NDAS Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service Annual Report 2022-2023 ## **A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR** The value of an organisation always depends on the quality of its people, and we are truly blessed to have a wonderful team of staff and volunteers to deliver our vital services and provide the essential backroom support. I was reminded of this when I attended a recent NDAS Staff and Trustee Away Day. These are rare events when we can all get together to explore how we work together and our visions for the future. At this event it was joyful to see the universal energy, enthusiasm and dedication within a large group of people, from different teams and areas, but all easily working together to achieve the aims of the day. All working with one common aim, to improve the lives and safety of adults and children who are affected by domestic abuse. All with one vision, to eradicate the blight on our society that is domestic abuse. The work is difficult, complex and often not immediately rewarding. On a daily basis they hear horrific victim experiences from people who have been made to feel worthless, hopeless and useless. They persevere; encouraging, supporting, listening, until those clients or children are confident and ready to talk and believe that there is a way out, a path that we can help them take to a better and safe life. Whether it's in one of our refuges, a community setting, school, online, by phone, text or email, we are accessible and will reach out time and again. Our people do not give up. It is heartening to hear from victims who have become survivors through the support of our Service and moved on to better lives. Our programmes aimed at adults, children and families are always oversubscribed. Our front-line services could not be delivered without the support of our backroom services - finance, payroll, HR, IT, income generation and fundraising or general management and supervision. Do not for a minute think we have rooms of people doing this, our management team is only 6 people, but they cover an awful lot! I salute them all, front room and back room, they all make up the family that is NDAS. Together with the whole Board of Trustees, we thank them for their work and service. Glynis Bliss, MBE NDAS Vice Chair 2 ## **A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO** Each year brings with it its own challenges and opportunities – and with them, the chance for agile approaches, creative solutions and achievements. Each year, we organisationally set ourselves ambitious goals and 2022-23 has been no different; however, I am blessed to be surrounded by passionate and motivated colleagues and trustees to help us meet these challenges. Informed by client, staff and trustee input, April 2022 saw the launch of our new strategic plan and delivery priorities for 2022-2025 for ensuring that: 1. NDAS is a great place to work. 2. NDAS is a responsive and inclusive organisation. 3. NDAS is a resilient organisation. 4. NDAS is a professional organisation. 5. NDAS is a well-respected and trusted local organisation. As a result of these priorities, we have been busy focusing our improvements and developments both internally and externally. Organisationally we have prioritised our staff – recognising that they are our greatest asset – focusing on staff wellbeing (launching a new appraisal process, an employee assist programme, a mental health first aider project and wellness assessments) and developing rewards and incentives for staff (introduction of length of service annual leave increases and improved occupational sick pay terms and conditions). In terms of service delivery, we have continued to try to reach as many people impacted by domestic abuse as possible. To that end we have extended our portfolio of group work programmes, been working on ensuring our services are more accessible to everyone and looking at ways to improve our support to clients. This has included delivering group work for black and brown women in partnership with Creating Equalz, launching a group work programme for male victims, inducting a new LGBTQ+ diversity lead and opening two new safe accommodation flats where we can accommodate a more diverse range of individual clients, to name a few developments amongst many other achievements. In all of this, capacity has remained a constant challenge and sadly led to the heartbreaking decision to close our children’s outreach waiting list in October 2022 so we could focus on those children already identified as needing our support. We have continued to lobby local commissioners and apply for grants to try and address this. Positively, however, we have dramatically expanded our volunteer base in 2022-23 developing the roles of volunteer befrienders, group work volunteers and children’s activity volunteers, which are working really well and helping us to provide even more support to those who need it. None of this of course would be possible without our most amazing staff team, an amazing Board of Trustees and continued support from the public. A massive thank you to those who support us and our work – and to those victim survivors who are brave enough to seek help, who use our services and who trust us to help them stay safe and rebuild their lives free from fear. Your bravery and courage continue to inspire us every day. Dr Rachel Duncan Chief Executive 3 ## **OUR VISION** “A world without domestic abuse where everyone is free from fear.” ## **OUR MISSION** “Abolishing abuse for all.” SAVING LIVES RECLAIMING LIVES REBUILDING LIVES ## **OUR VALUES** Building on our successes over the past 3 years, we will focus on the following priorities and aspirations to maintain our strategic and improvement journey, and continue to develop our staff and services by ensuring that: 1. NDAS is a great place to work 2. NDAS is a responsive organisation 3. NDAS is a resilient organisation 4. NDAS is a professional organisation 5. NDAS is a well-respected and trusted local organisation 4 OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS WE SUPPORTED 0000 0000 TW,,ffiiiji CLIENT SOME OFTHE WAYS WE HAVE SUPPORTED CLIENTS Resettlement Outseach Refuge WE ANSWERED20Lkl CALLS ON OUR ADVICE LINE SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING 34Iq 8IF6 513 32 raooo GROUP 25q WORK SESSIONS HELD 351 CLIENTS AThENDED GROUP WORK SESSIONS SAFE ACCOMMODATION OLL S Refuge saves lives and has done in thousands upon thousands of cases. It works by providing temporary accommodation. security and specialist support for families fleeing domestic abuse and operate5 like a Safety network available acros5 the UK. When clients first arrive in refijge. we offer them a package that contains toiletries. bedding and other essential items. We also provide emotional support and listen whilst they talk through the trauma they have suffered. Within the first two weeks of being admitted into refuge a comprehensive support and safety plan is put together. NDAS currently run 9 refuges in Northamptonshire providing safe accommodation to 34 adults and 49 children at any one time. Within thi5 Portfolio. we have provision for men13 units) and for women120 units). and specifically for women with substance misuse Issues15 units) and women from diverse communities13 units). We opened 2 newflats in November 2022 (comprising of3 unitsl, which will enable us to respond to a wider variety of clients including trans and non-binary survivors, larger families and clients with specific or complex needs that we would struggle to respond to in existing refuge provision. io I WoLdd b£ d£ad IF I hJdM'+ ON£ {￿'S 8P0 Kiara was in a relationship with Owen for 3 years and lived together with Kiara's 3-year-old son from a previous relationship. At the start of their relationship. Owen was very attentive and loving but this quickly turned into controlling behaviour. wanting to know where she was at all times and deciding what she could wear and how she spent her money. Things escalated when she became pregnant and Owen started to strangle her and make threats to kill her. She fled to a refuge in Cornwall where she had the baby. Sadly. her baby daughter died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome when she was 2 weeks old. Due to the circumstances. Owen was able to contact her regarding the funeral as she returned to their hometown where her family still lived. He started to stalk her and when he saw her at the funeral was extremely aggressive towards her. Kiara called our Advice Line seeking refuge due to continued threats to kill her. She was admitted the next day. We worked with her and her son to help them not only recover from the severe domestic abuse she had suffered. but also from the grief from the death of her infant daughter. Kiara was given practical help to register with a GP and look at nurseries for her son as well as help navigating the legal system for her ex-partners prosecution. We also supported to recover from the abuse with regular one to one sessions as well as attending our 'You and Me Mum, group work programme. Our children's support worker worked with her son to help him come to terms with losing his baby sister. as well as to recover from the trauma of seeing his Mum hurt and frightened. Kiara wa5 helped to apply for housing and has recently moved into her own property. after 8 months in refuge with her son. We are still working with them through our resettlement programme to ensure that she settles into her new life. INCLUSIVITY At NDAS. we are passionate about diversity and ensuring that anyone. regardless of their gender identity. sexual orientation. r8ce or religion has the same access to support when they need it We know that it is extremely difficult to break free from domestic abuse. On average. someone will try to leave at least 5 times befor& they are successftjl. Imagine tryin9 to do this when you don't speak any English. or if you don't have the right to basic financial sUPPOrt. Thi5 IS the case for many people who are trying to leave abusive and controlling relationships. In addition to our male refuge. opened in 2018 and our diverse needs refuge in 2020. we opened two new flats in late 2022. These flats allow us to provide dispersed accommodation to a range of clients including transgender and gender fluid individuals. We also provide a groupwork programme designed specifically for black and brown victims of abuse. We have two Diversity Leads who are dedicated to these specialist cases and to help us build relationships with diverse communities. DOMESTIC c&￿£[ DOESN'T DISCkJmiNCLIE DOMESTIC ABUSE RECOVERY TOOLKIT TAILORED TO MÉET NEED% OF BLACK AND 8QCVIN FE.NIALE VI=IIP•.S OP DOlkI￿￿.1c Abu3= rown fernalè victims of domèstic abuSÈ hplp5 wpmen un￿Erstand. ¢hallen9è and help TemovÈ ihp PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT WE SUPPORTED Our specialist advice workers are available 24n via our Advice Line and are on hand to provide guidance and support to a range of people - whether you are experiencing domestic abuse yourself. or you have concerns about someone you know or you are a professional working with a family and need expert help. PEOPLE ARltA'I,.... We can also offer advice through our online chat facility on our website which is available from 9am to midnight every day, through Facebook Messenger and directly by email. WAYS WE WERE CONTACTED Face-to-face drop-in appointments are available at a range of partner agency locations throughout Northamptonshire as well a5 online virtual drop-in sessions twice a week. where clients can video call our advice workers if safe to do so. Emai 4 Perso• Phone OnliThe WHO WE SUPPORTED Even if victim survivors are not ready or able to move on. we always highly recommend speaking to one of our workers. who can tell you what your options are. give you advice on how to stay 5afe- and importantly. just be there and listen. 11 81 4LIq 3LI2 000 eil Iikno41 ￿oMe( SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY You don't have to be in refuge for NDAS to support you. There are a range of ways that we help families and individuals in our communities. We offer intensive one-to-one support for male and female victims of domestic abuse living in Northamptonshire. After an initial assessment and risk assessment, support and safety plans are completed and weekly trauma-informed support for up to twelve weeks is delivered in the community around a person-centred action plan. We also offer groupwork programmes and are currently running VOICE (Victims of Intimate Coercive Experience) as our main programme for victims of domestic abuse. We also run Your Power to Chang groups for individuals who are displaying the behaviours of a perpetrator. These groups are run both in person. and virtually and are run separately for men and women &loLLP￿j0kL pEDeyLcmmE£ YOUR POWER TO CHANGE 10 waak programme for Indlvidual• dl8playlng baha¥laur8 of o p•rpatiator Aims of the programme: To provide a clear understanding of what domestic abuse is and consider how these behaviours are experienced through the eyes of both victim and children. To allow participants to identify unhealthy behaviours and explore strategies to work towards positive Change. The programme also examine5 how positive parenting can implement change. VOICE (VICTIMS OF INTIMATE COERCIVE EXPERIENCE) 10 wo•k progromm• for mul• or fomol• vl¢tlm8 of domo$tl¢ abuso Imso e programme.. To deepen understanding of intimate partner relationship abuse Develop insight into barriers victim survivors face when seeking help Explore the context of abusive behaviour both in situ and P05t separation Improved knowledge and understanding of the impact of trauma Develop understanding and practice of self-care io CHILDREN'S WORK Wè provide outreach support to children and young people in the community as wèll as to those that stay with us in refuge. Se55ion5 are offered to all children in refuge. with support provided to acce school and nursery places. We also plan and deliver a range of activities throughout the yeay. Our support programmes for children use age-appropriate. trauma-informed approaches to help them to safely sh8re their experiences. understand th8t they are not to blame and not alone We introduce ways to stay safe and start trusting again. and help to build self-confidence. independence. support nebNorks and positive relationships. Se55ions are tailored to the need5 of each child but always include safety planning. thoughts and feelings. healthylunhealthy relationships. support netrNorks and understanding the different types of abuse, and also ernpower parents to manage behaviour5 that be associated with trauma in a safe way. We have been workin9 hard to build on the range of groupwork sessions we offer to parents and children. To that end. our specialist worker5 have devised two brand new in house programmes. 'Me ariol Others, and 'Me and Us,. Me and others Who's in charge. You and mo Mum This programme aims to provide young people Bged 11-16 with an opportunity to explore and learn about what relationships are all about. It highlights what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like. our personal boundaries within these relation5hip5 and where to go if we need help regarding this. A child to parent violence programme aimed at parent5 whose chi Idren laged 8-181 are being abusive or violent to them or appear out of parental control. A programme for mum's which aim5 to empower. support and further developyour role a5a mum by understancling the need5 of children and young people who have lived with domÈstic abuse Part l Aims to cfiange parontal attitude and reduce blame, guilt and shame. Part 2 - Exploies the use of consequences to change unwanted behaviour and empower the parent. Wewantto to equipyoung people with the tools and confidence to make safe choice5 within relationships and empower them to practice these alongside utilising their support network if they have any concerns. Part 3 Support5 parent5 to make ehangos within tho home alongside advanced tOPlCS such a5 anger, assertiveness and self-carÈ. Mo and us This programme aims to provide chi Idren aged 5-11 with an opportunity to explore and learn whal relationships are all about. It considers what makes a relationship healthy or unhealthy. We want to equip children with the knowledge to make safe choices and have the confidence to share concerns with their li I bi£TrJ UJr Icl 'Ittp hthve I T(Lt4th&'s S¥0 Tabitha 15 11 and was referred tLI NDAS for 5UPPOrt by her school. Tabitha'5 parents had recently separated. and She was now living with her Mum but seeing Dad regularly. The family 15 from Romania and most of their friends and family are still there. Initially. Tabitha was reluctant to open up to our support workÈr. 5hÈ knew her parents argued but did not believe that this was an issue. Our 5UPPOrt worker talked about scenarios rather than directly about the family situation. A couple of sessions in. an incident occurred. where Dad had forcecl his way into the house and T4bitha witnessed him being aggressive tOW3rds her Mum. Thi5 Wd5 the first time Tabitha had witnessed her Dad be aggre55ive. After this incident. she opened up mLJch more and began to talk through some behaviours she had witnessed by her Dad that had made her feel'sad and LJncomft>rtable' Shè Èxplained that her Dad would oftÈn say unkind things about her Mum. We identified that both parent5 We￿ speaking to Tabitha 85 if She were an adult and would di5CVSS things with her that were not 4ppropriate. A5 a ￿5vIt. Tabitha wa5 worried about her Mum and that she was the only one her Mum could talk to We prc>vided 5UPPOrt for Mum to identify what wa5 appropriate to sharÈ and what shè should hold back. The sessions changed from being generic'healthy relationship topics. to speaking in more depth about the relationships she had seen within her close family. Tabitha would speak as though she was the adult of the house. looking after her Mum. Tabitha was sad for the sessions to end. as felt as If she could now swak about the situation at home. We supported her to identify who her'safe trusted adults. were and created a point of contact for her in secondary school which she did not have before. Mum also felt this way, and stated she had nover spoken to anyone about her struggles since she has been on her own as she feared this would be used this against her. We encouraged Mum to start attending 9roupwork sessions to help her deal with the abuse she had SLJfferÈd. 12 THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE ORGANISATIONS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US THIS YEAR We would like to make a 1 special thank you to a local family who make a large I regular donation which allow9 U5 to provide cri515 vouchers for families who come into refuge with nothing. BILLINGFINANCE Morrisons 99- autohome Wincanton COMMUNITY FUND Ministry of Housing, Commun(ties & Local Govemment THE HY¢JIENI BANK a.¥ TILIA HOMES WAITR05 wilson browne SOLICITORS ooodwill SCOTT BADER .dilfrren¢e SOLUTION5 pg Personal Group Sills Bet MARK SLATER TRAINING Hunsbury Hlll HCB Solicitors dge Solicitor8 AVON SDuth North3mptQn5htre NORTHAMPTONSHIRE QUAKERS LAC LUE We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support of two local benefactors who have gifted us a very generous donation for the last 3 years. This money covers over half of the yearly cost of providing support in our male refuge. TrcLNKs Qjso to... Hunsbury Hill Wl Dèlapre Primary School West Hur)sbury Wl Isebrook Hospital Welford Wl Holy Cross Church. Daventry Lings Primary School St Marys Church. Badby Barclays WIN Northampton The Faraway Childrens Charity oger Titman Sarah Cleverly Rebecca Jones Jude W8it Demi Kennèdy Judy Jordan Jeanette Clarke Claire Britton Project Linus Kirsty Macfarlane Julia Hawes Julia Lucaciu Tania McKnight Mark Behan Lindsay Checkley Maxine Chapman Pamela Pringle Liz Fairey Rachel Bennett Pam Adams Adrian Harr Helen Perumalla Heather Wilkins ClairÈ Lovitt 13 ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES** The Trustees (who are also the Directors of Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires 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 those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to 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. In so far as the Trustees are aware: - there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditors are unaware; - the Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information. ## **AUDITORS** The auditors, DNG Dove Naish LLP, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 25[th] October 2023 by: Glynis Bliss (Chair, Board of Trustees) 14 ## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT** The Trustees, who are also Directors of the Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS) charity for the purpose of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of 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). ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **The objectives of the charity are:** - a) The relief of those in need who have experienced domestic abuse, - b) The saving of lives, and - c) The prevention or relief of poverty for people affected by domestic abuse. To achieve these objectives, we: - a) Provide for the relief of all victims, survivors, their children and other people who have been affected by domestic abuse, as defined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. - b) Raise awareness and understanding of domestic abuse in all of its forms, in order to educate, prevent and eradicate. - c) Work towards the eradication of domestic abuse and gender-based violence, recognising the impact of gender inequalities on victimisation. - d) Provide places of safety where people and their children can be protected from abuse or persecution. - e) Provide temporary accommodation, wrap around services and aftercare. - f) Facilitate access to appropriate trauma-informed support including for those with complex needs. - g) Provide services which include information, advice, signposting and referral, counselling, support and groupwork. - h) Work with perpetrators of domestic abuse to reduce harm and offending. - i) Engage the wider public through awareness raising and training. - j) Deliver a service to all including men, women, non-binary clients and trans clients. - k) Deliver a service across Northamptonshire to clients whether locally based or where they have relocated to Northamptonshire for safety reasons. ## **The general aim of the charity is to:** Use the expertise gained over forty years of experience in providing for the relief of all victims, survivors, their children and other people who have been affected by domestic abuse; provide places of safety and temporary accommodation, wrap around services and aftercare; provide information, advice, signposting and referral, counselling, support and groupwork, including for those with complex needs; working towards services for perpetrators to reduce harm and offending; raise awareness and understanding of domestic abuse; undertake awareness raising and training; ensure the service is non-discriminatory and based on need and enabling independence. The charity’s achievements and plans for the future are detailed in the reports from the Chairperson and Chief Executive in previous annual reports and more information can be found at www.ndas.co. ## **STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing Document** Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS) is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 22nd June 1994 and amended to allow for current governance in 1998, 2001, 2012, and 2016. Exemption from the requirement to use the word “Limited” has been obtained. It remains a registered charity. The Trustees have the discretion to admit to membership any person over the age of 18 years who supports the objects of the company. 15 ## **Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees** Membership of the Board is by application. When considering co-opting members, the Board takes into consideration the requirements for any specialist skills that may be required to enhance its work. The process for recruitment and appointment is laid down in the NDAS’s policies and procedures. ## **Director Induction and Training** New Trustees attend a Board meeting as an observer and receive an induction pack to brief them on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making processes, the business plan and financial information relating to the performance of the charity. During an induction day, they meet key employees and other Trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate internal and external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role. ## **Organisational Structure** The Board of Trustees, which can have between 5 and 15 members, administers the charity. The Board meets every 6 weeks. Dr Rachel Duncan is the Chief Executive and is responsible for managing, developing and delivering the strategic direction within the organisation and income generation. The senior management team comprises the Business, Operations and Finance Managers who oversee the day-to-day operations of the charity, with delegated authority, within a scheme of delegation approved by the Trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment and the delivery of services. ## **Key Management Remuneration** The remuneration and pay of management roles are reviewed annually by the trustees giving regards to similar roles elsewhere in the charity sector, cost of living using national indicator sets, and also considering the relationship with the salaries of other staff members. ## **Related Parties** - The Charity has close working relationships with Orbit Heart of England Housing Association, PA Housing, Grand Union Housing, West Northamptonshire Council and Northamptonshire Quakers who own the properties managed by the charity as refuge accommodation (alongside 2 flats owned by NDAS for the purpose of provision of safe accommodation). - A grant agreement is in place with West Northamptonshire Council but funded by WNC and NNC (applying DLUHC safe accommodation funding) in fulfilment of the Local Authority duties in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Part 4 Section 57). - A separate contract is held with North Northamptonshire Council but funded by both NNC and WNC (through DLUHC safe accommodation monies) supports the Substance Misuse Refuge. Multi-agency work with both statutory and voluntary agencies continues on a daily basis to enhance the services available to our mutual service users throughout the county. In particular, partner agencies include West and North Northamptonshire Councils, the Northamptonshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, EVE, Service Six, Northamptonshire Rape Crisis, S2S, Family Support Link, Voice and the Sunflower Centre. ## **RISK MANAGEMENT** The Trustees have a risk management strategy that comprises: - a quarterly review of the risks the charity may face. - the establishment of system and procedures to mitigate those risks identified. - the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise. 16 - a nominated Trustee for each risk domain to provide additional accountability and assurance to the Board and providing support to the management team who have delegated day to day oversight of the risk register. The Board of Trustees has conducted its own review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and systems have been established to mitigate those risks. External risks to funding have been considered and internal risks minimised by the use of procedures for the authorisation of all transactions and projects to ensure consistent quality for all operational aspects of the charity. These procedures are reviewed annually to ensure they still meet the needs of the charity. This year the continued increasing demand for our children’s services meant that waiting lists became too long to be safely managed and, with great reluctance, the trustees decided that the list must be closed until further resources could be secured and/or the list reduced. This issue was identified as a new risk and a management plan was developed and implemented by the Management Team. The waiting lists have subsequently reduced and Dr Duncan is working with the County’s Commissioners to secure additional funding for our child services. We have also significantly developed our health and safety, statutory compliance and estates management approach and more fully identified risks and mitigations to assist strategic oversight of this area of business; and we are looking at ways to improve recruitment, which is a risk that is being realised by organisations across the sector. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Reserves Policy** The total reserves as at 31 March 2023 were £709,064. The total funds as at 31 March 2023 were £947,007. The Board of Trustees have designated funds for use in 20222023 as per Note 10 to the accounts. The Charity’s unrestricted liquid reserves as at March 2023 were above the necessary reserves policy of 4 months running costs at the 2022-2023 level of expenditure. As at 31 March 2023 the amount of restricted funds held within the reserve policy is £ 26,316 in respect of Northampton Town Council, NNC and Thomas Brington Foundation these restricted funds are to be spent in 2023/24. The amount of reserves after making allowances for the restricted and designated reserve is £895,691, the designated are to be spent in 2023/24. The Board of Trustees believe that it is good financial practice and incumbent on them for the charity to establish and maintain a level of reserves as insurance against future uncertainties and in order to take advantage of change and opportunities. The Board of Trustees have reviewed their reserves policy. Maintaining the level of reserves at the equivalent of four months running costs is considered to be prudent to ensure that: - the running costs of the charity are met in the event that the charity is forced through lack of funding to discontinue, and its affairs wound up; - a project can be continued for a short term, when project funding is unexpectedly withdrawn or discontinued, in order to explore the possibility of maintaining the project in the longer term through an alternative funding stream; - long term commitments which extend beyond the term of secured funding can be covered should continuation funding not be available e.g. lease commitments; - one off pieces of work to promote or develop the charity’s work can be undertaken as opportunities present themselves without the requisite funding being available. ## **Significant Events** After the past 3 years of Covid and post Covid uncertainty and challenge, this past year has been one of funding and service consolidation through application to national and local grants and commissioning, which has replaced the emergency and interim funding. Dr Duncan continued to use her considerable experience and expertise to assist the county to make national bids for funding that supports Violence against Women and Children (VAWG) services and, 17 of course, in particular Domestic Abuse services (DAS), which will assist the Unitary Authorities to meet their statutory duties including that for safe accommodation. In partnership, we bid as a county for Home Office Funding for Children’s Work and Perpetrator Work, and whilst these bids were not successful, they have continued to further develop the partnership and our shared vision for domestic abuse provision. Dr Duncan and her staff also continue to participate in, and support, countywide multi agency work addressing VAWG and DAS, including the application of the Domestic Abuse Strategies for North and West Northamptonshire, full engagement with task and finish groups and the development of action plans to tackle domestic abuse. During the year we saw continued increased demand for our services, particularly those for children. We have developed and increased our range of support and recovery programmes for both adults and children and extended their provision, both locality based, in schools and online. We have increased our Diversity Workers from one to two so that we can have specialist focus and support for both ethnically diverse communities and those from the LGTBQA community. We recognise that communities must have more confidence in our Service. To that end we now have a Refuge for Diverse Needs, but much more work needs to be done. We have also expanded our volunteer base and have now integrated a number of roles into our delivery including volunteer befrienders, group work volunteers and children’s activity volunteers. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers for their time and passion – and look forward to continuing to work with them to support victim survivors and their families. As part of our Income Strategy and through our Training Officer, we have also developed our Training Plan and can now offer a new range of standard and bespoke training to meet the needs of the public, private and commercial sectors. This will take time to develop into a reliable income strand. During the year we improved our ITC through investment in more efficient finance and HR software, improved website and ITC management and service. We continued to develop our Performance Management so that trustees, staff and stakeholders can identify outputs and outcomes and benefits delivered. This is an ongoing process with regular reports to the Board. The Trustees greatly value and recognise the commitment and hard work of their staff. Although severely constrained by finances, we have continued to develop staff benefits through flexible working practices, improved welfare, supervision and appraisal policies and, albeit modest, pay rises. Although we cannot always match public and private sector funding, our aim is that staff will consider NDAS an excellent place to work. ## **Plans for the Future** Our Income Generation Strategy will continue to be robustly implemented, with constant focus on diversified income, both through our funding applications to national and local statutory funds, bids for non statutory grants, links with the private and commercial sector, local fundraising through individual and group effort and donations. Our Strategic Plan, which has been refreshed, will be implemented through the Annual Delivery Plan which, although ambitious, we are confident will be successfully delivered as in previous years. The plan focuses on delivering our 5 key priorities: 1. NDAS is a great place to work – staff wellbeing offer, incentives and rewards, development and training; 2. NDAS is a responsive organisation – services that meet local needs including diversity, continue work to evidence our value, benefit and success, extend services to families, schools, perpetrators and volunteers; 3. NDAS is a resilient organisation – deliver Income Strategy, improve resilience in senior team, maximise benefit from assets and investments, review and develop Governance arrangements; 4. NDAS is a professional organisation – communication plan, branding and merchandising, training offer, infrastructure that meets needs of the organisation; 5. NDAS is a well-respected and trusted local organisation – quality standards and accredited services. 18 ## **Fundraising Standards Information** The Fundraising Officer has been developed to play an important role in our Income Strategy. Whilst we will inevitably continue to rely on significant commissioning to help deliver statutory duties and local strategic plans, we continue to strive to achieve a significant level of independent funding that enables us to develop and deliver services to meet local needs and recruit and retain excellent staff. Our Fundraising Officer is now focusing on income through small and medium grants and; nevertheless, we continue to support and encourage individual and group fundraising activities and we will continue to hold and participate in profile and awareness raising events countywide, for which our staff, volunteers and supporters continue to go above and beyond to raise much needed funds. We intend to continue funding this post for the future as a commitment to our goal to diversify our income streams. We are acutely aware of and bound by the standards set out in the Code of Fundraising Practice, as set and applied by the Fundraising Regulator, and ensure all of our work includes treating people fairly and with respect, explaining our cause clearly and honestly, outlining what money raised can pay for; and in particular being sensitive to people who may be in vulnerable circumstances. All of our staff, and those involved in fundraising, are keenly aware of vulnerability given the nature of our work and we are committed to raising awareness of vulnerability, how to identify and how to respond to those who are vulnerable. There were no compliance issues, and we received no complaints related to fundraising activity in the last financial year. Compliance with the code is carefully monitored through robust supervision and line management. ## **Benefit Statement** The charity continues to work to identify, develop and deliver safe services to victims of domestic abuse and their children across Northamptonshire and provides refuge provision to victims countrywide. We provide 7 refuges and 2 independent flats across the county, including a specialist substance misuse refuge and one of the very few male refuges in the country. We provide a 24/7 advice line, child centred services and outreach in accessible venues across the county. As previously identified, we have increased our Diversity Officers and can offer specialist support for ethnically diverse people and those from the LGBTQ+ community. Through effective partnership working we influence domestic abuse strategy and planning. In line with our commitment to reduce offending and eliminate domestic abuse, we have been seeking funding for Voluntary Perpetrator Programmes and we are hopeful that this will be achieved in the next year. Our services and facilities are monitored and reviewed by the Board of Trustees to ensure they remain fit for purpose and are provided appropriately to enable the furtherance of the charity’s objectives and for the public benefit. The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. ## **Principal Funding Sources** The principal funding sources and how expenses have supported the key objectives of the charity for the year are detailed within this report and the financial statements. ## Approved on 25[th] October 2023 by: Glynis Bliss (Chair, Board of Trustees) 19 ## **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS** **TO THE TRUSTEES OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE** ## **Opinion** We have audited the financial statements of Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Cash Flows and 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 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). ## In our opinion the financial statements: - give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended; - have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and - have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. ## **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 Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements 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** In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. ## **Other information** The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, 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 this gives rise to a 20 ## **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS** **TO THE TRUSTEES OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE** material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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 where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - the information given in the Report of the Trustees is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or - the charitable company has not kept adequate accounting records; or - the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or - we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. ## **Responsibilities of trustees** As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes 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 trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company'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 trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. ## **Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** We have been appointed as auditors under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. 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 a Report of the Independent Auditors 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. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the charity operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Charities Act 2011, United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and relevant Taxation legislation. 21 ## **REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS** **TO THE TRUSTEES OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE** We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be the override of controls by management, assessment of the ability to continue as a going concern and the understatement of revenue. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, reviewing meeting minutes, regulatory correspondence and professional fees, review of budgets and post year end financial statements, detailed substantive testing on the completeness of income, and reviewing accounting estimates for biases. We will also review the regulatory correspondence with the Charity Commission. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations. These inherent limitations are particularly significant in the case of misstatement resulting from fraud as this may involve sophisticated schemes designed to avoid detection, including deliberate failure to record transactions, collusion or the provision of intentional misrepresentations. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors. ## **Use of our report** This report is made solely to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company'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 charitable company and the charitable company's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. DNG Dove Naish LLP, Statutory Auditor Eligible to act as an auditor in terms of Section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006 Eagle House 28 Billing Road Northampton NN1 5AJ Date: 31 October 2023 22 ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2023** INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT |**_NOTE_**
**Incoming Resources**
Donations and legacies
**_1_**
Investment Income
**_2_**
Other Incoming Resources
**_3_**
Incoming resources from charitable activities:
NCC Contract Drug & Alcohol
Rent received
The National Lottery Com.Fund
MOJ Funding – General
MOJ Funding – BAME & Child
MHCLG Funding
Northampton TC
North Northants Council
ASDA Foundation
Thomas Brington FG
Northants Police -PCC
Scott Bader
Goodwill Solutions
**Total incoming resources**
**Resources Expended**
**Charitable activities**
Provision of refuges and supporting
services
**_4_**
**Total resources expended**
**Net incoming resources for the year**
**Transfers**
**Net movement in funds**
**_5_**
**_10_**
**Reconciliation of Funds**
**Balances brought forward at 1 April 2022**
**Balances carried forward at 31 March 2023**|**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS £**
**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS £**
**TOTAL**
**2023 £**
**TOTAL**
**2022 £**| |---|---| ||132,976 -
132,976 106,246
8,353
-
8,353
1,715
8,514
-
8,514
3,215
130,000
-
130,000
130,000
368,803
-
396,978
-
-
-
-
25,999
129,158
-
2,284
20,000
1,000
10,000
10,000
-
-
368,803
25,999
396,978
129,158
-
2,284
20,000
1,000
10,000
10,000
-
-
371,429
7,157
333,900
53,771
18,550
-
-
-
-
-
4,800
10,000| ||**1,045,624 198,441**
**1,244,065**
**1,040,783**| ||1,055,499
189,627
1,245,126
1,125,818| ||**1,055,499**
**189,627**
**1,245,126**
**1,125,818**| ||| ||**(9,875)**
**-**
**(9,875)**
**8,814**
**-**
**8,814**
**(1,061)**
**-**
**(1,061)**
**(85,035)**
**-**
**(85,035)**| ||| ||**930,566**
**17,502**
**948,068**
**1,033,103**| ||**920,691 26,316**
**947,007**
**948,068**| ||| The company has no recognised gains or losses other than those included in the surplus above. There were no discontinued operations. 23 The notes on the following pages form part of these financial statements. ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2022.** INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT |**_NOTE_**
**Incoming Resources**
Donations and legacies
**_1_**
Investment income
**_2_**
Other Incoming Resources
**_3_**
Incoming resources from charitable activities:
NCC Contract Drug & Alcohol
Rent Received
The National Lottery Com.Fund
MOJ Funding- General
MOJ Funding- BAME & Child
MHCLG Funding
Scott Bader
Goodwill Solutions
**Total incoming resources**
**Resources Expended**
**Charitable activities**
Provision of refuges and supporting
services
**_4_**
**Total resources expended**
**Net incoming resources for the year**
**_5_**
**Balances brought forward at 1 April 2021**
**Balances carried forward at 31 March 2022**|**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS £**
**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS £**
**TOTAL**
**2022 £**| |---|---| ||106,246 -
106,246
1,715
-
1,715
3,215
-
3,215
130,000
371,429
-
-
-
7,157
130,000
371,429
7,157
333,900
-
18,550
-
-
-
53,771
-
4,800
10,000
333,900
53,771
18,550
4,800
10,000| ||**965,055 75,728 1,040,783**| ||1,032,000
93,818
1,125,818| ||**1,032,000**
**93,818**
**1,125,818**| ||**(66,945)**
**(18,090)**
**(85,035)**
**997,511**35,592
**1,033,103**| ||**930,566 17,502 948,068**| ||| The company has no recognised gains or losses other than those included in the surplus above. There were no discontinued operations. The notes on the following pages form part of these financial Statements. 24 ## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31[ST] MARCH 2023** NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE. COMPANY NUMBER 2978532 ||**_NOTE_**|**UNRESTRICTED**|**RESTRICTED**|**TOTAL**|**TOTAL**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**FUNDS £**|**FUNDS £**|**2023 £**|**2022 £**| |**Fixed Assets**|||||| |Tangible Assets|**_7_**|237,943|-|237,943|5,698| |**Current Assets**|||||| |Debtors, Prepayment and Accrued|||||| |Income|**_8_**|43,625|10,000|53,625|55,548| |Cash at bank and in hand||663,161|16,316|679,477|933,777| |||**706,786**|**26,316**|**733,102**|**989,325**| |**Creditors**|||||| |Amounts falling due within one year|**_9_**|24,038|-|24,038|46,955| |**Net current assets**||**682,748**|**26,316**|**709,064**|**942,370**| |**Total assets less current liabilities**||920,691|26,316|947,007|| |**Creditors**|||||| |Amounts falling due after more than|||||| |one year||-|-|-|-| |**Net assets**|**10**|**920,691**|**26,316**|**947,007**|**948,068**| |**Funds**|||||| |Restricted funds|||||| |National Lottery Community Fund||-|-|
-|3,663| |Northampton Town Council||-|1,444|
1,444|
-| |NCC Hardship (1)||-|4,872|4,872|-| |NCC Hardship (2)||-|10,000|
10,000|-| |Thomas Brington Foundation||-|10,000|
10,000|-| |Scott Bader||-|-|-|3,839| |Goodwill Solutions||-|-|-|
10,000| |Designated funds|||||| |Refuge refurbishment||25,000|-|25,000|25,000| |Sale of Head Office||-|-|-|167,190| |Other unrestricted funds||895,691|-|895,691|738,376| |**Total Funds**||**920,691**|**26,316**|**947,007**|**948,068**| The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31[st] March 2023. The members have not deposited notice, pursuant to Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006 requiring an audit of these financial statements. 25 ## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31[ST] MARCH 2023** NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE. COMPANY NUMBER 2978532 The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. These financial statements have been audited under the requirements of Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions to charitable companies subject to the small company’s regime. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 25[th] October 2023 and were signed on its behalf by: Glynis Bliss (Chair, Board of Trustees) 26 ## **CASH FLOW STATEMENT** **For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** ||2023|2022| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Cash flows from operating activities||| |Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities|(23,562)|(84,122)| |Cash flows from investing activities||| |Purchase of tangible fixed assets
|(239,091)|(3,282)| |Interest received|8,353|1,715| |Sale of Tangible Fixed Asset||| ||-|-| |Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities|(230,738)|(1,567)| |Cash flows from financing activities||| |Repayments of borrowings
|-|-| |Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|-|-| |Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period|(254,300)|(85,689)| |Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period|933,777|1,019,466| |Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period|679,477|933,777| |Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash inflow from operating activities||| |Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period|(1,061)|(85,035)| |Depreciation charge|6,846|1,472| |Profit/Loss on disposal of Fixed Asset
|-|-| |Finance income|(8,353)|(1,715)| |(Increase)/Decrease in debtors
|1,923|22,518| |Increase/(Decrease) in creditors|(22,917)|(21,362)| ||(23,562)|(84,122)| 27 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** **ACCOUNTING POLICIES For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** ## a. Basis of preparing the financial statements The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland', and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service is an incorporated charity limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. The charity's number and registered office address can be found on the Company Information page. ## b. Taxation The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. ## c. Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. ## d. Financial instruments Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise cash at banks and in hand and short term deposits with an original maturity date of three months or less. Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income under administrative expenses. Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all of its financial liabilities. Where the contractual obligations of financial instruments are equivalent to a similar debt instrument, those financial instruments are classed as financial liabilities. Financial liabilities are presented as such in the balance sheet. Finance costs and gains or losses relating to financial liabilities are included in the profit and loss account. Finance costs are calculated so as to produce a constant rate of return on the outstanding liability. ## e. Recognition of Incoming Resources These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when: - the Charity becomes entitled to the resources - the Trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and - - the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. ## f. Donations and Gifts All monetary donations are included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable. ## g. Investment Income Investment income is recognised when receivable. 28 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** **ACCOUNTING POLICIES For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** ## h. Grants Receivable Revenue grants are credited as incoming resources when they are receivable provided conditions for receipt have been complied with. ## i. Liability Recognition Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to pay out resources ## j. Resources Expended Expenditure is allocated in the statement of financial activities between restricted funds and unrestricted funds, and is further analysed between charitable activities and governance costs. ## k. Fund Accounting Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes laid down by the donor. Expenditures for those purposes is charged to the fund, together with a fair allocation of overheads and support costs. Unrestricted funds are incoming resources received and generated for expenditure on the general objectives of the charity. Where appropriate, funds are designated by the trustees for specific projects or anticipated major expenditure. ## l. Fixed Assets Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Where parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items of property, plant and equipment. Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each balance sheet date. The selection of these residual values and estimated lives requires the exercise of judgement. The trustees are required to assess whether there is an indication of impairment to the carrying value of assets. In making that assessment, judgements are made in estimating value use. The trustees consider that the individual carrying values of assets are supportable by their value in use. Depreciation is provided at the following rates to write off all tangible fixed assets with the exception of freehold land, over their expected useful lives. Leasehold Property 2% straight line Office Equipment 15% straight line Other Equipment 15% straight line ## m. Operating Leases Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. 29 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **ACCOUNTING POLICIES For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** ## n. Intangible Income Intangible income, which comprises donated services, is recognised in the notes to the accounts at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such a cost is quantifiable and measurable. ## o. Restricted Funds Restricted funds are to be used on specific services and are accounted for separately. ## p. Presentational Currency The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£) ## q. Going Concern The Trustees have considered a period of 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements and have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual statements. ## r. Significant judgement and estimates The preparation of financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the company accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed within the individual accounting policies above. ## s. Government grant policy Government grants are recognized in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. 30 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** **For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** |||**UNRESTRICTED**|**RESTRICTED**|**TOTAL**|
**TOTAL**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**1. **|**Donations and Legacies**|**FUNDS £**|**FUNDS £**|**2023 £**|**2022 £**| ||Donations|82,976|-|82,976|53,121| ||Northampton Borough Council|20,000|-|20,000|20,000| ||East Northants Council|15,000|-|15,000|18,125| ||South Northants Council CSP|15,000|-|15,000|15,000| |||**132,976**||**132,976**|**106,246**| |**2. **|**Investment Income**||||| |||||8,353|1,715| |||||**8,353**|**1,715**| |**3. **|**Other Incoming Resources**||||| ||Student Fees|||3,400|3,215| ||Training|||4,935|-| ||Misc Sales|||179|-| |||||**8,514**|**3,215**| |||**UNRESTRICTED**|**RESTRICTED**|**TOTAL**|**TOTAL**| |**4. **|**Resources Expended**|**FUNDS £**|**FUNDS £**|**2023 £**|**2022 £**| ||**Charitable Activities**||||| ||Salaries and related costs|555,919|155,594|711,513|683,799| ||Employer pension|12,053|350|12,403|10,172| ||Rent and rates|83,566|-|83,566|76,851| ||Heat and Light|28,201|2,260|30,461|21,622| ||Telephone|14,167|71|14,238|14,308| ||Insurance, repairs and maintenance|37,126|-|37,126|37,970| ||Hire of rooms|1,930|-
|1,930|1,835| ||Cleaning materials and supplies|454|-
|454|333| ||Furniture and equipment|12,599|2,684|15,283|9,378| ||Television rental and TV licences|2,226|-|2,226|1,890| ||Motor vehicle and travel expenses|12,999|288|13,287|11,638| ||Equipment servicing|2,303|-
|2,303|1,181| ||Depreciation|6,846|-|6,846|1,472| ||Sundry expenses|8,070|-|8,070|202| ||IT, Stationery, books and postage|34,934|-|34,934|22,198| ||Consultancy/Agency|-|22,517|22,517|-| ||Training and consultancy|7,531|-|7,531|15,531| ||Advertising|578|-|578|380| ||Interpreting expenses|2,912|-
|2,912|2,439| ||Cleaning|4,587|-|4,587|3,410| ||HA Management Charges|87,626|-|87,626|79,438| ||Children’s work resources|1,273|-
|1,273|1,903| ||Counselling Therapist|6,707|3,839|10,546|8,232| ||Refuge refurbishment|16,017|-|16,017|9,507| ||DBS checks and Recruitment|1,108|-|1,108|975| 31 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** |**Resources Expended (cont.)**||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Multi Occupancy Licence|735|-|735|560| |No Recourse to public funds|-|-|-|1,175| |Covid 19 Expenditure|-|-|2,024|4,139| |Hardship Expenditure|-|2,024||-| ||**942,467**|**189,627**|**1,132,094**|**1,022,538**| |**Governance Costs of the Charity**||||| |Auditor’s remuneration – for audit work|5,100|-|5,100|4,800| |Auditor’s remuneration–non audit work|-|-|-|750| |Professional fees|1,352|-|1,352|2,529| ||**6,452**|-|**6,452**|**8,079**| |**Support Costs allocated to activities**||||| |Staff costs|96,344|-|96,344|84,452| |Employer pension|1,954|-|1,954|3,251| |Office expenses|7,673|-|7,673|7,030| |Bank charges|609|-|609|468| ||**106,580**|-|**106,580**|**95,201**| |**Total Resources Expended**|**1,055,499**|**189,627**|**1,245,126**|**1,125,818**| ||||**2023 £**|**2022 £**| |**5. Net Income/(Expenditure)**||||| |Net income/(expenditure) is stated after|charging/(crediting):|||| |Auditor’s remuneration for audit work|||5,100|5,550| ||||**11,946**
|**7,022**| ||||**2023 £**|**2022 £**| |**6. Staff Costs and Trustees Remuneration**||||| |Wages and salaries|||748,482|716,119| |Social security costs|||58,997|52,132| |Pension costs|||14,358|13,423| ||||**821,837**|**781,674**| |The average monthly head count was 34 (2022:37) and the average number|||of employees was 28|(2022:27)| |on a full time basis.||||| |No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60k (2022: nil).||||| |No Trustees received any remuneration in the year.||||| |During the year no Trustees received any|expenses (2022: nil)|||| |The total employee remuneration of key management personnel was £55,360 (2022: £53,471).||||| The average monthly head count was 34 (2022:37) and the average number of employees was 28 (2022:27) on a full time basis. No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60k (2022: nil). No Trustees received any remuneration in the year. During the year no Trustees received any expenses (2022: nil) The total employee remuneration of key management personnel was £55,360 (2022: £53,471). 32 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** **For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** |||**_OFFICE_**
|**OTHER**|**LEASEHOLD**|**TOTAL**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**_EQUIPMENT_**
|**EQUIPMENT**|**BUILDINGS**|| |**_7. _**|**_Tangible Fixed Assets_**|
**_£_**|**£**|**£**|**£**| ||At 1 April 2022|
107,049|71,950|-|178,999| ||Additions|2,439|2,726|233,925|239,090| ||Disposals|-|-|-|-| ||At 31 March 2023|**109,488**|**74,676**|**233,925**|**418,089**| ||**Depreciation**||||| ||At April 2022|105,128|68,172||173,300| ||Charge for the year|964|1,203|4,679|6,846| ||Disposals|||-|-| ||At 31 March 2023|**106,092**|**69,375**|**4,679**|**180,146**| ||Net Book Value||||| ||At 31 March 2023|3,396|5,301|229,246|237,943| ||At 31 March 2022|1,920|3,778|-|5,698| |||**2023**|**2022**| |---|---|---|---| |**8. **|**Debtors**|**£**|**£**| ||Debtors|11,950|5,280| ||Prepayments and accrued income|41,675|50,268| |||**53,625**|**55,548**| |||**2023**|**2022**| |||**£**|**£**| |**9. **|**Creditors: amounts due less than one year**||| ||Accruals and deferred income|24,038|46,955| |||**24,038**|**46,955**| The deferred income at the Balance sheet date relates to invoiced contracted services during the previous year that have not been completed during that year due to Covid 19. These have now been completed. 2023 2022 Deferred income as at 1[st] April 2022 £29,200 £51,706 Income deferred in the current year - £3,200 Deferred income released in the year £29,200 £25,706 Deferred income as at 31[st] March 2023 - £29,200 33 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** |**10. Funds**|**2023**|**2022**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |**Unrestricted funds**||| |General fund|895,691|738,376| |Designated funds:||| |Refuge Refurbishment|25,000|25,000| |Sale of Head Office|-|167,190| |**Total**|**920,691**|**930,566**| |**Restricted funds**||| |The National Lottery Community Fund|-|3,663| |Northampton Town Council|1,444|
-| |NNC – Hardship Fund|4,872|
-| |HSF Winter Grant|10,000|-| |Thomas Brington Foundation|10,000|-| |Scott Bader|-|3,839| |Goodwill Solutions|-|10,000| ||**26,316**|**17,502**| 34 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** **For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** |**Movement in Funds**
**Year ended 31 March 2023**
**Funds**
**Unrestricted:**
General
**Designated**
Refuge refurbishment
Sale of Head Office

**Total Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted:**
MOJ Funding – BAME & Child
PCC Northants Police
Northampton Town Council
NNC Hardship Fund (1)
ASDA Foundation
NNC Hardship Fund (2)
Thomas Brington Foundation
Scott Bader
National Lottery Community fund -
Ace Project
Goodwill Solutions
**Total Funds**||**AT 1**
**APRIL**
738,376|**INCOMING**
**RESOURCES**
1,045,624|**EXPENDITURE**
(1,039,483)|**TRANSFERS**
151,174|**AT 31**
**MARCH**
895,691
895,691
25,000
-

25,000
920,691
-
-
1,444
4,872
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
-
26,316
947,007| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||738,376|1,045,624|(1,039,483)|151,174|| |||25,000

167,190|—
-

|(16,016)
-


|16,016
(167, 190)

|| ||192,190
||-|(16,016)
|(151,174)|| |||||||| ||930,566||1,045,624|(1,055,499)|-|| ||-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,839


3,663
10,000||129,158
10,000
2,284
10,000
1,000
10,000
10,000
-
25,999
-
|(129,158)
(10,000)
(840)
(5,128)
(1,000)
-
-
(3,839)
(29,662)
(10,000)|-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-
|| ||17,502
||198,441|(189,627)
|-|| |||||||| ||948,068||1,244,065|(1,245,126)
|-|| ## Designated The Refuge refurbishment is funding for planned decoration, replacement carpets on a cyclic rota of all refuges. The Transfer balance relates to expenditure of decoration in a particular refuge. The Sale of Head Office proceeds were used in 2022/23 to purchase two new flats. ## Restricted MOJ Funding is specific for provision BAME and Children work. PCC Northants Police was used to partly fund our Training Co-ordinator role. Northampton Town Council grant is in respect of purchasing move on packs for outgoing clients. NNC Hardship funds relate to service charge relief and winter clothing/bedding For NNC area clients. Thomas Brington Foundation relates to funding for clients with no recourse to public funding. ASDA Foundation grant relates to service charge relief for clients in WNC area. Scott Bader grant is funding for providing a counselling service to our clients, this work has now concluded. 35 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** National Lottery Community (ACE) grant is funding to work in partnership with other agencies to work with children affected by Domestic Abuse, this work is planned was completed in 2[nd] quarter of 2022/23. Goodwill Solutions is a grant specific to help fund a Children Support Worker. ||**AT 1**
**APRIL**
786,771|**INCOMING**
**RESOURCES**
965,055|**EXPENDITURE**
(1,003,943)|**TRANSFERS**
(9,507)|**AT 31**
**MARCH**
738,376
738,376
25,000
-
167,190

192,190
930,566
_
_
_
3,839
10,000
3,663
17,502
948,068| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||786,771|965,055|(1,003,943)|(9,507)|| ||25,000

18,550
167,190|—
-
-

|(9,507)
(18,550)

—

|9,507
-

—

|| |210,740
||-|(28,057)
|9,507|| ||||||| |997,511||965,055|(1,032,000)|-|| |28,377
—
3,552
_
_

3,663||-

53,771
-
4,800
10,000

7,157|(28,377)

(53,771)
(3,552)
(961)
_

(7,157)|—

—

—

_
_
-|| |35,592||75,728|(93,818)
|-|| ||||||| |1,033,103||1,040,783|(1,125,818)
|-|| ## Designated The refuge refurbishment is funding for planned decoration, replacement carpets on a cyclic rota of all refuges. The transfer balance relates to expenditure of decoration in a particular refuge. MHCLG is contract funding specific Domestic abuse service as a whole. The sale of Head Office proceeds are to be used in 2022/23 to purchase a refuge or refuges. ## Restricted MHCLG Funding was specifically used to fund salaries and overall service, as increase in advice, calls and cases following Covid. MOJ Funding is specific for provision BMAE and Children work. PCC Covid 19 funding was specific for Covid 19, in respect of additional cleaning and supplies carried out in 1[st] quarter of2021/22. Scott Bader grant is funding for providing a counselling service to our clients, this work to be concluded in 2022/23. Goodwill solutions is a grant specific to help fund a Children Support Worker. National Lottery Community grant is funding to work in partnership with other agencies to work with children affected by Domestic Abuse. 36 ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023** ## **11. Related Party Transactions** There were no related party transactions during the year (2022: 0) ## **12. Called up Share Capital** The company is limited by guarantee and does not have any issued share capital. Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company (should this be wound up during membership or within one year after ceasing to be a member), for payment of debts and liabilities of the Company contracted before ceasing to be a member. The contribution payable is a limited to a sum not exceeding £1. ## **13. Contingent Liabilities and Capital Commitments** The company had no contingent liabilities as at 31 March 2023 or 31 March 2022. ## **14. Leasing Agreements** Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as they fall due as follows: **2023 2022 Expiring £ £** Within 1 year 60,018 52,593 2- 5 years 3,886 687 Total 63,904 53,280 37 ## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** ## **Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service** Registered Charity No: 1070741 Registered Company No: 2978532 (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ## **Registered Office address:** Keep House 124 High Street Wollaston Wellingborough NN29 7RJ Telephone Number: 0300 0120154 Email address: info@ndas.co Website: www.ndas.co ## **Auditors:** DNG Dove Naish LLP Eagle House, 28 Billing Road Northampton, NN1 5AJ ## **Bankers:** Barclays Bank PO Box 23 Northampton NN1 4YD ## **Investment Management:** CCLA Investment Management Ltd COIF Charities Deposit Fund One Angel Lane London EC4R 3AB United Trust bank Ltd One Ropemaker Street London EC2Y 9AW ## **Solicitors:** Wilson Browne Solicitors 60b Oxford Street Wellingborough Northants NN8 4JJ **Company Secretary:** Dr Rachel Duncan **Chief Executive:** Dr Rachel Duncan **Board of Trustees & Directors:** Beverley McConnell David Loyd-Hearn (Vice-Chair) Glynis Bliss (Chairperson) Jennifer Moles- Resigned 25[th] August 2023 Jo Burns Rufia Ashraf Adele Knott Stuart Stevens- resigned 18[th] April 2023 Lynda Cox Eric Lennox Mark Behan- appointed 4[th] May 2022 Andrea Gomm- appointed 14[th] June 2023 38