Registered charity no. 1162110
Annual Report 2021
- Martine Delaney
Martine Delaney Emma Klieve Joe Shaw Chair Trustee Trustee
Damon Musgrove Brian Rees Shirley Martland Trustee Trustee Financial Responsibility
Dean Owens-Cooper Trustee - removed June 2021
Tracy Sheppard Manager & Mediator
David Coghlin Mediator
Christine Boydell Administrator
Shirley Maddocks BBR Worker
TalkFIRST was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in June 2015 and was operational immediately. The CIO is a development of its predecessor Resolutions, a Community Interest Company, set up in 2012, operational from 2013.
the CIO. We are based in a central location in the borough, offering easy access from all areas.
The Trustees understand their legal obligations under charity law. They are committed to the integrity of TalkFIRST, ensuring legal compliance, that the organisation remains solvent, and uphold all aspects of our constitution. As with the policies that inform the charity’s practice, the constitution is reviewed annually.
Trustees board meetings have taken place monthly, all meetings have been minuted to ensure transparency.
Our charitable objectives are:
To support children, young people and their families who are at risk of family conflict, anti-social behaviour, criminal activities or relationship breakdown, through the provision of family mediation, family support and group work activities.
Our Mission Statement: “empowering families, in all their forms, to build better relationships in a way that is right for them”
To achieve our Charitable Objectives, guided by our Mission Statement, we provide person-centred relationship-based services for families. The term ‘family’, refers to none-blood, inter-generational, extended and step families of all ages.
A recent grant funding award, means this service will continue and develop, in Wigan, enabling struggling families experiencing conflict and relationship problems the opportunity to alleviate their difficulties by working with our new Building Better Relationships programme.
The provision of family mediation through the Family Mediation Council (FMC) Accreditation programme enables separating couples to work with a FMC Accredited Mediator to resolve child issues or address financial and property matters resultant from separation and divorce.
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beneficiaries from further afield.
Our Work
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almost £170,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to kick-start our new Building Better Relationships programme, the culmination of much hard work in evaluating our previous work, consulting with many stakeholders and planning a new strategy for supporting struggling families with relationships and communication.
Building Better Relationships Worker, Shirley, joined is soon after.
In addition to the huge boost the Lottery Community Fund gave us, we were fortunate to benefit from a range of other funders
Tesco’s Bags of Help, Cheshire Community Foundation, CAF Bank, The Charity Services and Awards for All (part of the Community Lottery Fund).
Our Building Better Relationships programme supports families in the Wigan Borough, where difficult relationships, conflict and poor communication impact on family wellbeing, in particular that of children and young people. The aim is to help families adapt their approaches to difficult situations, improve their understanding of the needs of the relationship and each other, and develop better ways of communicating. Building Better Relationships is funded by The Lottery Community Fund. The start of this programme coincided with the start of this financial year, but we were very pleased with the uptake following the new digital marketing campaign, and the hard work of the BBR staff in visiting schools, Wigan Council Start Well Centres, and community groups to introduce themselves and the new project. and made a strong start – and the
impetus has continued since.
Whilst BBR was a new project, started in July 2021, there was work with families ongoing prior to this point, that underpinned the BBR project, and in the year to 31 August, we received 101 referrals for family work, with just over half, (57) engaging in parent support, and family mediation.
following outcomes:
Less parental stress and worry
89
Better parent – child relationships
72
Improved communication and reduced family conflict
69
Happier, more settled children/young
59
people
This year , 101 mediation referrals culminated in 76 families have taken part in family mediation. These have been separated parents who wanted to improve the way they co-parented and arrangements around their children. As a result, 114 children and young people will have happier family life as part of a separated family. Parents experiencing less stress and worry, and able to communicate more amicably with the other parent.
Not everyone who enquires can, or wants to mediate. Our records tell us that a further 7 9 people have spoken with someone at TalkFIRST about their family issues and have left the conversation better informed about their choices and having benefited from ‘a listening ear’ and someone with whom they could share their experiences and worries. We believe that everyone who comes into contact with us, should benefit whether they work with us , or not.
At the beginning Mum, Joanne came to us after a referral by a council early intervention team member, who recognized their role with the family was limited, with a more specialist approach needed.
The presenting situation was that Jake (10) no longer wishing to see his mum and was now residing with his dad and his and step mum fulltime. Mum did not understand the breakdown in the relationship and felt shut out with no communication; further deterioration came due to breakdown in the wider family relationships. Jake felt fearful about being in a relationship with mum and no longer wished to see her.
What we did
Every aspect of Building Better Relationships is considered, and becomes of identifying the way forward, whether informal and impartial mediation, further support for parents around the age and stage of a child’s development, or communication skills – a creative approach is best.
mum, dad, step mum and Jake, and a number of aspects to consider.
I had met with each party to understand their perspective on what had happened and how we could find a way forward, before agreeing a ‘plan of action’, and a point of contact with step mum enabling me to get to know Jake. I also liaised with school on a couple of occasions and attended meetings there. This was valuable as I was able to gain further information that would support my work with the family, to offer the vital support needed once their referrer
had closed their case.
with them both individually and identifying the issues I was able to establish what the blocks were and how to help mum to move past them so that she could benefit from re engaging with her son, and how she could communicate in a way that would see him being more
responsive, rather than shutting down and backing further away.
They had someone to talk to, someone to listen and someone to trust with the sharing of their
information.
The changes
Mum and son are now able to sit in the same room and have engaged in the mediation process, where as previously, Jake was too scared at the prospect. We have worked through the issues that sit between them, and they now look towards the future at the goals they have highlighted as wanting to achieve.
They went from having no trust, and communication being sporadic, strained and confrontational, to a place where mum now communicates with Jake every day. They look
forward to seeing each other and enjoy their time together.
I am proud of this piece of work, considering it’s starting place. It has taken time and patience and building of trusting relationships. I have received regular feedback by both parties that I have been the one constant there for them and someone they could turn to. They now feel hopeful and happy for the future. At one point things were looking very
dismal and lost for all involved.
structure and stability to slowly begin to rebuild on a new relationship and have an awareness of why things went wrong to begin with and how they can now communicate
to each other when the need arises.
(*Work on-going)
Shirley
Building Better Relationships Worker
A note from Tracy, CEO and Project Manager
Hearing in our regular supervision meetings, about the work Shirley and the family have done together, reminds me why BBR was established.
Work with struggling family’s needs to be at their pace. This case demonstrates how a creative approach blended with patience, understanding, a ‘listening ear’ makes a real difference. There is much evidence to show the huge benefit to the mental health and overall outcome for children who enjoy a stable loving relationship with their parent. Further, the improved mental health of parents who better understand their children, and their own situations and strive to develop and maintain the stable loving relationship has far reaching effects.
Zoe and Jake are young parents and have a 7 year old son, Joe, who resides with his dad fulltime, due to mum’s health issues, now much improved. Joe spent some time with his mum overnight stays. The relationship between mum and dad was hostile with no communication. Their own parents were taking charge of all communication around arrangements for Joe,
Jake withheld Joe from seeing Zoe after a family argument, where the police were involved. Zoe came to mediation with a wish to rectify the contact issues, and address the lack of communication between parents.
Though Jake initially reluctant to the idea of mediating with Zoe, he agreed to a MIAM, by which time he had given much thought to their situation and readily agreed, though was clear that a family court application would be needed afterwards.
Zoe and Jake hadn’t spoken directly for several years, and communication between had ceased, yet by the time they came to mediation they had already made contact and spoken about their wishes. The initial mediation was used well by the parents to talk about the issues that had gone before, consider Joe’s need to have a consistent relationship with his mum, and live in a family without hostility.
An interim arrangement was made for Joe and Zoe, and agreement reached about the parents taking responsibility for all arrangements and communication and how this would be dealt with, with their mums.
Their second mediation was short and sweet. They had worked hard an stuck to their agreed plan. Both experienced less stress and anxiety and were co-parenting amicably. Joe now saw mum and dad talking to each other on hand-over. Extended family issues were on the way to being resolved too.
The parents decided they were able to manage the situation between them, and the decision was taken that the application to the family courts was not needed, so reducing the stress and expenditure, further demonstrating their commitment to work together.
when the Ministry of Justice introduced their scheme to contribute £500 towards mediation costs for parents needing to negotiate child issues. With the scheme starting in March 2021, we offered the vouchers to every applicant and respondent. For some, this has meant the difference between mediating and not, and for others it has made the process less stressful, given the additional financial
burden mediation would have meant.
COVID-19
As for all organisations in the voluntary sector, the arrival of the global pandemic came as a shock and necessitated we re-think our service delivery and staffing, at a time when we had no idea what the impact would be.
For a time, the phones stopped ringing, as people got used to social distancing, restricted access to family and community, as well as the concerning nature of the news. We furloughed staff, with just one remaining working from home. Understandably, many grant funders turned their attention to funding COVID emergency response projects. For a time left us concerned for the financial
sustainability of the charity, should the situation be a long term one, especially as for some time, far fewer people were approaching us for mediation that would be paid for. However, the foresight of some grant-makers who recognised the potential risks posed to the sector, meant we were very fortunate to receive some money that would see us through the drought.
Soon, it seemed that the predicted detrimental impact on families and relationships that social distancing, enforced time together or apart through the periods of lockdown was upon us and the numbers of people needing support increased. Conversations using Zoom and Microsoft Teams became the norm, though once it was assessed as safe following government guidance and all necessary precautions taken, we were happy to welcome people back to the office, to have those all-important in-person conversations.
TalkFIRST is at an exciting point – collaboration with new partner agencies to generate new avenues of work, and a new fulltime family mediator coming on board – which will double the capacity for working with separating and separated couples over child arrangements and financial settlement.
We are making inroads into forging links with the health sector, and developing a new strategy to look at how we can increase the positive impact we have by increasing our reach into other geographical areas, and how the focus on relationship breakdown at an early intervention stage could reduce homelessness, and improve outcomes for veterans and ex-prisoners.
We’re really looking forward to what the next 12 months brings!
Reserves policy
means for the development of our principal activities.
establish and maintain reserves at a level sufficient to cover approximately six months running costs plus requisite redundancy considerations.
Reserves will be utilised in the following manner:-
-
In the event of a drop in income to make provision for necessary redundancy payments should the organisation find it is unable to sustain staffing levels
-
To allow TalkFIRST to take advantage of new opportunities
aligned with its aims.
To achieve this, we will aim to put £5k per year into reserves from unrestricted (mediation) income until that level is achieved.
staffing and other relevant responsibilities to ensure that they are adequate to
Income £89305 Expenditure £81588
TALK FIRST Trustees. Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 August 2021 Registered number: CE003520 Charity number: 1162110
TALK FIRST CONTENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 CONTENTS Legal and administrative infonnation Page 1 Trustees, report Page 2 Independent Examiners, report Page 4 Statement of financial activities Page 6 Balance sheet Page 7 Notes forming part of the financial statements Page 9
TALK FIRST LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Trustees M. Delaney (Chair) D. Owens-Cooper- resigned 1510612021 E. Klieve S. Powell - resigned 2410912020 J. Shaw- appointed 2410912020 B. Rees- appointed 0210812021 S. Martland appointed 0210812021 D. Musgrove- appointed 0210812021 Company Registered Number- CE003520 Charity Registered Number- 1162110 Registered Office 1 sl Floor Ashland House Dobson Park Way Ince in Makerfield Wigan WN2 2DX Accountants Bloomfield's Bloomfield Court 76 Factory Streel West Atherton, Manchester M46 OEF
TALK FIRST TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Reference and Administration Information The Trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2020. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice {SORP} 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities, issued in March 2005 and updated May 2008. Talk First is a company limited by guarantee and a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under number 1162110. The Trustees of the charity and the principle advisers of the charity are listed on page 1 . structure, Governance and Management The report was prepared in accordance with the special provisions within part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. Objectives and Activities of the Charity The main objectives of the charity are to support children, young people and their families who are at risk of family conflict, anti-social behavior, criminal activity or relationship breakdown, through the provision of family mediation, family support and group work activities. Results A summary of the results of the yearfs activities is incorporated in the Statement of Financial Activities. All revenue from the charitable activities are restricted and applied for the charitable objectives of the company. Directors and Trustees The directors and trustees during the year were as follows'.- M. Delaney (Chair} D. Owens-cooper E. Klieve S. Powell J. Shaw B. Rees S. Martland D. Musgrove Statement of Directors, and Trustees, Responsibilities The directors and trustees are required by law to prepare the financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the financial activities of the charity and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements the directors and trustees are required to:_ Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.,
TALK FIRST TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. The directors and trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time Ihe financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Small Company Status This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. Signed by order of the Board of Trustees and the Directors M. Delaney Chair Date 2022
TALK FIRST INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES OF TALK FIRST Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purpose of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charites Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The trustees have acknowledged, on the balance sheet, their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 396 of the Companies Act 2006, and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of its surplusl(deficit) for the financial year. In accordance with the instructions, we have prepared the financial statements on pages 7- 12 from the accounting records of the company and on the basis of information and explanations we have been given. It is my responsibility to.. Examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Charities Act) To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5){b) of the Charities Act), and To state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of independent examiner's statement My examination was carried out in accordan with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the eviden that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examiner's statement In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention 1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements.. To keep accounting records in accordance with seclion 130 of the Charities Act and S386 of the Companies Act 2006., and To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirement of Section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. or 2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
TALK FIRST INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES OF TALK FIRST K Bloomfield CPAA For and on behalf of Bloomfield's Accountants Limited Bloomfield Court 76 Factory Street West Atherton Manchester M46 OEF Date:.........................................
TALK FIRST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 Restrictsd fijnds 2021 Total funds 2021 Total fvnds 2020 Notè INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary Income TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of generating funds Charitable activities TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET INCOMING I IOUTGOINGI RESOURCES BEFORE TRANSFERS NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Fund balances al 1 September 2020 FUND BALANCES AT 31 August 2021
TALK FIRST BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 2021 2020 Note CURRENT ASSETS Cash and bank in hand 49,543 55,497 CREDITORS.. Amounts falling due within one year 500 500 Net current assets TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 49,043 54,997 CREDITORS.. Amounts falling due after one year NET ASSETS CHARITY FUNDS Reslricled funds The directors and trustees consider that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of S.480 of the Companies Act 2006. No notice from the members under S.476 of the Companies Act 2006 requiring the company lo have an audit has been deposited with the company. The directors and trustees acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with S.386 of the Companies Act 2006, and for preparing accounts, which give a true and fair view of the slate of the affairs of the company al 31 sl August 2021 and of ils net expenditure for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of S.396, but which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating lo the accounts so far as applicable lo the comp8ny. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating lo companies subject to the small companies, regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
TALK FIRST BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 2021 2020 Note CURRENT ASSETS Cash and bank in hand 49,543 55,497 CREDITORS.. Amounts falling due within one year 500 500 Net current assets TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 49,043 54.997 CREDITORS.. Amounts falling due after one year NET ASSETS CHARITY FUNDS Restricted funds The directors and Iruslees consider that the company is enlilled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of S.480 of the Companies Act 2006. No notice from the members under S.476 of the Companies Act 2006 reqLJiring the company to have an audit has been deposited with the company. The directors and Iruslees acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring that the company keeps Sccounting records which comply with S.386 of the Companies Act 2006, and for preparing accounts, which give a truo and fair view of the slate of the affairs of the company al 31 St August 2021 and of its nel expenditure for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of S.396, but which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating lo the accounts so far as applicable to the company. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies, regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
TALK FIRST BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 2022 and signed on their behaff, by.. M. DELANEY Chair Date 2022 The notes on pages g to 10 form part of these financial statements. Company number CE003520
TALK FIRST NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of preparation of financial statements These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities. The accounts have been prepared in compliance with the Slalement of Recommended Practice on Charity Accounts. Income and Expenditure is recognised in the accounts on the accruals basis al the dale on which an asset is recognised or a liability incurred. The company has taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No. 1 from the requirement to produce a cashflow statement on the grounds that il is a small company. Income All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Taxation The company is exempt from Taxation on income arising from activities in carrying out, and investment income applied only for, the company's main charitable purpose. INCOMING RESOURCES FROM GENERATED FUNDS other income 2021 Grants 2021 Total 2021 Tol81 2020 Voluntary Income COSTS OF GENERATING FUNDS Support costs 2021 Total 2021 Total 2020 Charitable activities Charitable expenditure CREDITORS: 2021 2020 Amounts falling due within one year- Other Creditors soo 500 Amounts falling due over one year Loans
TALK FIRST NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS Restricted Funds 2021 Total Funds 2021 Total Funds 2020 Net current assetsllliabilitiesl Creditors.. Due after one year 49,043 49,043 54,997 Total LIMITED BY GUARANTEE The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a Share Capital. Each member gives a guarantee lo contribute a sum not exceeding £10 to the company should il be wound up. At 3151 August 2021 there were 6 members. io
TalkFirst 1st Floor Ashland House Dobson Park Way Ince-in-Makerfield WN2 2DX
01942 243620