2023-07-31-accounts - Escapeline

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 01 08 2022 To 31 07 2023

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Escapeline Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1184475 Charity's principal address PO Box 987 Taunton Somerset Postcode TA1 9QB

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Lisa Morris	Chair
Clare Stone	Treasurer
Ann Shaw	SafeguardingLead
Kirsti Nelson	Education Lead
Emma Lee	Partnerships Lead	Appointed 22/03/2023

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

TAR

March 2012

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Accountant	Albert Goodman LLP	Goodwood House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, TA1 2PX
HR & Employment Law Consultant	Peninsula Business Services Ltd	The Peninsula, Victoria Place, Manchester, M4 4FB

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) CIO How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

Appointed by agreement with CEO and Board of Trustees Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Escapeline has the following policies in place, reviewed annually: Safeguarding Policy Code of Conduct Complaints Policy Confidentiality Policy Data Protection Policy GDPR Policy Lone Working Policy Safer Recruitment Policy Risk Register Social Networking Policy Whistleblowing Policy Health & Safety Policy Volunteering Policy Anti-Bullying Policy Reserves Policy Environmental Policy Allegations Policy Cancellation Policy Driving with young person Policy Equality and Diversity Policy Mobile Phone Policy

Section C Objectives and activities

TAR

March 2012

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)	To promote for the benefit of the public in Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall, in partnership with the police, the protection of people and property from, and the prevention of, criminal acts. 2. To relieve the needs of young people and children who have been exploited by criminal gangs in Somerset and the surrounding counties, in particularly but not exclusively, by the provision of counselling, education and pastoral support
	Escapeline takes a holistic approach working not only with young people (10-18 years), but also their families and carers, professionals working with young people and the larger community, to increase awareness of county lines and teach protective strategies. We offer the following services: Escapeline provides education and support programmes to children and young people, aged 10-18 years, raising awareness of child exploitation and grooming, teaching them what to look out for and protective strategies. Targeted support to vulnerable young people (small group or 1 to 1) identified as being groomed, or at risk of exploitation, by county line gangs, to assist them to break the cycle and move away from a path of crime and drugs.We also offer a follow on service, enabling young people to become peer mentors. We provide training to professionals in education, health, social care and the police on child exploitation by county line gangs. Escapeline offers parents awareness workshops and 1-1 support on county lines and child exploitation, and how to keep their own children safe. We also strengthen community knowledge of, and responses to, child exploitation by running awareness-raising campaigns, working closely with services and providing online resources. We have a 1-1 telephone advice support service and a face-to-face support group for parents of young people who find themselves at risk of exploitation. The service provides confidential, independent and non- judgmental support.

Summary of the objects of the
charity set out in its
governing document
Summary of the main
activities undertaken for the
public benefit in relation to
these objects (include within
this section the statutory
declaration that trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit)

To promote for the benefit of the public in Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire,
Devon and Cornwall, in partnership with the police, the protection of
people and property from, and the prevention of, criminal acts. 2. To
relieve the needs of young people and children who have been exploited
by criminal gangs in Somerset and the surrounding counties, in
particularly but not exclusively, by the provision of counselling, education
and pastoral support

Escapeline takes a holistic approach working not only with young people
(10-18 years), but also their families and carers, professionals working
with young people and the larger community, to increase awareness of
county lines and teach protective strategies.
We offer the following services:
Escapeline provides education and support programmes to children and
young people, aged 10-18 years, raising awareness of child exploitation
and grooming, teaching them what to look out for and protective
strategies.
Targeted support to vulnerable young people (small group or 1 to 1)
identified as being groomed, or at risk of exploitation, by county line
gangs, to assist them to break the cycle and move away from a path of
crime and drugs.We also offer a follow on service, enabling young
people to become peer mentors.
We provide training to professionals in education, health, social care and
the police on child exploitation by county line gangs.
Escapeline offers parents awareness workshops and 1-1 support on
county lines and child exploitation, and how to keep their own children
safe.
We also strengthen community knowledge of, and responses to, child
exploitation by running awareness-raising campaigns, working closely
with services and providing online resources.
We have a 1-1 telephone advice support service and a face-to-face
support group for parents of young people who find themselves at risk of
exploitation. The service provides confidential, independent and non-
judgmental support.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

TAR

March 2012

Escapeline works closely with a number of volunteers who assist with our parent support programme, overseen by our CEO.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

TAR

March 2012

Section D Achievements and erformance p

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Major achievements in our 4[th] year include: • We held our first Child Exploitation Conference in Bournemouth in December 2022 focussing on awareness and education with real life stories. It was opened by the Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner and our guest speakers included professionals, and those with lived experience. It was attended by professionals from all over the UK and was a great success and we received really positive feedback. • During the BBC Children in Need in appeal in 2022 our CEO and Youth Mentor were invited to take part in a BBC radio interview. They spoke about the services and support we provide to young people and how our funding from Children in Need has helped us to prevent child exploitation by increasing awareness and education as well as supporting those impacted by child exploitation in the South West. • Escapeline was nominated for a national safeguarding award as a result of the research project we carried out in partnership with Bath University, highlighting the importance of education and peer mentoring. • We put lived experience at the heart of what we do and were proud of our Youth Mentor being interviewed for BBC Radio 4 in which he shared his personal story. • Our CEO is now a member of the Anti Slavery Board in Somerset and attends regular meetings with the police, local authority and other agencies. • Our parent support services have continued to grow, including an in-person parent support group which has proved vital in helping parents who are impacted by child exploitation. We have received really positive feedback about how powerful this support has been to them. • We were proud to have an article published in the British Social Work Journal in 2023, sharing young people’s voices and details of the research project we completed with Bath University. • We launched a new website in the Summer of 2023 with funding from SCF and supported and subsidised by local web-design company Dextrous Designs Ltd. • One of our Social Worker staff members has now qualified as a counsellor and we have launched a new counselling service, predominantly for parents, and some young people, to support their recovery from the impact and trauma of child exploitation. • Our Youth Mentor completed and passed his Counselling and Therapy techniques course. • Our Youth Mentor completed the 3 peaks challenge, vlogging on TikTok during the three days, to increase awareness of County Lines and to educate the general public, as well as raising vital funds for Escapeline.

TAR

March 2012

Section D Achievements and erformance p

We secured new multi-year funding to ensure our services can continue to be delivered and we have expanded our services into new areas of Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, as well as continuing our work in Somerset and Dorset.

During the period 1/8/22 – 31/7/23, Escapeline provided the following:

16,784 children and young people received county lines awareness training including 1-1 support and small group work
570 parents/carers received support and advice
2,400 parents received our resource pack
1,278 professionals received training on county lines and child criminal exploitation
54 shops and businesses in our local communities received awareness training
10 local parks were visited where we engaged with and educated 64 parents and 45 young people

TAR

March 2012

Section E Financial review

The Board has considered the charity’s requirements for reserves in light Brief statement of the of the risks to the organisation and has established a policy whereby the charity’s policy on reserves unrestricted funds not committed should equate to six months of our fixed overhead expenditure. On that basis, our reserves target at 31st July 2023 was £49,870 The actual level of unrestricted reserves at 31st July 2023 stood at £34,058 The Board aims to continue to build reserves through planned operating surpluses as activities allow, together with careful budgeting and promotion of fundraising activities. Where reserves held are greater than six months overhead expenditure, the charity will seek to use the difference as match funding for projects with which it is involved. The reserves policy is reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees to ensure it reflects any changing requirements of the charity.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

Our principal sources of funds are:
You may choose to include Fee income from training and workshops
additional information, where Donations from the public
relevant about: Fundraising events
• the charity’s principal Grants during the year from the following: sources of funds (including any fundraising); BBC Children In Need
• how expenditure has Somerset Community Foundation Tesco Community Grants via Groundwork UK
supported the key objectives The Weavers Company Benevolent Fund
of the charity; Somerset West and Taunton Council
• investment policy and Dorset Community Foundation objectives including any Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner ethical investment policy The High Sheriff of Somerset adopted. The High Sheriff of Dorset Nani Huyu Charitable Trust Garfield Weston Foundation National Lottery Community Fund Forrester Family Trust Hunts Food Group via SCF Cooper Associates Foundation Postcode Local Trust Expenditure of these funds has enabled us to carry out our Education Programme, provide Parent Support Services, Training to Professionals and Detached Youth Work. This has increased the awareness of the risk of child exploitation by county line gangs in the South West. It has enabled professionals to identify children who are being groomed so that interventions can be made to support them in escaping potential exploitation. We have successfully engaged with young people who were being drawn in to county line gangs so that we can support them to move away from county line gangs and pursue their education. We have supported a number of parents and carers whose children were being groomed and exploited, and supported their local communities in working together to combat county line gangs. A number of grants received during the year ended 31st July 2023 had not yet been spent but are fully allocated to be spent to meet specific costs in the subsequent financial year.

TAR

March 2012

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

L Morris Signature(s) C Stone Lisa Morris Full name(s) Clare Stone Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Treasurer Chair etc) Date 09/11/2023

TAR

March 2012

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees For the Year Ended 31 July 2023

Escapeline

Independent examiners report to the Trustees of Escapeline

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts for Escapeline (“the charity”) for the year ended 31 July 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
the accounts do not comply with these records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Michelle Ferris BSc(Hons) FCA DChA

Albert Goodman LLP Chartered Accountants Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton Somerset TA1 2PX

Date: 13 November 2023

Escapeline 1184475 Receipts and payments accounts For the period 01-Aug-22 31-Jul-23 To from

CC16a

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 3,103 17,211 6,159 620 15,000 15,760 - 207 58,060 - - - 58,060 - - - 2,200 1,779 237 453 5,632 1,320 172 2,513 (292) 1,431 4,841 879 3,894 76 445 4,586 132 584 500 318 253 3,940 35,893	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - 116,534 - - - 116,534 - - - 116,534 - - - - - 2,704 - 74,279 - - 862 - - 4,248 180 6,475 - - - 3,055 - 2,024 - 255 104 - 88,077	Total funds to the nearest £ 3,103 17,211 6,159 620 131,534 15,760 - 207 174,594 - - - 174,594 - - - 2,200 1,779 2,941 453 79,911 1,320 172 3,375 - 292 1,431 9,089 1,059 10,369 76 445 1,532 132 2,608 500 573 357 3,940 123,969	Last year to the nearest £
Conference and Events	3,103
Donations Received	17,211			10,493
Fund Generation- Fund Raising	6,159			656
Gift Aid Received	620			80
Grants	15,000			86,240
Services	15,760			11,108
Donations Received- Gift Aid	-			320
Bank Interest Received	207			2
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	58,060			108,899

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-			-
*Sub total*	-			-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments Car Hire Fund Raising Expenses Electricity Conference and Event costs Fundraising Costs Project Expenditure Volunteers expenses Wages Expense Accountancy Fees Bank Charges Computer and Software Employers NI Employers Pensions Funding administration, management & evaluation Insurance Mileage Claims Office Stationery Postage and Carriage Professional Fees Room Hire & Rent Staff Training Subsistence Telephone and Internet Travel & Accomodation Website and filming costs **Sub total **
				108,899

	-	-	-	285
	-	-	-	237
	-	-	-	81
	2,200	-	2,200	-
	1,779	-	1,779	-
	237	2,704	2,941	1,104
	453	-	453	169
	5,632	74,279	79,911	62,614
	1,320	-	1,320	1,230
	172	-	172	109
	2,513	862	3,375	2,453
	(292)	-	- 292	504
	1,431	-	1,431	647
	4,841	4,248	9,089	-
	879	180	1,059	1,022
	3,894	6,475	10,369	3,842
	76	-	76	137
	445	-	445	1,095
	4,586	- 3,055	1,532	1,705
	132	-	132	1,283
	584	2,024	2,608	1,460
	500	-	500	635
	318	255	573	691
	253	104	357	1,245
	3,940	-	3,940	-
	35,893	88,077	123,969	82,548

A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
	-	-		-	-
	-	-		-	-
**Sub total **	-	-		-	-	-

**Total payments **	35,893	88,077		-	123,969	82,548
*Net of receipts/(payments)*	22,167	28,457		-	50,625	26,351
A5 Transfers between funds	12,564	- 12,564	-		-	-
A6 Cash funds last year end	9,308	62,380	-		71,688	45,337
*Cash funds this year end*	44,039	78,273		-	122,313	71,688

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

13/11/2023

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

C Stone Signature L Morris Accruals - website costs PAYE Liabilty Payroll Control Account Pension Fund Details Current Account Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Debtors Details Details Details	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 44,039 78,273 - - - - 44,039 78,273 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 450 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) Unrestricted 2500 Unrestricted 1046 Unrestricted 388 Unrestricted 340 Print Name Lisa Morris Clare Stone	Endowment funds to nearest £
		-
		-
		-
		-
		OK
		Endowment funds to nearest £
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		Current value (optional)
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		Current value (optional)
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		When due (optional)






		Date of approval
L Morris	Lisa Morris	09/11/2023
C Stone	Clare Stone	09/11/2023

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

13/11/2023