The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2023.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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 (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
Our charity’s objectives are as set out in the Articles of Association:
“To relieve the mental and physical sickness of persons resident in the United Kingdom, in particular children and young people suffering from bereavement or loss or a serious health crisis of a family member by the provision of workshops and support.
“To advance the education of professionals working with children and young people suffering from bereavement, loss or the serious illness of a family member by the provision of training.”
The following quotation is pertinent to the setting of our aims and objectives; “Children who experience three or more stressful life events, such as family bereavements, divorce or serious illness are significantly more likely to develop emotional and behavioural disorders” (Source: The Office for National Statistics 21st October 2008).
Main Objectives for the Year July 2022-June 2023
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and the summary of the main activities for the year are:
Expand the financial scope of the charity to ensure diversification and source income from alternative and sustainable streams.
Further develop our blended service to effectively support 5–25-year-olds with a range of options for digital and face-to-face engagement via home or school.
Continue promoting and expanding throughout Herefordshire and beyond with a focus on partnerships with schools, hospitals, and hospices
Continued development of an effective management structure including Trustees, the Youth Management Team, and Senior Staff. Development of existing workforce and recruitment of experienced and qualified staff to meet the growing demands for the Hope service
To continue to develop operational systems, policies and procedures to ensure the safeguarding of service users and staff.
Volunteers contribute to the work of the charity supporting by fundraising, but also in administration, publicity, marketing and support at youth sessions and activities. All members of staff also volunteer on a regular basis. The Youth Management Team (Y-Team) are all volunteers and are a significant part of the organisation.
Significant achievements this year include:
Procurement of funding for allocated provision and core costs from a range of sources including The Eveson Trust and St James’ Place Charitable Foundation.
Development of age-appropriate resources avaialble in an A4 pack to inform and assist families following a diagnosis - The Hope Support Pack
Hope provided consultancy for a long-running storyline featured in BBC's Eastenders
Continued provision of regular sessions delivered by the frontline team to young people across Herefordshire being accessed by growing numbers.
Growth of online service in Herefordshire and beyond supporting increasing numbers of young people:
433 CYP supported in total over the year
207 of these accessed for the first time over the year
Just under 1500 one-to-ones provided (1471)
90 CYP attended youth sessions a total of 430 times
75 CYP attended trips and activities a total of 125 times
Both the Youth Management Team and Advisory Team continue to thrive. The Y-Team had 10 members, two of whom were new to the group. Among other activities, they created a moving video entitled ‘What it is like to have a loved one who is seriously ill’ earlier this year and public response has been very positive. Including the work of this group and the Trustees, the charity benefitted from over 1000 volunteer hours over the course of the year.
The economic downturn and the difficulty that the charitable sector has faced during the last twelve months in raising funds has continued to make the delivery of our services come under pressure. However, the team has worked tirelessly and funding has been forthcoming from many sources, allowing our valuable delivery to work fully throughout the year. The year’s total income was £239,304. Face to Face services to children and young people have grown and developed and we have ended the financial year with a small loss of £12,056. Our investment reserves now stand at £93,098 and we are in the process of transferring to an interest earning saving account.
Funding sources
We are grateful to all the funders, large and small who have supported our charity throughout the year. Funding for the Charity sector remains extremely reduced and our sources have been outstanding in supporting our work. The National Lottery Community Fund has continued to be our largest donor but monies from many other charitable trusts, coupled with individual and local group donations and fundraising events have been exceptional.
Reserves Policy
The trustees continue to maintain the reserves policy. Our investment is managed cautiously, in ethical and socially responsible funds. This investment represents around six months reserves. The trustees will continue to have unrestricted reserves to ensure as far as possible that the work of the charity can continue and vital costs can be met, should the economic situation change in future financial years or new opportunities arise.
Aims and Objectives for the Future:
▪ Continued development of Board to best use skills and expertise available and access additional expertise with the intent of maintaining robust governance which allows for the potential growth of Hope Support Services
▪ Safeguard the economic sustainability of the charity through the development of a finance strategy focusing on non-restricted and sustainable income streams
▪ Strategic approach to raising awareness of Hope Support Services within Herefordshire and the surrounding counties with an aim to introducing a membership base
▪ Development of education programme for adults involved in supporting young people in schools and via affiliated charities
▪ Development of fundraising strategy to ensure ongoing provision for core costs alongside the funding of charity projects
Hope’s Children & Young Peoples Support Services (Hope Support Services) is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. It is governed by its Articles of Association dated 22 February 2010 (revised 2 August 2022). In the event of the company being wound up directors are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. All trustees gave their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in the Financial Statements. Due to the nature of the work of the charity, there is a mix of business, educational and medical expertise within the board of trustees.
The trustees are familiar with the work of the charity, some having been involved since the early inception. New trustees are appointed by the existing trustees and are briefed on the objectives and work of the charity and provided with information and full supporting documentation including information on the statutory responsibilities of trustees. The trustees work with the CEO on a strategic level. The CEO has responsibility for the management of the charity.
The trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Hope's Children & Young Peoples Support Services (the charity) for the year ended 30 June 2023.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Hope's Children & Young Peoples Support Services is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-On-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US, England.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Projects
Projects
Insurance
Telephone
Accountancy and legal fees
Publicity
Printing, stationery and computer consumables
Premises
Other costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £4,133 (2022 - £3,552).
The Youth Management Team manages its own designated fund, and uses it to fundraise for activities such as youth sessions and Hope on the Road trips - ensuring Hope remains a charity of young people, for young people. The amount designated at year end was £2,113 (2022-£2,000).
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).