Annual Report 2021/22
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Photo by Tom - Crafts produced by young people in
Axminster
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Photo courtesy of Dunkeswell Youth Club - Enjoying their
bouncy castle evening!
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Photo courtesy of Tavistock Youth Cafe and Bere Alston
Youth 2 Youth
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Photo courtesy of
The Sir Francis Chichester Trust
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“To Champion and Strengthen Children and Young People Organisations in Devon”
Registered Charity Number: 1054442
Voluntary Organisations for Young People and - Children (VOYC) Devon
What is it that we do?
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Provide Practical Help - to ensure the support necessary to develop and maintain the children and young people’s sector.
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Provide a Voice - to enable the children and young people’s sector to have a voice and influence.
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Facilitate Networking - to support, develop and promote collaboration and networking.
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Manage the Charity - to have efficient and effective systems for the management of VOYC Devon.
President Robin Wakinshaw
Vice President Sally Yeo
Officers Chair of Trustees Peter Brewer Vice Chair of Trustees Gill Miller Treasurer Jon Oliverio (resigned 28.2.22) Peter Brewer/Giller Miller (Acting Joint Treasurers).
Management Committee/Executive (Trustees)
| Peter Brewer | Chair |
|---|---|
| Gill Millar | Vice Chair |
| Paul Allan | Co-option |
| Kerrie Clifford | Co-option |
| Steve Keable | CEDA |
| Jonathan Oliverio | Youth Genesis Trust Ltd (resigned 28.2.22) |
| Paul Reisbach | YMCA Exeter |
| Rebecca Skinner | Co-option |
| Dani de Beaumont | Co-option (wef 25.03.2022) |
Staff
Tom Coulthard Chief Executive (wef: 01.06.21) Mark Goodman Chief Executive (stepped down 31.05.21). Project Officer wef: 01.06.21 - resigned 31.3.22) Juliet White Operations Co-ordinator Alex Green Communications and Marketing Co-Ordinator
SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENT 2021 – 2022
Who we are and what we do
VOYC Devon continues to bring the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sectors’ people together to solve problems, address root causes and inspire each other. As an organisation we understand the power of the VCSE sector and volunteering and are proud to champion these.
We support individuals and groups working with children, young people and families by providing practical, face-to-face support in a variety of different ways. Our offer includes a range of services, from starting up a group to developing policies or keeping children and young people safe. In addition, VOYC provides a diverse range of training opportunities, regular news and information updates as well as the reassurance of a telephone advice line, email support and web based video meetings.
We operate a number of local youth networks to give workers, volunteers and activists a place to discuss issues, collaborate and share their experiences as well as 3 Devonwide video meetings per year, connecting our groups with statutory agencies, large charities and relevant agencies operating in the county.
Everything VOYC Devon offers is designed to enable VCSE organisations to become stronger, to operate more safely, sustainably and to enhance the quality of local provision. The majority of our support is available free of charge to the youth work sector through our grant agreement with Space, who hold the Youth Service contract with Devon County Council (DCC).
Summary of Achievement
VOYC Devon continues to work as a partner with Space within the VCSE infrastructure element of the Devon County Council Youth Services contract. VOYC also continues to play a key role in developing capacity within the VCSE Sector organisations through the safeguarding training and support offered to local groups.
Virtual training online has continued this year, alongside some bespoke face to face safeguarding for larger groups. This has allowed us to reach more volunteers and groups than just face to face; demand for all training has continued to grow and we are looking to increase and has now reached pre-pandemic levels overall.
Local Youth Networks have been greatly reduced, we have offered two meetings this year, as groups reopened after Covid. Only a couple of groups attended local network meetings. We did continue to offer plenty of advice, support and funding to groups re-opening. The local networks offer is under review, as part of the launch of
Youth Work in Devon. Funds have been allocated to the groups to spend on local collaboration and further meetings are scheduled. We recognise the importance of these networks in the re-opening of provision and will look to continue this work in the year ahead.
VOYC is involved in enabling the VCSE Sector to have their voice heard. We strive to ensure that local public services through the Devon Children and Families Partnership (DCFP) have a single way into the diverse VCSE Sector here in Devon. VOYC Devon represents the VCSE on the following: The DCFP Subgroup Chairs; DCFP Quality Assurance Delivery Group, The Early Help Improvement Board, DCFP Communication and Engagement subgroup and the Holiday Activities Programme.
We worked together with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and East Devon District Council to distribute over £50,000 of direct funding to groups supporting young people in adjusting to life after the pandemic, providing exciting, positive activities and support.
We have finalised the structure of our new partnership, Youth Work in Devon, which seeks to offer a single point of contact for all youth work providers who wish to join, regardless of their size and scope. This is currently in the form of a website, with a joint training calendar, a newsletter, interactive provision map and content from our partners.
Those that support work with children and young people within the VCSE Sector are more important than ever. Demand for universal services continues to grow in the aftermath of the pandemic. The VCSE sector is seeing the impact of this on its own provision, with a greater demand being placed on both its capacity and volunteers. Safeguarding our young people and children as they navigate the post pandemic landscape amid a chaotic economic climate is a substantial challenge to us all.
VOYC Devon will therefore be here to support all the organisations that are there for our children and young people at this important time.
We would once again like to extend a big thank you to our staff and Trustees as both have been central to all that we have achieved during the year and we thank them once again for their commitment and time.
Peter Brewer (Chair)
Tom Coulthard (Chief Officer)
A Quick Summary of the year!
A Devon wide network of:
261 Local Organisations 18 Network Organisations 56 Associates
Connecting people and organisations:
9 Online Zoom Meetings for Devon Wide and Local Networks providing advice information and support
Strengthening Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector Organisations
Organisations received direct support.
17 ‘Weekly’ to Members 8 ‘Monthly News’ to Members and Subscribers
Keeping children and young people safe
Delivering Safeguarding Training for: 326 Participants, from 71 different Organisations
Being the Voice of and advocating for the Sector
VOYC attends the following DCFP sub groups:
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✔ Quality Assurance Delivery Group;
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✔ Early Help Improvement Board
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✔ Communication and Engagement
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT
YEAR ENDED 31.3.22
VOYC Devon is a charity (Registered Charity Number 1054442) and as such meets all the rules and regulations set by the Charity Commission. The Trustees of the Charity present this report to support the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. The Annual Report and Accounts are produced in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, and the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities. VOYC Devon has income between £25,000 and £500,000 and so is subject to Independent Examination, conducted by Kevin Pope of KJP Financial Training Ltd.
The Charity's objects are to benefit young people in Devon by:
Championing and strengthening the informal learning offer of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector Children and Young People Organisations in Devon by:
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strengthening VCSE organisations providing support through information and advice in all aspects of work with children and young people;
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keeping children and young people safe by developing the skills of those who work with children and young people, delivering safeguarding and other relevant training;
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connecting people and organisations by developing and sustaining both countywide and local youth networks to enable youth organisations to share good practice, resources and expertise;
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ensuring that the voice of the VCSE organisations is heard.
VOYC Devon champions and strengthens the VCSE Children and Young People Sector, with over 270 members ranging from the largest charities, national network organisations (eg, Girl Guiding, Army Cadets and Boys Brigade) to the smallest community organisations. There are many committed volunteers supporting the organisations within our membership with people across the County giving their time, energy and money.
The year was a challenge for many members, re-opening after the lifting of pandemic restrictions, dealing with continuing high demand for services and challenging conditions for young people, staff and volunteers.
VOYC and its partners have continued to do their utmost to help groups continue and evolve in this uncertain climate.
With the focus shifting back from emergency measures into a more regular, sustainable growth we have concentrated on training, systems development and have agreed a budget to manage our resources accordingly.
Governance
The Executive Committee comprises:
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The three elected officers (Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer);
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Up to twelve representatives of member organisations;
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Up to six co-opted members.
The Executives are appointed either:
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by ordinary resolution of the members at general meeting;
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or as a co-option made at a meeting of the Executive during the year.
During the year, there were changes to the Executive Committee. Jon Oliverio stepped down as a Trustee. Dani de Beumont was co-opted to the Executive Committee during the year.
There were six meetings of the Executive Committee held during 2021-22 and there were reports on the financial position and on the performance against targets in the management plan at each of these meetings.
Staff Team
There have been some changes to our staff team, with Mark Goodman handing over the CEO role to Tom Coulthard. Juliet White has continued as the Operations Coordinator. They have been supported by Alex Green (Communications and Marketing) and Danielle Howlett (Safeguarding Training) as freelance contributors. We have also recruited a new communications assistant, Makayla Stubbs who will join us in 2022/3.
Marketing
We continued to keep our website fresh, up to date and relevant. We produce a member only e-bulletin and a monthly newsletter with wider circulation to both members and stakeholders. We have continued to grow our social media presence using the VOYC Website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Statement of Public Benefit
The Executive have considered the guidance provided by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit and its impact on the charity's work, and in particular the requirement that there must be specific identifiable benefits, and ones applicable to the wider public. Trustees consider that both requirements have been met.
Reserves Policy
The Executive has examined the Charity's need for reserves in the context of planned activities during 2021/22. This process has included consideration of quantifiable financial risks to the Charity within the context of continued spending cuts by central and local government.
Reserves are needed to:
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Allow funding to cover unforeseen operational or core costs like taking on temporary staff to cover a long-term sickness / absence.
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Provides a fund to cover gaps in income of up to six months if a grant is not renewed or is unexpectedly taken away.
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Planned commitments that cannot be met by future income such as refurbishment of the website or ICT hardware.
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Covering short-term deficits in our cash flow before a grant is received.
At the year-end, the level of reserves was £62995.61. Based on the above criteria, the Trustees are confident that there are sufficient unrestricted reserves to meet the reserves policy requirements.
Approved by the Trustee Board on 27[th] June 2022, and signed on its behalf by the Chair:
Peter Brewer
Peter Brewer (Chair of the Trustees)
FINANCIAL STATEMENT YEAR ENDED 31.03.22
Financial Statement
| Financial Statement | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.03.21 | 31.03.22 | 31.03.21 | 31.03.22 | ||
| INCOME | £ | EXPENDITURE | £ | ||
| 66408.95 | B/Forward | 55685.11 | |||
| 27000.00 | Grant – Youth Service Grant | 28443.00 44502.78 |
Employment/Travel | 53608.32 | |
| 0.00 | Grant - YS Arrears | 1443.00 | 53.14 | Governance | 307.83 |
| 0.00 | Covid-19 Recovery | 20000.00 | 0.00 | Networking | 12.00 |
| 0.00 | CSP Monies | 29420.00 | 1215.22 | Office | 1867.39 |
| 0.00 | EDDC - Youth Support | 3209.00 | 497.64 | ICT | 2048.12 |
| 800.00 | Devon Comm Found (Covid Work) | 0.00 | 611.70 | Member Training | 250.00 |
| 1127.31 | The Grandchildren’s Project | 0.00 | 69.00 | Bank Charges | 96.00 |
| 800.00 | Comm Safety Partn (MH Training) | 0.00 | 950.00 | The G/Children Project | 0.00 |
| 5610.00 | Training Programme | 10087.50 | 0.00 | CSP Grants | 26703.58 |
| 2000.00 | Operational Income | 420.00 | 0.00 | Misc | 49.90 |
| 147.38 | Interest | 111.24 | |||
| 20.95 | Misc | 27.40 | |||
| 37505.64 | TOTAL INCOME | 93161.14 47899.48 |
TOTALS | 84943.14 | |
| 330.00 | Res Exp again YS Rev | 907.50 | |||
| 48229.48 | TOTAL EXP | 85850.64 | |||
| Carried Forward | 62995.61 | ||||
| BANK BALANCES AS AT | 31.03.22 | ||||
| CAF Current account | 26772.30 | ||||
| CAF Gold Account | 1112.40 | ||||
| Shawbrook Bank 60 day notice a/c | 35110.91 |
Independent examiners report for the accounts (y/e 31.3.22):-
Auditor: Kevin Pope (FCIB) - KJP Financial Training Ltd Tom Coulthard (Chief Officer)