**Trustee Annual Report June 2024** 1 | Page ## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** ## **Reference and Administrative Information:** **Charity Name:** Free Legal Advice Group for Domestic Violence Charity **Registration number:** 1154070 ## **Registered Office and operational address:** Broadway House The Broadway Newbury Berkshire RG14 1BA ## **Trustees** C. Capel (Chair of Trustees) I. Skapin Osborne I. Summers D. Bonner M. Barnes ## **Senior Management Team** Laura Hunter – Chief Executive Lynne Cumming – Head of Operations Colline Rufaro – Finance Officer **Bankers:** 64 - 65 Northbrook St, Newbury RG14 1AE **Auditors:** EJBC 2, Toomers Wharf, Canal Walk, Newbury RG14 1DY 2 | Page ## **REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL SUMMARY** ## **Our Aims and Objectives** FLAG DV exists to relieve the needs of people experiencing domestic abuse by providing free legal advice and support, empowering them to make informed decisions and safely leave abusive situations. Our mission is to support and empower survivors by offering free, confidential family law legal advice while raising awareness of their legal rights and options. We collaborate with other organisations and government agencies to ensure survivors have access to the resources they need to rebuild their lives. ## **Ensuring Our Work Delivers Our Aims** We conduct an annual review of our aims, objectives, and activities. This ensures our work remains focused on public benefit and meets the standards outlined by the Charity Commission. We assess: - The effectiveness of our key activities. - The benefits to our beneficiaries. - Future planning and improvements based on evolving needs. ## **Our Impact in 2023-24** During the reporting period, FLAG DV has seen significant growth in demand for our services: - 912 referrals received for legal advice services. - 1,198 children linked to referrals, facing the immediate risk of exposure to domestic abuse. - 603 referrals successfully engaged in free legal advice appointments. - 81% of clients reported feeling better informed about their situation after receiving legal advice. - 67% of clients indicated the advice directly supported their next steps in moving away from abuse. - 85% of clients said the service met their immediate needs, while 61% felt more in control after engaging with FLAG DV. ## **Demographics of Service Users** - Gender breakdown: 90% women, 7% men, 3% gender diverse. - 30% from marginalised backgrounds. 3 | Page - 6% required a translator, funded by FLAG DV. - 40+ direct referrals made to external partners for mental health and housing support. ## **New Services and Future Growth** In April 2024, we launched our Family Court Support Service, designed to provide 1-2-1 practical and emotional support to survivors navigating the legal system alone. - 40 survivors referred to the service since launch. - 54 survivors supported in navigating court procedures, including guidance on hearings and safety measures. ## **Future Plans:** - Recruit a second Family Court Support caseworker to meet increasing demand. - Launch structured group workshops to maximise reach and empower survivors. - Develop follow-up tracking to measure long-term impact. - Strengthen stakeholder partnerships to streamline referrals. - Improve triage processes to prioritise the most vulnerable for 1-2-1 support. - Enhance court support training to equip staff for complex cases. ## **Case Study: Natalie’s Story** Natalie, a survivor of two years of abuse, endured coercive control and legal intimidation from her ex-partner while balancing full-time work and single parenthood. She struggled financially and emotionally, fearing for her child’s safety as she navigated the legal system alone. Referred by Home Start and Women’s Aid, Natalie turned to FLAG DV for legal advice and court support. Throughout her custody battle, FLAG DV provided emotional and legal guidance, ensuring she felt empowered and supported. Their presence in court helped her advocate for herself and manage trauma, particularly during a critical non-molestation hearing. Though legal proceedings continue, Natalie now feels stronger, more informed, and capable of standing up for her rights. Most importantly, she no longer feels alone in the fight to protect her child. Natalie now feels stronger, more informed, and capable of standing up for her rights. She states: _"Even an hour of legal advice or court support can be life-changing for a survivor. Funding services like FLAG DV means the difference between isolation and empowerment."_ 4 | Page ## **BALANCE SHEET** |**BALANCE SHEET **||| |---|---|---| |**FLAG DV**||Total| |**YEAR END ACCOUNTS**||Funds| |**2023 - 2024**|Year to 30/06/24|| |||| |**Incoming resources**||| |Donations andgrants||£121,047| |Fundraising||£3,079| |**Total incoming resources**||**£124,126**| |||| |Resources expensed||| |Costs ofgeneratingvoluntaryincome||£0| |Charitable activities||£150,990| |Governance costs||£0| |Total resources expended||£150,990| |||| |Net income for theyear||-£26,864| |Reserves account balance||£41,820| |**Total funds carried forward**||**£14,956**| |||| |**Balance sheet**||| |Fixed Assets||| |Tangible Assets||£0| |Investments||£0| |**Current Assets**||| |Stock||£0| |Debtors||£0| |Cash at Bank and In Hand||£12,305| |Creditors:amounts fallingdue within oneyear||£0| |Net current assets||**£12,305**| |Net Assets||**£12,305**| |||| |Total||**£12,305**| |||| |**2. Donations andgrants**||**TOTAL**| |Berks Community (Stevenson Foundation)||£10,000| |Berkshire CommunityFoundation -Spring24||£5,000| |Bicester Council||£3,000| |Greenham Trust||£5,752| |National Lottery||£17,585| 5 | Page |National Lottery: Awards for All|£37,585|| |---|---|---| |PCC Core Funding|£37,625|| |The Woodward Trust|£3,000|| |West Berkshire Lottery|£1,500|| |**Total**|**£121,047**|| |check||| |||| |3. Incoming Resources from Activities to further the Charities
Objects||| ||nil|| |**4. Total Resources Expended**||| |Costs directlyrelated to activities||| |IT & Communications|£15,862|| |RunningCosts|£17,500|| ||**£33,362**|| |5. Net IncomingResources for the Year||| |_This is stated after charging:_||| |Depreciation||| |Auditors' remuneration||| |Salaries and wages|£117,627|| |Social securitycosts||| |Total|£150,989|| |||| |**Tangible fixed assets**||| |Investments||| |Current assets|£12,305|| |Current liabilities|£0|| |Net assets|£12,305|| |||| |14. Movements in funds - Main account||| |At start ofyear|£39,616|| |Incomingresources|£124,126|| |Outgoingresources|£150,989|| |At end ofyear|**£12,753**|| |||| |**_Reserves Account_**||| |Provision of legal advice to victims of domestic advice||| |At start ofyear|£41,697|| |Incomingresources|£124|| |Outgoingresources|£0|| |At end ofyear|**£41,821**|| |||| |Total funds|**£54,574**|| 6 | Page ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Investment Policy** Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year most of the charity’s funds are to be spent in the short term so there are no funds for long term investment. ## **Reserves Policy** In accordance with our reserves policy, we will maintain adequate levels of reserves to cover our operating expenses for a period of at least three to six months. We will also establish a separate reserve fund for future capital expenditures or unexpected contingencies. We are committed to sound financial management practices, including maintaining appropriate levels of reserves, and we will continue to ensure that our financial practices align with our overall mission and values. ## **Going concern** After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. ## **Future Developments** The Charity will continue to look at diversifying its grant and fundraising efforts. To ensure growth is sustainable. ## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities** The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Charity for the purposes 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. Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102); - make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 7 | Page - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and 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. ## **Disclosure of information to auditors** Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees' report is approved has confirmed that: - so far as that Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditors are unaware, and - that Trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditors are aware of that information. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 06/03/2025. and signed on its behalf by: ................................................................. C Capel - Chair - Trustee 8 | Page Jeibc Tth 01815 48174 T*.. 01491 MSJ81 To. Tr* Tp￿ee& ol FLAGDV 1 l Fotsuwy 2025 R•: Frn• L•yl Advk• Group for Dom•￿ Vlol•nc• ICh•iity Nwnb•r 11540701 I confirm tha¢ I have c4>mr4elod an [nde￿ndent eX*r}ffta￿n of finanual $tatem•nts l(w Fr•e L•gal Ad¥K• (kn4> for Otynests Vw)knce ICh*rty Nwnbw 11540701 the y¢w w¥JBd 30 2024. RMponslblllll•• ind ba•1• of r•pcrft rowiremants of the Chant￿$ Act 2011 1 rep¢yt in resFed of my examinatth of Trt*t's accthrts carmd (xrt In linè wrth Ihé aPpI￿at4* ChThxK)n$ 9Nen by the Charty Cornm￿¥+￿. Ind•p•nd•nt •x•mln•rf• •lal•fflenl y ex•min¥tson Induded • revw ol the acCow￿r￿j r8c4yO$ of FLAGDV a C{￿￿1￿9n to IIMI counts kyesented aiKI wepared wth th08• rocords 11 also inckthd consthrabon ol any unusu¥l rtem¥ In conr•bctK)n 7Mth my •XaMw￿i¢￿ 4ThJ the fffigl bthce a9 hsted ￿ thè ac£cAmts of £54.574, 1 a) lthich gwes mt cause to betthe th•t. ffl •ny m*end re¥pecl. reqL¥r•rn•nts lo k••p b) my opnK￿. attenth￿ 8hcyJld t• dr•¥m In lo •nal)le a wJp¢r underst￿dty ol the Em a Thomas ACA. FCCA. CTA Fc* E.J. Buw•• cfyi1￿nts Ltd 0$ CHARTL4£D gipage |**FLAG DV**
**YEAR END ACCOUNTS**
**2023 - 2024**
**Incoming resources**
Donations and grants
Fundraising
**Total incoming resources**
Resources expensed
Costs of generating voluntary income
Charitable activities
Governance costs
Total resources expended
Net income for the year
Reserves account balance
**Total funds carried forward**
**Balance sheet**
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets
Investments
**Current Assets**
Stock
Debtors
Cash at Bank and In Hand
Creditors:amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Net Assets
Total
**2. Donations and grants**
Berks Community (Stevenson Foundation)
Berkshire Community Foundation -Spring 24
Bicester Council
Greenham Trust
National Lottery
National Lottery: Awards for All
PCC Core Funding
The Woodward Trust
West Berkshire Lottery
**Total**
check|Total
Funds
Year to 30/06/24
£121,047
£3,079
**£124,126**
£0
£150,990
£0
£150,990
-£26,864
£41,820
**£14,956**
£0
£0
£0
£0
£12,305
£0
**£12,305**
**£12,305**
**£12,305**
**TOTAL**
£10,000
£5,000
£3,000
£5,752
£17,585
£37,585
£37,625
£3,000
£1,500
**£121,047**|Total
Funds
Year to 30/06/24
£121,047
£3,079
**£124,126**
£0
£150,990
£0
£150,990
-£26,864
£41,820
**£14,956**
£0
£0
£0
£0
£12,305
£0
**£12,305**
**£12,305**
**£12,305**
**TOTAL**
£10,000
£5,000
£3,000
£5,752
£17,585
£37,585
£37,625
£3,000
£1,500
**£121,047**| |---|---|---| |||**£124,126**| |||£0
£150,990
£0| |||£150,990| |||| |||-£26,864| |||£41,820| |||**£14,956**| |||£0
£0
£0
£0
£12,305
£0| |||**£12,305**| |||**£12,305**| |||**£12,305**| |||**TOTAL**
£10,000
£5,000
£3,000
£5,752
£17,585
£37,585
£37,625
£3,000
£1,500| |||**£121,047**| |||| ## 3. Incoming Resources from Activities to further the Charities Objects nil |**4. Total Resources Expended**
Costs directly related to activities
IT & Communications
Running Costs
5. Net Incoming Resources for the Year
_This is stated after charging:_
Depreciation
Auditors' remuneration
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Total
**Tangible fixed assets**
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets
14. Movements in funds - Main account
At start of year
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At end of year
**_Reserves Account_**
Provision of legal advice to victims of domestic advi
At start of year
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At end of year
Total funds|£15,862
£17,500| |---|---| ||**£33,362**| ||£117,627
£150,989
£12,305
£0
£12,305
£39,616
£124,126
£150,989| ||**£12,753**| ||ce
£41,697
£124
£0| ||**£41,821**| ||**£54,574**| Jeibc thartered accoununts Tr1. 01835 46174 T*: ¢M491845381 To. The Trustees of FLAGDV 11 Fetxuary 2025 Re: Fm L•gal Advic• GfOUP lof Dom•stSc Vlolenc• (Charlty Number 11540701 l Gan confim that I have comW•d an Irthpendenl eX￿Inal￿n ol the financial Statements lor Fre• Lè9al Advlo ¢>oup for Dtynett Violence (Chanty Number 1154070) lor Ihe yew ended 30 June 2024. R•gponsibiliti•s and basls of r•port As the tharty Irustees you are responsible for the preparatson ol the accounts In accordance with the requirements ol the Chanties Act 2011 1 ￿p<￿t m respect of my examinatson of th• Tru61's acC￿ntS camed out In hne wrth thé applKable ￿re￿an$ given by the Charrty comm￿￿On. Ind•p•nd•nt oxam1f￿￿8 Statement My examination included a review ol the accountsng rec(xds ol FLAGDV and a c4xnpanson to t accounts wesented and prepared wrth those records It also includèd congderat￿n of any unusual rtems IX disclosure6 In the accowrts aThJ discus%ons wrth the Trea8u(er rtyarding acLwtting records. The review I have WKl8rtak•n