2025-03-31-accounts - Taking Part

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Taking Part

An Independent Service for People with Health & Social Care Needs Louise House, Roman Road, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 9JN Telephone: 01743 363399 takingpart@takingpart.co.uk

Changing Times, Changing Lives

January 2026

Taking Part had a busy year from April 2024 to March 2025. Contracts came up for renewal and retendering was a lot of hard work. By working with our collaborative partners, we were successful in having our service recommissioned in Shropshire, which was wonderful news. In November Taking Part celebrated our 30 year anniversary. We combined this milestone event with our AGM and invited clients, colleagues and friends to join us celebrate this achievement.

During this financial year of 2024/2025, Taking Part has seen a reduction in funding as there has been no contribution to our work from the NHS which is very disappointing. However, we do remain a preferred supplier in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to provide parental advocacy to clients who have substantial difficulties in understanding statutory services where their are under child protection or are children in need

Taking Part continues to support a high number of clients with advocacy, information and guidance. The issues clients need support with are becoming harder and more complex taking much longer time to resolve. The staff team at Taking Part remain dedicated to the organiation and the people they support. Resilience and hard work is reflected in the outcomes achieved by Taking Part.

In Shropshire, our Advice, Advocacy and Welfare Benefits partnership supported 503 people with advocacy with 5562 interventions. Our volunteer advocates provided 1700 hours of the time for free which equates to £22,950.

Advocacy Information Advice Guidance

Registered Charity No: 1092033 Company Registration No: 4362948 1

In Telford, our Wellbeing Independence Parnertship took 1440 calls at First Point of Contact and supported a further 334 clients with follow up and more intense work.

In December 2024, Taking Part successfully recruited a new trustee to our board. Dick brings a new perspective to Taking Part with his military background and involvement with other charities. He is a welcome member and has provided good insights and suggestions to the team and organisations.

In March 2025 a long service member of staff retired. Upon her retirement, Diana also celebrated 20 years service with Taking Part. Her dedication and commitment to Taking Part has been outstanding. We celebrated her retirement with a team event to say thank you and farewell.

During 2024/2025 we have seen a reduction in the number of volunteer citizen advocates. Some volunteers have also retired whilst others have taken on caring roles or new opportunities. This is being reflected throughout the voluntary sector so Taking Part are not alone with this trend.

Our county is facing severe financial challenges and this is impacting services. Both the local authority and ICB are having to make hugh savings in their budgets. There is much focus on preventative services, supporting people to ‘self help’ and seek alternative solutions to their issues rather than turning to statutory services. Taking Part, along with other voluntary sector colleagues, work closely with statutory services to help them understand how we can be of assistance during this difficult time.

Despite having reduced funding during this financial year, we remain financially secure for the time being. I would like to give a special thank you to JulieMellor, our C.E.O. Her tireless efforts to secure funding and her ongoing support for the staff, volunteers and trustees enables the organisation to continue providing this essential service.

Taking Part team remain dedicated and loyal and optismistic about the future.

Our Taking Part team consists of:

Volunteer Board of Trustees

Jean Harris (chair)
Garry Kirlew
Richard (Dick) Barton

Staff Team

1 part time C.E.O
Five part time contracted staff – 3 Shropshire based, 2 Telford based
Four sessional workers.
Ten Experts by experience.
Twenty Five volunteer citizen advocates.
Two professional advisors.

Finances for the year 2024/25

Funding from local authorities, local grants, private funded commissions and other projects are reported on a quarterly basis. Our monitoring and reporting mechanism reflect outputs, outcomes and funding spend.

We hold reserves to cover running costs for 18mths in compliance with our reserves policy. We also continue to hold ring fenced redundancy funds for staff and liable costs in the event of charity closure.

Accounts available on Charity Commission website. Independently examined by; Phillips Ltd. Chartered Accountants 4 Pearson Road, Central Park Telford, ShropshireTF2 9TX

Jean Harris Chair of Trustees

Taking Part Registered Charity number 1092033 Cornpany Limited by guarantee number 04362948 Unaudited Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Offices Taking Part Louise House Roman Road Meole Brace Shrewsbury Shropshire SY3 9JN Accountants Phillips Ltd Chartered Accountants 4 Pearson Road Central Park Telford TF2 9TX

Takin Part Com an No 04362948 Charit No 1092033 Contents of tha Financial Statements for the eriod 1 st A ril 2024 to 31 March 2025 Contents Pa 1. Report of the Directors 2. Independenl Examiner's Report 3. siaeement of Financial Activities 4. Balance Sheet 5. Notes to accounts

Takin Part Re ort of the Directors for the nod 1stA ril 2024 to 31st March 2025 The Directors present their report with Ihe financial statements of the company for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025. Princi al Activ Th8 principal activity of the company in the period under review was that of the prevention or relief of poverty and provision of information,advice, advocacy 8nd training for those clients who have health and social care needs. reclors The direciors who have held office during the perit)d from 1st April 2024 to the date of this report are as follows- Mf Gary S Kidew Mrs Jean Harris Mr Paul 8arton (appointed 22nd November 2024) Mr Paul R Hume-miller was a director until his resignation on 23rd May 2024 All the directors who are eligible offer themselves fcr election at th8 forthcomin9 Annual General Meeting. This report has been prepared in aGcordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companles Act 2006 relating to small companies. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Mrs Jean Harris Dale pe1

Inde endent Examiner's Re ort on the Accounts to the trustees of Takin On the Accounts for the eriod 1st A ril 2024 to 31st March 2025 Inde endent examinerfs re orl to the trustees of Takin Part I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Taking Part for the year ended 31 March 2025 Res onsibilities and basis of re As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requiiements of the Chafilies Act 2011 ('Ihe Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of Ihe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5llb) of the Act. Inde nd xaminels slalement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause lo believe Ihal in any material respect.. 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Ihe Trust as required by Section 130 of the act., or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records., or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and contents of accounls set out in the Charities {Accounls and Reports) Regulations 2008 other Ihan any requirement that Ihe accounts give a 'lrue and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Neil Phillips FCA Phillips Ltd Chartered Accountants 4 Pearson Road Central Park Telford TF2 9TX Dale Page 2

Takin Part Statemenl of Financial Activities for the eriod 1 st A ril 2024 to 31 March 2025 Unrestricied Restricted funds funds 2025 2024 Incoming resources from charitable activKtSe3 Grants and contracts 244,690 2,276 246,986 249,555 Total incomlng resources 244,690 2,276 246,966 249,555 Resources expanded Charitable activities 260,972 260,972 252,770 Total resources expended 260,972 260,S72 252,770 Net (outgoing)lincoming resources 16,282 2.276 14.006 3,215) Page 3

Takin Part Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2025 2024 Current assets Debtors Cash al bank and in hand Total current assets 30,464 1436e9 174,153 30,464 299,379 68,263 274,611 342,874 155 690 155 690 Credltors 3.847 3,847 2,872 Net current assets 170,306 155,690 325,996 340,002 Nèt assets 170 306 325,9 40, Funds of the CharSty Unrestrlcted Restricted funds funds 2025 2025 Opening Funds 18S,588 (16,282) 170 306 153,414 340.002 343.217 {14,006) (3,215) 325 996 340 002 Net (oulgoing)l incoming resources Total funds 2,276 155 690 For the year ended 31st March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. No members have required th8 company to obtain an audit of its arxounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Acl wilh respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts, These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to Ihe small companies regime and in xcordance with FRS102 SORP. The financial sl8tements were approved ty the Board of Directors on ..... and were signed on lis behalf by: Mfs Jean Harris Page 4

Takin Part Notes to the financial statements for the eriod 1st A ril 2024 to 31 March 2025 l Accounting policies Basis of preparation The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items récognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordan 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 18 July 2014 and with the Charities Act 2011. Incomlng résources All incoming resources are included on the Stalement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quanlified with reasonable accuracy. Rosources expended Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activitics and serqices for its beneficiaries. It includes bolh costs that can be allocated dire¢tly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. 2 Incoming resources from charltsble actlvltles 2025 2024 Grants Other Income 7,528 239,438 246,986 10,724 238,831 249,555 3 Total resources expended Charitable Activitlos 2025 Charitable Actlvities 2024 Wages Expenses Telephone Postage & Stationery Computer Expenses Staff training Sundry expenses Accountancy and professional charges Travelling Rent and premises costs Insurance Bank Charges 213,865 15,098 1,698 5,173 7,813 1,636 4,975 790 4,945 2,756 2,121 205,317 13.938 2,157 3,829 8,261 4,913 1,996 720 7,051 2.524 1.972 Ji 102 g4 Page S

Takin Notes to the Financial Stalements for the eriod 1st A ril 2024 to 31 March 2025 4 Debtors: amounts falllng due wlthln one year 2025 2024 Trade Debtors 30,464 68,263 30,464 68.263 S Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2025 2024 Other Creditors and accruals 3,847 2,872 3,847 2,872 6 Taxation slatus The company is a registered charity and, under sections 478 and 479 of the Corporation Tax Acl 2010 is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable 2Ctivilies. 7 Reserves policy General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for the use at the discretlon of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designation for other purposes. Designated funds comprise restricted funds that have been set aside by Trustees for particular purposes. ReseNes wlll be used to continue with the running of the Servi until other funds are obtained In the case of future lost income from statutory sources. Funds in reserves will have to take into consideration payments required for staff redundancies and expenditure associated with the closure of the seNice if further funding is not forthcoming in the future, Thi5 expenditure will all be overseen by the board of Trustee5. The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound Upi the liabillty In respett of the guarantee is limlted. Page 6