The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts 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)”.
Public Benefit Statement
The Board of Trustees are satisfied that they have fully complied with the duty in section 4 of 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission, and that the mission, aims and activities of Hope Housing, Training and Support Ltd meet with these criteria.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Achievements and Performance
Residents Supported through the year
During 2024, Hope Housing housed 192 residents. We have successfully moved on into independent living over a quarter of these residents. Over half of these residents have been awarded PIP. Improving an individual’s finances and supporting their structure and purpose enables the resident to sustain a long tenancy that allows them to work on themselves and build a better future. Hope Housing offers the following support to all residents:
Experienced qualified support team, delivering unique support model.
Health and Well Being Coach to monitor health issues weekly.
Supporting residents to access the correct benefits.
Weekly counselling service
Weekly Personal Development workshops
Weekly group activities (bingo, quiz, walk and talk, bike project,
cookery classes, life skills singing lessons and art)
Weekly football team/training
Weekly volunteer and educational workshop
10 for 10 move-on scheme supporting residents financially to move on into independent living.
Volunteering opportunities, soap making and charity shop and maintenance.
Supporting learning needs with ‘Read Easy’ weekly
Weekly food donations from Pret, Waitrose and Aldi.
Food bank vouchers, clothing vouchers, shoe vouchers.
Our evidence shows that the amount of relapse evictions continues to decrease from the last year. The number of residents that volunteer and have structure has increased. This would explain why our relapse evictions are less because more residents have structure, giving them purpose. This reflects well on the support team as it shows they are focusing on giving the resident a purpose, building on the resident’s self-worth and self-esteem.
Less residents left Hope Housing during this year compared to last. Improving residents benefit status and applying for PIP, has also had a positive impact. Residents can sustain their tenancy financially and stay in their accommodation longer. The support team need to continue with their focus being to assess the resident’s financial situation and support structure and purpose.
Clients Needs
We have residents with very complex needs hence the need for good support in a way which suits the needs of the individuals.
One or more of our residents suffers from the following conditions, Anxiety, PTSD, Bipolar, Psychosis, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, High Cholesterol, Epilepsy, Asthma, Emotional unstable personality disorder, ADHD & DVT, COPD, leg Ulcers & DVT, Heart Disease, Arthritis, Autism, Gambling Addiction, Drug Addiction, Alcoholism, Aspergers, Dyslexia/Dyspraxia, Schizophrenia, Poor Vision, Chronic Pancreatitis, Hearing Impairment, diabetes, Brain injuries or HIV Positive.
We sign post clients to the local partners who assist with Mental health and drug and alcohol abuse. We also make sure they are receiving the correct benefits and help them with applications and attending interviews and appointments.
We look at the benefits of the resident receiving Counselling through Hope Housing or through specific facilities like Cruse, Bereavement, Stars or Steps to wellbeing.
Funding
We raised £207k for 2024 compared with (£165k 2024) from some very generous trusts and donations to pay for the person-centred support we give to all our residents through many different initiatives and projects.
Hope also benefits from a CIC called Hope and More which runs a Charity shop based in Southbourne of which all profits go towards the support of residents. We also give free £20 vouchers to residents and local community agents in the area to allow vulnerable persons to buy clothes for free in the shop. The CIC also includes Hope Soap which is sold online and through market stalls with the principal of buyonegiveonesoap meaning every bar sold means a bar is donated to our partners such as our local foodbank in the area providing toiletries to those in need.
Our efforts to produce our own income helps us match fund projects with funders and gives social awareness to what we do in the community.
Financial improvements in 2024
After securing a 3 year grant from the National Lottery in 2023 and several 2 year small grants we entered 2024 with a guaranteed £110k.
Events
During 2024 we celebrated Hope Housing’s 15th Year Anniversary Open Day. We also took some residents to Helsinki in November to research how they have conquered homelessness, visiting the Y Project and several other sites. Clint Taylor ran the London Marathon raising funds for Hope Housing. The Footprints project came and provided extra craft lessons for our female residents. Sen4 team came and volunteered with soap making and maintaining our gardens, as well as the Mandelez International sales team. We had radio and media coverage with the BBC. The Director of services launched a monthly Podcast interviewing members of the community. Celebrated Halloween and Christmas with events and Christmas presents for the residents.
The Soap Kitchen
The soap kitchen is busy, busy, busy. We have been fortunate to have been picked as one of the New Forest Show’ We have increased to 7 retail outlets now stocking our soap and hope to add to this more in 2025 as we think this is the future for our Soap. We have also attended Craft Fairs in Romsey, Salisbury, Lymington and Ferndown and Highcliffe Craft Festival. All profits from this venture go towards supporting residents and providing a bar of soap to vulnerable adults across Dorset in need of toiletries. We have developed our range and are looking for a location to provide Soap making courses.
Corporate and community Partnerships
We have been concentrating on more corporate partnerships in 2024/25 and hoping to work more with local businesses in our area to help them understand the needs of our residents and the good influences they can make both for us and their business and staff.
We work in partnership with the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council Homelessness Partnership and its 56 members alongside Homelands the prince of Wales Homeless prevention Charity.
Our corporate connections have thrived in 2024/25 with more companies getting involved in volunteering or raising funds through events and more corporate funding through funding applications has been received.
Incoming resources for the year were £1,604,420 (2023 - £1,458,077) and resources expended were £1,505,706 (2023 - £1,457,056), resulting in a surplus for the year of £98,714 (2023 - £1,021).
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the charity 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 considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’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 bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover unplanned emergency repairs and other expenditure. The trustees consider that the ideal level of reserves would be £75,656.
Hope’s Reserves for 31/12/2024 were £398,238 of which unrestricted was £121,382.
Risk Management
The Trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:
An annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the Charity face.
The establishment of policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual review; and
The implementation of procedures designed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
This work has identified that financial sustainability is the major financial risk for charity. A key element in the management of financial risk is a regular review of available liquid funds to settle debts as they fall due, regular liaison of bank transactions, and active management of trade debtors and creditors balances to ensure sufficient working capital by the Charity.
Attention has also been focussed on non-financial risks such arising from fire, health and safety, staff training and IT Systems. These risks are managed by ensuring accreditations are up to date, having robust policies and procedures through our ISO9001 quality system and regular training of staff in these operational areas.
Objectives for 2025
To continue to maintain consistency and improve the service we provide wherever possible.
Keeping staff trained on the latest theories and facilities out there to help our residents.
To continue to encourage and motivate our residents to work towards regaining control of their lives and to making positive changes towards independent living and a healthier lifestyle.
To continue to build on relationships with our local community so that we can help each other to make a better future for residents.
To continue to liaise with external agencies with a view to offering new Training and Further Education opportunities.
To instigate a refurbishment plan in 2024/2025 on some properties to make them more environmentally friendly and cost efficient while making changes to help residents have a great stay in our properties with the facilities they need.
To continue to listen to our residents and improve the service we provide by one-to-one interview, anonymous surveys and our residential panel who represent the residents’ views.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee.
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:
All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £10 in the event of a winding up.
Under our ISO9001 quality standard work all our HR policies and procedures along with Trustees welcome packs and trustee training has been audited.
Hopes Support costs are not funded by the Local Government and has to be paid for by Donations.
Hope has had all its job descriptions reviewed and pay levels adjusted accordingly inline with market rates. This has caused an increase in wages of 5% in January 2023 and 4% in 2024 and all staff are on the living wage or above. We are aware of the cost-of-living crisis and are monitoring this closely with our staff to help anyone who may get into financial difficulty during this period. Trustees feel this will now offer us stability in staff and a prominence in the local market place when recruiting in the future.
We have had 2 new staff, 3 left, one was a part-time role which another member of staff took on. One replaced in January 2025.
Hope works across Bournemouth and Poole within thirteen properties and 94 beds available to vulnerable adults from 18 years to 65 years of age. Hope liaises with all the local charities and organisations providing services relating to our residents to provide individual tailor-made support packages. Hope also to liaise with the local Prison services, probation and treatment centres although these are not necessarily in Bournemouth and Poole as they cover the Dorset, Devon and Cornwall area.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Hope Housing, Training And Support Ltd for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustee 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 charity 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 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 charity 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 charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustee report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Hope Housing, Training And Support Ltd (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the Trustee report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the Trustee report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the Trustee report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustee report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
As explained more fully in the statement of Trustee responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below:
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
The objectives of our audit, in respect to fraud, are: to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses; and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those charged with governance of the entity and its management.
Our approach was as follows:
We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our general commercial and sector experience, and through discussion with the trustees and other management (as required by auditing standards), and discussed with the trustees and other management the policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations;
We considered the legal and regulatory frameworks directly applicable to the financial statements reporting framework (FRS 102, Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011) and the relevant charity regulations in the UK;
We considered the nature of the industry, the control environment and the charity's performance;
We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit;
We considered the procedures and controls that the charity has established to address risks identified, or that otherwise prevent, deter and detect fraud; and how senior management monitors those programmes and controls.
Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Where the risk was considered to be higher, we performed audit procedures to address each identified fraud risk. These procedures included: testing manual journals; reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation; performing analytical procedures; and enquiring of management, and were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements were free from fraud or error.
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-and-assurance/Standards-and-guidance/Standards-and-guidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilities-for-audit/Description-of-auditors-responsibilities-for-audit.aspx.
This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Donations and grants
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.
Hope Housing, Training And Support Ltd is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 10 St Swithuns Road South, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 3RQ, United Kingdom.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
To date the charity has received financial support from DKB Leasing Limited in the form of an interest free, unsecured loan, which the charity has used to invest in its fixed assets and fund its charitable activities. The trustees have received assurances from DKB Leasing Limited that they will not seek repayment of the loan if it would be detrimental to the ability of the charity to continue to operate. The continuing operations of the charity are expected to generate positive cashflows and hence with the continued support from DKB Leasing Limited, the trustees are satisfied that the charity will have sufficient resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. Accordingly the trustees continue to apply the going concern assumption in the preparation of these financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives unless the funds have been designated for other purposes.
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 accounts.
Income from charitable activities relates to rental incomes receivable on the provision of accommodation to residents in furtherance of the charity's objects. Fees and grants for service provision are accounted for on the basis of the amount receivable for the year with income recognised in the year in which this supply is made.
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.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to the expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
All resources expended are inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
Individual fixed assets with a life expectancy of 3 years or more and of a capital nature, are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost of valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
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 comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
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.
Trade debtors, loans and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as 'loans and receivables'. Loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.
Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term receivables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial.
Trade creditors, loans and other payables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as 'loans and payables'. Loans and payables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.
Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term payables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial.
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.
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged in the statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the lease term.
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 vary 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.
The trustees have considered whether there are any critical judgements required in the preparation of these accounts and have concluded that there are none requiring disclosure.
Accountancy fees
Consultancy fees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration, reimbursement of expenditure or benefits from the charity during the year. No donations were made to the charity from any of the trustees during the year.
The Trustees deem themselves as the only key management personnel within the charity.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the current or the previous year.
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Included in prepayments and accrued income is accrued income of £197,503 which relates to donations awarded and recogonised in the year ending 31 December 2024, with monies not received until after year end.
The bank loan is secured against the property owned by the charity.
The bank loan is secured against the property owned by the charity.
Bank and other loans on which security has been given by the Charity totalled £71,025 (2023 - £81,943).
The mortgage loan is repayable over 15 years from December 2014 to November 2029 by monthly instalments and carries an annual interest rate of 4.5%.
During the year ending 31 December 2024, a loan agreement was entered into with DKB Leasing Limited. The repayment terms have resulted in £110,333 being recognised as due over more than one year (2023 - £121,484). Annual interest of 3% is being charged on this loan.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Included within transfers is £863 (2023 - £5,590) which relates to fixed assets purchased by the charity during the year and capitalised within fixed assets. The charity having acquired these fixed assets considers itself to have met the conditions of these funds and hence has released the restricted funds to unrestricted funds.
The specific purposes for which the funds are applied are as follows:
Choir and music fund - the fund was created as part of our strategy to provide relaxation therapy for the residents, through choir participation and drum classes.
Education and Digiskills - Digiskills is held every week for the residents and helps them use modern IT equipment and bring their skills up to date with Iphones, Ipads, touch screen laptops and using Modern VR equipment and Drones. We have found residents are not aware how to use this new technology which is even needed to order at MacDonalds now! Without this upskill they are at a disadvantage when applying for work and to live an independent life. Over 30 residents have already attended this new club.
Electric car - We have been very fortunate to have a donation to upgrade our 13 year old fiat 500 to a nearly new Electric Golf which is now saving 3K in petrol, tax etc a year. It now costs us only £4.50 for a full charge. We have installed Tap Electric chargers which is through easy point and can be used/booked by the general public creating a further donation to the charity on an ongoing basis as we are close to the town centre and available on their App. This was fully expensed in year ending 31 December 2022.
Ex-Offenders Support Worker - new funding received for ex-offenders counselling services which has started this year.
Food For Future - involves organising cookery clubs for residents to learn about cookery skills, healthy eating, new recipes and cooking on a budget. Project also includes accredited training for residents to achieve a catering qualification.
Future2 Work - This project connects our clients (through mentoring/coaching) who want to be supported into a secure pathway of employment, helping them to face barriers getting into work by guiding and supporting them through several programme routes and stages, working with a number of local businesses, groups and charities to offer volunteering opportunities to our clients as well as opportunities to volunteer in- house.
Garden Project - help fund our 12 gardens, especially three large ones at our main site. We provide gardening opportunities, vegetable growing, fruit plants/trees and composting areas along with bird feeders and bird boxes for the wildlife. This is along with a water feature and bench areas for relaxation and contemplation.
Maths/English Tutoring - provide one to one tutoring to our residents who have anxiety around group course to work on their English and Maths up to an accredited level.
Mental health support - funding to go towards the large cost of mental health support that our residents need (even more so during and post Covid) through counselling and additional support to help them work through trauma, abuse, addiction, depression, rehabilitation and grief.
Pathway for women to work - We have used this EFA funding through Groundworks to concentrate on getting our female residents back into work. We have run personal development classes, new business start-up groups and work ready sessions liaising with the women and tailoring sessions to the people in the room rather than a set program.
Hope Soap Kitchen - This is a project to get residents involved with the making of soap to sell in the Charity shop.
Starter packs/employment - are essential items needed by our residents when they first come to us. For those that are without, they are provided with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom items to help them live comfortably.
Store Room / Space to grow - project involved purchasing additional storage sheds and summerhouses, including for Hope's property in Poole, which can be used by residents for gardening, craft, social and therapeutic activities.
Support Worker - new funding received for ex-offenders counselling services.
Ten4Ten - Move on Project 2019 10th Anniversary - to date we have successfully moved on 12 person with support for the first year and then progressing onto unsupported living. This project has been such a success we will be looking to apply for future funding to extend the scheme.
Health and wellbeing - is a project to improve the health and wellbeing of clients through various in-house health monitoring of BMI, blood pressure, weight management etc through to arranging and facilitating doctors, dentist and vision checks. We also provide wellbeing activities such as a gym, cooking evenings, yoga classes, guitar lessons, gardening, outdoor table tennis and regular group events.
Refurb of rooms - Donation received from B&Q. The funds will be used to overhaul and modernise facilities as well as interiors (notably bedroom walls and the bathrooms of certain properties) for the benefit of our service users, a number of whom are adversely affected by issues within the building which negatively impact upon their physical and psychological wellbeing.
Bikeshed - The bike shed is where donated bikes are kept. Garth, the trustee repairs them, and the residents can use the bikes. Workshops on bike repairs are sometimes held with the residents.
Core costs - Donation received from The Sackler Trust. The grant is intended to cover running costs, which enable us to provide essential support to our clients. The support includes counselling, training opportunities, employment assistance, family reunification, health and well-being support, and mediation services. It also encompasses life skills development, benefit applications, budgeting assistance, and interview preparation.
National Lottery Community Fund - Funds awarded by the National Lottery over a three-year period to support Hope Housing’s core programmes for vulnerable and disadvantaged adults, including, life skills training, wellbeing support, and staffing to deliver these essential services.
Christmas Dinner - Howdens Heartfelt - Restricted funds used to provide a festive Christmas dinner for residents.
Empowering All - – Awards for All - Funding used for activities and training programmes that develop residents’ confidence, independence, and employability skills.
Hope Open Day - Restricted funds allocated to running the charity’s 15th Anniversary Open Day, including events, materials and celebrating milestones.
Art Therapy - Funding used for art therapy sessions to support residents’ mental health and wellbeing through creative expression.
Painting and decorating (Screwfix) - Restricted funds provided by Screwfix to support painting and decorating projects within residents’ accommodation, improving living conditions and environment.
Communities against cancer - Funds donated to raise awareness of cancer.
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 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.
The Talbot Trust has a proportional charge over the property at 24 Library Road Poole. In the event that the property is either sold or no longer used for its charitable purpose an amount would be owed to the Talbot Trust at a value proportional to the contribution the Trust made to the purchase of 24 Library Road (being £55,000 of £242,237).
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:
During the year £668,924 (2023 - £603,422) of lease payments were recognised as an expense.
The CEO of the charity is a director and person of significant control of DKB Leasing Limited. DKB Leasing Limited established the charity in 2009 to enable supported housing to continue after the loss of supported people funding.
During the year the charity paid rent totalling £636,857 (2023 - £571,602) to DKB Leasing Limited. During the year the charity received £nil (2023 - £nil) in unrestricted donations from DKB Leasing Limited.
At the year end the charity owed DKB Leasing Limited £155,756 (2023 - £169,653), of this £28,632 (2023 - £28,632) was within accruals. This amount has accrued over a period since conception through differing rent payments to enable the charity to support its core running costs and has increased during the year. Part of the future development plans for the charity is to formalise a repayment plan.
The CEO of the charity is also a director and person of significant control of Hope & More Community Interest Company. Hope & More Community Interest Company was established in 2019 to support and make more profitable several community projects in the area, to involve more volunteers and to enable more community members to benefit from their facilities.
During the year the charity received £nil (2023 - £4,104) in unrestricted donations from Hope & More Community Interest Company.