## **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.|
1
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.
2
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.|
|---|---|---|---|
4
|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**|
||||
5
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
6
**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:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- 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
8
**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
9