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2024-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period April 2023-March 2024

The Clare Project

Charity number: 1165746

Objectives and Activities

To preserve and protect the good health of people, particularly those who are or who identify as transgender and those who support them by providing a safe and supportive environment for people to explore issues surrounding their gender identity and to be affirmed in their journey through a weekly drop in; psychotherapeutic support; crisis support and such other services as the trustees shall think fit.

Activities – how the charity spends its money

Peer support and signposting for those questioning their gender identity or struggling with gender norms in society. We provide safe spaces to nurture and inform as well as providing information to individuals seeking to change their assigned gender. Activities include drop-in support groups, psychotherapeutic support, health and social care advice and advocacy services.

What the charity does:

Who the charity helps:

How the charity helps:

Where the charity operates:

Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, West Sussex

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Achievements and Performance

April 2023-March 2024 saw real challenges among trans, non-binary and intersex adults, notably in constant anti-trans signalling in the political arena, mainstream media and social media. Inequity in healthcare, already a severe problem, leading up to publication of the Cass Report. Noticeable escalation in poor mental health, particularly following the pandemic, with an increase in suicidality and little remedial action for severe delays and lack of specialised provision. Unmet needs continue to add pressures on our team, whom we take care to support.

Although TCP is not a campaigning charity, the current climate has reminded us of the need to advocate on behalf of TNBI people to counter exclusionary narratives, and elevate voices of our community led, wherever possible, by lived experience. To this extent, we have communicated our concerns to both local and county-wide politicians, continued to build on our standing as a community voice and invest in our lived experience advisory provision Further to this, TCP has continued to develop our own understanding of intersectional equity and inclusion, particularly with regards to developing our anti-oppressive practice of further marginalised communities, such as Black and Racially Minoritised people, neurodivergent communities and our ageing population. We continue to pave the way into 2024 for further training, organisational and personnel development in these areas.

The Clare Project participated in the TNBI Community Groups Roundtable with Brighton & Hove Councillors, to review progress with the B&H Trans Needs Assessment, trans awareness training for councillors, and commitment to the city’s Trans Inclusion Toolkit for schools . We continue to build on our community insight and input in NHS Sussex, informed by our Trans Health Improvement Group, among other health, well-being and inclusion related activities. TCP also continued to enhance its presence to do this across Sussex. We have pressed for inclusivity and authentic representation across Sussex services to combat misinformation and disinformation about TNBI lives.

The Clare Project has strengthened its visibility and provided wider inclusive events.

We have maintained a presence at Trans Pride Brighton, Seahaven Pride, Trans Pride Hastings, a Sussex Primary Care conference, Chichester Freshers’ Fair, Sussex University pop-ups, Chichester Trans Awareness Week Panel, and Dorset Gardens Methodist Church (the charity’s base) Christmas Eve service. We also co-organised the November Transgender Day of Remembrance event.

March 2024 saw the first event for Transcend Borders, a fundraiser for TNBI refugees supported by our LGBTQ+ Consortium/Rainbow Fund and our Board’s designated unrestricted funds, to continue the Community Investment Programme.

Beyond this, we joined Brighton & Hove City Council’s Ageing Well Partnership, and launched our Over-50s group in summer 2023. This group has continued to grow in popularity, and is a result of a direct response to community feedback following the pandemicTwo events were held in the Ageing Well festival in Autumn 2023, and in March 2024 we had a photoshoot as part of Trans History Week, which was displayed in the Jubilee Library in Brighton.We are aiming to grow this provision in the upcoming commissioning.

For 18-30 year-olds, a 10-week drama workshop programme was delivered with a Royal Central School of Speech and Drama placement student Noah Abdel-Razek.

Our regular weekly drop-ins have featured pop-ups on Covid vaccines, and from the Terrence Higgins Trust, Citizens Advice, Brighton Bricks (a Lego workshop), WellBN (a

Trustees Annual Report 2024, The Clare Project, Charity no. 1165746

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partner Sussex GP service), Sussex Gender Service, The Keep, and Survivors Network Brighton.

Service users have been out and about with group visits to Charleston, a BLAGSS (Brighton LGBT Sports Society) bowling event, Brighton Museum, BHCC health walks, and our ever-popular winter party at a local pub.

A full range of regular in-person and online services can be found at https://clareproject.org.uk/our-services/.

The Clare Project is involved in local health services and training.

The Sussex Gender Service (NHS) was launched in September 2023, with TCP hosting 2 Care Navigators and one Engagement Worker. This work continues at a time when clinical care for TNBI people has faced significant challenges and upheaval.

The year 2023-24 has seen significant activity in mobilisation of Sussex Gender Service, equating to over 400 hours of paid community involvement, a further 200 hours of participation across other community-led projects including: inclusion in healthcare, Community Researchers Programme, co-development of training content and involvement in Trans Health Improvement Board.

A TNBI Public Involvement Officer was recruited in November 2023, supporting 8 community members in their involvement in the Trans Health Improvement Group to feed directly back into NHS Sussex on topics including sexual health, mental health services commissioning, and a community-specific health screening timeline.

We help to improve understanding of TNBI people among other service providers through training and consultancy, from a TNBI perspective. This is available on request via our website, but also promoted.

Our 1-2-1 wellbeing support service was relaunched and saw around 40 people from August 2023 to Spring 2024, alongside our small therapy offering under UOK and East Sussex Commissioning, seeing approximately 15 clients for 6-8 sessions of psychotherapy throughout the year.

Promotion remains central to our visibility.

As well as our website, we are listed as resources on East and West Sussex county websites, NHS platforms including the ICB and in primary care, and many allied VCSO platforms. We have a mailing list of around 1,000, over 2,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 1,000 on Facebook. Activities of engagement online continue to increase throughout Instagram, surveys, fundraisers and our audio-recorded bulletin.

TCP booklets and flyers have been distributed to Chichester University Freshers' Fair, Sussex University Stall during Trans Awareness Week (TAW), Chichester University Stall during TAW, a large selection to Jubilee Library (Brighton) where the librarians made a display, smaller packs to all Brighton & Hove libraries, and key libraries in East and West Sussex, and relevant venues: The Ledward Centre, The Queery, The Actors, Arcobaleno, The Brighton Birdcage, Sussex Beacon Charity Shop, Dorset Gardens Methodist Church flyer racks, and a selection of LGBTQ+ venues in Kemp Town and central Brighton, including hair/beauty salons, adult stores and bars/clubs. The booklets also made their way into a variety of healthcare settings throughout conferences, awareness training sessions to GPs and hubs such as Community Base.

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Areas of focus for improvement.

Inclusivity and intersectionality remain a priority for representation across the organisation, in order to demonstrate true equality and equity in our services. We acknowledge the need for focus and persistence in achieving this.The Clare Project aims to prioritise the development of services with equity and inclusion in mind, while building on trauma-informed practice throughout service provision. Key areas of focus for 2024 and beyond, throughout training and re-commission include building on anti-oppressive practice, our ongoing journey in becoming an anti-racist organisation; continuing to challenge misogyny, ableism and ageism. We recognise this is both an organisational and individual obligation, and will continue to support our team, alongside allied stakeholders in these developments.

As advocates, we have a valid voice in representing the authenticity of TNBI lives and their lived experience, including the impact of gender critical proponents limiting their valid diversity, equality and inclusion. The early calling of a general election provides fresh opportunities for reaffirming TNBI lives under the new administration.

Financial Review

It has been a challenging start to the year with the unfortunate discontinuation of funding from a significant grant giver. This resulted in a necessary, although ultimately beneficial, restructure and redeployment of some roles into other priority areas such as business development (training), and HR development in order to position ourselves ready for government/statutory-funded contracts. Although somewhat unexpected, we received substantial input and understanding from our team and beneficiaries, as to how to prioritise these areas. Upcoming commissioning is on the horizon, where bidding processes will take place throughout year 24-25, for an April 2025 launch.

Throughout this period, TCP have experienced a significant shift in income from grants/foundations to our first NHS subcontract under NHSE funding, the Sussex Gender Service Pilot. This successful tender resulted in a 3-year contract in a specialised area for TCP, while providing ample experience in partnering on a statutory service.

2023-24 became a year of growth, and building stable foundations for upcoming commissioning to take place.

A number of generous donations have come from community-led fundraisers, and support in unrestricted grants from Roddick Foundation. Training continued to be busy which elevated unrestricted funds.

Cash flow of funders Rainbow Fund has resulted in late payments, and we understand a resolution for this is in hand for 2024-25.

Structure, Governance and Management

Trustee recruitment has proven difficult although we are continuing to build on this via a recruitment strategy across 2024. Rotation of our Chair is imminent following the 2024 AGM, as the current Chair term is coming to an end This year we saw two resignations at Board level, from Em Eley whom we thank for their support of the Board particularly with regards to restructure, HR development and support. Maria Young also left our Board, to whom we extend thanks and appreciation for their ongoing contributions of evaluation, report and recommendations on TCP’s development as an anti-racist organisation.

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Our employed team was upholstered with the recruitment of three facilitators recruited in May 2023 who have taken on wider responsibilities, covering HR, Sussex Gender Service Engagement, and one taking on the role of Services Manager. Our Operations Management role became the role of CEO in December 2023. This has enabled us to restructure, developing core roles and legal responsibilities into CEO leadership, while continuing to work on streamlining the post.

With continued negative social and political attitudes towards TNBI people, staff wellbeing has been given more focus. This has included the continuation of clinical supervision, reflective practice and further socials around lunches in various local venues. TCP also continues to trial planned closure weeks throughout the year, to give adequate breaks beyond typical festive closure, alongside access and development bursaries.

Staff and Trustees have received training on Vicarious Trauma, Self-Compassion, Advice First Aid, HIV Awareness, Autism Inclusivity, various research including Luka White’s research on Autism and Mental Health of TNB Community, Anti-Oppressive Practice, Suicide Prevention, and training on Consent.

Our office space was successfully extended to Brighton & Hove’s VCSO hub Community Base in March 2024 for improved space and facilities.

Reference and Administrative details

The Clare Project Dorset Gardens Methodist Church Dorset Gardens Brighton BN2 1RL

Charity number: 1165746

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Andie Davidson Chair 01 August 2019 Charlotte Fonfara Trustee 06 December 2021 Fiona Allen Trustee 05 December 2022

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

The Charity holds no funds on behalf of others.

Trustees Annual Report 2024, The Clare Project, Charity no. 1165746

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Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Andie Davidson Position Chair of Trustees Date 26th September 2024

Trustees Annual Report 2024, The Clare Project, Charity no. 1165746

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The Clare Project Financial Activities by Restricted & Unrestricted Funds April 2023 - March 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
RESTRICTED UNRESTRICTED
FUNDS FUNDS TOTAL
TOTAL TOTAL ALL FUNDS
Income 147,450 97,971 245,420
Expenses 135,070 92,904 227,975
Net Operating Income 12,379 5,066 17,446
Other Income
Total Restricted Funds bfwd 24,230 0 24,230
Other Expenditures
Depreciation 0 1,264 1,264
Restricted Funds cfwd 36,609 0 36,609
Net Income/(Expenditure) 0 3,803 3,803
----- End of picture text -----

The Clare Project Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2024

Total

Fixed Asset
Tangible assets
Total Tangible assets
Total Fixed Asset
Cash at bank and in hand
Total Cash at bank and in hand
Debtors
Debtors
Total Debtors
Current Assets
Prepaid Expenditures
Total Current Assets
Net current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade Creditors
Creditors
Total Trade Creditors
Current Liabilities
Total Current Liabilities
Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets (liabilities)
Total assets less current liabilities
Provision for liabilities and charges
Total net assets (liabilities)
Charity funds
Retained Earnings
Surplus/(Deficit)
Total Charity funds
£ 2,141.30
£ 2,141.30
£ 71,576.02
24,983.88
£ 24,983.88
0.00
£ 0.00
£ 96,559.90
3,392.24
£ 3,392.24
£ 38,494.66
£ 41,886.90
£ 54,673.00
£ 56,814.30
6,629.41
£ 50,184.89
46,382.12
3,802.77
£ 50,184.89

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name THE CLARE PROJECT members of On accounts for the year 31 MARCH 2024 Charity no 1165746 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/ 03 /2024.

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement 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:

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.

Signed: Date: 15/08/2024 Name: MRS SUSHMA CLARK Relevant professional CIMA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 10 SUDELEY PLACE BRIGHTON BN2 1HF

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).

1

Give here brief details of any items that the N/A examiner wishes to disclose .

2