Annual Report 2020 - 2021 Carers Link Lancashire IMPROVING UFE FOR CARERS **10,216** REGISTERED ADULT CARERS |01 |CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
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CONTENTS|| |---|---| |02 |TREASURERS REPORT
6|| |03 | CEO REPORT
8|| |04 | THE LANCASHIRE CARER SERVICE
10|| |05 | CARER STORY
12|| |06 | VOLUNTEER LED SERVICES
15|| |07 | CARERS COMMUNITY FACILITY
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08 |YOUNG CARERS SERVICE
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09 |CARING IN THE PANDEMIC
20|**Our mission is to make a positive diference**
**to the lives of carers and the people they**
**care for by ofering tailored support that is**
**professional, respectful, non-judgemental**| |10|A VIRTUAL BREAK
22|**and meets individual need.**| **26%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE FROM ARE FROM BURNLEY **24%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE FROM ARE FROM PENDLE **23%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE FROM ARE FROM HYNDBURN **14%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE FROM ARE FROM ROSSENDALE **11%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE FROM ARE FROM RIBBLE VALLEY ## INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES This is my first annual report since being elected as Chair of Trustees in September 2020 following the retirement of Anne McCarthy who so ably undertook the role of Chair of Trustees for nine years. Prior to my current role I had previously been employed by the organisation from 2013, initially in the role of Primary Care Development Facilitator and latterly as Services Manager until an illness resulted in my earlier than planned retirement. Throughout this time, I was fortunate to work with an excellent team of people whose commitment was, and still remains to be, improving the lives of unpaid carers. Having spent the longest part of my working life within the NHS in a variety of Clinical and Managerial roles and latterly as a Lecturer in Health Leadership and Management across the Health and Social Care Sectors, I felt privileged to have the opportunity to share my experiences within a voluntary sector organisation. As a former Young Carer for my father from the age of 15 and later as an Adult carer for my elderly Mother, I could identify with the issues faced by unpaid Carers of all ages and the daily challenges this brings. My initial journey as a Trustee member of the Board of Carers Link Lancashire began in September 2019, joining at this time with our currently elected Treasurer Jeff Leahy who replaces Brian Birtle following his retirement as Trustee Treasurer. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Brian for his many years of expert and reliable commitment to the organisation and wish him well in any future ventures which will likely include his many travels. During this first year of tenure as Chair of Trustees, I have been assured by our excellent team of Trustees and Management that the Governance structures we have in place have greatly contributed to our ability to respond to the external challenges of the Coronavirus Pandemic. This has enabled the organisation to continue its main function of supporting our Carers by having in place a system of Risk Management, underpinned by efficient practices and procedures and not least an efficient management team and our excellent and committed staff and volunteers who have risen to the challenge and exceeded all expectations. I thank all of you very sincerely for keeping the show on the road throughout these unprecedented times. I would like to thank my Trustee colleagues for their ongoing involvement in the work of the board subgroups which provide essential information relating to finance governance and staff remuneration, ensuring that the board can demonstrate the assurances required within its scope of responsibilities and its constitution. If anyone is interested in becoming a Trustee for the organisation, please contact Rebecca or the office directly. This is an extremely rewarding role, and we can tell you in more details about the role and the skills required of a Trustee. During the year, all Trustees have been involved in a review of our Strategic Plan which I am pleased to report has achieved its main aims of financial stability and the development of new opportunities provided by our charity shop project which are further outlined within the Treasurers and Chief Executive Reports. On behalf of the organisation I offer my thanks to the organisations and individuals who continue to pride financial support either through contracts, or grants, especially Lancashire County Council, BBC Children in Need, Triangle Trust, Eric Wright Group, Carers Trust, and public donations received at the many events throughout the year Finally, I thank once again our excellent committed staff and volunteers for their hard work and professionalism in supporting all our Carers across the Lancashire footprint. ## BOARD OF TRUSTEES **Carol Pollard** (Vice Chair until 09/20 & Chair 09/20 to current) **Anne McCarthy** (Chair until end of term in 2020) **Brian Ozenbrook** - Vice Chair **Jeff Leahy** - Treasurer **Brian Birtle** (Treasurer until 09/2020) **Patricia Ahmed** - Trustee **Mustafa Mohammed** - Trustee **Shakil Salam** - Trustee **Susan Bibby** - Trustee **Melissa Fisher** - Trustee Carol Pollard **“I thank all of you very sincerely for keeping the show on the road throughout these unprecedented times.”** **4** ## TREASURERS REPORT Over the course of the financial year the Charity’s activities were inevitably impacted by the Covid 19 Pandemic. Adapting to new ways of working, and providing more remote support and services, the Charity was able to fulfil its statutory service requirements in line with Lancashire County Council expectations. Given the high proportion of income from LCC (77% of the total) overall income at £962k was £30k below budget, with the main deficits being attributable to lower income from the holiday caravans, retail and café trading. Government support grants and the furlough scheme helped offset the lost income from the latter two activities. Furthermore, income from other charitable sources was largely in line with expectations. **----- Start of picture text -----**
LCC, 77.54% TOTAL INCOME
962K
TOTAL INCOME
CIN, 4.77%
Grants, 11.42%
Trading, 1.10%
Donations, 1.28%
Other, 3.89%
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INCOME
APRIL 20 - MARCH 21 / SPLIT BY TYPE
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Expenditure over the year at £936k was £20k lower than budget due to retail/café trading expenditure being lower and some efficiency gains. A key activity in the year has been the renovation of the Head Office funded predominantly via a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Charity has maintained a strong reserves and cash position of greater that 3 months operating cost. **----- Start of picture text -----**
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
936K
Jeff Leahy
Staff Costs, 73%
Accommodation, 4%
Administrative, 5%
Project Costs, 3%
Governance & Support, 6%
Building & Garden, 2%
Caravan, 2%
Trading costs, 5%
EXPENDITURE 7
APRIL 20 - MARCH 21 / SPLIT BY TYPE
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## CEO REPORT My focus in leading the charity forwards, still continues to be ensuring we are robust, sustainable and able to support unpaid carers and their families in the longer term, helping and supporting them in the best way we can. During this uncertain year, facing a national pandemic, I am extremely proud of our charity, at all times continuing to operate fully, demonstrating strong management and leadership, forward thinking and effective practices. The charity has been one step ahead of the guidance throughout, with strong decision making and rapid responses to whatever the crisis threw at us! In what has been a turbulent year, we have continued to seize all available opportunities including renovating our head office through installation of new staff welfare facilities, a conferencing suite and a community kitchen whilst continuing to finalise the restoration work to the front of our property as part of Blackburn Road’s heritage lottery initiative. The charity has worked tirelessly to ensure unpaid carers were recognised as essential keyworkers (like paid care workers) in statutory guidance, being prioritised for free PPE and the vaccine. Another major achievement this year was being awarded the non-forprofit award at the Hyndburn Business Awards, a huge boost at being recognised for our outstanding work and effort throughout the pandemic. As we move forwards, we remain focused and determined to continue to adapt and learn as we respond to the existing and emerging needs facing carers and their families. As the world responds to the pandemic, the charity remains committed to carers, lobbying for their rights and uncovering the scale of increased pressures and responsibilities on carers which have increased due to the pandemic. The board and I have implemented our new 3-year strategic plan (2021-2024) which focuses heavily on meeting the emerging needs of carers whilst sustaining and growing the charity through implementation of more accessible, geographically spread charity shops which serve a dual purpose of diversified unrestricted income and accessible support and services. **“** I am extremely proud of our charity, at all times continuing to **“The charity has been one step ahead of the guidance** operate fully, demonstrating strong management and leadership, **throughout, with strong decision making and rapid** forward thinking and effective practices.” **responses to whatever the crisis threw at us!”** **----- Start of picture text -----**
On behalf of myself and the Trustees, I would like to recognise and
thank our incredible team of staff and volunteers for all their hard work,
commitment and compassion to carers, who have contributed towards
overcoming the challenges and achieving the successes over the last 12
We cannot wait to welcome you all back into our community facility, being
able to once again open our doors and welcome carers, volunteers and
the wider communities. I really hope that you will continue to support us
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On behalf of myself and the Trustees, I would like to recognise and thank our incredible team of staff and volunteers for all their hard work, commitment and compassion to carers, who have contributed towards overcoming the challenges and achieving the successes over the last 12 months. We cannot wait to welcome you all back into our community facility, being able to once again open our doors and welcome carers, volunteers and the wider communities. I really hope that you will continue to support us on our journey to ensure a better life for carers. Rebecca Hodgson **8** ## THE LANCASHIRE CARER SERVICE The Lancashire Carers Service works across the county providing support, guidance and information to adult carers. The service is delivered in partnership with n-compass who deliver in North and Central Lancashire with Carers Link Lancashire delivering in East Lancashire. The service supports people in their caring role, undertaking statutory carers assessments and supporting their emotional health and wellbeing. Throughout the year, the charity has undertaken a total of 4806 statutory carers assessments, of which 1324 new assessments and 3482 were reviewed assessments. This year has seen an increase of +4% in the numbers of statutory assessments undertaken in comparison to last year. Of these Carers Assessments, both new and reviewed, 38% have been commissioned a monetary personal budget of between £200-300 and 62% of carers needs have been met by the charity and locally through universal services and support. **6028** ## ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES _“I care for my husband and at the beginning of the pandemic Carers Link Lanacashire rang me to check if we needed anything. They helped me arrange vital food and medicine deliveries from local volunteers when we were isolating. It really reassured me knowing they were there to support us through such difficult times. They are all very kind” Carer_ **----- Start of picture text -----**
595
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3482
1-2-1 SUPPORT SESSIONS
EMERGENCY PLANS
Provided 6028 1-2-1 support sessions for adult
REVIEWS
We have implemented 595 POM4C carers (an increase of +6% compared to one-
We have reviewed 3482 Carers emergency plans with carers to-ones delivered in 2019/20)
Assessments with carers
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1324
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CARERS ASSESSEMENTS
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We have completed 1324 New
Carers Assessments with carers
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This year has seen an overall reduction in the numbers of carers requiring additional financial social care support to meet their needs. In comparison to last year (19/20) a further 8% of carers have found their needs have been met directly through the charity and other universal services. The numbers of carers also being in receipt of a statutory carers budget has also reduced, with the charity seeing a reduction of -22% of commissioned personal budgets in comparison to last year. This evidence demonstrates the impact that the charity has in being able to identify and meet carers needs through its services and support locally. **----- Start of picture text -----**
WELFARE & BENEFITS
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Our dedicated worker secured £111,965.00 in unclaimed benefits for carers, assisting them with completing claim forms and ensuring carers receive the benefits they are entitled to. FREE COUNSELLING SESSIONS ADDITIONAL WELFARE SUPPORT A team of 14 volunteer counsellors We identified carers who may be provided free counselling sessions to vulnerable and at risk due to Covid-19 carers. Throughout the year we undertook 1583 welfare calls to this identified group helping to reduce poverty, isolation and loneliness. **----- Start of picture text -----**
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**10** ## CARERS STORY Les cares for his wife Linda who suffered from two severe and life-threatening strokes. After several months in hospital, Linda was discharged home and was totally dependent on Les for all her care needs. _“This changed our life forever and I decided to give up my job as a Manufacturing Manager to look after Linda fulltime. I wanted to give her the best quality of life that she could have”_ Due to the chronic fatigue and medication Linda takes she sleeps around 14 hours a day, so the couple do everything between the hours of 12pm – 7pm. “ _We go out every day and make the most of it”_ Having experienced the devastating effects of his wife’s stroke, Les understands the complexity of strokes and how important it is to connect with other people. Les now helps out at several Stroke Association groups including the allotment, choir and Fun 4 Stroke. He always tries to make sure everyone at the groups feels included. Les also enjoys volunteering at our charity shop in Accrington. _“Becoming a volunteer in the shop has helped in many ways. It is my respite; I can totally switch off from my caring role whilst providing a valuable service that gives me a great deal of satisfaction”_ Les explained that the best part of caring for someone is the personal satisfaction of knowing you are helping in some way to improve their quality of life and that the worst thing is the constant worry of becoming ill yourself and not being able to look after the person you love dearly. We asked Les how the Carers Service has supported him over the years _“When I first registered, I had a Carers Assessment which was an opportunity to talk about my caring role and the support that is available. Part of the assessment included planning for an emergency and setting up a Carers Peace of Mind Plan just in case something unexpectedly happened to me, and I was unable to care for Linda.”_ _“Being a part of the service has helped take away some of the ‘What if’ and replaced it with some reassurance if an emergency did occur. I always recommend the benefits of having an assessment to any carers I come across.”_ Les is one of the finalists for the Carer of the Year award at this years BBC Radio Lancashire Make a Difference Awards which recognises unsung heroes from across the county. It wasn’t a surprise when we found out he was a finalist because as well as always going above and beyond to support his wife he also does the same for other Carers and anyone he has come into contact with over the years. We wish him lots of luck at the special awards night in September where the winners will be announced. ## **36%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE CARING FOR AN OLDER PERSON **17%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH A PHYSICAL DISABILITY **11%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS **12%** OF REGISTERED CARERS ARE CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH DEMENTIA **12** **13** ## CARER STORY TRAINING SOCIAL WORKERS FOR THE FUTURE During this uncertain year, facing a national pandemic, I am extremely proud of our charity, Carers Link Lancashire recognises the importance of supporting in the education and training of future social care workers, enab ing them to have a better understanding My focus in leading the charity forwards, sti **l** l continues to be ensuring we are robust, at all times continuing to operate fully, demonstrating strong management and leadership, of unpaid carers, how to recognise, identify and support them. To do this, the charity offers at least two student social carer placements each year and this year has sustainable and able to support unpaid carers and their families in the longer term, forward thinking and effective practices. The charity has been one step ahead of the guidance supported by offering 1036 hours of placements. This is Sophie, one of our student social workers who was with ushelping and supporting them in **th** e bis y **e** st way we can.ar.... throughout, with strong decision making and rapid responses to whatever the crisis threw at us! us! _“During my 2nd year at UCLAN undertaking a degree in social work to become a trained social_ In what has been a turbulent year, we have continued to seize all available _worker, I undertook my 2nd year placement at Carers Link Lancashire. My role included_ opportunities including renovating our head office through installation of new staff As we move forwards, we remain focused and determined to continue to adapt and learn as _understanding and recognising who an unpaid carer was, including their rights and needs_ welfare facilities, a conferencing suite and a community kitchen whilst continuing to we respond to the existing and emerging needs facing carers and their families. As the world _and conducting statutory carers assessments and reviews._ finalise the restoration work to the front of our property as p ~~a~~ rt of Blackburn Road’s responds to the pandemic, the charity remains committed to carers, lobbying for their rights heritage lottery initiative. The charity has worked tirelessly to ensure unpaid carers and uncovering the scale of increased pressures and responsibilities on carers which have _On taking up my placement, I immediately felt part of the team and was supported and_ were recognised as essential keyworkers (like paid care workers) in statutory guidance, increased due to the pandemic. _guided through my social work placement and training journey. The placement provided_ being prioritised for free PPE and the vaccine. Another major achievement this year _On taking up my placement, I immediately felt part of the team and was supported and_ were recognised as essential keyworkers (like paid care workers) in statutory guidance, _guided through my social work placement and training journey. The placement provided_ being prioritised for free PPE and the vaccine. Another major achievement this year _me with valuable insight into the lives of carers, their barriers, challenges and needs and_ was being awarded the non-for-profit award at the Hyndburn Business Awards, a _enabled me to understand their rights and how we can collectively support them._ huge boost at being recognised for our outstanding work and effort throughout the pandemic. _Every member of the staff team shows compassion and dedication in their work, to ensure that they improve the lives of carers and their wider family at every opportunity. After my_ The board and I have implemented our new 3-year strategic plan (2021-2024) which _placement, whilst continuing to study, I was offered part time employment with the charity_ focuses heavily on meeting the emerging needs of carers whilst sustaining and _as a Review and Support Officer, which again, supported my training and development. I_ growing the charity through implementation of more accessible, geographically spread _have now completed my degree and am a fully qualified social worker and have commenced_ charity shops which serve a dual purpose of diversified unrestricted income and _my first role as a ‘Social Worker for the Adult Community Team East’ I feel so lucky to have_ accessible support and services. _had my a placement with such a passionate and innovative charity.”_ _I am committed to keep working in partnership with the charity in the future to ensure that carers continue to be recognised, valued and supported.”_ ## VOLUNTEER LED SERVICES _“Volunteering here has helped me communicate with people a lot better and given me experience working on the till. I enjoy serving customers and interacting with them. I really like being part of the team.”_ As of the 31st March 2021, Carers Link Lancashire has 138 active volunteers who are assisting in supporting in the direct delivery of services and facilities. Throughout the year 142 volunteers have provided the organisation with a total of 1785 volunteering hours. This is a reduction in support hours of - 55% from year 19/20 and is due to the national pandemic, with stringent restrictions in place on what volunteers were able to support us with. _Cara, Charity Shop Volunteer_ ## **1785** **142** If quantified into a paid salary at national minimum wage, this would work out as £15,904.35 in volunteering time. There has been an impact and reduction in volunteer hours since 19/20 which was quantified £16,311.69 in volunteering time. REGISTERED VOLUNTEERS TOTAL VOLUNTEERING HOURS ## CARERS COMMUNITY FACILITY Due to the pandemic, the year was a turbulent one for the charity’s newly opened community facility which houses a shop, café, garden and information and support hub and saw closures and intermittent opening in line with government guidance. However, the charity took the opportunity to seize the closure as something to enforce positive change and saw the development and installation of a new community kitchen which will enable expansion of the cafes facilities! Our vision is that the community facility will bring carers and the wider community together providing an array of services, community events, drop in sessions, workshops, support groups, luncheon clubs, affordable home cooked food, a beautiful garden to enjoy, quality second hand items in our shop, carers resource library and the list goes on and on….! Our colourful garden provides a peaceful haven for Carers and the person they care for to take time out to sit, enjoy a coffee, snack or a delicious homemade lunch in beautiful, friendly surroundings. Our Gardening Group meets up each month to learn how to encourage bees, butterflies and other pollinators into the garden. Our community cafe offers home cooked lunch specials, wonderful baked cakes, a childrens menu with popular milkshakes. We’ve had some fantastic feedback from our customers, especially about our award winning coffee and our delicious lunch time paninis. _“It was so good to be here in the community garden today, to listen and share experiences. Thank you to all the team for the welcome, the lovely food made with love , and the wonderful service”_ ## HYNDBURN BUSINESS AWARDS The charity were nominated and finalists for 2 awards at the Hyndburn Business Awards and were successfully awarded the non for profit award! This was awarded for the 2nd consecutive year running and is a fantastic achievement for the charity demonstrating the impact, support and services to carers and the wider communities across Hyndburn! **16** **17** ## **51%** ## YOUNG CARERS SERVICE As of the 31’’ March 2021 the Young Carers team were supporting 118 registered young carers from Hyndburn & Ribble Valley. During the pandemic, we have increased our amount of support offered to Young Carers and have implemented further support and services to address need including increasing young carers resilience’s and coping mechanisms. Young Carers roles and responsibilities have also been heightened as a direct result of COVID 19 and this continues to have a detrimental and negative impact on our YC’s including the following: |**50%**|**74%**|**26%**|**55%**|**45%**| |---|---|---|---|---| |OF CURRENT YC’S NOW
HAVE HEIGHTENED CARING
RESPONSIBILITIES|NOW CARING ON AVERAGE
FOR MORE THAN 35 HOURS
PER WEEK|NOW CARING ON AVERAGE
FOR MORE THAN 46 HOURS
PER WEEK|OF YC’S NOW SUFFERING
FROM MENTAL HEALTH
DIFFICULTIES|OF OUR FAMILIES NOW USING
FOODBANKS TO ENABLE
THEM TO EAT| As a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the numbers of children and young people undertaking caring roles and who have become young carers with a significant number of these being hidden and in receipt of no support. Since the pandemic, we have been working tirelessly with partners to ensure they are identified, seeing an increase o f+36% of registered YC’s over the past 12 months. Moving forwards the charity is searching for additional income to expand capacity and support in the young carers team. ## YOUNG CARERS ACTION DAY Being a young carer can be tough. You have extra chores, worries and responsibilities and can struggle to keep up at school, often missing out on a social life, and feeling isolated and stressed. However, caring can also have a positive side, with young carers developing especially deep bonds with the person they care for, and great pride in the support they give. The caring role can also lead to them developing new skills, and a maturity, that can help them as they move on to further education and the workplace. The theme for Young Carers Action Day this year was ‘Protect Young Carers’ Futures’, highlighting the skills learned through being a Young Carer, like time-management, resilience and empathy. These skills are important not only for young people moving into higher education, but also for entering the workplace – they are highly valued by employers. **Sienna one of our Young Carers wrote about the valuable skills she has learnt through her caring role.** _“Being a young carer can be tough but I feel I have learnt so many things and gained lots of skills. I now understand about Mental Health and how it can affect not just the person with the illness but all the family. When this affected my family I found I needed help and I was able to get support this has made me stronger and my confidence increased, I became interested in raising awareness about mental health and even did a presentation for my teachers in school something I didn’t ever think I would be able to do before. Things are getting better for my family now and I have learnt to cook, I know about medication, I find I am good at listening to other people and think more about what others might be going through. Young Carers have lots to offer.”_ OF REGISTERED YOUNG CARERS ARE CARING FOR MUM **25%** OF REGISTERED YOUNG CARERS ARE CARING FOR BROTHER ## **13.5%** OF REGISTERED YOUNG CARERS ARE AGED BETWEEN 6-8 YEARS OLD **1/70.0000 | 12/100.000 19** **18** ## CARING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC Throughout the year and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the charity have still continued to fully deliver its contracts, support and service to unpaid carers working tirelessly as ‘keyworkers’ in the fight against COVID-19. The charity continued to follow government guidelines and at all times ensured that the charity’s workforce and beneficiaries were kept safe from the virus. As a statutory deliverer of health and social care face to face work still continued where deemed absolutely necessary and new ways of working were introduced including remote support to ensure that we could continue to support carers and provide services. The charity swiftly adapted to the pandemic activating its business continuity plan, pandemic policy and implementing thorough risk assessments and action plans. Successful systems were implemented including building and office arrangements, partnered teams, scheduled rotas, social distancing, infection prevention and PPE. The charity has always been one step ahead, implementing risk assessments, systems and processes for service delivery before any government guidance on the workplace were released demonstrating the charity’s successful management, leadership, resilience’s and forward planning in pro-actively making extremely rapid decision and responses during the crisis. Like many other front-line services, the charity had to suspend all non-compulsory face to face work and quickly adapted our services virtually to provide virtual meetings, one to ones and group support via online platforms including zoom, skype, facebook, telephone and email. The charity also had to postpone all volunteer services which provided direct delivery to carers. The charity swiftly developed a range of innovative and digital platforms to ensure that carers were not isolated, preventing crisis, breakdown of roles and providing any support necessary including breaks and activities. In addition to virtual support, face to face support was still provided to those who it was deemed necessary and full screening tools were implemented to keep staff safe. Regardless of COVID, the business has continued to thrive both in terms of meeting contractual agreements, Key Performance Indicators and also organisational milestones. The charity saw this period as an opportunity to improve the charity and undertake much needed improvements to assets. A range of renovation work has continued to take place including renovation to the front of the property through the heritage lottery funding and a full renovation of the properties top floor space to implement a new welfare area, offices and conference suite. The charity has also sourced funding to install a new community kitchen on the ground floor to ensure that the café can be as sustainable and profitable in preparation for relaunch. _“I am very grateful to you for teaching me how to use Zoom. Not only have I been able to attend your wonderful activities online I can go to my weekly church service and speak to my daughter who moved to Cyprus just before lockdown.”_ **20** **21** ## A VIRTUAL BREAK FROM CARING The national pandemic and lockdowns saw carers being more isolated and lonely than ever before. Therefore, it was very important for the charity to ensure that regardless of restrictions that we were able to continue to offer a range of targeted support groups, training, events, activities and peer support opportunities remotely. A Carers Cafe, family quiz, crafts and cooking workshop ran weekly as well as an Understanding Dementia Courses, legal clinics, musical singalongs and reflexology to name a few ran virtually on Zoom. **----- Start of picture text -----**
610
27
85
COURSES
EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
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73
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FREE RESPITE OPPORTUNITIES
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Supported & provided 610 carers with free
respite opportunities
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27 virtual courses including an
Understanding Dementia course
engaging with 134 carers
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SUPPORT GROUPS 85 events / activities engaging with 341 carers
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73 support groups which have been held
virtually attended by 135 carers
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22
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+ 1098
NEW FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS
+ 428
NEW INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
+ 218
NEW TWITTER FOLLOWERS
“The online singalongs have given me
something to look forward to and really
uplifted my spirits. thank you so much”
CARER AWARENESS TRAINING
Throughout the year the charity has delivered 71 CAT sessions
to a range of audiences with 834 professionals receiving the
training throughout the year. This service enables professionals
to become ‘Carer Champions’ for their teams. On average
approx. 12 professionals have attended each Carers Awareness
Training Session. This is an increase in +3% in CAT training
sessions and +66% increase in the numbers of professionals
trained in comparison to in 2019/20.The numbers attending
the CAT sessions has more than doubled due to those now
being able to attend remotely.
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_“The online singalongs have given me something to look forward to and really uplifted my spirits. thank you so much”_ ## CARER AWARENESS TRAINING Throughout the year the charity has delivered 71 CAT sessions to a range of audiences with 834 professionals receiving the training throughout the year. This service enables professionals to become ‘Carer Champions’ for their teams. On average approx. 12 professionals have attended each Carers Awareness Training Session. This is an increase in +3% in CAT training sessions and +66% increase in the numbers of professionals trained in comparison to in 2019/20.The numbers attending the CAT sessions has more than doubled due to those now being able to attend remotely. ## OUR PARTNERS ## OUR FUNDERS ## OUR AWARDS CARERS LINK LANCASHIRE 54-56 BLACKBURN ROAD, ACCRINGTON, BB5 1LE info@carerslinklancashire.co.uk **www.carerslinklancashire.co.uk** Company Number 08584591 Charity Numbèr 1156275 Carers Link Lancashire Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2021 Carers Link Lancashire Contents Page Reference and admlnlstratlvo Infomialion Tru$t¢e'$ Annual Report Independent Auditor's report to the members 18 Statement of Flnanclal Activities Iln¢orporating Income and Expenditure Account) 21 Balance sheet 22 Cash flow statement 23 Notes to the account5 24 Carers Llnk Lancashire Reference and admlnlstratlve Informatlon For the year ended 31 March 2021 Company Number Charity Number OBS84591 1156275 Registered offiGe and operational address 54-56 Blackburn Road, Accringlon. BB5 1 LE Trustegs Trustees, who are also directors under company law. who served during the year were as follows.. Anne Mccarthy Brian Birtle Patricia Ahmed Carol Pollard Brian Ozenbrook Shakil Salam Susan Bibby Melissa Fishar Jeff Leahy Muslafa Mohammed Chair until Septèmber 2020 Vice Chair- Previous Treasurer until September 2020 Vice Chair until Seplembsr 2020 and Chalr from September 2020 Nominated Representative Nominated RepTesenlalive Treasurer from September 2020 Coynpany SeGretary Rebecca Hodyson Secretary Key Management Rebecca Hocfgson Audra Higgin Chi8f Executive Servlces M8nagerDepuly & SerV￿e5 Manager Bankers CAF Bank Ltd Yorkshire Bank Ltd Scoltish Widows Triodos Bank Ltd Lloyds Bank PLC 25 Kings Hill Avenue. Kings Hill, Wesl Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ 25 Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1 HX 67 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8YJ Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 SAS Blackheath Branch, PO Box 100. Andover, BX1 1LT Audltors MHA Moore & Smalley LLP Richard Hous&. 9 Vvinckley Square, Preston, PR1 3HP Page11 Garers Llnk Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For thè year ended 31 March 2021 The Trustees present their report and the financial slalemenls of the charity for the ac¢ounting period ending 31 March 2021. The Trustees have adoptecl the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Pr2clice {SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" IFRS 1021 in preparing the annual report and financial slalemenls of the charity. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance wtih the accounting policies sel out in notes lo the a￿o￿ntS and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charitie5 Act 2011 and Accounting and Reportir)g by Charities.. Ststemenl of Recommended Praclice applicable lo charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard appli¢abS& in the UK and Republic of Ireland published October 2019. Trustees of th8 charlty The Directors ofth& charitable company are ils Truslees for Ihe purposes of charity law. The Trustees who have Served dtjring the year were as follows.. Anne Mccarthy Brian Birtle Patricia Ahmed Carol Pollard Brian Ozenbrook Shakil Salam Sus8n Bibby Melissa Fisher Jeff Leahy Mustsla Mohammed Chair until September 2020 Vlce Chair- Previous Treasurer until September 2020 VI￿ ChaiT until September 2020 and Chair from September 2020 Nominated Representative Nominated Represenlalive TreasuTer from September 2020 Oblectlves and adlvltlos Carers Link Lancashire is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The charity has evolved from Carers Link Hyndbum and Ribble Valley120031 with the Change being approved and adopted in 2013. AII the work. projects, assets and li8bililies of the orwJinal organisalion transferred to the new company, rel8ining the skills, knowledge and exparience of staff and volunte@rs, and enabling the continuation of a number of successful partnerships and projects. Th@ Trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks al what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of ils work in the reporting pertod. The Trustees report the 5UGcess of each key aolwily and the benefits the ¢harily has brought lo those groups of people that il is sel up to help. The review also helps the Trustees ensure the ¢h8rity's aims, objectives and activities remained focused on ils stated purFX)ses. The Trustees hav6 roferred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's ganeral guidance on public benefit when reviewing th& charity's aims and obje¢lives and in planning ils luluTe aclivilies. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute lo the aims and objectives that have been sel. Page12 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report Forthe year ended 31 MarGh 2021 Purpose and Alms The charitable purposes of the company as set out in our Articles of Association are lo relieve those who are ill, e￿erlY or otherwise disabled living in Burnley. Pendl6, RossendaSe, Hyndburn. Ribble Valley and areas of Lancashire by provision of infomalion, training and support for their caiers and lo raise public awareness in all aspects relating lo carers and caring. Carers Link Lancashire supports unpaid carers lo maintain their own health 2nd wellbeing so that they can continue in their caring role for as IDng as possible. This support is achieved through the provision of a person centred and holistic approach thmugh collatK>ralive partnerships, empowetmenl, innovation and representalton across East Lancashire. The ch8rity's vision is lo be a values and outcomes driven organisalion that enables.. Carers lo feel valued as individuals and recognised for their ¢onlribulion lo society Carers lo lead happy, fulfilling lives with a¢￿$S to good quality person Genlred support and setviGes Carers lo improve their overall physical and rnenlal health and wellbeing Carers to continue with their caring role prèventing them from reaching crisis point The charity's mission is lo make a positive difference lo the lives of carers and the people they care for by offering tailored support that is professional, respectful, non-judgemenlal and meets individual need. Carers Link Lancashire has a 3 year Strategy and Operational Plan in pla¢e12017-20201 which has influenced charitable delivery and activity this financial year. This cur¥enl strategy has been produced through consLJllation and direcl input from carers alongside staff and Trustees and is reviewed quart8rly against objectives and targets, This strat8gy includes the following strategi¢ oblecllv89'. Ensure th81 carers are recognised and supported Involve carers in shaping and influgncing our services Deliver high quality services and support for carers and the people they care for Establishing and maintaining effective partnerships Ensure our charity is sustainable Attached lo the slrale9y is an operational plan which details the actions, resources 8nd limesc8les required to meet the strategic objectives of the organisation. Towards the end of this financial year, 3 new strategy along with objectives and operational plans has been implemented for 2021- 2024 . This new strategy will lead and direct the charity fon￿ardS in the new financial year and beyond from April 2021-March 2024. Deflnltlons of Unpald Carers Carer.. A carer is defined as someone who spends a significant proportion of their life providing unpaid support to family or friends. This could be caring for a relalive, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substanca misusè problams. Young carer: A young carer is deftned 88 a child or young pergon lup to the age of 181 who looks fter someone in thelr farnily who has an illness, disability, mental health problem or subslance misuse problem. Young Garers lake on practical andlor emotional caring responsibilities that would normally b¢ expected of an adult, Page13 Carers Link Lan¢ashire TNstees' Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 202q Parent ¢arer'. A parent carer is defined as a person wilh parental responsibilities for a child under the age of 18 with additional needs. Formèr carer.. A former caier is defined as a person whose caring role has ceased or signili¢anlly reduced due lo bereavement or the cared-for person èntering residential care. During 2020121, the charity has been providing support lo adums and young carers from across East Lancashire. East Lancashiie makes up one third of Lancashire representing 420h of Lancashire's Boroughs, wlh a number of wards being in the top 100/0 of deprivation, including Burnley and Hyndburn. Demographics from East Lancashire's Clinical Commissioning Group evidence that life expe¢lancy in East Lancashire remains relatively low Compared lo the England and Wales national average. Across East Lancashire, 120/0 of th& population is made up of people from a BME population and there are a significant number of isolated rural communities such as those in Pendle and the Ribble Valley. Within these rural communities, there are high proportions of people who are over the age of 50 years. of which some are living in isolation, with limited support networks, suffering from poor emotional health and wellbeing and who are caring for an elderly family membei or caring for more than one person. According lo the 2011 ￿nsU5, there are over 43,000 unpaid adult carers in East Lancashire. of which 63°k are caring for between 1-19 hours per week, 130A are Caring for 20-49 hours per week and 24Yo are caring for 50 hours or more per week. On average, we receive 381 referrals lor new carers every quarter 13 months). As of the 31 sl March 2021, 10h of registered carers are aged 18-25 years, 640kn aged 26-64 years and 310A are aged 65 yeaTS plus and 4Vo of registered carers have unknown ages. The 2011 Census also identified there were 3,499 children and young people ac1085 East Lancashire aged under 25 years that provided levels of unpaid care, of which, a huge proportion are eslimaled to relate lo children and young people under the age of 18. Of the identified young carers, 924 1260/0) were aged 0-15 years and 2,5751740/0l aged 16-24 years. Of these, 720/0 were identified as undertaking between 1-19 houTS of caring per week, 16°/0 were undertaking between 20- 49 hours of caring per week and 12Vo were undertaking over 50 hours of caring per week. The census demonstrated that those providing 50+ hours of caro per week were 5 times mole likely lo report their general health as'not good.. Research published by Carers UK has suggested that as of 2020 there are around 13.6 million people caring through the COVID-19 pandemic as opposed lo earlier research in 2019 which suggests 1 in 8 adults, around 6.5 million people, are carers. This means that with every day of the COVID-19 parKlemic that passes, unpaid carers are saving the UK £530 million in the care they provide. Further recent research also shows.. Every day anotheT 6.000 people take on a caring responsibility- that equals over 2 million people each year. Thal 580/0 of carers are women and 42Yo are men. 1.3 million carers provide over 50 hours of care per week. Over 1 million people care for more than one person That 5 million people in the UK are juggling ¢aring responsibilities with work that's 1 in 7 of the workforce. However, the significant demands of caring mean that 600 people give up work every day lo Care for an older or disabled relative. Carer's Allowance is the main carerfs benefit and is £67.25 for a minimum of 35 hours, the lowest benefit of ils kind. Page14 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Carers Link Lancashire is a specialist carers charity who understand the needs 2nd demands placed on carers along with the negative impacts their roles can have. affe¢ling peoples mental and physical health and wellbeing. financial slabilily, employment and career Ghoices, ability lo access leisure opportunities along with feelings of lolleliness through soGial isolation. Within their roles, carers lake on iesponsibililies including day lo day tasks, personal & medic81 care, transporting loved ones to numerous health appointments and offering emotional support and advice lo the person they are caring for. This demanding role often results in the carerfs life being thrown into turmoil, with their own mental and emotional health and wellbeing suffering and delerioraling in the process. In order lo meet the existing and emerging needs facing carers, the Charity promdes a personalised. tailored and holistic service lo support a wide range of unpaid carers enabling them to fulfil theiT roles whilst supporting them ID alleviate impact and preventing them from reaching CTiSiS p￿nt. Carers often do not recognise their role and see it as their duly and responsibility, Iher&fore the charity supports carers to reGognise their role, providing them with peison cenlred support and guidance on IheiT lights as a carer. All charitable work undertaken ensures that ¢arèrs'. Feel valLFed as individuals Re￿7Ve recognition for their contribution to socièly Are able to lead a fulfilling and good quality of life Are encouraged and able to look afler themselves and their own health and wellbeing. Public benefit statement The charills Trustees have corllplied with their duly lo hav& dus ￿gard to the guidan￿ on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising their powers or duties during this period. Strateg1¢ report Achlevèmènts and performance The charity's main activities, support and beneficiaries are described below. All charitable activities focus on supporting uvlpaid carers and are undertaken in order lo further Car8TS Link Lan¢ashir8's chariiable purposes for the public benefit. Throughout the year. Carers Link Lan¢a$hire has strived lo offer high quality support and services to ils beneficiaries, regardlèss of the national pandemic and in line with achieving our sliategic objectives. Throughout the year, the charity Gonlinued lo work successfully alongside ncompass towards a brighter future. in successfully delivering the Lancashire Carers Service. This service provides statutory ServI￿S and support to adult carers on behalf of Lancashire County Council. This conlra¢l was also extended until June 2022. Throughout the year and during the COVIEk19 pandemic, the charity has still continued to fully deliver its contracts, support and service lo unpaid ¢aiers working liralessly as 'keyworkers' in the fight against COVID-19. The charity continued to follow govemment guidelines and al all limes ensured Ihal the ¢harily's workforce and beneficiarie5 were kept Safe from the virus. As a slatulory deliverer of health and social care, face to face work still continued where necessary and new ways of working were introduced, including remotely lo ensure that services and support for carers continued. The charity Swiftly adapted lo the pandemic, aclivaling ils business continuily plan, pandemic policy and implementing thorough risk assessments and action plans. Successful systems were implemented including building and offtce arrangements. partneied toams. scheduled rolas, social distancing, infection prevention and PPE. Page15 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For tho year ended 31 March 2021 Achievements and performance (Continuedl ThroughDuI the pandemi¢, th& charity has always been one slep ahead of any government guidance demonslr81ing the charity's Successful management, leadership, resilience's and fonmard planning with rapid decision making during the crisis. Like many other front line services, the charity suspended all non-compulsory face lo face work and quickly adapted all services, providing support via online platforms including zoom, skyps, facebook, telephone and &mail. Thè charity was fo¥c&d lo postpone any volunteer services which would usually provide direct services. The charity swiftly developed a range of innovative and digital platform5 to ensure that carers were not isolated. preventing Crisis, breakdown of roles and providing any support as necsssary including breaks and a¢tivilies. In addition lo virtual support, face to fa￿ support was still provided to those who il was deemed ne￿SsarY and full s¢reening tools were implgmenled lo k&ep staff safe. Al the start of the pandemic, the charity look the inilialive to explore internal data sets lo tdenlify carers and the people they care for who may be 'vulnerabla' 8ndlor 'at risk. due to a number of contributory factors such as being elderly and dLJe to caring requiremenls and conditions. As of Ihe 31 st March 2021, the charity undertook 1,583 welfare calls lo this identified ¢ohort in addition lo all the other conlraclual work undertaken. From this work, carers have been provided with additional SLFPPOrt and services lo meet new, existing or emerging needs. This was in addition lo projects implemented lo overcome iso12tion and loneliness. A variety of work was also undertaken by the charity lo ensure that carers were reC￿nIsed and idenlrfied a5 essential and key workers. Lobbying was undertaken with the local authority to ensure that unpaid ¢arers had full access lo free PPE supplies if required, (like paid care workers) and were recognised in slalulory ancl COVID-19 guidance and guidelines as essential workers for access lo free PPE and the vaccination. Lellers were devised and approved by th& LA Carers Commissioner lo ensure those carers whD were unable lo leave their cared for person alone were able to access vulnerable groups time in supermarket sessions and lake their cared for along with them. Extensive, additional work was also providod to the local authority in identifying and offering the vaccination to carers. Regardless of COVID-19. the charity has continued lo thrive both in terms of meeting contractual agreements. key performance indicators and also org2nisalional milestones. The charity saw this period as an opportunity lo improve the charity and undertake much needed impiovements to assets. A range of renovation work has continued lo lake place includillg renovation lo the front of the propeily through Ihe heritage lollery fund and a full renovation ol the properties lop floor space lo implement a new staff welfare area and conlerenoe suite. The charity also installed a new community kilch8n on the ground floor to ensure that the café can be as 8uslainable and Profitable in preparation for relaunch. Overall. the charity's fin8n¢es and operations were not significantly affected by the pandemic. wilh the main source of in¢ome being slalutory income from the local authority. Charitable trading in the community fa¢ilily was affected by mandatory closure. However Ihis was offs&l through the charity being able lo furlough the café staff and through receipt of local government grants for trading loss. No fundraising practices were able lo lake pLace, however, this only makg up an extremely small proportion of overall annual income. Adult Carers The Lancashire Carers Service works across the county providlng SUPFK)rt, guidance and Information lo adult carers. The service is delivered in partnership with n-¢ompass who deliver in North and Central Lancashire with Carers Link Lan¢ashiie delivering in Ea81 Lancashire. The service supports people in their caring role, undertaking slalutory carer5 assessments and supporting their emotional health and wellbeing Page16 Carers Link Lancashire Trnstees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Carers Link L2ncashire provides a wide range of high quality, person ￿nIred support and services lo unpaid adult carers living in East Lancashire across the Boroughs ol Burnley. Pend￿, Rossendale. Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley. Identifying carers, particularly hidden carers, is a prime objective IOT Caiers Link LarJ¢ashire. Throughout the year, 1,522 new carers have been identified and registered with the service. Due ID the n81ional pandemic wo have seen a reduction in the numbeTS of newly identified carers compared to 19120 by-9.5°k. Throuohoul the year, a further 4.457 existing legislered carers also requested furtheT SUPPOrt and seTViGes from the charity. an increase of 16Yo of existing carers requesting and receiving additional support, ¢ompared with 2019120. All registered carers receive regu18r information, support and services lo assist them within thèir ¢arsng roles and during the year we have provided 6028 one-Io-Dne sessions with carers, an increase of +6010 compared lo one~lo-ones delivered in 2019r20. The charity provides a wide range of provision and services to support adult carers within their rolès induding= A new community fa¢ilily on Blackburn Road in Accrington offering an Information and support hub, community café, gardèn 2nd ch2rily shop Partner of Carers Lancashire - dellvering aligned stslutory s8rvic8s & support for Garers across Lancashire Idèntification of all carers and hidden carers Undertaking Slalulory Carèrs Assassments and commissioning personal budgets in line with the new Gare Act- looking al all the needs of the carer and those they care for to ensu￿ we can help them access everything they need lo help them provide beller car6 and supporl their own health and wellbeing M8king outgoing roferrals and recommendations lo Social Care for commissioned rèspite 1-2-1 support, both face lo face in the community or home, via zoom. skype. over the telephone, emails Breaks through face lo face and virtual trips, events, activities and complémèntary therapies to èn2bla règular short breaks, respite from their caring roles, stre88 relief and improved health and well-belng Free counselling services with 14 fully Irainod volunloer counselEors Péace of Mind for Carers Plan, a contingency plan. enabllng froe replacement care should they be unable lo continue their caring role due to emergency Befriending Service, a matched volunloor providing free respite opportunities in the persons home Free complimentary and holistic therapies such a reiki. massage & reflexology Fr&9 Max Cardq allowing par&&nt carers free or discounted access to major and local attr8¢1ion$ Free Go2 Lèi.%ur8 cArd% where w@ have all health and well-being providers irjcludlng local leisuro centre providing free and discounted l0¢81 f8cilili8S Peer support groups and forums Freo Welfarfj and benefits support including form filling lo ensure ¢arèrs have accèss to the benefits they aré éntitlèd lo Delivery of free carers awarengss Irainlng lo groups and profèssionals to raise awareness of carers needs D8livery of free understanding dementia courses Car8rs caravans in the Lake District. Morècambè and Blackpool offering respite opportunities and holidays 2417 Volunteer Led Peer Support Helpline Page17 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For thè year ended 31 March 2021 As of 31st March 2021, Carers Link Lancashire has.. 10216 registered carers 13 Vo of registered carers are BME 110k of registered carers are caring foi 80meone with demenlia 30.24°/o identify as male caTers 69.75Qkn identity as female carers 0.010/0 identify as non-binary PRIMARY CONDITIONS: 12 % of registered carers are caring for someone with dementia 36 % of registered carers are caring for an 01der person 17 OA of registered carets are caring for a person wlh PDSI 11 °h of registered caTers are caring for someone with a mental health condition 9.5 % of registered carers are caring for a learning disability 0.5 OA of ￿gIstered carers are c8ring for someone with substance misuse 12 0/0 of registered carers are carlrKJ for a disabled child 2010 of conditions are unknown AREA.. 26Qh126591 of registered carers are from Burnley 240h125001 of registered carèrs 8re from Pendle 140/0114571 of registered carers arè from Rossendale 23°/¢123861 of registered carers Hyndburn 11'h110481 of registered carers are from Ribble Valley 2Yo 1166) of registered ¢areTS are living in another county bul are caring for s(*neone living in Lancashire Young Carers In addition lo the woth wrth adult ¢arers, throughout the year, the organisalion has also Ltndertaken young ¢arÈrs support across Hyndburn, Ribblé Valley 8nd Preston. The Hyndburn and Ribble Valley young carers project Is funded by BBC Children in Need lo work direclly with young carers aged 0-18 years from across Hyndbum and the Ribble Valley to improve their health and wellbeing. Since February 2018, the charity h8s b88n deliv&ring a pilot young carers project in Preston. lo meet current local aulhorily gaps in provision aTound young caiers. The project has been funded Ihiough The Eric Wright TNSI and also BBC CIN Small Grant Programme throughout the linancial year. The furKling for this projecl ended on the 31 sl De¢ember 2020. Page18 Carers Link Lancashire Trijstees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 The ¢harily's young carers services provide holisli¢, person cenlred and whole family approaches lo services and support lo meet individua5 needs support includes-. Ini1121 assessments to identify need alongside realistic and achievable action plans Inlonsive 1-2-1 support to meet neod alongside regularly reviewing progress Monthly fa￿ to face ad virtual targeted group Sessions based and age appropliate which provide young carers with a safe environment to take a break from their callng role. develop nèw friendships and re￿1ve peer support from those in similar situations Targeted groups and activities that promote sélf-eonfidèncè and wèllbèing. both émotional, mental and physical hoallh Provide support across educalion, employment and train ing ensuring young carers are able to make informed choices about their earing role and education, employment or training opportunities Targetad work with ¥Ghool8 and collegos to enable idenlifi¢alion and Support for young car8rs Throughout the year, COVID 19 has had, and continues lo have a delrimenlal and negative impact on young carers which has made seNices for young carers MO￿ important than evey before. As 013151 March 2021, 25,1 of règistered young carers were caring for someone with a mental health issue with fj in 2 of young carers having a mental health issue themselves. Caring roles have also been heightened as 2 result of COVID19 with 55Q/o of our Current Yc's now struggling wfth their own mental health. The young Carers registered with the charlty have been dire¢11y affected by COVID as follows.. 50'h of current YC'S now have heightened carino responsibilities and limited respite from caring responsibilities with 74/0 now caring on average for more than 35 hours per week and 26QA now caring on 8verage for more than 46 hours per week The person they care for ale now also suffering from additional mentsl health diffi¢ullies including anxiety and depression In addillon to exisllng condllions with young carers now having lo provide extra emotional support The young carers thernselves are now suffgring from mental health difficulties wlh 55% of current cohort11 in 21 now struggling with their mental health Young Carers and their families have suffered from financial hardship and 81rain due lo parents being furloughed or being made redundant resulting in 45ts￿ of our families now using foodbanks to enable them lo eat Increased SOGial isolation and feolings of loneliness due lo school closures with young Carers missing their only daily inleraclion and resptte from th￿r roles Due lo exEended caring roles, young carers are experiencing poor physical wellbelng and We￿h1 gain wtlh being tired trom extended caring ioles, with no routines or structure in place Anxiety and worry about leaving the house in case they were to infeGI their already vulnerable family members Worry about their education and fulure prospects and being unable to lake part in home schooling due lo extr2 caring responsibilities Throughout the year, the charity has continued lo provide a range of support to meel young carers exislir)g arkd emerging needs, including both virtually and face lo face for those where il was deemed necessary. Young carers have faced so many additional challenges as a result of the national pandemic. Young car&rs have had their resilience and confidence stretched trying to balance caring responsibilities with online learning whilst overcoming the inabil¢Ly lo have respite from their roles, often leeling isolated and lonely. Page19 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 As a result, the charity hav8 offèred a range of onlit)e support groups, platforms and pro9rammes lo prever¥t and address social isolation and loneliness and lo allow carers lo develop coping mechanisms and tools making them mDre resilient during the pandemic. Where possible and pemitted the Gharily have still Continued lo offer in peTSOll trips and activities lo enable respite and improve young carers emotional health and wellbeing. One lo one support was accelerated alongside implementing regular welfare check for young carers and their families. wotking in tandem with partner agencies lo provide a whole family approach to Bdditional support and services. Throughout the year, the service has continued lo successfully meet objectives and provide young car&rs with holistic and individual SLFPPOrt and services lo improve their immediate and long-lerm outcomes including transition into adulthood, health and wellbeing. participationla¢hievemenl in education, employment and training and engagement in positive social and recreational activkties. Throughout the year, the young carers prclects have successfully worked with 202 young carers and have provided some of the following-. Provided 129 largeled group sessions for groups of young carers Undertaken 648 one lo one sessions with young carers As of the 31" March 2021, the yOLJng carers team were supporting 118 registered young carers as follows.. Age.. 2.50/0 ar@ aged 6 years 5010 8re aged 7 years 6Yo are aged 8 years 9D/o are aged 9 years 14.50A are aged 10 year8 54,/0 are aged 11-15 years 9Qh are aged 16-18 years Caring for.. SIOA are cartng for their Mum 1 Ofjh are caring for their Dad 250A are caring for their Brother 9°h ale caring for their Sister 2.5.10 are caring for another Relative 2.50/0 are caring for a none relativ Cared for Conditions.. 29Qh are caring for a Disabled Childjsibling 50A are caring for someone with 8 Learning Disability 25'/o are carting for $ome()ne with a Mental HeaKh problem 2910 are caring for an older person165 yrs + I 39,/0 are caring for Someone with PDISI Ook are caring for someone wilh subslan¢e misuse 0% are caring for someone with damentia O /0 of conditions are unknownlnot disclosed Pagel 1D Carers Llnk Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 All young cxrérs who are registered with the service are provided with infomialion, Support 8nd services which are tailored lo meet their individual needs. This includes.. One lo one support to identify and address specific needs Developing an a¢lion plan lo address spe¢ifi'¢ issues such as problems al school, low levels of self onfidence and self-esteem and isolation, This action plan is then regularly reviewed lo ensure their needs are being mel Targeted group sessions lo build friendships and peer support, réduce isolation, improve self- confidence and self-esteem and provide support during transitional periods Opportunities lo access respite and a break from thèir caring role through engagement in positive activities aimed specifically al improving their hea￿h and wellbeing Empowering young careis to make long lasting lifestyle changes and develop aspiralionB for the future Enabling young carers lo have a normal childhood outside of their caring Tole Assisting young carers to make their caring role more sustainable Building resilience Equipping young carers wth self-help methods, coping mechanisms and techniques Volunteers As al the 31st March 2021, Carer5 Link Lancashire has 138 active volunteer8 who are assisting in supporting in the direct delivery of services. Throughout the year,142 volunteers have provided the organisation with a total of 1785 volunteèring hours. This is a reduction in support hours of - 55°h from year 19120 and is due to the national pandemic. The majorily of vosunleer led services such as the befrtending service, where volunteers sit with the cared for person to enable respite opportunities for the caier. had to c@ase in line with government guidance. However, the team of volunteers have still continued to support the charity 8nd it beneficiaiies through roles including supporting in the community café, shop & garden, virtually through online events and activities, keeping in touch with carers and thèir families who are supported through the befriending service alongside supporting the charity lo undertake welfare checks lo re9islered carers through telephone support. If the volunteering hours offered by volunleets during the year was quanlitied into a paid salaTy at national minimum wage, this would work oyl as £15,904.35 in volunleerirlg lime. TheTe has beon an impacl and reduction in volunteer houis SIN￿ 19120 which was quantified £16,311.S9 in volunteering time Carers Assessments On the implemenlalion of the naw Care Act 2014, carers are now recognised in Iheii own right and are entitled lo have their own needs assessed, identified and met through a careV8 assessment. From this assessment, a personal budgel can also be commissioned. Tha organisation has taken on this slalutory duly from the Local Aulhor((y, undertaking carers assessments and commissioning a personal budget directly from them. Throughout the year, the charity has undertaken a total 014,806 stalulory Carers Assessments and Reviews, This was an increase of +4yo Carers Assessments & Revièws undertakèn in comparison to 2019120. From these assessments, 38 /0 of carers have been commissioned a monetary personal budget of between £200-300 to meet their unmel needs. whilst 62¢kn of carers were able lo have their needs mel universally through the arily's services and support. Pagel 11 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 This year has seen an overall reduclK>n in the requirement for carers to receive a personal budget in order to meet unmel need An additional SQ/0 of ¢arers supported this financial year in compaiison lo 19120 have found their needs have been mel directly through the Gharily, During 202012021, the charity has commissioned £432,964.30 in personal budge15 to carers in East Lancashire, a massive redu¢lion of £122,251.compared lo personal budgets commissioned in 2019120. This cfemonslrales how skilful the charity is in identifying and meeting the needs of carers through ils servtces and support locally. rather than relying on furthei slalulory funding lo meet need. Peacè of Mind for Carers During the year. the Gharity has undertaken 595 New POM4C plans (Peace of Mind for Carers) This Gonlingency plan still remains an invaluable service lor carers. Carers often describe this plan as their 'lileline' should they unexpectedly be unable lo continue with their caring rolE. The plan prevents ¢arers from worrying about who will look after the people they care for in the event of something unexpectedly happening to them. This constant worry carries a high risk of affecting their emotional health and wellbeing, causing stress. preventing them from having a life of their own alongside their caiing Tole. The POM4C service is free and can be activated 365 d&ys a year. 24 hours a day. Family members or friends can be contacted in the event of an emergency, or free replacement care Can be provided by a domiciliaTy care provider in the cared for persons own home for up lo 72 hours. This service can 8lso prevent strain on the health and social ¢are system. preventing those who are reaching crisis point from accessing accident and emergency services and social care providers. Over the past 12 months, there have been issues with repla￿ment care being provided as this is part of the crisis service through Lancashire County Council and has often ￿aGhed maximum capacity. Therefore, LCC are ¢onlinuing lo review and consult with carers and commissioners about the future of this serwce Carer Awareness Tralnlng {CATI Throughout the year, the charity has delivered 71 CAT sessions lo a lange of audiences with 834 professionals receiving the training. This service enables professionals lo bewme 'Carer Champtons. for their teams. On average approx. 12 professionals a¢tend8d each Carers Awareness Training Session. This is an increase in +3U/o in CAT training sessions and +660/0 increase in the nijmbers of prolessionals trained in comparison lo in 2019120.The numbers attending the CAT sessions has more than doubled due lo those being able to allend remotely. Welfare and Benefits Support The charity have continued to prov¢de welfare and benefils SUPPOFt, offering appointments remotely and face lo face whère necèssary. Throughout the year, the charity has secured £111,965.00 in unclaimed benefits for arers in East L8ncashire. anaging Risk The charity has comprehensive risk management poll¢ies and procedures in place including a Rlsk Policy, Risk Register and monthly Risk Maps that highlight any potenti81 or uncertain rlsks that may face tha charity, Ils rosource, servi￿$ and beneliciaries. The Risk Register is reviewed annually and focuses on all areas of the charity including Governance. op8mlional, Financè & Resources, External and Complianco with a thorough risk analysis of each of the areas. Pagel 12 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Thé charity has two sub groups which report directly into the Board covering Finance and Resources, and Governan￿ and Risk. At every Governance and Risk meeting, a live rlsk map is produced ref¢rencing any potential areas of risk along with suggestions lo miligale risk. This is scrulinised by the sub group membgrs before providing a thorough report at the board meelingb. Th8 charity also has a Busin&ss Continuity Plan in place. The charity's Trustees have given consideration lo the major risks lo which the organisalion is exposed and satisfieLI themselvès that systems 8nd procedures are established in ordèr to provid6 the ne￿SSary assurances that risk is boing effectively managed. The Trustees have also giv6n much considoralion lo Ihe possibilily of the fulL¢re conlra¢t with L8nc8shire County Council being reduced due lo COVID-19 or bèino retendered towards the end of 2021. Confirmfjtion was provided by Commissioners lo confirm the Gontra¢l exlension unlil 30￿ June 2022. It is public knowledge that the county council continues to face unprécpd8nt6d financial challenges and need to make savings. This exlrpmèly difficult financial piclure is the result of conlinuod ¢uls in funding by Government. rising costs and rising dem8nd for key services. The charity rllaintains regular communication with commissioners and il is highly unlikely that any reduction in services will occur. Financial rovlew Over the financial year, Ihtr ¢harity'8 main source of income has been the adult carers S8fvicEsILancashire Carers Serv¢¢8 conlra¢l wSlh Lancashire County Council and the East Lancashirè Clioical Commissioning Group. For the year, this makas up 77.5 0/0 of income, an increase of +1.30/ ¢ompared lo funding in 2019120. This is mainly due lo the increase in contm¢t value secured when the charity SUC(X8sfully extended the ¢onlracl as Ihe Lancashire carers senrices provider in East Lancashlre. The charity has also continued to b&nefft by owning ils own headquarters which have significantly roduGed running costs, with security of owneiship and no liability of rental facilities. Further benefits have also been seen through the ¢harily's community fscility albeit with intemiillent opening due to the pandemic, however this has been support6cI through gDvernment grants. During the pandemic the ¢harily seized opportunities of closures to undertake renovation fulurework to ils headqtjarters including impletnenlalion of a community kitchen and new welfare and training facilities. All fkx)rs of the headquarters are self-contained and independent stjpporting longer term sustainability should income drop with ea¢h ar68 being able lo be sub-tet. The charity has still continued lo move forward wlh business objectives and in 2021, the charity will embarking on opening a second trading facility in another part of East Lan¢ashire, all of which will contribute lo lessening the charity's dependen¢e on the L8n¢ashire Coltnly Council contract. This will all lake place alongside the conlilluing task of seeking new and securing existing ongoing sources of funding, as well as moniloriny the budgets associated with our current projects. During the financial year, the total income re￿ived has been £955,0151£961,334 2019J201 a reduction of 0.660/0 compared lo 2019120. The budgeted income al the start of the year was predicted lo bÉ £993,438 therefore the actual income mel 96.10A of projected income. The lolal expenditure for the year was £881,960 (£821,127 20191201 against piojecled expenditure at the start of the year of £956,613. Therefore there was a reduction in expected expenditure of 7.80A. In addition to the Lan¢ashire County Council income, a substantial amount ot financial support was re￿Ived from BBC Children in Need and The Eric Wright Trust in respect of young carers servi¢es and The Triangle Trust in supporting the charity lo be morè sustainable through the development of a new trading arm. Additional smaller financial contributions for revenue have 81s0 been received and greatly SPPFeciated Irom Ribble Valley Borough Council and Carers Trust. As always, the charity are extremely grateful to all their lunders for their support and for making il possible for Carers Link Lancashire lo provide a service to carers in East Lanc8shire. Page | 13 Carers Llnk Lancashire Trustee$. Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 As laid out in the Charity's investmenl policy, Carers Link Lancashire seeks lo produce the best financial return within an acceptable level of risk. on the financial investments il makes. Financial risk is managed by ensuring sufficient liquidity is available lo meet foreseeable needs. As the majoTily of the Company's debtors are public sector bodies, the level of credit risk is low. The Twuslees review the Investment Policy annually, and receive advice from a surtably qualified, independent linancial company, as well as reviewing allilude to risk on an annual basis. Al present, funds are being placed with several financial inslilulions in order lo miligale against possible bank wllapses, and advice is sought from OUT Investment advisor as lo minimising the risks ol our portfolio. The Trusl8es have going concerns around the charilies longer letm sustainability, with the main sources of in¢ome from Lancashire County Council coming lo an end in 2022. However, the board are fully committed lo ensuring that the charity continue to exceed the high KPI'S and outcome8 as outlined in the wntracl and are planning lo successfully relender lo deliver the Contract in 2022. ReseNes Policy As of Ihe 31 March 2021, the to121 charity fLifKls sland at £752.359 12020.. £679.3041 of which, £327,906 is invested in fixed assets and £15,736 is reslricled. The Twslees have reviewed the funds available lo the org8ni$alion and £74,998 has been designated for the following.. £55,000 Property Repair & Unexpected Maintenance £19,998 Redundancy Costs After designation and the headquarters property. £333,719 is free ieserves and represents 4.4 months of btjdgeled recurrent expend51ure {4 months 2019120) The policy for free reserves is that Carers Link Lancashira will maintain free resetves not being less than three months expenditure. Therefore, the charity is meeting ils reserves policy adequately. The main source of income for the organisatlon Still remains to be generated from Lancashiie County Council who continue lo make payments in arrears. Therefore, charitable resewes are essential to maintain adequate ¢ash flow levels. In the event that all or any funding is lost the resetves will enable Carors Link Lanc2shiTe lo malftlain a seNice lo ¢arers whilst researching and sourcing other funding. To this end, the Trustees deem it prudent lo designal funds from the reserves lo Cover the potential re5ulling redundancies and to secure servtces for carers. Plans for future perlods ThroughoLJI the year, the charity has worked hard lo achiove business objectives as outlined in the organisalions Strategy and OperaliDnal Plan 2017-2020, which include expanding our ability lo p¥ovide acGessible Servi￿$, identifying anol supporting all carers in East Lancashira and ensuring the charity is trK)¥e sustainable in th8 longar term. The Board of Trustees have reviewed ils strategy and plans moving forward s and have implemented a new strategy and operational plan for 2021- 2024. In order lo continue to mltigale any future potential risks of reductions or losing this statutory contract through iel8ndering in 2022, the charily is striving to increase diversified income streams Ihrough charitable trading including opening a further facility in 2021. The TTustees see the future direGtion of the charity as developlng further meatilngful services th81 meet the needs of carers. Carers Link Lancashire continuès lo be a proactive. learning organisation, with all of its livilies being carefully planned, risk assessed and evaluated. Page | 14 Carers Llnk Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Any aGtivity which is brought forward for consideration that is not in line with either the ethos ol the charity or does not protect the integrity of the organisalion will not be supported. Issues arising fiom the evaluation ol activities provides evidence of effectiveness, value and risk whereby lessons are learned and us@d for future improvement and Llevelopment. structure, governance, and management Organlsation The organisalion is a charitable company limited by guarantee, nLJmb6r 08584591. incorporated on 25th June 2013. It was adopted as a Charity on 19th March 2014. The company was established under a memorandum of sssocialion which established the obiects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles ol association. M6mbers ofthe charily guaTantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £110 the assets of the charity in the event of w*nding up. The total number of such guarantees al 31 st MaTch 2020 was 9. The Trustees are members of the charlly bul this eniftles them only lo voting rights. The Trustees h8V8 no beneflclal Interest in the charity, A11 Trustees give their time voluntarily and re¢eive no benefits from the Charity. The Chair of Trustees term ended in SepteM￿r 2020, therefor$, the Vice Chair was elected to lake on this rple. Succession planning has also been undertaken throughout the year lo replace the existing Treasurer role whose leims of sBrvice Cease in September 2021. Therefore a new Trustee look on the Treasurer role in September 2020, c105ely supported by his predècèssor. Management Day lo day management of the chartty including responsibility for the provision of services, slafl management and development is dèlegated lo the Chief Executive Officor ICEOI Rebecca Hodgson. Any propos81 the CEO woulol like lo make relating lo areas beyond delegated power, is m8dè formally in a proposal document. which firstly, where practically possible is submilled lo the relevant Sub Group for $¢ruliny before submissions and presenlalion lo all board member8. The CEO undergoes reguLgr supervision and support sessions with the Chair of Trustees and provides comprehensive and up to dale information and advice lo all Trustees. Remuneration of Key Management Personnel is sel b8sed on benchmarks for similar roles and is over8een by the Remuneralion Group. Staff salaries are reviewed annually by the tx>ard of trustees at the Remuneration Group meeting. Carers Link Lancashire is a Network Partner of Carers Trust. This affiliation enables stall and Tiuslees access lo a variety of training and development coursèsl¢onferences organised by the Trust. These c0urseslconferen￿S are usually provided free of charge af(hough the cost ol travel lo the venues is borne by Carers Link Lancashire or individual Trustee8. This partnership also enables up lo dale inlorfflalion and research into carers alongS￿e regional support Irom the regional manager and regional network partners. Related Partles and Relationships wlth Other Organisations There are no related parties. Page | 15 Carers Llnk Lancashlre Trustee5' Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 CaTers Link LanGashire has a fDrmal consortiurn agreement with ncompass, a brighter future for the purposes of tendering for and delivèring The Lancashire Garers Service. This partnership is purely for the purposss ol which is described with Carers Link Lancashire delivering in East Lancashire and ncompass delivering in North and Central Lancashire. RecruStment and Appointment of Trustees Trustees are recruited through advertisements in ihe organisalions quarterfy magazlne and e-bulletins alongside individual contacts by othor Board Members or members of staff. Prospectivé Trustaas are invited to a preliminary meeting with tho CEO for discussion about the roles and responsibilities of Ttuslees and general information about Carers Link Lancashiro. A Trustee appointment is subject lo the ¢omplelion of the DBS process and two satisfactory TeferonG¢s. Potential Trustéès ar6 then invited to meet existing Truste85 al a board meeting to give a presentation about Ih8msolves and their skills, and if agreed by all Trustees. they will b6 co-opted on to the board with their nomination as a Trustae b&ing pul lo the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for formal appoinlmenl. The organlsalion has a Trustee skills matrix in place that is regularly updated and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of thè B08rd. The weaker areas are then address&d through the Trustee recruilmgnl proce8$8s. A full and thorough recruilmenl application process is in placè Wlth sn information pack for interested P8Tsons and a comprehensive Tnjslee Handbook is provided for all Trustees. Induction and Training of Trustees All Trustees undertake a thorough induction process with the CEO and thèn also the Chair of Trustoes as and when required. As part of this, they are r8qulred to sign a code of conduct and confidentialily policy, declare their eligibility lo be a Trusteé alongside compl8ting a declaration of irkleresl's form which is r6vièwad annually. Further training is provided. both in-house and externally, using a variety of methods inGluding online and face to face IrJlning. Topics covered include all aspects of information governance. safeguardlng Ghildren and vulnerable adults and equality and diversity. Updates on governance mallers are distributed regularly to Truste88 to ensure their knowledge rèmains r818vanl and up to dale Funds hold as Custodlan Trustee on bahalf of others No fund5 were held as custodian Truslee on behalf of any others. Statement of Responsibi1Stle$ of Ihe Trustees The trustees Iwho are also dlrèctors of Carers Link Lancashire for the purposes of Company Lawl are responsible for preparing the Trustee's Annual Report linclLFding the strategic report) and thè financial statements in accordance with appli¢ablè law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Pracli¢el. Company Law requires the Iruslees lo prepate financial slalemenls for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the slate of affairs of th8 ¢h8rilable company and of the incoming resoU￿e$ and app5icalion of resources. including the income and expenditure. of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these finarkcial slalemenls. tho trustees are required to.. Select suitable accounting F)olicies and then apply them consislenlly Page | 16 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP FRS 102 Make judgments and eslimales that are reasonable and prudent Slate whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject lo any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial slalemenls Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless il is inappropriate lo presume that the charity will continue in operation The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy al any time the financial position of the charitabEe company and enable them lo ensure that the financial slalemenls comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hen￿ for taking reasonable steps foi the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information ncluded on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 9overning the preparation and dissemination of financial slalemenls may differ from legislation in olherjurisdiclions. In so far as the Iruslee5 ale aware.. there is no relevant audit information of which the Charitable company's audiloT is unaware., and the Iruslees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken lo make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. In approving the Trustees, AnnLJal Report, we also approve the Strategic Report included therein, in our capacity as company dire¢lors. On behalf of the board Signature.. Carol Pollard - Chair of the Board of Trustees Date.. 1611212021 Page | 17 Carers Link Lancashire Independent Auditor's Report to the Members For the year Ondèd 31 March 2021 Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Carers Link Lancashire Ilhe 'charilable company'l for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the income and expenditure account, balance sheet, cash flow slal8Tn8nl and notes to the financial statements. including significant ac¢ounling policigs. The finan¢ial reporting fiamework thal has been applled in th81T Pl8paralion Is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting standard 102 The Financi81 Reporting St6ndard applffcabl& ffn the UK and R6public of I￿￿and (United Kingdom Generally Accepted AccountiTrJ PractKel. In our opinion the financial Statements.. give a Irije and fair view of the slate of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2021, and Df ils incoming resources and application of resour￿8, including ils income and expenditure. for Ihe year thon endèd., have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice., and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 20Cb. Basi5 for opinion We condLScled our audit in accordance wlh International Standards on Auditing IUKI IISAS IUKII and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the elhi¢al requirements that are reSevanl to OLEr audit of the linancial statements in the UK. including the FRC'S Ethical Standard. and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is suffi¢ienl and appropriate lo provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions rglating to going concem In auditing the financHI slalemenls. we have concluded that the trustees, use d the g(Mng coll￿n basis of accounlu)g in the preparation of the financi81 statem&ntS is appropriate. Based on the wotk we have performed, we have not Klenlified any material uncertainties relating lo events or ¢(￿ditIoNS Ihal, individually or co1￿ctive1y, may cast signif￿an1 doubl on the charitable cunpanls ability lo continue as a going concern for a perkxl otal least twelve months from when the financial statements are al￿hon5ed for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibililies of the trustees with respect lo going con￿￿ are described in the relevant sections of this report. other infomiation Th8 other infomialion comprises the information included in the Iruglee8' annual report, other than the financial slalements and our auditor's report thereon. The Irijslees are responsible for thè other information contained within the annu81 report. Our opinion on Ihe financial statements does not cover the other inforrnalion and, xcept lo the exlenl olherwse explicitly staled in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion Ihereon. Our responsibility is lo read the other informalK)n and. in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsislenl with the financial statements or our knO￿ad￿e obtained in the course of the 8udil Dr otherwise appears lo be materially misslaled. If we identify such material incon8iSten¢ies or apparent material misstalemenls, we are reqltired lo determine whether this gives rise lo a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on th8 work we have perfomied, we ¢onclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information. we are required to report that fact. Page | 18 Carers Link Lancashire Independent Audilor's Report to the Members For the year anded 31 March 2021 We have nothing to report in this regaid. Opinlons on other matters pres¢rlbed by thè Companies Act 2006 In our opinion, based on the work LJndert8ken in the COLÈrse of the audit.. the infomiation given in the Iruslees. report {incorporaling the strategic report and the directors, report) for the financial year for whlch the financial slalemenls are prepared is consislenl with the financial slalemenls., and the strategic report 2nd the directors, report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on which wè ara rèquired to report by oxception In the light of our knowledge and untlerstanding of the Char￿able eompany and ils environment obtained in the ¢ourse of the audit, we have not idenlifted material misslalements in the strategic report and the directors, report. We have nolhillg to report in respeGI of the following mallers in retalion to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us lo report lo you if, in our opinion.. adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches nol visited by us., or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and retums,. or certain disclosures of direclors. remuneration specified by law are not made; or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audil. or the trustees were not enlilled lo prepare the financial Statements in accordance with the small companies, regime and take advantage of the small companies, exemptions in preparing the directors, réport. Re¥ponslbllltles of trustees As explalned more fully In the trustees, resptsnsibllilies slalemenl. sel out on page 17, the Iruslees (who are 85so the direcloTS of the charitable company for the purposes of company lawl ar& r&sponsiblo for the preparation of the financial slalemenls and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair Mew, and for such internal control as the Iruslees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free Irom material misslalemenl, whether due lo fraud or error. In preparlng the financial slatemenls, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability lo continue as a goin9 concem, disclosing, as applicable. mattels related lo going concern and using the going concem basis of accounting unless the trustees eilhw intend lo liquidate the charitable company or lo cease operations, or have no realistic allernalive bul lo do so. Audltor's responsibillties for the audlt of the financlal statements Our objectives are lo obtain reasonable assuran￿ about whether the financial slalemenls as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due lo fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Page | 19 Carers Link Lancashiro Independent Auditor's Report to the Members For the year ended 31 March 2021 Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance. bul is not 8 guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS IUKI will alway5 dele¢l a malerial misslalemenl when il exists. Misslalements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if. individually or in the aggregate. they could reasonably be expected lo influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial stalemenls. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of nOn4￿MplIan￿ ￿fj1h laws and regulations. We design prO￿dureS in line with our responsibililEs, outlined above, lo delect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent lo which our prwedure5 are capable of delecling irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.. Obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameWo￿S that the Charity operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that have had a direct eflecl on the financial slalemenls. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context include Charities Act and safeguardillg regulations. In addition. we consider compliance with employee legislation, as fundamental to the Charity's operations-, Discussions with management, including consideration of known or suspected instances of non complian with laws and regulations and fiaud.. Enquiry of management and those charged with governance around a¢lual and potential liligalion and claims,. Performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjuslmenls for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting eslimales for bias., Reviewing minutes ol meetings ol those charged with governance., and Reviewing financial slalemenl disclosures and lesling lo supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Because of the inherent limitalDns of an audit. there is a risk that we will not delect all irregularilEs, including those leading lo a material misslatemenl in the financial slalements or non-compliance wrth regulation. This risk increases the more that complianTr with a law or regulation Is Temoved frL¥ll the events and transactions refie¢led in the financial statements, as we wll be less likely lo beGome aware of inslanc@s of nonralive partnerships, empowetmenl, innovation and representalton across East Lancashire. The ch8rity's vision is lo be a values and outcomes driven organisalion that enables.. Carers lo feel valued as individuals and recognised for their ¢onlribulion lo society Carers lo lead happy, fulfilling lives with a¢￿$S to good quality person Genlred support and setviGes Carers lo improve their overall physical and rnenlal health and wellbeing Carers to continue with their caring role prèventing them from reaching crisis point The charity's mission is lo make a positive difference lo the lives of carers and the people they care for by offering tailored support that is professional, respectful, non-judgemenlal and meets individual need. Carers Link Lancashire has a 3 year Strategy and Operational Plan in pla¢e12017-20201 which has influenced charitable delivery and activity this financial year. This cur¥enl strategy has been produced through consLJllation and direcl input from carers alongside staff and Trustees and is reviewed quart8rly against objectives and targets, This strat8gy includes the following strategi¢ oblecllv89'. Ensure th81 carers are recognised and supported Involve carers in shaping and influgncing our services Deliver high quality services and support for carers and the people they care for Establishing and maintaining effective partnerships Ensure our charity is sustainable Attached lo the slrale9y is an operational plan which details the actions, resources 8nd limesc8les required to meet the strategic objectives of the organisation. Towards the end of this financial year, 3 new strategy along with objectives and operational plans has been implemented for 2021- 2024 . This new strategy will lead and direct the charity fon￿ardS in the new financial year and beyond from April 2021-March 2024. Deflnltlons of Unpald Carers Carer.. A carer is defined as someone who spends a significant proportion of their life providing unpaid support to family or friends. This could be caring for a relalive, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substanca misusè problams. Young carer: A young carer is deftned 88 a child or young pergon lup to the age of 181 who looks fter someone in thelr farnily who has an illness, disability, mental health problem or subslance misuse problem. Young Garers lake on practical andlor emotional caring responsibilities that would normally b¢ expected of an adult, Page13 Carers Link Lan¢ashire TNstees' Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 202q Parent ¢arer'. A parent carer is defined as a person wilh parental responsibilities for a child under the age of 18 with additional needs. Formèr carer.. A former caier is defined as a person whose caring role has ceased or signili¢anlly reduced due lo bereavement or the cared-for person èntering residential care. During 2020121, the charity has been providing support lo adums and young carers from across East Lancashire. East Lancashiie makes up one third of Lancashire representing 420h of Lancashire's Boroughs, wlh a number of wards being in the top 100/0 of deprivation, including Burnley and Hyndburn. Demographics from East Lancashire's Clinical Commissioning Group evidence that life expe¢lancy in East Lancashire remains relatively low Compared lo the England and Wales national average. Across East Lancashire, 120/0 of th& population is made up of people from a BME population and there are a significant number of isolated rural communities such as those in Pendle and the Ribble Valley. Within these rural communities, there are high proportions of people who are over the age of 50 years. of which some are living in isolation, with limited support networks, suffering from poor emotional health and wellbeing and who are caring for an elderly family membei or caring for more than one person. According lo the 2011 ￿nsU5, there are over 43,000 unpaid adult carers in East Lancashire. of which 63°k are caring for between 1-19 hours per week, 130A are Caring for 20-49 hours per week and 24Yo are caring for 50 hours or more per week. On average, we receive 381 referrals lor new carers every quarter 13 months). As of the 31 sl March 2021, 10h of registered carers are aged 18-25 years, 640kn aged 26-64 years and 310A are aged 65 yeaTS plus and 4Vo of registered carers have unknown ages. The 2011 Census also identified there were 3,499 children and young people ac1085 East Lancashire aged under 25 years that provided levels of unpaid care, of which, a huge proportion are eslimaled to relate lo children and young people under the age of 18. Of the identified young carers, 924 1260/0) were aged 0-15 years and 2,5751740/0l aged 16-24 years. Of these, 720/0 were identified as undertaking between 1-19 houTS of caring per week, 16°/0 were undertaking between 20- 49 hours of caring per week and 12Vo were undertaking over 50 hours of caring per week. The census demonstrated that those providing 50+ hours of caro per week were 5 times mole likely lo report their general health as'not good.. Research published by Carers UK has suggested that as of 2020 there are around 13.6 million people caring through the COVID-19 pandemic as opposed lo earlier research in 2019 which suggests 1 in 8 adults, around 6.5 million people, are carers. This means that with every day of the COVID-19 parKlemic that passes, unpaid carers are saving the UK £530 million in the care they provide. Further recent research also shows.. Every day anotheT 6.000 people take on a caring responsibility- that equals over 2 million people each year. Thal 580/0 of carers are women and 42Yo are men. 1.3 million carers provide over 50 hours of care per week. Over 1 million people care for more than one person That 5 million people in the UK are juggling ¢aring responsibilities with work that's 1 in 7 of the workforce. However, the significant demands of caring mean that 600 people give up work every day lo Care for an older or disabled relative. Carer's Allowance is the main carerfs benefit and is £67.25 for a minimum of 35 hours, the lowest benefit of ils kind. Page14 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Carers Link Lancashire is a specialist carers charity who understand the needs 2nd demands placed on carers along with the negative impacts their roles can have. affe¢ling peoples mental and physical health and wellbeing. financial slabilily, employment and career Ghoices, ability lo access leisure opportunities along with feelings of lolleliness through soGial isolation. Within their roles, carers lake on iesponsibililies including day lo day tasks, personal & medic81 care, transporting loved ones to numerous health appointments and offering emotional support and advice lo the person they are caring for. This demanding role often results in the carerfs life being thrown into turmoil, with their own mental and emotional health and wellbeing suffering and delerioraling in the process. In order lo meet the existing and emerging needs facing carers, the Charity promdes a personalised. tailored and holistic service lo support a wide range of unpaid carers enabling them to fulfil theiT roles whilst supporting them ID alleviate impact and preventing them from reaching CTiSiS p￿nt. Carers often do not recognise their role and see it as their duly and responsibility, Iher&fore the charity supports carers to reGognise their role, providing them with peison cenlred support and guidance on IheiT lights as a carer. All charitable work undertaken ensures that ¢arèrs'. Feel valLFed as individuals Re￿7Ve recognition for their contribution to socièly Are able to lead a fulfilling and good quality of life Are encouraged and able to look afler themselves and their own health and wellbeing. Public benefit statement The charills Trustees have corllplied with their duly lo hav& dus ￿gard to the guidan￿ on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising their powers or duties during this period. Strateg1¢ report Achlevèmènts and performance The charity's main activities, support and beneficiaries are described below. All charitable activities focus on supporting uvlpaid carers and are undertaken in order lo further Car8TS Link Lan¢ashir8's chariiable purposes for the public benefit. Throughout the year. Carers Link Lan¢a$hire has strived lo offer high quality support and services to ils beneficiaries, regardlèss of the national pandemic and in line with achieving our sliategic objectives. Throughout the year, the charity Gonlinued lo work successfully alongside ncompass towards a brighter future. in successfully delivering the Lancashire Carers Service. This service provides statutory ServI￿S and support to adult carers on behalf of Lancashire County Council. This conlra¢l was also extended until June 2022. Throughout the year and during the COVIEk19 pandemic, the charity has still continued to fully deliver its contracts, support and service lo unpaid ¢aiers working liralessly as 'keyworkers' in the fight against COVID-19. The charity continued to follow govemment guidelines and al all limes ensured Ihal the ¢harily's workforce and beneficiarie5 were kept Safe from the virus. As a slatulory deliverer of health and social care, face to face work still continued where necessary and new ways of working were introduced, including remotely lo ensure that services and support for carers continued. The charity Swiftly adapted lo the pandemic, aclivaling ils business continuily plan, pandemic policy and implementing thorough risk assessments and action plans. Successful systems were implemented including building and offtce arrangements. partneied toams. scheduled rolas, social distancing, infection prevention and PPE. Page15 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For tho year ended 31 March 2021 Achievements and performance (Continuedl ThroughDuI the pandemi¢, th& charity has always been one slep ahead of any government guidance demonslr81ing the charity's Successful management, leadership, resilience's and fonmard planning with rapid decision making during the crisis. Like many other front line services, the charity suspended all non-compulsory face lo face work and quickly adapted all services, providing support via online platforms including zoom, skyps, facebook, telephone and &mail. Thè charity was fo¥c&d lo postpone any volunteer services which would usually provide direct services. The charity swiftly developed a range of innovative and digital platform5 to ensure that carers were not isolated. preventing Crisis, breakdown of roles and providing any support as necsssary including breaks and a¢tivilies. In addition lo virtual support, face to fa￿ support was still provided to those who il was deemed ne￿SsarY and full s¢reening tools were implgmenled lo k&ep staff safe. Al the start of the pandemic, the charity look the inilialive to explore internal data sets lo tdenlify carers and the people they care for who may be 'vulnerabla' 8ndlor 'at risk. due to a number of contributory factors such as being elderly and dLJe to caring requiremenls and conditions. As of Ihe 31 st March 2021, the charity undertook 1,583 welfare calls lo this identified ¢ohort in addition lo all the other conlraclual work undertaken. From this work, carers have been provided with additional SLFPPOrt and services lo meet new, existing or emerging needs. This was in addition lo projects implemented lo overcome iso12tion and loneliness. A variety of work was also undertaken by the charity lo ensure that carers were reC￿nIsed and idenlrfied a5 essential and key workers. Lobbying was undertaken with the local authority to ensure that unpaid ¢arers had full access lo free PPE supplies if required, (like paid care workers) and were recognised in slalulory ancl COVID-19 guidance and guidelines as essential workers for access lo free PPE and the vaccination. Lellers were devised and approved by th& LA Carers Commissioner lo ensure those carers whD were unable lo leave their cared for person alone were able to access vulnerable groups time in supermarket sessions and lake their cared for along with them. Extensive, additional work was also providod to the local authority in identifying and offering the vaccination to carers. Regardless of COVID-19. the charity has continued lo thrive both in terms of meeting contractual agreements. key performance indicators and also org2nisalional milestones. The charity saw this period as an opportunity lo improve the charity and undertake much needed impiovements to assets. A range of renovation work has continued lo lake place includillg renovation lo the front of the propeily through Ihe heritage lollery fund and a full renovation ol the properties lop floor space lo implement a new staff welfare area and conlerenoe suite. The charity also installed a new community kilch8n on the ground floor to ensure that the café can be as 8uslainable and Profitable in preparation for relaunch. Overall. the charity's fin8n¢es and operations were not significantly affected by the pandemic. wilh the main source of in¢ome being slalutory income from the local authority. Charitable trading in the community fa¢ilily was affected by mandatory closure. However Ihis was offs&l through the charity being able lo furlough the café staff and through receipt of local government grants for trading loss. No fundraising practices were able lo lake pLace, however, this only makg up an extremely small proportion of overall annual income. Adult Carers The Lancashire Carers Service works across the county providlng SUPFK)rt, guidance and Information lo adult carers. The service is delivered in partnership with n-¢ompass who deliver in North and Central Lancashire with Carers Link Lan¢ashiie delivering in Ea81 Lancashire. The service supports people in their caring role, undertaking slalutory carer5 assessments and supporting their emotional health and wellbeing Page16 Carers Link Lancashire Trnstees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Carers Link L2ncashire provides a wide range of high quality, person ￿nIred support and services lo unpaid adult carers living in East Lancashire across the Boroughs ol Burnley. Pend￿, Rossendale. Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley. Identifying carers, particularly hidden carers, is a prime objective IOT Caiers Link LarJ¢ashire. Throughout the year, 1,522 new carers have been identified and registered with the service. Due ID the n81ional pandemic wo have seen a reduction in the numbeTS of newly identified carers compared to 19120 by-9.5°k. Throuohoul the year, a further 4.457 existing legislered carers also requested furtheT SUPPOrt and seTViGes from the charity. an increase of 16Yo of existing carers requesting and receiving additional support, ¢ompared with 2019120. All registered carers receive regu18r information, support and services lo assist them within thèir ¢arsng roles and during the year we have provided 6028 one-Io-Dne sessions with carers, an increase of +6010 compared lo one~lo-ones delivered in 2019r20. The charity provides a wide range of provision and services to support adult carers within their rolès induding= A new community fa¢ilily on Blackburn Road in Accrington offering an Information and support hub, community café, gardèn 2nd ch2rily shop Partner of Carers Lancashire - dellvering aligned stslutory s8rvic8s & support for Garers across Lancashire Idèntification of all carers and hidden carers Undertaking Slalulory Carèrs Assassments and commissioning personal budgets in line with the new Gare Act- looking al all the needs of the carer and those they care for to ensu￿ we can help them access everything they need lo help them provide beller car6 and supporl their own health and wellbeing M8king outgoing roferrals and recommendations lo Social Care for commissioned rèspite 1-2-1 support, both face lo face in the community or home, via zoom. skype. over the telephone, emails Breaks through face lo face and virtual trips, events, activities and complémèntary therapies to èn2bla règular short breaks, respite from their caring roles, stre88 relief and improved health and well-belng Free counselling services with 14 fully Irainod volunloer counselEors Péace of Mind for Carers Plan, a contingency plan. enabllng froe replacement care should they be unable lo continue their caring role due to emergency Befriending Service, a matched volunloor providing free respite opportunities in the persons home Free complimentary and holistic therapies such a reiki. massage & reflexology Fr&9 Max Cardq allowing par&&nt carers free or discounted access to major and local attr8¢1ion$ Free Go2 Lèi.%ur8 cArd% where w@ have all health and well-being providers irjcludlng local leisuro centre providing free and discounted l0¢81 f8cilili8S Peer support groups and forums Freo Welfarfj and benefits support including form filling lo ensure ¢arèrs have accèss to the benefits they aré éntitlèd lo Delivery of free carers awarengss Irainlng lo groups and profèssionals to raise awareness of carers needs D8livery of free understanding dementia courses Car8rs caravans in the Lake District. Morècambè and Blackpool offering respite opportunities and holidays 2417 Volunteer Led Peer Support Helpline Page17 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For thè year ended 31 March 2021 As of 31st March 2021, Carers Link Lancashire has.. 10216 registered carers 13 Vo of registered carers are BME 110k of registered carers are caring foi 80meone with demenlia 30.24°/o identify as male caTers 69.75Qkn identity as female carers 0.010/0 identify as non-binary PRIMARY CONDITIONS: 12 % of registered carers are caring for someone with dementia 36 % of registered carers are caring for an 01der person 17 OA of registered carets are caring for a person wlh PDSI 11 °h of registered caTers are caring for someone with a mental health condition 9.5 % of registered carers are caring for a learning disability 0.5 OA of ￿gIstered carers are c8ring for someone with substance misuse 12 0/0 of registered carers are carlrKJ for a disabled child 2010 of conditions are unknown AREA.. 26Qh126591 of registered carers are from Burnley 240h125001 of registered carèrs 8re from Pendle 140/0114571 of registered carers arè from Rossendale 23°/¢123861 of registered carers Hyndburn 11'h110481 of registered carers are from Ribble Valley 2Yo 1166) of registered ¢areTS are living in another county bul are caring for s(*neone living in Lancashire Young Carers In addition lo the woth wrth adult ¢arers, throughout the year, the organisalion has also Ltndertaken young ¢arÈrs support across Hyndburn, Ribblé Valley 8nd Preston. The Hyndburn and Ribble Valley young carers project Is funded by BBC Children in Need lo work direclly with young carers aged 0-18 years from across Hyndbum and the Ribble Valley to improve their health and wellbeing. Since February 2018, the charity h8s b88n deliv&ring a pilot young carers project in Preston. lo meet current local aulhorily gaps in provision aTound young caiers. The project has been funded Ihiough The Eric Wright TNSI and also BBC CIN Small Grant Programme throughout the linancial year. The furKling for this projecl ended on the 31 sl De¢ember 2020. Page18 Carers Link Lancashire Trijstees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 The ¢harily's young carers services provide holisli¢, person cenlred and whole family approaches lo services and support lo meet individua5 needs support includes-. Ini1121 assessments to identify need alongside realistic and achievable action plans Inlonsive 1-2-1 support to meet neod alongside regularly reviewing progress Monthly fa￿ to face ad virtual targeted group Sessions based and age appropliate which provide young carers with a safe environment to take a break from their callng role. develop nèw friendships and re￿1ve peer support from those in similar situations Targeted groups and activities that promote sélf-eonfidèncè and wèllbèing. both émotional, mental and physical hoallh Provide support across educalion, employment and train ing ensuring young carers are able to make informed choices about their earing role and education, employment or training opportunities Targetad work with ¥Ghool8 and collegos to enable idenlifi¢alion and Support for young car8rs Throughout the year, COVID 19 has had, and continues lo have a delrimenlal and negative impact on young carers which has made seNices for young carers MO￿ important than evey before. As 013151 March 2021, 25,1 of règistered young carers were caring for someone with a mental health issue with fj in 2 of young carers having a mental health issue themselves. Caring roles have also been heightened as 2 result of COVID19 with 55Q/o of our Current Yc's now struggling wfth their own mental health. The young Carers registered with the charlty have been dire¢11y affected by COVID as follows.. 50'h of current YC'S now have heightened carino responsibilities and limited respite from caring responsibilities with 74/0 now caring on average for more than 35 hours per week and 26QA now caring on 8verage for more than 46 hours per week The person they care for ale now also suffering from additional mentsl health diffi¢ullies including anxiety and depression In addillon to exisllng condllions with young carers now having lo provide extra emotional support The young carers thernselves are now suffgring from mental health difficulties wlh 55% of current cohort11 in 21 now struggling with their mental health Young Carers and their families have suffered from financial hardship and 81rain due lo parents being furloughed or being made redundant resulting in 45ts￿ of our families now using foodbanks to enable them lo eat Increased SOGial isolation and feolings of loneliness due lo school closures with young Carers missing their only daily inleraclion and resptte from th￿r roles Due lo exEended caring roles, young carers are experiencing poor physical wellbelng and We￿h1 gain wtlh being tired trom extended caring ioles, with no routines or structure in place Anxiety and worry about leaving the house in case they were to infeGI their already vulnerable family members Worry about their education and fulure prospects and being unable to lake part in home schooling due lo extr2 caring responsibilities Throughout the year, the charity has continued lo provide a range of support to meel young carers exislir)g arkd emerging needs, including both virtually and face lo face for those where il was deemed necessary. Young carers have faced so many additional challenges as a result of the national pandemic. Young car&rs have had their resilience and confidence stretched trying to balance caring responsibilities with online learning whilst overcoming the inabil¢Ly lo have respite from their roles, often leeling isolated and lonely. Page19 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 As a result, the charity hav8 offèred a range of onlit)e support groups, platforms and pro9rammes lo prever¥t and address social isolation and loneliness and lo allow carers lo develop coping mechanisms and tools making them mDre resilient during the pandemic. Where possible and pemitted the Gharily have still Continued lo offer in peTSOll trips and activities lo enable respite and improve young carers emotional health and wellbeing. One lo one support was accelerated alongside implementing regular welfare check for young carers and their families. wotking in tandem with partner agencies lo provide a whole family approach to Bdditional support and services. Throughout the year, the service has continued lo successfully meet objectives and provide young car&rs with holistic and individual SLFPPOrt and services lo improve their immediate and long-lerm outcomes including transition into adulthood, health and wellbeing. participationla¢hievemenl in education, employment and training and engagement in positive social and recreational activkties. Throughout the year, the young carers prclects have successfully worked with 202 young carers and have provided some of the following-. Provided 129 largeled group sessions for groups of young carers Undertaken 648 one lo one sessions with young carers As of the 31" March 2021, the yOLJng carers team were supporting 118 registered young carers as follows.. Age.. 2.50/0 ar@ aged 6 years 5010 8re aged 7 years 6Yo are aged 8 years 9D/o are aged 9 years 14.50A are aged 10 year8 54,/0 are aged 11-15 years 9Qh are aged 16-18 years Caring for.. SIOA are cartng for their Mum 1 Ofjh are caring for their Dad 250A are caring for their Brother 9°h ale caring for their Sister 2.5.10 are caring for another Relative 2.50/0 are caring for a none relativ Cared for Conditions.. 29Qh are caring for a Disabled Childjsibling 50A are caring for someone with 8 Learning Disability 25'/o are carting for $ome()ne with a Mental HeaKh problem 2910 are caring for an older person165 yrs + I 39,/0 are caring for Someone with PDISI Ook are caring for someone wilh subslan¢e misuse 0% are caring for someone with damentia O /0 of conditions are unknownlnot disclosed Pagel 1D Carers Llnk Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 All young cxrérs who are registered with the service are provided with infomialion, Support 8nd services which are tailored lo meet their individual needs. This includes.. One lo one support to identify and address specific needs Developing an a¢lion plan lo address spe¢ifi'¢ issues such as problems al school, low levels of self onfidence and self-esteem and isolation, This action plan is then regularly reviewed lo ensure their needs are being mel Targeted group sessions lo build friendships and peer support, réduce isolation, improve self- confidence and self-esteem and provide support during transitional periods Opportunities lo access respite and a break from thèir caring role through engagement in positive activities aimed specifically al improving their hea￿h and wellbeing Empowering young careis to make long lasting lifestyle changes and develop aspiralionB for the future Enabling young carers lo have a normal childhood outside of their caring Tole Assisting young carers to make their caring role more sustainable Building resilience Equipping young carers wth self-help methods, coping mechanisms and techniques Volunteers As al the 31st March 2021, Carer5 Link Lancashire has 138 active volunteer8 who are assisting in supporting in the direct delivery of services. Throughout the year,142 volunteers have provided the organisation with a total of 1785 volunteèring hours. This is a reduction in support hours of - 55°h from year 19120 and is due to the national pandemic. The majorily of vosunleer led services such as the befrtending service, where volunteers sit with the cared for person to enable respite opportunities for the caier. had to c@ase in line with government guidance. However, the team of volunteers have still continued to support the charity 8nd it beneficiaiies through roles including supporting in the community café, shop & garden, virtually through online events and activities, keeping in touch with carers and thèir families who are supported through the befriending service alongside supporting the charity lo undertake welfare checks lo re9islered carers through telephone support. If the volunteering hours offered by volunleets during the year was quanlitied into a paid salaTy at national minimum wage, this would work oyl as £15,904.35 in volunleerirlg lime. TheTe has beon an impacl and reduction in volunteer houis SIN￿ 19120 which was quantified £16,311.S9 in volunteering time Carers Assessments On the implemenlalion of the naw Care Act 2014, carers are now recognised in Iheii own right and are entitled lo have their own needs assessed, identified and met through a careV8 assessment. From this assessment, a personal budgel can also be commissioned. Tha organisation has taken on this slalutory duly from the Local Aulhor((y, undertaking carers assessments and commissioning a personal budget directly from them. Throughout the year, the charity has undertaken a total 014,806 stalulory Carers Assessments and Reviews, This was an increase of +4yo Carers Assessments & Revièws undertakèn in comparison to 2019120. From these assessments, 38 /0 of carers have been commissioned a monetary personal budget of between £200-300 to meet their unmel needs. whilst 62¢kn of carers were able lo have their needs mel universally through the arily's services and support. Pagel 11 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 This year has seen an overall reduclK>n in the requirement for carers to receive a personal budget in order to meet unmel need An additional SQ/0 of ¢arers supported this financial year in compaiison lo 19120 have found their needs have been mel directly through the Gharily, During 202012021, the charity has commissioned £432,964.30 in personal budge15 to carers in East Lancashire, a massive redu¢lion of £122,251.compared lo personal budgets commissioned in 2019120. This cfemonslrales how skilful the charity is in identifying and meeting the needs of carers through ils servtces and support locally. rather than relying on furthei slalulory funding lo meet need. Peacè of Mind for Carers During the year. the Gharity has undertaken 595 New POM4C plans (Peace of Mind for Carers) This Gonlingency plan still remains an invaluable service lor carers. Carers often describe this plan as their 'lileline' should they unexpectedly be unable lo continue with their caring rolE. The plan prevents ¢arers from worrying about who will look after the people they care for in the event of something unexpectedly happening to them. This constant worry carries a high risk of affecting their emotional health and wellbeing, causing stress. preventing them from having a life of their own alongside their caiing Tole. The POM4C service is free and can be activated 365 d&ys a year. 24 hours a day. Family members or friends can be contacted in the event of an emergency, or free replacement care Can be provided by a domiciliaTy care provider in the cared for persons own home for up lo 72 hours. This service can 8lso prevent strain on the health and social ¢are system. preventing those who are reaching crisis point from accessing accident and emergency services and social care providers. Over the past 12 months, there have been issues with repla￿ment care being provided as this is part of the crisis service through Lancashire County Council and has often ￿aGhed maximum capacity. Therefore, LCC are ¢onlinuing lo review and consult with carers and commissioners about the future of this serwce Carer Awareness Tralnlng {CATI Throughout the year, the charity has delivered 71 CAT sessions lo a lange of audiences with 834 professionals receiving the training. This service enables professionals lo bewme 'Carer Champtons. for their teams. On average approx. 12 professionals a¢tend8d each Carers Awareness Training Session. This is an increase in +3U/o in CAT training sessions and +660/0 increase in the nijmbers of prolessionals trained in comparison lo in 2019120.The numbers attending the CAT sessions has more than doubled due lo those being able to allend remotely. Welfare and Benefits Support The charity have continued to prov¢de welfare and benefils SUPPOFt, offering appointments remotely and face lo face whère necèssary. Throughout the year, the charity has secured £111,965.00 in unclaimed benefits for arers in East L8ncashire. anaging Risk The charity has comprehensive risk management poll¢ies and procedures in place including a Rlsk Policy, Risk Register and monthly Risk Maps that highlight any potenti81 or uncertain rlsks that may face tha charity, Ils rosource, servi￿$ and beneliciaries. The Risk Register is reviewed annually and focuses on all areas of the charity including Governance. op8mlional, Financè & Resources, External and Complianco with a thorough risk analysis of each of the areas. Pagel 12 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Thé charity has two sub groups which report directly into the Board covering Finance and Resources, and Governan￿ and Risk. At every Governance and Risk meeting, a live rlsk map is produced ref¢rencing any potential areas of risk along with suggestions lo miligale risk. This is scrulinised by the sub group membgrs before providing a thorough report at the board meelingb. Th8 charity also has a Busin&ss Continuity Plan in place. The charity's Trustees have given consideration lo the major risks lo which the organisalion is exposed and satisfieLI themselvès that systems 8nd procedures are established in ordèr to provid6 the ne￿SSary assurances that risk is boing effectively managed. The Trustees have also giv6n much considoralion lo Ihe possibilily of the fulL¢re conlra¢t with L8nc8shire County Council being reduced due lo COVID-19 or bèino retendered towards the end of 2021. Confirmfjtion was provided by Commissioners lo confirm the Gontra¢l exlension unlil 30￿ June 2022. It is public knowledge that the county council continues to face unprécpd8nt6d financial challenges and need to make savings. This exlrpmèly difficult financial piclure is the result of conlinuod ¢uls in funding by Government. rising costs and rising dem8nd for key services. The charity rllaintains regular communication with commissioners and il is highly unlikely that any reduction in services will occur. Financial rovlew Over the financial year, Ihtr ¢harity'8 main source of income has been the adult carers S8fvicEsILancashire Carers Serv¢¢8 conlra¢l wSlh Lancashire County Council and the East Lancashirè Clioical Commissioning Group. For the year, this makas up 77.5 0/0 of income, an increase of +1.30/ ¢ompared lo funding in 2019120. This is mainly due lo the increase in contm¢t value secured when the charity SUC(X8sfully extended the ¢onlracl as Ihe Lancashire carers senrices provider in East Lancashlre. The charity has also continued to b&nefft by owning ils own headquarters which have significantly roduGed running costs, with security of owneiship and no liability of rental facilities. Further benefits have also been seen through the ¢harily's community fscility albeit with intemiillent opening due to the pandemic, however this has been support6cI through gDvernment grants. During the pandemic the ¢harily seized opportunities of closures to undertake renovation fulurework to ils headqtjarters including impletnenlalion of a community kitchen and new welfare and training facilities. All fkx)rs of the headquarters are self-contained and independent stjpporting longer term sustainability should income drop with ea¢h ar68 being able lo be sub-tet. The charity has still continued lo move forward wlh business objectives and in 2021, the charity will embarking on opening a second trading facility in another part of East Lan¢ashire, all of which will contribute lo lessening the charity's dependen¢e on the L8n¢ashire Coltnly Council contract. This will all lake place alongside the conlilluing task of seeking new and securing existing ongoing sources of funding, as well as moniloriny the budgets associated with our current projects. During the financial year, the total income re￿ived has been £955,0151£961,334 2019J201 a reduction of 0.660/0 compared lo 2019120. The budgeted income al the start of the year was predicted lo bÉ £993,438 therefore the actual income mel 96.10A of projected income. The lolal expenditure for the year was £881,960 (£821,127 20191201 against piojecled expenditure at the start of the year of £956,613. Therefore there was a reduction in expected expenditure of 7.80A. In addition to the Lan¢ashire County Council income, a substantial amount ot financial support was re￿Ived from BBC Children in Need and The Eric Wright Trust in respect of young carers servi¢es and The Triangle Trust in supporting the charity lo be morè sustainable through the development of a new trading arm. Additional smaller financial contributions for revenue have 81s0 been received and greatly SPPFeciated Irom Ribble Valley Borough Council and Carers Trust. As always, the charity are extremely grateful to all their lunders for their support and for making il possible for Carers Link Lancashire lo provide a service to carers in East Lanc8shire. Page | 13 Carers Llnk Lancashire Trustee$. Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 As laid out in the Charity's investmenl policy, Carers Link Lancashire seeks lo produce the best financial return within an acceptable level of risk. on the financial investments il makes. Financial risk is managed by ensuring sufficient liquidity is available lo meet foreseeable needs. As the majoTily of the Company's debtors are public sector bodies, the level of credit risk is low. The Twuslees review the Investment Policy annually, and receive advice from a surtably qualified, independent linancial company, as well as reviewing allilude to risk on an annual basis. Al present, funds are being placed with several financial inslilulions in order lo miligale against possible bank wllapses, and advice is sought from OUT Investment advisor as lo minimising the risks ol our portfolio. The Trusl8es have going concerns around the charilies longer letm sustainability, with the main sources of in¢ome from Lancashire County Council coming lo an end in 2022. However, the board are fully committed lo ensuring that the charity continue to exceed the high KPI'S and outcome8 as outlined in the wntracl and are planning lo successfully relender lo deliver the Contract in 2022. ReseNes Policy As of Ihe 31 March 2021, the to121 charity fLifKls sland at £752.359 12020.. £679.3041 of which, £327,906 is invested in fixed assets and £15,736 is reslricled. The Twslees have reviewed the funds available lo the org8ni$alion and £74,998 has been designated for the following.. £55,000 Property Repair & Unexpected Maintenance £19,998 Redundancy Costs After designation and the headquarters property. £333,719 is free ieserves and represents 4.4 months of btjdgeled recurrent expend51ure {4 months 2019120) The policy for free reserves is that Carers Link Lancashira will maintain free resetves not being less than three months expenditure. Therefore, the charity is meeting ils reserves policy adequately. The main source of income for the organisatlon Still remains to be generated from Lancashiie County Council who continue lo make payments in arrears. Therefore, charitable resewes are essential to maintain adequate ¢ash flow levels. In the event that all or any funding is lost the resetves will enable Carors Link Lanc2shiTe lo malftlain a seNice lo ¢arers whilst researching and sourcing other funding. To this end, the Trustees deem it prudent lo designal funds from the reserves lo Cover the potential re5ulling redundancies and to secure servtces for carers. Plans for future perlods ThroughoLJI the year, the charity has worked hard lo achiove business objectives as outlined in the organisalions Strategy and OperaliDnal Plan 2017-2020, which include expanding our ability lo p¥ovide acGessible Servi￿$, identifying anol supporting all carers in East Lancashira and ensuring the charity is trK)¥e sustainable in th8 longar term. The Board of Trustees have reviewed ils strategy and plans moving forward s and have implemented a new strategy and operational plan for 2021- 2024. In order lo continue to mltigale any future potential risks of reductions or losing this statutory contract through iel8ndering in 2022, the charily is striving to increase diversified income streams Ihrough charitable trading including opening a further facility in 2021. The TTustees see the future direGtion of the charity as developlng further meatilngful services th81 meet the needs of carers. Carers Link Lancashire continuès lo be a proactive. learning organisation, with all of its livilies being carefully planned, risk assessed and evaluated. Page | 14 Carers Llnk Lancashire Trustees. Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Any aGtivity which is brought forward for consideration that is not in line with either the ethos ol the charity or does not protect the integrity of the organisalion will not be supported. Issues arising fiom the evaluation ol activities provides evidence of effectiveness, value and risk whereby lessons are learned and us@d for future improvement and Llevelopment. structure, governance, and management Organlsation The organisalion is a charitable company limited by guarantee, nLJmb6r 08584591. incorporated on 25th June 2013. It was adopted as a Charity on 19th March 2014. The company was established under a memorandum of sssocialion which established the obiects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles ol association. M6mbers ofthe charily guaTantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £110 the assets of the charity in the event of w*nding up. The total number of such guarantees al 31 st MaTch 2020 was 9. The Trustees are members of the charlly bul this eniftles them only lo voting rights. The Trustees h8V8 no beneflclal Interest in the charity, A11 Trustees give their time voluntarily and re¢eive no benefits from the Charity. The Chair of Trustees term ended in SepteM￿r 2020, therefor$, the Vice Chair was elected to lake on this rple. Succession planning has also been undertaken throughout the year lo replace the existing Treasurer role whose leims of sBrvice Cease in September 2021. Therefore a new Trustee look on the Treasurer role in September 2020, c105ely supported by his predècèssor. Management Day lo day management of the chartty including responsibility for the provision of services, slafl management and development is dèlegated lo the Chief Executive Officor ICEOI Rebecca Hodgson. Any propos81 the CEO woulol like lo make relating lo areas beyond delegated power, is m8dè formally in a proposal document. which firstly, where practically possible is submilled lo the relevant Sub Group for $¢ruliny before submissions and presenlalion lo all board member8. The CEO undergoes reguLgr supervision and support sessions with the Chair of Trustees and provides comprehensive and up to dale information and advice lo all Trustees. Remuneration of Key Management Personnel is sel b8sed on benchmarks for similar roles and is over8een by the Remuneralion Group. Staff salaries are reviewed annually by the tx>ard of trustees at the Remuneration Group meeting. Carers Link Lancashire is a Network Partner of Carers Trust. This affiliation enables stall and Tiuslees access lo a variety of training and development coursèsl¢onferences organised by the Trust. These c0urseslconferen￿S are usually provided free of charge af(hough the cost ol travel lo the venues is borne by Carers Link Lancashire or individual Trustee8. This partnership also enables up lo dale inlorfflalion and research into carers alongS￿e regional support Irom the regional manager and regional network partners. Related Partles and Relationships wlth Other Organisations There are no related parties. Page | 15 Carers Llnk Lancashlre Trustee5' Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 CaTers Link LanGashire has a fDrmal consortiurn agreement with ncompass, a brighter future for the purposes of tendering for and delivèring The Lancashire Garers Service. This partnership is purely for the purposss ol which is described with Carers Link Lancashire delivering in East Lancashire and ncompass delivering in North and Central Lancashire. RecruStment and Appointment of Trustees Trustees are recruited through advertisements in ihe organisalions quarterfy magazlne and e-bulletins alongside individual contacts by othor Board Members or members of staff. Prospectivé Trustaas are invited to a preliminary meeting with tho CEO for discussion about the roles and responsibilities of Ttuslees and general information about Carers Link Lancashiro. A Trustee appointment is subject lo the ¢omplelion of the DBS process and two satisfactory TeferonG¢s. Potential Trustéès ar6 then invited to meet existing Truste85 al a board meeting to give a presentation about Ih8msolves and their skills, and if agreed by all Trustees. they will b6 co-opted on to the board with their nomination as a Trustae b&ing pul lo the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for formal appoinlmenl. The organlsalion has a Trustee skills matrix in place that is regularly updated and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of thè B08rd. The weaker areas are then address&d through the Trustee recruilmgnl proce8$8s. A full and thorough recruilmenl application process is in placè Wlth sn information pack for interested P8Tsons and a comprehensive Tnjslee Handbook is provided for all Trustees. Induction and Training of Trustees All Trustees undertake a thorough induction process with the CEO and thèn also the Chair of Trustoes as and when required. As part of this, they are r8qulred to sign a code of conduct and confidentialily policy, declare their eligibility lo be a Trusteé alongside compl8ting a declaration of irkleresl's form which is r6vièwad annually. Further training is provided. both in-house and externally, using a variety of methods inGluding online and face to face IrJlning. Topics covered include all aspects of information governance. safeguardlng Ghildren and vulnerable adults and equality and diversity. Updates on governance mallers are distributed regularly to Truste88 to ensure their knowledge rèmains r818vanl and up to dale Funds hold as Custodlan Trustee on bahalf of others No fund5 were held as custodian Truslee on behalf of any others. Statement of Responsibi1Stle$ of Ihe Trustees The trustees Iwho are also dlrèctors of Carers Link Lancashire for the purposes of Company Lawl are responsible for preparing the Trustee's Annual Report linclLFding the strategic report) and thè financial statements in accordance with appli¢ablè law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Pracli¢el. Company Law requires the Iruslees lo prepate financial slalemenls for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the slate of affairs of th8 ¢h8rilable company and of the incoming resoU￿e$ and app5icalion of resources. including the income and expenditure. of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these finarkcial slalemenls. tho trustees are required to.. Select suitable accounting F)olicies and then apply them consislenlly Page | 16 Carers Link Lancashire Trustees, Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2021 Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP FRS 102 Make judgments and eslimales that are reasonable and prudent Slate whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject lo any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial slalemenls Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless il is inappropriate lo presume that the charity will continue in operation The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy al any time the financial position of the charitabEe company and enable them lo ensure that the financial slalemenls comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hen￿ for taking reasonable steps foi the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information ncluded on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 9overning the preparation and dissemination of financial slalemenls may differ from legislation in olherjurisdiclions. In so far as the Iruslee5 ale aware.. there is no relevant audit information of which the Charitable company's audiloT is unaware., and the Iruslees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken lo make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. In approving the Trustees, AnnLJal Report, we also approve the Strategic Report included therein, in our capacity as company dire¢lors. On behalf of the board Signature.. Carol Pollard - Chair of the Board of Trustees Date.. 1611212021 Page | 17 Carers Link Lancashire Independent Auditor's Report to the Members For the year Ondèd 31 March 2021 Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Carers Link Lancashire Ilhe 'charilable company'l for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the income and expenditure account, balance sheet, cash flow slal8Tn8nl and notes to the financial statements. including significant ac¢ounling policigs. The finan¢ial reporting fiamework thal has been applled in th81T Pl8paralion Is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting standard 102 The Financi81 Reporting St6ndard applffcabl& ffn the UK and R6public of I￿￿and (United Kingdom Generally Accepted AccountiTrJ PractKel. In our opinion the financial Statements.. give a Irije and fair view of the slate of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2021, and Df ils incoming resources and application of resour￿8, including ils income and expenditure. for Ihe year thon endèd., have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice., and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 20Cb. Basi5 for opinion We condLScled our audit in accordance wlh International Standards on Auditing IUKI IISAS IUKII and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the elhi¢al requirements that are reSevanl to OLEr audit of the linancial statements in the UK. including the FRC'S Ethical Standard. and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is suffi¢ienl and appropriate lo provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions rglating to going concem In auditing the financHI slalemenls. we have concluded that the trustees, use d the g(Mng coll￿n basis of accounlu)g in the preparation of the financi81 statem&ntS is appropriate. Based on the wotk we have performed, we have not Klenlified any material uncertainties relating lo events or ¢(￿ditIoNS Ihal, individually or co1￿ctive1y, may cast signif￿an1 doubl on the charitable cunpanls ability lo continue as a going concern for a perkxl otal least twelve months from when the financial statements are al￿hon5ed for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibililies of the trustees with respect lo going con￿￿ are described in the relevant sections of this report. other infomiation Th8 other infomialion comprises the information included in the Iruglee8' annual report, other than the financial slalements and our auditor's report thereon. The Irijslees are responsible for thè other information contained within the annu81 report. Our opinion on Ihe financial statements does not cover the other inforrnalion and, xcept lo the exlenl olherwse explicitly staled in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion Ihereon. Our responsibility is lo read the other informalK)n and. in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsislenl with the financial statements or our knO￿ad￿e obtained in the course of the 8udil Dr otherwise appears lo be materially misslaled. If we identify such material incon8iSten¢ies or apparent material misstalemenls, we are reqltired lo determine whether this gives rise lo a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on th8 work we have perfomied, we ¢onclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information. we are required to report that fact. Page | 18 Carers Link Lancashire Independent Audilor's Report to the Members For the year anded 31 March 2021 We have nothing to report in this regaid. Opinlons on other matters pres¢rlbed by thè Companies Act 2006 In our opinion, based on the work LJndert8ken in the COLÈrse of the audit.. the infomiation given in the Iruslees. report {incorporaling the strategic report and the directors, report) for the financial year for whlch the financial slalemenls are prepared is consislenl with the financial slalemenls., and the strategic report 2nd the directors, report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on which wè ara rèquired to report by oxception In the light of our knowledge and untlerstanding of the Char￿able eompany and ils environment obtained in the ¢ourse of the audit, we have not idenlifted material misslalements in the strategic report and the directors, report. We have nolhillg to report in respeGI of the following mallers in retalion to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us lo report lo you if, in our opinion.. adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches nol visited by us., or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and retums,. or certain disclosures of direclors. remuneration specified by law are not made; or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audil. or the trustees were not enlilled lo prepare the financial Statements in accordance with the small companies, regime and take advantage of the small companies, exemptions in preparing the directors, réport. Re¥ponslbllltles of trustees As explalned more fully In the trustees, resptsnsibllilies slalemenl. sel out on page 17, the Iruslees (who are 85so the direcloTS of the charitable company for the purposes of company lawl ar& r&sponsiblo for the preparation of the financial slalemenls and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair Mew, and for such internal control as the Iruslees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free Irom material misslalemenl, whether due lo fraud or error. In preparlng the financial slatemenls, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability lo continue as a goin9 concem, disclosing, as applicable. mattels related lo going concern and using the going concem basis of accounting unless the trustees eilhw intend lo liquidate the charitable company or lo cease operations, or have no realistic allernalive bul lo do so. Audltor's responsibillties for the audlt of the financlal statements Our objectives are lo obtain reasonable assuran￿ about whether the financial slalemenls as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due lo fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Page | 19 Carers Link Lancashiro Independent Auditor's Report to the Members For the year ended 31 March 2021 Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance. bul is not 8 guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS IUKI will alway5 dele¢l a malerial misslalemenl when il exists. Misslalements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if. individually or in the aggregate. they could reasonably be expected lo influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial stalemenls. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of nOn4￿MplIan￿ ￿fj1h laws and regulations. We design prO￿dureS in line with our responsibililEs, outlined above, lo delect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent lo which our prwedure5 are capable of delecling irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.. Obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameWo￿S that the Charity operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that have had a direct eflecl on the financial slalemenls. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context include Charities Act and safeguardillg regulations. In addition. we consider compliance with employee legislation, as fundamental to the Charity's operations-, Discussions with management, including consideration of known or suspected instances of non complian with laws and regulations and fiaud.. Enquiry of management and those charged with governance around a¢lual and potential liligalion and claims,. Performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjuslmenls for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting eslimales for bias., Reviewing minutes ol meetings ol those charged with governance., and Reviewing financial slalemenl disclosures and lesling lo supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Because of the inherent limitalDns of an audit. there is a risk that we will not delect all irregularilEs, including those leading lo a material misslatemenl in the financial slalements or non-compliance wrth regulation. This risk increases the more that complianTr with a law or regulation Is Temoved frL¥ll the events and transactions refie¢led in the financial statements, as we wll be less likely lo beGome aware of inslanc@s of non