pathway pr?Ject Charity No= 1005976 Company No.. 02635912 The Staffordshire Pathway Project IA company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2023 LOTT£ FU Ivolvfitstyswvl LOTTERY FUNDED Contents Page Vision, mission and values Service review Reference and administrative details Trustees, annual report Report of the Indeperldpnt Auditors 33 Statement of Financial Activities 37 Balance Sheet 38 Statement of Cash Flows 39 Notes to the Financial Statements 40 to bwld a future whRre adults and Children afferted .by domestlc and sexual abuse Itve in 53fety and free .frorn fe8r., Our Mission '.fo ensure that every adult alld chlld who'comes tD us seeking suppoyt.for dom8stlC and ' soxuAI abusB is given an opportunSty to pngage in ServI￿S that Can help them to make the -..'iourney from.vict.im tosurviviji.. .Our Values -..,= ,- . Yo'put peoplè at the heart of wh¥twe.do.' ¥-;:. At Pathway we believe in being sorvlce user l¢d. Nobgdy knows what sejvlces and support are needed, more than the"peuple who access thern. We are always here..with apen mind and open heart to ensure that we shape future5 together. To bè thé bèst we can i>e: gI*-i-J-.￿S. No twa peopSe are the same: Wh¥ther YOLJ arE • sÈwi¢e user, volunTeer or member ofstaff, we are all different. At Pathivay we don't believe in 3 one size fits all approaoh. Insteed we want to celebrate our differences, value opinions 2nd learn fr9m each other so that we can provlde the best service5, in the best wayi with the best people. T.0 share our experiences.. Good, bad Dr funny. We W41nt our service users to feel that they can Share tFielr eKperiences and know that they will L>e listened to and will contrbhute towards our developmenL We want . our staff to know that in good and bad time5, our door15 3Iw&y5 open and that our shared experience Is what drlves the strength of thE team. At Pathway* we want to share our experlfrn￿s and collaborate wlth other specialist oyganisations, to prgvide solutlons and.. services that meet the needs of the people we are committed to, We understènd that everyone's joumey begin5 at a different polnt and 8t a ￿lfferent tirne. At '. Pèthway we won't put restrirtbons on the number of tlmes you access a service, or on the amount of time that has passed before you felt that you could ask for suppr>rt. We 2150 '. understand that your needs may not 31w3ys meet a threshold, but that doesn't make them any less Important to you. That's why our helpline is rjpen 4ccesS to all. 24 hrjurs 4 day, 365 days a , year. Whether you need a friendly voice, to khow mole about our setwlces or help gottSnE . support elsewhere, wowill be there, THAT THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME THEV WERE IN AW ABUSIVE RELATIOIUSHIP BEFORE THEY SOUGHT HELP TO LEAVE IlliAS 95 IVIONTHS, THAT 63A HAD IVIENTAL HEALTH OR JUST UNDER EIGHT NEEDS AND THAT 50/ HAD FELT SO VEARS DEPRESSED THEV HAD COtIlSlDERED SUICIDE THAT24AOFTHEMHADll d4 REGISTERED DISABILITY g w T••) AND IN MANV CASES THEIRABUSER WASALSO fr fi THEIR CARER THAT 32/ HAD ALREADV BEEN IN AT LEAST ONE OTHER ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP BEFORE SEEKING OUR HELP THAT 26/ HAD WITNESSED ABUSE IN THEIR HOME AS A CHILD THAT1111 SERVICE USERS DEALING IftllTH CURRENT, OR RECENT RELATIDNSHIPS, EMOTIONIIL ABUSE WAS THE BIGGEST FACTOR WITH 90A UETAILINC AS PART OF THEIR CASE . IlllHILE ISSUES IIIIITH STALKING AtIlD HARASSMENT HIID DOUBLEO IN A VEAR IN HISTDRIC CASES OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, 90/ OF SERVICE USERS WANTED SUPPORT WITH SEXUAL ABUSE INCLUDING ASSUALT, RAPE. CHILDHOOD SEXUIIL ABUSE AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATIOAI. AWARDED 82 GRANTS, TOTALLING £22,621 TO SERVICE USERS TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION AND SUPPORT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH RESPOAIDED TO 3871 REQUESTS FOR ADVICE AND SUPPORT THROUCH OUR PHONE, EtIAAIL AND SOCIAL ItfiEDIA HELPLINES SUPPORTED 796 ADULTS, VOUWG PEOPLE AWD CHILDREN TO ACCESS OUR SERVICES PROVIDED165 ADULTS IIVITH SPECIALIST DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE COUtIlSELLIWG DELIVERED 2911 HOURS OF GROUP IIVORK, IDJITH 444 SERVICE USERS ATTENDING AT LEAST ONE SESSIOW, OR PROCRAMME Reference and administrative details For the year ended 31 March 2023 Company number Charity number 2635912 1005976 Country of incoYpo¥atÉon Country of registration United Kingdom England and Wales Registered offl¢e and operational address The Hope Centre 3 Quonian Lane Lichfield Stafford5hire WS13 7L8 Pathway Project is the trading name of The Stafford5hire Pathway Project (formerly The Burntwood Pathway Projettl Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served durir>g the vear and up to the date of this report were as follows.. fru5L£e me5 recknc4e6 Chair.. appointed November 2022 Vice Chair Treasurer Resigned as Chair November 2022 Is1512f Key Management Personnel Hayley Baxter Wendy Dee Amanda Barnèrd lackip. Hugh95 Lynn LaLJghton Chief Executive Head of Operations Finance Manager Rp.fuge Manager Volunteer & Training Manager Bat7kers Natwest Bank plc 47 Market StrÉot Lichfield WS13 6LE Solicitoys Moselews Compton House 18 Bore Street Lichfleld WS13 6LL Audltors Dains Audit Lirnited 15 Colmore Row Birmingh2m B3 2BH I rusiees- annual report For the year ended 31 March 2023 The trustee5 presenttheir report and the audited flnancial statenients for the year ended 31 M3rch 2023. The reference and administrative information set out on page 5 form5 part of thi5 repurt. The financial statemenls comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice- Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. The trustees, annual report also contains a directors, report as required by company law. Objectives and activities The charity'5 objective is to relieve the physical, mental, emotional, social, financial and sexual distress among adults of all ages andlor their children, who have been maltreated or controlled by their partners, family members c)r persons with whom they were living or having a relationship with, or had made acquaintance of, specialising in gemder-based abuse against women and girl5. al Thruugh our service5 we aim to provide adults and children with safety and support, whilst they make dec15iiJn5 about their future, and take the opportunity to change their lives in order to live a future in safety and free from fear. bl Our main objectives for the year have been as follows.. To work with Staffurd5hire County CoLJncil towards the effective commissioning of safe accomrnodation seiviLes. To aware of the ongoing economlc 51tuation of the country and the additional strain and risks that this may put on service u5er5, our staff, and the service as a whole. To try and combat the ongoing effects of increasing Costs on the organisation by reviewing and m2n3glng Contracts and services. To collaboratively work with Staffordshire Women's Aid to deliver the county sexual violence service. To support providers across the county Liy continuing to deliver a specialist Co)unty Counselling provision with the support of our Counselling Lead. To continue tD increase our community fundraising and awarenes5 through public event5, t>uilding local relatlollships and micro bids, led by our Community Engagement Worker. To continue to focu5 on applications for funding oppc>rtunities both from Governmentlcouncils and other funders. To improve and develop services, and to work towards renewing our Women'5 Aid Natiorial Quality Standards klte mark. To continue providing services and to find alternatlve fundlng streams that will support us to deliver a full servicE. To develop speci31i5t support for those people presenting with complex needs. To develop new5ervice5 that best meet the needs of our service users and our IcKal communities. To ensure that staff maintain their ski115 and knowledge through a proEramme of training and support. Irusiees- annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 To continue to develop our programme of specialist domestic abuse services across Tamworth and Lichfield. To rnaintain the high level of service we provide through our refuge accommodatir)n. To work Fn partnership wherever possible so that service users get the best and most holistic service possible. To undertake preveritatlve work 3nd support early Intervenrion opportunitie5. To support children and young peuple tc> recover from ab￿e and to Linderstsnd healthy relationships. To provide services offering leg313dvice to those unable to claim legal aid. To continuously Work to improve our service5. To work togother with partners, incre35inE C3PaCity and improving opportunities and learning. To continue to deliver holistic services which work on meeting needs and supporting people in full long-term recovery after domestic ahuse. To continue developing and improving our groLSP5 and activit4e5. To continue developing our volunteering opportunities. Puhlit Benefit Pathway Project works to provide services which benefit adults and children who have been made vulnerable due to domestic andlor sexual abuse, either within the home, or ill their own personal or family relationships. Pathway Project ¥ecognises that domestic abuse is a primarily gendered issue and is a specialist women and girls organ15ation. Pathway Project also recognises that abuse can affect any person and Offers a small range of male victim services in line with our funding arrangernents. Each service that we offer is charitable, open to adults and children suffering abLJse, alld is free to the user, except in the case of refuge provision where rent and Service charges are made. The greater proportion of this is paid by the local authority in the form of Housing Benefit, for women whose income is below the threshold. Our beneficiaries have a charitable need which we aim to addre55 the many and varied services that we offer. and we are constantly developing our services to ensure that we provide a holistic and inclusive service. The charitable purposes that we meet are,, al The prevention or Yelief of pove¥ty bl The advancement of health or the saving of lives cl The relief of those in need by rea50n of youth, age, ill health, disabilityi financial hardship or other disadvantage5 The trustees review the aims, objectives gnd artivities of the charity each year. Thi5 report looks at what the charity has achleved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period, The trustee5 report the 5LtCCe55 of each key activity and the benefits the charity ha5 brought to those groups of people that It Is set tsp to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charlty's aims, objertive5 and 3CtivitlES remained focused on its stated PUTPDS@s. I rustees- annual repo Forthe year ended 31 March 2023 The trustees h3ve referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's 3im5 and objective5 and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities wlll contribute to the aim5 and ctrbjectives that have been set. Significant activities After the ongoing challenge5 of COVID, we had hoped that 22123 would see the organlsation In è period of relative calm for a while. However, thi5 wasn't to be, as we then started a period of challenges to our workforce and our core costs through the cost of living and energy crisi5. As an organisation, we have had to consider any ways that we could make savings, help to cover increased costs and support our staff. We watched as many organisations lost long Standing staff members to other sertors, c>r to council run in house dome51ic abuse services, which ct)uld afford to pay more. We also watched organisations, including ours, struggle to recruit new staff in an environment where people needed to maximise income, but where there was also a drive to not take on any jobs with leve15 of stress, cr challenging working hours- within which our seNice5 definitely sit. Refuge Accommodation We received 649 enquiries and referrals for rp.fugp space 2n22J23,. this was down 23% on last year but still an incredse froin pre COVID, We were able to house 89 families but had to turll away, refer on or signpost 560 families, me3ning we had to turn away over 86% of our referra15. This ye3r we saw a marked increase in the number of referra15 Wlth èxtremely high levels c)f r.omplex needs around mental health and drugs and alcohul, while IO% ol the women we took had drug/alcohol issues, 25% had a mental health disability, and 50% had mental health needs, being un3ble to offer refuge space due to both of those reason5 did increase. This year also saw us accommodate four familip.s with no recourse to public funding, those families stay Wlth us for longer thzn average while they wait for their immigration status to be changed to indefinite leave to remain. normally for 12 months or more, but are often the mc>st vulnerable due to the laik of services prepared to wDrk with them due to funding. Refuge accornmodation still remaSns a vital and much needed service for Pathway Project. A5 more and more women entering emergency accommodation present with complex r>eeds, refuges have become more than just somewhere to stay and are instead intensive servi£es helping women and families with Irusrees- annual reporr For the year ended 31 March 2023 debt management, tenancy sustainment, life skills, budgetln& Ilte¥3cy 2nd numeracy. Alongside our general 5uppurt workers, we continue to offer z Fin3ncial Abuse specialist, who works Wlth everyone who comes into refuge to do an initial finsncial assessment that then mean5 a packzge of 5UPPDrt can be tailored around their individual needs, and a Resettlement Worker who follows our Yesidents out into their new homes within the community to ensure th3t they h3ve the best start to independent living that they tan. Financial support remains a key 5UPPOrt service with us as people have become further imp3Cted by the cost-of-living crisis. This year we were very thankful to h2ve been awarded a further three ye2rs funding from the Smallwood Trust, which allows LSS to make grants to women that help them better their financial positiDn and their rnental health. F3cilitated by our Financial AbL*se Specialist this ha5 helped women in refug@ ta pay off housing arrears, clear debts with utility companies purchtse beds etc. for their new homes and PBY for transport to modical appointments. It has also been hugely heneficial in enabling u5 to support service users who have no recourse to public funding while they wait for their DV Conce￿]0￿5 to come through in some cases knvithout thi5 fund we may not have been able to take these farnllies at a time when they needed us the most. Again, we have been hugely thankful for the support we have received from Tamworth BoroLJgh CDuneil (TBCI in enabling us to begin to extend our Services 3t Tamworth Rp.fiJge. The m3naEement post has allowed us lo offer refuge Bccommoddtion to more intensive cases and allowed us to better recogni5e and meet the needs of the families who are acce55ing this support. The additional hour5 that we were also awarded by TBC, began in September last year and have 50 far been a hug@ siJr.c@ss. They have really highlighted the E)enefits that the Service users hdve lelt from having staff available Bt the weekends, and in the evening5, which Is often when feelings of isolation and worry are at their highest. Some of the hours h3ve been used to simply have staff in the building offering Eeneral support, but ath?rs have been Used to org8nise and deliver attivities and se5510ns with tlie families.. this year those have induded a 'Great Refuge ￿3kg. Ofv, cooking a refuge Sunday lunch. gardening, and even a trip to the local park with a picnic. Tho feedback from service users has been how much mole they have felt supported with staff being able to be around more, and ihis has been great to hear. As always Pathway Projett prides itself on the chlldren's services that it is able to offer both to Mum5 learning how to parent their children independentlv, and to children and young people directly to enable them to be heard, understood and moveforward with their lives. In 2022123, 53% of the children entering irito refuge had involvement from Children'5 Services and 57% of them had both endured dome5tlc abuse directly and witnes52d it happening to someone else in their family. This year we also saw more children and young people 5h3ring concerns about their rnental health with 40% having melltal health needs. We also saw record numbers of chlldren in refuge at one time this year, 15 in Lichfield and 8 in Tamworth, rneaning we took on an additional parttime children's worker to help meet needs. This year we were hugely foitunatE to be asked to put in a proposal for some fundlng from HSBC Bank. We I rusrees" annual report For the year ended 31 March 2023 worked with our local branch and thelr are3 lead to put in a bid for a brand new kitchen at Tamworth Refuge, and for AstroTurf for our mud locked garden at Lichfield Refuge. We were so excited to be awarded the full arnount we h8d applied and as yotj can See frc>m the photos, both of these project5 have already been completed and are being used to their fullest by all of our families. While workingwith HSBC on Qui two largest projects we also realised this may be a good time to focus on upgrading otjr Tamworth Refvge which hadn't had any work done on it for some time. We were lucky enough to be awarded a grant from Screwfix which allowed us to upgrade all of our lighting to LED'S and have a brand new CCTV system fitted, and a furthergrant from B&Qfor a full redecoration of all the rooms and communal spaces. This work has all been undertaken and it has been lovely for everyone to see the change in our rEfuge space5. Our project for 23124 is to now try and do the same fo¥ all of our room5 at Lichfield Refuge. During 22123 we have been working alongside Staffordshire County CoL¥ncil to complete the consultation and needs assessment 3round safe accommodation and the most effective way to commissioTr services moving forward. Ouring this time period we were issued with a fu¥ther six month ext@nsion of our current contract tck allow further time for commi55ioningto take place, taking us to October 2023. We are pleased tcl Say thatwe have recently been inforrned that St2ffordshire County Council will be direct eommissionir>g the refuge contracts with the CL5rrent providers, from the start of October 2023 for a period trf 2.5yrs, with the option of a further lyr extension. Since this announcement we have been working on budgets with the commissioners, taking into account the amount of money they have to put into service5, and what services rally need to deliver to a high level, and we will be finalising award amounts and signing contratts In September this year. We would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere thanks to all of our refuge staff for their commitment and support, especially during a time when our contract for the 5ervlce has been yearly. It is a challenging job, with lone working and antl-5DUtI hours. as wpll a5 dealing with a difficult and emotional subject matter every day and we hugely approciate everything they do that allows u5 to continue delivering 5ervice5. 24 Hour Helpline PathwBV Project's 24hr helpline continues to be Dur first point of contact for service users and agencie5, prDviding a combination of advice, guidance, support and urgEnt help in a crisis, It is also okjr centr31 point of contart for all of our referrals. Thls yearwe had 3871 contacts through 811 of our available mediums Iphc>ne, email, live chat, me55engerl which is a decline of 6.5% on the year before. Whilst thls is stlll an increase on pre COVIO figures, in all providers across the county, and in supporting services, there is clearly a slow return to those pre 2019 figure5. Our helpline can still be acce55ed through phone support, email and messenger on social media, with all mediums being used, Through the year we have taken 1448 referra55 for adults and children's service5, this is down 15% on last year, refletting the drop in the number of referra15 made into refuge, most likely dc>wn to the decrease in the number of space5 available due to long stay servlce users. Most people referring themselve5 in took up more than one service provision. showing the importance Df holistic, wrap around suppoit. The service also provided ongoing support to 8 people, that was people who were not ready lo engage within a formal support service but called the helpline on a régular basis for emotional support for a period of time. As always, we also take a number of calls from people who require support othe¥ than that for dornestic abuse and make appropriate on ward referrals to other local organisation5, we a150 take calls that are Classified a5 high risk and make onward referrals to the commissioned 5eivice as Bppropriate. io I rusrÈes- annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 Our two biggest 155ue5 this year have been dealirtg with service users with very high mental health needs and unsuitable referrals, mainly for people with very high-level drug needs, who are still using. We have worked hard with the local mental health teams to get them to be able to work with their service users 50 that they understand that this is a helpline with a lot of c8lls coming through and that we can't spend hours on the phone with them, or answer multiple calls from therll one after the other. We hav@ also worked with one of the local mental h05Plta15 who had an inpatient that was continuouslv calling u5 to ensLtre that we had assessed thal theie wa5 no immediate need and to Ptjt processes in place for them to reduce the Calls be*Dg made. With regards to unsuitable referrals, we have begun working with supported housing providers who offer housing with live in support for people with severe mental health and drug and alcohol issues 50 that where we know they have vacancies, we can signpost referring agencies to them to seek support. This relationshlp also really compliments our ethos that even if we Bre not the right service piovider for them, that person still deserves a service that can help make their lives better. What we have been told that people really like about our helpline servlce, from service useis and from other agencies IS that-. That they Simply appreciate the phone being answered and that they are able to Speak to a real humdn beir)g, without having to le3ve a voicemail and wait for someone to get back to the.m, or Ilstening to fivc minutes of someone reading their data policy before they can speak to anyone, especially if they are upset or in an emergency. That as a professional they are allowed to Lrfill tlie helpline and ask for advice and support, as other providers have asked that professionals don't call and speak to them. That is answered by 3 persun 24/7 and doesn't resort to an automated call, or a large national call team with no DA expertise. That we will Still speak to them 2nd offer advice and Support, and signpost them on when the matter is out of our scope or remit. That people v31ue a Continuity of service and Staff e.g., N who had been a vulnerable, high rlsk service user many years ago had the confidence to refer herself back into U5 for counselling, we remembered whn_Ehe was, the Situation she had been in, hor children and her vulnerabilities without her having to begin from the start. That we offer victsn) fOc￿ed, person centred support from the outset, regardless of whether that person will be with us in the long term. Early this year we had an ex-service user call us as she wanted to donate some items, and Jan answered when she rang the helpline. That same day we received thi5 email from her, which captures the essence of why our helpline, and the way we run it, is so irllportant.. Hijan, I knew your voice the seGond you onswered the phone. Itfeltstrolght Gwoy like my safe place ug0￿￿. I've circuluted o messoge to myfamily,frlends und work collet7gues, you should receffve deliveries over the next week orsofrom the wish listfrom omt¥zon, I've had a lot of Support. Again, I can't thunk you enough und nearly 10 Yea￿ on you still have that impuct to mokE mefeelsofe, Thank youlor everythingfrom me to you ond oll the team. I'm not a victim I'm (F survivor li Irusrees" annual reporr For the year ended 31 March 2023 W8 huve got thisl J 4yndSxxxx The Hope Centre The HoFie Centre continues to be a busy hub for both our staff and our service users. We have a full programme of group work that rung throughout the day and in the evening, coverillg everything from domestic abuse education and wellbeing to craft se55i0ns and Ehat and chill. As well 3s being the base for our staff, volunteers and groltp work, the centre is also the home ol our County Counselling Service, which thanks to additional voltjnteer support know utilises most available Spa￿ across the centre on z weekly basls. As an orgaTrisation we are still really keen to see how we can utilise the downstair5 space, both to provide additional room for clinic5, groijps and counselling but 3150 to potentially develop a Social enterprise that IIow5 U5 to gener2te some income, give volunteering and work experience opportunitie5 to our Service users and support the local community. WE are currently working on a business plan around this particular project with the landlord and some potenlially inter@Sted funders. Outreach Pathway Project has continued to work on the Service provision offered from our outreach team. Our Risk Reducrion WorkcT IS Still the base of our team, taking rLferrals from anyone who feels they need support around domestic abuse, We were able to secure funding to maintain our Mental Health 3Trd Oomestic Abuse Worker for 22123, and our now trying to find some longer-term grant funding to move the p05t forward. Thanks to the National Lotteryi Lichfield Distrtct Council and private funders we have been able to also retain our Young Women and Gir15 Worker, Hou51nE SuppDrt, Family Support, Risk ￿SeSSMEnt Worker and our Economic Abuse Speriallst. All t)1 these posts provide 3 ccmbination of emotional and practical Support to service u5er5 who are at any point in theirjourney, whetlier that is historical, they are with their partner, or that have just split up. Our services work together to offer the most holistic support to people that they can. reflected in some feedback we had at Christma5'. rhonk you to you und L£sley getting me that grfjnt. I've monoged to see trn X display cookEr on morketplace and he sold he'll deliver too me on SuÈurd(FV. It's o big relief to know I'll be able to cook (F dinner ot Christmoslor me and my boys Illsteod of stuff out the1r￿￿ge...I really ct7n't thonk you all enough. Especially you Deb5. 1 owe you so much andfgr keep being positive tOWCFrds me ond giving me the Strength to corry on. You gave me my life back ond I'll neverforget that xx This year we have been relaunching our drop-in services, whlch were temporarily withdr8wn due to COVID. This has iiicluded some work in Cannock and Rugeley after we were 3pproaihed by some of the Children's Centre5 there who needed additional support, ar)d we do offer follow on sessions to anyone that we meet during these drop ins. We 3re also offering drop-ins at Tamworth in tho churchlcommunity cafe as they have a number of resident5 who use their facilities,. It Is also allowing us 12 I ru5rees" annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 to reach those who cannot travEI to Lichfield due to the cost of living (petrol, parkingl or lack of transport. On top of this we are also offering regular drop-ins at Spark in Burntwood, this is an established charity that supports the cc>mmunity- alongside the drop ins we have done talks on domestic abuse awareness, menopause, red flags and healthy relationships. We have established a good relationship with all of these and the support continues past the drop in a5 appTDpriate, This year we also did an Easter drop In at Spark and the Children'5 Centres for moms and children. and it was so well received we are going to do the same again duiing the Summer and Christmas holidays. Our two newest areas of work are our Family Support Practitioner and our Risk A55essment Worker. SO far, seven families have engaged with our Family Support Practitioner and received support 3round dealin8 With the 3fterm3th of their children being involved in abusive ielationships, helping them to better understand domestic abuse and how to support people in the best way possible. As well as direct one to one support, we 8150 have a support group that runs alongside it on a monthly basis. Our Risk Asse55rnent Worker completes any initlal risk assessments that haven't been completed by the helpline, for inst3nce if the person wasn't able to complete il at that time, or they needed to do it on a specific day. This service also completes additional interim rtsk assessments after people have been in service for a short while to ensure that nothing has changed, there 15 no esczlation needed, or additional services. Where people are with us for longer periods a follow up risk assessment will be completed every two months, while all Staff a55e55 risk in an ongoillg w3y during one to ones, we wanted to make sure that this wa5 also formally recorded. Whlle we keep waitin£ lists to the minimum, Dn any occasion when someone has to wait then this role Is responsible for making weekly contact with them to ensure, again, that the level of T15k has not increased and that they don't have additional nceds that we need to take into accouril. This post 31so now completes wellbein£ calls with service users when their direct worker is on annual leave, or 15 off ill. This allows us to ensure that we are meeting all that service userfs needs, and give5 them iea55uran that we have not forgotten about them, or they haven't been Fnissed. This role has 3150 allowed us to pick up some time critical pieces of work, when service u5er5 h3ve decided they don't want to bother us, hut when we have rung them when their worker is off, there are Setters that need to be written in a short time scale. During 2023124 we will be looking to continue developing our specialist workers. We will be using the data we have available to ensure that we are focusing on the key area5 that best meet the needs of our service users. Again, Pathway Projert Is hugely app¥eciative of all the hard work and commitment that 5t3ff bringto our O￿anISatiOn, without them we wc>uld not be able to make such a huge difference to so many people's lives and we rernain grateful for th3t passion and drive. Sexual ViolencÈ Services We have continued to deliver Survlve (Sexual Violence Services) in conjunctlon with Staffordshire Women'5 Aid, and have been delighted with the positiwe response from service users and £ommissioner5. We have recently received the very p051tive new5 that this service will have a further six-tnonth extension, to April 2024, arid will retain the same hours and delivery foi the Independent Sexual Violénce Advisor nd the Children's Independent Sexual Violence Advisor. The commi551oning process for the 5eTvice starting in 2024, will begin in September 2023, and we hope to Still be working in our 5ucce55Ful partnership through thi5 process. Again, we thahk Staffordshire Women's Aid for allowing us to be a key delivery partner for Such zn important seNice. 13 I rusiee5- annual reporr For the year ended 31 March 2023 Chlldren's Services We have continued to deliver Dur Children's Services, both in refuge and the community. This year has seen a marked increase in the number of children with higher level need5 coming into our refug8 provision and therefore this area has taken more focus this year. Recognising the char>ging needs of children and voung people coming into 5etvice, we took on 2n additional part time children's worker pc>5t to enable us to provide appropri3te support across b(Trth refvEes at all times. A5 well as working directly with children and young people we also continue to deliver preventative work to other voluntary agencie5, Staturory agencies and schoo15, though their carousel and drop-dowft days. This service continues to be well utilised by the local community and agencies who understand the specialist nature of the work. For 23124 we will be further extending our children's services in order to meet demand and support the n)ore complex levels of need that we are seeing. Our refuge contract will see us move to two full time posts for supporting children and young people across our refL¥ge provision, We will 2150 be working with a private funder to take on a full-time outre3ch children's worker, this post will work ctosely with our Young Women and Girls worker to offer wrap around support, and a150 Wlth our Children's Sexkjal Violence Advisor, to offer appropriate domestic abuse SL¢pport where needed. A5 always, Pathway Project is hugely apprecidtive of the Children'sTeam and the hard work it does in supporting some of our most vulnerable service users, County Counselling Seryice Pathway Project has always been pa55ionate about cDunse11ing and the life changing work it can do to support people dealing with trauma and we were delighted to be able to continue to offer our County Counselling Service tlirough 22123, thanks to 3 new contract of 2 years of funding from the Ministry of Justic (Moll, through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. This service has continued to work with all the domestic and sexual abuse service provider5 across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, ensuring accéss to counselling for all service u5er5 who need it. This support Is offered in whatever way 15 best suited to the service LJSer, whether that is face to face or through Zoom or WhatsApp, and all service user5 are assessed by our Counselling Lead befo￿ moving fully into the counselling programme. Our service now ha5 2 paid counsellors leading on dellvery with a team of volurit8er counsellors supportingthem. During 2022/23 we Supported è total of 165 service users in our counselling Service, and a further 40 through our linked anxiety sessions. 14 I rusTees" annual report Forthe yearended 31 March 2023 This ye3r we had this lovely feedback from one of our service users: l am writing to you today regarding the counselling I have received from o ltsvely lody colled Maria. 15torted the sessions back in September lastyeai" I think. When I started I lull o[ self-hotred, self-loatliing, scared ol being out and obout without my paKtner and feeling so ashamed of Irpyself. I wos bloinin9 myself for the obuse I hod suffered from my stepdod ns o child & for the Ob￿Se I had SLiffeied os on adult from Iny own father. Mario helped me tune in to my inner child which I despeiately needed to, without knowing it before. She needed o hLIg, care ond compa55ion. She now h05 Itl! She helped ine to see thot the things that had happened to me throughout my whole life liad all slemined from that 8 year old neglected child thot wos not loved or cared for ond was 5exuolly obiised. I had no boundaries and could only trust in inyself butjust ciaved to be loved. I blained myself lor letting my own fother sexually abuse me foi. over 20yeors throughout my adulthood. Mariu l?elped me to stop this blai7)e c7nd iinde15tand why t17ese things had happened, It was not n7y foiilt. I con see that now. l om now, thanks to the wondei'ful work with Maria, Strong, confident, and most certainly looking forLvord to tl?e future. l om now not ufraid. I know I will never get onswers to the questiong. I don't even need them now. I c7150 know thot i[1 see hiin in the street I would not be afraid. I would look L7t him, with my heod held high, knowing that l am a million times o better person than he could ever wish to be. My brain thinks in o much better way now. Ihis IS all thank5 to Morio helping me to gain this knowledge ond strength. I cannot thank Maria or the Pathway Project enough. Mony, many thanks. Volunteers Thls year we have had 18 volunteers working with u5 and 4 people in our peer rnentor programme. Within our peer mentors we hold volunteer5 Wlth specialisms in LGBTQI, money management, mental health and drug and alcohol. Our Peer Mentors have onabled us to provide support to women and girls who don't require the intense support of one of our workor5, but need low level prnctical and emotional interventions to continue moving on with our lives. Our peer mentors have neen especially helpfLJI in supporting us to manage the increase we have seen in the number of people needing low level support around budgeting and ma#aging their money. Service users accessing thls SUPPOrt has also bought to our attention the number of people who have issues dealing with numbers, and we are working with local education agencies to provide Some understanding numbers workshops. Some of our key volunteer successes this year have been.. 0￿e of our volunteer5 moving into Paid employment within our organisation, as o*Jr 2 dav Helpline Coordinator. One of our most long standing volunteer5 and male peer mentor, securing a paid support wckrker post with a loc81 drug and alcohol service, something he attributes solely to them bing impressed with the skills he had learnt through volunteering with us. He will be remaining to help lead our male survlvor5 group. One of our @X service users, who has completed rehab. celebrating 12 months of sobriety and becoming an OLJt of hou¥s volunteer at our Tamworth Refuge, helping to lead on some of illformal activities such as bingo nights and plcnics with the service users there. Developing a new drop in with our ex CEO at a churih in 8urntwood, allowing people to stop by for advice and support, and a referral into the seNice if needed. 15 I rusrees- annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 Following a training session Higgs Solicitors have nowjoined our volunteer legal clinic r05ta, providing both legal one to ones with service users, but also training se55ion5 for our staff including things such a5 divorce proceedings and financial orders. Further developed our fundraising group to help support our growing range of fundrasing and event5. Developed a new volunteer at a local shop, who encourages his customers to ptst all their spare change in his fundraising tin, which he fills every month with between £20-30. This year our g@neral volunteers have contributed 1880 hours to oui organi5ation. this has included a variety of things such as manging and uploading our dat3, SUPPOrtinE our archivin& rneeting with other ag2ncies, supporting to write tr2ining 3nd attending our training sessions as Support for our women. Our volunteers have a150 become very active in supporting our fundraisirig, helping at events and even doing sponsored activities themselves. As many of our staff also volunteer on top of their working hours we also have collected a te3m of 'unofficial' family member volunteers who contributed an additional 32hrs of volunteer support this year by helping out at fundraising events by doing things such a5 shaking collection buckets, Dr running drinks St3nds at the bingo. This year we would also like to give a 5peci31 thank you to a three of our refuge Staff who did a sponsored Skydive for Pathway Project and raised over £12001 This year we have also seen an increase in our volunteer counsellors. This has been down to the funding that we received from the Ministry of Justice that allowed us to employ a coun5elling lead and a part time counselloito oversee and deliver and the servite. As this service covers the entirety ol the county there has been a lot of demand for it, 2nd we have had a whole team of volunteers to help support its delivery. We have had 11 volunteer counsellors this year and they have dclivered over 700 hours of coun5elling support to service users. Our counselling service and counselling volunteers are overseen by the BACP and it is run within their guideline5. Group Work and Training Our group work delivery has continued to expand and change, and we are now 2t a stage where there are multiple grDUPS running each week, and in some cases, we have something on every day. This year we have delivered 95 group programme5, totalling 234 sessions, with sornE being one offs, all the way to six-week courses. 444 adults attended at least one group, and 110 attended more than one. In total service users accessed 2911 hotjrs of group work, delivered primarily by our VolunteeT and Training Manager, with 5UPPOrt frDm the rest of'the team. Reaching Oyt Our Self Help Group has now changed its name to Reaching Out and remain5 Dur key piece of group work. It is currently Tunning six times a year acr05s our refuges, Hope Centre and a COmTnunity venue. It is a therapeutic group which looks at the dynamics 3nd impact of abuse, the signs of an abusive relationship, safety planning and keeping safe in future relationships, This group has a huge impart and people start to identify the level of 3bu5e that took place in their relationship and the impact it has had in their own and their chlldren'5 lives. It also enables people to see how controlling and abusive behaviour can manlfest and develop through a relationship. 16 I rusiees" annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 Moving On Moving On 15 our new group, deliver@d by our ex-CEO who is now a volunteer with us. This is still in Its trial period and has so far been run at one of our refuges and in the Tesco Community Room. This group Ic>oks at puttinE together YOUT lÈfe after an abusive relationship and also incorporates the Japanese repair technique of Kintsugi, 50 over the process of the group the service user5 repair a broken plate with gold glue to restore it to something new. Chat and Chill Chat and Chill runs monthly in the evening and our manager is 5UPPC>rted to deliver this by one of most lon£-5tanding peer mentor5. E55entially it is exartly what is says, an opportunity to have a coffee and 51t and chat abotjt anything you want to, with people who h3ve had the same experiences that you have. Wellbeit)g Group The Wellbeing Group the group is designed to focus on how you can rnanage your mental health, 5elf- care and the impact domestic abuse can have on both of them. It is a combination of educational work alollgside a fun group activity, with the intention kieing that it 15 3 Eood starting group for those people who are struggling to complete larger ple￿S of work. Menopause Cafe A member of our staff started our Dornestic Abuse and The Menopause Group, 3fter completing research into the fact thit the sSde effects of the menopause were being used to further 3bLsse women, for instance usinE brain fog to tdunt them into thinking they were stupid or convince them they had done things that they hadn't. Thi5 group hhs a IDt of guest speakers to cover thing5 such a_% thp.rapy techniques for dealing with stress, answer ctsncerns about things that may happen in the menopause and a150 feel-good session5 such a5 3 group walk and coffee, or hand massages and sound bath5. Family Support Our same worker alsts began a Family Support Group so that can Dffer support to farnily members who are trying to deal with their own thoughts and feclings about having close family members in abusive relationships. This Eroup also educated people on the best way they can support 50mEone who 15 in that situation, as well as giving people the opportunity to chat with other5 who are in the same p051tion. Men's Group OLJr Men's Group is still relatively new, and ha5 met on two occasic)ns so far. As expected, the attendance has been fairly low, $0 we will be reviewing this in 23/24, to see il there are changes we can make to it to make it more effective, or if we need to go back to the drawing board. This £roup is overseen by our manager, but 15 run un the night by our male survivor peer mentckr and our male counsellor. 17 I ru5rees' annual reporr For the year ended 31 March 2023 Journey to Self-Discovery and Anti-Anxiety We have two groups which are overseen by our Lead Coun5ellor, Journey to Self-Discovery and our brand new. Anxiety Workshop. journey to Sell-Discovery is designed to encourage people to really discover who they are a5 an Individual, to embraco their Strengths and weaknesse5 and build for the future. As it uses CBT techniques the group has to be led by a trained professlonal and we are very grateful that Ann volunteers her time to deliver this particular course. Our Anxiety Workshop began last year a5 an offshoot of our Ministry Df Justice funded County Counselling Service, and was put together by our Lead Coun5ellor, who noticed a huge amount of people belng ¥eferred into counselling were strugglillg with general anxiety as well as dealing with domestic abuse. This course runs alongside the coijnselling and allow5 people to explore anxiety and how to deal with it in a peer setting. CrafternDon Cr3fternoon has been one of our biggc5t successes over the PB5t year and is always incredibly well attended. It meet5 monthly duTing term times and every session focuse5 on a different craft. While p￿aPle are tompleting their activity there is also the opportunity for chatting, laughin£ and eating some bi5CUIt5. Some Df the crafts people have been doing include Stain Elas£ art, decorating tote bags, pom pom animals, decorating stone5, building bird boxes and m3king plant pots. This year we have also done a number of one-off Sessions whir.h have been really popular. These have included local jeweller coming into shuw service users how t() make necklaces and bracelets and two L)f our ex-5ervice ttsers led a creative writing workshop. We are currently scheduling in more of these 5esslons for after the summer holiddys. We h2ve also begun to deliver some more external tralning sessions lo local organisations and their scrwce users. Thi5 included a Healthy Relationships course which looked at challenging belief5 and opinion5 and getting people to question what 55 love and was delivered at the local Children's Centres. We also ran DA awarenes5 Training MHA Cornmunities at Burntwood Mining College, a central point for older Burntwood residents. The traini￿8 WBS carried out with staff and vtslunteers as they support/befriend older vulnerable residents, We have a150 delivered some training about Pathway Project and domestic abuse to local family law te3m5, one ol who is now involved in our volunteering. Community cafe in Tamworth have asked us to deliver training to staff ar>d volunteer5, they are very aware thai domestic abus@ is happening in their ccmmunity and that people are not reaching out. They would like to know more about what to look out for, how to suppc>rt people and what to do next and this is booked in for this year. This has Hlsc> beeTr offered to Rugeley Community Centre, who are keen to deliver this. 18 I rusTees' annual Teporr For the year ended 31 March 2023 Legal CllnScs Our legal clinic5 have continued to be well attended and we have been aL>le to further increase our capacity due to a second solicitor volunteering their time, having heard about Pathway Project through one of our training sessions. Community Engagement and Social Media Thanks to funding from the National Lottery. and our gener81 fundraising. we are very fortunate to have two Staff members who work on both ol these projects for us. This has worked Exceptionally well for us, giving us key points of contact for people who want to support Us and enhancing both servsce5. We now have a full calendar of 3w3reness and fundraising Events through the year that is managed, down to finding people to volunteer*or them, by that member of Staff, as well as enhancing our local profile which is increasing the number of people that are approaching us to offer support or fundraising opportunitie5. Our social media continues to outperform all of the other DA providers acr055 St8ffordshire and Stoke on Trent. Again, we have a150 had individuals approach us wanting to donate items, fundraise and Wurk with us through our social media. With regards to our social media, all of our campaign5 and highlights ran across both Facebook and In%t8gram. We have taken an approach that mixing up our content gets the best engageFnent so we have used these med1ums to promote awareness around domestic abuse, thank fundrzisers and share our fundr3ising stories, update people on tliings that are happeriing at Pathw3y and share public stories from across national media, whiih have included legal threats to scxual abuse survivors, issues within family courts, women'5 rights and concerns over abuse within the police force. Some of our main posts and key campaigns have been". The emerRency alert and keeping phone5 safe (impressions (number of people engaging with the postl 2546.'112 sharesl New refuge kitchen14626..6721 Astroturf at refu%e16367..5521 Coercive control and whal that loo￿ Ilke1707'.571 Toxic behaviDur1999'.391 The national cost of living crisis and saving women's Services campaign How to access food banks1611'.231 Love bombing and what it looks like12167'.1011 Are you ok? Let's talk,...1801..261 International Women's Day Wumen killed by men in 2022 13447.'5491 #NOMORE week national campaign Results of the Stephen Bear ca5e11281:1611 What people think DA 151903=751 Valentines you are worthy of love campaign Daily Mail victim blaming in a family annihilation case 12230.'3531 Sexual abuse and sexual vlolence awareness week Grooming You can so no to Sex even if... Time to talk mental health dav Heart5 of Hope campaign12714'.1711 He said he'll change,...11115..551 HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF DOMÈSTIC ABUSE trJoTh• uv•lhl om• would40 p)Ihway prilect 19 I rusiees- annual repon For the year ended 31 March 2023 Male dome5tlC abuse sessions11169..591 What is misogyny?12132'.3121 Claie'5 Law12208..1731 Our community engagement and fundralslng has been going from strength to strength and includes a variety of events across Lichfield, Burntwood and Tamworth, as well as a full calendar booked lor 2023124. We have built 4 really strong relationship with the Community Champion at Tesco'5 Lichfield, Charlotte, who is hugely supportlve of Pathway 3nd has regular meeting5 With u5 Sts that she is aw3re of our needs. Over the past year Tesco have supported us with.. Use of Tesco Community Room for Awareness event5, Fundraising Meetings and allowed us to deliver group work for.%prvice user5 from iliere. Tesco's Book Stall, where we raised a total of £584 durin8 August. Tesco Community Fund- Charlotte supported and nominated Pathwèy as the Store Charity t ensure we had a better chance of being chosen for the community voting stage, where we had a chance of recciving £500, £1000 or £1500, We have just found out that we came in 5e¢ond place and will be receivirig £IOOO to be used for updating the Childrcn's play area at Lichfield Reluge. Tesco's regularly duiimmunity Fund Donations. So far, we have recelved £150 from King5 Bromley Co-op for pots and pan5 for Tamworth Refuge's new kitchen and £450 for a picnic bench for Lichfield RefuEe. We are already planning other applications for practical iterns for refuge, Bulk Tea, Coffee and biscuit donation for support groups. 20 I rusrees- annual reporr For the year ended 31 March 2023 Donation of Children's activity packs and crayon5. Instore Food and Toiletries collection. Staff are also planning to go to refuge to plant some pots for the summer, * fv-IL1.5Q This role h3s also developed relationships with 3 number of our local supermarkets who have allowed s to do pop up stalls and awareness raising stands in their Stores, these include.. Morrlson's Tamworth Morrison's Lichfield Asda Tamworth Co-op Boley park and F¥3dley Waitrose Lichfield Dunelm Cannock Tesco Lichfield pathway . grow 21 I rustees- annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 Our worker has airanged four large fundraising events for us thls year.. Bingo Night- 28 Oct 2022- raised £1,395 Art Event: this was 3 selection of paintings completed by tsur service user5 during art group5 that were thesr interpretations of 'Enough', as well a5 donations from two local artists and was run at a local art gallery. We were also fortunate enough to have a volunteer auctioneer who has been on many epi50de5 of Bargain Hunt- 17, Nov 2022 raised £2997 Quit Night 24, Feb 2023- Taised £700 Elvis Night- 27, April 2023- raised £562.10 We have been working closely with Burntwood Towii Council to raise awareness and fundraise. We have laken part in the lollowing initiatives.. Burntwood producers Market- 9, Oct 2022 - raised £350 Burntwood Christmas Market- 26 Nov 2022- raised £404 Better Buintwood Grant- April 2023- £500 for delivering group work We plan to support Plays in the Park and will repeat Burntwood PrOdU￿r$ Market and christmas Market this yeai 35 they were so successful. In addition to fundraising our worker has spent a huge amount of time making contacts in the local community to raise awareness. Here are some example5'. W.1. Whaiton - Presentation- £100 donated W.1. Barton under Needwoc>d - Presentation A plan Insurancé- Networking and they had a stall in their window for us. We Love lichfleld - Networking MayoT and Sheriff - We 3re the chosen Charity and wi51 ¥eceive a donation imminently. BAC O-connor Restart Academy- Awareness Sland Lichfield RotBry Club- £30D donated Armitage Methodist Church - Presentation £4(Xi donated Beacon Park Vi113ge - Presentation £400 donated The Hub St Mary's Lichfield Library- Awareness events planned Probu5 Charity- Will donate to Mayor and sheriff Charities VCSE Market Place Forum - Awareness stand planned St Michaels Church Llchfield contents I rusrees. annual reporr For the year ended 31 March 2023 We have also cultivated contatts who donate raffle prizes and have Ltndertaken fundraising efforts on our behalf. Some examples of these are.. Faro Lo￿nge- £500 raised and Vouchers gtrven for raffle PriLE Jono from Citylife Mag2zine and Jono Tourism £160 raised McKenzie's in the city- Raffle Prize White Company- Raffle Priz Waterstones- raffle prizes Fortescue's - Raffle prize The Belfry- Raffle Prize Arthur Price - Rzffle Priie5 This year we have also begun the launch clf our Hearts for Pathway Campaign, where kind supporters have knitted us he2fts which we have left around the local community for r&sidents to find. We are also extremely lucky to have Love Biz choosing us as their charity lur the year for the second year in a row and to have been made one of the Mayor and Sherriff of Lichfield's charities of the Year. The strategy that drives the activities............. As always, the main foc￿ for Pathway Project remains the needs of our servicE user. As an organisation we have 31ways strongly believed that the best people to tell us what they need to makc that journev from victim to survivor are our 5eTVICE user themselves. This means that as well as using cuunty and local authority Strategies, national data and information from the police to shape our delivery, Patliway PrDject a150 spends a lot of time identifying specific needs within our local cornmLtnity, thrr)ugh thc pcople we work with. We do this through a comblnation of analysing the dati we are able to collect through our case and data management system, Oasis, key trends Spotted by staff, service userf5 direcl request/comments and our own consultations that we Tun through our service user group consultations and our Survivor to Thrivor group. A5 alway5 Pathway Project is also very proud to be afFiliated with National Women's Aid who contlnues to provide support in a number of different ways, including the national framework for domestic and sexual abuse 5ervice5. Due to it being such a huge piece of work. we had to unfortunately put our re- accreditation on hold to focu5 on our front-line delivery, we began work on thi5 again in january 2023 and hope to hzve completed this process by the end of 23124. Pathway Project continues to work closely with OLJf p3rtt)er domestic abuse agencie5 across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent. We have supported New Era, Glow and Stafford5hire Women'5 Aid with our County Coun5elling services and we are subcontracting with Staffordshire Women's Aid to help deliver Survive, the County sexual violence service. A5 always, Pathway Project continue5 to work closely wtth a number of agencies both statutory and voluntary, includlng Tamworth Borough ITBCI and Liihfield District Councils ILDCI, Housing and Community Safety P3rtnerships, Children's SeNltes, Citizens Advice Bureau 23 I rusiees- annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 and Bromford Housing. This work takes place across both formal strate2ic ènd operational meetir¥g5, and through joint working, such as our new Housing Clinic with IDC for residents in refuge. During 23124 we w511 be focLJsing on securing funding for those 5ervicos whose current contracts come to end including our County Counselling and Economic Abuse Speci31i5t roles, and those who don't have seture long-term funding such as the Mental Health and Domestic Abuse Specialist. Alongstde thi5 we will be continuing to work with funders and our landlord on our potential plans for the utilisation ol the downstairs of our building, a5 mentioned previously. Our online data and case management system, Oasis, remalns a fantastic tool in allowing us to respond to *unding applications and to meaningfully contribute to the local and national agenda on domestic and sexu31 abuse trends and issues. Not only does the system streamliTre the data into easy searches it also puts it into easy to read report formats, reducing what has previously beell tlme consuming work. We are also happy to be able to share anonymous data with Wom&n's Aid to allow them to help build a national plcture of what survivors want and need. A5 an organisation we are really excited to be buildiTrg our community fundraising with our Comrnunlly Engagement Worker, We have attended 8 number of communily events over the p3St year, both those that have been arranged on z larger scale such as the producers, market5 and individual 8warenesS session5 that we have run ourselves alongside the supermérket5. We 3150 delivered a niimber of own fundraising events, as mentioned prevlously including our bin80 nights and art auction and we have lots planned for 231?4. We have continued to use soci31 media and onlino resources to drtve our fundrai5in£ and we were involved in the Christmas Big Give online campaign again at the end of 2022 and we have 31ready applied to be part of their Women and Girls Week in October this year. We are continuing to look at how new technologies and onlinp Iiption5 can drlve our fundraising, we have installed Enthuse on our weLTrsite to allow people to directly donate straight to us online, and this a150 give5 people the option to set up monthly giving if they want to. We have also set up Dur website to allow us to sell tickets for our events directly to people, and this has been really useful in allowlng us to both encourage sale5 but also plan and monitor events. Achievements and Performance For Pathway Project, and many other charities the focu5 of 22123 has been a1￿ut managing the added pressures of the cost-of-living crisi5. for the organisation, sèrvice users and staff. The priority for us has been around retaining service5 and Staff, thrDugh the ongoing challenges that have arisen, and most importantly continulng to deliver the services that are needed the most by the families that work with Lts, This year Pathway Project has seen: An initial six-month extension and then confirmation of the direct award of our commissloned refuge services. formally starting in October 2023. The development ol our community engagement and fundralsing work, really driving the reach ol knowledge of our work. A furtherthree-year award from the Smallwood Trust to allow u5 to make grants to se¥vice users, Fundin8 from HSBC, Scewfix and B&Q to do ￿￿ch needed refurbishment work at Tamworth and Lichfield Refuges. Alurthersix months extension for otjr subcontrartwork on the Survive project, with StBffoidshire Women's Aid. Setting up otjr own merchandise range for sale on our website, or at our fundraising event5. A grant award from the Smallwood Trust to purchase vouchers for staff to help combat the cost- of-living cr1515. 24 I rusiees- annual report For the year ended 31 March 2023 The completion of our benchmarking projed, culminating in a IO% pay rise for all directly employed flontline staff, and benchtnarked rises for all other staff. Further development of the out of hours provision for Tamworth Reftjge. Securing some additional uplift funding from the Ministry oljustice to cover additional staff hours nd the cost of producing new marketing products. Successful Christmas and Easter campaigns. Our contlnuing contributic>n to the local community and county domestic abuse strate.gies. Continue to develop our drop-in services acros5 Lichfield and Tamworth, and in areas where we have been directly approached. Onè of the greatest a55ets that Pathway Project has is our wonderful team. The work that we do as an organisation is demandine in many ways, but our staff never falter in making sure that they do their best for the s@rvice Ljsers who rbeed u5 and Pathway Project would like to say a huge thank you to every one of our staff foy the Commitment and love that they have shown our organi53tion, no matter what the challenge5. Beheflclaries of our servlces The complex needs of our beneficiaries have been recognised in our strategy focusing on specialist support, as very rarely do service users pre5eRt with domesticlsextJ313buse, and no other additional 5(Jpport needs. We feel that the more 5upptrrt that can be Dffered from one central point. with one trusted worker in a place that enables someone to feel s3fe, the better engagement we will receive and the greater opportuiiily for success for ourservice users. Pathway Prnjprt continues to take on feedbtck, both negative and posltive, and use thi5 to drive forwdrd our service5 and make effective changes Flnancial Review Fundraising remains a key priority for pathway Project,. this is thrc>ugh all mediums including community fundTai5ing, grants, trust and large funding streams. This 15 a150 across all area5 including restricted funding for set projects or costs. unre5tiicled funding to help cover general costs, and capital funding to fund projects such as the refurbishment of Tamworth Refuge. As always, the successful dellvery of a professional organisation means that it is necess3ry to have management oversight and buildings to operate from, including their operating costs, and all of these contribute to the front-line services 3t the heart of Pathway Project. Our Hope Centre is a vital part of our service delivery, allowing for space for sl3ff to work safely and acc￿5 peer support, as well as providing a much-needed venue for our counsellinE and group work. Our management team ensure that we prtsvide a safe and secure service provision, a5 well as overseeing the vital strategic and operational strategy for the organisètion, that allows LJS to remain viable. Fijnding l)oth of these areas remains a constant struggle for charitie5, where there is a continued focus by funders on direct delivery, and not their a5soclated costs. Despite this Pathway Project continues to work hard to source any fundinÈ that may support this, including working with private lndlvidual fund&r5. Thanks to the funding from the Department ol Levelling Up, Housing and CommLJnities IDLUHCI, which 15 dispersed to Staffordshire Coijnty Council to allow them to comm155ion safe accommodation for survivors of domestic abuse, our iefuge provision is now safe. We have been issued with interim ftjndlng from April 1" 2023 until September 20, 2023, and on the I. October 2023 new 2.5yr contract, with the option of a further year extension will begin. The specification around this has been agreed between prDvider5 and the Council, with the final funding amount agreed in August, and the contract being siglled in September. 25 I rusTees' annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 Fundraising for the organisatlon 15 now overseen by the CEO, Head of Operations and the CortTrmunity and EnE3gement Worker. As well as overseeing organised fundraising events, our Community Engagement Worker is now leading on micro bid5, as mentioned previously these have been around the £500-£1000 mark and have locused on capital project5 we need supporting. The Head of Ope¥ation5 is leading on small bid5 and funding opportunltles as well as having the gener31 oversight of the fundraising. On top ol thi5 they are also leading on the work with the landlord 3nd private funder around the opportunities for the downstairs space. All of this allows ihe CEO to foius on lareer funding opportunities and developing the fundraising strategy. Durlng 22123 the CEO led on 3 large benchmarking project which compared all job roles within the organisation to our immediate, local providers and to OTganls3tlons nationwide who were comparative in size, locètion and service delivery. This has allowed u5 to clearly map out the correct pay scales for everyone withln the organisation and start to implement the pay ch3n8e5 that will be needed to meet theso. In April 2023, everyone within the organisation who was a directly employed front line member of staff received a IO% pay rise. everyone else, including those people ernployed through our sub contract with Staffordshire Women'5 Aid had that salary increased to the correct benchmar*ed pay Scale, The commitment to cover these intreases was made through our reserves while a150 acknowledging that all future bids would include the update salaries and we would continue to combat the use ol reseNe5 through general fundraising. The truslees have also made the commitment for pay scale review5 to be on the agenda for each annual Trustee Away Day. As an organi5ation we have had to accept thr utilities and generzl costs overall. We also agreed a 5% pay increase for all staff at the beginning of 2022. and took on additional staff through the lottery contract, counselling contract and Tamworih Refuge posts. We also spent funding received for the work we did on refurbishing Tamworth and the AstroTurf at Lichfield. 26 I rustees. annual report For the year ended 31 March 2023 Thank yuu to the Patrons and Friends of Pathway Project for their on-going commitment. It is a huge encouragement to us that people remain so passion3te about the work WE do. Principal funding sourtes Okjr refLJge 'bricks and mortar, costs are funded through the housing benefit which is paid to us on behalf of residents, we review this yearly with our District and Borough Coullcils and we are th3nkful the campaigning that has secured government support for retaining housÈng benefit payment5 for refuges, as this r@mains our only consistent source of funding. The money from Stafford5hire County Council, through DLUHC has beell instrumental in funding the staffing of our refuges, which are critical t successful refuge prov151on. We are a150 very grateful to Staffordshire County Council for recogni5ing increases in costs to organisations and increasing the refuge funding to help accommodate this. We are also hugely grateful for Stafford5hire County Council and their decision to direct award the refuge commissioning contracts, and for their commitment to doing this foi a 5onEer contract perlod. We are very much locking forward to working more closely with them In the coming years. We were extremely privileged to have been awarded another funding streBm by the N3tion31 Lottery Reaching Communities in May 2022, after our successful Empowering Women and Gir15 project that ended in july 2021. We know that the deci510n to award further five-year contract5 are quite rare, and wp. thank the lottery for their kjelief in our project and our organisation, and for allowing us this opportunity to deliver this piece of work. The Ministry of justice, through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner IOPCCI, has contlnued to support our County Coun5elling projp.ct, by awarding us a further two-year coDtrnsl staff hour5 as well as produce a new range of marketing materia15, and tools (or service user5. The Smallwtsod Trust hts also continued to Support U5 to be able to offer ou¥ grant making service to anv women working us who are strL(gglinE with linallclal hardship. The fund provides a small èmount to help cover the work that needs to be done by OLJr Finance Manager to administer the payment5, and the remainder ol the money is paid out to Service users to SLJpport them with things such as housing arrears, new furniture etc. We were extremely pleased to be offered a further three years fundlng to continue this service in March 2023. A5 well as this the Smallwood Trust worked with u5 to provide a grant that allowed us to buy a £200 vaucher for every member of staff to help them with th& c05t-of-living crisis. Children in Need have also been a key funder in suptiorting the work that we do with children and young people, and have continued their funding until November 2023. HSBC, B&Q Screwfix grants have allowed us to cornplete much needed work at Tamworth which has included a new kitchen, ccrv, LED lights and full decoration, as well as new AstroTurf at Lichfield Refuge, We are v8ty grateful to our District and Borough C¢>uncils for their support around our Economic Abtjse Worker and our Refuge Manager and additlonal hour5 at Tamworth. We also h3ve a number of other grants and gifts from trust funds, foundations and through private indlviduals, as well as in individua15 in our Patron's scheme. 27 I rusTees' annual reporr For the year ended 31 March 2023 Principal risks and uncertaintie5 Tho B03Id of Trustees is very aware of on-going risks and regularly reviews the work done to mitlgate these. We have both a business plan and an income Eeneration p13n that we work towards and review. We have a Risk Management Pollcy and regularly review the principal risks identified, which are financial, operational and reputational. Financial - Income EEneration still remains a key focus and priority for Pathway Project, both around securing contributions to Core CDSt5, raising funds for capital projert5 and for ensuring the cont1nuity of current services and the development of new ones. Work will constantly bo done on fundraising throughout the year, with the main focus being on unfunded posts, posts with imminently ending contracts, and core c05ts. A5 an organisation we recognise that the cost-of-living cri515 IS still very much continuing with no indication of when, or if, things will become more stable End we aro remaining 8ware of this when considering thing5 such as entering into new servTce contracts. Wo believe that our corllmitment to Pay increases for staff has mitigated the immediate concern around Staff retention, and this will remain on our agenda. Our biggost concern had been around the potential commissioning of refLJge services, and how thi5 may negatively affert our organisation if we failed t¢> secure a further contract. The direct award of this contract for 2.5years with the option to extend for a further one from October of 2023, has nDw mitl¥(Ited this risk for the immediate future. Operational - Our biggest operational rlsk remains the Hope Centre, this is in term5 of the ptsrential impact of increasin£ costs and how we manage the building operationally. to help manage those, as it 15 key to our delivery package. In 2022123 it became clear that there was a tlear operational concerTr around long term staff leaving in order to find more highly paid work, and iii turn, the issues th3t would tlien arise around recruitment. All providers across Staffordshire were reporting the Same ongoing issucs around loosing staff and then struggling to be able to iecruit on the same pay scales. We have now CDmpleted our benchmarking, awarded pay rises, ¥etained staff and in the last round of recruitment had 8 applications, to only one previoLJsly. P3y scales will remain on the agenda moving forward. We continue to work with people with complex needs, chaotic lives, and who are often at serioL%S risk. Having dcTrne all that we can to minimise the risks, we also have in5uran¢e 3g8inst many possible risk5 and losses. Reputational - Once again the main issue is that we work with vulnerable 5eivlce users with complex needs and we need to prioritise safeguarding all of the people who we work with. Where we need to ensure our staff's Safety, they work jointly in pairs or do joint visits with other agencie5. We only vi51t service u5er5 havinE undertaken a thorough risk assessment. All Of our working practices are aimed at supporting both staff and Service users. We attend regular professionals meetings in order to maintain awarene55 Of risk to or from vulnerable service users, and we deal promptly with any issues which ari52. We monitor out media presonce so that we can take action wherever appropriate. Reserves Policy and Going Concern The trustees have examined the charitvs requirements in light of the main risks of tho organisation and aim to build LJP our reserves to give u5 some financial st3blllty if problems arise. We are susceptible to shortfalls in funding where particular aEtiviti@s are funded by varied and unpredictable income streams, 28 I rusiees- annuai report For the year ended 31 March 2023 Our policy and target level of free reserves 15 to hold a minimum of G months and a maximum of 12 months, operating expenditure. As a result, we estlmate that we currently require between approximately £450,000 and £9W,000 to meet this target. Our actual free reserves at the ye3r-end were £448,32612022.. £429,323) an increase on 135t year but just Short of the lower end of otsr target range. We will have significant challenges ahEad to continue to bulld our reserve5 Wlthin our target range, especially with the current extern81 economic challenges. Restricted funds as at 31 March 2023 are £92,374 12022: £79,112) and these funds will all be spent on the charitable activity to which they apply in the next financial year. Despite the target to build unrestritted reserves, the free reseNe5 of the organÉzation are primarily 5UPPO¥ted by cash resources. We have demonstrated in the past our 2bility tc> be agile in how we have reacted to significant chanees in our overall business model, including losing key sources of funding, and have demonstrated a tight control over our cost t>ase. These practices will continue, along with the regular rnonitorinR of the income pipellne to ensure that Pathway Project can continue to deliver its key services in an external environment presenting continuèd uncertainty. As a result of regularly mollitoring both reserves levels and cash flow, the trustee5 are satisfied to approve these financial statements on a going concern basis. Plans for the future To continue to secure funding for those posts whose contracts will be ending in 23124, or just after. To continue to woirk on the potential plans for downstairs at the Hope Centre. To implement a redecoration plan for all of the rooms at our Lichfield Reluge. We would like to run a workshop within Lichfield and Burntwood - venue sought- for busine5se5 i.e., hairdressers etc. to be'victim champion5' this will bp delivering domestic abuse awareness, signs to look for, challenges Someone will face, why she 5t3ys or returns, what to and not to say and providing thp.m with 3 point of contact for next steps. We are considering developing and recording an online training session that can be distributed for a cost, or for free depending on the target audience receiving it, which will COVEr a similar content to ihat discussed above, and cc>uld be show in team meetings, internal training etc. for agencies and companies. There would a150 be the option to have additional support for the tearn alongside th(5. We are just in the fact-finding stage of putting together 3 podcast, which we would issue on our website every quarter. We envisage this being a tombination of talking to staff about their work, DA awareness, service users sharing thEiT Stories and guest speakers. We are currently looklng for funding to allow us to implement a new system Dn our web51te which would allow us to make it more accessible for people with disabilitie5, or those who speak a different language. We are planning tc> use the sarne one a5 St3fford5hire Women's Ald and that translates the website into any langu3ge, enlarge5 the font, reads it out loud, changes the colour of the background etc. We have been really impKessed with the system 2nd hope to be able to fundr315e and have it in place by the end of the year. We hope to be able to expand our legal clinic delivery by engaging another set of legal aid 501icitors from Tamworth, one of our key areas. We will be looking to take on more volunteers, particularly those who are able to attEnd fLsndrai51n8 3nd awareness r2ising sessions on the weekends and evening5, to make sure that everything is not falling ont0 Staff. We want to continue to grow our small range of Pathway merchandlse that we sell on our 29 Irusiee5- annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 website and at our stalls, We want to have a d2y PLltting posters in the local community- shops, libraries etc. to raise awareness ol who we are and who we Support. DurinE awareness days we have been asked about'safe spaces, to talk to someone, we woul like to do an zwareness around LichfieldlTamwDrth boc>ts, Superdrug. pubs and speak to the public to see what response they get if they ask for Ani or Angela. This will help us to est3bli5h if local businessos know what it means/what to do- or do they need mDre awareness. Further develop our Hearts of Hope Campaign, which involved u5 placing knitted hearts and words of hope around Lichfield for people to find and tag us on social media. As always Pathway Project will Continue to proactively develop models tsf working which best meet the need5 of survivors as well as seeking opportunities for funding and collaborative working. We will also Continue to work on raising awareness in both the local and wider co>mmunity, to ensure that domestic and Sexual violence and the work needed to be done to end it is truly understood. Fundrassing As a charity we are working hard to broaden the base of our funding streams 50 that there is le55 reliante on any single source. We have continued to plan our applications to grant funders, both nat101131 and We have also taken a more pro-active approach to raising funds from the community, and particularly unrestricted tund5. We believe that our fundraising should be ethical, and in line with the Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice. Pathway Pruject operates 3 policy around the protection of vulnerable adults, and this includes ensuring vulnerable people are not negatively impacted by our fundraising. We have a Fundraising Group who plan and oversee comrnunity gvents. One trustec from the charity is part of thi5 group and ensures that best practice is always fulltswed. Our Community Engagement Worker is overseen by our Head of Operatinns and all fundraising has to be signed off by Senior Management. We have 3 robust illsuran￿ policy which protects us for running events and we follow a risk a55e55ment process when plannlng our events. The Head of Operation5 feeds back on the Fundraising Group in the next trusteé meeting following it. For our large public event in 2312AI we have utilised the skills of an events management grDup who will be overseeing the work We are happy for the public, includillg our supporters, to complain if they are unhappy with our fundraisin& W8 received no complaint5 during 2022123. Complaints and comments are welcome and we aim to use feedback, whether positive or negative, to help us to improve our servico. Structurei governance and management The organisation 15 a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 7 August 1991 lin England nd Walesl and registered a5 a charity on 14 NovEtnber 1991. The company was established Linder a memorandum of a550Clation which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under it5 articles of 2550Cl3tion. Thi5 was rEV15ed and accepted by the Charity Commission and Companies House in October of 2021. All trustees give thelr time voluntarlly and receive no benefits from the charity. No expense5 ate reclaimed from the charity a5 disclosed in note 8 to the accounts. 30 I rusiees- annual repori For the year ended 31 March 2023 Code of Governance part of our work with Pilotlight and as part of our own internal review procedures, the Trustees have considered best practice Set out withln the Charity Governance Code and use this to form the basi5 of their work. Appointment of trustees A process is in place following best practice guideline5, to recruit and appoint new trustees in a sirnilar prc>cess to that used to appoint Staff members. The charlty plans stratogically to have a board of truste25 who are able to bring a range of expertise and skills to the board meetings. Trustee induction and training Trustee5 are inducted and trained through a formal training system, which includEs having a Mentor who is a more experi@nc@d board member. Part of the annual Trustee Away D3y is sometimes 3 particular briefing session to inform and build knowledge. All trustees are welcome to attend training I briefing sessions that are being held for staff. Policy for employment of disabled persons Pathway Project believes in providing @qLSality of opportunityfor disabled persons, All job5 are advertised with a persc>n specifiiation outlininE the particular aptitude5 and abilities required in the role. The job is g£ven to the pe¥son who best fulfils the requirements uf the role. If necessary adjustments are required then we will seek to accommodate the adaptations. Shcsuld a member of staff become di53bled during their employment we will work with them to facilitate a return to work when possible, and will seek to accommodate their needs for adaptations or a$5iSt3nce. Opportunities for tralhlng and career development will be equally open to disablod persons 3nd they will not be disadvantaged in possible promotion c>pportunities. Employee information and remuneratlon policy for key management personnel The CEO and Head of Operatior15 have delEgated authority for managing the day to day operation of the organisation. Employees are tho foundation of our organi5ation and as such we seek to keep them informed and consulted about any changes that are being made in the organi5ation. This is done through rEgular team meetings and email memos. When changes are being considered, which will Impatt on the working conditions of Staff, they are fully consulted and offered QPPDrtunities to have 3n input into decision5 being made. The remuneration of ihe key management personnel Is set by the Board. The chair CDllducts thE annual appraisal of the Chief Executive Oflicer and the board agrees hersalary. Comp&rable salarie5 for executive role5 In other similar slzed organisation5 in the health and social care 5eitor are used as a benchmark for SEtting the salary. 31 I rusiees- annual reporT For the year ended 31 March 2023 Statement of responsibilities of the trustee5 The tru5tee5 (who are also directors of Pathway Project for the purposes of company lawl are responsible for preparSng the trustees, annual report including the slrategic report and the fsnancial statements in accordance with applicable law. Bnd United Kingdom Accounting Standards Iunited 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 affair5 of the charitable company and of the incoming resource5 and application of resource5, in£luding the income and expenditure, of the chaiitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trijstees are required to.. Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistentlv Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP Make judgements and estimate5 that are reasonable and prudent State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, SL¢bject ta any rn3teri31 departure5 di5c105ed and explained in the financial statements Prepare the financial statements on the goinE concern ba%is unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue operètiun The trustees are responslble for kecping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accurm when the financial slatemBnts are aulhorised for issue. Ou¥ responsibili118s Snd the responsibiSilies of the Trustees with respect to goino eoncern are described in the relevant sections of this report_ Other information The other informatiun comprises the information included in th8 Annual Report other than the f5nancial slalements and our Auditors, Report Ihereon. The TrusteES zre responsible foi the other inforNalion contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the finanaal statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly slated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance Gonclusion Ihereon. Qur responsibility is to read the other inforrnation and, in doing so. consider whether the other infomialion is malerially inconsislenl with the financial statements 01 our knowledge obtained in Iho course of the audit, or otherwise appears lo be materially misstated. 11 we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, w8 are required lo determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the lillancial statements themselves_ If, based on the woik we have performed, we conclude Ihal therè Ès a material misslatemenl of this olhei information, we are required to report that laot. 33 i o ine memDers or I ne siaTTorasnire varnway vroieci We have nothing lo report in this regard. Opinion on othèr matters prescribed by the Gompanies Act 2006 In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit". the information given in the Trusteès, Report for the financial year for which the linan¢i81 statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements,. and the Trustees. Report ha5 been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirerllents. Matters on which we are required lo report by exception In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charilablo company and its environment oblaÉned in the course of the aLKlil, we h8ve not identified material misstatements in the Truslees. Report. We have nothi￿g lo ieport in respect ol the following rnalters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report ID you il, in our opinion. adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequale lor our 8udit have not bee received Iiotn branches not visited by u5", or the financial stalements are not in agreemenl with the accounting iecc>ids and returns., or ertain dibLlosures ol direclorfs remuneralitsn specified by law are not rnade., or we have not received all the Information and explanalior)s we require for our audit., or the Trustees were not entitled lo prepare the financial statements In 3ecordtaTrorasnire vatnway Yrojecr Auditors, respons¥bSlltles for the audit of th8 financial statements Our r)bjeclives are lo obtain reasonable assvrancè about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from mater£al misstatement, whether due lo fraud or eiror. and to igsuÈ an Auditors, Report that Includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level ol assurance, but is not 8 guarantee th81 an audit CDnducted in accordance with ISAS IUKI will always detect a material misstatement wheri il exists. Misslalements can arise from fraud or erro¥ and are ¢onsid2red m8terial if, individually or in the aggregate, they COLJld reasonably be &xp8Cted lo influence the economic decisions of users 12ken on the basis of these financial stalemenls. Iiiegular*ties. including fraud. are instances ol non-compliance with laws arid regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, oullined above. to d&lecl material misstalemenls in respect ol irregu5arilies. including fraud. Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks ol material miss131ement in respect ol irregularities, including fratjd and non-compllance with laws and regu12tions, was as follows.. the senior 5talulory audiloi ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriale competence. capabilities and ski115 to identify or recognise non-compliance with spplicable laws and regulations", we identified the laws and regulations applic3ble to the charitable company througli discussions with Trustees and other management, and Iroin our commercial knowledge and experience (Jf the charity se¢lor'. we fuc￿sed on specific laws and regulations which we rr)nsidered rnay havp a direct material effect on the financial slalemellts or the operations ol the charitable company, including the linariLial reporting Icgislah"on, Companies A¢1 20(￿, taxation legislation, anti-bribery, employment, and environmental and heallli and safety legislation., we assessed the exlenl of cx)mpli2nce with the laws and regulations identified 8bove through making enquiries ol management and inspecting legal correspondence,. and identified law5 and regulation8 were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remalned alert lo inslar)ces o* non-compliance throughout the audit. We absebsed the susceptibility ol the charitable company's financlal statements lo material misstatem6nt. including obtaining an understanding ol how fraud might OCCLJr, by.. making onquiri65 ol management as lo where Ihey considered there was susceplibiSily lo frzud, their knowledse of actual, suspected and alleged fraud". and considering the internal controls in place lo mitigate risks ol fraud and non-compliance with laws alld regulations. To address the risk ol fraud through management bias and override of controls, we= performed analytical prO￿duTes to identify any unusual or unexpected relglionships", tested journal entries lo identify unusual Iransaclions-. assessed whether judgements and assumpllons made in d&lermining the accounting eslimales were indicative of polential bias," and investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual Itan5acliDns. In response to the risk of irregula￿tieS and non-compliance with laws and regulations, w8 designed pro(Edures which included, bul were not limited lo.. agrgeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documenlalion,. r8ading the minutes ol meets'ng5 Of those ¢harged with governance. enquiring ol man3gemenl as lo actual and potential liligalion and claims.. and reviewing correspondence with HMRC, relevant regulators and the charitable company's legal advisors. Because of the inherent limilalions ol an audit, there is a risk Ih2t we will not deteol all irregularities, includillg those leading lo 3 material misstalemenl in the fiiiancial slalemenls or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increase9 the more that complian￿ with a law or regLtlation is removed from the event5 35 i o tne memDers OT I ne )raTrora5nire vaTnway vrojeci and Iransactions reflected in the financial statement5, as we will be less likely lo becotne aware of instances of non-cornpllar￿e. The risk is also greater regarding irregularilies occurring due lo fraud ralheT than error. as fraud involves intentional concealmenl, forgery. Collusion. omission or misrepresenlalion. A further description ol our T8sponsibilities for the audit of the h'nancial statements is kncated on the Financial Reporting Council's website at.. www.frc.org.uklaudltors￿spQ￿SlbIjI1les. This description forms part of our Auditors, Report. Use of our report This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, 8s a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 f Part 16 of tt>e Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we mighl state lo the charlly's members those matters we are required to slale to them in an Auditors, Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent pormitled by law, we do not ac¢epl or assume responsibility lo anyone other than the Ghar4ty and its members. 35 a bcxjy. for our audit work, for this report, or for th8 opinions we have formed. Msrk Gurney FCCA (Senior Slalijtory Audilorl lor and on behalf of Dains Audit Limited Slalulory Auditor Ch£trlerÈd Accountants Birmingham Date.. 4 DecembeT 2023 36 STatemeni OT Tinancia i activities For the year ended 31 March 2023 Note Uniestslcted Restricted funds fur￿& 2023 2023 Unre5Ericted Restricted funds fund5 2022 2022 Total 2Q23 Tot21 2022 Incoyne from Donations 72,452 40,161 112,613 51.984 42.400 94,384 Charitable activities orne5tic vlolence prevention Refuge Refuge based activitles Children's projects 7,0(K) 447,078 5,007 192,283 63,300 63,910 70,615 199,283 510,378 68,917 70,615 73 398,238 177,974 69,567 42,750 32,976 178,047 467,805 42,750 32,976 Othertr3ding actNities Invegtments 22.045 1,327 933 22,978 1,327 16,758 30 113 16,871 30 Total ¢ncome 554.9D9 431,202 986,111 467,082 365,780 832,862 Expendlture on Raising funds 4,360 4,360 3.330 3,330 Charitable actDlities Dotnesticviolence prevention Refuge Children'5 prolerts Refuge based attivlries 310.778 31D,778 467,566 54,614 108,338 263,030 ?.64,030 418,541 69,034 106,684 467,566 418.541 54,614 ID8,338 69,034 106,684 Total expenditure 471,926 473,730 945,656 421,871 438,748 860,619 Net income / lexpellditurel before tTHn5fers 82,984 142,5281 40,656 45.211 172,9681 127,7571 Transfers betweÉn funds 15 155,6531 55.653 141,0811 41,081 Net movemÈ#t in funds 27.331 13,125 40,656 4,130 13J,8871 127,7571 Recanciliation ol funds Fund balances brought forward 112 Fund b31ances carried forw8rd A11 olthe above results &re derived frot4 continutng activities. All gains and1055es recognised in the year are included above. 37 Iregisierea cornpany nutnDer ui)J>yJ£i Balance sheet As at 31 March 2023 Notes 2023 2022 Fixed assets Tangible a55ets io 11,120 8.086 Current assets Debtors Cash èt bank and in hand li 55,887 522,568 32,431 506,997 578,455 539.427 Credltors.. amount5 falllng due withln one year 12 138,3341 136.7281 Net currÈnt assets 540,121 502,699 Total asset5 less cwrrent liabili11È5 551,241 510,785 Total net assets 551,241 510,785 Funds Restricted Unrestricted 15 15 92,237 459,004 79,112 431,673 Total funds 551,241 510,785 Approved by the Board on 4 December 2023 and signed on its behalf bv.. 38 statoment OT casn TIOWS As at 31 March 2023 2023 2022 Cash Ilows from operating activitie5 Net incomel lexpenditurel lor the reporting period Depreci3tion charges I055 on di5P05al of lixd 8ssets IntÈrest from investments Oecreasel lincrea5el In debtors IDecreasel l increase in credltgrs 40,656 1,618 127,7571 2,868 3.264 11.3271 123,4561 1,606 19,3391 121,8761 Net tash provlded by I (used Inl operating artivitie5 18,897 152,8711 Cash Ilows from inve5tingactivitles Interest frotn inve5tment5 Payments to acquire fixed assets 1,327 14,6521 30 13,7501 NÈt £ash provided by I (used inl investing activities 13,3251 13,7201 Chan6e it? cash and ￿5h equlvalpnts in the year 15,572 156,5911 C35h and cash equivalents at the start of the yÈ8r 506,997 563,586 Cash and tash equlvalents at the end of the year 522,568 506,997 The ncte5 on pages 39 to 52 form part of these financial statements. 39 Notes to rne Tinanciai siatemenis For the yearended 31 March 2023 Accounting policies 1.1 Statutory Énformation The Staffordshire Pathway Project Is a charitabl@ company limited by guarantee and 15 incorporated in the United Kingdom (England and Wales). The registered office address and operational address is The Hope Centre, 3 Quonians Lane, Lichlield, Staffordshire, W513 7L8. The principal activity of the charitable company is given in the Trustee5' report. 1.2 Basis of accounting The financial statements have been prepared in accordance and fully COTMplies with Accounting and Reporting by Charities., Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Flnancial Reporting Standard applic8ble in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 Icharities SORP FRS 1021, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 and the Companies Act 2006. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unles5 Otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note. 1.3 Public benefit entity The charitable company meets the deflnition of a public benefit Entity under FRS 102. 1.4 GoinE concern The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a gaing concern. The trustees do not consider th3t there are any sources of estimatiun uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a materlal adjustment to the carrying amount5 of 8ssets and liabilitie5 Wlthin the next reporting period. 1.5 Income Income is recognised when the charity ha5 entitlement to the fijnds, any perfcTrrmance conditions attached to the income have been tnet, it is probable that the intome will be received and that the aMOu￿t can be measured rellably. Income from Eovernment and other grants, wh2iher'capital' grants or'revenue. grants, is recognised when the chaiity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met. it is probable that the income will be received and the amount caj be measured rellably and is not deferred. Income received in advance af the provision of a specified service 15 deferred until the criteria for Income recognition are met. 1.6 Donations of gifts, service5 and facilities Donated professional service5 and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or re￿ived the senJice, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item 15 probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP IFRS 1021, volunteer time is not recognised 50 iefer to the trustees, annual report for more information about their contribution. 40 Noies to tne rinanciai sTaTemenis For the year ended 31 March 2023 On receipt. donated gifts, professional sewices and doiiated facilities are recognised on the basis ol the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would h3ve b@en willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open mèrket,. a coire5pc>ndin£ amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt. 1.7 Interest receivable Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount cèn be mE3sured reliably by the chartty,. thi5 is nO￿allY upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the b8nk. 1.8 Fund Accounting General fund5 are unrestricted funds which are available fo¥ use at the discretion of the tIU5tees, in furtherance of the general objectives of the charitable company, and which have not been designated for other purposes. Designated funds are unrestricted fund5 that have been set aside by the trustees for 3 specific, but not legally binding, purpose. Restricted funds are fLJnds which are to be used in 2ccordance with specific restrictions impclsed by the donor5 Wlthin the object5 of the charity. Expenditure that meets these criteria is charged to the fund. 1.9 Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or con5tructlVE obligatioll to make a paymenttc> a third partyi It is probable that settlement will be required Blld the amount of the obligation can be me3sured reliably. Expenditure is dassified under the following activiry headings.. Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost ol any 3Ctivities with a fundraising purpose Expenditure on cha¥itable activities include5 the costs of delivering services undertaken to further the purposes uf the charity and their associated sUPPQrt Costs. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the aclivity for which the expenditure was incurred. Governance costs are thD5e costs a550ciated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charitable company and includE audit fee5 and costs linked to the str3te8lC management of the charitable company. Direct charitable expenditure is allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However support and governance costs, so the cost of the over411 directlon 3nd administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportlDned on the ba515 of Staff time attributable to each activity. 1.11 Operating Leases Rental charyes are charged on a straight line basis over the teim of the lease. 1.12 Taxation The charity is oxempt from corporatlDn tax on its charitable activities. 1.13 Tangible flxed assets and depreci3tion Assets which cost in @xcess Df £500 are initially capitalised at cost. Oepreciation Is pmvided at annual rates calculated to write off the cost le55 estimated residual value of each asset over its expected 41 Notes to ine Tinanciai statements Forthe year ended 31 March 2023 U5efLJI life, as follows: Children's play equipment Fixtures and fittings Office equipment 20%, reducing balance basis 20%, reducing balance b3SIS 25%, reducing balance basis 1.14 Debtors Trade and other debtors are recogni5ed 3tthe settlement amount due and prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid. 1.15 Creditors 3nd provlslons Creditors and provisions are recoglli5ed where the charity has a present obligation resulting from 3 past event that will Probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditor5 and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 1.16 Financlal Instruments The charity only h35 financial assets and financial liabilities of 41 kind that qU21ify a5 basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amDrt15ed cost using the effectlve Interest method, 1.17 Pension costs The charity has a defined contributTOll pension scheme to offer all employees in order to complv with the requirement5 of auto-enrolment. The charity is contributing a millimum employer contribution into the scheme as set by the Pension Regulator. 42 Notes to rne Tinanciai staiements For the year ended 31 March 2023 Donation5 Unre5triited Restricted funds funds 20Z3 2a23 Unrestricted lund5 2022 RestrlitÈd funds 2022 Tatal 2023 Total 2022 Alrewas All Saints Church PCC Anonymous Cannock Chase Churches Housing Co Friel Homes Ltd Gentleshaw Church PCC H51 lithfield Denerry & Motherfs Union P3thway Patrons, St Johns Community Church Thompson Farnily Charitable Trust Waitrose, Lichlield Gift aid income tax recoveied Donations of £l,OW and under 2.OLIO 5,339 20,000 2,000 42,952 20,0(K) 37,613 3,000 39,952 42,952 10,0 10,000 1,148 1,148 2,250 1,125 3,0 2,250 1,125 5,448 2,500 1,980 1,898 4,398 1,980 2,448 5,0 5,000 I,￿0 12,231 26,254 1,000 12,231 26.904 1,817 25,792 1,817 25,792 650 Sub-total for donatlons 72,452 40,161 112,613 51.984 42,400 94,384 Income from charitable activities Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2023 2023 Llnre5tri¢ted funds 2022 Restricted funds 202Z lotal 2023 Total 2022 Domestlc Violen￿ preventltsn Big Lottery Funding Nationwide Community Smallwood Trust Staffordshire Women's Ald Lichfield DC National Lottery Community Fund Community Foundation Grants £l,fKO and under 27,500 17,972 32,500 73,324 14,628 9,550 2.50a 27,500 17,972 32,500 73,324 14,628 9,550 2,500 73 7,OLKI 25,300 60,437 19,572 86,974 32,3CX) 60,437 19,572 86,974 73 Sub-total for domestlE violence prevention 7,000 192,283 199,283 73 177,974 178,047 43 Nores to rne Tinanciai statemenrs For the year ended 31 March 2023 Income from charitable activities Icontinuedl Unre5trittEd Restricted funds funds 20Z3 2023 Unrestricted fur*ds 2022 Fle5trictÈd funds 202Z Total 2023 Total 2022 Refuge Accommodatlon charges B & Q Foundation HSBC s￿ppOrting our Community 5crewFix Foulldation Stafford & Cannock LeagLJe of H05Pltal Staffs County Council- MHCLG Tamworth Borough Council Grants £1,000 and under 284,061 s,￿0 21,687 284,061 5,000 21,687 5,1)00 1,794 63,300 155,036 32,000 5.800 275,433 275,433 1,794 91,736 32,000 5,800 93,705 25,000 4,100 69,567 163,272 25,000 4,100 SL*b-total for Refuge 447,078 63.300 510,378 398,238 69,567 467,805 Refuge based activities staffordshire PCC Sub-total lor Refuge based activities 5,QQ7 63,910 68,917 42,750 42,750 Chlldren's proletts Children in Need staffs County Council- MHCLG 50,040 20,575 50,040 20,575 32,976 32,976 Sub-tot31 fc>r children's projects 70,615 70,615 32,976 32,976 Tc>t31 Income from charitable activitie5 459,085 390,108 849,193 398,311 323,267 721,578 Other trading activities ijnrestritted Restricted funds fvnd5 2023 2023 nrestricted funds 2022 Resrrltted fund5 2022 Total 2023 Total 2022 Fundraising- Events Furidraislng- Item sales Training and services income Membe15hip5 Sundry 21.697 223 75 21,697 223 75 16,531 113 16,644 215 12 215 12 50 933 983 22,045 933 22,978 16,758 113 16,871 otes ro ine Tinanciai staremenis Forthe year ended 31 March 2023 Investment incom8 Unrestricted Restrlcted funds fund5 2023 2023 Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2022 2Q22 Total 2023 Total 2022 Bank interest receivable 1,327 1.327 30 30 45 o aiCO ED o) ED ¢n rq O ry> 00 ryi rriooA¢r (n CT) Ln N ¢ri o (Do O Ln mom m o Ln i ¢n Q¥ U) U> Ln m r-- O r< cn tKJ ki_ 0 4 (L O 'I"he 5"taTtordshire Pathway Project Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2023 Net Income I lexpenditurel for the year Total 2023 Total 2022 Net income J lexpenditurel is stated after charglng the following items., Auditors, remuneration lexduding VAr Oper8ting lease rentals Depreciation 8,250 32,147 1,618 8,250 20,738 2,868 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses and the cost of key management personnel Total 2023 Total 2022 W3ges and salaries Social security costs Employer contributions tci defined contributlon pension schemes 536,158 39,118 18,745 494,458 30,964 12,138 594,021 537,560 The average number of employee5 during the year based on a headcount basis Wa5 3212022.. 271. No employee earned in exce55 of £60,0￿ per 3nnum12022.' none). The total employee benefits lineluding employerfs pension contributions and employerfs national In5ur3ncel of the key management personnel were £172,60212022.. £146,717). Wo trustee received any remuneration or benefits during the year ended 31 March 2023, nor in the year ended 31 March 2022. No trLJ5tee5 received expenses during the year ended 31 March 202312022..nonel. Related party transactions There are no related party transactions to disclose for 202312022.. none). There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related partie5. 48 "l-he 5tattorashire Vathway project Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2023 10 Tangible fixed a55ets Children's play equlpment FixtLEres and Office fittinES equipment Total Cost At l April 2022 Additions 12,179 15,709 4,652 2,945 30,833 4,652 At 31 March 2023 12,179 20,361 2.945 35,485 Depreciation At l April 2022 Charge for the year 11,643 107 8,175 1,507 2,928 22,747 1,618 At 31 March 2023 11,750 9,682 2,932 24,365 Net book value At 31 March 2023 429 10,679 12 11,120 At 31 March 2022 536 7,534 17 8,086 li Debtors 2022 2022 Accounts receivable Rent receivable Prepayments and accrued income 31,627 1.653 22.607 20,994 1,340 10,096 55,887 32.431 12 Creditors.. amounts fallihg due wSthln one year 2023 2022 Operating creditors Accru215 5,199 33,135 3,S4S 33,180 38,334 36,728 49 I"he 5"tattorasnire Pathway project Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2023 13 Operatrng lease commitments The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cance113ble operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods.. 2023 2022 Within l year Between 2 and 5 year5 Over 5 years 32,147 126,275 81,845 20.738 121,731 72,000 240,267 214,469 143 Analysis of net assets between funds 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total Fixed 35sets Debtors Cash Creditors 10.691 32,695 434,844 119.2261 429 23,192 87,724 119,1081 11,120 55,887 522,568 138,3341 Net assèts as at 31 March 2023 459,004 92.237 551,241 14b Analysis of net assets between funds 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Fixed assets Debtor5 Cash Creditors 7,550 7,276 432,538 115,6911 536 25,154 74.459 121,0371 8,086 32,431 506,997 136,7281 Net 3ssets as èt 31 March 2022 431,673 79.112 510,785 50 -rne 51altordshire Pathway proiect Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2023 Isa Mo¥ement in funds Atl Aprll 2022 Income Expenditure At31 March 2023 Transfers Unrestricted funds General fund5 431,673 554,909 1471,9261 155,6531 459,004 Restricted funds Children's Project5- Children in Need Chlldren's Proje¢ts.- Other Central costs Domestic violence prevention.. 8ig Lottery Funding 5,0 Domestic violence prevention.. Other 32,607 245,990 Refuge 19,881 73,070 Srnallwotsd Trust 8,868 25,300 1,529 11,225 91,990 21,748 13,103 135,8091 16,9821 168,7561 17,710 25,992 55,653 5,000 23,464 15,123 4,947 1255,1331 177,8291 129,2211 79,112 431,202 1473,7301 55,653 92,237 Total funds 510,785 986,111 1945,6561 551,241 15b Movement in fund5 2022 Ati April 2021 Income Expenditure At31 Ma￿h 2022 Transfers Unrestricted fullds General fund5 427,543 467,082 1421,8711 141,0811 431,673 Restricted funds ChlldrÈn's Projects.. children in Need Children's Projects.. Other Central ojsls Dornestic violenie prevention.. Bi8 Lottery FundinE 5,000 Dorne5tic Viole￿Ie prevention.. Other Refuge Smallwood Trust 665 14,092 7,748 32,976 25,329 132,1111 128,1961 143,9611 132,3681 1196,3941 171.3741 134,3451 1,529 11,225 36,218 4,868 27,500 39,617 189,385 33,164 58,091 10,713 32,500 5,000 32,607 19,881 8,868 110,999 365,780 (438,7481 41,081 79,112 Total funt 538,542 832862 1860,6191 510,785 51 I he 5tattordshire Pathway Project Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2023 Transfers between funds Transfer5 between unrestricted and restricted funds were to covey any deficit of fLJnds spent on restricted project5 Compared with grant income received, together with the transfer of agreed management COSt5. Puyposes of Yestricted funds.. Chlldrèn'5 projects.. funding, including grants from Children in Need, received for the provi510ri of support to children In the refuges who are suffering as a result of living in a home with domestic violence. The funding received 15 piovided to work with childien both in the refuge and a5 an outreach to Service users through a children's worker, 3 parenting support carer and a se55ional crèche worker, together with additional costs such as outings and EqillPmEnt. Centlal costs.. tunding received towards the central costs of ihe refuge centres including the Head of Oper3tion5. Domestlt vlolence preventlon and advlce fund: funding received for the provision of support to women who have suffered as a result ol domestic violence. The funding is provided to work with women both in the refuge5 and 35 an outreach to service users through the provision of an eaily intervEntion workEr, an independent domestic v&olence adviser and a 24-hour helpline operated by tho project. Refuge.. funding received for the provision of Support to service u5er5 whi15t resident with the project. Siir.h fiinding is provided to work with wnmf.n in the refuge through a specialist support worker, a counselling service and activities to promote a healthier life 5tylE. Smallwood Trugt,. funding received from the trust is used to make financial grant5 to vulnerable female service users, in order to help them better managc their financial circumstances, or support actlV5ties that will help improve their mentèl health. Service users make applications for particular activitle5/needs through their Support Worker, providing proof of their financial circumstances and 8rant5 are then allocated out. During the funding, grant5 have included purchasing tarpets and white good5, paying for driving lessons and bus p35ses, FiayinÈ for divorces and purchasing new identification documents. 16 Pension commitments The charitable company operate5 3 defined contribLJtions pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund. The pension c05t charge represents ¢Dntributions payable by the charitable company to the fund and amounted to £13,24812022- £12,138). Contribut10115 totalling £Nil12022- ENill were payable to the fund at the balance Sheet date. 52