ASB Help
Charity Number: 1152851
ASB Help
Trustees’ Report and Accounts
for the year ended 31 July 2023
ASB Help
Annual Report for the year ended 31 July 2023
Contents
Page Report of the Trustees ................................................................................... 1 - 3 Independent Examiner’s Report .......................................................................... 4 Statement of Financial Activities .......................................................................... 5 Balance Sheet ................................................................................................... 6 Notes to the Financial Statements .................................................................. 7 – 9
ASB Help
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 July 2023
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year to 31 July 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The aim and objective of the Charity is to facilitate the good administration of the law by providing advice and support to victims and practitioners of anti-social behaviour and encouraging the greater efficiency of local authorities and the police in responding to reports of anti-social behaviour.
The trustees are aware of guidance published by the Charity Commission on Public Benefit and the guidance is taken into account when they review the objectives and activities of the charity.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Review of Activities
The Charity is dependent on a grant from The Persula Foundation (previously called The Fairness Foundation) to fund its operational costs. In the current year, the charity has started to charge local authorities and police forces for some of the charity’s activities to help supplement this income and ensure relevant travel expenses are covered. For the current year this source of income totalled £31,591 which was a significant increase on the prior year (£4,350).
Core Activities for Public Benefit
ASB Help is focused on speaking up for victims of persistent anti-social behaviour who are suffering in silence. ASB Help supports victims primarily through its informative website which over 3,000 people a week visit. The website signposts victims of anti-social behaviour as to whom they report the anti-social behaviour to, and what to do if they are not getting a satisfactory response, in particular championing the ASB Case Review which was introduced in the 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.
As part of its support ASB Help works with national and local agencies to improve understanding of the ASB Case Review and hold agencies to account in their effective use of this power. In this financial year the development of the ASB Help PLEDGE has been a key focus, which sees local agencies commit to best practice with regard to the ASB Case Review. 61 local partners have signed up to date and a further 33 organisations are working with ASB Help in reviewing their ASB Case Review Policy and Procedures and the process of taking the PLEDGE. This will have significant impact for victims of anti-social behaviour in the areas that have signed the PLEDGE as the commitment to victims is embedded in their approach to ASB. We take on a limited number of individual cases, intervening in complex cases to deliver and working alongside local partners to deliver an outcome for the victims.
ASB Help undertakes research in the field of anti-social behaviour to better inform victims of the services available and alert them to gaps in service provision. It also seeks to raise the profile of the ASB Case Review and sits on the Home Office Anti-Social Behaviour Strategic Board and the Governments ASB Action Plan Task Force.
In this financial year the team has been heavily involved at a strategic level in debates and improvements to ASB law and statutory guidance, particularly clauses related to the ASB Case Review (formally also known as the Community Trigger). We will be launching our Freedom of Information findings report on how the ASB Case Review is being implemented nationally at the end of January 2024. We are working with the Victims Commissioner to lobby changes to the
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ASB Help
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 July 2023
Victims and Prisoners Bill to include victims of persistent ASB in the victims’ code. We are also providing our response to the Criminal Justice Bill on the role of the Police Crime Commissioners in the ASB Case Reviews and on changes proposed to the ASB tools and powers. The team has been sought out by local government agencies and local police forces to provide expert training on the ASB Case Review and supporting victims, evidenced in the training income received.
Future Plans
The charity has gained national recognition as an authority on the ASB Case Review with the Home Office, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Local Government Association, the Victims’ Commissioner’s Office and other government bodies. The charity will continue to speak out with authority on this subject and work with practitioners more widely to encourage effective use of the tools and powers in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act to ensure victims are receiving the support and intervention they are entitled to.
The focus of the charity remains one of high impact with the relatively small resources of a charity. It plans to move to a charging structure for some of the advice it provides to local agencies.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves Policy
The Charity’s administrative costs are currently being funded by one grant from a private foundation through an annual application based on a budget for the year. This income source is a guaranteed one based on the charity’s core expenditure requirements each year. As such the charity does not have a formal reserves policy at the current time.
Financial Position
In this tenth year of its operations costs were focused on staff costs, promotion of the website through social media channels and connecting with relevant leaders in the sector. The charity celebrated its milestone of 10 years of existence gathering staff and trustees together for lunch.
The charity is in a strong financial position because of the founder’s annual commitment to the budget, something that is protected. The charity may seek funding for additional projects from other sources and has begun to charge for some advice to local agencies. However, the victims of anti-social behaviour are the priority and the charity will not allow cost to be a barrier to delivering advice to an agency if this results in resolution for the victim.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
ASB Help was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation by a constitution adopted on 12 July 2013.
Organisational Structure
During the period the Charity maintained a team of five; a part-time Chief Executive Officer, two full-time and one part-time practitioner to support the expanding work with victims and agencies, and a part-time Performance Officer.
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ASB Help
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 July 2023
Risk Management
The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
The Trustees have identified and assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operation and finances of the charity. They are satisfied that the charity's exposure to these risks is minimal.
Registered Charity number
1152851
Registered Address
3-4 Hankey Place London SE1 4BB
Trustees
The Trustees who served during the year were:-
Jennifer Herrera (Chair) Julian Richer Julie Abraham Damien Morrison Vicky Heap Adrian Tonge Gareth Sands
Trustees shall serve in office for a period of three years but after that may be reappointed for two further terms of three years. At the end of their third term in office and in subsequent years a Trustee may be reappointed subject to a rigorous review, taking into account the need for progressive refreshing of the board. Trustees are recruited on the basis of the skills they can bring to the Board.
Bankers
Barclays Bank 1 Churchill Place London E14 5HP
This report was approved by the Trustees on 17 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
…………………………………………..
.....................................
Jennifer Herrera Chair
Julian Richer Trustee
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ASB Help
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of ASB Help
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of ASB Help (‘the Charity’)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 July 2023
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect :
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr Adrian Rodaway BA, FCA, BFP, DChA HPH, Chartered Accountants 54 Bootham York 17 April 2024 YO30 7XZ
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ASB Help
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 July 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
| Funds | Funds | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Income and Endowments from | |||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 110,029 | 255,875 |
| Income from charitable activities | 3 | 33,075 | 4,350 |
| Total | 143,104 | 260,225 | |
| **Expenditure on ** | |||
| Raising funds | 0 | 0 | |
| Charitable activities | 180,481 | 189,267 | |
| Total | 180,481 | 189,267 | |
| Net income/(expenditure) | (37,377) | 70,958 | |
| Total funds brought forward | 80,937 | 9,979 | |
| Total funds at 31 July 2023 | 43,560 | **80,937 ** |
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ASB Help
Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2023
| 2023 Note £ |
2023 Note £ |
2023 Note £ |
£ | 2022 £ |
£ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets Tangible assets 6 Current assets Debtors 7 Cash at bank and in hand |
324 9,808 33,842 |
1,415 530 123,268 |
||||
| Creditors Amounts falling due within one year 8 |
43,974 (414) |
125,213 (44,276) |
||||
| Net current assets | 43,560 | 80,937 | ||||
| Funds Unrestricted |
43,560 | 80,937 | ||||
| 43,560 | 80,937 |
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 17 April 2024 and signed on their behalf by:-
……………………………………………… ......................................... Jennifer Herrera Julian Richer Chair Trustee
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ASB Help
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023
1. Accounting policies
1.1 Accounting convention
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The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and include the results of the Charity's operations as indicated in the Trustees’ Report, all of which are continuing.
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1.2 Compliance with accounting standards
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The financial statements of the charitable incorporated organisation, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011.
1.3 Incoming resources
Income from all resources is recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are receivable.
1.4 Resources expended
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Resources expended are included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis.
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1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
Office Equipment
33% Straight line
1.6 Fund accounting
Funds held by the Charity are either:
Unrestricted general funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the Charitable objects at the discretion of the Trustees.
Restricted funds - these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the Charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor, contractual arrangement or when funds are raised for a particular restricted purpose.
Designated funds - these are funds set aside by the Trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects.
1.7 Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity’s pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
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ASB Help
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023 (Continued)
2. Donations and Legacies
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Donations | 110,029 | 255,875 |
3. Income from charitable activities
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Training | 33,075 | 4,350 |
4. Trustees’ Remuneration and Benefits
No Trustee, or anyone connected with a Trustee, has a material interest in any of the Charity’s transactions.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses (2022: £0) paid for the year ended 31 July 2023.
5. Staff costs
| 2023 £ |
2022 £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs comprise: Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs Termination payment |
143,889 13,966 2,482 0 |
131,679 7,497 2,466 16,750 |
| 160,337 | 158,392 |
The Charity had two full-time and three part-time employees during the year.
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
The position of CEO is considered to represent the key management personnel of the Charity. Total renumeration of £44,730, inclusive of employer national insurance and pension contributions, was paid in the year to the holder of this post (2022: £45,774).
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ASB Help
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023 (Continued)
6. Tangible fixed assets
| Computer | Totals | |
|---|---|---|
| equipment | £ | |
| ~~£~~ | ||
| COST | ||
| At 1 August 2022 | 3,274 | 3,274 |
| Additions | 0 | 0 |
| At 31 July 2023 | 3,274 | 3,274 |
| DEPRECIATION | ||
| At 1 August 2022 | 1,859 | 1,859 |
| Charge for year | 1,091 | 1,091 |
| At 31 July 2023 | 2,950 | 2,950 |
| NET BOOK VALUE | ||
| At 31 July 2023 | 324 | 324 |
| At 31 July 2022 | 1,415 | 1,415 |
7. Debtors: Amounts Falling Due within One Year
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Other Debtors | 9,808 | 530 |
| 9,808 | 530 |
8. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due within One Year
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Creditors | 0 | 43,916 |
| Independent Examination Fee | 414 | 360 |
| 414 | 44,276 |
9. Related Party Disclosures
During the year ASB Help received donations totalling £110,000 (2022: £170,000) from The Persula Foundation, a charity of which Julian Richer is also a trustee. £13,000 (2022: £5,000) was paid to Gareth Sands, who is also a trustee, for consultancy work.
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