**Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk) Registered Charity, No: 1152772** **Trustees’ Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31 December 2021** _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 ................................................................................. 5**|| ||5.1|Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit .......................................... 5| ||5.2|Policy on Reserves .......................................................................... 5| ||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-21………………….…..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** ## **1.1** ## **Name & Registration** 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|| |Michelle Eaves|Trustee|12 March 2021|| |Nigel Farthing|Trustee|17 June 2013|07 May 2021| |Emily Hook|Trustee|09 April 2021|| |Natasha Hook|Trustee|09 April 2021|| |Debbie O'Hara|Trustee|11 September 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** 2021 was a second year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic with notably the number of crisis clients remaining more than five times higher than pre-pandemic levels. These clients, often suffering from severe mental health issues, need a wide range of help which are resource intensive. This together with the more holistic service we have developed for clients generally led to a significantly higher level of enquiries received/handled for a similar overall number of clients advised. A return to normal advice duties for volunteers meant that the Listening Service resource was depleted but we recruited another 8 taking our volunteer team to 18 in the latter part of the year enabling us to resume this part of the service: |year enabling us to resume this part of the service:||| |---|---|---| ||**2021**|**2020**| |Clients advised|1,055|1,086| |Enquiriesreceived|7,587|5,632| |Appealsrepresentations|75|75| |Success rate on appeals|100%|100%| |Benefit gain(YearOne)|£2,606,983|£2,111,829| |Benefit gain (Full)*|£8,857,412|£7,175,091| |Crisis clients|145|127| |Listening Service contacts|143|897| |Subsistence grants andfood parcels toindividuals|£11,388|£14,772| * Some benefits have longevity beyond the first year and the full benefit calculation accounts for this. As a Disabled People's Organisation, a number of our staff and volunteers still needed to take extra care due to their vulnerabilities but the flexibility of the home-based working options we introduced in 2020 together with supporting technology proved a worthwhile ongoing investment. With minimal interruption, we maintained a programme of face-to-face interviews by appointment under Covid-safe conditions throughout. The response of our manager, Jo Bowen, and her team of staff and volunteers throughout the year once again deserves the highest possible praise. Three new trustees were appointed with the aim of diversifying gender, age and ability bringing the management committee to nine members. We also said goodbye to one member who had served the charity over a number of years. Meeting frequency reverted to bi-monthly in keeping with the introduction of a new monthly Senior Management Team meeting involving senior staff and key charity officers. Our strategic projects are progressed in accordance with our 3- year Business Plan. The charity’s priorities for the coming year are: - to increase its reach to more potential beneficiaries; _Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_ _Page 4 of 11_ - working with our district council and other organisations in assessing and distributing grants to our beneficiaries in poverty crisis; - securing Advice Quality Service accreditation and Trusted Charity status; - expanding the service to help tackle fuel poverty and raise awareness of Pension Credit eligibility; and - introducing 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 hardship funds for crisis intervention and poverty relief. ## **4.4 Trustee Development** Trustees are encouraged to participate in development opportunities as and when appropriate. ## **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 _Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements_ _Page 5 of 11_ 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 2022 _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-21** - 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_