2020-11-07-accounts - Douglas Valley Outreach

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Douglas Valley Outreach Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Charity Number: 1170077

Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 7 November 2020

DOUGLAS VALLEY OUTREACH CIO Charity number 1170077

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 7[th] November 2020 which have been prepared to comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Constitution approved and established by the Charity Commissioners on 8[th] November 2016, the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to all charities (the Charities SORP) and Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 102.

OBJECTS & ACTIVITIES

The objects of the charity are to relieve the needs of those granted refugee status or seeking asylum in the UK and their dependents living, temporarily or permanently, in the postcode areas of WN, L39 and L40 and the surrounding areas in England, in particular but not exclusively by:

The relief of their financial hardship;
The preservation and protection of their physical and mental health;
The advancement of their education and training so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within a new community;
The provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of those persons who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances.
The relief of their unemployment by the provision of vocational and skills training, advice and support
The advancement of the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum.

The main activities are to:

Recruit and encourage volunteers to assist local charitable activities in Wigan and West Lancashire to provide practical support for asylum seekers and refugees through work programmes such as English conversation, a Women’s Group (in Wigan), and befriending.
Provide financial support for the provision of English language tutoring.
Provide essential items of household equipment and furniture for those newly granted refugee status.
Provide financial support for the provision of a Casework service in West Lancashire similar to that already provided in Wigan.

The trustees have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s objects, in planning activities and setting policies. The charity furthers its charitable purposes for the public benefit through its support of asylum seekers and refugees. They are often single and alone without the support of anyone from their own culture, with little or no English language skills and unable to understand and find their way through the systems and regulations that they encounter.

The Trustees record with gratitude a grant of £4,763 from the John Moores Foundation (JMF) to fund the part time employment of a caseworker to work with asylum seekers and refugees in Skelmersdale. The caseworker is employed by West Lancashire Council for Voluntary Services. As noted in the financial review below, all of the grant received has been disbursed during the financial year.

There have been no other significant events which require the trustees to report upon.

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DOUGLAS VALLEY OUTREACH CIO Charity number 1170077

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Through the charity’s volunteers, asylum seekers and refugees gain an improved understanding of local culture, systems, structures, their rights and responsibilities and social network with less feeling of isolation. They can be signposted to specialist services to gain better knowledge of what is available. This is of particular relevance in improving physical and mental health. The provision of advocacy and advice to those newly granted refugee status improves their chances of finding adequate housing and avoiding destitution.

As reported last year, a Development Plan was created by the Trustees in 2017/18 in order to best meet DVO’s Objects. The Plan was put on hold during the current year and will adapted as required when the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 are being removed.

Covid 19 has had a dramatic effect on our ability to work with asylum seekers and refugees since March 2020. Much of the volunteer work has been suspended because of the risk of infection and the regulations on gatherings. However, the Charity has been active in providing essential items for asylum seekers and refugees who are in dire need.

Financial review

Details of the income and expenditure are shown in the statement of financial activities on page 6. Donations, grants and other income amounted to £14,413 (2019: £10,333). Expenditure on charitable activities was £11,544 (2019: £7,538). The grant from JMF was administered as a Restricted Fund. Unrestricted income was received in about equal proportions from grants and from individual donations. Grants and donations were received with gratitude from individual donors, Douglas Valley Lions, the Parochial Council of Christchurch in Douglas, from Mass collections at Our Lady & All Saints Church in Parbold and from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

The grant from JMF was received on 10 December 2019 in the sum of £4,763 and, in accordance with the terms of the award of the grant, it was used to help fund the part time employment of a caseworker. The payments made in respect of this were made on 10 February 2020, 15 April 2020, 8 July 2020 and 21 October 2020, each being £1,217.08.

Since the year end, the Charity has received the second tranche of grant funding from JMF. This has provided funds of over £5,000 which will be used to continue to fund the part time employment of a caseworker in 2021.

Douglas Valley Outreach commenced charitable activities in March 2016 as an unregistered charity and was incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 8[th] November 2016.

The accounts have been prepared on an accrual basis and on a going concern basis. The Charity is reliant on the continuous support of its donors. Most individual donations are received by monthly standing order which gives some assurance about future income. Despite the significant global impact from the Covid-19 outbreak and thanks to the continued generosity of its supporters there has been no significant impact on the quantum of donations received by the Charity and the level of the Charity’s reserves put it in a good position to deal with any short term reductions that might arise. The Trustees have therefore continued to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation of these accounts and financial statements.

Investment & Reserves policies

Apart from retaining a prudent amount in reserves, the charity’s funds are available to be spent in the short term and it has not been necessary to consider placing any funds in longer term investments. The trustees aim to maintain reserves broadly equivalent to three months’ worth

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DOUGLAS VALLEY OUTREACH CIO Charity number 1170077

of donations. They consider that this reserve will allow them to respond to immediate needs and to ensure that governance and administration costs are covered.

Disbursements policy

Disbursements may be made so long as they are in accordance with the disbursements policy approved by the trustees, priorities for the current year have been considered and unless there are exceptional circumstances the minimum reserve is maintained. The policy is reviewed regularly.

Risk management

The trustees consider that all risks identified are insurable and have taken out appropriate cover.

Fundraising

The trustees do not engage in direct fundraising other than by encouraging free membership and support of the charity.

Plans for future periods

Over the next five years the charity will continue to respond to the needs of asylum seekers and refugees and will develop and follow plans agreed with stakeholders.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Governing instruments

Douglas Valley Outreach (DVO) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission, registration number 1170077 and is governed by the Constitution approved and established by the Charity Commissioners on 8[th] November 2016. It is an Association CIO with a wider membership in addition to its trustees.

Trustees’ appointment, induction and training

Trustees are appointed by election at an AGM with one third retiring annually by rotation. Retiring trustees are eligible to offer themselves for re-election for up to three terms.

The Trustees may appoint additional trustees at any time and they will serve until the next AGM. No external body has an entitlement to appoint trustees. The maximum number of trustees permitted at any one time is 12.

New trustees will be inducted by receiving a copy of the Constitution, minutes of recent meetings and explanations of procedure at subsequent meetings.

The trustees are not aware of any related parties with influence over the actions of the charity.

Some trustees are regular donors to the charity. No trustee received compensation or expenses in the year.

Organisation structure

There are currently eight trustees (2019: nine) and approximately 30 (2019: 30) other members who are benefactors and or volunteers, though most volunteers are currently not active because of Covid 19. The trustees have met once in the last year and are otherwise in frequent communication.

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DOUGLAS VALLKY OUTREACH ao ChaTity number 1170077 The following trustees retire by rotation at the AGM on 28 January 2021 and offertheJDselves for re-electioll: SJ DecallLP. C Matstoll & M Mccusker. The Trnstees declare tbat they have appToveAI the Tnjsteed Reptsrt abov Signed on behalf of the Chatity's Trustees Signature: Full Name: Susan Janet Decamp Position- Chair of Trustees 22 Page5•f 9

DOUGLAS VALLEY OUTREACH CIO Charity number 1170077

REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Registered address

39, Beechfield Hilldale Parbold Lancashire WN8 7AR

Trustees - the following Trustees served during the year: S J Decamp Chair M McCusker Secretary P E Roberts Treasurer D G Bennett A Black R Charnock C Crossan (appointed 30/01/2019) C Marston P Sephton (retired 28/02/2019)

Bankers

Co-operative Bank plc PO Box 250 Delf House Skelmersdale WN8 6WT

Independent examiner

M A Cook BA (Hons) FCA 26 Lathom Avenue Parbold Wigan Lancs WN8 7DT

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DOUGLAS VALLEY OUTREACH CIO Charity number 1170077

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

for the year ended 7 November 2020 Income from: Grants Donations Gift Aid recovered Bank Switch bonus Other income Total income Charitable activities Essential items Casework support Women’s Group Family support at Christmas Emergency support Local grants Publicity Administration AGM costs Insurance Total expenditure Net income / (expenditure) for the year	2020 2020 2020 *2019* £ £ £ £ Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Total Total 4,763 4,783 9,546 4,845 - 3,918 3,918 4,036 - 701 701 648 - - - 750 - 248 248 54
	4,763 9,650 14,413 *10,333*
	- 4,786 4,786 4,862 4,763 105 4,868 1,295 - 163 163 278 - 368 368 444 - 359 359 - - 1,000 1,000 600 - - - 58
	4,763 6,781 11,544 *7,538*
	- 64 64 84 - 225 225 253
	- 289 289 *337*

	4,763 7,070 11,833 *7,875*
	- 2,580 2,580 *2,458*

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asat7November	2020
		2020 f,	2019t
Assets
Bank account		12,425	8,971
Cashinhand
Debtors	HMRC	701	647
	OLAS	50
	Co-operativeBank		750
Prepayment	Insurance		225
Less	Accruals
TotalAssets		13,176	10,596
Representedby:
General Fund	B/forward	10.596	8,139
	Netincomeforyear	2,580	2,459
Total Funds(all	unrestricted)	13,176	_____t!;2!_

LK)UCLAS VALLEY oirrREACH CIO Ch•rity number 1171M177 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTELS I rrt to the trusttts on my examination of th¢ &cu)unts of tw Valley Outreach charity number 117LM177, for the year eThled * November 2020 sd out 2 to 8. R¢spedlve rupoLslbliltlt¥ gf od txml•¢r The chaTity's mtteS tr¢ Te4K)nsible the W¢pr¥¢I of the xcounts. The charity's tn consider that an awlit is not require41 for this yeaT seaion 144 of the Chariiies Aet 2011 1'lh¢ Charities Aci") and thal an iTh]LTLthi examination is not requir but has been r¢4uested by the trw4te¢8. li is my resp)sIbilItY io.. ¢X8mine the thccounts under lon 145 of th¢ ClxaTities Ac( to follow the procedures laid th)wn in the general Diredions given by the Clwity Commission (under section 14515Xb) of the Ctrwiiies ACL and lo state wh¢ther p¥rticular matters h4ve Comc to my atleniioo BJls of Independellt ¢xmlner'• sla¢ement My examinlort wls c4rricd oui in ac¢ordwKe with 8eneral DirrylioThs given by the Charity Commi¥sion. An examination includes a review of th¢ a¢¢ounting records kepi by the chan'ry And a comparison of the a¢¢ounts presenied with those records. It also consideration of any unusual items or disclosur&q in the ¢(NJnL4 and sttking explanaiions from the trustees csJKerning any such mailers. The prrKcdurcs undertaken do not provide all th¢ ¢vidL¢¢ thai would bc requid in an alldiL and consequently no opinion is wven as io wh¢theT the accounts present a 'tNe and fwr. view and ihe rewrt is limikd those matt¢r5 Set out in the 51&l¢ment below. Independent ¢MmlAer'i ¥ltememt In connc¢tion with my cxamination. Th) material M¢3 veCome to my atteniion which 8iV¢S me cause io believe that in. any malerial rtspcrl.. the accounting records were not ky in with section 130 of the Charities the aeeounts did not accord with thc accounting reeoTds.' or the accounts did not comply with thc applicable requirenwts con(trnill8 the fonn and cont¢nt of accounts set out in the Chariiies IAcLxJunts and Rep)ttsl Rc8ulalions 2(K>8 (xhcr than any requimcn¢ that the accounts givc a 'true arml fair. vi¢w which is not a matter consitsd as w ofan indcErndent examination. I have come across no other matters in c(xme¢tion with the examination to which &tt¢Dtion should be dnwn in thi5 Tel ID order to eIle a UNIC108 of the accounts io be reached. C(M)k BA (Hons) FCA Date.. 21 P4t 9 •f9