CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the period From: 1st April 2022 (Period start date) To: 31st March 2023 {Pe170d end dste) Charity name: The Veterans Contact Point Charity registration number: 1155953 Objectives and Activities SORP ￿fe￿ n¢e Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document Para 1.17 The ￿lief in need of former members of the Amied For￿S, their spouses, children and dependants or organisations supporting needs in particular but not exclusively by (l) Providing or assisting in the provision of schemes for their resettlement, rehabilitation and employment {11} Providing or assisting in the provision of grants, items and services for their benefit. Through the provision of.. A safe environment,. a professional assessment of needs- job Club & Job PreparationlEmployability,- Training Courses where appropriate- Promoting the awareness of needs & partnership working; Marketing & Fund-raising events-, Mentoringivolunteer Peer Support., Promote and develop the uselawareness of the Veterans Contact Point (Charity) and its resources to the wider community,. Support & promote the work of the Amied Forces Community Covenant. 1. Through a capital grant made available by The Veterans Foundation, establish and develop a Veterans Hub in the South of Wa￿ickshire {Warwick) to support the needs of our beneficiaries. 2. Through a staffing grant made available by The Veterans Foundation support and develop the business needs of the charity. 3. To provide none clinical support through funding made available by OVAIAFC Fund Trust to veterans engaged with NHSIOP COURAGE from the Iraq & Afghanistan Wars. 4. With funding provided by NWBC for one member of staff, deliver su 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 to single homeless males and veterans in North Warwickshire Area working in partnership with the LA- Housing. 5. The continuation of the provision exisling aclivities including- Peer Support, Access to welfare portalslreferral points, Pyscho- emotional Befriending support, AFC Partnership Working, Community Awareness and providing a safe none-judgemental access point for our beneficiaries to come for hel Pursuant to Section 17(5} of the Charities Act and the Charities {Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 the Charity Trustees have taken due regard of the guidance on public benefEi issued by the Charity Commission when exercising ils duties. Statement confim)ing whether the Irustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Pora 1.18 Additional information (optionall You ma choose to indude further statements where relevant about.. SORP reference The Board of Trustees continue to uphold the decision on grant making to individuals, limited to a maximum of £50 per individual without prior notification by business justification, but considered and approved by the BOT. Para 1.38 Policy on grant making These grants are mainly to meet the immediate needs of individuals while due process is in consideration by extemal charitie￿OrganiSatIons. All applications for grants over £50 require a written businesslwelfare justification supported by case report and will normally support a larger application for welfare su orvfundin Para 1.38 NIA Policy on social investment including program related investment The VCP is a volunteer ran Military Charity utilising volunteers throughout its Board of Trustee through to its Operational Staff. The Board of Trustees recognise the commitment, time and contributions made by its volunteers and acknowledge the pivolal role they fulfil across the charity. Working in Partnership with IMROC all new Volunteer Peer Support staff receive external accredited Peer Su ort Trainin Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other Achievements and Performance SORP ￿leren In this reporting period the VCP has continued to be effective in providing a safe place for 200 veterans to aC￿sS befriending and welfare support from its Partners. Peer Support remains a crucial and successful tool in assisting many veterans to overcome barriers, issues and in helping them to navigate through serviceslaccess support. We continue to provide ongoing support to 43 veterans. 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 We continue to work with our NHSIOP COURAGE Mental Health teams providing Peer Support to veterans engaged in their interventions and by providing none clinical support to 37 veterans through our own OP FREESPEECH project. Providing a range of interventions such as, Buddy Checks, Brew & Banter, Mountain Biking, Fishing and Model Building and Trips to Ihe NMA. Other activities planned include Overnight CampinglExpeditions. This cohort have proved difficult or reluctant for all to engage with. It has been a long-time plan for the VCP to provide localised support in the South of our Area but due to financial constraints this was provided through outreach. A successful funding approach to another Military Charity has provided crucial funds to establish and support a hub in Warwick and to raise awareness of the needs of the Armed Forces Community and to support those in need. To support this development, we were able lo employ a previous volunteer in this business development role which has resulted in veterans being able to access servi¢es locally, an increase of AFC awareness briefings and involvemenl in locallsoth Warwickshire events and promotion of this Servi￿ to veteranslasso¢iatIonlservi￿ community. Another achievement was the successful delivery outcome that has been the Watling street Single Male Homelessness Project which has afforded support to 45 single males - including several veterans. This project has been granted a further 2 years extension following North Warwickshire Borough Councils appraisal of the success of this partnership wilh the Veteran Project Officer achievin success in su ortin secure tenancies, reducing substance relian￿, increasing financial status and support beneficiaries during their temporary stay in 2 homelessness accommodation properties. Additional infomiation (optionall You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about.. Achievemenls against objectives set Para 1.41 Perfomiance of fundraising activities against objectives set Para 1.41 Investment performance against objectives Para 1.41 Other Financial Review Review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period Para 1.21 Total income between 114121-3113123 was £225,888.89, which included £78,320.32 carried fO￿ard from the previous year., £21,895.13 in Public Donations- £125,673.44 Project Funding and Grants. Expendtture in this reporting period: Office related costs £34,170.40. Volunteer & staffing Costs £71,345.99,. Welfare Grants £860.76. Totsl Expenditure was £106,377.15. £92,938.15 is Ring FencelAllocated funds leaving a Working CapitallAvailable funds of £26,573.59 to be carried fotward to the next financial ear 2023124. The VCP following a review on its policy on investmentlreserves, and ils low levels of income and rising operaling costs due to its expansion into Southern Wamickshire, in this financial year 22123 the VCP BOT made the decision to increase its ring fence reserves to £25,000. Further considerations Slatement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Para 1.22 are dependent of the current financial situation of the Charity and these may be usted as re uired. £25,000 NIA Amount of reserves held Reasons for holding zero reserves Details of fund materially in deficit Explanalion of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going con￿rn Para 1.22 PaR 1.22 Para 1.24 NIA Para 1.23 NIA Additional inforniation (optional) You ma choose lo include further statements where relevant about: The main source of fund raising remains charitylpublic donations through a mixture of specified and none-specified purposes. In this reporting period we have started to receive fundinglgrants from Wa￿1ckshlre County Council, High Sheriff and through a training grant made by IMROC for Volunteers completing their extemal Peer Support Training. The charity's principal sources of funds (including any fundraising} Para 1.47 We continue to benefit from direct recognilionlnominationslcontributions through our praCticeslpresen￿1wOrd of mouth and through recognition as local charity of choice. We continue to receive small amounts of funding through maillJust Givinglcommunity fund raising initiativeslactivities. Funding in this period has also included grants from the Office of Veterans AffairslArmed Forces Covenant Fund Trust OP FREESPEECH and Veterans Foundation to support the business develo ment and southem outreach. NIA Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted P8ra 1.46 The Veterans Contact Point {VCP} hold formal bi-monthly BOT'S meetings where governance of the charity is reviewed. and matters considered. Minutes of these meetings along with the financial statements, shared and recorded. The VCP'S Business Objectives being reviewed at regular intervals and updated yearly at the AGM, where risks are considered, and prO￿dureS adopted to minimise the impad ofan of these risks, and to ado the A description of the principal risks facing th8 charity Para 1.46 11 ne￿SSary change procedures to manage any potential areas of risk identified. Risks considered in this year are associated with the expansion of our outreach through the establishmenvrunning costs of the Southern Hub - impacting by increasing expenditure. Grant funding provided by The Veterans Foundation mitigates the initial risk. Unrestricted fund raisinglpublic donations to support core activitieslinterventions continues to be a focus for the charity. Concerns are that this is also a competitive area as many other charities attempt to recover fund raising momentum following impacts of the previous impacts of the National LockdownlCOVID 19 Pandemic Reliance on funding for specified Project delivery remains an issue as many set criteria based on numbers accessing interventions, delivery that we are unable to provide and a competitive oversubscribed lication rocèss. NIA other Structure, Governance and Management Description of charity's trusts.. Type of governing document Constitution Para 1.25 Trust How is the charity constituted? Para 1.25 cio Irated 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 AppointedlElected Addltional infornlatlon {optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about.. NominationslProposals for Trustee appointments are proposed and considered at the earliest BOT meetin All Trustees Policies and prO￿dureS adopted for the induction and training of trustees Para 1.51 being provided with the CC Trustee Handbook, Guidance issued by CobseolASDIC and have access to the Policies and Procedures, which are defined in the VCP'S Operating Handbook. The BOT reviews its Trustee membership on a regular basis, retiring and appointing trustees as appropriate to meet the needs of the Charity. All trustees receive an induction to the charity and sit as ex-offi¢o members of the board of trustees until completion of a period of reviewlobservation Inom7ally 2 months) where full trusteeship is voted upon by the elected board. The charities organisational structure involves a Board of Trustees (BOT) comprising of those who have and those who have not seen service in the UK Armed Forces. Comprising of a Patron, President. Executive Trustee (unpaid), Chair, Treasurer and Board. To enable decisions to be made more effectively the BOT have empowered a Working Group IWG), which comprises of the Executive, Chair and Treasurer assisted by the Volunteer Business Officer- decisions made by the WG are required to be ralified at the next BOT bi-monthly meeting. The charity's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works Para 1.51 Daily operations are sUpe￿Ised by thé Business Development OffI￿r who reports directly to the ExecutiveiWG. Lead Peer Support Workerlofficer coordinates this intervention and reports back to the WGIBOT. The Charity has established a strong partnership across Coventry, Solihull and Wamickshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership, working closely with Statutory ILocal Authorities, Criminal Justice Agencies, Veteran Associations, Ch￿itIeS and Community Groups. It continues to be the knowtedge base on AFC matters and assistslsupports interventions that are veteranlAFC focused. No fomal relationships with any related parties although mutual none funding referral support is provided tolfrom SSAFA, TRBL, NHS and other Military Charsties. Relationship with any related parties Para 1.51 other Reference and Administrative details Charit name Other name the charit uses istered charit number Charity's principal address The Veterans Contact Point vcp 1155953 The Horsa Building Bentley Road Nuneaton Warwickshire CV115LR Tel: 02476343793 email= contactus Contact Details.. veteranscontact oint.co.uk Corporate trustees - names of the directors at the date the report was approved Dlrèctor nam8 NIA Name of truste8s holding title to property belonging to the charity Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Dates acted if not for whole ear Trustse name Office lif any) Namè of person lor body) entitled toa olnt trustee Ifan Sir Martin Dunne KCVO- Patron Leonard Hardy BEM- Executive PatronlPresident Damien Griffin OBE President of th8 Board September 2022 Leonard Hardy BEM Executive Trustee Christopher Mackie Peter Knight Gerald Machin Chairman Treasurer Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Trustee Trustee Jwerea Morgan (Nee - Malik) Roger Whtte Simon Berry David Kelham Trustee Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Trustee Ex-officio 13th March 2023 13th March 2023 13th March 2023 10 Kevin Bowman Ex-officio Manjinda Sandhu Ex-Offi¢io 12 Trustee nama Dates acted if not forwholè èar NIA Description of the assets held in this capacity NONE Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity's objects NIA Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity's own assets NIA Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Additional infom)ation {optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional infomiation) Type of Name Address adviser NIA Name of Chief executive or names of senior stsff members (Optional infomiationl Sir Martin Dunne- Patron, Damian Griffin - President, Leonard Hardy- Exeoutive Trustee Exemptions from disclosure Reason for nonwdisclosure of ke ersonnel details NIA Other o tional information Declarations The trustees declare that they havo approved the trustees, report above. Slgned on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Mr Leonard ar YBEM Christopher Mackie Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Executive ustee Chairman Date VETERANS CONTAC-. POINT DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcfiviTIES IAPR22-31MAR23 INCOME RESOURCES Balance Carrled Forward 2021 22 Bank Account Building Society Petty Cash £61,534.04 £16,729.48 £56.80 TOTAL £78 320.32 Public Donations Warwickshire County Council Grant Heart of England - High Sheriff Grant Donations from Marketing Items Smart Pension Refund- Over Payment Training Room Contribution5 Peer Support Training Grant IlmROC/NHSI Petty Cash to Bank £10,371.46 £1,000.00 £1,500.00 £296.50 £S42.42 £1.158.(KJ £6,970.00 £56.75 TOTAL £21895.13 Pro ects Deliverables NWBC Iwatling Street) - Staffing Costs AFC Fund Trust- Project Free Speech Veterans Foundation Grant= Staffing- Isolary } Capital - (South Works. Hub Development I £47,173.44 £28,500.00 £20,000.00 £30,000.00 TOTAL 125 673.44 TOTAL INCOME £225 8 EXPENDITURE Utilltles: Onecom ITelephone/BroadbGtnd I Gas Electric Water £1,743.10 £1,168.60 £1,030.81 £619.68 Utllltles TOTAL £4 562.19 Rates Waste: NBBC Non-Domestic Rates11 Nov 22- 31 Mar 231 WDC Non-Domestic Rates11 Nov 22- 31 Mar231 CCC Non-Domestic Waste12023-2024 } £393.28 £500.47 £208.70 Rates/Waste TOTAL £1102.45 Public Liability Insurance Lodders Solicitors- Wawick HublLease Membershi £1,560.55 £2.100. Cobseo Fundraising Regulator £120.00 £50.00 SUB-TOTAL £3 830.55 offi￿ Costs: Nuneaton Hub Photcopier Charges Stationary Postage General Maintenance Office Equipment/Miscellaneous £768.32 £845.58 £37.71 £3,670.12 £462.40 Nuneaton Costs Warwlck Hub (Development) H&S Equipment Office Furniture & Fixtures TV/FixtureslFittings IT EquipmentlMaint/lnst Professional Service Support Opening Event AFD2022- Pageant House/Warwick Refreshments/BriefinEs Stationary Planning Permissions Petty Cash £225.37 £4,506.02 £675.44 £3,459.98 £840.00 £1,650.00 £165.92 £248.40 £27.43 £164.20 £67.00 Warwlck Costs £12 029.76 General IT EquipmentlMaintenance/Software Remembrance Marketing & Publicity Fundraislng Equipt/ltems BOT Meetings Refreshment £2,013.00 £75.00 £1,718.26 £2,982.57 £72.49 SubTotal £6 861.32 Total Office Related Costs £34 170.40 Staffin Volunteer Costs." Clothing RefreshmentslFood DBS Checks Travel & Subs ParkinB Training £1,327.18 £697.16 E12.00 £1,759.79 £302.25 £362.43 Volunteer Costs £4 460.81 Staffin Pro ect Costs: NWBC- Wqtling Street Pay Travel & Subs £20,601.69 £2.466.48 Telephone/lT £828.04 Sub Totsl £23 896.21 OP FREESPECH- Staffing Pay Travel & Subs Telephone/lT None Clinical Interventions Project Launch/Events £10,701.53 £2,108.44 £384.81 £3,798.93 £53.23 Sub Totsl £17 046.94 Veterans Foundutlon.. Stoffing Pay Travel & Subs £15,321.80 £438.34 Sub Totsl £15 760.14 SMART Pension {Employers/Employees Contributlon I WCAVA Pay Roll INI/Tax Contribution & Admin Cost51 £3,759.28 £6,422.61 £10 181.89 Totsl Volunteer & stsffing Costs 71345.99 Welfare Grants Su ort: Individual Grant5 Food Vouchers £360.76 £500.00 £860.76 Funds that are Rin ed Fence Foundation Grant Welfare/Poverty Grant VCP Reserve Capital AFD Watling Street Project WCCIVeterans Foundation Grant Memorial Stone/Plaque (The Late Lonnie Downiel WCC Grant Isouth Warwickshire Hub) The Veterans Foundation VF Grant (Warwick South) Armed Forces Covenant Grant (Project Free Speechl VCP Support Training £2,550.60 £805.00 £20,000.00 £3,411.50 £21,519.33 £7,001.45 £1,425.00 £2,000.00 £16,295.38 £11,322.32 £6,607.57 £92 938.15 Total Ring Fenced Funds {RFFI TOTAL INCOME l Apr 22 -31 Mar £225 888.89 TOTAL EXPENDITURE BALANCE REMAINING & CIF 2314 £119 $11.74 WORKING CAPITAL IBCF less RFF) £26 573.59 Accounts Prepared by: Signature.. Name: Peter Knight Dote of Signature Treasurer q b4w1 L} Accounts Checked/Approvei Na Signature.. Leonard Hardy BEM Date of Signature Executlve £¢0 O Icer Na Christopher Mackle Dote of Signoture Chairman Signature.. 10 rf6Jd3 ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of On accounts for the year Charity no ended (if any)** ## **Set out on pages** (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 **DD / MM / YYYY** . **Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** 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** [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to **examiner's statement** undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. _Delete_ [ ] _if not applicable._ I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - 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. * _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ **Signed: Date: Name:** **Relevant professional qualification(s) or body** **Oct 2018** 1 **IER** ## **(if any):** **Address:** ## **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). **Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . **Oct 2018** 2 **IER**