Charity Registration No: 1109083 Company Registration No: 5320369 (England & Wales) LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP x+x+x ADVOCACY SERVICES LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP TRUSTEES, REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP Legal and Administrative Information Status The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 23 December 2004 and registered as a charity on 18 April 2005. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. Under those Articles members of the committee are elected at the Annual General Meeting and are subject to ratification at each Annual General Meeting. Directorsrrrustees The Directorsrrrustees in office during the period and at the date of this report.. Michelle Stanistreet {Chair) Robert Garlinge (Trustee) Hannah Raven (Co-chair) Zelda Mccollum (Trustee) Sean Phillippo (Treasurer) Meriel Hodgson-Teall (Trustee) Ashley Thomas (Secretary) Imthiaz Rehman (Trustee) Mark Anderson (Trustee) Secretary Ashley Thomas Director Marsh Stitchman Organlsational Structure Lewisham Speaking Up is governed by a Board of Trustees who are voted in at the AGM. Three of our Trustees are people with a learning disability. The Board is led by a Chair and a Co-chair, who is somebody with a learning disability. We pride ourselves on having a diverse Board with varying skills including finance, media and communications, legal, advocacy, and experiences including learning disability, volunteering, and being a parent of a person with a learning disability. We currently have sub-committees which make recommendations to the Board. These are Finance & Funding and Policies. Registered Office and Principal Address Room F1 The Leemore Centre 29-39 Clarendon Rise Lewisham London SE13 SES Independent Examiner Andrew Thurburn Andrew Thurburn & Co. Chartered Accountants 38 Tamworth Road Croydon Surrey CRO 1XU Bankers The Cooperative Bank, PO Box 250, Delf House, Southway, Skelmersdale WN8 6wr
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP CONTENTS Page Trustees, Report Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Accounts
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP DIRECTORS'ITRUSTEES, REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The Directorsrrrustees present their report with the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024, having had regard to relevant SORP requirements. When preparing this report, the Trustees have also referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing and reporting on the charity's delivery of aims and objectives. In particular, the Trustees have considered how planned activities will contribute to meeting stated aims and objectives. WHAT LEWISHAM SPEAKING Up DOES Objectives and activities that are for public benefit The company is a charity that works to support and provide advocacy services to people with learning disabilities, particularly in the south east London Borough of Lewisham. Our charitable objectives are: (a) to relieve and support people disadvantaged by learning disability, difficulty or special need through advocacy services which promote their rights and entitlements as equal citizens., {b) to advan and promote education of all people with learning disabilities through group work, training and other relevant advocacy practi. (c) to advance the education of the public about the educational, physical, emotional and psychological needs of people with learning disabilities. REVIEW OF THE YEAR'S ACTIVITY AND RESULTS This report is about our activities and outcomes for the people we support and who participated in our activities during the e1ve months from April 2023 to March 2024. This year has seen a big change for the charity With a challenging start and a positive end. In April 23 we had just relocated to our new office and were still settling in and getting the people we support used to a new venue. We had several funding successes during the year, securing some important grants that meant we ended the year in a much securer position. We also continued to strengthen our partnerships and develop new ones, giving us greater opportunities to ensure the voice of people with learning disabilities is heard loud and clear, both in Lewisham and beyond. Throughout, we continued to provide a highly valued service and develop robust plans for the future. Over the course of the year, we ran a range of 152 different groups and activities, recording 1793 attendances by people with learning disabilities. Our 1-2-1 advocacy seNices worked with 129 individual referrals and our financial advocate secured £28,289 in annual benefits for individuals plus £42,776 in back payments. Self-Advocacy This year we didn't have any significant funding for this project apart from £9,500 from the NHS for particular pieces of work. We used this along with £11,000 from our reserves to continue this service, which is core to our campaigning and rights based approach. We ran five People's Parliament events in the period on the topics of Employment, Health, Race Equality, Mental Health and Housing. We were pleased to be awarded a grant of £88K in Dernber by the City Bridge Foundation for our self-advocacy activities. This allowed us to recruit a new self-advocacy coordinator in March 24 and will fund and develop our self- advocacy work for the next years.
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP DIRECTORS'rrRUSTEES' REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Our successful weekly Zoom meetings continued. Started during the pandemic, we plan to continue these groups indefinitely as they suit some people who aren't keen on face-to-face meetings. We were pleased to hear at the end of June 23 that we had secured a grant of £8354 from the Lottery Awards for All programme to restart our Women's and Men's groups. Both groups started again in August. In March 24, we ended our pilot of a weekly face-to-face drop-in group. )Nhist it was popular with those that attended, it didn't achieve the number of participants we were hoping for. We will replace it with a monthly self-advocacy Big Group which will start in April 24 at our base in Lewisham. 1-2-1 Advocacy Providing one to one case-based advocacy support is a key part of our service and in this period we provided two types of 1-2-1 advocacy for 129 referrals: Community (non-statutory) Advocacy Financial Advocacy Partnershlps We pride ourselves on working well with others who share similar missions to ours, and who want to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism. We developed several new partnerships this year: We became an official partner of Lewisham Community Connections. They are the largest social prescriber in the borough, and we are their only partner that specialises in working with people with learning disabilities. We were asked to become an official member of the Lewisham Safeguarding Adults Board. We have worked with the board closely, but being an official member gives us greater scope to make sure the voice of people with a learning disability is heard We are working with Lewisham Council Joint Commissioning Team to provide the co-chair of the new Lewisham Learning Disability Partnership Board. The Director of Lewisham Speaking Up will also sit on the board. We agreed to work as a partner with Entelechy Arts on a new programme that seeks to raise the voice and lived experience of people with profound and multiple learning disability (PMLD) We partnered with the Southeast London VCSE strategic alliance to produce a report on the barriers and solutions to neurodiverse people joining the health and social care workforce. The work was funded via NHS England and gave us the opportunity to work alongside several other community groups as part of a wider network looking at widening participation and increasing equity in the health and care workforce. We also continued our work with Learning Disability England and the Race Equality Foundation looking at how to highlight and address the health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities from Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic backgrounds.
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP DIRECTORS'ITRUSTEES, REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 RESULTS The total incoming resources for the year amounted to £188,324 with an expenditure of £150,391. The charity operates for the public benefit by.. providing self-advocacy groups and larger events for people with learning disabilities based at the Leemore Centre in Lewisham and other venues,. supporting self-advocates to participate in meetings and events, local, regional and national- providing specialised training and support for people with learning disabilities that supports their full participation in society and their ability to raise awareness of issues that affect them amongst the wider community., 1-2-1 advocacy support which includes a specialist financial inclusion 1-2-1 advocacy service. Advocacy is both short and long term and is in response to issues, problems or changes with services, especially where independence from senrfice provider conflict is critical. FUTURE STRATEGY The Board of Trustees remains committed to taking Lewisham Speaking Up forward in line with its objectives, as a grassroots advocacy charity, rooted in direct engagement with people with learning disabilities. People with learning disabilities in Lewisham are the core focus of our work and we continue to strive to tackle discrimination, enable access to services and promote their voice to decision makers- both collectively and as individuals. Our local knowledge and reputation with Lewisham-based stakeholders is a significant strength, as is our cooperation with the London Borough of Lewisham. This collaborative approach contributes to our sustainability and enables us to better meet our objectives. We have recognised challenges in the funding environment now exacerbated by the cost of living crisis. We recognise that competition for grant funding is fiercer than ever and we know we must find ways to diversify our funding. We continue to build on our Local Authority grant with additional funding and by being alert to new opportunities, to ensure that we are able to carry on building our work on a sustainable foundation. It continues to be clear our beneficiaries value Lewisham Speaking Up and have benefited from better self-esteem, a greater ability to articulate their needs to service providers and improved choices through our support. The national policy environment has further increased the need for independent advocacy for people with learning disabilities and the support we offer is thus even more critical for their wellbeing. INhen considering future strategy, Trustees will take careful account of how to meet ongoing challenges with continued emphasis upon delivering high quality advocacy provision for our beneficiaries. It is important that the charity continues to apply for grant funding whilst seeking opportunities to diversify its income, such as charging for services where possible and seeking both public and corporate donations.
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP DIRECTORS'ITRUSTEES, REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 RESERVES POLICY Free Reserves The Directorsrrrustees want to make sure the money that Lewisham Speaking Up receives is used to help us to do what we set out to do. They want to make sure our money does not just sit in the bank and that it helps us achieve our aims. However, they think Lewisham Speaking Up needs to have some money in reserve in case something unexpected happens. The increasingly diffscult financial climate makes a sudden reduction in our funding more likely. For these reasons, Lewisham Speaking Up needs money in reserve that will give us time to plan, find more money, or change things. The Directorsrrrustees think Lewisham Speaking Up also needs enough money in reserve to make sure they can carry out their responsibilities as a good employer. They think that the amount of money needed in resenie should be enough to cover six months, core running costs, which are the essential costs required to fulfil Lewisham Speaking Up's core charitable activity. This does not include the costs of additional projects that attract their own funding. As at 31 March 2024, our free reserves level is £69,491 (excluding designated funds). Our target for next year's reserves is £75,000 (6 months running cost). RISK REVIEW The Directorsrrrustees continue to be of the view discontinuation or reduction in grant funding is the main risk to our activity and are pleased with the steps we have taken to diversify our funding base over the past twelve months. Notwithstanding the above, we continue to believe that a local grant is vital to core stability and we remain of the view that grants better sustain local beneficiary-led groups such as ours. We believe that the benefits and added value that beneficiary-led and locally-rooted groups bring should be attractive to funders. We believe this is recognised by Lewisham who acknowledge this by sustaining a grant programme despite having to make cuts. During the year, the DirectOrsrUsteeS are led by a robust fundraising strategy and priorities to sustain and develop the work of Lewisham Speaking Up. The Board continues its finance and funding sub-committee to give better scrutiny and management of the charity's finances. Internal policies (including financial) are in pla to minimise risk and ensure service and operational quality for the charitable company.
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP DIRECTORS'rrRUSTEES' REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Members of the Board of Trustees, who are Directors for the purposes of company law and Trustees forthe purpose of charity law, who served during the year up to the date of this report, are set out at the front of this report. Members of the charitable company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31 March 2024 was 9. STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS'rrRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES Company law requires the Directorsrrrustees to prepare annual accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing the company's accounts, Directorsrrrustees are required to: consistently apply suitable accounting policies and make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is appropriate to presume that the company will not continue to carry on its business. The Directorsrrrustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any particular time the financial position of the company. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to Small Companies. The accounts were approved by the Board on 26th November 2024 Signed Michelle Stsnistreet Co-chair Signed Sean Phillippo Treasurer
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Lewisham Speaklng Up I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Lewisham Speaking Up (the Charitable Company) for the year ended 31 March 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the trustees of the Charitable Company (who are also the directors of the company 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 the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011Act. Independent examiner's ststement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. (1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006", or (2) the accounts do not accord with those records., or (3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 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 the accounts have not been prepared in accordan with the Charities SORP (FRS 102). (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 your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Andrew Thurbum FCA Andrew Thurburn & Co. Chartered Accountants 38 Tamworth Road Croydon Surrey CRO 1XU 26° November 2024
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Unrestricted Restrlcted Funds Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Notes INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntary income Investment income Sncoming resources from charitable activities.. Fees from charitable activities 100,208 80,324 180,532 178,408 5,265 2,527 7,792 5,390 Total Incoming resources 105,473 82,851 188,324 183,798 RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable expenditure.. Activity costs Fundraising costs Governance costs 57,928 954 2,125 89,384 147,312 262,906 954 4,640 2,125 2,139 Total resources expended 61,007 89,384 150,391 269,685 NET IEXPENDITUREIIINCOME FOR THE YEAR Transfers beeen funds 44,466 (8,682) {6,533) 37,933 {85,887) 8,682 NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 35,784 2,149 37,933 185,887) Fund balances at 1 April 2023 58.707 11.845 70,552 156,439 FUND BALANCES AT 31 MARCH 2024 10 94,491 13,994 108,485 70,552
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 2024 2023 Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank and in hand Debtors (due within one year) 94,627 20,100 81,215 1,225 114,727 82,440 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year (6,242) (5,888) NET CURRENT ASSETS Deferred Income 108,485 76,552 (6,000) NET ASSETS 108,485 70,552 FUNDS Restricted funds Unrestricted general funds Unrestricted designated funds 10 10 11 13,994 11,845 69,491 25,000 58,707 94,491 58,707 108,485 70,552 The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024. The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otheDNise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to Small Companies. The accounts were approved by the Board on 26th November 2024 Sean Phillippo Treasurer
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 ACCOUNTING POLICIES 1.1 Basis of preparation The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. 1.2 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows.. Plant and machinery Fixtures, fittings and equipment 33Q/o on cost 330A on cost 1.3 Fund accounting Funds held by the charity are either: Unrestricted general funds, which can be used in accordance with charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees, and unrestricted designated funds which are unrestricted funds set aside by the trustees for particular purposes., or Restricted funds, which can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. VOLUNTARY INCOME Unre8trict8d Re8trlctod Funds Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Awards For All Community Links LB Lewisham Grants LB Lewisham LD Commissioning Henry Smith Charity (Finance Advocacy) Learning Disability England Lee Charity Trees of David SEUNHS National Lottery Donations 8,354 8,354 43,200 45,000 45,000 20.000 20,000 20,000 41,700 41,700 34,800 10,500 43,200 45,000 6,300 1,000 6,300 1,000 9,500 20,522 37,841 9,745 9,500 4,708 770 5,478 100,208 80,324 180,532 178,408
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (Contd) FEES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Unrestri¢ted Restricted Funds Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Workshops Advisory Work 2,140 3,125 1,222 1,305 3,362 4,430 5,390 5,265 2,527 7,792 5,390 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED Fund- Charltabl8 Support Govern- Raising Activitie$ Costs ance Total 2024 Total 2023 Expenditure.. Salaries, Nl & Pensions Freelance Workers Other Staff Support Costs Governance Direct Advocacy Support & Group Costs Marketing Administration & Overheads Fundraising Rent 91,777 28,253 15,390 120,030 224,805 15.390 2,295 2,125 3,972 443 5,182 954 2,295 2,943 2,139 9,801 228 9,922 4,640 15,207 2,125 3,972 443 5,182 954 Sub-Total Re-allocation of Support Costs 954 111,582 35,730 2,125 150,391 .269.685 35,730 135.730) TOTAL £954 £147,312 £2,125 £150,391 £269,685 TRUSTEES None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or expenses for their services as Trustees during the year or the previous year. EMPLOYEES Number of employees 2024 2023 The average monthly number of employees (full-time equivalents) during the year was: Administration and Charitable Activities Employment costs 2024 2023 Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs 112,517 206,288 3,310 10,918 4,203 7,599 120,030 224,805 No employee earned more than £60,000 per annum. 10
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (Contd) TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Plant and Fixtures, Machinery Fittings & Equipment Total Cost At 1 April 2023 Additions Disposals 1,852 1,852 At 31 March 2024 1,852 1,852 Depreciation At l April 2023 Charge for the year On Disposals 1,852 1,852 At 31 March 2024 1,852 1,852 Net book value At 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023 Accruals 6.242 5,888 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS Unrestrlcted Funds Re8tr1cted Funds Tolal 2024 Total 2023 Fund balances at 31 March 2024.. Current assets Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year Deferred Income 96.973 {2,482) 17,754 (3,760) 114.727 82,440 (6,242) 15.8881 {6,0001 94,491 13,994 108,485 70,552 10. MOVEMENTS OF FUNDS 2023-2024 Towi Unrtrt•d Deonted R•stflcied Fund¥ Fund¥ Funds Fund8 Se On•t¢ FknandAI Men's & Ad¥¢w Wtynert'B roup Advo Arnbassa. Advo¢aEy 8lanca BIF I AO12023 Grant$. Awards For A11 Henry Smitn Charily LB L*Asham C¢mmi$8knnSng L8 LowK%ham NHS England Olher Sm811 Gr8rnS C¢yDmunrty Link$ Incom? - Grants oiner Tot41 Income 70.552 $8.707 11.845 1.016 4.894 6.135 8.354 41.70Q 20.0 45,OOC 8,354 41.700 20.L 41.7QJ 45.IX 7.3C 43.20 175,054 13,270 188,324 7.3fp) 43.2 95.S 9.973 105,473 79.854 3.297 2,851 41.71K) 8.354 12.288 42.209 8,364 Toi81 Expenditure SUWu$llDefI1} forthe Year rronsfws 8ehveen Funds 1S0.391 37.9 61,007 44.486 133.6821 89.3B4 16.5331 8..682 23.680 111.3921 10.316 18,$4S 1.455 41,926 283 5.232 3.122 25.0rt1 (4.8941 B8knce8 8s ef31 M¥ch 2024 108.,485 69.491 13.994 8,418 3.122
LEWISHAM SPEAKING UP NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (Contd) 11. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS Total General Funds 58,707 35,784 (25,000) Designated Funds Balan at 1.04.23 Net Movement in Funds Transfer Between Funds 58,707 35,784 25,000 Balances at 31.03.24 94,491 69,491 25,000 12. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 2023 Unrestricted Fund5 Restricted Funds Totsl 2023 INCOMING RESOURCES Income in furtherance of the Gharity's activities.. Voluntary income 61,038 Investment income Incoming resources from charitable activities.. Fees from charitable activities 117,370 178,408 5,270 120 5,390 Total Incoming Resources 66,308 117,490 183,798 RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable expenditure.. Activity costs Fundraising costs Governance costs 109,146 4,640 2,139 153,760 262,906 4,640 2,139 Total Resources Expended 115,925 153,760 269,685 NET (EXPENDITURE)IINCOME FOR THE YEAR Transfers between funds (49,617) {36,270) (85,887) NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Fund balances at 1 April 2022 (49,617) 108,324 (36,270) 48,115 {85,887) 156,439 FUND BALANCES AT 31 MARCH 2023 58,707 11,845 70,552 12