Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] April 2023 Period start date To 31[st] March 2024 Period end date
Charity name: Lewisham Parent and Carer’s forum
Charity registration number: 1059533
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | ‘To relieve the needs of children with disabilities and/or additional needs and their parents and families in Lewisham, London; through participation in shaping local services, the provision of education information and support. In advancing these purposes the charity shall within the London Borough of Lewisham: a. develop strategy and represent families of ‘Children with Special Needs’; b. to ensure parent participation to enable parents to get involved in service planning and decision making so that services meet the needs of families with disabled children; c. provide a liaison point for statutory and voluntary agencies; d. raise awareness of issues faced by ‘Children with Special Needs’ and their families; e. share experiences, knowledge and skills with other relevant organisations and individuals; and f. inform the London Borough of Lewisham of any actual or potential breaches of current policy regarding ‘Children with Special Needs’.’ |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Events and activities We hold our monthly coffee mornings in central Catford, and they have been well attended. Our Parent Forum Meetings are held in person at the Leemore Centre, inviting speakers to talk to parent carers and gain feedback/provide information. This year our topics were education transition phases with the local authority, The Advocacy Partnership presenting on transitions into adulthood, a travel assistance workshop with the local authority and an online workshop with SENDIASS covering EHCP annual reviews. We held 3 SEND Strategy consultation events with a member of the Local Authority SEND Team, covering the next 3-4 years. We had a fair turn out of 12 parents/carers for the face to face, but limited numbers for the evening and Saturday, online sessions. We held a parent/carer social event at Christmas to engage with parents/carers. |
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We visited 4 primary schools to talk about the Parent Forum, provide resources, and offer support, which were very well attended.
We took part in Lewisham College’s Open Day event, which was well attended throughout the day and a good networking opportunity.
We provide a very comprehensive monthly newsletter with lots of information to help families, we also provide intermediate news bulletins for important/urgent news as and when it is received.
We employ the services of an admin worker to support the Forum with our monthly newsletter, regular website entries, twitter and Facebook.
Core Costs
The costs that are fundamental to providing our service are:
Parent Participation Officer payments to facilitate the Parent Forum
To include: website maintenance and hosting, rent, software/security, annual liability insurance, Zoom, texting service, accountant and accounts software and support, stationery, bank charges and training. Promotional items plus resource folders for schools. Training for trustees, and self-employed staff.
Work undertaken Autism in Schools project working with one of our Lewisham secondary schools, to engage with parents and carers.
Attending quarterly SEND Programme Boards, representing the voice of parents and carers.
Running our regular board meetings, attending webinars and online training.
Regular monthly meetings with our Head of SEN Integrated Services, Lewisham Local Authority.
Attend National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) Regional Cluster Group Meetings.
Taking calls, meeting with parents, giving advice on services and signposting.
Other work
City Bridge Funding continues to support our transitions for young people project.
Benefits/financial advice is high. We are applying for quality standards.
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Statement Para 1.18 confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
The trustees have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Volunteers play a necessary and vital role in maintaining the Parent Forum and its activities. Our Trustees and other volunteers attend many meetings, consultations, our drop in sessions, help with workshops/training and organising our main event, and we have much to thank for their loyalty and diligence for the work they undertake on behalf of the parents and carers in Lewisham. |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Achievements and performance Run our regular board meetings, Attending webinars and online training Meetings/networking with other organisations – SENDIASS, Lewisham Community Connections, Lewisham Speaking Up, Kooth, Access Sport, Mencap, Attending meetings on SEND stakeholder groups. General We share our knowledge and information with parents and carers, our London Cluster Group, and all others as above. We encourage parent participation |
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| and, by engaging with service | |
|---|---|
| providers, we can be a greater | |
| influence to the services that provide | |
| support for our young people in | |
| Lewisham. | |
| | Our training and workshops give |
| knowledge, resilience and some | |
| reduction of isolation to our parents | |
| and carers. | |
| | We are included and involved in all |
| that is asked of us and we feel that | |
| this positive outlook can ensure more | |
| positive outcomes for the Forum. |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Income for the year totalled £61,873 (2023: £49,391) of which £691 was unrestricted. Expenditure in the year amounted to £62,555 (2023: £51,874) with £nil being spent from unrestricted income funds. All other expenditure related to restricted income funds. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity aims to build up modest reserves to cover unexpected costs, funding delays and other cashflow needs. At 31st March 2024 our unrestricted general funds stand at £3,167(2023: £2,476) with Restricted funds carried forward of £9,371 (2023: £10,744). The Trustees feel that, given the funding agreed for the following year, these reserves are sufficient to continue operations |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Unrestricted reserves for the year are £3,167 (2023: £2,476) |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | There are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern, but we do have to consider the economic climate especially from our Government funding. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Our main source of funding is from the Department of Education and we have a yearly contribution from the Local Authority. |
|
|---|---|---|---|
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| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | N/A |
|---|---|---|
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | If we are no longer funded by the Department of Education, we will need to seek other funding and add/make changes to our work. |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | The charity’s constitution states that we are required to have a minimum of 4 trustees with a maximum of 15. Trustees must be appointed by resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity’s trustees. The charity’s trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge, experience and ability needed for the effective administration of the CIO. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | We have policies and procedures in place to cover the induction and training of trustees. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | We have a charity organisational structure in place. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | No related parties |
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Other
Payments were made to our Chair of Trustees outside the role of Trustee to purchase, prepare and provide food for our events during the year. This was agreed by our trustees.
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Lewisham Parent and Carer’s Forum |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | LPCF |
| Registered charity number | 1159533 |
| Charity’s principal address | Leemore Centre Bonfield Road Lewisham London SE13 5EU |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nalan Salih | Chair | |||
| Julie Traquair | ||||
| Paula Snasdell | ||||
| Louise Hill | ||||
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Nalan Salih Full name(s) Nalan Salih Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)[ CHAIR ] Date 18/01/2025
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name Lewisham Parent and Carer’s Forum members of On accounts for the year 31[st] March 2024 Charity no 1159533 ended (if any) Set out on pages 8 & 9 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31[st] March 2024.
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation Responsibilities and of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act basis of report 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: KRMoss Date: 20/01/2025 ~~Ps fF~~ Name: Kathleen Moss ACMA, CGMA ~~Cs~~ Relevant professional Chartered Institute of Management Accountants qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 48 Lawn Terrace London SE3 9LP
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| Lewisham Parent and Carer’s Forum | Lewisham Parent and Carer’s Forum | Lewisham Parent and Carer’s Forum | Lewisham Parent and Carer’s Forum | 1159533 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||||||||||
| 1st April 2023 31st March 2024 Period start date Period end date To For the period from ~~ee~~ |
|||||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||||
| to the nearest £ |
to the nearest to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||||
| Department for Education | - | 20,022 | - | 20,022 | 18,091 | ||||||
| LB Lewisham salary grant | - | 12,500 | - | 12,500 | 12,500 | ||||||
| Fundraising& donations | 691 | - | - | 691 | 1,240 | ||||||
| CityBridge Trust | - | 16,500 | - | 16,500 | 7,560 | ||||||
| The National Lottery,Awards for All | - | - | - | - | 10,000 | ||||||
| Together for London | 8,642 | 8,642 | |||||||||
| Autism in Schools | - | 750 | - | 750 | - | ||||||
| Leathersellars Foundation | - | 2,768 | - | 2,768 | - | ||||||
| Interest received | |||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
(Gross income for AR) |
691 | 61,182 | - | 61,873 | 49,391 | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total receipts 691 61,182 - 61,873 49,391 ~~————_—~~ |
|||||||||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||||
| Staff costs | - | 39,505 | - | 39,505 | 36,500 | ||||||
| Office rent | - | 2,979 | - | 2,979 | 2,979 | ||||||
| PPS & office costs | - | 2,316 | - | 2,316 | 2,045 | ||||||
| Parent Forum meetings | - | 874 | - | 874 | 734 | ||||||
| Website &publicity | - | 2,593 | - | 2,593 | 2,221 | ||||||
| Governance | - | 594 | - | 594 | 551 | ||||||
| Events & activitycosts | - | 12,071 | - | 12,071 | 5,743 | ||||||
| Indepdendent examination | - | 376 | - | 376 | 390 | ||||||
| Accountancysoftware | - | - | - | - | 144 | ||||||
| Training& supervision | - | 948 | - | 948 | 462 | ||||||
| Bank charges | - | 115 | - | 115 | 105 | ||||||
| Volunteer expenses | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Other | - | 184 | - | 184 | - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | 62,555 | - | 62,555 | 51,874 | ||||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total payments - 62,555 - 62,555 51,874 ~~——————~~ |
|||||||||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) 691 -1,373 - -682 -2,483 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end 2,476 10,744 - 13,220 15,703 Cash funds this year end 3,167 9,371 - 12,538 13,220 ~~======>~~ |
CC16a R1 accounts (SS)
20/01/2025
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Lewisham Parent and Carer’s Forum 1159533 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 1st April 2023 31st March 2024 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Categories Details funds funds fundsTotal to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ B1 Cash funds Unity Trust Bank Account 3,158 9,371 - Lloyds Business Card - Cash 9 - - Total cash funds 3,167 9,371 - ~~SS=—~~ (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) OK OK OK Fund to which Current value Details asset belongs Cost (optional) (optional) B4 Assets retained for the - - charity’s own use - - - - Fund to which Amount due When due Details liability relates (optional) (optional) B5 Liabilities - - - Signed by one trustee on behalf of all Date of the trustees Signature Print Name approval Nalan Salih Nalan Salih 18/01/2025 ~~——_— =~~
CC16a R2 accounts (SS)
20/01/2025
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