Annual Report and Accounts 2021-2022
A Full Life for Disabled People and Carers
INTRODUCTION
Stepping Forward works to facilitate and accelerate access to essential services, information, resources and life opportunities so that all disabled people and carers can live a full life.
In the UK we run disability awareness sessions in schools, disability confident training and support individuals and families to access essential support and equipment. Our international work aims to provide a catalyst for change. We support practical initiatives that are having an impact on the lives of people with disabilities and support their replication and sustainability. We support changemakers with the resources to increase their effectiveness and provide opportunities for networking and influencing policy locally and internationally. We facilitate access to relevant training opportunities for disabled people and those working to promote the rights of people with disabilities.
One billion people, or 15% of the global population, experience some form of disability, but the rights of disabled people are being inadequately protected and promoted. For disabled people in the UK, the increase in energy prices, alongside a steep rise in the cost of living and cuts to government support, is pushing many into extreme hardship. Our Disability Advice Service is extremely busy as people come to us for support with benefits, equipment and resources.
Two-thirds of those who died from COVID in the UK were disabled people; now the cost of living crisis is highlighting again how much work needs to be done as a matter of urgency to ensure that the rights set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are met.
Stepping Forward is committed to working with partners on raising the profile of the rights of disabled people and offering practical assistance wherever possible.
Stepping Forward UK, 12A Southview Park, Marsack Street, Reading, RG4 5AF Registered Charity No. 1177955
info@stepping-forward.org.uk
www.stepping-forward.org.uk
2
UK WORK
We provide practical support to disabled people and their families and carers. We undertake sensitisation and awareness work in the community that contributes towards social change. Despite progress in equality legislation and improved access to public spaces, negative public attitudes and awkwardness towards disability remain commonplace.
DISABILITY AWARENESS
Disability awareness is a neglected issue which receives little priority and few resources. However failure to invest in this area has multiple impacts on the rights of people with disabilities.
Our training is developed and delivered by disabled people; we have adapted our offer after COVID, offering face to face and bitesize online assemblies and class sessions – allowing us to easily fit into the school day. This work plays an important role in creating a better future for us all; disability awareness promotes inclusion, understanding and acceptance and benefits everyone. A third of people become disabled in their working life. We believe that disability awareness is an essential part of quality education and lifelong learning; disability is part of the human experience, affecting friends, family and community.
DISABILITY ADVICE AND SUPPORT SERVICE
Our Disability Advice and Support Service continued to deliver sessions and support
this year. Funding from Awards for All, Berkshire Community Foundation, The Good Exchange and other supporters enabled us to support individuals and families who are experiencing difficulties accessing essential resources and support. Our part-time Benefits Adviser has supported increasing numbers of people with applications, appeals and tribunals. We are seeing many disabled people and carers facing a reduction in income and changes to their benefits.
We are receiving referrals from agencies, schools and from individuals and community members continue to recommend us via social media groups.
The other part of our Advice service is the one-to-one sessions where we identify the resource needs that are preventing individuals and families from living a full life. When invited we take this service into special schools and secure significant practical support for children with disabilities. This direct support to individuals and families addresses the impact of disability on social isolation, increased living costs, the need for specialist equipment and provides access to supported breaks. We accompany people to doctor/paediatrician appointments, to school meetings and elsewhere to ensure that our clients’ needs are heard, documented and responded to appropriately.
The practical support that we have managed to secure during the year for clients includes epilepsy alarms, washing machines, iPads, a mobility scooter, extra strong furniture, waterproof mattresses and driving lessons.
3
BRINGING ORGANISATIONS TOGETHER
We held our annual Winter Draw this year, raising nearly £5,000 for local charitable organisations and groups working on disability issues. Benefiting organisations included Autism Berkshire, The Engine Shed, Green Health Thames Valley, Rivertime Boat Trust and the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre. We are grateful to The Brownlow Foundation and Bennets Commercial for funding the John Lewis Vouchers prize, enabling us to raise substantial funds for ourselves and other organisations that are experiencing a severe shortage of resources.
THE DISABILITY HUB
Last year we purchased our industrial unit after a long campaign, creating the Disability Hub; this year we have been busy turning the unit into a comfortable and accessible space. We secured funding from the Place Called Home Lottery & Ikea grant programme, purchasing sofas and a large table to make the communal space more welcoming, as well as privacy blinds.
4
We were also pleased to secure a Reading Community Energy Society Community Grant of £2,500 to replace the lights in the Hub with energy-efficient ones. This timely upgrade is helping with our utility bills this year.
The Hub adds capacity and support to the sector at very difficult time, with many charities forced to reduce services, move out of offices or threatened with closure. The Disability Hub is available free of charge to all local groups working on disability issues, and at reduced costs to other voluntary sector groups. The Hub contains a meeting room, two/three small offices and a space for hotdesking along with disabled toilet facilities. There is plenty of free parking outside.
In response to many small and microorganisations now facing closure due to funding difficulties, Stepping Forward continued to offer consultancy support with funding applications in the reporting year, assisting organisations to maintain essential support and services.
We are a building and a resource offering support and advice on a range of issues related to disability, as well as a place for people to connect and create community. We were delighted to welcome AutAngel, an autistic-led group for adults, back to the Hub after they moved out during Covid. Currently four local disability organisations use the Hub as their registered address, after budget cuts and new ways of working during the lockdowns caused them to move out of rented office space. Some organisations use the space just for pop-up sessions, and meeting people for advice sessions. We also store items for a number of local charities in our store room where we have installed rack shelving.
5
INTERNATIONAL WORK
Disability prevalence is higher in developing countries; globally an estimated 80% of people with disabilities live in developing countries.
We work internationally with Disabled People’s Organisations and NGOs to promote the rights of people with disabilities, supporting practical initiatives (eg transport, essential medication, university fees) whilst also supporting strategic work which can lead to transformative change.
SUPPORT TO DISABLED PEOPLE IN UKRAINE
‘The whole world needs to know that people with disabilities in Ukraine are left behind. We are valuable and we need your support’.
Tanya Herasymova, project coordinator at Fight for Right NGO
In response to the war in Ukraine, we set up a fundraising page to generate funds for the Ukrainian NGO Fight for Right. All funds generated were sent to the NGO which is working to support and evacuate disabled people in Ukraine.
‘Fight for Right is working around the clock to evacuate Ukrainians with disabilities and support those who have evacuated to nearby countries following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For people with disabilities who face barriers and inaccessibility at all times, war brings an additional,
overwhelming feeling of fear and helplessness; not to mention a direct threat to their lives. Ukrainians with disabilities have far fewer options for evacuation’, says Tanya Herasymova, at Fight for Right.
We have also provided some requested items such as period products and incontinence pads when groups in Reading are driving lorries to Ukraine and neighbouring countries such as Poland.
6
AUTISM INITIATIVES
We continue to support the Sierra Leone Autistic Society and their vision to create an Autism Inclusion Centre in Freetown, with two outreach Hubs in the rural districts. We have assisted with the identification of funding sources and shipped resources for the Centre, as well as practical items for children and carers attending the provision. The relationship that was established with Met Film after the release of the award-winning film ‘The Reason I Jump’ (which featured the work of SLAS) has continued. We have been able to work with Met Film to generate more resources for the work of the Sierra Leone Autistic Society. SLAS have secured further funding support through their networks and the new centre is nearing completion.
----- Start of picture text -----
Children playing at the Browne- Penn
Special Education school (BPSS) in
Freetown, established by the Sierra
Leone Autistic Society.
----- End of picture text -----
SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH ALBINISM
We have been able to provide further support to the Sierra Leone Association of People With Albinism (SLAPWA) in the form of sunscreen, period products, and other items such as umbrellas. We also provided support with applications for funding. Through collaborating partner Medical Assistance Sierra Leone we supported the shipment of donated sunscreen to Sierra Leone for SLAPWA. These are given out free of charge to People with Albinism. We were able to buy and ship other skin care products, including Vaseline and lip balm, and some protective clothing, much of it secured at reduced costs from Inkind Direct. We are grateful for this support.
Umbrellas that we secured through Inkind Direct were distributed to members of the Sierra Leone Association of People with Albinism, providing much needed sun protection.
SUPPORTING OUR WORK
Thank you to those people and companies who have supported us during this year. Our Trustees continue to apply to Trusts and Foundations for ongoing support, and volunteers help us with raffles, Ebay sales and stalls in the community. We will be having a programme of events over the coming year to generate further funds. Supporters who would like to run a marathon, hold a cake sale or organise a fundraising event for Stepping Forward, can contact us for help with publicity and materials. We always welcome help with sales for the annual raffle which takes place towards the end of the year.
Prepared by David Soper, Trustee 23 May 2023
7
FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2021 – 2022
1 Aug 2021 - 31 July 2022
| Income Misc donations Restricted donations Grants The Cooperative Bank Place Called Home Lottery & Ikea Magic Little Grant Awards For All Souter Charitable Trust Berkshire Community Foundation The David Brownlow Foundation The Good Exchange Reading Community Energy Society Greenham Trust other grants Hub rental income Consultancy Disability Advice income Transfer from SLAS other income Total income |
Restricted Unrestricted Total Prev yr 13,202 13,202 9,384 0 0 1,000 1,000 4,390 4,390 500 500 9,900 9,900 3,200 3,200 3,200 2,500 2,500 4,000 800 800 1,000 1,000 2,500 2,500 1,000 1,000 100,899 0 6,455 6,455 14,020 1,592 1,592 8,571 154 154 0 0 5,100 0 0 141 |
|---|---|
| 26,944 21,249 48,193 145,315 |
| Expenditure Employee costs Hub running costs Fundraising costs Hub improvement Hub purchase Subscription Raffle General office exps Autism Sierra Leone Ukraine Disability Awareness volunteer costs Charitable activities Epilepsy Sierra Leone Albinism Project Loan interest Disability Advice Service other expenditure Total expenditure Surplus of income over expenditure Opening bank balance CBILS loan/ capital repayment Surplus/(loss) Closing bank balance Balance sheet Fixed asset = leasehold property Current asset - cash at bank Total assets Liability - Co-Op CBILS loan Net balance sheet |
4,215 4,215 6,054 1,094 7,148 13,457 182 182 4,324 4,324 0 122,500 370 370 1,000 1,000 937 937 4244 10,416 10,416 1,061 1,061 1,044 1,044 318 318 685 685 17,117 3,500 3,500 5,086 5,086 231 231 349 19,597 19,597 12,601 1 1 (1) |
|---|---|
| 38,544 21,570 60,113 170,267 |
|
| (11,600) (321) (11,920) (24,952) |
|
| 25,986 3,180 29,166 37,618 (1,819) (1,819) 16,500 (11,600) (321) (11,920) (24,952) |
|
| 14,386 1,040 15,426 29,166 |
|
| 122,500 122,500 15,426 29,165 |
|
| 0 0 137,926 151,665 14,684 16,500 |
|
| 123,242 135,165 |
Sarah Snow, Trustee 28 May 2023
Signed
Independent exarninerfs report to the trustees of 'Steppln8 Forward UK" I report to the trustees on my examlnatlon of Ihe accounts of the above CIO for the year ended 31 Juty 2022. Respertive responsibilitie5 of trustees and examlner As the charity trustees of the CIO, you are responslble for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (The Acfl. I report In respect of my examination of the CIO'S accounts carried out under Section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examlnatlon, I have followed the applicable Direction5 gfven by the Charity Commisslon under section 14515)(bl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attentlon In connertion with the examination which 8ives me cause to believe that In. any materlal respect: accountlng records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or: the accounts do not accord with the accountin8 records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn In order to enable a proper understandln8 of the accounts to be reached. Signed Name: TIM D Mlller MA ACMA CGMA Relevant professlonal qualification or body: Chartered Institute of Mana8ement Accountants Address.. 105 Redhatch Drfve. Earley. Readin& RG6 5QN 26 May 2023