The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
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 the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities", issued in January 2015.
The charity's aims and objectives are to provide homes in the community where people with learning disabilities, which may include mild physical impairment, are encouraged and assisted to live their lives to the full. Residents live in either a large home accommodating eight adults, or in one of two smaller homes, housing a further seven adults in total. The residents participate in the running of the homes, according to ability, but all take pride in helping and planning their own lives. Residents own individual choices regarding all aspects of daily living are encouraged including clothing, outings, holidays, room furnishings etc. The staff assist and support as appropriate. A key ethos of the trust is to promote a community environment within its homes.
The Trust provides a safe, secure and caring environment for very vulnerable adults within a unique community ethos.
Its principal source of funding is Rotherham Borough Council (RMBC) which pays weekly fees for residents that it places with the trust. The occupants of the large home continue to be regarded as residents, with the Trust receiving funding for a full residential care package. The occupants of the two smaller homes are now regarded as tenants, with the Trust receiving funding for social care and support, the tenants paying for their own living costs out of their personal income and benefit.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The charity's policy is to consult and discuss with employees, through unions, staff councils and at meetings, matters likely to affect employees' interests.
Information of matters of concern to employees is given through information bulletins and reports which seek to achieve a common awareness on the part of all employees of the financial and economic factors affecting the group's performance.
The charity's policy is to consult and discuss with employees, through unions, staff councils and at meetings, matters likely to affect employees' interests.
Information of matters of concern to employees is given through information bulletins and reports which seek to achieve a common awareness on the part of all employees of the financial and economic factors affecting the group's performance.
The Trust aims to operate at full occupancy.
The Care Quality Commission continues to be satisfied with the standard of care provided in all of the trust's homes, as demonstrated by the outcomes of ongoing assessments and inspections. The trust was judged to be assessment compliant by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, with very positive feedback during the assessment process, maintaining the very high regard the local authority holds of the Trust.
It continues to be the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds that have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level to ensure that, in the event of a drop in occupancy and the associated reduction in income, it will be able to continue current activities whilst consideration is given to ways in which additional funding might be raised. Moving forward reserves will be monitored and replaced as appropriate.
The financial results are set out on page 5. The charity has made a surplus in the year of £7,493 (2024 - £22,692) and as at 31 March 2025 the charity held restricted reserves of £nil (2024 - £nil) and total reserves of £389,870 (2024 - £382,337).
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Factors affecting the Trust’s performance are as follows:
Loss of income due to low capacity. The Trust carries a financial reserve to cover short to medium term loss of income and would take action to reduce staff costs should this become a longer term issue. The trustees are confident that RMBC is always likely to look to fill any vacant places, as the Trust offers better value for money than other suppliers in Rotherham.
Both RMBC and CQC inspections could pose a risk to the ability of the Trust to operate and have residents placed with it. Well established policies and procedures are in place which provides assurance to the trustees that this risk has been effectively mitigated.
The number of trustees is becoming a concern, particularly as the majority of the current trustees are fairly advanced in years. Action will be taken to address this as a matter of priority.
The trust will aim to maintain full occupancy and its programme of planned maintenance of the buildings and contents will continue.
The Trust will monitor and evaluate the effects, both positive and negative, of implementing supported living on all stakeholders of the trust. This will help to inform future considerations regarding any potential change to supported living for the residents of the large home, a decision which would have implications for the property.
The Trust will continually review its governance processes, in particular the role of directors in providing more formalised support and challenge to the Chief Executive and the management team. This will help to define the role ready for the recruitment of additional directors with specific expertise.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee without share capital and is a registered charity. The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
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:
None of the trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
There is a Board of trustees, who meet regularly, and a standing finance sub committee, with other sub committees and House Support groups meeting as required by the Board.
All sub committees report back to the full Board who have the power to make final decisions.
The Chief Executive Officer is the overall manager of the trust and the registered manager of the Cornerstone, assisted in the latter by an operational manager. The two small homes share one separate registered manager who also has operational management responsibility for the small homes. Deputies are in place to assist each operational manager.
Where new trustees are appointed they receive an induction which includes the aims and objectives of the trust and the responsibilities of trustees.
Trustees are encouraged to keep up to date on changes to their responsibilities.
Note 14 sets out an analysis of the assets attributable to the various funds. These assets are sufficient to meet the charity's obligations on a fund by fund basis.
The charity's policy is to consult and discuss with employees, through unions, staff councils and at meetings, matters likely to affect employees' interests.
Information of matters of concern to employees is given through information bulletins and reports which seek to achieve a common awareness on the part of all employees of the financial and economic factors affecting the group's performance.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of House of Light Trust Limited (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 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. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, 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 charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements 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.
Charitable activities
Investments
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
All income and expenditure in the prior year related to unrestricted funds.
House of Light Trust Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Cornerstone, 115 Doncaster Road, Rotherham, S65 2BN.
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) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
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 accounts 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 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.
Income is received from the provision of residential care to supported living.
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
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.
Resources expended are accounted for on the accruals basis.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
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.
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 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.
Charitable activities
Other costs
Other costs
Activities undertaken directly include payments to the accountant of £3,840 (2024 - £3,480) for independent examiners fees, which can be found in Governance costs and £nil (2024 - £865) for other services, which can be found within other costs for charitable activities.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) were remunerated or reimbursed for expenses during the year.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel is £147,834 (2024 - £130,040).
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 £29,241 (2024 - £25,922).
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.
The RMBC Grant was recieved to help purchase 54 Doncaster Road. Transfers out are because there is no longer a restriction on the property.
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.
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:
The charity had no material debt during the year.