Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk) Registered Charity, No: 1152772
Trustees’ Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31 December 2020
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 1 of 11
Contents
| Contents | Contents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reference and Administration Details ................................................ 3 | |
| 1.1 | Name & Registration ....................................................................... 3 | |
| 1.2 | Address ......................................................................................... 3 | |
| 1.3 | Names of the Trustees Who Manage the Charity ............................... 3 | |
| 1.4 | Names of Senior Members of Staff ................................................... 3 | |
| 1.5 | Bank ............................................................................................. 3 | |
| 2 | Structure, Governance & Management............................................... 3 | |
| 2.1 | Type of Governing Document .......................................................... 3 | |
| 2.2 | Charitable Objects .......................................................................... 3 | |
| 2.3 | Trustee Selection Methods .............................................................. 3 | |
| 3 | Activities ............................................................................................. 4 | |
| 3.1 | Statutory Declaration ...................................................................... 4 | |
| 4 | Achievements & Performance ............................................................ 4 | |
| 4.1 | Outputs and Outcomes for the Charity’s Beneficiaries ........................ 4 | |
| 4.2 | How the Public Have Benefitted. ...................................................... 5 | |
| 4.3 | Contributing to Activities Run by Other Organisations ........................ 5 | |
| 4.4 | Trustee Development ...................................................................... 5 | |
| 5 | Financial Review ................................................................................. 6 | |
| 5.1 | Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit .......................................... 6 | |
| 5.2 | Policy on Reserves .......................................................................... 6 | |
| 5.3 | Principal Sources of Funding and Outgoings ...................................... 6 | |
| 5.4 | Remuneration of Trustees ............................................................... 6 | |
| 5.5 | Financial Status .............................................................................. 6 | |
| 5.6 | Statutory Statements on Liabilities ................................................... 6 | |
| 6 | Statement of Financial Activity........................................................... 7 | |
| 6.1 | Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts ............................... 7 | |
| 6.2 | Receipts & Payments Accounts for the FYE 31-Dec-20………………….…..8 | |
| 6.3 | Notes to the Accounts ................................................................ … 11 |
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 2 of 11
1 Reference and Administration Details
Name & Registration
1.1
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration no: 1152772, registered with the Charity Commission on 08 July 2013.
The charity is registered with HM Revenue & Customs.
1.2
Address
14 The Square, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, IP5 3SL
e-mail: advice@daseastsuffolk.org website: www.daseastsuffolk.org
1.3
Names of the Trustees Who Manage the Charity
| Role | Appointed | Resigned | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Bennett | Chair | 02 March 2020 | |
| Roy Gilmour | Vice Chair | 13 July 2017 | |
| Robin Stroud | Treasurer | 17 June 2013 | |
| Steve Doe | Dep Treasurer | 10 September 2014 | |
| Rod Gibson | Secretary | 13 January 2020 | |
| Jean Gooch | Trustee | 01 November 2020 | |
| Nigel Farthing | Trustee | 17 June 2013 | |
| Debbie O'Hara | Trustee | 11 September 2020 | |
| Margaret Shaw | Secretary | 28 May 2020 | |
| Graham Tinnion | Trustee | 21 August 2020 |
1.4 Names of Senior Members of Staff
Jo Bowen, Manager
1.5
Bank
Lloyds Bank, 8 The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AF
2 Structure, Governance & Management
2.1 Type of Governing Document
The charity's constitution is based on the Charity Commission’s Foundation Model for Charitable Incorporated Organisations, where the trustees are the only members of the charity.
2.2 Charitable Objects
As defined in Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk)’s constitution (governing document): The charity’s object is: the relief of people with disabilities in East Suffolk.
2.3 Trustee Selection Methods
There must be at least three charity trustees. The maximum number of trustees is 12.
In accordance with the constitution, trustees are appointed or re-appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Management Committee.
In appointing trustees due consideration is given to ensuring that the trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law.
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 3 of 11
3 Activities
3.1 Statutory Declaration
The trustees of Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk) confirm that they have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
4 Achievements & Performance
4.1 Outputs and Outcomes for the Charity’s Beneficiaries
2020 was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic and a temporary suspension of Department of Work & Pensions procedures during and after the first national lockdown meant that clients advised were lower during that period but picked up again during the remainder of the year:
| 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|
| Clients advised | 1,086 | 1,248 |
| Enquiriesreceived | 5,632 | 5,379 |
| Appealsrepresentations | 75 | 77 |
| Successrate onappeals | 100% | 92% |
| Benefit gain(YearOne) | £2,111,829 | £2,481,838 |
| Benefit gain(Full)* | £7,175,091 | £6,250,500 |
| Crisis clients | 127 | 29 |
| Listening Service contacts | 897 | 0 |
| Referralsfrom Listening Service contacts | 206 (23%) | 0 |
| Subsistencegrantsandfood parcels toindividuals | £14,772 | £4.086 |
- Some benefits have longevity beyond the first year and the full benefit calculation accounts for this.
The charity faced and met many challenges during the period of the pandemic. Beginning with the first national lockdown in March our office was closed for only a few days before establishing a telephone and postal based service. As a Disabled People's Organisation a number of our staff and volunteers needed to shield in addition to many clients due to their vulnerabilities. However, our team was keen to continue the service so we established a homebased working option for them to continue to contribute.
We recognised that clients subject to a suspension in DWP assessments were becoming very anxious and this was adding to their difficulties being in isolation. We established our Listening Service making outbound calls to give assurance that we were still there to help. The response to this was extraordinarily positive and by December we had spoken to 900 clients of whom 200 needed a referral to an adviser or signposting to another agency.
In August we resumed face-to-face interviews by appointment under Covid-safe conditions. Due to the economic impact of the pandemic our crisis cases increased four-fold. These clients, often suffering from severe mental health issues, need a wide range of help which added to the strain on our resources. The response of our staff and volunteers throughout the year deserves the highest possible praise. Worthy of special mention is Jo Bowen who was appointed from the staff to interim manager in March and then manager in October. Her inspired leadership was critical in tackling the many issues the charity faced throughout 2020.
Our experience during the pandemic showed that we needed better technology to facilitate agile working and to enable us to help more beneficiaries. We embarked on a major change project involving the replacement of all IT hardware and a new case recording system. This ambitious programme ongoing at year end will make for greater flexibility in the way we work in the office, at home or in future on outreach and in client's homes with full mobile access and
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 4 of 11
improved cloud-based security. It also makes the charity more resilient against any cause for a close down in future be that the next pandemic or any other similar problem.
A new chairman and secretary were appointed helping to enhance the skills and experience within the management committee. We also said goodbye to three members who had all served the charity with distinction over a number of years. Meeting frequency was doubled and communications and reporting improved. Certain strategic projects were undertaken including a review of our premises and all policies and matters of governance brought up to date. A new PR and Communications strategy was introduced and the charity's website was replaced.
The charity’s priorities for the coming year are to increase its reach to more potential beneficiaries, secure Advice Quality Service accreditation and Trusted Charity status; implement a limited suite of Key Performance Indicators for monitoring the charity’s performance; and introduce better ways of measuring our beneficiaries’ satisfaction with the service.
4.2
How the Public Have Benefitted
In addition to beneficial impact directly on our clients the service also benefits other groups as illustrated in the chart below:
4.3 Contributing to Activities Run by Other Organisations
The charity provides a gateway assessment service for other organisations that provide funds for poverty relief.
4.4 Trustee Development
Trustees are encouraged to participate in development opportunities as and when appropriate.
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 5 of 11
5 Financial Review
5.1 Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit
The Charity has no funds which are materially in deficit.
5.2
Policy on Reserves
The Charity’s policy on reserves is determined by Charity Commission guidance in that having no fixed assets it maintains an amount of cash which is sufficient to discharge its obligations in the event that the Management Committee deems it necessary to close the charity. The amount required varies over time and therefore is kept under regular review by the Management Committee.
5.3 Principal Sources of Funding and Outgoings
The principal sources of funding are grants made to the charity by small and large charitable foundations, all levels of local government and individual donations.
The charity is a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and adheres to its Code of Conduct.
In compliance with the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 all fundraising is carried out in a safe way which protects the public. We do not cold call or appeal to the public to sign up to long term giving commitments other than providing options to do so on our website. The charity does not make payments for fundraising activity of any kind and it has never received a complaint related to fundraising activity.
5.4
Remuneration of Trustees
All Trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity.
Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by Trustees in promoting the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost.
5.5 Financial Status
Though modest, the charity’s current resources from unrestricted donations are sufficient to meet its outgoings for six months.
All the indications are that this will remain the case for the foreseeable future.
5.6
Statutory Statements on Liabilities
The Trustees declare that:
-
✓ The charity has given no guarantees where potential liability under the guarantee is outstanding at the date of this statement; and
-
✓ The charity has no debt outstanding at the date of this statement which is owed by the CIO and which is secured by an express charge on any assets of the CIO.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Name & Role Rod Gibson Secretary to the Management Committee
Date: 17 March 2021
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 6 of 11
6 Statement of Financial Activity
- 6.1 Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 7 of 11
-
6.2 Receipts & Payments Accounts for the Financial Year Ended 31-December-20
-
6.2.1 Balance Sheet
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 8 of 11
6.2.2 Statement of Financial Activities
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 9 of 11
6.2.3 General Account
6.2.4 Approval of the Board of Trustees
The Trustees declare that they have approved the above Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Name & Role Rod Gibson Secretary to the Management Committee
Date: 17 March 2021
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 10 of 11
6.3 Notes to the Accounts
a) Accounting Policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 Section 133, using the Receipts and Payments basis available to small charities and the charity’s own simple accounts spreadsheet.
b) Cost of Fundraising
No payment was made for costs related to raising funds.
c) Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Out-of-pocket expenses incurred necessarily, reasonably and incidentally in the course the charity’s activities are reimbursed at cost.
No Trustees received any reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses in the financial year.
d) Salaries & Professional Fees
No trustee receives any payments for the services they provide to the charity.
In the current financial year the charity employed staff but no paid external contractors.
e) Fixed Assets
The charity has not purchased or disposed of any fixed assets in the current financial year.
f) Creditors & Debtors
Cheques for goods or services purchased, or invoices for goods or services delivered, which are issued prior to the end of the financial year but not appearing in the end of financial year bank statement are reported as outstanding creditors or debtors respectively.
g) Rounding Discrepancies
All amounts are recorded to the penny, but in these accounts are shown as digitally rounded to the nearest pound. This can occasionally result in a total apparently not being the sum of its constituent amounts. All individual amounts, and their totals, are nevertheless correct.
Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements
Page 11 of 11