OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← The National Appropriate Adult Network Limited

2024-03-31-accounts

COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NUMBER: 04680035 REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1104765

Annual Report

2023|24

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024

The National Appropriate Adult Network Ltd

==> picture [91 x 10] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [47 x 11] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [29 x 10] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [57 x 11] intentionally omitted <==

Accounts independently examined by Calcutt Matthews - Chartered Accountants

1

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Reference & Administrative Details

Company number 04680035 (England and Wales)
Charity number 1104765
Registered ofce 19 North Street, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8LF
President The Lord Patel of Bradford OBE
Patron Professor Gisli Gudjonsson CBE
Chair Penelope Gibbs
Treasurer Linda Chebib GCMA (from 20.11.23)
Kevin Wheeler (retred 20.11.23)
Other trustees Charles Rose (retred 18.10.23)
Chris Hilliard (from 19.07.23)
Donna Bufong
Jacq Whitelock (from 19.07.23)
Laura Hornby
Lynn Frusher (retred 18.10.23)
Matthew Haynes
Michelle Dixon
Sarah Connelly (from 19.10.23)
Sharrel Collman
Sandra Wheatley (from 19.10.23)
Suzanne Nash

2

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Reference & Administrative Details (continued)

Chief Executve Christopher Bath & Company Secretary Independent examiner Rosanna Turner ACA DChA Calcutt Matthews WBZ Ltd 19 North Street, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8LF Bankers Unity Trust Bank, 9 Brindley place, Birmingham, B1 2HB

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the Year Ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 2022).

3

Structure, Governance & Management

Governing document

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.

Trustee recruitment and appointment

The charity is governed by a Board consisting of up to thirteen trustees. Trustees are primarily elected at the AGM by, and from within, the full membership of the organisation. However, a maximum of six trustees can be co-opted by the Board to ensure a diverse mix of skills, experience and perspectives.

All trustee appointments are time-limited under the governing document. Individuals are appointed for a period of three years, after which they must retire but can stand for a further threeyear period.

The Board conducted an open recruitment for new coopted trustees. Jacq Whitelock and Chris Hilliard were appointed on 19[th] July 2023.

Organisatonal structure

NAAN is a registered charity governed by a trustee board. Major decisions on strategy, policy and expenditure are made by the board. Day to day decision-making is delegated to the chief executive.

Remuneraton policy

Remuneration policy is guided by the need to attract and retain high performing people, ensure financial sustainability, and fairness in the context of the market. The chief executive’s salary is reviewed by a special committee of the board and changes must be approved by the board. Staff salaries are determined by the chief executive in line with annual budgets approved by the board.

Risk management

The Board maintains a detailed risk register, which was reviewed during the year. The major risks to which the charity is exposed have been

considered, with particular focus on events that would seriously impede its operations. Steps to mitigate risks are summarised below.

NAAN’s treasurer is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Financial records are maintained on a secured cloud-based system. Monthly, accounts are reconciled, and cash flow and budget are monitored. Management accounts are reviewed by the Board quarterly. Payroll is calculated by an external company. NAAN has dual authorisation for all bank payments. NAAN is annually subjected to an Independent Examination by external accountants.

To preserve NAAN's reputation, the charity exercises great care to ensure that communications are factually accurate and in line with organisational policy.

Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined by the Board in writing and reviewed annually. Rules for the appointment and retirement of Board members are clearly defined in the governance document. New trustees sign a formal agreement covering conflicts of interest.

NAAN complies with data protection law and is registered with the ICO. Data is held within the secure cloud-based systems which are compliant with data protection legislation. Where required, physical copies of information are stored in secure storage units.

Appropriate insurance policies are in place and are reviewed annually.

The primary risks are: loss of income (inability to secure charitable grants; AA scheme consolidation reducing membership numbers; reliance on a key Home Office grant agreed annually); and the loss of staff members.

These risks are mitigated via our reserves policy, annual reviews of membership fees, seeking multi-year grants, and a strategic focus on generating earned income diversification where it is in line with our charitable objectives.

4

Objectives and activities

The charity has referred to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when reviewing aims and objectives in planning future activities. In particular, the board considers how planned activities contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

Charitable Objects

The charity aims to benefit the public by achieving the objectives as set out in its constitution. These are:

a) To promote the care of children and young people under 18 years and the care of people of any age who are mentally vulnerable as a result of mental ill health, learning disability,

neurodevelopmental disorder or any other reason and who are detained or otherwise questioned under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 by the provision of support and guidance for, and the promotion of best practice amongst appropriate adult services.

b) To promote or assist in the promotion of, the sound administration of the criminal justice system by the provision of support and guidance for, and the promotion of best practice amongst appropriate adult services.

Vision

Every child and vulnerable person detained or questioned as a suspect is treated fairly with respect for their physical and mental welfare, can exercise their legal rights and entitlements, and can participate effectively.

Mission

To maximise the effectiveness of appropriate adults as a safeguard for children and vulnerable people by strengthening local provision, informing the public, and contributing to a fairer system.

Strategic Objectves

  1. Strengthened local provision

  2. Informed children, vulnerable people, and supporters

  3. A fairer system

  4. Increased impact

Actvites

NAAN seeks to achieve its objectives through:

Professional Development

National Standards

Information, Advice & Guidance

Informing Policy

5

Membership on 31st March 2024

England (excluding London) ACS International Schools - new Anglia Care Trust Bedford Borough Council Bedfordshire and Luton EDT Bedfordshire YOS Berkshire Emergency Duty Service Birmingham Children’s Trust Blackpool AA Service Bristol YJS Cambridgeshire YOS Caring for Communities and People Central Bedfordshire Council CGL South Yorkshire AA Scheme Child Action Northwest Cloverleaf Advocacy Cornwall Council Coventry EDT Coventry YJS Crest Manor Ltd - new Dudley YJS East Sussex YJS Exceptional Support Services Limited - new Gateshead YJS Grimsby (North East Lincolnshire) YJS Hampshire Constabulary Headway - the brain injury association Hertfordshire YJS Leicestershire Police Leicestershire YOS Luton Borough Council Luton Youth Partnership Service Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind Milton Keynes YOT Nini Social Care North Lincolnshire YJP North Yorkshire County Council North Yorkshire YJS Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult Scheme Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire - new Onside Advocacy Open Road Appropriate Adult Service Oxfordshire YJS POhWER Advocacy Potton Kare Services Sandwell Children's Trust Sefton YOT Serenity Welfare Shropshire Council

Solihull YJS Somerset YJS Stoke-on-Trent YOS Surrey Appropriate Adult Volunteer Scheme The Psychological Progress Centre - new Warwickshire YJS West Berkshire Council, Mental Health Team West Berkshire YJST West London NHS Trust, Forensic Social Work West Sussex YOS AA Service Westminster AA Volunteer Service Wiltshire IYS Volunteer AA Scheme Wokingham Borough Council York YJS Young Lives Foundation

London

London Borough of Havering Social Care Academy London Borough of Wandsworth YOT Hammersmith & Fulham YOS Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead YOT Shah and Co Estates Ltd Southwark Appropriate Adult Service

Wales

Adferiad Recovery Blaenau Gwent & Caerphilly YOS Cardiff YJS Carmarthenshire YSS Ceredigion YJS Digartref Cyf Gwynedd & Mon YJS Neath Port Talbot YJS Newport YJS Vale of Glamorgan YJESS

Northern Ireland MindWise

UK wide

Appropriate Adults UK Headway, the brain injury association MacIntyre The Appropriate Adult Service Ltd The Children's Society

Other territories

Childline Gibraltar Isle of Man Government States of Guernsey Home Affairs - new

Local youth justice functions are variously referred to as Youth Offending Service (YOS), Youth Offending Team (YOT), Youth Justice Partnership (YJP), Youth Justice Support Team (YJST), Youth Justice and Early Support Service (YJESS), Youth Justice Service (YJS), Integrated Youth Service (IYS) and Youth Support Service (YSS)

6

Achievement and performance

Our strategic objectves

1. Strengthened local provision

We will strengthen local community organised schemes to deliver more effective, efficient, consistent and sustainable appropriate adult support for children and vulnerable people.

3. A fairer system

We will work with others to make the wider system of rights and safeguards work in a fairer way for children and vulnerable people.

2. Informed children, vulnerable people and supporters

We will empower children, vulnerable people, parents, family, friends and professionals to make well informed choices and increase the effectiveness of familial and other non-scheme appropriate adults.

4. Increased impact

We will make the charity more effective, efficient and sustainable.

7

Strategic objective 1: Strengthened local provision

We will strengthen local community organised schemes to deliver more effective, efficient, consistent and sustainable appropriate adult support for children and vulnerable people.

Membership network

The Board was pleased to accept membership applications from 6 organisations during 202324. On 31[st] March 2024, NAAN had 91 members.

Member support

During the year…

Events

In October 2023, 43 people attended our annual in-person professional development event. Speaker topics included: strip searches, police child remand, ADHD awareness, perceptions of vulnerability in police custody, and a policy update from the Home Office.

100% of event attendees reported improved knowledge after the event, and almost 8 out of 10 planned to do something different in their work as a direct result of attending.

Detective Constable Daley Jones and Danielle GleicherBates (neurodiversikey) present on ADHD awareness

“NAAN have always been incredibly supportive with any queries I have sent to them. They go above and beyond to get me the information I need and I thoroughly appreciate and respect their advice.”

“It’s brilliant. I cannot fathom how a team of three supports all of us. I don't think I have ever received a general response from NAAN. Every response is tailored and considered. You invest so much into us, and for that, thank you very much!”

NAAN chief executive Chris Bath in conversation about strip searches with chair Penelope Gibbs

“Brilliant day, interesting and accessible information.”

2023-24 member advice satisfaction survey respondents

“I thought the day was very informative and useful. The presenters were experienced and knowledgeable... Thank you for a great day!”

8

Events (contnued)

We also hosted online events for our members.

In November 2023, 263 people attended “An Introduction to Fitness for Interview”. Forensic physician Professor Margaret Stark, forensic psychologist Professor Gisli H. Gudjonsson, and forensic psychiatrist Dr Iain McKinnon, each spoke on the topic from their expert perspective.

91% of attendees reported increased knowledge after the event.

“Getting 3 different perspectives on the same topic was excellent as all are relevant and they demonstrated how it's not a black and white issue.”

E-learning

Work started on the development of our new online learning course for appropriate adults. In April 2023, we brought together a number of stakeholders including AAs, scheme leaders, and academics, to help us to develop the curriculum. Separate sessions were run with people with lived experience of police custody.

We have worked closely with Nifty Fox Creative to write content, and to produce illustrations, infographics and animations to bring the subject to life.

The completed e-learning will open for enrolment in Summer 2024.

“Very informative, engaging, and wellpresented.”

“Excellent content and left me wishing for more.”

Training and development

This year we delivered AA training to 265 people, across 18 organisations.

We also welcomed Alice Milman to the team as an Associate Trainer.

98% of learners said their knowledge or skills had improved following the training.

“Very interesting. Trainer was very knowledgeable. Loved the quizzes. Great mix of learning delivery styles.”

“Really great training. I was new to the AA training and felt it was very informative with the right balance of breaks and activities to make it interesting and keep my focus.”

“Fantastic, engaging training that I would recommend to others.”

An image from our new e-learning course

Qualifcatons

This year we welcomed two new training centres and enrolled 13 learners on one of our Ofqual accredited (Level 2) appropriate adult qualifications. Eight learners passed during the year.

9

Development and commissioning support

Over the year, we had 424 views of our webpage for AA scheme developers and commissioners.

In addition, we provided support and advice to 4 organisations commissioning authorities in the London, Thames Valley, Cleveland, and Warwickshire areas.

We continued our partnership with YPO, the local authority-owned purchasing body with whom we developed a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) commissioning platform for AA services. The DPS is designed to make it as efficient as possible for authorities to commission high quality AA provision. During the year, 11 contracts were awarded via the DPS (up from 7 last year).

We also worked with YPO and APACE (Association of Police and Crime Commissioner Chief Executives) to promote the commissioning platform to all PCC CEOs.

Natonal volunteering portal

We provided online information for prospective volunteers and kept our online interactive national map updated, allowing potential volunteers to identify local schemes.

During the year:

Objective 2: Informed children, vulnerable people and supporters

We will empower children, vulnerable people, parents, family, friends and professionals to make well informed choices and increase the effectiveness of familial and other non-scheme appropriate adults.

Informaton: children & vulnerable people

Recorded web page views were as follows:

Informaton: families & supporters

==> picture [217 x 46] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Being an appropriate adult video for family members. ? 2 £deae? ?
----- End of picture text -----

10

Objective 3: A Fairer System

We will work with others to make the wider system of rights and safeguards work in a fairer way for children and vulnerable people.

Improving the identfcaton of vulnerability

Evidencing the challenge and change

We continued to use the Freedom of Information Act to analyse police performance, securing data from 40 out of 43 forces on recorded need for AAs. In 2022/23, the national average continued to increase, rising to 8.7% of adult detentions and 4.8% of voluntary interviews nationally (up from 6.2% and 3.5% in 2018/19). However, research indicates that the true prevalence of mental disorders in custody is still significantly higher.

With pro-bono support from tech company UBDS Digital we created the Vulnerability Identfcaton Tracker visualisation to make our data accessible to police and public (gaining 1514 views during the year). BBC News ~~SSS~~ reported our fndings .

The IOPC identified mental health as a theme in custody-related deaths. The IOPC agreed to share their underlying data on deaths so that we can analyse whether the lack of AAs was a feature of the cases.

We wrote a chapter on AAs & PACE vulnerability for a forthcoming book, Police custody healthcare for nurses and paramedics (published by Wiley) with Dr Roxanna Dehaghani, expected to be the new practical manual for the profession.

We worked with colleagues in NHS England to support expansion of liaison and diversion assessments prior to voluntary interviews, including presenting at their conference.

Influencing policy and practice

We presented our custody research findings to force custody leads at the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) custody forum, to the Home Office Police Powers Team, in addition to other stakeholders.

We wrote an article for the British Society of Criminology Vulnerability Research Network and presented at two international academic conferences hosted by Birmingham and Canterbury universities.

We wrote an article highlighting the tracker and vulnerability videos for the Independent - Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) custody themed issue of Learning the Lessons publication, which is targeted at police professional standards departments.

In December we published a report on voluntary interviews, using our 2022/23 quantitative (FOI) and qualitative (focus group) data. This was downloaded 148 times before the end of the year on 31[st] March 2024.

11

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) asked us to help develop national guidance for police officers on voluntary interviews. We wrote three sections: vulnerability , appropriate adults , and children. Publication is expected in Summer 2024.

In line with the recommendation in our There to Help reports, the NPCC also agreed to consider a working group to develop an evidence-based national risk assessment tool – one which includes ‘PACE vulnerability’.

The Metropolitan Police Service invited us to join a working group to improve their custody risk assessment tool, resulting the creation of an automatic AA ‘pop-up’ and improved guidance for MPS custody officers and staff.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published updated legal guidance on Mental Health: Suspects and Defendants including a new section written by NAAN on vulnerable suspects, the AA role and implications when deciding whether to prosecute.

Creating and sharing practical resources

We completed our partnership project with Dr Roxanna Dehaghani (Cardiff University) to create PACE vulnerability training videos for police and healthcare staff, and made them available online. They were successfully piloted by South Yorkshire Police, who recommended their inclusion in both Custody Officer and Detective training. We confirmed use by Durham, Gwent, Kent, South Wales, and Surrey Police forces.

The videos were viewed 2,086 times during the year.

Addressing the lack of statutory responsibility for adults

We developed a policy briefing on the need for statutory provision for vulnerable adults and disseminated it amongst key stakeholders. We have also created a dedicated webpage to communicate the issue and solution.

Within policing, we presented on the need for statutory provision at the NPCC Custody Forum, and secured an agreement from the NPCC custody portfolio lead that he will support statutory provision in writing. We met with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) policy team to discuss how to approach the issue with PCCs. We presented at an APCC quarterly meeting chaired by the PCC for Merseyside (who commissions AAs and already supports our call). We also presented to the Association of PCC’s Chief Executives (APACE).

Within social care, we presented to the Association of Directors of Adult Asocial Services (ADASS) Criminal Justice Network.

Within central Government, we continued to regularly raise the issue with the Home Office. The Deputy Head of Home Office Police Powers Unit confirmed statutory provision is “on our radar” and “regularly discussed” and requested copies of our research linking poor vulnerability identification with limited AA supply. We asked the Home Office to release into public domain the results of their survey of PCCs regarding the Home Office’s voluntary AA provision agreement (which we know to be negative).

Within Parliament, we held meetings with Lord Bradley, Lord Patel, and Lord Carlise, and secured a meeting with Alex Norris (Shadow Policing Minister.

We began making links with other civil society organisations, such as Mind and Revolving Doors, to gather support for the required legislative change).

12

Increased confdence in AAs, founded on rigorous evidence.

Supporting and coordinating academic efforts to improve the evidence base

Appropriate adult PhD

In partnership with Cardiff University, we continued to co-supervise former AA scheme leader Chloe MacDonald as she progresses on the ESRC Doctoral Training Programme. During the year, Chloe completed an MSc in Social Science Research Methods as a prerequisite to the PhD. She presented the findings of her research to NAAN members, focusing on how perceptions of vulnerability determine the interventions made by police officers and appropriate adults. With the support of supervisors, Chloe has selected the effectiveness of AAs as the focus of her doctorate. This is an under-developed area of study, the results of which NAAN will use to drive change in the sector.

Supporting research

We continued to actively support research led by Dr Vicky Kemp, with Dr Miranda Bevan to understand the experiences of children in police custody. We agreed to remain a member of the steering group for phase 2, which will test new approaches, including halving the detention time limits for children.

Increasing accountability

AA provision in youth justice service inspection

We engaged with HM Inspectorate of Probation regarding the absence of AA provision for children within its inspection of youth justice services. They were clear about the formal process for framework changes and the need to prioritise ‘asks’. We

submitted to their consultation on the new framework for 2024 and encouraged our members to contribute to the development ‘roadshows’. We dealt with concerns about resources implications by working with our YJS members to develop a low-cost methodology, including specific questions for inspectors to ask. HMIP agreed in principle to include AA inspection from 2024. This would be the first time they have been inspected. An official decision is expected in August 2024.

Working with other professions

There were 2,626 views of our ‘information for related professions’ web pages.

We answered 35 requests for information and advice from a range of professionals, including police officers and legal representatives.

Boards and groups

NAAN continued to provide national representation for appropriate adult via a range of operational and policy coordination groups, including:

13

Maintaining and strengthening rights

Children’s rights

We continued to focus on minimising the use of police custody for children and raising their profile within youth justice.

In Parliament, as founder member of the APPG on Children in Police Custody, we gave verbal and written evidence; supported the young people’s verbal evidence session; and our trustee gave evidence as a practitioner.

We were consulted by the Ministry of Justice Youth Justice Policy Unit on a Youth Justice Charter for children, and recommendations from a 2019 HMCTS report, relating to the AA’s role in diversion from court.

We met the Youth Justice Board (YJB) chief executive and senior leadership team to discuss strengthening ties. We presented on the AA role to YJB regional oversight managers. We were asked to review YJB draft guidance on out-of-court outcomes, resulting in revisions highlighting the importance of AAs in ensuring fairness, and information flows between AAs and YJS.

Our chief executive was appointed to the board of the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ).

Remote legal advice

We monitored for any use of Covid-era remote legal representation for children and vulnerable suspects. We intervened at the national level when a NAAN member highlighted that lawyers were refusing to attend in person for children after 4.30pm due to travel times, resolving the issue. The Home Office was dissuaded from amending the PACE Codes to allow remote. However, the Ministry of Justice has plans to pilot remote legal advice and has indicated a desire to engage with us due to our concerns.

Police complaints

We advocated for increased accessibility to the complaints system for children and

vulnerable adults, and for those investigating the police to have greater awareness of AAs. The IOPC reviewed its operations manual and identified areas where guidance or prompts could be added as per our advice. The IOPC committed to implementing a ‘specified contact’ for complaints from children and vulnerable adults,.

Strip searches

Our strip search report (November 2022) led to NAAN being regularly consulted regarding policy and legal changes. The Children’s Commissioner wrote that the issues were “comprehensively summarised by the House of Commons Library and the National Appropriate Adult Network”.

We presented on strip searches at Alliance for Youth Justice Policing Symposium. We provided advice to a local authority child safeguarding review in relation to AAs and strip search. We continued to push the Home Office for a full review of the PACE Act and statutory Codes in relation to searching of people.

Via the PACE Strategy Board we made proposals including: counteracting recent case law that enables police to touch genitals as part of a strip search; suspects to have rights in relation to whether searches are recorded; mandatory separate recording of the removal of clothing for ‘welfare purposes’; and a clear requirement for an AA to be present for all strip searches (not just those exposing intimate body parts).

We worked closely with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) team working on strip searches, with a key result being that their first recommendation was for a substantial review, as ours had been.

The Home Office has submitted some initial advice to Ministers for reform of strip searches – however we continue to push for more fundamental reform focused on safeguarding.

14

Objective 4: Increased Impact

We will make the charity more effective, efficient and sustainable.

Trustee recruitment

The Board conducted open recruitment for two new trustees.

We received 24 expressions of interest, and 8 applicants were interviewed by a panel of trustees.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

After a process of reflection, the board signed off an equity, diversity, and inclusion and statement. This will be published early next year, and act as a guiding document to inform our strategy and activities in the future.

We were delighted to appoint Jacq Whitelock and Chris Hilliard to the board on 19[th] July 2023.

Jacq is an active volunteer appropriate adult in the London Borough of Southwark, and Operations Manager of England's largest social work charity, Frontline.

Chris is an independent elected Councillor in Cheshire East, an autistic person, and a former defendant who was attacked by a mounted police officer during student protests and wrongfully arrested. They went on to obtain a law degree and become an activist focused on improving the criminal justice system for people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people.

Above: New trustee Jacq Whitelock

Following the resignation of our treasurer Kevin Wheeler due to term limits, we were also delighted to appoint Linda Chebib to the board on 20[th] November 2023.

Above: New trustee Chris Hilliard

Linda is a GCMA qualified accountant and experienced finance professional. She has over 30 years’ experience in the Financial Services sector in a wide variety of roles, from statutory accounts production and finance manager to project lead and consultant.

We would like to thank Kevin for his hard work over the past few years.

Above: New treasurer Linda Chebib

15

Financial Review

Financial performance

The Statement of Financial Activities is shown on page 23.

The loss for the year was 36,340 (2023 surplus: £ 20,190). The net assets amounted to £178,980 (2023: £215,320).

Reserves policy

NAAN’s policy is to maintain sufficient level of designated reserves to enable normal operating activities to continue over a period of 6 to 9 months. This policy is a medium-term measure to mitigate the risks of the charity’s historical current reliance on a single grant funder that makes decisions on an annual basis, as well as risks associated with past difficulties in obtaining physical receipt of grant funding in a timely fashion.

Thus, for the sake of transparency guidelines from the ‘CC19: Charity Reserves –Building Resilience' have been adopted and a reserve of £110,000 designated. This equates to 5.6 months of expenditure at 2023/24 levels. This is a technical breach of our reserves policy caused by the oneoff expense of developing the e-learning course, resulting in a very short-term increase in our expenditure. The board expects to rapidly return to 6 months following the end of this investment.

This reserve would still allow NAAN the opportunity to secure alternative funding or, if necessary, to wind down its programme of support. The charity has a plan in place to diversify funding and increase staffing and will continue to review appropriate reserves levels annually to ensure funds are used effectively to support the charitable objectives.

General funds

The general fund enables the charity to respond quickly to opportunities and to support its longterm development. The board has decided to reduce the size of this fund. A rolling 3-year budget is in place, setting out how the general fund will be reduced responsibly and effectively, with a focus on the development of a national e- learning platform (see below).

Designated funds

The board re-designated £45,000 from the general fund to create a comprehensive, nationally standardised, training course for appropriate adults. £31,015 was invested in 2023/24, enabling the charity to work with a creative agency to ensure high-quality, engaging, interactive content for learners. A remaining payment will be paid to the agency in 2024-25 upon the completion of the build phase of the project.

Restricted funds

A major grant of £35,000 was received from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation in March 2023, part of a three-year grant totalling £105,000, and ending in 2024. This grant directly enabled us to create the new role of Operations Manager, and free up the Chief Executive to focus on our Fairer System objective. This was placed in a restricted fund.

16

Funding sources

Our deep and sincere thanks to the following for their support this year:

In pursuit of our strategy, we continue to work to increase and diversify the charity’s funding. This includes:

This approach will increase the charity’s sustainability and independence by reducing reliance on the Home Office.

Investment policy and performance

The Board has decided that at present, funds should continue to be retained in Banks and Building Societies. Any change in such banking arrangements should be agreed by the Board. As far as possible, funds will be retained in interest bearing accounts. Income from interest amounted to 1.3% of income.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 10.09.24 and signed on its behalf by:

............................................. Linda Chebib Treasurer

Processes have been put in place to clearly delineate between the work undertaken under the Home Office grant and other projects and activities. For example, any work undertaken to engage with Parliamentarians is conducted outside of that grant, in line with its terms.

The breakdown of funding in 2024 was:

Fundraising

The Charity did not engage external support for fundraising during the year. No complaints have been received in respect of the Charity's fundraising activities during the financial year.

17

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The National Appropriate Adult Network Limited ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Rosanna Turner ACA DChA

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Calcutt Matthews WBZ Ltd 19 North Street Ashford Kent TN24 8LF

Date: 14.08.2024

18

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

31.3.24 31.3.24 31.3.23
Unrestricted


Restricted


Total


Total
Notes £ £ £ £
INCOME FROM
Donations & legacies
2		 40 145,000 145,040 158,041
Charitable activities
3		 49,754 - 49,754 53,132
Investments
4		 2,542 - 2,542 1,176
Total income 52,336 145,000 197,336 212,349

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
5,6,7
Member Support 19,639 22,426 42,065 62,451
Policy & Standards 5,611 49,836 55,448 77,549
Professional Development 58,917 77,246 136,163 52,158
Total expenditure 84,167 149,509 233,676 192,159
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (31,831) (4,509) (36,340) 20,190
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 181,847 33,473 215,320 195,131
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED
FORWARD 150,016 28,964 178,980 215,320

19

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

BALANCE SHEET at 31 March 2024

BALANCE SHEETat 31 Ma
 rch 2024
Unrestricted Restricted 31.3.24
Total		 31.3.23
Total
funds
2,256		 funds
-		 funds
£
2,256		 funds
Notes
8		 £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 2,442
9 66,831
113,083		 -
28,921		 66,831
142,004
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 35,734
Cash at bank 196,025
Total current assets 179,914 28,921 208,835 231,758
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one
year		 10 (32,111) - (32,111) (18,880)
147,804 28,921 176,724
NET CURRENT ASSETS 212,878
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES 150,059 28,921 178,980 215,320
NET ASSETS 150,059 28,921 178,980 215,320
FUNDS 11 26,164
13,895
110,000		 -
-
-		 26,164
13,895
110,000
Unrestricted funds
General funds 71,846
E-learning Fund -
Reserves 110,000
Total unrestricted funds 150,059
-
-
-		 -
-
28,921
-		 150,059
-
28,921
-		 181,846
Restricted funds
Home Office -
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation 32,474
Allen Lane Foundation 1,000
Total restricted funds - 28,921 28,921 33,474
TOTAL FUNDS 150,059 28,921 178,980 215,320

20

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the Year Ended 31 March 2024. The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 10.09.2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

Linda Chebib Treasurer

21

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 2022)', and the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Support costs are those incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management carried out at Headquarters. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirement.

Going concern

The trustees and management have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern for at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements

They have concluded that, together with the reserves, there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, and therefore, the charity continues to adopt the going concern basis.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Fixtures and fittings - 25% on straight line basis Computer equipment - 25% - 50% on cost

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

22

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for restricted purposes. Designated funds are only used for a specific reason at the discretion of the trustees and reviewed annually. Further explanation of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Debtors

Debtors are amounts owed to the charity. They are measured on the basis of their recoverable amount.

Creditors

Creditors are amounts owed by the charity. They are measured at the amount that the charity expects to have to pay to settle the debt.

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES Unrestricted
£		 Unrestricted
£		 Restricted
£		 Restricted
£
31.3.24 31.3.23
Total Total
£ £
Home Office Police Powers Unit - 110,000 110,000 110,000
Eé Fibi Fdi - 35,000 35,000 3
sme ararn ounaton 42,000
Allen Lane Foundation - - - 3,000
Department for Education - - - 3,000
Donations 40 - 40 41
40 145,000 145,040 158,041

23

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

31.3.24
Total
£		 31.3.23
Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £
Income from
Training and training material 18,574 - 18,574 26,302
Membership subscriptions 24,342 - 24,342 21,167
Commissioning support 4,986 - 4,986 4,087
Qualification 1,808 - 1,808 1,530
Other income 44 - 44 46
49,754 - 49,754 53,132
4. INVESTMENT INCOME
31.3.24
Total
£		 31.3.23
Unrestricted Restricted Total
£
Deposit account interest 2,542 0 2,542 1,176

5. NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES

Net resources are stated after charging/(crediting):

31.3.24 31.3.23
£ £
Independent examiner’s fee 848 919
Depreciation - owned assets 1,169 1,590

24

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

6. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There was no trustee remuneration or other benefits provided for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023. No Trustee had any beneficial interest in any contract with the charity.

Trustees’ expenses

Trustees’ expenses
31.3.24 31.3.23
£ £
Trustees’ expenses 459 255

7. STAFF

The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year was as follows:

Staff
The cost of employing those staff were:
Salaries and wages
National insurance
Pensions		 31.3.24
3
31.3.24
£
150,875
12,055
12,070
175,000		 31.3.23
3
31.3.23
£
137,875
11,089
18,413
167,377

1 employee received total employee benefits (excluding employer national insurance and employer pension contributions) between £60,000 to £70,000 (2023: 0 employees above £60,000).

The total remuneration (including gross salary, pension and employer’s national insurance before reductions due to employer’s allowance) of key management personnel during the year was £79,133 (2023: £75,925) of which £12,055 was employer’s pension contributions (2023: 11,943).

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme, with an employer contribution of 8% of gross salary. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. Contributions payable to the pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. A salary sacrifice scheme is in operation, allowing staff to reduce their salary in exchange for increased employer pension contributions, with a net zero effect on the charity. Contributions payable by the charity amounted to £12,070 (2023: £18,413).

25

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Fixtures and
fittings
£
COST
At 1 April 2023
701
Additions
387
Disposals
-
At 31 March 2024
1,08
1
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2023
562
Charge for year
77
At 31 March 2024
639
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2024
449
At 31 March 2023
199
9. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Trade debtors
Prepayments
10. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Deferred income
Credit card
Accrued expenses		 Office
equipment
£
8,907
596
-
9,503
6,604
1,092
7,696
1,807
2,304
31.3.24
£
65,922
909
66,831
31.3.24
£
10,444
879
19,592
271
924
32,111		 Totals
£
9,608
983
-
10,591
7,166
1,169
8,335
2,256
2,442
31.3.23
£
34,882
852
39,734
31.3.23
£
2,103
4,000
11,623
154
1,000
18,880

26

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
General fund
E-learning fund
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Reserves
Restricted funds
Home Office
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Allen Lane Foundation
TOTAL FUNDS
Net movement in funds, included in the above
Unrestricted funds
General fund
E-learning fund
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Reserves
Restricted funds
Home Office
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Allen Lane Foundation
TOTAL FUNDS		 At 1.4.23
£
26,846
45,000
-
110,000
-
-
32,474
1,000
215,320
are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
52,336
-
-
-
110,000
35,000
-
197,336		 Net
movement
in funds
£
(682)
(31,015)
-
-
-
(3,553)
(1,000)
(36,340)
Resources
expended
£
53,017
31,015
-
-
110,000
38,553
1,000		 At 31.3.24
£
26,164
13,895
-
110,000
-
-
28,921
-
178,980
Movement
in funds
£
(682)
(31,015)
-
-
-
(3,553)
(1,000)
233,676 (36,340)

.

27

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)

The purposes of the funds are as follows:

Restricted

Home Office

To support and represent organisations providing appropriate adult services to children and vulnerable adults in police custody and voluntary interviews.

Allen Lane

For development and delivery of our appropriate adult training offer, with a focus on developing an e-learning platform. The fund supports staff time and technical costs.

Esmée Fairbairn

To build a just and inclusive criminal justice system that prevents miscarriages of justice, by transforming safeguards for vulnerable people detained or questioned by police (those most at risk of having their rights denied). While year one of a three-year grant agreement was unrestricted as part of the Foundation’s Covid-19 response, this year was restricted.

Designated

General fund: To enable the charity to respond quickly to opportunities and to support its long-term development. The board has decided to reduce the size of this fund (see below).

E-learning fund: To develop a national e-learning course to support local appropriate adult scheme leaders with the initial training of AAs.

Reserves

NAAN’s policy is to maintain sufficient level of designated reserves to enable normal operating activities to continue over a period of between 6 and 9 months. This policy is a medium-term measure to mitigate the risks of the charity’s historical current reliance on a single grant funder that makes decisions on an annual basis, as well as risks associated with past difficulties in obtaining physical receipt of grant funding in a timely fashion. Thus, for the sake of transparency guidelines from the ‘CC19: Charity Reserves –Building Resilience' have been adopted and a reserve of £110,000 designated. This equates to 5.6 months of expenditure at 2023/24 levels. This would allow NAAN the opportunity to secure alternative funding or, if necessary, to wind down its programme of support. The charity has a plan in place to diversify funding and increase staffing and will continue to review appropriate reserves levels annually to ensure funds are used effectively to support the charitable objectives.

28

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)

Comparatives for movement in funds

Comparatives for movement in funds
At 1.4.22
Net movement
in funds
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
56,880
(30,034)
E-learning Fund
-
45,000
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
26,250
(26,250)
Reserves
110,000
-
Restricted funds
Home Office
-
-
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
-
32,474
Allen Lane Foundation
2,000
(1,000)
TOTAL FUNDS
195,131
20,190
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
12,349
42,382
E-learning Fund
45,000
-
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
-
26,250
Reserves
-
-
Restricted funds
Home Office
110,000
110,000
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
42,000
9,526
Allen Lane Foundation
3,000
4,000
212,349
192,159
TOTAL FUNDS		 At 31.3.23
£
26,846
45,000
-
110,000
-
32,474
1,000
215,320
Movement in
funds
£
(30,034)
45,000
(26,250)
_
-
32,474
(1,000)
20,190

12. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (2023: none).

29

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations
Grants
Charitable activities
Membership subscriptions
Training and training material
Commissioning support
Qualification
Other income
Investment income
Deposit account interest
Total incoming resources		 31.3.24
£
40
145,000
145,040
24,343
18,574
4,986
1,808
44
49,754
2,542
197,336		 31.3.23
£
41
158,000
158,041
21,167
26,302
4,087
1,530
46
53,132
1,176
212,349

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements.

30

THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATE ADULT NETWORK LTD

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
Wages
Social security
Pensions
Travel and subsistence
Training, Events and Groups
Staff training
Support costs
Management
Administration
Fixtures and fittings
Computer equipment
Fundraising
Premises
Printing and stationery
Professional Fees
Recruitment
Travel and subsistence
Sundries
Finance
Bank charges
Information technology
Communications and IT
Governance costs
Trustees’ expenses
Professional fees
Independent examiners’ remuneration
Accountancy and legal fees
Total resources expended
Net income/(expenditure)		 31.3.24
£
145,875
17,055
12,070
1,611
7,899
90
184,600
400
77
-
-
1,601
47
5,462
214
-
1,978
9,779
171
37,784
459
-
848
35
1,342
233,676
(36,340)		 31.3.23
£
137,875
11,089
18,413
1,135
8,955
534
178,002
526
41
1,548
-
3,373
83
360
-
-
741
6,673
161
5,983
422
-
919
1,341
192,159
20,190

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements.

31