The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 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 charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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)".
Soldiers Off The Street was formed after meeting many homeless on the street, after talking to homeless people we were shocked to find out that some were veterans who had fallen on hard times and due to a marriage breakdown and other issues, had ended up homeless. After listening to the veterans life experiences since leaving the forces we did a bit of research into what help is available for homeless veterans.
There is help available from larger charities but because of the paperwork and procedures it could take many months for homeless veterans to receive the help, in which time they either give up chasing the help, get moved on by local authorities and have to apply in the new area or in the most drastic cases become ill, so we decided to start Soldiers Off The Street with the aim to get help for those that needed it quickly before their plight worsened.
We started feeding the homeless from the back of our own vehicles looking for veterans. Soon we had a few volunteers around the UK joining us and have grown from strength to strength. The charity has now acquired outreach vans, delivery vans and a 4x4 for the winter months as the vans were having trouble in the ice and snow. This has only been made possible because of the support and kind donations from the public. We have now helped over 600 homeless veterans whose needs vary from straight off the street to sofa surfing at friends and family. We have made a good network with several charities/organisations who specialise in treatment for addictions and PTSD.
We have come a long way from our first client in 2009 and every year our knowledge of the ever changing housing regulations and treatments available is growing.
We are a dedicated group of people determined to help the forgotten ex-service personnel whose lives have been affected by homelessness. We all think they deserve better after going through the traumatic experience of war in far off lands, what they have been through for the country they love, to be forgotten and homeless is a national disgrace. That we intend to put right for as many as we can!
Although the charity is called Soldiers off the Street we do not deal with just soldiers. We help all ex-service personnel Army, RAF and RN past as well as present conflict.
The charity's objectives are the relief of charitable need of homeless ex-service personnel, in particular but not exclusively by the provision of clothing, food and rehabilitation, including advice on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, alcoholism, drug abuse, housing and employment.
We can help with emergency temporary accommodation, deposits and first month's rent, white goods, bed, bedding, clothing and a moving in pack included food for a week, cleaning products etc.
Every case is dealt with individually to assess the needs of our clients as no two clients are the same, working closely with other charities /organisations that can help with any addictions or PTSD treatment they require.
Strategies for achieving aims and objectives
We review our aims and objectives each year. The review looks at what we have achieved and the outcome of our work in the past 12 months. The review looks at the success of each key activity and helps us to ensure our aims and activities remain focused on our stated purpose.
The charity works closely with other charities and organisations to get our clients the best treatment and advice on PTSD and addictions. Once our clients are on a stable path with their treatment and it is felt by these organisations that they are ready to move into accommodation we will then re-home the veterans into suitable accommodation for their needs.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charitable company should undertake.
The Charity does not employ any paid staff. All staff positions are voluntary.
This year has been a very difficult time for the charity. We have continued to provide support for homeless veterans within this time and continued to work closely with other charities/organisations. The welfare of the veterans is still the charity’s priority. We are extremely proud of what our volunteers and supporters have achieved over the last year.
Although our support for veterans has not changed, the fundraising has been a challenge due to health issues with our volunteers who have found it difficult to be able to give as much time to the charity fundraising. We have relied on public donations and income from our online shop. The charity has reserves to continue operating during the coming year and the trustees are considering other ways to increase the income for the charity.
The results for the year and the charity’s financial position at the end of the year are shown in the attached financial statements.
The charity received incoming resources of £23,009 (2022: £23,837) and expended £50,564 (2022: £53,760) resulting in a net deficit of £27,555 (2022: £29,923) in the period. The balance sheet of the charity remains healthy with a net asset value of £57,012 (2022: £84,567).
It is the policy of the charitable company that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charitable company’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
Reserves are needed to meet the working capital requirements of the charity and to ensure that it is able is able to meet all statutory obligations in the event of winding up. It is the long term intention of the trustees to accumulate reserves to purchase its own property.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The charitable company is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 16 September 2009.
No Trustee has any beneficial interest in the shares of the charitable company. All Trustees are members of the Company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of winding up.
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:
Nominations for the position of trustee are sought from individuals with an interest in the governance of the organisation. An initial discussion takes place with the interested party and the chair of the management committee. Suitable individuals are then invited to the membership of the charity.
Most trustees are already familiar with the practical work of the charity having been encouraged to take up advice and outreach work offered as part of their training. Additionally new trustees are invited and encouraged to attend existing outreach sessions to familiarise themselves with the charity and the context within which it operates.
The new trustee pack given includes:
The obligations of a trustee.
The main documents which set out the operational framework of the charity including the Memorandum and Articles.
Resourcing and current financial position as set out in the latest published accounts.
Future plans and objectives.
The trustee board administers the charity. The board talks regularly throughout the year. The chair of the board is appointed by the trustees to manage the day to day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations. the chair of the board has delegated authority for operational matters including finance, employment and programme related activity.
There were no political or charitable donations during the period under review or in the previous period.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Soldiers Off The Street for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Soldiers Off The Street (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 August 2023.
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
As the trustees of the charitable company (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 Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (the 2005 Act), the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act). You are satisfied that the financial statements of the charitable company are not required by charity or company law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charitable company 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 charitable company’s financial statements carried out under section 44 (1) ( c) of the 2005 Act and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed the requirements of Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Since the charitable company is required by company law to prepare its accounts on an accruals basis and is registered as a charity in Scotland your examiner must be a member of a body listed in Regulation 11(2) of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
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 charitable company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of Regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and 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.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Soldiers Off The Street is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 4, Glan Aber Trading Estate, Vale Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL3 2PL.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) 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)". The charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charitable company has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charitable company. 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 charitable company 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.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors 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 charitable company 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.
All expenditure has been accounted for on an accruals basis and includes irrecoverable VAT where applicable.
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 charitable company 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).
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
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 charitable company 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 charitable company's balance sheet when the charitable company 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.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected.
If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charitable company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors 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 charitable company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Welfare costs
Volunteer subsistence
Advertising and promotion
Rent, rates and service charges
Light, power and heat
Motor expenses
Travel
Printing, postage and stationery
Insurance
Repairs and renewals
Bank and credit charges
Sundries
Merchandise
Governance costs includes independent examination fees of £2,863 (2022: £3,035).
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charitable company during the year and none of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received reimbursement for expenses (2022 - none).
There were no employees during the year.
There were no employees and therefore there were no employees whose remuneration was greater than £
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
Tangible fixed asset fund - In order to accurately show the reserves tied up in fixed assets held by the charity, a designated tangible fixed asset fund has been be created. The fund reflects the net book value of the tangible fixed assets used operationally by the charity.
New premises fund - This fund reflects the goal for the charity to purchase a property which would be used for assessing veterans before they move into a place of their own. Due to the deficit in the year, £27,062 has been reallocated back from designated reserves to general reserves in order to satisfy the charity’s reserves policy that to maintain unrestricted funds at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).