OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

← Connection Support

2021-03-31-accounts

CONNECTION SUPPORT (Formerly registered as Connection Oxford) TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Charity No: 1049740 Company Registration No: 03072719

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

CONTENTS PAGE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

CONTENTS PAGE
General information 2
Trustees’ Annual Report 3-10
Auditors’ Report 11-14
Statement of Financial Activities 15
Balance Sheet 16
Statement of Cash Flows 17
Notes to the fnancial statements 18-28

1

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

GENERAL INFORMATION YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Registered charity name Connection Support Charity number 1049740 Company registration number 03072719 Principal & registered office address 213 Barns Road (1[st] floor) Oxford OX4 3UT Trustees Jennifer Berrill David Waters (resigned 07.05.2021) David Bayes Richard Allman Mike Wortley Kelly Bark (resigned 01.07.2021) Anne Cooney Diane Hampson (resigned 07.09.2020) Jim Arnold Emily Dobell Dipen Parekh (appointed 16.07.2020) Secretary Chris Keating (appointed 11.02.2021) Mark Thompson (resigned 11.02.2021) Auditors Shaw Gibbs (Audit) Limited Chartered Certified Accountants and Statutory Auditors 264 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7DY

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

2

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law (referred to as trustees throughout); present their report and the audited financial statements of the company (referred to as the Charity throughout) for the year ended 31 March 2021.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Reference and administrative details are shown in the schedule of general information on page 2 of the financial statements.

THE TRUSTEES

The trustees who served the charity during the year are shown on page 2.

RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the Company’s Articles are known as members of the Management Committee. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association one third of the members of the Management Committee, or if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third, shall retire from office at the Annual General Meeting each year. David Bayes, Jim Arnold and Jenny Berrill offered themselves for re-election. Any trustee appointed between Annual General Meetings shall only retain his or her office until the next Annual General Meeting and then shall be eligible for reelection, Emily Dobell and Dipen Parekh were duly elected.

David Waters was re-elected as the Chair of the board, however, due to personal circumstances he stepped down from this role in November 2020 with Jenny Berrill taking on the Chair role. Jim Arnold and Richard Allman both became Vice Chair for 5 months each.

A broad range of management and development experience within the Social Care, Health, Housing, Business and Finance fields is represented on the Board. Every 2 years the Board reviews the functioning of, and the skill mix on, the Board and this informs recruitment.

Detailed information is provided for prospective trustees including access to our website:

This is followed up by informal contact with the Chief Executive and then a formal interview with a Board Member and the Chief Executive. References are taken prior to full Board approval of appointment. The interview involves detailed discussion of the Responsibilities of Trustees in line with Charity Commission guidance.

TRUSTEE INDUCTION AND TRAINING

Induction includes further contact with the Chief Executive to shape up the areas of more specific input. Direct contact with a Front-Line Worker can help to fill out the understanding of the work. A mentor from the Board is identified to support the process of joining the Board. Training opportunities are circulated to Board members

3

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Chief Executive’s reports to the Board identify the major risks to the Charity.

The risks to service users and employees associated with delivering the support are managed via the Risk Assessment policy which is part of the detailed working practices. These working practices incorporate quality standards and link to the Quality Frameworks used by Commissioners. Connection Support has been awarded the highest rating in Support Planning and Risk Assessment by Oxfordshire County Council.

The Board has an ongoing process of considering the position of the organisation to inform planning for the future. This includes an annual facilitated Strategic Thinking process, including the Senior Team, integrated with regular Board meetings.

The coronavirus pandemic has presented significant risk and changes to our working practices over the past year; however, we have proudly continued to operate all of our services. Some services have been delivered remotely where possible, whilst others, have continued to operate in-person as required to safeguard our client base. Our offices have remained open only for use of those staff members who cannot work from home, in line with government guidance. Despite the pandemic we have remained financially resilient and overall, the organisation has continued to grow.

Milton Keynes

The Milton Keynes Housing First service continues to operate successfully and is midcontract.

The floating support service in Milton Keynes went out to tender in late 2020 and the current service has been extended until commencement of the new contract in August 2021.

Connection Support continues to deliver the Employment Support aspects of SelfDirected Support in Milton Keynes.

A 28-unit supported accommodation scheme named Orchard House was mobilised in July 2020 to support transitioning former rough sleepers from hotel accommodation provided during the first lockdown.

We have been commissioned by Central and North-West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) to pilot the provision of Mental Health Floating Support for clients being discharged from mental health wards, this pilot is planned to operate until August 2021.

Milton Keynes Council were awarded Next Steps Accommodation funding to purchase 30 self-contained units, Connection Support have received a grant agreement to provide support to clients moving into this accommodation, funding is expected to be extended until the end of financial year 2021-22.

Buckinghamshire

Our Prevention Matters service in Buckinghamshire has been significantly reshaped due to Covid and has been locally recognised as a service that has supported the community

4

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

through supporting many isolated individuals and managing the Keep in Touch service on behalf of the council.

The Reset Project for people with an offending background continues to be funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner. TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Padstones and Housing Interaction Trust (HIT) for young people in Bucks continues to be funded by Bucks Council, funding has been extended until August 2022.

Our partnership work with One Recovery Bucks continues and supports clients with substance misuse and housing difficulties.

The Buckinghamshire Rough Sleeper Coordinator, Rough Sleeper Outreach, Mental Health Outreach and Tenancy Sustainment work is currently funded by the Ministry of Housing, Community & Local Government (MHCLG) on an annual basis. This is continuing for 2021/22 with some teams being expanded.

Connection received MHCLG funding for a pilot project to support clients housed in the government’s ‘everyone in’ accommodation with No Resource to Public Funds (NRPF) which has currently only received short-term funding.

We have successfully transferred in the Volunteer Delivered Family Support Service (now known as BOOST) which was challenging to transfer and mobilise throughout lockdown, though has now reached a stable position and is delivering on its objectives.

Oxfordshire

The Connection Outreach Service (COS) operates across the four Oxfordshire District Councils, and we are pleased that the County Council continues to prioritise funding this work, with some temporary expansions funded by MHCLG. Much of this work was adapted during lockdown to support clients staying in hotels through the government’s ‘everyone in’ campaign.

The Employment Support service in Oxfordshire as part of Self-Directed Support has been transferred back into the council.

Connection Support has been delivering as the single provider of Community Floating Support contract in Oxfordshire since April 2018 and this contract has been extended to March 2022. This contract includes a significant payment by results element which continues to be secured. Systems to monitor performance against the targets are working well. Our “Digital Engagement” element has been expanded with Covid.

Connection Support has been delivering part of the Oxfordshire Homeless Pathway, and the partnerships with Response, Cottsway Housing Association and Cherwell District Council continue. This delivers 47 beds across Cherwell, West Oxfordshire and Oxford City. A contract extension has been secured until March 2022. Connection Support have transferred Mayday Trust’s City Council contract under this provision and have mobilised 10 units across 3 properties which are leased by the organisation, rather than through a housing management organisation, this is funded until March 2022 and then will be recommissioned. We have also been subcontracted by Mayday Trust to operate the whole of their County Council contract for 20 clients, the lease on 4 properties has been

5

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

transferred to us for this contract. The contract is until March 2022 and will then be recommissioned.

We have continued to successfully deliver work with resettling refugee families in Oxford City and Cherwell District, including securing a new contract for new families in Cherwell District albeit that new arrivals have been delayed by Covid. Our contract with Oxford City is being wound down at present.

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The specialist Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership project has secured a 2-year contract extension and an uplift has been successfully negotiated. This includes Connection Support workers embedded in Adult Mental Health Teams. Our mental health work in Oxfordshire includes the development of a Housing First project and a worker embedded at Oxford City Council.

Connection Support workers embedded in Hospitals continue. Funding has been secured for 2 posts to March 2022 at which point they will be funded longer term under the Oxfordshire Homelessness recommissioning.

The Step-Down house project for homeless people being discharged from hospital was extended to a second house in January by Oxford City Council. The first house is funded until March 2022 and will then be part of the Oxfordshire Homelessness recommissioning, the second house is funded until June 2022.

The Housing First project in Cherwell District and the Supported Lettings in Oxford City are both successfully impacting on homelessness.

We won 2 lots of Oxfordshire County Council’s Young People’s Supported Accommodation (YPSA) contract. We are now managing properties in South Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire for clients requiring self-contained and out of county accommodation and support. There is a risk over potential voids for the service which is currently mitigated by the council agreeing to pay any voids until the end of our fifth quarter of delivery.

We are working in partnership with Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, Aspire and Asylum Welcome to mobilise a charitably funded NRPF project to support clients being decanted from the ‘everyone in’ hotel accommodation. We are the lead support provider and project manager for the service.

Internal financial risks are managed in line with the detailed Financial Procedures covering authorisation of all transactions.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Connection has Board meetings every 2 months. The CEO, 2 Directors and Deputy CEOs and an administrator, who takes minutes, attend but do not have voting rights.

There is a Finance Sub-committee and a Development Sub-committee which meet quarterly. Other committees can be formed on a task focused basis.

6

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

There is a Board comprised of people with backgrounds in housing, commissioning, social care, health care and business. The Chief Executive reports to the Board, and manages the 2 Directors and Deputy CEOs, the Finance Manager, the HR Manager and the Business Systems Manager. The Directors & Deputy CEOs line manage the Operations Managers and any other senior roles. The Operations Managers manage the Team Managers. Support Workers and Senior Support Workers are managed by Team Managers. We have successfully recruited to the post of Income Generation Manager to support the long-term financial resilience of the organisation.

After 23 years as CEO, Mark Thompson left the organisation in February 2021, following a competitive process Chris Keating was appointed as the new CEO, having previously held the role of Operations Director & Deputy CEO since December 2019. Alice Copping and Amy Delisser have both been appointed through a competitive process to 2 identical posts as Directors and Deputy CEOs. TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

RELATED PARTIES

Connection remains very active at many levels of inter-agency work. This includes active involvement in inter-agency forums, multi-agency referral meetings, project development with other agencies and playing an active part in multi-agency drop-in services.

Connection continues to play an active role as a provider with the main Commissioning agencies in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

ACTIVITIES

The company is a charity and exists to provide advice and support which enables independence and good housing outcomes for vulnerable persons.

Our work is organised in teams across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. People using the service have a range of challenges they need support with, and our approach is to meet them and work with them in the context of their lives and the aspirations they have, supporting any changes they wish to make, and ensuring the resources are in place to enable successful independent living. Our approach includes a strong aspirational / strength-based focus.

Contact with the front-line workers is often on an appointment basis, however telephone and online contact is increasingly important and this links with a duty system in some areas.

We continue to have good throughput of clients and relatively high caseloads and are keen to continue to ensure that available resource is used for maximum benefit as well as keeping a focus on longer term sustainability of independent living for people living with significant vulnerability. The organisation reports Key Performance Indicators on a quarterly basis, or as required by commissioners. These are periodically reviewed for trends and comparisons. The organisation operates within the Quality Frameworks of the Local Authorities and received the top Green rating for all aspects of the service in Oxfordshire.

7

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

The Board continues to invest in the development of the Volunteers Project, which is active across Connection Support, is attracting some funding and being worked into future delivery across a range of contracts.

The Trustees take into account the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and believe that the activities of Connection Support as set out in this section of this report covers the duty of showing public benefit in line with that guidance. Our principle public benefit is to enable vulnerable people to maintain their independence, this includes people with mental health problems, drug and alcohol problems, families, young people, refugees, people who have been homeless, older people and people with an offending background. People who receive support must need this support to enable them to live independently. There is no charge for this support.

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The main funding comes from contracts with local statutory agencies, out of Local Authority Grant or Central Government, to provide preventative support. We are pleased that the authorities where we operate continue to fund these vital services, however, there is continued threat to funding with a range of other calls on Local Authority finances, the risk of reduced funding post the COVID-19 pandemic is currently unknown, however mitigations are being made in our new strategy. Connection Support has successfully continued to provide a wide range of services to a wide range of people with our core values of independence and housing informing all of our work. We continue to believe that highly skilled support contributes to a range of social issues and sustains independent living for people in a range of needs groups. Our work complements and can be part of a range of specialisms e.g., housing management, mental health, physical health, reducing offending, substance misuse and the Care Act.

Significant other funding continues to come from the Clinical Commissioning Group in Oxfordshire via Oxford Heath NHS Trust, funding our mental health work.

A developing source of funding is through housing benefit and rental income achieved through properties leased by Connection Support through private landlords and registered providers to house clients in receipt of support through the organisation.

We have employed an Income Generation Manager to deliver a fundraising strategy to further diversify our income to support the ongoing sustainability of the organisation.

The Risk Management Section above advises on the risks to current funding and contracts.

A cost-of-living increase was paid to staff from April 2020.

8

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

Investment policy

Funding is acquired to be spent on delivering services and to manage the risks set out above, so there are few funds for long term investment. Connection Support continues to invest in a range of secure options, which is being reviewed in 2021/22 with investment organisations being pursued by the board’s Finance Sub Committee.

Summary of end of year

The total surplus for the year amounted to £95,938. There was a surplus of £90,207 relating to restricted funds and a surplus of £5,730 relating to unrestricted funds. Total unrestricted funds at the end of the year now stand at £2,003,384. This puts Connection Support in a reasonably strong position for dealing with the potentially difficult times ahead.

Reserves policy

The policy on reserves is to aim for three months’ running costs to be maintained. The Board will undertake careful consideration of risk and forward planning in assessing the use of reserves and is investing in capacity to manage the tendering and development opportunities. The threat to funding of Connection’s work over the next two years suggests that there may be a call on reserves in this period.

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Plans for the future

We believe strongly in the type of work we do, and the skills, knowledge and experience required, and the costs associated with delivering this. We continue to have a significant presence delivering a range of support services in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes. We will continue to review and clarify what we do, how we do it, what it costs and how it fits with the rest of the social care, housing and health arenas, in order to deliver support as effectively as possible.

We remain open to considering other ways of adding value to our work, e.g., via partnerships or mergers, further developing the models we currently use, exploring options for other funding. Opportunities for new projects to provide support are considered carefully in terms of financial viability and impact on infrastructure.

Impact of Covid-19

The Covid pandemic has had significant impact on the operations of Connection Support, this has included significant change in working practices and the start-up of a new project in Milton Keynes to enable resettlement of rough sleepers housed temporarily in hotels during the pandemic. None of our existing contracts have been changed as part of the pandemic, if anything the need for our work is clearer than ever. The impact of potential further austerity in years to come is actively in the minds of Trustees.

Trustees

The directors of the company, who are trustees for the purposes of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 2.

9

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

Members of the charitable company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of a winding up. The total number of such guarantees as at 31 March 2021 was eight.

The trustees (who are also the directors of Connection Support for the purposes of Company Law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

10

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD) TRusfEES' ANNUAL REPORT (coKfiNUED) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate attounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable companvs transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitsble company and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Art and Companies Act 2006. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for takn.ng reas¢)nable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far as the trustees are aware: there is no relevant audit inforrnation of vthich the charitable compan￿5 auditor i% unaware: and the trustees have taken all step5 that they ou8ht to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit infOrMat￿n and to esiablish that the auditor is aware of that information. Appointment of auditors Shaw Gibbs (Auditl Limited are recommended for r&appointment at the AGM under section 487121 of the Companies Art 2006. Approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by: Jim Arnold Chair of the Board of Trustees Date: 23 September 2021 li

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CONNECTION OXFORD FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Connection Support for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and Charities SORP.

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the accounts in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you were:

12

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CONNECTION OXFORD (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Other information

The Trustee Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities Act 2011 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustee Directors

As explained more fully in the statement of Trustee Directors' responsibilities, the Trustee Directors, who are also the directors of the Charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustee Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

13

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustee Directors are responsible for assessing the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustee Directors either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CONNECTION OXFORD (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

14

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CONNECTION OXFORD (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of the Charities Act 2011. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

…………………………………………. Stephen Howard Neal (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Shaw Gibbs (Audit) Limited

Chartered Certified Accountants & Statutory Auditor 264 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7DY

Date ……………………………

15

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Total Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Total
2021 2020
£ £ £ £ £ £
Not
es
Income from:
Donations and
legacies
3		 3,607 165,049 168,656 7,761 21,582 29,343
Charitable activities
4		 5,353,805 - 5,353,805 4,451,597 - 4,451,597
Investments
5		 1,250 - 1,250 1,526 - 1,526
Other income
6		 326,619 6,450 333,069 261,205 5,762 266,967
Total income 5,685,281 171,499 5,856,780 4,722,089 27,344 4,749,433
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
7		 18,094 - 18,094 12,542 - 12,542
Charitable activities
8		 5,661,456 81,292 5,742,748 4,610,662 18,244 4,628,906
Total expenditure 5,679,550 81,292 5,760,842 4,623,204 18,244 4,641,448
Net income /
-expenditure		 5,731 90,207 95,938 98,885 9,101 107,985
Transfers
between funds		 - - - - 132 132 -
Net movement in
funds		 5,731 90,207 95,938 98,753 9,232 107,985
Reconciliation of
funds:
Total funds brought
forwards		 1,997,653 28,991 2,026,644 1,898,900 19,759 1,918,659
Total funds carried
forward		 2,003,384 119,198 2,122,582 1,997,653 28,991 2,026,644

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.

All of the above amounts relate to continuing activities.

16

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

The notes on pages 16 to 26 form part of these financial statements.

17

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2021

2021 2020
£ £ £ £
£
Not
es
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible Assets 13 406,33
6		 378,88
2
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 14 932,38
8		 749,23
3
Cash at bank 1,277,2
98		 1,301,3
88
2,209,6 2,050,6
86 21
CREDITORS:Amounts falling
due within oneyear		 15 -
493,439		 -
402,859
NET CURRENT ASSETS 1,716,2
46		 1,647,7
62
NET ASSETS 2,122,5
82		 2,026,6
44
FUNDS
INCOME FUNDS
Unrestricted Income funds 16 1,703,3
84		 1,697,6
53
Contingency funds 16 300,00
0		 300,00
0
Restricted Income funds 17 119,19
8		 28,991
TOTAL INCOME FUNDS 2,122,5
82		 2,026,6
44

18

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

2021 2020
£ £
Note
s
Cash used in operating activities
18		 32,906 267,99
9
Cash fows from investing activities
Interest income
5		 1,250 1,526
Purchase of tangible fxed assets
13		 - 58,246 - 16,350
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - 56,996 - 14,824
Cash fows from fnancingactivities
Payment of fnance leases - -
Cash used in fnancing activities - -
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in
theyear		 - 24,090 253,17
5
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning
of theyear		 1,301,3
88		 1,048,21
3
Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of
the year		 1,277,2
98		 1,301,3
88

19

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1. COMPANY STATUS

Connection Support is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales.

The registered office is 213 Barns Road, Oxford, OX4 3UT.

The liability of each member is limited to £1 on a winding up of the company. The total number of such guarantees as at 31 March 2021 was eight.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.

Connection Support meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Board for particular purposes.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.

Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure represents amounts invoiced, including value added tax which cannot be recovered.

20

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Tangible Fixed assets

All assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Computer Equipment 20% straight line Office Equipment 20% straight line Buildings 2% straight line

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is credited or charged to profit or loss.

Taxation

The Charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Pension costs

The charity operates a money purchase (defined contribution) pension scheme. Contributions payable to this scheme, or appropriate scheme of the employee’s choice, are charged to the profit and loss account in the period to which they relate. These contributions are invested separately from the charity’s assets. Pension arrangements are in line with auto-enrolment requirements.

Operating lease agreements

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged against profits on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Finance leases agreements

Finance leases are recorded as an asset on the balance sheet and as an obligation to pay future rentals. Rental payments are apportioned between the finance charge and a reduction of the outstanding obligation for future amounts payable. Assets capitalised under a finance lease are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and its useful life.

Irrecoverable VAT

All resources expended are classified under activity headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended in relation to which it was incurred.

Cash and cash equivalents

21

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts.

Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Financial instruments are recognised when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets are offset, with the net amounts presented in the charity, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

22

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Total
Funds
2021
Unrestric
ted		 Restrict
ed		 Total
Funds
2020
£ £ £ £
3,607 165,049 168,656 29,343
ACTIVITIES
Unrestri
cted		 Restri
cted		 Total
Funds
2021		 Total
Funds
2020
£ £ £ £
Grants:
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
 761,974 - 761,974 553,258
South Stafs and Shrops Healthcare
NHSFT		 54,210 - 54,210 51,588
Cherwell District Council 274,643 - 274,643 261,749
Wycombe District Council - - - 352,278
Oxford City Council 220,738 - 220,738 341,287
Buckinghamshire County Council 1,583,829 - 1,583,82
9		 764,153
West Oxfordshire District Council 8,022 - 8,022 8,022
South Oxfordshire District Council 57,814 - 57,814 20,000
Vale of White Horse District Council 57,729 - 57,729 20,000
Oxfordshire County Council 1,102,404 - 1,102,40
4		 956,565
Milton Keynes Council 854,095 - 854,095 657,923
Chiltern District Council - - - 42,000
Aylesbury Vale District Council - - - 99,700
Income from other charitable
activities		 378,347 - 378,347 323,074
5,353,805 - 5,353,80
5		 4,451,5
97

23

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

5. INVESTMENT INCOME

5. INVESTMENT INCOME
Bank interest
6. OTHER INCOME		 Unrestri
cted		 Restrict
ed		 Total
Funds
2021		 Total
Funds
2020
£
1,526
£ £ £
1,250 - 1,250
Unrestri
cted		 Restri
cted		 Total
Funds		 Total
Funds
2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Other income 326,619 6,450 333,069 266,967
7. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS Total
Funds
2020
£
12,542
Unrestri
cted		 Restri
cted		 Total
Fund
s
2021
£ £ £
Publicity 18,094 - 18,09
4

24

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

8. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Unrestri
cted		 Restrict
ed		 Total
Funds
2021		 Total
Funds
2020
£ £ £ £
Charitable activities:
Salaries 3,815,21
2		 - 3,815,2
12		 3,172,8
49
Employer's NI 277,039 - 277,039 227,340
Pension contributions 96,910 - 96,910 84,607
Travel and subsistence 69,025 - 69,025 148,122
Training 29,924 - 29,924 47,720
Telephone, fax and mobiles 118,523 - 118,523 63,029
Subscriptions 2,319 - 2,319 1,924
Client support 68,956 81,292 150,248 75,450
Printing, postage, stationery
and equipment		 251,582 - 251,582 98,363
Computer services 95,310 - 95,310 38,339
Payroll administration 985 - 985 12,108
Depreciation 30,793 - 30,793 16,231
Consultancy and legal 12,198 - 12,198 7,963
Translation services 3,026 - 3,026 2,696
Ofce costs 179,093 - 179,093 263,598
Insurance 23,327 - 23,327 11,158
Vetting and data protection
fees		 4,763 - 4,763 5,226
Recruitment 7,807 - 7,807 6,166
Bank charges 2,542 - 2,542 1,882
Finance charge - - - -
Bad debt write of 1,234 - 1,234 18,933
Accommodation costs 525,488 - 525,488 264,725
Website development 2,400 - 2,400 -
Other costs 36,984 - 36,984 54,569
Governance 6,016 - 6,016 5,916
- 0
Total charitable activities 5,661,45
6		 81,292 5,742,74
8		 4,628,9
06

25

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

9. NET OUTGOING/INCOMING RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 9. NET OUTGOING/INCOMING RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 9. NET OUTGOING/INCOMING RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 9. NET OUTGOING/INCOMING RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 9. NET OUTGOING/INCOMING RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR
2021 2020
£ £
Depreciation on buildings
 7,500 7,500
Depreciation - on property fxtures
& fttings
 7,313 -
Depreciation - on other ofce
equipment		 15,980 8,731
10.
AUDTOR’S REMUNERATION		 2020
£
5,916
2021
£
Audit Fees 6,016
11.
ANALYSIS OF STAFF COSTS
2021 2020
£ £
Wages 3,815,21
2		 3,172,84
9
Social security costs 277,039 227,340
Pension contributions 96,910 84,607
4,189,16
1		 3,484,79
6

None of the employees of the company earned £60,000 or more during the periods ended 31 March 2021 or 31 March 2020.

The average number of employees during the period was 163 (2020 – 142). All employees are involved in the provision of the Company’s objects.

12. COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES

2021 2020
£ £
Within 1 year 277,313 169,45
4
Within 2 to 5 years 263,236 315,80
4
540,549 485,25
8

26

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

13. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

13.
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Comput
er
Equipme
nt		 Ofce
Equipme
nt		 Buildin
gs		 Total
£ £ £ £
COST
At 1 April 2020 72,270 99,196 375,000 556,466
Additions 28,996 29,251 - 58,246
At 31 March 2021 101,266 128,447 375,000 604,713
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2020 53,669 98,915 15,000 167,584
Charge for the year 15,699 7,594 7,500 30,793
At 31 March 2021 69,368 106,509 22,500 198,377
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2021 31,898 21,938 352,500 406,336
At 31 March 2020 18,601 281 360,000 378,882
14.
DEBTORS
2021 2020
£ £
Grants due 835,311 648,957
Prepayments and other debtors 97,077 100,276
932,388 749,233
15.
CREDITORS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2021 2020
£ £
Taxation and social security 82,380 59,655
Deferred income: grants 126,054 138,954
Accruals 95,349 50,391
Accounts payable and other
creditors		 189,656 153,858
493,439 402,859

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

27

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD)

16. UNRESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS

Balance
at 1
April
2020		 Incomin
g
resourc
es		 Outgoin
g
resourc
es		 Transf
ers		 Balanc
e as at
31
March
2021
£ £ £ £ £
Contingency
funds		 300,00
0		 - - - 300,00
0
Total funds 1,697,6
53		 5,685,2
81		 -
5,679,55
0		 - 1,703,3
84
1,997,6
53		 5,685,2
81		 -
5,679,55
0		 - 2,003,3
84

Contingency fund

The contingency fund is an allocation of reserves to ensure the company has funds available to meet the payroll in the event of a shortfall in funding. This fund is represented by cash at bank.

28

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

17. RESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS

Balanc
e at 1
April
2020		 Incomi
ng
resourc
es		 Outgoi
ng
resourc
es		 Transf
ers		 Balanc
e as at
31
March
2021
£ £ £ £ £
Barclays Charities Trust - 100,000 -28,596 - 71,404
Bucks Client Welfare 3,151 230 -3,308 - 73
Bucks Rothschild - 10,000 -6,797 - 3,203
Bucks Outreach RSI 90 - - - 90
Groundworks - 3,166 -1,316 - 1,850
Hickman - 5,426 -2,084 - 3,342
HIT SIG 2,067 - -2,017 3,500
Heart of Bucks 3,500 6,500 -9,035 - 965
Oxfordshire Homeless
Pathways Welfare Fund		 51 - - - 51
Oxon Community
Foundation		 5,266 - - -5,266 -
Oxon Rough Sleeper - 5,893 - - 5,893
Padstones Welfare 10,457 8,606 -4,942 - 14,122
Shanley Foundation 312 4,000 -4,232 80
Vol Bu Roth 926 - - - 926
OXPAT - 6,450 -4,840 - 1,610
OXFAP - 1,500 - - 1,500
Welfare 3,171 19,638 -14,123 5,266 13,952
Total funds 28,991 171,499 -81,292 - 119,198

18. CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS

2021 2020
£ £
Net movement in funds 95,938 107,985
Add back depreciation charge 30,793 16,231
Deduct interest income shown in
investing activities		 - 1,250 - 1,526
Decrease (increase) in debtors -183,156 152,145
Increase (decrease) in creditors 90,581 -6,836
Net cash used in operatingactivities 32,906 267,999

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)

29

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

19. FUNDS RECEIVED AS AGENT FOR CLIENTS

Connection receives grant monies as agent on behalf of clients who do not have their own bank accounts.

own bank accounts.
2021 2020
£ £
At 1 April 2020 / 2019 26,678 24,382
Receipts 40,735 33,805
Payments - 46,242 - 31,509
At 31 March 2021 / 2020 21,171 26,678

20. PENSIONS

20.
PENSIONS
2021 2020
£ £
Charge to the statement of
fnancial activities in respect of
defned contribution schemes		 96,910 84,607

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying members. Contributions payable to this scheme, or appropriate scheme of the employee’s choice, are charged to the profit and loss accounts in the period to which they relate. These contributions are invested separately from the charity’s assets. Pension arrangements are in line with auto-enrolment requirements.

At the year-end 31 March 2021 the amounts payable to pension schemes totalled £18,123

21. TRUSTEE REMUNERATION, KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL & RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

No member of the board of trustees received any remuneration during the year.

The charity trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2020: nil). No trustees were reimbursed for travel expenses during the year (2020: nil). No trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2020: nil).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees, the Chief Executive Officer and the two Deputy Chief Executive Officers. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £127,253 (2020: £54,085).

No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year.

22. EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE

In November 2021, the Charity changed its name from Connection Oxford to Connection Support.

30

CONNECTION SUPPORT (FORMERLY REGISTERED AS CONNECTION OXFORD) 31