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2023-03-31-accounts

Families InFocus (Essex) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year ended 31 March 2023

Registered Charity No. 1062311 Company Limited by Guarantee No. 03287829

Contents Contents
Company information Page 2
Chief Executive’s welcome Page 3
Achievements Page 5
Our strategic plan Page 10
Thank you Page 12
Financial Review Page 13
Structure, Governance and Management Page 16
Chair’s concluding remarks Page 19
Independent examiner’s report Page 20
Statement of financial activities Page 21
Balance sheet Page 22
Notes to the financial statements Page 23

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Families InFocus (Essex)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Company information

Company Number 3287829 Charity Number 1062311 Registered office 30 – 33 Townfield House Chelmsford Essex CM1 1QL Patron Lord Petre Trustees Sarah Dignasse, Chairperson Marc Jordan, Vice Chairperson Karen Saye Andrew Gothard Martin Merrell David Carruthers Colin Leahey (retired July 2022) Julie Sarti (appointed November 2022) Sue Dewar (appointed January 2023) Chief Executive Officer Kirsty Cornell Independent examiner Raymond Crace FCA Edmund Carr LLP Chartered Accountants 146 New London Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 0AW

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Families InFocus (Essex)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

The trustees, who are the directors of the charitable company for Companies Act purposes, are pleased to present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. In this report they are referred to as the Trustees or, collectively, as “the Board”.

Chief Executive’s Welcome

Welcome to our review of 2022 to 2023.

2022 – 2023 was a year of optimism for Families InFocus. We were all relieved to see our services return to normal after a series of interruptions and constraints arising from the pandemic, we have been able to grow our services with the launch of a new peer support service for families, and we have launched our new strategy – combining a realistic view of the outside world alongside some ambitious plans for our future.

This year our fantastic team of staff and volunteers have supported over 1,800 families, helped raise over £600,000 in disability benefits for families, and run a growing programme of workshops and events. We were all thrilled in January 2023 to launch our new website (with funding from the Essex Community Foundation), which has allowed us to share a wide range of information resources with families.

After a long period of reflection, talking to partners, staff, trustees, volunteers, and most importantly families, and with help from the wonderful team at Pilotlight, we were thrilled to launch our new strategy for 2022 to 2025. In developing our plans we are coming from a place of success – Families InFocus is a well-respected, well-known and valued organisation- we have been supporting families who have a child or a young person with any form of Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND) across Essex for over 25 years. We are appreciated and supported by the families we work with. It is important to us that we continue the things that are working well, but that we are also ready to meet future challenges – including the cost-of-living crisis, increasing demands on our services, pressures on the local SEND system, and the national SEND review.

Our strategy focuses on 4 core areas:

More detail on our future plans sits on page 10.

In order to do all of the things we want to in the coming years, we need to be sustainable long term. Alongside the strategy sits a fundraising plan, setting out how we will raise income from a diverse range of sources to enable us to deliver our services. This is going to be incredibly

important as we face some significant funding uncertainties over the coming years – income generation will be both time consuming and challenging, and we are looking at different forms of raising funds, including asking some families for a contribution to the cost of services where appropriate.

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Demand for our services is increasing, we are seeing an increase in children and young people with poor mental health, the cost of living crisis is hitting SEND families the hardest, and the national SEND system is in urgent need of reform. It is a difficult time for a child or young person with SEND, and their families, but I am confident that Families InFocus, with our hardworking team and local support, will see us move into the future stronger, more resilient and still delivering the excellent services that we are known for today.

K J Cornell

Kirsty Cornell, Chief Executive

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Families InFocus (Essex)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Achievements

For over 25 years, Families InFocus has been providing a range of services for SEND families in Essex, including information and advice, play and social activities, and peer support.

Information and advice

Our Family Support Service is a core aspect of our work. Our team of dedicated Family Support Advisors (FSAs) help families with SEND children by providing support with securing the right education provision. This typically involves:

Our Family Support Advisors also support families in helping to complete the complex disability benefits applications paperwork, and give advice on transport, social care and housing.

In the year:

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Families who responded to our survey this year said:

95% felt better informed and supported as a result of our support.

85% said our support had a positive effect on their child’s education. 82% of families we helped with benefits reported improved wellbeing. 90% strongly agreed or agreed that the support had a positive effect on their whole family. 98% of families rated our support as excellent or very good. 100% would recommend us.

“It has been the most on point and appropriate support that we have received. It is the first assistance that we have been offered that has completely fulfilled what it said it would and I honestly cannot thank them enough.” Parent, 2022

Lynn’s story:

Lynn is originally from Ghana and is a single mum to three girls. Her eldest daughter, J, is 14 and has an autism spectrum disorder, associated language difficulties and a learning disability. J wasn’t happy at her mainstream school, and Lynn was frequently asked to collect her early due to her behaviour. Lynn was concerned about the possible withdrawal of her own benefits due to confusion about her immigration status.

In December 2022, Lynn was without benefits, unable to work, facing eviction and very worried for her family. She became depressed. Our Advisor, Karen, sought Lynn’s permission to contact the school, and other agencies for support, including the Local Authority, the local food bank, the salvation army, citizens advice, the Ghanaian society, and Harlow’s community hub.

Karen supported Lynn to apply for disability living allowance for J, which was successful. We also supported Lynn to apply for carer’s allowance. Karen and Lynn asked the Local Authority for a change of school for J, which was refused, so Karen worked with Lynn to submit an appeal to the SEND tribunal. In discussions with the Local Authority Karen was able to resolve the case before the hearing, and J was awarded a place at a special school.

Through the referral we made to the Harlow community hub, Lynn was allocated a case worker to help her with her immigration, housing and her benefits. The salvation army and food bank provided food vouchers and clothing for Lynn and her family, and Lynn also got support from the Ghanaian society.

Lynn’s benefits were reinstated, she is paying off her rent arrears and no longer faces eviction. J is at a more appropriate school, and is much happier. Lynn is feeling much more positive and has started to look for work.

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

In the summer of 2022, we commissioned an independent, external evaluation of the impact of our information and advice – our Family Support Service. The evaluation included conversations with over 30 Families InFocus stakeholders, including families we support, staff and trustees, and external professionals from the Local Authority, health, education and the voluntary sector.

Stakeholders were asked to describe how we achieve positive impact for SEND families and the evaluation found we create a broad impact for families, by:

Stakeholders said that this combination of support could not be found in any other service, making FIF’s service unique.

“As a parent, you’re emotionally attached. You need that calm voice. Someone who’s fully on your side who can take over when you’re struggling, who, in meetings, can step in when you feel too emotional. It’s priceless.” (Family member)

“She remembers him and his schedule. She contacts us when she knows something is happening for him. He starts school in September, so she rang to check everything was ok.” (Family member)

The evaluation also found that our Family Support Service adds value to surrounding systems in the local authority, education, health and voluntary sectors. Professionals from these services said Families InFocus alleviated pressure on existing systems by:

The Evaluation concluded that the work of Families InFocus there would be negative consequences not only for the families the charity supports, but the wider systems designed to support families in Essex.

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Families InFocus (Essex)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Play and social activities.

Our two activity clubs, in Chelmsford and Colchester, run weekly in term time. They give SEND children a much-needed safe space for children to try a wide range of activities, such as trampolining, badminton, table tennis, arts, crafts and Lego, in a safe, creative and stimulating environment. They are a welcoming, friendly, supportive place where children can explore freely.

Funding for our clubs is a mix of health funding (the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated care System), and local funders.

The opportunity to play and have fun is incredibly important for all children, and particularly SEND children who may not have those opportunities as easily elsewhere. But our activity clubs are so much more than that – they are often one of the few consistencies in a SEND child’s life, and a place where families can meet for mutual support.

In the last year:

In August we ran a summer festival for SEND children and their families, in conjunction with the fabulous Flying Seagull Project. Over the course of the two-day festival we welcomed 48 families and 92 children to join in with circus skills, comedy and circus shows, and activities including tight-rope walking, the trapeze, unicycles, hula hoops, stilt walking, juggling and plate spinning.

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Families InFocus (Essex)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Peer support

Befriending has always been at the heart of Families InFocus Essex – it was one of the first services we offered to families over 26 years ago. We know that informal, peer support from people who have similar shared experience is vital for families.

We were therefore really pleased last year to have been awarded funding from Essex County Council to set up and pilot a Peer Support Service for families who have an over 18 with autism or a learning disability. The service looks to support the parents and carers with all the issues they and their family may face, such as periods of transition, change or uncertainty, and where informal support would be appropriate. The new service, Side by Side got underway in April 2023. Since then, the new service manager has worked hard to develop and evolve the policies and procedures for the project, along with additional branding and promotion. This led to the service having a soft launch on the 10[th] May, initially promoted via social media, but later through contacting various charities and organisations directly to share details of the service. Whilst promoting the service, we simultaneously put out an appeal for peer supporters, which we have had a positive response to.

We are thrilled with the way the project is progressing, and we are looking to expand our Peer Support offer to families of children and young people, and to other user groups and cohorts.

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Families InFocus (Essex)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Our strategic plan

Our new strategy marks the start of a new phase for Families InFocus. It is rooted firmly in what SEND families have told us they wanted – the strategy was developed on the back of first – hand and in-depth research with families.

In preparing for our new strategy, the Board, staff and wider team worked closely to develop a renewed vision and mission statement:

Our vision:

A more inclusive society where children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities can realise their potential.

Our mission:

We support the whole family to achieve the best possible outcomes so that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families thrive and feel stronger, empowered and confident.

Our plan

Education support – securing better outcomes for individual children and young people

Our approach to education support is collaborative. We work together, with parents, the Local Authority and schools, to support the family and child to find solutions which will bring about the best and most appropriate education for the child or young person with SEND.

Help with financial wellbeing – improving family finances

Families have told us that one of their concerns is how to plan for the future – what do they need to have in place for when their young person with SEND transitions to adulthood, and also how they plan for the time when they will no longer be around to care for their young person.

There is huge demand for our education support, and we know we could double in size and not meet the demand that is out there. Any growth to our Family Support team needs to be fully funded – a challenging proposition in the current economic climate.

We want to increase our work in schools, to share the knowledge we have and to improve the way schools work with parents – improving the experience that SEND families have with their child’s school.

We will make greater use of the Family Forums’ graffiti wall to feed back what families have told us, and we will run workshops on a range of education topics.

Of huge importance to families now is the cost of living, and how they will manage the increase in basic living costs, which are further compounded by the additional costs of raising a SEND child.

We will build our knowledge around transitions to adulthood and preparing for adulthood, and we will have in place a robust list of where we can signpost people to for support with finance and benefits.

We will produce a video resource for families on how to complete the DLA form, and towards the end of our three year plan we will make a successful bid for a benefits and finance worker.

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Bringing people together – supporting the emotional and wellbeing needs of families

Another clear request from families in the research was more opportunities to come together – to meet other families who also have a child with SEND, and to be able to get support from each other.

To do this, we will set up coffee mornings in the areas of the county that we don’t do them at the moment. We will also start a peer to peer or befriending service.

We will have a more regular FSA presence at our activity clubs, so families can get some informal support and advice whilst they are there.

Resources – empowering families with access to information

We know that high quality, trusted support and information can be hard to find. Our goal is to provide support and information in a range of ways that are accessible to as many people as possible. We want people to be able to access information and empower themselves with knowledge – the main way we will do that is through our new website.

Our website will contain a range of factsheets, videos and other information – on education and benefits. Our new website will go live in January 2023 (we are very grateful to the support of the Essex Community Foundation for funding the website).

We will also hold some respite events for parents, where parents can come without their children, to meet other parents and have some space to talk.

We have made the difficult decision to stop running Kidzspace, our siblings group. Kidzspace was paused during the pandemic, and after reviewing how and whether to restart the group, we have acknowledged that most of our Kidzspace users have grown up and moved on, and we are also aware that other local charities provide much more wide-ranging programmes and activities. We are therefore focussing on the other areas of our work.

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Families InFocus (Essex)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Thank you

We would not be able to do any of the work we do without the wonderful support of our funders, fundraisers and volunteers.

Volunteers

Our charity could not function without the commitment and dedication of our wonderful team of volunteers. They are crucial to our work and help us in so many different ways – helping at our Saturday Activity Club, Family and Fundraising events, on our helpline, in our office, and of course our much-valued Trustees.

Funders

As ever, we are hugely grateful to the trusts, foundations and other grant makers who have made our work possible:

----- Start of picture text -----
Braintree District and Eastlight Chelmsford City Council
Essex County Council Henry Smith
The C S French Charitable Trust Garfield Weston
The Edward Gostling Foundation Masonic Charitable Trust
National Lottery The North East Essex CCG
Realising Ambitions Schroeder Charitable Trust
The Souter Charitable Trust Sir Jules Thorne Charitable Trust
Walter Farthing
----- End of picture text -----

We would also like to thank all the individuals who have made donations, either financial or in kind, provided support or took part in fundraising events during the year. We particularly want to thank Cara Elliot, who ran the London Marathon for Families InFocus!

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Families InFocus (Essex)

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Public benefit

We have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our purpose, aims and objectives, and in planning our future projects and activities. The trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the overall aims and objectives they have set.

The charitable purpose of Families InFocus (Essex) is for the public benefit and falls within the description “the relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage” in the Charities Act 2011.

All our work is targeted to improve outcomes for Essex families with a CYP with SEND, reflecting the family’s needs and aspirations, and placing the child or young person at the heart of all decision making. This is achieved through supportive services for their parents and carers, particularly at times of change, challenge or crisis. This includes where the child or young person has an enduring behavioural or mental health problem, has been excluded or is at risk of exclusion, is being bullied, is experiencing social exclusion, isolation, educational disadvantage, poverty, poor employment prospects or has problems accessing services – health, education, housing, social services, leisure, transport.

Financial review

The results for the year to 31 March 2023 are set out in the statement of activities on page 21. The trustees are pleased to report that in the ongoing difficult economic climate, we have been able to increase our unrestricted reserves – partly from having a cushion from prior year’s restricted income that was carried forward to this year, and from funders releasing additional funds to support with the cost of living increases. Trustees know that future years will be challenging however as funding from trusts and foundations becomes more competitive and our costs increase. We are positioning ourselves well to secure additional revenue, submitting quality bids and with tight control of expenditure. Now that our reserves level has dropped, in line with plans, future expenditure will need to remain within our income.

The Trustees are pleased to report that Edmund Carr LLP will continue as accountants. For the year ending March 2023 Community 360 handled our payroll (salaries and pension).

Budgets

The budget for the year to 31 March 2023 was for income of £421,628 against actual income of £429,790 and a budgeted expenditure of £416,180 against actual expenditure of £440,638. The planned surplus was £5,448, and the actual result was a deficit of £10,848. Additional expenditure was funded from restricted reserves brought forward.

For the current financial year, ending 31 March 2024, we have a budgeted income of £470,715 and a budgeted expenditure of £465,841. Our funding gap, as at June 2023, is around £82,000. The trustees and staff team are working to close the gap and have submitted a number of high value

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

funding bids, looking to end the year without entering into a deficit, in recognition of our reduced reserves level and the need to keep expenditure within income each year.

Our financial position, going into 2022, was relatively healthy, with ongoing multi-year funding from the National Lottery, Henry Smith Charity and the Garfield Weston Foundation. These funds have been critical to our ongoing sustainability, but all three funds finished at the end of the 22 / 23 financial year, and our position coming into the new financial year starting 1[st] April 2023 was looking more challenging. The picture now is quite mixed - we are now required to have a three year break from Henry Smith funding, we have reapplied to Garfield Weston and are awaiting the outcome, and we were thrilled to have received 5 years of continuation funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

We believe we will meet our funding requirement for this year, but we have had to think strategically about how we will generate income on the future. We are working on an ongoing basis to bring in new funding streams, in the knowledge that we can no longer use any of our reserves to fund ongoing costs, as we have in previous years. One area that we have recently decided to implement is asking families for a contribution towards the cost of our work with them. The contribution families are asked for is differentiated based on household income, so that we are not asking families to contribute more than they can afford.

Reserves policy

In July 2021, the trustees reviewed the reserves policy, and set the reserves requirement at three months of expenditure, having taken account of the current operating environment and the charity’s assets and potential liabilities. This reserves policy was reviewed and retained in July 2022.

In 2013, the Trustees “designated” £75,000 of unrestricted reserves towards the on-going costs of the Family Support Advisors and Family Support projects across Essex, as it was recognised that we had challenging times ahead. This had been reduced to £24,231 by 1 April 2022 and remains at £24,231 as at 31 March 2023. Total unrestricted reserves at 31 March 2023 stood at £83,345, which represents around 2.1 months of expected expenditure.

The Finance Committee meet three times a year, and are responsible for the developing and implementing robust and achievable plans to restore unrestricted reserves to the equivalent of three months running costs.

Fundraising

We have an on-going programme of fundraising to help meet the funding requirements of the organisation. This includes applications to statutory bodies, grant making trusts, businesses (and in kind), as well as individual donations and fundraising events to generate unrestricted income for the organisation.

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

We are extremely grateful to all of our funders, and in particularly the fundraisers who have been imaginative and generous in planning events and raising funds on our behalf. We also want to thank the businesses and individuals who have supported us through this year. A full list of those we want to thank is on page 12.

Investment policy

Families InFocus (Essex) is committed to ensuring the best use of funds available to charity to carry out its aims and objectives. Where a sum surplus to immediate requirements is identified, the Trustees recognise their duty of care and responsibility to maximise the financial returns to be made by investing funds appropriately. They will seek proper advice when necessary and act prudently and cautiously, taking into account the need to diversify fund holdings, maintain liquidity and ensure adequate reserves are available to meet legislative and other obligations. So as to safeguard the assets of Families InFocus (Essex), they will comply with the Charity Commission guidelines and endeavour to seek out low risk options for investment.

Risk management policy

The Trustees recognise that they have a responsibility to identify, assess, review and mitigate the risks which may be present in the operation of the charity. “Risk” relates to the uncertainty surrounding events and their outcomes that may have a significant effect, either enhancing or inhibiting:

Responsibility for carrying out risk management rests with the Board of Trustees who will involve staff, volunteers and other stakeholders as appropriate thereby ensuring that the Trustees can make the required statement on risk management with reasonable confidence. The risk management policy has been drawn up by the Trustees in conjunction with staff and other stakeholders. All new trustees, staff and volunteers are appraised of its contents during induction.

Regularly and on an on-going basis, the Trustees will:

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

The outcomes of the above will be communicated throughout the organisation as appropriate including through meetings, individual supervisions and appraisals. The Company Secretary will be responsible for ensuring the Trustees agree a statement on risk for inclusion in their annual report.

Our Risk Management Policy was reviewed and updated at our Board meeting on 13th March 2023.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Financial Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also directors of Families InFocus (Essex) for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ 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 the year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

Families InFocus (Essex) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 4 December 1996 and registered as a charity on 12 May 1997 under charity number 1062311. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

and powers and is governed under its Articles of Association dated 19 September 1996, and amended by Special Resolutions on 28 June 1999, 19 December 2001, 8 October 2002 and 4 October 2008.

On 15 October 2014, at the Annual General Meeting, agreement was given by Special Resolution, subject to approval by the Charity Commission, to amend the Charity’s Objects and extending support for families of children and young people from ages 0 to 19 to ages 0 to 25. Approval was obtained from the Charity Commission on 26 January 2015, and accepted at Companies House on 19 February 2015.

In the event of the company being wound up the members’ liability is £1 each. As at 31 March 2023 there were 75 members.

Operational Management

The Trustees work closely with the CEO in the charity’s management, including safeguarding, finance and risk management, fundraising, charity and company law, policies, our aims, vision, missions and organisational values, good practice and governance.

Trustees meet at least 6 times per annum to discuss general charity issues with additional meetings/working groups held to discuss more in-depth matters e.g., strategic plans, risk and finance. Financial risks are reviewed at every meeting, given the continuing concern for finding adequate funding to resource activities. In the last 6 months of the year, trustees met monthly to review the financial position for the year starting 1[st] April 2023.

The CEO, who reports to the Trustees, is responsible for the day to day operations of the charity. Progress reports (at least quarterly) are prepared by the CEO for review by Trustees which include details of casework and statistical information to ensure our work is developing as planned and is making a positive difference to local families.

We have a rolling programme to regularly review policies and procedures. During the year, Trustees have reviewed policies on business continuity, comments compliments and complaints, data protection, equality diversity and inclusion, environment, financial procedures, health and safety, lone working, privacy, record retention, risk management, safeguarding and safer recruitment.

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all Staff, Trustees and Volunteers are carried out via the umbrella organisation Maldon and District CVS, and are renewed every three years.

Monitoring and Evaluation

As we are a parent led organisation, the majority of our board of Trustees and staff team are, or have been, users of our service.

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We continue to embed a culture of self-critical evaluation and continuous improvement, monitoring our impact and measuring successful outcomes via user records and responses to questionnaires, telephone interviews and satisfaction surveys.

In the summer of 2022, we commissioned an independent external evaluation of the Family Support service and delivery against our own and funders' aims and objectives. The report author spoke to other charities, to parents, staff and to statutory bodies. The report evidenced clearly the need for the work that Families InFocus does, and the high standard to which we do it. Areas identified for improvement related predominantly to the need to be able to adapt to and embrace new funding models.

Trustee Recruitment and Appointment

The directors of the company are also charity Trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Articles are known as Board members. The number should not exceed 14 or be less than 7. Trustees are appointed at general meetings by passing an ordinary resolution. Existing Trustees may nominate one or more Trustees.

Currently 8 Trustees sit on the Board comprising of parents of children with disabilities and sympathetic individuals all with a desire to do the best for our families and with a broad range of skills and experience in education, finance, fundraising, procurement, risk management and business. We review the skill set of the Board regularly. All Board members give their time voluntarily and received no material benefits. Any nominal fees or expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 10 to the Accounts.

Training

We provide appropriate training to Staff, Trustees and Volunteers as part of our induction programme and ongoing professional development. This includes safeguarding (child protection & vulnerable adults), health and safety, data protection and role specific training to ensure skills and knowledge are constantly kept up to date.

New Trustees are usually invited to visit the Families InFocus office to speak to the CEO and members of staff. We are developing our trustee induction pack to be a comprehensive guide, containing information about the charity and the role of trustees.

Our staff have many years’ experience (direct knowledge and from personal experience) with specialist skills in disability benefit claims, Disability Discrimination Act, SEND issues, procedures and reforms. Our Family Support Advisors are not qualified legal professionals, but all undertake IPSEA training to level 3.

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Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Chair’s concluding remarks

We can reflect on another very positive year for the charity with the quality of support we offer continuing to be highly praised by our families and the partners with whom we work.

The demand for our services and activities remains high and the members of our dedicated, skilled and compassionate staff team demonstrate a level of professional expertise that has a hugely positive impact on our families, giving them somewhere to turn for the help that they need.

Like the majority of charities, we face the constant challenge of securing funding for the continuation of our services and, to date, we have benefitted from the generous support of our funders who can see that their support provides tangible outcomes and makes a real difference for the families of young people with SEND.

Our new strategic plan has given us a renewed sense of direction and has strengthened the commitment of all involved in Families InFocus to understand the challenges that families face and the strategies we can adopt to ensure the most appropriate support is in place to help them.

We are also extremely fortunate to have a fantastic group of people who support the charity through their work as volunteers or through their fundraising, sponsorship and donations, for which we are, as ever, very grateful.

Strong leadership from our Chief Executive, supported by a dedicated team of Trustees, ensures that we operate effectively with sound financial controls and strong governance. As a team we work hard to ensure that our vital work continues.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies’ exemption.

On behalf of the Trustees,

Sarah Dignasse, Chairperson

Date approved……………………………… : 6 November 2023

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Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Families InFocus (Essex) ('the Company')

I report to the charitable company Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 21 to 36.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity Trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the Company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Families InFocus (Essex) as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

...................................... Raymond Crace FCA 146 New London Road Chelmsford Essex CM2 0AW

Date:.............................13 November 2023

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Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Other Comprehensive Income)

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investment income
5
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
16		 Unrestricted
£
26,331
-
660
26,991
136
12,763
12,899
14,092
(1,769)
12,323
71,022
83,345		 Restricted
£
7,215
395,584
-
402,799
370
427,369
427,739
(24,940)
1,769
(23,171)
40,953
17,782		 Total
2023
£
33,546
395,584
660
429,790
506
440,132
440,638
(10,848)
-
(10,848)
111,975
101,127		 Total
2022
£
9,224
376,475
330
386,029
432
355,213
355,645
30,384
-
30,384
81,591
111,975

All of the charitable company's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods.

21

Families InFocus (Essex)

(Registration number: 03287829) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
12
Current assets
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
14
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
15
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds of the charitable company:
Restricted income funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
16		 2023
£
2,046
1,000
224,084
225,084
(126,003)
99,081
101,127
17,782
83,345
101,127		 2022
£
825
-
181,641
181,641
(70,491)
111,150
111,975
40,953
71,022
111,975

For the financial year ending 31 March 2023 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements on pages 21 to 36 were approved by the Trustees, and authorised for issue on .................... and signed on their behalf by:6 Nov 2023

......................................... Andrew Gothard Trustee

22

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Families InFocus (Essex)

1 Charitable company status

The charitable company is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England & Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the Trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charitable company in the event of liquidation.

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements 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)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

Families InFocus (Essex) 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 notes.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

The charitable company opted to adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.

Income and endowments

All income is recognised once the charitable company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations and legacies

Donations are recognised when the charitable company has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charitable company before the charitable company is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charitable company and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Grants receivable

The charity has received government grants in the reporting period. Performance related grants are only included in the SOFA once the charity has provided the related services to meet the performance related conditions.

23

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Deferred income

Deferred income represents amounts received for future periods and is released to incoming resources in the period for which, it has been received. Such income is only deferred when:

Investment income

Interest receivable is included gross.

Expenditure

Resources expended, including irrecoverable VAT, are accounted for on an accruals basis. The majority of costs are directly attributable to specific activities. Expenditure on projects is treated as direct charitable expenditure.

Raising funds

These are costs incurred in raising funds from events and activities.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charitable company in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Support costs

Support costs include the central functions and are allocated to cost categories on the basis of staff time and amount spent on those cost categories. Depreciation is allocated to cost categories on the basis of total direct costs allocated.

Governance costs

Governance costs are associated with the governance arrangements of the charity and relate to the general running of the charity.

Taxation

The charitable company is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charitable company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are initially recorded at cost.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

24

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Asset class Fixtures and fittings Computer equipment

Depreciation method and rate

25.0% reducing balance 33.3% reducing balance

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due for services performed by the charity.

Trade debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand, bank accounts and bank deposits.

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised at their settlement amount.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charitable company.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Pensions and other post retirement obligations

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charitable company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

Financial instruments

Classification

The Charity has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

25

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

3 Income from donations and legacies

Donations receivable
Donations receivable
Income from charitable activities
Grants receivable
Grants receivable		 Unrestricted
funds
£
26,331
26,331
Unrestricted
funds
£
9,224
9,224
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
Unrestricted
funds
£
-		 Restricted
funds
£
7,215
7,215
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
395,584
Restricted
funds
£
376,475		 Total
2023
£
33,546
33,546
Total
2022
£
9,224
9,224
Total
2023
£
395,584
Total
2022
£
376,475

26

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

5 Investment income

Interest receivable on bank deposits
Interest receivable on bank deposits
6
Expenditure on charitable activities
Family Support
Group Activities
Total for 2023
Total for 2022
Family Support - Direct costs
Group Activities - Direct costs
Support costs		 Unrestricted
funds
£
660
660
Unrestricted
funds
£
330
330
Activity
undertaken
directly
£
371,463
6,862
378,325
306,947
Unrestricted
funds
£
10,183
-
2,580
12,763		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Activity
support costs
£
61,587
220
61,807
48,266
Restricted
funds
£
361,280
6,862
59,227
427,369		 Total
2023
£
660
660
Total
2022
£
330
330
Total
expenditure
£
433,050
7,082
440,132
355,213
Total
2023
£
371,463
6,862
61,807
440,132

27

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

7 Analysis of governance and support costs

Support costs allocated to charitable activities

Basis of
allocation
Family Support
A
Group Activities
A		 Governance
costs
£
Administration
costs
£
6,490
28,006
-
150
6,490
28,156		 Premises
costs
including
depreciation
£
27,090
71
27,161		 Total
2023
£
61,586
221
61,807

Basis of allocation

Reference

Method of allocation

Apportioned based on usage in relation to directly attributable costs. Depreciation is A apportioned based on the apportionment of total direct costs between activities.

Governance costs

Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements
Other fees paid to examiners
Bookkeeping and payroll		 Total
2023
£
832
2,450
3,208
6,490		 Total
2022
£
735
2,205
4,101
7,041

8 Net incoming/outgoing resources

Net (outgoing)/incoming resources for the year include:

Depreciation of fixed assets 2023
£
548		 2022
£
367

28

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

9 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No Trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charitable company during the year.

During the year, no Trustees were reimbursed for expenses (2022: NIL).

10 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2023
£
299,239
21,471
13,189
333,899		 2022
£
257,733
18,570
8,252
284,555

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charitable company during the year expressed by head count was as follows:

Average number of paid employees 2023
No
14		 2022
No
12

7 (2022 - 7) of the above employees participated in the Defined Contribution Pension Schemes.

Contributions to the employee pension schemes for the year totalled £13,189 (2022 - £8,252).

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charitable company were £49,709 (2022 - £40,372).

11 Taxation

The charitable company is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

29

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

12 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2022
Additions
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022
13 Debtors
Prepayments
14 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash on hand
Cash at bank		 Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
£
49,491
1,769		 Total
£
49,491
1,769
51,260
48,665
549
49,214
2,046
826
2022
£
-
51,260
48,665
549
49,214
2,046
826
2023
£
1,000
2023
£
300
223,784
224,084
2022
£
300
181,341
181,641

30

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Accruals
Deferred income		 2023
£
2,771
-
3,090
120,142
126,003		 2022
£
2,173
5,928
3,381
59,009
70,491

Deferred income relates to grants received that are specified for expenditure in a future period. Deferred income of £52,009 at 31 March 2022 was released in the year ended 31 March 2023. Total grants of £113,142 received in the year ended 31 March 2023 were deferred at 31 March 2023.

31

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

16 Funds

Unrestricted funds
Free reserves
Designated funds
1) Moody Trust
2) Contingency Fund
4) Margaret Hutchon Fund
3) IT Fund
5) Family Support
Adviser/Projects
Total Unrestricted
Restricted
1) Essex County Council -
Independent SEND
Information, Advice and
Support Service
2) Chelmsford City Council
3) Braintree District &
Greenfields Community
Fund
4) National Lottery
Community Fund Grant
5) The Henry Smith Charity
6) Garfield Weston
Foundation
8) Essex Community
Foundation - Provide
Foundation
12) BBC Children In Need
11) Walter Farthing Trust
9) FSJ Charities
13) Essex Community
Foundation - Website
14) Action for Children
Essex Short Breaks
15) NHS North East Essex
Clinical Comissioning
Group
10) Essex Community
Foundation - Realising
Ambitions		 Balance at 1
April 2022
£
23,109
1,000
19,961
614
2,107
24,231
47,913
71,022
9,994
-
4,057
-
4,831
-
-
2,126
-
-
7,500
-
1,900
4,295		 Incoming
resources
£
26,991
-
-
-
-
-
-
26,991
-
7,000
10,898
138,828
33,956
31,746
5,000
2,456
5,000
2,000
-
2,500
61,660
21,000		 Resources
expended
£
(12,899)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(12,899)
(6,664)
(7,000)
(14,248)
(138,828)
(38,787)
(31,746)
(5,000)
(4,582)
(5,000)
(2,000)
(7,500)
(2,500)
(60,323)
(23,880)		 Transfers
£
(1,769)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,769)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
35,432
1,000
19,961
614
2,107
24,231
47,913
83,345
3,330
-
707
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,237
1,415

32

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Balance at 1
April 2022
£
Incoming
resources
£
Resources
expended
£
Transfers
£
18) Essex Community
Foundation - Moody Fund
140
140
(140)
-
19) Capital Fund (Fixed
Assets)
825
-
(548)
1,769
20) Other restricted
donations
5,285
7,434
(12,606)
-
21) National Lottery Cost of
Living
-
33,989
(33,989)
-
22) Essex Community
Foundation
-
7,500
(1,206)
-
23) Souter Charitable Trust
-
3,000
(3,000)
-
24) Edward Gostling
Foundation
-
10,000
(10,000)
-
25) Sir Jules Thorne
Charitable Trust
-
2,500
(2,500)
-
26) Essex County Council:
Befriending
-
13,692
(13,692)
-
27) Tesco
-
500
-
-
28) Boshier Hinton
-
2,000
(2,000)
-
Total restricted
40,953
402,799
(427,739)
1,769
Total funds
111,975
429,790
(440,638)
-
Prior Year:
Balance at 1
April 2021
£
Incoming
resources
£
Resources
expended
£
Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Free reserves
19,472
9,554
(5,917)
Designated funds
1) Moody Trust
1,000
-
-
2) Contingency Fund
19,961
-
-
4) Margaret Hutchon Fund
614
-
-
3) IT Fund
2,107
-
-
5) Family Support
Adviser/Projects
24,231
-
-
47,913
-
-
Total unrestricted funds
67,385
9,554
(5,917)
Restricted
1) Essex County Council -
Independent SEND Information,
Advice and Support Service
-
30,000
(20,006)		 Transfers
£
-
1,769
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
140
2,046
113
-
6,294
-
-
-
-
500
-
17,782
101,127
Balance at 31
March 2022
£
23,109
1,000
19,961
614
2,107
24,231		 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
140
2,046
113
-
6,294
-
-
-
-
500
-
1,769 17,782
- 101,127
47,913
71,022
9,994

33

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Prior Year:
2) Chelmsford City Council
3) Braintree District & Greenfields
Community Fund
4) National Lottery Community
Fund Grant
5) The Henry Smith Charity
6) Garfield Weston Foundation
7) Anglian Water
8) Essex Community Foundation -
Provide Foundation
12) BBC Children In Need
11) Walter Farthing Trust
9) FSJ Charities
13) Essex Community Foundation
- Website
14) Action for Children Essex
Short Breaks
15) NHS North East Essex
Clinical Comissioning Group
10) Essex Community Foundation
- Realising Ambitions
17) Essex Comunity Foundation -
Covid
18) Essex Community Foundation
- Moody Fund
19) Capital Fund (Fixed Assets)
20) Other restricted donations
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 Balance at 1
April 2021
£
-
848
-
4,732
1,696
-
-
2,457
-
-
-
2,500
-
-
-
140
1,193
640
14,206
81,591		 Incoming
resources
£
10,000
11,300
134,263
43,375
11,669
6,500
5,500
2,457
3,000
5,000
7,500
-
29,134
14,000
50,000
-
-
12,777
376,475
386,029		 Resources
expended
£
(10,000)
(8,091)
(134,263)
(43,276)
(13,365)
(6,500)
(5,500)
(2,788)
(3,000)
(5,000)
-
(2,500)
(27,234)
(9,705)
(50,000)
-
(368)
(8,132)
(349,728)
(355,645)		 Balance at 31
March 2022
£
-
4,057
-
4,831
-
-
-
2,126
-
-
7,500
-
1,900
4,295
-
140
825
5,285
40,953
111,975

34

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:

Designated funds:

1) The Moody Trust funding has been designated to provide respite to parents with children with disabilities who were found to be under extreme pressure.

2) The designated contigency fund was established to meet operating shortfalls if required and the charity's statutory obligations, such as redundancy costs, should the need arise.

3) The Trustees have designated funds for IT investment.

4) The Margaret Hutchon Fund has been designated to assist Essex families of children and young people with disabilities and special needs who are most in need of some immediate financial support. 5) The Trustees have designated funds to provide for the costs of Family Support advisers and Family Support projects across Essex.

Restricted funds:

1) Funding is to provide Independent SEND Information, Advice and Support on educational issues to parents/carers for their children/young people with SEND (aged 0-25 years). 2) The grant from Chelmsford City Council is towards Family Support for the families with children with disabilities from within Chelmsford City.

3) The grant from Braintree District & Greenfields Community Fund is towards Family Support for the families with children and young people with disabilities/ special needs from within Braintree District.

4) The National Lottery Community Fund Grant (formerly known as the Big Lottery Fund) is towards the Family Support Project across Essex and a contribution to the core costs of the organisation.

5) The grant from the Henry Smith Charity is towards the costs of the Family Support Adviser project across Essex for families of children/young people with disabilities/special needs (aged 0-25).

6) The grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation is towards the costs of the Family Support Adviser project across Essex for families of children/young people with disabilities/special needs.

7) The grant from Mrs Smith & Mount Trust is towards the cost of the Family Support Project.

8) Essex Community Foundation grant from the Provide Foundation is towards Family Support for Chelmsford families of children/young people with disabilities/special needs. 9) The grant from FSJ Charities is towards Family Support for Essex families of children/young people with disabilities/special needs.

10) Essex Community Foundation grant from the Realising Ambitions Funding Programme is towards Family Support for North East Essex families of children/young people with disabilities/special needs. 11) The grant from Walter Farthing Trust is towards Family Support for Mid Essex families of children/young people with disabilities/special needs.

12) The grant from BBC Children In Need is towards the Saturday Activity Club.

13) Essex Community Foundation grant from pooled funds (Arthur J Gallagher Community Fund £2,670, W G Stacey Family Fund £2,133, FW Charitable Fund £1,937 and Crix Charitable Fund £1,500) is to fund the 'Kidzspace' Support Project for young carers of siblings with SEND.

14) The grant from Action for Children is towards the Family Saturday Activity Club for children with SEND and their families.

15) The grant from Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust is towards the Saturday Activity Club.

16) The grant from the Barbara Ward Children's Foundation is towards the Family Saturday Activity SEND Club. 17) The grant from Woodroffe Benton Foundation is towards the core costs of the organisation.

18) Essex Community Foundation grants from The Moody Fund towards therapy sessions for two children with learning/developmental issues.

19) The Capital Fund represents the fixed assets of the charity.

20) Other restricted donations received and applied for specified purposes.

35

Families InFocus (Essex)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

21) The National Lottery awarded additional funds as an uplift to their main grant to help with increases in costs.

22) Essex Community Foundation provided funds towards the activity club.

23) The Souter Charitable Trust provided funds for family support.

24) The Edward Gostling Foundation provided funds for family support.

25) Sir Jules Thorne Charitable Trust provided funds for family support.

25) Essex County Council awarded a grant to set up a peer support service.

27) Tesco provided funding for activity club equipment.

28) Boshier Hinton provided funds for the activity club.

17 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets		 Unrestricted
funds
£
1,769
207,579
(126,003)
83,345		 Restricted
funds
£
277
17,505
-
17,782		 Total funds at
31 March
2023
£
2,046
225,084
(126,003)
101,127

Prior Year Funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets		 Unrestricted
funds
£
-
141,513
(70,491)
71,022		 Restricted
funds
£
825
40,128
-
40,953		 Total funds at
31 March 2022
£
825
181,641
(70,491)
111,975

18 Related party transactions

During the year the charitable company made the following related party transactions:

The Trustees

Some of the Trustees have access to the sibling group, activity club, and family events. The benefit received is not material to the accounts. At the balance sheet date the amount due to/from the Trustees was £Nil (2022 - £Nil).

36