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← Reducing The Risk Of Domestic Abuse

2024-03-31-accounts

Company number: 6201363 Charity number: 120244

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Unaudited Report & Financial Statements

for the year ended

31 March 2024

Wenn Townsend

Chartered Accountants

Oxford

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Status Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse is a charitable company limited
by guarantee and registered as a charity
Company Number 6201363
Charity Number 1120244
Registered Office 7 Canterbury Road
Oxford
OX2 6LU
Trustees Paul Richards (Chair) with effect from 1 July 2024
Romy Briant MBE until 1 July 2024
Sally Dorrity
Ruth Hosford
Sian Rodway
Naomi Neal
Andrew Carver
Khosar Khan
Chief Executive Officer Dawn Hodson
Company Sectary Catherine Foot with effect from 1 April 2024
Patrons Professor Jane Monkton-Smith
Frank Mullane
Principal Bankers The Co-operative Bank
Independent Examiner AC Rodzynski FCA
Wenn Townsend
30 St Giles
Oxford
OX1 3LE

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees have pleasure in submitting our report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024

Constitution and Organisation

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse was incorporated as a registered company limited by guarantee (company number 6201363) on 3 April 2007 and registered as a charity on 25 July 2007 (charity number 1120244).

The charity is governed by a Board of no fewer than three directors in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Romy Briant resigned as Chair and Trustee and accepted the position of President on 1 July 2024, with Paul Richards becoming Chair. Catherine Foot was appointed Company Secretary with effect from 1 April 2024.

Objectives of the charity

The objects for which the charity is established are:

To reduce poverty by promoting the safety, choices and independence of victims of domestic abuse

To educate by fostering awareness and understanding of the nature, prevalence and impact of domestic violence and means of reducing these

To reduce the risk of domestic abuse by provision of services and supporting an integrated multi agency approach.

Public benefit

The Trustees confirm that we have taken due regard of the guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

The work of the Charity

Reducing the Risk was established to:

Our core aim

The safety and empowerment of victims of abuse and of those who support them

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Trustees’ Report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Reducing the Risk Services

Local Oxfordshire Services

Regional and National Services

We provide court based IDVA Services regionally; facilitate the development of Domestic Abuse Champion Networks more widely – with currently over 5000 champions; and offer our training services nationally.

New initiatives. We are focussing on two areas of work:

i. emotional wellbeing. We are creating a new post of trauma recovery IDVA and we are working with SHOUT (a confidential mental health text service) to develop a response for anyone with mental health needs who has experienced domestic abuse.

ii. strengthening our community response to domestic abuse. We are working in partnership with a local town to develop a new approach to raising awareness and providing support.

Website: www.reducingtherisk.org.uk

For information about our services please see our impact report 2023/24

This is available among the research reports in our website library of good practice: https://reducingtherisk.org.uk/library-of-good-practice/

Competence of the Board of Trustees

Reducing the Risk seeks to recruit and retain a Board of Trustees which is inclusive and reflects the range of values and skills the charity needs. This includes having at least one trustee who is an expert by experience.

Currently the Board members collectively have expertise in domestic abuse and associated risk management, safeguarding and child protection, multi-agency partnership, charity financial management, strategic planning and governance. Two of the Trustees have lived experience of abuse. The Board also draws on the skills and knowledge of an Advisory Group who give their time pro bono and have respectively expertise in employment law, HR, family law, policing and criminal justice, business development, research, communications and marketing.

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Trustees’ Report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Trustees are recruited as openly as possible through our networks and e-bulletin, through promoting the opportunity with local organisations and communities, through local bodies who provide support for charities such as OCVA and the county trustee list and through resources such as REACH. Recruitment incorporates an informal exchange of information and opportunity to meet with the chair and other trustees, and formal process of interview, references and DBS check and opportunity to observe a board meeting.

The Trustees take care to update themselves in the evolving responsibilities of charity trustees, and are advised through the Lloyds Bank Charitable Foundation with its commitment to strengthening the governance of small charities.

Every Trustee guarantees to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company, in the event of it being wound up, of which he or she is a member or within twelve months of he or she being a member. The total amount of such guarantees at 31 March 2024 was £7.

Governance and trustee responsibilities 2023/24

The trustees have fulfilled their responsibility for ensuring the charity fulfils its charitable objects and their duties of compliance, prudence and care by:

The current Chair and founding trustee, Romy Briant, is stepping down. The trustees have undertaken the recruitment of a new Chair, drawing on the expertise of consultants and in particular the support of Lloyds Bank Charitable Foundation.

We are delighted that Paul Richards joins the Board as Chair in July 2024.

Romy Briant becomes President of the charity. This is an advisory role and separate from the formal governance arrangements for Reducing the Risk.

In addition we are reinstating the (voluntary) role of Company Secretary. Cathy Foot has been appointed from 2024/25.

Risk assessment

The Trustees recognise and accept responsibility for ensuring that the risks to which the charitable company is exposed are reviewed and steps taken to mitigate potential damage by use of appropriate preventative controls and corrective actions. Trustees are aware of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) issued in 2019 and accept the requirement, in relation to all aspects of our work, for regular assessments of operating strengths and weaknesses. To this

4

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Trustees’ Report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024

end the Trustees’ risk management strategy comprises an annual review of the risks which the charity may face, the establishment of systems and procedures to monitor and mitigate the risks identified; and the implementation of measures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should any of those risks materialise.

Appreciation

We would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to

Report on financial activity 2023/24

The year was the first of a three year strategy grounded on the secure base of a 3-year contract with Oxford County Council for provision the high risk IDVA service. This provided over half our income for the period and was complemented with an increase in support for Court IDVA support, the DA Friends outreach to local communities, and continuing work to develop Training and Champion Network sales as a social enterprise.

Statutory income streams - either Oxfordshire County Council or the PCC – increased to nearly 62% of our revenue. Our strategy until now has been to not become over dependent on any one source. Nevertheless, there was no avoiding bidding for the County Council High Risk IDVA service which, going forward, has the effect of making the Council responsible for about half of our revenue. Mitigating this dependence, the contract gives us a minimum of three years and probably 5 years of assured income for the core (non-court) IDVA service.

Our income:

Our unrestricted income to cover the cost of the IDVA and Training Services for the year amounted to £389k. This was a sharp rise from our unrestricted income for the previous year. In large part this is due to the County funded core IDVA service no longer being grant funded but supplied as a service under contract to the County, the income of which is not restricted.

Our training income grew from £22k to £48k. Our total income for the year including restricted projects grew from £327k to £560k. Besides the increases in government and training income, there was an increase of £12k in Charitable trust funding, to £147k, notably Henry Smith, OCF Step

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Trustees’ Report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Change, Lloyds Bank Foundation, and the National Lottery, which between them in effect supported more Court IDVA support, DA Friends, and overhead costs of the Training division.

Our expenditure:

Our total expenditure for the year amounted to £524,775. This is an increase of £124k from 2022/23. The larger part of this was due to the increase in employees and their related costs, such as computers and travel. There were also significant increases in expenditure on Associates and Communications and PR.

Fund balances and reserves:

Our total income exceeded expenditure by £35,217.

By the end of the year the charity held unrestricted funds amounting to £211,443 including £162,300 essential reserves at the start of 2024/25 to meet its legal and contractual obligations in case of closure. This compared to a balance of £201,517 in unrestricted funds at the end of 2022/23. Total reserves including restricted projects amounted to £239,128, about one third of our budgeted expenditure for 2024/25.

Reserves policy:

The Trustees have reviewed the level of the charity’s reserves which are freely available for financing continuing operations. The Trustees will always ensure a minimum level of reserves so as to meet the charity’s contracted commitments as above.

In addition, the trustees will use their best endeavours to ensure that unrestricted reserves are maintained at no less than 3 months' forecast total expenditure less any unspent restricted income whose expenditure is included within the forecast total expenditure. Depreciation will be ignored for this purpose. For 2024-25 the minimum reserves level thus indicated is £168,805.

As at 31 March 2024 the freely available reserves, being unrestricted net current assets less longterm liabilities, amounted to £210,851.

This report is prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 relating to small companies and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective June 2002).

Approved by the Trustees on…………………………..2024 and signed on their behalf by 17 October

………………………………………. il Paul Richards (Chair)

Registered office 7 Canterbury Road Oxford OX2 6LU

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 8 to 18.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 201 1 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 201 1 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

A Rodzynski, FCA Partner Wenn Townsend Chartered Accountants Oxford

5 November 2024

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating and Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ending 31 March 2024

Note
INCOME
Government grants & contracts
Charitable Trusts
Donations inc Gift Aid
Training and consultancy income
Other income
Sub total
Bank interest
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Expenditure on Charitable Activities
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
2
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
funds at 31 March 2023
Funds as at 31 March 2024
11		 Unre-
stricted
Restricted
2024
funds
funds
Total
£
£
£
299,663
45,000
344,663
25,000
122,005
147,005
10,792
3,819
14,611
51,700
51,700
540
540
387,695
170,824
558,519
1,474
1,474
389,168
170,824
559,992
379,243
145,532
524,775
379,243
145,532
524,775
9,925
25,291
35,217
9,925
25,291
35,217
201,517
2,394
203,911
211,443
27,685
239,128		 Unre-
stricted
Restricted
2023
funds
funds
Total
£
£
£
14,000
123,991
137,991
29,964
105,042
135,006
17,125
550
17,675
35,764
35,764
96,852
229,583
326,436
996
996
97,848
229,583
327,431
147,770
253,040
400,810
147,770
253,040
400,810
-49,922
-23,457
-73,379
-49,922
-23,457
-73,379
251,439
25,851
277,290
201,517
2,394
203,911

The statement of financial activities includes al gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditures derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 10 to 18 form part of these financial statements.

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Company number: 6201363

Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2024

Note 2024 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets 6 592 890
Current assets
Debtors - prepayments 7 48,671 13,983
Bank current accounts 108,688 179,351
Savings accounts 145,494 88,312
Total current assets 302,853 281,646
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year 8 (64,317) (78,625)
Net current assets 238,536 203021
Net assets 239,128 203911
Funds
Unrestricted Funds 211,443 201,517
Restricted funds 27,685 2,394
239,128 203,911

The Trustees are satisfied that the charitable company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 and that members have not required an audit in accordance with section 476.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:

The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act relating to small companies, and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

The financial statements were approved by the Board on ……………….2024 and signed on its behalf by 17 October Trustee — Paul Richards: il

The notes on pages 10 to 18 form part of these financial statements.

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting Policies

a) Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, 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 1st January 2019) (Charity SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and UK Generally Accepted Practice.

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policies note.

b) Income

Income is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable, receipt is probable, and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

All of the income generated in the period has been derived from activities wholly undertaken in the UK

No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102). Volunteers provide practical support and a range of professional advice and support.

c) Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of those resources.

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

Staff costs and overhead expenses are allocated to activities on the basis of staff time spent on those activities.

Expenditure is recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

d) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are built up from income received or generated for the charitable purpose. They are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

10

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements (contd.) for the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting Policies (contd.)

Restricted funds are funds used for specified purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure meeting the criteria is charged against the fund, together with a fair allocation of overheads and support costs.

e) Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write-off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected life, as follows:

Office equipment 10%, straight line

f) Debtors/creditors receivable/payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and recoverable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

g) Going concern

The accounts have been prepared with the view the charity is a going concern. The Trustees consider that adequate funding will be received to allow the charity to continue operating for at least 12 months from the date of approval of the accounts and that there are no material uncertainties in this regard.

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements (contd.) for the year ended 31 March 2024

2. Charitable expenditure

Associates' service Unrestricted
Restricted
2024 Total
£
£
£
13,824
612
14,436
6,609
0
6,609
3,102
4,079
7,181
698
240
938
298
0
298
2,805
0
2,805
4,956
1,310
6,266
165
0
165
694
436
1,130
2,050
254
2,304
1,287
0
1,287
11,070
130
11,200
4,917
168
5,085
288,380
112,498
400,878
2,064
3,100
5,164
1,946
492
2,438
622
0
622
4,090
256
4,346
1,173
3,998
5,171
12,372
5,787
18,159
3,774
2,374
6,148
3,165
5,799
8,964
9,173
0
9,173
9
4,000
4,009
Audit & Accountancyfees
Communications & PR
Cost of Goods Sold
Depreciation Expense
Insurance
IT Software and Consumables
Materials for Advice service
Miscellaneous Expenses
Office costs
Recruitment costs
Rent
Room hire
Salaries, NI, Pension
Service user expense
Staff Training
Subscriptions for charity
Telephone & Internet
Trainingmaterials
Travel - National
Web Services
Hub Services
Conferences, Professional development
Research
379,243
145,532
524,775

12

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements (contd.) for the year ended 31 March 2023

2. Charitable expenditure (contd.)

Associates' service Unrestricted
Restricted
2023 total
£
7,774
0
7,774
4,341
0
4,341
600
0
600
351
0
351
298
0
298
183
0
183
50
50
1,727
823
2,550
633
391
1,024
890
0
890
362
0
362
6,228
4,375
10,603
2,132
0
2,132
101,541
225,629
327,169
848
923
1,771
786
0
786
457
0
457
1,626
0
1,626
1,947
1,947
2,882
14,539
17,421
8,496
0
8,496
668
6,310
6,978
0
0
0
3,000
0
3,000
Audit & Accountancyfees(Governance)
Clinical consultancy
Communications & PR
Depreciation Expense
Events
Groupsupport
Insurance
IT Software and Consumables
Miscellaneous Expenses
Office costs
Rent
Room hire
Salaries, NI, Pension
Service user expense
Staff Training
Subscriptions for charity
Telephone & Internet
Trainingmaterials
Travel - National
Web Services
Conferences, Professional development
Recruitment
Research
147,820
252,990
400,810

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements (contd.) for the year ended 31 March 2024

3. Net movement in funds

3. Net movement in funds
2024 2023
£ £
This is stated after charging:
Independent examiner's fees 1,800 2,058

4. Staff costs and numbers

Salaries and wages - gross
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2024
2023
£
£
363,290
297,413
31,640
25,149
5,948
4,607
400,878
327,169

The average weekly number of during employees (full-time equivalent) the year was as follows:

Direct charitable activities 13 9

No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000 p.a. for the current or preceding year. The Trustees received no remuneration in the current or preceding year. There was no reimbursement of Trustee expenses in the current year (2023: also £nil).

The key management personnel of the charity are considered by the Trustees to be the Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer. The key management personnel received remuneration in the current year totalling £56,572 (2023: £50,120).

5. Taxation

The charity is not in receipt of income chargeable to taxation. All of its income is applied for charitable purposes.

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements (contd.) for the year ended 31 March 2024

6. Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023 and at 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for year
At 31 March 2024
Net book values:
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2024
7. Debtors
Grant, Service contract debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments		 Office
Equipment
£
3,847
2,957
298
3,255
890
592
2024
2023
£
£
36,827
901
2,005
3,037
9,839
10,045
48,671
13,983

7. Debtors

8. Creditors

Trade creditors
Tax & social security
Accruals & deferred income		 2024
2023
£
£
7,632
4,542
9,162
6,719
47,523
67,364
64,317
78,625

Deferred income comprises grants received for projects taking place in the next financial year.

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements (contd.) for the year ended 31 March 2024

9. Operating lease commitments

Total future minimum lease payments under
operating leases were 2024 2023
£ £
Land and buildings:
5,600 11,200

(Lease terminated 30 Sept 2024; New lease in same premises restores the commitment as from 1 October 2024 to £11,200.)

10. Movement in Restricted Funds

2024
Translation
National
Lottery
Community
Fund
Henry Smith
PCC Court
IDVA
Step Change
Fund
Service User
Funding
Diversity &
Inclusion
Total		 Opening
Closing
Balance Income
Expenditure
Balance
£
£
£
£
725
0
(725)
0
0
38,725
(30,704)
8,021
0
38,300
(18,635)
19,665
0
45,000
(45,000)
0
1,669
41,880
(43,549)
0
0
3,100
(3,100)
0
0
3,819
(3,819)
0
2,394
170,824
(145,532)
27,685

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Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements (contd.) for the year ended 31 March 2024

10. Movement in Restricted Funds (contd.)

2023
Translation
National
Lottery Chief
Executive
Group
support
Diversity &
Inclusion
COMF1
22_23
Garfield
IDVA
Henry Smith
Covid posts
Oxford
County
Council
Court IDVA
Oxford
County
Council
IDVA main
PCC Court
IDVA
C Hayward
Court IDVA
Step Change
Fund
Service User
Funding
Total		 Opening
Closing
Balance Income
Expenditure
Balance
£
£
£
£
725
725
16,133
26,132
42,265
50
50
538
538
9,000
9,000
30,000
30,000
37,500
37,500
16,212
16,212
69,228
69,228
38,552
38,552
8,405
0
8,405
2,060
391
1,669
900
900
25,851
229,583
253,040
2,394

11. Related Party Transactions

Donations received from Trustees and related parties in the year totalled £6,853 (2023: £3,245).

17

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse

Notes to the Financial Statements (contd.) for the year ended 31 March 2024

12. Breakdown of Charitable Activity

INCOMING RESOURCES
Incoming Resources from generated funds
Government grants and contracts
Charitable trusts and donations
Charitable Trusts
Donations inc Gift Aid
Training and consultancy income
Other income
Investment income
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Direct costs
Overhead costs
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
Net income/(expenditure)		 IDVA
£
344,663
41,400
386,063		 Training
Other
2024
£
£
£
344,663
43,043
62,562
147,005
3,819
10,792
14,611
51,700
51,700
540
540
98,562
73,894
558,519
1,474
1,474
98,562
75,367
559,992
76,028
39,231
374,603
70,010
150,172
146,039
39,231
524,775
(47,476)
36,137
35,217		 IDVA
Training
Other
2023
£
£
£
£
117,682
20,310
137,991
76,850
58,156
135,006
3,490
14,185
17,675
22,364
13,400
35,764
198,021
42,674
85,741
326,436
996
996
386,063
259,344
80,162		 198,021
42,674
86,736
327,431
213,292
103,935
30,645
347,872
24,479
28,459
52,938
339,506 237,771
132,394
30,645
400,810
46,557 (39,750)
(89,720)
56,090
(73,379)

The breakdown of charitable activities is to show the activities performed across the classes of activity. Training and IDVA are the two main classes of activities that the charity partakes in.

18