2021-03-31-accounts - Lewisham Pensioners Forum

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bjective	s and Act	ivities
		sonp
		reference
Summary purposes charity as	ofthe ofthe set out in its	para cir	Lewisham Pensioners' Forum was established to benefit the older people who work, live within, or visit the London
governing	document.		Borough ofLewisham;
			(a) Preventing or relieving poverty experienced	by	older
			people, by disseminating inform7412ation on	financial
			matters and seeking support for campaigns in	the	interests
			ofolder people;
			(b) Advancing education and life-long learning	for	aider
			people to acquire information;
			(c)Promoting the good health and well-being	ofolder
			people by providing information, thereby enabling		and
			empowering those who may be encountering	ill-health,
			disability, financial hardship, isolation or any other
			disadvantage;
			(d) Promoting social inclusion among older people		and
			combating negative perceptions ofage and the elderly			in
			the media and elsewhere.

Summary activities	ofthe main in relation to	ofthe main in relation to	ofthe main in relation to	Certain activities of LPF are open to all irrespective of
those purposes			for the	whether they are members ofthe Charity or not. In pre-
public benefit,		in		pandemic times these have included:
particular,	the
activities,	projects or			~ The bi-monthly speaker meetings held in January,
services	identified in			March, May and July.
the accounts.				~ "Pensioners Day"- an afternoon ofpacked lunch,
				Speakers and entertainment held in the 800-seater
				Broadway Theatre, Catford with an average of450
				people attending.
				~ The November AGM -speaker meeting with Christmas
				sales (although only members may vote on the formal
				business).
				~ Ad hoc hustings and other public events, Fayres and
				meetings.
				During the months ofCOVID-related restrictions and with
				an awareness that the demographic the Charity serves
				were likely to be shielding or vulnerable these activities
				had been largely replaced by Zoom meetings, widely
				publicised and open to an even larger audience.
				The bi-monthly Newsletter is sent or delivered to all
				members, and throughout this year ofextra restrictions
				and the importance of disseminating trustworthy
				information, especially tothose without easy access to the
				internet we procured additional funding for double-size
				"COVID Special" editions ofthe Newsletter and extra
				issues. We also increased the print-run and had copies
				given out to the isolating and vulnerable through local
				food-banks and similar organisations. We maintained our
				deliveries to the 18sheltered schemes managed by the
				Local Authority, partnering with Lewisharn Homes to post
				individual copies to all 480 residents.
				The annual membership fee to join the Charity, which
				brings other benefits like access tothe monthly social
				outings and delivery ofa hard copy ofthe Newsletter to an
				individual's address, is deliberately kept at a low level to be
				open to as many people as possible (f5for new members
				and 810pa thereafter). Free tojoin in the last quarter of
				the membership year.

Statement	confirming	The Trustees have had	regard to the guidance
whether the trustees have had regard to the		the Charity Commission	in respect ofpublic benefit.
guidance	issued by
the CC on	public
benefit.

u ma ch	oo	se to include	further sbs	tementa	where relevant abaui:
			SORP
			rafaranca
Policy on	grant making,		Para'"	nla
Policy on	social		Pars 1.38	n/a
investment		including
program	related
investment.
Contribution volunteers.		made by	Para 1.38	LPF is a volunteer and community led organisation.						Its
				Trustees	are elected from the	general membership,
				although	Trustees may also be co-opted		to provide
				specialist	skills or strengthen	the Board.
				I.PF's strength is the good-will		and enthusiasm		of Its
				Trustees	and other volunteers	who undertake		a number
				ofroles to promote the aims		ofthe Charity and		with		the
				staff reduced in January are increasingly			involved		in	day-
				to-day administration.
Other

Summary		of	Our normal activities, events and outreach were severely affected by COVID
the main			restrictions throughout the year under review but, where we could, we
achieve-ments			enhanced other provision to compensate.
ofthe Charity,
identifying difference Charity's has made the	the the work to		Newsletters and dilsseminating hard-copy information With the Newsletter being aur principal mea ns ofcontacting members we procured LCR funding to pay for double size colour "COVID-19special editions" and extra issues. We also increased the print run and, in
circumstan-			collaboration with Lewisham Homes (Managers ofthe Local Authority owned
ces of its			social housing), posted an issue to each oftheir sheltered scheme residents.
beneficiaries			We also distributed hundreds more through foodbanks, social supermarkets
and any wider			and similar outreach to the isolated and digitally excluded throughout the
benefits to			Borough. This continued through to the February Newsletter when, the LCR
society as		a	funding having been exhausted, the Charity drew on its own reserves to fund
whole.			a final "COVID-19 Special Edition" in March 2021.
			Feedback was received from these new outlets to the effect that the LPF
			Newsletter was a valued enhancement to the services they provided for
			their vulnerable clients, severely affected by the pandemic and its
			consequences,
			As an alternative tothe pre-COVID "Diary Dates" column, the increased
			frequency and increased outreach "COVID-19 Special Edition" Newsletters
			featured useful phone numbers for assistance and support prominently on
			the back page.
			Contact with members
			In anticipation of having no face to face contact with our members through
			the Monday Project (a weekly open-house for socialising and activities), the
			Riverdale Table (fortnightly outreach in a shopping centre) ar the bi-monthly
			meetings, we set in place a scheme recruiting about twenty ofour members
			as volunteers to make calls to others on a list provided (names and phone
			numbers only) so that ag LPF members for whom we had telephone numbers
			would be telephoned by someone on behalf ofthe Forum early in the crisis
			to check whether they were manag'mg, to offer sign-posting and ta offer
			further regular calls ifrequested.
			Staffwere present in the office during the latter half ofthe year under review
			and also monitoring and responding to messages throughout.
			Meetings
			We were unable to hold our usual bi-monthly face-to-face meetings but
			coordinated a three day Zoom Conference in October which was very well
			received. 22 varied sessions each attended virtually by up to120 people.
			A successful ail day "Health Fayre" virtual event organised at the usual time
			in January with 14sessions attended by up to Sopeople. We took advantage
			ofthe flexibility of using Zoom to invite a yoga teacher wha used ta deliver
			seated yoga sessions face ta face to contribute ta this event even though she
			now lives in Germany.
			We also delivered a pastel/virtual AGM postponed from November to
			February.
			We organised two virtual events in March 2021with Speakers fram all over
			the country: Campaigning far Affardable eroadband for older woman, during
			international woman month Championing the Need far Affordable
			Broadband for Older Women gCHOOSETOCHALLENGE and Health
			inequalities and Bridging the Digital divide.

Additional Information (optional)
You ma choose to Include further	statements	where	relevant about:
Achievements against	Para 1.41
objectives set.
Performance of fundraising	Pere 1 41
activities against objectives
set.
Investment performance	Pare 1.41
against objectives.
Other

nancial Review	nancial Review	nancial Review	nancial Review
Review ofthe Charity's						At the end ofthis unprecedented year the
financial position at the end of						chadty position was secure with afurther
the period,						year of main grant funding and restricted funds held against developmental work, Plan
						were in hand to pursuit further fund raising
						for core cost expenditure
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held.					Para 1.22	The Trustees maintain sufficient reserves to cover the costs ofwinding up the
						Charity, including staff redundancy and
						outstanding contractual arrangements.	As
						a matter ofprudence, despite the
						redundancy liability being reduced by one
						member ofstaff leaving in January and not
						being replaced, the Trustees have decided
						to maintain this fund at or slightly above
						the previous leveL
						The only long-term contractual liability is
						the five-year hire purchase agreement
						which at March 2020 had about two and	s
						half years still to run.
Amount ofreserves			held.		Para 1.22	f27,606
Reasons for holding			zero		Para 1.22	n/a
reserves.
Details of fund materially				in	Para 1.24	n/a
deficit.
Explanation	ofany				Para 1.23	The LBofLewisham will not be grant funding
uncertainties	about the					the charity from Apr8 2022 but trustees are
charity continuing		ss a going				seekirig fundS from ehewhere and, if
concern.						necessary, plan to use more volunteers to
						help deliver services.

The charity's	The charity's		Pars 1.47	LPF's principal source offunding throughout the year under
principal	sources of			review has been the Local Authority "Main Grant" ofE35,000
funds (including				per annum.
any fundraising).				This was supplemented duding the year by a grant ofE6,400
				from the City Bridge Trust as part ofthe London COVID
				Response initiative. This paid for enhancements to and wider
				dissemination ofthe Newsletter, adaptions to home-working
				and the creation of ITbased events, Prudent management
				meant that It could also be extended to cover the additional
				costs ofa postal AGM,
				A further grant ofE5,000was received from Bright
				Ideas/Groundworks, unspent at the end ofthe year in
				question, for further improvements and adaptions of IT.
Investment policy			Para 1as	n/a
and objectives
including	any	social
investment	policy
adopted,
A description		ofthe	Pars 14s	Failure to raise adequate funding to cover the charity's
principal risks				expenditure and /or failure to recruit more voluntary
facing the	Charity			helpers with the required skills.
Other

Structure, Governance	Structure, Governance	an	d Manag	ement
Description of Charity's				n/a (we don't have any)
trusts:
Type of	governing document		Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity			Pare 1.25	Unincorporated Association
constituted?
Trustee selection methods including details ofany constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees.			Para 1.25	Either elected by members at a general meeting (usually the A12M) orco-opted byTrustees. The Constitution makes provision for one ortwo trustees or special advisors, being Councilors nominated by Local Authority
Additional	information (optional)
You ma choose to include further			statements	where relevant about:
Policies	and procedures			(None this year due to pandemic?)
adopted	for the induction	and		A "New Trustees' pack has been assembled
training	oftrustees.			and existing trustees also benefitted from Zoom Induction Session.	a
The charity's organisational			Pars 1.51	We have one paid officer who works closely
structure	and any wider			with the Honorary Officers and volunteers	to
network	with which the			administer the Charity and deliver our
charity works.				services. We pay for some commissioned
				work/services.
				We are monitored by the London Borough of
				Lewiah am.
				We belong to the NPC and the Greater
				London Pensioners Forum.
				Kings College University, Catbytes, Age UK
				London, Greater London Forum for Older
				People are among the other organisations
				with which we cooperate.
Relationship with any related			Pars 1.51	Informal links have been established and
parties.				maintained with other local Charities for older
				people. Some ofour trustees ere siso
				trustees ofother charities with similar
				objectives.
Other

Charity	name	name	Lewisham	Pensioners'	Forum
Other name		the charity uses	LPF
Registered		charity number	1158175
Charity's	principal address		The Old Town Hall, Catford Road, London. SE64RU
			changed in	FebrUary	2027 to
			Fifth Floor,	Laurence	House, Catford Road,
			London. SE64RU

			Oatea acted	Name ofperson ior	Name ofperson ior
	Trustee name	Office (ifany)	ifnot for	body) entitled	to
			whole year	appoint trustee	&Ãany)
	Bridgit Sam-Bailey	Chairman		LPF members	in AGM
	Stella Amagbokpa-Nortey			LPF members	in AGM
	Anthony Atherton	Vice Chairman/		LPF members	in AGM
		Secretary
	Paul Brownlow			J.PF members	in AGM
	Jean Goodison		From	LPF members	in AGM
			24/02/21
	Joyce Jacca		Until 2020	LPF members	in AGM
	Barbara Moore	Treasurer	Until	LPF members	in AGM
			01/11/20
	Leonie Nwawudu		Until	LPF members	in AGIVl
			24/02/21
	Elitabeth hiwawudu			LPF members	in AGM
10	Bridget Unegbu			1.PF members	in AGM
	Kiran Patel	Treasurer	From	LPF members	ln AGM
			24/02/21
	Peter Redfarn		From	LPF members	in AGM
			24/02/21
	Anne Schum an	Secretary	Until	LPF members	in AGM
			09/09/21
	Kelvin Whee)an			LPF members	in AGM