Charity Commission Annual Return and Accounts 2023
April 2022 - March 2023
Friday Network Jubilee party May 2022
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Saturday Group
May 2022
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Friday Network Children in Need November Friday Network looking at new Speakeasy 2022
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logos March 2023
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Telephone 01256 423829 or 07824 696444 hello@speakeasyadvocacy.org.uk https://www.speakeasyadvocacy.org.uk The Orchard, White Hart Lane, Basingstoke RG21 4AF
Registered charity number: 1108304
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative details of the | |
| Charity, its trustees and advisors | 3 |
| Structure, governance and management | 4 |
| Objectives and activities | 5 – 7 |
| Financial Report | 8 – 9 |
| What we will do next year | 10 |
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023
Page 2 of 10
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
Name of charity: Speakeasy Advocacy Registered charity number: 1108304
Address: The Orchard, White Hart Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4AF
Trustees:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Carole Over | Chair |
| Derek Easton | Treasurer |
| Matthew Ansell | Secretary |
| Nicholas Godwin | Trustee resigned 24thNovember 2022 |
| Marie Le Warne | Self Advocacy representative |
| Alex Azimi | Self Advocacy representative |
Staff team:
Chief Executive = Amanda Kent Senior Advocate = Lynda Awan Project Officer = Ruth Jewell Advocate = Ally Burridge
Bank: Unity Trust Bank, Nine Brindley Place, Birmingham, B1 2HB Virgin Money, Jubiliee House, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 4PL
Independent examiner: Suzanne Sunderland, Basingstoke Voluntary Action
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023 Page 3 of 10
Structure, governance and management
We are governed by a Constitution (based on the charity commission model), and are a registered charity.
We must have at least 3 trustees who are either users of the service or advocates – at least 1 of each.
Our Trustee Policy states that we have Trustee representatives of our self advocacy groups Happy Club, Firefoxes (previously known as Virtual Friends) and the Friday Network.
Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting. All trustees receive training to do their role; trustees who are also users of the service have support from an advocate.
Trustees always make decisions about:
-
What our priorities are
-
Whether we do new work
-
If we should employ a new member of staff
The Trustees have met 4 times online in addition to the Annual General Meeting. The Trustees conducted a financial review of staff payscales and full cost recovery chargeable rates and approved increases as a result. They also approved a new development plan with key priorities in governance, finance and operations.
The operations group (chairman and chief executive) have responsibility for the day to day running of Speakeasy Advocacy. This includes putting in place systems and procedures to manage the risks that the charity is exposed to.
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023
Page 4 of 10
Objectives and Activities
The objects in our constitution are:
“To protect and preserve the good health of children, young people and adults with autistic spectrum disorders and/or learning disabilities”.
As an advocacy organisation our aim is to:
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Make sure people are listened to
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Empower people to take control of their lives, making their own decisions and choices so that they become as independent as possible
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Support people to become part of their local communities and prevent social exclusion
Where we work:
We now cover the whole area of Hampshire following on from operational changes to our partner organisation Havant & East Hants Mind who closed their advocacy service in September 2022.
Summary of our activities this year:
This year we have worked with 339 people – 9 people less than last year
| Type of advocacy | Area | Numbers of people |
|---|---|---|
| Advocacy Safety Net | Basingstoke | 62 |
| Care Act Advocacy | Hampshire | 2 |
| Child Protection | Hampshire | 9 |
| Get Connected | Hart & Rushmoor | 42 |
| Non statutory advocacy | Hampshire | 5 |
| Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR) |
Hampshire | 50 |
| Self Advocacy Groups | Basingstoke | 79* |
| Signposting & Information |
Hampshire | 90 |
| TOTAL | 339 |
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023 Page 5 of 10
*includes Happy Club which is still not meeting in person due to the continued closure of some community groups and activities
An overview of the ‘care groups’ that we have worked with is as follows:
| follows: | |
|---|---|
| Care group | Numbers |
| Acquired Brain Injury | 2 |
| ADHD | 1 |
| Autism | 47 |
| Learning disability & Autism | 11 |
| Learning disability | 139 |
| Looked After Child | 2 |
| Mental health | 37 |
| Older person | 14 |
| Physical disability | 7 |
| Substance misuse | 1 |
| Unknown | 78 |
| TOTAL | 339 |
We have been able to determine that advocacy has made the following differences in 156 cases that were closed this year:
| Outcome/Difference made | Numbers of closed cases = 156 |
|---|---|
| Barriers removed | 25 |
| Improved care and support | 13 |
| Engaged in local community | 8 |
| Improved wellbeing | 14 |
| Reduced social isolation | 4 |
| Signposted and given information |
92 |
We took on the role of co-ordinating the county wide delivery of RPR from October 2022 when our partner organisation at Havant & East Hants Mind closed their advocacy service in September 2022. We delivered this service with our other partner organisation Choices Advocacy, as well as providing practice support and supervision to the remaining Havant & East Hants Mind advocate.
We completed the HCC grant funded Get Connected project in December 2022, and started a new HCC grant funded Advocacy Safety Net project in September 2022. We secured new grant
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023
Page 6 of 10
funding from the NHS Integrated Commissioning Board for adults and young people with autism for April 2023.
Speakeasy further developed our partnership with Basingstoke Voluntary Action Back Office Support Service (BOSS) for support with payroll, end of year accounts, and training for migrating to a new accounts package.
Speakeasy continued our strategic work as members of several Boards in Hampshire (including the Hampshire Safeguarding Adults Board) as well as continued participation in local and national networks for voluntary sector, disability and advocacy.
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023 Page 7 of 10
Financial Report
Accounts – Year ended 31[st] March 2022 Financial Report by Treasurer Derek Easton
Income was more than we expected due to a rise in spot purchase commissions from local authorities who place people out of county in Hampshire.
Expenditure was less than expected, as we delayed recruitment of a new post although some existing part time staff worked overtime.
We had planned for a deficit and did well to reduce this considerably to £13,200, which means we have more in reserves at the end of the year than we expected.
We secured two lots of grant funding for April 2023 from the NHS Integrated Commissioning Board, and were hopeful of a surplus rather than a deficit in the next financial year.
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023
Page 8 of 10
Accounts - Year ended 31st March 2023
Statement of Financial Activities
| Grant Income Flow Through Income Other Income Total Income Salaries & NIC Premises Costs Other Expenditure Total Expenditure Balance of Funds for Year Balance of Funds B/fwd Balance of Funds C/Fwd |
Restricted Unrestricted Total Funds Funds 2023 69,652 0 69,652 0 0 0 42,456 11,305 53,761 112,107 11,305 123,412 58,705 44,121 102,826 2,009 7,387 9,396 7,031 17,360 24,391 67,745 68,868 136,613 44,362 (57,563) (13,200) 4,399 151,922 156,321 48,761 94,359 143,121 |
Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||
| 128,929 | ||
| (59,998) | ||
| 31,554 | ||
| 100,485 | ||
| 90,033 | ||
| 9,205 | ||
| 23,112 | ||
| 122,350 | ||
| (21,865) | ||
| 178,186 | ||
| 156,321 |
The accounts were independently examined on 26[th] July 2023 by Suzanne Sunderland FCCA.
The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 21[st] September 2023.
The full accounts are available from the Charity Commission.
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023 Page 9 of 10
What we will do next year
-
Continue to deliver high quality advocacy across Hampshire
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Implement the development plan in key areas of governance, finance and operations
The Annual Report was approved by the Trustees on 30[th] November 2023
Charity Commission Annual Return & Accounts 2023
Page 10 of 10
Balance Sheet- Year Ended 31st March 2023 2023 2022 Flxed Assets Office Equipment Furniture & Fittings 69 160 930 342 229 1,272 Current Assets Debtors Bank Deposit Account Bank Current Account 18,478 117,563 33,342 9.990 116,932 56,010 169,383 182,932 Current Llabilities Creditors - Short Term Taxation 26,491 26,234 1,649 26,491 27,883 Current Assets Less Liabilities Totsl A55et5 Less Current Liabilities 142,892 143,121 155,049 156,321 Balance of Funds Restrirted Unrestrirted Total Restrirted Unrestricted Total BIForward This Year C/Forward 4,399 2,663 7,062 151.922 115,51631 136,059 156,321 113,?001 143,121 6,260 11,8611 4,399 171,926 178,186 120,0041 121,8651 151,922 156,321 Note: Reserves include exit costs of £76,018. Approved by the Trustees on.... and signed on their behalf by....-.-.
Accounts - Year ended 31st March 2023 Statement of Financial Activities Restrirted Unrestrlcted Funds Funds Totsl 2023 Totsl 2022 Grant Income Flow Through Income Other Income Total Income 69,652 69,652 128,929 159,9981 31,554 IIXl.485 42,456 112,107 11,305 11,305 53,761 123,412 Salaries & NIC Premises Costs Other Expenditure Total Expenditure 58,705 2,009 7,031 67,745 44,121 7,387 17,360 68,868 102,826 9,396 24,391 136,613 90,033 9,205 23.112 122,350 Balance of Funds for Year 44,362 157,563} 113,2001 (21,865) Balance of Funds BIFwd 4,399 151,922 156,321 178,186 Balance of Funds CIFwd 48,761 94.359 143,121 156,321
Speakeasy Advocacy Accounts - Year Ended 31st March 2023 Income & Expenditure Totsl 2023 Restricted Unrestricted Funds Funds Totsl 2022 Restricted Unrestricted Funds Funds Notes Grant Income Flow Through Income Fund Raising Income Donated Income Interest Received Misc Income Cross Charging Total Income 69,652 69,652 128,929 159,9981 128,929 159.9981 675 675 630 10,000 42,116 53,421 300 125 31,129 37,606 138,091 300 125 10,527 37,606 48,558 630 52,456 42,533 165,945 42,456 417 112,524 20,602 89,533 Staff Salaries & NIC Rent 102.826 9,347 58,705 2,009 44,121 7.338 90,033 9,124 48,771 1.684 41,262 7,440 Travelling Office Stationery Postage & Carriage Telephone Internet Charges 2,307 1,963 109 1,095 2,217 36 90 1,928 109 1.550 2,518 454 1,478 60 72 2,458 39 415 1,095 984 9,347 900 5,058 49 iii 9,236 900 443 49 9.581 1,2CIJ 1,511 81 1.338 2,268 9,575 1,200 876 57 338 2,268 Audit & Accountancy Professional Fees Premises Expenses Training Costs Insurance Refreshrnents Misc Expenses Depreciation Cross Charging Total Expenses 4,615 635 24 1,000 2,410 53 108 1.042 42,533 179,145 2.410 53 108 1,042 417 69,284 176 1,532 37,606 159,956 176 1,532 285 68,562 42,116 109,861 37,321 91,394 Balance of Funds for Year {13,2001 2,663 (15,8631 (21,865) {11) 120,004)
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees Charity Name Speakeasy Advocacy On accounts for the year 31[st] March 2023 Charity no 1108304 ended (if any) Set out on pages As follows(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2023. Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
| Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: |
Suzanne Sunderland | 26thJuly 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Suzanne Sunderland | ||
| FCCA | ||
| Basingstoke Voluntary Action | ||
| The Orchard, White Hart Lane, Basingstoke, RG21 4AF |
Oct 2018
1
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
N/A
Oct 2018
2
IER