisations

Grants are made to individuals in response to specific requests. In the main, these involve assistance with the purchase of furniture and household equipment, clothing, and arrears of bills (telephone, gas and electricity). In 2020, grants to individuals amounted to £3,300. Grants to organisations amounted to £5,100 last year, including contributions towards Christmas lunches provided by Age UK (£2,000) and equipment for the Imperial Covid Cognitive Impairment Project supported by The Friends of St Mary’s Hospital (£3,000).

Pensions

A half yearly pension is paid to up to 75 elderly Paddington residents in need. Nominations to the scheme are made by Age UK. A small Christmas bonus is also paid to these pensioners. The total expenditure in 2020 amounted to £11,345.

Food and Fuel Coupons

A food and fuel coupons scheme has been devised as a way of giving non-cash assistance to people in need. Coupons are allocated to local vicars for distribution to needy people. The value of the redeemed coupons stood at £1,900 in 2020 and the scheme is regarded by the agencies that distribute them as meeting a very acute social need. We are very grateful to these agencies for their help in enabling us to reach deserving recipients.

Grants for Immediate Aid in Need

All clergy in the Paddington area are offered £200 for “Immediate Aid in Need” during the year. This is intended to be offered in small cash amounts as and when required. The initiative complements the food and fuel coupons scheme providing a cushion for people in dire need. The vicars are asked to provide a list of people given financial support so that the residential qualifications can be checked.

GOVERNANCE

The Trustees meet twice a year and receive a presentation from the investment fund managers, Cazenove Capital Management, on the portfolio strategy, performance and outlook. The Charities’ financial activities and balances are also reviewed at each meeting. During the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 the Trustees’ meetings have been held on-line. Between meetings, the Chairman and/or the Vice-Chairman (plus up to three other Trustees) consider grant applications and their decisions are reported to the next Trustee meeting.

SUMMARY

Both the Education and the Relief in Need Charities continue to assist and sustain a number of individuals and organisations who are in financial need. The type of assistance given is diverse and specifically targeted at identified areas of need, both in the educational and welfare fields where other agencies cannot help. Indeed, the Charities’ schemes preclude their giving financial assistance when this is available to applicants from a public authority.

APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES ON 29TH MARCH 2021

SIGNED ………………………………………………………….. Chairman of the Trust

dkg/pmg/Pad.Chad.Annual Report 2021

PARKER BIRCH

23 St Peters Road Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 3BQ

The Trustees of the Paddington Charitable Estates

C/o Mr D Gann

2 Woodmere Way Beckenham Kent BR3 6SL 8th September 2021

Dear Sirs

PADDINGTON CHARITABLE ESTATES AND PADDINGTON WELFARE CHARITIES

I have reviewed the books and records maintained by the Trustees and have completed the following audit tests on the transactions:

(a) a sample of 40 cheque payments was taken. Each payment was vouched to supporting documentation and the posting in the nominal ledger was verified;
(b) a sample of 16 income transactions recorded on the bank statement was taken. Each item was vouched to supporting documentation and the posting in the nominal ledger verified;
(c) the trial balance was checked to the nominal ledger;
(d) the figures in the accounts prepared were agreed to the trial balance;
(e) balance sheet items were checked to supporting documentation;
(f) cash payments and receipts were totalled and agreed to the reconciled bank balances shown in the accounts at 31 December 2020
(g) minutes of the Trustees Meetings were examined.

Based on this review and the audit tests completed, I would conclude that the Statement of Accounts is a true and fair representation of the transactions of the Paddington Charitable Estates and Paddington Welfare Charities for the year ended 31 December 2020.

If you have any queries on this matter, please contact me on 07933 075025.

Yours faithfully

Nick Parker