Charity Commissioners Annual Report April 2022 – March 2023
Established in 2007, Norfolk LGBT+ Project is the county’s only dedicated LGBT+ health and wellbeing service provider. We provide early intervention and prevention support, services, and information to all age groups helping to empower individuals to improve their mental and emotional wellbeing, and to reduce the social isolation of LGBT+ individuals living in Norfolk and Waveney.
Trustees’ Report for the year ending 2023
The trustees present their report and the audited fi nancial statement for the year ended 31st March 2023.
Charity Number
1129770
Registered Of fi ce
10 Cathedral Street Norwich Norfolk NR1 1LX
Trustees
The trustees who served during the year, and up to the date of this report, were as follows: Juels Copley, Jayne Clarke, Amber Green, Ben John Clegg.
With a collective understanding of each other, we can change the world through people Norfolk LGBT+ Project
Chief executive of fi cer Fiona Liew-Bedford
Bankers
NatWest
Independent examiners
ADP Accounting Ltd, 19 Farrow Close, Mattishall, Norfolk, NR20 3SZ.
Our vision
To continue providing support, information, and advice relevant to the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ individuals living in Norfolk and Waveney.
Our mission
Norfolk LGBT+ Project’s continued mission is to improve the health, mental health, and wellbeing of LGBT+ individuals of all ages and communities in Norfolk and Waveney. We want to bring supportive, empowering, and non-judgemental services to peoples’ lives to enable them to improve their wellbeing. We also aim to assist others in providing support to LGBT+ communities through our information services, educational tools, and resources.
Our values
CARE
Compassion Authenticity Respect Empathy
Our services are for the community, by the community, and we champion the importance of local service provision that is informed, effective and compassionate. We hope together, we can make a difference, working towards an inclusive society for all those that we support and represent.
Summary of the main services provided
The main activity provided by the charity is its support service, offering guidance, information and one to one support to those who identify as LGBTQ+, as well as those questioning their sexuality or gender identity.
January 2022, we were awarded a grant to run a pilot project from Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, this enabled us to employ 3 full time staff to help the enormous demand of our support services.
During this fi nancial year, we provided 733 individuals with dedicated one to one support, 40 of these clients accessed our low-cost counselling service which is currently funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. This service is high in demand and the 40 funded spaces are taken up within 3-4 months of opening our waiting list.
“Just to say a big thank you for allowing me to access this service, it has literally saved my life”
67% of those who accessed our one-to-one support were aged 17yrs and under 15% were aged between 18 – 25 18% were aged 26+.
63% of referrals were for support around gender identity 25% support around sexuality 12% for both sexuality and gender identity
82% referrals received from professionals 18% referrals were self-referrals
94% of clients have mental health issues/behaviours
“Words cannot express the gratitude I have for all your help and support for my child and myself. They were struggling so bad when we found you and the difference you and your help has made is immeasurable. You are angels x”
Top 3 mental health issues & behaviour
72% depression
64% anxiety
56% self-harm
When asked what the client goal outcomes for accessing support were:
54% – Support around transitioning
43% – Manage and cope with gender dysphoria
28% – Connect with other LGBTQ+ people
27% – Accepting my sexuality
26% – How to come out to family/friends
24% – Being comfortable with my gender identity
24% – Improving my mental health/wellbeing
24% – Liking myself
17% – Improving con fi dence
15% – Improve family relationships
To measure the impact of this support, clients were asked to score their mental health on their rst fi session, 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest.
39% scored 3
30% scored 2
15% scored 4
10% scored 1
After completing all their sessions, clients were asked again to score their mental health, 0 being the lowest and 10 being their highest.
56% scored 6
27% scored 7
9% scored 5
5% scored 8
When asked “How likely are you to access another mental health provider since you have accessed support from Norfolk LGBT+ Project?”
76% replied Not likely 21% replied Likely 3% replied Depends
When asked “As a result of accessing support from Norfolk LGBT+ Project, how much has your mental health or wellbeing improved?”
94% replied A lot 6% replied A little
When asked “Has accessing a dedicated LGBT+ wellbeing service given you more con fi dence in the support that you have received?
100% replied Yes
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LGBTQ+ YOUTH
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BLAH
SUPPORT • INFORMATION • ADVICE
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LGBTQ+ drop in groups
“Having BLAH is a lifeline…. and that’s why we need BLAH groups. Thank you for all that you do” – Parent. 102 individuals accessed our biweekly or monthly drop in groups.
Women Supporting Women
Women Supporting Women
“I am grateful for the opportunity to meet others at the drop in group, it gives me something to look forward to”
Time Out
Educating with Pride
Currently funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, our annual service which has been running since 2018, helping schools from KS1-5 across Norfolk and Waveney to achieve a high standard of care supporting LGBTQ+ children and young people, staff, parents, and the wider community.
During 2022 – 2023, we worked in partnership with 62 places of education.
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905 school staff accessed LGBTQ+ Awareness Training.
393 attended our Think B4U Bully workshop.
318 children and young people accessed their LGBTQ+ lunch time group.
1,171 students attend LGBT+ awareness sessions.
Training Feedback
“Our trainer was knowledgeable, open, and made it feel like a very safe environment. Anything she wasn't sure about she told us and returned with the answer at the next session! I am so happy my school put a focus on this as it has enhanced the understanding of our pupils and made opened discussions amongst staff”.
“A great training session which created a lot of discussion around the school after”.
LGBT+ Awareness Training
To provide the best outcome for our clients, working in partnership with other organisations is key to our work, not only via referrals but also providing LGBT+ Awareness Training.
847 individuals attended training during this period.
Organisations trained
Healthcare:
Higher Education:
Educational Mental Health Practitioners (UEA); Student information Zone, (UEA); Students Union (UEA); College of West Anglia
NSFT NHS; Transforming Care CYPS NHS; NCHC NHS; East Coast Healthcare; East Anglian Air Ambulance; Sensi Treatments; Chathealth.
Youth Services:
Norfolk County Council Children’s Services; MAP; South Norfolk YAB; Break Charity; Norfolk Anti-Bullying Conference (Workshops); Benjamin Foundation; Parachute Project; The Child and Educational Psychology Practice; Norfolk Children’s and Young People’s Health Service; Academy Transformation Trust; Norfolk Constabulary Safer Schools Team.
Mental Health and Social Care:
Julian Support; Feathers Futures; St Giles Trust; Kings Lynn Night Shelter; Voluntary Norfolk; Leeway; Momentum Norfolk; Samaritans; REST Hub Norwich; Norfolk and Waveney MIND.
Training Feedback
“The Training gave me a better understanding of the challenges young people come up against. Also, it has given me the knowledge to fi nd support for our young people who are having challenges within themselves.”
“I just wanted to convey how impressed I was with Joe Henson and his training he delivered for us recently. It was delivered in a really thoughtful, sensitive way and from a very knowledgeable place, and he had a real impact on a lot of the team who all seemed to learn a lot from him.”
- S.H, REST Hub Deputy Manager.
LGBT+ INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE AWARD
LGBT+ Workplace Award
The fi rst completion of the workplace award was undertaken successfully with Feathers Futures. To achieve the award, Feathers Futures worked in partnership with the Norfolk LGBT+ Project from August 2021 – October 2022. We looked at inclusion from a strategic perspective as well as an operational one; our key aim was to celebrate and increase understanding of differences so we can build stronger communities.
The second completion of the workplace award was
Julian Support. During the 12-month consultancy and support period, and at request of JS, the inclusion strategy was focused on transgender and non-binary identities.
Virgin wines undertook a survey with us to assess the needs of the organisation in terms of inclusion outcomes. We identi fi ed key elements to work from and they have booked further training sessions, however these were delayed due to our contact leaving post and new contact completing their induction, these have now been rebooked for summer 2023.
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In house resources
We produce our own inhouse LGBT+
resources based on the needs of our
clients, all our resources are distributed
via Norfolk’s Living Well Health
Information Lea et Service.
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www.norfolklgbtproject.org.uk www.norfolklgbtproject.org.uk
Self-harm
Self-harm
Binding,
Packing,
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Registered Charity No. 1129770
is important because...
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Abuse in
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For LGBTQ+ Youth
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Domestic Abuse
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www.norfolklgbtproject.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1129770
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Booklet design by www.nataliescurll.com
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www.norfolkproject.org.uk 10 Cathedral Street • Norwich • Norfolk • NR1 1LX Registered Charity No. 1129770
Finance report 2022 -2023 • Total income – £226,260 Expenditure – £253,680
Income £ Grants 177,459.00 Generated income 38,055.22 Donations 10,745.91
£ Redundancy Contingency Provision 11,134.50
Expenditure £ Wages & associated costs 155,607.31 Accountancy 3,975.78 Fundraising 4,407.43 Counselling 18,225.00 Educating with Pride 6,904.63 Resources 9,793.25 Of fi ce overheads 14,550.96 Memberships 1955.00 Promotion 4124.09 Staff expenses 13,860.90 Volunteer expenses 1905.42 LGBT+ group expenses 5,950.84 IT 1284.89
£ Balance brought forward: 91,780.85 Restricted reserves: 90,280.85 Free reserves: 1,500.00
Norfolk LGBT Project
Independent Examiners Report
Year Ended 31 March 2023
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023 as attached.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
| ......................................... | 19 Farrow Close |
|---|---|
| ADP Accounting Limited | Mattishall |
| Association of Chartered Certified Accountants | Dereham |
| 9th May 2023 | Norfolk |
| NR20 3SZ |