## 1. **Annual Report April 2020 – March 2021** »
**www.speakeasynow.org.uk** Charity number 1106914
## **A year of overcoming challenges**
**“Making Voices Even Stronger”**
## **Introduction**
During these unprecedented times it has been an absolute delight to be a Trustee for an organisation that has not only adapted to working remotely but has continued to thrive.
By being both collaborative and straightforward Speakeasy has ensured that those of us, in the community, who have trouble at the best of times in communicating, have been able to feel supported, signposted and listened to.
_Jacqui_ **Board of Trustees, Co-chair**
It was a difficult year last year because of Covid-19.
My mum had to move into nursing care and I had to find a flat to live on my own. This was all held up because of Covid-19.
It`s been an anxious time for everyone.
Some of our members have felt scared to go out and lonely when it was the lockdown. But we have still carried on working at Speakeasy in a different way.
We`ve had chat groups and done quizzes on FaceTime and our “Cookalong” group have continued to meet up and cook together, that’s been fun. We have had some laughs and felt less alone through doing this. Zoom has been more difficult for some but a new experience for others.
_Ray_ **Board of Trustees, Co-chair**
I would like to thank everyone at Speakeasy N.O.W for pulling together and yet still achieving so much, for people with learning disabilities, during this last year.
In adapting the way, we work, it`s made us focus more on what`s important to our members as well as in our own lives within our own communities.
The icing on the cake has been our successful application for Community Lottery funding which will allow us to grow and develop our services to be more sustainable over the next 4 years.
_Sandra_ **Chief Officer**
## **A year of overcoming challenges**
It’s been a challenging year for everyone. When Covid-19 hit and we went into lockdown, Speakeasy N.O.W. were all set up to continue their work remotely.
We changed the way we worked with our Expert Members, colleagues and other organisations. We supported people in lots of ways and ensured that we shared accessible easy read information, to keep people up-to-date with the latest guidelines.
Our meetings continued using Zoom and other methods of communication to reach out.
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1800
1600
1400 Bromsgrove
Droitwich
1200
Evesham
1000
Malvern
800 Other
Redditch
600
Worcester
400
Wyre Forest
200
County Wide
0
Speakeasy Number of Contacts made in Worcestershire April 20 - March 21
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Speakeasy N.O.W. staff made over **4,200 contacts** with our members and other stakeholders in Worcestershire during the lockdown between April 2020 and March 2021.
We also sent out over **1,650 messages** with helpful information updates to large groups of people across the county to keep everyone informed of the latest news and how to stay safe.
People contacted us about their worries and concerns, these included things like:
**Information Isolation Mental Physical Sharing and Health Health loneliness (9%) (45%) (14%) (24%)**
**Other Reasons (5%)** things like preparing for meetings, support and general reassurance.
## **Our Expert Members**
Speakeasy N.O.W. is a user led organisation – people with real life experience speaking up for themselves and others.
Expert Members have worked diversely using new technology and found new ways of sharing information.
**Our chat groups became a fun and informative way of sharing information and keeping everyone’s spirits up**
Our Expert Members have continued to work with Worcestershire County Council’s Learning Disability Partnership Board (LDPB). This means that issues that affect them can be raised at local government level.
Our Expert Members sit on the Board with other professionals.
## **Our Expert Members also got involved in:**
- Successfully challenging the Government on its vaccine programme priorities
- Raising issues about the quality of care with the Learning Disability Partnership Board
- Presenting to the Provider Forum on quality of care issues
- Promoting information sharing on Covid-19 guidance and advice
- Worked closely with Worcestershire People’s Parliament on issues arising from Covid-19
## **Transforming Care Partnership (TCPs)**
TCPs are made up of Clinical Commissioning Groups, NHS England’s . specialised commissioners and local authorities
Transforming Care is all about improving health and care services so that more people with a learning disability and/or autistic people can live in the community, with the right support, and close to home. This means that fewer people will need to go into hospital for their care.
Rachel is our Lead Expert by Experience for our work with the TCP. Rachel sits on the panel at Care and Treatment Reviews (CTRs) to inform and advise. Rachel will review and discuss, with other professional panel members, the care and treatment plans for patients who are in locked NHS facilities.
During lockdown, these meetings took place via Microsoft Teams.
Health Checkers continued their meetings using Zoom.
The group also attended 7 Health Webinars, and 3 Health Watch Zoom Events.
Health Checkers also get involved with **LeDeR (Learning Disability Mortality (death) Review programme)**
They also they attended 3 LeDeR Priority Action Groups.
**Research shows that people with a learning disability die earlier than the general public and do not receive the same quality of care as people without a learning disability.**
## **Health Checkers have also completed questionnaires about:**
Covid-19 GP Services Annual Health Checks Reasonable Adjustments Digital Access
**Health Checkers chat group meeting – using Zoom**
As with our other groups, we couldn’t hold our usual face to face meetings.
We held Zoom meetings every 2 weeks and extra meetings leading up to the debate.
> This year our theme was **‘The Coronavirus Experience for People with Learning Disabilities, in Worcestershire’**
We published this report in January 2021. It was launched in February 2021, 49 people attended on Zoom.
We held an online debate on 4[th] March 2021 and 51 people attended.
**Here are a couple of the 17 pledges that we received:**
- Worcestershire County Council Commissioners pledged to develop a communication strategy for people with learning disabilities that would underpin the Learning Disability Strategy which is currently being revised. They will also include promoting and developing opportunities for community engagement.
- Speakeasy N.O.W. to provide Learning Disability Awareness Training to a Housing Association and the Lifestyle Service Providers
- Learning Disability Social Care Teams pledged to ensure communication needs, including support to access technology, was included in support planning
**Worcestershire**
**People’s Parliament Workshop discussing the effects of Covid-19**
## **Some of the things that our Expert Members did, during lockdown**
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We supported the
NHS with our rainbow
artwork
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**In June 2020, during Learning Disability Week, our Expert Members talked about the importance of friendships**
Our **‘Online Cookalong’** became very popular and gave people some new recipe ideas - from sweet and sour dishes to mince pies!
Our talented members Ruby and Emma decided to get creative in a different way.
## **Our Countywide Self-Advocacy Groups**
During Covid-19 our group facilitators kept in touch, with group members, using different communication methods. This could be a telephone call or even a meet up using WhatsApp.
**On a sunny afternoon in July, our Comet SelfAdvocacy Group members were able to hold a socially distanced meet up.**
**The group meet in Malvern, Worcestershire.**
For more information about our countywide Self-Advocacy groups, email: **mail@speakeasynow.org.uk**
## **When people started to have the Covid-19 jab, a lot of people had worries and concerns.**
Below, is a photo of Anne having her Covid-19 jab, she had been quite anxious but she wanted to show other people how easy and quick it actually was.
Ray also showed us how important is was to use face masks when using public transport.
## **SpeakUp and Connect – our new project**
Towards the end of the financial year, we received the good news that the Community Lottery would fund our new project **‘SpeakUp and Connect’.**
The 4-year funding will help us to continue with and expand our valuable work, across Worcestershire.
The funding will allow further development of our countywide selfadvocacy groups and also expand our engagement with other organisations, to include working with our local communities.
We will also continue to work with organisations that realise the benefits of making information accessible to all, by expanding our existing **Easy Read and Learning Disability Awareness Training Team.**
Information ==»
Contact us, for more information about our Learning Disability/Autism Awareness Training and Easy Read Services. We have years of experience in making your information accessible to all.
Our training is delivered by people with real life experience. We tailor . training to your needs and also provide **e-learning options**
- Email: s.rice jones@speakeasynow.org.uk for more information about our Easy Read and Training Services.
## Follow us on **Facebook @speakeasynow22**
Email us: **mail@speakeasynow.org.uk**
**Our office address is:** Speakeasy N.O.W. St Richard’s House 22 Victoria Square Droitwich WR9 8DS Telephone: **01905 774247**
This Annual Report is created by Speakeasy N.O.W. Printed by
> Illustrated using photosymbols*
SPEAKEASY N.O.W.
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED: 31ST MARCH 2021
Registered Charity No. 1106914
SPEAKEASY N.O.W.
PAGE I
LF.CAL AND ADMtNtSTRATIVE INFORMA TION
Charity Name and INumber
Speakeasy N.O.W: Registered Charity No. 1106914
Trustees
R. Gallier
C. O'Neil
J. Desouza
R. Barrett
D. Hope
L. Hancock
- Co chair
Co chair
- rep from Management Committee
Prineipal Offi¢e
St. Richards l-Iou5e
22 Victoria square
DTOltwich
Independent Examiner
Ken Strange FCCA, 10 Ravenscroft Drive, Droitwich, WR9 7AP
(cont.)
SPEAKEASY N.O.W.
PAGE 3
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable
accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure thal the
financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for
safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking Teasonable steps for the prevention and
d¢tection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approvcd by thc trustecs and signed on thcir bchalf by:
yallier - C
hair
Desouza - Co chair
SPEAKEASY N.O.W.
PAGE 5
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH
2021
Notes
Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
Tot21
2021
Total
2020
Incoming resources
Grants
Investment income
3.930
147,022
150,952
150,694
(2)
3,930
l47,022
150,952
150,694
Resources expended
Charitable expenditure:
mageMent and administration (3)
527
107654
108 181
150 691)
Net incoming resources
3,403
39,368
42,771
Net movem¢nt in fund$
Balance at I" April 2020
Reallo¢ate
Balance at 31° March 2021
12,267
78,552
90,819
48,048
SPEAKEASY N.O.W.
PAGE 7
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021
Principal accounting polici
(i)
Aceounting eonvention
The financial ststements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in
accordance with FRS105 the Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable to Micro-entities.
Accounting and Reporting by Charities
Ststem¢nt of Recommended Practice (SORP
2005) and with Charities Act 2011.
(li)
Resources expended
Expenditure included on an accruals b&sis. Irrecoverable VAT is charg¢d to the financial
statements as incurred.
(iii) Grants and donations are only included in the financial ststements when the charity
h&8 unconditional entitlement to the resources.
(iv)
Investment income is includcd in the financial ststements when receivable.
{v}
All general assets costing more than £ 500 are capitslised. Depreciation on furniture
and equipment is charged on a straight line basis at 25 /0.
(vi) Fund Accountin%
Taxation
The Chariry is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion
of the Lrustees.
Restricted fimds can only be used for particular rcstricied Purposes Within the objects of the
charity. RestTlCtions arise when Specified by the donor or when funds are raised for
particular restricted puryyoses.
Further explanation of the nature of each fund is included in the notes to the financial
statements.
Investment income
2021
2020
Interest on cash deposits
SPEAKEASY N.O.W.
PAGE 9
NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FIIYANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021
Tangible fixed assets
Furniture and
equipment
Cost
At I" April 2020
At 31" March 2021
Depreciation
At 1° April 2020
Charge for the year
At 31" March 2021
5,545
865
41
Net book value
At 31, March 2021
578
At 31° March 2020
1,443
Debtors
2021
2020
Grant
Prepayment
115
677
792
555
805
1,360
Creditors.. Amounts falling due within one year
2021
2020
Dcfcrrcd income
Other creditors
12,500
631
13,131
21.440
820
22,260
SPEAKEASYN.O.W.
RESERVES ANALYSIS 2021
DETAIL
PROJECT
TOTAL
Restricted Rcserves
Health Checker
Community Voices
KIT During Covid
Experience CTR Hub
NFISE Exports
24
86
140
120
130
54,695
(3,203)
23.333
716
78.552
Unrestricted Reserves
Core Advocacy
Easy Read
Qualily Checker
Whcrc Next
Events
Peoples Parliament
80
23
90
81
100
iio
(14,348)
11,600
11,937
133
(280)
12,267
90,819