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2023-03-31-accounts

Trustee Report About our year and our money

1[st] April 3131[st] March st[st] March

Herts People First This is an Easy Read of our Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31st March 2023

Page 1

Charity Number 1091095

Inside this Re ort p

Inside this Report Inside this Report
What is in each section Page number
Who is who at Herts People First 3
Trustees Report
Trustees Duties
How Herts People First is run
Public Benefit
Our Aims
Covid-19 and Herts People First
Working to achieve our aims
How we did with the goals we set ourselves
Highlights and What people said about what we did
About our Money
Our future Plans		 4 - 5
6
7
8
9
10-14
5
15 - 16
17 - 21
22
Independent Examiner’s Report 23
Statement of Financial Activities 24 - 25
Notes to the Financial Statements 26 - 32
Thank You’s 33

31[st] March 11[st][st] April April 31[st] March This report is what we have done at Herts People First between 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023.

Our report is in easy read as much as possible. This is to make it easier for our members to understand.

Page 2

Charity Number 1091095

Who is who at Herts People First

Trustee Board members

Carol Lee MBE John Simmons Marie Clare Chair Treasurer Secretary

Our staff

Independent Consultant Jane Dellow

Alex Morris

Main Office

Charity number - 1091095

Leyden House Leyden Road Stevenage SG1 2BP

Community Accountant

Independent examiner

Josephine Rackstraw Jane Seymour 75 Roman Way[2b Regent Street] Godmanchester Stotfold SG5 4ED Huntingdon. PE29 2RW

Page 3

Charity Number 1091095

Trustee Annual Report

Our Trustees have checked this Annual Report.

They agree it covers everything the law says they need to report on.

Some bits of this report are written in hard words.

These have to be there to meet the rules and laws about Trustee Reports. These are in the grey box like this one below.

The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.

Page 4

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First (HPF) has a set of rules called a Constitution. The Constitution was agreed at a special meeting on the 24th November 2001. The Constitution says what work we can do and how we are run. Herts People First is registered with the Charity Commission. This organisation checks charities are being run well and safely. Risks Our Board of Trustees is legally in Risk charge of our Charity. They check Herts People First is run safely and manage risks to the Charity. Trustees are elected every 2 years at the Annual General Meeting. Trustees give their time for free to Herts People First as volunteers. The Charity is an unincorporated association and governed by a constitution dated 24th November 2001.

Page 5

Charity Number 1091095

How Herts People First is run

Herts People First is a user - led Being user-led organisation.

A user - led organisation is one that is run and controlled by people who use support services.

For Herts People First this means all Trustees are people with learning disabilities.

The Trustees are elected by members of Herts People First who have full membership rights and are people with learning disabilities who live in Hertfordshire. Trustees must be over 18 years of age and live in Hertfordshire.

Herts People First activities take place in Hertfordshire and the Eastern Region.

The Management Committee (Trustees) and Honorary Officers are elected or appointed from the full members living in the Hertfordshire area to the Management Committee by the full members. The members of the Management Committee resign on a bi-annual basis (every 2 years) at the Annual General Meeting held in September or as soon as practicable, but may be re-elected or re-appointed. No Management Committee member may be under the age of 18. Further Trustees may be appointed at the discretion of the trustees in accordance with the Charity constitution.

All trustees give their time as volunteers and receive no remuneration or other benefits.

Full membership is open to adults with a learning disability living in Hertfordshire.

Page 6

Charity Number 1091095

Public Benefit

Charities have to stick to rules about something called Public Benefit.

This means charities have to say how their work is :

Charities can say which groups of people they support.

Our Trustees understand the Charity Commission guidance about Public Benefit and make sure the work of Herts People First fit within these rules.

Page 7

Charity Number 1091095

Our aims

Every charity has aims.

These are what the charity is trying to do. HPF has 2 main aims which are in our Constitution.

1. To make sure people with learning

disabilities in Hertfordshire know about and get their rights

2. To provide training and education for people with learning disabilities in Hertfordshire for people to learn new skills and gain in confidence to help them take part in their community.

To train people who do not have a learning disability to understand the rights and needs of people with a learning disability.

Page 8

Charity Number 1091095

Covid-19 and

Herts People First

Covid -19 continued to effect what Herts People First did and how we did it. ‘Living with Covid-19’ was hard to understand and do. Local plans to help people with learning disabilities hadn’t involved them or made Easy Read until later in the year. Trustees met by Zoom to plan and make decisions. Trustees reviewed the effects of Covid -19 regularly. After talking with members, it was agreed to continue holding group meetings on-line.

Members could meet with staff on a 1 to 1 in person with safe measures in place to:

Page 9

Charity Number 1091095

Working to achieve our aims

1. To make sure people with learning disabilities

in Hertfordshire know about and get their rights

Having access to good easy information has continued to be 1 area of work Herts People First have focused on this year. We have raised the importance of having:

Herts People First have led the way with all the above and given advice on and produced Easy Read documents for Herts County Council (HCC) and others for free.

1 to 1 support, advocacy and signposting

To make sure people got their rights Herts People First continued with 1 to 1 support, Advocacy and signposting.

People said the support they had was given at the right time, by the right people in the right way.

Page 10

Charity Number 1091095

Working to achieve our aims

2. To provide training and education for people with learning disabilities in Hertfordshire for people to learn new skills and gain in confidence to help them take part in their community.

Herts People First continued to give people training, support and opportunities to use their tablets and smartphones.

We also continued with the weekly social Zoom meeting. Members said it was important to them to talk to people they could not meet face to face.

We worked with the Sadie Centre in Letchworth (used to be known as the Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living)to hold a weekly on-line group for people with learning disabilities to take part in a 20 week Positive Movement course.

Positive Movement is chair-based Pilates, Yoga and Tai chi exercises, it includes the Alexander Technique and Mindfulness. The group is led by qualified teachers.

Herts People First supported this course as people said they had lost confidence in their mobility and it stopped them getting out and about.

At the end of the course people who took part were more confident with their walking and felt stronger.

Page 11

Charity Number 1091095

Working to achieve our aims

In Zoom meetings, we spoke up and shared information about lots of issues affecting people with learning disabilities:

Page 12

Charity Number 1091095

Working to achieve our aims

  1. Healthwatch Hertfordshire – what they do and their next survey

We took part in surveys and research:

: Hertfordshire County Council

On-line Meetings

To take part in on-line meetings with the big organisations we work with, we told them want to do this by Zoom instead of Teams.

We asked for meetings to be recorded so people can watch them in their own time and at their own pace.

Page 13

Charity Number 1091095

2. To train people who do not have a learning disability to understand the rights and needs of people with a learning disability.

We have trained people how to:

Page 14

Charity Number 1091095

How we did with the goals we set ourselves 2022 - 2023

Our Governance and plans

We achieved these goals:

We partly achieved these goals:

We were not able to recruit new Trustees or advisors.

Our highlights

Watching The Rumble Awards on-line

Taking part in the Equal Voice conference. We learnt a lot about running a hybrid meeting.

Seeing friends at the weekly social meeting on Zoom

The Christmas Zoom Party and New Years Eve get together

Page 15

Charity Number 1091095

Our highlights

Positive Movement!

Having information to help me with the cost of living was good. I felt a lot better after that meeting

Hearing the latest report on Disability Hate Crime in England

– What people said about what we did feedback from all the different people we work with

Thank you very much again for inviting me along to the Forum yesterday, it was such a great opportunity to talk about our organisation and the work we do, and lovely to meet everyone too

When you need someone or are in difficulty they (Herts People First)are always there

I like going to People First meetings as they put you at ease when trying to say something and give you confidence to speak up

Thank you so much for your help, support and guidance in the creation of an Easy Read version of the HCC Covid-19 Recovery Plan, it is so greatly appreciated

Really good as well that HCC produced the Covid Recovery Document in Easy Read because of People First’s input !

That was a really great meeting last night which highlighted many things for me

Really valuable interaction and discussion around the questionnaire

HPF are a good place to go to have things explained in easy ways

Thank you for another informative meeting

Page 16

Charity Number 1091095

About our money

How we fund our work

We mainly raise money through grants and bids.

Managing risk

----- Start of picture text -----
Risk
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This is when you look at what could go wrong, make a plan just in case and say how to put things right. For Herts People First risks are things that make it hard to run the Charity well, or could mean it has to close.

At Herts People First the Trustees have the responsibility for looking at risks.

They work together on a risk list where they work out what steps to take to make things safer for Herts People First.

Staff training, good policies and safe ways of working are some of the ways we manage risks at Herts People First.

Herts People First Trustees have read and acknowledge the Charity Commission fundraising guidelines for Trustees. Herts People First do not at present raise funds from the general public.

Herts People First recognise the risks of operating as a Charity within a social care and health environment. With significant uncertainty regarding the charity’s sources of income it is committed to establish policies and procedures that manage the risks associated with its business.

Page 17

Charity Number 1091095

About our money

Reserves Policy

Charities have reserves which is a word for emergency savings.

Reserves money is used if a charity has to close. It is used to pay off any money it owes.

At Herts People First our Trustee Board decides how much money to have as emergency savings.

This is called the Reserves Policy. Trustees look at this every year.

Our Trustees decided Herts People First should have enough money to pay its costs for 3 months.

Trustees looked carefully at all of Herts People First money and are happy  there is a safe amount of reserves.

Reserves policy

The Management Committee of Herts People First has given consideration to the need for a reserves policy in relation to the organisation’s accounts. The funding for the charity is viewed uncertain in the current economic climate and the Management Committee are mindful of this in their entire . decision making

The Management Committee regard the minimum level of reserves to be the equivalent of three months salaries for staff employed by the organisation plus redundancy. For the year ended 31[st ] March 2023, this would represent approximately £15,000. The unrestricted free reserves held at this date total £88,909. The Management Committee monitor this situation regularly and review the policy on at least an annual basis.

Page 18

Charity Number 1091095

----- Start of picture text -----

----- End of picture text -----

Some money Herts People First is given is to run special projects. We can only spend that money on running those projects.

This is called restricted money .

----- Start of picture text -----

----- End of picture text -----

We have to be able to show what we on. are spending any restricted money We keep good records to show how we are spending restricted money on the right things.

Closed

Restricted reserves

If Herts People First closed we could be asked to pay back some of the restricted money for any work we have not done.

The amount we could have to pay back is called restricted reserves.

Herts People First has £15,693 of restricted reserves at the end of £15,693 March 2023.

Page 19

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First also has things we own. This could be equipment, computers and furniture we have bought.

We only count things we own for more than 1 year. These things we own are called fixed assets . 1 year

We add up how much money these things are worth. We have to remember that if we sold them we would get less money than we paid for them.

If we add up all our money and take fixed assets and our restricted away our reserves we can see how much is left. This money is called free reserves.

Herts People First has £88,909 of free reserves at the end of March 2023.

£88,909

Page 20

Charity Number 1091095

Our money 2022 — 2023

£41,546

= - £45,162 £3,616

Money In Bank + Balance = Money In Bank March 2022 March 2023 (What is left) £108,218 £104,602 -£3,616

March

March

2023

Page 21

Charity Number 1091095

1[st] April 31[st] March Our future plans

2024

2023

Herts People First want to carry on work and activities to achieve our aims and help makes the lives of people with learning disabilities in Hertfordshire better.

We will:

• Look at the difference Herts People First has made to people’s lives.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Carol Lee MBE John Simmons Chair Treasurer

Date: 22/01/2024

Page 22

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st ] March 2023, which are set out on pages 24 - 32.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

have not been met; or

  1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Josephine Rackstraw Signed 75 Roman Way Godmanchester Date: 22 / 01/ 2024 Huntingdonshire PE29 2RW

Page 23

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31[st] March 2023

Notes
Incoming resources
Grants and donations
2
Charitable activities
3
Investment income
4
Total income
Resources expended:
Charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total Funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
11
Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
40,925
-
515
-
106
-
41,546
-
45,162
-
45,162
-
(3,616)
-
92,525
15,693
88,909
15,693		 2023
Total
Funds
£
40,925
515
106
41,546
45,162
45,162
(3,616)
108,218
104,602		 2022
Total
Funds
£
41,235
(825)
-
40,410
39,522
39,522
888
107,330
108,218

The notes on pages 26 - 32 form part of these financial statements.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the year.

All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.

Page 24

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First

Balance Sheet

As at 31st March 2023

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
6
Current Assets
Debtors & prepayments
7
Bank and cash balances
Total Current Assets
Creditors: Amounts falling due within
one year
8
Net Current Assets
Net Assets
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted income funds
11
Restricted income funds
11
Total charity funds		 2023
£
657
586
111,755
112,341
(8,396)
103,945
104,602
88,909
15,693

104,602		 2022
£
820
3,736
114,792
118,528
(11,130)
107,398
108,218
92,525
15,693
108,218

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 22[nd] January 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

…………………………………… …………………………………. Carol Lee MBE John Simmons Chair Treasurer

The notes on pages 26 - 32 form part of these accounts

Page 25

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First

Notes to the Accounts

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.0 Basis of preparation

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and with the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis and represent a true and fair view of the position of the charity as at the end of the accounting period.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention

1.2 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation and are depreciated over the estimated useful economic lives. The depreciation rate currently in use for all fixed assets held for use by the charity is 20% on the reducing balance.

1.3 Pension costs

The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. Contributions payable are charged as an expense in the year they are payable. Contributions are allocated between restricted and unrestricted funds based on hours worked.

1.4 Resources Expended

Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered. Resources expended have been analysed and have been allocated 100% to the relevant fund.

Page 26

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First

Notes to the Accounts

1.5 Incoming Resources

The charity derives its income from donations, legacies and other voluntary income and grants that provide core funding.

Items of income are recognised and included in the accounts when all of the following criteria are met:

Donation income is included within the Statements of Financial Activities as it is received. Legacies are recognised when the above criteria are met. Grants are recognised in the period to which they relate.

1.6 Governance costs

Governance costs are those costs associated with maintaining the governance of the charity as opposed to the management of the charity’s activities

1.7 Fund Accounting

Funds held by the charity are either:

Unrestricted general funds

These are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Designated funds

These are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects. No funds have currently been designated.

Restricted funds

These are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Page 27

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First

Notes to the Accounts


2
Grants and donations
Unres
Res.
2023
£
£
£
Herts CC – IHSCCT
37,998
-
37,998
HMRC Employment
Allowance
2,427
-
2,427
Opening Doors/Lloyds
Foundation donation
500
-
500
Good Things Foundation
-
-
-
40,925
-
40,925
In 2022, Good Things Foundation was a restricted fund of £1,000
3 Charity activities income
Unres
Res.
2023
£
£
£
Herts CC – Self Advocacy
-
-
-
Other Fees
515
-
515
515
-
515
In 2022, there were no restricted funds
4 Investment income
Unres
Res.
2023
£
£
£
Interest receivable
106
-
106
106
-
106
5
Charitable activities
Expenditure
Unres
Res.
2023
£
£
£
Salaries
30,984
-
30,984
Depreciation
163
-
163
Governance
600
-
600
Other costs
13,415
-
13,415
45,162
-
**45,162 **		 2022
£
37,798
2,437
-
1,000
41,235
2022
£
(1,500)
675
(825)
2022
£
-
-
2022
£
26,401
203
780
12,138
39,522

Page 28

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First

Notes to the Accounts

For comparative purposes below is the split of charitable expenditure for 2021

5
Charitable activities
Expenditure
Salaries
Depreciation
Governance
Other costs
Other Costs
Support
Travelling Expenses
General Running Costs
Preparation
Bookkeeping Fees
Telephone
Training and professional
fees
Equipment
Self Advocacy
Website Costs
Governance Costs
Examination Fees/
Accounts preparation
AGM & Meeting costs		 Unres
£
25,677
203
780
11,862
38,522
Unres
£
3,150
112
2,846
32
1,200
393
5,250
257
175
-
13,415
Unres
£
600
-
600		 Res.
£
724
-
-
276
1,000
Res.
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Res.
£
-
-
-		 2022
£
26,401
203
780
12,138
39,522
2023
£
3,150
112
2,846
32
1,200
393
5,250
257
175
-
13,415
2023
£
600

-
600		 2021
31,811
254
610
10,126
42,801
2022
£
5,803
341
2,654
32
1,200
383
1,647
-
-
78
12,138
2022
£
600
180
780

Page 29

Charity Number 1091095

Herts People First

Notes to the Accounts

6 Fixed assets
Core
Self Adv.
Involv.
People
Cost
£
£
£
At 1 April 2022
18,474
777
995
Additions
-
-
-
At 31 March 2023
18,474
777
995
Depreciation


At 1 April 2022
17,864
636
926
Charge for the year
122
27
14
At 31 March 2023
17,986
663
940
Net book values


At 31 March 2022
610
141
69
At 31 March 2023
488
114
55
7 Debtors & Prepayments
2023
£
Prepayments and accrued income
586
586
8 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
2023
£
Trade and other Creditors
5,700
Accruals
1,808
Tax Liabilities
888
8,396		 Core
Self Adv.
Involv.
People
£
£
£
18,474
777
995
-
-
-		 Core
Self Adv.
Involv.
People
£
£
£
18,474
777
995
-
-
-		 Core
Self Adv.
Involv.
People
£
£
£
18,474
777
995
-
-
-		 Sub Total
C/FWD
£
20,246
-		 Sub Total
C/FWD
£
20,246
-
18,474
777		 995 20,246

17,864
636
122
27
926
14		 19,426
163
17,986
663		 940 19,589

610
141
69		 820
488
114		 55 657
2023
£
586
586
2023
£
5,700
1,808
888
8,396		 2022
£
3,736
3,736
2022
£
8,124
1,048
1,958
11,130

9 Trustees' Remuneration and Expenses

No remuneration has been directly or indirectly paid or payable for the year out of the funds of the charity to any trustee or to any person or person connected with any of them for their work as a trustee, but they were reimbursed their travel and other expenses incurred.

Nil costs for 2023 (2022: £0) were paid in order to facilitate trustees with support requirements to attend meetings to manage the charity.

Page 30

Charity Number 1091095

10 Employees' Remuneration Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the period was:

Direct Charitable Expenditure
Employment costs
Gross salary
Employers N.I.
Employers Pension costs		 2023
Number
1
2023
£
27,027
2,427
1,291
30,745		 2022
Number
1
2022
£
22,020
2,359
1,298
25,677

The total amount paid to key management personnel is £27,027.

There were no employees whose annual emoluments were £50,000 or more.

There is only one member of staff, who is responsible for running the charity.

11 Fund Analysis
Incoming Resources
Resources Expended
Net incoming
resources before
transfers
Transfer between funds
Net movement in funds
Total Funds B/fwd
Total Funds C/Fwd
Fixed Assets
Bank
Other Current Assets
Current Liabilities		 General
HPF
Dev. &
Training
£
£
41,546
-
45,162
-		 Star
Partner-
ship
Digital
Project
Total
C/Fwd
£
£
-
-
41,546
-
-
45,162
(3,616)
-
-
-		 -
-
(3,616)
-
-
-
(3,616)
-
92,525
3,523		 -
-
(3,616)
12,170
-
108,218
88,909
3,523		 12,170
-
**104,602 **
657
-
96,062
3,523
586
-
(8,396)
-		 -
-
657
12,170
-
111,755
-
-
586
-
-
(8,396)
88,909
3,523		 12,170
-
**104,602 **

Page 31

Charity Number 1091095

12

Herts People First

Notes to the Accounts

Herts People First development and training money is for the development of self advocacy leaders and their supporters and a strengthened Hertfordshire based self advocacy user led organisation. This was in response to the recommendation from the review of self advocacy by the NDTi in 2012.

Star Partnership is a new restricted fund from monies transferred from the old Fulfilling Lives funds held for others pot. Currently proposals are being considered by the Charity Trustees for how this money will be spent.

The Good Things Foundation grant is for the supply of 10 tablets, mobile wi-fi and data, training and support for 10 people with learning disabilities in Hertfordshire who didn’t have access to technology or the internet.

Independent Examiner's Remuneration

Fees of £600 have been accrued for the 2023 examination and preparation of accounts.

Examination Fee
Preparation of Accounts		 2023
£
300
300
600		 2022
£
300
300
600

13 Commitments under operating leases

At 31 March 2023 the charity had no annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases.

Page 32

Charity Number 1091095

And a to Big Thank You

Herts People First volunteers

Herts County Council - for funding

Leyden House Day Service, Stevenage – for office services Lloyds Bank Foundation – for your donation

The Sadie Centre – for the free

Positive Movement course

Page 33

Charity Number 1091095