Charity Number: 1113201
Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Report and financial statements For the year ended 31st March 2022
Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Reference and administrative information
for the year ended 31st March 2022
Charity number 1113201
Registered office and operational address
Windrush Millennium Centre Unit 2.5 70 Alexandra Road Moss Side Manchester M16 7WD
Trustees
Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:
Ms Caroline Bedale Mr Geoffrey Tweedale Ms Ann Oldham Ms Vera Rigby Mr Anthony Coombs Mr Tony Whitston Mrs Lauren Ross Lorraine Creech
Key management
Personnel
Graham Dring Asbestos Victims Support Group Worker Rob Rayner Asbestos Victims Support Group Coordinator Joel Sloan Asbestos Victims Support Group Worker (Appointed Aug 2021) Reginald Opara Asbestos Victims Support Group Worker (Left May 2021)
Bankers
Unity Trust Bank Nine Brindleyplace Birmingham B1 2HB
Independent Examiner
Jennifer Daniel FCCA DChA Slade & Cooper Limited Beehive Mill Jersey Street Manchester M4 6JG
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Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Trustees’ annual report
for the year ended 31st March 2022
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2022.
Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the charity’s trust constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.
Objectives and activities
The trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remained focused on its stated purposes.
The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.
GMAVSG Charitable Objects:
To relieve the charitable needs of sufferers of asbestos-related diseases, in particular but not exclusively by
(A) the provision of an advice and information service;
- (B) advice about and assistance in claiming compensation and state benefits;
(C) advice about treatment, and the provision of medical aids or other financial assistance or means to enable such people to improve their conditions of life.
This helps members of the public for whom there is no other similar source of advice, information and support in the Greater Manchester area. Activities are carried out to ensure benefit not just for people suffering from asbestos-related diseases and their families, but also for the wider public who may be exposed to asbestos at home or at work or in the environment.
The main activities undertaken in relation to purposes (A) and (B) are:
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1) Provision of an advice and information service to anyone suffering from an asbestos-related disease
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2) Advice and assistance in claiming compensation and state benefits
These activities are mainly undertaken in the Greater Manchester area. If people from outside Greater Manchester contact GMAVSG, they may be referred to a group elsewhere in the country if appropriate; if there is no appropriate group, the staff of GMAVSG will do their best to help.
The main activities undertaken in relation to purpose (C) are:
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1) Involvement in and support for a Bereaved Families Support Group, which meets regularly.
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2) A support group for mesothelioma patients and carers – ‘Living Well with Mesothelioma’ – organised with the Mesothelioma UK Nurses at the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and covering the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance.
There are also other activities undertaken by GMAVSG to further the charity’s purposes for the public benefit. This involves local and national work to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos, to improve benefits and compensation for people with asbestos-related diseases, and to press for more research into the care and treatment of people with asbestos-related diseases.
Achievements and performance
The charity's main activities and who it tries to help are described below. Its charitable activities focus on people with asbestos-related diseases and are undertaken to further Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group’s charitable purposes for the public benefit.
In 2021/22 the three workers were mostly forced to deliver advice over the phone or online, due to COVID-19, rather than being able to offer home visits. The workers helped 231 people newly diagnosed with an asbestos-related
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Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Trustees’ annual report
for the year ended 31st March 2022
disease. 114 had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos. During the continuing lockdowns, and even when these were lifted many vulnerable people were still ‘shielding, there was a marked drop in the numbers of people with asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening, and lung cancer being referred to GMAVSG by hospitals. Many people were reluctant to attend hospitals and GP surgeries, and the NHS was facing considerable strain and disruption. Despite predictions that the mesothelioma epidemic would peak in 2015, the numbers have still not fallen significantly.
In 2021/22, work to further the charity’s purposes for the public benefit has included:
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1) Participation in the All Party Parliamentary Occupational Group on Occupational Safety and Health – Asbestos Sub Committee. Via this and by formal responses to official consultation documents the group advocates to improve the rights of asbestos disease sufferers and their families.
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2) Participation in the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum (The Forum) across the country. With two nationally funded research organisations the Forum participates in the National Mesothelioma Research Network, to encourage cooperation between researchers to find better treatments, and in the long term possibly a cure, for mesothelioma. GMAVSG has continued to play a leading role in the national campaigns of the Forum.
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3) Cape Case: Following the success of the Forum’s legal battle to access documents relating to former asbestos manufacturer Cape Intermediate Holdings Limited, the campaign moved to demand that Cape should make a significant donation to mesothelioma research.
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4) GMAVSG has worked with the Forum to monitor the workings of the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payments Scheme, reviewing how long it has been taking to process claims.
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5) The Forum has continued to push hard against delays in the processing of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) claims for benign diseases. Face-to-face medical assessments to decide these claims were suspended at the start of the pandemic and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) were extremely slow to introduce assessments based on medical records as a safe and obvious alternative, but it was eventually agreed that information could be submitted by email.
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6) A new campaign was started in early 2022, when the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced the planned closure of Phoenix House in Barrow-in-Furness. This is the office that currently deals with claims for industrial injuries benefits. If these experienced staff are made redundant, asbestos victims will inevitably face a huge increase in delay and error when it comes to the handling of their benefit claims. The Forum urged people to write to their MP to try to ensure that the specialised expertise is still available for claimants and that the staff who jobs at risk are offered a viable alternative to redundancy.
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7) Asbestos in schools: GMAVSG has continued to work with other groups on the problem of asbestos in schools, and the dangers posed to pupils and staff.
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8) GMAVSG has continued to be involved with the HSE and other organisations to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos particularly for workers still exposed to asbestos in the course of their work.
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9) Events and Fundraising: through a variety of events, such as Action Mesothelioma Day (AMD) on the first Friday in July each year, charity events, sponsorships and sporting events, GMAVSG has raised funds for our work and increased awareness about the dangers and effects of asbestos, within the workplace and beyond.
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10) Action Mesothelioma Day in July 2021 had to be held online because of the pandemic. Speakers were Kate Green MP, Tony Lloyd MP, Janet Newsham of the Greater Manchester Hazards Centre, and Mairead Dixon of Mesothelioma UK. £12,184.50 was raised for the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund and the National Centre for Mesothelioma Research.
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11) GMAVSG is involved in and supports a Bereaved Families Support Group, which provides mutual support for families affected by mesothelioma and encourages them to participate in events and campaigns to raise awareness of mesothelioma. In 2021/22 most meetings had to be online, although there was a Christmas
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Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Trustees’ annual report
for the year ended 31st March 2022
lunch, funded by Awards For All from the National Lottery Fund.
- 12) The support group for mesothelioma patients and carers – ‘Living Well with Mesothelioma’ – organised jointly by GMAVSG and the Mesothelioma UK Nurses at the University Hospitals Manchester NHS Trust and covering the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance – has continued to meet monthly, usually online rather than in person. Attendance was not as high as in previous years, but for those who did attend online it was clearly important for them to continue to have contact with each other and share their experiences. There was a Christmas lunch (with hampers sent to those who could not attend in person), funded by Awards For All from the National Lottery Fund.
Financial review
The amount of benefits and compensation advice and information work has remained steady and has provided more than enough work for the one full-time and two part-time workers to cover. A considerable amount of the charity’s reserves had been used since 2015/16, although the amount of donations had remained steady until the pandemic. Following a review of the financial strategy during 2017/18, the financial position of the charity has greatly improved: by raising the solicitors panel donations and encouraging general donations. No bids were made to grant-making trusts in 2021/22.
GMAVSG benefited from the Furlough scheme during the pandemic, until the worker who was furloughed left in May 2021.
Overall, the financial position of the charity continues to be healthy.
Reserves policy
Any reserves of funds are held for the purpose of ensuring the continuation of the provision of the services and activities of the Charity in the event that current funding sources cease to yield the same level of income. The reserves held at the end of 2021/22 amounted to about £273,000.
Structure, governance and management
The organisation is an unincorporated charity. Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group was established under a constitution dated 1st July 2005 and registered as a Charity on 7th March 2006, number 1113201, in England and Wales.
The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.
All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 2 to the accounts.
There is a minimum of three Trustees, and no maximum number. A Trustee must be a member of the Charity or the nominated representative of an organisation that is a member of the Charity. Membership of the Charity is open to individuals over eighteen or organisations that are approved by the Trustees. Each of the Trustees shall retire with effect from the conclusion of the annual general meeting next after his or her appointment but shall be eligible for reelection at that annual general meeting.
During 2021/22 the charity had 8 trustees. Prior to the AGM of the charity each year, invitations for nominations are circulated to members of the support groups and to others who have attended meetings or expressed an interest in GMAVSG. Any nominations are considered at the AGM.
Currently there are no representatives of any organisation – all the trustees are individual members of the charity.
Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others
None.
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Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Trustees’ annual report
for the year ended 31st March 2022
Statement of responsibilities of the trustees
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The Trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 18 January 2023 and signed on their behalf by
Caroline Bedale
Treasurer
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Independent examiner’s report
to the members of
Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2022 which are set out on pages 7 to 8.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Jennifer Daniel FCCA DChA
Slade & Cooper Limited, Chartered Certified Accountants Beehive Mill, Jersey Street Manchester, M4 6JG
Date 24/01/2023
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Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022
| Unrestricted Note £ Receipts Donations 39,117 Gift aid 9,780 Job Retention Scheme 3,762 2,400 Fees and other income - Solicitors panel 93,750 Bank interest 597 Total receipts 149,406 Payments Charitable expenditure Premises 6,084 Insurance 1,203 Sundry expenditure 2,063 Postage and delivery 3,370 Printing and materials 1,523 Publications 179 Telephone 1,601 Refreshments 302 Room hire 270 Stationery 487 IT 1,691 Travel and subsistence 172 Management fee - Accountancy 1,399 Recruitment 430 Website 394 Bank charges 186 Donations/Gifts 13,157 Legal Fees 150 Membership and subscriptions 50 Equipment and furniture 1,439 Salaries and Oncosts 95,680 Total payments 131,830 Net receipts for the year 17,576 Net movement in funds 17,576 Bank and cash balances at start of year 255,921 Bank and cash balances at end of the year £ 273,497 Grant income |
Restricted £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - £ - |
2022 £ 39,117 9,780 3,762 2,400 - 93,750 597 149,406 6,084 1,203 2,063 3,370 1,523 179 1,601 302 270 487 1,691 172 - 1,399 430 394 186 13,157 150 50 1,439 95,680 131,830 17,576 17,576 255,921 £ 273,497 |
2021 £ 93,924 3,744 13,250 - 1,043 82,500 401 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 194,862 | |||
| 4,284 1,145 330 1,206 1,498 176 1,563 - - 200 276 - 83,140 1,006 - 2,600 115 - 500 550 273 - |
|||
| 98,862 | |||
| 96,000 | |||
| 96,000 159,921 |
|||
| 255,921 |
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Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
as at 31 March 2022
----- Start of picture text -----
Note 2022 2021
£ £
Bank and cash balances 273,497 255,921
Fixed Assests
Computers 3,142 2,813
Current assets
Debtors 713 -
Liabilities
Creditors due within one year 840 239
Caroline Bedale (Treasurer)
Date 18th January 2023
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Notes
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1 Related party: The charity works alongside a company, Greater Manchester Hazards Centre Limited (company registration no. 2657947). Caroline Bedale is a trustee of the charity and a director of the company although otherwise the two organisations have separate management. The company provides staff and premises to the charity and the cost to the charity in these accounts was £95,680 for staff and £6,084 for premises. All other expenditure made by GMHC on behalf of GMAVSG is reimbursed at cost (such as photocopying, office telephone and internet, accounting payroll and pension costs, insurance).
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2 Trustee Expenses Reimbursed: Nil (2021: Nil) Trustee claimed expenses reimbursed from the Charity totalling £Nil (2021: £Nil).
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