## **TRUST LINKS LIMITED REPORT AND ACCOUNTS** ## **For the Year Ended 31 March 2023** **Charity Registration No. 1092324 Company Registration No. 04351216 (England and Wales)** Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **1** ## Contents |**Trustees' Report**|**Pg 3**| |---|---| |**Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**|**Pg 45**| |**Independent Auditor's Report**|**Pg 46**| |**Statement of Financial Activities**|**Pg 50**| |**Balance Sheet**|**Pg 51**| |**Statement of Cash Flows**|**Pg 52**| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|**Pg 53**| © Copyright 2023 Trust Links Ltd Registered Charity Number 1092324 **| www.trustlinks.org** @TrustLinksltd @TrustLinksCharity Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **2** ## THE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 ## _Introduction_ The Trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued in January 2019. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the company's governing document, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)". ## _Reference and administrative details_ The full name of the charity is Trust Links Limited. The legal registration details are: Date of incorporation 10/01/2002 1092324 Charity Registration Number 4351216 Company Registration Number 47 Fairfax Drive The Registered Office is Westcliff-on-Sea Essex SS0 9AG Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **3** **Trustees** Mr M W Anderson (Appointed 18 July 2023) Ms R Benger (Appointed 12 October 2022) Mrs J Bliss (Appointed 12 October 2022) Mrs V C Bloomfield (Appointed 18 July 2023) Mr P M Bridges Mr H Burgess Mr J Hodge (Appointed 12 October 2022) Ms J Phillips Mr K Spencer Mrs P M Stratford (Appointed 12 October 2022) **Secretary** Mr M King **Charity number** 1092324 **Company number** 04351216 47 Fairfax Drive **Registered office** Westcliff on Sea Essex SS0 9AG **Auditor** Maynard Heady LLP Matrix House 12 - 16 Lionel Road Canvey Island Essex SS8 9DE **Bankers** The Co-operative Bank PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **4** ## OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Trust Links Limited aims to support vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Essex, particularly those with mental health problems, learning disabilities and physical disabilities and carers, and to provide and support environmental education and awareness. The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. Our vision is for a person-centred approach to mental health and wellbeing, enabling people to lead their lives well, where communities are empowered to help and support each other. Trust Links’s mission is transforming mental health and wellbeing through inclusive and supportive environments, Trust Links works collaboratively to empower local communities and maximise our impact. Our values are: - Inclusive – welcoming and respectful - Together – focus on recovery, growth and empowerment - Rooted in our community - Environment – nature and nurture Our strategic aims are: - Delivery of positive impact for people in the community - To be recognised as a leading mental health charity - and Creating a sustainable organisation in terms of finance, people, infrastructure, and energy and the environment. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **5** Our services and projects have continued to grow and develop during the year, helping to support the mental health, wellbeing and environmental education and engagement with increasing numbers of people in Essex. As we are in the post-COVID phase, experiencing the cost of living crisis and facing a Climate Emergency, there has never been greater awareness of mental health need and demand for mental health support and Trust Links services. The Trust Links team has stepped up to this challenge, delivering a wide range of projects for people of all ages. During the year, Trust Links was recognised for our work with a range of nominations and awards. We were a finalist in the Rochford District Business Awards. We were honoured to receive one of the trees from the ‘Tree of Trees’ from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which was outside Buckingham Palace. We planted the tree at a ceremony at the Trust Links Shoeburyness site, attended by Deputy Lieutenant Susie Cornell MBE, who was representing the HM Lord-Lieutenant of Essex. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **6** The Growing Together Westcliff, Shoeburyness and Thundersley sites all won the Green Flag Community Awards, recognising the hard work that our members, volunteers and staff put in to tending and developing the green spaces for our local communities. Our corporate partner IMS won the silver award for corporate cause video in the Charity Film Awards, for their film featuring their volunteering with Trust Links Shoeburyness. We were proud to celebrate that our inspirational patron Jill Allen-King OBE won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pride of Britain Awards. The new Growing Together Basildon site has been under construction, with the project’s launch in May 2023. This is the culmination of 7 years working with Basildon Council, the Essex LDP and a range of partners in the planning, development and building of the community garden. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **7** Agreement is in place for the development of the Gunny site on Canvey Island in partnership with the Big Local Canvey Island. Discussions are also well underway for the development of Growing Together sites in Thurrock and Chelmsford too. We have also been working with Havens Hospice in the design of their community garden space at their new hospice in Southend. We have been working with local charities CAST, Welcome to the UK and other groups to increase the ethnic diversity of people accessing Trust Links services and to identify the barriers for BAME communities, particularly refugees and asylum seekers, from accessing mental health support. Our online community continued to grow across our social media platforms, and our primary channel, Facebook, now exceeds 4,000 followers to potentially engage with. Throughout the year we achieved good press publicity in the local newspaper and online, and our Shoeburyness garden was chosen to feature on the cover of the Essex Community Foundation annual review. Throughout the year our communications team have been busy planning a new website with Six Red Squares. The aim is to make our project information, referrals and donations quickly accessible. We are excited to launch the site in June 2023. We have seen an increase in the level of interest in corporate volunteering support and hosted several groups at St Laurence Orchard, as well as at Thundersley ahead of the Tea Party launch event. We successfully renovated the main building at Thundersley with the generous support of local businesses, community groups and funders. A range of companies and individuals donated money and products, as well as gifting their time and expertise to help transform the space. Engagement with events has increased following the pandemic, and our community events remain popular. We have had local businesses attend, volunteer and sponsor key events too. We are grateful for the continued support of local Lions, Masons, Rotary and Round Table groups, as well as local supermarket and their community champions. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **8** 2022/23 Staff Volunteers **63 166** Full Time Equivalent: 43.3 SUPPORTED PEOPLE With people ‘actively engaging’ 3178 across all projects **----- Start of picture text -----**
2022/2023
Members engaging
462 With the service
Newly enrolled
186 members
**----- End of picture text -----**
Sessions run: **448 43 48 48 46** Individual Women’s Music Art Yoga member group group group sessions days sessions sessions sessions **686** Individual sessions provided (including member days, women’s group, yoga, football, courses and workshops) **----- Start of picture text -----**
felt they had 85 [%]
a meaningful
structure to their
week
felt part of a 85 [%]
community
felt they were 82 [%]
learning new skills
felt more 69 [%]
comfortable
meeting new
people
68 [%] 53 [%] 51 [%]
felt they were felt they were felt less
improving or progressing to dependent on
maintaining their
employment other people or
physical fitness
or supported services
volunteering
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Children, Youth &
Families
Families 2022/2023 Learning Growing
Together Together Youth Links
Proportions of wellbeing before
and after intervention: 67 131 134 91
Low Moderate High young Parent/ young regularly
Wellbeing Wellbeing Wellbeing people Guardian/ people engaging
supported Care-givers registered
Before After
9 [%] Mean SWEMWBS* score: Increase in
mental wellbeing
17 [%] Before 19
61 [%] 100 [%] 100 [%]
After 23.5
30 [%] 30 [%]
52 [%] 0.0 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50
61 Befriendees
Talking Together Befriender
53 Volunteers
Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 9
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **REACH Recovery College & Wellbeing Hub** 2022/2023 **1449 1214** **1633** **414** Referrals into the service Courses, workshops People receiving People engaging or positive activity 1-1 support with Depression and sessions delivered sessions Suicide Pathway Outcome Measures: **21** Gained employment **26** into further education **22 29** into Maintaining volunteering employment **----- Start of picture text -----**
15 [%]
Percentage of individuals
accessing Primary and 10 [%]
16 [%]
Secondary services and
A&E attendances. 72 [%]
(Baseline vs follow up CSRI Data**)
54 [%]
Initial Assesment 39 [%]
First Review
Primary Care Services Secondary Care Services A&E Attendances
PHQ-9*** Average Scores: Initial Assessment 18
Initial Assessment vs 1 [st] Reduced
Review (6 weeks) depression
1 [st] Review 12.5
Number of members engaging with Growing Together and REACH 2017-2023
2000
1500
Growing
1000
Together 1538 1893
REACH 500 403 531 589 816
0 322 342 357 257 389 462
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019- 2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Trust Links Income** ## Funding mix: **----- Start of picture text -----**
£0 £200K £400K £600K £800K £1000K £1200K £1400K £1600K £1800K 51 [%] Grants (Trusts & Foundations) 4 [%]
2017 /18 £584,967 16 [%]
24 [%] NHS & Council contracts
2018 /19 £675,975
4 [%]
2019 /20 £880,716 04 [%] Personal Budgets 51 [%]
2020 /21 £1,108,899
16 [%] National Lottery 24 [%]
Community Fund
2021 /22 £1,607,162
2022 /23 £1,837,206 04 [%] Gifts & Donations
Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 10
**----- End of picture text -----**
*SWEMWBS tool captures mental health and wellbeing **CSRI monitors use of health and social care services ***PHQ-9 is a depression assessment tool **The Growing Together projects have been busier than ever. Each garden has continued to evolve and thrive, with therapeutic gardening for adults with mental health issues and mild learning disabilities at the heart of our offer. In total we have 477 adults registered with the Growing Together service. Many have been referred this year, whilst some have been members for several years.** ## _**Growing Together Westcliff**_ **Growing Together Westcliff** continues to be our flagship garden. The project has been busy throughout the year, with 220 members attending and benefiting from the service. Members enjoyed the range of activities on offer alongside horticulture including art, music, yoga, creative writing, employment support, cooking and woodwork. The site hosted our May Fayre and Christmas Fayre, engaging the wider public in seasonal activities and providing an opportunity for fundraising to support the charity. A range of specialist workshops and projects have been run at Growing Together Westcliff. Highlights include Heritage Dye Garden workshops in partnership with local artists, where members and guests planted a traditional dye garden and learnt to dye material using natural products grown in the garden. We ran a series of workshops for people living with Long COVID. These workshops included cyanotype printing, sound bath, and tending house plants. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **11** Maggie has been suffering from Long COVID for 18 months, resulting in her having to give up her job and feeling depressed and lonely. Maggie attended the Long COVID peer workshops at Growing Together Westcliff; she particularly enjoyed engaging with the cyanotype printing. Maggie said: _**“Doing this type of activity distracts the brain while my body recovers. The real benefit of the workshop was being with other people who are also experiencing Long COVID. It can be really isolating and frustrating living with Long COVID. I was stuck at home for a year and sometimes had real difficulty moving my legs. People thought I was making the illness up and I began to doubt myself. So it is brilliant to be here and meet with other people who have similar experiences and feelings: there has been nothing like this around here for people living with Long COVID.”**_ Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **12** **The Menterprise project** , funded by the DWP, is working with 25 men with mental health issues to build confidence, self-esteem and employability with a view to progressing to volunteering and employment. One of the Menterprise groups focussed on woodwork, recycling and upcycling unwanted wood, building and selling furniture. The other Menterprise group worked with our trustee Henry Burgess from Henry Burgers to develop skills in catering and hospitality. Ben enrolled on the ‘Menterprise’ course and is absolutely thriving because of it. Ben joined Growing Together in August 2022. In his time at Growing Together, he has come on leaps and bounds in terms of his confidence and sense of self-worth. He particularly enjoys the sessions run by Henry and has excelled through his engagement with the group. As Ben was making such great progress on the Menterpise cooking group, Henry offered Ben a trial shift at Henry Burgers, and has subsequently offered Ben a parttime role in the restaurant. Ben said: _**“If it wasn’t for Trust Links and the Menterprise course, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you for suggesting the course because without your help I wouldn’t have the confidence to do any of what I have achieved. I am really proud of myself.”**_ Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **13** ## _**Growing Together Shoeburyness**_ **Growing Together Shoeburyness** continued to be well maintained and very well used, with 66 adults with mental health issues and mild learning disabilities regularly engaging with the therapeutic gardening at the project. We run adult days on Tuesday and Thursday, Katie is from Shoeburyness and has been attending the Growing Together project for two years. Katie has Learning Disabilities, Asperger’s and anxiety made worse following the COVID lockdowns. After Christmas 2021 Katie went to her GP and was recommended a therapist via Zoom. It then was suggested that she give Trust Links a call. Katie spoke with Anna who explained what was on offer in the garden and invited Katie to come and have a look around. Katie was very nervous on the first visit but felt comfortable enough to come back again. Katie now comes into the garden twice a week, at first working alone and now making many friends and enjoying the laughs and jokes with other members as her confidence grows. Katie is now working hard to gain her Level 1 Diploma in Horticulture. This would previously have seemed too difficult for Katie but, with the extra support from staff, she is doing very well in every module so far. Katie said, _**“The Growing Together garden makes me feel good. There is always someone to listen to any concerns or worries I have.”**_ Recently, she was able to seek guidance with DWP support from Karen. Katie’s mother has visited the garden and enjoyed a morning watching how relaxed and confident Katie is now, completing gardening tasks with such perfection and attention to detail. a women’s group on Wednesday afternoons, Dig It Youth on Wednesday evenings, Families Growing Together on Mondays and REACH on Fridays at the site. Home education groups and the Southend YMCA Bump to Breast Group also use the space regularly. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **14** **The Summer Fayre** in July was a highlight of the year, welcoming hundreds of people from the local community to the garden. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **15** Our team delivered the City & Guilds accredited Level 1 Diploma in Practical Horticulture at Growing Together Shoeburyness each Tuesday. Dean has been a Trust Links Growing Together member for 4 years. He had spent a lot of his formative years moving around schools and homes. He was eventually excluded from mainstream education and didn’t have any formal training after that. This meant that he didn’t get any qualifications and now has difficulty reading, writing and processing information, as well as short-term memory loss caused by drug abuse. Dean was very hesitant about joining the course, but after realising it was mainly a practical course, he said he would give it a go. However, he strongly believed that he wouldn’t be able to pass any of the assessments. Dean has so far completed all of the nine assessments, and been able to answer the questions around the theory. His belief in himself is still wavering, and at times he has said that he might not continue the course. He has, however, come every week and despite the challenges, stayed for the whole day. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **16** ## _**Growing Together Thundersley**_ **Growing Together Thundersley** is well established with therapeutic community garden days on a Friday, with 43 regular members. The Community Shed is enjoyed on a Wednesday. We ran the Cooking Together course over 6 weeks, enabling our members to learn to cook healthy and fresh food on a limited budget. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **17** The Thundersley building was fully refurbished during the year, with thanks to the huge efforts of a range of corporate partners and volunteers. This enables the site to host our REACH sessions, Youth Links group, meetings and activities delivered by external partners. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **18** ## _**Growing Together Rochford**_ **Growing Together Rochford** has been maintained to a high standard. 21 members enjoy accessing the project on a Friday and benefit from a healthy hot lunch cooked by REACH members. Rochford also hosted the Cooking Together course. A party was held in May 2022 to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which was well attended by members from across Trust Links’s projects as well as local councillors and supporters. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **19** We hosted the popular Seed Potato Day at Rochford in February, run in partnership with South East Essex Organic Gardeners. The Essex Asian Women’s Association once again provided a delicious curry at the event. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **20** ## _**Cressing Temple**_ **Growing Together Cressing Temple,** located between Witham and Braintree, continues to be enjoyed each Friday, with 21 members engaging with the project. We contributed funding towards the development of a new composting toilet on the site and are working in partnership with Essex County Council and The Friends of Cressing Temple on the development of new purpose built facilities on the site. John has been attending Growing Together Cressing Temple for around 8 months. When he first joined he was suffering from severe depression whilst grieving the loss of his second wife, having also been widowed once before. He had been unable to leave his house for months on end. Since joining the Growing Together project, his confidence and self-worth have improved significantly. He now tends to his own allotment on a regular basis, something he had not had the motivation to do for some time. _**“Growing Together has made me feel part of a community and [helped me] build friendships. I look forward to Fridays and enjoy passing on my knowledge of gardening to others who are newer to gardening. I had been on the verge of totally giving up on everything, I still have days on which I am very low, but knowing I have support from Growing Together staff and members alike gets me through the dark moments. Trust Links saved my life and gives me hope and a zest for life I had lost.”**_ Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **21** ## **Let’s Grow Together** **Let’s Grow Together** aims to share the model and success of the Growing Together with other groups and organisations beyond Essex, so that they do not have to reinvent the wheel and can learn from and replicate our approach in their own areas and contexts. Following the success of the initial Let’s Grow Together course, we have commenced a second course with a new cohort of charities, community groups and individuals on the programme. 20 people have joined the course, which includes the delivery of six learning sessions on Zoom, one-to-one mentoring, and a comprehensive manual. Programme participants are from across the UK as well as the USA and Canada. _**“Last year we received a grant to build a community garden in a local school and with lots of contributions and support from the local community we completed it after Christmas. However, the next challenge was to recruit a team of volunteer gardeners to care for the site so we turned to Let’s Grow Together project to get ideas how to recruit, organise and retain volunteers. The programme is proving helpful in providing both instruction and invaluable networking opportunities with other project leaders from a wide range of organisations, projects and locations across the UK and North America.”**_ Paul, participant of Let’s Grow Together 2023 Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **22** **St Laurence Orchard** The 100 year old St Laurence Orchard continues to be maintained for the benefit of wildlife, people and the harvest. Regular work parties during the Spring, Summer and Autumn helped to maintain the Orchard, looking after the century old trees alongside the newer trees and wide variety of species in the one acre space. Blossom Day in April celebrated the fruiting trees, Apple Day in October brought people together for the harvest, and Wassailing in January woke the trees up for the new year with traditional singing and a procession through the Orchard and meadow. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **23** “When I was looking for a volunteering opportunity, I wanted to ensure it would be both rewarding for our team and knowing it would help the local community. Trust Links ticked both these boxes. We had the benefit of spending a lovely day, in an historic orchard, knowing our hard work would bring benefit to others. If you’re looking for a good team building event, that you can look back on with pride, then look no further than supporting Trust Links.” - Steve Ling, Manager at NatWest. Following the installation of the composting toilet and toolstore in the adjacent meadow area, we have been delighted to install a new classroom. This provides an essential shelter for people on work parties and an educational space for workshops and groups, helping the Orchard to be far more accessible and usable over the coming months and years. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **24** **Greening Projects** 💚 During the year we launched new Greening projects in Basildon and Southend. We have purchased a welfare van with tool storage, seating area and toilet. Our team drives to urban areas and estates of Southend and Basildon, working with residents and community groups to maintain and develop unloved outdoor spaces. This has included planting bulbs and trees, developing wildlife habitats, building raised beds, weeding and planting up neglected garden areas. The project aims to improve physical health, mental health, community connection and pride, as well as helping to improve the natural environment and nature recovery in our urban spaces. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **25** Lee previously worked as a graphic designer, but his work came to a halt during the pandemic. This allowed him to re-evaluate things and he now wants to pursue a career that involves working outdoors. Lee first came across Trust Links via Facebook and then attended the Spring Forward event to find out more. He felt that volunteering with Trust Links could provide him with an opportunity to gain the skills he needs for a nature-based career; by attending Spring Forward and speaking with the Volunteer Manager, Lee joined the weekly Northlands Park community gardening morning that is co-organised by Greening Basildon and Environmental Activities Volunteering. Lee has been attending for several weeks; he enjoys the structure and routine that it provides and feels a sense of satisfaction from knowing that he is helping give a previously neglected area of the park some much needed attention. “It’s nice to be doing something in nature and improving the local area for residents. I’m looking forward to learning new skills as the weeks go on.” Lee has OCD and he has noticed that being busy during the gardening mornings helps with this. He has since become a member of Growing Together Basildon too. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **26** Basildon Environmental Activities Volunteering Working with Creative Basildon, ATF and BBWCVS, we have been awarded Arts Council England funding for a project in Basildon to engage people in environmental volunteering. Our project co-ordinator works with residents, community groups, schools and local businesses to facilitate their engagement with environmental activities. Volunteering days have included tree planting, maintenance in parks, litter picking, creating wildlife habitats and nature recovery projects. We will be working closely with those in the arts and sports sector to promote more volunteering opportunities in Basildon over the coming year. “My 7-year-old son is home schooled; it’s been such a pleasure to bring him along to the Northlands Park gardening group. We use this experience together as a way of learning about biology, geography, maths and other important subjects. A real hands-on learning experience, we love it!“ Quote from a mother who attends Environmental Activities Volunteering Northlands Park gardening group in Basildon, which is held every Thursday morning. ## Eco Days Our **Eco Days** project runs regular workshops and learning sessions to help people minimise their negative impact on the environment and help them take positive climate change action. The workshops have been delivered across Castle Point and Rochford and also delivered in central Southend in partnership with Milton Community Partnership. Environmental workshops have included: Repair café; Make do and Mend sewing workshops; energy saving information sessions; foraging, cooking and preserving; gardening for food and encouraging wildlife rich habitats. During the course of the year we delivered 23 Eco Days workshops, with 320 attendances. We also established a dedicated Eco Days Facebook page, which gained 381 followers and posts reaching nearly 5,000 over the course of a month. We are excited to expand Eco Days to other parts of Essex over the next year. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **27** A group has been regularly attending the Thundersley workshops who are very keen to learn new skills. People have been telling stories about how their grandparents grew their own, blackberry picking and swapped with neighbours for jam making, but then it became easier for their parents to just buy jam so that connection with seasonal produce and local food has been lost. They have resolved to pass on the skills they learnt to children, grandchildren and friends. One participant said the sauerkraut and rhubarb jam making workships were interesting and informative. “I think it’s really important to revisit these old skills.” As a food professional, she said a lot of this knowledge and skills have been lost in the food industry. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **28** We partnered with Othona in Bradwell-on-Sea to organise the Essex Green Weekend, which took place in May 2022. About 200 people attended the weekend, which included skill sharing workshops, talks, music and activities for children. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **29** REACH ## **REACH Wellbeing Hub** The REACH Wellbeing Hub has continued to be in great demand, with a high number of referrals from the Primary Care Mental Health Nurses, social prescribers, social services and other agencies. We respond with an initial assessment, signposting to other specialist agencies where appropriate. Members access a weekly call or meeting for a fixed number of weeks if required. A dedicated Outreach Worker provided additional capacity to support the Primary Care Mental Health Nurse on Canvey Island. We delivered the Depression and Suicide Prevention Pathway, responding to people referred by Primary Care with up to 6 weekly telephone calls to support the wellbeing and recovery of individuals. Dee self-referred to REACH wanting to engage with courses, but it quickly became evident that she was extremely low. Dee had had a traumatic childhood and had ended up in care. She said she had no role models on how to behave, look after herself or deal with life’s problems in a positive way and said was a case of fighting to survive. Dee became dependent on alcohol and mixing as she calls it with ‘undesirables.’ She also suffers from COPD and back problems. She was grieving the loss of her boyfriend and had a Debt Relief Order, with most of the debt coming from funeral expenses for him. Dee was working with Step Change on her debt issues and STARS on her alcoholism. Dee worked with the Depression and Suicide Prevention Pathway. Immediate issues included being unable to heat her home and eat regularly. Her Project Worker supported Dee to get an Emergency Living Fund grant, supermarket vouchers from the Southend Emergency Fund grant. She was assessed for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and her Project Worker advocated for back pay to be awarded, which was awarded and paid over a six month period. Thanks to the regular and consistent support from REACH, Dee’s PHQ-9 score improved from 20 (severe) to 8 (mild). Her 16 SWEMWBS score increased to 29. She has abstained from self-harm (cutting) and taking overdoses for four months, meaning that she has not needed to attend A&E. Alcohol intake has reduced and she continues to engage with the drug and alcohol service. Dee stated that engaging with REACH has saved her life and given her purpose again. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **30** We delivered and sustained a range of support groups and peer groups through the REACH Wellbeing Hub across Southend, Castle Point, Rochford and online on the Zoom platform. Groups included a walking group, meditation, art and crafts, music, bouldering at Indi Rock and gardening. The Wellbeing Hub received 1,449 referrals to the Hub and associated projects in the year. 553 of these referrals went via the Depression and Suicide Prevention Pathway. Due to the increased demand on the service, additional funding has been awarded by the NHS for four extra project workers over the next year to help process the backlog of referrals and provide extra support to our members. ## **REACH Recovery College** The REACH team have delivered a wide range of courses and workshops across South East Essex and online. Courses were developed and delivered in co-production with people with lived experience of mental health issues. Workshops and courses spanned a range of subjects and issues including: Managing Anxiety; Dealing with Panic Attacks; Confidence and SelfEsteem; Cookery; Mindfulness; and Digital Arts. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **31** Heidi (53) came into REACH presenting with CPTSD, anxiety and depression. She felt isolated and thought that people didn’t necessarily understand her. She struggled to meet new people and socialise, as she felt anxious about what people may think of her. Her main focus at Trust Links, was to engage with REACH courses and workshops, specifically workshops around Core Beliefs and Self Compassion, progressing to engaging with activities in the community. She also wanted to work on herself and find that inner passion that she had lost years before. Heidi found the Self Compassion course very rewarding, which led to her reigniting the inner spark for physical activities. She found that being kind to her self improved her mental wellbeing, which then helped build her confidence to join sporting activities which included rowing and indoor bouldering at Indi Rock. The Indi Rock sessions lasted for 6 weeks, and by the end of the course, Indi Rock staff suggested she join an advanced course because they felt her climbing had improved to a very high standard – she has since continued to attend Indi Rock. She joined the Wellbeing Journal course and she found journalling very beneficial when she is feeling vulnerable and anxious. She previously journalled before she came to Trust Links, but since joining the course she does this daily as this helps stabilise her mental health. She also joined the Labyrinth Workshop to which she said _**“It was such a beautiful and profound experience. I also met a few other people, which I found quite hard but I successfully managed how I felt and didn’t leave and I’m glad that I didn’t. I’m looking forward to the next one.”**_ Heidi then joined the Progression Pathway to discuss volunteering options. She was volunteering for SAVS as part of the community garden project and wanted extra responsibility. Heidi applied for 2 roles with SAVS, one working on the Dementia Awareness Project and another assisting the Muddy Hub Project. Since doing this, she feels as if she is part of a community within SAVS and now has ambitions to potentially work in mental health in the future. Her mental health has improved and she doesn’t feel that she needs to attend the courses anymore, as she has learnt the core skills to maintain her mental health. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **32** **REACH Recovery College** successfully delivered courses to 951 students during the year and provided 1214 individual course, workshop and group sessions. An analysis of outcomes for the REACH Wellbeing Hub and Recovery College suggests that engagement with the service is having a positive impact on individuals mental health and wellbeing, with average SWEMWBS (Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale) scores increasing from 11.7 to 20.8. PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire depression measurement tool) depression scale scores dropped from an average of 18 (moderately severe depression) to 12.5 (moderate depression), and secondary care usage dropped from 39% of individuals to 16% of individuals accessing secondary care services. In addition to this, Accident & Emergency attendances for mental health crises reduced from 15% of individuals attending in the previous 3 months to 10%, demonstrating a reduction in demand on costly NHS services. REACH supported 21 members in gaining employment, 26 into further education, 22 into volunteering posts and 29 members to maintain their existing employment. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **33** **Talking Together and Trust Links Counselling** Following its establishment during the initial part of the COVID pandemic, we have continued the Talking Together befriending project to link people who are isolated and suffering with their mental health with a trained befriender. We have recruited, trained and supported befriending volunteers, matching them up with people that would benefit from a weekly telephone call. During the year we worked with 53 volunteers and 61 befriendees. Mark (55) has diagnoses of anxiety, depression, trauma, has experienced complex loss and grief, and has physical challenges in arthritis, and kidney issues. Mark is supported through Talking Together befriending and paired with Sonia who offers a weekly call on a Sunday morning. Mark reported that Sonia is ‘an angel’, ‘a fantastic support, and ‘great listener’. Mark has disclosed on a few occasions that he is from a music ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ lifestyle and doesn’t have many friends as his old cohort are ‘all still on it’, taking class A drugs. Mark visited Growing Together Westcliff and is considering becoming a member. He said “You’ve got an amazing community here, it’s blessed.” We continue to work through the development of counselling services and piloted a low cost counselling offer. We are continuing to work through options for this project. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **34** ## **Children and Youth Projects** ## _**Learning Together**_ Learning Together ran throughout the year, providing educational and therapeutic activities for young people that have struggled to engage with mainstream school. We provided positive activities and psychoeducation in a safe and nurturing environment, and as a result 15 of the young people in attendance have reengaged with school on some level, with 11 young people returning to school on a full-time basis. In addition to funding from BBC Children in Need, Learning Together is now also funded by the NHS so that additional sessions can be offered in partnership with more schools. Learning Together has supported 90 young people, with 67 attending at least once over the financial year. This feedback was emailed unprompted by a parent: _**"My son is 14 and has a diagnosis of Tourette’s Syndrome, Autism and Severe Anxiety. His anxiety got so bad that I would drive him to school. He would become so distressed on the journey he would cry. Sometimes was physically sick and be unable to exit the car and walk across the car park and go into school. He has not been able to attend school properly for the last three years. He has had trouble socialising and in all aspects of his life. We often described him as existing not living.**_ _**We introduced zones of regulation and did a small steps programme where are we would literally chunk his journey into very very small steps. It took around five months to get him to be able to put his foot on the floor in the playground/car park. He is now EOTAS [Education otherwise than in/at school]. My son has been attending Trust Links for two months. He comes along on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday he gets out of the car. He takes 20 or 30 paces into the building (on his own). He signs in (on his own). He participates in the activities that the organisers have put on for him and the other young people that come to use their service.**_ _**The sessions that my son has attended have been fun creative and he has learned new skills. He has also had sessions on things like managing stress, frustration, anger and all of the sessions have helped him enormously. Your staff and the sessions you have provided have helped my son to feel comfortable and confident enough to leave the house and socialise again. Your sessions along with the home tutoring have allowed him to enjoy learning again and he is now living and not just existing. As a family we are extremely grateful for the work you have done with our son. He still has his struggles and will always need some support but you have helped him in so many ways we just wanted you to know."**_ Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **35** ## _**Families Growing Together**_ Working in partnership with A Better Start Southend, **Families Growing Together** has continued to grow through the year, with sessions for families with children under 4 years at our Shoeburyness site each Monday and at Westcliff on Fridays. The children enjoy the sandpits, mud kitchens and willow dens at each site, and the range of other facilities to appeal to toddlers and their families, including a magical story time area. We worked with 107 families, comprising 120 parents or care givers and 130 children. The Christmas event for families at Westcliff was a great success, with a chance for the children to meet Father Christmas himself! We established the Dads Group on Saturday mornings, alternating between Westcliff and Shoeburyness. We have had 30 dads attend the group, with activities including crafts, gardening, woodwork, junk modelling and brunch. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **36** When Ann first attended Families Growing Together, she expressed difficulties in her relationship with T’s father and explained she was feeling isolated and did not feel supported by him with their son. Ann was diagnosed with depression and a medication change contributed towards her lower mood and irritability. Ann attended Families Growing Together weekly, had regular conversations with staff who encouraged Ann to speak to her GP with the presenting mental health difficulties and supported her with side effects. Activities provided by Families Growing Together allowed Ann to spend quality time with T in a positive, outdoor environment. Ann has built friendships with other parents, that have extended outside the sessions and Ann sees them regularly during the week. Ann said coming to Families Growing Together _**“is like coming to see her family.”**_ Ann now has an outlet to speak about her feelings and has built trusting relationships with staff who have supported her whilst moving out from T’s father and into her own home. Ann now has a good relationship with her GP and continues to have discussions about her improving mental health. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **37** ## _**Youth Links**_ of which 41 have regularly attended Youth Links sessions in Westcliff and Thundersley. In addition to the centre-based delivery, we have enjoyed a number of trips including art workshops, charity shop trips, library visits and a successful “Youth Fest” summer party. _**Youth Links**_ has gone from strength to strength, delivering peer support and positive activity groups for young people of secondary school age to improve mental health and wellbeing. We deliver two sessions at Westcliff each week and once per week at Thundersley. We have worked with 95 young people, Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **38** El started attending Youth Links towards the end of 2021. El has autism and gender dysphoria and came to youth group as a way to make new friends who were supportive of her identity. El was immediately comfortable talking to all members of the group, was quickly accepted and joined a group of friends. A few months after she joined the group El attempted suicide. The staff and other members of the group offered support to her and her family whilst she recovered in hospital, and the group wrote ‘get well soon’ cards. El made a full recovery and returned to the group with her friends a couple of months after being hospitalised. Trust Links have been able to offer one-to-one support to El on her return to the group and have been able to talk about similar issues with the wider group, helping to reduce the chances of it happening to El or another member of the group again. We have been awarded funding from Essex County Council Councillors to expand Youth Links to Rochford and Rayleigh and maintain delivery in Thundersley over the next year. ## _**Dig It Youth**_ **Dig It Youth** ran from April to October each week at Growing Together Shoeburyness on Wednesdays. The group was thoroughly enjoyed by the young people that attended, with activities including gardening, crafts, drama and cooking. 24 young people attended from the local area. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **39** ## ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE The gross income for the period April 2022 to March 2023 amounted to £1,837,206 from the Charity’s own generated income, grants, donations and commissioned services. Resources expanded for the same period totalled £1,564,458 with the majority being applied to staffing costs in support of projects and the Charity’s administration. Trust Links continues to explore new opportunities, whilst endeavouring to sustain projects that are having a positive effect on people’s outcomes and wellbeing. Included within the £1,837,206 of gross income was £264,907 for capital funding for the new gardens in Vange. From this, £298,702 was spent on the project, which has led to a large surplus in the Statement of Financial Activities due to the expenditure being capitalised and included within Tangible assets on the balance sheet. The restricted fixed asset fund has increased to £515,640 from £196,849 in 2022. ## FINANCIAL REVIEW **Policies on reserves** The Board has established an objective whereby the General Unrestricted Funds (being the Unrestricted Funds not committed to or invested in fixed assets) held by the charity at the yearend should, if possible, be equal to 50% (six months) of the budgeted expenditure (other than capital expenditure) for the forthcoming year. At this level of General Unrestricted Reserves, the Board believes it would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant short term drop in funding, although it would of course be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced and / or activities changed if the shortfall was prolonged. The General Unrestricted Reserves of £305,455 at 31 March 2023 represent approximately 17% (2 months) of the total expenditure budget (excluding capital expenditure) for the year ended 31 March 2024. This represents a small decrease from the 18% (2 months) reported for the Year Ending 31st March 2022 as a result of the increase in the budgeted expenditure for 2024 as compared to 2023. The Board are endeavouring to gradually increase this towards the objective of 50% (six months) over the coming years, while recognising that this may not be achievable every year if existing activities are to be sustained. The ever increasing demand for the activities of the charity over the past year have been such that it has not proved possible to make any progress during the current year, but it remains the Trustee’s aim for future years. Although the current level of reserves is below the objective, the Trustees believe, having taken into account the level of contracted income and promised grant income for the forthcoming year, that this is not inconsistent with their overall risk management strategy. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **40** Principal funding sources and how expenditure in the year under review has supported the key objectives of the charity Apart from expertise in many areas, a charity needs to have a healthy funding base to succeed in its objectives. Trust Links has been fortunate to obtain funding from a variety of sources since its inception. We have been grateful to receive financial support from a number of sources, which are included in the Statement of Financial Activities forming part of this report. During this year we have been successful in obtaining a broad range of funding sources to sustain and develop our projects including grants, commissioning, personal budgets, generated income and donations. We have also been awarded multi-year contracts and grants for many of our projects for the next few years, although fundraising will always be required to sustain and extended our vital work. We are further diversifying our income through investing in corporate and community fundraising and individual giving. The investment policy and objectives, including the extent (if any) to which social, environmental or ethical considerations are taken into account Trust Links is at present not able to consider specialist investment in any funds with a view to producing both income and capital growth. Most of its current income is applied to the costs of running the organisation, but if and when the receipt of income indicates that a sufficient surplus is being achieved, the Board will take professional advice with regard to the most appropriate investment opportunities. Availability and adequacy of assets of each of the funds The Board of Trustees is satisfied that the charity’s assets in each fund are available and adequate to fulfil its obligations in respect of each fund. ## Share Capital The company is limited by guarantee and therefore has no share capital. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **41** ## STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT ## **Nature of the Governing Document and constitution of the** ## **charity** The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a company limited by guarantee, as defined by Companies Act 2006. ## **The methods adopted for the recruitment and appointment** ## **of new trustees** The charity actively seeks to recruit trustees from as wide a spectrum as possible, the principal criteria being that they are supportive of the aims of Trust Links. Those interested in becoming trustees are encouraged to take the opportunity to discuss the role and the work of the charity with other trustees and with members of staff and to visit our projects. Opportunities for understanding the charity and contributing to its work are made available to trustees. We have successfully recruited additional trustees with skills in governance, business, lived experience of mental health issues, and legal, further strengthening our board of trustees. ## **Board of Directors / Trustees** We regularly review the composition of our trustee board to ensure we have a wide range of skills and experience. Some of our longer standing trustees retired from their roles; they were thanked at the Annual General Meeting for their contribution over many years. ## **Staffing** We recognise and appreciate the commitment and dedication of all staff through times of change and their continuing efforts to support the aims of Trust Links and its members. We have continued to put extra support in place to protect and promote the wellbeing of staff whilst working from home and dealing with the additional demands on our services. ## **Volunteers** Volunteers provide valuable support to the running of all Trust Links projects. We have a full-time Volunteer Co-ordinator, to ensure that high calibre volunteers are recruited, inducted, trained and supported. During the year we were fortunate to have 166 active volunteers, including 53 Talking Together befriending volunteers, 49 Growing Together garden volunteers, qualified counsellors, Eco Days volunteers and events volunteers. We recruited 94 new volunteers over the 12 month period. We are grateful to them for their commitment and support, making a significant contribution to the success of Trust Links in our communities. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **42** ## **The major risks to which the charity is exposed and reviews and systems to mitigate risks** The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The Board has conducted a review of the major risks which the charity is exposed to and the systems in place to mitigate the risk. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation and regular monitoring of approved policies, procedures and protocols across Trust Links. These documents and their implementation are regularly reviewed to ensure not only compliance with legal and other requirements, but also so that they continue to meet the needs of the organisation and its clients. The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Mr M W Anderson – Chair of Property Sub Committee (Appointed 18 July 2023) Mr R Bates (Resigned 12 October 2022) Ms R Benger (Appointed 12 October 2022) Mrs J Bliss – Chair of Trustees from 1 January 2023 (Appointed 12 October 2022) Mrs V C Bloomfield (Appointed 18 July 2023) Mr P Bridges Mr H Burgess Mr W Choudhry (Resigned 29 November 2022) Ms L Eddy (Resigned 25 September 2023) Mr C Flood (Resigned 15 March 2023) Mr J Hodge (Appointed 12 October 2022) Ms E Hoggart (Appointed 12 October 2022 and resigned 28 April 2023) Mr D Muslin (Appointed 12 October 2022 and resigned 4 May 2023) Mr R Olver Chair to 31 December 2022 (Resigned 31 December 2022) Ms J Phillips Mr K Spencer – Treasurer and Chair of Finance Sub Committee Mrs P Stratford – Vice Chair of Trustees from 1 January 2023 and Chair of HR Sub Committee (Appointed 12 October 2022) Mr P Taylor (Resigned 14 November 2022) (Appointed 12 October 2022) (Resigned 14 November 2022) (Resigned 12 October 2022) Mr C Turrell – Vice Chair of Trustees to 12 October 2022 Company secretary Mr M A King Patron Mrs J Allen-King OBE Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **43** ## **Auditor** In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Maynard Heady LLP be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting. ## Disclosure of information to auditor Each of the Trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information. The trustees’ report was approved by the Board of Trustees. Mrs J Bliss Trustee Dated 9 October 2023 Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **44** ## STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES The Charities Act and the Companies Act require the Board of Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing these financial statements the Board is required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - 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 charity will continue in business; - • 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. The Trustees are also responsible for maintaining adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and comply with regulations made under the Charities Act. 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. The Trustees are also responsible for the contents of the Trustees’ Report and the responsibility of the independent examiner in relation to the Trustees’ Report is limited to examining the report and ensuring that, on the face of the report, there are no inconsistencies with the figures disclosed in the financial statements. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **45** ## INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT ## **Opinion** We have audited the financial statements of Trust Links Limited (the ‘company’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (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 Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the 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 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. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **46** ## **Other information** The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. 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. 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 course of 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 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. ## **Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006** In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit: - the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and - the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. ## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or - the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or - certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or - we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or - the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **47** ## **Responsibilities of Trustees** As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the Trustees, who are also the directors of the company for the purpose 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 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. ## **Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** 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 an auditor's report 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. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below. - Enquiry of management, those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims. - Enquiry of entity staff in tax and compliance functions to identify any instances of non- - compliance with laws and regulations. - Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. - Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess - compliance with applicable laws and regulations. - Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, and evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business. Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities including those leading to material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with laws and regulations. This risk increased the more that compliance with a law and regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **48** A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report. ## **Use of our report** This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's 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 members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. **Stephanie Caten FCA CTA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Maynard Heady LLP 9 October 2023** **Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor** **Matrix House 12 - 16 Lionel Road Canvey Island Essex SS8 9DE** Trust Links Limited Report and Accounts 2022/23 **49** STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unr•atrf¢t•d R••trld•d funds fund¥ 2023 2023 Total Unrestricled Restricted funds funds 2022 2022 Total 2023 2022 Notes Donab'ons and legacie5 Charitable actNitie5 Investments 61.563 113.770 2.553 6.439 1.652.881 68.002 1,766.651 2,553 168.735 66.001 1,951 5.698 1,357,637 174.433 1,423,638 1,951 Total incomo 177.886 1,659,320 1,837,206 236,687 1,363,335 1.600,022 ndStur• on". Charitable activities 1T8,654 1.385.804 1,564.458 74.034 1,361.988 1.436,022 Other 10 1,484 Total re80urc88 oxpondod 178.6S1 1.385.804 1,564,458 75.518 1,361.988 1.437. N•t {•xp8ndttur•yincomo foi thg yearl N•t mov8m•nt in fund8 (768) 273.516 272.748 161,169 1.347 162.516 Fund balan￿S al 1 Aprll 517.650 285.872 803.522 356.481 284,525 641.CM)6 Fund balan￿ at 31 March 2023 516.882 559.388 1,076.270 517,650 285.872 803,522 Thè statement of finandal ac11v￿a5 Includès all galns and10sseG recognised In the year. All inwme expenditure derives from continuirwj activities. The statement of financial ackn'vrttes aLso compllos wlth the requlrements for an inc(ffie and expendilure account urKler the Companies Acl 2006. TrustLinks Trust Links Limited Report and A£counts 2022123 1 50 BALANCE SHEET 2023 2022 Not•• Flx•d auots Targible assets 12 727,067 409.802 Currènt 088ét8 Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 13 121,881 796,122 68,201 574.664 918,003 642.866 Créditorn: amount8 falllng du• whhin on• yaar 14 (568.8001 1249.145) Net current assets 349,203 393.720 Total a88gtB1988 currant liabiliti08 Creditors: amounts falling due aftor more than om yoar 1.076.270 803.522 15 Net a¥sets 1.076,270 803.522 Incomo fund8 Reslricled fvnds General resthcled funds Fixed assel funds 43,748 515.640 89,023 196.849 17 559.388 285.872 Unrestricted fijnds General unreslricled fund$ Fixed asset lunds 305,455 211,427 304.697 212.953 18 516.882 517.650 1.076.270 803.522 The financlal statements were approved by the Trnstees on ..9/10/23 Mrs J Bliss Trust•• Company Rogl8tratlon No. 04351216 TrustLinks Trust Links Limited Report and A£counts 2022123 1 51 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 2023 2022 Noie$ Cash flow8 from operating activities Cash gènerated trom op8r8lions 20 570,614 165,686 Investing activities Purthase of tanglble flxed assets Proceeds on dlsposal of subsidiarfes Inveslment In￿lMe received 1351.7271 {34.216) 2.571 1.933 Not ¢￿h u•od invg•ting activitie• 1349,156) 132,282) Financing a¢tivities Repayment of bank loans 1139.9761 N•t ¢a8h u80d In flnanclng actlvltl 1139,976) N•t inuglls￿IdOcrna8O) in ca4h and c#Bh equivalents 221.458 (6,572) Cash and cash equivalents at beglnnlng of year 574.664 581,236 Ca8h and ¢a8h •qui¥•l•nt8 at end of y•ar 796.122 574.664 TrustLinks Trust Links Limited Report and A£counts 2022123 1 52 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Accounting polici•• Charity information Trust Links Litnited is a private company limTted ty guarantee incorporated In England and Wale5. The registered office is 47 Fairfax Drive, Weslclfft on Sea. Essex. SSO 9AG. 1.1 Accounting conv•ntion The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the companws deed of trust. the Companies Act 2006 and 'Accounting and Repotting by Charities" Statement of ReCom￿Ended Practice applicable ta charilies preFaring their accounts in accordance with the Fina￿al Report"ng Standard applicat4e in the UK and Republlc of Ireland IFRS 102) (effecuve 1 January 2019).. The company Is a Publlc Benefit Ents'ty as defined by FRS 102. The )Inancial statements are prepared in slerfing. wh￿h Is the functional currency of the company. Monetsry amounts in these financial state￿￿Trts are rounded to the nearest £. The finandal statements have been prepared under the historical cost conventson. The principal accounl#ig pollcles adopted are sel out below. 1.2 Going concern At the time of approving Ihe financial statements. the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that 1he company has adequate resources to Continue in operalional exk8ten¢e for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees conb'nue to adopt the going concem basls of accounling in preparing the financial st8lements. 1.3 Charitabl• fund¥ Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustses In furlherance of Iheir charftable objectives. Oeslgnal8d funds comprls8 funds whleh have been sot aslde at the disuetion of the Trusteès for sp8cffic purposes. The purp)ses and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial ststements. Restdcted luThls are subject to s￿d￿C condlttorts by don¢Js as to how they may be used. 1.4 Income Nature of income Categorles of Incomo Incomo rocognition Gross income represents the value. net of value added tax and discounts. of go)ds provided lo customers and work carried out in respect of services provided to ￿stomers. In￿me Ss categorosed as Income from exchange transacllons (Contrad Income) and Income trcffi non- exchange tran5acIK)ns Igrf151, Investment income and other income. In¢om• from oxchang• tran••¢tlon8 is received by the chanty for goods or services supplled under contract or where entiuement is subject lo fij￿IlIng perfonnance related conditions. The income the charty receives is appfoximalely equal in value lo the goods or services supplied by the charity to the Purchaser. TrustLinks Trust Links Limited Report and A£counts 2022123 1 53 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Accountlng pollcles (Contlnuod Income from a non*xchange transaction is whefe the charity recelves value from the donor wrthout providing equal value In exchange. and Indudes donalons of money. gtsjds and servlces freely given wtthout givlng equal value in exchange. Incomo fKOgnition Income. whether from exchange or non exchange Iransactions, is re￿n￿e￿ In the statement of ftnancial a¢tivitfres ISOFAI on a rec•lvabk basls. when a tran$actbn or othor ovenl resums In an kncrease In the charity's assets Dr a redUCt￿)n In rts liabilities and only when the charity has legal entitlement the income is probable and can be measured reliably. Income subj.ect to terms and conditions which must be mel before the charrty 15 entilled to the re￿UrceS is not recognised unlll the conditsons have been mel. All Income is accounted for gross. before deducting any relaled fees or costs. Incomo frorn legacig$ Income from leg&cies is rea)gni5ed when Ihe charity has suffiaent ev¢dence that a grft has been left to thprn, that where required. probate has been granted, the executor is sabsfied that the property in quesbon wll not bé required to satisfy in the estate, Ih&t it is probablo that the amount wll b8 r8ceiv8d by the ch8rty, and Ihe wnount to be rec*ived can be 8Stimaled wilh suffjcient accuracy. and that any conditions &tt8ched lo the lagacy are emher wthin th8 ￿ntrol of Ihe charity or have been met. Where a payment Is received from an estale or Is notsfjed as recelvabk by the execulors after the reportlrrfj date and before the ac¢ounl$ are autho￿se￿ for Issue but11 Is clear thal the payment ha¢J been agreed by the executors wior to the end of the reporl.ng penod, then the wnount Con￿med is treated as an adjusts.ng event and accrued as Income In lh8 accounllftg p￿0d If recelpt Is probable. Wher8 the charity has established entillem8nl lo a legacy but there is uncertainty as to th8 amount of the payment, details of the legacy afe disclosed as a contingent asset until the crrteria for income reco3nition are met. Where a legacy is subject lo the interest of a life lenanl. the legxy is not recognised as income until the (leath of the Ilfe lenant. If It Is doubthbl that full settlement of a legacy debtor ￿11 be rec￿Ved, then an e•Jlustment Is m&Je to reduce the amount of Ihe legacy debtor 8nd18gacy Income rather than charging adlustm8nt as 8xpendlbJr8 In the Stslement of Fir¢ancial Actiwties. TrustLinks Trust Links Limited Report and A£counts 2022123 1 54 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Accountlng pollch8 Icontlnuod) Donated goods. factlRig8 and 89rvico8 Donated fixed assets are recognised at Ihe current lair value. All such thjnallons are recounised as dOnat￿n income. and debited to fixeé assets. Donated goods that are not Ilxed assets are accounted for at a lalr value, Un￿85 It Is Impractlcal to rdlably measure the value ofthe donated rtems. In the absence of any dlrect evidence of fair value of donated goc¢Js, then a value is deriv8d from Ihe cost ol the rtem to the donor or. in the case of goods that are expected to be sokl. the estimated resale value after dedudng any anltcipaled costs of sales. If il 15 impracticable to measure the far value of goods donaled for resale. or the costs of valuation oubvevJh the benefits, the donated goods are recognised as income when sold, wrth an equivalent amcNJnt being recognised 8$ an expense. The costs of goods donated for distrtbution to b8n8ficiart8s is deemed to ￿ the f￿[ valu8 ofthose gO￿S upn receipL When the goods are distribuled freely or for a nominal consideratson. then the carrying amounl is adjusted at the fjme of sa￿. to the valua at tt)e point of dlsln'buuon and tho adjuslm•nt Ss shown as a cost of I￿natiOnS made. The carying amount of any stock hdd for distribution is assessed for impairment at Ihe reporting date. All donated goods are re¢ognised as donatson income, and debrted kn trading slocK. When trading slock is subsequently sold, or appropriated lo meet an exFense, then the carrylng value of the stock Is recognlsed as an expense. In accordan￿ wlh the SORP. goods donated for distribution to beneficiaries. or for con5umptk)n by the charity are included in 'legac￿5 and donations,. Gocils donated for resale are induded in'lncome from other trading activib'es. The cost of any siock of goods donated for dlstrtbutlon to benèffclarles Is deemed io be the falr value of those glfts at the tlme of their fecelpt- If the goods held are to be dlsthbuled freely or for a nomlnal conslderauon. then the carrying amount is subsequently adiusled to relect the lower of deemed cosl adiusled Yor any loss of service potential and replacement cost. Replacement cost is the economic cost incurr8d rf the charity was to replace the Servi￿ potential of the donated goods at its OWTI expense in the most economic manner. Donated services and faclltties Ilnduding seconded staff and use of propeTtyI are incllhj￿ kn Ihe accounts on the basis of Ihe value of the gift lo the charity. All donate￿ services f￿d f8cilrties are recconised as don￿￿'on income when received.Iprovi(kd the value of the gwt can be measured rellabtyl and recognis&J as an expense wlth an equivalent value. TrustLinks Trust Links Limited Report and A£counts 2022123 1 55 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Accounting polici08 (Continuod) Aecounting for dofeTr8d incomo and Incom8 rècèived in advanc• whe￿ terms and condity.ons relab.ng to incorne have not been mel or ￿n￿rtaInty exists as to whetr¢er Ihe charity can meet any terms or conditions otherwise within its control, income is not recognlsed but Is daferred as a liabilty until it is probable that the terms or condibons imposed can be meL Any grant that is subject to P8rfomi8nce-related conditions received in adv8nce of dellveting thè goods and services required by thal condrtion. or is subj-ect to unmet conditions wholly outside the control of the recipient charity, is attounted for as a liabilrty and shown on Ihe balance sheet as deferred income. Deferred Intome Is released to income in the reports'rwJ period in whith the performance-relaled or other oonditsons that limit recognib'on are mel. When incorne from a grant or donation h85 not been Tecognksed due to the condibon5 applying lo the not being wholly wilhin the control ol the recipient charity. M is disclosed as a conllngent asset W receipt of the grant or donation probable once those conditv)ns are met Where time related condittons are imposed or implied by a funder, Ihen the income Ss apportioned to Ihe time penods concemed.and. where applicable. is accounted for as a Iiabilty and shown on the balance sheet as delerred Income. When grants are receNed In advance of the expendlture on the actlvlty funded by them, but therè are no wfic time related ¢ondffjons, Ihan the incomè is not deferred. Any condition that allows for the recovery by the donor of any unexpended part of a grant does not prevent r8cognitiDn of th8 income concerned. but 8 liability to 8ny repayrnenl is recognised wh8n repayment becomes probable. IA Expenditure A liability, and lh& r818ted axpen(titure, Is récognls8d when 8 18g81 ￿ cortstruelve obllgatkjn exTrsts as a rèsult of a past event. and when it is more likely than not that a transfer 01 economic I￿ne￿ts will be required in settlement and wh&n tha amount of the obllgati)n can be measured or reliably estlmalod.. Liabiltties arising from future fijnding commitments and constructive oblgation5, including perfonnance related grants. where the Imlng or the amount of the future expendltufe TequlTed to settte Ihe obllgalon are uncertaln. give rise lo a provision in the accounts, which ￿ reviewed al the accountin9 year end. The provision Increased to reflect any increases in liabllittes, and Is decreased by the ulilisalion of any provisv)n within the period. and reversed if any prowsion is no longer required. These movements are charged or credited to the respective funds and activities to which the provision relates. Staffin9 - On the b8sis of timè spent in connection wilh any pBrticular activity. Staffing- on a per capita basis, based on the number of of people employed within any particular actiwty. PTO111i808 lolatod co8t¥ - on the propothon of floor area cttupl8d by a partlcular actlvlty. Non specific support costs - on the basis of the usage of resour￿5, in terms of kn'me taken. capauty used. request made or other measures 1A Tangibh fix•d A88•t• Tangible fixed assets arg initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreoatKJn and any Impaimient losses. Depreciation Is recognised so as to wr￿8 off1he cost or valuation of assets less their residtsal v*ues over their usefrjl Ip￿ on the following bases: Free1￿k1 land and bulldlngs Plant and equipment Computer equipment Motor vehlcles 2% Stra￿h1 Ilne 25% straight Ilne 33.33% slraight line 25% stralght Ilne TrustLinks Trust Links Limited Report and A£counts 2022123 1 56 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Accountlng poll¢l•• (Contlnu•d) The gain or loss arislng on the disFosal of an asset is deternilned as the drNerLmce betsveen Ihe sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset. and Is rewnisod In Ihe statemènt of financial acllvlli8s. Accounting for eapllal grants and Ilxed a888t funds. Gmls of tangible fix8d assets or grants of a capllal natur8. gtvén for the purposes of acqumng spedfic ass8ts to be fully utilised in the furtherance of the objects of the charity, are credrted to fixed asset fvnds after the donated asset has been received or sums have teen proFerfy expend&J on the restricted purpose. Where Ihe tem)s of the ￿UIre the chanty to hold the asset on an ongoing basis for a Specif￿ purpose. then the fixed asset fiJnd $0 crealed Is ¢al8gorlsed as a resldcled flxed assèt fuTrJ. and relevant reslrlclions are noted In the ffixe(l asset note 9. Where Ihe temis of the gift arè met once the asset Is acquired, so 8llowfng the ch8rity to use the asset on èn unrestricted basis. incI￿3￿ng the right to receive the pro￿d$ of any fvture sale of the asset on an unrestricted basis. then the fixed asset fund so created is categorised as a designated fixed asset fund. When assets are acquked for the furtherance of the dtarltys objects, utlllsing Ihe charftys own unrestrlcted furKls. a transfer is from unrestricted funds to a deslgnated fixed A55et furKI_ Whether acqulred wth unrèstrtctéd or restrithed fvnds. the asset acqulred Is Innially shown In the balance sheet at the fvll cost of acquisitson or subsequent revaluation. As the related assets are depreciated. in accordance with the depreciation policy.in order to refiect the dimunib'on in the assel.a transler is made frryn the relevant fixed assel funds to either unrestricled or restttcted revenue fund5. as approptiate to the terms of the 0ri9in81 gtr( rf any. The eilect of Ihls pollcyls trtat the aggregate of all ffxed asset ljnds shall equate lo Iha not book value of nxed assets. In the first year that this ￿lcY was adopted. a transler to fixed asset funds was made equivalent to the nèt thjok value of the assets. Any residu81 Ikabilty to Ihe (k)nor arising from. for example. the asset's future sale. is disclosed 85 a contingent l￿bilItY unless the event that wcwjld Inggly repaymenl of Ihe grant becomes probable in which case a liability for repaymenl Is recognised. Insofar as this Wlcy relates to Govemment grants and to the extent that rt may be a departure Irom the FRS 102 SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting by chatiliesl 2015. las amended by the Bulletin issued in February 2016). (The SORPI. such departure Is justffled on the basis that is in ord81 to comply wlh th8 SORP. 1.7 Impairment of fixed as8el• At each repO￿"ng end date. the company revlews the carying amounts of Ils tangible assets to determine whether there Is any indication that those assets have suffered an impaimienl 1055. If any such indication exists. the recoverable amount of the as5el Is estimated In order to delennine the exlenl of the impairment Ioss Ilf any) 1.8 Cosh and ¢49h gqulvolgnts Cash and cash equivalents indude cash in hand. deposils held al Call wth LKqnks. olher shc414emi liquid inveslmenls with onginal malurtlies of Ihree months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown Wtthin borrowtng5 in current liabillb'es. TrustLinks Trust Links Limited Report and A£counts 2022123 1 57 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS A¢counting poli¢i•8 (Continu•d) 1.9 Flnanclal Ingtrum•nt# The Company has elected lo appty the provlslons ol Sedon 11 'Baslc Flnandal Instruments. and Sectbn 12 'Olher Financial Inslfuments Issues. of FRS 102 to all of its fina￿1￿1 in51tuments. Finanaal instruments are recognised in the company's balance sheet when the tompany bets)￿5 party to the contraclual prowsions of the instrurnent. Finanfial assets and liabilltles are off5eL with the net amounts pre5enteii in the financial statements. when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settte on a rtret basis or to realise the asset ano setue the liabilty simultaneously, Ba51c flnanclal assets Basic financial assets. which include debtor5 and cash and bank balances. are inib'ally measured at transacts'on price induding transaction c051s and are subsequently carried al amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financFng transactson. where the transaction is measured al trte present value of the fLrture receipts al￿OUnted at a mwkel rate of inte￿$t. Financ￿1 assets dassifled as receivable wlthln one yaar are not amortlsad. 8asic financial liabiliti8s Basic financial liabilities, indudiro creditors arKI bank loans are inilially re￿nised at transaction price unlesG the arrangemenl ¢onstslules a financing transaction. where the debt instrurnent is measured at the present Value ol the luture payments discounted at a market rate of intsrost. Fhancial Ilabllmes dasslfl•J as payable wlhin one year are not amortised. Debt tnstruments are subsequently carried at amorts'sed cost U￿n9 the effedive interest rate Mett￿￿. Trade credrtor$ are obligalons to pay foi goods or services that have been acquired In the oidinary course of operalions from Suppliers. Amounts payable are classified 85 current liabifjtie5 rf payment is due wthln one year or less. If not, they are Presented as non