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2023-03-31-accounts

kF I- Social Life Opportunities Embracing Disability. Empowering Lives ANNUAL REPORT 2022 - 2023 O Social Life Opportunities (SOLO) 38 Walnut Close. Chelmsley Wood. B37 7PU 0121779 3865 info@sololifeopportunities.org www.sociallifeopportunities.org Charity no. 11022971 Company Limited by Guarantee No 05025939

CONTENTS Overview .................................................................................................................. 2 Our Charitable Objectives & Vision .......................................................................................... 2 Our Values – STAR ....................................................................................................................... 3 Reports ..................................................................................................................... 4 Chair’s Report .............................................................................................................................. 4 CEO’s Report ............................................................................................................................... 5 Strategy 2023-2026 ................................................................................................. 6 Strategic Plan 2023-2026 ............................................................................................................ 6 Empowering Adults with Learning Disabilities ...................................................... 8 Daytime Opportunities ............................................................................................................... 8 Drop In Services ........................................................................................................................... 9 Overnight Breaks ......................................................................................................................... 9 PA Services ................................................................................................................................. 10 Empowering Children and Young People with Learning Disabilities ............... 11 Children’s Services .................................................................................................................... 11 Supporting Individuals to live independently .................................................... 12 Supported Living ....................................................................................................................... 12 Funding & Fundraising .......................................................................................... 14 Trustee Board ......................................................................................................... 15 Financial Review .................................................................................................. 17 Statement of Trustee Responsibilities ...................................................................................... 20 Report of the Independent Auditors ...................................................................................... 21 Statement of Financial Activities for year ended 31 March 2023 ...................................... 26 Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023 ....................................................................................... 27 Statement of Cash Flow as at 31 March 2023 ...................................................................... 28 Notes to the Financial Statements .......................................................................................... 29 Company Information .............................................................................................................. 39

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 1

Our Charitable Objectives & Vision

SoLO’s Charitable Objectives “To help empower children, young people and adults with learning disabilities to achieve their full potential, to encourage their integration in society and improve their conditions of life in particular by the Service, or assistance in the Service, of facilities for them, their families and carers”.

Within SoLO we see people with learning disabilities spending time in an environment that is comfortable, safe and secure enabling them to be stretched, challenged and take risks.

We are happy with what we see, but we want more. In the future, we want to ensure that our members are not excluded from society in institutional settings but are provided with an environment that equips them for the future. We want to give them the skills and experience they need to be able to make choices and take control of their lives. We want to see the lives of our children with learning disability enhanced as they become adults. For adults with a learning disability, we want to provide them with the chance to experience all that life has to offer, have fun and be happy.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 2

Our Values – STAR

SoLO’s STAR Quality values - Safe, Trusted, Adaptable, Resilient - have continued to underpin everything that happens within SoLO and sustains the positive energy that has continued to focus on the “can” rather than the “can’t” – even in the face of challenge.

Our staff team has continued to be adaptable and resilient, enabling us to manage a variety of need and respond to changing situations.

Service Users and their families have trusted SoLO that they will be kept safe whilst enjoying a fun and sociable experience independently from their families. As restrictions have eased, SoLO has been able to adapt its delivery to bring back more services and start easing into the evening services that have been on hold.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 3

Chair’s Report

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Reports
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2022-23 has been a year of moving forward after a Pandemic induced status quo – maintaining and sustaining in contrast to SoLO’s years of growth and development. The Board of Trustees, having carefully ensured stability and sound financial governance with an emphasis on ‘cash being king’, has had confidence to do a thorough strategic review and explore new opportunities to be delivered over the next 3 years.

Direction is always informed by listening to others, testing the external environment, identifying needs and gaps in services as well as reviewing opportunities for collaborative working with other organisations to the benefit of the people that SoLO serves. It is evident SoLO continues to be a lead organisation in Solihull for supporting people with disabilities, primarily Learning Disabilities and it is proud to have achieved this but is not complacent. We know there is always room for improvement and learning from experience.

SoLO’s significant investment in digital systems is paying dividends with assurance for compliance to the requirements of Regulatory bodies and is supportive for both service users and staff.

With worldwide Eco concerns, the Board have invested in improving its heating and lighting at its base in Walnut Close to meet sustainability requirements and reduce its overheads.

The opportunities afforded to SoLO during its time as Solihull Chamber of Commerce Charity of Year have been invaluable and we are grateful for their support and contacts.

The Board of Trustees have been dedicated and committed during the year and we were pleased to welcome Jayne Hume to our trustee team. Jayne brings a diversity of experience with her to the voluntary role. I am deeply grateful to all the Trustees for their support and guidance to SoLO and all the staff/volunteer team. I so often witness people going above and beyond to achieve great outcomes for our service users.

Jan Prior Chair

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 4

CEO’s Report

After being officially appointed as CEO at the beginning of the year I have continued to review, refresh, and renew services and policies alongside the Board of Trustees to ensure that SoLO continues to grow and develop.

It was such an honour to be nominated Charity of the Year by Solihull Chamber of Commerce and having the support of the Chamber and its members through several fundraising events and challenges, as well as making connections with local businesses who have continued to support beyond this year. Funds raised by the Chamber are to support much needed redevelopment at our Walnut Close base to improve facilities for delivery of projects and intensive fundraising efforts to achieve this will be ongoing through 2023/24.

The year also brought new opportunities to renew services in the form of the SMBC Childrens Short Break tender, which SoLO was awarded September 2022. SoLO have worked collaboratively with SMBC as well as other local providers to ensure that there are a diverse number of activities available for Children to attend, encouraging person centred choice, to meet the range of needs.

Other main priorities of the year have been to reinstate drop-in activities for adults which has seen the Disco increase from once a month back to weekly with over 100 attendees each week, providing a much-needed social activity during the evenings. SoLO also recognised the difficulties of recruitment within the Health and Social Care sector and has tried to be innovative in attracting new staff.

Work has still been continuing behind the scenes to ensure that SoLO policies and procedures are robust and compliant to enable staff to continue to deliver safe and fulfilling services which are aimed at meeting individual goals and desired outcomes.

Finally, I would like to thank all the staff teams for their dedication to SoLO throughout the year and providing a range of successful programmes of activities for our service users.

Lesley Beer CEO

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 5

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Strategy 2023-2026
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Strategic Plan 2023-2026

Review, Refresh, Renew

Like many organisations, the focus during the pandemic period was on the safety of our service users and staff and ensuring that SoLO could survive and thrive for the long-term. During the last year the Trustees and senior staff have looked to the future to chart a strategic course that will enable us to better meet the needs of our service users. Our thinking has been informed by what our stakeholders and staff have told us. The strategy that we have developed will guide SoLO for the next 3 years

STAR Quality Values

Some things never change and for SoLO, our values remain central to serving others and the impact that we know they can have for those we support. Our new strategy is grounded in these values and SoLO will continue to embed these in future planning and delivery.

In applying these values, for the next 3 years we will develop our services around 3 core principles.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 6

1. Commitment to independence

If SoLO has one contribution to make in the world it is the empowerment of disabled children and adults so that they achieve their full potential, living a life of opportunity and choice. We will be exploring the development of services that enable us to do this.

1. Growing towards the need

The history of SoLO has been characterised by seeing a need and working out how best we can meet it, in partnership with other agencies. This is how we are looking to the future. We will continue to explore outstanding need and see how we can respond. Opportunities we are exploring first are:

2. SoLO Teamwork

We make a difference through the skill, commitment and flexibility of our people. We will continue to ensure a strong core skill set which is transferable across all our services.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 7

Empowering Adults with

Daytime Opportunities Aynsley Smith,

Service Manager

SoLO offers 3 daytime services which provide safe, fun but meaningful activities to develop identified outcomes for Service Users, which enables socialisation with others and for them to enjoy new experiences.

Daylight North is based in Chelmsley Wood and Daylight South at SoLO’s Fire Station base. Both sites are accessible for those with disabilities and the services cater predominantly for those with mild to moderate learning and associated difficulties.

Evolve , delivered from Walnut Close base in Chelmsley Wood, provides a facility for those with complex care needs.

Over the last year, as other venues and community activities have returned to ‘normal’ post Pandemic, Evolve and Daylight have been able to meet their aim of providing activities both in house and externally in the community, recognising that solely building based activities are not appropriate for everyone and the number of those accessing the services have increased.

Service Users plan their activities together with the Support Workers and a highlight for the team this year was one Service User planning and successfully delivering a Pride Festival event.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 8

Aynsley Smith, Service Manager

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Drop In Services
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The return of the weekly drop in disco created a lot of excitement and they are consistently attended by 100+ who enjoy a fun evening of dancing, chatting, and meeting with friends.

Planning started during the year to increase options available for people to drop in too and a survey shared to ensure potential attendees have a say in what they would like.

Overnight Breaks

Liv Dance Assistant Service Manager

Overnight Breaks have been in great demand and have been running monthly during 2022-23. Spaces have been snapped up for each session and we have had very high interest in future breaks. Overnight Breaks continue to give our members an exciting social weekend, providing a safe and supportive environment where they can meet new people, spend time with friends and develop independence skills away from home, all while most importantly, having fun! Overnight Breaks continue to give parents and carers a brief window of respite from their 24/7 caring responsibilities.

St Swithin’s House provides the main base for breaks in addition to a successful weekend at the Pioneer Centre. Separate male/female weekends have been well received and ideas are buzzing for future breaks.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 9

PA Services

Aynsley Smith & Chris Phillips Service and Assistant Service Managers

Personal Assistants provide a vital 1-1/2-1 support to many with disabilities and demand for the service over the last year has outstripped the number of Personal Assistants/Support Workers both nationally and within SoLO. SoLO has worked creatively to maximise the use of its Support Workers to meet the need and continues to think of innovative opportunities.

It is a strength of SoLO that PAs and their Service Users can integrate both within SoLO activities and other community activities. Service Users take the lead where possible identifying what they would like to do whilst being guided and supported by the PA to achieve their wishes and embed where possible life skills and independence whether they are accessing SoLO’s services or activities within the community.

Service Users value the friendships they develop with PAs and it’s been very evident this year that PAs who frequently work across all SoLO’s services and get to know a wide range of Service Users, will go the extra mile to support, especially if someone is going through a difficult time.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 10

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Empowering Children and Young People with Learning

Emma Ramsey Service Manager

It was a great affirmation of SoLO’s expertise to be awarded the new Short Breaks contract for children and young people by Solihull Council. This has given SoLO the opportunity to continue popular and much-loved activities but as part of its Review, Renew, Refresh strategy to consider new activities based on current need and wishes from feedback and surveys.

The contract has enabled SoLO to open its services to more children and young people who can experience either or both SoLO’s term time projects and holiday activities. SoLO enjoys working with other providers to offer activities outside of SoLO’s scope and expertise.

In addition to in-house activities, delivered at a variety of venues in and around Solihull, we have delivered external activities with trips out of Solihull.

Highlights have been trips to Brean and Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset, Conkers, The Wave, Ash End Children’s Farm, and the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 11

Supporting Individuals to

Supported Living

Teri Evans Service Manager

SoLO’s newest service has gone from strength to strength during 2022/23. Its tenants have thrived with opening of community activities following the Pandemic and each day they are gaining independence appropriate to their situation. A strong team of staff are ensuring that they are well supported to enable them to develop skills and explore hidden skills. Supports Workers are learning when to step back and allow the person to achieve as much as possible independently.

Successes to evidence SoLO’s approach are in abundance this year and many independent living skills have been ticked as tenants become more involved in mainstream community where opportunities are grasped and engaged with.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 12

Members of SoLO’s office team including managers have taken the opportunity to supplement the support worker team to widen their knowledge and understanding of SoLO’s Service Users whilst enhancing their lives engaging with the tenants.

The collaborative approach across all SoLO’s 3 Supported Living houses has ensured sharing of good practice and consistency across the services.

During the year, following the sudden loss of one of SoLO’s day activities Service Users parents, SoLO was fortunate to be in a position to immediately surround this person with support, care and love during a very difficult time and provide a home within one of their houses. Staff dropped their personal commitments to make themselves available to cover shifts and were incredibly heartened that after just a few weeks, the bereaved person, arrived back at their house and confirmed “I’m home”.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 13

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Funding & Fundraising
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With no professional fundraisers involved, SoLO is guided by the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 and CC20 Charity Fundraising: a guide to trustee duties. No complaints have been received in this reporting period and no direct marketing takes place. A fundraising log is kept, and funding bids are managed and monitored for spend so that reports can be made to funders.

Direct fundraising efforts, understandably, have been more difficult to achieve during this period of economic uncertainty but SoLO have continued to be supported by various organisations and individuals throughout the year.

It was a great honour to be named Charity of the Year by Solihull Chamber of Commerce and leading to many events fundraising for SoLO. This has created a start to the pot of funding required for updating Walnut Close ground floor facilities to achieve better accessibility for personal care needs of SoLO’s Service Users.

SoLO also benefited from fundraising events such as;

Donations of edible gifts are always welcome and those received in the form of Easter eggs and selection boxes from National Grid and Tesco’s along with gift hampers from Next which were handed to SoLO’s children, young people and adults throughout our services.

A total of £12,300 was received from individual donors to help SoLO empower people to lead independent lives.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 14

Activities

The organisation is constituted under its Memorandum & Articles of Association, amended in 2014. SoLO’s Board of Trustees has ultimate responsibility for the governance and strategic direction of the charity and to ensure that the provision offered by SoLO benefits the public, with learning and other associated disabilities, who receive those services.

It aims to ensure that SoLO adheres to its objectives and values and is compliant ~~as~~ required by statutory regulatory bodies. To achieve this, the Board receives and reviews the Financial Accounts, Risk Register and Quality Assurance.

At its monthly Board meeting, it is updated on all areas of SoLO’s operation through report mechanism and the CEO is responsible for sharing areas of concern with the Board from incidents or complaints, highlighting areas of good practice through compliments. The Board is not risk averse in its approach to considering new opportunities to support its members. It considers the risks carefully and requires risks to be managed appropriately. SoLO’s trustees are all volunteers.

Trustees

SoLO’s Memorandum & Articles allow for up to 12 trustees and the aim is to ensure a diversity of skills, experience and people, using an audit tool to achieve this balance. New trustees are elected on to the Board by existing Trustees.

The current Board skills include finance, health, care, carer experience, strategic management, risk management and IT. The Trustee Board uses its networks to bring in pro-bono support. The CEO is responsible for operational delivery of the Board’s strategic objectives.

The CEO meets with the Chair regularly as required and key staff attend Board meetings as required to contribute and report specifically on their areas of work. To ensure delivery and compliance to the Board’s duties and regulatory requirements a workplan is in place and operational work is reviewed and audited.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 15

Induction and Training

Trustees take part in the SoLO induction process and join appropriate SoLO training. They are equipped with information about their role and responsibilities and encouraged to visit projects to meet with staff and members to see at firsthand SoLO’s operational delivery.

Remuneration

The Board is responsible for reviewing remuneration for all staff on an annual basis. A review matrix is used to scan the environment, benchmarking salaries against the market and financial position of the organisation.

Public Benefit

In developing and undertaking the charity’s activities, Trustees have due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission regarding public benefit.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 16

Going Concern

Due to the global pandemic of the Coronavirus disease COVID-19, the British Government imposed a nationwide lockdown from 23 March 2020 to help slow the spread of the virus. As a result, economic uncertainties arose throughout the British economy and beyond. Having reviewed the financial forecast through to September 2024, the Board is satisfied that the charity can continue to provide its services during these ongoing challenging times.

Net Income

In line with the reduced income and regular reviewing of expenditure, this has resulted in an operational surplus of £14,705.

Incoming Resources

Income from Fundraising events has fallen by 41%

Incoming resources from charitable activities include income from local authority grants and service level agreements. Income also includes payments made by members in respect of certain services, these payments being funded from individual personal budgets.

Resources Expended

Charitable activities cost of £2,126,986 relate principally to the cost of running our 34 activities and increased provision of Supported Living for the benefit of our members. They also included the depreciation, rent and other costs associated with our buildings.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 17

Assets

The netbook value of fixed assets has increased by £6,137 due to investment in new heating and lighting systems.

Fund and Reserves

Restricted funds consist of income received which can be used only for the purposes stated by the donor. At year-end, the balances on restricted funds amounted to £19,692 all of which relate to expenditure on fixed assets and equals the net book value of these assets.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds which Trustees have set aside for particular purposes. At year end, the balances on these funds were £NIL which relate to expenditure on fixed assets financed by reserves. The balance equals the net book value of these assets.

General funds or reserves amount to £614,220 . Trustees reviewed the reserves policy during the year and hold reserves to fund:

Trustee policy is to aim to hold liquid reserves equivalent to between 4 and 6 months of future costs, excluding depreciation. This would be in the region of £400K to £600K. Currently, the actual figure is £357,432 and work is continuing to build the reserves. As part of the strategic development of the charity, the reserves policy is revisited annually.

Investment Policy

The prime objective of Trustees is to safeguard the value of the charity’s assets and a secondary objective is to earn best interest on cash deposits. All material funds of the charity, except for reserves, are expendable within twelve months of receipt. The policy for investment is to retain funds as cash and place them on deposit, with a number of financial institutions, on notice terms of up to 120 days.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 18

Risks

Trustees have identified, through the risk management process, the following key risks and have identified corresponding mitigating actions to address. These and other risks are reviewed quarterly, and mitigating actions considered to determine proportionality and effectiveness.

Risks are monitored regularly, and new risks added when they arise. The corporate risk register is the vehicle used to ensure risks are managed and trustees assured.

Risk Mitigating actions
We may not be able to This remains a static risk as withdrawal of social
increase our reserves in care funding whilst not in budget will have an
the financial year which overall negative impact on the general reserves
will impact on the future position. Mitigating actions will include seeking
development of the new funding sources to increase sustainability.
organisation.
Recruitment difficulties Constant review of market and salary analysis,
for staffing throughout 2023-24 paying above minimum wage to support

Health and Social Care		 recruitment drive.
sector.
Minimum wage increase Budgets prepared with all viable options for
will impact on project staffing costs as well as increase of subscriptions to
costs and recruitment for counter this increase.
2023/24

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 19

Statement of Trustee Responsibilities

Trustees as Directors of Social Life Opportunities (SoLO) are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure o the company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, Trustees are required to:

Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Insofar as Trustees are aware:

There is no relevant information of which the Charity’s auditors are unaware and Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

In preparing this report, Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by Section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved and signed on behalf of the Trustees by: Jan Prior (Chair)

25 July 2023

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 20

Report of the Independent Auditors

to the members of Social Life Opportunities (SoLO) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Social Life Opportunities (SoLO) (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cashflows 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 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

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 Auditors responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable 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 charitable 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.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 21

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Trustees 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.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 22

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes 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 charitable 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.

Our 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 a Report of the Independent Auditors 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:

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 23

We assessed the susceptibility of the Charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls,

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 24

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

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 auditors' 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.

…………………….

Jeremy Kitson BA FCA Prime Corner Oak 1 Homer Road Solihull West Midlands B91 3QG

25 July 2023

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 25

Statement of Financial Activities for year ended 31 March 2023

Note
Income from:
Donations
2
Charitable Activities
3
Other Trading Activities
4
Investment
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Raising Funds
5
Charitable Activities
6
Total Expenditure
Net Income/(expenditure) and net movement of
funds
Reconciliation of Funds:
Total funds Brought Forward - at 1st April 2022
Total Funds Carried Forward - at 31st March 2023		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Total
Funds
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
12,300
12,300
20,696
2,100,731
12,783
2,113,514
1,989,276
22,864
-
22,864
19,963
794
-
794
2,409
2,136,689
12,783
2,149,472
2,032,344
7,781
-
7,781
5,865
2,101,274
25,712
2,126,986
1,995,155
2,109,055
25,712
2,134,767
2,001,020
27,634
(12,929)
14,705
31,324
586,586
32,621
619,207
587,883
614,220
19,692
633,912
619,207

All Income and expenditure derives from continuing activities

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 26

Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023

Registered Number 5025939 5025939
Note 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets 11 276,480 270,343
Current assets
Debtors 12 216,996 225,542
Cash at bank and on hand 13 282,481 323,305
Total Current Assets 499,477 548,847
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
14 (142,045) (199,983)
Net current assets 357,432 348,864
Net assets 633,912 619,207
Funds 15
Restricted funds 19,692 32,621
Unrestricted funds - Designated funds 1,623
Unrestricted funds - General funds 614,220 584,963
Total funds 633,912 619,207

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Jan Prior Chair

Jonathan Prior Treasurer

Date 25 July 2023

The notes on pages 29 to 38 form part of these financial statements

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 27

Statement of Cash Flow as at 31 March 2023

Statement of Cash Flows
Cash flow from operating activities
Net cash flow from operating activities
Cash flow from investing activities
Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets
Interest Received
Net Cash flow from investing activities
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 1st April 2022
Cash and cash equivalents at 31st March 2023
Cash and cash equivalents consists of:
Cash at bank and in hand
Short term deposits
Cash and cash equivalents at 31st March 2023		 2023
2022
£
£
(20,929)
(58,639)
(20,929)
(58,639)
(20,689)
-
794
2,409
(19,895)
2,409
(40,824)
(56,230)
323,305
379,535
282,481
323,305
132,396
172,026
150,085
151,279
282,481
323,305

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 28

Notes to the Financial Statements

1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1.1 Basis of Preparation of financial statements and general information

Social Life Opportunities is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated and is also a registered charity in England and Wales. The registered office is 38 Walnut Close, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, B37 7PU. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The registered office and details of the charity’s operations are included in the trustees’ report.

The charity constitutes a public benefit as defined by FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard application in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice. The functional currency of the charity is sterling and the figures have been rounded to the nearest pound sign.

1.2 Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the charitable objectives of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds which the Trustees have designated for a particular project or purpose. The policy for determining each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Restricted funds are funds subject to specific restrictions imposed by donors or funds which have been raised by the charity for specific purposes. The purpose and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.3 Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and that amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received. The following policies are applied to specific categories of income.

(a) Voluntary income received by way of donations is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable

(c) Incoming resources from grants and contracts which are related to performance and specific deliverables are included in the Statement of Financial

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 29

Activities as the charity earns the right to the income by its performance. Grant income received during the year that relates to a subsequent financial period is carried forward as a creditor in the balance sheet and shown as deferred grant income

(d) Donated services or equipment are included in the Statement of Financial Activities at their fair value where the economic benefit is probable, it can be measured reliably, and the charity has control over the item. Fair value is the price the charity estimates it would pay in the open market for such services or equipment. The equivalent amount is recognised as expenditure in the Statement of Financial Activities or is capitalised as a fixed asset

(e) The value of services provided by volunteers, including trustees, has not been included in line with the SORP (FRS102)

1.4 Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual’s basis. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Charitable expenditure comprises these costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs which can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature required to support them. Support costs include office costs, governance costs and administrative payroll costs. Supports costs have been allocated to activities in the ratio of direct salaries.

1.5 Pension Contributions

The charity operates a defined contribution pension’s scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independent administered fund. Contributions are expensed as they become payable.

1.6 Fixed assets and depreciation

Asset additions costing less than £1,000 are not capitalised.

Tangible fixed assets are held at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated:

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 30

1.7 Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

1.8 Concessionary loans

Concessionary loans include receivables / payable to a third party which are interest free or below the market interest rates and are made to advance charitable purposes. The loan is measured at a cost less impairment.

1.9 Operating leases

Payments under operating leases are charged to the statement of financial activities on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

1.10 Going Concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist.

The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements.

The budgeted income and expenditure are sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

This consideration has taken into accounts the continued expected impact of Covid- 19 on the Charity, as far as it can be determined, and the Trustees remain satisfied that the going concern principle remains appropriate.

1.11 Judgement and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The following judgements have been made in the process of applying the above accounting policies that have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.

Donations in kind – a judgement has been made as to the fair value of donations in kind, based on an understanding of the local market for these items/s.

Depreciation rates – a judgement has been made as to the estimated useful life of assets and, therefore, the rate of depreciation. The estimate is made based on best practice and knowledge of the usage of such assets in the charity.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 31

There are no key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing material adjustments to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the new financial year.

1.12 Financial Instruments

The Charity holds only basic Financial Instruments. The financial assets and financial liabilities of the Charity are as follows:

Debtors – trade and other debtors are basic financial instruments and are debt instruments measured at amortised cost as detailed in Note 12. Prepaid expenses are not financial instruments.

Liabilities – concessionary loans, trade creditors, accruals and other creditors will be classified as financial instruments and are measured at amortised cost as detailed in Note 14.

Taxation and social security are not included in the financial instruments’ disclosure.

Deferred income is not deemed to be a financial liability, as in the cash settlement has already taken place and there is simply an obligation to deliver charitable s rather than cash or another financial instrument.

1.13 Government Grants Accounts policy

Grants are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on a receivable basis.

The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance Sheet.

Where income is received in advance of meeting any performance related conditions there is not unconditional entitlement to the income and its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income until the performance- related conditions are met. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 32

2. Donations and Legacies

3. Income from Charitable Activities

Grants and service level agreements
Solihull MBC Children's Services
Solihull MBC Infection Control and Workforce retention
Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group
Children In Need
Eveson Trust
Bailey Thomas
JRS Grant
Knowle and Dorridge Lions
Total grants and service level agreements
Service User Income
Total Income from Charitable Activities		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
Total
Funds
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
303,757
-
303,757
266,490
28,848
10,450
39,298
84,051
15,000
-
15,000
15,000
-
-
-
41,873
10,000
-
10,000
-
2,333
2,333
-
-
-
-
19,821
2,000
-
2,000
-
359,605
12,783
372,388
427,235
1,741,126
-
1,741,126
1,562,041
2,100,731
12,783
2,113,514
1,989,276
Income related to restricted charitable activities£12,783(2022: £61,694) and income relating to unrestricted charitable
activities£2,100,731(2022: £1,927,582).

4. Other Trading Activities – Unrestricted

During the year The Charity received funds from Fundraising Events £3,331 (2022: £1,982) as well as funds generated from Letting of Premises £11,589 (2022: £14,075) and refunds/compensation in the year for £7,944 (2022: £3,906)

5 Cost of raising funds - Unrestricted
Salary Costs
Other Direct Costs
Support Costs (note 7)		 2023
2022
£
£
5,628
4,486
474
17
1,679
1,362
7,781
5,865

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 33

6 Cost of charitable activities
Salaries
Sessional Staff
Premises
Member Activities
Transport of Members
Volunteer Expenses
Bad Debt
Depreciation
Support Costs (note 7)		 Adult's
Services
Children's
Services
Independent
Living
Total
Total
2023
2023
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
125,445

87,073

56,112

268,630

237,540

604,716

90,509

517,582

1,212,807
1,162,162
33,391

15,785

64,287
113,463
117,845

38,874

8,633
8,286
55,793
46,900

774
606
3,715
5,095
3,858

10
25
-
35
108
12,615
5,195
2,756

20,566

2,756

5,348

3,238
-
8,586

11,895

217,856
52,984

171,171

442,011
412,091
1,039,029
264,048

823,909
2,126,986
1,995,155

Cost of restricted charitable activities £ 25,712 (2022: £77,850) and cost of unrestricted charitable activities £ 2,101,274 (2022: £1,917,305).


£2,101,274(2022: £1,917,305).
7 Support Costs
Salaries
Premises Costs
Insurance
Staff Costs
Communication Costs
Computer Costs
Publicity Costs
Depreciation
Training Costs
Auditor's remuneration - Governance Cost
Other Office Costs
Cost of generating funds
Cost of generating funds (note 5)
Cost of charitable activities - Adults (note 6)
- Children's (note 6)
- Independent Living (note 6)
Support costs have been allocated to activities in the
ratio of direct salaries as follows		 2023
2022
£
£
236,289
206,884
69,299
51,315
6,156

8,942

12,418

31,680
14,722
10,260
41,138

32,539

16,265

9,500
5,967
12,380
10,659
16,700
9,126

10,174

19,972

21,717

1,679
1,362
443,690
413,453
2023
2022
1,679
1,362
217,856
180,116
52,984
50,494

171,171
181,481
443,690
413,453

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 34

8 Net expenditure
This is stated after charging
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets (note 11)
Auditor's remuneration
Operating Lease Cost
9 Staff Costs
Staff costs were
Salaries
Social security costs
Pension		 2023
2022
£
£
14,552
24,275
9,126

10,174
33,632
33,632
2023
2022
£
£
1,590,710
1,513,500

110,037

97,573
24,286
22,383
1,725,033
1,633,456

The charity employed on average 146 staff (2022:189) of whom 65 (2022: 87) were employed on a sessional part time basis.

The charity operates the auto enrolment pension scheme and makes the minimum contribution of 3 % (2022: 3%) to this scheme, there are 98 employees (2022: 63) within the scheme.

No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.

The pensions costs charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund and amounted to £ 24,286 (2022: £ 22,383) Contributions totalling £ 12,071 (2022: £11,509) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date and are included in creditors.

10 Trustee and Key Management personnel remuneration and expense

No trustee received any remuneration during either year.

During the year no trustees were reimbursed for out of pocket expenses. (2022: 1 Trustee £233).

Related Trustee Party Transactions include: 1 trustee son received support through the choir project a voluntary project with no member contribution required.

The Charity purchased trustee indemnity insurance at a cost of £ 996 (2022: £996) included in governance costs.

The total amount of employee benefits paid to Key management personnel were £ 91,324 (2022: £107,816) for the year. Key management personnel are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing, and controlling the activities of the entity, directly or indirectly, including any directors (whether executive or otherwise) of the entity.

Related Employee Party Transactions include : Alison Kaufmann Head of Operations, Sibling Gross Salary £ 20,302 for working as a Support Worker (2022: £11,042)

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 35

11 Tangible Fixed Assets
IT
Equipment
Freehold
Property
Leasehold
Improvements
Cost
£
£
£
At 1st April 2022
68,006
335,604
99,085
Capital expenditure for the year
1,160
-
-
At 31st March 2023
69,166
335,604
99,085
Depreciation
At 1st April 2022
62,135
72,705
99,085
Charge for the year
5,967
6,021
-
At 31st March 2023
68,102
78,726
99,085
Net Book Value
At 31st March 2023
1,064
256,878
-		 11 Tangible Fixed Assets
IT
Equipment
Freehold
Property
Leasehold
Improvements
Cost
£
£
£
At 1st April 2022
68,006
335,604
99,085
Capital expenditure for the year
1,160
-
-
At 31st March 2023
69,166
335,604
99,085
Depreciation
At 1st April 2022
62,135
72,705
99,085
Charge for the year
5,967
6,021
-
At 31st March 2023
68,102
78,726
99,085
Net Book Value
At 31st March 2023
1,064
256,878
-		 Fixtures and
Fittings
Motor
Vehicle
Total
£
£
£
89,856
42,000
634,551
19,529
-
20,689
69,166
335,604
99,085		 109,385
42,000
655,240
62,135
72,705
99,085
5,967
6,021
-		 88,283
42,000
364,208
2,564
-
14,552
68,102
78,726
99,085		 90,847
42,000
378,760
1,064
256,878
-		 18,538
-
276,480
At 31st March 2022 5,871
262,899
-		 1,573
-
270,343

12 Debtors

Debtors
Trade Debtors
Prepaid expenses
Other Debtors
Cash at bank and on hand
Bank deposit accounts
Bank current accounts
Cash		 2023
2022
£
£
178,911
181,203
7,980
17,804
30,105
26,535
216,996
225,542
2023
2022
£
£
150,085
151,279
130,309
170,891
2,087
1,135
282,481
323,305

13 Cash at bank and on hand

14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Deferred income
Other creditors (charge card/pension)
Accruals
Total current liabilities		 2023
2022
£
£
23,298

24,920
26,274

40,454

10,933

33,670

17,810
14,930
63,730
86,009
142,045
199,983

During the prior year, a Time to Pay arrangement was reached with HMRC to pay PAYE and NI deductions totalling £ 129,905 over eighteen months. At 31st March 2023 the amount outstanding was £ NIL (2022:£9,647).


NI deductions totalling £129,905over eighteen months. At 31st M
outstanding was £NIL(2022:£9,647).
arch 2023 the amount
Deferred Income
Deferred Income as 1st April 2022
Amount released from previous year
Incoming resources deferred in the year
Deferred Income as 31st March 2023 -
which relates to grants which are for 23/24		 2023
2022
£
£
33,670
19,611
(33,670)
(15,423)
10,933
29,482
10,933
33,670

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 36

15 Statement of fund movements 1st April
2022		 Incoming
resources		 Resources
expended		 At 31st
March 2023
£ £ £ £
General Funds 584,963 2,136,689 2,107,432 614,220
Designated Funds
Restructuring - - - -
Fixed Assets 1,623 - 1,623 -
Total Unrestricted Funds 586,586 2,136,689 2,109,055 614,220
Restricted Funds
Fixed Assets* 32,621 -
 12,929 19,692
Workforce retention -
 10,450 10,450 -
Bailey Thomas Grant - 2,333 2,333 -
Total Restricted Funds 32,621 12,783 25,712 19,692
Total Funds 619,207 2,149,472 2,134,767 633,912
*The fixed asset fund represents the Net Book Value of assets purchased with restricted funds.
15a Prior Year Statement of fund movements- 2021/2022 1st April
2021		 Incoming
resources		 Resources
expended		 At 31st
March 2022
£ £ £ £
General Funds 529,364
 1,970,650 1,915,051 584,963
Designated Funds
Restructuring - - - -
Fixed Assets 9,742 - 8,119 1,623
Total Unrestricted Funds 539,106 1,970,650 1,923,170 586,586
Restricted Funds
Fixed Assets * 48,777 - 16,156 32,621
Children In Need - 41,873 41,873 -
Solihull CCG - Project B - 19,821 19,821 -
Total Restricted Funds 48,777 61,694 77,850 32,621
Total Funds 587,883 2,032,344 2,001,020 619,207
16 Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Total
Funds		 Total
Funds
2023 2023 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 256,788
 19,692
 276,480
 270,343
Net current assets 357,432 - 357,432 348,864
Net Assets 614,220 19,692 633,912 619,207
16a Prior Year Analysis of net assets Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
between funds 2021/2022 Funds Funds Funds Funds
2022 2022 2022 2021
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 237,722 32,621 270,343
 294,618
Net current assets 348,864 - 348,864 293,265
Net Assets 586,586 32,621 619,207 587,883

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 37

17 Commitments

Operating Lease Commitments
Total future minimum lease
payments under non-cancellable
operating leases are as follows:		 2023
2022
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
Office Equipment
Land and Buildings
In less than 1 year 3,696
3,696
33,940
27,100
Between 1 and 5 years
Over 5 Years
Total annual operating lease commitments		 2,772

6,468
135,760
342
-

-
-
-
6,468
10,164
169,700
27,442

In addition to the leases disclosed above, the charity has three leases for property, which expire between 2028 and 2030 , which provide supported living accommodation for service users. The service user occupants pay a rental to the charity. The terms of the lease provide that the monthly rent payable by the charity to the landlord is the rental received from the occupants less any sums payable for utilities, council tax and upkeep of the property or, in the event that this net income is negative, then £nil.

Capital Commitments

At the year end there were capital commitments contracted for of £ NIL (2022: £NIL).

Net income
Interest Receivable
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
Decrease/(Increase) in debtors
(Decrease) in creditors
Net cash flow from operating activities
18
Reconciliation of net (expenditure) / income to net cash flow from operating
activities		 2023
2022
£
£
14,705
31,324
(794)
(2,409)
14,552
24,275
8,546
(51,568)
(57,938)
(60,261)
(20,929)
(58,639)
Cash
HMRC Time to Pay arrangement falling due within 1 year
Total
19a Prior Year Analysis of changes in net debt 2021/2022
Cash
HMRC Time To Pay arrangement falling due within 1 year
Total		 At Start of
year
Cash Flows
Other non-
Cash
changes
At end of
year
£
£
£
£
323,305
(40,824)
-
282,481
(9,647)
9,647
-
-
313,658
(31,177)
-
282,481
At Start of
year
Cash Flows
Other non-
Cash
changes
At end of
year
£
£
£
£
379,535
(56,230)
-
323,305
(94,535)
84,888
-
(9,647)
285,000
28,658
-
313,658

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 38

Company Information

Trustees

Jan Prior - Chair Jonathan Prior – Treasurer Paul Beech Andrew Gilyead Henry Griffiths Rehana Begum

Company Secretary Chief Executive Officer

Lesley Beer Lesley Beer

Registered Office and Operational Address

Telephone Email

Website Bankers

38 Walnut Close Chelmsley Wood Birmingham B37 7PU 0121 779 3865 Info@sololifeopportunities.org www.sociallifeopportunities.org

Lloyds Bank Solihull B91 3AN Shawbrook Bank Essex CM13 3BE United Trust Bank Ltd London SW1 4TE Nationwide PO Box 3, 5-11 George’s Street, Douglas, Isle of Man

Auditor

Prime Accountants Group Corner Oak 1 Homer Road Solihull West Midlands B91 3QG

Social Life Opportunities (SoLO) is a Company Limited by Guarantee Number 05025939 and a Registered Charity Number 1102297

The governing documents of the organisation are the Memorandum and Articles of Association

Annual Report 2022-2023 I Page 39