Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2021 

for 

Families Against Violence 

Charity No 1166240 




## Families Against Violence 

Registered Charity No 1166240 

## **Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for the year ended** 

## **31[st] March 2021** 

## CONTENTS 

1. Reference and Administrative Information 

2. Report of the Trustees 

3. Independent Examiner’s Report 

4. Receipts and Payments Account 

5. Statement of Assets and Liabilities 

6. Notes to the Financial Statement 




## **Reference and administrative information** 

Charity No. 1166240 

Constituted as a Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation 

**Trustees who served in the year ended 31[st] March 2021 and to the date of this report** 

Katie Fraser (Chair) Selina Green until 17.9.20 John Jones until 24.2.21 James Gregory Akeim Mundell 17.8.20-24.11.20 Ahmed Yassin from 18.9.20 

## **Principal Office & Registered Address** 

St Wilfrid’s Enterprise Centre Birchvale Close, Hulme Manchester M15 5BJ 

## **Bankers** 

NatWest 323 Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PS 

## **Chief Executive** 

James Gregory 

## **Website** 

www.fav-uk.org 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Neil Yeomans ACA 



**Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31[st] March 2021** 

## **FAMILIES AGAINST VIOLENCE:  DRIVING CHANGE** 

## **Our founder** 


“Every child deserves somebody to turn to. They all deserve encouragement and guidance: the kind of example set by positive role models. Families Against Violence empowers men to be just that. We provide support to young, disadvantaged people so that even the most vulnerable can develop self-confidence and self-esteem.” **James Gregory – Founder & Chief Executive** 

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## Background 

Fathers Against Violence (“FAV”) was established in March 2011 by James Gregory following the death of his son due to gang related violence. FAV subsequently registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Families against Violence CIO (“FAM”) on 29[th] March 2016. 

## **Objects** 

The Objects of the charity as per its constitution are: 

The relief of those in need in Greater Manchester in particular but not exclusively by: 

- providing support and guidance to local young people and their families so that they become more effective members of the community; 

- addressing and reducing gang and gun culture in the community by using a preventative and early intervention model; 

- bringing young people together with the aim of promoting social inclusion that will build their self-esteem, raise their aspirations and encourage them to take greater responsibility for their actions and decisions; and 

- making the work of the charity accessible to all members of the community across Greater Manchester for the public benefit. 

## Mission 

Families Against Violence’s mission is to limit and prevent the damage, disruption and marginalization of inner-city communities as a result of exposure to gang culture by: 

- Delivering sports activities to young children in order to raise aspirations and provide tailored support toward positive engagement with education, statutory services and community cohesion initiatives; 

- Promoting the positive influence of father figures and male role models with the aim of reducing violence and criminal activity via a bespoke Mentoring Programme; 

- Providing specialist support services for young boys at risk of exposure to gang culture enabling them to make informed choices about their future; and 

- Challenging discriminatory policy and practice and informing public perception about issues affecting inner city communities, particularly those of predominantly Black and Ethnic Minorities population. 

## **Our** S **ervices and** A **ctivities** 

In planning the activities for the year, the Trustees have had regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. 

The past year at Families Against Violence (FAV) has been a time of momentous change, both internally and externally. We now enter a new era of possibilities presented by rebuilding in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic and the multiple harms of structural racism, which Black Lives Matter have shone such light on. Over the last twelve months, we have made a commitment to ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusion are central to all strands of our work. We recognise that we need to do much more to address all forms of discrimination, 

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including racism in the world of youth sports and football in particular.  We are proud of leading the way in innovative services, such as our rapid digital mobilisation during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. None of the work of the last year would have been possible without the drive, determination and passion of our team: trustees and volunteers - including the young people who access our services. The generosity of our funders and supporters has often extended beyond financial contributions, showing deep faith in our mission to limit and prevent the damage, disruption and marginalization of inner-city communities as a result of exposure to gang culture. 

During the last 12 months FAM was able to retain existing activity that was delivered between 2019 and 2020 and also secured additional funding until all activity had to be curtailed in line with Government guidelines around Covid 19. Again, this additional funding was beneficial in extending service delivery but, in turn, highlighted issues around the core infrastructure required to manage this additionality. These issues, particularly around financial management were further compounded when FAM was unable to recruit a Trustee with expertise in Finance (following the previously reported tragic death of our Treasurer), despite a robust recruitment procedure on Charity Jobs websites. 

Initially, until March 2020, the existing three weekly football events were offered for two broad age groups, 11-18, run on weekday evenings using a football pitch in a local high school, and a Saturday event for those aged 6 – 10 year that takes place in a local leisure centre: 

- Can u Kick it Football Session Thursday Manchester Academy 6-8 pm Ages 11-19 years old 

- Can u Kick it Football Session Friday Platt Lane Complex 5-7 pm Education Though Sport 

- Can u Kick it Football Session Saturday Trinity High School 12-2 pm 6-11 year 12–19year-olds. 

In addition, we were able to continue to deliver two new sessions: 

- Can u Kick it Football Session Moss Side Centre Wednesday 5-7 pm - Ages 9–13year-olds 

- Can u Kick it Football Session Moss Side Power House Wednesday 6-8pm - Ages 9– 13-year-olds. 

When the Covid 19 crisis hit and we had to cease our sporting activities we were aware that we would have to make a rapid digital mobilisation in order to continue to support our young people. We also recognised that our families lacked the basic resources to engage in virtual support. Most of our families only have a basic mobile phone that lacks the smart technology required to maintain engagement with our virtual community. We needed to provide a basic Smart phone and top up credit for our most vulnerable families so that we could continue to support them effectively. We also needed to provide our Mentors and Mentees with basic tablets and in some circumstances, a dongle (where there is no internet in the house) so that they could continue their 1-2-1 work and also develop group activities that can be delivered to young people via their mobile phones. We were successful in a bid to the Covid-19 

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Community Response Fund offered by We Love Manchester which allowed us to offer much needed IT equipment as detailed above to our young people and their families. 

## Structure, Governance and Management 

FAV is a Foundation CIO. The charity is managed on a day-to-day basis by James Gregory, Chief Executive and Trustee alongside other independent trustees, with experience in key skills in areas such as Finance, Marketing, HR and Law. In addition, the Chair has over 15 years Senior Management experience within the Third Sector working closely in partnership with statutory, private and voluntary sector agencies. 

Selina Green stood down as a Trustee in September 2020 and John Jones stood down in February 2021, but we were fortunate enough to appoint Akeem Mundell as a short-term Trustee from August to November 2020. In addition, we were delighted to be able to appoint Ahmed Yassin as a Trustee in September 2020. Ahmed brings a wealth of local knowledge, contacts and energy to our team.  Additional recruitment is planned for 2021 with focus on BAME applicants and those with lived experience and also focused on applicants with expertise in accountancy/financial planning and those with marketing capability. 

The Trustees met regularly throughout the year. 

## Risk Management 

The Trustees consider that a risk facing the Charity is an inability to raise sufficient funds to maintain and develop its core services of sports activities and mentoring to young people. This has never been more evident than this year when we have had to rapidly adapt our service delivery model in order to continue to offer support to our young people without the offer of our sporting activities. 

Covid-19 and Lockdown has had a major impact on our fundraising. Whilst existing funders have been incredibly supportive, several strong funding prospects have been put on hold because funders have changed their own longer-term plans to focus on emergency relief. The pandemic has also limited our ability to progress public fundraising, and restrained our ability to organise events to raise awareness of services, including those like our Annual Awards Events and public speaking opportunities across local schools, colleges and forums for Young People. 

Our fundraising goals this year are to strengthen our core funding streams over the longer term, so as to ensure that our service capability is fully funded. We expect the financial impact of Covid-19 to put severe pressure on the resources of our funders in the coming year and beyond. We are already in talks with funders about what this means for the sustainability of services going forward, particularly when needs of the young people we support are likely to be even more extreme for some time to come. Our main sources of funding are through the delivery of grants and contracts, and through the support of charitable trusts and foundations. 

_**Page 7 of 15**_ 



The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks and can confirm that suitable measures have been taken to mitigate any significant risks. 

## **Funding** 

As mentioned previously, funding levels in 2020/21 were massively down compared with 2019/20 and 2018/19 due to the impact of Covid.  Our net income in 2020/21 was some 3% of the prior year.  We were in receipt of continued funding from Stockport Council (£3,091) and received a grant from We Love Manchester (£3,000) under the Covid-19 Community Response Fund mentioned above. 

As mentioned in the 2019/20 Report, a service contract with Brinnington Big Local (contracted via Groundworks) was terminated early and this led to a repayment of £6,880. 

We are grateful to all funders who support our work, including a grant of £1,500 from Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner under the Government’s Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme and a grant of £2k was from Sported in February 2021, used to fund pitch hire and sessional coaches to enable us to start delivering football sessions again as soon as the lifting of lockdown restrictions made this possible - April 2021. 

2021/22 got off to a good start with funding being secured from the Angus Irvine Trust, the Football Foundation, City in the Community, the Big Lottery and the Holiday Activities & Food Fund. 

## Development and Achievements 2020-21 

The past year at FAM has been a time of momentous change, both internally and externally. We now enter a new era of possibilities presented by rebuilding in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the multiple harms of structural racism, which Black Lives Matter have shone such light on and of which FAM has been long aware. 

Along with so many charities like ourselves, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on our fundraising plans, operational service delivery and strategic plans for the future. FAM started working from home in March 2020, following closure of our office and the cessation of all organised team sports activities in line with government guidance and regulations. As a small charity, FAM was able to move rapidly to a virtual model of service delivery, offering video calling, more intensive phone support to young people and some individual tailored support in order to meet emergency needs during lockdown, e.g. food parcels etc. We posted materials to young people to support their wellbeing during the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown period, such as information and tools to support mental health awareness, self-care, exercise, nature and relaxation including creative activities. We also provide on-line workshops and group work. On the whole service users have responded positively to this change but the vital face-to-face and community elements of our sporting activities services have been deeply affected and anecdotally we see a detrimental impact on the mental health of the young people who access our services. 

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Throughout the year we have continued to demonstrate and evidence great strength and value in the field of sporting activities for disadvantaged youth. We have maximised potential by: 

- The distribution of electronic tablets to young people across two partner schools: Chorlton High School South & Chorlton High School 

- The distribution of track suits, bottoms, tops, basketballs and telephones to young people identified as being most in need 

- Workshops to over 30 young people Ages 10-16 on Anti-Social Behaviour and Gangs for the Charity Eagle Learning Centre Newton Heath. 

## Feedback from Service Users 

Comments shared with the Charity include: 

From a Year Head of a local School – 

_“I am writing this letter to express our thanks to your organisation for donating some Samsung tablets PC to our students, parents are chuffed and happy, we reached out to our most disadvantaged students in the year group who really appreciated this._ 

_Having this device will allow students to continue being the best version of themselves, whilst they continue to study at St Matthew’s High School, parents have been informed and they have expressed their thanks.”_ 

From a regular attendee at our football sessions – 

_“I’ve been coming to CUKI since winter 2016 and since then the project has been growing ever since, bringing the community together and introducing new opportunities to the charity. Over the years CUKI has been very helpful to many people that was struggling to find their way of life and has helped many of the youth to enjoy something they love which is football and CUKI brings benefits to giving out free courses helped with the FA and gets the younger generation engaged and gives them a positive mindset for the outside world. Since March 2020 till now covid has had a detrimental effect to all of sport around the UK and one of the main factors CUKI has helped the community was keeping well aware of mental wellbeing and health this is important because if something is preventing people do what they enjoy (COVID) then mentally this is challenging for people that can’t participate in activities like this. CUKI on the other hand has done well exceptionally following the guidelines andHas helped by continuing on the project after months being out, by putting out some football training over the months and some enjoyable matches at the parks and brought the community back on its feet and with the help of the city in the community has also opened up more facilities such as playing again at the Platt Lane complex which has really helped the charity to get back on the strong foot to carry on developing the organisation and offer more opportunities to the younger generation As a summary, covid has been a factor in both ways for CUKI and as a person that’s been through the ups and downs for a few years CUKI has managed to keep growing and I’m thankful to see the charity blossom and can’t wait for the future it holds_ 

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## 



INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF FAMILIES AGAINST VIOLENCE
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year
ended 31" March 2021 as set out on pages 12 to 15 ofthis Report.
Responslbllitie5 and Basls of Report
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in
accordance with the requirements of the Charitie5 Act 20111'the Act'l.
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145
of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions
given by the Charity Commission under sertion 14515llbl 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material
respect..
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of
the Act,. or
the accounts do not accord with those records
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.
Neil Yeomans A
Chartered Accountant
7" September 2021
PoRe IJ éjf J5

## **Receipt and Payment Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2021 (£)** 

|**Receipts**<br>Manchester Young Lives<br>We Love Manchester<br>Manchester City Council<br>Stockport Homes<br>Stockport Council<br>Stockport Sports Trust<br>Groundworks<br>Police and Crime Comm’r<br>Trafford College<br>Angus Irvine Fund<br>Sponsorship<br>Sported<br>Donations<br>TOTAL RECEIPTS<br>**Payments**<br>Sessional Staff<br>Rent<br>Transport<br>Facility Hire<br>Training Equipment<br>Administration<br>Food & Drink<br>Insurance<br>IT Equipment Donated to<br>Community<br>General Expenses<br>Sub-Total<br>**Asset Purchases**<br>Total<br>TOTAL PAYMENTS<br>Net Receipts<br>Transfers<br>Balances Brought<br>Forward<br>Balances Carried<br>Forward|Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>Restricted<br>Funds<br>TOTAL<br>FUNDS<br>0<br>3,000<br>3,000<br>0<br>0<br>3,091<br>3,091<br>0<br>(6,880)<br>(6,880)<br>1,500<br>1,500<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>2,000<br>2,000<br>0<br>**0**<br>**2,711**<br>**2,711**<br>2,994<br>4,960<br>7,954<br>272<br>272<br>297<br>297<br>0<br>44<br>44<br>939<br>750<br>1,689<br>85<br>85<br>573<br>573<br>1,820<br>1,820<br>15<br>15<br>**4,793**<br>**7,956**<br>**12,749**<br>**0**<br>**4,793**<br>**7,956**<br>**12,749**<br>**(4,793)**<br>**(5,245)**<br>**(10,038)**<br>**(8,731)**<br>**8,731**<br>**0**<br>**14,986**<br>**14**<br>**15,000**<br>**1,462**<br>**3,500**<br>**4,962**|Last Year Total<br>Funds<br>34,315<br>3,450<br>1,800<br>11,475<br>21,339<br>11,642<br>1,000<br>5,590<br>900|
|---|---|---|
|||**91,511**|
|||70,465<br>1,100<br>3,690<br>14,581<br>1,111<br>1,696<br>4,161<br>629<br>188|
|||**97,621**|
||||
|||**422**|
|||**98,043**|
|||**(6,532)**|
||||
|||**21,533**|
|||**15,000**|



_**Page 12 of 15**_ 



## 

|**Assets**<br>Fixed assets<br>Cashassets<br>**liabilities**<br>Rent<br>Bank accounts<br>Independent examination<br>RepaymenttoGroundworks|2021<br>1,653<br>4,962<br>1,132<br>600<br>0<br>1,732|2020<br>1,653|
|---|---|---|
|||15,000<br>0<br>600<br>6,880|
|||7,480|






## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **Accounting Policies** 

## **Basis of Accounting** 

The Financial Statements have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis. 

Restricted funds are as stated. 

## **Transactions with Trustees** 

Trustee and CEO James Gregory was paid sessional coaching fees of £5,874 (£10,020 in 2019/20), as provided for in the charity’s constitution, and was approved by the Trustees. 

## **Funds Analysis** 

|Restricted Funds<br>Manchester Young Lives<br>Manchester City Council<br>Stockport Homes<br>Stockport Council<br>Stockport Sports Trust<br>Groundworks<br>Trafford College<br>We Love Manchester<br>Sported<br>Police and Crime Comm'r<br>Other<br>Unrestricted funds<br>Total funds|Opening<br>Closing<br>balance<br>Receipts<br>(Payments)<br>Transfers balance<br>(3,518)<br>3,518<br>0<br>(1,569)<br>1,569<br>0<br>(383)<br>383<br>0<br>(37)<br>3,091<br>(4,809)<br>1,755<br>0<br>(383)<br>383<br>0<br>6,058<br>(6,880)<br>822<br>0<br>(20)<br>20<br>0<br>3,000<br>(3,147)<br>147<br>0<br>2,000<br>2,000<br>1,500<br>1,500<br>(134)<br>134<br>0|
|---|---|
||14<br>2,711<br>(7,956)<br>8,731<br>3,500<br>14,986<br>(4,793)<br>(8,731)<br>1,462|
||15,000<br>2,711<br>(12,749)<br>0<br>4,962|



_**Page 14 of 15**_ 



The specific purposes for which the funds were / are to be applied is as follows: - 

**Stockport Council** – monies were paid to the charity for 1:1 mentoring services provided under the Next Steps Programme 

**Groundworks** – monies were repaid to Brinnington Big Local (contracted via Groundworks) due to the early termination of a service contract 

**We Love Manchester** – the grant received under the Covid-19 Community Response Fund was used to purchase much needed IT and communications equipment which was then donated to the local community 

**Sported** – the monies received under the Simplyhealth X Sported Project are to help the charity restart its provision of football-based activities 

**Greater Manchester Police & Crime Commissioner** - the monies received under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) are to help the charity restart its provision of footballbased activities. 

## **Liabilities** 

The Accounts record a liability of £600 for independent examination of the Charity’s Accounts for 2018/19 and 2019/20.  This fee was paid on 6[th] April 2021. 

The charity’s landlords at St. Wilfrid’s Enterprise Centre agreed a rent holiday in 2020, due to Covid.  The landlords have generously agreed to extend this rent holiday into the 2[nd] half of 2021/22, pending the charity securing sufficient core funding to start paying rent again and to start paying off the accumulated £1,132 backlog.  The Trustees are cautiously confident that the necessary core funding will be secured in the 2[nd] half of 2021/22 and funding bids to that end have been submitted. 

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