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2022-08-31-accounts

Charity no. 1159445

VOICES

Report and Unaudited Financial Statements 31 August 2022

VOICES

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 August 2022 For the year ended 31 August 2022
Charity number 1159445
Registered office PO Box 5184
Bath
BA1 0RZ
Trustees The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this
report were as follows:
Peter Brandt
Joanna Hole appointed 28 February 2022
Brigid Musselwhite
Pedro Nunes appointed 28 February 2022
Farha Rasul
Jo Silver
Dr Helen Wehner
Chief executive officer Ursula Lindenberg
Bankers HSBC UK
41 Southgate Street
Bath
BA1 1TN
Independent examiners Godfrey Wilson Limited
Chartered accountants and statutory auditors
5th Floor Mariner House
62 Prince Street
Bristol
BS1 4QD

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019).

Objectives and activities

To promote and protect the good health of those affected by domestic abuse. To advance the education of the public in all issues relating to domestic abuse.

Group recovery programmes, running weekly in term-time:

Individual recovery support sessions for survivors resident primarily within Bath & North East Somerset, based on a Personal Recovery Plan designed in consultation with individual clients.

Advocacy, advice and signposting, and the provision of information for victims and survivors, family members, friends, and the wider public, via the charity’s website and social media.

The provision of specialist counselling and therapeutic support for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, free to clients.

The provision of free legal advice and signposting relating to domestic abuse and family law through a regular clinic for VOICES clients.

Support & facilitation for survivors wishing to consult or give feedback on service provision to local authority, national government or other agencies and services, researchers and local and national charity partners.

The provision of healthy relationship and domestic abuse awareness training to local agencies, professional bodies, community and educational settings, local services, and businesses.

Consultation with strategic groups on policy and service design, providing lived experience insights and survivor voice input.

The charity operates a hardship fund to which individuals can apply. Applications are considered according to a fixed set of criteria, and granted once approved by the CEO/Head of Services.

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

Contribution made by volunteers

Volunteers with lived experience and those without direct experience of domestic abuse make a valuable contribution to the work of VOICES, modelling the benefits of recovery work and peer support, and are provided with appropriate management, support and training if working directly with clients.

Our role in development and research alongside academic and strategic partners offers our clients the opportunity to turn their lived experiences into valuable insights for policy makers and researchers. The contribution of volunteers through consultation and in feedback to VOICES about our own services confirms that effective change and successful services can only happen through co-creation.

VOICES’ founding mission was to ensure survivors are at the heart of the conversation locally and nationally around how best to prevent and respond to domestic abuse. Volunteers with lived experience contributed to consultations in family law (family law professionals and training needs, Cafcass, and child contact), health and mental health (through consultations with researcher members of the Violence and Abuse Mental Health Network), and local government (advocating for survivors to be creating, not rating services at local area level).

Among the various impacts of the continuing public health concerns and an emerging cost of living crisis was the impact on volunteer and peer support opportunities through 2021/22, which remained constrained by external pressures.

Other contributions by volunteers in 2021/22 included:

Achievements and performance

VOICES began its 8th operating year having survived the impact of both COVID-19 and a move to new premises in a relatively sound position financially, but a stronger position strategically than in past years. Fundraising successes and the strong support of the VOICES board ensured that the charity weathered the emergent cost of living crisis relatively well, although this continues to represent a significant threat to small independently funded charities like VOICES.

Some significant milestones were achieved for the charity during 2021/22, which are detailed here below:

Founding a dedicated centre for domestic abuse recovery support

After intensive work by the VOICES team and board through 2020/21 to identify and fund a centre dedicated to domestic abuse recovery work, decisive support was received from the National Lottery, St John’s Foundation, Quartet Community Foundation and the Roper Charitable Trust to enable the development of a dedicated space for domestic and sexual abuse recovery work, and the charity moved to new premises in January 2022 on a long-term lease.

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

Royal Visit to VOICES

In February 2022, VOICES was honoured to receive a visit from The Queen Consort (then HRH the Duchess of Cornwall), who opened the new centre and met with staff and clients to discuss the need for DA recovery support and the survivor voice work that VOICES does locally and nationally. This visit, hosted and facilitated by St John’s Foundation in Bath of which Her Majesty is Patron, provided important recognition of the value of the work that VOICES does outside the commissioning framework to support and empower people with lived experience of domestic abuse to recover and thrive. Clients and staff with lived experience who met with Her Majesty appreciated her informed support and focus on survivor voices inspiring change.

Opportunities for partnership working were strengthened by the relocation. Co-locating with a sexual abuse recovery service from January 2022 opened the door to strongly advocate for funding and support for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse at a local level. Also, to strengthen the case for support for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, through the new Integrated Care System for Bath, Swindon & Wiltshire that brought together health and social care funding/services from April 2022.

Clients have said consistently that the new space feels accessible, calm, welcoming and homely and that having a dedicated space in which to receive support makes a positive difference to their wellbeing and experience of support.

During the first 8 months in the new building, VOICES were able to provide space to a commissioned sexual abuse and assault service to run an art therapy group, an evening peer support group and for 2 counsellors to work for one day per week serving clients from the region. Group managers for the service confirmed client feedback was that the space was really positive and felt welcoming and warm.

Other visitors to the new building in early 2022 included Bath & North East Somerset’s Director of People and Policy, Director of Public Health and the A&S Police area commander for Bath, as well as representatives from the National Lottery, Quartet Community Foundation and St John’s Foundation.

A new website for VOICES - trauma informed design and digital innovations

With help from social media consultancy, 92 Minutes Ltd., the charity was able to increase its digital presence through the autumn of 2021 in advance of the launch of VOICES’ new website, built in collaboration with Bristol-based digital partners Modular Digital, in mid-November 2021. The new site, developed together with people with lived experience, went live on 17 November 2021, ahead of a campaign for the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women & Girls from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women & Girls) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day) 2021. This development was funded by a grant from Women’s Aid/Comic Relief.

The website formed the basis for a new trauma-informed digital service to support people impacted by domestic abuse, increase access to information and support, and present VOICES as a digital platform for survivor voices to be heard.

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

VOICES’ Referrals and Law Lead also initiated the development of an innovative app in collaboration with UWE, to allow people going through family court to safely store documents and chart their journey through legal processes on their phone. This work was ongoing at the end of the operating year.

Women’s Aid National Quality Standards Stage One accreditation

VOICES achieved Women’s Aid National Quality Standards Stage One assurance for the charity on 18 November 2021, after undergoing a thorough assessment of the charity’s policies and processes by specialist assessors.

VOICES’ domestic abuse recovery services

During the period, VOICES received 107 referrals and made 37 internal referrals for additional services. The most significant referring organisation was Southside Family Project, the commissioned service providing IDVA and family support, from which 24 referrals were received (22% of the total referrals that year).

Stronger together: group programmes

VOICES continued to provide a suite of domestic abuse recovery and peer support programmes through the period from September 2021 to August 2022. Despite the charity's move during the year to new premises, this was an uninterrupted service, free to clients, with travel and childcare costs provided for clients on low incomes, with some group provision arranged at venues in the local community.

For the period of the report, 48 survivors attended the Freedom Programme, 16 clients attended the social and creative group, and 13 attended the Recovery Toolkit.

For the Freedom Programme, three 12-week in-person group programmes took place, together with 2 online programmes. A drop-in programme for the creative & social group ran through the year, while two 12-week in-person programmes of the Recovery Toolkit took place. A drop-out rate of only 4% was recorded across all programmes.

Just over 40% of activities by the services team related to group work, and 50% of service team hours were undertaken with group programme facilitation and related work.

“The Freedom Project allowed me to understand the abuse and changed my perceptions of my ex. Recovery Toolkit gave me the strength to move on.” ( A VOICES client ).

Individual recovery support work - COVID-19 and the cost of living crisis

Individual recovery support was provided throughout the year by the team, and principally by two recovery support workers, with gateway support into services from VOICES’ Referrals and Law Lead, 3 associate counsellors, access to a free legal clinic run with the University of the West of England, and services as a whole managed by VOICES’ Head of Services. This involved detailed casework with 89 clients and 1-2-1 gateway support to access group programmes from the Referrals and Law lead for 29 clients, while 44 clients received legal clinic, therapy, advice and consultation support. The largest areas of support need concerned emotional support (<15%), and children & parenting (14%), followed by mental health support (10%). Other regular support needs included finances, family law, housing and physical health issues.

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

Although VOICES did not provide dedicated services for children, the charity did so indirectly through advocacy and support work, as well as group programmes addressing parenting and impacts of abuse on children. In 2021/22 more than 70 children aged 0-18 were supported in this way, and c. 10-15 young adults 18-25, as adult children living with clients supported by VOICES.

Feedback from recipients of individual support:

“This service has saved my mental health and has provided a safe service whilst helping with coping mechanisms for the future”.

“I had benefit support for universal credit, support on 2 tribunals. I honestly would not have appealed and gone through with the tribunals if it had not been for the support of VOICES”.

“VOICES is the one place where I feel safe to be my most authentic self”.

VOICES supports family members to support their loved ones impacted by domestic abuse. In combination with the range of support services VOICES offers, this can have a profound benefit for the survivor and their wider family, as a mother’s feedback testifies:

“As I'm sure you're aware, she has been involved with many other services for a very long time, none of which has made any lasting or significant difference, and yet within a short period of time working with you guys at The Freedom Programme we began to notice a shift/change in her.

The CPR Trauma Informed approach you seem to take of consistency, predictability and reliability has been instrumental in this change, yet more important is the incredible kindness and belief you have in her, which has allowed her to finally believe, and be kind to herself!”.

Public Health funding for post-COVID-19 recovery support for DA survivors

VOICES received Public Health funding (from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund- COMF) for the first time, for an expanded recovery service to local people, undertaken by a new staff member with expertise in child and family work with domestic abuse survivors, particularly those where multiple and complex challenges due to domestic abuse impacts were exacerbated by the circumstances of COVID-19 lockdowns and concomitant pressures. Our caseload since the beginning of the pandemic had risen by c. 40% and our staffing levels by 30%, with additional therapist capacity (voluntary therapist on placement) and casework/case admin support (2 placements/year rather than 1 as previously).

This additional funding received during the year (COMF) enabled VOICES to increase access to individual domestic abuse recovery support, while ensuring that existing staff did not face burnout due to the impact of COVID-19 on our charitable activities and beneficiaries. The mental health, physical and logistical impacts of COVID-19 on our clients and their children continued to unfold through the year, as lockdowns eased and the imminent health risks from the virus lessened. For VOICES, this meant that clients often required more intensive and longer-term support to overcome obstacles for themselves and their children. Isolation and anxiety caused by experiences of domestic and post-separation abuse were exacerbated by the constraints and uncertainties of COVID-19.

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

The cost of living crisis, which intensified in the Spring of 2022 with the Ukraine war as COVID-19 risks diminished, had particularly severe consequences for VOICES’ beneficiaries. The long-term health and mental health impacts of DA mean that many clients in recovery from abuse and rebuilding their lives face barriers to returning to or retaining work, as well as housing insecurity and sometimes homelessness. Separated and divorcing survivors who are house-owners often found themselves with trapped assets that created barriers to accessing benefits, and were unable to adapt their circumstances or move to mitigate rising costs. Those facing economic and postseparation abuse e.g. non-payment of child maintenance, also had little ability to absorb rapidly increasing costs for energy, heating, transport, housing and food. The charity faced an additional imperative to source hardship and cost-of-living funding (see below) to support clients as far as possible in the emerging crisis.

The strain and pressure felt by clients also impacted staff in a third sector area of work that is generally not funded as well as commercial or publicly funded positions. Retaining staff and ensuring wellbeing was a priority for VOICES’ management and trustees, who immediately undertook consultation and benchmarking to assess the scope for providing supportive measures, a pay uplift and HR support to the staff team, with the HR Committee undertaking a pay and pay policy review. VOICES’ membership of Women’s Aid and attendance at SafeLives bi-weekly sector meetings were helpful. A 2-stage pay uplift was discussed at the February Finance Committee meeting and agreed by the Board for all staff of 3.1% in April 2022 and 2.3% in September 2022.

Hardship funding - timely and tailored

VOICES pioneered the use of a dedicated DA Hardship Fund and supported the development of the national initiative developed by SafeLives and NatWest, the Circle Fund. After distributing grants to clients from an initial Circle Fund grant of £2,500, VOICES was successful in applying for a further instalment from the Circle Fund of £5,000, enabling VOICES to assess the need for and provide timely and targeted support to clients with e.g. travel, essential items, education and therapy costs that may prove barriers to recovery.

In addition to the tangible benefits to local survivors of domestic abuse, monthly reporting from the fund is helping build a national picture of the economic disadvantage and hardship engendered by experiencing domestic abuse and violence and economic abuse. It is hoped this will raise awareness and improve policy and community responses to survivors’ needs across the country.

VOICES / University of the West of England Law Department free legal clinic

VOICES continued to deepen the connections with the University of the West of England Law Department to provide free to access family law advice to clients without representation. The service operated monthly during term time, with the aim of increasing frequency in future years. VOICES' Referrals and Law Lead managed the intake of clients and liaised with law lecturers and students at the University, providing training around domestic abuse for law students, who gain valuable practice insights through their work with the clinic.

Practice education

VOICES continued to provide practice education for Bath University social work students through 2021/22, with two students rather than one, and involving a final year student for the first time. The placements provided valuable practice insights about the whole journey through and beyond domestic abuse for students who will go on to work with families experiencing domestic abuse in their professional careers.

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

Sector influencing and training work

VOICES’ unique position as both a survivor-led DA specialist recovery support provider and a survivor-voice advocate organisation strengthened in 2022. Training enquiries increased (with training by VOICES’ staff provided for Metrobank, Specsavers, staff and others) and the potential to work alongside SafeLives with local authorities nationally was developed further.

Research collaboration

VOICES successfully developed survivor voice research consultation through 2021, and began the operating year with 3 current contracts to facilitate survivor consultation (Home Office, SafeLives/Legal Education Foundation, University of Bristol PRECODE project). Interest from researchers grew, with new requests from University of Bristol and UCL in 2022.

In February 2022 senior staff gave a talk to all National Lottery Funding managers about the value of survivor-led community-based services working with women and girls, and our CEO was invited by Lloyds Bank Foundation to take part with a small group of other grassroots charity leaders in setting their new funding strategy (launching in September 2022) and in April supporting the recruitment of their new Chair of trustees.

VOICES’ CEO was interviewed in May by researchers commissioned by a consortium of Women’s Sector funders (National Lottery, Esmee Fairbairn and the Smallwood Trust) examining what the routes are to power and influence for grassroots charities supporting women & girls.

VOICES’ Head of Services attended the quarterly Domestic Abuse Partnership Board and the Task & Finish Group on Survivor Voices for BANES, where the charity advocated for lived experience of services to be included in the local strategy for developing service provision.

VOICES’ CEO continued as a lived experience member of the Cafcass’ (Children and Families Court Advisory Support Service) Learning & Improvement Advisory Board, which was extended for a further year. VOICES continued to advocate for independent trauma and DA experts to be included and for lived experience representatives to be able to participate safely, as well as for safe feedback and complaints procedures for family members going through family courts and working with Cafcass.

VOICES’ CEO was invited to join University of Sheffield’s Nuffield Research Advisory Board for a new 2-year research programme “Rethinking Child Protection” in recognition of lived experience insights and VOICES’ survivor voice expertise. The project runs from March 2022-March 2024.

In 2021/22, VOICES brought the charity's expertise in survivor consultation and recovery work as members of the following organisations:

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

SafeLives/Legal Education Fund & VOICES developing training on domestic abuse for family lawyers

VOICES continues to partner with SafeLives on the LEF family lawyers training development, for which VOICES provided the survivor consultation facilitation. ⅔members of VOICES staff will receive training to be able to train local professionals either in-person or in remote settings. Bath & Bristol are one of the 3 pilot areas for the LEF training programme. VOICES are also helping to liaise with other local DA organisations and law professionals to boost engagement with the programme.

Report launch at The Old Bailey, March 2022

Two SafeLives reports “…Don’t Complain” (https://safelives.org.uk/dont-complain/LEF-report), “Domestic abuse survivors’ experiences of family lawyers” (based on consultations with survivors facilitated by VOICES), and “Hit And Miss” a further report into the need for trauma expertise among family law professionals (https://safelives.org.uk/hit-and-miss/LEF-report) were presented at an event hosted at The Old Bailey and supported by the City Bridge Trust on 30 March 2022. Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs, CEO of SafeLives and a SafeLives Pioneer Suzanne Jacob, as well as HHJ Anuja Dhir, spoke about the need for the family justice system to respond to the trauma of domestic abuse appropriately, and provide access to justice without retraumatising victims and survivors.

Ursula Lindenberg attended the event, representing VOICES. The lived experience insights of all survivors who gave their time to the consultation will be invaluable in developing new training for family law professionals and inspiring much needed reform. The event was attended by many professionals, including judges and barristers, Cafcass family court advisers, and trainers from the Judicial College.

The domestic abuse training pilot for family law professionals, which VOICES’ staff were to receive training to deliver, was scheduled for late 2022/early 2023 in Bristol & Bath.

Local Community support for VOICES

Wells WI invited VOICES’ CEO to speak at their AGM on 3 May 2022, and pledged to support VOICES in whatever ways they can through 2022/23.

Specsavers Bath nominated VOICES, who provided DA awareness training to local staff, as their charity of the year.

The Co-op Community Matters Fund nominates VOICES as a charity of the year, raising funds from shoppers throughout the year to support VOICES' group work with DA survivors.

MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, invited VOICES to take part in a community conversation she hosted online on 30 June 2022 as part of a panel looking at the impacts of, and response to, domestic abuse and violence against women & girls in the Bath area. Our CEO was able to talk alongside other community representatives about the urgent need for training, healthy relationships education and safe space provision for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, which VOICES aims to address.

In February 2022, VOICES also received the Bath MP’s inaugural Best of Bath award for organisations working to combat violence against women and girls in the city. When giving the award Wera Hobhouse said:

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

“Violence against women and girls can be lethal and it must be stamped out. Domestic abuse causes trauma that can last a lifetime for everyone it touches. Tragically the incidence of domestic abuse increased significantly during lockdown".

"We were fortunate to have several worthy nominees for this new award. I am delighted to recognise VOICES with the first Best of Bath Award. VOICES is a survivor-led charity. It focuses on recovery, supporting those living with and beyond domestic abuse to recover from their trauma by putting the voice of lived experience at the centre of all service delivery planning."

"During the pandemic, VOICES redoubled their efforts to make sure that no one was forgotten or became invisible. They demonstrated daily small acts of kindness and care and coped with the enormous strains put on them with good humour and care for one another. They are the best of society and we are so fortunate to have them.”

Fundraising targets set for 2021/22:

New grants for salaries, unrestricted and multi-year where possible: £50,000; Public donations: £25,000; and Income from room hire: £4,500.

Grant fundraising targets were exceeded by a considerable margin (see 2021/22 accounts), while public donations were negatively affected by COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis and room hire income was roughly on target.

Financial Review

The charity ended the 2021/2022 operating year with increased reserves and no unplanned debtors.

It was able to deliver all planned activities without compromise to quantity or quality.

VOICES finished 2021/22 in a strong financial position with net assets of £257,719 compared with £146,026 in 2020/21. This increase of 76% on the previous year reflected an improved income position of £363,602 (2021: £230,582). The strengthened income position allowed the charity to invest in additional clinical support to meet increased service demands.

Reserves Policy

VOICES held general reserves of £88,084 as of 31 August 2022 (2021: £52,024). The stated aim of the charity being to hold unrestricted reserves to cover 3 months’ operating costs (£62,977, based on annual expenditure of £251,909), the amount of unrestricted reserves held is above the target set, at the end of the period.

The board of trustees has considered its reserves policy and set itself the ambition to have reserves at a level that meet the following criteria:

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

Unrestricted reserves rose in line with the Charity's plans throughout the operating year to the end of August 2022, in order to prepare and support VOICES in a number of significant developments. The Safe Space fundraising initiative achieved sufficient funds to allow the charity to make its planned move to a much larger, new and dedicated premises with a long-term lease in January 2022. In addition, VOICES generated additional new unrestricted grants from grant-giving organisations to support an increase in direct service capacity through additional clinical support and enabling the charity to recruit the two new key roles of an Executive Officer and a Centre Administrator, in late 2022. Of these grants, £55,000 was designated by the charity for salary costs. These changes made in 2022 build the capacity and sustainability of the organisation, but also its commitment to greater core costs which are now available within unrestricted funds for 2022/2023 expenditure.

Principle risks

The principle risks of the charity are:

Structure, Governance and Management

Vacancies arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the AGM or by charity trustees “at any time” (clause 13 (4) and (5) of CIO Constitution).

Positions are advertised through local charity networks and appropriate social media. In addition informal personal networks are used.

A written role description is used and prospective trustees present CVs and have discussions with CEO and trustees prior to appointment. Any links with existing trustees are declared at this point.

During 2021/22,VOICES had a board of 7 trustees, including the Chair, Secretary, and Chairs of Finance and HR Sub-Committees. VOICES was led by a CEO assisted by an Administrator, a Head of Services who manages the staff team comprising a Referrals and Law Lead, a Recovery Practitioner, an associate psychotherapist and students on placement.

No paid services were provided by related parties of either staff or trustees during 2021/22.

Public benefit

The objects for which the charity is established are to provide public benefit through the:

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

The trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report focuses on what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the progress of the activities that underpin each aspect of the charity's objectives and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it aims to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remained focused on its stated purposes. The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. The trustees also give consideration to how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been determined.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charity for the year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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VOICES

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 August 2022

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Members of the charity have no liability to contribute to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

Independent examiners

Godfrey Wilson Limited were re-appointed as independent examiners to the charity during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the trustees on 27 February 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Brigid Musselwhite Chair of the trustees

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Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

VOICES

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of VOICES (the CIO) for the year ended 31 August 2022, which are set out on pages 15 to 30.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the CIO’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

Godfrey Wilson Limited also provides management accounts and payroll services to the CIO. I confirm that as a member of the ICAEW I am subject to the FRC’s Revised Ethical Standard 2016, which I have applied with respect to this engagement.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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

Date: 27 February 2023 Rob Wilson FCA Member of the ICAEW For and on behalf of: Godfrey Wilson Limited Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

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VOICES

Statement of financial activities

For the year ended 31 August 2022

Restricted Unrestricted
Note
£
£
Income from:
Donations
3
8,500
18,236
Charitable activities
4
224,814
112,052
Total income
233,314
130,288
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
-
27,898
Charitable activities
212,681
11,330
Total expenditure
6
212,681
39,228
Net income
20,633
91,060
Transfers between funds
-
-
Net movement in funds
7
20,633
91,060
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
94,002
52,024
Total funds carried forward
114,635
143,084		 2022
Total
£
26,736
336,866
363,602
27,898
224,011
251,909
111,693
-
111,693
146,026
257,719		 2021
Total
£
74,455
156,127
230,582
16,840
201,980
218,820
11,762
-
11,762
134,264
146,026

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 13 to the accounts.

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VOICES

Balance sheet

As at 31 August 2022

Note
Current assets
Debtors due within one year
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year
11
Net assets
12
Funds
13
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
General funds
Total charity funds		 £
16,833
250,829
267,662
(9,943)		 2022
£
257,719
114,635
55,000
88,084
257,719		 2021
£
56,360
96,868
153,228
(7,202)
146,026
94,002
-
52,024
146,026

Approved by the trustees on 27 February 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Brigid Musselwhite Chair of the trustees

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VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

VOICES meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

d) Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item, is probable and the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

e) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity: this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

f) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

17

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

1. Accounting policies (continued)

g) Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

h) Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on the basis of staff costs:

2022 2021
Raising funds 8.4% 4.9%
Charitable activities 91.6% 95.1%

i) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

j) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

k) Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

l) Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

m) Operating leases

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the statement of financial activities as they fall due.

18

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

1. Accounting policies (continued)

n) Accounting estimates and key judgements

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

There are no key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

o) Pension costs

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees. There are no further liabilities other than that already recognised in the SOFA.

2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities

Income from:
Donations
Charitable activities
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) and net movement in
funds		 Restricted
£
£
27,000
47,455
154,527
1,600
181,527
49,055
-
16,840
187,585
14,395
187,585
31,235
(6,058)
17,820
Unrestricted		 2021
Total
£
74,455
156,127
230,582
16,840
201,980
218,820
11,762

19

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

3. Income from donations

Donations
Prior period comparative:
Donations
Gifts in kind
Gifts in kind includes the following items:
Project / session expenses
Consultancy
Legal and professional fees		 Restricted
£
£
8,500
18,236
Restricted
£
£
27,000
23,672
-
23,783
27,000
47,455
2022
£
-
-
-
-
Unrestricted
Unrestricted		 2022
Total
£
26,736
2021
Total
£
50,672
23,783
74,455
2021
£
1,500
6,000
16,283
23,783

20

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

4. Income from charitable activities

Grants > £5,000
Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Circle Fund
Cobalt Trust
Garfield Weston
Legal Education Fund
Lloyds Bank Foundation
Persula Foundation
St John's Foundation
The National Lottery Awards for All
The National Lottery Reaching Communities
Tudor Trust
Grants < £5,000
Training income
Total income from charitable activities
Prior period comparative:
Grants > £5,000
Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner
Comic Relief
Lloyds Bank Foundation
Quartet Community Foundation
St John's Foundation
The National Lottery Reaching Communities
Grants < £5,000
Total income from charitable activities		 Restricted
£
£
20,583
-
79,607
-
7,500
-
-
10,000
-
30,000
9,000
-
24,698
-
-
5,000
10,000
4,000
9,928
-
58,500
-
-
42,000
4,998
3,000
-
18,052
224,814
112,052
Restricted
£
£
27,143
-
15,000
-
24,565
-
10,000
-
11,025
-
60,794
-
6,000
-
-
1,600
154,527
1,600
Unrestricted
Unrestricted		 2022
Total
£
20,583
79,607
7,500
10,000
30,000
9,000
24,698
5,000
14,000
9,928
58,500
42,000
7,998
18,052
336,866
2021
Total
£
27,143
15,000
24,565
10,000
11,025
60,794
6,000
1,600
156,127

5. Government grants

The charity receives government grants, defined as funding from Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner, Bath & North East Somerset Council and The National Lottery. The total value of such grants during the year ended 31 August 2022 was £168,618 (2021: £87,937). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants.

21

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

6. Total expenditure

Total expenditure
Staff costs (note 8)
Project / session expenses
Other staff costs
Volunteer expenses
Provision of charitable services
Fundraising expenses
Marketing
Office expenses
Insurance and premises costs
Consultancy
Legal and professional fees
Accountancy
Sub-total
Total expenditure
Allocation of support and
governance costs		 £
7,171
-
-
-
-
13,859
340
-
-
-
-
-
21,370
6,528
27,898
Raising
funds		 £
78,516
9,267
1,716
291
2,260
-
-
10,585
32,493
12,581
-
4,832
152,541
71,470
224,011
Charitable
activities		 £
42,475
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,694
20,545
-
5,229
3,055
77,998
(77,998)
-
Support and
governance
costs		 £
128,162
9,267
1,716
291
2,260
13,859
340
17,279
53,038
12,581
5,229
7,887
2022 Total
251,909
-
251,909

Total governance costs were £2,583 (2021: £2,563).

22

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

6. Total expenditure (continued) Prior period comparative

Total expenditure (continued)
Prior period comparative
Staff costs (note 8)
Project / session expenses
Other staff costs
Volunteer expenses
Provision of charitable services
Fundraising expenses
Office expenses
Insurance and premises costs
Consultancy
Legal and professional fees
Accountancy
Sub-total
Total expenditure
Allocation of support and
governance costs		 £
3,701
-
-
-
-
8,025
490
400
-
-
277
12,893
3,947
16,840
Raising
funds		 £
71,338
7,913
2,046
340
2,032
-
9,447
7,714
19,745
-
5,337
125,912
76,068
201,980
Charitable
activities		 £
42,571
-
-
-
-
-
5,638
4,603
6,000
18,018
3,185
80,015
(80,015)
-
Support and
governance
costs		 £
117,610
7,913
2,046
340
2,032
8,025
15,575
12,717
25,745
18,018
8,799
2021 Total
218,820
-
218,820

23

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

7. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Operating lease payments
Trustees' remuneration
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Independent examiners' remuneration:
▪Independent examination (including VAT)
▪Other services (including VAT)		 2022
£
28,333
Nil
260
2,340
5,199		 2021
£
Nil
Nil
Nil
1,800
6,767

Trustee reimbursed expenses were for travel and subsistence for two trustees.

8. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2022
£
120,763
4,922
2,477
128,162		 2021
£
109,961
3,870
3,779
117,610

No employee earned more than £60,000 during the year.

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Services. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £64,260 (2021: £62,720).

Average head count 2022
No.
6.00		 2021
No.
5.00

9. Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

24

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

10. Debtors

Debtors
Accrued income
Deposits		 2022
£
8,333
8,500
16,833		 2021
£
56,360
-
56,360

11. Creditors : amounts due within 1 year

Trade creditors
Accruals
Other taxation and social security
Pension
Analysis of net assets between funds
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 August 2022
Prior year comparative
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 August 2021		 £
114,635
-
114,635
£
95,821
(1,819)
94,002
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 2022
£
1,629
6,252
1,509
553
9,943
£
153,027
(9,943)
143,084
£
57,407
(5,383)
52,024
Unrestricted
funds
Unrestricted
funds		 2021
£
1,473
3,819
1,447
464
7,202
£
267,662
(9,943)
Total
funds
257,719
£
153,228
(7,202)
Total
funds
146,026

12. Analysis of net assets between funds

25

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

13. Movements in funds

Movements in funds
Restricted funds
Circle Fund
Allen Lane Foundation
Renishaw
Quartet Express
Lloyds Bank Foundation
BANES COMF
Legal Education Fund
BANES CIL
Total restricted funds
Designated funds:
Salaries
Total designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Counselling Pot Various
Funders
Avon & Somerset Police &
Crime Commissioner
Quartet Community
Foundation
The National Lottery
Reaching Communities
Group Costs Various
Funders
Care Forum Health Watch
BANES
St John's Foundation
(Freedom)
St John's Foundation
(Admin, Comms &
Marketing)
The National Lottery
Awards for All
St John's Foundation
(Programme)
The National Lottery (New
Premises)
Unrestricted funds		 £
-
4,123
453
10,000
-
-
1,227
-
-
18,516
774
686
10,000
3,966
12,463
31,794
-
-
-
94,002
-
-
52,024
52,024
146,026
At 1
September
2021		 Income
£
7,500
20,583
-
-
9,928
58,500
-
3,500
4,998
24,698
-
-
15,000
-
-
-
56,000
9,000
23,607
233,314
-
-
130,288
130,288
363,602		 £
(2,331)
(20,269)
(453)
(10,000)
(9,804)
(58,500)
(1,227)
(2,615)
(4,998)
(21,803)
(774)
(686)
(15,000)
(3,966)
(6,378)
(20,803)
(21,694)
(940)
(10,441)
(212,681)
-
-
(39,228)
(39,228)
(251,909)
Expenditure		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers
between
funds		 £
5,169
4,437
-
-
124
-
-
885
-
21,411
-
-
10,000
-
6,085
10,991
34,306
8,060
13,166
At 31
August
2022
- 114,635
55,000 55,000
55,000 55,000
(55,000) 88,084
- 143,084
- 257,719

26

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

13. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds Circle Fund

Circle Fund Hardship payments
for clients, administered by VOICES and		 Hardship payments
for clients, administered by VOICES and
monitored by SafeLives via monthly reports.
Avon & Somerset Police & COVID-19 emergency funding to go towards the core operations of
Crime Commissioner the
charity and
to
cover
the
costs
of
the
referrals		 support
coordinator.
Allen Lane Foundation To go towards core costs of the charity up until November 2021.
Quartet Community To go towards the costs of a new premises.
Foundation
The National Associate counsellor costs, management and overheads.
The National Lottery To go towards core costs up until 30 September 2021.
Reaching Communities
Group Costs Various To cover the costs of refreshments and other group services costs.
Funders
Renishaw For Creche costs for group programmes over 12 months.
Quartet Express Towards group programmes and salary costs.
Lloyds Bank Foundation To cover the costs of the recovery practitioner up until 31 March
2022.
Care Forum Health Watch To cover the costs associated with the Healthwatch survey.
BANES
St John's Foundation Project costs for Freedom group work.
(Freedom)
St John's Foundation To go towards expenses relating to our new premises.
(Marketing)
Counselling Pot Various To go towards the cost of counselling services for clients.
Funders
St John's Foundation To cover the salary for the head of services and costs associated
(Programme) with group work.
The National Lottery (New Uplift funding as part of existing Reaching Communities grant.
Premises) Designated for premises project costs.
BANES COMF Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) - Recovery work
salary and overheads grant.

27

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

13. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds (continued)

Legal Education Fund LEF funding was provided for the facilitation of survivor consultation groups by SafeLives.

BANES CIL

Grant for Core Costs for new premises.

Purposes of designated funds

Salaries

The trustees have designated £55,000, received from unrestricted grants in 2021-22, towards future salary costs which would not have been possible without this support.

28

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

13. Movements in funds (continued)
Prior year comparative
£
Restricted funds
Hardship Various Funders
5,390
Persula Foundation
185
20,652
Allen Lane Foundation
1,262
4,183
9,840
262
2,439
Lloyds Bank Foundation
20,057
2,500
2,195
-
6,500
28,095
Comic Relief Women's Aid
-
-
Total restricted funds
103,560
Unrestricted funds
General funds
30,704
Total unrestricted funds
30,704
Total funds
134,264
Group Costs Various
Funders
Care Forum Health Watch
BANES
St John's Foundation
(Freedom)
At 1
September
2020
Avon & Somerset Police &
Crime Commissioner
Quartet Community
Foundation
National Lottery Corona
Virus Community Support
The National Lottery
Reaching Communities
St John's Foundation
(Admin, Comms &
Marketing)
Counselling Pot Various
Funders
St John's Foundation
(Programme)
The National Lottery (New
Premises)		 Income
£
-
-
27,143
3,500
10,000
-
56,000
-
24,565
2,500
1,025
10,000
-
-
15,000
31,794
181,527
49,055
49,055
230,582		 £
(1,890)
(185)
(43,672)
(4,309)
(4,184)
(9,840)
(56,262)
(1,212)
(26,106)
(4,226)
(2,534)
-
(2,535)
(15,632)
(15,000)
-
(187,585)
(31,235)
(31,235)
(218,820)
Expenditure		 £
(3,500)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers
between
funds		 £
-
-
4,123
453
10,000
-
-
1,227
18,516
774
686
10,000
3,966
12,463
-
31,794
At 31
August
2021
(3,500) 94,002
3,500 52,024
- 52,024
- 146,026

29

VOICES

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 August 2022

14. Operating lease commitments

The charity had operating leases at the year end with total future minimum lease payments as follows:

Amount falling due:
Within 1 year
Within 1 - 5 years		 2022
£
34,000
136,000		 2021
£
-
-
170,000 -

15. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year.

30