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2021-03-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1116444 Company Registration No. 05834929 (England and Wales)

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees Margaret Cairns - Secretary
Rabiya Gangreker - Treasurer
Pauline Geraghty MBE - Chair
Janet Grimshaw (resigned on 10/09/2020)
Angela McDonagh-Kelly -Assistant Treasurer
David Moore (resigned on 10/09/2020)
Sophia Isa
Joan Whittaker
Kristin Hodgkinson
Jonathan Atkinson
Patrons Pauline Quinn, OBE
Graham Liver
Senior Management Team Shigufta Khan, Chief Executive Ofcer
Debbie Springham, Operational Manager
Charity number 1116444
Company number 05834929
Registered ofce Kings Head Business Centre
43 King Street
Blackburn
United Kingdom
BB22DH
Auditor Azets Audit Services
St. Crispin House
St. Crispin Wy
Haslingden
Rossendale
Lancashire
United Kingdom
BB4 4PW
Bankers National Westminster
King William Street
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB1 ?DJ
Solicitors Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors
25-29 Victoria Street
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB16DN

Trustees

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 18
Statement of trustees' responsibilities 19
Independent auditor's report 20- 23
Statement of financial activities 24
Balance sheet 25-26
Statement of cash flows 27
Notes to the financial statements 28- 36

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006 and "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 Wish Centre

Welcome to our annual report for 2020-2021. We are a charitable company that focuses on supporting people who are affected by domestic abuse. At the start of our charity in 1988 our vision was to provide refuge accommodation for women fleeing domestic abuse. We succeeded in doing that but today we have grown to a multi-faceted service that provides targeted support to people who are at high risk of domestic abuse living in the community, perpetrators of abuse, children and young people and those who want to be empowered to live their lives free from abuse. Of course we still provide safe accommodation for women and their children who are unable to remain living in their communities.

Our report will highlight the work that has taken place over the past year and the lives we have changed along the way. This year has been significantly challenging, a year like no other, as we managed our services through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our staff and volunteer team had to adapt at a fast pace but were committed to continuing to provide high quality services, albeit in very different ways. We have stayed true to our charitable objectives and supporting our beneficiaries. We believe we have kept people safe in the most exacting of circumstances. We have been able to continue as we have because of the support of local and national partners and funders.

Our report will highlight our work over the year and the achievements of our staff and volunteers as they continued to serve people who required assistance. It will identify the work that the trustees and senior managers undertook to keep services running and most importantly it will identify the resilience and fortitude of those who were living in such difficult situations through such a difficult year.

This report is dedicated to those people who have been brave enough to reach out for support and have made remarkable changes in their lives. We will continue to serve people who want to make a life free from abuse.

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BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Ob[j] ectives and activities

Our charity's purpose is set out in the objects contained in the company's memorandum and articles of association. Throughout the report we will use our working name the Wish Centre.

The Trustees believe the aims of the organisation fully reflect the purpose the Wish Centre, (Blackburn & Darwen District Without Abuse) was set up for. It continues to act within the objects below.

1. Direct Services

2. Services to Children.

3. Inter-Agency Working.

To raise the profile of the Wish Centre and awareness of the range of services we provide throughout Blackburn & Darwen district.

To contribute to inter-agency working in Blackburn with Darwen, relating to domestic abuse.

4. Financial and Resource Management.

5. Develo[p] ment of Organisation and Staff.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

What the Wish Centre offers

The Wish Centre formed in 1988 has provided domestic abuse services for Blackburn and Darwen since 1991 when the first refuge was opened. We are currently the local authority commissioned domestic abuse service. It provides support at the point of crisis via safe accommodation to an IDVA/ISAC service that is able to provide safety advice and risk assessments via phone or in a face to face setting.

We provide a range of services that offer targeted support to adults, children and young people. Our practice is based on a whole family approach, recognising we need to identify all those that need support when domestic abuse affects individuals. This is why we have developed our work with perpetrators through our Make the Change© programme and holistic interventions. Our work with children and young is crucial to ensure they are not the hidden victims of domestic abuse. There are a range of holistic services ranging from therapeutic programmes for adults, children and young people, support to access housing, mental health support, debt advice and support to access substance misuse services.

Safe accommodation - safe accommodation provided in Blackburn with Darwen consists of five individual houses with a staffed support block as well as 9 flats with a staffed flat. Emotional and practical support is provided to enable women to live a life free from abuse. Victim programmes and programmes for children are provided on site as well as counselling services. Resettlement support is provided to support victims to move on into their own accommodation.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Programmes for children & young people - a range of therapeutic programmes for children and young people are being delivered in our refuges and in the community. These include:

Young People's Recovery Toolkit which is a therapeutic programme for young people and is informed by Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Expect Respect which is a programme aimed at empowering young women to expect respect in their relationships. Through a range of engaging activities and discussions, this programme aims to enable participants to learn about domestic abuse and identify healthy and unhealthy relationships.

Helping Hands addresses the challenging issues of personal space, awareness of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours, and safety planning. Three themes, called the Protective Behaviours, are reinforced throughout the programme

Parachute Programme is aimed at young people who have been identified as needing help in managing conflict in their relationships. Parachute is aimed at young people who may already have a history of resorting to violence to try and solve conflict. They may have a history of frequent conflict at home, in their relationships, or at school.

RYPP (Respect Young People's Programme) is a programme for families where children or young people aged between 1 O and 16 are abusive or violent towards the people close to them, particularly their parents or carers. This abuse may be physical, verbal, financial, coercive or emotional and may include behaviour like hitting, making threats or causing damage in the home. The parent or carer and the young person both complete the programme.

Supporting strategic development - managers and staff members contribute to the strategic development of services, policy, guidance and legislation relating to violence against women and girls. Our Chief Executive sits on local forums ensuring positive responses to victims of domestic abuse, identifying ways to prevent abuse and developing partnerships across local agencies. She also contributes to regional and national developments, for example, representing the VCF sector on the Adults Safeguarding Board and the Children's Quality Assurance Committee, representation on the Primary Care Network meetings (PCNs) as well as representing the organisation at the national Marac Scrutiny Panel at the Home Office.

Volunteers - as an organisation we are committed to enhancing the services we provide to the community by deploying volunteers. We provide training and support for our volunteers and endeavour to offer them opportunities that will be fulfilling and enjoyable. Our volunteers get involved in many different aspects of our work.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

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BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Strategic report

In our 2019-20 annual report we identified goals we wanted to achieve in 2020-21. What we didn't expect was having to strive to achieve these goals during the height of a pandemic that has continued to affect everyone's daily lives.

New funding and developments

We have been fortunate to receive new funding through the year to develop new initiatives and expand our work to reach more people requiring support.

RYPP - Respect Young People's Programme is a new addition to our prevention work, and we are delighted to work with partners from the statutory sector in the co-delivery of this new project. The programme is accredited by Respect and practitioners delivering the project have all received training and will continue to receive practice supervision sessions from Respect. RYPP is being delivered across Blackburn with Danwen, Blackpool and Lancashire.

Perpetrator interventions - we have worked in collaboration with Rise Mutual CIC & Humraaz to embed a cultural thread in the programme we are now delivering. It was important for us to reflect the diverse communities that we are working in and ensure that the programme we are delivering reflects the cultures and practices of all our communities. We have also developed an awareness raising programme as precursor to the perpetrator programmes which is ready for delivery. This has been developed in collaboration with practitioners working with the refugee and asylum-seeking communities.

Male IDVA- to ensure we meet the needs of male victims funding secured from the Home Office has enabled us to employ a male staff member to work directly with men referred for support.

Social media and communication - this year more than ever we have ensured the growth of our social media presence and developed our communication strategy. It has been vital to keep in touch with people during lockdowns, knowing that people's movements were restricted and many people were living in households where domestic abuse was occurring. In September 2020 we launched our new website VN.Vv.thewishcentre.org

Investing in a communications officer who is skilled in producing resources, disseminating information using many different formats has made certain that service users and stakeholders have been kept informed about services and had access to essential resources through our website. There is now a dedicated page to resources. We have produced a number of reports addressing the impact of domestic abuse on mental health and also the impact on children. These can be accessed on our website too.

A new chat facility was developed at the height of lockdowns giving another avenue for people to contact the Wish Centre.

We have been able to publicise fundraising events, ask the general public for support and raise awareness about domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.

We have launched a You Tube channel and are also utilising the Reels facility on lnstagram to connect with different audiences, whilst maintaining our Facebook and Twitter presence.

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BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Accreditations • In June 2020 the Wish Centre were successful in being awarded the Women's Aid Quality Mark (stage 1). The panel were impressed by the wide range of services including two refuges, a helpline, a crisis service run by IDVA's, a drop in, educational groups for survivors, and children and young people. A counselling service and a programme for perpetrators, which is a county-wide service commissioned by Lancashire County Council and is Respect accredited.

In April 2020 the Wish Centre gained the full Respect Accreditation, the panel were very impressed by the services we offered and commented on the quality of our commitment and delivery of services in the context of Lancashire. They highlighted 'the strength of our equality strategy and approaches taken to ensure that we offered "services for all". This is noted as an area that is a challenge for many organisations, but the Wish Centre stands out as an agency who is clearty doing this to a high standard with skilled practice throughout all aspects of service delivery'.

The Wish Centre has for many years been IIP accredited and underwent a full re-accreditation process in September 2020. The organisation received positive feedback which included -

There is a clear purpose and vision in place which people understand.

Since the last IIP review the service has expanded and new staff have been recruited. So it is extremely positive to receive the above comments from IIP.

We continue to hold the Investing in Children Award.

Recruiting new staff - We are pleased to announce that we have been able to recruit new staff through the year to manage the demands of our extended service. Our recruitment and induction processes are robust and learning and development are acknowledged to be crucial to continue to provide the highest calibre of services. All our new staff have brought significant benefits to the team. We have undertaken recruitment in very different ways this year but it has been successful and it is invigorating to see an expanding, cohesive team being formed, even with the restrictions of the year.

Allies - we wanted to find a new way to engage with the public and developed our Allies campaign. We have been fortunate that people have engaged with this and we now have a growing number of allies who help us to signpost people to the Wish Centre, openly challenge negative views about violence against women and girls, call out domestic abuse when they see ii or hear about it and help educate our communities. We are very grateful to have such valuable, local support.

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BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Achievements and performance

Achieving our goals - each year the trustees and senior managers review our progress and identify how we have performed against our objectives. We have had to work in a very different way this year and we are proud of our staff and volunteers who have risen to the challenge, adapted how they work with service users and been incredibly flexible. Whilst most staff have adapted to working from home and online our staff at the refuges have continued to offer face to face support where-ever possible and permitted. They have had to deal with residents self-isolating and manage the anxieties about their own health and that of their families. II is difficult to put into words how proud we are of the way staff have performed over this year and demonstrated their dedication to service users. It is gratifying to have feedback from many service users who have appreciated the support they have received in such challenging times.

Strategically the CEO, trustees and managers worked together to steer the organisation through the year. Trustees continued to meet every other month to ensure we were complying with Covid-19 legislation, delivering services safely, maintaining financial controls and reviewing our sustainability. The CEO and chair of the Trustee Board have met on a weekly basis and will be continuing to do this for the foreseeable future. This has been useful to ensure open communication, deal with crisis and respond in a timely way, pro-actively update risk assessments and plans and offer support when required.

We believe we have fulfilled our goals for the year, responding to service users' needs wherever possible and monitoring the quality of these services. We continued to review the objectives we set for the year: effective budget planning with a focus on the funding we were able to access from grant makers etc. relating to the pandemic; using resources effectively, for example IT provision to ensure people could work from home; continuing to identify fundraising opportunities - the general public and local organisation were very supportive of the needs of service users. We ensured that staff were being supported and as our delivery changes again to face to face contact that staff feel safe and secure returning to the Wish Centre base. We have also continued to campaign to end violence against women and girls by our involvement in consultations, individual campaigns and raising awareness about the new Domestic Abuse Act.

What has surprised everyone across the organisation is our ability to grow some of our work through the year. This has been particularly gratifying given the restrictions of the pandemic.

We believe we have met the goals we set and stayed true to our core values and mission. We have achieved this during a pandemic and also managed to develop new parts to the overall service.

Investing in and supporting staff and volunteers has continued to be crucial throughout the year given people have had to work in highly stressful settings, for example, our refuges, support people with increasingly complex needs and anxieties and deal with their own anxieties given the pandemic. Our mangers across the organisation have offered this support and found ways to bring staff together who have been working remotely. Volunteers who have been able to continue their roles have been supported by the volunteer co­ ordinator. Having such a professional, knowledgeable and dedicated staff team and committed volunteers has been the key to our continuing services.

We have been fortunate this year to welcome a new trustee who comes with a wealth of legal experience. As a local solicitor who specialises in cases that involve domestic abuse she is able to add to the skill base of the Trustee Board.

As we enter a new year it is pleasing to note that we are in a firm financial position but appreciate that we also need to ensure our ongoing sustainability. We have processes in place to achieve this.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Our current strategic plan ends in 2022 so we will begin to look forward to developing our new three year plan. We are confident that our services are valuable to the local community and continue to be needed. We have good service models in place that have proved beneficial to service users. We continue to provide good outcome measures so funders, staff members and more importantly service users can identify what difference our interventions make to people's lives. Maintaining all the correct processes in our day-to-day work and governance procedures ensures we provide services that are safe, fair and focused. Our policies and procedures are regularly reviewed to provide confidence for service users that we meet our legislative duties.

The support of local people has been very important this year. Monetary support, donations of essential items and people's time to support service users has resulted in the ability to support more people. We cannot thank people enough for their kindness and compassion. We are also building our corporate relationships and thank all the companies and organisations that have supported us throughout the year.

This year has thrown up its challenges but we have continued to work with valued partners by delivering work together, jointly bidding for new funding and progressing the domestic abuse and violence against women and girls agenda. Bringing together different organisations' skills mean we can offer more to our beneficiaries. We have sustained existing partnerships and formed new ones and will continue to work actively to build relationships with others to advance the work we undertake. We have continued to work with partners locally, regionally and nationally to develop new initiatives to tackle domestic abuse. Our CEO is pro-active in working with the local Domestic Abuse Board, Lancashire Domestic Abuse Forum, LSCB and LSAB and an array of other fora. She continues to be part of Government processes to improve services for those affected by domestic abuse.

The Trustees are confident that we end the financial year in a positive position. We have a team of staff and volunteers who can deliver the specialist, high quality provision the Wish Centre is well known for. We have a strengthened Trustee Board that can continue to plan the strategic development of the organisation.

This has been an exceptional year and we are proud we have maintained services, expanded our reach and developed new ways of working throughout a pandemic. We end the year fortunate we have such a superb team, financially secure and with new learning that equips us to move forward and sustain the organisation.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

How our activities deliver public benefit

The Wish Centre exists to support those suffering or at risk of suffering domestic abuse and anyone who is affected by this abuse, These are our beneficiaries and the absolute focus of our work.

We provide services that directly impacts on individuals and protects them from harm and we help to change behaviours that cause harm. These outcomes are crucial in enabling people to live life free from abuse, We provide safe accommodation that enables women and children to be protected but also empower them to move on and build their lives again, By raising people's awareness in the community about domestic abuse and violence against women and girls we aim to educate people so they too can help to eradicate abuse and violence,

Below are some highlights about the benefits to individuals and communities.

In the last 12 months we have supported 2809 service users, 1395 of our service users have had additional vulnerabilities including substance misuse and mental health,

It is heartening to find that over 90% of our service users have said that they feel safer, able to access services as a result of our interventions and their quality of life has improved. As service delivery had to change this year, we are pleased that the outcomes for service users have stayed positive. Our case management system links records together therefore we can ensure that victim's safety is at the forefront of our work. In addition, by providing services to young people, adult victims, and perpetrators under one service we are able to ensure effective communication and information sharing.

Our volunteers are a valuable and vital resource for us providing support in all areas of our work. During the last 12 months some of our activities have been restricted which has impacted the volunteering opportunities we have been able to provide, however our volunteers have remained connected and where possible we have utilised their valuable skills. The Wish Centre is also a placement provider for students as well as an organisation that supports training and development of staff across the voluntary and statutory sector so that our collective response to domestic abuse improves, We believe that giving access to these roles withing in our organisation we enhance the skills and knowledge of people in our community.

In the last 12 months our reach has expanded, and we are providing perpetrator interventions as well as interventions for families impacted by adolescent to parent violence across Lancashire and Blackpool. This is in addition to the work we undertake in Blackburn with Darwen,

Along with our services our team has also expanded from 24 staff members to 39. We have also expanded our counselling team from 5 to 7 counsellors and in the last 12 months 34 service users have accessed counselling services. All our team bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience from disciplines such as police, probation and social care, We are proud of our induction and training process and ensure that on­ going training and development opportunities are provided to all staff members and volunteers.

Within our refuge provision we have received 169 referrals for safe accommodation, 41 women and 76 children have been housed with us and provided with the necessary support. Referral rates have remained as high as the previous year but we have housed less families as the effects of the pandemic meant families were not able to move on as quickly as previous years. This resulted in families remaining with us for longer periods of time. Whilst staff members have worked in different ways supporting families in refuge they have remained on site and in regular contact with people. Staff continued to resettle families within their chosen communities and offer ongoing reassurances, linking people with local amenities etc.

Of those referred to our services we have been able to support 102 people through the sanctuary scheme, ensuring their safety within their own homes. 416 people have been supported by specialist IDVAs to access the criminal and civil courts. Attending court can be a terrifying experience for many people and having someone alongside is crucial to counterbalance the effects of these processes.

As previously stated, the therapeutic and behaviour change programmes have been delivered in different ways this year. The important point however is that they continued to be delivered and accessed by significant numbers of people. When it was permissible some of the perpetrator programmes returned to group sessions but on the whole the sessions were either run on a 1: 1 basis or small online groups.

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BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

During the year our adult victim programmes were accessed by 264 service users. As we prepare for a new cohort, we currently have 31 people waiting to start the AIM programme in September 2021.

We have engaged with 206 children/young people in the last 12 months. Due to the pandemic we have also engaged with 113 parents sending them resources they were able to use to support their children. The resources have also been available through our website so they could be accessed by a wider audience of those directly affected by domestic abuse or those professionals supporting families. Many of our referrals come from educational settings and the impact of school closures and many children being sent home to isolate resulted in difficulties for our staff to maintain their normal communication with school and college staff. Things are improving again and we are confident that the new school year in September 2021 will see a rise in referral rates.

Like our victims and children & young people's programmes our behaviour change programmes have been affected through the year. We have been fortunate to have access to data collected by police analysts highlighting that 74% of men who have engaged on the Make the Change© programme have not reoffended 6 months and 12 months after completion. This is encouraging information and contributes to our evaluation of the programme. We believe that the additional, individual support those who participate on the programme receive help to facilitate that sustained behavioural change.

One of the impacts of the pandemic has been the use of 1: 1 sessions for our programmes work when groupwork was unadvisable or impractical. We have learnt that there are significant benefits from 1: 1 sessions for some service users and given this we will be continuing to offer this facility for the foreseeable future. As restrictions ease we will also be returning to face to face groups from September 2021.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

What do our beneficiaries say

It is always important and valuable to gather the views of service users. We want to hear from all our stakeholders about their experiences of our services.

Service user feedback:

'the first time I went to the Wish Centre it was hard but staff made me f l welcome'

'I feel I've been able to make changes in my life and it's down to the support and good advice I've received from the Wish Centre'

'staff made me feel better, put me at ease and helped me feel less anxious'

'I can talk to her and tell her anything about my background and she doesn't judge me'

'they make me feel really safe and when I am really stressed they help me. I talk to them when I am really stressed'

To be valued in such a way whilst learning about how multifaceted abuse can be has been of such immense benefit'

'I no longer blame myself and when I am feeling a bit wobbly I go back to my notes and am able to move on'

'You have made me interested in the programme, you have made me want to learn, I have looked forward to our sessions'

'I couldn't have made the changes without you and I can't thank you enough for your honesty and commitment to me and my family'

'Staff taught me not to blame myself, that I was in denial which I now recognise and to value myself'

'Staff have been amazing'

'I'm beginning to trust myself and not only that I'm starting to envision a positive future for me and my daughter'

'I think the life skills sessions should be taught in schools and be made mandatory as part of the curriculum and also taught in communities'

Other stakeholder feedback:

'in my view the Make the Change programme is a highly valuable resource for the Probation Service·

'I would like to say a massive thank you to yourself and your team for the dedication and ethics towards safeguarding victims of domestic abuse'

'The staff at the Wish Centre are highly approachable and helpful in responding to any queries that I have'

'You have gone above and beyond to assist clients I have had in your area when you didn't have to. I find your service to be totally professional and supportive of clients and other services alike'

'What was even more helpful that the Wish Centre continued to offer the programme during the Covid-19 pandemic via zoom classes'

We are awaiting an independent evaluation of some of our services and this will be published in due course. This will include service user and other stakeholder feedback.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Equality and diversity

Equality, diversity and human rights are central to our core principles of empowerment and freedom from abuse. These principles are vital to the way we deliver services and support individuals. We aim to create an environment where everyone is treated fairly, justly, with respect and with recognition of an individual's unique characteristics and needs. This relates to access to services, employment and volunteering opportunities and our internal processes. Our Equality and Diversity Policy and Procedures are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain valid and fit-for-purpose. We are committed to creating a positive and safe environment for service users, staff, volunteers, trustees, partners and contractors.

Financial review

We began the year concerned about the effects of the pandemic on our financial position. We are pleased to report that we have been able to successfully maintain all our services and consequently support our beneficiaries. We have been fortunate to receive assistance over the year from many of our funders offering additional monetary support. We have also secured new funding to develop and expand some of our work. Our funding has been directed at ensuring we continue to meet our charitable objectives and strive for a society free from domestic abuse.

We have a clear funding strategy that is regularly reviewed to ensure it is fit for purpose. Our planned fundraising activities have been curtailed this year but we have found new ways to attract local and corporate donations. There has been an impact on our unrestricted income but not to the level we expected. We are immensely grateful to all who have supported us. At the close of the year, our financial position whilst threatened has ended in a positive way. We would not have been able to do this without excellent external support from an array of supporters and partners.

As we look ahead to a new financial year the Trustees report a positive position. Our focus will be to consolidate our practice base, work with partners to attract new funding to secure and where appropriate expand our core work and revitalise our fundraising strategy.

The financial statement for the year ended 31 March 2021 shows a net surplus in funds of £578,111, 31 March 2020 £223,162. As outlined above the organisation is in a stable position and able to sustain the valuable work we deliver.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Reserves policy

The Trustees have reviewed the reserves policy; this review considered the nature of the income and expenditure streams, the need to match variable income with fixed commitments and the state of the reserves. We are mindful of the ongoing importance of securing funding and constantly seek to bid for new sources to enable our service provision to continue, and ensure we continue to meet our commitments to beneficiaries while also offering staff members more security.

The Trustees have decided to maintain four months running costs in designated reserves and not increase to 6 months costs at this stage. Instead, the Board has agreed to create a contingency fund in the event of a significant drop in funding, this will allow the charity to continue its current activities while considering ways in which additional funds may be raised. However, this will be monitored regularly on a case-by-case basis, and new funding is continually being sought to minimise the likelihood of a drawdown from reserves.

Funding grants that cover core costs such as the Wish Centre (a valued community space) have come to an end, and therefore the trustees have agreed to designate funds to cover the shortfall while additional funding is sought. Our unrestricted reserves support the development of new initiatives as we identify new local needs.

Reserves at 31st March 2021 amount to:

Designated £698,000 Unrestricted reserves £46,856 Restricted reserves £326,757 Total Funds £1,071,613

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Principal funding sources

We are very grateful to the following funders who enable us to deliver our vital services.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Lancashire County Council

Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Lancashire

The National Lottery

Children in Need

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

The Henry Smith Charity

Lloyds Bank Foundation

Charles Hayward Foundation

Brian Mercer Trust

CAF (Charities Aid Foundation)

Lancashire Covid -19 Community Support Fund

Tesco Bags of Help Covid -19 Communities Fund

The Clothworkers' Foundation

We are also grateful to local groups, companies and individuals who have donated money, goods and services throughout the year.

Investment policy

The Trustees agree to keep a specific amount in reserves each year. The rest of the funds are utilised to provide services for our beneficiaries. The Articles of Association contains powers for the Trustees to invest funds however the Wish Centre is not investing any monies at present. We do gain interest on some of our money.

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BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Risk Management

The Trustee Board is responsible for establishing and monitoring internal control systems within the Wish Centre. The Board regularly reviews the major risks which may impact the organisation. Some of the significant risks include recovery from the pandemic, securing sustainable funding; public sector funding cuts; a very competitive fundraising environment; challenges recruiting experienced and qualified staff when required to facilitate growth and risk from competitors. The Trustees are satisfied that the process for reviewing risk is robust and timely and that at present the risks identified have been ameliorated to ensure the safe and sustainable running of the Wish Centre. Processes are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety and safeguarding requirements.

There are well developed reporting processes in place that means the CEO reports any concerns, exceptions, risks etc.

Members' liability

The Trustees of the charitable company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £ 1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up.

Going concern

The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the organisation has adequate resources to continue operating for the foreseeable future. Given this, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Looking ahead

We are in our final year of our three year plan and will be starting work to develop our new plan. For the final year we will continue with our objectives.

  1. Provide outstanding support and services to all those who come to us for help

  2. Enhance and develop our services to meet the increasingly complex issues experienced by domestic abuse victims.

  3. Manage our charity effectively and efficiently by investing in our people, our fundraising and our brand.

  4. Continue to raise awareness of the domestic abuse agenda locally and nationally.

We also want to fully recover from the restrictions of the pandemic. Staff have started to return to our office base but we have agreed that for the foreseeable future we will use a hybrid model and have staff working from both the office and home. Our refuge based staff have returned to working wholly face to face with residents and have restarted group sessions. Our group programmes are shortly to become face to face again. We anticipate that our AGM will be held in person. We will continue to review progress, ensuring the safety of staff and service users is paramount.

The future

We have weathered the storm of the Covid-19 pandemic and with the tremendous resilience of the staff and volunteer team have adapted to ensure all our services have continued. This has been an amazing achievement. We have to pay tribute to every team member who has helped us to continue to provide those valuable services.

We enter a new year with vigour and will to achieve our goals laid down in our strategic and operational plan. We have learnt from the last year, about new ways to deliver our services, about our resilience, about the support we have from our funders and partners, about practice we want to keep and that we want to return to. We have grown our work in the past year and we are immensely proud of that and want to ensure those who have put their trust in us are not disappointed by our performance.

What has been fundamental to our learning is that domestic abuse was still prevalent and people needed our services more that ever. The storm is passing and we have been able to survive it, sadly women and children have died through the year, the victims of domestic abuse. That makes our resolve greater to be here for all those who need our services.

We have helped many people to live their lives free of domestic abuse. We have worked with partners because we know we have all to work together to achieve this. We welcome the Domestic Abuse Act, we will continue to campaign to achieve more for women and children's safety and make sure their voices are heard locally and nationally.

Thank you to all those who have helped us through the year, supporters, funders, partners, colleagues, our local community. That help has ensured we continued the vital work we do. Thank you too to all our service users whose feedback is invaluable in helping us develop meaningful services.

Our vision is a world without domestic abuse.

We Listen We Support We Empower

Finally we would like to remember Shaheda (Shaz) Rashid who sadly passed away from illness during the year. She was a committed worker and team member and worked tirelessly for those who needed support and advocacy. She is missed by all her colleagues.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Structure, governance and management

Constitution and Organisation

The Wish Centre is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and is constituted under a Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 26.09.2006. It is also a registered charity, number 1116444.

The principal object of the company is to assist in the relief of women, men and children who have suffered or are at risk of suffering domestic abuse, through the provision of support, advice and accommodation. The organisation's principal beneficiaries are women and children.

The Wish Centre is structured and managed in a way that ensures all victims of domestic abuse and those affected by such abuse can access high-quality, non-discriminatory services that meet individual needs. Our specialist services have been developed over time for this end.

The Board of Trustees currently has eight members who bring a variety of skills, knowledge and experience. Having reviewed processes, membership and function the Board is confident in its ability to lead the organisation. All members are commitled to fulfilling the vision and mission of the organisation.

The Wish Centre has two patrons, Pauline Quinn QBE, ex-Head of Midwifery for East Lanes Hospital Trust brings much knowledge and expertise to the organisation and Graham Liver, a radio and television presenter who is well known locally and regionally. Where possible Pauline and Graham are involved in the life of the organisation and are available for advice and guidance. We have a number of co-opted members who we can call upon for their specific skills. The Trustee Board has continued to meet remotely every other month so there has been no disruption in our meeting cycle. Additional meetings have been arranged when necessary e.g. Finance and Remuneration Committees.

Our CEO, Shigufta Khan has day to day responsibility for the management of the organisation, supported by the Operational Manager, Debbie Springham. We have also developed a new managerial structure with staff who are able to oversee specific areas of practice. This was necessary because of the number of new team members.

Trustees work closely with the CEO and the wider management and staff team to provide a meaningful service for all those affected by domestic abuse. The CEO receives regular 1: 1 support from the Chair of Trustees. All staff are able to contact any of the trustees if required. Whilst it has not been possible for trustees to meet face to face with staff this year there have been opportunities for staff to attend the Board meetings. There have been regular communications with staff and the CEO sends out a weekly newsletter 'Friday Words' to keep everyone informed of the life of the Wish Centre and other interesting events, information etc.

-17-

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Appointment or Election, Induction and Training of Trustees

The management of the Wish Centre is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Trustees delegate the day to day running of the organisation to our CEO, Shigufta Khan.

The Board holds annual reviews to determine if there are any skills gaps and if so how to fill these. Another trustee has joined the Board after realising there was a skills gap around legal knowledge and experience.

The recruitment process for new trustees is well embedded in the organisation. An interview is undertaken, references requested, a disclosure and barring check carried out and any further checks required that determines suitability to hold office. An induction pack is given to new trustees that include roles and responsibilities of a trustee, information from the Charity Commission and information about the organisation. They also spend time with the CEO, Chair and staff to familiarise themselves with the Wish Centre activities. They can also undertake a volunteer training programme. Recruits are asked to attend three Board meetings, excluding any confidential sections, before being confirmed by existing members. At each AGM a third of Board members are required to retire. Those longest in office since election retire first and all are eligible for re-election. The three officer positions are re-elected each year. This is not determined in our constitution but we believe it ensures accountability and gives opportunities to others on the Board.

Trustees undertake a set of e-learning safeguarding training to equip them for their role. Each member of the Board is encouraged to undertake additional training so they can contribute fully to the Board. There is a training budget for the Board.

Organisational Structure and Decision Making

Trustees are aware of their roles and responsibilities as members of the Board and take these responsibilities very seriously. The Board currently meets every other month ensuring the continuous development of the organisation. Where appropriate additional meetings or sub-groups are arranged to deal with specific issues, projects etc. The CEO reports to the Board at each meeting including a financial update. Individual staff members feed into the CEO report ensuring Trustees have direct information from staff members. Any staff member, volunteer or service user can attend Board meetings, excluding confidential sections, at any time.

Where decisions have to be made in an emergency, outside of normal Board meetings Trustees have the authority to do so. Where possible there are always at least three Trustees who consult on the matter to be decided and this is then taken to the next Board meeting for ratification. This process is regularly reviewed.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The trustees, who are also the directors of Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Limited for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with 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 year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate 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 Companies Act 2006. 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' report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 8 September 2021.

Pauline Geraghty MBE, Chair

Rabiya Gangreker, Treasurer

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Limited (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 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:

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC'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 concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial 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 charity's ability to continue as a going concern 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.

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's 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 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 with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise 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.

-20 -

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE TRUSTEES OF BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees' report; or

sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or

the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose 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 charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern 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.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

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 auditor's 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 to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: https:// www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE TRUSTEES OF BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above and on the Financial Reporting Council's website, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.

We obtain and update our understanding of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework. Based on this understanding, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we designed procedures which included:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non­ compliance. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

-22-

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE TRUSTEES OF BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees 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 charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Jonathan Ward Azets Audit Services Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor

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1 S.. / September 2021
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St. Crispin House
St. Crispin Way
Haslingden
Rossendale
- Lancashire
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Azets Audit Services is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2021
2021
Notes
£
£
ltm;m� from:
Donations and grants
3
622,467
596,706
Charitable activities
4
252,690
Investments
5
135
Total income
875,292
596,706
Exienditure on:
Charitable activities
6
467,863
426,024
Net income fr the year/
Net movement in funds
407,429
170,682
Fund balances at 1
April 2020
337,427
156,075
Fund balances at 31
March 2021
744,856
326,757		 TotalUnrestricted
funds
2021
2020
£
£
1,219,173
502,415
252,690
245,519
135
501
1,471,998
748,435
893,887
604,975
578,111
143,460
493,502
193,967
1,071,613
337,427		 Restricted
funds
2020
£
356,600
356,600
276,898
79,702
76,373
156,075		 Total
2020
£
859,015
245,519
501
1,105,035
881,873
223,162
270,340
493,502

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

-24 -

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2021

Notes
Fixed asset
Tangible assets
10
Current assets
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due wthin
one year
12
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Income funds
Restricted funds
13
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
14
General unrestricted funds		 2021
£
£
7,900
30,585
1,083,215
1,113,800
(50,087)
1,063,713
1,071,613
326,757
698,000
46,856
744,856
1,071,613		 2020
£
£
7,714
36,123
495,531
531,654
(45,866)
485,788
493,502
156,075
290,000
47,427
337,427
493,502		 2020
£
£
7,714
36,123
495,531
531,654
(45,866)
485,788
493,502
156,075
290,000
47,427
337,427
493,502
493,502
156,075
337,427
493,502

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)

AS AT 31 MARCH 2021

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2021, although an audit has been carried out under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements under the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 8 September 2021

Pauline Geraghty MBE, Chair

Company Registration No. 05834929

-26-

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

2021 2020
Notes £ £ £ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations 18 595,063 224,503
Investing activities
Purchase of tangible fxed assets (7,514) (5,316)
Interest received 135 501
Net cash used in investing activities (7,379) (4,815)
Net cash used in financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalent 587,684 219,688
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 495,531 275,843
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 1,083,215 495,531

• 27 ·

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Blackburn and Darwen District Without Abuse Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Wish Centre, 43 King Street, Blackburn, BB2 2DH, United Kingdom.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006 and "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 charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2 Going concern

In carrying out their duties in respect of going concern, The Trustees have carried out a review of the Charity's financial position and cash flow forecasts for a period of twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements. The forecasts have been based on a comprehensive review of funding streams, expenditure and cash flows, taking into account specific sector risks including the impact of Covid 19 and the uncertainties brought about by the current economic environment. The forecasts indicate that the organisation has sufficient funds to meet its liabilities as they fall due for that period.

The Charity is reliant on income in the form of grant funding from the local authority and other bodies to sustain its operations. These forecasts assume that grant funding will be at a level sufficient to meet the organisation's liabilities as they fall due over the going concern assessment period.

The Charity continues to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. Accordingly, the Trustees have presented the financial statements on a going concern basis.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and ii is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

-28-

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable far goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.

-29 -

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1 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 will 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, including 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.

Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the company and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

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 activities.

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Fixtures and fittings

33% straight line

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

1.7 Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.8 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.9 Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 'Basic Financial Instruments' and Section 12 'Other Financial Instruments Issues' of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

3 Donations and grants

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2021
2021
£
£
Donations and gifts
35,806
Grants
586,661
596,706
622,467
596,706		 TotalUnrestricted
funds
2021
2020
£
£
35,806
19,970
1,183,367
482,445
1,219,173
502,415		 Restricted
Ttal
funds
2020
2020
£
£
19,970
356,600
839,045
356,600
859,015

• 31 ·

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

4 Charitable activities

Housing benefit - Refuge 1
Housing benefit - Refuge 2
Rent received from tenants - Refuge 1
Rent received from tenants - Refuge 2		 2021
£
105,069
123,500
9,512
14,609
252,690		 2020
£
123,211
103,051
9,126
10,131
245,519

5 Investments

2021 2020
£ £
Interest received 135 501

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

6 Charitable activities

Depreciation and impairment
Management fee
Motor expenses
Legal and professional fees
Bank charges
Employment costs
Employers pension contribution
Establishment costs
Repairs and maintenance
Ofce expenses
Printing, postage and stationary
Subscriptions and donations
Sundry expenses
Cleaning
Other charitable expenditure
Share of governance costs (see note )
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
7
Net movement in funds
Net movement in funds is stated afer charging/(crediting)
Fees payable to the company's auditor for the audit of the company's
financial statements
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets		 2021
£
7,328
29,151
3,517
35,214
483
626,969
7,732
113,602
10,254
40,059
6,841
1,025
3,997
3,915
890,087
3,800
893,887
467,863
426,024
893,887
2021
£
5,000
7,328		 2020
£
5,632
28,012
24,445
33,752
412
585,680
6,494
114,947
15,960
34,752
17,742
1,088
5,002
2,816
919
877,653
4,220
881,873
604,975
276,898
881,873
2020
£
5,000
3,160

8 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

9 Employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

2021 2020
Number Number
28 28

The trustees consider the key management personnel to be the CEO and the Operational manager. Total employee benefits including employers' pension contributions were £87,895 (2019: £83,567).

No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.

10 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Fixures and fitings
Cost
At 1 April 2020 134,568
Additions 7,514
At 31 March 2021 142,082
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2020 126,854
Depreciation charged in the year 7,328
At 31 March 2021 134,182
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2021 7,900
At 31 March 2020 7,714

11 Debtors

2021
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
Other debtors
23,608
Prepayments and accrued income
6,981
30,589		 2020
£
29,186
6,937
36,123

-34 •

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
2021
£
3,047
8,290
26,620
12,130
50,087		 2020
£
4,168
8,743
21,236
11,719
45,866

13 Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:

Movement in funds Movement in funds Movement in funds Movement in funds
Balance at Incoming Resources Balance at Incoming Resources Balance at
1 Aprll 2019 resources expended 1 April 2020 resources expended 31 March 2021
£ £ £ £ £ £ £
76,373 356,600 (276,898) 156,075 596,706 (426,024) 326,757

The restricted fund relates to grants received in relation to employment costs,

14 Designated funds

The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:

Balance at
1 April 2019
£
150,000
150,000		 Transfers
Balance at
1 April 2020
£
£
140,000
290,000
140,000
290,000		 Transfers
Balance at
31 March 2021
£
£
408,000
698,000
408,000
698,000		 Transfers
Balance at
31 March 2021
£
£
408,000
698,000
408,000
698,000
698,000

Designated funds relate to a transfer of funds by the trustees to cover up to 4 months of the charity's running costs, The Board has agreed in this financial year to create a contingency fund in the event of a significant drop in funding, this will allow the charity to continue its current activities while considering ways in which additional funds may be raised.

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN DISTRICT WITHOUT ABUSE LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

15 Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds funds
2021 2021 2021 2020 2020 2020
£ £ £ £ £ £
Fund balances at 31
March 2021 are
represented by:
Tangible assets 7,900 7,900 7,714 7,714
Current assets/
(liabilities) 736,956 326,757 1,063,713 358,899 126,889 485,788
744,856 326,757 1,071,613 366,613 126,889 493,502

16 Operating lease commitments

At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

2021 2020
£ £
Within one year 2,006 8,081
Between two and five years 1,004 3,010
3,010 11,091

17 Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2020 - none).

18 Cash generated from operations
Cash generated from operations 2021 2020
£ £
Surplus for the year 578,111 223,162
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities (135) (501)
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets 7,328 5,632
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 5,538 (8,222)
Increase in creditors 4,221 4,432
Cash generated from operations 595,063 224,503