## **Trustees’ annual report for the period: 31 July 2022 to 31 July 2023** ## **1. Reference and administration details** **Name** X2Y LGBT Youth Group **Other name charity is known by** X2Y **Charity Number** 1162589 **Address** Pride House, 27, School Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4LR. ## **2. Names of the charity trustees** ||**Name**|**Ofce (if any)**|**Date acted if not for**
**wholeyear**| |---|---|---|---| |1|Ruth Wilson|Chair|Untl 13/02/23| |2|Stephanie Knight|Treasurer|| |3|GabyHowell|Chair|From 14/02/23| |4|Laura Babb||Untl 07/06/23| |5|Luca Onions||| |6|Anneliese Lewis||From 07/09/2022| ## **3. Advisors during the year** |**Type of advisor**|**Name**|**Address**| |---|---|---| |Wolverhampton
Voluntary Sector Council
(WVSC)|Rashmi Patel, ,
Pete Emms.|16 Temple Street,
Wolverhampton, WV2 4AN| |Bank|Co-op Bank|PO Box 250, Skelmersdale, Lancs.,
WN8 6WT| |French Ludlam
and Co
Limited – Registered
Auditors and
Accountants|Stephen Ludlam|Mountield House, 661 High
Street, Kingswinford, West
Midlands, DY6 8AL| |**Advisor**|**Name**|**Address**| |---|---|---| |Wolverhampton LGBT+|KellyWalker-Reed|Pride House,27 School Street,| ||(Chair)|WV1 4LR| |---|---|---| |Alan and Thomas
Insurance Brokers Ltd.|Martn Howard|314-316, Bournemouth Road,
Poole,Dorset,BH14 9AP.| |PAG Consultng|Polly Goodwin
(Consultant)|43, Westield Road, Kings Heath,
Birmingham,B14 7SX| |LGBT+ Consortum|Lucie Brook, Louise
Cook|Zone 5, Wrentham Business
Centre, Prospect Park, Exeter, EX4
6NA| ## **4. Structure, governance and management** **Governing document:** Constitution adopted 21 May 2015 **How the charity is constituted:** We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) whose only voting members are its charity trustees ## **Trustee selection method** Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in September. Trustees are appointed for a term of three years. Additional trustees may be provisionally voted onto the board during the year and their appointments confirmed at the next AGM. ## **Additional governance issues** The Trustees confirm they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission. X2Y has a safeguarding policy in place. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out on all members of staff and volunteers prior to employment or taking up voluntary placement. X2Y has benefitted from a close relationship with Wolverhampton LGBT and is affiliated to it as an ally. A representative of X2Y attends each WLGBT+ partners meeting. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. ## **6. Objectives and activities** ## **Summary of the objects of the charity** To promote social inclusion of, and preserve the physical and mental health of, LGBTQ+ young people in Wolverhampton and the Black Country, and to promote equality and challenge discrimination particularly on the grounds of age, gender identity and sexual orientation. ## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects** X2Y’s core activity is to run two drop-in sessions per week for LGBTQ+ young people in a central location. One is for young people aged 11-17; the other is for the 18-25 age group. Through this we aim to achieve our objects by: 1. Providing facilities and opportunities for recreation and education for young people in the interests of social welfare, in order to improve their conditions of life 2. Providing information, advice and emotional support 3. Raising awareness within Wolverhampton and surrounding areas of all aspects of discrimination through publications, training, events, media and other means of communication. The group also provides support for secondary schools, and other services working with children and young people in Wolverhampton and surrounding area. This includes staff training, advice and guidance and short term 1-to-1 support for individual young people on request. X2Y also relies heavily on the work of our sessional youth workers, outreach worker and operations manager, who consistently go above and beyond their contracts in their commitment to our beneficiaries. We also appreciate the many hours trustees have spent applying for funding, handling finances, attending meetings and supervising staff. ## **7. Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year** ## **A Year at X2Y** In February 2022, X2Y moved into their first permanent home. After years of changing locations and no real space to call ‘ours’ Pride House was born. It’s also home to Wolverhampton LGBT+ and Gorgeous Radio (an all LGBTQ+ radio station). All have provided fab opportunities for our young people, from meeting older LGBTQ+ people to learning how a radio station and radio show works! Across March and April, after interviewing 3 candidates, we narrowed it down to hiring Lucy. With a background in charity work and an extensive voluntary background in the LGBTQ+ community - she was the candidate for us and would soon be our new Operations Manager! After a then extensive round of recruitment and welcoming more people into the team, in July 2022 and with summer starting, our older group went for their monthly outing to the Arena Theatre to watch their drag show. One of our young people has a regular showcase so they love going to see one of the team! Lucy and Ruth attended a closing event for one of our funders, the event required some new marketing materials and some research with our young people on how to be a good ally to LGBTQ+ young people. After appointing Antony to run our parents and carers group, the first session began, after a consultation with prospective service users on timings, location etc it was decided the group would meet on the first Monday evening of every month. There has been 8 sessions since the group started, we now have a private Facebook group where service users can interact in-between groups, ask questions and chat with other families going through the same or similar journey. August saw Harriet start working with our 11-17 group on a Saturday. With her vast and extensive knowledge on BSL, she holds small sessions with our young people and staff to make X2Y a more accessible place. Upon appointment, Harriet also agreed to attend and achieve her Level 2 Youth Work qualification with Wolverhampton City Council. In December she became a fully qualified Youth Worker! As the weather got warmer and the air conditioning in the building was being repaired, our 11-17 group met up at West Park to do some outdoor activities. Keeping things cool in the shade and learning to play new games is one of their favourite summer activities! X2Y had the privilege of being part of the Birmingham Pride Parade. It was an incredibly empowering and emotional day for so many and we were so honoured to be part of this special day. After the incredible scenes and atmosphere we experienced at Birmingham Pride, so many of our young people were inspired to create some poetry and talk about what being LGBTQ+ is like and how X2Y helps them be themselves. September school start up again and our School Outreach Coordinator, Emma is delivering the most amount of in school sessions to date! She is now stationed in 18 schools across Wolverhampton and delivers 18 sessions every week to LGBTQ+ young people to provide more 1 to 1 support. Pictured is one of the schools she works in Pride display – utilising sources and resources provided by X2Y in previous training. We also started meetings with Wolverhampton City Council to start organising the first Wolverhampton Pride in almost 5 years! Then, after months of meeting, prep and consultations we finally got to announce Wolverhampton Pride 2023! As official partners of the event we have been key parts in the organisation of the event and making sure the LGBTQ+ community are represented. Our young people have had a say every step of the way and will be a central part of the parade! Our building, Pride House, will also be a central part of the day being a hub of peace, calm and extra curricular activities! Ruth, our longstanding Chair and Trustee stepped down from X2Y. After almost 10 years, X2Y would not be where it is without her hard work, dedication and incredible influence. We spent a lot of the month organising and planning 2 days of celebrations, one for our 11-17 group and another for our 18-25 and stakeholders! Our 11-17 group celebrations saw a big buffet, an LGBTQ+ Icons music quiz, pass the parcel and a funky rainbow photobooth! Our 18-25 and stakeholders event saw a timeline presentation of X2Y’s history, a display of our young peoples most recent artwork and some great catch ups with long time partners of X2Y. We also presented Ruth with her leaving presents, a handmade scrapbook full of goodbye messages, some flowers and a self care spa day! February has been one of the busiest months for us at X2Y – with our celebrations, LGBTQ+ History Month but also for our Operations Manager! Throughout her time at X2Y she has strengthened and created new partner relationships with organisations across the city, this has resulted in her securing two funding bids! One with Wolverhampton City Council to develop and deliver Train the Trainer sessions to Primary Schools – something we’ve never done before and is such an incredibly important session to be doing! The other, is finally securing funding through the Black Country Mental Health Foundation (formally the CCG). This will be for our counselling services inside and outside of schools, being able to offer more in school hours and sessions in Pride House. This is drastically needed as our waiting list for one to one counselling is ever growing. ## **Attendance** ## 11-17 group: In this past year, the total number of young people attending the group has been 63. This includes an active membership (where young person attends group almost every group) at 27. We held around 50 groups and events throughout the year with each event having an average attendance of 12 young people and over 500 overall attendances throughout the year. Activities included: - Sports day at West Park - Cosplay - Karaoke - Board Game Night - Prom - Bingo And so much more! ## 18+ group: 24 young adults have interacted with the 18-25 group this year (face-to-face, zoon and Whatsapp chat), with over 100 overall attendances. Activities included: - discussing relevant topics - mentor training - bingo - trips out - playing games - outside speakers ## **7. Financial information** Funding this year has come from 5 main sources: The National Lottery Awards for All, National Lottery Community Fund, Creative Black Country, Eveson Trust, West Bromwich Building Society and The City of Wolverhampton Council. We have two individual contributors and one local organisation who pay a regular monthly sum via standing order. ## **Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves** We hold NET bank and cash assets of £54,316.43 of which £21,487.17 is unrestricted. Included in this balance is £2,541.89 of tangible assets. The accounts show income for the year of £1,145.14 unrestricted and £70,051.50 restricted, total income £71,196.64. Expenditure for the year was unrestricted £588.55 and restricted £61,256.01. The total expenditure amounts to £61,844.56. The overall surplus for the year is £9,352.08. Our aim in the past has been to build up reserves of at least £5,000 but not more than £15,000, in order to ensure we are always able to carry out our obligations as an employer and to meet any unforeseen expenditure that may occur. However as a result of the expansion of our organisation as a result of our successful Community Fund bid we have needed to reconsider this position due to our plans to re-design and extend the services we offer LGBTQ+ young people and schools in our community. We now aim to build up reserves of at least £30,000 but not more than £45,000. This takes into account the fact that our main funder, the National Lottery pays its funding in 6-month instalments so will be reflected in our balance. We will review this position next year based on the current liabilities of employees, rent and contingencies etc. ## **Bank account** We have a community account with the Co-operative Bank. ## **8. Future plans** ## **What is next for X2Y?** ## – **Increasing our in house counselling sessions** - With funding agreed with the Black Country Mental House Foundation, we will be increasing our internal counselling sessions. Allowing young people who access our service but require more than just peer support, our counsellor – Emma, will be able to be on hand to offer that. ## **Developing and delivering LGBTQ+ Awareness Train the Trainer sessions to Primary Schools –** - We will be developing and delivering LGBTQ+ Awareness Train the Trainer sessions to as many Primary Schools in Wolverhampton as possible. With funding coming in from Wolverhampton City Council to deliver it to 12+ schools, we hope to make this a sustainable income source as there are over 80 primary schools in the city alone. ## **Developing and piloting an in schools champion scheme –** - Lucy would like to explore and develop an in schools champion scheme (name pending), this would encourage schools to be more of a safe space for LGBTQ+ young people, with assistance on policies, procedures, education and awareness and be another way to acquire sustainable income as well as helping young people. ## **Nurturing and growing our current groups –** ● Lucy would also like to focus on nurturing our newest parents and carers group, holding guest speakers and more topic-based discussions to broaden and increase our attendance. ## **Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. ## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature**
**i.**|| |---|---| |**Full name**|GabyHowell| |**Positon(e.g. chair etc.)**|Chair of Trustees| |**Date**|30/05/2024| X2Y LGBT YOUTH GROUP Registered Charlty Number 1162589 Independent Examiners Report and Accounts Year end 31 July 2023 French Ludlam & Co Limited Mountfield House 661 High Street Kingswinford West Midlands DY6 8AL 111floiir•iinwv X2Y LGBT YOUTH GROUP Registered Charity Number 1162589 Accountants Certlficate Year end 31 July 2023 In accordance with instructions given to us we have prepared without carrying out an audit the attached Receipts and Payments Account and Balance Sheet from the accounting records of X2Y LGBT Youth Group and from information and explanations supplied to us. French Ludlam & Co Limited, Mountfield House, 661 High Street, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 8AL Pa8e I X2Y LGBT YOUTH GROUP Registered Charlty Number 1162589 Charlty Approval Year end 31 July 2023 We approve the financial statements and confirm that we have made available all relevant records and information for their preparation. Chair Treasurer Page 2 X2Y LGBT YOUTH GROUP Registered Charlty Number 1162589 Recelpts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 July 2023 2023 Total Unrestrlcted Restrlcted Funds Funds 2022 Total Receipts National Lottery Creative Black Country Eveson Trust Awards4all West Bromwich Building Society Donations Training Leaving gift Training WCC 32,519.50 447.50 5,000.00 5,500.00 1,000.00 1,065.06 4,432.12 67,177.50 67,177,50 895.14 250.00 895.14 250.00 80.00 2,794.00 80.00 2,794.00 1,145.14 70,051.50 71,196.64 49,964.18 Payments Wages inc PAYE/NI DBS Check Payroll Services Training Travel Postage Insurance Computers and software Workshops Room Hire Activities Consultancy Telephone Stationery Marketing Accountancy Sundry Leaving gift 37,471.08 37,471.08 50.00 50.00 380.00 380,00 450.00 740.19 5.00 5,00 11,937.89 100.00 272.00 3,405.00 287.90 7.92 989.97 177.55 1,308.40 5,078.69 413.50 14,417.55 571.81 647.07 1,550.90 380.00 131.35 290.19 1,040.37 325.89 1,040.37 325.89 5,020.04 5,020.04 359.33 359.33 13,329.39 13,329.39 966.64 822.71 251.33 251.33 745.40 745.40 780.00 780.00 95.47 249.90 130.00 130.00 588.55 61,256.01 61,844.56 143.93 154.43 41,677.50 Subtotal for the year 556.59 8,795.49 9,352.08 8,286.68 Transfer from unrestricted to restricted (193.88) 193.88 Surplus / (Deficit) for the year 362.71 8,989.37 9,352.08 8,286.68 Page 4 X2Y LGBTYOUTH GROUP Registered Charlty Number 1162589 Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2023 2023 2022 Fixed Assets Tangible Assets 2,541.89 2,541.89 Current Assets Bank Current Account Inland Revenue WCC Training Petty cash 50,016.49 42,284.44 167.83 2,794.00 13.42 55,365.80 44,994.16 Current Liabilities Accruals Net Wages Inland revenue 780.00 29.81 269.37 1,049.37 29.81 Net Assets 54,316.43 44,964.35 Financed B Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 21,487.17 32,829.26 21,124.46 23,839.89 54,316.43 44,964.35 Page 5 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinèr's Report Report to the trustees Charily Nanie X2Y LGBT Youth Group On accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023 Charity no (if any) 1162589 Set out on pages One of Two (remeniber to include the page nLimbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3110712023. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, 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 Trust'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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 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. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: 3.LJK. Date: Name: Mr Stephen B Ludlam FCCA Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Chartered and Certified Accountant ACCA Address: Mountfield House, 661 High Street IER Oct 2018 Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 8AL Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. None IER Oct 2018