## Halton Speak Out Annual ## Report 2021 21 years working to support people with a learning disability living in Halton to have a voice and building a sustainable and inclusive community Contents A word from chairperson Page 2 Adult project Page 3/4 Bright Sparks Page 5 Planning for Life Page 6 Brookvale Community Centre Page 7 Allsorts project Page 8 Hello and welcome everyone to Halton Speak Out’s 21st AGM. For those that don’t know me, my name is Ged Upham, and I am the Chairperson for Halton Speak Out. What a crazy and unprecedented Gme we’ve all had over the last year and a half, and I think all of us have been affected in some way. Halton Speak Out is no excepGon to that, and one of the biggest issues for us was the closure of the centre at Brookvale due to the pandemic, and ensuring that government guidelines were adhered to at all Gmes. The centre is the hub of the Speak Out its members and local community, and for it to close leN a void in many peoples lives and rouGnes So as always the staff looked at other ways of meeGng people using social media and outdoor meeGngs had to be arranged in order to keep doing the things we do best. We were acutely aware that isolaGon was a serious issue for many of our vulnerable members, and we did everything we could to keep in contact with as many people as we could. Sadly plans involving the centre had to be “mothballed”, including our community cafe Gll September 20. As always ,the team behind the scenes at Speak out conGnued Grelessly to work finding funding for projects like the “Winter Warmers” due to this iniGaGve many of most vulnerable members in the community received a goody box, and on the back of this a friending service help line, so people had local people to contact, even if it was just a chat over the phone. We will hear more about how our projects and inGGves and how we were able to carry on throughout the pandemic within this report and how the our work supported our members and the local community. Sadly some schemes had to come to an end we said goodbye to our Safe in Town scheme due to lack of funding, but new and exciGng links have been forged with the likes of the Steve Morgan FoundaGon, and Cheshire Police which will carry on into next year and look like some exciGng projects ahead. Finally can I put on record an enormous thank you to everyone behind the scenes at Halton Speak out, and a special menGon for all our partners. Thank you for your conGnued support. Last but by no means least. An enormous debt of graGtude goes to all our volunteers, who have put in hours and hours of work out of the goodness of their hearts. They epitomise all that is good about Speak Out, and their community spirit is something we should all be proud of. Despite all the things thrown at us over the last year or so, we are sGll in good shape to have a bright future and be a place where the community can learn and grow and support each other. Thank you all for your conGnued support Ged Upham ## Adult Project ## **Peoples Cabinet and Ignite and Transform** The past year has been quite unique due to the COVID pandemic. The work we have been involved in has seen us having to change and manoeuvre the way we support people in order to accommodate the needs of self-advocates in Halton. Lockdown was really hiZng some self-advocates hard, as more and more restricGons were coming into play, self-advocates were trying to come to terms with their previous rouGnes and pa[erns for their days disappearing quickly. New rouGnes had to be developed as a lot of our self-advocates were exhibiGng fear, worry and concerns around the uncertainty of what the future held. We had to develop new ways of working to give maximum opportuniGes for self-advocates to keep in touch and have access to accessible informaGon and guidelines to help to allay their worries. The main part of our work now was using the internet and telephone, we found some self-advocates developing their computer skills brilliantly, as did a few of us staff members! We started the People’s Cabinet Facebook page and opened it up to all self-advocates. We shared accessible informaGon daily, giving people clear guidance, this proved to be invaluable. We started the Ignite & Transform WhatsApp group, where self-advocates could pop in and catch up with their friends. By facilitaGng Zoom opportuniGes for self-advocates we soon realised that Zooms had to be made fun, so we asked self-advocates what they wanted to focus on Community Zooms, proved to be really rewarding for self-advocates, where we linked up with selfadvocates from different provider agencies and where they could sGll connect with friends from other services. . Throughout this Gme we also supported some of our self-advocates to complete a self-advocacy course training course, which was run by NWTDT. Like many this gave our members an opportunity to develop new skills which we hope will be useful in the coming months We a[ended all Transforming Care Zoom meeGngs, catching up with self-advocates from all over the North West. People were able to listen and learn but most importantly share their fears and anxieGes around the pandemic. So even though a lot of the year was focussed on keeping self-advocates mental wellbeing a big focus through COVID , we sGll managed to conGnue to share and learn and support each other around the usual work we are involved in at HSO. ## Adult Project ## **Person Centred Planning** During the pandemic it was even more important to support families and our members to think about the future and to make plans. But why if during a pandemic when people were isolated and cut off from the outside world when they were confused and scared did we need person centred planning……if the last 12 months has taught us nothing other than the need to feel more in control over our lives and the needed to be involved in decision making processes, to be cared for and supported in a way that works for us. The need to feel we are important. I don’t think anyone of us can really grasp the effect the enormity of these issues for people with a learning disability. But this is where we use our experGse and out creaGvity in ensuring we were able to conGnue to ef support our self-advocates in Halton. Our usual way of working with a person was impossible, so we again used Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook, text, messenger and telephone calls to chat, we kept in touch not only with selfadvocates, but their families, we were able to listen, find out informaGon, reassure and signpost to relevant services. We arranged for food to be delivered out for medicines to be picked up and even ensuring that peoples much loved pets were all cared for. InformaGon gathering with families became so much more, it allowed families to air concerns and worries regarding their family member, and to problem solve together. At Gmes it was both distressing and upseZng to hear people individual struggles. We extended our service and we supported people not only through the day but evenings and weekend, in which ever we could. We worked closely with Social Care, flagging up any issues, which allowed us all to support people and their families throughout this very challenging year. When we were able (weather permiZng) we managed to meet people and facilitate garden reviews, to conGnue to make sure that self-advocates were staying at the centre of their care and support, with the ability to have their voice heard. Sadly a number of statutory meeGngs for people were held over zoom. For some of our members this did not work but our staff endeavoured to ensure the person’s voice was in those meeGng even if the person felt unable to a[end. We collected the informaGon from them and their families and presented it on their behalf So yes 20/21 was possible the most challenging year in Halton Speak Out’s year but then wasn’t this ## Bright Sparks Well, the last year has certainly been different! Like everyone, Bright Sparks has had a lot of challenges but posiGve things have come out of the situaGon as well. At the beginning of the naGonal lockdown, we worked hard to adapt the way we work with the Bright Sparks – we had to develop new IT skills quickly! We set up a private WhatsApp page for the young people to encourage them to communicate with us and each other. We also set up a weekly programme of Zoom meeGngs. Although working online is not always ideal, it allowed us to have more regular contact with the young people in term Gme. This has helped to form a more cohesive group which we are sure will benefit the group when more face to face work is possible. A number of students from Ashley School joined us and have become regulars. SupporGng the young people to deal with the Covid lockdown situaGon and helping to maintain their wellbeing was obviously a big priority. As well as opportuniGes to talk, games and fun acGviGes, regular challenges and of course Kahoot! quizzes (following the naGonal trend!), we used simple tools like the ‘moodometer’ to gauge where the YP were at each Gme we met. They scored their mood out of 5 and said why they had given that score. We also kept in touch with the young people and their families regularly by phone and we were able to support the Disabled Children’s Team in monitoring their wellbeing. We tried to shape the acGviGes around the young peoples’ interests and many of them were educaGonal. We supported the young people to work through the ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ videos on the Local Offer and then to think about their futures and do some person centred planning. Zoom came to the rescue again in the school holidays! We planned days which had breaks offline and the Bright Sparks engaged with them enthusiasGcally. We were so pleased that we were able to have a face to face Christmas evening event to end 2020. It was lovely for the young people to be able to meet together aNer geZng to know each other online. Assessments on the accessibility of public premises, faciliGes and services in Halton for the Kitemark Award have been very restricted, but we were able to support the Bright Sparks to do some on a limited basis when restricGons were reduced in the summer holidays. Some of the young people did an online course on being an effecGve self advocate and we also had a joint meeGng with some members of Halton Youth Cabinet. We also did some more formal consultaGon. This included the Bright Sparks helping with Halton’s new SEND Strategy. So, although it wasn’t without it’s challenges, a number of the young people and their families have told us how much they appreciate what we’ve done as a group and how it has helped them through difficult Gmes ## Planning for Life The Planning for Life Project has been working with young people aged 14-18 since 2006, supporGng them to prepare for their transiGon into adult life. Like lots of other things, Planning for Life has been heavily affected by the Covid pandemic this last year, but we’ve done what we could to support young people to think about their life and their future, plan and have control in the decisions made about them. Face to face work is nearly always the best way to work with young people and important people in their lives when gathering informaGon and preparing for their planning meeGng or review and certainly the best way to do the meeGngs in way that works for them. It just makes communicaGon easier, which is obviously very important. Other forms of communicaGon work well for some of our young people, but for others it’s just be[er than nothing and for others it doesn’t work at all. We’ve used zooms, phonecalls, messaging on WhatsApp and emails. When restricGons have allowed, we’ve managed to have some meeGngs outdoors. We’ve managed to do some quality person centred planning, the rest of the Gme has been taken up in supporGng the young people and their families through the scary and oNen regularly changing and uncertain Gmes we have been in. We supported the year 9 students at Cavendish School to prepare for their annual review meeGngs and these finished a couple of weeks before the lockdown began. Although everyone has worked hard to keep review meeGngs happening, the majority of them have had to be on Skype voice calls where people phone into them. Unfortunately, this has meant that a lot of the young people haven’t been in their meeGngs as they wouldn’t have been comfortable or been able to deal with that situaGon. Where possible, we have got their views beforehand and fed them into the meeGng. On some occasions, when it’s been possible and it has worked for the young person, we have been able to hold a small number of meeGngs on Zoom. We worked with one young lady and her Mum to decide on the outcomes she wanted in her EHC Plan and aNer describing to her how the meeGng on Zoom would go, she decided which parts she wanted to be present in and was confident to join in on the day. As well as this, you will see in the Bright Sparks Project report, how person centred planning has happened naturally as part of what they have been doing in their pandemic Gme programme. So, although it’s been a challenging year with many barriers to us supporGng the young people in the way we would like to, there have been some examples of young people being empowered and their lives changing for the be[er ## Brookvale Community ## Centre What a year………3 months aNer taking over Brookvale Community Centre we were all faced with a NaGonal lockdown, But we strived to maintain the Gme of the centre to build on Halton Speak Out’s values and principals in that the centre and all acGviGes taking place in the centre should be built on Inclusion. The centre’s planned opening of its doors to the ‘Hello Community Cafe’ should have taken place in March ,20 but due to government restricGons it was delayed unGl September. We were able to begin building our community presence and one by one groups started coming to the centre. Then in January 21 another naGonal lockdown. We were at this point ready to rename the centre the OKE KOKE centre due to being in an out all the Gme. This lockdown carried on for many months again But during this Gme we conGnued to build strong links with our partners in Halton Borough Council and Runcorn Police and funding bodies. We were determined to as they say hit the ground running for when we could open up and be the type of community centre we wanted to be _Building a Community that includes everyone and who work together to make things happen._ ## Allsorts Project COVID-19 has impacted us all in many different ways but older people, in parGcular, have been affected more than most. As well as the physical issues of being more vulnerable to the virus another major problem of the pandemic is also having a devastaGng and long lasGng impact. Since the first naGonal lockdown occurred in March 2020, older and vulnerable people were asked to stay at home in isolaGon for up to 4 months. The Brookvale community is already one of the most deprived areas in the UK so the impact of isolaGon and mental health is even greater. To overcome this, the Allsorts Project was created with generous support from the Steve Morgan FoundaGon that was matched with government COVID-19 Emergency Funding. This is a 2 year project that started in December 2020 with the aim to engage and make contact with this age group and bring them back out of their homes and into the community. As the project started we were immediately faced with local lockdowns and then from the beginning of January 2021 another naGonal lockdown of at least 4 months began meaning the Centre was closed for longer than it was open since the project started. It was designed to include a befriending service to visit people in their homes to encourage them to get back out again and into the Community Centre but due to COVID-19 we were unable to do this. To overcome this, we used our social media channels to carry out an online survey and find out how people were affected by the pandemic and what acGviGes they would like to see for when it was safe again to come back out. From this, we formed a Focus Group of 5 older people to help us build on the ideas from the survey and develop a plan. This plan would enable us to support the groups that were currently using the Centre and develop new acGviGes that older people could come along to and take part in with acGviGes such as aNernoon socials, line dancing, knit and na[er groups and art workshops which would have benefits of encourage people out of isolaGon, improving their physical fitness and mental wellbeing. However, these cannot be arranged unGl the Centre can re-open whenever that is permi[ed. We have developed a website, www.brookvalecommunitycentre.com, so those people who have access to the internet can keep up to date with developments and acGviGes at the Centre. To reach out to the community in the meanGme we worked with other agencies including Cheshire Police, Kops n’Kids, the Illegal Money Lending Team, The Queen of Hearts pub, Halton Borough Council and Fresh Beginnings to create 50 Winter Warmer Boxes that we all helped to deliver to older, vulnerable people in the Brookvale and Su[on Park communiGes. The packs contained items such as woolly hats, blankets, biscuits and a range of other treat items and advice including healthy eaGng on a budget to keep people warm, how to avoid loan sharks and cheer them up in the knowledge their community is there to help them. They were very well received by the people who received them. This was so successful that we repeated this at the end of March with 50 Easter Spring Bags including a range of Easter treats of chocolate, daffodils, scone jam and cream plus other items. Our hope is that when condiGons improve and the Centre is allowed to re-open again we can conGnue in meeGng our aims to re-engage with this badly affected sector and see Halton Speak Out CIO Charjty number 1170145 Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements for th• year ended 31 March 2021 Halton Speak Out Cio Flnanclal Statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 Contents Page Trustges, report Examiner's statement Slalement of financial activities Balance Sheet Notes to Ihe aGcounts 6toB Prepared by the Greater Mersgyside Cornmunity A¢countancy Servicg Halton Speak Out Cio Tru8t•es' report The trustees during the year wor•.. Name Mr Gerard Upham Mrs J*kn"e Stringer Mrs Sheila Maloney Mrs Lynne Melarangi Mr Colin Rotherham Dates M•thod of appolnim¢nt Appointrnent of trustees is gov?rned by the ¢onsb'tub'on of the charity The executive comrnittee of trustees is authorised to appoint new trustees to fill va¢anrJ?s arising through the resignabon or death of 8n axisb.ng trustee. Prlnclpal addr•s$ Higher House Northwi¢h Road Brookval• Runcom WA7 6PE 8ank•rs Cooperative 88nk PQ Box 250 Sk6lmersdale Lancashire WN8 eWT Gov?mln9 docum•nt The charity is a charitgble incorporat•d orpanisab.on r6glstereEJ on 14th Novembor 2016. ob5￿ts ol the organlsatlon For the benefit of the public, rgliel ond support of thildr?n ?nd od¥lts with leorning and other dis•bilities Ineludiing parsons who are vulnerable. by th• prtrvision of advocacy 8nd like 8UPPOrt services, training, educational and eth•r sfjrvico8 dtrsigntrd to rèli&v& th•ir eondittrn, and to allow tt)em to taka their full place in socigty. The provision ol facilities which vlll enabl• them to tAk• p8rt in th6 dram8tlc and visual art5, in¢luding the provision ol training. educats"on, practie41 demonstr*"on6 ond porbcipative leaming. Ind•￿nd•ttt •xamln?r on behalf of.. GTeatsr M*rJeyslde Communlty Accountsncy Servlce st Manes Lugsdale Road Widne5 WA8 608 Halton Speak Out CIO Independont examlner's roport on the accounts ol Halton Sp•ak Out Cio for the year ended 31 March 2021 I report on the accounts for the year &nded 31 st March 2021 set out on pages 4 to 8 Respectlve responslbllltte5 olthe Trustees and the examlnèr As the charitys trustees you are responsible for the Pfeparats'on ol the accounts,. you conpAder thatthe audit requirement of 58cbon 43121 of tre Ch8Thties Act 1993 does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the 8cceunt5 Using procedures18id down in the General Direcbcns given by the Charity Commission and to Btate whether matters have corne to my attention. Ba$15 Of Independent examlner's r*port My examination was carried out in accordance wth the General OirKt'onB givan by th¢ Chgrity Commissioners. An examination includes a review ol the 8¢counting recerds kept by the charity and a ¢OrnP8rison of the accounts presanted with those records. It also 1n¢ludes considerab.on ol any unu$u•l items or disclosures in the accounts, anol see￿.nG explanations Irom you as trustts•s conterning any such matters. The procedure8 undertaken do not provide 811 the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given 8$ tg whether lh¢ ?c¢ournts present a Yrue ond fair view, and the repL)rt is lirnil¢d tc thcs• rnatt•rs Eet out in tha statern•nts b81ow. Independent examlner'3 Statement In ¢?nn•¢bon wth my examination, no matter ha$ ¢omè to my attention.. 11 which giv?$ rn• reo$on•ble e8us• to b¢li•v• tt)8t In any materi81 respect the requirements.. to keep aceounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act.. and El to prepare accounts which a￿ord with the a¢cgunthng records and to comply with the gccounting requirements ol the Act ave not been m•t." or 21 to which, in my opinion. 8ttention Should be drawn in ord•r to enable • proper understandin9 of the o¢counts to be reached. Jane Williams MAAT Gr•ater Mer St Maries Lugsdale Ro Widnes WA8 6DB ey de Communlty Accountancy Servlc? 30th September 2021 Halton Speak Out Cio Statement of Financial Activltl•8 for the y•ar Ondod 31 March 2021 Not•s 2021 Unrestri¢ted funds 2021 Restricted fvnds 2021 Total fund5 2020 Total fijnds Incomlng Resources Grants and donatr'ons Other Incorne Fundraising Bank Interesl Rec8lved Totsl Incornlng resourc 12) 60.46S 18,073 211,803 272,068 18,073 159,237 78,538 211,603 290,141 159.237 Resou￿3 expendod S8laries 8nd Nbcs Payroll foes Consultancy Sundry exp?nses Equipmont Rent P06taq•. $18ts'onery & Tel•phoni Insur8nc¢ Website. Advfritsing & Publidty DBS Checks Volunteers Donatsons Caf6 Supplies Information & Resour¢g8 Project costs Governance Co¥lg Independ?nt Examinth'on & Aeeeuntaney Professional fe*$ Administr￿"On Total resource3 expende(I Ne¢ Incomlng I loutgglno) rèsourcès Transfers be￿een tund3 38,624 110,068 900 2,550 341 6,511 16.522 2.709 1.802 688 148.890 900 2.550 341 6,511 16.522 2.709 1.802 888 284 60 127,427 792 8,642 1,795 4.844 16.105 4,041 1,5D6 424 440 1,213 17 264 60 609 1.334 656 19,127 1,943 812 19,127 300 300 300 804 40.013 38,524 183,188 48.417 203.199 86.941 166,163 16,9261 Fund balances brought fofward 6S,077 48,528 113,603 120.529 Fund balanc•s carrfed forward 103,601 96,943 200,544 113,603 Halton Speak Out Cio Balance she•t as at 31 March 2021 2021 Unrestrieted 2021 Restricted 2021 Total 2020 Totsl Flxed A55ets TanGib18 Ass8ts Total flxed assets 15) Current Ass*ts Debtors and prepaym•ntS C8sh 8t bsnk and In h8nd Total Current ass•ts 103.801 103.601 96.943 96,943 200.544 200,544 113,603 113,603 Curr•nt Ilabllltl•s'. amounts lalllng due wlthln one year Creditors and accruals Total ¢urrgn¢ Ilabllltte> N•t curr•nt ass•ts I Illabllltlesl 103,601 96,943 200.544 113.603 Total a349ts It53 cufTen1114bllltl•$ 103,601 96.943 200.544 113.603 CredltoT•: amounts falllng due after on• y•ar N•t assets 103,601 98.943 200,544 113.603 Funds Restricted Funds Unrestricted lund6 Total Fund$ 98.943 96,943 103801 200.544 48,528 103601 103.601 96.943 113,603 Approval of th• accounts The annual report and 8¢counts were approved 8t a meeting ol the Trustees held on 30th S*ptemb•r 2021 Ged Uph8m on behalf of the Tru$tees Halton Speak Out Cio Notes to the aecounts for the year onded 31 March 2021 Accoundng Pollcleg Bas15 ol accountlng The financial statements have been prep8r&d under Ihe historical cost convention and in 8¢¢ordan¢e with the Statement of Recommended Practice, A¢¢ounting and Reportino by Chariti85 (The Charities SORPI. Income Donations and legauès arè accounted for wh•n r6ceived by the charity. Other Income Is accounttrd for on an aceruals basis as lar as Is prud•nt to do so. Grants Revenue grants are recogn168d In the Statement of Financial Activit'es on receipt. subject to any required conditions being met or $ervi¢e6 being provided. C8Plt81 grants are recognised on rèceipt In th• Stètem•nt ol FinAnci81 Activitiès. Thls pelicy has been adopted te give a tru• and fair view as recommonded by the SORP. Tanglble Flxed Assets Tangible fixed assets are capbtslistrd rf Ih•y ¢gn b• used fer rnore than one year and c¢)st at168st £250. Rates of d¢prg¢i4tion'. Flxtur•s and fitty'ngs." 25% reducing balance Equipm•nt". 2S% reducing balanc8 P•n$lons Contribution$ ar• charged when th?y become due In aw?rdance with th? Bch?rn¢ rules. Fund accountlng Funds held by th8 charity 8re either. Unf¢gtrl¢t•il general fundg These are Yunds which can b• used in 8e¢ordane• wlth th• chantable obi•ets at th• diser•tlon ol the trustees. Re3trlcte N•t curr•nt ass•ts I Illabllltlesl 103,601 96,943 200.544 113.603 Total a349ts It53 cufTen1114bllltl•$ 103,601 96.943 200.544 113.603 CredltoT•: amounts falllng due after on• y•ar N•t assets 103,601 98.943 200,544 113.603 Funds Restricted Funds Unrestricted lund6 Total Fund$ 98.943 96,943 103801 200.544 48,528 103601 103.601 96.943 113,603 Approval of th• accounts The annual report and 8¢counts were approved 8t a meeting ol the Trustees held on 30th S*ptemb•r 2021 Ged Uph8m on behalf of the Tru$tees Halton Speak Out Cio Notes to the aecounts for the year onded 31 March 2021 Accoundng Pollcleg Bas15 ol accountlng The financial statements have been prep8r&d under Ihe historical cost convention and in 8¢¢ordan¢e with the Statement of Recommended Practice, A¢¢ounting and Reportino by Chariti85 (The Charities SORPI. Income Donations and legauès arè accounted for wh•n r6ceived by the charity. Other Income Is accounttrd for on an aceruals basis as lar as Is prud•nt to do so. Grants Revenue grants are recogn168d In the Statement of Financial Activit'es on receipt. subject to any required conditions being met or $ervi¢e6 being provided. C8Plt81 grants are recognised on rèceipt In th• Stètem•nt ol FinAnci81 Activitiès. Thls pelicy has been adopted te give a tru• and fair view as recommonded by the SORP. Tanglble Flxed Assets Tangible fixed assets are capbtslistrd rf Ih•y ¢gn b• used fer rnore than one year and c¢)st at168st £250. Rates of d¢prg¢i4tion'. Flxtur•s and fitty'ngs." 25% reducing balance Equipm•nt". 2S% reducing balanc8 P•n$lons Contribution$ ar• charged when th?y become due In aw?rdance with th? Bch?rn¢ rules. Fund accountlng Funds held by th8 charity 8re either. Unf¢gtrl¢t•il general fundg These are Yunds which can b• used in 8e¢ordane• wlth th• chantable obi•ets at th• diser•tlon ol the trustees. Re3trlcte