## Annual Report **2023**
We work in partnership to empower victims and survivors and significantly improve the lives of those to whom we provide services.
**stopdomesticabuse.uk** #stopdomesticabuse @southerndas
## Contents
## Our vision
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Our vision is
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Our vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **3** Chair’s report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **4** What is Domestic Abuse? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **5**
CEO report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **6** Our work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **8 10** Year at a glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
**11** Anna’s story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **12** In the media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fundraising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **14** New refuge appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **15** Staff profile: Chelsea Haslett . . . . . . . . . . **16** Stalking advocacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **18**
## **By committing to these values and to support our vision of “a world without domestic abuse” we will:**
## **Our mission**
Here at Stop Domestic Abuse we seek to help all those affected by domestic abuse by providing innovative and unique services. We protect and work with victims as well as helping perpetrators, the police and many other organisations.
- Work in partnership
- Lobby and campaign
- Involve those who use our service
- Provide services that reflect the diverse needs of the communities that we serve
- Be easily accessible
## **Our values**
- Be relevant to service users’ needs
- Be of real assistance to women, children, young people and men affected by domestic abuse
At Stop Domestic Abuse we are committed to these core values:
- Provide services by a diverse workforce
- Equality
- Be well-managed and provide value for money
- Openness
- Regularly monitor our services and outcomes
- Honesty
- Respect for individual dignity and diversity
- Continually improve
- Ensure good governance of the charity
- Empowering women and children
- Care and compassion
- Be open to progressive and innovative ways of doing things
- Ensure everyone counts.
**By achieving our vision for Stop Domestic Abuse and committing ourselves to the values that underpin our work, we will significantly improve the lives of those to whom we provide services.**
Transforming facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **19 20** Volunteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **22** You said, we did . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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## Chair’s report
## **A message from the Chair**
Supporting all who are affected by domestic abuse. A thank you to everyone who helps us deliver our mission.
## **I am delighted to welcome you to the 2023 Annual Report.**
Having been involved with Stop Domestic Abuse for many years, it is a privilege to look back and see how far we have come since the early days as Havant Women’s Aid, over 45 years ago. In 1978 a group of pioneering women opened our first refuge in Havant, which was initially run entirely on a voluntary basis.
Fast forward to 2023, Stop
Domestic Abuse delivers specialist accommodation and community services to victims of domestic abuse across Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton. We seek to ensure that anyone affected by domestic abuse receives caring, practical support and advice from our highly skilled staff teams. This expansion of our services is however a bittersweet story of success, as it reflects the increased recognition within society of the widespread presence of violence and abuse within intimate relationships and hence the need for a wider range of services.
## **Exciting new service**
On 1st July, we started to deliver the Stalking Advocacy and Support Service, commissioned by the Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight. Our team of Stalking Advocates provide specialist support to all victims of stalking, helping victims to improve
volunteers and my fellow Trustees, for their part in working towards our vision of a world without domestic abuse. It is a long and challenging journey.
their personal and cyber safety, to support their mental health and to access the additional specialist support services they need.
## **New Refuge Appeal**
To function as an effective and dynamic organisation, strong governance is essential. We want to increase the diversity of the board to ensure it reflects the needs and experiences of our clients. To find out about becoming a Trustee, please do get in touch by contacting pa@stopdomesticabuse.uk to arrange an informal discussion with Claire our Chief Executive.
Looking ahead to the next new chapter, we are moving closer to creating a purpose-built refuge for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. It will be located in Havant and will provide a nurturing, safe space for victims to recover and heal. We have successfully raised £1.8 million towards our target, but there is still some way to go to realise our vision as costs continue to rise.
## **I do hope you enjoy reading about our work.**
The progress that we have made in developing and delivering services is entirely due to the dedication and unstinting commitment of our staff, led by our CEO Claire Lambon. I would like to thank everyone working for Stop Domestic Abuse, as well as our partners, funders,
Gill Butler Chair
## What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse comes in many forms. It is not always physical and the person experiencing abusive behaviours might not realise that their relationship is an abusive one.
**The Crime Survey for England and Wales year ending March 2022 estimated that 5.0% of adults aged 16 years and over (2.4 million) experienced domestic abuse in the last year (Source: ONS Domestic Abuse Prevalence and trends report Nov 2022)**
relationship, we want to work with individuals to improve their safety.
Domestic abuse is a largely hidden crime, occurring primarily at home. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience domestic abuse. Our aim is to support victims and survivors to recognise the signs of domestic abuse. We want to help those who feel scared, might be in denial of what is happening or feel that something just isn’t right with their relationship.
## **It is never their fault**
Domestic abuse can be a one-off act or a pattern of acts of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour that seeks to isolate, exploit and deprive victims of their independence and regulate their everyday behaviour.
Abusive behaviours can be subtle and hard to recognise, especially if they have been experiencing patterns of behaviour for many years. A comment might be brushed off or ignored, a threat could be subtle or used as a way of coercing a victim into acting a certain way.
## Forms of abuse include:
- Coercive control
- Psychological and/or emotional
- abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial or economic abuse
- Harassment and stalking
To the victim it might seem normal because it happens on a regular basis. Someone experiencing abuse may be scared to come forward because they are afraid of the consequences, could be protecting children or family members or could even feel that somehow it is their fault or something that they did. Regardless of whether someone wants to leave or stay in their
- Online or digital abuse
Although domestic abuse can happen to anyone, it is important to recognise that it is still a gendered crime. Recent data from Women’s Aid (Annual Audit 2023) identified that 94.6% of perpetrators were male and 73.0% were a partner/expartner of the service user.
**We will continue to empower victims and survivors, giving them a voice and supporting them in trauma informed ways, to move forward and rebuild their lives.**
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## CEO report
Chief Executive Claire Lambon celebrates the team’s commitment to excellence as Stop Domestic Abuse continues to provide unrivalled support to victims, survivors and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
**2023 has been another year of organisational growth and development of our service offering to clients. I am proud of how much my colleagues continue to achieve by placing the needs of our clients at the heart of everything we do.**
working in partnership with the Commissioner, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and our other partners to improve outcomes for victims of stalking and harassment.
distributed welfare support to victims and survivors in need, alleviating some of the constant worry of how they will provide for their family.
## **Supporting clients through the cost-of-living crisis**
In the last year 51% of all Stop Domestic Abuse’s community-based clients identified surveillance, harassment and stalking as factors in their abuse experience.
The cost-of-living crisis is disproportionately affecting survivors of domestic abuse. Lack of financial independence and increased reliance on perpetrators make it harder to leave and economic abuse can limit a victim’s options to access safety and support. In the Spring, 48% of our clients told us they are experiencing financial abuse, and 51% of clients reported experiencing financial hardship.
_**“The shopping vouchers made a big difference to our stay in refuge. They helped me buy new clothes and shoes for my children. We had to leave our home quickly to get to somewhere safe so we couldn’t bring everything we needed.”**_
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary data indicates that 83% of all stalking offences in 2021/2022 were classified as domestic abuse.
## **Embedding our Service in Southampton**
## **New pan-Hampshire Stalking Advocacy Service**
Through our new commissioned service in Southampton, we have been developing effective community connections and partnerships to drive referrals and deliver best outcomes for victims and survivors in the city.
Thanks to funders including Hampshire County Council (through the Household Support Fund Scheme), The Big Give, Southern Housing Group, Unite, M&S and so many generous supporters in our local community, we have
We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to deliver the new Stalking Advocacy and Support Service by the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight. We look forward to
_“You were there when I needed you. You allowed me to live free of harm and bring up my children away from domestic abuse. I was treated with respect and care. With your kindness I was able to go on and raise my children and gain skills and independence. Thank you.”_
healthy relationships in schools. My colleagues at Stop Domestic Abuse with our partners Finding Freedom From Abuse and Wight DASH have delivered 158 workshops across Hampshire, Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight, reaching 2,536 children and young people.
key to engaging young people with conversations around consent, boundaries and healthy relationships. We joined forces with Portsmouth City Council to support their ‘Is This Love?’ campaign. We delivered 62 workshops in eleven secondary schools to over 2,730 students.
Our partners at Southampton City Council are working with us to improve the facilities available to women and children in refuge in Southampton.
We have been successful in tendering to provide a specialist LGBTQ+ service for people from Southampton’s LGBTQ+ communities affected by domestic abuse.
We delivered domestic abuse
95% of children and young people awareness training to 1,112 told us they knew more about professionals. respectful relationships following support from our Children & Young **Tackling Violence against** People’s team. **Women and Girls**
With additional funding from the Ministry of Justice (through the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner), we are building connections with schools and providing specialist support to children and young people in Southampton. We are proud to be working in partnership with Yellow Door and No Limits to deliver support services to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence across the city.
Throughout the year, the issue of male violence towards women and girls has been at the forefront of our conversations. In November, we organised eleven walks to raise awareness of the need to end violence against women and girls. For International Women’s Day we collaborated with Winchester City Council to light the Guildhall in orange and Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower glowed orange as a beacon of the city’s commitment to the movement. We joined events in Southampton to shine a light on the issue of female empowerment and safety.
## **Supporting victims and survivors across Hampshire**
Our Hampshire Advice Line responded to over 10,000 referrals from victims, professionals and Police across the county.
Working with our colleagues at Hampshire County Council and our partner Finding Freedom from Abuse (in the Test Valley district) we have continued to deliver services of the highest quality to the diverse communities of Hampshire. We delivered empowering group work; improved the safety of victims’ homes; helped children and young people to recover and learn from their experiences; provided advocacy support to victims navigating the Criminal Justice System; and provided safe refuge accommodation to families fleeing from abuse.
## **High quality service provision in Portsmouth**
More than 8,500 calls for support were made to our Portsmouth service last year. The team responded with care and professionalism to ensure positive outcomes for the adults, children and families affected by domestic abuse in Portsmouth who need our help.
The pages of this report stand as a tribute to the hard work and dedication of my colleagues, volunteers, and Trustees.
**All colleagues at Stop Domestic Abuse should be proud of their service to those affected by domestic abuse.**
With our partners at Portsmouth City Council we continue to develop innovative interventions for families, including specialist support for perpetrators of domestic abuse. In partnership with Portsmouth City Council we supported seventy families through a specialist project for children and adolescents displaying abusive behaviours, supporting the whole family to learn the skills to have healthier relationships.
Thanks to funding from the Police & Crime’s Commissioner’s Safer Communities Fund, we have delivered projects addressing child to parent abuse; supported victims living in isolated rural areas and supported victims of ‘honour-based’ abuse, forced marriage or female genital mutilation.
Working with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, we have been delivering workshops on
Engaging with schools across Portsmouth continues to be
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## Our work
## **Refuge**
We have 18 refuges across Hampshire and Portsmouth and can accommodate 106 women and their children. We also subcontract an additional refuge with Finding Freedom From Abuse in Test Valley, providing 19 more spaces. We make each refuge feel like a home and provide both one-to-one support and group activities for women and children.
## **One-to-one support**
Tailored one-to-one support for adult victims and children affected by domestic abuse across Hampshire (in partnership with Finding Freedom From Abuse), Portsmouth and Southampton (in partnership with Yellow Door and No Limits).
## **Group Work Programmes**
Our Group Work programmes give adults, children, and young people the opportunity to learn about domestic abuse and how it has affected them.
## **Harmful Cultural Practices**
Specialist work addressing harmful cultural practices including female genital mutilation, forced marriage and ‘honour-based’ violence. Available across 11 Hampshire districts and Portsmouth.
## **Health Advocates**
A Domestic Abuse Health Advocate works at Royal Hampshire County Hospital Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital offering immediate advice and support to staff and patients.
## **Target Hardening**
Our specialist worker visits homes to give safety advice and issue personal and home safety equipment.
## **Up2U:My Choice**
For victims of domestic abuse who through their own experience of abuse have developed some unhealthy relationship behaviours. Available in Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, Gosport and East Hants.
## **Dispersed Accommodation**
We provide self-contained accommodation that meets the needs of a diverse range of service users, including male victims, women with older male children and families with very complex needs. Available in Portsmouth and Havant.
## **Training**
We deliver a range of courses for external organisations and professional partners in the community.
## **LGBTQ+ Advocacy**
We provide support, advice and assistance to adults in the LGBTQ+ community who have experienced or are at risk of domestic abuse, and we deliver training to other professionals working with victims from LGBTQ+ communities. Available in Southampton.
## **IRIS (Identification & Referral to Improve Safety)**
We encourage general practice health professionals to ask patients about their experience of abuse and respond, record, safety check and refer to specialist services. Available in Southampton.
## **Stalking Advocacy and Support**
A specialist support and advocacy service for victims of stalking in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, offering a range of support, including risk and safety planning, advocacy support, emotional and practical support, specialist advice and support in relation to cyber stalking and support to access any other services the victim may need.
## **Child/Adolescent to Parent Abuse**
We deliver one-to-one support to decrease the frequency and intensity of abusive and/or violent behaviour, and also deliver some preventative work to increase understanding of healthy/unhealthy relationship behaviours and attitude towards those behaviours.
## **Up2U: Creating Healthy Relationships**
A behaviour-change programme delivered to people using abusive/ unhealthy behaviours in the intimate relationships. Available in Fareham, Gosport, Havant and Portsmouth.
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Key to services
Havant
Fareham
1 Refuge
2 One-to-one Support 1 2 3 4 6 1 2 3 4 6
7 10 13 14 15
3 Group Work 7 9 10 13 14 15
4 Harmful Cultural Practices
Portsmouth
5 Health Advocates
Gosport 1 2 3 4 6 7
6 Target Hardening
1 2 3 4 6 8 9 10 13 14 15
7 Up2U:My Choice
7 10 13 14 15
8 Family Work
9 Dispersed Accommodation 2 3
10 Training 4 6
11 LGBTQ+ Advocacy 10 13 Hart
12 IRIS 14
Basingstoke
13 Stalking Advocacy Rushmoor
and Support 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
14 Child/Adolescent to 10 13 14
Parent Abuse 6 10 13 14
Test Valley
15 Up2U Creating Healthy
Relationships 1 2 3 4 East
5 10 13 14 Hampshire
1 2 3 4
6 7 10 13 14
Winchester
1 2 3 4
5 10 13 14
Eastleigh
1 2 3
Southampton
4 10 13 14
1 2 3 4 6
10 11 12 13
New Forest
1 2 3
4 10 13 14 See inset map at top of page.
Isle of Wight 10 13
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## Year
## at a glance
**384** women and **422** children and _**Supported**_ young people living in Stop Domestic Abuse refuges.
We help thousands of people every year. This year at Stop Domestic Abuse has been no different.
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1,829 adults and
656 children and
3,361 adults and Supported young people in the community (non-
1,343 children refuge).
and young
Supported people in total
(community
& refuge).
6,943
children and young
36,509 people workshops
calls for advice Provided
41
and support
clients who
Supported had been
affected by
HCP and FGM
262
for Worked perpetrators
1,112 with of domestic
Provided professionals to
abuse
training improve their
response to
281 domestic abuse
victims/survivors
received Target Hardening
to improve their safety
at home. 93%
91% of all adult clients are
of clients would more confident about
recommend our asking for help when
services they need it
91%
of high-risk clients
said they felt safer
after the support
93%
they received
of clients said they would 94%
89%
know what to do if any of all adult clients are
of medium-risk clients further domestic abuse better able to
said they felt safer after incidents occurred
recognise abusive
the support they behaviour
received
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impact on her wellbeing and mental health. We provided mental health support around breaking away from her community whilst making sure we supported her to take the safe and comforting aspects of her heritage with her through her journey.
**When Anna became pregnant, the abuse became more frequent and she took the brave decision to flee from her home and community. Stop Domestic Abuse was contacted by Children’s Social Care who confirmed to us that 45 other refuge providers had turned Anna down before we offered Anna a safe place in refuge.**
Anna’s faith is important to her, so we supported her to make links with a local faith group she wanted to engage with. We asked the Food Bank for specific foods that Anna would have remembered from home and managed to find a particular brand of tea bags which brought back happy childhood memories for Anna.
## **Support at all levels**
Stop Domestic Abuse worked with teams at the local authority to access funding and appropriate support for Anna. It was not a straightforward process, as Anna did not have a birth certificate so was ineligible for benefits and welfare support. Our refuge team were determined to help Anna to open a bank account and begin to apply for public funds.
## **What’s happening now?**
Anna’s journey has been, and continues to be, tough to navigate. Thanks to her courage and the perseverance of her team, Anna is safe and settled. Due to the risk of abuse, her daughter was placed into care when born.
The team researched her background and made contact with a service in Ireland which provided us with information about documentation needed to continue with the process of registering the client. We were able to collate supporting evidence from various sources, including the church where Anna was baptised when she was two weeks old.
Stop Domestic Abuse supported Anna throughout this process and she has been reunited with her daughter who now lives with her in a Stop Domestic Abuse refuge .
We are currently working with our colleagues at the local authority to find a permanent place to live for Anna and her daughter in the community near the refuge.
Having fled her abusive relationship, Anna also had to flee her whole family and community. This had a huge
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## In the media
Help us talk. Help us break the silence. Help us Stop Domestic Abuse.
Many victims don’t talk about their experience of domestic abuse so we elevate their voices.
**At Stop Domestic Abuse, we aim to reach a wide audience and have a strong presence both online and offline across television, print, radio and social media. We work with politicians and other influencers to get people talking about domestic abuse.**
## **Ending FGM**
## **Expertise in action**
In February, we joined forces with The British Red Cross to raise awareness of female genital mutilation (FGM) and its harmful impact on women and girls. We ran training events to educate professionals and community leaders on the impact of FGM, risk factors and existing protection for women and girls. Staff and supporters endorsed the campaign, whilst Pompey Women’s Football Club showed their support towards the United Nation’s agenda to end FGM by 2030.
Most recently our CEO, Claire Lambon, and our Operations Director, Rachel Windebank, have interviewed with both ITV Meridian and Politics South giving their expertise on some high profile subjects including domestic abuse and disability and recent domestic abuse news and policy.
## **International Women’s Day**
For International Women’s Day in March, we shed light on our vision of a world without domestic abuse. Winchester City Council illuminated the Guildhall in Winchester and Stop Domestic Abuse lit the iconic Spinnaker Tower in orange to highlight the impact of domestic abuse on women and our shared commitment to a world that is inclusive and equitable.
## **FIFA World Cup: December 2022**
Our Helplines responded to a 204% increase in calls the day following England’s first match of the men’s World Cup tournament. We increased frontline resources both on our Helplines and out in the community to ensure adequate support and advice was available to victims of domestic abuse who needed our help during the men’s World Cup period and in the run up to Christmas. We worked with local media to raise awareness of the issue and of the support available to victims through our services across Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton.
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Left: Caption caption caption Main pic: Caption caption caption
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## **Staff Conference**
In June, staff, volunteers and Trustees came together for our Staff Conference, an opportunity for all colleagues working across Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton to learn from each other and share knowledge and expertise.
## **16 Days of Action**
**In November staff, supporters, commissioners and volunteers of Stop Domestic Abuse took part in mile long walks in eleven locations across the county to raise awareness of violence against women and girls.**
**We posted billboards in Gosport and Portsmouth to raise awareness of domestic abuse and our support services. A series of online training seminars were delivered to professionals and members of the public.**
The theme of this year’s conference was stalking. Guest speakers, Donna Jones, Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight, and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust shared insight and context before we launched into a series of staff-led workshops.
## **For more articles visit stopdomesticabuse.uk/news**
## **Follow us on our social media platforms @Southerndas**
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## Fundraising
_Above: The Portsmouth Diocese donated gift vouchers for clients Right: Waitrose chose to support our New Forest refuge_
_Below: Sinah Warren Leisure Club members donated Christmas gifts for our refuge residents_
Your support brings us closer to our vision of a world without domestic abuse
## **For 46 years we have provided frontline services to those affected by domestic abuse.**
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, BBC Children in Need, Nationwide Foundation, The Big Give, Basingstoke and Deane Council, East Hampshire District Council and Hampshire connect4communities we have continued to deliver lifechanging outcomes to adults and children affected by domestic abuse.
In 2023 our work has never been more needed. Calls to our helpline increased by 36%. Victims are coming to us with a range of complex needs. The issue of male violence against women and girls has been recognised by the Home Office as a national threat. Against this backdrop, we are doing all we can to support every victim of domestic abuse and stalking who needs us.
**Support us now**
To find out how you can get involved, as a fundraiser, campaigner or volunteer, get in touch changemaker@stopdomesticabuse .uk or visit stopdomesticabuse .uk to find out more.
**Fundraising events and donations – Our supporters**
##
##
We are grateful to the many amazing members of our local communities, local partners, schools, churches, community groups, companies and organisations which continue to raise funds as well as donate clothes, toys, baby equipment, furniture and bedding for our refuge residents.
We are so grateful to our funding partners and commissioners for their support and commitment to our programmes for victims, survivors and perpetrators of domestic abuse.
**Visit stopdomesticabuse.uk/ support-us or scan the QR code to go straight to our donations page.**
Our local authority partners at Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, together with the Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight have enabled us to deliver inclusive, innovative projects to our clients.
We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our local communities.
## **Thank you**
## New refuge appeal
Our vision for a new refuge in South East Hampshire where women and children can recover and begin to rebuild their lives
**Refuge support for women and children is at the heart of what we do at Stop Domestic Abuse. We work with commissioners, housing providers and our local authorities to provide safe, supportive accommodation for families that have made the incredibly hard decision to leave their home to find safety.**
The national network of refuges is under threat. Funding cuts have forced refuges to close. Nationally, two-thirds of victims in need of safe accommodation are being turned away because of a lack of suitable refuge space. Here in Hampshire, we provide safe and welcoming accommodation through the network of 18 refuges we run with our housing provider partners in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton.
rebuild their lives. This purposebuilt, trauma-informed refuge will provide a unique, child-centred, fully accessible, holistic centre where the physical environment will be as much a part of victims’ recovery as the specialist support we will provide to our clients.
Just like in our existing refuges we will create a warm and welcoming environment where every person who walks through the door feels valued. Communal facilities will be developed to accommodate spaces for families to cook together, share meals, play and move forward on
Our vision is to build our own refuge in Havant, where women and children can recover and begin to
their journey of recovery. As well as a bright and fun playroom inside for children, there will be quality outside space including a play area and gardens providing a pleasant space for socialising and relaxation.
This welcoming building will be built in an energy-efficient and environmentally-sustainable way. It will provide safe refuge to hundreds of families in the years to come.
Thanks to our wonderful supporters, we are well on the way to meeting our fundraising target to start to build the new refuge.
If you would like to find out more about this project and how you can get involved, please visit us at stopdomesticabuse.uk
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## Staff profile: Chelsea Haslett, Service Manager
Chelsea is one of Stop Domestic Abuse’s Service Managers and has been with the Charity since 2013. Here is what she had to say about working at Stop Domestic Abuse.
I felt like my offers of taking on more responsibility, additional training and opportunities to support my development had paid off and in 2019 I progressed into the role of Senior Outreach Worker.
## **The beginning**
I came across Stop Domestic Abuse when I was working in the Community Safety Team for Havant Council. They were Havant Women’s Aid then and Claire Lambon was speaking at a domestic abuse forum that I was at.
Not long after taking on this new role, Stop Domestic Abuse took over a new area and I volunteered to base myself at refuge to lead on the change of service and manage the transition of staff from a different service provider. It was a great opportunity and really gave a taste of senior management learning, what a service looks like and shaping what goes into it.
As soon as I heard Claire speak, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I also heard women from refuge speak at a participatory budgeting event, where they were bidding for funding and they were so inspiring it made me want to know more.
## **My experience of progression**
## **Becoming part of the management team**
I first started working at Stop Domestic Abuse in 2013 as an Outreach Project Worker (Adults) in East Hants. I would work with clients of all risk levels and I was the first person to work with a male client.
Two weeks of secondment working on the new service turned into two months and at this point a Deputy Service Manager role was about to open up. I knew it was a big leap for me, but I knew I could do it. I began to learn more about the organisation’s objectives, directions and what commissioners were expecting of us… and I got the job.
I was also one of the first staff members to be trained in Power to Change group work which I really enjoyed, delivering group work was one of my favourite things to do as an outreach worker. If I could still deliver group work now, I would jump at the chance. Although it is equally rewarding to support others developing into this role, delivering with confidence and passion.
With lots of on the job learning and amazing support from the managers around me I relished in the new challenge. COVID-19 hit at this point, which I struggled with as I like to be surrounded by people, but I kept focused on tasks and rewrote several key programmes, making it more relevant to services users.
I have always been someone with the drive to progress, asking for more responsibility and leading on new projects. I would look at potential positions that were being advertised and see not what skills I had, but what skills I needed to work towards having. I would attend any additional training on offer, sit in or lead on meetings and shadow others to help my development.
My next move was into a Service Manager position. I wasn’t actually looking to move roles as I was content in what I was doing. The more I thought about it and with encouragement from others I decided to apply. I had the transferable skills and my knowledge of the service,
If you were to ask me what I love about working here, it is the people as much as the work. Everyone empowering each other to be the best they can be, all being each other’s cheerleaders.
drive and approachability meant I succeeded in getting the role.
and speak about anything they need to, voice opinions and feedback to me.
It was a big change and I was nervous, feeling a lot of imposter syndrome, but again the support of everyone made all the difference. Throughout my progression there has been situations that have challenged me professionally, however I have learnt something from each of these. This has helped shape my approach and my working practice for the better.
## **A unique organisation**
If you were to ask me what I love about working here, it is the people as much as the work. Everyone empowering each other to be the best they can be, all being each other’s cheerleaders.
There has been so much growth since I have been here and there are so many different personalities all working on different projects, but you can really see the passion of everyone and that we all have one goal that we are working towards.
## **A voice that’s heard**
From the minute I started at Stop Domestic Abuse, I felt I was always listened to. Whether it was a request for training and progression or an idea.
We are very unique as an organisation. I have been on an incredible journey so far and I am excited to see what comes next for both Stop Domestic Abuse and my own development.
I’ve always felt it’s important to work collaboratively, supporting and bringing colleagues on the journey. As a manager I want my team to feel they can approach me
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Annual Report 2023
Stalking advocacy **and support service** A new service commissioned by the Police & Crime Commissioner
On 1st July 2023, Stop Domestic Abuse launched a new specialist support and advocacy service for victims of stalking in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Our Stalking Advocates offer a full range of support to victims of stalking, including risk and safety planning, advocacy support (liaison with the Police, and support through the Court process), emotional and practical support, specialist advice and support in relation to cyber stalking and support to access any other services the victim may need.
Donna Jones, Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight addressed our staff team at the Organisational Conference. She said, “Stalking is a life-altering crime with many victims enduring years of abuse often resulting from an ex-partner. Thanks to Stop Domestic Abuse I am able to help protect thousands of people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”
Evidence shows that stalking is on the rise, following pandemic lockdowns and increased availability of monitoring devices and tracking software. In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, reports of stalking offences have risen by 37% over the last three years. Victims’ lives are often pulled apart by stalking behaviours from former partners, colleagues and from strangers, and require specialist support from experts to help them to improve their safety and access justice.
Through this new service we are delivering training to professional colleagues to support them to achieve the best outcomes for victims of stalking across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
**stopdomesticabuse.uk/stalking**
## Transforming facilities
## **for our refuge residents**
Each year, our refuges provide safety and support to hundreds of women and children fleeing from domestic abuse.
This year we’ve worked with our partners to upgrade facilities at several of our refuges, ensuring we deliver clean, fresh, welcoming and well-equipped refuge accommodation where women and children feel safe and comfortable.
## **Here are just a few of our recent projects:**
2023 and 2024. Three refuges have had incredible transformations
## **Transformation of playground spaces for children in refuge**
Playing together, making friends, and having fun are aspects of childhood that children who are victims of domestic abuse often do not get to experience. We are committed to children’s recovery from domestic abuse, and we have been significantly upgrading the playground facilities and garden areas at several of our refuges to create fun, safe and interactive play areas. New garden furniture and playground equipment have been creating a fun and therapeutic outdoor space for our families.
so far, with several more in progress, thanks to this project which was made possible through our Trustees’ commitment to invest in play areas for our refuge residents.
refuge. Our communal spaces now have attractive, modern laminate flooring. Thanks to a donation from Cllr Jackie Branson, we were also able to upgrade the living room with new sofas.
_**“I love the garden! My babies were always cooped up in the room and now I can take them outside and let them learn to crawl and develop and use the new sensory toys outside”**_
## **New kitchens**
The kitchen facilities in one of our Southampton refuges are being transformed to replace worn units and create a more functional and accessible communal space for women and children to cook and eat together. This will include replacing the current kitchen along with an additional kitchen that is being supplied under a social enterprise scheme.
## **New flooring and furniture in Havant refuge**
We have committed our own funds to this project alongside some funding from local councils and organisations, and we will be prioritising this work throughout
With a contribution from our wonderful local fundraisers, we have laid new flooring at Havant
**stopdomesticabuse.uk**
**18**
**19**
Annual Report 2023
## Volunteering
Note from designer - changed quotes to bold italic. All other quotes appear this way
Volunteers bring amazing value and skills to our service. Our volunteers are part of our mission to stop domestic abuse. They bring new perspectives and diverse experiences to our teams. This can enhance resilience and outcomes for our clients.
**From wonderful individuals coming in to support group sessions, those giving our women a little bit of pampering with haircuts, individuals collecting community donations and small business offers of free sessions of holistic therapies, our community really do band together to give what they can.**
**If you would like to be play a part in putting a stop to domestic abuse, then please get in touch volunteer@stopdomesticabuse.uk.**
Thank you to all of our current volunteers and corporate volunteer supporters.
Whether you would like to give your time regularly, or from time to time, there are opportunities to suit everyone.
##
##
As well as opportunities for individual volunteers, we also welcome corporate team activities. Corporate volunteer teams gain insights into domestic abuse and its impact on the local community as well as on their own workforce. We support volunteers to gain an understanding of this sensitive issue and to develop awareness within their teams and the wider workplace.
_**“We look forward to Tuesdays when Rebecca comes in to help us with tasks in the refuge. She gets involved in the group sessions and is a massive help to everyone on the team.”**_
_**“We’re so grateful for their help. We showed new residents round the refuge and they commented on how lovely the garden looks!”**_
_**“They were really lovely and friendly too – no job was too big and even asked about other jobs to be done such as adjusting our garden fence or helping with moving heavy items to the front of the house to be taken away. They also insisted we give them a call anytime we need in the future.”**_
Teams of volunteers from Honeywell and HSBC have quite literally transformed the gardens at three of our refuges over the summer. They created vibrant outdoor spaces where children play and women socialise and relax together.
**Our service users appreciate you:**
_**“The garden and play area looks so much better. The volunteers were lovely to chat to.”**_
## **Quotes from volunteers:**
_**“Get some exercise. Relieve burdens. Bring hope. Demonstrate decency. Act as an example. Inspire good. Make your loved ones proud. Be uplifted by the effect your deeds have on others. All of these gifts I have received, all it cost was time.”**_
_**“It felt great to be involved with such an amazing local charity, to do our bit for the community and make a difference to someone’s life.”**_
_**“It was really great to see how in a short space of time we managed to transform the garden from overgrown and not very welcoming, to something that would hopefully brighten up someone’s day.”**_
**stopdomesticabuse.uk/support-us volunteer@stopdomesticabuse.uk**
_“It’s a great feeling to know that I can help improve someone's quality of life, especially where children are involved”_
**20**
**Annual Report 2023**
## You said, we did
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You We
Said Did
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22% of clients **Stop Domestic** disclosed that **Abuse are working** they have a **to improve our** hearing **resources to clients** disability **with auditory needs, including our website.**
**Stop Domestic Abuse are putting together content for a secure** Dedicated **parent portal area of** parent portal **our website which will** on the website **contain downloadable resources for parents to use with their children.**
**Stop Domestic Abuse have a planned process of upgrading washing machines and tumble dryers across refuges**
Improvements for refuge - better washing machines/ tumble dryer
Other Agencies - Clients felt that **Stop Domestic** medical professionals **Abuse is currently** should be more proactive **working with** in facilitating a space where **Integrated Care** the client is alone to ask **Board to develop some** questions about their **health-wide training to** relationship. **strengthen knowledge and improve responses.**
**Stop Domestic Abuse are working to ensure that more services are accessible to all our clients.**
Accessibility of services
## **Service User Consultation Sessions**
Getting feedback on the experience of our service users is an important part of our process that allows us to know what we are doing well as a service and what we can do to improve.
opportunity to feel like they’re giving something back. Survivors mentioned that they would take away the fact that their voice was heard, that they’re not being judged and that they’re not alone.
users an open platform to voice their opinions and received some brilliant feedback and reflection of their experience with Stop Domestic Abuse.
We are continually looking to improve and want to provide services that are relevant and reflect the needs of our communities, doing things in a way that is accessible, progressive and innovative.
We were excited to hear that 100% of survivors attending the user consultation said the event was great! They described the event as inspirational, invaluable and were pleased that it gave them the
As well as client surveys and refuge client meetings being an excellent source of feedback, we also host Service User Consultations. In our most recent ones we gave service
Most importantly, as an outcome to this we have been able to implement a range of improvements based on suggestions:
**100% 75% 84%** of clients said that they felt of clients said that they were safer after working with Stop more confident after working Domestic Abuse. with Stop Domestic Abuse.
of clients felt that Stop Domestic Abuse validated their experience making them feel believed.
_“This has been a lifeline for me in helping to stay strong enough to get through the healing process since fleeing domestic abuse”_
_“Please never stop, it has been the most valuable organisation to helping me on the journey to getting my life back. I will always be grateful”_
**22**
**Annual Report 2023**
**Main Helpline: 0330 0533 630 Always dial 999 if you are in immediate danger or in an emergency.**
email: info@stopdomesticabuse.uk
Stop Domestic Abuse supports and protects victims and survivors of domestic abuse. We provide a range of flexible and accessible services across Hampshire to anyone affected by domestic abuse, including perpetrators. Our vision is a world without domestic abuse. We work in partnership with other service providers, commissioners, the police and our local community to tackle domestic abuse and stalking.
Stop Domestic Abuse is the commissioned service provider for domestic abuse services throughout Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton.
## **stopdomesticabuse.uk**
Stop Domestic Abuse delivers the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Stalking Advocacy & Support Service across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
#stopdomesticabuse @southerndas
**Stop Domestic Abuse is the trading name of Southern Domestic Abuse Service Registered Charity Number 1146773.**
**Charity registration number 1146773**
**Company registration number 07975563 (England and Wales)**
# **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
|**Trustees**|G Butler (Chair)||
|---|---|---|
||J Munday||
||W Osgood (Vice Chair)||
||M Poil (sabbatical from 14/11/2022)||
||S Walker||
||C Godwin||
||T Stakes|(Appointed 20 July 2022)|
||L Parrett|(Appointed 28 July 2023)|
|**Secretary**|J Munday||
|**Charity number**|1146773||
|**Company number**|07975563||
|**Principal address**|PO Box 53||
||Havant||
||Hampshire||
||PO9 1UA||
|**Registered office**|Piper House||
||4 Dukes Court||
||Bognor Road||
||Chichester||
||West Sussex||
||PO19 8FX||
|**Auditor**|Jones Avens Limited||
||Piper House||
||4 Dukes Court||
||Bognor Road||
||Chichester||
||West Sussex||
||PO19 8FX||
|**Bankers**|Lloyds TSB||
||272 London Road||
||Waterlooville||
||Hampshire||
||PO7 7HN||
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 6|
|Statement of trustees' responsibilities|7|
|Independent auditor's report|8 - 11|
|Statement of financial activities|12|
|Balance sheet|13 - 14|
|Statement of cash flows|15|
|Notes to the financial statements|16 - 32|
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.
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 Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019)
## **Objectives and activities**
Southern Domestic Abuse Service trading as Stop Domestic Abuse is a charity providing services to women, children, young people and men affected by domestic abuse and stalking in the pan-Hampshire area.
The organisation was originally set up in 1977 as Havant Women’s Aid by a group of local women who realised that local statutory agencies were failing to meet the needs of women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Southern Domestic Abuse Service was established in 2012. In November 2018 we rebranded to Stop Domestic Abuse (trading name of Southern Domestic Abuse Service). Our branding defines the purpose of the organisation. Our message creates a powerful emotional connection between our organisation, those affected by domestic abuse and the wider public. We want to make our purpose clearer and bring domestic abuse out into the open. We want to stop domestic abuse and we aim to do this by campaigning and delivering direct services to those affected by domestic abuse.
Our name reflects that our services are truly inclusive to all. However, we still recognise that many of our service users are disadvantaged due to gender disadvantage - women are more likely than men to experience abuse, over 80% (83%) of high frequency victims (more than 10 crimes) are women (Walby & Towers 2018). We are a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. We are a member of the Women’s Aid Federation of England and the organisation is managed by a Board of Trustees made up of women that have a wealth of skills, experience and knowledge.
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## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
Services include:
- Refuge accommodation
- Dispersed properties providing safe accommodation
- Outreach and Resettlement Service
- Children and Young People’s Service
- Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) Service
- Stalking Advocacy and Support Service (Hampshire and the Isle of Wight)
- Specialist Advocacy Support Services for LGBTQ people experiencing domestic abuse
- Multi-agency Stalking Partnership (MASP)
- Partnership with Two Saints to provide specialist domestic abuse support to homeless people in Portsmouth Respite Rooms
- Hampshire Advice Line
- Southampton Prevention Intervention and Public Protection Alliance (PiPPA)
- Portsmouth Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Advice Line
- Group work for young people and children
- Individual tailored advice for women, children, young people and men focusing on their current risks and options for safety
- Rural outreach service
- Women only group work
- Perpetrator Programme
- Group work for families
- IRIS (Identification & Referral to Improve Safety)
- Child and Adolescent to Parent Abuse support service
- Holiday activities
- Tailored workshops
- Website
- Female Genital Mutilation, Harmful Cultural Practices Community Work and development
- Domestic Abuse preventative work, awareness raising and training services
- Domestic Abuse Health Advocacy Service
- Domestic Abuse Housing Advocacy Service
- Police IDVA Specialist service
- Target Hardening
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
We remain committed to both the continuation of existing services and the development of new services. Stop Domestic Abuse recognises the need to grow, adapt and develop service delivery as a response to the changing needs of those who access the service and to the ever-changing economic climate and funding opportunities. We will continue to focus our limited resources to target women and children. New service development will encompass preventative work with families including work with perpetrators. Organisational growth must strengthen the organisation and benefit the communities we serve in accordance with our core values.
In April 2011 Stop Domestic Abuse started delivering services in East Hampshire District.
In April 2011 Stop Domestic Abuse started delivering community-based services to male victims of domestic abuse.
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## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
In April 2015 Stop Domestic Abuse secured the Hampshire County Council Integrated Domestic Abuse Service Hampshire (IDASH) contract to deliver community and accommodation-based services in Fareham, Gosport, Havant and East Hampshire.
In April 2015 Stop Domestic Abuse started a new partnership with Portsmouth City Council to deliver support to the non-abusive partners and the children of perpetrators attending the Up2U service in Fareham, Gosport, Havant and Portsmouth.
In April 2016 Stop Domestic Abuse started working with perpetrators of domestic abuse in Fareham, Gosport, Havant and Portsmouth through our continued partnership with Portsmouth City Council’s Up2U Service.
In May 2017 Stop Domestic Abuse purchased its first property which provides dispersed safe accommodation and also provides the organisation with a capital asset.
In April 2018 Stop Domestic Abuse started delivering the Portsmouth City Council and Office of the Police Crime Commissioner commissioned refuge (3 refuges with a total of 16 family bed -spaces) and medium risk community-based services in Portsmouth.
In April 2019 Stop Domestic Abuse started delivering the Hampshire County Council and Office of the Police Crime Commissioner commissioned Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service victim and advice line contract in all 11 Hampshire districts in partnership with our sub-contractor Finding Freedom From Abuse in The Test Valley. This contract includes 92 family bedspaces across 13 refuges (one of which is delivered by with our sub-contractor Finding Freedom From Abuse in The Test Valley).
In July 2020 Stop Domestic Abuse opened a 5-bedroom refuge in Portsmouth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July 2021 Stop Domestic Abuse began a new commissioned service in Portsmouth to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse, children and young people affected by domestic abuse and people who use unhealthy and abusive behaviours and are committed to change. The service was commissioned by Portsmouth City Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner.
In July 2022 Stop Domestic Abuse began a new commissioned service in Southampton to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and children and young people affected by domestic abuse. The service was commissioned by Southampton City Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner. This contract includes 12 family bedspaces across 2 refuges (one of which we newly opened on 1 July 2022). We work with our partners and sub-contractors Yellow Door and No Limits to deliver this contract to victims and survivors in Southampton.
In April 2023 Stop Domestic Abuse began a new commissioned service in Southampton delivering specialist advocacy support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse from the LGBTQ+ community, together with the provision of training to professionals supporting LGBTQ+ people.
In July 2023 Stop Domestic Abuse started delivering the newly commissioned service for the provision of stalking advocacy and support services. Commissioned by the Police & Crime Commissioner, the service covers Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. In addition we were commissioned by the Police & Crime Commissioner to deliver victim advocacy support as part of a multi-agency intervention service designed to reduce the risk of reoffending amongst stalkers.
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## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
## **Achievements and performance**
- In 2022/2023 Stop Domestic Abuse worked with a total of 3,361 adults and 1,343 children and young people. This is a 40% increase on pre-pandemic years.
- In 2022/2023 Stop Domestic Abuse provided workshops to 6,943 children and young people to raise awareness of domestic abuse and healthy relationships.
## This included:
- 384 women and 422 children and young people living in Stop Domestic Abuse refuges.
- 1,829 adult victims/survivors and 656 children and young people that received one-to-one support in the community. This is a 45% increase on pre-pandemic years.
- 620 women and 265 children and young people who attended one of our group programmes
- 262 perpetrators who were supported to change their abusive behaviours
- 41 women, children, young people and men who had experienced Harmful Cultural Practices including Honour Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation
- 91 victims/survivors engaged in a behaviour-change programme to unpick unhealthy coping strategies.
- 113 victims/survivors received additional one-to-one support to improve their mental health
- 272 victims/survivors received target hardening to improve their safety at home
- Provided training for 1,112 professionals to improve their response to domestic abuse
In addition to direct support provided to individuals, our teams have responded to over 36,500 calls through our helplines for advice and support.
## **Training**
We continue to provide training including, Domestic Abuse Awareness, Portsmouth City Council’s Responding to Domestic Abuse Training (Victims and Perpetrators), Hampshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership’s Domestic Abuse webinars, DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour Based Violence) Risk Assessments, Female Genital Mutilation/Harmful Cultural Practices etc. to a number of organisations including HomeStart, Health Professionals, Education, Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, Solent Mind, Hampshire Constabulary, Abri Housing etc. We work in partnership with other organisations to commission local domestic abuse training for professionals. In July 2023 we launched a new programme of Stalking Awareness for professionals and partners engaging with the Stalking Advocacy and Support Service.
We also provide initial domestic abuse awareness training and, as part of Safe Lives Domestic Abuse Matters Training, we provide intensive domestic abuse training to all serving officers and staff of Hampshire Constabulary. We also deliver Webinars for Recognising Domestic Abuse Affecting Older People, Economic Abuse, Domestic Abuse and Children, Adolescent to Parent Violence, Healthy Homes, Post-Separation Abuse and online workshops for Harmful Cultural practices.
Over the past year we have delivered certified “Safe at Home” domestic abuse training online to individuals working in the health and beauty industry and Hampshire Libraries. We have so far trained over 269 individuals to become certified Safe At Home Domestic Abuse Ambassadors.
## **Cost of Living Impact**
The cost-of-living crisis is disproportionately affecting victims and survivors of domestic abuse both nationally and in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight. Lack of financial independence and increased reliance on perpetrators makes it harder and sometimes impossible to leave, and economic abuse can limit a victim’s options to access safety and support. Being unable to buy essential household items, having to use food banks and getting into debt are regular occurrences for our clients.
In the first quarter of 2023, 47.7% of our Hampshire clients told their Stop Domestic Abuse keyworker that they are experiencing economic abuse, and 50.6% of clients reported experiencing financial hardship.
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## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
With support from funding partners, Stop Domestic Abuse accessed additional voluntary and statutory funding to enable our frontline teams to offer financial support to clients experiencing financial distress. Thanks to funds from Hampshire County Council (Household Support Fund Scheme), Basingstoke & Deane District Council, Southern Housing Group, Marks & Spencer, NatWest and SafeLives Circle Fund, The Big Give, Churches Homeless Action and other community supporters, we provided clients with shopping vouchers to purchase food, household fuel, family essentials and school uniform.
We are grateful to all our funding partners for their support and commitment to our vision.
We are engaging with national and local agencies to raise awareness of the need for an Emergency Domestic Abuse Fund to help survivors of domestic abuse to pay for essential items and energy bills; together with better provision of legal services for survivors who are unable to afford legal representation and advice.
## **Funding**
Stop Domestic Abuse is funded primarily through Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and The Office of the Police Crime Commissioner commissioning of domestic abuse services, the rent we charge, grants/contracts from such organisations as The National Lottery Community Fund, National Lottery Awards For All, BBC Children In Need, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and other grant funding.
Prudent financial monitoring, active fundraising and rental income has resulted in a year-end surplus. This surplus will be used to ensure that we have adequate reserves and capital for our future ambitions and to develop innovative new projects and continue providing non-commissioned and under-resourced services such as work with children and young people and migrant women/women with no recourse to public funds.
We also continue to receive support and donations from local individuals, companies, groups and associations. This support is invaluable, and we use the donations to provide the important extras that improve the quality of life for the women, children, young people and men using our services. Our thanks go to those who have supported us through giving time, money or donations and to our partners who ensure that together we can offer the highest quality support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
## **Financial review**
The statement of financial activities summarises the charity's financial results for the year, a surplus having been generated as referred to above. We have generated an increased surplus in the year and this surplus will be used to continue to deliver under resourced projects including support services in refuge, work with children, community based support to women and men affected by domestic abuse and to pilot new innovations in domestic abuse services.
The trustees have set a reserves policy which requires:
- Reserves be maintained at a level which ensures that Stop Domestic Abuse’s core activities can continue during a period of unforeseen difficulty.
- A proportion of reserves be maintained in a readily realisable form.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The charity aims to achieve reserves equivalent of a minimum of six months running costs. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
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## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee incorporated under the Companies Act 2006 on 5 March 2012 and is a registered charity (number 1146773), registered on 3 April 2012. It commenced activities on 1 July 2012, taking over the services previously carried out by Havant Womens Aid (charity number 273775).
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
G Butler (Chair) J Munday W Osgood (Vice Chair) M Poil (sabbatical from 14/11/2022) S Walker C Godwin L Watkin (Resigned 18 April 2023) T Stakes (Appointed 20 July 2022) L Parrett (Appointed 28 July 2023)
The skills of Trustees are reviewed to identify any gaps in skills. Stop Domestic Abuse recognises that an effective board of trustees is essential if the charity is to be effective in achieving its objects. The board seeks to be representative of the people with whom the charity works and must have available to it all of the knowledge and skills required to run the charity. Individual trustees must have sufficient knowledge, both of trusteeship in general and of the Charity's activities, to enable them to carry out their role and to represent the Charity at meetings and other events.
When recruiting trustees a skills audit of the board is completed to ensure that there are no skills gaps. Recruitment takes place within the wider community including advertisements and direct approaches to professional bodies and to other voluntary organisations. Stop Domestic Abuse seeks to ensure diversity in its board of trustees as well as in its staff base and consideration will be given to ways in which groups that are under-represented on the board might be reached and encouraged to apply. Applicants who appear suitable are interviewed by two existing trustees and the CEO.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company
and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The charity is governed by an executive committee who have the power to co-opt additional members. They are unpaid and act as trustees of the charity. The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
## **Asset cover for funds**
Note 23 sets out an analysis of the assets attributable to the various funds and a description of the trusts. These assets are sufficient to meet the charities obligations on a fund by fund basis.
## **Auditor**
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Jones Avens Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Type text here
..............................
**G Butler (Chair)** Trustee 18/09/2023 Dated: .........................
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## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
The trustees, who are also the directors of Southern Domestic Abuse Service 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:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping 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.
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## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Southern Domestic Abuse Service (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 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:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- 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.
## **Other information**
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.
## **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.
- 8 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **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.
## **Identification and assessment of irregularities including fraud**
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We designed procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures were capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
- we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the charity, including The Companies Act 2006 and The Charities Act 2011;
- we obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the entity and how the entity is complying with that framework by making appropriate enquiries of management as well as considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations;
- we made enquiries of those charged with governance and management concerning:
- the risks of fraud;
- instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations or knowledge of actual, suspected, or alleged fraud is documented during the period;
- we allocated an engagement team that we considered collectively had the appropriate competence and capabilities to identify or recognise non-compliance with laws and regulations.
- 9 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **Audit response to the risk of irregularities including fraud**
Based on the results of our risk assessment, our procedures included, but were not limited to:
- performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships.
- evaluating whether the selection and application of accounting policies by the entity that may be indicative of fraudulent financial reporting resulting from management’s effort to manage earnings.
- assessing whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in note 2 were indicative of potential bias.
- agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation.
- reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
- reviewing the correspondence with relevant regulatory bodies.
- testing of journal entries to address the risk of fraud through management override.
- incorporating an element of unpredictability in the selection of the nature, timing, and extent of our audit procedures.
## **Conclusions regarding the risks of irregularities including fraud**
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
We considered our audit was capable of detecting irregularities due to:
- the effectiveness of the entity’s internal controls;
- the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures performed; and
- the absence of contradictory evidence.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 391 of the Companies Act 2014. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's 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 company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
- 10 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
**Claire Norwood BSc FCA ATII (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Jones Avens Limited**
06/10/2023
.........................
**Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor**
Piper House 4 Dukes Court Bognor Road Chichester West Sussex PO19 8FX
Jones Avens Limited is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
- 11 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Donations and
legacies
**3**
64,709
-
Charitable activities
**4**
6,763,294
1,119,423
Investments
**5**
16,512
-
**Total income**
6,844,515
1,119,423
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**6**
23,383
-
Charitable activities
**7**
5,113,483
1,200,472
Pension scheme
provision
remeasurements
**13**
1
-
**Total expenditure**
5,136,867
1,200,472
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
**12**
(8,276)
-
**Net incoming/(outgoing)**
**resources before**
**transfers**
1,699,372
(81,049)
Gross transfers
between funds
**15**
(26,381)
26,381
**Net movement in funds**
1,672,991
(54,668)
Fund balances at 1 April
2022
5,991,001
88,370
**Fund balances at 31**
**March 2023**
7,663,992
33,702|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
64,709
90,250
-
7,882,717
5,406,430
1,075,672
16,512
489
-
7,963,938
5,497,169
1,075,672
23,383
14,540
-
6,313,955
3,617,421
1,037,692
1
(1,875)
-
6,337,339
3,630,086
1,037,692
(8,276)
2,426
-
1,618,323
1,869,509
37,980
-
45,315
(45,315)
1,618,323
1,914,824
(7,335)
6,079,371
4,076,177
95,705
7,697,694
5,991,001
88,370|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
90,250
6,482,102
489
6,572,841
14,540
4,655,113
(1,875)
4,667,778
2,426
1,907,489
-
1,907,489
4,171,882
6,079,371|
|---|---|---|
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.
- 12 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2023**_
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**16**
Investments
**17**
**Current assets**
Debtors
**18**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
**19**
Net current assets
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Provisions for liabilities**
**Net assets**
**Income funds**
Restricted funds
**24**
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
**25**
General unrestricted funds|**2023**
**£**
**£**
242,553
326,371
568,924
365,604
7,408,892
7,774,496
(645,184)
7,129,312
7,698,236
(542)
7,697,694
33,702
6,051,958
1,612,034
7,663,992
7,697,694|**2022**
**£**
720,234
5,214,148
5,934,382
(409,929)
5,001,013
989,988|**£**
213,064
342,705
555,769
5,524,453
6,080,222
(851)
6,079,371
88,370
5,991,001
6,079,371|
|---|---|---|---|
- 13 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2023**_
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 2023, although an audit has been carried out under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
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.
18/09/2023
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on .........................
.............................. G Butler (Chair) **Trustee**
## **Company Registration No. 07975563**
- 14 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
|**Notes**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash generated from operations
**30**
**Investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of investments
Proceeds from disposal of investments
Investment income received
**Net cash used in investing activities**
**Net cash used in financing activities**
**Net increase in cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of year**|**2023**
**£**
**£**
2,256,005
(85,831)
(242,539)
250,597
16,512
(61,261)
-
2,194,744
5,214,148
7,408,892|**2022**
**£**
**£**
1,326,349
(101,034)
(319,935)
273,570
489
(146,910)
-
1,179,439
4,034,709
5,214,148|
|---|---|---|
- 15 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Southern Domestic Abuse Service is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Piper House, 4 Dukes Court, Bognor Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8FX.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 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, modified to include the revaluation of certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **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.
## **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 it 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.
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 for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.
- 16 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
## **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 are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.
Expenditure is either allocated directly or is apportioned to the individual areas. Funds are transferred from unrestricted funds to fund deficits on restricted areas where no further funding will be forthcoming.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Capital items costing more than £1,000 are treated as tangible fixed assets and 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:
Leasehold property 10% straight line or over the life of the lease Fixtures, fittings & equipment 33 1/3% straight line basis
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 the statement of financial activities.
## **1.7 Fixed asset investments**
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
## **1.8 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).
## **1.9 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.
- 17 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## **1.10 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.
## _**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.
## **1.11 Provisions**
Provisions are recognised when the charity has a legal or constructive present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the charity will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.
The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised at present value. When a provision is measured at present value, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in net income/(expenditure) in the period in which it arises.
## **1.12 Employee benefits**
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
- 18 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## **1.13 Retirement benefits**
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
## **1.14 Taxation**
On the basis of the financial statements no provision has been made for Corporation Tax.
## **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.
## **Critical judgements**
## **Pension scheme deficit payments**
The association participates in a multi-employer pension scheme which is in deficit. Provision has been made for the deficit contributions payable and the trustee have relied upon the information received from the Pensions Trust.
## **3 Donations and legacies**
||**Unrestricted **|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2023**|**2022**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Donations and gifts|64,709|90,250|
- 19 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
## **4 Charitable activities**
|**Family and**
**child projects**
**2023**
**£**
Charitable rental
income
-
Services provided
under contract
3,955,914
Performance related
grants
1,871,169
Other income
79,144
5,906,227
**Analysis by fund**
Unrestricted funds
4,830,701
Restricted funds
1,075,526
5,906,227|**Managed**
**hostel**
**2023**
**£**
1,926,593
-
49,897
-
1,976,490
1,932,593
43,897
1,976,490|**Total**
**2023**
**Family and**
**child projects**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
1,926,593
-
3,955,914
3,834,443
1,921,066
1,129,096
79,144
63,010
7,882,717
5,026,549
6,763,294
3,950,877
1,119,423
1,075,672
7,882,717
5,026,549|**Managed**
**hostel**
**2022**
**£**
1,452,833
-
2,720
-
1,455,553
1,455,553
-
1,455,553|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
1,452,833
3,834,443
1,131,816
63,010|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||6,482,102|
|||||5,406,430
1,075,672|
|||||6,482,102|
|**5**
**6**|**Investments**
**Unrestricted Unrestricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Interest receivable
16,512
489
**Raising funds**
**Unrestricted Unrestricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Fundraising and publicity
Advertising
4,179
9,810
Other fundraising costs
13,303
1,082
Fundraising and publicity
17,482
10,892
Investment management
5,901
3,648
23,383
14,540|**Investments**
**Unrestricted Unrestricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Interest receivable
16,512
489
**Raising funds**
**Unrestricted Unrestricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
Fundraising and publicity
Advertising
4,179
9,810
Other fundraising costs
13,303
1,082
Fundraising and publicity
17,482
10,892
Investment management
5,901
3,648
23,383
14,540|
|---|---|---|
|||10,892|
|||3,648|
|||14,540|
- 20 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**_
## **6 Raising funds**
## **(Continued)**
## **7 Charitable activities**
|**Family and**
**child**
**projects**
**2023**
**£**
Staff costs
2,526,698
Depreciation and
impairment
-
Refuge premises
expenses
71,220
Travelling & subsistence
60,956
Administration & office
expenses
45,312
Activities & training etc
200,531
Other expenses
20,849
2,925,566
Grant funding of
activities (see note 8)
370,649
Share of support costs
(see note 9)
930,278
Share of governance
costs (see note 9)
150,739
4,377,232
**Analysis by fund**
Unrestricted funds
3,176,760
Restricted funds
1,200,472
4,377,232|**Managed**
**hostel**
**2023**
**£**
700,352
12,695
756,317
11,839
7,821
50,956
17,786
1,557,766
-
324,903
54,054
1,936,723
1,936,723
-
1,936,723|**Total**
**2023**
**Family and**
**child**
**projects**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
3,227,050
2,340,900
12,695
-
827,537
32,988
72,795
38,168
53,133
62,729
251,487
47,478
38,635
38,330
4,483,332
2,560,593
370,649
223,465
1,255,181
829,553
204,793
46,162
6,313,955
3,659,773
5,113,483
2,622,081
1,200,472
1,037,692
6,313,955
3,659,773|**Managed**
**hostel**
**2022**
**£**
145,790
6,424
736,263
1,200
4,600
2,235
2,186
898,698
-
91,595
5,047
995,340
995,340
-
995,340|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
2,486,690
6,424
769,251
39,368
67,329
49,713
40,516|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||3,459,291
223,465
921,148
51,209|
|||||4,655,113|
|||||3,617,421
1,037,692|
|||||4,655,113|
## **8 Grants payable**
Grants to institutions: Other
|**Family and**|
Family and|
|---|---|
|**child**|
child projects|
|**projects**||
|**2023**|2022|
|**£**|£|
|370,649|223,465|
- 21 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **9 Support costs**
|Staff costs
Depreciation
Premises expenses
Travelling & subsistence
Administration & office
expenses
Activities & training etc
Other expenses
Audit fees
Legal and professional
Other governance costs
Analysed between
Charitable activities|**Support**
**costs**
**Governance**
**costs**
**£**
**£**
748,119
-
43,647
-
76,887
-
9,039
-
236,494
-
64,298
-
76,697
-
-
8,789
-
195,622
-
382
1,255,181
204,793
1,255,181
204,793|**2023**
**£**
748,119
43,647
76,887
9,039
236,494
64,298
76,697
8,789
195,622
382
1,459,974
1,459,974|**Support**
**costs**
**Governance**
**costs**
**£**
**£**
532,704
-
46,499
-
47,424
-
1,467
-
209,245
-
60,336
-
23,473
-
-
8,206
-
41,553
-
1,450
921,148
51,209
921,148
51,209|**2022**
**£**
532,704
46,499
47,424
1,467
209,245
60,336
23,473
8,206
41,553
1,450|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||972,357|
|||||972,357|
Governance costs includes payments to the auditors of £8,789 for audit fees and £0 for other services.
## **10 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
## **11 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
|Project staff
Management and administration
Total
**Employment costs**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs|**2023**
**Number**
127
18
145
**2023**
**£**
3,533,146
320,455
121,568
3,975,169|**2022**
**Number**
109
13|
|---|---|---|
|||122|
|||**2022**
**£**
2,709,350
233,596
76,448|
|||3,019,394|
- 22 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **11 Employees**
## **(Continued)**
The above numbers include job share, part time and sessional staff, the average number of full time equivalent staff was 124 (2021: 108).
The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000 is as follows:
|is as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2023**|**2022**|
||**Number**|**Number**|
|£70,000 - £80,000|1|-|
|£100,000 - £110,000|1|-|
|£110,000 - £120,000|-|1|
## **12 Net gains/(losses) on investments**
|||**Unrestricted Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2023**|**2022**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Revaluation of investments|(8,276)|2,426|
|**13**|**Pension scheme provision remeasurements**|||
|||**2023**|**2022**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Impact of changes in assumptions|(14)|(20)|
||Amendments to contribution shedule|-|(1,876)|
||Financing costs|15|21|
|||1|(1,875)|
## **14 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
## **15 Transfers**
The transfer from unrestricted funds to restricted funds represents additional funding for restricted fund projects that the charity has met through their unrestricted income.
- 23 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
|**16**|**Tangible fixed assets**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Leasehold**|**Fixtures,**|**Total**|
|||**property**|**fittings &**||
||||**equipment**||
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|
||**Cost**||||
||At 1 April 2022|135,559|289,551|425,110|
||Additions|8,243|77,588|85,831|
||At 31 March 2023|143,802|367,139|510,941|
||**Depreciation and impairment**||||
||At 1 April 2022|7,944|204,102|212,046|
||Depreciation charged in the year|880|55,462|56,342|
||At 31 March 2023|8,824|259,564|268,388|
||**Carrying amount**||||
||At 31 March 2023|134,978|107,575|242,553|
||At 31 March 2022|127,615|85,449|213,064|
|**17**|**Fixed asset investments**||||
|||||**Listed**|
|||||**investments**|
|||||**£**|
||**Cost or valuation**||||
||At 1 April 2022|||342,705|
||Additions|||242,539|
||Valuation changes|||(8,276)|
||Disposals|||(250,597)|
||At 31 March 2023|||326,371|
||**Carrying amount**||||
||At 31 March 2023|||326,371|
||At 31 March 2022|||342,705|
## **Fixed asset investments revalued**
Listed investments include an investment portfolio managed by Transact and are included on the basis of market value, with an historical cost of £329,875 (2022 - £314,366 ).
- 24 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **18 Debtors**
|**Debtors**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2023**
**£**
129,133
4,168
232,303
365,604|**2022**
**£**
384,133
2,369
333,732|
|||720,234|
## **19 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|**Notes**
Other taxation and social security
Deferred income
**22**
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2023**
**£**
82,049
14,891
319,654
88,753
139,837
645,184|**2022**
**£**
87,724
-
236,320
25,894
59,991|
|---|---|---|
|||409,929|
## **20 Auditor's ethical standards**
In common with many entities of our size and nature we use our auditors to assist with the preparation of the statutory financial statements.
|**21**|**Provisions for liabilities**|**2023**|**2022**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Pension scheme deficit contribution provision|542|851|
- 25 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
|**21**
**Provisions for liabilities**
Movements on provisions:
At 1 April 2022
Deficit contribution paid
Unwinding of discount
Remeasurements - impact of any change in assumptions
Remeasurements - amendments to the contribution shedule
At 31 March 2023
Income and expenditure impact
Interest expense
Remeasurements - impact of changes in assumptions
Remeasurements – amendments to the contribution schedules
Costs recognised in income and expenditure account
Assumptions
Rate of discount|**2023**
**2022**
**(Continued)**
851
3,649
(310)
(923)
15
21
(14)
(20)
-
(1,876)
542
851
(15)
(21)
14
20
-
1,876
(1)
1,875
5.52%
2.35%|**2023**
**2022**
**(Continued)**
851
3,649
(310)
(923)
15
21
(14)
(20)
-
(1,876)
542
851
(15)
(21)
14
20
-
1,876
(1)
1,875
5.52%
2.35%|
|---|---|---|
|||851|
|||(21)
20
1,876|
|||1,875|
|||2.35%|
||||
The discount rates shown above are the equivalent single discount rates which, when used to discount the future recovery plan contributions due, would give the same results as using a full AA corporate bond yield curve to discount the same recovery plan contributions.
## **22 Deferred income**
|Arising from funding received in advance|**2023**
**£**
14,891|**2022**
**£**
-|
|---|---|---|
||||
|Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:|||
|Deferred income is included within:
Current liabilities
Movements in the year:
Deferred income at 1 April 2022
Resources deferred in the year
Deferred income at 31 March 2023|**2023**
**£**
14,891
-
14,891
14,891|**2022**
**£**
-|
|||-
-|
|||-|
- 26 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **23 Retirement benefit schemes**
## **SCHEME: TPT Retirement Solutions – The Growth Plan**
The company participates in the scheme, a multi-employer scheme which provides benefits to some 638 nonassociated participating employers. The scheme is a defined benefit scheme in the UK. It is not possible for the company to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the scheme as a defined benefit scheme. Therefore it accounts for the scheme as a defined contribution scheme.
The scheme is subject to the funding legislation outlined in the Pensions Act 2004 which came into force on 30 December 2005. This, together with documents issued by the Pensions Regulator and Technical Actuarial Standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council, set out the framework for funding defined benefit occupational pension schemes in the UK.
The scheme is classified as a 'last-man standing arrangement'. Therefore the company is potentially liable for other participating employers' obligations if those employers are unable to meet their share of the scheme deficit following withdrawal from the scheme. Participating employers are legally required to meet their share of the scheme deficit on an annuity purchase basis on withdrawal from the scheme.
A full actuarial valuation for the scheme was carried out at 30 September 2020. This valuation showed assets of £800.3m, liabilities of £831.9m and a deficit of £31.6m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustee has asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:
## **Deficit contributions**
From 1 April 2022 to 31 January 2025: £3,312,000 per annum (payable monthly)
Unless a concession has been agreed with the Trustee the term to 31 January 2025 applies.
Note that the scheme’s previous valuation was carried out with an effective date of 30 September 2017. This valuation showed assets of £794.9m, liabilities of £926.4m and a deficit of £131.5m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustee asked the participating employers to pay additional contributions to the scheme as follows:
## **Deficit contributions**
From 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2025: £11,243,000 per annum (payable monthly and increas by 3% each on 1st April)
The recovery plan contributions are allocated to each participating employer in line with their estimated share of the Series 1 and Series 2 scheme liabilities.
Where the scheme is in deficit and where the company has agreed to a deficit funding arrangement the company recognises a liability for this obligation. The amount recognised is the net present value of the deficit reduction contributions payable under the agreement that relates to the deficit. The present value is calculated using the discount rate detailed in these disclosures. The unwinding of the discount rate is recognised as a finance cost.
**Present value of provision** £542 (2022 £851) see note 21
- 27 -
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**SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **25 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 2021**
**£**
Designated Project Fund (2022/23)
313,493
Repairs and Renewals - Portsmouth
6,016
Repairs and Renewals - Hampshire
28,692
Repairs and Renewals - Dispersed
Accommodation
14,404
New Refuge Fundraising
1,200,000
Dispersed Accomodation
131,595
Refuge Provision Reserve
204,975
Pension Withdrawal Reserve
18,282
Redundancy Reserve
96,496
FGM/HCP Reserve
40,000
Digital IT fund
WISH
New office fund
Designated project fund (2021/22)
Designated play equipment fund
Dispersed properties
Designated Project Fund - Portsmouth
Programme Developement Fund
Repairs and Renewals - Southampton
Move On Fund
2,053,953|**Transfers**
**Balance at**
**1 April 2022**
**Transfers**
**31**
**£**
**£**
**£**
49,906
363,399
548,794
1,504
7,520
6,616
(2,100)
26,592
30,322
6,324
20,728
126,341
300,000
1,500,000
450,000
(3,980)
127,615
-
-
204,975
-
(1,907)
16,375
-
-
96,496
-
(20,000)
20,000
(20,000)
29,127
29,127
(29,127)
117,082
117,082
(117,082)
300,000
300,000
150,000
1,399,667
1,399,667
(1,399,667)
181,223
181,223
75,257
590,214
590,214
682,075
419,620
113,567
8,625
5,604
2,947,060
5,001,013
1,050,945|**Balance at**
**March 2023**
**£**
912,193
14,136
56,914
147,069
1,950,000
127,615
204,975
16,375
96,496
-
-
-
450,000
-
256,480
1,272,289
419,620
113,567
8,625
5,604|
|---|---|---|
|||6,051,958|
The above reserves were designated by the committee to provide for a minimum of three months operating costs. Reserves include operating costs for general and designated projects, furniture replacement funds, new refuge fund, redundancy reserve and staff pension reserve.
- 30 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **26 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
Fund balances at 31
March 2023 are
represented by:
Tangible assets
242,553
-
Investments
326,371
-
Current assets/(liabilities)
7,095,610
33,702
Provisions
(542)
-
7,663,992
33,702|**Total Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
242,553
213,064
-
326,371
342,705
-
7,129,312
5,436,083
88,370
(542)
(851)
-
7,697,694
5,991,001
88,370|**Total**
**2022**
**£**
213,064
342,705
5,524,453
(851)|
|---|---|---|
|||6,079,371|
## **27 Financial commitments, guarantees and contingent liabilities**
Southern Domestic Abuse Service has been notified by The Pensions Trust of the estimated employer debt on withdrawal from the Plan based on the financial position of the Plan as at 30 September 2021. As of this date the estimated employer debt for Southern Domestic Abuse Service was £16,375.
## **28 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:
|Within one year
Between two and five years|**2023**
**£**
477,841
462,746
940,587|**2022**
**£**
475,782
548,182|
|---|---|---|
|||1,023,964|
## **29 Related party transactions**
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).
## **Remuneration of key management personnel**
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
||**2023**|**2022**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Aggregate compensation|286,261|242,338|
- 31 -
## **SOUTHERN DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
|**30**
**Cash generated from operations**
Surplus for the year
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
Fair value gains and losses on investments
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
(Decrease) in provisions
Increase in deferred income
**Cash generated from operations**
**31**
**Analysis of changes in net funds**
The charity had no debt during the year.|**2023**
**£**
1,618,323
(16,512)
8,276
56,342
354,630
220,364
(309)
14,891
2,256,005|**2022**
**£**
1,907,489
(489)
(2,426)
52,923
(607,383)
(20,967)
(2,798)
-
1,326,349|
|---|---|---|
||||
- 32 -
**Chartered Accountants**
mail@jonesavens.co.uk www.jonesavens.co.uk
Piper House, 4 Dukes Court Bognor Road, Chichester West Sussex, PO19 8FX
Telephone: 01243 789031
53 Kent Road Southsea, Portsmouth Hampshire, PO5 3HU
Telephone: 02392 820726
Jones Avens is the trading name of Jones Avens limited. Registered Office: 4 Dukes Court, Bognor Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8FX. Registered in England Company Number: 6006056 Registered to carry on audit work in the UK; regulated for a range of investment business activities; and licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate in England and Wales.
8. Any matter which might come to light would do so during the course of our normal audit tests
which are designed lo assist us in fomiing our opinion on the financial stalemenls. Our tests
may not necessarily disclose all errors or irregulanties and should not be relied upon to do so.
However, if any irregularity did come lo our attention during our audit tests, we would. of
course, inform you immediately.
9. We do not proFose any nKKlifications to our audrt opinion and hence will be issuing a clean
audit report.
This report has been prepared for the sole use of the Board of SDA and must not be shown
to third parties without our prior consent. No responsibilities are accepted by Jones Avens
Limited towards any party acting or refraining from action as a result of thi5 report.
Finally, we would like lo express our thanks to all members of SDA'S staff who assisted us in
carrying out our work.
Yours faithfully
Jones Avens
Enc
Southern Domestic Abuse Service
Points noted during the course of our audtt for the year ended 31 March 2023:
Brought forward from 2022:
Reconciliation of restricted fund income and expenditure
Observation
We noted on our management letterfor the year ended 31103121 that we were not provided
a reconciliation for restricted fund movements for the year. A reconciliation was also not
provided for the year ended 31103122.
Implication
Compiling a reconciliation of reslricled funds combining the Sage records and
management accounts, alongside discussion with SDA staff was possible however this is
very time consuming. Not having a reconciliation available al planning increases the risk
of a misslalemenl in this area and additionally potentially increases the audit work required.
While we are more than happy lo provide advice. the audit musl not be relied upon to
ensure Ihe correcl allocation belween $tricted and unreslricled funds.
Rècommondation
11 would be beneficial going forward if we can r1ve a detailed reconciliation of restricted
funds that replicates the disclosure required in the accounts. We can then perform our
audit lesling based on this schedule.
2022123 Cornrnent
Further reconciliation was provided for this years audit however Ihere was still some
difficulty lying the funds into the table fom)at required in the accounts so it may be useful
to discuss this further for next years audrt.
SDAS comment
The Finance Director has discussed this point with Jones Avens and agreed that a
reconciliation showing reslricle(J fund opening balances, movemenls and closing balances
will be provided for 2023124 year end audit.
Journals postgd into reserves in Sage
Observatlon
There were some joumals posted into Sage which debr(ed expenditure and credited
reserve codes directty.
Implication
The journals caused the reserve balance in Sage lo differ from the closing financial
stalements bul also eXpendrtu lo be artificially infiated as a result.
Recommendation
We would recommend thatiournals are not posted direct into reserve codes from income
or expenditure nominals so that both opening reseNes agree and only genuine
expendrture occurred lor accrued) is included in the financial statements.
SDAS comment
This has been noted and month end prcKesses updated so that joumals are not posted
direclly inlo reserve codes.
Stop Domestic Abuse
Unadjusted misstslements in respect of the year ended 31 March 2023 (except those deemed clearly
Effect
of potential
correctlon
on surplus
Valu•
Accrued income from 31103122 rt reversed oi confimed as
receivable
Hugg invoice pre-paid account lop up not prepaid in finanaal
statements
26,440
126.4401
24,9Cfj
24,906
Stop Domestic Abuse
Adjustments to the financial statements agreed during the audit for the year ended 31 March 2023
(except those deemefj clearly triVi811".
Effect
of
correctlon
on surplus
Valu•
Correction lo opening balance reserves. ioumal behveen grant
income and reserves after error on roll forward
Remove journals posted to expenditure against reserves which
overstated the expenditure
Remove accrual for housing benefit income alre•* invoiced for
on sales led
er and therefore induded Iwce
152,000
51,071
51,071
62,999
162,9991