VOLUNTARY NORFOLK Annual Report 2023-2024 Chair's introduction: John Archibald It is my privilege to introduce this annual report, high lighting the tangible difference our organisation makes to the lives of individuals and communities across Norfolk, thanks to the hard work of our staff, the dedication of our volunteers, and the breadth of our partnerships. 2023-24 was very much defi'ned by the economic and social issues facing the country, from which Norfolk and it5 communities were not immune. The 'cost-of-living crisis, had a major impact on the people we work with, often exacerbating social factors such as loneliness, social isolation and the of unpaid carers. Our services have continued to deliver great work supporhng people when they need help the most.. those struggling with social isolation and loneliness through our Better Together Norfolk team,. the many unpaid carers of all ages across Norfolk; and those needing assistance on nights out in Norwich through our SOS Bus service. We were particularly pleased to be able to pilot a service for parent carers, and to win a new contract to support young carers and families shaped by feedback from young carers. Unfortunately, in common with many across the country, there was an end to EU funding for our established and successful employment and skills team gethng people back into training or work. Although our delivery capacity has reduced in this area, we retain considerable of knowledge and expertise and expect to rebuild our employment and skills support offer going forward as funding comes available. Our volunteering offer continued to evolve and our volunteers have been instrumental in strengthening their communities, in particular by supporting clinical staff in healthcare settings and helping prevent hospital admissions in the first place- something made even more important by the well-publicised challenges facing the NHS in the last year. We were proud to launch the Norfolk and Waveney Community Support Service in partnership with Age UK Norwich and British Red Cross. This provides short-term practical support to people leaving hospital and in the community and is an evolution of the covid response service we established in 2020 during the pandemic. The year was also challenging for the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise IVCSE} sector with the cost-of-livi ng crisis leading to a 'cost-of-givi ng crisis, and NCVO reporting 250A of VCSE groups struggling to meet the increased demands on their services, and 20% set to struggle to continue to operate in the winter of 2023-2024. We remain committed to ensuring Norfolk has a thriving VCSE sector by helping recruit and train volunteers for other voluntary groups and by providing them with the tools, resources and small grants they require. A highlight of the year was the development of a Vision for Volunteering for Norfolk and the continued growth of our Get InVOLved Norfolk volunteering portal. Our Freshly Greated team have continued to lead new artistic and cultural initiatives in Great Yarmouth that enable communities to thrive. They have put on hundreds of exciting events over the year attracting tens of thousand5 of people from some of the most deprived areas of the town. Our trading arm- CBR Business Solutions- h35 continued to provide high quality and trusted professional support to organisations and bring in unrestricted income to support Voluntary Norfolk's work. During this linancial year. Alan Hopley. the long-serving CEO of Voluntary Norfolk, announced he would retire at the end of May 2024. He has headed the organisation for the last nine years. Serving as a Chief Executive of a voluntary organisation is a tough job at the best of times. In recent years. Alan navigated Voluntary Norfolk through the Covid epidemic, huge extra demand on service5, and a cost-of-livi ng crisis. His legacy is an organ isation that is well placed to meet the challenges of the future. Voluntary Norfolk says farewell to a first-class chief executive. The voluntary sector says farewell to a very able ambassador, with a wealth of knowledge, who has championed the role and importance of the VCSE sector in Norfolk. Trustees started a recruitment process for a new CEO and appointed Michael Kitching to start in July 2024. Looking back on our last financial year, we are very proud of the positive difference Voluntary Norfolk has made helping individuals and serving communities across the county and beyond. It has been a challenging year financially but, despite the challenges, this year's strong performance in so many areas of our work gives us the confidence to achieve even more in the years ahead, continuing to improve lives and strengthen communities across Norfolk. Trustees, report The Trustees present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the company for the year l April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The annual report serves the purposes of both a Trustees, report and a Directors, report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORPI applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS1021 (effective l January 20191. Since the company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors, Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted. The Trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives. The activities in respect of furthering the charity purpose are described in our Objectives and Activities section below, VOLUNTARY ,NORFOLK I.AOBf M*e a drference 13eoJme a vobntee '**tarynorfok.cwgL tb Organisational objectives The vision, mission and aims for Voluntary Norfolk have been defined as follows.. Our vision Connected, resilient and compassionate communities where people work together to improve lives. Our mission To enable local people and communities to thrive and reach their potential. To deliver innovative solutions through effective partnerships. To ensure the voices of volunteers and voluntary organisations are represented. Our aims Inspire and enable people to volunteer, take social action and make a difference. Deliver innovative and integrated services in partnership with voluntary, public and private sectors. Support the development and voice of community groups, charities and social enterprises. Achieve sustainable growth. The leadership team has regular discussions to prioritise organisational objectives to ensure they meet the needs of those we work with, namely the people and communities of Norfolk and beyond. Activities and achievements Over the last financial year Voluntary Norfolk has continued to deliver a variety of projects and services in support of our purposes and aims. The following section details the projects and services that were operational during 2023-24 and fall within one of five key areas of work for Voluntary Norfolk: Building a thriving voluntary, community and social enterprise sector Leading new initiatives that enable communities to thrive Supporting people when they need help the most Getting people into work Strengthening communities and improving live5 through volunteering INFOGRAPHICS PAGE We successfully supported 59% of our clients in our employment and skills services into work, job searching or traini ng Over 35,000 people attended our Freshly Greated events in Great Yarmouth Our Better Together Life Connectors offered 5,642 hours of peer support to those struggling with loneliness We supported the Men's Shed network grow in Norfolk: There are now 29 Men's Sheds in Norfolk (with a further 4 in development) - more than in London Our Christmas hamper campaign saw 150 hampers go to people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis in the Great Yarmouth area Our Carers Matter Team completed 89 Carers Breaks referrals, which provided much needed respite for unpaid carers Our SOS Bus service helped over 2919 people on nights out in Norwich and was named 'Team/Community Group of the Year, at the EDP'S Stars of Norfolk and Waveney Awards. Our volunteers dedicated c.14,OOOhours of their time to strengthening our communities Our non-emergency patient transport volunteers clocked up 430,642 miles taking people to medical appointments- almost the distance to the moon and backl Over 4,8(K) volunteers are now registered on our volunteering portal - GetlnVOLved Norfolk lover twice as many as last year} We developed and launched the "Vision for Volunteering" a volu nteering strategy for Norfolk Glossary BTN- Better Together Norfolk, Voluntary Norfolk's loneliness and social isolation service supporknng those in Broadland, Great Yarmouth, Norwich and South Norfolk. CAN- Community Action Norfolk is an organisation which engages with the VCSE sector in Norfolk. Voluntary Norfolk works with them as part ofthe Empowering Communities Partnership. CMN- Carers Matter Norfolk is the service that supports adult carers in Norfolk, which Voluntary Norfolk is one of the partners in. CBR Business Solutions- Voluntary Norfolk's trading arm that provides DBS, Payroll and HR services to organisations and companies around the country. ECCH East Coast Community Healthcare is a social enterprise providing NHS community health and social care services across Norfolk and Suffolk, largely in the Waveney area around Lowestoft and Beccles. ESF-The European Social Fund is a European Union funded scheme that helps millions of Europeans improve their lives by learning new skills and finding betterjobs. FUSE - FUSE supports social enterprises in Norwich. Voluntary Norfolk works with them as part of the Empowering Community Partnership. NCAN- Norfolk Comrrunity Advice Network is a Norfolk-wide partnership of advice and community experts. Voluntary Norfolk works with them as part of the Empowering Communities Partnership. NCF- Norfolk Community Foundation is a charity dedicated to building stronger communities and improving the lives of people in Norfolk. Voluntary Norfolk works alongside them as part of the Empowering Communities Partnership. NCH&C- Norfolk Community Health and Care provides community health and care services across Norfolk. NCVO- A membership community for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England, which Voluntary Norfolk is part of. VCSE- Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (formerly known as the tertiary sector and can sometimes be referred to as VCFSE to include faith-based groups or organisationsl. YCM - Young Carers Matter, a partnership of organisations led by Voluntary Norfolk to identify and support young carers around Norfolk. Building a thriving VCSE sector A core aspect of Voluntary Norfolk's work is supporting and enablingthe wider VCSE sector in Norfolk to thrive. This work is carried out by our Communities team. They have three key purposes: Providing and facilitating support to VCSE groups and organisations in Norfolk Advocating for and supporting the diversity of VCSE voices across the sector and enabling them to be heard by key audiences and stakeholders Promoting and enabling volunteering Within the Communities team there are a number of different work strands: Em owerin Communities Voluntary Norfolk continues to be a lead delivery partner in the Empowering Communities Partnership IECPI. The partnership covers the whole of Norfolk and through its members IVN, CAN, NCF, NCAN and FUSE Norwich} represents a rich body of contacts, experience, local and specialist knowledge. Given the ongoing challenges that VCSE organisations are facing, from rising costs to increasing demand for many services, and difficulties in recruiting volunteers and paid staff, this integrated and joined-up approach provides effective and easy-to-access support. Volunta Norfolk Network Voluntary Norfolk has recognised that inclusive and responsive networks, that harness expertise from across this diverse sector, are the most effective way of helping organisations thrive. Regular newsletters and frequently updated Padlets (online notice boards) enable networkers to access a wide range of information, training opportunities, webinars, and resources. The popularity of this approach is demonstrated by the 250/0 increase in the Voluntary Norfolk Network membership over the year (from 290 to 362 members). As members have become used to the padlets their usage of this has increased dramatically. Views in the most recent quarter increased by 132%11911} compared to the first quarter1825 views). One member commented "howfantastic this resource is, it is genuinely really helpfulforsomeone managing a charity like me to have all of these opportunities presented like this." Norfolk VCSE Leadershi Network This Network, delivered by Voluntary Norfolk and CAN as part of Empowering Communities, supports those in leadership roles within Norfolk's VCSE sector by creating a space for relationships to develop and experiences to be shared, providing peer support which informs and strengthens collective influencing. In Autumn 2023 the network was relaunched to reflect these views and since then we have held two 'hybrid' sessions on the themes of Inclusive Leadership and Collective Influencing. These events have been attended by a total of 50 people. The Leadership Network has grown from 50 to 89 members, an increase of 780A. hank you for providing the opportunity to come together with other leaders and share ideas, celebrating the impoct of the VCSE sector." Worksho s and Networkin Events Central to our support offer for VCSES are networking events and workshops which take place online and face-to-face around Norfolk. This year, Voluntary Norfolk put on 16 such events which were attended by 301 people. Our networking events are designed to bring together local VCSE stakeholders to collaborate, share challenges and solution5, and make connections in an informal setling. Topics have included: engaging young people in volunteering; developing your volunteering strategy; workplace wellbeing for VCSES, and cost of living crisis impact on VCSES. Many attendees have provided positive feedback.. he trainers were extremely knowledgeable and offered differing perspectives and ideas to bring into the workplace. hanksfor orgonising a great event. Valuable t7me spent awayfrom the day to day to discuss with other voluntary sector organisations the challenges facing North Norfolk and to be able to network. Vision for Volunteerin Since the impact of the pandemic in 2020 there have been many changes to the volunteering landscape in Norfolk, and across the UK. To understand the nature of these changes, the implications for volunteer involving organisations, and how Voluntary Norfolk and the Empowering Communities Partnership can provide the necessary support to the sector, the VCSE Support team led on the development of a Norfolk Vision for Volunteering. A countywide research project involved almost 500 people through online surveys, discussion groups and one-to-one interviews, as well as detailed desk research. The Norfolk Vision for Volunteering was approved by the Public Sector Leaders Board and launched at an event in Norwich in November 2023. Over 70 guests from the public. private and third sectors discussed the importance of volunteering for the wellbeing of the county and made pledges to support the Vision within their organisation and more widely. Following the launch there has been a programme of workshops to support organisations to review and develop their own volunteering strategy to be more inclusive and accessible. Alongside this Voluntary Norfolk has established a strategic steering group and a working group of representatives from VCSE organisations and statutory bodies to take forward the Norfolk Vision for Volunteering. An action plan will ensure that a collaborative approach, shared resources and expertise, and more joined-up initiatives will lead to real change over the coming years. Get InVOLved Norfolk Voluntary Norfolk has continued to support organisations in recruiting volunteers through an active and popular outreach programme. In the last year the communities team also responded to 485 individual enqui ries relating to volunteering. Launched in July 2022 our volunteering portal, Get InVOLved Norfolk is almost two years old and has proved very popular with organisations seeking volunteers. and with new and returning volunteers who are able to find a huge range of volunteering opportunities. Almost 110,000 unique visitors have used the site {up from 49,600 last year) since its launch, an average of 5,000 visits per month. The number of registered volunteers has increased by 2,927 to bring total potential and existing volunteers to 4,853- an increase of 57Yo over the year. Not for profit organisations registered on the platform and currently seeking volunteers has risen by 166 to 363. There have been 1,414 volunteer opportunities posted on the site to date, and the total applications to volunteering opportunities are 5,279. To put these figures into context, the number of volunteers registered on the previous volunteer platform was 825 in March 2022. ersu orted volunteerin Employer supported volunteering enquiries have steadily risen, and the corporate Volunteering page has had 1,858 views since its creation and 10 businesses and corporates have joined the platform to source their regular corporate volunteering opportunities. Recently, Kier and Norwich City Football Club supported Break with outdoorstasks attheir children's homes. ljust wanted to say o big thank youfor allowing us to volunteer with Break. We all hod a wonderful time, and we hope that you are now enjoying the changes to the garden." Norwich City Football Club We had a very productive meeting with Kier yesterday about how we can support each other going forward, so I really appreciate you linking us initially., Break Norfolk Volunteer Pass ort The Norfolk Volunteer Passport is a short course delivered for Voluntary Norfolk by Adult Learning that provides volunteers with an introduction to volunteering and the knowledge to help them find new roles more quickly. 27 learners completed the course over the year, either online or face-to- face for Wells Community Hospital in North Norfolk and Out There Arts in Great Yarmouth, bringing the total to 92 learners. They have been supported by Adult Learning and the VCSE Support team to progress their volunteering journey to volunteering roles, further training and employment. I learned a lot and the course was m05t informotive ond covered muny area5." -Good course to take.- Learners at Great Yarmouth Su ort for Sanctuar Seekers In 2023 Voluntary Norfolk secured funding from NAVCA to develop infrastructure support for local organisations that support and help refugees and asylum seekers. This funding supported Norwich io City of Sanctuary to extend its role in the city and also to work with local groups to develop three pilot Towns of Sanctuary in Norfolk. Following research and local discussions the market towns of Diss, Watton and Dereham were identified as the most suitable locations and local steering groups were helped to establish themselves. In addition, the Voluntary Norfolk team worked in partnership with New Routes Integration to set up a pilot project to support sanctuary seekers in Norwich into volunteering. Organisations were invited to identify roles that would be suitable for sanctuary seekers, where they would receive appropriate support and would not need to have DBS checks, and attended a meeting to share any concerns and what roles they would make available. A dedicated members. only webpage on Get Involved Norfolk features these volunteering roles. Momentum Through the Momentum team, Voluntary Norfolk is continuing to provide specialist support to voluntary and community organisations working with children and young people to help them build resilience. Over the last two years, Momentum's Youth Work Network have restarted in person meetings. These have attracted a total of 63 youth work professionals from over 30 organisations. Topics discussed that were put forward by the network included; mental health & wellbeing, youth isolation and loneliness, and social media and internet awareness. Momentum also ran a number of workshops and training events which attracted attendees from 47 different organisations across Norfolk. There are approximately 800 people signed up to the Momentum Youth Work Network Mailing list from over 300 different organisations. Momentum's small grants programme continued in 2023-24 thanks to funding of £15,000 from Norfolk Children's Services to support youth work in Norfolk. A hugely successful element of the Momentum grants and funding process is that all grant applications are assessed by Young Commissioners from the Youth Advisory Board5 operating in each district area. They have a good understanding of what is needed in their area. A total of £4,651.90 was spent over the 11 successful grant applications and Momentum training this year. One of the beneficiaries this year was Musical Keys in Norwich, which used their grant of £500 towards new brainwave music controllerl The group said that 'This has been a hugely exciting projectfor us so far and we can't wait to see whot happens when ourfocus group start moking musicl Overthe year we took the decision to move the administration of our small grants programme to our local grant experts at Norfolk Community Foundation. Moving the fund to the Foundation, means that Momentum can focus on what it is best at, and groups can get more support from dedicated grants officers. The Voluntary Sector Forum (Children, Young People and Families) has continued to meet on a quarterly basis with members hearing important update5 from Statutory li colleagues. Information is shared with approximately g) members who are registered as Voluntary Sector Forum members. 12 Leading new initiatives that enable communities to thrive Voluntary Norfolk is the lead partner in the Freshly Greated project, which seeks to build and improve the community arts offer in Great Yarmouth to enable communities to come together and thrive in new and engaging ways through the medium of arts and culture. Voluntary Norfolk has a strong tradition of building and supporting communities across Norfolk since we started as an organisation over 50 years ago. The Freshly Greated team continues to work in three of the most deprived neighbourhoods of the borough: Cobholm and Southtown (Great Yarmouth), Nelson Ward and the Barrack Estate IGreat Yarmouth) and the Magdalen Estate (Gorlestonl. The aim remains that, when the funding for this project ends, it will have a lasting impact because of the work it has done getting the community engaged and local volunteers involved. We made some significant changes to our approach in 2023-24. guided by evaluation findings, working even harder to ensure we reach the widest range of different audiences and maintain the community voice and local relevance in all activities we produce. This ranged from working with some specific target groups such as a Men's Mental Health group, integrating the older generations. and setknng up a new producer group aimed specifically at those with English as a second language. Based on feedback and developments from previous years, we have also created a model for some community producers to be able to plan and produce their own events to give them greater ownership whilst supporting development of skills in leading creative activities in the future. As a result, each of these neighbourhoods have volunteers that have come forward to work with the team on the project. We also have a "young producer" group for fourteen to eighteen-year-olds across the area. Some of the highlights in the last twelve months have been the: 9 Community Festivals and Events 16"producer meetings" 33 music gigs and workshops for 14-18 year olds 34 community maker sessions 164 community producers who came forward 1760 hours given up by volunteers {valued at £18,480) 35,202 people attending our events 13 The project continues to go from strength to strength with successful funding bids continuing to ensure its pioneering nature and benefits to the wider community. New projects have also started. From January 2024,"Our Space" was launched running creative sessions twice a week at Peggotty Road Community Centre in Great Yarmouth for 14-18 year olds. In the first 3 months we have recruited 20 new members tojoin this group from the Nelson Ward area la deprived part of the town). Not only have we had great numbers attend, but the change in these young people already has been remarkable. Several have volunteered at Freshly Greated events. running activities and helping to set up and evaluate events and a few are now registered with Volunteer It Yourself lan organisation that challenges people to learn trade and employability skills by helping to fix local community spaces and places in need of essential repairs) and helping the team there to modernise the kitchen at the community centre. A community producerfs story Shirelle has become a community producerfor Freshly Greated, helping get put on events in Great Yarmouth that enable the community there to thrive. She explains what motivated her to get involved and what she has got out of it.. think it was at first the skateboarding workshops. I d idn't think it was a vol unteeri ng thing. I'd never heard of it. So coming to those workshops then realising that we can help do things like this. It just seemed fun.. You always feel equal. Just because you're volunteers it doesn't make you feel any less than anyone that gets paid for a job.. We get involved a lot more in different community activity., She continued how she had made "lots of friends from all different communities." 14 Supporting people when they need help the most Voluntary Norfolk continues to lead and deliver services that ensure that people across Norfolk get support when they need help the most- everything from assisting carers, young carers and their families to offering help to those struggl ing with loneliness and social isolation. Better To ether Norfolk Our BetterTogether Norfolk service is an integral part of helping to alleviate loneliness and social isolation across our commissioned area of delivery (Norwich, South Norfolk, Broadland, and Great Yarmouth). The service aims to the reduce barriers that cause loneliness. offer opportunities for social interaction through groups and volunteering and, where needed. provide one-to one support for individuals. helping them decide on a person-centred plan that is tailored to their needs. The importance of this service is demonstrated in the high number of referrals that we have received for 2023- 24. This has again increased from previous years. Over the last year Better Together Norfolk has accepted into the service 710 new referrals lup from 511 last yearl. Typically, the length of ti me that a Life Connector is engaged with clients is around 6 months on a one-to-one basis. although this can vary depending on the level of interventions needed. In addition to our one-to-one work, the Better Together Norfolk service delivers peer support, helping clients to shape and deliver groups across our commissioned area. Over the last year this has amounted to 5,642 hours of peer sUPPOrt, supporting over 1000 more individuals. Through BTN we also sUPPOrt the Men's Shed Network in Norfolk. There are currently 29 Men's Sheds in Norfolk with another4 in development land a further 5 in early stages of discussion)- more than the whole of greater London - which makes it the most advanced shed network in the UK. We had a couple of initiatives during the year, one of which was the slow cooker appeal and we managed to raise £2,000 through ourjust giving page to fund slow cookers for clients. We also ran our Christmas hamper campaign, which saw 150 hampers go to people within the Great Yarmouth area. This was a huge success and within one week of our EO live date we had allocated all our hampers, which highlights the impact that the cost-of-living crisis has had and how many people it has affected. Our client5, Storie5 'It s a brilliant service. It was of huge value to me, and I would recommend it to anyone. It has helped me with my outlook on life,. 15 he group has saved my life. Until ljoined, l alwaysfelt alone and misunderstood about my bipolar. I love the group so much and consider a lot of the others (attendees) friends who don't judge me and understand what I'm going through" 'My Life connector wos a great support to me over the year tht7t I had with (them). (They'vej helped me get to a good place mentally by encouraging and pushing me toward5 activities and signposting me to other agencies Wlth the correct support I needed, which then turned into goals for myfuture." Carers Matter Norfolk This year. Voluntary Norfolk launched a pilot Parent Carers Matter service. alongside our existing Young Carers Matter Service and delivery role in the adult Carers Matter services. This means that Voluntary Norfolk now provides a source of specialist information and support for all unpaid carers across Norfolk, whether as adults carers, parent carers or young people. Carers Matter Norfolk adult service Voluntary Norfolk is a delivery partner in the Carers Matter Norfolk adult service, delivering statutory Carers Assessments and support to adults throughout Norfolk on behalf of Norfolk County Council. Our role is to support carers to maintain their caring role, through providing support to access health and wellbeing grants, counselling seNices and carers breaks, as well as meeting their needs in other ways (such as signposting to external agencies or other Voluntary Norfolk services) and attending appointments. This is a vital role to unpaid carers, who often feel lonely and isolated. In 2023-24 we received a total of 339 referrals to the Community Team from the Advice Line. Of these new referrals we completed 318 Assessments, which looked at the individual carer needs focusing on health. wellbeing. linance. employment, and from this we were able to create a personalised action plan for support. which was shared with each carer. This year we have had a particular focus on strength-based work, and ensuring that we provide our carers with all the information that they need in order to sustain the role in the longer term. Support included. 204 Health and Wellbeing referrals, 0 78 of those referr315 were for providing goods, such as hoovers, fridges, beds, mattresses, and microwave5. 0 95 Holistic Remedie5, coun5elling Services and massages. 31 Gift vouchers purchased for use in health clubs, nail and hair salons and relaxation services. We also completed a total of 89 Carers Breaks referrals which provided much needed respite for the person in the caring role. Carers, Stories (t7nonymised to maintain confidentiality) 'S' advised his counselling sessions with Caring Together has changed his life immensely. S, nowfeels able to communicate with their partner effectively andform boundaries to hold a healthy relationship with them. S, said he cannot overstate how helpful they have been. S.M. has found thctt our sUPPOrt ha5 given her pectce of mind during some of her darkest hours. It's been so meaningful, tht7t we have been there to offer her a helping hand. 16 One of our staff reports on how they supported a client: B represents the reasons why we provide thi5 service.. they are selfless and don't wish to burden people with their problems. -Prior to meeting 8, I do notbelieve she would have hod the confidence to have Carers Breaks orinvest in a mattress that would elevote their own physical and mental wellbeing. It ha5 been very rewarding to speak with B and hear them talk enthusiastically about the excursions they have been able to take ond how they have been able to get o better nights. sleep. "B extends their thanks and praise to the service, explaining how accessing Carers Breaks. obtoining a new mattress os well as support in booking appointments and occessing fvnonciol advice has mode them feel like they are not alone, and that there are people out there who care and understand." Youn Carers Matter This year, the Young Carers & Families team continued to make a positive difference in the lives of young people who take on caring responsibilities for loved ones. We do this by lightening the load, helping young shoulders carry less and giving them more time to simply be children. Overall, we believe in a holistic approach to remove and reduce inappropriate and excessive caring from the young person. Working with our delivery partners around the county we created spaces for them to enjoy their chi Idhood, build positive relationships, and feel less isolated. In 2023-24 our reach grew significantly. We directly and indirectly supported over 1,416 young carers. those they care for, and family members. This includes identifying 718 new young carers, with one third12641 in the crucial focus age for early identification {5-9 age group) of young carers.These figures were similar to last year. However. families, needs are evolving, especially amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Consequently, we adapted our services to address these changes, focusing more on how we can put money back into the pockets of families through grant applications, support to access debt management and benefits. A third of families we support involve a young person caring for someone with a physical disability, often parents needing assistance. Additionally, a quarter of young carers we see support siblings with learning difficulties, These young carers often provide more emotional support, especially if they Share a living space. Mental health needs are also rising among both young people and families. This is shown by the high number seeking our services for mental health support. Notably, many of the young carers themselves struggle with mental health. Due to this, we increased the 1=1 support for young people while connecting them with child and adolescent mental health services. Over 678 young carers in Norfolk have thrived thanks to one-on-one support, engaging group activities, and the chance to connect with peers through our dedicated delivery partners across the county. A recognised wellbeing assessment IPANOCI showed that 75/0 of these young people felt the service significantly i mproved their overall wel I bei ng. Voluntary Norfolk's team of Family Support Workers worked directly with over 150 families to co- create action plans that built resilience within the fam i ly, reduced the caring role for the young 17 person and strengthened the wider support network. Recognising the importance of social networks, we partnered with Voluntary Norfolk's Better Together Norfolk service to help adults who were isolated or lonely to reconnect with their communities and build self-esteem. We also worked alongside the adult Carers Matter Norfolk service to enable adult carers within the family to find support for their own caring role and to build stronger support networks, enabling them to take a greater caring role and reducing the burden on the young person. A Young Carer and their Family's Success Story In Autumn 2023 we worked with a family of three where there was a history of domestic abuse, the single parent {Muml struggled with her mobility due to several conditions and had very poor mental health. The family lived in unsuitable housing which did not meet Mum's physical needs and had increased her sense of isolation as she could not leave the home easily to meet others. The eldest of two children is the young carer and she supported with general household duties on a regular basis and providing emotional support to Mum, as well as supporting her younger brother with suspected ADHD, who struggled with emotional outbursts. Recognising the strain on the family at initial triage, the family were referred to the Voluntary Norfolk Family Support team. The worker sat down with the family, including the young carer and together they identified opportunities to help- support for the young carer to join groups, professional guidance for the young carer at school, being able to go away as a family and support to increase everyone's emotional resilience. Mum also identified that she would like the chance to connect socially, access domestic abuse services, and address her own care needs. A grant application secured a fun family trip to legoland, creating new memories and a break from the daily routine. Referrals were made to assess both Mum's and the family's needs.. care support for Mum was arranged, behaviour support for the younger brother, and emotional resilience coaching. The team worked with Better Together Norfolk to enable Mum to access their service where she was connected with social opportunities, joining groups and even leading sessions, boosting her confidence. The support didn't stop there. Our Family Support Worker arranged for The Salvation Army to provide Christmas gifts, easing their financial pressure. Mum, empowered by regained confidence. started therapy and connected with domestic abuse support specialists. The impact was clear. Mum received the care she needed, facilitating a move to a more accessible home. The young carer received emotional support, both at home and school, making their role easier to manage. Mum found a network of friends, lessening the feeling of isolation. The family dynamic shifted, becoming stronger and more resilient. With newfound support systems in place, the family is well-equipped to face challenges and embrace a brighter future. Parent Carers Matter Voluntary Norfolk, in collaboration with Norfolk County Council (NCC), launched a pilot Parent Carer service this yea r, Recognising the vital role parents play in supporting children with additional needs or disabil ities, th is seNice offers a lifeli ne of information, advice, and connection. 18 Working with Family Voice Norfolk and NCC, we revamped the Parent Carer Needs Assessment process. This improved system has allowed us to conduct essential assessments for parents across the county, enabling them to access the support they deserve. NCC has also adopted this new process for their own teams supporting parents of disabled children. Whether facing financial challenges, navigating education complexities, or simply seeking a break and peer support, parents can find a listening ear and practical assistance with our dedicated team. The support workers tailor their expertise to each parent's unique needs through one-on-one support. The team provide: Connecting the Dots: Bridging the gap by helping families understand available services and connect them with the most relevant resources. Practical Assistance.. Alleviating burdens by offering help with tasks like letters, reports, or forms. Benefits and Resources: Connecting parents with specialists who can assist with benefit applications. Additionally, our support workers can access grants and explore flexible work Options with employment advisors. Education and School Decisions.. Empowering parents to make informed decisions about their child's future, offering support from easing communication with Schools to tackling educational challenges. Connecting with Professionals.. Acting as a bridge, facilitating connections with the professionals fa milies might need. Advocacy and Empowerment: Equipping families with the knowledge and confi'dence to advocate for themselves and their children. Simply Being There: Sometimes the most valuable support is a listening ear and a sense of understanding. The service's impact goes beyond individual support. Since its launch in September 2023. we facilitated eight th rivi ng parent carer support groups across the county. with more (including online Optionsl on the horizon. These groups foster a sense of community. allowing families to share experiences, exchange tips, and build a network of support and understanding. The Parent Carer service has also already connected with and supported over 190 parents. This project marks a significant step forward in supporting Norfolk's families. Voluntary Norfolk is committed to ensuring that parent carers have the resources and connection5 they need to thrive. 19 SOS Bus Voluntary Norfolk has continued to run the SOS Bus service which looks after the safety, health and well-being of people visiting Norwich's city centre on Friday and Saturday nights. The service aims to reduce unnecessary Accident and Emergency visits, ambulance call outs and to free up police officer time, by offering a safe space with medical cover foranyone in emotional or physical distress. It a Iso provides other help, such as free phone charging, bottled water, flip flops, advice. LET, In 2023-2024 the service had 38 volunteers. There are three core volunteer roles on shift: One Shift Coordinator, three Shift Support and a Supportvehicle Driver alongside contracted paramedic, first alder and security. Over the course of the year volunteers gave 2820 hours of their time for shifts and 125 hours to clean and maintain the vehicle. Atotal of 94 shifts were run. 2476 people were helped through the provision of bottled water, phone charging, flip flops, condoms, etc. and a further 443 individuals were cared for on the bus. We were advised in August 2023 that the funding from the Norfolk & Waveney Integrated Care Board would not be renewed in April 2024, meaning a loss of over 75Yo of our funding for the service. Voluntary Norfolk took the SOS Bus service on from Open Trust in 2019 in order to avoid its closure and is committed to trying to maintain this service for the city of Norwich. Along with a committed group of staff and volunteers, we are working towards making the SOS Bus service an independent, fi na ncially viable, volunteer-led charity. The importance of the service and impact that it had supporting the emergency services is demonstrated by the fact that 51 Accident and Emergency visits and 170 ambu13nce callouts were prevented. It Is estimated that the service Saved over £121,000 for the ambulance service and NHS. Furthermore, the team spent over 144 hours looking after clients brought to the service by the police, who would otherwise have had to stay with, thus freeing up operational capacity for the Norfolk Constabulary at some of their busiest times. The SOS Bus service helped over 2919 people. In December 2023, the SOS Bus was named 'Team/Community Group of the Year, at the EDP'S Stars of Norfolk and Waveney Awards. The importance of the SOS Bus was revealed by some of our clients and partners who were asked what would have happened, had the Bus not been operating. Here are their words.. "Sat at A&E for hours with patient in truck" lambulance crew dropping off a client under the influence) "You are lifesavers. I don't know what I would have done., (Mental health crisis client) "Called an ambulance" (Friend of intoxicated client} 20 "I don't know what I would have done, I needed help with my insulin pump" (Client with Type I diabetes) A SOS Bus userfs story A 46 year old male presented himself at the bus after having difficulty breathing. He had a history of asthma and a recent chest infection. He had not brought his inhaler with him. His breathing was very laboured and difficult. Paramedic assessed and gave medication through a nebuliser. This eased the symptoms and the client went home in a taxi with a friend. Without the SOS Bus, the client would have needed to go to hospital for this treatment, and probably via ambulance, as the client was extremely breathless. 21 Getting people into work Voluntary Norfolk's Employment and Skills team continued to work across a number of projects to deliver professional support and impartial advice to anyone aged 16 or over, across Norfolk regardless of the length of time they were unemployed. These projects were all funded through European Social Fund IESFI. However, during this year ESF funding ended and was not replaced by equivalent UK governmentfunding. Therefore, despite achieving impressive outcomes, our ESF-funded Employment and Skills services ceased to operate. The projects ended at varyingtimes throughout 2023 with the largest project ending in June 2023, meaning our figures for people supported are lower than previous years. 'w organisalions caring volunlary c people accessllC%E chaiily Inclusion o) (v Lommunity- VOLUNTARY s NORFOL" live beller- I If4V4nrt. ￿S1￿ =k,". IIt¥y4Thn li Throughout this year we have worked with 225 clients, and of these we got49 into work and a further 54 into job search. We also asslsted 30 participants into further training to aid their employment prospects. roups able J: Although our delivery capacity was greatly reduced this area, organisationally retain considerable amount of knowledge and expertise in this area. We are pursuing new funding streams as they become available and integrating employment and skills experknse as an offer to clients in other services where appropriate (see future plans section). Specifi'cally, we continue to run the employability networks in both Great Yarmouth and Norwich which facilitate partnerships and opportunities for collaboration and development, share good practice and enable 30-40 organisations each month to showcase innovation and opportunities. we Zak s Story Zak was just one of the many people we supported. A 19-year-old young man living in Wymondham Norfolk with his mother and 2 siblings, Zak went to school locally but failed to get his grade C equivalent in Maths and so was studying part-time to improve his grades. He suffers from ADHD and finds it hard to concentrate and focus, especially in busy environments. He worked previously in Tesco's but came to the service as he was unemployed and seeking to get work in his preferred sector- healthcare. He said that ideally he would like to work as an emergency call handler, but would like to find any role in Healthcare to build his experience. Voluntary Norfolk's Employment and Skills team helped Zak redevelop his CV and formulated a template covering letter that he could use when applying for roles. We assisted him with job searching, getknng him set up on employment website5 With a suitable profile to attract employers. 22 We also sent him regular updates andjobs of interest to aid him in his search. Zak commented that he felt like'he had his own private investigator" helping him find suitable roles in his preferred career path and thanked his Voluntary Norfolk Skills Connector for helping him. Zak applied for a range of jobs he found and that were sentto him by our Skills Connector. He became more confident job searching and he eventually secured a job in a local care home in Wymondham from one of thejob roles we had provided him with. Zak now works full time in that care home and is enjoying learning new skills and building his experience for a long career in the Healthcare sector. We wish him and all our other clients well forthe future. 23 Strengthening communities and improving lives through volunteering Over the past ten years, apart from a short-lived peak in response to the COVID pandemic, there has been a steady decl i ne i n volunteering year on year, with the sharpest decline in the last yea r which saw a 7% drop. Research for our Vision for Volunteering strategy found that in terms of formal volunteering this translated into a reduction of £31 million a year for Norfolk. In addition, there is recent evidence that the average number of hours being given by volunteers has reduced significantly. I n th is context the work of Voluntary Norfolk's volunteers proved inva l uable in continuing to strengthen communities and improve lives. Norfolk and Wavene Communit Su ort Service NWCSS As a result of changes in ICB structures and requirements, this new service was commissioned in April 2024, replacing our previous Health & Wellbeing service and Community Response service. The staff, volunteers and experience from these services were integrated into the new service. Norfolk and Waveney Community Support Service is a multi-agency model led by Voluntary Norfolk. Working in partnership with British Red Cross and Age UK Norwich we use a staff and volunteer model to react to and meet service demand. The service focuses on providing short-term, practical support for people to help with temporary issues and avoid escalation and potential hospital admittance. Referra15 come in for a variety of reasons ranging from people needing emergency food parcels, to needing support to attend appointments or community support groups. We work to link people with local networks and groups wherever possible to ensure they can remain independent for as long as possi ble. The service covers all of Norfolk and Waveney with strong links developing with the acute hospitals that serve our area as well as strong links with community services such as adult social care, social prescribers, physio teams and many more. This is the first model of its kind to be adopted in Norfolk and the staff team5 are working hard to make it work- being solution focused and striving to meet needs wherever they can. Over the first 6 months of the service, we have received over 1000 referrals which have been met through volunteer and staff support. We continue to recruit volunteers and look forward to the service increasing its capacity over the coming year. A client's story TM was referred in from Papworth Hospital with a request to support him with food. He was due to be discharged home and the referrer was concerned that TM would not be able to do his shopping and make sure he had food in. Voluntary Norfolk staff contacted TM and although he was reluctant at first, agreed that he would benefit from some support getling set up online with Morrisons. He wasn't sure if he trusted the online system. but was happy to try with help from us. The volunteer did an initial shop to make sure that he had food in the house to aid with his recovery. Staff then visited TM at home and supported him to set up an online Morrisons account and do his first shop. Staff contacted him once the shop had been delivered and TM said that it was great! He was really pleased with the process and happy to do his next shop independently. TM is now able to manage his food shoppin8 needs independently from the comfort of his own home. We are delighted that he is now managing independently. 24 East Coast Communit Healthcare CIC 2023-24 marked the fifth year of Voluntary Norfolk's partnership with East Coast Community Healthcare {ECCHI. We saw great progress in the service, reflected in an increase in volunteering hours, as well excellent feedback from patients and staff. Volunteers have assisted in a variety of roles across the organisation, ranging from supporting short term projects and one-off events, to providing ongoing regular assistance to staff and patients at a range of ECCH sites across Norfolk and Waveney, as well as to patients at home in the community. Across the various roles, 56 volunteers provided 1353 hours of support, an increase from the 830 hours provided in 2022-23. east coast Some of the activities that ECCH volunteers assisted with included.. Providing company and conversation to inpatients at Beccles Community Hospital Taking client5, carbon monoxide reading5 at drop in sessions and reporting these to the ECCH Smokefree team to support a pilot scheme aimed at reducing smoking in pregnant clients in Gorleston and Great Yarmouth Assisting staff at the Leg Ulcer Clinics at five different ECCH sites by collecting patients from waiting areas, fetching stock, assisting with cleaning tasks and running errands Making calls to patients to gather feedback on ECCH'S services. Volunteers made 187 calls to patients, and completed over 80 feedback surveys Accompanying patients out on walks, helping them access their local area and providing companionship and conversation to build their confidence following a stroke Giving feedback on the design and content of new ECCH leaflets to ensure ease of understanding. Helping with administrative tasks such as putting together packs for patients and taking inventory of stock Alongside volunteers supporting in hospitals and clinics we received 22 referrals from ECCH staff for support for patients in the community. Volunteers were able to support clients with aspects of their health such as building confidence with outdoor mobility, accessing their local community and opportunities to practice speech and conversation following a stroke. Volunteers also provided practical short-term support with tasks such as collecting shopping. Our volunteers, impart.. Dawn. an ECCH patient who needed help from a volunteer collecting shopping whilst she was recovering from surgery, told us: "I was humbled by the genuine kindness received by this lovely, friendly young man who also gave me moral support, over and above his obligations. I can't thank this service enough and the wonderful help from the team who arranged it for me." 25 The impact that volunteers are having on the teams they work with has been clear through the feedback that we have received from ECCH staff. Clinic nurses have reported being able to see more patients per session because of the time saved by the volunteer support, and staff have told us how the presence of a volunteer can be reassuring to a lot of patients. 'The volunteer makes a big difference to us all by coming to help, offering assistance with keeping the room clean and tidy, helping us with our stock, allowing us more time to do clinical work, easing the pressure and work load from us" ECCH staff member at Kirkley Mill Health Centre 'The patients love the volunteers, because they're more like them and they can talk about everyday life and worries or anything that they want to. The patients take an interest in the volunteers and the volunteers take an interest in the patient as a person" ECCH staff member at Northgate Hospital We are delighted to continue to work with ECCH in 2024-25 to create new roles for volunteers which both help the organ isation and provide volunteers with fulfill ing ways to support thei r local communities and build their experience in healthcare. ERS Medical Trans ort The ERS Medical volunteers, run by Voluntary Norfolk, continued to provide a professional high- quality patient transport across the county and further afield. Our volunteer drivers use their own cars to provide door to door transport to essential, non-emergency medical appointments, mostly within East Anglia. This reduces the cost to the health service, as otherwise these patients would have had to travel by taxi or even by ambulance. At the end of the 2023-24 financial year, Voluntary Norfolk had 49 active volunteer drivers. This compared to 43 active drivers at the end of the previous financial year. Throughout the year, 430,642miles were driven (down from 454.248miles the previous year), completing a total of 12,536 journeys {compared to 11,867 journeys in 2022/231, and ensuring that people who needed to travel to and from the hospital or a medical appointment were able to do so. The number of miles covered this year was down in part because this financial year our volunteers are taking more than one patient at a time in their cars following the removal of Covid restrictions, which came in part way through the previous year. The number of journeys made, however, continued to rise, reflecting shorter more frequent journeys. Roger's Story Asked what he enjoyed about volunteering ag a non-emergenty patient driver, Roger said: "Meeting people from all walks of life There are a lot of people that you would just think of as 'old people,, but many have led fascinating lives and lived all over the world. Volunteering also gets you to go to places you would never ordinarily visit as they are not on your usual'A 26 to B, routes...and you discover many different routes to various places, many of which are hidden gems. 'There was an elderly lady I drove a couple of times for radiotherapy, and it turned out that she had lived about 3 miles from where I grew up...and at the same time, she even knew some of the parents of some of my friends at the timel Itjustgoes to show what a small world we live in. It was really nice to talk about familiar places from years ago. "It certainly helps the patients because many of them are elderly and live on their own, if we didn't have interaction with them their life would be very isolated. It is good to try and help put them at ease by listening to them when they talk about what they are going through with the treatment...and some really do like to talkl I It is always nice when you get them to the hospital or return them home and they say that us volunteers do a wonderful job... let's face it we all like a bit of praise now and againl Norfolk Communit Health and Care NHS Trust The NCH&C Volunteer Service, delivered by Voluntary Norfolk, employs a team of staff who recruit, train and manage volunteers to provide support in clinical and administrative setlings in community hospitals and clinics across Norfolk. At the end of the 2023-24 financial year, our service had 128 registered volunteers with a further 64 in various stages of recruitment and onboarding. Over the course of the year, volunteers contributed a significantly increased amount of their time (approximately 16/0 more hours vs the previous yearl across a wider range of roles logging a total of 7373 hours across 58 different volunteer roles. The roles our NCH&C volunteers undertook included: Providing companionship to inpatients Supporting patients in activity and therapy groups Supporting with simple, practical tasks on wards, such as lunch menus, cleaning touch points, Stocking up everyday items Assisting patients at mealtimes, following successful completion of the appropriate training Using their own lived experience of receiving care to deliver talks to patients with the aim of inspiri ng a nd encouraging (see Les's Story) Meeting and greeting patients arriving for clinics and giving directions Assisting with basic administrative tasks such as the collation of patient packs Telephoning patients to collect vital feed back on their experiences Helping to tidy gardens on NCH&C sites, through basic gardening tasks Supporting reception teams with check-in and welcome processes Tidying stockrooms. and putting new stock away Supporting Musculoskeletal Clinicians by machine-sewing splints together from precut patterns. The apparently straighrforward nature of many of our volunteer roles belies their positive impact. Our Activity Support are prime example of the very real difference our volunteers can make- simply by engaging patients in meaningful activities, motivating them and getknng them physically up and about plays a vital role in their recovery and reha bil itation as well as making thei r stay in hospital that little bit more enjoyable. 27 Mary, who is a Technical Instructor with Foxley Therapy Team at Dereham Hospital says: "Volunteers are amazingl it's a long boring day for the patients with no stimulation. Our Activity Support volunteer checks in on everyone and gives them a bit of company." The NCH&C Volunteer Service team look forward to another year of enabling our fantastic volunteers to make a vital contribution to the NHS in their communities. Les, Story Les joined our team of Volunteers at Beech Stroke Rehabilitation Ward at Norwich Communitv Hospital in the exciting new role of the Life After Stroke (LAS) Volunteer. The aim of the LAS Volunteer's role is to engage with patients on the ward, sharing personal experiences of recovery from stroke with the aim of reassuring, encouraging and motivating patients. Mysiro*P￿tl1rta My Journey Les said '1 first heard about volu nteering with the Trust when I myself was a patient at Beech Ward. I contacted theteam toenquire as I wantedto help others understand their recovery journey, especially the positives. During his talks with patients, Les will talk through his own journev, including his treatment a nd reha bilitation, discharge and care packages, support in the home and his ongoing progress. Les said "So farfeedback for my presentations has been for a number of patients an inspiration towards themselves moving forward." Joseph Marsden, Assistant Psychologist at Beech Ward said: "Les, Life After Stroke presentations have been received really well- patients have praised Les, approach and mentioned how this presentation has allowed them to see a possible path going forward." Les says "I would definitely recommend volunteering with NCH&C to others. My role brings the enrichment of satisfaction of helping others back to a normality of life after having a stroke." 28 CBR Business Solutions: Professional Support Services for Charities, Social Enterprises and Businesses CBR Business Solutions is the trading arm of Voluntary Norfolk, with operating profits providing an important source of unrestricted income. We provide essential HR support, DBS checks, Payroll and Auto Enrolment services to around 500 organisations across England and Wales. Our clients range from small local charities to large SMES, and we are proud to deliver high-quality services through our experienced and knowledgeable team. DBS Checks We offer safe and secure online DBS applications. Our paper-based checks are now only for sensitive applications and the finger-printing service. We also provide digital ID, Post Office verification, right to work and overseas checks, which are new online services for clients. We continue to offer free DBS training workshops in partnership with the Disclosure and Barring Service to any organisation with responsibility for DBS checks. These cover eligi bi l ity, safeguarding and barring. Payroll Service We take care of the payroll needs of our clients, who choose to outsource this function due to capacity, lack of in-house skills or relevant software. Every month, we pay the salaries to 900 payees in 75 discreet Customer payrolls, taking into accou nt i ndividual pension requ i rements, adjustments, statutory payments, tax codes, deductions, tax and National Insurance. We also process and send relevant documentation for clients such as payslips, pension letters, P45s and P60s, returns to HRMC and schedules for pension providers. HR Consultancy Our Chartered MCIPD HR Consultants provide a flexible, professional HR service on all aspects of HR management. Whether clients need help with on-boarding, contracts of employment, policies and procedures, training and coaching, performance management, restructures, ill health and capability, disciplinary and grievance processes, consultations or redundancies, our qualifi'ed consultants can assist. We also act as Investigating Officers in case of complex disciplinary and grievance investigations. During the last year we have expanded our offer to include workplace Mediation and Coaching via our HR consultants. Jobs Board We support the VCSE sector in Norfolk to find the right candidates, by advertising job vacancies on the Jobs Board and offering preferential rates for the online job search portal, Jobs24. This helps organisations reach a wider pool of potential candidates interested in working in the charity sector. 29 FINANCIAL REVIEW The financial performance of the organisation was significantly better than budgeted in 23124, despite some one-off costs, due to careful cost management and new income. The statement of Financial Activities for the year is set out on Page 42. During the year, the charity's incoming resources changed from £4,889,56212022-231 to £4,463,978 {2023-24118.70A decrease). The vast majority of total income derived from cha rita ble activities. Principal ly, these are agreements to provide specified services to improve the lives and wellbeing of people living in Norfolk. Legacies and donations accounted for £6400 of total income. A contribution to the charity's net income for use on its charitable purposes comes from CBR Business Solutions as described on page 29 above. The gross income from this source stood at £478,221 in 2023/241£521,058 in 22-231 with net income of £6,727 {£15,340 in 22-23). Expenditure on charitable activity decreased slightly to £4,744,0061£4,791,116 in 22-23} and naturally continues to be the vast majority of the charity's costs. Taking total income and expenditure into account, the net negative movement of funds during the year was £280,028, decreasing unrestricted reserves by £42,075 and restricted reserves by £237,953. The decrease in restricted reserves was planned for and as per budget. This resulted from services spending reserves held for delivery of charitable activities. The decrease in unrestricted reserves was also planned as a result of agreed investments in systems and training. Due to savings identified, this result was significantly better than budgeted, despite some additional one-off costs. The principal financial risk which continually faces the charity is the ending of fixed term service agreements and its ability to secure new agreements. The pattern of expiry dates and potential for new agreements or extensions of existing agreements are kept under close review by the executive and the Board as a whole. As stated in the Accounting Policies at 1.12, the charity has no risk arising from pension contributions as it operates a defined contribution scheme. At the end the year, the charity held total reserves of £909,7931£1,189,821 in 22-231. These include restricted funds of £470,317. This relatively large sum, absolutely and proportionately, derives principally from money held for the purposes of delivery of service agreements. The more relevant figure is unrestricted reserves which stood at the year-end at £439,476. Included in the unrestricted reserves are fixed assets of £10,320122-23: £15,938) The remaining sum is held in liquid form. Trustees review the charity's reserves policy every year. Their current policy is to aim to hold free reserves which amount tothree months essential running costs,. This requirement was met and exceeded by 1.95 months at 31 March 2024. Trustees considered this position to be prudent in the light of significant pressures on public sector budgets, the importance of the services provided to individuals and communities and a coincidence in 2024 ofthe expiry of a number of significant service agreements. The Board intends to keep the position under close review. 30 Structurep governance and management Constitution Voluntary Norfolk is both a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. The year of formation of the original organisation was 1969. The company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales was formed 4 November 2005. Charitable registration was achieved on 11 November 2005. Our governing document is a memorandum and arkncles of association. The charity's objective is to promote any charitable purposes for or including the benefit of the community in the United Kingdom and in particular Norfolk and Waveney, the East of England and its neighbourhood and, in particular the advancement of education, community and social services, the protection of health and the relief of poverty, distress and sickness. In addition, it promotes and organises co-operation in the achievement of the above purposes and to that end to bring together in council representatives of the voluntary organisations and statutory authorities within the area of benefi't. Trustees The Board of Trustees are the charity's trustees and the legal directors of the company. They are elected or co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association. A formal process of induction is given to all trustees as well as training as appropriate. The trustees meet six times a year and are the key personnel in terms of directing and controlling the charity. There is a finance sub-committee. All the trustees give of their time freely and no trustee received remuneration within the year. For this reporting period there were six Trustees who bring a collective wealth of knowledge and experience of voluntary sector delivery, management and governance. It is anticipated in 2024-25 additional trustees will be sought to complement the skills of the existing team. Management Day-to-day responsibility for running the organisation is delegated by the Trustees to the CEO. The CEO is supported in the running and development of the organisation by a management team of Directors overseeing Voluntary Sector Infrastructure, Operations, Finance and Development. During the year it was announced the current CEO Alan Hopley would stand down at the end of May 2024, after nine years of Service in that role. Trustees ran a thorough recruitment process i nvolving external th and internal stakeholders and appointed a new CEO, Michael Kitching, to start 16 July 2024. The pay of the Senior management is reviewed annually and normally in accordance with NJC guidelines. The CEO'S salary is reviewed utilising recruitment consultants and external benchmarking to attract the appropriate calibre of candidate. The trustees, CEO and management team in 2023-24 were assisted by a Policy Officer to develop, review and update policies and procedures to ensure we meet the highest quality standards. 31 Risk management A risk management register is in place to assist in identifying vulnerable areas of the organisation. During the year, the trustees undertook the annual programme of review of the register established to encompass financial, personnel, insurance, funding and expenditure areas, ensuring identified risks are properly managed and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate the organisation's exposure to the major risks. The trustees delegate day to day risk management to the executive team and require reporting back on a regular basis, highlighting and managing any key strategic risks. The key risks for the organisation are a dependency on statutory contract income which tend to be on renewable one- year contracts. These risks are mitigated by regular risk profiling and through communication with statutory partners. Other risks are around IT and facilities with action plans in place in the event of systems or premises failure. Cooperation with other charities in pursuit of charitable objectives We are strong advocates for working with other charities and organisations. In our infrastructure provision we work in partnership with Community Action Norfolk and the Norfolk Community Foundation as well as FUSE and NCAN. In our delivery of serviceswe had a range of partners in 2023124 including Shoebox Community Hub, Out There Arts, Creative Collisions, Great Yarmouth Young Carers, West Norfolk Carers, Benjamin Foundation, Caring Together, MTM, Holt Youth Project, Age UK Norwich and British Red Cross. We also work closely with Norfolk County Council, local authorities, the Integrated Care Board and other NHS organisations to develop and improve services that benefit our clients and help us achieve our charitable objectives. Fundraising requirement The charity does not use professional fundraisers for the year to March 2024. We do not work with any commercial or professional fundraisers. Any complaints about any aspect of fundraising are dealt with using the charity complai nts policy. As we do not use professional fu nd ra isers there is no risk arising from the protection of the public, i ncl ud ing vulnerable people, from unreasonably intrusive or persistent fundraising approaches, and undue pressure to donate. Recruitment of trustees Trustees are recruited as and when the current board identifies a need to bring in new skills and experiences. Trustees are appointed following an interview with at least two board members and following attendance at least one board meeting. They are then appointed by the board. There is no term limits attached to trusteeship at Voluntary Norfolk, but trustees stand down and are reappointed by rotation at Annual General Meetings. 32 Progress against plans and future plans In this section we report back against the plans we presented last year and lay out our plans forthe coming year. A significant proportion of our work is ongoing services or projects, as presented in this report. We will continue to deliver these services, looking for opportunities to improve and develop them and working closely with partners and commissioners to ensure the best possible outcomes. Here we focus on plans that are new or additional to delivery of our existing work. The tables below present an update on progress against our plans for 2023-24 and further plans agreed for the coming year. Reporting back against 2023 - 24 plans Area of work / Context Stated aims for 2023-24 Update at end 23124 Further development of the Empowering Communities Partnership. A strong partnership programme of practical support, involvi ng events, seminars, networking, and forums has enabled capacity and skills development and opportunities for collaboration and strategic influence The Norfolk Vision was launched at a high-prolile event. followi ng strategic stakeholder endorsement. Development and embedding of the Vision forvolunteering across the VCSE and statutory sector. A collaborative programme of work taking shape to drive forward ambitious improvements in support for volunteering. Relationships with refugee organisations have been strengthened. Infrastructure Development of our sector support for the refugee support sector Norwich City of Sanctuary funded to support the development of Towns of Sanctuary in Norfolk. Project to engage sanctuary seekers in volunteering within the wider VCSE in place. Reviewing suitable accred itation providers to ensure there is a good fi't given the breadth of services we offer. Existing contracts a nd services retained. with the exception of ESF-funded employment and skills projects when ESF funding came to an end and was not replaced by other funding streams. New partnership delivery model developed for Services Pursue accreditation for Services Engage with recommissioning on existing contracts. developing our offer and partnership. Development and sustainability 33 Norfolk and Waveney Community Support Service Partnership working remains important for delivering Services and I nfrastructure work and is part of m05t services and projects. This year existing partnerships were continued and new partnerships formed. Some formal delivery partnerships ceased due to changes in funding availability. New HR services of coaching and mediation developed. Additional employment check services offered by current DBS provider are being investigated. We are progressing the implementation of the Cezanne HR system to support our HR rocesses. Ongoing developments to our IT provision, and continued focus on our IG and data security. Developed a training matrix for staff which is tailored to each individual team. Further development of in-house training and courses will be ongoing to ensure thattraining remains current and relevant. Explore options for closer partnership working with other VCSE organisations Review options for investing in CBR Business Solutions to enable growth. Implement HR system Data & IT Internal development Continue to develop training and supportfor staff with a particular focus on client facing staff and the pressures they face Future plans for 2024-25 Area of work / Context Infrastructure Aims for 2024-25 Sustain and evolve Empowering Communities partnership to meet new sector needs and commissioning intentions. What does success look like? An innovative and creative partnership-based VCSE sector support programme, able to support and stretch the sector to build capacity and able to respond to changing needs. Embed Vision for Volunteering collaborative work plan across Norfolk stakeholders, further extending reach into health and care. A system wide approach to working with and supporhng volunteers, which is based on good practice and is effectively resourced. based on collective system ambitions. Build the Momentum Children and Young People's support A vibrant programme of sector support initiatives that support children and young people in 34 programme, to strength youth voice and sector collaboration. Norfolkto flourish through a resilient youth sector. Further build the resilience of the Freshly Greated community led arts programme in Great Yarmouth. A collaborative and effective action learning programme, that places community voice at its heart, and extends engagement with the arts in Great Yarmouth. Successful evaluation of the Parent Carers pilot service, evidencing the need for future commissioning. Successful transitioni ng into our new Young Carers service building on coproduction and ensuring the voice of Young Carers is heard. Gaining employa bi l ity contracts following the cessation of European Social Fund to ensure we offer holistic services to people, supporting them back into employment. SOS Bus service transitions to an independent volunteer-led CIO, continuing to support those needing assistance on nights out in Norwich Established services a nd projects that demonstrate value and effectiveness continue to operate, whilst adapting to changing needs where relevant Grantfunding enables us to build on and enhance existing offerings to clients / VCSE organisations, and to innovate to better meet the needs of communities Services Strengthen our unpaid Carers provision for all ages. Rebuild our Employability provision Secure the future of the SOS Bus as an independent service following cessation of ICB funding for the service Development and sustainability Retain and develop services and projects that will be recommissioned in 24125 Diversify funding sources, particularly increasing grant funding income where it can enhance provision Explore partnerships and new ways of working that will deliver value to clients and the VCSE sector Opportunities explored- and where appropriate taken forward- to enhance our delivery working with other organisations in the VCSE sector and wider system A move to better quality offices that meet changed, hybrid working needs, and make cost savings Internal development Move main (Norwichl office to another location Embed new HR system and build usage of different elements HR system bring efficiencies and improvements to internal processes 35 Reference and administrative details Trustees John Archibald, Chair David Walker, Vice Chair Robert Hetherington Vivienne Clifford-jackson Josephine Smithson Mark Hitchcock Company registered number 05616120 Charity registered number 1112017 Registered office Units 4-6 83-87 Pottergate Norwich Norfolk NR2 IDZ Chief executive officer: Alan Hopley (retired May 31st 2024) Michael Kitching (appointed l June 2024) Independent auditors Larking Gowen LLP Chartered Accountants King Street House 15 Upper King Street Norwich NR3 IRB Bankers Bank of Scotland PIC 33 Old Broad Street London Branch PO Box 1000 BX2 ILB Solicitor5 Leathe5 Prior 74 The Close Norwich Norfolk NRI 4DR 36 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees, report and the financial statements in accordance wth applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial . 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 company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial ststements, the Trustees are required to- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently., observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102)- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent., stale whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements., prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose wlh reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply wth the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hen￿ for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Disclosure of information to auditors Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees, report is approved has confirmed that: so far as that Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditors are unaware, and that Trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditors are aware of that information. Auditors The auditors, Larking Gowen LLP, have indicated their willingness to continue in office. The designated Trustees will propose a motion reappointing the auditors at a meeting of the Trustees. Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by: John Archibald Chair of Trustees Date: 9 Oct 2024 Page 37 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY NORFOLK Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Voluntary Norfolk (the 'charitable company'> for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet, the Statement of cash flows and the related notes. including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, induding Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion the financial statements.. give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended., have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice., and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance wlh International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAS (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors, responsibilities for Ihe audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, induding the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going concem In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees, use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the f inancial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concem for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. Page 38 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (CONTINUED) Other information The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditors, report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, eX￿pt to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent wth the financial ststements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or othemise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: the information given in the Trustees. report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements. Ihe Trustees, report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on which we are required to report by exception In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees, report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion.. adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us- or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or certain disclosures of Trustees, remuneration specified by law are not made., or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit., or the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance Wlth the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies, exemptions in preparing the Trustees, report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic report. Page 39 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (CONTINUED) Responsibilities of trustees As explained more fully in the Trustees, responsibilities statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charilable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement. whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concem basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. Auditors. responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors, report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected lo influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below= Due to the field in which the Charity operates, we have identified the followng areas as those most likely to have a material impact on the financial statements.. health and safety,. safeguarding- GDPR,. and compliance with the UK Companies Act. Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misststement in respect of irregularities, including frauds and non-complian￿ wth laws and regulations, was as follows: Enquiries with management about any known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations, accidents in the workplace and fraud., Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess estimates., and Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at.. www.frc.or .uklauditorsres onsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors. report. Page 40 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (CONTINUED) Use of our report This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audil work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors, report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its members. as a body, for our audit work, for this report. or for the opinions we have formed. Julie Grimmer FCA DChA (Senior statutory auditor) for and on behalf of Larking Gowen LLP Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors 1st Floor, Prospect House Norwich Date: 11 October 2024 Page 41 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Restricted Unrestricted funds funds 2024 2024 Total funds 2024 Total funds 2023 Note Income from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities 5,334 3,926,467 1,066 531.111 6,400 4,457,578 7,460 4, 882, 102 Total income 3,931,801 532.177 4,463,978 4, 889,562 Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities 73,973 561,809 73,973 4,670,033 21,781 4,791,116 4,108,224 Total expenditure 4,108,224 635,782 4,744,006 4,872,897 Net (expenditure)lincome Transfers between funds {176,423) (61,530) {103,605) 61,530 {280,028) 76, 665 15 Net movement in funds (237,953) (42,075) {280,028) 76, 665 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought foNard Net movement in funds 708,270 (237,953) 481.551 (42,075) 1,189,821 {280,028) 1, 113,156 76, 665 Total funds carried forward 470,317 439,476 909,793 1, 189,821 The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. The notes on pages 45 to 61 form part of these financial statements. Page 42 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 05616120 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 2024 2023 Note Fixed assets Intangible assets Tangible assets 3,021 16.440 4,028 24,098 10 19,461 28,126 Current assets Debtors 11 827,769 1,622,705 1,065,504 1,513,915 Cash at bank and in hand 2,450,474 2,579,419 Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year 13 (1,560,142) (1,417, 724) Net current assets 890,332 1, 161,695 Total net assets 909,793 1, 189,821 Charity funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds 15 470.317 439.476 708,270 481,551 15 Total funds 909,793 1, 189,821 The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime. The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by.. John Archibald Chair of Trustees Date: 9 Oct 2024 The notes on pages 45 to 61 form part of these financial statements. Page 43 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities Net cash used in operating activities 110,933 (318,070) Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets Purchase of intangible fixed assets (2,143) (17,340) (5,035) Net cash used in investing activities (2,143) (22,375) Cash flows from financing activities Net cash provlded by flnanclng actlvltles Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 108,790 (340,445) 1, 854,360 1,513,915 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 1,622,705 1,513,915 The notes on pages 45 to 61 form part of these financial statements Page 44 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Accounting policies 1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 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) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. Voluntary Norfolk 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. 1.2 Company status The company is a private company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page 1. In the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the gurantee is limited to £1 per member of the company. The registered office of the company is St Clements House, 2-6 Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk. NR3 1BQ. 1.3 Going concern The Trustee's have considered Voluntary Norfolk's financial and operational position at the time of signing the f inancial statements. The Trustees continue to be fully engaged with commissioners, local authorities and funders with regard to a number of new, extended andlor expanded service offers. The Trustee's have considered a period of twelve months from the point of signing these financial statements and, considered the level of on-going funding, strength of our offer in respect of contract renewals, engagement wilh commissioners on new emerging programmes and the financial strength and level of funds within the charity. Based on the above the Trustee's confirm it is appropriate to prepare the accounts on the going concern basis. 1.4 Income All income is recognised once the company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable. Page 45 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Accounting policies (continued) 1.5 Expenditure Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits wll be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, induding support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the company's educational operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the company apportioned to charitable activies. 1.6 Intangible assets and amortisation Intangible assets costing £NIL or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and Ihe cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably. I ntangible assets are initially recognised at Cost. After recognition, under the cost model, intangible assets are measured at cost less any accumulated arnortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. Amortisation is provided on intangible assets at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life. Amortisation is provided on the followng basis.. Website 10 20% Straight line 1.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition. under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost. Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives. using the straight-line method. Depreciation is provided on the following bases.. Long-term leasehold property Short-term leasehold property Motor vehicles Fixtures and fittings Office equipment Computer equipment Database and search engine 16.6/ 5 years 25% 14.3 /0 (7 years) 33.3/ 33.3/ Page 46 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Accounting policies (continued) 1.8 Debtors Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. 1.9 Cash at bank and in hand Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-tem highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. 1.10 Liabilities and provisions Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balants sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement. and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide. Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost. 1.11 Financial instruments The company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the ex￿ptIOn of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 1.12 Pensions The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the company to the fund in respect of the year. 1.13 Fund accounting General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the company and which have not been designated for other purposes. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Page 47 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Accounting policies (continued) 1.14 Agency arrangements Voluntary Norfolk act as agent in distributing certain funds for Youth Advisory Boards (YAB). Payments received for YAB and subsequent expenditure are excluded from the statement of financial activities as the charity does not have control over the charitable application of the funds. Management costs are charged and recognised in the statement of financial activities. Details of the agency funds and associated payments are disclosed in note 24. Income from donations and legacies Restricted Unrestricted funds funds 2024 2024 Total funds 2024 Donations 5,334 1,066 6,400 Restricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Donations 7,460 7,460 Income from charitable activities Restricted Unrestricted funds funds 2024 2024 Total funds 2024 Health Communities Employment Finan￿ and Resources 2.699,656 826,209 400,602 2,699.656 826,209 400.602 531,111 531,111 3,926,467 531,111 4,457,578 Page 48 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Income from charitable activities {continued) Restricted Unrestricted funds funds 2023 2023 Total funds 2023 Health Communities Employment Finan￿ and Resources 2,681,479 966,974 698,859 2,681,479 966,974 698,859 534, 790 534, 790 4,347,312 534, 790 4, 882, 102 Expenditure on raising funds Costs of raising voluntary income Unrestricted funds 2024 Total funds 2024 Allocated centrally incurred fundraising and governance costs 73,973 73,973 Unrestricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Allocated centrally incurred fundraising and governance costs 21,781 21,781 Page 49 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities Summary by fund type Restricted Unrestricted funds funds 2024 2024 Total 2024 Health Communities Employment Finan￿ and Resources 2,820,196 887,426 400,602 2,820,196 887,426 400,602 561.809 561,809 4,108,224 561,809 4,670.033 Restricted Unrestricted funds funds 2023 2023 Total 2023 Health Communities 2, 634,421 1,011,612 695,674 2,634,421 1,011,612 695, 674 449,409 Employment Finan￿ and Resources 449,409 4,341, 707 449,409 4,791,116 Page 50 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities (continued) Summary by expenditure type Staff costs Depreciation Other costs 2024 2024 2024 Total 2024 Health Communities Employment Finan￿ and Resources 1,587,521 397,315 315,135 531,379 1.232,675 490,111 85,467 19,622 2,820,196 887,426 400,602 561,809 10,808 2,831,350 10,808 1,827,875 4,670,033 staff costs Depreciation Other costs 2023 2023 2023 Total 2023 Health Communities Employment Finan￿ and Resources 1,697,101 404, 183 547,055 414,020 937,320 607,429 148,619 22,378 2, 634,421 1,011,612 695, 674 449,409 13,011 3, 062,359 13,011 1, 715, 746 4,791,116 Auditors. remuneration 2024 2023 Fees payable to the company's auditor for the audit of the company's annual accounts 12,650 11,485 Fees payable to the company's auditor in respect of.. All non-audit services not included above 1,703 2,373 Page 51 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Staff costs 2024 2023 Wages and salaries Social security costs Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes 2,499,232 216,351 115,767 2, 704, 679 227, 780 129,900 2,831,350 3, 062,359 During the year, redundancy payments were made totalling £31.909 (2023.. £1,307). The average number of persons employed by the company during the year was as follows: 2024 2023 100 117 The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was.. 2024 No. 2023 No. In the band £70,001- £80,000 The staff costs for the employee in the banding above is in respect of gross wages. The Key Management Personal of the charity is represented by 6 {2023.. 6) members of the senior leadership team together with the 6 unpaid trustees. KMP compensation including employers national insurance costs amounted to £328,672 {2023'. £259,665). Trustees. remuneration and expenses During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2023 - £NIL). During the year ended 31 March 2024, expenses totalling £14 were reimbursed or paid directly to 1 Trustee (2023 - £NIL) in respect of travel costs. Page 52 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Intangible assets Website Cost At 1 April 2023 18.063 At 31 March 2024 18,063 Amortisation At 1 April 2023 Charge for the year 14.035 1,007 At 31 March 2024 15,042 Net book value At 31 March 2024 3,021 At 31 March 2023 4,028 Page 53 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 10. Tangible fixed assets Fixtures. fittings and office equipment Short- Terni leasehold property Motor vehicles Computer equipment Total Cost or valuation At 1 April 2023 Additions Disposals 78,509 15,235 57.295 77,161 2,143 (52,207) 228.200 2.143 (52,207) At 31 March 2024 78,509 15,235 57,295 27,097 178,136 Depreciation Al 1 April 2023 Charge for the year On disposals 78,509 3,047 3,047 56,838 412 65,708 6,342 (52,207) 204,102 9,801 (52,207) At 31 March 2024 78,509 6,094 57,250 19,843 161,696 Net book value At 31 March 2024 9,141 45 7,254 16,440 At 37 March 2023 12,188 457 11,453 24,098 Debtors 2024 2023 Due within one year Trade debtors 712,005 115,764 1,014,566 50,938 Prepayments and accrued income 827,769 1, 065,504 Page 54 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 12. Assets held for third parties - Payroll floats Bank and cash balances include assets held for third parties comprising of payroll floats held for the purposes of executing payroll duties on behalf of clients. The corresponding liability to retum payroll floats is recognised in other creditors as set out in note 13 below. 2024 2023 Balance at 1 April 2023 Amounts acquired Amounts repaid 693,172 619,920 841,920 693, 172 (693,172) (619,920) 841,920 693, 172 13. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023 Trade creditors Other taxation and social security Other creditors Accruals and deferred income 102,813 95,020 1,115,297 247,012 107,540 96,009 891,938 322,237 1,560,142 1,417,724 14. Accruals and deferred Income 2024 2023 Deferred income at 1 April 2023 Resources deferred during the year Amounts released from previous periods 61,770 154,595 (61,770) 33,250 61,770 (33,250) Deferred income at 31 March 2024 154,595 6t,770 Page 55 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 15. Statement of funds Statement of funds - current year Balance at 31 March 2024 Balance at 1 April 2023 Transfers inlout Income Expenditure Unrestricted funds Finan￿ and reSoUr￿S 481,551 532,177 {635,782) 61,530 439,476 Restricted funds Communities Employment Health Restricted fixed assets 142,325 826,509 {887,426) 400,602 {400,602) 2,704,690 (2,817,149) {3,047) 3,888 85,296 553,757 12,188 (65,418) 375,880 9.141 708,270 3,931,801 (4,108,224) (61,530) 470,317 Total of funds 1,189,821 4,463,978 (4,744,006) 909,793 A transfer of £69,000 has been made during the year from Health (restricted funds) to unrestrestricted funds. This is due to a project coming to an end, with surplus funds being available for general charitable purpose. Page 56 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 15. Statement of funds (continued) Statement of funds - prior year Balance at 31 March 2023 Balance at 1 April 2022 Transfers in/out Income Expenditure Unrestricted funds Designated funds Property fund 5,000 (5, 000) General funds General Funds- all funds 412,951 534, 790 (471, 190) 5,000 487,551 Total U nrestricted funds 417,951 534, 790 (471, 190) 481,551 Restricted funds Communities Employment Health Restricted fixed assets 203,058 3,102 473,810 15,235 970, 724 (1,011,612) 698,859 (695, 674) 2, 685, 189 (2, 631,374) (3,047) (19, 845) (6,287) 26,132 142,325 553, 757 12,188 695,205 4, 354, 772 (4,341, 707) 708,270 Total of funds 1, 113,156 4, 889,562 (4,812,897) 1, 189,821 Page 57 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 16. Summary of funds Summary of funds - current year Balance at 31 March 2024 Balance at 1 April 2023 Transfers inlout Income Expenditure General funds 481,551 708,270 532,177 {635,782) 3,931,801 (4,108,224) 61,530 (61,530) 439,476 470,317 Restricted funds 1,189,821 4,463,978 (4,744,006) 909,793 Summary of funds - prior year Balance at 31 March 2023 Balance at l Apnl 2022 Transfers in/out Income Expenditure Designated funds General funds Restricted funds 5,009 412,951 695,205 (5, 000) 5,000 534, 790 (471, 190) 4, 354, 772 (4, 341, 707) 481,551 708,270 1, 113,156 4, 889,562 (4, 812,897) 1, 189,821 17. Analysis of net assets between funds Analysis of net assets between funds - current period Restrlcted Unrestrlcted funds funds 2024 2024 Total funds 2024 Tangible fixed assets I ntangible f ixed assets Current assets Creditors due within one year 9,141 7,299 16,440 3,021 3,021 598,035 1,852,439 2,450,474 (136,859) (1,423,283) (1,560.142) Total 470,317 439,476 909,793 Page 58 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 17. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued) Analysis of net assets between funds - prior period Restricted Unrestricted funds funds 2023 2023 Total funds 2023 Tangible fixed assets I ntangible f ixed assets Current assets 12,188 11,910 24,098 4,028 4,028 1,883,337 2,579,419 (1,417, 724) (1,417,724) 696,082 Creditors due within one year Total 708,270 481,551 1, 189,821 18. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities 2024 2023 Net incomelexpenditure for the period (as per Statement of Financial Activities) (280,028) 76, 665 Adjustments for: Depreciation charges Amortisation charges Decreasel(increase} in debtors (Decrease)lincrease in creditors 9,801 1,007 237,735 142,418 9,132 3, 608 (393,027) (14,448) Net cash provided byl{used in) operating activities 110,933 (318,070) 19. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents 2024 2023 Cash in hand 1,622,705 1,513,915 Total cash and cash equivalents 1,622,705 1,573,915 Page 59 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 20. Analysis of changes in net debt At 1 April 2023 Cash flows Al 31 March 2024 Cash at bank and in hand 1,513,915 108,790 1,622,705 1,513,915 108,790 1,622,705 21. Pension commitments The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable and amounted to £115,767 (2023.. £129.9001. At the year end £Nil (2023: £Nil} remained payable. 22. Operating lease commitments At 31 March 2024 the company had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under non- cancellable operating leases as follows: The following lease payments have been recognised as an expense in the Statement of financial activities.. 2024 2023 Operating lease rentals 78,509 Page 60 VOLUNTARY NORFOLK (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 23. Related party transactions Vivienne Helen Clifford-Jackson, a trustee of Voluntary Norfolk is a director for Healthwatch. During the year ended 31 March 2024, Voluntary Norfolk invoiced Healthwatch £1,632 (2023.. £1.582) in relation to Job adverts and HR services. A balance of £267 was due to the charity from Healthwatch at 31 March 202412023.. £Nil). David John Walker, a trustee of Voluntary Norfolk is a director of Into Opera. During the year ended 31 March 2024, Voluntary Norfolk invoiced Into Opera £29,814 (2023.. £26,595) in relation to payroll services. A balance of £Nil was due to the charity from Into Opera at 31 March 2023 (2023: £2,337). Peter Mark Hitchcock, a trustee of Voluntary Norfolk is a director of Norfolk Citizens Advice. During the year ended 31 March 2024, Voluntary Norfolk invoiced Norfolk Citizens Advice £5,242 (2023.. £5,174) in relation to Job adverts. A balance of £534 was due to the charity from Norfolk Citizens Advi￿ at 31 March 2024 (2023: £796). Norfolk Citizens Advice invoiced Voluntary Norfolk £33,410 (2023.. £38,333) in relation to referral services for the Carers Matter Norfolk project. A balance of £3,485 was owed to Norfolk Citizens Advice at 31 March 2024 {2023'. £13,250}. Agency arrangements Voluntary Norfolk act as an agent in dislributing funds from Youth Advisory Board {YAB). In the year the charity received £135,000 {2023.. £270,840) and disbursed £289,42012023.. £469,946) from the fund. An amount of £67 {2023= £154,727) is included in other creditors relating to undistributed funds. Page 61