OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2021-06-30-accounts

Wave for Change Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021

Registered Charity Number: 1190354

Contents

Contents
Background 3
Our aim and purpose 4
What we have discovered 5
Our mission 6
Impact we are having on attitudes 7
Our journey so far 8
Associate groups 9
Highlights this past year 10
Covid-19 11
Building support 12
Thanks to ... 13
Plans for the coming year 14
The next step 15
Financials 16
Trustees’ responsibilities 20
Legal and administration information 21
Finance and accounting policies 24

Director: Anoushka Bonwick anoushka.bonwick@waveforchange.org.uk

Co-Chairs: Anchal Gupta anchal.gupta@waveforchange.org.uk Ian Hardie ian.hardie@waveforchange.org.uk Enquiries: info@waveforchange.org.uk

www.waveforchange.org.uk

2

Background

To feel valued and genuinely included in our neighbourhoods, we all need meaningful connections. Disabled people are less likely to have these connections due to lack of confidence and prohibitive attitudes*. Fear of difference leads to isolation and unhelpful social segregation.

Wave was started in North London in 2009 by a small group of parents who know first-hand the challenges, sadness and disappointment associated with trying to include a child/young adult with learning disabilities in mainstream education, church groups and community life.

We aim to impact attitudes and behaviour among individuals both WITH and WITHOUT learning disabilities.

Through our work, those with learning disabilities start to see themselves as valued and active members of the community (not just as service users or beneficiaries), where they are encouraged and enabled to contribute to the planning, running and enjoyment of activities.

Those without learning disabilities are encouraged to become part of mixed-ability teams, as opposed to coming as volunteers to ‘help the less fortunate’. This encourages the wider community to get involved and see real inclusion in practice.

We do things ‘with’ and not ‘for’ each other. Connecting through social groups, worship and creative community activities builds the confidence to mix and creates mutually beneficial friendships.

*The Cabinet Office Community Life Survey 2015/16

www.waveforchange.org.uk

3

Our aim and purpose

We want to see more people with and without learning disabilities mixing and enjoying being together, in the heart of our communities and in places of worship.

Doing things with and not for each other.

Growing in mixed-ability friendship, so that those on the margins are less likely to feel avoided, ignored or excluded.

We don’t see our purpose as helping people with learning disabilities.

We see our purpose as enabling people with and without learning disabilities to work together to change negative experience and attitudes in communities.

www.waveforchange.org.uk

4

What we have discovered

Challenges Who we know What we feel 53% do not know 67% feel anyone with a uncomfortable learning disability* talking to people with disabilities

Many are concerned that they will do or say the wrong thing if they talk to someone who is ‘different’.

Opportunity

What we are willing to do

BUT 61% are interested in going to mixed-ability social places*

Research shows that confidence grows when people with and without learning disabilities spend quality time together.

*% of the British public, Wave Research 2019.

**% of the British public, Scope Research 2014.

www.waveforchange.org.uk

5

Our mission

We actively inspire and enable passionate community members (with and without learning disability) to run mixed-ability social and worship activities within the heart of their neighbourhoods. We provide the guidance and resources they need to create genuinely inclusive places and groups where everyone is valued equally.

The ultimate aim is that it will become the norm to see people of different abilities comfortably mixing together in all aspects of life.

For people with learning disabilities, this will mean less of a sense of shame around learning disability and of the tendency to withdraw from mainstream community activities. For those without learning disabilities, this will mean increased comfort levels, tolerance, and empathy. When individuals with learning disabilities want to be actively included in their local communities and places of worship, there will be a range of Wave-style places that are well equipped to enthusiastically welcome them and enable meaningful connection to happen.

www.waveforchange.org.uk

6

Impact we are having on attitudes

According to Wave’s 2019 research report, social connection between people with and without learning disabilities is reported at 17% among Muswell Hill residents compared with 11% in the rest of the UK.

I felt on the edge a couple of weeks ago. At Challenge Group I got coffee and cake, a listening ear and then a lovely massage while my child was being looked after. I left feeling like I could fight another day. (Parent of child with additional needs)

It's been a privilege to see the work grow, and I hope you know how much I have been challenged and changed by the experience. ( Community Leader)

Everyone starts off socially nervous but gradually relax over the weeks.

(Pop-Up events customer)

It’s being together with your local community, being part of something is important ... helps me feel that I belong. (Young adult with LD)

7

Our journey so far

Wave for Change registered as a CIO in July 2020, in response to requests to share the practical learning and resources developed through running successful inclusive groups and activities in Muswell Hill.

Charitable status now allows us to employ staff and apply for a wider range of grants.

We set five key objectives for our first year :

  1. Secure and promote flagship groups in Muswell Hill as examples of good inclusive practice

  2. Build fit-for-purpose operating structure, processes and team (paid/contracted staff and volunteers) as a foundation for growth

  3. Raise awareness of the effectiveness and impact of our proven approach to building inclusive community

  4. Attract new donors and grant funding

  5. Develop Wave in a Box as the resource for supporting the roll-out of Wave’s ethos and approach

www.waveforchange.org.uk

8

Associate groups

Challenge Group Families

Wave Church

Wave Café

● Serving 30-40 meals every Thursday to customers from across the community, including those with and without learning disabilities, parents and young children, teenagers from local schools, and elderly residents

Associates beyond Muswell Hill

9

Highlights this past year

This June 2020 award was welcomed recognition and encouragement for our volunteer teams and opened new doors for us to share our ethos more widely this past year. We now have influence on National Church Disability Advisory Group, and Wave Church members have contributed to televised and radio broadcast services – raising our profile and challenging perceptions of the role of people with learning disabilities in the church.

Wave for Change was excited and honoured to be featured on BBC Songs of Praise in January 2021. The programme led to several enquiries from organisations and individuals interested in our approach. One of these organisations has already set up its own Wave Church group and is working with us as a pilot associate to develop and test Wave in a Box resources.

Wave for Change hosted an online co-creation workshop for 47 inclusion practitioners, activists, thought leaders and explorers from across the country. This was a game-changing event, not only helping to affirm the potential need for our Wave in a Box offering, but also highlighting the desire to provide a forum for those who are working to shift policy and practice around inclusion – our #withnotfor positioning was one that resonated strongly.

www.waveforchange.org.uk

10

Covid-19

Our associate groups adapted brilliantly to the challenges of Covid19. This was particularly important given that many of our group members with learning disability were shielding throughout the pandemic and many parents caring for children with behavioural challenges were at a breaking point as regular activities and respite care ceased. The ability to see and interact with familiar faces online or voices by phone was a much needed source of comfort and encouragement during difficult times.

We missed ‘in-person’ contact and chatting over homemade cakes at our meetings, but the move to Zoom services (for Wave Church) and a WhatsApp support group (for families caring for children with additional needs) kept us sane and also enabled people from other areas beyond Muswell Hill to join our meetings.

As the coronavirus pandemic spread across the UK, Wave Café was also forced to close its doors. While meeting in person was impossible, providing inclusive activities and social space wasn’t – it just moved online to Zoom!

Wave Zoom Chats took place weekday afternoons, thanks to the inspired idea and dedication of Wave members. Every day a mix of people, with and without learning disabilities, got together to share their news and have a few laughs. It was encouraging to see that some new faces, who hadn’t had much experience of disability or difference at all, also joined and made friends through these chats. There is no doubt that Wave Zoom chats were a vital and encouraging online space for a mix of more than 20 people, reducing anxiety levels for those with and without learning disabilities who regularly participated.

www.waveforchange.org.uk

11

Building support

The launch of a new vibrant website (www.waveforchange.org.uk) at the end of June 2020 was a very important step on the path to raising awareness of Wave’s ethos over the past year. The new style and design has received very positive feedback and made it easier for people who are interested in Wave to discover the ideas, insights and stories of those involved. It is also a great place to highlight our many media activities and serves as an easy route to donating to Wave. Alongside the new website, we have increased the quality and quantity of our social media posts with a focus on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linked-In. We have seen the number of followers nearly double since July 2020, and we now have more than 1400 followers across these platforms.

Both our Co-Founders have featured on a variety of inclusion and related podcasts; written articles for blogs and press; and contributed to national disability conferences and round table discussions focused on policy development around inclusion.

Follow us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wavewithnotfor on social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waveforchangeuk/ media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waveforchange Twitter: https://twitter.com/WaveForChange

www.waveforchange.org.uk

12

Thanks to ...

Volunteers

We are reliant on our team of 24 volunteers, 7 of whom have a learning disability, to encourage and enable other communities to start inclusive groups. They generously give an estimated 300+ hours of volunteer time to Wave each month.

Donors and Fundraisers

We have increased the number of personal and corporate donors to our work. We were excited to receive our first Awards for All grant this year. We are grateful for our regular and ad-hoc donors as well as the creative fundraising boosts provided by our brilliant supporters.

Support received

We are grateful to local church partners (across denominations) for providing free venue space for many of our activities.

We have benefited greatly from advisory and mentoring support from Pilotlight, Inclusion Barnet, Haringey’s Local Area Coordinator and our talented team of Advisors and Ambassadors.

13

Plans for the coming year

Wave for Change’s trustees have set the following priorities for this coming year in order to achieve our strategy of encouraging and enabling more mixed-ability groups and activities across London and beyond.

  1. Develop and launch first elements of Wave in a Box in early 2022, to make it easy and appealing for others to start new inclusive initiatives, based on our ‘with and not for’ approach

  2. Grow connections with our network of potential Changemakers (from this year’s co-creation workshop) to generate up to 5 new Wave associate groups by the end of 2022 – rippling out via word of mouth and personal experience of participation in Wave activities

  3. Establish standard impact monitoring measures for new Wave associate groups to provide hard and soft data evidence of the difference that they are making in their communities

  4. Access professional fundraising support, which will allow Founders to focus more on mentoring new associate groups

  5. Appoint high profile Patron to promote and support our work

14

The next step

The very positive response from inclusion practitioners, activists and thought leaders to our 2019 community impact research findings and Wave in a Box concept presentation in March 2021 has galvanised our decision to share our work more widely. Developing Wave in a Box (working title) is at the heart of our work to grow beyond our local groups. A digital and physical resource, Wave in a Box will inspire and make it easy for other communities to start enjoyable mixed-ability activities.

This resource will contain our:

Two pilot projects have already started (in Crouch End and Ilford), helping us to identify, test and refine the best content and format for this offering. ‘Wave Mentors’ are actively working with these new associates and gathering valuable learnings that will inform the development of Wave in a Box.

The past year of lockdowns has given us all a taste of what it feels like to be socially segregated and unable to join in with community activities. We believe that there is now wider appreciation of the need we all have for real social connection, making this a unique time at which to promote the idea of Wave in a Box.

Box elements will be available to download from our website by the end of the year. We aim to fully launch in early 2022.

15

Financials

Wave for Change started the year with an opening cash balance of £49,000 transferred from Wave unincorporated charitable organisation. We passed restricted funds (£7,580 held for Wave Church and Challenge Group Muswell Hill) to St James Church, who will have governance and financial oversight of these local groups going forward.

We are very grateful for the generous financial support we had in the year from both our regular and ad hoc donors, raising circa £31,500 via a mix of donations (£20,000), grants (£10,000) and gift aid (£1,500). We also benefited from a Co-Founder volunteering as a full-time CEO.

We invested circa £21,000 over the year – key elements being £11,500 in operations and project work; £1600 in promotional and awareness raising activities and £8,100 in feasibility testing and development of the key Wave in a Box offering.

As at 30[th] June 2021, Wave for Change’s balance of funds was £51,500. These funds are mainly unrestricted and available to be used in accordance with our charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees. It is our policy to maintain a balance of at least three months’ cash reserves to cover operating expenses (£12,000) – a policy that we have maintained successfully throughout the year. This prudent approach to managing our resources will be maintained as we seek to grow our activities and move to a mix of employed staff and volunteers instead of contractors and volunteers.

We have built this strong balance in order to be able to invest in paid staff to support our next phase of growth and to provide cover until our fundraising efforts are secured. We aim to raise required funds from a combination of increased regular giving, ad-hoc fundraising campaigns (e.g. The Big Give) and targeted charity grants from Trusts and other Funders. Reaching out to our personal networks and improving supporter communications will be key to enabling this, in addition to the recruitment of a part-time fundraiser.

16

Charity Name

Wave for Change (1190354)

Receipts and payments accounts

CC16a

For the period 01/07/2020 To 30/06/2021 from

Section A Receipts and payments

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations direct 7,825 - - 7,825 -
Local Giving 565 10,123 - 10,688 -
Kindlink 282 - - 282 -
Grants - 9,920 - 9,920 -
Just Giving 1,227 - - 1,227 -
Stewardship - - - - -
Gift Aid 1,636 - - 1,636 -
Opening Gift transfer 41,378 7,586 48,964
Sub total (Gross income for
27,629 - 80,542 -
AR) [ 52,913 ]
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 52,913 27,629 - 80,542 -
A3 Payments
Transfer to local Groups - 7,586 - 7,586 -
Staff - - - - -
Operational Coordination 9,198 - - 9,198
Non staff costs 2,071 322 - 2,393 -
Fundraising costs 121 - - 121 -
Marketing/PR/Social media 1,622 - - 1,622
Projects : WiaB content - 1,750 - 1,750 -
Projects : WiaB Friendship Project - - - - -
Projects : WiaB Co-creation workshops - 6,408 - 6,408 -
Projects : WiaB Changemakers workshops - - - -
Projects : WiaB Changemakers Forum - - - -
Sub total 13,012 16,066 - 29,078 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments 13,012 16,066 - 29,078 -
----- End of picture text -----

17

----- Start of picture text -----
Net of receipts/(payments) 39,901 11,563 - 51,464 -
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - -
Cash funds this year end 39,901 11,563 - 51,464 -
----- End of picture text -----

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

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Categories Details funds funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds - - -
- - -
- - -
Total cash funds 39,901 11,563 -
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s)) OK OK OK
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
Fund to which Current value
Details asset belongs Cost (optional) (optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
Fund to which Current value
Details asset belongs Cost (optional) (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the - -
charity’s own use - -
Fund to which Amount due When due
Details liability relates (optional) (optional)
B5 Liabilities -
Signed by one or two trustees on Date of
behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name approval
Richard Davis 19.08.2021
Ian Hardie 19.08.2021
----- End of picture text -----

18

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Wave for Change I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Wave for Change Ilhe Charity) for the year eThJed 30 June 2021. Responsibilities and basis of report As the Charity trustèes of the Trust you are responsib￿ for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requiremenis of the Charities A¢t 2011 Ilhe Act'l.I rewrt in resped of my examination of the Charrty s accounts Ca￿ed out under seLion 145 of the 2011 Act and in Carrying out my examination I have followe¢J all the ap￿1¢able Dire(aions given by the Charrty Commission under 5eGtion 1451Sllbl of the Ad. Independent examine¢$ statement I have completed my examination. I confiim that no material matters have come lo my attenknon in conne¢tion with the examinalion giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. 1. accountsng records were not kept in resFect of the Trustees required by sedion 130 Of the 2. the aGcounling recorits ￿Ere not kept in respect of the Trustees as required by section 130 of the A¢t or 3. the accounts do not Comply vnth the ap￿ICable requirements conceming the fom and ¢ontent ol a¢counts set out in the CharrtEs IAccounts and Reports) Regulats'ons 2008 other than any rÈquirèmÈnt that the accounts give 3 "tnJÈ and fair vw which is not a matter considered as part of an inde￿ndent examination. I have no con￿MS and have ccme across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be dravm in this report in order to ena￿e a proFer understanding of the a￿OUnts to be ￿a¢￿ed. Signed.. Name: lan K WhFtehead Member of the Institut• of Charternd Accountants in England and Wales Address: 1 Vallance Road. London N22 7UD Date: 19

Trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the charity’s incoming resources and application of resources for that year. In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees' Report, signed on behalf of the Charity's Trustees

Full name Signed Position Date
Ian Hardie Co-Chair 20 August 2021
Richard Davis Treasurer 20 August 2021

20

Le al and administration information g

Trustees Trustees Trustees Trustees Trustees
Name
Ofce
Appointed
Resigned
Ian Hardie
Anchal Gupta
Stephanie Buckingham
Richard Davis
Toby Morrison
Ingrid Skinner
Ellie Williams
Celia Webster
Co-Chair
Co-Chair
Trustee
Treasurer
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
July 2020
5 May 2021
July 2020
July 2020
July 2020
July 2020
20 October 2020
July 2020
Resigned 15 April 2021
Name Ofce Appointed Resigned
Ian Hardie
Anchal Gupta
Stephanie Buckingham
Richard Davis
Toby Morrison
Ingrid Skinner
Ellie Williams
Celia Webster		 Co-Chair
Co-Chair
Trustee
Treasurer
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee		 July 2020
5 May 2021
July 2020
July 2020
July 2020
July 2020
20 October 2020
July 2020		 Resigned 15 April 2021

Bankers

21

Constitution

Summary of objects

The object of the CIO, which is to be carried out within a Christian ethos, working inclusively with those of all faiths or none, is:

To promote equality and diversity for the public benefit, in such geographical areas as the trustees shall determine, by working with people with and without learning disabilities to reduce discrimination based on abilities and foster an environment in which social places are genuinely inclusive and accessible to all, in particular but not exclusively by:

  1. Raising awareness among the general public of the need to equally value people of all abilities

  2. Promoting inclusivity through the establishment of inclusive and accessible mixed-ability worship and social gatherings (which will reduce social segregation/isolation and build friendships, whether undertaken digitally or in person)

  3. Promoting the establishment of inclusive and accessible mixed-ability social groups that co-create community-based activities where people with and without learning disabilities are encouraged to do things with and not for each other

  4. Providing advice and support (based on the charity's own research) to organisations and individuals seeking to develop inclusive and accessible mixed-ability groups and activities.

22

Statutory declaration

The trustees declare that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s Trust Deed, the Charities Act 2011 and ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)’ (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).

Structure, governance and management

Type of governing document Constitution
How the charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection method By invitation
How new trustees are inducted and
trained		 New trustees receive a copy of the constitution, accounts and latest trustees’ meeting
minutes. They are interviewed by both Co-Chairs and one of the founders, and they
attend one trustees' meeting as guests prior to their appointment being confrmed by a
vote of current trustees.

Wave is governed by a Board of Trustees with co-chairs. The Co-Founders now have active roles as Chief Ethos Officers and Ambassadors. As we move to a period of growth and being more established, we have appointed a Director and Operations Coordinator rather than relying solely on a mix of volunteers and contractors.

23

Finance and accounting policies

1. Accounting period

Wave for Change’s financial year is a calendar year ending on 30th June 2021.

2. Accounting convention

Accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.

3. Going concern

At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.

4. Charitable funds

5. Income and expenditure recognition

All income and expenditure recognised on a cash basis.

6. Irrecoverable VAT

Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred.

24

Finance and accounting policies (cont.)

7. Gift Aid

Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.

8. Offsetting

There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses.

9.

Donated goods are measured at fair value (the amount for which the asset could be exchanged) unless impractical to do so. The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.

10. Governance and trustee costs

The charity incurs no material governance costs; trustees receive no remuneration or other benefit and meetings are attended at trustees' own cost. Payments to trustees are limited to reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the charity.

11. Examiner fees

No fees were charged for our independent accountant's examination of these accounts.

12.

Wave did not employ any staff in this period.

25

••• 'Diversity is being invited to the Paty. Inclusion is being invited to Dance., 'h4 dV,i..:r Wave for Change Day Celebration 2019