2024-04-05-accounts - Stand Alone Charity

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

From Period start date To[Period end date ] 06 04 2023 05 03 2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name

Stand Alone

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) 1154710

Charity's principal address

34B York Way, London,

Postcode N1 9AB

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled Trustee name Office (if any) year to appoint trustee (if any) April 2023 - March 2024 Board of Trustees 1[Geraldine ] McAndrew 2 Beth Watts-Cobbe April 2023 - March 2024 3 Ben Jordan April 2023 - March 2024 4 Gordon Hunt April 2023 – October 2023

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

March 2012

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Name

Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Rebecca Bland CEO until 31 December 2023

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting Type of governing document members are its charity trustees Date of constitution (last amended): (eg. trust deed, constitution) 24[st ] Nov 2013

Type of governing document

How the charity is constituted

CIO

(eg. trust, association, company)

Appointment Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;

● Complaints handling ● Conflicting interests ● Investment ● Paying staff

● Risk management

● Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries ● Volunteer management

trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

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Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people who are estranged from their family or members of their family from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society. For the purpose of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of family relationship breakdown. To advance education among the public on the subject of family estrangement.

The 2-year programme of digital support groups introduced from September 2022, which included a monthly online community support space, continued from September 2023 to March 2024 with some changes in response to the evaluation of its first year. This second year took into account some of the difficulties the programme faced in its first year such as concerns about building trust with a group of people online and creating a group that is trauma informed and safe enough to share experiences that sometimes feel shameful or difficult. The revised programme also considered some of the differing needs of beneficiaries and the feedback they gave in terms of some wanting space to share experiences and others wanting more directive or information giving sessions.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

Stand Alone charity continued to drive significant changes in higher education policy around estranged young people nationally across the UK. The most notable development was the collection and publication of data on estranged students: The first data on estranged students was included in the end of 2023 application cycle report published by UCAS. For the first time Welsh higher education providers were required to submit institutional data on estranged students through their annual HESA student records return. This collective data will be used by HEFCW and the Welsh Government to report against widening access plans and allow higher education providers to monitor their policies for supporting these vulnerable students. In Scotland estranged students also featured in the Report on Widening Access 2021/22 datasets published in July 2023. Stand Alone continued to campaign for the introduction of sector-wide collection of institutional data on estranged students in England and collaboration with the Department for Education on this is ongoing. Stand Alone was invited to join the Research Advisory Group for the Student Finance and Wellbeing Study Scotland 2023/24 undertaken by the National Centre for Social Research. The study captures students’ financial experiences including the adequacy of financial support available and the impact of finances on wellbeing. Estranged students were included for the first time as a separate cohort and Stand Alone’s key role was to advise on the estranged students’ section of the study .

Stand Alone commissioned an evaluation into the impact of the Stand Alone Pledge, an institutional commitment to support estranged students. The research was undertaken by the Lincoln Higher Education Research Institute at the University of Lincoln with the report published in the Journal of Higher Education Research Volume 6(2) 2023. The evaluation identified that ‘Since the Pledge is neither a quality nor a charter mark, the range of support pledged to estranged students in the Pledge letters and commitments is remarkable’. Findings and recommendations were presented at the charity’s annual training conferences for staff in higher education in March 2024 celebrating the achievement of the Stand Alone Pledge programme.

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

The 5-year strategy from 2023-27 agreed by the Board of Trustees in October 2022 was to focus the strategic direction of the charity on three main areas which built on the work of the previous 5-year strategic period. To create and promote action research about the realities of estrangement, to build greater understanding of the realities and intersectionality of estrangement at different stages of estranged people’s lives and to bring about change to improve the lives of estranged people. To deliver the new strategy fundraising, responsibility of the CEO, was the key factor to ensure future financial stability and sustainability of the charity.

In January 2023 the Board of Trustees received the CEO’s formal notice to leave on 31 December 2023. Consequently the Board postponed the start of the new strategic period until the new CEO had taken up post. In the summer 2023 the Board enlisted an external recruitment agency for the recruitment of a new CEO before the end of 2023, with an emphasis on fundraising experience. Unfortunately the recruitment process was unsuccessful, and the charity found itself in the autumn without a replacement to take over from its CEO and lead the charity into its next strategic phase.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related
investment;

● contribution made by volunteers.

During the first half of FY 2023/24 at the time of the recruitment for a new CEO the charity had ample reserves to continue its operations for the remainder of that financial year. The new CEO was to concentrate first and foremost on sourcing new funding to secure the charity’s financial sustainability for FY 2024/25 and for the new strategic period until 2027. Unfortunately, the financial consequences of the failed recruitment of a new CEO and the unexpected repayment of the remaining grant from the Big Lottery Fund for the support group programme meant that the charity experienced a sudden, unexpected loss of nearly half of its financial resources over the short period between October and November 2023.

This unfortunate set of circumstances required the Board of Trustees to rapidly respond and shift its focus intensively onto the appropriate governance to address with due diligence the unexpected challenges arising. In January 2024 it became clear that the charity had only funds to remain in business for a further 4 months. The Board of Trustees were of the view that dissolving the charity, with a focus on ensuring its legacy and passing the baton, was the appropriate response in this situation. The Board therefore formally took the decision to close Stand Alone by the end of April 2024 at the Board meeting in January 2024.

Closure of Stand Alone was announced to Stand Alone’s stakeholders and its community of beneficiaries in February 2024. The Board express their deep gratitude to the Tudor Trust for allowing the use of the full balance of its annual grant to Stand Alone, received in December 2023, to help the charity close in a positive and productive way, recognising the complex nature of the position the organisation found itself in. This grant enabled Stand Alone to develop a closure plan celebrating the charity’s achievements and ensuring hand over the legacy of its work to its stakeholders. The grant also meant the Board were able to give the two remaining members of staff clarity and certainty about closure timelines and to manage and support a good transition out for them.

Having commissioned an accountancy firm in February 2024 a financial liability to HMRC previously unknown to the Board of Trustees was identified. The consequence of this outstanding liability accumulated over a number of years is being clarified with HMRC.

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Section D Achievements and performance

Stand Alone continued its work in FY 23/24 to raise awareness and improve Summary of the main the knowledge of estrangement among staff in higher education delivering a achievements of the charity workshop at the Universities UK national conference and tailored half-day during the year training sessions on estrangement for staff at two higher education institutions. A significant achievement was the inclusion of estrangement as a characteristic in the Office for Students’ (OfS) new Equalities and Opportunities Risk Register (EORR). The EORR is part of the OfS's approach to regulating equality of opportunity in higher education. Higher Education Providers are expected to consider the EORR when writing their access and participation plans. Stand Alone successfully ran 2 online support groups of 6 bi-weekly sessions each and 4 half-day workshops for adults estranged from family members reaching approx. 100 beneficiaries. In February 2024 Stand Alone formally announced its closure to its higher education stakeholders, estranged students, and its support group beneficiaries. Stand Alone is the only national charity providing support to adults estranged from family members. They look to the charity for recognition and a community which makes them feel more accepted and less isolated. The closure announcement therefore required sensitive management of its impact and consequences on beneficiaries. Stand Alone put in place measures to support individuals during the closure period February and March 2024 and to manage beneficiaries’ responses and reactions sensitively. This included a one-off session by Stand Alone’s support group facilitators for the community and referral to alternative sources of support. Feedback from the community expressed sadness and a great sense of loss as well as thanks to Stand Alone, such as ‘ You have changed lives’ , 'You will be missed ’, and ‘ May you find comfort in knowing so many care’. The announcement of closure to the higher education sector and students was accompanied by a special national conference celebrating the impact of Stand Alone’s higher education work and handing over the baton to the sector to continue to drive forward change for estranged students. Feedback from stakeholders described the impact of Stand Alone’s higher education work as having changed the sector, as having championed the needs and voices of estranged students, of raising awareness and knowledge of estrangement without which there would be no support for estranged students today, and having destigmatised conversations around estrangement, amongst many other comments. One student said Stand Alone to them was ‘ Life changing. I wouldn’t be at university if it wasn’t for them’. The role of Stand Alone in raising the visibility and voice of estranged students was highlighted by one university: ‘Stand Alone has provided a national platform for the voices of our estranged students to be heard. Through your conferences, webinars and other events, our estranged students have found a safe and secure forum to share their experiences and influence change across the higher education sector. Through this network our students have not only been visible and heard, but they have also been celebrated and welcomed. They have described speaking at these events as “empowering”, “amazing” and “being part of the national change”. We are so grateful to you for providing these opportunities to our students.’

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Section D Achievements and erformance p

Stand Alone leaves a legacy which will live on. Universities and colleges have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting estranged students. Sector organisations, government bodies and student networks in England, Wales and Scotland made formal commitments to each take on and develop certain aspects of Stand Alone’s work in the future.

March 2012

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Section E Financial review 3 months reserves Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves Details of any funds materially in deficit ~~—~~ Further financial review details (Optional information) The Tudor Trust agreed the use of the grant to Stand Alone in December You may choose to include 2023 to support the dissolution of the charity. additional information, where relevant about:

● the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

● how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

● investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. Section F Other optional information Section G Declaration ~~Ld~~ The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s)

Full name(s) Geraldine McAndrew

Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Trustee

Date 08/06/2024

March 2012

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TAR March 2012

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ members of[Stand Alone ] On accounts for the year 5 April 2024 Charity no 1154710 ended (if any) Set out on pages

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 5 April 2024 .

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 other than that disclosed below in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date: 17 June 2024 ~~a~~

Signed: Name: FJ Wilde ~~Pe~~ Relevant professional FCCA DChA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 4 Marigold Drive Bisley Surrey GU24 9SF

October 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

The Trustees advise that the challenges related to the operation and governance of Stand Alone in recent years have hindered the presentation of a comprehensive picture of accounting records in accordance with section 130. That many of the financial challenges that have emerged in recent months have been longstanding, and predate the tenure of the existing Board. This includes a delay to the submission of accounts, of which existing trustees were not aware.

The departure of the previous CEO has presented further challenges in compiling financial records. Existing staff have worked tirelessly to provide documentation and records to present as complete a picture as reasonably possible. However, this has not been possible in every case and as examiner, I have therefore not been able to test three out of ten purchase items and five out of ten income items or verify the terms of restricted funds to confirm the allocation of some costs. I cannot therefore confirm that accounting records have been kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act due to the restriction of access.

October 2018

IER

	Charity Name				No (if any)	No (if any)
	Stand Alone				1154710
Receipts andpayments accounts Period start date Period end date To For the period from 05/04/2023 05/04/2024 ~~ee~~ ~~ee ee~~ ~~ee~~								CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
	Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds	Endowment funds		Total funds		Last year
	to the nearest £		to the nearest £	to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Grant Income	-	- 14	- 14,150	-		- 14	- 14,150	4,650
Legacies	-	-	-	-		-	-	-
Donations	940	-	-	-		940	940	1,173
Income from Events	12,814	-	-	-		12	12,814	12,076
Interest	167	-	-	-		167	167	272
Unknown Income	1,272	-	-	-		1	1,272	3,000
	-	-	-	-		-	-	-
	-	-	-	-		-	-	-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	AR)15,192	- 14,150	- 14,150	-		1,042	1,042	21,171
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - *Total receipts* 15,192 - 14,150 - 1,042 21,171 ~~——————~~
A3 Payments
Wages/ Salaries	9,944	65	65,988	-		75	75,932	98,863
PAYE?NIC	14,600	-	-	-		14	14,600	38,847
Sessional Support	11,665	2	2,250	-		13	13,915	8,272
Training	195	-	-	-		195	195	189
Overheads	1,355	-	-	-		1	1,355	4,608
Insurance	490	-	-	-		490	490	490
Website & Research Costs	437	-	-	-		437	437	2,587
Travel	-	-	-	-		-	-	123
Fundraising	1,445					1	1,445	3,170
Miscellaneous	8,086					8	8,086
Staff Expenses	3,295	-	-	-		3	3,295	6,749
**Sub total **	51,513	68,238	68,238	-		119,750	119,750	163,898
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - *Total payments* 51,513 68,238 - 119,750 163,898 *Net of receipts/(payments)* - 36,320 - 82,388 - - 118,708 - 142,727 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end 57,473 82,388 - 139,861 282,588 *Cash funds this year end* 21,153 0 - 21,153 139,861 ~~——————~~ ~~===>~~ ~~=>~~

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

24/06/2024

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

				Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
Categories		Details		funds	funds	funds
				to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
B1 Cash funds	21,153 - - - - - - - - 21,153 - - *Total cash funds* CAF BANK ~~—====~~
		(agree balances with receipts and payments	(agree balances with receipts and payments
		account(s))		OK	OK	OK
				Unrestricted	Restricted	Endowment
				funds	funds	funds
		Details		to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~~—===~~
		Details		Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
B3 Investment assets	- - - - - - - - - - ~~ae~~
		Details		Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~~ate~~
				Fund to which	Amount due	When due
		Details		liability relates	(optional)	(optional)
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities	- - - - - Date of approval 17/06/2024 Print Name Geraldine McAndrew Signature ~~—=~~

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

24/06/2024