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2024-09-30-accounts

SLOUGH MENCAP Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

01 October 2023 to 30 September 2024

Horsemoor Green Community Centre, Spitfire Close, Common Road, Langley, Slough SL3 8JU

Tel: 01753 594666 Email: sloughmencap52@gmail.com Charity Number: 1128732 Company Number: 05938855

1

SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

A WORD FROM OUR CHAIRMAN

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Slough Mencap continues to offer social opportunities to our members. Our Activity Days are run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, by our creative team of 3 staff, aided by volunteers. Activities include crafts, games and going to the park. The members specifically enjoyed cooking their own lunches and making decorations for their Christmas Party.

Trips this year included going tenpin bowling and visiting the local Toby Inn, who gave us a great welcome.

Wednesday Club also continues, but numbers are still declining. Our volunteers in the evening include a group of boys from Eton College, along with girls and boys from Langley Grammar School. The involvement of these young people brings a lively atmosphere to the club.

This year, we had our Christmas Party, in our own premises, which was very successful. We were visited by Father Christmas, who had a gift for everyone. Again, we held our Party in the Park at Slough Rugby Club in the summer. The party this year had an Olympic theme, with a buffet meal with an international flavour.

Our board have been working on improving up our systems and procedures. We have coopted two new Board members, Paul and Steve, who both come with skills and enthusiasm. We were sorry to lose Ted Dutton who died in February. Ted was a board member and Activity Day volunteer, who will be greatly missed.

Once again, we extend heartfelt thanks to all our dedicated volunteers, without whom we could not provide our services.

Jane Cable Chair of Board of Trustees

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SLOUGH MENCAP Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

CONTENTS

Page

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2023/4

Charity Registration number 1128732 Holding Trustees P Murray and J Pearce Chief Executive Eleanor Cryer MBE Treasurer Carmel O’Brien

Treasurer

Executive Committee Elected members (the Trustees of Slough Mencap)

Bernadette Bates Jane Cable (Chairman) Sajidah Chaudhary Steve Clottey (co-opted 19/10/2024) Ted Dutton (died 20/02/2024) Len Jones Paul Nicoll (co-opted 19/10/2024) Carmel O’Brien (Treasurer) James Robb Jean Sharman-Golder Shin Suri

Registered address Horsemoor Green Community Centre, Spitfire Close, Common Road, Langley, Slough SL3 8JU. Bankers Lloyds, High Street Slough Branch Independent Examiner Philip Mount Independent Examiner Insurers Royal & Sun Alliance Plc and Zurich

4

SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

The Directors present their report and the independently examined financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024.

Structure, governance and management

Slough Mencap is affiliated to the Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults and is governed by a self-creating Memorandum and Articles of Association. Slough Mencap is a company limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 18[th] September 2006. It is controlled and managed by the elected Board of Directors who are also its trustees. The Board of Directors is elected for a three-year period. Nomination forms are sent out to all members. Potential trustees undergo induction with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chair. The induction comprises the structure and function of Slough Mencap, organisational roles and responsibilities and legal roles and responsibilities of trustees. Potential trustees interested are then nominated, proposed for the membership prior to the Annual General Meeting where they are duly elected for a three-year period. New trustees are encouraged to spend time getting to know staff and members. Should any Director so choose he/she may seek re-election for a further period of three years. Our current Chairman is Mrs. Jane Cable.

Prior notice of the AGM and Trustees election is displayed in Slough Mencap’s premises when appropriate.

The day-to-day management of the company is undertaken by the Chief Executive who reports to the Chairman and Board of Directors.

For insurance purposes Slough Mencap is affiliated to The Royal Society and a fee is paid. The building is separately insured by Zurich Insurance Company.

A review of the risks to which the charity is exposed has been carried out and systems are in place to mitigate those risks. External risks to the sources of funding have led to the diversification of funding. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of financial controls and procedures. These are reviewed on an annual basis.

Objectives and activities

Slough Mencap is set up to

From a brief look at our Accounts the reader will note that our figures show the money we receive is to be spent on our members with learning disabilities.

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SLOUGH MENCAP Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Before I begin a detailed account of our year’s progress, I thought it would be appropriate to begin by paying tribute to the late Ted Dutton a Board Member and friend who died on 20 February 2024. Ted is greatly missed by all who knew him and his contribution to the voluntary sector in Slough is ever present in Friendly Bombs, his legacy to the town. Thank you, Ted, for all you did for Slough Mencap and the town.

Horsemoor Green Community Centre and School House

The School House has remained tenanted throughout the year and was a regular source of Letting Income. The caretaker who is the tenant of the building has renewed the central heating and decorated the house. In the interest of transparency, it was decided the Schoolhouse Rent be paid in full in future and expenses incurred in the upkeep of the Schoolhouse to be reimbursed the caretaker.

Our thanks to Heathrow Community Fund for painting doors, corridor and back fence. It was decided it was necessary for us to have a maintenance schedule for the building which we will be working on shortly.

The Car Park camera is faulty, and the caretaker has ordered lamps for the outdoor lighting. If the lamps do not work, we may have to order a new system as it is many years since they have been installed. The gates also need attention as they are not closing securely at present.

Another task is to review the rates charged for the various rooms we let out for hire as our current rates are inconsistent.

Achievements and performance

Activity Days

The Activity Days continue to go well with the members enjoying a large variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Members are regularly asked what activities they would like to undertake. Ten Pin Bowling and a visit to the Harvester were requested. We did take the members bowling during the day the building was used for the General Election. The Harvester visit is yet to come!

Both the staff and volunteers need a variety of training and a programme for such is being created by the Day Services Manager.

It was decided Slough Mencap needed a formal procedure for assessing client’s fitness to resume Daytime Activities after absence. The Day Services Manager was consulted and instituted such a procedure without delay.

As can be seen from the above our Day Services Manager is very busy. Indeed, it was necessary to offer her another 10 hours a week which thankfully she accepted. For those extra hours she was tasked with:

It was also decided to purchase a new laptop for the Day Services Manager.

The Day Services Manager produces regular reports of all activities for the committee meetings.

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

All Daytime Activities staff were given increased time for writing the client daily records. For this purpose, the upstairs office is now being used by the Day Services staff as well as the Invoice Clerk for the Daytime Activities.

It was decided to review the charges for our activities from April 2025 and to make this an annual review to be undertaken at the same time as we review staff wages.

A minor point but it should be noted that the members were delighted with their new ID badges and lanyards.

Health & Safety

There is much to be done with regards to Health and Safety and we have begun to get to grips with matters. James Robb undertook overall responsibility. James’ report to the Committee highlighted key issues including our Fire Evacuation Procedures, Central Alarm System not having been used or tested, fire doors needed to be opened, and signage updated as well as fire drills needing to be carried out. James met with North Tec and engaged them to review our safety precautions. North Tec carried out a Fire Alarm Audit on 16 April 2024 and produced a report. In turn James reported back their recommendations to the committee and what work needs to be undertaken. Among other things burglar alarm and the CCTV system need regular checks. We also need to check the Break Glass points, the emergency lights and signage as well as providing new batteries for the orange box. The Alarm Box itself may need to be replaced. Some of these checks are annual but some should be undertaken weekly and dates recorded in a Fire Safety Logbook.

Policies

Slough Mencap policies are reviewed a few at a time on a rolling basis and this year we have reviewed and updated our Volunteer Policy and Procedures, Volunteer Training Guide, the Safeguarding Policy and the Professional Boundaries Policy.

Record Keeping and Training

In order update and maintain all the member/client records so that the information, medical and otherwise, is accurate and timely our chairman has devised a new form for completion by all those responsible for our members. Our Chief Executive has been in touch with Slough Refugee Support regard having our DBSs updated. Yet no staff or volunteers have received any instructions.

The Daytime Staff and Volunteers attended First Aid Training, run by SCVS, on 10 July 2024. All staff and volunteers attended training on Safeguarding and Health and Safety on 21 August 2024. This training was run by Unique Training Solutions. This was very successful. Our chairman attended SCVS training on Mapping Your Impact (engaging funders and stakeholders).

Staffing

In last year’s Annual Report, it was recorded we would employ a Wednesday Club Leader. At present Lorna McDonald our Daytime Activities Manager runs the Club on alternate months plus when we are very short staffed. On the alternate evenings Sue Gaynor undertakes craftwork with the Wednesday Club members.

We have also decided to employ an Administrator for ten hours a week as part of our succession planning for the future of Slough Mencap. Sajidah Chaudhary working with our Chairman Jane Cable has produced a Job Description and a Person Specification. The post is now advertised.

Our Chief Executive continues to provide Advocacy services to families with a member who has Learning Disabilities.

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Events

It was decided to bring the Christmas Party in house this year end Slough Mencap engaged a catering company for the event which took place on 16 December 2023. It turned out to be a great success with the members enjoying a Christmas Meal and a visit from Father Christmas who came with a gift for each member. There were also party games and songs which were much enjoyed. It was decided to repeat the process for Christmas 2024.

In April 2024 we had our Annual General Meeting. This year we made an event of it with invited guests and lunch. It was considered very successful.

On 17 August 2024 Slough Mencap held our usual Party In The Park for our members at Slough Rugby Club. Cardo very kindly supported us with games and prizes. This year we had an Olympic theme to our decorations and an international buffet provided by a friend of our Daytime Activities Manager. The members, and their families and carers really enjoyed the occasion.

Working together

Slough Mencap aims to work with likeminded bodies in Slough for the benefit of our members and all in the town who have Learning Disabilities. For many years we have been a participator in the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board and have worked with Arbour Vale School. We would, very much, like to widen access to our services and increase our links to other communities. We have approached the Pakistan Welfare Association and look forward to working with them in future.

Financial Review

Investments

The Board of Directors has considered the most appropriate policy for investing funds in the current financial climate. In ordinary circumstances and since the greatest proportion of the funds are required to meet long-term commitments the funds have been invested on the equities market and remain so. However, funds have accumulated in the Deposit Account which gives a very poor return on our funds. Accordingly, it was decided to transfer funds from the main Deposit Account to two new Deposit Accounts which give us a greater return as follows:

£100,000 – Long Term Deposit Account - 1 year giving a return of £5000.00 approximately £ 25,000 - Ninety (90) days’ Notice Deposit Account

Fundraising

Slough Mencap continues fundraising in the shape of the 49 Club. Please look at the financial statement for more details. Bernadette Bates undertakes the running of the 49 Club. The 49 Club raises funds which are spent exclusively on our members. As mentioned in previous years numbers are declining and should any reader of this report wish to support us and maybe receive the occasional small win, please let us know.

Donations

We have received another much-appreciated generous donation from Eton College. This time for £2500.00. We also had one other generous donor as well as receiving many smaller donations.

Premises

Expenditure of £14,604 was incurred during the year with the money coming from various deposit accounts for the ongoing maintenance of the site.

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Reserves Policy

The Board of Directors has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds, not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (‘the free reserves’) held by the charity, should be sufficient that they would be able to continue the core activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding for enough time to identify replacement funds. At present the free reserves which amount to £794,568 are more than sufficient to meet this policy .

Salaries

Staff salaries were revised in line with inflation. Accordingly, all our staff received a 8.5% pay rise as from April 2024. Directly because of the increases in staff salary the Daytime Activities staff became eligible for membership of the Slough Mencap staff pension scheme.

Budget

Our treasurer has still to produce a budget for the 2024/25 financial year!

Petty Cash

We began the year with Petty Cash exceeding £1000.00 which was considered far too high and £500.00 was to be the limit with the excess funds being banked. Despite this we have had various issues throughout the year with Petty Cash not balancing and funds going awry. Accordingly, it was decided to abandon the use of Petty Cash as from 01 October 2024.

As ever our treasurer presents the requisite quarterly accounts throughout the year and the Chairman produces her overview of transactions through the bank at every meeting.

Despite our best endeavours our day-to-day expenditure is currently exceeding our day-to-day income. We continue to maintain our building (most of which is Victorian) and increases in utility bills have not helped us. This year we have also purchased some much-needed computer hardware. It should also be noted numbers are slightly down in attendees at our Daytime Activities and at our Wednesday Club where membership has been declining for several years.

All is not lost as we have substantial funds invested in equities and our Balance Sheet on Page 12 shows a very health bottom line and we endeavour to attract new members..

Plans for future periods

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SLOUGH MENCAP Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Approved by the Board of Directors on ……………………………… and signed on its behalf by

___ Jane Cable

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Statement of Financial Activities for the Twelve Months ended 30 September 2024

See Notes Notes Total
Total Twelve
Unrestricted Restricted Designated Twelve Months
Funds Funds Funds Months 2023
INCOMING RESOURCES
Donations & similar incoming resources 3 11,688 11,688 13,544
Daytime Activities 108,453 108,453 120,344
Income from activities in furtherance of
charitable objects 3 5,860 5,860 8,227
Income from activities for generating funds 3 16,937 16,937 23,002
Interest received 3 1,339 1,339 689
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 144,277 0 0 144,277 165,806
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Cost of generating funds 4 15,159 15,159 14,980
Daytime Activities 80,989 80,989 55,372
Costs of activities from charitable 4
objectives 69,229 69,229 64,323
Support costs 7,519 7,519 10,316
Capital Expenditure 0 0 0
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 172,896 0 172,896 144,991
NET INCOMING RESOURCES -28,619 0 -28,619 76,186
P/Y VALUES 451,069 0 451,069 310,444
GAIN/LOSS ON INVESTMENTS 73,809 73,809 64,439
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 496,259 0 496,259 451,069

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Balance Sheet as at 30 September 2024

Fixed assets
Tangible assets (Revaluation 06 April 2022)
9
Capital Improvements
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank
Total Current Assets
Creditors: amounts due within one year
Net current assets
Total assets less liabilities
Capital Funds
Charifund units
COIF Investment Fund
Total Designated Funds
Capital Assets
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
8
Investment Funds
7
Total funds		 2024
735000
0
735000
0
177,927
912,927
0
912,927
912,927
736,832
57,736
794,568
735,000
177,927
0
912,927
794,569
1,707,496		 2024
735000
0
735000
0
177,927
912,927
0
912,927
912,927
736,832
57,736
794,568
735,000
177,927
0
912,927
794,569
1,707,496		 2023
735000
0
735000
0
206,450
941,450
0
941,450
941,450
653,964
51,230
705,194
735,000
206,450
0
941,450
705,195
1,707,496 1,646,645

For the year ended 30 September 2024, the company was entitled to exemption under section 249a(1) of the Companies Act 1985. No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 249b(2). The directors acknowledge their responsibility for: i) Ensuring the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 221; and ii) Preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of its financial year in accordance with section 226, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act relating to accounts so far as applicable to the company.

Approved by the Board of Directors and signed on their behalf by:

Mrs C M O'Brien - Director

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2024

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost (except that investments are shown at market value) in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2005), the Companies Act 1985, the Charities Act 1993 and applicable accounting standards

2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES Incoming Resources

Recognition of incoming resources These are included in the Statement of Financial
Activities (SoFA) when:
the chairty becomes entitled to the resources
the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources &
the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability
Grants and Donations Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the
charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Tax reclaims on donations and gifts Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SoFA
at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
Volunteer help The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the
accounts but is described in the trustees' annual report.
Investment income This is included in the accounts when receivable.
Liability recognition Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or
constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Governance costs Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory
accounts, the cost of trustee meetings and cost of any legal
advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
Support costs Support costs include central functions and have been allocated
to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of
resources, e.g. staff costs by the time spent and other costs
by their usage

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2024

3 ANALYSIS OF INCOMING RESOURCES

Analysis This Year Last year
Voluntary Income £ £
Miscellaneous donations 1,288 5,591
Local Giving 205 280
Eton College 5,594 7,673
Collecting Tins 0 0
Co-op 262 0
In memory of Ted Dutton 263
Private Donor 4,076 0
11,688 13,544
Activities for generating funds
Rent from Halls 8,923 10,677
Rent from School House 6,922 10,000
Rent from Office 0 960
Forty-Nine Club 1,092 1,040
16,937 22,677
Interest Received
Bank interest 1,339 689
1,339 689
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Wednesday Club 5,860 7,915
Daytime Activities 108,453 120,344
Summer Activity 220 215
Christmas Party 20 97
114,553 128,571

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SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2024

4 ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED

Analysis This Year Last year
Costs of generating voluntary income £ £
49 Club 375 350
School House Expenses 0 186
Halls Expenses 14,604 14,264
Local Giving 180 180
15,159 14,980
Charitable Activities
Salaries 58,878 ** 54,233 **
Volunteer expenses 192 0
Club Running Expenses 7,635 7,475
Welfare 0 175
Social Expenses 2,524 2,440
Daytime Activities
Employment Costs 57,754 38,508
Transport 20,860 14,630
Resources & Activities 2,375 2,234
80,989
** (Excludes Daytime Activity Staff)
150,218 119,695
Governance Costs
Insurance/Affiliation 1,966 2,275
AGM Expenses/Companies House/Auditor 43 13
2,009 2,288
DETAILS OF CERTAIN ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE
Trustee expenses
This Year Last Year
Number of trustees who were paid expenses None None
Total amount paid None None
Fees for examination of the accounts
This Year Last Year
Independent examiner's or auditor's fees for £ £
reporting on the accounts 300 300
Other fees None None

5 DETAILS OF CERTAIN ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE Trustee expenses

15

SLOUGH MENCAP

Slough Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2024

**6 ** PAID EMPLOYEES
Staff costs This Year Last Year
£ £
Gross wages, salaries and benefits in kind 58,878 54,233
& Tax/NIC (Excludes Daytime Activity Staff)
Pension costs 0 0
Total staff costs 58,878 54,233
Average number of full-time equivalent employees in the year
This Year Last Year
The parts of the charity in which Fundraising 0 0
the employees work Charitable 1.0 1.0
Governance 0.0 0.0
Maintainance 0.2 0.2
Daytime Activities Other 1.8 1.8
Total 3 3
**7 ** INVESTMENT ASSETS
Fixed assets investments 0 0
Carrying (market) value at beginning of year 705,195 640,756
Add: additions to investments at cost 0 0
Less: disposals at carrying value 0 0
Add: net/loss gain on revaluation 73,810 64,439
Carrying (market) value at end of year 779,005 705,195
Charifund units 736,832 653,964
COIF Investment Fund 57,737 51,230
794,569 705,194

16

Inde endent Examiner's Re rt to the Trustees of Slou h MeDca I rewrt on th¢ accounts of the comFWky fly the year endoj 30 Seprtanber 2024, which are set out on pag¢s 12 to 17. Resp¥tlve T￿￿￿￿[bilitI￿ of trustees and ewiller The tnJu¢es (who are also the directors of the COm￿lY for the purw)ses of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the a¢￿unts. The ch￿Ity'S trusttts consider that an audii is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Ad 2011 (the Charities Acl) aTrd that ao in(kwdent examinaEion is needed. It is my responsibility to: ¢xamine the aw)unts under wtion 145 of the CharÈties Act 2011. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commi&sion (under section 145(5Xb) of the Chariiies Ac4 and to state wh¢th¢r particular matters hav¢ come to my attention. Basis of iDd¢p¢ndent exmiD¢r's T¢￿rt My examination was c4rried out in accordantt with the general Directi(ms given by the Charity ComTnission. An examination in¢lud¢s a review of the accounting re£(Yds kept by the cbarity and a comparison of the accounts presenied with those records. It also includes consi¢leTation of any unusua] items or disclosures ID the accounts. and s¢eking explanattons from you as trusttts concerning any such Matters. The Pr￿j￿ Unde￿en do not provide a]1 the eviden¢e that would be required in an audit ond consequently no opinion is given to wh¢ther the accounts present a 'Iru¢ and fair view, and the re￿rt is limited ￿ th(￿ matters set out in the statement below. Independent exmiDer'$ ststemeo¢ In connectiort with my examinati￿ no rnatter has come ￿ my attentiLMI.' which give$ me re&50nable cause to believe that in any material respect the requtrements io keep a¢counting r¢¢ords in acc4)rdance with section 130 of the Charities Aa: and to prepare xcounts which xcord Ivith accounting records and comply with the a¢¢ounting requirements of the Charlties ACL hav¢ not been met.; or to which, ID my Opini(￿ attention shouhl be drawl in order to enable a woper UEMlerstandiog of the accounts to be reached. Philip Mount TD AFA MIPA ACIE 54 Dedworth Road Win¢lsor SL4 SAY Date". I ith January 2025 li