##
The Trustees present their annual report of Changing Life Directions for the years ending March 2020. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and the financial statement of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements and the provisions of the Statements of Recommended Practise (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in March 2005
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## a **CONSTITUTION**
Changing Life Directions was established in March 2019. We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission – Number: 1182415.
## b **APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES, MEETINGS AND DECSION MAKING**
The Trustees is formed by co-opted members who offer their specific expertise. Their input is invaluable and helps the smooth running and growth of the group. They are always available when required and their
specific specialisation enables a breadth of support that is vital to Trustees and staff members. Other local organisational also contribute to Trustees work and their responsibility in supporting Changing Life Directions. The Board of Trustees are aware of the need to encourage new members and during the year new people have been approach with a view of joining the Board. Encouraging new people to join the Board is helpful to the development of the work undertaken and ultimately to the success of the organization. When a request to join the management group is received people are invited to attend the volunteer training programme that is in place and once completed potential Trustees then meet existing members to conclude the recruitment process.
The Trustees have a yearly cycle of meetings where business is discussed, discussions are taken in a democratic manner and every member can ensure that they take an active part in the organization and keep themselves up to date with all aspects of the projects. Where urgent decisions are required between Trustees meetings the project manager wherever possible will consult all three Trustees to agree a decision. If this is not possible and only one or two Trustees are able to make a decision then colleagues will be consulted at the earliest opportunity by those who have made the decision. The next Trustee meeting following such an urgent decision will used to enable all Trustees to ratify the decision. This ensures there is accountability for decision making and a clear process in place that can be scrutinised by all.
## **C ORGANIZATION, STRUCTURE AND DECISION MAKING**
The Board of Trustees provide continuous direction and support to the Charity and its staff.
## **d RISK MANAGEMENT**
The Trustees have assessed the major risk to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operation and finance, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to instigate our exposure to risk.
## **USE OF VOLUNTEERS**
We use a number of volunteers throughout the year to help in health and wellbeing activities. The volunteers mainly our service users who have followed a support program and on a pathway back to work and students from college and university. All our volunteers are encouraged to their skills and experiences.
In selecting persons to be appointed as Trustees, the Trustees shall take into account the benefits of appointing a person who is by virtue of his or her personal or professional qualifications to make a contribution to the objects or the management of the Charity.
## **Our location**
We operate from The Quest Centre, Brownlow Way, Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 3UB.
We are a registered charity which in partnership with the community, aims to enrich the quality of life for people of all ages by providing educational opportunities, raising awareness of health and well-being, training volunteers and engaging communities.
The objects of the CIO are:
1. To relieve the need of people suffering from dementia, or other mental health issues, and their carers, through the provision of therapeutic music, workshops and by other means that the Trustees deem appropriate.
2. The relief of emotional distress and suffering and the preservation and protection of the mental health of those who have suffered or who have been exposed to domestic violence and abuse, in particular by the provision of counselling and peer support.
## **Our Why**
Changing Life Directions have a core team of mental health professionals and volunteers including 2 BACP Registered Counsellors, a BSc Hons in Psychology qualified staff and a Registered Mental. Health Nurse.
We identified early on in the development of our work that there was a real need for culturally tailored support to tackle mental health in BAME communities.
Our Mission statement is to provide good mental health and enable access to support and treatment by providing cultural and language appropriate services.
Building resilience and healthy minds is something we all need to do. Learning to understand our thoughts and emotions, give ourselves space, push ourselves when needed and pick up ourselves up after things have not worked out is all part of the journey. We support the community by providing events and activities that will help in improving the wellbeing of people going through mental health issues within the community. We help men, women and young people who are socially excluded due to cultural and language barriers and support anyone living in isolation,
needs help to build confidence, need advice or support to be able to live a healthy and happy life.
## **Our Understanding of Bolton** (JSNA 2020)
Bolton’s population currently stands at 285,372. This has steadily increased from 261,300 people in 1991. 20% of Bolton LSOAs are within the 10% most deprived in the UK.
In Bolton there is a large number of LSOAs with high proportions of the population in BAME groups.
The Crompton/Halliwell neighbourhood has a much higher IMD 2015 score (47.8) than is average for Bolton (28.4), reflecting the fact that the neighbourhood contains some of the most deprived Wards in Bolton. For reference, the highest IMD score locally (most deprived) is 61.3 and the lowest (least deprived) is 5.4. This equates to 26.7% of households living in poverty, that is, below 60% of the median income (before housing costs). Again, this is the neighbourhood with the highest level of household poverty in Bolton.
This quote from one of our service users helps to put this into context.
_"How is it possible to self-isolate in a shared house with seven adults, a controlling husband and 6 children where you share a toilet and bathroom, do as you are told and cannot move freely? And because we have to stay at home, I cannot access my well-being hub at the Cobden Centre. We get benefits, but my husband spends most of it on takeaways and cigarette. I can’t get personal hygiene product, needed for myself and my 2 teenage daughters. The money we have is hardly enough to eat for the whole week. And there is no way we can take help from any other person. I haven’t had credit on my phone for four to five days. I wait to_
_get a call from my support worker Naila, she listens to me and helps to get through the day. Thank you Changing Life Directions_
## **Our Achievements and performance**
We started our journey with a base at All Souls Church, Astley Street in the Halliwell ward of Bolton. In March 2020 we co-located to the Cobden Centre on neighbouring Charlotte Street.
We are a welcoming place to meet, eat, connect and support each other. We listen to people needs and lifestyle requirements, contributing to better physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
87 % of our current service users are from BAME communities.
Our work was informed by a Launch Event that we held in June 2019. Here speakers talked about their experiences of mental health, isolation and loneliness. We evaluated feedback from attendees and asked what they needed to live a more healthy, happy and fulfilling life.
The findings that came back from that event included a lack of understanding on Mental Health; a lack of culturally/language appropriate information, services and engagement activities; a lack of bi-lingual staff/outreach workers; increased frustration in accessing current health and social care services.
50 people attended the Launch Event including a local Councillor from Halliwell who said that this was a worthy project and gave us his full support.
We aim to support the community and deepen the understanding of mental health. Our primary work emphasis is on promoting good mental health and the means to maintain it and build bridges between those with mental health issues and those without, to link our communities together.
Changing Life Directions aims to change the South Asian Communities attitude towards and raise awareness of the importance of good mental health.
We have an established relationship with people in the Halliwell community who have put their trust in our work. Vulnerable people see us as a safe space where they can open up and talk honestly about any problems or barriers they are facing.
The majority of the women we work with do not drive, husbands are unsupportive, hence the importance of being able to access services within walking distance of their homes. Ultimately, we will reduce social isolation and feelings of loneliness, provide a vehicle for active participation in social activities, provide access to opportunities, rights and services available to all in the wider BAME community.
## **Our Impact**
We want to play a positive role in prevention and BAME-led public health. In our first 12 months of operation, we raised £21,867 from grants that contributed to our health and wellbeing objectives.
Our weekly social inclusion and peer-to-peer networks is where we started to make a real impact to BAME health and wellbeing through our 2 Wellbeing Hubs – All Souls Church and the Cobden Centre.
In June 2019 we received our first funding from Ambition for Ageing, with this funding we set up our Women’s Health and Well-Being Group. 3 ladies arrived at our first session. Within 6 weeks we had 87 ladies registered for our services. 78% of our current service users attending our health and well-being activities are Asian women. Much of this generated through word of mouth within the Halliwell community.
19 men were attending our Male Mental Health Group funded by Lottery Awards for All. We wanted to set up something that was targeted for men
whilst starting to address the stigma that is attached to mental health. We know that on average, 1 in 8 men will experience depression and 1 in 5 men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. 19 men was a great take up joining in activities such as chess and walking football. 22% of our current service users attending sessions are male.
In March 2020 we had to stop all our face-to-face contact in line with Government social distancing advice. Our contingency plan enabled us to provide daily advisory engagement through virtual methods and digital technologies. All staff and volunteers continued to work from home with remote access using WhatsApp groups and Zoom; telephone support and crisis helpline; bi-lingual counsellor support for those who needed help in accessing services were, those living within coercive controlling home environments, to help women rebuild their lives after being discharged from Domestic Violence refuge, Mental Health; health checks; shopping and personal hygiene products. Rather than go to the local foodbank women came to CLD instead
## **Coffee and Luncheon Clubs**
Giving people who may be elderly or feel isolated the opportunity to get out of the house and enjoy social contact with others as well as take part in a range of activities.
## **Well-being Hub Activity Programmes**
Our well-being activity programme was held on Mondays and Wednesdays. We raise awareness of self-help, healthy eating, nutrition, exercise and positive lifestyle choices.
We offer a range of activities including mindfulness, creative therapies, arts and crafts, cooking, counselling, peer support, yoga. Our well-being programme is people and service user led. Since our launch event in July 19 feedback has been instrumental in shaping our activity programme. For many of the women attending our sessions we found out that this was the first time they had participated in physical exercise and mindfulness
activities. We teach women how to look after and improve their own mental and physical health and ultimately how to follow a healthier lifestyle, building resilience. Self-care; we provide an holistic approach of activities that support people to set personal goals on health and wellbeing.
## **Physical Activities**
The Yoga session had only been running for only 5 weeks, when 40 women turned up to the class. Demand for these activities grew so significantly that the Tutor recommended adding an extra session per week. For many this was the first time that many of the women had participated in physical exercise.
**Core Skills** - Many women have basic or non-existent English. We offer a programme of basic English, Maths and IT skills along with a volunteer interpreter to assist with engagement and any necessary form filling.
## **Therapeutic Support – Face Mask Therapy**
Sessions are delivered by a fully trained counsellor and working within the guidelines of BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy).
## **Cancer Screening**
This year we secured funding from Greater Manchester Cancer Screening Engagement programme to become an Answer Cancer Champion. Answer Cancer is a VCSE-led GM Cancer Screening Engagement
Programme commissioned by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.
As Answer Cancer Champions we are committed to talking and raising awareness about cancer, challenging common myths and encouraging people from BAME communities to take up screenings.
67 women have already signed up and registered their interest in attending a future cancer screening programme for breast cancer and
cervical cancer. Our Male group will also be a forum where we can effectively target male screening programmes and raise awareness of possible symptoms and causes of bowel and prostate cancers.
Critical to reaching the target audience is our bi-lingual capacity. We know from our research that Asian women in Halliwell feel isolated due to lack of confidence, stigmas and understanding of importance of healthy living and life choices to prevent long-term illness. Often, they can feel trapped due to language barriers and no knowledge of how to access health opportunities or support pathways.
## **Our COVID Response**
In March 2020 we had to stop all our face-to-face contact in line with Government social distancing advice. Our contingency plan enabled us to provide daily advisory engagement through virtual methods and digital technologies. All staff and volunteers continued to work from home with remote access using WhatsApp groups and Zoom.
We introduced a telephone befriending and crisis helpline. We had 4 staff who were providing peer support to the 87 ladies who attended our sessions. A rota was introduced to make a daily phone call. Many of these women stated that they needed the breakaway from meeting the
demands of their husbands/in-laws, by providing 30mins phone chat which could give them the opportunity talk through any anxieties and wellbeing concerns. Our Women's Empowerment Group by Zoom also created a fora and space where they could come to talk. Yoga also continued by Zoom over as our support moved online.
Quote from a service user.
_"I am in a house with 5 adults and 7 children, every time I ask for basic essentials, I get yelled at. Its horrible for my children to see me cry, I don’t want to keep asking, he might get too angry. Thanks to Changing Life Directions, I have someone to talk to about how I feel, I wait every day to_
_get that call, that keeps me going. Nobody else cares. Today I got some books and jigsaws for my kids sent to me from them and toiletries for my daughters. Thank you so much."_
Throughout COVID we have:
- Made 279 befriending and well-being calls to members of the BAME community
- 187 Zoom sessions of the Women’s Empowerment Group
- 34 Zoom sessions of the Male Mental Health Group
- 23 Yoga Zoom sessions
- 203 Therapy art packs and essentials items posted direct to people’s homes
- 301 COVID Public Health booklets produced in Urdu and Gujrati
## **REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES**
Changing Life Directions have throughout the year helped relief of emotional distress and suffering and the preservation and protection of the Mental Health of those who have suffered or are exposed to domestic violence and abuse in particular by the provision of counselling and peer support. We have helped relieve the need of people suffering from Dementia, or other Mental Health issues, and their carers, through the provision of therapeutic Art therapy workshops, empowerment hubs, counselling and music therapy.
We have actively involved our service users and the community is planning our projects, regular feedback has been gathered and studied by the management team.
Our management committee have had regular meetings to ensure that adequate staff training and supervision and financial controls are being followed by all members involved on a daily basis, with adequate procedures and rules.
## Financial Review
a. reserves policy
The free reserves are held to secure long-term security of the charity. The trustees consider that this level of reserve is required to enable the charity to fulfil its obligations and commitments.
b. principle income
Principle income is via 3 grants and contributions from the wider community.
## **PLANS FOR THE FUTURE**
Changing Life Direction has been working on a 2-year business plan supported by Bolton Council for Voluntary Service to focus on the work developed over the years and to focus on the work developed over the years and to link with the locality plan and Assessment Needs Strategy.
- We are linking with Strategic partners to share resources, referrals, staffing and costs.
- We will continue to delivery existing projects
- In November 2020 we introduced our new Fit4life project for women to access exercise equipment within our own private space.
- We have built our team of staff and work with Universities to offer work placement and have 6 new volunteers.
- We have introduced our new projects- Sahara and Women’s financial resilience.
- We have grown so significantly over the past 18 months that we now have a new office and base at the Quest Centre in Bolton Town Centre. We also use the Cobden Centre in Halliwell for our community interventions.
APPOVED BY THE TRUSTEES ON 12 April 2021 AND SIGNED ON THEIR BEHALF
## marshad
Miss Marium Arshad Changing Life Directions
CHANGING LIFE DIRECTIONS
## STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
The trustees are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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 Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 27 April 2021 and signed on its behalf by:
........................................ .fismail Miss Fatima Ismail Chair person and Trustee
2 CHANGING LIFE DIRECTIONS
## ACCOUNTANTS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
We are pleased to act as the appointed accountants for Changing Life Directions.
We confirm that the attached Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2021 have been prepared in accordance with relevant statutes and standards, without audit, from the accounting records, invoices, receipts, information and explanations provided to us.
AYA Accountants 82 Blackburn Road Accrington Lancashire BB5 1LL
3
CHANGING LIFE DIRECTIONS
## INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Changing Life Directions
We report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages 5 to 12 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examiner is needed.
It is our responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act ; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a `true fair view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statements below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with our examination, no matters have come to our attention:
1. which gives us a reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
2. to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Independent Examiner
Team Audit
Kingham House 161 College Street St Helens WA10 1TY
Date: 27 April 2021
4
CHANGING LIFE DIRECTIONS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
|Note
Incoming resources
Voluntary Income
2a
Charitable Activities
2b
Activities for Generating Funds
2c|50,031
-
37,294
-|
|---|---|
||37,294
-|
||12,737
-
-
-|
||12,737
-
15,510
-|
||28,247
-|
Total incoming resources available for charitable
CHANGING LIFE DIRECTIONS application 22,768 Resources expended Charitable activities 3 7,258 Total resources expended 7,258 Net incoming resources before transfers 15,510 Transfers - Movement in total funds for the year 15,510 Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 15,510
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
5
||5|||
|---|---|---|---|
||BALANCE SHEET|||
||FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021|||
|||2021|2020|
||Note|£|£|
|Fixed Assets|6|1,319|294|
|Current Assets||||
|CHANGING LIFE DIRECTIONS
Debtors
7
Cash at bank and in hand
8
Creditors
9
Net current assets
Net Assets
The financial
statements
were approved
by the trustees
and signed on
their behalf by:
Signed: .............fismail.............................................
Funds
Unrestricted Fund
Restricted Funds|-
31,449
31,449
( 4,521)
26,929
28,247
28,247
-
28,247|15,586
15,586
( 370)
15,216
15,510
15,510
-
-
15,510|15,586
15,586
( 370)
15,216
15,510
15,510
-
-
15,510|
|---|---|---|---|
|||15,510
-
-
15,510||
|||||
|||||
Miss Fatima Ismail Chair Person
Date: 27 April 2021
6
CHAYGIYG LIFE DIRECTIONS
INDEPIYDF.NT EIA%IINERS REPORT
FOR THE YEAREf4DED31 fvIARCH 1021
In(lepend¢Dt ¢K#miner's rtport to the Tru5tet5 ofCh%ngimg Lkfe Dirtrtioths
I report io Ihe Irusiees on my ¢xaiiiinalion of the &ccouNs of th¢ HIK>ve Ehwii). (the TnLSV) fot the yeaT tndtd 31 MarLh 2021
$¢1 out on pages 5 10 1 l.
As the charity's Irusiees you 8re r¢ssw5iblc foT th¢ preparntion of the accounis iTh accothntt itrith ihe Chariiies Act 2011
Iiht'Acl'l.
I lert it) r¢speci of my exatninativn of the Tru'S Inis(alri¢dOut un(ki section 145 ofilK 2011 Ac¢ and in cato'ing t>ut
rn}. examination, I haiE folloiied all the applic?bl¢ Dir¢rtiQNs giyrn b). the Chariiy Cornrnission tsoderg stclion 14515llbl or
thc Act.
I hii't ¢ompleted mj exaDiinaii(>n. l Confi nD material mallers to rn) atrlliKYO itt wnneciion iiilh Ihe
vhich gives m¢ cause lo believe thai, in 1> material res(..
. the 8ccoiintlllE rtcords iNere not kerrt in a¢rord)nc¢ iviih wiion 130 of tkchgritses ACL OT"
the accounts did not Keord iiith ih¢ aecoiiniing r¢cor(ts: or
' Ihe COUnt5 did not comply iviih th¢ applicablE [equ1mei$ ¢oncemirg Ihe fonn and ¢onieni of &thunts sd oui in the
Chaflllts (Acct5 aTKI R¢wrtsl tlIatiOtIS 2W8 other Ihan ani reguiren]tni Ihai 1htacunts giir a'tnr and fairf vieii"
ii.hich is fvi & matter tonsi(kred &8 part oran irtynthni examinaiio
I hale no concemi and havt corne i1rross OIr mailers in conneaion i5iih the eXam10n 10 iyhich atiemioll 5trM)uld
draisn in ihis rewrt ID i*der ioenable a Prnr uTthr5tandiDg of th¢ accounis io rethed.
/,,Jb•
Palll KinghAm FCA
Kingham House
161 College Sireet
Sl H¢lefis
WAIO ITY
Da*= 27 Apiil 2021