## **Storehouse (NI)** ## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2023** The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Our Mission To develop communities that recognise the significance in everyone.** We recognise that poverty of any kind often steals self-worth and value, driving people towards isolation and stripping away dignity and individual significance. We believe that, by both meeting practical needs through provision and developing positive community environments, these patterns can be reversed, and dignity, significance and hope can be restored leading to individual and community wide flourishing. ## **Our Objectives and Aims** Our aim in Storehouse (NI) is to combat physical poverty and develop healthy, positive communities throughout the Greater Belfast Area. We do this, for the public benefit, through our two objectives: (a) To relieve financial hardship and poverty and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind, including emergency food, clothing and household goods. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include improvement of health, reduction of anxiety and stress associated with a poverty lifestyle. These benefits can be demonstrated by feedback from referring partner agencies, continued monitoring of service user circumstances and ongoing evaluation of our service delivery. (b) To benefit the residents of the Greater Belfast Area and beyond without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include increased understanding and awareness of local poverty issues, reduction in poverty driven isolation and an increase in opportunity for social interaction. These benefits can be demonstrated by provision of educational presentations in schools, churches etc., ongoing training of volunteers and provision of facilities for multiple social and educational programmes ran by ourselves and third-party organisations. ## **Who do we benefit?** The charity's beneficiaries are those living within the Greater Belfast Area lacking the ability to provide themselves with the basic essentials of life as referred to us by our partners and those in receipt of an increased awareness of local poverty issues through our educational presentations and training sessions. ## **How do we mitigate harm?** The purposes of the charity may lead to harm by producing an over dependency on charitable provision however, through ongoing monitoring of individual service user access the risk of harm is outweighed by the benefits. The only private benefit flowing from the purposes is ongoing training in relevant fields accessible to the trustees and this is incidental and necessary because it directly impacts their ability to serve within the charity. Page 1 ## **Storehouse (NI)** ## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2023** ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **Background** Launched in 2008, as a project of Belfast City Vineyard Church, Storehouse had a very simple aim; to combat food poverty throughout the Greater Belfast area, working towards the day when no one in our city should have to go hungry. Since then, the project has evolved with Storehouse (NI) being established in 2010 and the focus broadening to encompass other basic needs such as clothes, furniture and household goods. Today Storehouse is providing around 150 food parcels, seeing 200 referrals in our centre, and making around 10 furniture deliveries every week. We partner with over 200 charities and agencies across the city and work alongside more than 70 churches, schools, and businesses. ## **How did we do?** In the year ending 31 August 2023, Storehouse (NI) continued to grow in influence within the Greater Belfast Area and provided a significant service to those living in circumstances of poverty and financial, relational or emotional hardship. We delivered on our objectives in the following ways: a) We continued to run 4 referral sessions per week, 51 weeks in the year, staffed by an amazing volunteer team. This was our first full year running our onsite "shop" allowing service users the dignity of maximum choice. Within these sessions we had roughly 5,750 visits to our food shop, where we were able to provide over 130,000 items of food and toiletries to those in need. On top of that we were able to supply over 15,500 items of clothing and deliver close to 600 items of furniture to families and individuals living within poverty throughout Belfast. The value of the goods given, without charge to the individuals served, is estimated to be around £210,000. We provided this practical help to over 1,750 unique homes across the city, representing a vast spectrum of the community including, but not limited to, families with young children, individuals living on benefits, those struggling with cycles of addiction or mental health issues, the homeless, refugees and asylum seekers. b) Alongside the practical provision we sought to develop a healthy, positive community within our service users and volunteers and the wider Belfast community through facilitating some relational based environments such as art and pottery groups, guitar classes, football, baking, photography and filmography, English classes and much more. We continue to run our weekly Wednesday morning breakfast drop in space, providing both a hot breakfast and a space of positive community to over 60 guests every week. Throughout the year we have had the joy of welcoming a trained advice agent into our breakfast space, providing bespoke advice to those in need around issues of housing and benefits. This year also saw us form a strategic partnership with Hope into Action, a UK based national charity, helping to empower churches to house the homeless. Investors were sought and our first house was acquired. We finished the current financial year in the process of refurbishment and seeking our first licensees. Throughout the year we have continued to speak in many of our 80+ partner churches, schools and businesses, sharing about the work of Storehouse and more importantly speaking to perceptions of local poverty issues and inviting 100's into ongoing conversations about the challenges facing our communities. We have offered training to our amazing team of 150+ volunteers in areas such as health and safety, safeguarding, first aid, food hygiene, suicide awareness, understanding the benefit and asylum systems and much more. We have facilitated learning placements for college and university students as well. We continue to seek a better understanding for all, across the socio-economic divides within our city. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Investment powers and policy** The constitution of Storehouse (NI) authorises the Trustees to make and hold investments using its funds. Cash balances are currently held with the Cooperative Bank plc. The Trustees, with regard to the liquidity requirements of the organisation, have operated a policy of keeping funds within interest bearing accounts. Page 2 **Storehouse (NI)** ## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2023** ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Reserves policy** The Trustees who served in this period have undertaken the work of the charity, identified the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that all appropriate policies are in place to mitigate these risks. Storehouse (NI) maintains reserves in order to cover fluctuations in income and expenditure, to allow for any major unexpected expenditure or to mitigate any decline in the overall financial environment. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. ## **Organisational structure** Storehouse (NI) is a company limited by guarantee as well as a registered charity, in which the company directors form the board of Trustees. The liability of each Trustee in the event of a winding up is limited to £1. The day-to-day running is delegated to the employed staff. ## **Induction and training of new trustees** New Trustees are appointed when appropriate. Suitable candidates are considered on the basis of their skills, experience and sympathy with the aims of the charity. New Trustees have the opportunity of reviewing appropriate documents, including the accounts, as part of the induction process. ## **Risk management** The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include: - An annual budget approved by the Trustees - Regular review by the Trustees of financial reports - Identification and management of risk ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** ## **Registered Company number** NI602795 (Northern Ireland) ## **Registered Charity number** 102175 ## **Registered office** 1st Floor Temple Court 39 North Street Belfast Co. Antrim BT1 1NA ## **Trustees** Mr Alan Roye Carson Associate Pastor Rev Andrew Textor Smith Minister Of Religion Mr Timothy Mairs Director Page 3 ## **Storehouse (NI)** ## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 August 2023** ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Independent Examiner** John McCleary FCA McCleary & Company Ltd Chartered Accountants Garvey Studios 14 Longstone Street Lisburn Co. Antrim BT28 1TP ## **Bankers** The Co-Operative Bank P O Box 101 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP Approved by order of the board of trustees on 23 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Mr Alan Roye Carson - Trustee Page 4