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2022-03-31-accounts

Company registration number: 04854897 Charity registration number: 1107079

DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Alison & Gary Robinson Aims Accountants for Business New Stonehill Farm Stone Hill Road Egerton Kent TN27 9DU

DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Contents

Trustees' Report 1 to 12
Independent Examiner's Report 13
Statement of Financial Activities 14
Balance Sheet 15
Notes to the Financial Statements 16 to 25

DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Objectives and activities

Objects and aims

Disability Assist for Independent Living provides and promotes enabling independent living services to disabled people in Kent and Medway. It offers advocacy, peer support, advice, information and a range of support and assistance services which facilitate their independence as full and equal citizens in all aspects of life and the wider community.

Public benefit

The Trustees confirm they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance and are confident the objectives and activities undertaken provide significant benefit to the public and are in accordance with its charitable objects, as described in the annual report.

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Achievements and performance

From April 2022, we changed our name from Centre for Independent Living Kent (CiLK) to Disability Assist for Independent Living Ltd, or Disability Assist. Our services and commitment to helping disabled people across Kent will remain unchanged but we will have a fresh new look and name. Further information about the rebrand is available on our website and will be in the next Annual Report.

ABOUT DISABILITY ASSIST

Disability Assist is a social model, pan-disability organisation of disabled people, established in 2002 to provide enabling support services for disabled people across Kent. Our target audience is primarily those who want to live independently and want to manage, monitor and pay directly for their own support and assistance requirements with a Personal Budget using the Direct Payment option or other resources to do so.

What makes us unique is that we are an independent organisation, run and controlled by disabled people, working towards full and equal citizenship for all disabled people. Directors and staff have lived experience of disability, so Disability Assist is in the control of people who understand the challenges from their own first-hand experience.

Disability Assist exists to help its members and others who share its philosophy to be self-advocates, to take control over their own lives and to have real choice, free from the prescriptive services of government agencies. We believe that by drawing on our own experiences, disabled people are best placed to advise and support each other to independent living

We also offer the following support and assistance services: advocacy / self-advocacy / independent living advocacy, information and support on independent living, access issues, Direct Payments advice and support, disability equality training, peer support, personal development courses and volunteering opportunities.

Disability Assist is committed to:

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

CEO Report

This year 2021 – 2022 has been one of a lot of change for us at Disability Assist.

With Lockdown coming to an end yet Covid still being very much a part of all of our lives we have continued to be very mindful of the way we work and our service delivery. We are very aware that both staff and beneficiaries are particularly vulnerable to the disease and continue to do all that we can to keep all those people as safe as we can.

We have been following the guidance but also our own safeguards and procedures on top of this that go above and beyond what is expected of us. We are still lateral flow testing ahead of any group or client work, ensuring we can wear masks or visors and requesting we meet in well ventilated spaces.

During 21/22 the Disability Assist Staff team consisted of:

We have been continuing to deliver our key services during the year:

Community Advocacy

Peer Support

Benefits Support

Information, Advice & Guidance

In addition to that we continued to run Safety Net, our Covid response project providing telephone befriending. As restrictions have eased there has been less demand for telephone befriending. Clients have become more in need of face-to-face befriending and a buddy or support to go out and about in the community. Unfortunately, this is not a service that we are able to provide at this time and a number of our volunteers needed to return to the workplace and other commitments due to the change in Covid restrictions.

We decided to end this project and are very grateful to the funders who enabled it to happen and the volunteers who worked so hard to support disabled and isolated people during this very difficult time.

Lizell Williams has agreed to remain with us and has become an Advocate supporting our Community Advocacy clients.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Medway Together

We worked with the YMCA and the University of Greenwich to support their Medway Together project. This looked to support people as we come out of the Pandemic. The aim was to get more people in to work. We worked with two people with Lived Experience of Disability, Abi Smith and Andy Isbister. They worked hard on this project to identify and connect with disabled people.

It soon became clear that this was not the position Disabled People in Medway were in. Two years of shielding or isolation has had a very negative impact on people who even before Covid were struggling. We were able to stretch the project and funding to supporting people to look to moving forward, whatever moving forward meant to the individual. The project being short, time limited was a real challenge and really highlighted the need for additional support in Medway. Funding to resource and support people in Medway remains high on our agenda and part of our future strategic plan.

Disabled Person’s voice and raising important issues

I remain as Chair of the Kent Physical Disability Forum. I represent Disability Assist 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.

Alongside this I sit on:

Our Voices the Disability Rights UK forum of Disabled Peoples User Led Organisations across the country.

SENDPO, South East Network of Disabled Peoples’ Organisations

PD Net, a network for those supporting learners with Physical Disabilities.

New staff and goodbye to Becky

At the end of this year we said goodbye to Becky Jones who joined us during the Pandemic as an Information Officer. We very much enjoyed working with Becky and wish her every success in the future. I am sure that as an organisation we will remain in contact with her.

Following a recruitment drive we are very happy that we will be welcoming a new member of the team, another Information Officer who will be joining us in 2022.

New KCC Contract

For many years we have enjoyed grant funding from Kent County Council. For about the last four years they had been talking about withdrawing this and many other community grants with a move to contracted services. Many delays later and this tender process started. We worked with Jason Martin to prepare a tender bid to deliver the Kent Wide Physical Disability Wellbeing contract. I am very please to report that the incredibly hard work paid off and we won the tender. During the next three years we will be working with our service delivery partner, KASBAH, to deliver wellbeing support to those with a Physical Disability. The contract is for three years with the potential to extend this for two additional years. This is a very exciting time and the new service will be delivered under our new name, Disability Assist.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Looking to the future

This was the last year that we would be known as Centre for Independent Living Kent. In line with our Strategic Development Plan we worked hard during the year on Rebranding the organisation. Our reason for doing so is to bring the organisation up to date. To ensure that we reach more people by being clear about who we are, what we do and who we are here to support.

Centre for Independent Living Kent was established in 2002 when each county in England had a Centre for Independent Living that worked alongside the National Centre for Independent Living. At the time this was inline with the national movement but over time this became less clear and the national organisation merged with others an the regional organisations have been rebranding since. We felt it was really important that we ensured the organisation was forward thinking and fit for the future.

Working with The Good Company, the name Disability Assist for Independent Living was agreed and we are to be known as Disability Assist from the beginning of the next financial year!

The rebrand process has been long and very hard work. We feel strongly that this is a positive step forward and we maintain the values and ethos of Centre for Independent Living Kent.

Communications

High on our strategic plan is the need to increase the number of people we support each year, reaching disabled people has always been a great challenge. A grant from Kent County Council during the Pandemic enabled us to work with a Marketing and Communications professional. Tania Nadarajah, a Paralympian, was known to the organisation and we brought her onboard.

Tania has been working with us on the rebrand and has prepared a Marketing Communications strategy. This was vital during the pandemic to help us reach new people and to get the message out there that we are here and able to support them. I am really pleased that we are able to write the communications role in to our Wellbeing Contract and Tania will be remaining with us into the future. The impact of her role has been great and made a huge difference to our reach.

Sad News

We very sadly said goodbye to Allen Jones Chairman of CiLK for very many years, disability campaigner and friend.

Thank you, Allen, for all that you did for us, our organisation and all the thousands of people who have benefitted from what you set up. Your legacy - We promise we will carry forward. The name may have changed but the ethos, the reason for its being, that remains the same and as strong as ever.

Chairman’s Report

Over the last year there have been many exciting changes to the organisation, culminating in the successful bid to provide welfare services to disabled people in Kent. This is especially poignant given that during the year two similar organisations (DISK and CROP) sadly closed.

As we have come out of COVID times the staff have done an incredibly good job of adapting to the new ‘norm’ conducting both remote and in person visits in a safe and effective manner.

This has been my first year as Chairman and I have taken the opportunity to meeting in person with several long-standing members of staff. Their dedication to the organisation speaks volumes of the leadership shown by the CEO, who I remain very impressed with.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Over the last year the pace of change was rapid at times but this was necessary to prepare to deliver to the new contract with KCC. These changes involved re-branding, re-naming and re-launching the organisations website.

There are exciting times ahead for the charity and I am confident that the team in place are well equipped to meet the needs of the organisation.

Dr. Andrew Robinson

Making the Difference

The effects of Covid continue to be felt throughout our operations and we experienced limitations in the number of people we could reach due to restrictions in meeting face-to-face and through our usual outreach activity.

As a result of this, we have looked into alternative methods for maximising our reach by focusing on a marketing and communications plan that both increases our digital activity and promotes our services to professionals who are working with disabled people across the county. We also did a considerable amount of work in the first quarter of 2022 towards rebranding the organisation so that we had clear branding and messaging that allowed people to understand who we are and the type of support we can offer.

The new way of working also extended to staff, who continued working largely from home which had an impact on the way we are able to share information internally. To ensure we were working effectively, we moved our client data to an online CRM system which allows us to record data in a more efficient way and share vital information internally so that we can better support our clients.

As a result of our efforts, during the 2021-2022 year, we were able to work with numerous clients to support them with a wide range of needs that were tailored to the individual’s requirements.

Our impact 2021 - 2022:

• 205 clients supported. Support was provided via a mixture of online, telephone and in-person services, adhering to government guidelines at all times.

• 30 clients supported by befriending phone calls via the SafetyNet project. We stopped actively promoting the project in November 2021 due to the reduced number of volunteers, growing waiting lists and knowing we were drawing the project to a close in March 2022.

Client Feedback

We have helped to support clients through a wide range of issues and queries and have received some fantastic feedback as a result. Here, two of our clients explain how we were able to help them.

Mrs X is hearing impaired and needed support with a PIP tribunal. She required a face to face hearing and our Information Officer was able to support her throughout the process.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Mrs X said, “The support given to me was extremely professional and I will admit that without it, I would not have continued with DLA / PIP application which I found very confusing and unsupportive to me as an individual. I would and do recommend to others to contact you for guidance and advice for help with their disability, most of whom have hidden needs and not visible disability aids. It was a disturbing experience with dealing with the authorities at times but when your Information Officer explained things to me, she made me feel human and was so supportive it was truly a blessing. It is not just a question of receiving benefits, it is more to do with understanding the needs of those affected with a disability and how they are unable to cope with basic every day issues.”

Another client, Ms Y, needed assistance with multiple issues, including contacting social services, applying for benefits and also advocacy. Our Information Officer was able to offer support across all of these areas to reassure the client and help with often complicated processes.

Ms Y said, “I was very capable of handling matters 2 years ago when my mother died, and I did tell the Information Officer that I've done these forms for others with success and thought I could do it on my own. Throughout all that time, she still stood by, checked in with me, and continued to offer help in completing an overdue PIP from 2018! I had a realisation at one point there was no way I could do it on my own. But she was right there, on the phone with me, to the assessors and the customer service- she backed me up 100 percent to assist me in stating my needs, or inform them of my multi life situations and, when we did eventually get that face to face meeting, there is absolutely no way I would have been able to get through that assessment without her.”

Information Officers Report

Overview

This past year continued to be a challenge due to Covid but we carried on supporting disabled people in the ways we could. Most of our work was carried out remotely via phone, email and online platforms. However we did start to see clients face to face again in line with Government guidelines.

The Information Officer team was made up of Donna Francis, Senior Information Officer covering East Kent, Angie Berkley Information Officer covering West Kent, including Medway, and Becky Jones Information Officer covering the whole of Kent and Medway. Becky left us at the end of the year and we wish her well for the future. I want to thank Becky for all the hard work she gave along with her knowledge and calmness. She has been missed.

Work Completed

We continued to cover a range of issues including benefits, housing, accessing services alongside providing information, advice and guidance on issues around independent living such as how to get wheelchair, support at home, aids and equipment and much more. The Information Officers continued to be advocates under the work we completed with Kent Advocacy. We also continued to advertise the telephone befriending service.

Angie and Becky worked on the Older People’s project in West Kent which saw people aged over 55 be supported.

We were able to attend some venues/organisations face to face and continued to attend some online. This meant that we could continue to let people know what services we were offering and that we were still here despite lockdowns and a pandemic. This included The Hub at Cheriton Baptist Church, Kent MS Therapy Centre in Canterbury, the Glo Community Hub in Thanet, Ashford Chronic Pain Group and Talk in Out in Deal.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

During this past year benefit assessments and tribunals opened up again. We were able to support clients at their assessments/tribunals over the phone and via video. This was more challenging as we did not always meet the client face to face but we made it work and continued to offer the best support we could. We were able to help client’s prepare for their assessments and attend them too often being added to the telephone call by the assessment/tribunal service. This ensured that client’s continued to be supported.

The Information Officers attended training around benefits, safeguarding and webinars covering various topics. This ensured that our knowledge was kept up to date.

Challenges

Working around lockdowns and restrictions continued to be a challenge during this year but we rose above them as a team. Although we couldn’t always meet together as a team face to face we made sure that we met regularly online with monthly team meetings. Looking out for each other during this time was particularly important.

Client cases were challenging at times with many not having seen someone for so long. A number of cases were complex, we took time listening to the client and seeing what support we could offer to enable them to get the support they needed.

Looking Ahead

I personally have been very grateful to my fellow Information Officers for their support during this last year which was tough at times. I have also really appreciated support from Sophie, Jason, Lizell and Madlin.

I have welcomed a new PA, Dawn, who is now supporting me in my role. Dawn has slotted in so well and I can’t imagine not having her as my PA.

As we move into a new year it has been all change, with a new name, new members of staff to join the Information Officers team, Stephen, Hannah and Sarah (who works with KASBAH) who have all settled in so quickly and a new role for me leading the Information Officers team. We are now a team made up of 5 and I am very grateful to each one of them. All of our roles have changed slightly as we move ahead with the KCC contract, and I am proud of us all for how we have embraced the change and continue to be there to support disabled people in Kent.

It has also been great to welcome Charlie and Tania to the wider team, their knowledge and support have been extremely valuable.

I am excited about our future. Never has there been more need for a user-led organisation to support the many disabled people in Kent. Just to hear the relief in a client’s voice when they hear that you are a fellow disabled person is all the encouragement we need to keep on going in our roles.

Our Services

This year, we focused on keeping our services running safely in the pandemic and helping disabled people through all the changes. We also took some of our activities online and provided the vital information that people needed through our website and social media channels.

Donna Francis

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Thank You

Centre for Independent Living Kent Ltd / Disability Assist for Independent Living 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

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

The Good Company

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.

Financial review

The financial overview for the year to 31 March 2022 is as follows:

Income: £143,500

Expenditure: £171,550

Net expenditure: (£28,050) (comprising an unrestricted surplus of £14,666 and a restricted deficit of (£42,716))

Balance brought forward: £171,492 (of which £45,238 was restricted)

Balance carried forward: £143,892 (of which £2,522 was restricted)

The charity made an unrestricted (general) surplus of £14,666. The reduction in restricted funds for the year was due to the spending of funds brought forward from the previous financial year.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Policy on reserves

The charity recognises that:

• There is no legal definition of "reserves" in relation to organisations and charities and no specific legal rule about the amount or proportion of an organisation and charity's income funds that it is allowed to hold as reserve.

• Trustees are under a general legal duty to apply an organisation and charity funds within a reasonable time of receiving them, and holding these funds in reserve does not comply with this duty. If it is done without justification, the holding of income in reserve may amount to a breach of trust.

As with most voluntary organisations, the charity relies on funding from external sources, and this funding cannot be guaranteed. The Trustees believe that it is therefore necessary to ensure the charity has sufficient reserves to continue to operate for a period of three - six months should all funding cease. This time period would allow the charity 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. The charity is currently working to hold reserves that wouId 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:

• The reliability of each source of income and the prospects for opening up new sources;

• Forecasts for expenditure in future years on the basis of planned activity;

• Analysis of any future needs, opportunities, contingencies or risks, the effects of which are not likely to be able to be met out of income if and when they arise;

• Assessment, on the best evidence reasonably available, of the likelihood of each of those needs etc arising and the potential consequences for the charity of not being able to meet them.

At 31 March 2022, the charity's reserves (unrestricted funds less fixed assets) were £139,615. In the coming finance year 2022-2023, expenditure is budgeted to increase significantly, to £290,568.

Principal funding sources

In the year to 31 March 2022, the majority of the charity’s income was secured from grant funding, with the largest single source from Kent County Council. The charity also received income for an advocacy service, income for projects and organisational strengthening and to cover support costs under Access to Work. A small number of donations were also received.

Investment policy and objectives

The Trustees operate a policy of holding any reserves held in an interest-bearing savings account.

Plans for future periods

Activities planned to achieve aims

In the year 2022-2023 the charity was successful in securing a Kent County Council contract for services, which has enabled the charity to expand its work and recruit additional staff.

Going concern

The charity is considered to be a going concern. The majority of the charity's expenditure is met from committed public sector funds, with additional funds raised from an ongoing programme of fundraising from trusts, foundations and the lottery and the participation in funded projects. Funds are held in reserve to cover any losses of income or for unforeseen expenditure.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity Registration Number: 1107079 Company Registration Number: 04854897 The charity is incorporated in England & Wales. Registered Office: R&B Star Units 9 & 10 Nimbus Enterprise Park Liphook Way Allington Maidstone Kent ME16 0LQ Independent Examiner: Alison & Gary Robinson Aims Accountants for Business New Stonehill Farm Stone Hill Road Egerton Kent TN27 9DU Accountants: Alison & Gary Robinson Aims Accountants for Business New Stonehill Farm Stone Hill Road Egerton Kent TN27 9DU

Trustees and officers

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Trustees: Sonia Jannette WEAVER-MALLION Paul BURCHETT Victoria Grace CHITTENDEN Christopher William Maxwell WISE Catherine Michelle FINNIS, Treasurer, Treasurer Dr Andrew James ROBERTSON Clive William BASSANT (appointed 21 October 2021) Hannah Elizabeth TUTT Chairman: Dr Andrew James ROBERTSON Secretary: Sonia Jannette WEAVER-MALLION

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Structure, governance and management

Nature of governing document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 4 August 2003 and registered as a charity on 1 December 2004. The company was established under a Memorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

On 28 March 2022 the charity changed its name from Centre for Independent Living Kent Limited to Disability Assist for Independent Living Ltd.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

The directors of the company are also charity Trustees for the purposes of charity law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the number of Trustees must be not less than five. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

New Trustees are provided with an induction into the charity’s work and the duties and responsibilities of the Trustee Board.

Organisational structure

The Trustee Board oversees the running of the charity. The CEO has day to day responsibility for the provision of services in line with the policies and plans agreed by the Board.

Relationships with related parties

All Trustees give their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in the notes to the accounts.

Risk management

The Trustees conduct regular reviews of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Where appropriate, systems or procedures are established to mitigate the risks the charity faces.

Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others

Cash Grant £10,000

The charity held a grant of £10,000 from Henry Smith Charity on behalf of CAP Enterprise.

This is shown on the Balance Sheet as Other Creditors and within Cash at bank and in hand. This grant was transferred to the recipient during the 2022/2023 financial year.

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Trustees' Report

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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

Small companies provision statement

This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 26 January 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... ......................................... Victoria Grace CHITTENDEN Dr Andrew James ROBERTSON Trustee Chairman and Trustee

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD ("the Company")

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2022.

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 DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD 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 DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD 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.

......................................

Aims Accountants for Business New Stonehill Farm Stone Hill Road Egerton Kent TN27 9DU

26 January 2023

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2022 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds 2022
Note £ £ £
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies 3 35,116 108,365 143,481
Other income 19 - 19
Total income 35,135 108,365 143,500
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 4 (20,469) (151,081) (171,550)
Total expenditure (20,469) (151,081) (171,550)
Net income/(expenditure) 14,666 (42,716) (28,050)
Net movement in funds 14,666 (42,716) (28,050)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 126,704 45,238 171,942
Total funds carried forward 14 141,370 2,522 143,892
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds 2021
Note £ £ £
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies 3 15,814 160,619 176,433
Other income 77 - 77
Total income 15,891 160,619 176,510
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 4 (13,456) (115,381) (128,837)
Total expenditure (13,456) (115,381) (128,837)
Net income 2,435 45,238 47,673
Net movement in funds 2,435 45,238 47,673
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 124,269 - 124,269
Total funds carried forward 14 126,704 45,238 171,942

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2021 is shown in note 14.

The notes on pages 16 to 25 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 14

DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

(Registration number: 04854897) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2022

2022 2021
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 10 1,755 1,367
Current assets
Debtors 11 10,663 -
Cash at bank and in hand 12 143,830 170,575
154,493 170,575
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 13 (12,356) -
Net current assets 142,137 170,575
Net assets 143,892 171,942
Funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
Restricted funds 14 2,522 45,238
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds 141,370 126,704
Total funds 14 143,892 171,942

For the financial year ending 31 March 2022 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

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

The financial statements on pages 14 to 25 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 26 January 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

......................................... ......................................... Victoria Grace CHITTENDEN Dr Andrew James ROBERTSON Trustee Chairman and Trustee

The notes on pages 16 to 25 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 15

DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England & Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: R&B Star Units 9 & 10 Nimbus Enterprise Park Liphook Way Allington Maidstone Kent ME16 0LQ

These financial statements were authorised for issue by the trustees on 26 January 2023.

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Going concern

The charity is considered to be a going concern. The majority of the charity's expenditure is met from committed public sector funds, with additional funds raised from an ongoing programme of fundraising from trusts, foundations and the lottery and the participation in funded projects. Funds are held in reserve to cover any losses of income or for unforeseen expenditure.

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.

Income and endowments

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Donations and legacies

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Grants receivable

Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Government grants

Government grants are recognised based on the accrual model and are measured at the fair value of the asset received or receivable. Grants are classified as relating either to revenue or to assets. Grants relating to revenue are recognised in income over the period in which the related costs are recognised. Grants relating to assets are recognised over the expected useful life of the asset. Where part of a grant relating to an asset is deferred, it is recognised as deferred income.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £200.00 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Asset class

Furniture & equipment

Depreciation method and rate

10% reducing balance

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Financial instruments

The Charity only has basic financial instruments (assets or liabilities).

3 Income from donations and legacies

3
Income from donations and legacies
Unrestricted
funds Restricted Total
General funds funds
£ £ £
Donations and legacies;
Donations from individuals 170 - 170
Grants, including capital grants;
Grants 34,946 108,365 143,311
Total for 2022 35,116 108,365 143,481
Total for 2021 15,814 160,619 176,433

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

4 Expenditure on charitable activities

Unrestricted
funds Restricted Total
General funds funds
Note £ £ £
Office and premises costs 14 5,209 5,223
General running costs 2,953 548 3,501
Service delivery costs 414 41,930 42,344
Staff costs 17,088 103,394 120,482
Total for 2022 20,469 151,081 171,550
Total for 2021 13,456 115,381 128,837
Grant funding Total
of activity expenditure
£ £
Support for disabled individuals 171,550 171,550
Total for 2021 128,837 128,837

Of the unrestricted expenditure above the following costs were support costs;

Accountancy fees £2,700 (£300 March 2021)

Wages & salaries £1,367 (£1,367 March 2021)

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

5 Government grants

Government Grants to assist in providing support to those who want to live independently and want to manage, monitor and pay directly for their own support and assistance requirements.

The amount of grants recognised in the financial statements was £86,005 (2021 - £113,294).

6 Net incoming/outgoing resources

Net (outgoing)/incoming resources for the year include:

2022 £

7 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.

8 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

8
Staff costs
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
2022 2021
£ £
Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries 118,591 98,945
Other staff costs 1,891 704
120,482 99,649

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management /
charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:		 leadership team) employed by the
2022 2021
No No
Employees 8 7

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £36,103 (2021 - £31,746).

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

9 Taxation

The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.

10 Tangible fixed assets

10 Tangible fixed assets
Furniture and
equipment Total
£ £
Cost
At 1 April 2021 2,083 2,083
Additions 583 583
At 31 March 2022 2,666 2,666
Depreciation
At 1 April 2021 716 716
Charge for the year 195 195
At 31 March 2022 911 911
Net book value
At 31 March 2022 1,755 1,755
At 31 March 2021 1,367 1,367
11 Debtors
2022
£
Prepayments 480
Accrued income 10,183
10,663

12 Cash and cash equivalents

12 Cash and cash equivalents
2022 2021
£ £
Cash at bank 124,802 154,782
Short-term deposits 19,028 15,793
143,830 170,575

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

2022 2022
£
Other taxation and social security (212)
Other creditors 10,000
Accruals 2,568
12,356
14 Funds
Balance at 1 Incoming Resources Balance at 31
April 2021 resources expended March 2022
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General
Unrestricted 126,704 35,135 (20,469) 141,370
Restricted funds
National Lottery Community
Fund 9,800 - (9,800) -
Sport England Tackling
Inequalities Fund 2,575 - (2,575) -
Disability Action DPO Covid
Fund 5,220 - (5,220) -
Kent Community Foundation
Fidelity UK Foundation
Community Development Fund 5,816 - (5,816) -
Kent County Council Contain
Outbreak Management Fund - 7,308 (7,308) -
Kent Community Foundation
Kent County Council Strategic
Recovery Fund - 9,360 (9,360) -
Kent County Council Service
Grant 21,827 59,684 (81,511) -
Access to Work - 19,013 (19,013) -
Medway Council Medway
Together - 13,000 (10,478) 2,522
Total restricted funds 45,238 108,365 (151,081) 2,522
Total funds 171,942 143,500 (171,550) 143,892

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Balance at 1 Incoming Resources Resources Balance at 31
April 2020 resources expended March 2021
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General
Unrestricted 124,269 15,891 (13,456) 126,704
Restricted
National Lottery Community
Fund - 9,800 - 9,800
NSUN Covid Fund - 1,000 (1,000) -
Kent Community Foundation - 3,000 (3,000) -
National Lottery Covid 19 grant - 9,650 (9,650) -
Sport England Tackling
Inequalities Fund - 8,155 (5,580) 2,575
Disability Action DPO Covid
Fund - 10,875 (5,655) 5,220
Kent Community Foundation
Fidelity UK Foundation
Community Development Fund - 13,000 (7,184) 5,816
Ashford Borough Council 1 - 2,000 (2,000) -
Ashford Borough Council 2 - 2,050 (2,050) -
Kent County Council Service
Grant - 80,908 (59,081) 21,827
Access to Work - 20,181 (20,181) -
Total restricted funds - 160,619 (115,381) 45,238
Total funds 124,269 176,510 (128,837) 171,942

The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:

Medway Council Medway Together

The grant was used to deliver a partnership project called Medway Together, funded under the UK Government Community Renewal Fund. The charity was one of a number of delivery partners and delivered employability support. The funds were used for support costs, fees, advertising and expenses. The project continues in 2022/23.

National Lottery Community Fund

The grant was used to extend the SafetyNet project for a further 9 months in order to meet the growing need from isolated, scared and vulnerable disabled people across Kent and Medway for welfare support phone calls. The funds were used for staff costs for a Project Coordinator to recruit and support volunteers, match them with clients and monitor and oversee the project, along with project running costs.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Sport England Tackling Inequalities Fund

The grant was used to deliver activities to improve health and wellbeing. The funds were used for project fees and support costs.

Disability Action DPO Covid Fund

The grant was used to provide AIG, community Advocacy and benefits support – form filling right through to Tribunal, along with counselling support to CiLK staff who have found the pandemic a challenge and who have also been working with people with very complex issues. The funds were used for staff costs, project fees and delivery costs.

Kent Community Foundation Fidelity UK Foundation Community Development Fund

The grant was used to run a research project to shape future services and support provision, gathering evidence of the support needs of people in Kent and Medway living with a disability. Funds were used for research and business development fees and project running costs.

Kent County Council Contain Outbreak Management Fund

The grant was used to raise awareness of the services and support available to physically disabled people across Kent, with the aim to engage new people, and to develop new resources to support each client to plan and action an improvement in their mental health and wellbeing. The funds were used for staff costs.

Kent Community Foundation Kent County Council Strategic Recovery Fund

The grant was used to deliver a project called Future Engagement Now, to develop a new client engagement and communication strategy, helping to rebuild channels for supporting, consulting and advising isolated disabled people across the county. The funds were used for the costs of engaging a digital marketing agency.

Kent County Council Service Grant

The grant was used to deliver services and support for disabled people living in Kent, to help people live independently. Funds were used for staff, service delivery and running costs.

Access to Work

The grants were from a government programme to help disabled people stay in work. The funds were used for support costs.

NSUN Covid-19 Fund

The grant, from the National Survivor User Network (NSUN) was used to support peer support, community action and mutual aid for mental health during Covid-19. Funds were used for IT and project delivery support costs.

National Lottery Community Fund Covid 19 grant

The grant was used to establish the SafetyNet project, to maintain contact with Kent/Medway-based disabled people at heightened risk of serious health and mental wellbeing issues in order to ensure they were connected into the support and care they needed during COVID-19 lockdown and afterwards. Funds were used for staff project delivery, volunteer support and service delivery costs.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Ashford Borough Council Coronavirus Community Fund (1 & 2)

The grants were used to support the organisation during Covid-19. Funds were used towards staff costs for the SafetyNet project (grant 1) and towards shared premises costs (grant 2).

15 Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted Total funds at
funds 31 March
General 2022
£ £
Tangible fixed assets 1,755 1,755
Current assets 154,493 154,493
Current liabilities (12,356) (12,356)
Total net assets 143,892 143,892
Unrestricted Total funds at
funds 31 March
General 2021
£ £
Tangible fixed assets 1,367 1,367
Current assets 170,575 170,575
Total net assets 171,942 171,942

16 Analysis of net funds

16 Analysis of net funds
At 1 April Financing cash At 31 March
2021 flows 2022
£ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand 170,575 (26,745) 143,830
Net debt 170,575 (26,745) 143,830
At 1 April Financing cash At 31 March
2020 flows 2021
£ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand 122,751 47,824 170,575
Net debt 122,751 47,824 170,575

17 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year.

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Statement of Financial Activities by fund for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted Funds
Total Total
Unrestricted Unrestricted
Funds Funds
2022 2021
£ £
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies 35,116 15,814
Other income 19 77
Total income 35,135 15,891
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities (20,469) (13,456)
Total expenditure (20,469) (13,456)
Net income 14,666 2,435
Net movement in funds 14,666 2,435
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 126,704 124,269
Total funds carried forward 141,370 126,704

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Statement of Financial Activities by fund for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Restricted Funds

Restricted Funds
Total Total
Restricted Restricted
Funds Funds
2022 2021
£ £
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies 108,365 160,619
Total income 108,365 160,619
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities (151,081) (115,381)
Total expenditure (151,081) (115,381)
Net (expenditure)/income (42,716) 45,238
Net movement in funds (42,716) 45,238
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 45,238 -
Total funds carried forward 2,522 45,238

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Total Total
2022 2021
£ £
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies (analysed below) 143,481 176,433
Other income (analysed below) 19 77
Total income 143,500 176,510
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities (analysed below) (171,550) (128,837)
Total expenditure (171,550) (128,837)
Net (expenditure)/income (28,050) 47,673
Net movement in funds (28,050) 47,673
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 171,942 124,269
Total funds carried forward 143,892 171,942

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DISABILITY ASSIST FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING LTD

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2022

Total Total
2022 2021
£ £
Donations and legacies
Appeals and donations 170 100
Access to Work income 19,013 20,181
Advocacy income 17,696 15,714
Grants received 29,668 59,530
KCC income 59,684 80,908
Other contract income 17,250 -
143,481 176,433
Other income
Other income 19 77
19 77
Charitable activities
Wages and salaries (17,088) (12,489)
Wages and salaries (101,503) (86,456)
Staff training - (319)
Staff training (1,891) (385)
Rent - (2,100)
Rates 80 -
Light, heat and power - (229)
Insurance - 1
Insurance (545) (1,711)
Telephone and fax (1,392) (2,330)
Office expenses (414) -
Office expenses (548) (7,534)
Computer software and maintenance costs (2,819) (623)
Printing, postage and stationery (94) (184)
Printing, postage and stationery (453) (709)
Travel and subsistence (1,801) (634)
Accountancy fees (2,700) (300)
Legal and professional fees (43) (13)
Legal and professional fees (40,129) (12,670)
Bank charges (15) -
Depreciation of office equipment (195) (152)
(171,550) (128,837)

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