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2021-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts

For the period January 25[th] 2021 to December 31[st] 2021

Contents

Contents
Charity information 4
Trustees’ report 5
Achievements and performance 6
Planned actions for 2022 7
Statement of public benefit 8
Acknowledgements 8
Donors 9
Kind words 10
Risk assessment 11
Investment policy 11
Financial Review & Reserves 11
Fundraising and other policies 12
Serious incidents report (Nil report) 12
Receipts and payments accounts 13
Statement of assets and liabilities 14
Notes to the accounts 15
Charitable support costs breakdown 16
Outstanding guarantees 17
Post Balance Sheet Events/Going Concern and last word 17
Independent examiner’s report 18

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Charity Information

Patron Miss Joanna Lumley DBE, FRGS Trustees Hon. Alderman Alex Bentley - Honorary Chair (at 31[st] December 2021) Miss Valerie England - Honorary Co-Treasurer Miss Rosemary England - Honorary Co-Treasurer Mr Ashley Free Ms Kemi Adenubi Charity Number 1193232 Address Highfield Barn Lewdown Okehampton Devon EX20 4DS help@respiteassociation.org Independent Examiner Mr Martin Cronin MAAT FCIE MICB Bowhill Bookkeeping Services 172 Newman Road Exeter Devon EX4 1PQ Bankers (Main) CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Bankers (Reserve Account) CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Investments M&G Charities PO Box 9038 Chelmsford CM99 2XF

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Trustees’ report for the period ended December 31[st] 2021

Trustees

The Trustees who served during the period 25[th] January to 31[st] December 2021 and up to the date the report was approved were as follows:

Hon. Alderman Alex Bentley - Honorary Chair Miss Valerie England - Honorary Co-Treasurer Miss Rosemary England - Honorary Co-Treasurer Mr Ashley Free (resigned 26[th] February 2022) Ms Kemi Adenubi (joined 26[th] November 2021) Mrs Joanne Clark (joined 20[th] May 2022)

The charity is governed by an executive committee of no less than 3 members. The power of appointing new trustees is vested in the surviving or continuing trustees.

Investment Powers

The constitution authorises the trustees to make and hold investments using the general funds of the charity.

Structure, governance and management

The charity was originally established as an unincorporated association by written constitution dated 22[nd] January 2000 (registration number 1086598). As part of the charity’s planned purchase of a bricks and mortar respite facility, a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) was formed (under this new registration number of 1193232) on 25[th] January 2021. All assets, staff and trustees transferred to the new charity at the end of February 2021 as reflected in the published accounts of charity number 1086598 for the period ended 28[th] February 2021. The old unincorporated charity number 1086598 will remain open for the time being to allow for the continued collection of anonymous and/or recurrent donations and any legacies. A legal transfer document to periodically transfer any funds collected in this way from charity number 1086498 to charity number 1193232 is in place. The objects of the new CIO are:

The relief of sickness and poverty of people with disabilities, long-term physical or mental health conditions or terminal illnesses, and their carers, within the United Kingdom, by (a) offering assistance to enable those in need to secure respite care and (b) providing respite breaks and other support for carers.

The policy of the charity continues to be to seek additional finance and support to run the charity for the benefit of current and future beneficiaries. Throughout the year the trustees delegate the day to day responsibility for managing the charity to the administrator/chief executive Mr John Turner MBE.

Objectives and Summary of activities in their support

In support of these objectives our main activities during this reporting/accounting period have continued to involve us enabling Carers to obtain alternative care, either in the home or via residential provision, for the person or persons (almost always a close family member) for whom they normally provide assistance so that they may take a much-needed break to recharge their batteries. We continue to work closely with a number of other charities, and with statutory authorities, whilst ensuring that our help is in addition to their funding not a replacement.

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Recruitment and training of Trustees

Trustees are encouraged to take part in and attend appropriate external training courses as are staff. Recruitment of Trustees is open to any suitable individual regardless of race, religion or gender. New Trustees will be required to take part in an induction course organised by the administrator/chief executive and will be issued with the latest version of the Charity Commission's ‘The essential trustee’ guidance.

Achievements and performance

During its first (partial) financial year of operation, the charity achieved its objectives in several ways, key amongst which were:

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Planned actions for 2022

We have received a generous gift which will allow us to upgrade the existing facilities at both Joanna’s Cottage and our caravan. As a result of this, during 2022 we plan to provide outside seating, improved kitchen facilities and additional games, books and DVD’s for our carers.

We also plan to launch a weekly lottery to provide an additional income source to allow us to continue to grow our services for carers.

We are developing our online access, with the addition of a new ‘phone friendly’ application form, whilst recognising that many of our carers do not have access to the internet and therefore retaining other more traditional methods of communicating and applying.

As noted, we have seen significant increases in applications in the past 2 years, and do not anticipate any change in this upward trend for the foreseeable future. We are therefore endeavouring to maintain the same level of personal support that we always have whilst increasing our fundraising activities to provide the funds to continue our vital work in a wholly sustainable way.

To continue to provide respite support to Carers throughout England, Wales and Scotland and to identify areas not fully represented with a view to raising our profile in order to reach those most in need.

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Statement of Public Benefit

The Trustees of the Respite Association have complied with their duty to have due regard for the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance. The work of the Respite Association benefits significant numbers of unpaid Carers, these being persons who are caring for someone who has a disability, a long term physical or mental health condition or who is terminally ill. The Charity helps unpaid Carers without any bias regarding gender, age, religion or ethnicity.

The support provided benefits not only the Carer but frequently their whole family. Many Carers of young disabled/sick children have other children who are unintentionally given less attention than these parents would themselves prefer due to the needs of the other child. Our respite care breaks allow the parents to spend quality time with such children. The provision of a respite break for a Carer also has a beneficial effect for the person who they usually care for who may otherwise become distressed at the degree of stress (physical and mental) the Carer may be experiencing.

Beneficiary quotes have been utilised throughout this report and a feedback (kind words) page is also provided on page 10 by way of demonstration of the public benefit and individual impact of our work.

Acknowledgements

Joanna’s Cottage & Lan y Mor Hafan

We would like to extend our enormous thanks to Big Issue Invest for their advice, help, support, grant and loan which allowed us to purchase Joanna’s Cottage.

We would also like to thank the management and staff at Kenegie Manor in Penzance for welcoming us, and our visiting carers, to their family so warmly and for providing key holding and cleaning services free of charge.

Diolch yn fawr also to the management and staff at Lyons holiday parks in north Wales for going the extra mile when we first approached you and for giving our carers such a great time in Wales.

PLEASE NOTE:

It is not the policy of the Charity to publish the names of any private individuals who may have donated during the year, however we do wish to express our sincerest thanks to them for their support.

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DONATIONS RECEIVED DURING THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31[ST] 2021

Our sincere thanks go to the following organisations for their much appreciated financial support during 2021. We also send our thanks to those organisations that asked not to be named publicly.

Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust Andor Charitable Trust Barleycorn Trust Big Issue Invest Brigadier D V & Mrs H R Phelps Charitable Trust Carriejo Charitable Trust Charlotte Marshall Charitable Trust Christadelphian Samaritan Fund Closehelm Limited D.R. Fine Charitable Trust Dennis Alan Yardy Charitable Trust DM Charitable Trust E Slater Charitable Settlement Edgar Lee Foundation Eleanor Hamilton Educational Trust Harford Charitable Trust Marsh Charitable Trust Melton Mowbray Building Society Charitable Foundation R Longstaff & Co Rotary Club of South Holland S C & M E Morland’s Charitable Trust S C K Charitable Trust Santa Barbara Heights Charitable Trust Sir John and Lady Amory's Charitable Trust St Jude's Trust Stanley Smith Charitable Memorial Fund The Augustine Courtauld Trust The Culra Charitable Trust

The Curriers Company Charitable Fund The David Dutton Foundation The Alecto Trust The Dorcas Trust The Kelton Trust The Hugh Fraser Foundation The Florence Turner Trust The Haramead Trust The Heathside Charitable Trust The Horners' Charity Fund The John Cowan Foundation The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust The Munro Charitable Trust The Paget Trust The Pat Newman Memorial Trust The Forest Hill Charitable Trust The Roger and Jean Jefcoate Trust The Rothley Trust The Eveson Charitable Trust The Eleanor Grace Foundation The Sir James Roll Charitable Trust The Theodore Maxxy Charitable Trust The Charles Lewis Foundation The Thrift Shop, RAF College Cranwell The Vandervell Foundation The W E D. Trust Westfield Health Foundation

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Kind Words

Extracts from genuine letters and emails received.

I thank you and your team for always caring, and backing it up with actions of loving kindness.

Unless you have been in the dementia life you have no idea how much this break has meant. To get a sleep, no shouting, no repeating yourself, to eat a meal in peace! It was heaven! I really really didn’t want to come back. Again I cannot thank you all enough.

I just want to thank you so much and the members of the Respite Association for your generosity and kindness in providing me with the support! I feel re-energized for the first time in such a long period!

How absolutely wonderful!!!! Thank you so much!!!

You are an amazing charity and you have given me respite and I am so happy that you, as a charity, exist.

It's amazing what a few days away can do to morale and energy levels!

Thank you so much to The Respite Association.

As you are aware [name] has been coming here some evenings now to offer respite so that my partner and I can have an evening to ourselves. I just wanted to let you know

that this is making a big difference to me. We relax on Wednesday evenings and enjoy a film and a takeaway. On Thursday mornings I wake up refreshed and ready to go.

Thanks ever so much again for all your help - this is such a lifeline for us and is so appreciated.

We had the most amazing time on holiday - gutted to be home in fact. The caravan was absolutely beautiful with everything we could possibly need and really clean and well kept. And the site was equally lovely. My children absolutely loved the park which was literally on our doorstep. We all enjoyed going [to] the swimming baths every day and my children were thrilled with the fair and beach.

Whilst I was there i couldn’t help thinking of you and what an amazing opportunity you gave us. Me and my family are extremely grateful and always will be. The caravan was filled with lots of board games and books for both adults and children and we loved it. I usually don’t have time to read with my children or sit and do a jigsaw with them but on holiday I did - everyday. And instead of dishing out medication of an evening I spent that time in the park with my family. It was so good to just be out in the fresh air and actually taking in the sky!

You allowed me to have uninterrupted quality time with my children and for that I’m truly thankful.

Thank you ever so much - this is fantastic news and such a boost for myself and my husband too! We are extremely

grateful for your help and the quick decision on this. Many thanks once again - this has absolutely made our day & more!

You can’t imagine how happy it made us all and really looking forward to getting a break as soon as possible.

You're fantastic!! I've literally choked with tears. I think it isn't only the fact that we will get the help we need it's also you people go out of your way to deal with it so quickly and this shows you care - we are feeling that message so strongly.

I would like to thank you for the respite you have allocated, it has offered a lifeline and improved their emotional wellbeing knowing they have something to look forward to. Diolch yn fawr!

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Risk Assessment

The Board receives a report from the Administrator/Chief Executive each year. The current report does not identify any serious risks to the charity either financial or physical, save for the ongoing challenges of Covid-19.

Investments

At the end of the year, the Charity held £120,000 in two investment accounts with M&G Charities (£50,000 in their Charibond account and £70,000 in their Charifund account). This action was taken due to the very poor interest rate on offer through any mainstream banking facility (this is demonstrated by us receiving a paltry £10 in bank interest for the entire financial period of these accounts).

During the year we received a very generous donation of £10,000 from The Roger and Jean Jefcoate Trust, with the suggestion that we might like to use it to build an investment portfolio with M&G as that Trust had successfully done over many years. We would like to thank The Roger and Jean Jefcoate Trust for their generosity in giving us this donation and Mr Roger Jefcoate personally for his kind advice and support to us in terms of our investments this year. We can confirm that the £10,000 gifted to us by The Roger and Jean Jefcoate Trust has been classified as ‘reserve’ (see reserves policy below) and now forms part of the investment with M&G. We received our first dividend for the investment in early 2022 in the sum of £800, demonstrating just how valuable Mr Jefcoate’s suggestion was for us to increase our investment income in this way.

Financial Review & Reserves Policy

As has been noted, this is the first year of operation for The Respite Association in its new incarnation as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Whilst the Charity was officially registered on January 25[th] 2021, the figures shown are for the 10 month period from 1[st] March 2021 to 31[st] December 2021. At the beginning of this financial period, the Charity received £319,833 of cash funds by way of a transfer from our old Charity number (1086598) and these transfers are clearly shown within the statement of financial activities on page 13.

During the period under review, the charity made an unrestricted cash deficit of £39,940. As noted elsewhere in this report, this was largely due to the unrestricted fund contribution towards the purchase of two new respite facilities. These purchases are also reflected in the spending of £82,615 from restricted funds, which largely contributes to the overall deficit of restricted funds of £41,499 for the period.

Whilst these payments were carefully planned, the Trustees remain mindful of the precarious nature of income generation as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and have created a new reserves policy to reflect this. The Trustees have always been mindful of the Charity Commission’s recommendation that at least six months’ running costs for the Charity should be held in reserve should a sudden drop in income occur. This has been previously calculated at £50,000. However, at a meeting of the Trustees held in December 2021 it was agreed that this figure should be revisited. Accordingly, a new reserve figure of £106,447 has been set. This includes £60,000 for 6 months running costs, £5,000 for a ‘sinking fund’ in order to carry out any structural repairs to Joanna’s Cottage, the £10,000 which was kindly donated by The Roger and Jean Jefcoate Trust to enable us to build our investment holding (see the investments section above) and £31,447 being the balance of the social investment loan due to Big Issue Invest at the financial year end in order that this loan may be repaid in its entirety should it be ‘called in’ for any reason. Once the reserves are taken into account, the Charity held an unrestricted balance of £44,071 at the year end. However, this unrestricted balance is further reduced by the grants outstanding but not yet paid and other known short term liabilities at year end of £26,348. This leaves a small unallocated surplus of unrestricted funding totalling £17,723 at the year end. The Trustees consider that holding this further unallocated sum of unrestricted funding is sensible, particularly given the increased uncertainty of the financial year ahead as a result of both a volatile stock market due to the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine (see post balance sheet events/going concern section for further details).

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I was able to spend quality time with my other hyo boys who were also going through their own issues, the sessions also afforded me time to spend to myseff and just be still Fundraising Policy During ihe financial year covered by this rqxTrrt the Charity did not engage in any fundraising that involved mailing, telephoning or directly approaching individual members of the public for monie5 in any way. The Charity's formal Fundraising Policies. along with all other policies, were reviewed by the Trust¢e Board in December ?021 and will be further reviewed in May 2022. Disciplinary Code Confiict of tnterest Policy Grievance Procedure/Policy General complaints Fundraising Complaints Grant making & respite break policy Volunteer policy Safeguarding policy FundTaising Charter Data Protection Policy T￿￿tee and Staff Expenses Policy Financial Controls Serious Incidents There were no serious incidents to report during the wiod covered by this Trustee5' Rqx)rt. Approval The Trustees approved this report on 22nd August 2022 and it is signed on their behalf by.. Hon. Aldernian Alex Bentley Trustee & Hon. ChAirm211 12

The Respite Association Statement of Financial Activities (Receipts & Payments) for the financial period January 25[th] 2021 to December 31[st] 2021

Notes 2021 2021 2021*
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds (£) Funds (£) (£)
RECEIPTS
Trusts and Corporate Donors 46,060 41,414 87,474
Donations from individuals 1,782 545 2,327
Bank interest 10 - 10
HM Government Employment Allowance back claim 2,818 - 2,818
Social investment loan (Joanna’s Cottage purchase) 1 - 35,000 35,000
_ _ _
TOTAL RECEIPTS 50,670 76,959 127,629
PAYMENTS
Direct charitable expenditure
Purchase of respite break facilities in Cornwall and Wales 1 21,381 82,615 103,996
Charitable support costs 2 55,152 35,723 90,875
Other expenditure
Training and travel costs - 120 120
Equipment 1,836 - 1,836
Fundraising 6,712 - 6,712
Utilities and rent 3 1,680 - 1,680
Governance 4 3,849 - 3,849
_ _ _
Sub total Payments 90,610 118,458 209,068
Asset and investment purchases (M&G) 120,000 - 120,000
_ _ _
Net receipts/ (Payments) (159,940) (41,499) (201,439)
Transfers between funds at year end 5 5,869 (5,869) -
Cash funds transferred in from The Respite
Association Unincorporated Assn. (Charity No. 1086598) 183,358 136,475 319,833
_ _ _
Cash funds carried forward (31/12/2021) 29,287 89,107 118,394
====== ====== ======

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The Resplte Association Statement of asset5 and liabilities as at December 31# 2021 31. December 2021 (£). CASH FUNDS CAF Current Account CAF Gold account 32,879 85,515 Total Cash Fu 118J94 INVE Nf ASSETS M&G Investment Fund holdings (Charifund) M&G Investsnent Fund holdings (Charibond) 71,521 49,709 Total Investm 121,230 TOTAL CA D INVESTMENT ASSETS 239,624 Represented by funds: Unrestricted funds (The general fund) Iksi8nated funds (reserves including social investment loan ols) Restricted fijnds {5pecified location and item grants) 44.071 106,447 89,106 TOTAL FUNDS 239,624 FIXED ASSETS FOR CHAIUTY USE Holiday bungaIow (JoaDna's Cottage, Cornwall) Holiday caravan (t4n-Y-Mor Hafan. North Wales) Office Equipment 75.000 26,095 1,447 TO ETS FOR CHARtTY U 102,542 THER MONETARY A Overpaymeni to HMRC RT TERM LIABILITI Grant commitments to Carets (unrestricted) Grdnt commitments to Carers (restricted) Independent examinei s fee Refundable holiday dep)sits unclaimed al season end 25,648 30,648 550 150 TAL SHORT TERM LIABILITIE 56,996 LONG TERM LI IT B￿aThc¢ of Social Investment I￿an {Big Issue Invest) 31,447 The Trustees approved these accounts on 22 August 2022 they are signed on their behalf by: Hon. Aldernian Alex Bentley Trustee & Hon. ChairmAn *Note.. As the CIO wa5 only fornied in 2021 prior year infonnation is available for this Cbarity number. For pr¢vIo￿$ ac¢ounts for The Respite Asso¢iation for 2001 to 2020 please see the Clwity Commission entty for Charity Number 1086598. 14

The Respite Association Notes to the accounts for the financial period ending December 31[st] 2021

Note 1:

During the year we purchased two new holiday facilities to enable us to continue to provide week long respite breaks to carers free of any charge. The two facilities were a leasehold bungalow on Kenegie Manor Holiday Park in Cornwall (the lease for which still has c950 years to run) known as Joanna’s Cottage and a used caravan (a 2013 Delta Resort model) on the Lyons Oakfield site in North Wales (which we estimate has a remaining lifespan of c10 years) known as Lan-Y-Mor Hafan. The planned purchase of these two respite facilities at a combined cost of £103,996 needs to be borne in mind when reading and interpreting these accounts. Particularly as some of the restricted monies spent on the purchase of Joanna’s Cottage formed part of the transfer of funds from our previous Charity number. Further restricted funds for Joanna’s Cottage were received and spent during the period in the form of a Social Impact Loan from Big Issue Invest. This loan was for £35,000, which is repayable over 6 years (72 months) at a fixed interest rate of 7.5% per annum. Big Issue Invest also provided a £5,000 grant alongside the Social Impact Loan, effectively offsetting the bulk of the interest of this loan.

Note 2:

Charitable support costs are again up on previous years, however this trend is not immediately apparent in these accounts due to this being the first financial reporting year for the Charity’s new legal designation as a CIO. To enable readers to gain an understanding of this year on year trend charitable support costs have been taken from our two previous sets of accounts reported under Charity number 1085598 and are shown (in blue) below by way of comparison. The 2021 grants carried forward figure of £56,296 continues to reflect the challenges of Covid-19 whereby the need for support remains high but obtaining alternative care provision is difficult to obtain for some carers. However, we are pleased to report that we have seen a positive increase in grant spending during 2022 in conjunction with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. It should also be noted that repayments of £5,446 to Big Issue against the social impact loan are included in charitable support costs as these form part of the direct cost of providing respite breaks to carers during the period.

Charitable Support Grants carried forward Total
Costs
2019 £77,221 £28,656 £105,577
2020 £81,544 £34,708 £116,252
2021 £90,875 £56,296 £147,171

We hope that the inclusion of these figures allows the reader to have a fuller and more accurate picture of our charitable support cost activity both during the period under review and historically.

Note 3:

Rent relates to the cost of a small storage unit as The Respite Association does not (by choice) have a formal office space, with the two part time staff members working from home. Our staff will continue to work from home for the foreseeable future.

Note 4:

Governance costs are those costs that enable the proper legal running and oversight of the Charity. These include a proportion of staff and administrative costs allocated to Trustee meetings, the cost of holding a bank account with the Charities Aid Foundation, insurance costs and the cost of the independent examination of the accounts. The cost shown also includes conveyancing and other legal fees associated with the purchase of Joanna’s Cottage.

Note 5:

The respite break costs are paid for from the general unrestricted funds. Transfers between funds at year end related to the cost of caravan breaks for Carers residing in areas supported by trusts who wished to restrict their grant making to beneficiaries from specific geographical locations. Transfers were done at year end to ensure that we had an accurate figure for the cost of each respite break week provided.

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Accounting Policies and Basis of preparation of accounts

The Charity's Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (The Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments Basis and comply with the Charities Act 2011.

Income

Income and donations are accounted for as received. No permanent endowments have been received in the period.

Value Added Tax

Value added tax is not recoverable by the Charity, and as such is included in the relevant costs in the Accounts.

Non-Monetary Assets

The Charity owns a purpose built holiday cottage in Cornwall (Joanna’s Cottage), a caravan in North Wales (Lan-YMor Hafan), a desktop computer, two printers and two laptops together with some additional office equipment. All non-monetary assets and liabilities were calculated as estimates at the period end.

Trustees' Remuneration and Expenses

During the period no Trustee received any remuneration for the time they gave to the Charity. No Trustee claimed nor was paid any expenses in relation to their duties during the period under review. The Trustees’ insurance included Trustee indemnity insurance. There were no related party transactions.

Restricted Income

Restricted Income is income that is to be strictly used (at the donor’s request) for the benefit of Carers who reside within specific geographical locations or sometimes in cases involving people within certain age categories e.g. elderly persons or children. Occasionally donors may sponsor a piece of equipment, part of the cost of our carers break facilities and their running costs or perhaps the printing of one of our information leaflets. In all such cases the monies are used solely for the purpose(s) the donor has specified

Charitable Support costs breakdown

haritable Support costsbreakdown
2021 2021
U/R R
Employee costs 26,423 -
Direct respite care provision 27,322 35,723
Utilities 293 -
Postage & stationery 1,114 -
55,152 35,723
Employee Costs
Total staff costs 29,743 -
Staff in 2020/21 (1 x 24 hours per week and 1 x 14 hours per week). 2 p/t -

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Outstanding Guarantees

The Trustees confirm, in accordance with the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (General) Regulations 2012, that at the year end the CIO did not have any outstanding guarantees to third parties nor any debts secured on assets of the CIO. For clarity, the Charity does have an outstanding loan to Big Issue Invest of £31,447 as previously noted, but this is provided on an unsecured basis.

Post Balance Sheet Events/Going Concern

As has been noted above, the trend of an increased number of carers requesting our support has continued both during and after the financial period under review. The grants shown as outstanding as at the year end are now starting to be taken as the Covid-19 restrictions have eased. We are therefore confident that the majority of the grants promised during 2021 (but not yet paid at the time of the preparation of these accounts) will be claimed and that the grant liability figures should be taken into account to show a true and fair view of our complete financial position at the year end.

As these accounts were being written, two further concerns emerged: firstly, the cost of living crisis and, secondly, the war in Ukraine. The cost of living crisis is likely to affect our financial position twofold: firstly through the cost of items that the Charity directly needs to purchase to maintain its charitable objects and, secondly, through an increased call for support from carers’ whose own financial positions are likely to become even more precarious. This is likely to manifest in an increase in applications for both our alternative care grant programme and our carers’ free holiday scheme. The latter has already become evident with some carers telling us that they would not be able to afford to go anywhere this year if we were unable to offer them a week’s respite break in either one of our facilities. Indeed, some carers report that they have been unable to take a break for many years due to poor finances, with the cost of living crisis causing some carers to experience extreme anxiety about what lies ahead and how they might cope.

The second concern is the war in Ukraine and the effect this has had on the stock market. As has been noted in the Investment section of this report, the Charity invested £120,000 during the 2021 financial year with M&G Charities. The Trustees are aware that such investments can go down in value as well as up and, while the investment values are holding well at the moment, the Trustees have requested that the Accounts Administrator provides (at least) quarterly reports on the investment holdings to enable them to take any action deemed necessary at relatively short notice as a means of safeguarding the sums held on deposit. However, it should be stressed that this action is purely to mitigate potential risk and there are no concerns in relation to the investments at the moment.

Final Word:

The last words in this year’s Trustees’ annual report and accounts go to one of our clients...

It is so nice to know that TRA is there for carers who desperately need respite in order to maintain their own health and wellbeing.

The relaxing week away has helped me and my partner reconnect with the "real world" enabling us to enjoy time for ourselves. We feel totally refreshed and are so grateful to TRA and the tireless work that they do to raise awareness about the wellbeing of carers.

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF

THE RESPITE ASSOCIATION

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Respite Association for the period 25 [111 ][J] anuary to 31 ' 1 December 2021 which are set out on pages 13 to I 7.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Charily Trustees of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act").

Having ·atisfied my elf that the account of the CIO are not required to be audited and are eligible for independent examination, I rep rt in respect of'my exarnination of the CIO's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carr ing out my e, am ination I have fol lowed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the ClO as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records.

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

Mr M Cronin MAA T FCIE MICB Bowhill Bookkeeping Services 172 Newman Road Exeter EX41PQ Date

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