ASSIST (Fallowfield & Withington Neighbourhood Care Group) TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 Charity Registration Number.. 1062675 Contents MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS ................... . . TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT................. . SlruGture, Governance and Management....................................... Governing Document.............. Recruitment and Training of Trustees...... Organisational Management........... Public Benefit. Risk Managemenl............................................................... Reserves............. Objectives, Aims and Activities..................................... Charitable Objectives. Principal Activities Review of Achievements and Performance for the Year ................ Operational Performance...................................... Financial Review.... Reserves.................................................. Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Assist . Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 . Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2021 Notes to the financial statements ... 10 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS Registered Charity Name ASSIST Registered Charity Number 1062675 Registered Office 439 Wilmslow Road Withington Manchester M20 4AN Trustees Ms P Cotterill (Chair) Ms E Spencer {Vice Chair) Mrs B Barnelt (did not seek re-election for secretary at AGM on 101h September 2020. but remains on board) Mrs S Gunawardena (Secretary) (appointed as Secretary 13th January 20211 Mrs B Aston (appointed 16th October 2020) Mr B Stevenson (appointed 1 Oth September 2020) Cllr G White (appointed 16th October 2020) Ms A Razzaque (appointed as treasurer 91h December 2020, resigned from board 14th July 2021) Mr D Lamb Mrs M Redhouse Mrs J Kirkby Mrs G Yorke (resigned from board 14th July 2021) Mr R Nicholls (resigned from board at AGM on 10th September 2020) Chair Ms P Cottertll Treasurer Vacancy Secretary Mrs S Gunawardena Bankers Co-operative Bank PO Box Skelmersdale WN8 6WT Independent Examiner Beyond Profit Ltd G104 Bolton Arena Arena Approach HoNich Bolton BL6 6LB Note from our Chair The whole year of April 2020 to March 2021 was dominated by Covid 19. We were in lockdown when the year started and the next twelve months we had to cope with self-isolation, social distancing, and often confusing advice. But we coped and carried on. I would like to thank our staff, volunteers, Board members and service users for making this possible. It has been a challenge, bul we have stood up to it. as you will see from the following report. Pip Cotterill Chair of Board TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Structure, Governance and Managemenl Governing Document ASSIST is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission on 5th June 1997 under reference 1062675. A revised Gonstitulion was produced and adopted at the Annual General Meeting on 20th November 2012. Recruitment and Training of Trustees We invite potential trustees lo an interview, take up references and condLJCt a DBS check. Induction takes the form of a visit lo the office to see how the organisation works and asking them to complete some reading around the roles and duties of Iruslees. Most of our trustees are involved as volunteers in a practical role wilhin the organisation. Trustees are appointed by the Executive Commiltee at the Annual General Meeting IAGMI. The members elect from Ihe Executive Commiltee, a Chairperson, a Secretary and a Treasurer who hold office until the next AGM. This year, we welcomed Gavin White, Brian Slevenson, Barbara Aston, Sarala Gunawardena and Anisa Razzaque as new trustees. Sarala is our secretary. Organisational Management The organisation is run by its board of trustees who meet monthly. The organisation employs a Co-ordinator, an Assistanl and a chef. These support around fifty two volunteers to run various groups, activities and services. Public Benefit In planning and delivering our services and activities the Trustees of Assist confimi that they have Gomplied with the duty In Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance by the Charity Commission in delivering the activities undertaken by the Charity. Assist is required, under its Constitution, to provide services and assistance to those persons in need by reason of poverty, sickness, age or disability. Assists, activities as described in this report are considered to meet the publiG benefit requirement as specified in the Charities Act 2011. Risk Management The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and systems are being established to mitigat8 these risks. We make sure our finances are sufficient lo cover our outgoings and apply for grants and encouraging donations as appropriate. We also ensure we have Ihe correct levels of insurance cover. We have a risk register that we review regularly at truslee meetings. Reserves We have a reserve policy and hold reserves of £50,000. The reserves are in place to cover our statutory obligations, redundancy and Gontingency should a situation occur where our income is affected, or our costs increase. Objectives, Aims and Activities Charitable Objectives The Charitsble Objectives of Assisl are set out in the constitution. Assisl is a neighbourhood care group which recruits, trains and supports volunteers to provide simple, practical help to older people in need in Withinglon and Fallowfield area. Principal Activities Our main aims continue to be to reduce social isolation and to help older people remain in their own homes. We offer help with practical jobs and also provide our frailer, more isolated members with volunteer"befrienders" who visit once a week and can offer help with shopping etc. Review of Achievements and Performance for the Year On March 23rd 2020, we went into lockdown. All staff had to work from home and all activities onsite ceased. We set up a telephone diversion to enable calls to members and volunteers to be made from home. We identified members who might need emergency shopping and prescription, and people who would benefit from a regular lelephone call from a staff memberlvolunleer. We also started up monthly newsletters and delivering activity packs. As government guidance allowed by MaylJune we began to deliver weekly meals for lunch Glub members cooked in the church by our cook. Digital drop in Ghanged to digital phone in. with volunteers offering digital support to access zoomlinternet shopping etc over the phone. By July, Tea and Talks moved to zoom sessions, with deliveries of tea and cake boxes. Exercise classes, after a period of the instructor, Ruby, making weekly phone calls, moved to zoom. Debra, our positive living instructor made calls to the group, before arranging to meet in small groups in parkslcoffee shopslon WhatsApp. John, our volunteer gardener, mowed lawns and hedges. Befriending Galls continued throughout. Operational Performance Due to the Covid pandemic, it is difficull to compare our operational performance to any other year. We are pleased lo have been able lo continue supporting our members and volunteers Ihroughoul. As on 31st March 2021, we have 172 members on our books, and 52 volunteers. Financial Review Our main source of funding is Manchester City Council. We have continued to apply for grants and seek donations to supplement our main grant to support and develop our activilies. Additional grants have come from OPeNs partnership fund, the Co-op, Southway housing, Forever Manchester, We love Manchester, Withington and Old Moat NIF. Mental Health Fund, Covid Impact Fund. Members remain generous, and we are very grateful for their donations. Reserves The Trustees have determined reseNes should be held that enable Assisl to continue for 10 months in the event of any funding being cut, or to enable the Trustees to wind down the organisation and pay redundancy as required. This sum is set at £50,000 and will be reviewed each year. This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on their behalf: and signed on Ms P Cotterill Chair Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Assist I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Assist (the Charity) for Ihe year ended 31 March 2021. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act")- I report in respect of my examination of the Trusl's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charily Commission under seclion 145151(b) of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm th81 no malerial matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act- or The accounts do not accord with Ihose records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with Ihe examination to which altention should be drawn in this report in order to er>able a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Emma Willder, FCMA, CG(Affiliated) Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management AcGountsnts Date.. 28 September 2021 Beyond Profit Ltd G104 Bolton Arena Arena Approach HO￿lCh Bolton BL6 6L8 ¢* o( £££ UL)L) ininoorooin ¢0 o l Lrj o 00 ort 0> o C￿¢00￿)0 a So￿o0¢DO 00)￿0￿0 o 0￿00(00 o¢0 ¢0 c (n trj Dc ID Q) J wOtrJ(J> >uuLL¢J(iSE rLll(DO I rj u> ,11,.3.a¥a{, o w> w) ts) (N ￿ Lr) ¢DV o(N* J ￿¢￿ r onG)4Ujin ¢D o