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The Report of the Trustees and Accounts

of

THE SEDGEFIELD DISTRICT RELIEF IN NEED CHARITY (Charity number: 230395)

and

THE HOWLE HOPE ESTATE (Charity number: 230409)

for the year ended 31%t December 2021.

Co-opted Trustees:

Dr. Christine Hearmon (Chairperson), Mr. Michael King, Mr. Alan Thompson, Mrs Val Wilson, Mrs Sue Dobson.

Nominated Trustees:

Clirs. Alan Blakemore and Clir David Brown (Sedgefield Town Council) Mr. Robert Elders (vice-Chairperson) (Mordon and Bradbury Parish Meetings) Mr Brian Mutch and Mrs Rachel Stephenson (Upper Skerne Parochial Church Council) Clir. Penny Pearson (Fishburn Parish Council) Cllr. Dr. Stephen Drew (Cornforth Parish Council) Cllr Vic Cooke (Bishop Middieham Parish Council) Clir Robert Gilbert (Trimdon Parish Council)

Clerks to the Trustees: Ms Anne Gladwin and Mr Simon Nott Address: both at, 46 Whitehouse Drive, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3BU.

STATUS AND OPERATION OF THE CHARITIES

Governance

Sedgefield District Relief in Need Charity is an unincorporated charity governed by a scheme granted by the Charity Commissioners in 1998. Under this title it has drawn together the endowments and objectives of many smaller charities, dating from 1630 to 1933, set up for the benefit of the parishioners of Sedgefield and the surrounding villages.

The Board of Trustees for the Relief in Need Charity is also responsible for the Howle Hope Estate Charity. Similarly, the Howle Hope Estate Charity is an unincorporated charity governed by a scheme granted in 2000. The Estate, formerly Howle Hope Farm, was jointly owned by the Relief in Need Charity and the Sedgefield Educational Foundation from 1734 until its disposal in 2000. The proceeds of the sale are invested to provide income for the work of the Relief in Need and the Education Foundation charities. The income is split 78:22 respectively, reflecting the charities’ original interests in the farm. The three charities work closely together, being known locally as the “Sedgefield Charities”. The charities have a number of Trustees in common, but, since the Foundation’s area of benefit is smaller than that of the Relief in Need Charity, the composition of the Boards differ slightly.

The Trustees meet twice a year to consider applications for help. Requests are made to the Clerks to the Trustees. The Clerks gather the relevant information on behalf of the Board. With respect to applications for assistance, all decisions are made by the Board of Trustees or by the Chair of the Board, perhaps in consultation with the Vice-chair. The decision process may differ dependent on the urgency associated with the application. Urgent applications which are received between meetings, usually for the needs of an individual, are approved by the Chair. There may be wider discussions between the Chair and Vice-chair or among the Trustees by e-mail.

Total Return powers

On the 31* December, 2010, Trustees were granted Total Return powers by the Charity Commission. The powers enable Trustees to apply, for the objectives of the Trusts, any real growth in the permanent endowments of the charities in addition to accumulated interest from investments and funds held in bank accounts. In applying these funds, Trustees must give consideration to the needs of the present beneficiaries and to preserving the ability of the permanent endowment to meet the needs of future beneficiaries (See note to the accounts).

Area of Benefit

The Charities can provide “relief in need” either directly to individuals or to other charitable bodies providing the same sort of help within the area of benefit. The area of benefit broadly covers the present civil parishes of Bishop Middleham, Bradbury, Cornforth, Fishburn, Mordon, Sedgefield and Trimdon.

Nature of Help

Help can be given by gifts of money, by the provision of goods, equipment, either outright or on loan, or by providing services. Support may be offered in cases of hardship, infirmity, disability or other handicap. For examples, in the provision of furnishings or bedding, medical requisites, mobility aids, the funding of hospital visiting, transport for the disabled, fees for education or training and the purchase of books, assisting with living expenses and providing respite care.

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS IN 2021

It should be noted that, for the second year running, the impact of the Covid19 pandemic on the economic and social activities within the Charity’s area of benefit has been far reaching and fundamental. There have been fewer applications for grants than might have been expected. The performance of the investments of the Charity has been affected, although, the adverse impact has been mitigated by 7IM’s management of the funds.

Quality of life

When compared to 2020, there has been a similar value of relief in need grants distributed to individuals in 2021. For both years, this represents a reduced value when compared to the recent pre COVID years.

Grants were made to three organisations in 2021, Sedgefield Pop-in Club, Citizens’ Advice and the Dementia Cafe. This represents an increase in the value of the grants distributed when compared to 2020, although, grants were made to the same number of organisations. The largest grant made to any organisation in 2021 was that made to Citizens’ Advice at a value of £6000.

The decrease in the value of the grants were distributed, when compared to those that migt. have been expected to be have been distributed had it not been for COVID, in the years 2020 and 2021 were the result of a reduced number of applications for grants being received from organisations and individuals.

Education and Training

The Relief in Need Charity offers help to students pursuing courses beyond A level and who fall outside the remit of the Sedgefield Educational Foundation, often because they reside outside the Foundation’s area of benefit. Grants of up to £600 are made, depending on a family's income. In 2021, two grants were made, both for a value of £600. The Charity also continued to support the Sedgefield Education Foundation in meeting the demand from the applicants in its area of benefit. In 2021, the Relief in Need Charity made a grant to the value of £6,000 to the Foundation.

HOWLE HOPE ESTATE

The investments of the Howle Hope Estate produce income which is divided between the Relief in Need Charity and the Education Foundation. At the end of each quarter such income is transferred to the Accumulation of Income accounts of the Relief in Need Charity and the Educational Foundation portfolios in the ratio 78:22 for re-investment.

FINANCE

With regard to the investments of the Relief in Need Charity, a strategy of long-term steady growth has been maintained. In the year, the investments have been rearranged to reflect a more ethical set of criteria. The strategy has remained the same as have the risks of the investments which remain at a moderate rating. The investments remain in the management of 7IM with ongoing independent advice from Mr John Pilkinton.

DEVELOPMENT

The responsibilities of the Clerk to the Trustees have remained with Anne Gladwin and Simon Nott. The Clerks work jointly in the role. In 2021, Clir Paul Trippett ended his term as trustee and was replaced by Clir Rob Gilbert. Mrs Rachel Stephenson joined the trustees.

The links with health, social work and education professionals were maintained in 2021. The network of contacts includes a number of organisations that make referrals for grants on behalf of individuals that find themselves in need of support. The details of the Charity appear on a number of local and national websites providing access for those seeking help. The details of the charity are also promoted in the local media and periodically on posters distributed by the Clerks within the area of benefit.

LEGAL AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Holding Trustees: Dr. Hearmon, Mr. Elders are the nominated Holding Trustees for all the investments of Relief in Need and Howle Hope.

Solicitors: Meikles, Sedgefield.

Bankers: Barclays.

Financial Adviser: J. Pilkington, Prism Financial Advice Ltd, 6 Eaton Close, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE38 9DN.

Independent Examination of Accounts: The accounts are examined by A B Cannings, ACA, of 22 Hardwick Road, Sedgefield, TS21 2AL.

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ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS

The Annual Report & Accounts for 2021 of the Sedgefield District Relief in Need Charity and of the Howle Hope Estate were adopted by the Trustees of the said charity at their ordinary meeting held this day.

For and behalf of the Trustees,

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C. J. Hearmon (Chairperson)
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9" March 2022
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Independent Assessor’s statement.

To the Trustees of Sedgefield District Relief in Need Charity and of Howle Hope Estate:

| report on the accounts of the Sedgefield District Relief in Need Charity and of Howle Hope Estate for the year ended 31st December 2021, which are set out overleaf and detailed in the attached appendices.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedure specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 43(7)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of the independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosure in the account, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently | do not express an opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner's statement:

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act: and

to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met: or

¢ to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Andrew B Cannings ACA 22 Hard wick Road Sedgefield Co Durham

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| March 2022
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NOTES TO THE 2021 ACCOUNTS

The implications of Total Return powers

Trustees set the baseline for the exercise of Total Return powers at 31*' December, 2008. It is from this point that the real value of the Permanent Endowment is to be protected, that is, by the application of an inflation index. Consequently, the value of funds available for application at any time may be calculated.

The permanent endowments as of 01% January 2021: (by application of inflation indices since the baseline date).

Relief in Need £560,521

Howle Hope Estate £163,652

Government figures give CPI for 2021 as 5.4%.

The permanent endowments as of 31%* December 2021: (by application of inflation indices of 2021 to the values for 01 January 2021)

Relief in Need £590,789

Howle Hope Estate £172,489

Comparison of these figures with total assets (including bank accounts) at those dates gives the total funds for application.

Funds available for application as at 01% January 2021:

Relief in Need: £206,979

Howle Hope Estate: £40,073

Funds available for application as at 31** December 2021:

Relief in Need: £222,421

Howle Hope Estate: £33,640

The funds available for application have increased in value from £247,052 as at 01% January 2021 to £256,061 as at 31% December 2021.

Appendix 1 Income and expenditure account

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||||| |---|---|---|---| |2021| |Income| |Withdrawn|from|investments|£35,000.00| |Bank|interest|£1.12| |£35,001.12| |Expenditure| |Charitable|Grants|£22,466.80| |Management Expenses|7|£2,665.98| |£25,132.78|_| |Excess income over expenditure|£9,868.34|

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||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Cash statement|2021| |Cash|at|bant|1st|January,|deposit account|£4,059.50| |Cash|at bank|1st January,|current account|£375.47| |£4,434.97| |Excess income over expenditure|£9,868.34|ee| |£14,303,31| |Cash|at|bant|31|December,|deposit account|£13,927.84| |Cash|at|bank|31st|December,|current account|___s—«|£375.47| |£14,303.31|