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2021-03-31-accounts

Company Number: 4854897 Registered Charity: 1107079

Limited

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2020-21

Registered Office: CiLK C/O R&B Star, Units 9 & 10, Nimbus Enterprise Park, Liphook Way, Allington, Maidstone, Kent ME16 0LQ

01233 633187

enquiries@cilk.org.uk www.cilk.org.uk

TRUSTEES / DIRECTORS 2020-21

Hannah Tutt Honorary Chairperson Andrew Robertson Deputy Chairperson Cathy Finnis Treasurer Sonia Mallion Secretary Christopher Wise

Vicci Chittenden Paul Burchett

The trustees are also directors of the charity for the purpose of the Companies Act CiLK is a Company Limited by Guarantee with no Shareholders

Staff

Sophie Fournel CEO (& Service Manager) Donna Francis Senior Information Officer Angie Berkley Information Officer Rebecca Jones Information Officer (From November 2020) Neville Dack Operation Safety Net (To November 2020) Lizell Williams Operation Safety Net (From November 2020) Madlin Brinton Bookkeeper / Admin Lisa Shoebridge Staff PA Support Worker (Occasional) Lana Loveland Staff PA Support Worker Claire Patchett Staff PA Support Worker Jessica Richardson Staff PA Support Worker

Jason Martin Consultant (Jan 2020 - Dec 2021)

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CiLK is working towards full and equal citizenship for all disabled people, to have real choice and be free of the prescriptive services of government agencies. By drawing on our own experience of exclusion, we believe we’re best placed to advise and support others.

Our Values: CiLK is committed to:

The original seven were:

Information: appropriate / accessible

Peer support / counselling Housing: accessible / adapted

Technical aids / equipment

Personal assistance

Added to these:

Advocacy (towards self-advocacy)

Employments, equal opportunities Education & training (inclusive) Income / benefits (adequate)

Appropriate / accessible healthcare

Accessible transport system

Access to the environment

 Promoting an environment based on social justice, inclusivity, equality, diversity and dignity

 Promoting and maintaining professional standards in all our activities

 Continually working to improve the lives of disabled people in Kent

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Advocacy:
61 Cases
486.53 Hours
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OUTREACH: Places Visited 2020-21

Website Visits 2020-21

Total: 3262

CEO / Service Manager’s Report

What a year it has been!

This year has been such a strange one. Tragic, frightening and very difficult for so many people. Instructions to shield and everyone told to stay at home turned normal life on its head and we all had to find new ways of living, coping and working.

During this time CiLK reacted quickly to ensure we could still support people in Kent and Medway. We identified that disabled people and people with long-term health conditions were likely to find the situation particularly difficult and needed to ensure we could still support them.

Our services switched to online, remote working and we established a Telephone Befriending Service that we call SafetyNet. It is just that, a Safety Net, connecting people with services that they may be unaware of, a friendly voice to chat to, a connection from outside of the home. It has been wonderful to work with volunteers, giving us their time and making a real difference. Now that restrictions are beginning to lift and the vaccine rollout is continuing we are starting to look to the future, while very aware that the virus is still out there and of the impact of the last 18 months and that for many people it still feels a long way from ‘back to normal’.

We have used this period to develop a robust database to ensure we are recording all of our interactions with individuals and organisations and also the impact our work has. During 20/21 the CiLK Staff team consisted of:

Core Services

Community Advocacy

CiLK is a delivery partner for the Kent Advocacy Partnership. This has been delivered remotely via telephone and online platforms.

Over the year we received 61 Advocacy referrals and delivered 486.5 Advocacy hours.

The issues included a wide range of subjects including benefits tribunals and assessment, housing, communicating with Social Services and many other concerns.

Peer Support

If an individual requires support in a way that is not classed as advocacy we provide 1-2-1 peer support, helping people to navigate the social care and health systems or to signpost them to relevant services.

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Cilk Enquiries

We continue to receive enquiries via telephone and email. These can vary in nature and complexity.

Outreach

During the pandemic this has not been happening but more recently some of these

outreach venues have started to use Zoom or Teams and we have attended a couple. It

made us realise how much we rely on these sessions for reaching out to people.

Kent Physical Disability Forum

I remain as Chair of the Kent Physical Disability Forum. I represent CiLK and the Forum at different meetings including the All Party Parliamentary Groups at Westminster. All of these have been held online via Zoom and Teams. Participation numbers in the forum has decreased but some new people have joined us who prefer the virtual participation.

However, participation in the APPGs has rocketed with regularly over 100 people attending from DPULOs (Disabled People’s User Led Organisations) all over the country.

Wheelchair Service

Over the year I have continued to work with the East Kent Clinical Commissioning Group to encourage change to the service and the way the provider is working to improve the experiences and service disabled people receive. This has all been online.

Pilot Counselling Service in the East of Kent

During the pandemic the counselling was put on hold due to the sensitive and face-to-face nature of the service.

In other news…

The Kent County Council commissioning process for the Physical Disability Wellbeing contract is now well under way. CiLK is working with partners to ensure we submit a strong bid so that we can continue to support the people of Kent.

Thanks to the hard work of Jason we have been fortunate to received additional funding from a number of different sources this year:

• Fidelity

• NSUN (National Survivors Network)

• Kent Community Foundation

• The National Lottery

•NET COVID Grant

This Funding has enabled us to:

-Implement and deliver Safety Net Telephone Befriending

-Employ Becky Jones as an additional information officer, initially to cover staff planned absence but this role has been made permanent.

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-Carry out research: working with the University of Kent we designed and circulated a questionnaire and held focus groups to understand how CiLK can best support our beneficiaries Thank you to all those who took the time to respond.

-Review our Communications Strategy and Image.

We were very sad to learn that Tony Wright, a long-time supporter of CiLK, trustee for many years and someone who was around at the very start of the organisation, passed away in April. Tony was a good friend to many of us and we will miss him.

Thank you to staff and directors for your continued support and encouragement. And to the team of PAs, funded by Access to Work, who work closely with us all and enable us to carry out our roles.

Take care and stay safe.

 01233 633 187 enquiries@cilk.org.uk Sophie Fournel

Information Officers’ Report

Overview

It has been a very different year, not one we would ever have imagined, with the pandemic and working from home. However we were still there for our clients supporting them in the best way we could remotely via phone, email and online platforms such as Skype and Zoom.

The Information Officers are made up of Donna Francis, Senior Information Officer covering East Kent; Angie Berkley, covering West Kent and Medway and since November, Becky Jones covering Kent and Medway.

Work completed

All of the information officers have attended numerous meetings over the year via online platforms covering a range of topics including benefits, wheelchair services and dealing with the pandemic. We have also taken this opportunity to undertake various courses including benefits, mental health, safeguarding and learning disabilities.

Part of the role of an information officer is to attend outreach locations throughout Kent and Medway which may be existing support groups or groups that are run for disabled people. At the start of the pandemic we had to cancel these. However we have attended a few of these via online platforms, some of which have resulted in enquiries and/or advocacy referrals.

A new database was introduced so we have spent a lot of time learning how to use it and getting the best out of it.

The advocacy side of things with clients has been varied with anything from housing to health and direct payments.

Working with clients under peer support has included a lot of enquiries, some benefit work and helping clients with on-line forms, signposting etc.

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We have continued to support clients and take in new referrals for advocacy, benefit and peer support, the figures are:

Advocacy – 33 clients

Peer Support, including benefits – 46

From May 2020 to March 2021 one of our information officers recorded the number of contacts with, or on behalf of, a client so the numbers are a lot higher:

Advocacy – 263

Peer support, including benefits – 357

If all of our statistics were recorded like this the numbers would be a lot higher.

Successes and Feedback

A success I remember is seeking funding to replace a boiler for a deaf couple, who were disadvantaged and had communication difficulties. They could not afford a new one and the British Gas scheme was closed; also many charities only provide to community groups not individuals. I was able to get funding for the whole cost through Kent Community Foundation. The service was quick and easy. The contact person was very helpful. The clients were very happy and said thank you.

My last PIP tribunal I attended the client attended and was successful in getting his high rate mobility indefinitely. He cried when he got out of the tribunal room with happiness and relief. He did send in a Thank You card saying ‘thank you for all your support over the last year and thank you for all your help on Friday (Tribunal)’.

One client I supported had an ESA assessment and she was successful in being put in the Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity group which means she does not need to look for work. Client said she could not have got through it without my support.

I supported a client with his PIP review form, then the mandatory reconsideration followed by requesting a tribunal. Before the tribunal went ahead the PIP decision was changed and the client was awarded PIP. Client was very grateful for my support and has recommended CiLK’s services to others.

Challenges

There have been many challenges over the last year mainly stemming from the pandemic, lockdowns and having to work from home. However we have overcome them and all learnt how to use online platforms such as Zoom, Teams and Skype pretty quickly! During the first lockdown the weekly meetings attended by CiLK trustees and staff were a great help. The information officers now have regular meetings to talk through cases, training needs and to catch up.

Over the last year one of our information officers has had a number of issues relating to housing, rehousing, applying to Homechoice wanting support to find somewhere new to live. For one client I asked her to get a letter from GP confirming diagnosis as it will be needed as part of evidence of medical need, she never answered her phone or email again. After many attempts to contact her I closed my involvement.

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Working with the clients we do can sometimes be challenging especially when there are a lot of issues going on. For some clients they find it hard to let go of what has happened in the past for example previous problems with social services this can then stop them from moving forward.

We are there to support clients and be their voice however the client needs to work with us, most of the time this happens however in cases when it does not happen it can make the work harder or not possible at all.

Moving forward

I, Donna, want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow information officers, Sophie, Jason, Lizell, Madlin and the CiLK trustees for their support during this very challenging time. I think it is great how we have all worked together and have enabled CiLK to continue to run during a pandemic. Thank you also goes to my PA, Rob, who retired during this time. I really appreciate all the work he has done in supporting me in my role over the last number of years.

Since the restrictions have started to ease from April 2021 onwards the number of clients being referred and contacting CiLK has increased a lot. We will continue to support clients and be their voice when needed. CiLK continues to be needed and a great resource to the disabled people community. Long may we continue.

Donna Francis

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SafetyNet Project

Recruitment & Training commenced September & October 2020 by Neville Dack and taken over by Lizell Williams in November 2020.

SafetyNet has recruited volunteers via free online platforms hosted by MVA (Medway Voluntary Action), AVC (Ashford Volunteer Centre), Kent Coast Volunteering & Simply Connect. However Kent Recruitment and Facebook Advertising have been the most successful in reaching a wide audience and attracting interest. Not unusual in recruitment for there to be high number of expressions of interest but a lower conversion rate. eg: 10 expressions of interest, 7 interviews, converts to 5 suitable candidates invited to training, resulting in 3 new volunteers. Whilst a lot of time is spent recruiting, none of these are missed opportunities to chat about CiLK and promote the work the charity strives to do. We keep a record of interviewed candidates who have not been able to attend training or whose circumstances have changed but who wish to be invited in the future.

Due to high demand for the service, the processing turnaround time for a volunteer (from point of interview to actively matched with a beneficiary) needed to be reduced from 3-4 weeks to 1-2 weeks in addition to creating flexibility in training delivery that covered essential information, was time efficient and cost effective. This has been achieved by:

SafetyNet secured 2 free PR opportunities on the airwaves to promote our befriending service and awareness of our volunteering with Donna being interviewed by Ashford Radio during a prime lunch time slot on 6[th] May and Lizell interviewed by Medway Pride Radio on 13[th] May which was aired at several news slots during the day in May and June.

On the 19[th] May we conducted a training session for 3 new volunteers who have also completed training in Safeguarding and Suicide Prevention. They have cleared Basic DBS checking and are currently supporting 5 clients. Unfortunately, one of the volunteers is returning to her home country for the Summer but plans to re-join from September.

Volunteers’ week was hosted in the week of 1[st] to 7[th] June inclusive. SafetyNet participated in MVA’s Giant Volunteer Jigsaw banner which was displayed on the front of the MVA building in Chatham.

MVA’s Volunteers Week video is on Youtube via this link: htps://youtu.be/13uu_IPoko0

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On Tuesday 1[st] June, as a token of our appreciation we issued each of our 9 volunteers a £10 Costa e-Voucher and emailed a Volunteers’ Week Certificate acknowledging all that they have done and continue to do for people in our community who have found the lockdowns really challenging and who, despite restrictions lifting, still feel left behind.

Lizell hosted a virtual lunch for our Volunteers on the 3[rd] June during which we reflected on their contribution & achievements over the past few months including feedback from our working partners and clients, and the thanks expressed by Medway Voluntary Action and Ashford Volunteer Centre.

Feedback from clients & referrers 2020/21:

“Thank you for listening to me”

“Such a relief to find a befriending service for younger people (under 50) to access”

“Always so kind, warm and friendly”

“Fantastic to find a service offering support over a weekend”

“Wonderful service, joined-up working”

“Your support has helped me get answers to questions I was struggling to deal with”

Feedback from volunteers during the virtual lunch:

I could help others. When I found this Telephone Befriending, I could easily apply myself, feel empowered” – Clair

“During lockdown I had lots of time and felt I needed to maintain good mental wellbeing. Volunteering was the perfect way. I look forward to making my calls and enjoy our conversation, hearing about their lives/history. I’ve made good friendships” – Colleen

“During lockdown I had lots of time on my hands and knew I needed to find something to

Since befriending, I’ve made great friendships and find it mutually rewarding.”

“Great boost for my CV, putting my skills and time to good use by helping others” – JB

“I’m always learning & growing with every call”

“In my culture, getting involved with your community & being there for others is part of life. I’m glad I can continue this through volunteering” – Milka

“Volunteering is rewarding, it’s made me re-access my values and be grateful for all that I have taken for granted previously. Feels great hearing a client laugh and share” - Elizabeth

Lizell has created a Volunteer Application form and an Equality and Diversity Monitoring form which are now in use. We are also currently reviewing CiLK policies that apply to employees and those that may differ or apply to volunteers.

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Statistics: Since October 2020:

Since November 2020:

Currently we have 9 active volunteers as well as Lizell providing weekly / fortnightly calls to 22 clients.

SafetyNet has lost volunteers to due a change in their own health, family or work commitments. Lizell continues to stay in contact with these volunteers.

Challenges SafetyNet and our clients face :

Time is being spent supporting clients who have only received partial support by other organisations eg: someone provided with a tablet but not had any assistance on how to access and use the device and no-one has followed up with them to check how they are getting on with it.

We have a couple of clients who are really struggling with their mental health and feel that the emergency response to these by their crisis teams has been slow.

There is a small number of clients who continue to request face-to-face befriending; whilst AGE UK has resumed providing this service it is stretched and waiting lists are not being operated.

There is a wide gap in services available to the vulnerable community. Groups are still closed, and their neighbourly support is returning to work or other commitments as life resumes eg: to accompany disabled to shops or outings; AGE UK are offering this service again from £18 per hour which is unaffordable.

The summer & school holidays means lives are generally becoming busier and fewer people are working from home, this is resulting in fewer people responding to calls for volunteers as they have limited timeframes they can participate in training sessions or conduct befriending telephone calls.

Lizell Williams

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Here are some comments we have received:

“I feel 5x more positive and optimistic, feeling someone is on your side is so encouraging. You can have many people around you but finding and being able to talk with someone not emotionally upset by your conditions is such a big relief after so many years carrying on.”

“I can't thank you enough for the help you gave me, you and the work you do are a Godsend and I can't put into words what this means to me. The new place will be next to local shops, my GP and bus stop it will have a massive positive effect on my life. Once again thank you so much.”

“Thank you so much Sophie, this situation has really affected my health and wellbeing in a negative way, although thanks to you there have been some positives. I contacted adult social services and they are referring me for a needs assessment, although will take some time due to current conditions. I just telephoned UC and got thru and the advisor I spoke to gave me permission to leave my home for one month. And now yr message gives me some leeway if required. I appreciate you taking the time to help me, the hardest part for me has been made to realise and accepting that I do need extra help especially in today's global crisis. Once again thank you”

Bookkeeper’s Financial statement :

This is the fourth year running that CILK has ended on a surplus – and a very nice one, which I’ve no doubt Jason should take the credit for. This has helped put us in a much more secure position for now, but as ever we have no space for complacency. Thanks to taking on extra staff (definitely needed) it has also raised our running costs again. However, we are saving as well by not running an office, so that helps.

Obviously this is a time for hopeful optimism, but we must always have that contingency plan in case it all goes belly-up. Our current reserves give us much better breathing space.

Madlin Brinton

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Centre for Independent Living Kent Ltd Income & Expenditure Accounts 1[st] April 2020 to 31[st] March 2021

Income:
b/f
Adjustment
Grants
Bank Interest
Donations
Office
Total:
Expenditure:
Wages
Premises Costs
Travel
Printing
Stationery
Phone / Post
Insurance
Staff Training
Misc
Office
Total:
Balances:		 2021
122,751
-84
174,313
47
100
2,050
299,176
2021
111,615
3,101
634
639
2,396
937
704
7,462
1,111
128,601
170,575		 2020
119,533
108,762
236
453
980
229,964
2020
81,649
5,535
3,343
605
2,247
941
1,339
11,555
107,213
122,751		 CILK
KCC
DWP
122,751
-84
73,224
80,908
20,181
47
100
2,050
198,087
80,908
20,181
CILK
KCC
DWP
19,407
71,263
20,945
3,101
634
185
455
2,396
937
704
4,962
2,500
1,111
26,369
81,286
20,945
171,718
-379
-765

Reserves Policy

CiLK recognises that:

As with most voluntary organisations, CiLK relies on funding from external sources, and this funding cannot be guaranteed. The EMC believes that it is therefore necessary to ensure CiLK has sufficient reserves to continue to operate for a period of three - six months should all funding cease. This time period would allow the EMC to attempt to identify alternative sources of funding, and if this was not fruitful to wind down the service, giving employees a generous notice of redundancy. CiLK is currently working to hold reserves that would cover this period, and will endeavour to maintain it by adhering to an agreed annual budget of expenditure.

The annual budget, this policy, and the level of reserves needed will be reviewed annually, taking into account:

July 2021

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Centre for Independent Living Kent Ltd Balance Sheet at 31[st] March 2021

Fixed Assets: 2021 2020
Office Equipment 392 436
Less Depreciation 10% -39 -44
Desktop Computers 531 590
Laptop Computers 354 394
Less Depreciation 10% -89 -98
Tablets & Phones (2 each) 241 267
Less Depreciation 10% -24 -27
Net Book Value 1,367 1,518
Current Assets:
HSBC 170,575 122,666
Petty Cash 84
Total: 170,575 122,751
Balance at 31/03/2020 124,269
Balance at 31/03/2021 171,942
Net movement in funds 47,824 3,217
Net movement in funds
including depreciation		 47,976 3,049

Directors’ Statement

For the year ending 31/03/2019 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

SIGNED AND DATED THIS 27[th] DAY OF JULY 2021

Hannah Tutt Director Cathy Finnis Director

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Centre for Independent Living Kent Ltd would like to thank the following groups and organisations for all their help and support during the year:

Access to Work Ashford Borough Council Awards for All County Square Shopping Centre DIAL Kent

DISK (Disability Information Services Kent) Disability Rights UK Involve Kent KASBAH KCC Families and Social Care Kent Advocacy South East Network of Disabled People’s Organisations (SENDPO) Spectrum CIL Medway Voluntary Action Wheelchair Users’ Group

We would also like to thank all our members and all those other individuals who have supported us with their valuable time.

Centre for Independent Living Kent Ltd c/o R&B Star

Units 9 & 10, Nimbus Enterprise Park Liphook Way, Allington

Maidstone,

Kent ME16 0LQ

01233 633187

General E-mail: enquiries@cilk.org.uk

Website: cilk.org.uk

Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Number 4854897

Registered as a Charity number 1107079

CiLK is a member of: Disability Rights UK, Involve Kent and South East Network of Disabled People’s Organisations (SENDPO)