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2024-03-31-accounts

Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 April 2024

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Contents

3 Chair’s Introduction

3 Trustee’s Report

11-12 Our activities - An overview 13 Memory Café 14 Information and Advice 15 Transport Scheme and Grass Cutting 16 Send a Smile

17-18 Befriending 19 Volunteering 20 Fundraising

25 Statement of Financial Activities

26 Balance Sheet

27-30 Notes to the Accounts 31 Financial Review 32 Corporate Information

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Chair’s Introduction:

I am proud to introduce the WiSE Annual Report for 2023/24.

The last 12 months have been challenging both for charities and the people they exist to serve.

Yet WiSE continues to thrive.

From a sound financial footing, the charity has continued to extend the range and reach of the services it offers. Whilst annual reports such as this one are important for governance and scrutiny, some of the case studies listed illustrate the real, human impact of what the charity does.

These are the stories which make my fellow trustees and I incredibly proud of all that the charity and its fantastic team of volunteers deliver for local people.

Mark Storey

Chair of Trustees.

WiSE

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly

Trustee’s Report:

The trustees present their Annual Report together with the Financial Statement of the charity for the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

The trustees confirm these documents comply with the current statutory requirements, the statutory requirements of the charity’s governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016.

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

A message from our Chief Operating Officer:

Our twentieth year has been a big one for the charity- as the narrative in this report illustrates.

We’ve delivered thousands of interventions- all designed to enhance the lives of older people living in Wetherby and its surrounding villages.

We’ve also marked our anniversary year in style, including a major celebration event and a time capsule burial.

But we have not stood still.

As well as looking back, we’ve made huge progress as a charity too- from opening a new memory café and extending the reach of our core services, to responding to a big consultation about the future of our work.

All of the accomplishments listed in these pages during the last 12 months are down to our small staff team and many volunteers. I thank all of them for what they have helped to us achieve.

Mark Dobson

Chief Operating Officer

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Strategic Report Our strategy for 2024/25

Introduction

In the context of an ageing population, the challenges and needs of older people become increasingly prominent. Our charity, dedicated to supporting older and vulnerable individuals in our communities, aims to address these needs comprehensively and compassionately. This strategy document outlines our vision, mission, values, partnerships, sustainability plans, and communication strategies to ensure we effectively support our communities.

Vision

Values

To create a compassionate community where older individuals are respected, supported, and integrated, living independent lives with dignity, health, and happiness.

Mission

To empower and support older and vulnerable people through innovative services, advocacy and engagement, ensuring they and their carers have access to the resources and opportunities needed to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Objectives

Caring: showing empathy and understanding to the experiences of older people, acting with dignity, kindness and compassion.

Collaborative: working with communities to achieve our objectives, through teamwork, cooperation and consultation.

Committed: making a difference to the communities we serve, whilst acting with loyalty, diligence and dedication.

Reliable: we do what we say we’re going to do and can be trusted to deliver on our objectives efficiently.

Inclusive: we ensure our services are accessible to all older people, regardless of their background or situation.

We exist to support older and vulnerable people and their carers in Wetherby and its surrounding villages.

We also aim to help people who are socially isolated or living with chronic and degenerative conditions - enabling them to stay independent and live active, fulfilling lives in the community for longer.

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Strategic Report Strategic priorities for 2024 to 2027

Partnerships

To achieve our vision and mission, we know we must identify and work with partners who add value to the delivery of our core services. Therefore:

Development

Sustainability

To continue delivering on our objectives, it’s important for the charity to remain fit for the future and responsive to change. Therefore:

Communication

We will raise our profile using a range of communication channels. This will include:

We will develop our charity by carefully considering the needs of the people we serve and employ. This will include:

Conclusion

Our strategy aims to build a sustainable, impactful charity that makes a significant difference in the lives of older people in the communities we serve. By achieving our vision, mission, and values, and by strategically engaging with partners, managing our resources and communicating effectively, we will foster a community that fully supports its people to live long and fulfilling lives.

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Our 20th anniversary

In October 2023 we celebrated our 20th year supporting older people across Wetherby.

To mark the occasion we planted a time capsule containing artefacts, photographic memories, marketing materials and a letter from the Chief Operating Officer to offer future generations a window into the charity’s past.

The capsule was planted in the centre of Wetherby at a location agreed by Wetherby Town Council and Leeds City Council. It includes charity marketing material, photographic memories and other artefacts.

We also welcomed a major West End star to our biggest musical bash to date. Michael Watson, aka Franki Valli performed songs from ‘Jersey Boys’ alongside fellow members of his The Four Seasons tribute act. The event was a sell out and not only celebrated the last 20 years of WiSE, but also raised funds to enhance our core services.

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

The WiSE feedback survey

The results of this survey found that those who responded, access a wide range of our services and that these are well valued- despite respondents accessing support from other organisations in our area as well.

In August, we conducted a survey for local people to have their say on services for people in Wetherby and surrounding villages.

We’re proud of the part we play in supporting older people, however we always want to learn more about the area and its needs, to help us make plans for how we are going to support local people in the future.

It is also apparent that people would like us to continue to expand upon the range of events and services we offer, based upon suggestions people put forward.

The first half of the survey aimed to find out more about what services existing WiSE friends use and the areas we could improve on. The second half of the survey was to determine the needs of the community outside of WiSE services.

The stand out finding though was that people would like to see an expansion to the level of dementia support on offer- with a large majority of survey respondents commenting to this effect.

We have put plans to address this in next financial year – 2024-5.

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Other matters of significance during the reporting period

We have had a strong year, delivering our goals across all our core services.

During the reporting period (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024):

In the winter months, we coordinated efforts to provide winter warmer packs to older people at a time when heating bills remained astronomically high.

The packs were funded by WiSE and Leeds Community Foundation and contained thermal mugs, clothing, blankets, hot drinks and other winter essentials. We distributed 116 packs to people in need, identified with the help of other community outreach organisations.

Our Household Support Funding from the government was renewed. This meant we have been able to continue running our donation based Welcome Café, which has been an enormous success working in partnership with our friends at Wetherby Town Hall. This is now part of our events timetable indefinitely.

We continue to use this grant to become micro commissioners- giving start-up grants to other community groups, such as churches and local parish councils. This has helped us support more local people and forge excellent community partnerships which we always endeavour to be at the heart of.

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Our Activities ‒ An overview

We carry out a wide range of services and activities in line with our charitable objectives. The trustees consider that these services and activities provide benefit to older people and their carers in our area.

Our activities and services are promoted in a variety of ways, including actively engaging with local parish councils and community groups. We produce a quarterly newsletter which is issued via e‐mail, post or hand. We also produce a monthly activities sheet and What’s On guide, which is distributed to hundreds of our friends.

Our in-house communication officer provides publicity material to the media in Wetherby and Leeds and we continue to advertise in parish magazines. We display information about our services at GP surgeries, local churches, Wetherby Town Hall, and the One Stop Centre. We also promote our events and activities on our website and social media platforms.

WiSE Owl Café

The café is based in Boston Spa Village Hall. It is still a popular event, acting as a regular meet up for many of our customers, be it for coffee and a chat, or lunch. The café has two part‐time staff members supported by a dedicated band of volunteer servers and bakers. It sources its food from local suppliers and volunteer bakers make the delicious cakes and scones. At the end of the year, we wished a happy retirement to Christine, who started up the WiSE Owl Café 11 years ago. In 2024-5, we aim to expand the services of this café.

Line Dancing

Line dancing promotes balance, coordination and is an excellent cognitive exercise which is relevant for our target age. The session leader is very popular with our clients. They provide weekly online dances to keep our regulars in practise.

Elderberries

Elderberries is a monthly social gathering which takes place at St Joseph’s Church Hall. All friends and carers are welcome to attend Elderberries, where professional musicians or local entertainers entertain them.

Knit, Natter, Craft & Chatter

Knit, Natter, Craft & Chatter is held every Thursday at Deepdale Community Centre. Every week there is a new craft theme. People are also invited to bring their own project.

Bingo

Bingo is a monthly event which involves bingo, games and quizzes along with prizes for the winners at Wetherby Town Hall.

Welcome Café

Formally Pay-As-You-Feel Café, Welcome Cafe was launched to support people of all ages with the cost of living crisis. It was made permanent from July 2023 as inflation and interest rates bring new hardship to all sections of the community. It takes place weekly at Wetherby Town Hall and serves soup, sandwiches and cakes, plus hot and cold drinks.

Walton Coffee Morning

At the start of the financial year, this event was held on a monthly basis at Walton Village Hall. This has now reduced to seasonal events, including Christmas and Easter. Everyone of all ages is welcome- not just the over 60s.

WiSE Goes to the Movies - NEW

WiSE teamed up with Wetherby Cinema to offer a monthly film screening for 25 friends. This costs £5 which includes a hot drink and a cake.

Silver Social – NEW

In November we launched Silver Social – a social event held bi-monthly. This is similar to Elderberries, with a local musician or entertainer, but at The Engine Shed.

WiSE Goes to the Races - NEW

From time to time, we take our friends for an afternoon at Wetherby Racecourse at a subsidised rate of £5 per ticket. This is a popular event which always sells out. Last year we also invited our friends to the ‘WiSE Garden Gang’, which was an opportunity for people to plant containers in the racecourse gardens. It was free to attend with no equipment needed, and lunch provided.

WiSE Memory Café

Our Memory Café is hosted twice a month at St James’ Church in Wetherby to support those living with dementia and their carers. More detailed information can be found later in this report.

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Move & Groove - CEASED

Move & Groove is a fun, informal dance class with an instructor from Funky Jives, who teaches everything from Salsa to Bollywood, Disco to Freestyle and anything in-between. Participants are invited stay for a drink and a chat afterwards. This event ceased in December 2023.

Other local partnerships include:

Tea Dance - CEASED

In April 2023 we launched a monthly tea dance which was a chance for our friends to dress up, socialise and dance to vintage music. This event was not as popular as anticipated, so ceased in October, with Silver Social replacing the time slot at The Engine Shed.

Ad hoc events and celebrations

From time-to-time, we host events to acknowledge national celebrations and to raise additional funds to enhance our key services. In this reporting period we celebrated the King’s Coronation with a party, plus hosted fundraising events with tribute act The Glam n Glitz band plus a sell-out Christmas Party with Johnny Dee – the voice of Neil Diamond, both at The Engine Shed. As you’ve already read, we celebrated our 20th anniversary with The Jersey Rollers, and in September, and for the first time ever, we took our friends on a coach trip from Wetherby to Whitby. In addition, in March 2024, we hosted an Information and Wellbeing fair at Wetherby Town Hall, offering help and support with mental, physical and financial wellbeing to those who needed it.

Partnerships

We welcome local groups, whether small and informal or larger in size, to contact us through our Activities Coordinator via email on activities@w-ise.org.uk.

The trustees are particularly grateful to our community partners for all their support. All have helped us to meet our objectives and benefit older people and their carers in our area.

We are especially grateful for the support of Boston Spa Village Hall, which is home to our much-loved Wise Owl Café.

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Memory Cafe

The WiSE Memory Café launched in January 2023 thanks to funding from multiple sources, including the National Lottery Awards For All and McCarthy Stone Foundation. Since then, it has gained popularity and is considered a lifeline for those living with dementia and their carers.

The café supports attendees by providing an appropriate setting to focus on clients’ wellbeing, with sessions facilitated by a trained staff member, alongside WiSE’s volunteers. Support and advice is also offered to family carers to assist them in their day-to-day continuing and challenging caring role.

The session costs £4 for both carer and person living with dementia inclusive and meets twice a month on Wednesdays, 1.30pm to 3.30pm at The Church Rooms, Church Centre St James’ in Wetherby.

The café is open for referrals only – both agency and personal. Local GPs and agencies in the area have learnt about our café and often refer. As such, the demand for sessions has outweighed what current funding can allow. In the next financial year, we plan to put the money raised through fundraising into dementia services. We already plan to employ a new part-time member of staff and add another monthly session to reduce our waiting lists.

This year, 486 friends attended the WiSE Memory Café.

A HUGE thank you for allowing mum and dad to attend the Memory Café. They both absolutely loved it (as did I!). It had a huge effect on mum in the days following. Mum is pretty much nonverbal nowadays, but she was singing along to some of the songs and dad said she was still singing the next morning and she was so much more engaged with what was going on around her. The whole afternoon gave them a massive lift. We saw mum’s sister on Thursday and despite mum’s short-term memory being poor, I asked her to tell her where she had been the previous week. She said Wetherby and that there was a beautiful singer (mum was very taken with the dress). She also said she was going to the Christmas party! I was quite shocked that she remembered but clearly the emotional uplift and how it made her feel on the day has really stayed with her. It was joyous to see everyone having such a good time.

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Information and Advice

This service provides information and advice to over 60s on a range of issues, including how to apply for allowances and benefits, help for those struggling with form filling, how to find trusted tradespeople or carers and signposting to appropriate support organisations and services such as Adult Social Care and Carers Leeds.

The Information & Advice officer works from our Wetherby office, and attends additional planned events throughout the year, for example the WiSE Memory Café at St James’ Church Rooms.

From April 2023 to March 2024 there were 771 Information & Advice contacts between the I&A service and WiSE friends, family members, carers, and support organisations such as Linking Leeds.

These contacts resulted in more than 150 signposts and over 25 referrals to appropriate organisations and sources of support, including Department for Work & Pensions, Leeds City Council, Care and Repair, Carers Leeds and Leeds Directory.

More than 80 contacts included intensive one-to-one support, which included completion of over 80 forms, from bus passes to Council Tax discount applications.

The Information & Advice service assisted with the completion of 21 blue parking badge applications and filled in 33 attendance allowance claim forms, using a telephone appointment service.

During the reporting period, there were 232 new contacts/ referrals to WiSE, which came from NHS health services, friends, family and carers, Retirement Life wardens and Linking Leeds amongst others.

Information and Advice a case study – Mrs R

Mrs R, aged 96, first accessed help from WiSE November 2011 when she was helped to apply for her Blue Parking Badge. Mrs R has been in touch with WiSE over the years receiving Send a Smile cards and also receiving 11 Coronavirus wellbeing calls in 2020 during the lockdown. Mrs R contacted us again for help with a Blue Badge renewal on the same day as the WiSE Wellbeing Event was being held at Wetherby Town Hall. Mrs R was advised of the event and went along with the help of her regular carer who accompanied her, providing assistance to get to us using her wheelchair.

The Wellbeing event was running alongside our weekly Welcome Café upstairs in a specially hired room. Stands were manned by organisations including Wetherby PCSOs Wetherby Library, Milner’s Law Group, the local Building Society and Linking Leeds. The WiSE Dementia Lead, Befriending Coordinator and the I&A officer also chatted to those at the café in the event room but also downstairs at the café tables. Although Mrs R was unable to climb the stairs, she was happy to have her photo taken and documents copied in the Welcome Space cafe downstairs so her request for help to renew her blue badge could be completed.

Mrs R later called us to thank us and confirm her new badge had arrived.

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Transport Scheme

The Transport Scheme provides a low cost door-to-door pick up and drop off service for people over 60 who are less mobile, don’t drive, or struggle with public transport. The scheme has been running for seven and a half years and is greatly valued by our friends.

The service – which operates in Wetherby and surrounding areas – has a number of trusted volunteer drivers who will collect a service user and drive them to GP and local healthcare appointments, WiSE activities, or to meet up with friends.

Journeys are offered Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and all bookings are made through our transport booking line. The service is more cost effective than taxis. It costs £2 per journey, plus 60 pence for every mile travelled, which is paid for when the passenger arrives home. Drivers are able to accommodate fold-up rollators or walking sticks, but unfortunately can’t take wheelchairs.

During the reporting period, 754 transport journeys have been completed, whereby the charity’s volunteers drive older people to activities or social engagements they would otherwise not have been able to attend.

Grass Cutting

We deliver the Grass Cutting scheme in collaboration with the HM Wetherby Young Offenders Prison Service, using funds provided by BBC Children In Need.

This unique collaborative project has meant many local people have had access to cheap and affordable grass cutting. Once we identify older people in need of help, WYOI provide a trained horticulturist to supervise young offenders who have expressed an interest in developing horticultural skills. It has been fantastic for so many under privileged young people from the prison to be working in the community and learning new skills.

In the reporting period, 74 people have had their grass cut each month.

The gardeners have all been risk assessed for suitability to earn Release on Temporary License before they take part in the project. The aim is for them to use this work experience to go towards a relevant qualification, giving them a greater chance of future employment.

The scheme helps to improve relationships between young and older people and is greatly valued by those who use it. The scheme was only one of its kind in the country. It was granted a ‘Connecting Communities Award’ for the impact it has made so far.

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‘Send a Smile’ Scheme

The ‘Send a Smile’ scheme is now an established service and still remains popular with the older community. The scheme was launched as a way of further extending the charity’s work to reduce isolation and loneliness in older people.

It is also designed to build new and lasting two-way community relationships, including between organisations like care homes, craft groups and schools. It complements the existing Befriending Scheme for people who live alone and promotes positive intergenerational interactions by establishing partnerships with schools and colleges.

‘Send a Smile’ encourages people of all ages, from across the region and afar, to submit postcards, pictures or hand drawn cards to make an isolated, older person smile. Cards are sent to the WiSE offices where they are then distributed to our friends.

In this reporting period we have received more than 1,000 handmade cards – a high percentage of which were made by children. This year we appealed for Easter cards, Christmas cards and poppy cards to commemorate Remembrance Day. We also launched a one-off children’s competition to design a King’s Coronation card.

Hope you had a lovely Christmas. Will you please pass on my thanks to Cerys and Poppy-May, Wetherby High School, for my beautifully decorated Christmas card, so kind of them and much appreciated. Many thanks and wishing you a Very Happy New Year Best wishes Maureen

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Befriending

Our befriending service matches an isolated older or vulnerable person living alone with a volunteer who gives up their time to regularly provide friendly conversation and companionship.

Where possible, matches are made based on shared interests and both parties living in the same area. Once a befriending match has been made, each person is introduced in the company of one of our co-ordinators.

We have a team of 10 befriending volunteers who come from all walks-of-life and are asked to commit to a minimum of one hour per week. This involves dropping in for a cup of tea and a chat.

In the last year, our volunteers made, on average, more than 360 befriending visits and 150 calls to our older friends.

For an older person, regular social interaction helps to break their feeling of isolation and helps to make them feel a part of the community.

For the volunteer, the visits are often satisfying, enjoyable and an opportunity to meet someone new to hear about their stories and experiences.

Befriending – a case study

Peter, aged 87, missed the company of his wife Christine when she sadly passed away several years ago. That prompted his granddaughter to contact WiSE about befriending.

Peter was then matched with WiSE volunteer Mike, aged 75.

Peter said:

When my wife of 57 years passed away, I wanted a bit more company. In my younger years I was very active but now I have limited mobility. Although I have lots of entertainment at home with the TV and I get a lot of enjoyment from my garden, it can get lonely sometimes, so I always look forward to seeing Mike. He’s a good friend, a good pal – and thankfully he doesn’t eat too many biscuits!

Mike said:

It’s always a pleasure to see Peter – I consider him one of my good friends. We talk easily about our careers, families and holidays in the past. We always have something to talk about and we always have something to say. I find Peter very interesting. I’ve lived in Wetherby for a very long time and have seen it change over the years. He’s really opened my eyes to the history of our town.

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Volunteering

We actively recruit volunteers over the age of 16 to assist in the delivery of our services. We work with Voluntary Action Leeds and Doing Good Leeds to advertise our volunteering roles, plus on our own social media channels and at times, in local businesses.

Volunteering is a worthwhile and enjoyable activity and there are a wide range of opportunities available with us. Our Volunteer Co‐ordinator is based at our Wetherby offices and welcomes enquiries from people who want to support those in the local community. All volunteers undertake an induction and receive training appropriate to their role.

programme of events. Their help in delivering our services, through roles such as activity helpers, befrienders, dementia supporters, drivers, fundraising and trusteeship means we can continue our vital work.

At the end of the reporting period, we had 126 volunteers across our programmes. The volunteers range from younger people to very senior adults. Our volunteer coordinator is working hard to improve our support through training, recognition and communication. We are also continuing to develop additional volunteering opportunities.

Volunteers are vital to our success. Without them, we could not continue to develop our services and

Volunteering – a case study

Beryl has volunteered for WiSE for more than 18 years.

She said: “I started my volunteering journey with WiSE around 18 years ago. Since the beginning, I have seen WiSE grow exponentially – there is a bigger variety of activities and the wider spread of geographical areas has given people more opportunities to get involved.

“Choosing my favourite activity is difficult as they are all varied, but I must admit that although the most physically demanding, the teamwork needed at the Welcome Café as we prepare and serve the food and drink is very rewarding.

“For me, volunteering is not all about giving. I have gained so much myself over the years, having made many friends with the volunteers and clients. Since being widowed, WiSE has also become a lifeline for me helping to fill an enormous gap in my life.

WiSE has changed the lives of so many people, giving them the opportunity to meet and talk to others in comfortable and safe surroundings. I am proud to be part of that ethos.

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Fundraising

The majority of our voluntary income in the last financial year was raised through charitable trusts and foundations which supported our projects and services. A small amount of income came from local benefactors.

Under the Winter Warmth Programme, our Welcome Café received £36,805. Within that figure was a substantial grant of £25,250 from Leeds Community Anchor Network (LCAN), which included monies for distribution to other local agencies. Leeds Community Foundation awarded £3,000 for Winter Warmth packs for distribution locally, which helped 116 people to keep warm this winter.

Letters sent to Charitable Trusts have generated £2,000 for our activities programme.

A total of £20,930 from 11 separate funders was received for the WiSE Memory Café. One of these donations was from McCarthy Stone for the Memory Café Christmas Party and another donation from Marshall & Viggars, was specifically to pay for two Memory Café sessions.

Unsolicited donations totalled £3,200. Two were donations from Bardsey Parish Council, another was proceeds from a coffee and cake sale in Little Ribston and two other donations were from a local business and charity.

Internally, we raised £2,120.70 from our own fundraising events, raffles, charity buckets and the sale of merchandise. A total of £1,854.44 was raised by community fundraisers via JustGiving.

Letters focusing on loneliness sent out to Charitable Trusts have generated £4,700.

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Fundraising – a case study

Isabelle, aged 24 completed a tandem skydive in April, raising a total of £815!

Isabelle said: “I started volunteering at the WiSE Owl Café as I wanted to do something positive with my spare time. I really connected with the idea of supporting WiSE as I had recently lost my grandparents who meant so much to me.

“I saw the effects that COVID had on their isolation and it broke my heart to know that later in their life they had to feel alone and isolated. I would never want any older person to feel that way within their community. I know they would have loved spending time at such lovely places like the WiSE Owl Café if they’d known about it when they were alive. I hope they would be proud of me supporting WISE.

“I decided to fundraise to try to do something special. I’d always wondered about a skydive, but never found the willpower to force myself to do it. What better thing than raising money for WiSE.”

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Governance Structure and Management

Our constitution

WiSE is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It is governed according to a Charity Commission Foundation Model Constitution (dated 22 September 2015) and is therefore detailed and fit for purpose and protects the continuation of the charity.

We want to place WiSE at the heart of its community. To do this effectively we continually monitor and evaluate the services and activities we provide to ensure they meet the needs of our friends and their carers. Our current provision includes:

Our objective

The objectives of the CIO are all for the public benefit.

Chiefly, our aim is to support older people, and those who care for them, who live in the Wetherby area (Wetherby, Linton, Boston Spa, Thorp Arch, Walton, Clifford, Bramham, East Keswick, Harewood, Collingham, Bardsey, Scarcroft and Thorner) and who are socially isolated, or living with chronic or degenerative conditions. This is so that they can retain their independence and continue to live active lives within their community.

Public benefit

In planning our activities, the trustees consider the specific objectives of the charity, along with our vision, mission and values. We review our aims, objectives and activities annually. As part of that process, we consider the outputs of our activities, assess the benefit of those outputs on the lives of older people and develop future activities to make sure our work continues to deliver the most benefit against our charitable objects.

This report contains more information on the way our work has benefited older people over the last 12 months, measured against objectives set at the beginning of the year.

The trustees confirm they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

Activities

Every year, we see our organisation grow, both in terms of services we provide and the requests for help we receive. It is well-known that older people are living longer and need more support to enable them to live a comfortable and independent lifestyle and through our range of activities and services we aim to make this happen.

The schemes are co‐ordinated by a team of staff, with a large amount of work carried out by our 126 volunteers. These volunteers work in many different roles in the community, support roles or directly with friends - not only making many of our schemes possible by giving their time freely, but also bringing a true community perspective to our work.

All our work supports the wellbeing of older people in Wetherby and surrounding area. This means we help people to stay safe, well and live independently in their community for as long as possible.

We are committed to collaborative working and this continued in 2023/24 with renewed partnerships with voluntary, statutory and private sector organisations, all of which were focused on promoting and supporting the welfare of older people living locally. Adopting a joint approach means we can keep our friends and their families as the focus of our attention when designing and delivering new services.

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Governance and management

The overall management and control of the charity rests with the individual members of the board of trustees who give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits. The charity’s trustees meet in accordance with the constitution which requires the presence of at least two or, if greater, a third of its members to be quorate. The Board may appoint a chairperson and revoke such appointment at any time. All business is decided by a simple majority, each trustee having one vote. In the event of an equality of votes, the chairperson of the meeting has a second or casting vote. The trustees are responsible for decisions taken in relation to the strategic running of the charity, but the day-to-day running of the charity is delegated to staff.

Trustee committees

The trustees delegate responsibility for more detailed consideration of the charity’s affairs to four sub groups, each including at least two places for trustee members, chaired by a trustee and reporting to the board of trustees. These subgroups are:

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The existing trustees are responsible for the recruitment of new trustees. The trustees undertake a skills audit, which identifies specific skills needed to enhance the existing board. In selecting individuals for appointment as appointed charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. In addition, individuals who apply to become trustees must demonstrate a personal or professional interest in the care and well‐being of older people.

Every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of trustees. Trustees retiring at the end of their term are eligible for reappointment. A trustee who has served for three consecutive terms of three years may not be reappointed for a fourth consecutive term, but may be reappointed after an interval of at least one year.

There shall be a minimum of four trustees and a maximum of 10. At the end of the reporting period there were five trustees.

Following appointment, new trustees are introduced to their new roles and given a Trustee’s Handbook, which covers all aspects of the role. This includes a copy of the Charity Commission’s guide ‘The Essential Trustee’ and copies of the Charity’s Governing Document, financial

statements and a guide to the policies and procedures adopted by the charity. An induction checklist is included to ensure everything is covered and signed off. All Trustees are Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checked and references obtained.

Voluntary support

Whilst voluntary help is not assigned a value for the purposes of the financial statements, we benefit immensely from the services provided by our incredible volunteers.

During the reporting period, 126 volunteers completed more than 5,000 volunteer hours between them. This volunteer contribution supports all of our schemes as well as supporting functions and fundraising.

The trustees thank all our volunteers for their continued support. Without their time and skills, our impact would not be as significant as it is.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. Strategic risk management is regularly overseen by the board of trustees. There is an overarching risk management policy which involves a regular review of key risks faced by the charity. It also sets up systems and procedures to address those potential risks and to minimise any impact on the charity if the risks materialise. The risk register is reviewed annually.

The trustees also have policies in place addressing the main operational risk areas. The trustees consider the following to be the key risks facing the organisation:

• Similar to many charities, the main risks facing WiSE are financial, relating to the loss of contracts, a reduction in grant income or a reduction in public donations, thus impacting on income targets. Due to the reliance identified above, we need to take account of changing economic, policy and social conditions which may affect individual supporters, corporate donors and statutory and trust funders. These risks are managed proactively through the assessment of new opportunities and existing contracts, planned appeals and the continuous review of organisational costs. An appropriate level of funds will be maintained to help mitigate the main financial risks. Additionally, trustees monitor results quarterly and consider the long term impact of emerging trends. They also oversee compliance with fundraising regulation and ensure fundraising is carried out to high ethical standards. We are continuing to invest in income diversification projects to mitigate the risk where possible.

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

• We recognise the importance of safeguarding vulnerable people in all areas of our work. The charity has a safeguarding policy which applies to all staff and volunteers who have regular contact with older people. This policy is supported by safer recruitment practice and training programmes for staff and volunteers. Although we believe the operational procedures have strong safeguards embedded in them, it remains a key risk on our risk register.

• We recognise the risks associated with information security and the importance of protecting our IT systems from malicious attack and unauthorised access and misuse. Security measures are in place to protect from unauthorised access to IT systems and to test vulnerabilities in the network. We hold a limited amount of personal information about our service users. We have a Data Protection policy in place which ensures only authorised access to personal details and continues to enhance the security of the data in line with best practice.

Fundraising

All our fundraising activities deliver on our fundraising promise. We proactively comply with all fundraising related legislation and marketing regulation. All of our fundraising activity has been led by staff and volunteers.

As part of our approach, policies and standards, we make sure we protect vulnerable people and other members of the public from inappropriate behaviour. We proactively train everyone involved in fundraising, with clear processes in place to monitor and manage every interaction. In the past year, we have not uncovered any failure by staff or volunteers to comply with these schemes and standards and we received no fundraising complaints in 2023/24.

• We deliver services where they are needed. In all situations the health and safety of our staff, service users and others working with us is a prime concern. A significant proportion of staff and volunteers are lone workers, making visits to a range of locations. The charity has appropriate policies, guidance and training, and any health and safety concerns are reported to the trustees at regular board meetings.

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Independent Examiners Report WISE- WETHERBY IN SUPPORT OF THE ELDERLY Independent Examln•es Report to th• Tru8t••s I report on the accounts of the Trust for year eThJed 31 March 2024. whlch are 8et out on pages 6 to 10. Rospoctlv• rnsponslbllltles of truste•s and examln•r The charrty's trustees are responslble for tr￿ preparatlon of accounts. The chall￿$ trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Chariti88 Act 2011 (the 2011 Act} and that an independent examinatlon Is needed. tThe Charity ' preparlng accrued accounts and l am qualified to urvjertake the examinatlon by belNJ a qualffied member of The Assoclation of Chartered Certffied Accountants] It is my resp)nsibilty to: Examine the ac￿)unt8 under section 145 of the 2011 Act: To follow the proc8dures18ld down in the General Directlons glven by th8 Charity Commission urKJer section 145{5) of the 2011 Act,. and To ststs whather particular matters have come lo my attenllon. Basls of Ind•p•nd•nt examln•rfB Stat•mont My examination was carried out In accordance wlth General Directions given by th8 Charity Commission. An examlnation includes a review of the accounting Trcord8 kèpi by th8 charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wtth those records. It also indudes conskleration of any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts. and th8 seeking of explanations from you as trustees concemir¥J any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provlde all the evldence that would be required In an audit and, consequently. no opinion 18 given as to whether the accounts present a IrL* a￿1 fair view and the rerK>rt is limfted to those matters set out in the statement below. Ind•p•ndont •xamln•f s statsffl•nt In (x)nnertK)n wtth my examin8tlon. no maiter has come to my attention,. whlch glves me reasonable cause to believe Ihat In any material respect the requiremerrts: to keep accounting records in accordance wtth s. 130 of the Charftles Act 2011: and to prepare accounts which ac(x)rd with the accounting records and to cornply wlth the accountlNJ requir8ments of the 2011 Act have not been met; or to which. in my opinion. attention strK)uld be drawn In order to enabl8 a proper understandlrKJ of the accounts to be reached. Graeme Peter Greenfield G L Barker & Co LLP Chartered Certrfled Accourrtants 49 Austh)rpe Road Cross Gat88 L8•J8 LS15 8BA 24

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Statement of Financial Activities

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Balance Sheet Flnance costs Bank charges 859 659 659 635 Net Profft (22.996) 9.075 (13.921 The notes on pages 4 to 6 fom part of these aceA>unts.

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Notes to the Accounts

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WiSE Wetherby in Support of the Elderly

Notes to the Accounts

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Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Notes to the Accounts

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Notes to the Accounts WISE - WETHERBY IN SUPPORT OF THE ELDERLY NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 DEBTORS AND PREPAYIIENTS 2024 2023 Prepayments Other Debtors 2.474 13 487 2,571 16 CREDITORS 2024 2023 Trade Credltor8 Acwals Soual Secuty & Other Taxes Pen8lon8 9,844 2,842 3.191 1.891 2.677 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUNO Unrestricted Restricted Totsl FurKIs FuTrJs Current assets Current liabililles 263.085 94,878 357,963 MOVEMENTS IN FUNDS Balancx 1 April Movement in Rewurces Transferred 2023 InGomlng Outgoing (out) l in Balance 31 Ma￿h 2024 Chlklren in Ne￿ Gardoring Dwn6ntia Café Household Support FurKI Covid Restrlcled Funds Unreslri¢ted Fur 85.803 14.950 20,480 11,405 94,878 (14.950) 174.850 20,480 11.405 21 {89.047) 89 94,878 IILL45 INDEMNITY INSURANCE Indemnty insurance has been purchased to protect the chatity, trustees and offi(%rs from k)ss arisino from th8 n8alect or default of the trustees or officers, 30

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly Annual Report 2023/24

Financial Review

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Corporate information

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) (A charitable incorporated organisation).

Principal address:

24 Westgate Wetherby LS22 6NL

Telephone 01937 588994

Website www.w‐ise.org.uk

Thank You

The trustees would like to offer their thanks, again, to everybody who has supported the organisation either through volunteering, offering their valuable time and skills or through invaluable financial support.

We remain as committed as ever to supporting older people in Wetherby and our surrounding communities.

Registered charity number - 1163698

Thank you!

Trustees

The charity trustees are appointed as and when appropriate by the body of trustees in office. The trustees who served during the period and those currently in office are:

Mark Storey (Chair)

Caren Rowe (Treasurer)

John Wardley

Norma Harrington

Michelle Atkinson

Manjit Curtis Jacquie Clarke (to January 2024)

Chief Operating Officer

Mark Dobson

Independent Examiner

GL Barker & Associates, 47-49 Austhorpe Road, Leeds, LS15 8BA

Bankers

Barclays Bank Yorkshire Building Society - online

© Wetherby in Support of the Elderly 2024.

The copyright of all material appearing in this publication belongs to Wetherby in Support of the Elderly, it may not be reproduced, duplicated or copied by any means without our prior written consent.

CIO Registration No. 1163698

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