Charity registration no. 1195520
SOCIAL ANXIETY ALLIANCE UK TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
Sarah Peacey (Appointed 16 August 2021) Neil Greening (Appointed 16 August 2021) Katie Bjerkan (Appointed 27 June 2022) Ellie Whitbread (Appointed 9 March 2023) Jeffrey Francis (Appointed 30 May 2023) Liz Critchlow (Appointed 7 July 2023) Russell Findlay (Appointed 1 September 2023)
Charity number 1195520 Principal address First Floor 85 Great Portland Street London W1W 7LT
Website www.socialanxietyalliance.org.uk
Email Address info@socialanxietyalliance.org.uk
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION ...................................................... 1 |
|---|
| TRUSTEES’ REPORT .......................................................................................... 3 |
| STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT...............................................................3 |
| MISSION AND GOALS.............................................................................................3 |
| WHAT IS SOCIAL ANXIETY?......................................................................................3 |
| HOW COMMON IS SOCIAL ANXIETY?............................................................................4 |
| WHAT AFFECTS DOES IT HAVE ON PEOPLE'S LIVES?........................................................4 |
| HOW MANY PEOPLE GET TREATED?............................................................................4 |
| ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE...........................................................................4 |
| FUTURE PLANS....................................................................................................5 |
| FINANCIAL REVIEW................................................................................................6 |
| APPROVAL..........................................................................................................6 |
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ............................................................... 7 |
| BALANCE SHEET ............................................................................................... 8 |
| NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS ................................................................................. 9 |
| ACCOUNTING POLICIES...........................................................................................9 |
| 1. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING...........................................................................................................9 |
| 2. GOING CONCERN...................................................................................................................9 |
| 3. INCOME............................................................................................................................... 9 |
| 4. EXPENDITURE.....................................................................................................................10 |
| ANALYSIS OF INCOME...........................................................................................11 |
| ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE....................................................................................11 |
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT
The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with Social Anxiety Alliance UK’s constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014.
Structure, governance and management
Social Anxiety Alliance UK (SAAUK) was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 16 August 2021.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities SAAUK should undertake.
Mission and Goals
Our mission is a society in which social anxiety is widely understood, with easy access to appropriate information, support and treatment so that no one has to face social anxiety alone.
Our goals:
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(1) Help those affected by social anxiety find the information and resources they need
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(2) Increase public awareness and empathy towards social anxiety
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(3) Promote and improve access to appropriate and effective treatment
What is social anxiety?
Social anxiety is the persistent and excessive fear of negative judgement and rejection in social or performance situations. Typical situations that elicit such fear often involve interaction, observation and performance and include meeting strangers, initiating, and participating in conversations within groups, talking to authority figures, eating, or drinking
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while being observed, going to school or work, using public toilets, and presenting information in front of others. Individuals with social anxiety fear that they will behave in a way that they think is humiliating or embarrassing, such as blushing, sweating, appearing anxious, boring, or incompetent, and therefore, social situations are usually avoided or suffered through.
How common is social anxiety?
NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) quote lifetime prevalence as 12% with twelve-month prevalence at 7%. If stricter criteria are used the figures change to 5% and 3% (Grant et al., 2005). See htps://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg159/resources/socialanxiety-disorder-recogniton-assessment-and-treatment-pdf-35109639699397
12% lifetime prevalence equates to 8 million people in the UK and even using the “3% stricter clinical criteria” (referred to above) there will be over 2 million people with social anxiety in the UK this year.
What affects does it have on people's lives?
The impact of social anxiety is far-reaching and without treatment can be significant and long lasting. As well as the mental and physical symptoms, the avoidance and masking behaviours can cause significant impediments to people in their personal, educational, and professional lives, and can result in acute social isolation and loneliness.
At the severe end of the spectrum people who experience social anxiety may find it very difficult to leave the home or to work. Children and young people with social anxiety may struggle to attend school. Severe social anxiety has the potential to impact every aspect of communication and interaction with others, such as speaking on the telephone, participating in video calls, sending emails, writing letters, or being watched or seen from afar.
How many people get treated?
Despite the prevalence of social anxiety (SA) and the severe impact of its symptoms, the majority of individuals do not receive treatment for their SA. Previous research showed only about half of adults with the disorder ever seek treatment, and those who do generally only seek treatment after 15 to 20 years of symptoms (Grant et al.,
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2005a). Access to treatment is compromised by lack of awareness, low media profile, stigma, misdiagnosis and the social anxiety that people experience in even talking to friends, family or professionals about their condition. Too frequently we hear the words "I didn’t know the condition existed, I thought I was the only one".
Achievements and performance
The reporting period saw the charity recruit a volunteer BABCP qualified content reviewer and continue to build a network of contacts within the research and mental health sectors. We successfully recruited two new Trustees who bring with them additional experience and skills which will assist us in our drive towards achieving our mission.
Throughout the year, we continued to seek additional charity professionals to volunteer as Trustees alongside additional BABCP CBT Therapists to review and develop content. We also continued to build relationships with UK social anxiety researchers, such as OxCADAT, who we hope can help us disseminate the latest research to support professionals and individual beneficiaries alike. We are also assisted by another university research professional who regularly participates in board meetings.
During the year, we continued to liaise with other UK mental health charities to improve, evolve and share social anxiety information and resources. We began our social media presence with an account at htps://uk.linkedin.com/company/social-anxiety-alliance-uk
The website has continued to evolve, including its own content and resources, links to other social anxiety websites and its signposting to help those experiencing the condition find support and therapy. We are pleased to see that the website is already providing help to those with social anxiety, as instanced by the following feedback from a beneficiary:
“The information on this site has really helped me in being able to explain my situation more effectively to people, differentiating between social anxiety and social shyness. So thank you.”
Future Plans
Over the next 12 months the charity’s priorities are:
- to continue to develop our digital presence – by improving the website (both in its presentation as well as the information held), and by building our social media presence.
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to increase the availability of useful social anxiety content through engaging with a small voluntary editorial team with clinical and research experience and knowledge of social anxiety.
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to increase our collaboration with other UK mental health charities.
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through connecting with other organisations in related areas (for example loneliness), to raise the profile of social anxiety within the mental health sector.
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to continue to develop key governance policies.
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to recruit Trustees with suitable skills and experience.
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to continue to develop a fundraising strategy and to make funding and grant applications, including the possibility of funding an awareness campaign and the possible employment of a part-time charity professional.
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to increase awareness of social anxiety, for instance through social anxiety features on TV, radio and social media and by seeking social anxiety ambassadors.
Financial review
SAAUK’s policy is that unrestricted funds that have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to six months’ expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.
Approval
This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by
Neil Greening Chair SAAUK
Date when approved: 4/7/24
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For the year ended 31 December 2023
| Income Notes Donatons Expenditure Charitable actvites Net income/ (expenditure) for year / Net movement in funds Reconciliaton of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricte d funds Total funds Prior period funds £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|
| 935 0 935 744 |
|
| £ £ £ £ |
|
| 583 0 583 511 |
|
| 352 0 352 233 233 0 233 0 |
|
| 585 0 585 233 |
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BALANCE SHEET
As at 31 December 2023
| Notes Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Total assets less current liabilites Funds of the charity Restricted income funds Unrestricted funds Total funds |
Unrestricted funds Restricte d funds Total funds Prior period funds £ £ £ £ 585 0 585 233 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 585 0 585 233 |
|
| 0 0 0 0 585 585 233 |
|
| 585 0 585 233 |
The accounts were approved by the Trustees on:
Neil Greening Trustee
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Accounting policies
1. Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items initially recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the notes to these accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
Social Anxiety Alliance UK is a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The accounts are presented in sterling and rounded to the nearest pound.
2. Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about Social Anxiety Alliance UK's ability to continue as a going concern.
3. Income
Income recognition
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the Charity becomes entitled to the resources, it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
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Anxiety Alliance UK io
Notes to the Accounts (continued)
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Offsetting
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.
Donations
Donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met (5.10 to 5.12 FRS 102 SORP).
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.
Volunteer help
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees’ Annual Report.
4. Expenditure
Expense recognition
Expenses are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Governance
Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.
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Notes to the Accounts (continued)
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Analysis of income
| Cash In Kind Total |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds Prior period funds £ £ £ £ 412 0 412 298 523 0 523 446 |
|---|---|
| 935 0 935 744 |
Analysis of expenditure
| Expenditure on: IT expenses Ofce expenses Bank charges Total |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds Prior period funds £ £ £ £ 319 0 319 242 204 0 204 204 60 0 60 65 |
|---|---|
| 583 0 583 511 |
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