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2023-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023

Charity name: Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin Support CIO

Charity registration number: 1189914

Objectives and Activities:

GMESS was set up as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) on 28[th] August 2020. GMESS aims to promote and protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions in Greater Manchester through the provision of support, education and practical advice. The CIO also aims to advance the education of the general public in all areas relating to eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions.

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.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Greater Manchester Eczema & Skin Support CIO
Other name the charity
uses		 GMESS
Registered charity
number		 1189914
Charity’s principal
address		 Zion Community Resource Centre
339 Stretford Road
Hulme
Manchester
M15 4ZY

Structure, Governance and Management

Type of governing
document:		 Constitution – Foundation
How is the charity
constituted?		 Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)

Contribution made by volunteers

We were funded to conduct a survey to ascertain the dermatology needs and health inequalities of Black Caribbean, Black African and South Asian members of the Manchester community. One of the women of South Asian background, who took part in the survey, requested to become a GMESS volunteer. She volunteered because she felt that it was a great opportunity to support others from her community who were living in silence with the skin condition, to enable them to receive support from GMESS, and have a voice and share their concerns with relevant health bodies with an interest in dermatology.

We now have a service user steering group in place. Their role is to review service user activities and outcomes. Also to help steer the direction of the charity.

Achievements and Performance

Funding achieved during the period:

Black African Black Caribbean & South Asian Dermatology and Health Inequality Report

We conducted a survey to ascertain the dermatology needs and health inequalities of Black Caribbean, Black African and Asian members of the community. 30 people took part in the survey. The areas the survey explored were severity of skin conditions, management of skin conditions, support from mainstream health services, and cultural needs in the management of skin conditions. A number of the recommendations from the report included:

  1. A culture of self-care should be promoted, supporting people with the knowledge and skills to improve their skin health and mental wellbeing. This should be delivered in a holistic framework that takes a person-centred approach.

  2. Peer support groups should be more widely promoted as a means of support for those affected by these conditions. These groups offer the opportunity for those affected to be around people who share a similar experience, thus reducing isolation which supports improved mental wellbeing.

  3. To ease the pressure on GP practices alternative approaches to managing skin conditions, including diet, hydration, stress management and exercise advice, should be more widely promoted, as prescription medication alone does not seem to be working for a large number of people, especially if there is continued use for a considerable number of years.

  4. A greater recognition of the psychological effects of inflammatory skin conditions should be adopted by GP’s and dermatologist, coupled with an improved referral process to culturally appropriate support. This should be supported by better promotion of mental health services and community engagement to reduce the stigma attached to such services.

  5. Dermatology research and clinical trials must be more inclusive of BME groups to gain the trust of these communities and to improve the efficacy of prescription medication. Improved promotion of these opportunities needs to be adopted in order to attract the participation of these groups.

Participants activity

Due to the gap in provision our enquiries for support reach as far as London, Bristol, Blackburn, Preston, Bolton and Scotland. We have also received requests from New York, USA.

During the period we have supported 135 service users via the following activities:

Marketing Plan & Promotion

To raise awareness about our areas of work we have targeted various community stakeholders including Health Development Co-ordinator for Hulme, across North, South, and Central Manchester; Integrated Neighbourhood Team Leads across Central and South Manchester. I have contacted a number of GP surgeries to display our promotional material in their surgeries which has been met with a positive response, included sharing our patient referral process.

During this period we have utilised our social media accounts, including Twitter and Facebook, to raise awareness about GMESS. The types of information that we have posted include service user comments, funding announcements, wellbeing course, and other areas of our work. A number of our followers include Manchester Local Care Organisation, Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, GP’s x 2, Big Life Group, and National Eczema Society. We have also utilised community radio stations in Central and North Manchester to promote our service user activities.

Outcomes and Impact

Service User Case Study

The following case study is to demonstrate the impact of our interventions on the skin health of our service users, the main areas of impact being improved physical condition; reduced severity of the condition; improved mental wellbeing; increased confidence, self-esteem and social interactions; reduced visits to the GP; decreased use of prescription medication.

Situation Prior to Joining GMESS

Rebecca (name changed) was unable to sleep and exhausted from having infected and broken skin. Her relationship was suffering as she wouldn’t take her clothes off. Her clothes and sheets had blood stains and she felt generally run down as her body was fighting the eczema.

Mentally she was depressed and at one point suicidal. She ended up on antidepressants and signed off work for six weeks. Socially she wasn’t going out much and was declining doing activities with her friends. She said that she was miserable with her partner because she felt ugly.

She was visiting her GP monthly in relation to her skin condition and was using several prescribed medications, including different emollients that weren’t great. She rated her skin condition as Moderate to Severe and her mental wellbeing as 3 on a 10-point scale.

Interventions and Changes Made

Rebecca received 1-to-1 support with a GMESS Support Worker where she discussed what she was currently doing to manage her condition and options she could try. We discussed all aspects of her life enabling her to consider changes she could make and what she would be comfortable trying. We worked together on a new lifestyle plan, which would be implemented initially over 10 weeks. Subsequently she updated the plan with further changes she wanted to make over the next few months.

Rebecca chose to stop using steroids and asking medical professionals for help. She started focusing on the holistic picture and read about what vitamins and supplements nourish skin to treat her condition from the inside. She started taking shots of aloe vera juice/ apple cider vinegar and black seed oil in the morning alongside a number of different vitamins and supplements that she was recommended through the group and had researched. She cut out coffee, started to drink more water (2 litres a day) and exercise regularly. She attended group sessions, speaking with peers about what works and what doesn’t work and the struggles of having eczema. She bought an ice roller to soothe her skin when itchy.

Situation Subsequent to GMESS Interventions and Changes

Rebecca is now visiting her GP in relation to her skin condition only annually and describes her skin condition as Mild and her mental wellbeing an 8.

She now uses no GP prescribed medications.

She says, “Physically I went cold turkey on steroids as I realised that every time I used them my skin got worse after. When I was prescribed prednisolone, this was the catalyst that sent my mental health over the edge as I experienced side effects and was very emotional and erratic.

Physically she now sleeps through the night, and her skin is 95% free of eczema with the occasional very small flare up. “I now know how to manage it without the use of medication. I am not itchy, and I am body confident.”

She has had no further absences from work and feels that, whilst her mental health has been up and down with the ebbs and flows of life, it no longer affects her skin and she is no longer on anti-depressants or would herself depressed. “I also feel listened to, the group was a space where I could share concerns so, when it happens and I do have a flare up, I don’t feel like an alien with no cure.”

She is clear that these are all outcomes from discussions in the GMESS group. “I was able to talk about my condition and not feel stupid for it affecting every part of my life. I have learnt that eczema affects everyone differently and there is not one cure or treatment, but a combination of lifestyle changes has supported a lot of people in the group.”

“Socially I am now really comfortable and confident again. I also don’t worry as much about having a flare up. I still, out of habit, take Aveeno moisturiser with me everywhere. It has taken about a year for the skin on my face to look youthful again as I had wrinkles round my eyes but I now get told I look younger and I often get complimented on how clear my skin is.”

“I am eternally grateful for the support and information I have received from the GMESS group. There are no quick fixes or cures to eczema and it is a very open platform that recognises this, including discussing medical options as well as

completely natural. It is a really positive forum for looking at all the options and seeing eczema for what it is and learning how to manage it through making healthy changes. There is no one answer for everyone so having the forum provides a wealth of information.”

Funding

GMESS secured funding from Manchester Clinical Commissioning group, Be Well Social Prescribing fund, GMCVO and Sports England Sports totalling £19,474

Financial Review

GMESS does not currently have a reserves policy, this was reviewed and thought to not be needed ye, it will continue to be reviewed next year.

Expenditure increased slightly this year as more funding was secured and activity increased. The majority of this funding will be rolled over to the next financial year, as funding was for a 12 month period and didn’t mirror the financial years.

The majority of expenditure is for the facilitation of groups and training and 1:1 activity. This is paid for through a consultation agreement with he facilitator and CEO, agreed by all trustees. Detailed financial breakdown below

2022-23 accounts

Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin support Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin support Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin support Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin support Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin support Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin support Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin support Greater Manchester Eczema and Skin support
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period from Apr-22 To Mar-23
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Endowment
funds		 Total funds Last year
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Be Well 2,500 - - 2,500
CCG 1,000 - - 1,000
GMCVO 9,987 - - 9,987
MISC 81 81
GM Sport 5,906 - - 5,906 -
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)		 19,474 - - 19,474 -
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
cash - - - - 6,171
Sub total - - - - 6,171
Total receipts 19,474 - - 19,474 6,171
A3 Payments
Staffingcost 6,181 - - 6,181 -
ICT 383 - - 383 -
Publicity 694 - - 694 -
Insurance - - - - -
research consultancy 120 - - 120 -
session materials 456 456
volunteer costs 120 120
session refreshments 67 67
stationary - - - - -
**Sub total ** 8,020 - - 8,020 6,163
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
**Sub total ** - - - - -
Total payments 8,020 - - 8,020 6,163
Net of receipts/(payments) 11,454 - - 11,454 8
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 8 - - 8 -
Cash funds this year end 11,462 - - 11,462 8
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of theperiod
Categories Details Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Bank 19,482 - -
Total cash funds 11,462 - -
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))		 OK OK OK
Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Endowment
funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets none - - -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs		 Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B3 Investment assets none 0 - -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs		 Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use		 none 0 - -
- -
Details Fund to which
liability relates		 Amount due
(optional)		 When due
(optional)
B5 Liabilities none 0 -
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees		 Signature Print N ame Date of approval
Simon Kweeday 28/12/2023
Trustee name Office Dates acted if not for
whole year		 Name of person (or
body) entitled to appoint
trustee
Simon Paul
Kweeday		 Chair 04/06/2020 Other trustees vote
Mohmed Hanif
Bobat		 17/02/2021 Other trustees vote
Marcella Angela
Turner		 28/08/2020 Other trustees vote
Muhammad
Aurangzeb
Shaikh		 04/06/2020 Other trustees vote
Jeanette Letuina
StanleyJP		 18/05/2021 Other trustees vote

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members

Exemptions from disclosure

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Simon Kweeday Position (eg Chair Secretary, Chair, etc) Date 30/12/23