## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 18/05/2020 To 31/12/2020** ## **Charity name: 50 Million Voices** ## **Charity registration number: 1189541** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|50 Million voices promotes social inclusion
among people who stammer who are
excluded from suitable employment and
career progression as a result of
communication impairment, by advancing
education and raising awareness about
stammering with employers.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Deliver practice interview pilot event
giving presentations on stammering at
work
recording podcasts about the work of 50
Million Voices for Business Disability
Forum and for EY EMEIA
adding new country leaders to our
global sharing network from Kenya to
Peru
producing a stammering awareness
video for employers including captions
indicating stammering
maintaining a virtual resources library of
good practice
providing advice and support to
emerging new employee stammering
networks in specific sectors and
building a social media presence on
Twitter| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|At their Trustee meeting on 15 November
2021 the Trustees reminded themselves of
the guidance on public benefit.| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|50 Million Voices began as a campaign in
2019, founded by Iain Wilkie (now its Chair)
to explore new ways of transforming the
world of work for the 50 million people of
employable age across the globe who
stutter, building on and learning from
existing experience and activities in
different countries.
Comprising an international volunteer
network of leaders who stutter, the appetite
to collaborate more with allies and
employers and to develop further activities
to achieve this led to the formal registration
of 50 Million Voices as a Charitable
Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in May
2020.
Having launched formally in the midst of the
pandemic, and with sharply rising
unemployment and other work-related
challenges, the bi-monthly virtual meetings
of 50 Million Voices volunteer leaders have
been the bedrock for active and generous
sharing and mutual support at a difficult
time. This growing relationship of trust and
sharing in turn enabled the development of
new activities in 2020, such as the Practice
Interview pilot event, involving people who
stutter, employers and allies from a range
of cultures and backgrounds (see below).
**Achievements**
**Building on foundations**
During the period covered by this report, 50
Million Voices has steadily built on its
foundations. Examples include giving
presentations, recording podcasts about
the work of 50 Million Voices for Business
Disability Forum and for EY EMEIA, adding
new country leaders to our global sharing
network, from Kenya to Peru, maintaining a
virtual resources library of good practice,
providing advice and support to emerging
new employee networks in specific sectors
and building a social media presence on
Twitter.
**Captioned introductory video**
50 Million Voices launched a short video in
July 2020 on the theme of stuttering-
friendly teams at work and how 50 Million
Voices can help create this culture. Made
entirely pro bono by tvmi and narrated by
Iain Wilkie, who stutters, 50 Million Voices,
working with Business Disability Forum,
has led the way in producing captioned
content that authenticallyreflects stuttered| speech. The video is available to view on the (interim) website created for 50 Million Voices in 2020. www.50millionvoices.org **Practice Interviews pilot event** To tackle the increasing difficulties related to employment facing people who stutter owing to the global pandemic, 50 Million Voices organised a pilot Practice Interview event on 21-22 October 2020, coinciding with International Stuttering Awareness Day (22 October). With participants from 8 countries and 6 continents, this created a safe space for experiential learning and development for 67 participants (49 who stutter and 18 allies who don’t stutter) - all of them, and the organisers, as either volunteers or non-paying participants). The feedback showed 100% of participants found it either extremely valuable (84%) or very valuable 16%). The impact report is attached with fuller detail. The event provided a unique way of having multiple engaging conversations with purpose to open up understanding, relationships and potentially real job opportunities and to move the dial on positive culture change in employers - a proven and scaleable formula for further development. ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The charity has only just started seeking
funding from the public and other
supporters. It’s income was well below £4k
in the year to 30 December while
expenditure was negligible as our
operations are supported by volunteers.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
statingwhy they areheld|Para 1.22|The charity aims to hold reserves equal to
six months’ running costs [
| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£3,500| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|n/a| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|n/a| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|n/a| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|
Para 1.25|Constitution adopted May 2020| |How is the charity
constituted?|Para 1.25|CIO| |(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)||| |---|---|---| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|trustee must be appointed for a term of
three years by a
resolution passed at a properly convened
meeting of the charity trustees| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charityname|50Million Voices| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charitynumber|1189541| |Charity’s principal address|21 Seymour Road
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
KT1 4HN| ||| **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Iain Wilkie|Chair|Since May2020|**n/a**| ||Helen Carpenter||Since May2020|**n/a**| ||Norbert Lieckfeldt||Since May2020|**n/a**| Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name n/a** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year **|| |---|---|---| |**n/a**||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** |Description of the assets
held in this capacity|n/a| |---|---| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the cusknjian charitys objects Detalls of arrangements for safe custody and Segregation of such assets from the charlVs own assets nla Addltlonal Infomiatlon (optlonjl) Namos and addresms of adv18ers (Optlonal Inf0M￿tIOn) Type of Namo Addro58 advlsèr nla Name of chlaf exocutlvo or nam•$ of senlor staff mambors (Optlonal Inforniatlon) Exemptlons from disclosurn Reason for non-disclosure of k nnel details Other o tional Informatlon Declarations Th• truste•s declaro that thèy have approv￿ the trust•08' rnport abovo. Slgn•d on bohalf of tho charlty'8 trusto88 8lgnaturo($) Full name(sl Po•nlon (eg Secretary. Chalr, etc) Nort)8rt Johannes Lieckfeldt Trustee laln Rob Wilkie Chair of Trustses 15 Novemb8r 2021 ## **Practice Interview Pilot 21-22 October 2020** Against the background of sharply rising global unemployment, 50 Million Voices[1] organised a pilot Practice Interview event for people who stutter to coincide with International Stuttering Awareness Day on 22 October. Interviews are particularly stressful for people who stutter due to the difficulty in communicating fluently in time-pressured situations, where so much can hang on the outcome. This is compounded by most interviewers having little experience of candidates who stutter or of getting the best from them. With participants from 8 countries and 6 continents, the programme created a safe space for experiential learning and development for a total of 67 participants, being 49 who stutter and 18 allies who don‘t stutter. ## **Impact – What happened and who benefitted** - All participants attended a 90 minute educational briefing on stuttering in the workplace. - 50 one-to-one interviews took place, providing 100 individual interview experiences. - 35 people who stutter received either 1 or 2 interviews to help improve their interview skills. - 32 interviewers, being 14 who stutter and 18 allies who do not stutter, each gave up to 3 interviews to help broaden their interviewing skills. - Participants came from Brazil, Canada, Ghana, India, New Zealand, UAE, UK and USA, with the majority from the UK and India. - 18% of interviewees were women (4 out of 5 adults who stutter are men). - 48% of interviewees were BAME. - Most participants attended a 60 minute group feedback session. ## **Impact – What the data tells us** Confidential written feedback given by the interviewees and interviewers provided the following data on the 3 key questions of _Value, Recommendation_ and _Future Participation:_ - 100% found the programme either extremely _valuable (84%)_ or very _valuable_ (16%). - 97% would either definitely (87%) or probably (10%) _recommend_ the Practice Interviews event to people who stutter or allies. 3% would possibly recommend it. - 97% would definitely (84%) or probably (13%) like _to participate_ again in a future Practice 1 Interviews event organised by 50 Million Voices. 3% possibly would. ## **Impact – What participants told us** _"Up until a few days ago, I was utterly terrified at the prospect of having to interview for a future role outside of the military; however, the past two days have really enabled me to face and challenge my fears and preconceptions, but in a totally supportive and safe environment."_ Interviewee – Howard Charlton, Miltary – UK _I just wanted to reiterate how thankful I am to those that have helped make this possible- I have nothing but great feedback. It’s so inspiring to be aware of stammerers in my desired line of work, so to have such talented people on board and to be able to communicate with them is fantastic._ Interviewee – Not in employment – UK _"The briefing session was amazing...it gave us a different approach on stammering…_ .. _The most important thing I learnt is about "disclosure" that gave me a new perspective to face any communication in life be it an interview, group discussion, an elocution or public speaking. This helped me a lot during the practice interview round._ _I fearlessly represented myself without having any anxieties or cold feet which I had earlier in all my interviews. This was my first interview session with an international interviewer in my life... I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was the first interview where I stammered without any tension . It was my learning experience and boosted my morale and confidence to present myself for any interview in the future._ _In the group feedback session….people from different parts of the world shared their stammering stories. It was an awesome time being a part of this program. "_ Interviewee – Samruddhi Samant – Manufacturing – India " _As someone who stammers, I could have really done with something like this 10 years ago when I was entering the world of work!_ " Interviewer – Chris Gemmell, Corporate Development Director, Sage Group PLC – Global “ _I am delighted that Compass was able to take part in the 50 Million Voices pilot interview project, to help individuals who stutter to build confidence and skills levels in an interview situation. I was lucky enough to be involved in the project and was extremely humbled by everyone’s willingness to give their time to make a real difference to people who need it._ _The pilot is not only a fantastic initiative in aiding people with a speech impediment, but was also an opportunity for the interviewers who took part to gain invaluable experience_ .” Interviewer - Dr Julie Humphreys, Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Compass Group PLC – Global _“It is always so rewarding to get to help people and as an HR professional, I felt l learned a lot.“_ Interviewer – Deise Grosso, Learning & Development Manager, Compass Group - Brazil _An amazing experience. I played my part as interviewer and ally and got the start of a much needed education around stuttering. I was blown away by my two ‘candidates’ and their courage._ Interviewer - Katie Osiadacz – Senior Responsible Business Manager – TSB - UK Several interviewers have invited their interviewees to stay in contact so they can continue their allyship. At least one interviewee was invited back to a company involved in the Practice Interviews for a Student Assessment Day. Having passed this and a series of subsequent interviews, he has now accepted a job offer from them. ## **Conclusions** - The pilot achieved its objective to create a high quality international practice interview event which benefitted people who stutter and allies who don‘t stutter. - 49 people who stutter benefitted directly, either as interviewees or as interviewers. - 18 allies benefitted directly as interviewers. - We now have a proven and scaleable formula for running similar events in the future. ## **Invitation** If you are interested in participating in future Practice Interview events, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Iain Wilkie at _chair@50millionvoices.org._ The 50 Million Voices Team December 2020 – Updated January 2021 Notes 1. 50 Million Voices is a community of leaders who stutter from 15 countries. We work with allies and employers to transform the world of work for the 50 million adults globally who stutter. 2. We are registered by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Our charity number is 1189541 , CHARITY COMAIISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WAtES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Fovth• p•rfo To 1&O92020 3111212020 Section A Receipts and payments Unmlfkt•d ltsrlds EDdwrn•nt funds R•strfei•d lund• Tot•1 I￿nd• st y•ar A1 R￿•1 ?.512 3,M2 Subtrt•i(Gma8 inGon* forAR) A2 AM•t and 1n¥wtm￿t ••1 . IL*•l A3Pi m•nt# pk¢ Sub *Jtal A4 A••rt •ftd kn*••tm•nt PUl¢hW. (••• t•tyb N•rrfr•c•¥Wfp•ym•nfyJ AS Tm•f•rn b•tw••n funds A6 Cmh l*•t y•ar •ft C•sh fdmds y••r•n 3,510 J,31• Section 8 Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unfeslri¢ted fund• Rostrlctbé fund8 Endowment Deta Bl Cash li￿ J.514 Td•lc•¥h fiNxts J,510 funds fund* Ir•￿£ 82 c￿e￿￿￿nI￿p 91111?021 C<* {4p¥¢vdl rr•rt ¥DIu• D•lalls B4 A•••l• r•l•&*d forl ¢h•thy'• ¢vm 0gtail• II*IMty 83 LknblMI•• Sh)r￿a by￿¢ ort*0 ItpJ#*••OII L•h4Uof&l trwié•s JCaw•tor IS111tt021 15111rd021 CLXX F12 acount8 (SS 7911112021