End of rre ort & Inde endentl Examined Financial statements For the Year End 31st March 2021 Chari number: 1161092
orts and Accountin For the Year ended 31st March 2021 Pages Trustee report Report of the Trustees Structure, Governance & Administration Statement of Financial Activities Independent Examiners Report Accounts 9-10
Trustee report During these unprecedented times, tlie charity has been tested, it has Iiot been straight- forward or easy but it has been positive. The pandemic forced us to mal<e decisions that would have taken us much longer to reach, trustees became more involved in day-to-day operations and supported a new acimiiiistrator, a post which coiitinues to add value to tli Pod's resources and ability to support more families. Looking back at the last year, Pod projects have adapted and moved from weekly social cILibs to engagement 7 days a week at the peal< of the pandemic without pausing services. The teams have put in place bespoke support for young people and families where this has been needed. Covid-19 may have tried to slow us all down, but the charity did not slow down, tlie achievements of young people and teams has been exceptional; a young person's idea led to a published lockdown recipe book including poems and stories, a keepsake from a straiige year that will always remind our young people and families of the full times and that it wasn t all bad. Zoom became the new normal method of communication. It certainly took some getting used to (I include myself and fellow board members in this to!) but, it has been a pleasure to receive updates on the positive outcomes from all three projects and from the new online talking café. Welfare check in's, activity pack production and distriblltion became the new normal, not just for the young people we know but for siblings too. There have been Inany other Iiighlights I could mention however the one stand out point to myself and the board is the strength and resilience the team and young people have shown over the last 12 months and the difference Pod lias made to the families Ive work with. As our community recovers the charity will continue to adapt to the long-term effects of Covid-19, we have already begun to evaluate the alternative support methods used in the last 15 months and are taking this learning forward into fLlture activities. As I look back on the last year, my sixth and final year with Pod it is with so many fond memories. The time has come for me to step down as trustee, but I do so in the full knowledge that Pod will continue to grow from stren(Tth to strength. There are many ideas in tlie pipeline including the scrapstore and make and sell project aiid I am confident they will be as successful as our current projects with thanks to a committed and loyal team Ivho continLie to strive to deliver first class projects with, and not just for OLir members. A Liggatt Chair of Trustees
History - The Pod is a grassroots initiative, founded by parent carei"s in 2013 in response to a lack of sen3ices t.or disabled children in Mendip. Maintaining a service that is member led is essential in erisuring Pod beneficiaries support one another and reach their full potential. Objectives (talien from CIO) To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially e.Ycluded and assisting theni to integrate into society., The charity does this by providing the following services; Pod Youth Club The Youth club welcomes children with additional needs who are aged 10-17 years. The club would usually meet on a Tuesday evening in term time. The ratio is 1.3 and the team are skilled, experienced and understand how to enable the children to reach their full potential. Children learn important life sl<ills and make friends at the youth club, many for the first time. There continues to be a long waiting list, historicall! children wait a year before they can join the group. One of the benefits of online support is tliat the charity has been able to offer support to fcimilies on tlie waiting list. As the youth clLib has reopened this online SLipport hds continued for children on the waiting list. 39 children have benefitted from tlie youth club support this year. The Zone The Zone is a youth club for Young Carers. The team have adjusted the age range from 10- 18 to 8-16 years old, recognising that children will not join the group when they turn 16 but nor will we be asking them to leave. Many but not all the children are siblings of disabled children. The team have completed welfare checl<s, provided online support, and distriliuted activity packs. 22 cliildren have benefitted from the project this year. Pod Plus Pod, Plus is a social club for adults with additional needs aged 18-30 years. 20 young people have accessed the group this year which has i)i-ovided online support ever! Monday evening, in addition to social media interaction 7 days a week. Team members interacted and set fun challenges which developed into young people setting their own challenges for their peers within a supportive framework using a 'safe' closed platform. The Pod Plus 18-30's group were the main beneficiclries however we received many positive reviews froni other families and Friends of Pod wlio enjoyed the interactions and felt less isolated at home. New - Talking café June 2020 The Pod received a significant nLimber of new enquiries fi-om new parents needing support, the charity launched a support group for parent carers (of additional needs cliildren) in partnership with Frome Town Council and Health connect.ors initially. consultation is taking place and we Iiave plans to develop the service into a more traditional coffee morning setting.
Other Activities This year has been unique and has led to many new initiatives; The charity collaborated with Frome Town Rotary and prodLiced a free family treasure hunt for Frome families. The projects provided a l-l text chatroom, supporting young people's mental health and well-being, developing into a 'te.xt to talk, service which continued for niany months for a sniall group. l-l chat helped identify what young people and families needed the online offer to look like. Pod took part in a Covid-19 community group forLim and cascaded information to the Pod community, this culminated in foodbank referrals and delivery, free cinema and open-air theatre tickets for Pod families. Pod Plus produced a lockdowTI recipe book which sold in the local bookshop. Families received Window Wanderland packs and created displays and a final Pod collage. Pod Plus members accessed a 10-week next steps program with a new volunteer, this project informed the National Lottery funded NDTI Time to Talk project. The charity did not organise traditional holiday activities but dici maintain connections during the holidays. Being online did not stop the projects from inviting visitors in to add value and teach new skills. Visitors inclLided; a Zumba teacher, Oppnstorytellers sessions ancl Gallii7anting Goblins theatre workshops. All seasonal activities were cancelled; however, the groiJps did organise a combined family picnic at Palette and Pasture ice cream parlour, 48 family members came together. As restrictions lift and events begin, it is hoped tlie Pod community will be able to take part in seasonal fetes, the Frome marathon and other opportunities M7here the primary focus is to support families and young people to take part, grow in confidence and feel a part of the community. The weekly bingo run by Pod, (partnership: Cheese and Grain) remains closed althoLigh will reopen shortly we hope. The project V¥Thich supports leai-ning dis?.bled adults, plays a major part in our community enga(Tenient both in terms of fLindraising but also -, educing isolation and supporting some of the most 17ulnerable meinbers of our conimunity. Presentations this year included; the Rotary who kindly nominated the Pod as their charity of the year, Children in Need Radio interviews for BBC Somerset and a Frome FM interview and discussion on the impact of Covid on the disabled community. Our impact Altnough A, is a relative newcomer he gets so much out ofsessioiis. .we have been so iinpressed with howA was welconled and settledfrom the outset and looksfoiivard to sessions. Having everything so organised and with a weelcly theme that Is made availablefar in advance isgreqt- it helps us prepare A which in turn 12elps him get the most oiit of the meetings, 'B' has loved looking at the tasks set on Facebook and Inisses Pod cliibs a lot. It's meaiit tlie world to us as afamily to have something that B couldfeel part ofas he's i?ever really been able to join a club like othet" children who jLlSt take itforgrai?ted'
'The Podgroups continue to play a vital part in oLirfa172ilv, giving e170rmous support to oLir kids, as well as confidence, a safe plac'e to let offsteam, and a place tofeel valuedfor who they are, 'Other clubs we have tried with 'C' have not been so siiccessfvl and cause Cgreat anxiety,... they are often run by different staff a17d it is not Uliusual that C is stressed when I pick up. C wants to go to Pod ai?d is always happy and relaxed when I collect, Ayoung person's acrostic poem place to hang out lots of laughs understandilig to everybody Somethingfor everyone People havingfiii? ope17 to every017e doing lots offvn activities A small selection of testimonials from young people and families. The success of the projects is founded on strong relationships with families and young people who are happier, healthier, and more confident as they form friendships and learn to be independent, outside of education where many struggle to be accepted and understood. The charity has an excellent reputation and strong pai-tnerships, other groups consult Pod Ivhen planning events, ensuring they are accessible for all families. One of the.fe part.nerships led to the fi.ee treasure hunt with around 350 mainstream family memPJers benefittlilg. It is important to everyone that the children, young people and adults that access the projects have a say in their clubs, they help choose the activities, run their own tuck shop, and during the pandemic, their interview questions and views helped Pod to recruit a new employee on zoom. The charity has grown significantly but has not lost sight of its roots, Pod activities support whole families to be strongei", mol-e confident and to find and use their voice. Staff and Volunteers The Charity employs a Part time Chai-ity Mana(Ter (18 hi".s) and a part time adiniriistrator (5hrs) effective August 2020, in addition to sessional Trvorkers as follows. Pod Youth Club The Zone Pod Plus Conimunity volunteers l Youth Leader / 4 Youth Workers - I volLinteer l Youth Leader / l Youth Worker- 2 volunteers l Lead (+ administrator) I Club Assistant- 3 volunteers l Gold D of E student The trustees ensure that key policies are in place, reviewed and adhered to, with sateguarding at the top of the agenda. Service deliveiv is in the skilled hands of eniployed sessional workers. Day-to-da! management and fundraising is undertaken by a part time Cliai-ity Mana(Jer. Lil<e all small chai-ities the Pod contiiiues to be stretched by demand and the board continues to look for ways to respond to this demand. Altliough the Pod does receive invaluable support from volunteers, the charittT is unable to run its projects without paid sessioiial staff who provide consistenc! and stability for young people and training for volunteers.
Volunteer numbers are reduced due to less workers being required to deliver online support. Pod Youth Club and Zone supported many new children and focused on employees establishing relationships rather than recruiting volunteers. We continue to value volunteers and are very grateful for the hours they provide. Without their contribution of time and energy we would not be able to support as many families as we do. Salaries represent 84 % of our aniiual expenditure this year. (201Q/20 - 77 % ) Furlough scheme The charity made use of the furloLI(sh schenie in 3 phases. Out of a team of 10, 6 fLirlouglied at some point. Once new delivery methods were workinu Ivell the cliarity manager furloughed for three weeks in four in May and June, returning to part furlou(Jh from July to October. For a charity heavily led by a foLinder charity manager, the trustees saw this as an opportunity to step back, create a new administrator post and test contingency systems. Resources were stretched but this was successful, the charity now has a part time administrator. The new role enabled Pod to increase its reach to more families and cre?,te a bespoke service for members who needed this. Apart from a COLiple of shifts in January INhile the team renewed their consultation with families, all employees have come off furlough this year. Structure, Governance and Administration The Charity Manager reports to the board at every trustee meetin(s; this report provides up to date information on each project, community activities, safegLiarding, finance and anything pertinent at tlie time. Board meetings genei-ally take place in March, June, September & December, this year all meetings (except March) took place usin(T Zoom technology. Trustees liase and individually meet with the charity manager to discuss actions specific to their area of responsibility. The Charity Manager line manages the administrator and 3 Club Leaders who in turn provide supervision to their project teanis, made up of employees and volunteers. A membership forum would usually take place aloniTside the Annual General Meeting in June, however, this year the trustees agreed to cancel the AGM. Althougli the usual forum did not take place the annual report Ivas niade available to all members and families (including potential beneficiaries) who have been provided with multiple opportunities to tell us what is and is not working for them, the teams have adjusted their activities to incorporate the feedback received from families, children, and young people tliey support. Administration Charity Registered address: C/0 Openstorytellers, RISE, Whittox Lane, Frome, BAII 3BY Banking: Co-operative bank, Po Box 250, Delf House, Southway, Skelmersdale, WN8 6MiT Payroll: In-house using Brightpay softwai"e. Insurance: A 3-month extension was granted by ZuriLlI because of the CoronavirLIS pandemic, the insurance policy renewal date is now the 25Lh February 2022.
Independent Examiner: A.E Davies, Chartered Accountant, Gable%, Wash Lane, Montacute, Soinerset, TA15 6XA Governance Governing Document: The charity formed as a community group on the 1st Ma! 2013 and became a registered cliarity (CIO) with voting members on the 2 /tii March 2015. If the CIO is wound up, the niembers of the CIO have no liabilit! to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities. The number of members in the year ending 2021 is 23 (2020 - 38) The charity has focused on being flexible and adaptable tliroughout the pandemic and has not cliarged for 98 % of its activities. Our membership is significantly reduced. however, this is not a reflection on capacity or level of support provided. Trustee Appointments: The trustee's skillset is regularly reviewed. The MeiberS 01- the cliarity trustees may at any time dppoint a new charit! trustee when there is ali identified need. An interested trustee is provided with an 'eisentl?Il guidarice on being a trustee, They will attend a tl-LlStee meeting before their first appointr]ent; receive a copy of the constitution, latest annual repoi-t and statement of accoLints. As a result of the AGM being cancelled in 2020, trustees agreed they would remain in post. In normal circumstances one-third of the charity tru.stees retire fi-om office at the AGM. If the number of charity trustees is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third shall retire from office. Cliarity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been lon(Jest in office since their last appointment or i-eappointment. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or benefits. Trustee Position.- Dates actea Il tiot w M Mpltnn S Dri!<p ALI A TLiffnell E Wilson S Bennett -I'reasurer Chair Secrpta Summary of Financial Activities Ive alivays aim to Illlpiimize the cost of our serv'ices to disadvantaged families however we do a-kiioivledge an ir)come made up of voluntary nontributions (weekly 'subs') in the fiiiancial reports. Charitable activlty income (including fundraising) has si(Tnificantly i-educed during the pandemic due to event cancellations and the focus movin(s to reniote forms of support. In 2020/21 charitable activity income generated £2,296.07 (2019/20 £11,580.93)
Fortunately, the charity maintains excellent relations with its funders and has a good track record with fundraising. Charitable donations and grants given by individuals, groups and grant making bodies totaled £43.203.67 (2019/20 £24,941.00) The trustees would like to thank all our funders and donors both large and small for their support which has enabled us to develop and expand our services during this most unprecedented year. A full list of donors is presented on page 10 of this report. The income for the year endin<J 31 March 2021 totaled £51,058.32 (2020: £36,521.93) against expenditure of £32,200.67 (2020: £40,057.90) Reserves The trustees acknowledge the challenges of the current funding climate; increased competition and the unknown implications of Covid-19. The TrLlStees will continue to monitor the level of unrestricted reserves which should be between £16,200 and £27.000. This represents 3-5 months of the charities annual operating costs in the year ending 2021/22. The unrestricted reserves at the end of 2020/21 are £17,572.96 In addition to a fui-ther £23,311.46 or restricted reserves associated with all three projects and some core costs. The projected charity costs in 2021/2022 are £.65,660. The charity has secured a multi~ year grant from Children in Need and the Masonic Charitable Trust in addition to other one-off grants and donations. There is currently a shortfall and fundraising target of at least £25,000 if we are to continue providing and developing essential services for vulnerable children, young people, adults and families. The Trustees Ivill continue to monitor the fundraising polici and reseriTes levels during the next financial year. Declaration Signed and approved by the board on 29tli June 2021. (Trustee)
Inde endent examiner's re ort on the accounts ofThe Po for the ear st March 2021 Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner The Charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) and that ali independent exainination is needed. It is my responsibility to Examine the accounts To follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission and To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the charity commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with these records. It also includes consideration of any uiiusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view aiid the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examiners statement In the course of my examination no matter has come to my attention: l. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respec( the requirements: To keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the act and To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act; have not been met or 2. To which, in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed Date 25th June 2021 Name Andrew Davies I Profession Chartered Accountant Address Gables, Wash Iane, Montacute, Somerset TA15 6XA
THE POD INCOME AND EXPENDrruRE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds TOTAL INCOME CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Parent Contributions 799.00 Membership Bingo Fund raising FURLOUGH GRANT 132.00 1.121.82 5,558.58 DONATIONS Friends of Frome Hospital Frome Lions 220.00 500.00 Selwood Rotary Leathersellers 500.00 i.000.00 1,500.00 Morland 1,000.00 Other donations 287.92 470.00 GRANTS SCF Covid Response True Colours Trust 3,000.00 5,000.00 National Lottery Children In Need 9.482.00 12.493.75 SCF Discovery Bailey Thomas Gosling Foundation Local Giving 3,750.00 1,000.00 2,500.00 500.00 TOTAL INCOME 6.303.99 44.754.33 EXPENDITURE Wa£es and salary Insurance 741.60 26.496.97 493.61 Telephone Administration 216.00 72.00 245.58 430.89 . LIUiDment 145.64 925.51 Venue Hire 1.137.50 Sessional activities 126.62 382.86 Training Fundraising Miscellaneous and tuck TOTAL EXPENDITURE 30.00 361.20 44.69 1.550.13 30.650.54 NET INCOME 4 753.86 14 103.79 KEPRESENTED BY: Opening Cash at Bank and in hand Add: Net Income 12,819.10 4 753.86 9,207.67 22,026.77 14 103.79 18 857.65 losino Cash at Bank and in hand 17.572.96 23 311.46 40 884.42 TRUSTEE
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKfs - CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 2020121 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTVITIES Tuck shop Contributions Membership Bingo Childrens festival Marathon Gift aid Mendip Lottery Collection buckets Francis Marathon Silent Disco Amazon smile Makers Market Sales from donated gifts Recipe Book Sales 64.50 734.50 132.00 243.25 30.00 440.50 25.38 124.94 501.00 Charitable activit - TOTAL Furlou h Reclaim .93 2 296.07 5 558.58 DONATIONS Recipe Book Donations Saputo 240/Rogers 150/Stoney St 50/Rye 30 Fair Frome Friends of Frome Hospital Selwood Rotary (Ik ' ) Frome Lottery Frome Lions Leathersellers Hartfield Trust . Woodlanders Sherborne Classic Cars . Morland Fryer/Bunce GRANTS Children in Need @ Gosling Foundation True Colours Trust Somerset Community Foundation l.Discovery 2 + Covid@ Frome Town Council @ National Lottery Covid response . Local Giving Sobell Foundation Bally Thomas" indicates Ringfencedfunding 470.00 170.00 220.00 1,500.00 216. 500.00 1,500.00 1,000.00 117.92 12,493.75 2,500.00 5,000.00 6,750.00 9,482.00 500.00 1,000.00 Grants Donaton - Total Total receipts 43 203.67