Registered Charity No: 1074368
GREATER LONDON FORUM FOR OLDER PEOPLE
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
Greater London Forum for Older People Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
Finance and administrative details
Status
The Greater London Forum for The Elderly was formed in January 1988 and registered with the Charity Commission on the 24[th] February 1999. The charity formally adopted the new name of The Greater London Forum for Older People in 2004.
Governing document
The constitution adopted on the 15[th] September 1998, amended on 23[rd] March 2001 and further amended 25[th] April 2003 and 30[th] September 2008 establishes the objects and governance of the organisation.
Trustees
Chair: Asoke Dutta Vice Chair: Peter Denton Vice Chair: John Ball Treasurer: Alok Agrawal Secretary: Tony Tuck
Executive Committee
Beulah M East Chelliah Lohendran Colin Lomas Fay Sandler Glenn Davies Gorman Collins Suresh Gupta Cliff Reynolds Margaret Oymade James Cowling
Registered Office Charity Number
12 Cyril Mansions, Prince of Wales Driver, SW11 4HR 1074368
Bankers
Co-operative Bank plc, Olympic House, 6 Olympic Court, Montford Street, Salford M5 2QP
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Greater London Forum for Older People
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31[st] March 2024
The Trustees present their report and the financial statement for the year ended 31 March 2024
The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in March 2005.
Objectives and aims
The Greater London Forum for Older People – also known as the GLF – is the umbrella group for older people’s forums across the 32 London Boroughs and the City of London, which was set up in 1988 as the voice of older people through civic engagement.
The objective as specified in the constitution is ‘The promotion of any charitable purpose for the benefit of elderly people in greater London’.
The GLF seeks to ensure that all older Londoners are heard in representations to decision makers, across all sexes, classes, religious groups, older people with disabilities, and the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups.
The GLF seeks to provide support services to the Borough Forums through the organization of capacity building, training, conferences and seminars, campaigning and fundraising and the dissemination of best practices.
Mission Statement
To strengthen the voice of older Londoners to enable participation in the local decision making process through the support and facilitation of strong active local borough Forums.
Through partnerships, develop resources that will support the work of the forums and enable them to move towards a position of self-sufficiency
To co-ordinate the work of the Borough Forums and to develop London wide perspectives on policy and practice
To further reflect the diversity of London’s people and their differing needs and concerns
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Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is managed by a Board of Trustee and Executive Committee which is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization
The Executive Committee and the Trustees are all members of their local forums, or London wide organisations who are elected at the Annual General Meeting following their nomination. The experience and expertise of the candidates is set out in papers supplied with voting forms and made available before voting takes place. Most Trustees and members of the Executive Committee are already familiar with the practical work of the charity and the forums. New Members are provided with an individual induction depending on their needs
The committee met monthly where information on the financial status of the organization and details of all activities undertaken on behalf of the organization were provided. This included organizational policy and procedures and reviews of the organizational and financial risk. All financial procedures require authorization of all transactions.
Organizational Structure and Networks
The local borough Forums are run by older volunteers for older people and are composed of individuals and representatives of older people’s organizations and other bodies working with or for older people in each borough. All forums are independent grass root groups. The forums have their own Executive or Management Committee to plan activities and campaigns with the main focus on working with and representing the views of local older people to the various local authority departments, various parts of the NHS, MP’s, Councilors, statutory and voluntary providers. The borough Forum provides older people with an active voice in stating their needs and wishes for local services and decision-making processes and pan London strategic policy.
The Greater London Forum for Older People is a major player in the pan London network of organizations between the forums i.e. a range of strategic organizations. For example: Greater London Assembly, Age UK London, Kings College, Transport for London
The BAME is a pan London group providing a specific voice on strategic policy and issues of concern to black, ethnic and minority communities. The membership is drawn from the pan-London organizations and forums.
The Greater London Forum for Older People is working in partnership with Age UK London on campaigns and governance support.
Risk Management
The Executive Committee reviews the risks faced by the organization particularly relating to the sustainability of the organization at each meeting. There is also constant monitoring of the finances and operation by the Chair, Hon Secretary and Treasurer.
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Greater London Forum for Older People
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The key risks to the organization are the achievement of sustainable funding, There is also a need to increase the number of staff to support the extensive work in forum development and BAME support. Future focus is to ensure sustainable funding for the GLF and Forums.
How GLF activities deliver public benefit
The focuses of our achievements in delivering public benefit are related to the GLF Mission Statement. The benefit is achieved by older people themselves dictating the work undertaken by the Greater London Forum for Older People who also provide the opportunities to participate in civic life and ensuring older people are at the forefront of shaping the future. Through this inclusion the mental and physical wellbeing of older people has been improved either directly or through working in partnership with other organizations and for many people there is a large element of personal development and increased confidence. As a grass roots, independent organization older people are at the heart of all work undertaken.
Principal Activities and Achievements
Trust for London – Stronger communities
The Trust for London fund runs from April 2022 to June 2025. Awards for All fund runs from 2024 to March 2026. The Outreach Engagement Manager is employed for 21 hours per week.
36 groups and Forums, many from a variety of ethnic communities, have had intensive one to one support which has included Governance and Risk Management, Sustainability Planning, Finance and Fundraising and developing links with other local organisations to work together and to develop partnerships, how to work with local statutory structures such as local authorities and the NHS, linking into the Health & Wellbeing Boards, and also provided access to the CQC.
Support has also been given in organising local public events in local Boroughs on subjects chosen by the members of the forums and which covered local healthcare, people’s entitlements, scams and fraud awareness and speakers from local, regional and national government and organisations.
A comprehensive bank of resources has been compiled with pro-forma and various templates such as application forms for Board roles and which could be adapted to individual forums’ needs.
One to one sessions across the region has enabled activities to be highlighted which fit in well with the individual communities and has helped in introducing ideas that have made a successful difference to some peoples’ lives.
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GLF has been invited by the Mayor of London to join the Equalities, Diversity and Inclusive committee – Advisory Group to advice Mayor’s London Recovery Board on older peoples’ issues. At the advisory group GLF emphasises problems affecting among other older Londoners, Black, Asian and Minority groups.
GLF is a member of London Age Friendly Forum to work with other organisations to make London a fit place to live in an age friendly London.
The Chairs and Treasurers Network
The Chairs’ and Treasurers Network was established for all forums in London to encourage peer learning, provide support for forums and to highlight areas of good practice and sources of support. Each meeting has an average attendance of 20-40 forum members and feedback from the forums has been very positive in that it is a really useful initiative for forums to meet, discuss their issues and concerns and hear what other forums are doing and share best practice. One of the areas of concern in the forums is the issue of loneliness and isolation which plays a major part in contributing towards ill health post pandemic. The Forums have approached the GLF to help facilitate ways for the forums to raise awareness in their Boroughs and encourage joint activities across the Boroughs.
Senior London Magazine
The Senior London Magazine continues to develop successfully and is distributed to the Forums, London MPs, Greater London Assembly members, Leaders of 32 London Boroughs, pan-London organisations.
The magazine acts as a focus for recruitment to the Forums and The Greater London Forum for Older People providing information on issues relevant to older people, people’s rights and campaigns.
The Senior London magazine has a readership of over 30,000 per year
Age Friendly Community
This project is led by the Executive Committee and Outreach Engagement Manager. The objective is to embark upon creating an environment that is inclusive and works for older people. The GLF works with the Greater London Assembly, the Centre for Better Aging, the London Age Friendly Forum and Age UK London.
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The GLF Black, Asian and minority ethnic Sub Committee (BAME)
This project is led by the Outreach Engagement Manager and was extended for a further three years by the Trust For London with the emphasis being on campaigning to highlight priority needs of the BAME communities, understanding of different cultures and to be a strategic voice in London. 18 panLondon organisations joined the BAME Sub Committee.
The objective is to embark upon relevant and strategic actions that act as a catalyst in helping to strengthen the voice of older BAME. This will require members to engage in frank discussions that raise awareness about any structural barriers, policies and procedures that negatively impact BAME communities
Campaign on Inequalities – on going
The Sub Committee developed the campaign on two issues: Mental Health Inequalities and Housing. To achieve impact actions were agreed to be encompassed in the London Mayor’s EDI strategy 2022 and NHS England to highlight the need for changes in primary care services. The London Mayor’s EDI Strategy to include the housing improvements.
The objectives of the Sub Committee are to gather essential information on key issues, such as access to financial resources, to empower BAME communities with a better understanding of available support. This includes assistance with accessing financial aid like Pension Credit and other measures to help address the challenges posed by the current cost-of-living crisis. The GLF will be working with local authorities to improve access in a number of London Boroughs
The Transport Sub Committee
This project’s main aim is to work with the forums in identifying key transport issues affecting older people and find solutions to improve safety in traveling. To campaign for improved routes and participate in consultations.
General Activities of the GLF
As an umbrella organisation it is important to ensure the forums are included in consultations where policy will impact on their lives. The GLF works closely with the Greater London Assembly and key panLondon organisations to highlight issues affecting older people.
To ensure the opportunity for participation in all Greater London Forum for Older People’s events all activities have been delivered through virtual platforms. Information is provided both electronically and by hard copy.
The Greater London Forum for Older People also facilitated and supported forums to have their own consultation events.
The representation across the range of London networks has increased the prominence of the Greater London Forum for Older People and its influence and has also emphasized its role as the hub for linking networks, organisations and both statutory and voluntary providers to the grass root voice.
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Greater London Forum for Older People
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
Review of work undertaken
The Greater London Forum for Older People’s greatest asset is the fact that it is very much a grass root organisation, a bottom up organisation where to date the forums have determined the work of the organisation. As the number of pure grass root organisations is shrinking it is felt that it is very important to continue this specific ethos especially as it is felt that larger organisations do not always reflect the grass root view. Analysis has also shown that the Greater London Forum for Older People is a trusted organisations and its wide range of diverse activities was noted. The main weaknesses
remains the lack of core funding, lack of staff resources such as Forum Officers, Administrator and Outreach Workers.
The Way Forward
The Greater London Forum for Older People will continue to link together the voices of older Londoners from all the London boroughs providing a co-ordinated London voice and ensure forums are at the centre of our work through providing support and expertise. There is a need to build on our strengths and to continue to apply for core funding.
Financial Assessment and Review
The financial statements are presented in the standard format required by The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2005 and the Charity Statements of Recommended Practice 2005
Regular assessments and reviews were undertaken throughout the year to monitor the accounts
Income Resources
The total income for the year was £37.960.00
Source of income include designated funding,
Resources Expended
The total expenditure for the year was £33,754.49
Statement of Trustees responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The 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 charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent Page 8
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State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO AUDITORS
The Trustees of the Charity confirm that:
As far as they are aware, there is no relevant information (information needed by the charity’s auditors in connection with preparing their report) of which the charity’s auditors are unaware, and they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s auditors are aware of that information.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 10[th] January 2025 and was signed on its behalf by:
………………………………………………………………. Tony Tunk Hon Secretary
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Accounts completed by Alok Agrawal, GLF Treasurer
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GREATER LONDON FORUM FOR OLDER PEOPLE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
A summary of the principal accounting policies, all of which have been applied consistently throughout the year and with the preceding year, is set out below.
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”, published in 2005 and with applicable accounting standards.
1.2 Restricted funds
Restricted funds are to be used for specified purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is identified to the fund, together with a fair allocation of overheads and support costs.
1.3 Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charity’s purposes.
1.4 Incoming Resources
Total incoming resources as shown in the Statement of Financial Activities represents the value of fees, grants and donations receivable in the ordinary course of activities. It includes the total amount of any capital grants receivable in the year.
Voluntary income received by way of donations and gifts to the charity is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when received. Intangible income, such as donations in kind, is not included unless it represents goods or services which would otherwise have been purchased.
1.5 Staff costs and overheads
Staff costs and overhead expenses are allocated to activities on the basis of time spent on those activities.
1.6 Deferred grants
Grants of a revenue nature are credited to incoming resources in the period in which they are receivable. Grants received in advance for specific future periods are carried forward as deferred income.
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