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← LGBT+ Network For Change

2024-01-30-accounts

LGBT+ Network for Change Trustees Annual Report 2023 – 2024 & Financial Statement

Charity Commission Registered charity number: 1171911

The document comprises two components, the Annual Report and the Financial Statement:

• Trustees Report (pages 1 – 10) which includes an Appendix ‘Notes from our Constitution on Structure, Governance & Management,’ and the main section on Charitable Activities in the 31st January 2023 to 30th January 2024 period

• Financial Statement (pages 11 – 14)

Trustees Annual Report

Information concerning trustees, staff, charity address, and bank account:

Trustees for the 31[st] January 2023 to 30[th ] January 2024 period :

Erin Greenslade (Chair) Ria Patel (Honorary Secretary and PR Officer) John Hyde (Deputy Chair)

NOTE: in early November 2023 after long illness, charity co-founder and Deputy Chair John Hyde passed on after a period of long illness. Consequently, the Board being reduced to two members for the remainder of the 31st January 2023 to 30th January 2024 period the charity took no actions in regard to new projects or grant applications. Existing work and projects continued for the November 2023 to 30[th] January 2024 period (these involved no funding or expenditure as in the exceptional circumstances the charity operational lead volunteered his time at no cost to maintain existing work and initiatives).

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Charity Commission website reference: https://register-of- - - charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity search/ /charity details/5089151/trustees

Paid Staff (1 only – part-time: paid, subject to dedicated projects grants receipt, and with remainder of time per week given on a voluntary, unremunerated basis). Network Lead Officer/Convenor: Alan Mercel-Sanca

Charity Address:

Gipsy Cottage Bridge Canterbury Kent CT4 5HJ

Charity Bank Account:

HSBC Account Name: LGB&T Dorset Equality Network Sort Code: 40 – 46 – 11 Account Number: 71654284

1. Name: The name of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“the CIO”) is LGBT+ Network for Change (formerly, the ‘LGB&T Dorset Equality Network’: a pan-Dorset area section continues under the revised, Charity Commission approved, Charity constitutional Objects, where the area is specifically referred to and many of its operational activities continue).

2 Office: The office of the CIO is in England, Bridge near Canterbury, Kent.

3. Objects: The Charitable Objects of the LGBT+ Network for Change CIO are:

(1) The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit in the UK (including rural areas such as but not restricted to Dorset and adjacent areas, conurbations, such as but not limited to Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole, and metropolitan areas), and in the broader British Isles (UK and Ireland), by the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity by;

(a) advancing education and raising awareness in the issues (such as prejudice, poor mental health due to prejudice, hate, discrimination, superficial acceptance, rejection) faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans & non-binary people (‘LGBT+’ and ‘LGBTQ’);

(b) promoting activities and services, orientated towards practical and policy solutions to the issues faced by LGBT+ & LGBTQ people, and in conjunction with the latter to foster understanding between LGBT+ & LGBTQ people and those from other backgrounds;

(c) conducting or commissioning research on LGBT+ & LGBTQ issues, particularly for more marginalised or disempowered sections of the LGBT+ & LGBTQ community, publishing the results to the public, and creation and provision of related information resources to assist in addressing LGBT+ & LGBTQ issues;

(d) cultivating a sentiment in favour of LGBT+ & LGBTQ inclusion, and equality and diversity.

Source: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charitydetails/5089151/governing-document

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4. Network services beneficiaries:

Network principal beneficiaries include in particular members of sexual & gender minorities (LGBT+) and those who are coming Out or to self-realisation that they belong to a sexual orientation or gender minority (LGBTQ+). Network secondary beneficiaries include, but are not limited to the following:

• Those identifying, as individuals and/or organisations/agencies [statutory sector, business/private sector, and voluntary the community & voluntary sectors] as LGBTQ+ ‘Allies’

• All public, private, voluntary & community sectors organisations/agencies/entities that are seeking to of their own volition, or required to demonstrate compliance with Equality Act 2010 legal obligations compliance on counteracting and eradication direct and indirect discrimination and prejudice against sexual & gender minorities

5. Structure, governance & management:

Particulars are detailed below.

Notes from our Constitution on Structure, Governance & Management:

4. Powers

The CIO has power to do anything which is calculated to further its objects or is conducive or incidental to doing so. In particular, the CIO has power to:

(1) borrow money and to charge the whole or any part of its property as security for the repayment of the money borrowed. The CIO must comply as appropriate with sections 124 and 125 of the Charities Act 2011, if it wishes to mortgage land,

(2) buy, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and to maintain and equip it for use;

(3) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the property belonging to the CIO. In exercising this power, the CIO must comply as appropriate with sections 117 and 119-123 of the Charities Act 2011;

(4) employ and remunerate such staff as are necessary for carrying out the work of the CIO. The CIO may employ or remunerate a charity trustee only to the extent that it is permitted to do so by clause 6 (Benefits and payments to charity trustees and connected persons) and provided it complies with the conditions of that clause;

(5) deposit or invest funds, employ a professional fund-manager, and arrange for the investments or other property of the CIO to be held in the name of a nominee, in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the trustees of a trust are permitted to do so by the Trustee Act 2000.

5. Application of income and property

(1) The income and property of the CIO must be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects.

(a) A charity trustee is entitled to be in reimbursed from the property of the CIO or may pay out of such property reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the CIO. (b) A charity trustee may benefit from trustee indemnity insurance cover purchased at the CIO’s expense in accordance with, and subject to the conditions in, section 189 of the Charities Act 2011.

(2) None of the income or property of the CIO may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the CIO.

(3) Nothing in this clause shall prevent a charity trustee or connected person receiving any benefit or payment which is authorised by Clause 6.

  1. Benefits and payments to charity trustees and connected persons

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(1) General provisions

No charity trustee or connected person may:

(e) buy or receive any goods or services from the CIO on terms preferential to those applicable to members of the public;

(f) sell goods, services, or any interest in land to the CIO;

(g) be employed by, or receive any remuneration from, the CIO;

(h) receive any other financial benefit from the CIO;

unless the payment or benefit is permitted by sub-clause (2) of this clause or authorised by the court or prior written consent of the Charity Commission (“the Commission”). In this clause, a “financial benefit” means a benefit, direct or indirect, which is either money or has a monetary value. (2) Scope and powers permitting trustees’ or connected persons’ benefits

(a) A charity trustee or connected person may receive a benefit from the CIO as a beneficiary provided that it is available generally to the beneficiaries of the CIO

(b) A charity trustee or connected person may enter into a contract for the supply of services, or of goods that are supplied in connection with the provision of services, to the CIO where that is permitted in accordance with, and subject to the conditions in, sections 185 to 188 of the Charities Act 2011.

(c) Subject to sub-clause (3) of this clause a charity trustee or connected person may provide the CIO with goods that are not supplied in connection with services provided to the CIO by the charity trustee or connected person.

(d) A charity trustee or connected person may receive interest on money lent to the CIO at a reasonable and proper rate which must be not more than the Bank of England bank rate (also known as the base rate).

(e) A charity trustee or connected person may receive rent for premises let by the trustee or connected person to the CIO. The amount of the rent and other terms of the lease must be reasonable and proper. The charity trustee concerned must withdraw from any meeting at which such a proposal or the rent or other terms of the lease are under discussion.

(f) A charity trustee or connected person may take part in the normal trading and fundraising activities of the CIO on the same terms as members of the public.

(3) Payment for supply of goods only – control:

The CIO and its charity trustees may only rely upon the authority provided by sub-clause (2)(c) of this clause if each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) The amount or maximum amount of the payment for the goods is set out in a written agreement between the CIO and the charity trustee or connected person supplying the goods (“the supplier”). (b) The amount or maximum amount of the payment for the goods does not exceed what is reasonable in the circumstances for the supply of the goods in question.

(c) The other charity trustees are satisfied that it is in the best interests of the CIO to contract with the supplier rather than with someone who is not a charity trustee or connected person. In reaching that decision the charity trustees must balance the advantage of contracting with a charity trustee or connected person against the disadvantages of doing so.

(d) The supplier is absent from the part of any meeting at which there is discussion of the proposal to enter into a contract or arrangement with him or her or it with regard to the supply of goods to the CIO.

(e) The supplier does not vote on any such matter and is not to be counted when calculating whether a quorum of charity trustees is present at the meeting.

(f) The reason for their decision is recorded by the charity trustees in the minute book.

(g) A majority of the charity trustees then in office are not in receipt of remuneration or payments authorised by clause 6.

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(4) In sub-clauses (2) and (3) of this clause:

(a) “the CIO” includes any company in which the CIO: i. holds more than 50% of the shares; or

ii. controls more than 50% of the voting rights attached to the shares; or

iii. has the right to appoint one or more directors to the board of the company;

(b) “connected person” includes any person within the definition set out in clause 30 (Interpretation);

Conflicts of interest and conflicts of loyalty:

A charity trustee must:

(1) declare the nature and extent of any interest, direct or indirect, which he or she has in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the CIO or in any transaction or arrangement entered into by the CIO which has not previously been declared; and

(2) absent himself or herself from any discussions of the charity trustees in which it is possible that a conflict of interest will arise between his or her duty to act solely in the interests of the CIO and any personal interest (including but not limited to any financial interest).

Any charity trustee absenting himself or herself from any discussions in accordance with this clause must not vote or be counted as part of the quorum in any decision of the charity trustees on the matter.

  1. Liability of members to contribute to the assets of the CIO if it is wound up:

If the CIO is wound up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.

9. Charity trustees:

(1) Functions and duties of charity trustees

The charity trustees shall manage the affairs of the CIO and may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the CIO. It is the duty of each charity trustee:

(a) to exercise his or her powers and to perform his or her functions in his or her capacity as a trustee of the CIO in the way he or she decides in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of the CIO; and

(b) to exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and skill as is reasonable in the circumstances having regard in particular to: i. any special knowledge or experience that he or she has or holds himself or herself out as having; and,

ii. if he or she acts as a charity trustee of the CIO in the course of a business or profession, to any special knowledge or experience that it is reasonable to expect of a person acting in the course of that kind of business or profession.

(2) Eligibility for trusteeship

(a) Every charity trustee must be a natural person.

(b) No individual may be appointed as a charity trustee of the CIO: • If he or she is under the age of 18 years; or

• If he or she would automatically cease to hold office under the provisions of clause 12(1)(e).

(c) No one is entitled to act as a charity trustee whether on appointment or on any re-appointment until he or she has expressly acknowledged, in whatever way the charity trustees decide, his or her acceptance of the office of charity trustee.

(3) Number of charity trustees

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(a) There must be at least three charity trustees. If the number falls below this minimum, the remaining trustee or trustees may act only to call a meeting of the charity trustees, or appoint a new charity trustee

(b) There is no maximum number of charity trustees that may be appointed to the CIO. 12 Report of the Trustees - Financial Statement

The Board:

The Board/Trustees of the Charity meets four times a year. The Convenor/Lead Officer is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers its specified services (linked to/derived from the Charity’s ‘Objects’) to the satisfaction of the Board.

In this period Trustees Fr John Hyde in early November 2023 sadly passed on, and earlier in the year/2023 Trustee Mattie Viner had to step down due to a combination of work commitments and poor health.

Volunteers:

Over the 31[st] January 2023 to 30[th ] January 2024 period we continued with three volunteers.

Financial Year:

The Charity received no grants in the 31[st] January 2023 to 30[th ] January 2024 period. We received a donation of … in … 2023 to the amount of from ..

Reserves Policy:

The Network postponed developing its reserves policy until the 2022 – 2023 period once organisation structure development work relating to the name change and Objects adjustments and related changes have been completed. In the 2021 – 2022 period we continued with our policy of holding minor funds in a positive bank balance, reflecting the Trustees commitment to supporting organisation activities and meeting the following:

Charitable Activities in the 31st January 2023 to 30th January 2024 period included, but were not limited to:

Prison Service initiative:

Our work with HMP & YOI Portland through the monthly LGBTQ+ Steering Group 2+ years initiative saw towards the end of the January 2023 to January 2024 period finalisation of the latter. In this its transformational achievement of culture change [from two years earlier] when the prison was near the bottom of UK prisons and YOIs regarding LGBTQI+ safety, inclusion, and equity, to by the end of this period it being a best practice lead, saw the recording by the Network of the key elements of this transformation so that the model produced could be applied to other prisons and YOIs as a solid and proven and tested basis for effecting comparable change.

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Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole LGBTQ+ Homeless & sofa surfing initiative:

In the January 2023 to January 2024 period towards the end of the latter the Network succeeded in the Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole Council’s Homeless multiple stakeholders Group moving to fully enable the Network’s 2+ years joined-up relevant stakeholders initiative to be established under instituting under the BCP Council’s Group, a dedicated [LGBTQ+ and LGBTQI+ and allies] ‘Disproportionately Affected Sub-Group.’

International:

Ireland:

In this period, Network lead Alan Mercel-Sanca advanced Network support under a dedicated Network Ireland and UK campaign to ensure that an evasion of envisaged conversion practices banning legislation by the Government of Ireland [Republic of Ireland] and the UK Government [including Northern Ireland] evasion of legislation on south [Republic] to north [UK/NI] cross-border de-facto human trafficking of LGBTQI+ and LGBTQ+ minors and young vulnerable adults be counteracted, and the loophole closed.

Our approach was to engage with as well as governments ministers and their departments in the two jurisdictions, to in particular secure awareness support for closing the cross-border evasion danger, by engaging with both states parliament’s all party parliamentary committees. This was secured with the Irish Parliament’s Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the UK Westminster Parliament’s House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee. Copy of the latter’s response recording the success of our campaign/initiative is provided here:

HOC Women and Equalities Committee womeqcom@parliament.uk

Fri, Feb 23, 10:11 AM

Dear Alan

Thank you for raising your concerns with the Committee, including those regarding the potential effects of having different policy approaches on the island of Ireland – or rather policy and absence of policy in the case of the UK Government. As you note, the Committee has pressed the Minister to come forward with the legislation. We have also offered to undertake prelegislative scrutiny of it and stand ready to do so if requested. Comparison between UK legislative proposals and international examples would be part of that scrutiny.

Kind regards

Phil

Phil Jones

Clerk, Women and Equalities Committee

Rwanda:

The Network in the 2023 – 2024 period we continued our partnership work with Rwanda’s Human Rights First Rwanda Association (HRFRA: http://rightsrwanda.com/Mission.html) including a HRFRA enabled with the Network video conference call with leads of Rwanda’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and

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Trans communities organisations. This assisting us with our representation about the countries LGBTQI+ community needs to the UK Government’s FCDO and a number of MPs, and also via Ireland, the EU.

Partnerships:

In the 2023 – 2024 period we continued our contribution to the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition, contributing to the latter in regard to All Ireland relevant aspects (please see above) and for the broader international dimension’s importance for credible conversion practices banning legislation.

Advocacy cases & Policy Advocacy:

In the 2023 – 2024 period the charity indirectly, at one hand remove supported through our NHS, Portland Prison and broader SW England area prisons [including Bristol], and BournemouthChristchurch-Poole conurbation LGBTQ+ homeless initiatives work approximately 75 LGBTQ+ and LGBTQI+ community members. Direct Network supported complex and high degree of seriousness of the cases, advocacy work involved three of the latter – an example of which is referred to below.

Support to international asylum applicant: In this period we continued our support to a Bournemouth-based, Caribbean in origin LGBT [gay male] community member facing extreme danger and persecution from family and socio-religious homophobic elements in his land of origin, and who was legally in the UK.

In this period we were privileged to enable the individual in question to become on his request a volunteer with our charity to support our work for proven/genuine overseas LGBT community members seeking asylum in the UK on homophobic persecution grounds of grave life-threatening kinds. We in the period also introduced the individual in question to local area NHS mental health support and to be able to volunteer with a local LGBT Pride charity.

Grants:

The charity received a National Lottery Awards for All Grant for continuation and consolidation of our HMPPS Portland Prison partnering LGBTQ Steering Group project and for our BournemouthChristchurch-Poole LGBTQ+ homeless initiative. The amount was £8,169, and was received on 17[th] February 2023.

Other: fundraising – donations:

For our international engagements/initiatives work [Ireland and Africa], most of this work was volunteered by our charity lead on a non-remunerated basis, and a small donation was received supportive to this area of work from Grant Thornton LLP from a dedicated fundraising event by the latter for our charity. Two two-part £500 each donations from the fundraising event, totalling £1,000, were received into the charity bank account on the 22[nd] January 2024 and the 26[th] January 2024.

A £15 donation was also provided to the charity by its lead, Alan Mercel-Sanca, due to a brief period of deficit due to an online fraud (AA and DVLA) that the Network’s bank statements revealed, and its bank HSBC subsequently took action on to recover the fraudulently taken funds. TOTAL for donations: £1,015

Total of grant and donations for the period: £9,184

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Some example news items from the January 2023 – January 2024 period:

Our Plans for the 2024 – 2025 period:

Our plans for the period include but aren’t limited to:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Statement of Responsibility of the Trustees:

Network Trustees are responsible for preparing the Financial Statement and report of the Trustees in accordance with relevant law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.

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Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: 8

• State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice are followed, subject to any particular material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees have endeavoured to practice and implement these requirements and expectations.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees:

Connor Dybowski (Maxine Dybowski)

Trustee and Deputy CEO, and Treasurer, LGBT+ Network for Change

25[th] November 2024

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 2023 - 2024

INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th January 2024, COMMENCED FROM 31st January 2023, for the LGBT+ NETWORK for CHANGE,(Charity Commission Registration Number: 1151652)

Taxation:

As a charity, the LGBT+ Network for Change is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the Charity.

Income:

Grants for 31st January 2023 – 30th January 2024 period (restricted funds): £8,169 Donations/unrestricted funds: £1,015

Total income: £9,184

Bank Interest for the period ( £5 x 12) : £60

Expenditure:

Projects delivery: the Network is a predominantly specific projects delivering orientated organisation, and as such these are detailed on the Expenditure section and as well as restricted funds projects work and beyond this advocacy cases support and especially national and international work in the policy domain [especially counteraction of conversion practices] in Ireland and in Africa. In these are also included some minor volunteer costs and website work and hosting -- Total activities delivery and related costs: £8,799

Fundraising expenses: £0 -- because these are included within Convenor/Lead Officer activity and travel costs.

Charitable activities (for activities covered, please see Annual Report activities, and Notes on Lead Officer activities at the end of this financial statement, and the schedule of delivered activities on the Trustees Annual Report). Total activities and related (miscellaneous items listed)

Total for costs on time spent on charitable activities delivery comprised of Convenor/Lead Officer remunerated work and website hosting: £8,799

Governance costs : No dedicated governance costs, as covered under admin activity/officer time re communications & liaison calls and emails with the Board

Excess of income over expenditure:

£3.13 carried over from the 31st January 2022 – 30th January 2023 period. Subsequently in the 31/01/2023 to 30/01/2024 period we received through a grant and donations a total of £9,184

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Prior bank balance combined with income for the period consequently amounted to £9,187,13

In the period we spent £8.799 in total or designated projects related activities and support costs.

Consequently the income including £3.13 balance in bank account at 31[st] annuary 2023 combined with the £9,184 income for the period (£9,187,13) over expenditure total of £8.799 for the period amounted to a difference of £388.13

Balance (bank account) at 31st January 2023: £3.13 Balance (bank account) at 30th January 2024: £1,016

Fixed assets: -- NONE (organisation banners which are depreciable in value, as is our gazebo for info stall provision at events) we estimate that in total these items would realistically have a depreciated value from the preceding year of in the region of (half of value of that for the items in the preceding year, which total: £0

Current assets – due to age and use: £0

Debtors: NONE

Cash at bank (exclusively at bank, and NONE ‘in hand’) at 31[st] January 2024: £1,016

Creditors (amounts falling due within one year): NONE

Net current assets -- pull up panels value: £0

Total assets less liabilities: £0 – at 30th January 2024 (see above ‘Net current assets’ for total) we had no liabilities

Funds/bank balance (on 30[th ] January 2024): £1,016

NOTES to income & expenditure:

Income (31/01/2023 – 30/01/2024): £9,184

Balance in Bank on 30th January 2024: £1,016

Income items:

Restricted funds (grants with specific activity/project purposes defined in their conditions): National Lottery Awards 4 All grant: £8,169 Total: £8,169

Unrestricted funds:

Grant Thornton LLP donation raised from fundraising event for the Network: £1,000 Lead officer donation: £15

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Total: £1,015

Total income for the 31st January 2023 to 30th January 2024 period: £9,184

Expenditure (31/01/2023 – 30/01/2024): not including bank charges ( £60 total at £5 per month) : £8,799

Expenditure including travel costs by Network Lead Officer/Convenor + website work and hosting + volunteers travel costs: : £8,799

Note regarding Lead Officer/Network services and project delivery lead activities : The only staff member, without a salary but paid for funded projects delivery. Responsible for organisation consolidation & development, main representation activity and all work on documents creation, email communications, panels and consultations representation, funding applications, partnerships development, website content, as well as projects development and management + advocacy work, by agreement of the Trustees when the Network was registered as a charity. Activities costs less travel: Total: £8,250 (with an additional dedicated £250 for travel costs, making a £8,500 total)

Other expenditure items separate to lead officer activities delivery:

£199 (website work and hosting), Lead Officer travel £250, with £350 drawn to include the latter and £100 sum for volunteers travel and related costs Total: £549

Total combined expenditure: £8,799

APPENDIX – itemised details of Expenditure:

Lead Officer total remuneration received (includes travel expenses, which are detailed in the cheques schedule below): £8,500.

Combined Lead Officer projects delivery costs, and Other (volunteers and trustees travel costs, printing, and website hosting and related support) TOTAL : £8,799

This total expenditure figure excludes bank charges for the period -- £60: £8,799. With this amount included the total Outgoings (combined expenditure + bank interest charges) is: £8,859

Lead Officer cheque payments for the period for projects delivery work and other charity services and activity work:

16/02/2023 cheque of £4,900 – projects delivery and other charity activities by lead officer 24/02/2023 cheque of £2600 -- projects delivery and other charity activities by lead officer 04/03/2023 cheque of £750 – projects delivery and other charity activities by lead officer Total: £8,250

Other:

24/02/2023 cheque of £199 – website hosting and work

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14/03/2023 cheque of £350 – lead officer travel (train and bus fares) total of £250, combined with volunteers travel and related charity activities delivery amount of £100

Combined Total: £8,799

Bank account charges for the period: £60

Signature:

Name: Connor Dybowski Position: Deputy CEO, Trustee & Treasurer Date:23/11/2024

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