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2022-02-28-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 31[st] March 2021 Period start date To 28[th] February 2022 Period end date Charity name: The Veterans Contact Point

Charity registration number: 1155953

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 To provide: A safe environment; a
professional assessment of needs; Weekly
Job Club & Job Preparation/Employability;
Training Courses where appropriate;
Promote the awareness of needs &
partnership working; Marketing & Fund-
raising events; Mentoring/Volunteer Peer
Support; Promote and develop the
use/awareness of the Veterans Contact
Point (Charity) and its resources to the
wider community; Support & promote the
Armed Forces Community Covenant.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 •
The continued provision of a safe
environment and office/hub for
partnership organisations to operate
from and to work in partnership with
others to support the employability
and welfare of veterans and their
families.
•
To provide a professional
assessment of needs, and to sign
post to the relevant
organisation/charity best suited to
meet these needs.
•
To continue to support the
employability needs of our service
users, through the provision of
services internal/external, to
improve sustained employment and
training.
•
To promote the awareness and
partnership working of the Armed
Forces Covenant across the various
community partnerships and other
organisations, through the provision
of awareness briefings/training on
how to work with veterans or service
leavers.
•
To promote the use of the building
and its resources to the wider
community.
•
To continue to support the
Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire
Armed Forces Covenant and its
Partnership.
•
The VCP continues its working
partnership with North Warwickshire
Borough Council in providing a
seconded member of staff to fulfil
and support the Watling Street
Single Male Homeless Project.
•
To continue to provide Volunteering
and Paid opportunities for the
Armed Forces Community, Serving
& Veterans and their Families,
where funding and requirements
allow.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 The trustees have had/shown due regard to
the responsibility they have to ensure the
charity is carrying out its purpose for the
public benefit, to act in the charity’s best
interests and to manage the charity’s
resources responsibly.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 The Board of Trustees continue to uphold
the decision on grant making to individuals,
limited to a maximum of £50 per individual,
considered and approved by the BOT.
These grants are mainly to meet the
immediate needs of individuals while due
process is in consideration by external
charities/organisations. This facility is mainly
to assist in the purchase of clothing or
assisting with local travel. This year the BOT
continues
to
support
emergency
accommodation, where statutory bodies
were in consideration of applications or were
unable to support the accommodation needs
of homeless veterans. Various funding
applications made to external funding
sources, outcomes are pending.
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment		 Para 1.38 The VCP following a review on its policy on
investment/reserves, and its low levels of
income and rising operating costs, in this
financial
year
and
the
impacts
of
COVID/National Pandemic the VCP BOT
made the decision to increase its ring fence
reserves to £20,000. Further considerations
are dependent of the current financial
situation of the Charity and these may be
adjusted as required.
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 The VCP continues to recognise
contributions made by and utilises its
Volunteers across all its operating areas
and community engagement. Contact is
maintained with Warwickshire Community
& Voluntary Action (WCAVA), who are
assisting with volunteer recruitment and
placement. We continue to provide inhouse
Volunteer Training & Peer Support training
specifically focused towards the Armed
Forces Community which also focuses on
working in partnership with other
organisations and charities within our
operating area.
Other We continue to provide in-house Volunteer
Training & Peer Support specifically
focused towards the Armed Forces
Community which also focuses on working
in partnership with other organisations and
charities within our operating area.
During this reporting year as restrictions
allowed our volunteers were instrumental in
maintaining contact with vulnerable
veterans providing contact and welfare
support.

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 In this reporting period the Veterans
Contact Point continues to support the work
and development of the local Armed Forces
Covenant across Coventry, Solihull and
Warwickshire. It is also a partner in the
local AFCC Coordination/Working Group,
continuing to demonstrate its uniqueness in
supporting the needs of the Armed Forces
Community.
We have directly supported 131
beneficiaries who 38 were identified as
having a disability. Our CMS indicates that
Accommodation, Finance Benefit & Debt
along with Drug and alcohol needs have
impacted on employment and need for
additional welfare. We are currently
supporting 24 Open Cases on a regular
basis.
In 2020-21 following feedback from Peer
Support the VCP developed
SMART4Veterans Prog (under licence by
SMART) which is a Self-Management &
Recovery Talking intervention. Based
around talking therapy for veterans with
alcohol or substance misuse issues and
facilitated by a Veteran. We ensure those
with dual diagnose are referred to Change
Grow Live D&A Service Providers. 5-12

Veterans are attending on a regular basis with their feedback reinforcing the need for this in-house intervention. This intervention compliments existing intervention and decreases the waiting time for support. During the majority of this reporting period the Veterans Contact Point like most other charities and community interventions were impacted upon by COVID19 Pandemic and the resulting national lockdown and the easing of restrictions as the country/world attempted to return to normality. Our main Peer Support intervention remained very proactive throughout the lockdown and throughout the easing process, provide essential contact and social/emotional support to Veterans & Families. This support ranged for a telephone or email/facetime contact, through to breakfast clubs and food parcels a Christmas meal and a present for their children. Needs assessment conducted and identified that our beneficiaries were struggling. Brew and Banter continued to be popular with increased use by our Op Courage HNS Practitioners referring veterans into this befriending/social emotional weekly support. We have a regular 20-30 veterans attending these weekly sessions across the North of Warwickshire. We continue to support our volunteer based in the South of the county and Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast club at Marsden Airfield. We continue to work closely with NHS Mental Health Practitioners from Op Courage, providing them with access to space/rooms at our Northern Hub allowing them to provide interventions in support of veterans and their families. Our Peer Support providing additionality and onward complimentary referrals, ensuring beneficiaries received timely and coordinated support. We continue to work with and provide ongoing referral/support to SSAFA, TRBL,CWPT NHS Veterans Mental Health/TILS, CGL Drug & Alcohol Services and Local Authority Housing Support, CJS Agencies, Community organisations and military charities/interventions operating in our area.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41 The need to raise external funding is a
constant for the Veterans Contact Point.
The Trustee’s agreed an objective of to
increase fund raising plans in 2021-22 to
include the costs of a Business
Development Officer and the Operating
Costs of the development of a South
Warwickshire Hub. Applications were made
to The Veterans Foundation which indicate
a positive outcome although conversations
show a 50% reduction in funding being
made available. We anticipate a £50K grant
being made in early 2022.
The Charity also demonstrated an
Expression of Interest to become the
Midlands Lead for the AFC Fund Trust –
Veterans Places and Pathways 2022-23
Programme. A favourable response to our
call for partners indicated a need for this
coordinated programme and a project
portfolio was established. Feedback
demonstrated a innovative and well
structured project however due to lack of
wider Midlands coverage, the VCP was
unsuccessful.
A funding application was submitted for
early April/May 2022 consideration to the
OVA Iraq/Afghan Project administered by
the AFC Fund Trust – funding requested to
support a P/time Project Worker and costs
of non-clinical interventions.
Safeguarding/Staff Development:
Provision of external Safeguarding training
was provided to all staff and volunteers
through Warwickshire County Council.
Internal awareness and training was also
provided to all staff and volunteers on
GDPR & Data Protection.
Induction and Peer Support Training
continue as normal.
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set		 Para 1.41 No fund-raising activities outside that of
funding through project
delivery/interventions have been set.
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41 N/A
Other NIL

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 The charity’s annual accounts for 2020-21
report the financial position of the charity at
the end of the period, 31st March 2021
Total Funds Held £156,558.25. The
accounts are available from the Charity
Commission website. Donations in the year
totalled £8,595.97 whilst other none project
income totalled £2,406.81. Staffing and
Developmental costs totalled £46,769.56
Expenditure was £78,237.93. At the end of
the period, the charity’s net assets were
£78,320.32 which consists of Ring
Fenced/Allocated Funds of £48.586.67 and
a Working Capital of £28,733.65
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 The Charity holds a reserve of £20,000
being committed to providing the requisite
funding to enable the charity to carry out its
objectives. The charity holds sufficient
reserves to ensure that all of its
commitments can be met. The Trustees
regularly reviews and adjusts the amount it
places into reserve.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 N/A
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/A
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 N/A
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23 There are currently no uncertainties to
report regarding the going concern status
of the charity.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements		 Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements		 where relevant about:
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)		 Para 1.47 The principal sources of funding for the
charity are mainly through public donations,
grant applications and applications to
deliver projects/interventions. The charity
generates a small amount of funding
through donations made through the
purchase of marketing materials. The
annual accounts for 2020-21 contain details
of the charity’s income.
Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted		 Para 1.46 The charity does not hold any financial
investments or adopts any social
investment policies.
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46 N/A
Other The Veterans Contact Point is also
registered with/complies with the Fund-
Raising Regulator

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:		 The Veterans Contact Point
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)
Para 1.25		 Charitable Incorporated Organisation
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees		 Para 1.25 By appointment, proposed and elected by
the Board of Trustee’s (BOT) following a
period of office as a none voting member of
the BOT

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees		 Para 1.51 All Trustee’s are provided with the Charity
Commissions “Essential Trustee” and also
guidance documentation provided through
our membership of Cobseo and ASDIC.
All Trustees are inducted into the charity
through a period of 2-3 months as a none
voting/ex-officio member of the Board and
by attendance at the bi-monthly Trustee
meetings.
Recently Trustees have taken part in a self-
assessment of the charity using the self-
assessment tool provided by Cobseo.
All Trustee’s are kept informed of all
circulations/updates/requirements/changes
as informed by the Charity Commission and
through Newsletters/Information sharing by
Cobseo/ASDIC.
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works		 Para 1.51 The Charity works in Partnership with the
Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Armed
Forces Covenant Partnership.
Relationship with any
related parties		 Para 1.51 N/A
Other N/A

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name The Veterans Contact Point
Other name the charity uses VCP
Registered charity number 1155953
Charity’s principal address The Horsa Building
Bentley Road
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
CV11 5LR

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
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20		 Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
**year **		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
Sir Martin Dunne Patron
David Owen President
Leonard Hardy Trustee/Acting
Executive Trustee
Simon Berry Trustee/Chairman
Peter Knight Trustee/Treasurer
Maralyn Kelley Trustee/Secretary
Christopher Mackie Trustee
Gerald Machin Trustee
Roger White Trustee
Catherine Brandist Ex- Officio
John Walker Ex-Offcio
Jwerea Malik
(Morgan)		 Ex-Offico

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets
held in this capacity		 N/A
Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects		 N/A
Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own
assets		 N/A

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address
adviser

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

Executive Officer is appointed and reviewed by the Patron & President and is currently selected from the Board of Trustee’s – All Trustee including Executive Officer are voluntary positions and receive no renumeration for positions held. All Officers are shown above.

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Shown in Charity Trustee Information

Other optional information

N/A

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc)
Date		 S Berry
(Electronic Signature		 L. Hardy BEM
(Electronic Signature

Simon Berry		 Leonard Hardy


Chairman		 Trustee/Executive Officer
12thSeptember 2022
12thSeptember 2022

VETERANS CONTACT POINT DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcfiviTIES INCOME RESOURCES Income held in Account 31-Mar-22 BankAccount Building Society Petty Cash 109.435.50 16.701.20 364.41 TOTAL 126,501.11 Contribution Donatlon Building Society Interest Donation NBBC Lottery Breakfast Club Donation from Publlc/Collection BoxeslFuneral Setmces AFD Collection B& B Refund Groceries Refund Grand Lodge of Warwlckshire Sales and Marketing WCC Grant (South Warwi¢kshire Hub) Welfare Grant Excess Returned 15.28 253.50 92.13 5,896.54 353.80 133.77 1.42 2,000.00 252.00 2,000.00 4.34 TOTAL 11002.78 Events NWBC Iwatling Street Project) Training Room Hire Forward Assist Weekend 15,724.46 829.90 2,500.00 TOTAL 19,054.36 INCOME TOTAL 156,558.25

EXPENDITURE Utilities Oncom IBroadbandlTelephonel Utility Bill (Gas) Utility Bill l Electric) Utility Bill Iwaterl Vodfone IVCP Mobiles) Additional Mobiles Charges Photocopier Charges NBBC Domestic Rates12021-20231' CCC Bin Waste Management VCP Access Liability Insurance 1.829.23 940.25 913.08 185.02 139.21 179.96 827.49 747.52 208.70 1355.79 TOTAL 7,326.25 Marketin Fundraising Regulations Svbscription Renewal Fee Cobseso Annual Membership Fee Marketlng - IUSBINote Books/Umbrellasl Marketing- Various VCP Stock Puchased Marketing- VCP Pens Marketing- VCP Polo Shirts Marketing - VCP Large Jumbo Cheque Ifor Presentation) Marketing- VCP Leaflets Reprint Marketing- VCP Banners Marketing- TRBL Wreath- Remembrance Parade 50.co 115.00 505.50 522.00 585.90 120.00 22.74 80.(X) 132.28 60.00 TOTAL 2193.42 Veterans Contact Point Admini5tratlon Postage Cost General Office Stationary Travel & Subsistance (Volunteers) Lonnie Downie Funeral IBugler's C05t Marketing- Water Feature Marketin8- Coffee Machine 4.20 648.58 2607.63 75.00 154.98 289.00 TOTAL 3779.39 Bulldin Maintanence General Maintenance Costs Cleaning Material Alarm Servicing Pac Electrical Annual Testing Replacement Fobs/Set Up Upgrade/Replace Existing 1st Aid Packs Replacement CCTV Camera Cleaner 562.03 336.59 474.00 99.60 470.49 119.88 576.00 2,360.00 TOTAL 4,998.59

Additional Costs IT Maintenance Costs IT Maintenance Replacments Parts, Domain Annual Costs/Web Hosting Purchase Additional Laptops Configation of Laptops Upgrade VCP Cabling to USB Docking/Wirele55 Access Polnts Adobe Creative Cloud Application 1540.00 1081.20 391.26 1392.00 30.C(J 1200.CKI 424.66 TOTAL 6059.12 Foundation Grants Ex endlture Veterans Into Work Programme 1,020.(YJ Welfare Grants Welfare Support- ASDA Vouchers Welfare Support- Cash Grant Welfare Suuport- B & B Costs Welfare Suuport- DVLA Licen￿ Medical Welfare Support Food Hampers Welfare Support- Watling Street Project 1200.00 1065.00 576.42 118.20 145.40 57.14 TOTAL 4,182.16 Miscelliance VCP Refreshments VCP Brew & Banter INuneaton/Atherstone/Dordon Hubs) VCP Breakfast Club VPPP Meeting Buffet Costs VCP AFD BBQ Provision of Buffet for 1st Aid Training Course lover 2 days) Provision of Buffet NHS Support Meetin811 Dayl DBS Enhented Clearance 186.96 253.51 63.83 34.27 542.40 83.67 41.14 36.00 TOTAL 1241.78 AFD AFD BBQ IBuglerlRepair of Marquee) 188.86 TOTAL 188.86 Pro VPPP Developmentlvolunteer Costs Salary Watllng Street Projert Salary VCP Employer5 Pension Contrlbution Travel and Subsistance 02 Mobilelwifi Device WCAVAAdmin fee VCP seC￿tsry Posltlon Salary 11,396.00 27.784.36 845.61 1169.49 1137.21 162.30 4274.59 TOTAL 46,769.56

VCP Tralnlng Cour5e5 UK Smart Recovery (Annual Licencel Level 3 - Emergency Igt Aid at Work Training Safeguarding Training 630.00 718.80 150.00 TOTAL 1,498.80 EXPENDITURE TOTAL 78,237.93 Funds that are Rin ed Fence Foundation Grant Welfare/Poverty Grant VCP Reserve Capital AFD Watling Street Project WCC/Veterans Foundation Grant Sustainability Fund Memorial Stone/P13que (The Late Lonnie Downiel WCC Grant (South Warwickshire Hub) 2,673.36 3,287.40 20,000.00 4.015.97 6,133.49 7.051.45 2,000.00 1,425.00 2,000.00 TOTAL 48,586.67 Income: 156,558.25 Expendlturè: 78,237.93 Total Amount Available Less Ringed Fence: Actual Working Capital: 78,320.32 48,586.67 30-Jun-22 29,733.65 Accounts Prepared by: Signuture.. Name: Peter Knight Date of Posltlon within Charity Treasurer ure ¢>L Accounts Che¢ked/Approv( Name Signoture.. Simon Berry Dote of Signature Posltlon wfthin Charlty Chalrman d s/8q/20?2 Name Len Hardy Date Position within Chartty Executive Sign ture.. nature

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ members of

Charity Name THE VETERANS CONTACT POINT

On accounts for the year 31/03/22 ended

Charity no 1155953 (if any)

Set out on pages

1 and 2(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2022.

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 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination, which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Signed:

Date: 01/08/2022

Aug 2022

IER

1

Name: Manjinder Sandhu

Relevant professional N/A qualification(s) or body (if any):

Address: 21 Mark Antony Drive

Warwick CV34 6XA

Section B Disclosure

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

Aug 2022

IER

2

Give here brief details of any items that the No comments or any observations noted. examiner wishes to disclose .

Aug 2022

IER

3