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2025-03-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT

OCTOBER 2025

A FREE TO USE, 100% INDEPENDENT, CONFIDENTIAL, ADVOCACY SERVICE

Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

What is independent advocacy? 2
Background, Mission and Aims 3
Welcome from our chair 4
Managers report 5
Our Impact 6
Impact support: Trustee spotlight, case studies
and client quotes		 12
Our Advocates 19
Structure, Governance and Managment 20
Trustees and Principle officers 21
Financial review 22
Independent Examiner’s Report 23
Financial activities 24
Trustee’s Responsibilities and Statement of Disclsoure 34
Thanks to our funders and donors 35
PCAS Contact details 36

1

Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

WHAT IS INDEPENDENT ADVOCACY?

AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES, MOST OF US WILL NEED AN ADVOCATE.

You may need help to make a difficult phone call, need someone who can write a letter, or someone to attend a difficult meeting with you.

In many cases, the Advocate is a friend or family member, for others, it may be a nurse or social worker. But what if you dont have any of these people to help?

Or the problem relates in some way to your family, G.P, or social worker? This is where independent Advocacy can help. An Advocate will support you to speak up for yourself as they are ONLY there for you and have no ties to other agencies or people in your life. An Advocate helps you to get the information you need to make real choices about your circumstances, supporting you to put your choices to others.

PCAS assist with:

Our compassionate team will empower and uplift clients to enhance their quality of life, ensuring every voice is valued.

It is important to recognise that an effective Advocate will use their knowledge, experience and skills to enable their client to have the best life possible. This might mean the Advocate telling the client about options that the client has never thought of themselves.

It is also an Advocate’s job to be realistic with their client, as not all things a client may want will be possible.

2

Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

BACKGROUND, MISSION AND AIMS

PCAS Advocacy Service was started in 1995 by Shropshire Disability Consortium to provide a community based independent advocacy service for people with ANY disability over the age of 18 in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. PCAS was set up by disabled people who recognised a need for individuals to be supported to ensure their voice was heard. PCAS is committed to ensuring individuals are as involved as they can be in decisions that affect their lives. We aim to raise awareness of a person’s rights

and ensure they are safeguarded against in instances where people are unable to do so for themselves.

PCAS is a registered charity, to maintain its independence it is managed by a Board of Trustees, comprising of individuals who have an interest in and a commitment to the work PCAS does. The Board holds a strategic role, having responsibility to oversee effective governance by ensuring PCAS meets its legal and charitable obligations. www.shropshirepcas.co.uk

OUR MISSION

PCAS provides independent advocacy for adults with any disability, physical, sensory, learning or mental health. We aim to be the Service of Choice, to secure clients’ rights, services, and to ensure they are listened to, empowered and treated with respect. We further aim to promote social inclusion, equality and social justice for all, irrespective of sexual orientation or ethnicity.

OUR AIMS

Assist disabled persons primarily, but not exclusively, living or working within the Counties of Shropshire and Powys, through the provision of Advocacy and information.

Be recognised as the “Go to” service for Advocacy support

We also have a set of priorities that we use to plan what we want to achieve every year.

This year we have continued to develop our service to meet the growing needs of local people who are requiring more long-term assistance with their finances, enabling disabled people to stay living in their own homes for longer.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

WELCOME FROM OUR CHAIR

"PCAS WILL CELEBRATE BEING 30 THIS YEAR”

Hello again and welcome to our Annual Report 2025. After a spell as Treasurer I am now back in the ‘hot seat’.

I have spent most of the past couple of years looking after my daughter, who was in hospital with a mental and physical breakdown from February 2023 until March 2024. Her recovery has been slow, but thankfully, she is now making good progress.

This personal experience has given me further insight into the work of our Advocates.

My friend and I have applied for the television show ‘Bargain Hunt’. We are through to the audition stages, having been selected from hundreds of applicants. Fingers crossed that we make it to the final round and can look forward to our five minutes of fame on the tv!

The charity’s Advocates support clients to speak up for themselves, get the information they need to make choices about their circumstances, often at the most difficult times in their lives.

DOREEN ELLIS, CHAIR OF PCAS

PCAS will celebrate being 30 this year and this is an amazing achievement for such a small charity. We are very proud to still be here in these difficult times. Our charity is so needed, we are unique and provide a bespoke service to each and every client.

We listen to their issues and stay with them until we have got them sorted. No other service visits people in their own homes as we do, this makes such a difference as many clients are unable to come to an office and feel much more comfortable in their own environment.

Very often people with a disability are overlooked. They often struggle to get their voices heard or can struggle with things that many of us take for granted, but, PCAS can offer a shoulder to lean on and a vital lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

The charity has suppoted more than 11,800 people during its 30 years and has helped clients access more than 14,738 new services in the last 10 years alone . This is becoming ever more difficult as many services no longer exist for our clients to enagage with or gain assitance from.

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Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

MANAGER’S REPORT

“THIS YEAR IS OUR MOST CRITICAL... SURVIVAL IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR WORK”

Hi everyone

Wow...PCAS has reached 30 years old, time really does fly when your enjoying yourself!

Over the last 30 years we are proud to have helped and supported over 11,800 people .

SIMON ARTHUR, MANAGER

Without our amazing workforce this would not have been possible, so this is a huge heartfelt THANK YOU to each and every one of you.

This year we have welcomed two new workers onboard to help us with the huge waiting list that just never ends, a massive welcome to Ben and Sam.

There are huge changes going on in the world, and here in our county of Shropshire we have had MANY changes. This year we have

helped each of our clients with the biggest number of issues in 30 years. The increase to 17 issues per client just shows the state of services and the problems disabled people face every single day of their lives.

This year is our most critical and I really hope that I am here to write my report next year because all our grant funding runs out at the end of November 2025. Our fear?

What will people with disabilities, with such complex issues, do if we close? (Answers on a postcard please!).

We have been looking into a five year plan, but as we speak survival is presently at the forefront of our work.

Then hopefully, with survival secured, we can move into looking at a plan for future sustainability. We aim to look at our way of working from the top down as we think after 30 years, we need to investigate the whole service - what currently works and what doesn’t, how we need to adapt to ensure we are around for the future - every single aspect.

I can only assure everyone reading this that myself and the wonderful team are doing everything we can to carry on the amazing work we have done in the county of Shropshire these past 30 years. We are fighting to secure our future.

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PCAS

Registered Charity Number 1187362

----- Start of picture text -----
Financial year April 2024 - March 2025
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PCAS HELPED 228 INDIVIDUALS *

Start and End Questionnaire results

----- Start of picture text -----
Yes. At start of help № At end of help
100
80
60
40
20
66 87 20 9 65 73
0
Q1 Q2 Q3
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Q1. Are you at risk of losing your tenancy? Q2. Are you able to manage your own money/banking? Q3. Are you in any debt?

Note

More clients thought they could manage their own money until their Advocate started working with them. The Advocate and the client then agreed they could not manage their money without guidance to avoid debt.

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PCAS

Registered Charity Number 1187362

Financial year April 2024 - March 2025

PCAS SUPPORTED 3933 CLIENT ISSUES

A 132 ISSUE INCREASE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR

Number of issues

----- Start of picture text -----
1200
1062
1000
800
600
534
400
282
220 220
200 135 127 163 169 138 106 154 178 136
78 82
24 23 48 3 5 2 44
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
ISSUE TYPE
1 = Accessing other services 7 = Debt 12 = Financial help 18 = Non instructued advocacy
2 = Adaptations 8 = Discrimination 13 = Form filling 19 = Relationships & Family
3 = Care issues 9 = Documentation support i.e Checking 14 = Health 20 = Safeguarding
4 = Child protection post, filing and reading 15 = Housing 21 = Social care
5 = Compilaints 10 = Employment 16 = Legal 22 = Support in meetings
6 = Consumer goods/services 11 = Empowering clients i.e confidence 17 = Mental health 23 = Utilities
building and decision making
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Over this financial year PCAS have helped clients with a huge 3933 client issues, which show the complexity of cases that we have been working with. Our advocates are working tirelessly to support our clients as they sort through the complex issues to enable our clients to be in a more stable place.

Dividing the amount of issues (3993) by the amount of clients helped (228) gives an average of each client having over 17 issues that they needed support with.

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PCAS

Registered Charity Number 1187362

Financial year April 2024 - March 2025

PCAS SUPPORTED 2669 POSTIVE OUTCOMES

AVERAGE 12 PER CLIENT

----- Start of picture text -----
Number of outcomes
1000 965
800
600
438
400
190
200 145
18 50 18 18 88 26 1 1 107 118 69 32 37 1 38 23 63 114 109
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
ISSUE TYPE
1 = Accessing other services 7 = Debt 12 = Financial help 18 = Non instructued advocacy
2 = Adaptations 8 = Discrimination 13 = Form filling 19 = Relationships & Family
3 = Care issues 9 = Documentation support i.e Checking 14 = Health 20 = Safeguarding
4 = Child protection post, filing and reading 15 = Housing 21 = Social care
5 = Compliants 10 = Employment 16 = Legal 22 = Support in meetings
6 = Consumer goods/services 11 = Empowering clients i.e confidence 17 = Mental health 23 = Utilities
building and decision making
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PCAS

Registered Charity Number 1187362

Financial year April 2024 - March 2025

PCAS SUPPORTED

1222 CASES

FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

TOTAL = 1222 (AVERAGE 6 PER CLIENT)

Number of cases

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400
300
200
100 59
363 181 140 90 95 294
0
HOSP/GP/SOLIC/FUNERAL/INSBANK CARE ISSUES FINANCE BENEFITS HOUSING OTHER
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Clients often require many other services to put their life back on track, an . average of 6 other services per client this year

Our Advocates are very skilled and persistent at getting other services involved to help their clients. This can be very challenging, as many are still working from home, or have closed, or are at capacity because of high demand. Advocates can get frustrated by some services who seem unable to do what they should be doing and are funded for.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

Financial year April 2024 - March 2025

PCAS VISITED

228 POSTCODES

1605 INDIVIDUAL VISITS AVERAGE 7 VISITS PER CLIENT

----- Start of picture text -----
Number of clients
100
80
60
40
20 13 13 16
91 44 38 1 1 2 2 4 2 1
0
CHURCH STRETTON, LUDLOW, B. CASTLESHREWSBURY, CRAVEN ARMS OSWESTRYMARKET DRAYTONELLESMERE, WHITCHURCHTELFORDNEWPORTSHIFNALBROSELEYMUCH WENLOCKBRIDGNORTHWOLVERHAMPTONSTAFFORD
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PCAS

Registered Charity Number 1187362

Financial year April 2024 - March 2025

PCAS SUPPORTED 621 DISABILITY CASES

OVER A WIDE RANGE OF AGES AND DISABILITY TYPES

Client Age Range TOTAL = 228 Clients

Number of clients

----- Start of picture text -----
50
40
30
20
10 5
18 31 33 50 41 34 15 1
0
Under 25 26 - 35 36 - 45 46 - 55 56 - 65 66 - 75 76 - 85 86 - 95 Over 96
Age range
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Client disabilities TOTAL = 621 (Average of 2.7 per client)

Number of clients

----- Start of picture text -----
140
120
100
80
60
40
16
20
134 36 115 75 76 2 39 88 40
0
Physical SensoryMental healthLearning disability ABI Over 65 Ex Forces Multiple disabilitiesOther Complex needs
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Disability type

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Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

IMPACT SUPPORT - TRUSTEE SPOTLIGHT

“THE ADVOCATES SHOWED ASTOUNDING COMPASSION, AND SKILLS IN HELPING THEIR CLIENTS...”

This week is voluenteers’ week, I am extrodinarily privileged that in my role for Wesleyan I am able to voluenteer and support so many fantastic causes across the UK.

Alongside the volenterring I do with Wesleyan’s partners, I use my volunteer leave entitlement of 2 days a year to work with Shropshire PCAS as a trustee.

Advocacy has been a huge part of my career and it’s been a great experience continuing in the industry as a trustee. Last month I used half a volunteer day to join a team meeting, where the team discussed the issues PCAS clients are facing, the advocates showed astounding compassion, and skills in helping their clients navigate the care system, getting their housing needs met and challenging care providers.

JACOB AYRE (BACK LEFT) WITH ALL THE OTHER TRUSTEES

A huge thank you to Wesleyan for supporting me to continue my advocacy career alongside my paid role and to PCAS for allowing volunteers within their service to gain purpose in their role and to feel really valued.

Find out more about Jacob and his role as a Trustee

PCAS recently rebranded their name to be Person Centered Advocacy and Support, this name really is a great reflection on the enhanced advocacy service they are delivering, which is vital to communities across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

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Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

IMPACT SECTION: CASE STUDIES

My client is a 62-year-old gentleman with literacy difficulties . I have supported this client over the last couple of months.

Prior to my involvement my client’s wife sorted all household bills and any benefits queries they had. Unfortunately, my clients wife sustained a dense stroke which has affected not only her mobility but her speech (dysphasia). This has had a huge impact on their lives, and my client has tried muddling through with support from his children.

However, I am unsure whether they are aware of the full impact his difficulties have on him trying to sort through a maze of changes and taking on the role that was previously completed by his wife. I am currently supporting my client to ensure all utilities etc are up-to-date and in payment.

My client is a 73-year-old gentleman with a learning disability and literacy difficulties . I have supported this client and his wife for several years. Unfortunately, last October, my client’s wife sadly passed away, leaving him feeling extremely low in mood and not wanting to cary on with life in general.

During this time, my client spent a couple of months in respite. When he returned home, we discussed how he felt and initially he felt he wanted to move as he had too many memories in the bungalow.

We discussed extra care, and what that may look like with support available onsite, also explaining that with time his feelings about moving may change and that he shouldn’t rush any decision making.

My support increased to ensure all companies for benefits and utilities were notified of the change in circumstance.

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Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

IMPACT SECTION: CASE STUDIES

Sheelagh is a 72-year-old lady who lives independently, in her 20's she suffered an acquired brain injury as a result of a car crash . This has left her with poor memory and she sometimes struggles to undersand letters, forms etc.

She has ongoing health issues with her blood pressure, cholesterol and pain from a prior hip operation causing problems with mobility. I have helped her obtain disability aids that have meant she can remain in her own home.

I often accompany Shellagh to GP and hospital appointments to record what is being said by professionals and helping gather any requested information. I also help her make phone calls as she can struggle to understand and retain what is being said to her if there is too much information.

In the past she has been subject to harassment by her very unpleasant next-door neighbour who has tried to take advantage of her good nature, but I have helped her report this to the police and her housing association. Thankfully he seems to have been rehomed now. She is always happy to see me and always welcoming and appreciative of my help.

Gemma is a single working mum of three children, two of whom have learning disabilities. She has no family or friend support. She is hard working and caring but struggles with reading due to her own dyslexia and mild learning disability. She has struggled to negotiate her way through dealings with Social Services and her children’s schools. She has suffered from domestic abuse in the past so is very mistrusting of people and professionals who should be helpful but haven’t always listened to her.

I have helped her sort out many issues around her home and regularly help her with letters, forms, emails etc. I attend school meetings with her, medical appointments and recently helped her transfer over to universal credit by helping her to complete her online form. This has encouraged her to budget her money better.

She is good caring mum, but struggles to believe in herself so some of my time is spent encouraging her to see the positive in herself. She is always striving to make her home better for her children.

Recently I was able to help her find a solution to get rid of unwanted goods and rubbish by helping her arrange a household rubbish collection from her garden. This allowed her to tidy and decorate her home to make it more homely for her and her children. She is always grateful and thankful for my support.

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Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

IMPACT SECTION: CASE STUDIES

James is 38-years-old and has learring disabilities.

He currently lives with his father who is terminally ill and receiving support from Severn Hospice and has a social worker from the hospice providing support to him. The referral to PCAS came from the hospice social worker asking for support for James to look towards the future when his father would no longer be around in terms of where he would live and what support he would need.

When I became involved James and his father explained that James worked for 6 hours per week as a cleaner at the local fitness centre and has been there for more than 10 years.

They also explained that he received support from a care agency for two 3-hour sessions per week but James was not enjoying this as they either took him shopping or out for a walk and he commented that if felt more like work rather than social support.

I discussed other options with him and suggested he may prefer to attend Greenacres Farm as he preferred to be outdoors and was interested in animals.

I made a referral for a social worker to become involved who has been very supportive and after taking James to look around Greenacres Farm, he is now attending one day a week. He chose to go on Friday’s as this is fish and chip day!

I suported James at meetings with his new social worker to discuss what kind of support he felt he would need when his father was no longer around, and we all felt that he could not live by himself, even if he had some support coming into the home as he needed someone around most of the time.

It was agreed that a supported living house would be the best option where he would live with other people who have learning disabilities and required support. I accompanied James and his father to look at two properties in Shrewsbury, both of which had a vacant place.

James has chosen one of these houses and he made the choice because he already knows one of the residents and it is very close to Shrewsbury Town Football Stadium, and he is a keen fan and season ticket holder.

He has been visiting the house to spend a few hours getting to know the other residents and staff and they all have a take away and watch a film. He is looking forward to moving there in the near future.

15

Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

IMPACT SECTION: CASE STUDIES

My name is Tom and after having a house fire and spending two months in hospital I was discharged into a nursing home.

I had no real idea what was going on and was just happy that I was not sent back to my home as I had been unable to cope there before the fire.

My only means of heating or hot water was a coal fire which meant I had to get out to the coal shed to keep my fire going so that I could be warm and comfortable.

My eyesight is very poor and my mobility not good and it was due to these difficulties that my house caught on fire as I could not see properly to get down to lay the fire safely. I also now have the diagnosis of Dementia.

The nursing home made a referral to PCAS as they were concerned about my welfare as a social worker has been to visit me and said I would be going home.

A relative had flagged up to the nursing home staff that my house was in a state and I had been self-neglecting.

I was given Lynne as my Advocate and she spoke to two social wokers from the ICS Team on my behalf who were adamant that I could go back home and have a bed and commode in my living room and they would have a ramp constructed which would let me get down the back doorstep to get to the coal shed using my walking frame with a bucket of some sort attached to carry the coal.

They also said they would make a referral to the adult social work team to take over my case and would not be visiting me again. The social workers said that by not returning home I had made myself homeless so I would now be self-funding and I would have to pay £1200 per week to cover the nursing home fees which I did for a few months.

Lynne then made a formal compliant against the ICS Team on my behalf and finally I was allocated a social worker from Adult Social Care. This social worker came and assessed me and agreed that I would be unable to manage back at home or anywhere out in the community and I was awarded a permanent place in the nursing home funded by Shropshire Council, less my assessed contribution.

I am now safe, secure and very content and happy.

Lynne arranged to visit my house with a relative and took photographs of every room and sent them to Shropshire Council’s Adult Social Care Team to make them aware of the horrendous living conditions I had been living in at home but when she spoke to them she was informed that they had not received a referral from the ICS Team to take on my case and it had just been closed down.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

IMPACT SECTION: CASE STUDIES

What a delightful case this was to work on - a young client with a learning disability, who had a difficult homelife with his family, wanted to explore his options around living away from the family home.

Working with other professionals, several options were looked at. Supported living, living with other people, Shared Lives or living alone. All these options were discussed with the client, myself and other professionals. It was made very clear to the client that these were his choices, we were merely there to support and explain further what these choices looked like for him.

The client was given as much time as he needed to talk, ask questions and explore further what these different options were, and how they could work for him going forward. He was encouraged to speak openly and freely and to ask questions. After many weeks of going over each option, a trial was offered with Shared Lives, which was his preferred option.

He was supported all along this journey and I am sure because of this holistic approach to support, the Shared Lives option has been a total success. He now lives a fuller, meaningful live with his Shared Lives family.

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Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

IMPACT SECTION: QUOTES FROM CLIENTS

I wanted to say Thank You to PCAS for all the support I have had in every way. I am so grateful and have found a life shared is bearable where it was impossible before. Thank you for the wonderful service.

Through PCAS involvement, my bills are in order and no money owed. If my advocate didn’t help me I would be in a hell of a mess as I dont have the ability to sort things alone.

Angela McNamara

PCAS has made my life easier with more understanding for me. Chloe Bennett

Phil Barrett

My advocate supported me to have my voice heard when making decisions on where to live. Without help, I would not have had the outcome I wanted and my family would have taken all decisions out of my hands.

I feel better because I know I have someone I can contact, I’m not so alone. Without PCAS I would be really stuck and even more isolated. I think without my advocate I woold have lost my tenancy, be in a lot of debt and in serious trouble. Robin Passey

Bryan Williams

I am no longer being financially abused by my family. I can now access my shower & open my front door, handrails outside have been replaced. I would be in a mess financially without help from PCAS.

PCAS helped me to challenge the landlord and saved my tenancy in Ludlow. Without help I would have been evicted.

Paul Didlick

Christopher Beaver

I know I have someone who will support me. This enables me to attend appointments that I would not cope with by myself. I would not have been able to sort my medical issues without my advocate. Chelsea Moore

I can understand lots of things better and know I can get support if I need it. Without this help, I would be extremely depressed.

Gillian Chapman

Everything has changed because of having an advocate. I would have sunk & probably have had a nervous breakdown as I felt overwhelmed with the stuffing knocked out of me.

I always feel apprehensive before my advocate visits, and much happier and relieved of stress after the visit. I am less confused and feel more in control and reassured. I would be in a complete muddle without my advocate, I would probably have needed more family involvement, which I didn’t want, I prefer someone independent. Judith Webster

Zoe Breiner

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

OUR DEDICATED ADVOCACY STAFF

SIMON ARTHUR, WENDY TIMMIS, LYNNE DAVIS, MAURA ATTERBURY, JACKIE COPSON, GLENDA CRAWSHAW

PCAS passed our NEW QPM award in July 2023, which is our 3rd continued (2016, 2020) QPM award. We are very proud to have passed once again. Many things have changed over the years to reflect the change in the way Advocacy Services are provided.

The QPM is only awarded to organisations who can demonstrate that they provide excellent services in line with QPM standards and the advocacy charter. The QPM is a quality assurance assessment for providers of independent advocacy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Advocacy Quality Performance Mark (QPM)

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANACE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

Shropshire Peer Counselling & Advocacy Service covers the whole of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and is registered charity (number 1187362).

PCAS supports any person aged 18 or over with ANY disability or multiple disabilities.

There is no charge to our clients for our service, which is something we feel very strongly about. Our clients are often the most vulnerable in society, many having multiple disabilities and who do not fit into the remit of other services.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Prospective trustees come from all walks of life. If you feel you would be interested in becoming a Trustee, please contact the PCAS office on 01691 658008. An informal chat about what we do is the first step, then you would fill in an application form if you are still interested. From there, you would meet a couple of Trustees and the current Board would then vote on your prospective application.

The board of Trustees meet bi-monthly and at other times deemed necessary. Trustees serve as volunteers and receive no payment for their work/time. They are from a variety of backgrounds and bring varied skills and experience to the Board. We currently have 2 previous clients, people with disabilities themselves and those with a professional background, as Trustees. The Trustees have the ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the Charity and ensuring that it is solvent, well run and meets the charitable outcomes. Day-to-day operational decisions are taken by the PCAS Manager and staff of the organisation, within the delegated authority conferred by the Board.

Risk assessment

The Trustees have a duty to indentify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error, this has been done.

Public benefit

The Trustees have taken due regard of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning the activities for the year.

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Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

TRUSTEES AND PRINCIPLE OFFICERS

TRUSTEES

CHAIR: Doreen Ellis VICE CHAIR: Clare Harris TREASURER: Clare Harris TRUSTEE: Russell Jones TRUSTEE: Neil Pulker TRUSTEE: Jacob Ayre

PCAS STAFF

PCAS Manager/Advocate: Simon Arthur

ASSISTANT MANAGER/SHROPSHIRE ADVOCATE: Glenda Crawshaw SHROPSHIRE ADVOCATE: Wendy Timmis SHROPSHIRE ADVOCATE: Ben Payne SHROPSHIRE ADVOCATE: Lynne Davis SHROPSHIRE ADVOCATE: Sam Eliott T & W ADVOCATE: Maura Atterbury EVALUATION MANAGER: Allisone Arthur

PROFFESIONAL ADVISORS

BANK: Utility Trust Bank BUILDING SOCIETY: The West Bromwich INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS: Border Accountants, 5 Lower Brook Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2HG

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Registered Charity Number 1187362

PCAS

FINANCIAL REVIEW

RESERVES POLICY

The free reserves of the charity were £64,651 at the year end and Trustees consider this amount to be sufficient for their immediate operating requirements. Included in the £64,651 is £40,000 which has been designated for operating costs should funding cease to allow the charity to continue to function whilst further funding is applied for.

PRINCIPAL FUNDING SOURCES

The charity has been funded by various grants this year from:

The above funders and supporters are the backbone of our charity and without their generous funding we would not be able to provide the service we do.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

We continuously strive to develop our services in order to meet the needs of our clients. Funding is always an issue. However, we endeavour to be proactive as we fight for the rights of our vulnerable client group.

The Trustees’ report was approved by the Board of Trustees

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT

I report to the Trustess on my examination of the financial statement of Shropshire Peer Counselling and Advocacy Service (the charity) for the year ended 31st March 2025.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT

As the Trustess of the charity you are responsbilble for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statement carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. 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

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared financial statements in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1st April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has now been withdrawn.

I understand that this has been done in order for financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1st January 2015. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe in any material respect:

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 financial statements to be reached.

Jon Ollier FCA

Border Accountants 5 Lower Brook Street Oswestry Shropshire SY11 2HG United Kingdom

Date: ........................................................................

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

For the year ended 31st March 2025. Including income and expenditure account

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

For the year ended 31st March 2025. Including income and expenditure account

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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PCAS Registered Charity Number 1187362

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT

For the year ended 31st March 2025.

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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FUNDERS AND DONORS

The National Lottery Community Fund (Reaching Communities)

Postcode Local Trust

Lloyds Bank Foundation

The Henry Smith Charity

Select Healthcare

Wesleyan Foundation

Sir Robert McAlpine

Other Donations

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CONTACT DETAILS

PCAS (Person Centred Advocacy & Support) Suite 1

The Willow Tree Willow Street

Oswestry SY11 1AJ

01691 658008

simon@shropshirepcas.co.uk (PCAS Manager) alli@shropshirepcas.co.uk (Evaluation Manager)

www.shropshirepcas.co.uk

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter

@ShropshirePCAS

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