**Registered office:** Woodville Family Hub Shirley Road Cheetham Manchester M8 0NE **E** admin@homestartmcr.org.uk **W** www.homestartmanchester.com Please note that while the original annual return and financial figures were submitted on time, 26[th] November 2024, and were accurate, the accompanying accounts document contained errors. We have now uploaded a corrected version of the accounts to ensure the records are complete and accurate. Home-Start Manchester Manchester Annual Report and Accounts Year ending 31" March 2024 Registered Charity Number: l 105353 Company Registration Number: 05183477 HOME-START MANCHESTER INDEX PAGE NUMBER CONTENT 2-15 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 16 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT 17 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Is BALANCE SHE 19 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 20-30 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR MANAGEMENT PURPOSES ONLY 31 TFiADITIONAL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT HOME-START MANCHESTER The trustees present their annual directors, report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2024 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors, report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companie5 Art 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the 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 l January 20191. Objettives and activities The purposes of the charity as set out in the Memorandum and Article5 of Association are: To safeguard, protect and preserve the mental and physical health of children and their parents. To prevent cruelty to or maltreatment of children. To relieve sickness, poverty and need amongst children and their parents. To promote the education of the public in better standards of childcare. Our vision and what we do Home-start Manchester is a volunteer-led empowering, visionary family support service built on trusted relationships and rooted in the community. We believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life and our aim is to be able to support any family in Manchester with at least one child under 5 years old. Our values underpin everything we do as an organisation-the way we work as a staff/trustee/volunteer team, in partnership with children and families, and with our wider strategic, operational and funding partners- RESPECT We acknowledge and understand differences We listen and are respectful in words and actions We accept that mistakes happen and foster a learning culture HONEST We are open and honest in our communication We do not shy away from difficult conversations but do 50 With respect for others, viewpoints We take tTme to reflect before cornmunicating in a way that is clear and transparent We acknowledge differences and apply equity to the way we treat others We are fair in our decision making We empower. ensuring everyone has a voice that counts JliST INTEGRSTY We maintain confidentiality within the parameters of keeping each other safe We do what we say we'll do We respectfully challenge things that don't reflect our values work ag a *eam and supp.ort •ach ath•r We take interest in and celebrate our individual and group passions, strengths and achievements We contribute to making wherever Home-start services are being delivered an emotionally safe and supportive place HOME-START MANCHESTER Chair's Report At Home-5tart Manchester we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life. I'm delighted to be writing this report after my first full year leading the board of trustees. My gratitude goes to all trustees, staff, volunteers, funders and partners who have helped us to support as many families as po55ible in Manchester with at least one child under S years old. As we prepare to celebrate our 20th anniversary, we can reflect on an exciting journey of change through which we have transformed, grown, secured more income, employed more staff, recruited more volunteers, and achieved better outcomes for more families than ever before. Our success is built on foundations of good governance, strategy and quality services and I'm pleased to report a 31% increase in the number of families supported, with our support reaching 172 families and 432 dads. I hope I can count on your continuing support for our vital services in the coming year as we try to make our services available and accessible to as many families in Manchester as possible. Emile Chair of Trustees CEO report th I'm delighted to be writing this yearfs report in the much-anticipated run up to our 20 anniversary, which will have passed by the time this report is published. 20 years is such an incredible achievement for the organisation and everyone who has been involved, not only in sustaining a high quality and impactful service for Manchesterfs children and families, but in the growth and diversification of our offer in ensuring we work towards our vision- that every child in Manchester has the best possible start in life. We are over a year in to the implementation of our 3 year strategic plan and there are several highlights to share: Our overarching aim was to increase capacity to meet demand and to diversify our offer to meet the needs of all families in our communities. This year we have doubled our staff team and increased the number of families supported by 40%. Next year we plan to double the number of families we support and volunteers we recruit and train. Likewise, we have launched new projects supporting fathers in the peri-natal period, and teenage parents. We have also strengthen workforce understandlng and knowledge of supporting migrant families, neurodiverse parents and children, and LGBT+ families. We have been keen to raise and acknowledge the quality of our work and this has been recognised through our Investing in Volunteers award, Kings Award nomination and Spirit of Manchester Volunteer involving Organisation of the Year nomination. We have also sustained our Nation Living Wage accreditation, become a GM Good Employment charter support, soon to be member, and are working toward becoming a disability confident employer. HOME-START MANCHESTER We have invested more in our people, ensuring staff have access to high quality training, support and clinical superdision as appropriate. have time to reflect and access peer support, make full use of our flexible family friendly work policy, and have time together to socialise and relax. We also conducted a salary and benefits review. We are delighted to have retained all of our staff this year, recruited 6 new team members and have unanimous feedback from the team about how valued and supported they feel. Similarly, we launched a new volunteer recruitment and retention strategy and, as a result, have increased the number of volunteers recruited, and improved our retention rate by 50%! I could go on, but the absolute highlight for me this year has been the impact of our sUPPOrt for families and volunteers. The data and feedback in this report speaks for itself and l am grateful to staff, volunteers, trustees and partners for their contribution. As always, my gratitude and thanks goes to the children and families that allow us to come into your homes and lives, trust us and believe in us to help you, thank you I Shelley. CEO Service delivery This year we continued to provide our core activity which is for volunteers, supported by staff, to visit families with children under 5 at home. They provide emotional and practical support, and work towards goals agreed with the family. We also offer some support to families With children of primary school age, group support for families (face to face and virtual), family outings, direct home visiting Support from paid Family Support Workers, referrals and signposting to other services, and peer 5UPPOrt and development opportunities for volunteers. This year 172 Manchester families with 342 children received support from us, with an additional 526 families supported through Dad Matters outreach and our virtual group offer. We had 16 staff and 68 volunteers, including our Trustees. We carefully recruit our volunteers from the local community and require them to have parenting/caring experience and the commitment to support a family for up to a year. We have a robust selection process comprising an application, interview, references and Enhanced DBS. Volunteers must attend 3 days face to face training and complete 6 e-learning modules. Once carefully matched with a family volunteers are required to attend regular Supervision and on-going training (face to face and online). Following 6 months service we can provide employment/career progression support if requested. Our staff and volunteers provide home visiting and local community support for 2-3 hours each week. Support is focused on trust building and befriending, but may also include practical help with the children and home organi5ation, form filling and budgetin& role modelling and supporting early learning and play with the children, parenting support around routines and boundaries, nurturing the parent child relationship, help to get out of the home and to access groups and other services, access to financial and essential item support. Support is individually tailored and has a whole family focus. The only areas we cannot help with are looking after children in the absence of parents, housekeeping, transporting families in staff/volunteers' cars or intimate/health care of the children. HOME-START MANCHESTER In the last year we delivered a number of targeted projerts in partnership with fellow services/providers, which is further strengthen us and opened up new avenues for funding and delivery into the next financial year. Parent Infant Relationship Support/Family Hubs The Parent Infant Relationships Support (PAIRS) projett is a Citywide partnership project in Manchester between CAPS (Child and Parent Service}, Health Visiting and Home-start focusing support from conception to a child's 2nd birthday. The projett looks at attachment and brain development and how important a child's experiences during this critical period are, and how those experiences can have long lasting effects on their future mental health and relationships. All volunteers who will support a family where PAIRS support has specifically been requested have completed an additional training co-delivered with a Clinical Psychologist. In November we tripled our staff capacity, and subsequently our volunteer team, to support more families with PAIRS needs. We also launched a weekly virtual stay and play group for children aged 0-2 for families not able or ready to attend face to face groups. In addition and with the funding from Family Hubs MCC, we have been able to launch Dad Matter5 outreach and 121 support across the City, and also co-deliver Baby Bonding se55ions Wlth CAPS. Dad Matters provides Family Hubs locality-based support to fathers and in the peri-natal period, with a focus again on the parent infant relationship. In addition, the service provides outreach support at birth registrations and hospital appointments. Following consultation with local dads, the project is beginning to branch out and launch dad-only stay and play sessions and walk and talks. Dad Matters have also played an integral role in consulting services on inclusion of fathers in services, and we deliver workforce training as part of this offer. Thriving Babies." Confident Parents This project is about promoting the health, wellbeing and safeguarding of children through working differently with their parents during pregnancy and during the child's early years. It is a multi-agency approach, working pro-actively with parents to build on strengths. The project includes intensive assessment, support and intervention programme for at risk babies. An external evaluation of the project can be found here: htt whatworks-csc.or research-re ort thrivin -babies-confident- arents We are delighted that the project was awarded an iNetwork award for innovation, a significant number of babies have remained in the safe care of birth family and currently the return on investment is £1.78 for every £1 spent. Teenage parent support We launched our new project, supporting young families with babies under 18 months for whom baby was conceived when the parent/s were 19 years or under. The project works closely with specialist young parent midwives to identify and support families emotionally and practically, ensuring they are safe and engaged in services. HOME-START MANCHESTER To complement our home visiting support we ran family days and activities, and provided additional donations ot Christmas. We also provided home safety and safe sleeping equipment, slow cookers ond carbon monoxide alarms, books, ond clothes. Referrals We received a total of 231 referrals, a 75% increase on last year. Children's centre Other tharttv Women's Aid School Midwifery services Mums matter IAPTI Specialist perinatsl team CAPS Heahh Wisitor EaAy Help Other Mental Health Self- Referral social Worker/ Children's services Housing Other 111111 2.6% 9.6% 1.3% 24.6% 2.2% 5.3% 4.4% 20.6% 8.3% 4.4% 7.5% 0.4% 3.1% The needs of families and our impact Referrals were made to us requesting support with the following area5 of need. The evidence of our work with families continues to demonstrate that parents are better able to cope following Home-start intervention across all domains of family life. In addition to the impact within the home, our data shows that Home-start increase5 families, use of other services. This type of support encourage5 self-efficaoi and therefore long term stability for the family within their community. The table below demonstrates the % of families identifying needs at initial assessment and the % reporting an improvement... Outcome of needs at final visit as at 31st March 2023 % of famllies expressed a5 a need at initial assessment Improvement evidenced Parenting- parent child interaction and attachment, boundary setting and routine Supporting children's early learning, social, cognitive and language development Parents physical health and well-being Parents emotional health and well-being Isolation and support networks Parents confidence Children's physical health and well-being Children's emotional health and development Managing money Managing a safe and suitable home environment Managing healthy relationships Access and engagement with services and community SUPPOrt Parents, self-development towards employment 52.5% 81.4% 55.5% 85.1% 39.6% 67.3% 76.5Yo 84.5Yo 87.2Y. 83.3Yo 90.9¥0 87.2Yo 60.4% 26.7% 48.5Yo 40.6% 81.8Yo 81.8% 39.6% 33.7% 51.5% 28.7% 68.20 88.1Y. 52.9% HOME-START MANCHESTER 'My Home-start volunteer gave me my confidence bock. Knowing I had someone believe in me and be therefor myfamily every week when they weren't geth.ng poid was so powerful to me.. 'My volunteer was my ongel. Without her I don't think Yd still have my kid<. My children adore our volunteer. She like the moth.er I never had. We have so muchAun together and her visits brighten my week. I'm starting the volunteer troining myself soon so I can give to another family what she gave to us., Volunteers Each volunteer is interviewed, provides references and completes an Enhanced DBS before attending the Course of Preparation. An active volunteer can expect to receive on-going training, 6 weekly Supervision, regular contact with a designated Coordinator and, following 6 month's service, support with employment (references, job searching, application). For a number of volunteers working with Home-start is a step to returning to work or changing careers to work in childcare or family support. For others ivs a way of staying active and engaged after retirement. Last year we launched our new Course of Preparation e-learning format, which increases the amount of self-taught training, with a reduced 2 day face to face wrap around training delivered by our Coordinators. This has proven a great success so far and the benefits include recruitment of volunteers for whom a 6 week course didn't fit into their other commitments, and a quicker turn around. This year volunteers received additional training in Asylum and Immigration, Parent Infant Mental Health, Domestic Abuse, Substance mis-use, and Adverse Childhood Experiences, Oral Health, Safe Sleeping. We also continued to meet with volunteers for drops in, either face to face or via video. Impact Home-start's volunteering package has a significant impact on the well-being, confidence and employability of local parents. Volunteers tell us that completing the Course of Preparation alone positively affects their confidence, self- worth, knowledge and understanding. After 6 months active volunteering with a family this impact is even more significant. We recruited 2 previously supported families as volunteers thi5 year, and we are also proud to have members of our staff team who started their journey as volunteersl 7 Volunteers secured employment elsewhere. .1 am really happy to be home vlsiting. Irfs so differentfrom talklng to someone on the phone to visiting. It was wonderful, l absolutely loved it" Thanksfor the trainlng today. ft was great and Ifound it veryuseful and it gave me a boost.. HOME-START MANCHESTER 'I'd like to soy G massive thank you to all OA the Home-start Monthester teamfor making mefeel so very welcome and my volunteering journey so very enjoyable. Home Start has allowed me to give back, to my community, to use my knowledge and skills ond to help make parents & children s lives that bit easier and hopefully happier. Home-start Mcr s professionalism, tmining andmentoring has allowed me to transition to afull time career that I have olwoys been passionate about and I'm lookingfonvard to joining o Home- Start team as a fully-fledged employee to continue to make positive impacts on the many families I will support., The team that made it happen The Trustee Board have overseen the performance of the scheme over the year. and have responsibility for strategic development, sustainability and compliance. Volunteers are the backbone of the scheme and provide the majority of support to our families. When families require a little more support, especially when their situation and needs become more complex, Coordinators and Family Support Workers may step in to help. Staff Shelley Roberts CEO Clare Blomley- Service Manager Lara Aspin - PIMH lead and Senior Coordinator Alice McKellar- Administrator and Finance Officer Marina Donnellan- Family Support Coordinator Kate Shatliff - Family Support Coordinator Eleanor Hacking- Thriving Babies Family Support Coordinator Nicola Halford - Group Worker Alice Rogers -Teenage Parent Coordinator Rebecca Pass- Family Support Worker Matthew Gill - Dad Matters Coordinator Fiona Walsh - Community Engagement and Communications Officer Reen3 Downes - Family Support Worker Andrea Pasquier- Family Support Worker Rohima Ali- Family Support Coordinator Carla Orr- Family Support Coordinator HOME-START MANCHESTER Volunteers Afshan, Amna, Andrea G, Andrea O, Barbara, Carolyn M, Carolyn P, Cathy, Chisom, Edward, Ellie, Emma, Erika, Helen B, Helen S, Helena, Ingila, Juanitia, Jumana, Kate, Kayte, Kiran, Kirsti, Kirsty, Larayb, Leanne, Lisa, Maria, Nahid, Nicola M, Nicola H, Penny, Rugie, Saadia, Sania, Sara, Sean, Syma, Victoria, Zainab, Steve, Emile, Karin. Lorn3, Charlotte, Martin, Rebecca Trustee5 Emile, Karin, Charlotte, Alex, Lorna, Martin, Rebecca, Jo, Carly Financial Review Total income for the year was £488,656 (2023: £415,634). Of this amount £6,741 (2023.. £10,811) was from donations and legacies, and the balance of £481,915 (2023: £404,823) was income from charitable activities and investment income. Total expenditure for the year £506,456 {2023: £368,484) of which £9,334 (2023: £2,943) related to Fundraising activities and £497,122 (2023.. 365,541) related to Charitable Activities. The resulting deficit for the year is £17.800 (2023 surplus: £47,150). The charity is extremely grateful to the many funders who provide funding for service delivery. Without this financial support many families would have suffered even more during another extremely difficult year for everyone. Investment powers and policy The trustees, having regard to the liquidity requirements of operating the charity, have kept available funds in interest bearing deposit accounts. Reserves policy and going concern The balance held in unrestricted reserves at 31st March 2024 was £23,410 of which all are free reserves, after allowing for funds tied up in tangible fixed assets. The trustees aim to maintain ring-fenced resenies at a minimum of 4 months and a maximum of 9 months of unrestricted charitable expenditure, and to cover liabilities including potential maternity leave, redundancy costs and l.T equipment leases. The Charity's main source of income is contracts, grants and donations. The Trustees consider that it is appropriate to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis and, consequently, the accounts do not include any adjustments that would be necessary if these sources of income should cease. Risk management The trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks. Plans for Future Perlods Please refer to Home-start Manchesterfs 3 year Strategic Plan for details of our future plans. io HOME-START MANCHESTER Structurei governance and management Home-start Manchester is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 19th July 2004. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission and is constituted under a trust deed dated 5th August 2004. Formerly known as Home-start Manchester South it merged with Home-start Manchester North on 1st January 2018. Appointment of trustees New trustees complete an online application form and are inteniiewed by the Chair and CEO. Trustee induction and training All trustees have completed induction which includes Safeguarding Training, undertaken a DBS check (which is renewed every three years as a minimum) and provided 2 satisfactory references. They are also invited to all volunteer training and encouraged to attend meetings and activities of the service to familiarise themselves with the work of the charity and the context in which it operates. Organisation At the end of the financial year there were 6 active Trustees including a Chair and Treasurer. The Committee are responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation and policies and procedures, however, a scheme of delegation is in place and the day to day responsibilities for the provision of services rests with the CEO. The Board of Trustees operates 4 sub