MANAGERS REPORT
It seems very strange but this will be the last Managers Report I will do. Both Linda and myself started with Dial in 2005 and we will both retire in February 2023. I have loved working for Dial over the last eighteen years. When I first started it was very much a paper based office offering a wide range of information from holidays to transport. Over the years this has changed with 95% of our work being welfare benefit work as gradually disabled people have been able to access information online.
The demand for our service has significantly increased since 2005 and issues around funding has become more difficult. In 2005 we had our own Service Level Agreement with the County Council whilst we are now part of a partnership with Citizens Advice and Age UK and have an allocation of funding through the Worcestershire Advice Network partnership. This has changed and decreased from just under £25,000 to £16,500 so the organisation is under constant pressure to raise funds from various sources. Two charitable Trusts in particular have given us continued commitment, The Eveson Trust and The John Martin Charity. The Big Lottery have over the years awarded us a number of grants and the Lloyds Bank Foundation have also in the past been generous and supportive.
Nevertheless financially we are in a very sound position with good reserves. Those reserves are vital as we enter a difficult period for Dial as we need to plan for what could be a very difficult future. The reserves were accrued because we were able to access funding allocated to organisations offering help and support to people during the pandemic years. But these were 'one off' pots of money and this does not make for a sustainable future.
We have been lucky in having a temporary welfare benefit adviser who with his Citizens Advice background has proved invaluable. Whilst Paul Maley only works one day a week he has a vast knowledge of the benefit system and appeal work.
As mentioned in the last report we entered into a formal agreement with the Worcestershire branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society to provide a dedicated fast track benefit service to their clients. This has been extended and we now provide 7 hours a week principally covering South Worcestershire but with limited work in the North. They were initially successful in obtaining Lottery funding but the local Worcester branch now funds the project we hope therefore to work with the Society well into next year. Again financially this gives us a level of stability and security.
I have met with the three core Trustees, the Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary to discuss the future of Dial and later the full Trustee Board. We have particularly focused on the development of the organisation looking at both the positive and negative aspects of Dial. As mentioned previously as both myself and Linda (Principle Welfare Benefit Adviser) have decided to retire we can create a single 16 hour post. This will cause some initial problems although we hope that we can recruit a dynamic and enthusiastic manager who will bring new ideas and funding to the organisation. The Trustees have discussed a wide range of options and it seems prudent to look at advertising the post in the Autumn of 2022.
One of the problems for any new manager is the fact that our office has limited flexibility. Although I was able to extend the office at the start of the pandemic so that we could make the office more safe to enable social distancing we have lost the use of the Shopmobility kitchen. Our office space remains small so that we can only see a single client at any one time although we have continued to offer clients telephone appointments.
We have shown that we are an incredibly adaptable and resourceful organisation and we will need those qualities as never before as we fight for our survival with a growing demand for our service and reduced finance.
I would like to thank all of our past employees whom I worked with who contributed so much to the success of Dial over the years Ann Ryan, Irene Walker, Emma Kerton, Mary Connor, Rehana Ali, Norma Woodward, Alison Devine and Suzanne Davies.
I would also like to thank all of our past volunteers Howerd Brooksbank, Martin Connor, Enid Fellows, Jane Rutter, Elaine Casstles, Sam Campsall, Audrey Bailey, Peter Merrix, Trish Sneddon and Harriet Davies.
Our continued thanks must go to our existing long term volunteers, Helen Ainsworth, Dorothy Lymer who do welfare benefit admin work including maintaining statistics. Liz Scott who does benefit form filling in Pershore on a weekly basis, Carol Adams who is our brilliant, invaluable book-keeper and Roy Dobbins who maintains our computer systems on a weekly basis. They are all a tremendous asset to the organisation. I would also like to thank Sarah Baldwin who does our yearly accounts and gets them independently audited. They all support our organisation in their own way, giving their time freely and working with such dedication.
I would also like to thank Brenda Green who has been both a Trustee and Company Secretary for over 12 Years and who will retire at the Dial AGM in October 2022. Brenda has produced very accurate minutes over the
years and she will be greatly missed by the Trustee Board.
Finally I would like to thank Linda for her support over the last eighteen years I absolutely could not have run Dial without her. We are very fortunate to have the continuing expertise of Helen Hill and as mentioned previously Paul Maley.
I wish Dial a long and prosperous future. It really is a tremendous organisation.
Cathy Merriman Manager
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Dial South Worcestershire Financial Accounts 2021-22 Company Registration No: 04150056 Charity Registration No: 1085677 DIAL SOUTH WORCESTERSHIRE (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31" MARCH 2022
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF DIAL SOUTH WORCESTERSHIRE I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31. March 2022, which are set out on the following pages. Respective Responsibilities of Trustee5 and Examiner The ch8rity'S trustees are responsible f or the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Part 16 of the Companies Act and that all independent ex8mination is needed. The charity's gros5 income does not exceed £250,000 and l am qualif led to undertake the examination by b8ing an independent examiner. It is my responsibility to.. 'examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011): 'to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charlty Commissioners lunder section 145 (51 (b) of the Act); and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of Independent Examlner's Report My examination was carried oijt in accordance with the General Dlrectlons siven by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts PTesented wlth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusu81 items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explantions from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view glven by the accounts. Independent Examiner's Statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attentlon.. 'which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements (a)to keep accounting records in accordance with s386 of the Companies Act 2006., and (b)to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and Statement of Recommended Practice- Accounting and Reporting by Chalities (revised 2005) have not been met., or
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Rebecca McDowall ACA
DIAL SOUTH WORCESTERSHIRE BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2022 CURRE14T A5SEf5 Note Geoeral Restrlcted Fund Fund5 TOTAL iozl Cash at aank and in hand 63,767 Total Current Assets CVRREFIT IIABIUTIES Accrua15 & ShortTerm Qedltors 63.767 12 -2,491 NEfASSErs 63,391 63,391 61.276 GENERALRESERVES As at l Aprll 2021 Chan&e In re5eryes 61,276 2,115 61,276 2,115 36.8 24,416 A5 at 31 Mareh 2022 63,391 63,392 61,276 For the year endlnB JV0312022 thecornpany was enlltled 10 txtmptlon fromaudlt under sectlon 477 olihe Companles Act 2Lh)6 The rnember5 have not requlred the companyto obtèln •n audlt In 8ccordance wllh sectl¢ 476 01 the Companle5 Act 2fl)6 The dliectors atknowled8e Ihelr responslbllllv for complyln8 wlth the requlrement5 of iht Acr wllh iespect to accountlnB recoids and for rhe preparailoTr of account5 These Actovnts have been ¢*ep•red In Kcordancewlth ihe provlslons appllcable to companle5 subSe¢t to small ¢omp3nles re8lrt7e SIGNED Name Poslllon Oaie
statement of Flnancial Activities Forthe year ended 31 March 2022 Vr*o¥potatln8ihe Intome and expEndlture?ccuurrtl Note Genefal Ilestricted Fund Fund 27.686 TOTAL 2021 114COMING RESOURCES Worcs CC $5 Grant COVID-19 HMRC Fund Ralslng Donations 2a 27,686 18.936 31.940 4.649 13,353 3,325 io 4,649 13,353 3.325 io 2b 22,204 1,871 L6 Glft Ald 49.023 49,023 74,967 RE50VRCES EXPE14DED 3a 46,9)8 46,9)8 50.551 Goveinance Cog15 TOTAL RE501JRCES EXPENDED 2,IlS 2,115 24.416 Transfer between funds Net Movement In Funds 2,115 1.115 24,416 fund Balance brouRht forward Fund balbnce carfled loiward 61,276 63,391 36,860 38.975 36.860 61,276
Noies to tlIatIll lleMents1Othe ye•rentted 31 Maich 2021 l Accountlni pollcles •) B•$4sof preparatlonof accounts The financial statements have been preparEd nder the hlsiorlcal cost convent and compty wlth the Companies Act 1985. The Financial 5taLement5 have been prepared in accardance Yiilh the Statement OF Recomrnended PractiolSORPI"Accouniin8 and Reportin8 by Charities March I5,,the Financial Reportin8 siandard for Smaller Entitie5 IFRSSEI and applicable attountlnB standards, bl Fund a(countl Unrestrided funds are avallable for use ai ihed15cretlon of Ihe Trustees In furiherance of the charitable objeciive5 of DIAL. Restrlcted fundsare subject ie speclfic restrlctions imposed by donors or the purpose of the appeal. The purpose and use of re5trlcted fund51s ser In the noies to ihe financial statefflents cl IT•mIni resour$ All income 15 accounted furas 0 a5 OIAL has eniiriemeni tothe Income, there Is cert4lnty ol recelpt and the èmouni 1$ qvantiflable. Donated facilities bre as described In note 9. dl Penslon pollry DIAL opEraleS a pensions pollcy In compllance wilh srèkeholder pen51pTr requlrernenls and conirlbuies èt a rateof 5% of salary el ResouY(e5 empended All expenditure15 accounted foron an aeeru•ls basls 8nd has been115ted Under headln8s whlch 888reRaip èll the costs related 10 that 8Cllvlty. Where c051$ cannot be dlrectlyattrlbuied, Ihev have bp.pn allo¢aied ro actlvllles on a basls c0Th515tent ¥Yllh the use ol resources rsrea o18Ctivlty. Overheads ère allocatpd between expense headln45 on thv bèsls of ilme spent Governance cost5 art no lon8er requlied to be dlsplèyed separaiely In ihe nn•nclal accounis and orBanlsatlonèl admlnlstrèiiot) ènd tompllancewlth consriiutlonal and statutory requlremtttts. fl Flxed a51ets Pollcy Asse15 valued at under £i.fmare wririen olf ITh theyear olpurchase. Assets ovei El,tiyJ •re de.preclated ai 25% 01 c051 per Hnnum for tanglble flxed èssets and 33%of cost per annum for tofflpuieFs so as to wriie them off over Ihell expecied v5elul Ilves. il ChanB•sto pr•vlous accourbts None h) InieTe•t Rttel¥ed In accordance wlth ACEVO recomfflendltlon, Intelest recel¥ed on comblned bank accounts has been allocaied proportlonately ro restrlcted accoun¢sonlywhen there has been 8 sptclfic request In the ibe contrart wlth the lundlns or8anliatlons. No such reque515 have been recel¥ed
2 Inwme 16r•nts Dial South Worcesteishire has a ntraCT from Worcestershife County Council IWCCI a5 part ol the Worcestershire Adwce Network partnership with Cltizens Adv I WHA8ACand Age UK'5to provide InfoTfflatlOll 5eMces on contiad to fhecouncll bl Fundralslnl Dial ha5 been 5UCtP55ful In winning lunds Irom varlovs irusts and thaiiiieswhith are outlined belLVI. witho the sUPPOrt of ihese spon50r5 Dial would not be ab tourry out the lull ran8e of lis servtce53nd we 4re fj•n•ral Fund 4.649 3.325 6,825 27,686 1,386 2,892 2.250 io fte5tr1ctsd Fund 2021 Total 4.649 3,325 6,825 27.686 1,386 2,892 I,Z50 io 2021 HMRC Sundry Donation5 MSSocle¢¥ Wofcpsler5hire advlce netwwk 24.236 18.936 9,IC 7,5 4.158 1,871 1,446 john Martin's Ch4riry WofceslershlreCAB 8ank Inieresi 16 74,967 49,023 49,023 J AvrtSeKpEnoed Tht acllvltle5 ofthe chailly are determined bythe dlreci request olclleni5. 1115 estlmated that about 15% 01 lime of Ihe core project 15 Spent oft mJna8emenr and admln151ratlon.
41 ArHIy515 oftotal resource5expEnded Geneial Fund Re5trlcte Funds TOTAL Chariiable ArtivS1ies Governance 46.908 46.8 bl Tr•tyslersbetween funds Re5tTiCted Funds Llo¥ds General Fund Tian5feis between tunds cl An4lWs of (osts Total 36,878 1,729 2,152 239 1.155 Salarles Travel Telephone & Posiage Stailonery ProfEssional Fees Coplei Hlre Computer 524 Domestl Tfalnlng Core TOTAL From Aprll 202110 March 2022 Ihele were four part ilme emplovee5who woiked Ihe equlvalent ol 1.4 FTernployee51 based on a 37 hour week.) 131 267 4An•lyslsol In¢omlni r•¥oyr¢•5 The PTlnclple incoffllng fe50ur1è5 ère granied and lundralsln8as shown In Plott 2 to8elhei wtth donaiions IE32251 and bank Iniere5t IEIOI. Mo¥ement•f Funds 2021 Totsl Ger•er•l Rntrlrt•d Income HMRC Sundry Donations Mssoclety Wofcesler5hlie ad¥kè network 4,649 3,325 6,825 27,686 1,386 2,892 2,250 io 4,649 3,325 6,825 27,686 1.386 2.892 2.250 io 7,704 1.871 9,1 John Martln'5 Charlty Worcestershire C4B Bank Interest WCF COV1D-L9 wcc 1,446 J6 24.236 18,936 7,5(K) 4,158 Eveson Total 49,023 49,023 74,967 Expendtture 46,gJ8 46,Y)8 SO.551 TraTrshrs t4et 8alénce 2.115 2,115 24.416 61.276 61,276 36.860 8•1on¢e
No remunefation was paidtotrustees dulln8 Ihe ¥ear. No travel expense5were paid to trustees durlng rhe year. No Indemnlty Insurancewès paid toprotect the charsr¥from1055 arisin8 fvom the neglect or default5 of it5 employees and ¥olunieers. TheTrvstee5 and staff 8ratelullyacknowledBe ihe 5UPPOrt bythe Crown Estate thiou8h rhe provision of PTemisÈ5 and seThlce5 free of c05t, andthetorttlnued support of volunte5 who enable the work of DIAL. io Reserves 4nd future Ilabllltles The ITusiees have a policy of maintalnin8 the reser¥es above a level that would meet the predicted redundancy Costs of the statr, rhere are no contratt costs lor premlsesor serw¢e5. li O•biors•nd pr•pxyments None 12 T•dltorn Arcruals TheFe are 2 che4LJes. iotalllng EW9 that have not been cashed bul relate to 2021122 Cheque numbe¥5 2779-2780 13 alances In rt$trfCt luds There are r0 Fe5trlcied fvnds FIMeL1 A$8ets Pur¢hase50f le$5than £1. are wrltten ON In the Yearaf atqulslllon. OIAL ha5 no 51n8le asset of value 8reater than £2,LU) Value ai 31 March of office computers ÉNII 15 Orysllsatlon Rlsks Future lundin8of ihE orgènlsatlon beyond Marclt 2022 depends on tbe renewal or it8¢ement oleAlsiin8 SeIce5 Level AKreemenr lorthe core prolect. and secvrlnB 5OUTtes ol fundlnÉ for the Welfare Benefit Advice. 16 Re*er¥w PolSry The Truslee5 have i policy of malntaln8 5ufllc+ent ieseryes to enwrethe contlnued opeiaiion of the chailiy lol three months.
DISABILITY INFORMATION AND ADVICE LINE (DIAL)
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
20TH OCTOBER 2022
CHAIRS REPORT
I have pleasure in presenting my third Chair's report.
Once again the last year has been busy but a positive one for DIAL both from a financial and service perspective.
All staff and volunteers have continued to show such commitment to support and benefit the local community.
On behalf of the trustees I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to all at DIAL for their ongoing hard work.
E.V.M.
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