The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

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, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" 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)".

The charity's objects are :-

To relieve those in need, particularly but not exclusively, single young persons aged 16-25 in the Barrow-in-Furness area (the "area of benefit") who are homeless or experiencing serious financial hardship, by providing them with temporary accommodation.

To further such other charitable purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion see fit for the benefit of such persons including equipping them with the skills and knowledge so they are better able to meet their own financial and tenancy needs.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

This year has been both challenging and positive for Project John.

We are in our final year with Brathay and DWP for the delivery of our Youth Hub job support scheme. Our first contract we more or less doubled the KPI targets given by DWP this was done by strong partnership work and brilliant young people who engaged in the full process and support offered by our Youth Development worker.

We have worked hard over the last 12 months developing our youth offer, we provided workshops and 1-1 support to encourage and support young people to start volunteering, training or work. This has been an exciting project and seen us work with over 116 young people.

Our Youth hub has been full of positive activities offered by partners based in the Centre along with our wonderful team working hard to support young people. We delivered a summer programme offering our young people activities including a trip to Blackpool.

During this year we had 100% occupancy with our 19 units of accommodation. On average we have 4 young people on our waiting list due to not having enough units to meet demand. Project John Trustees have agreed Project John needs to expand and purchase more units of accommodation; Project John manager is now looking out for potential properties.

This year we were selected as the chosen charity for Samworth Brothers. Samworth Brothers is one of the largest UK producers of chilled food.

Every two years they hold a Triathlon style team event in different locations around the country. With teams raising funds for local charities in the event area. This year’s event was Ambleside. Nicola attended a presentation dinner on the final evening of the event where she was given a cheque for £20,000 to use with supporting needs of our young people. This was the largest amount raised during these events which not only made myself extremely emotional but many of the staff managing the event.

Giving to communities Christmas appeal was extremely successful and another example of positive partnership work. 486 families benefited from this appeal giving toys, voucher, well-being hampers along with food hampers to families struggling during the festive season. Our community were amazing as usual donating a large number of toys. Project john held a race night to raised vital funds to purchase toys to ensure no child went without at Christmas. Project John would like to thank all those volunteers who supported us, we could not have achieved this without the kindness and volunteers to commit to the campaign.

This year has been challenging with the introduction that Supported Housing for Young People requiring Ofsted registration. As a very small charity this put additional demand on the organization and staff to complete the relevant documents. It required a lot more additional policy and procedures, a new business plan not to mention the additional expenses this has cost the organisation. I would like to thank all staff for the dedication and commitment they gave supporting me to complete the registration. We are now awaiting the inspection, however with so many housing projects having to go through registration delays are expected.

Tenancy Training

Project John delivers tenancy training alongside support to all our young people including individuals who are looking at potentially being accommodated and supported.    ·

Project John have created the training from scratch assessing the needs of our young people and the issues that they are currently facing to ensure we deliver appropriate and informative training that they can apply to everyday life and prepare them for independent living. The training currently includes:

• Completing Benefit forms such as Council Tax etc.

• Responsibilities as a tenant

• ID and where they can get funding for this

• Preparing for their own tenancy including types of tenancies

• Finding a property including application to CBL and how it works

• Local agencies and what support they offer

• Dangers around the home including fire plans etc.

• Managing money and dealing with bills

• Cleaning and general housework

• Healthy eating and Food hygiene

The training is also used within their reference for move on to the Council with us confirming that they have completed a pre-tenancy course. On completion of the Tenancy Training, the young people can use their booklet as a tool for information as it will include useful contact numbers and personal details such as their CBL numbers.

During the year the charity received income of £351,255 (2024 - £308,131), this is split between £36,727 (2024 £42,025) from donations, £309,556 (2024 - £261,468) from charitable activities, £4,972 (2024 - £4,638) from investment income.

Resources expended on charitable activities amounted to £320,355 (2024 - £355,036) and £1,437 Other expenditure (2024 - £nil).

The resulting profit for the year was £29,463 (2024 deficit - £46,095). This was split between a profit on unrestricted funds of £42,471 (2024 deficit - £27,340) and a deficit on restricted funds of £13,008 (2024 - £19,565) due to depreciation.

The balance on restricted funds of £695,300 relates to £648,917 spent on the purchase and refurb of The Hub and is held in fixed assets, £41,460 for the refurbishment of Bath Street and £4,923 for the summer 2025 Tall Ships Sailing Trip.

The balance on unrestricted funds at the year end is £787,517. Free reserves total £483,082. This is in excess of the fund balance required for the reserve policy.

The trustees and management board greatly appreciate the assistance, both financial and otherwise, given by the funders during the period. Donations in kind are not incorporated into the accounts as they are not valued in monetary terms.

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 twelve 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 free reserves has been maintained throughout the year. The charity are also conscious that all of the 19 properties, for tenants, require future expenditure to maintain them to a good modern standard. A scheme of internal works has been carried out over the last two years, however external works to windows and roofs will soon be required and as such the charity is holding funds in anticipation of these costs.

The Hub is also a large older building, for which maintenance and improvements costs, could be large in the coming years.

The trustees has 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.

Project John has been working hard to complete our Ofsted registration, this is part of the new governance for supported accommodation for care leavers. The team at Project John have worked tirelessly behind to scenes to produce and implement changes needed and we hope to be successful with our registration so we are able to continue to support. This was submitted in October 2023 and they are still awaiting on the inspection to gain Ofsted accreditation.

Future funding Project John will receive is:-

Supporting people contract - this is from Cumbria County Council to pay for support workers and a percentage of the project manager’s salary. It was awarded for a 4 further years to March 2024, with the possibility of a further 2 years, however is at a reduced rate of approximately £86,000 per annum as they have commissioned less units. This has now been secured to March 2026. In November 2026 Project John have submitted a tender for a further 12 months funding, with a value of around £100,000 to March 2027.

Housing benefit - this is from the rental income for our properties. This has been at a rate of £126 per week for each of the 19 properties. This has remained the same for many years and the Project John team have worked very hard alongside the Westmorland and Furness Council to negotiate new terms. from November 2024 rents will be at £298 per week. The extra is to cover the increased average rent in the area and also the fact that due to the tenant type Project john have to redecorate and refurnish after most tenants leave. This increase would take maximum housing benefit to a potential £295,000 from £125,000.

The Barrow Youth Hub Partnership (partnered with Brathay and DWP) has been extended to October 2025. There will be no future funding from this grant.

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was set up on 7th July 2005. It is governed by a 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:

Suggestions for new trustees are brought before the board and, if agreed, that person is then approached and asked if they are willing to undertake the role of a trustee for Project John Limited. Documented appointment procedures are then followed.

None of the trustees has 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.

The trustees delegate the day to day running of the charity to the manager, Ms Nicola Kell, and the other staff of Project John Ltd.

The trustees are related parties of Project John Ltd

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Project John Ltd (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.

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.

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, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. 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.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Project John Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Hub, 20-24 Cavendish Street, Barrow In Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1SE.

The accounts 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 charity 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 charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

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 funds which have been given to the charity for a particular purpose or project.

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.

Resources expended are accounted for on an accruals basis, inclusive of VAT where applicable, and have been allocated to the correct cost category.

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.

Housing benefit

Hub contributions from associated youth agencies    

Leaving Care Assistance

Tenants expenses, incentives and training    

Rates for properties

Repairs to properties

Fuel and light for properties

Staff training

Rates

Insurance

Light and heat

Repairs and maintenance

Printing, postage, stationery and office costs

Telephone and fax

Entertainment subscriptions

Motor expenses

Motor vehicle lease

Cleaning

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or expense payments during the current or previous year.

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

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.

Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:

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.

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 (2024 - none).