Nottlnghamshlre Parent Carer Forum (Registered charity, number 1200559) Financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024 Page Contents Trustees, annual report Independent examiner's report Receipts & payments account Statement of assets & liabilities Notes to the accounts 10-11 capLUS Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum Trustees, annual report for the year ended 30 September 2024 Full name Nottinghamshi￿ Parent Carer Forum Other names by which the charity is known NPCF Organlsation type Charitable incorporated organisation Rogistorod charity number 1200559 Principal address Northgate Business Centre Limited, 38 Northgate, Newark. Notts, NG24 1 EZ Trustees John Bennatt, Chair Alison Bryant Maria Charles Helen Dennehey, from 09102124 Claire Johnson. from 09102124 Glynn Hopkins, until 09102124 Antonia Wallace. unlil 09102124 Independent examlner John O'Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talt(It Street, Nottingham. NG15GL Govomanco and management The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 3 October 2022 and most recendy amended 12 January 2023 As per our constitution, Trustees are nominated and seconded by voting members and then elected at our AGM. Additional trustees upto our maximum can be appointed by the trustees but they must then resign at the next AGM sland for re- election. Objectlves and actlvitlos To relieve the needs of children and young people (CYP). including their parents, carers and families, who have disabilities andlor special educational needs in Nottinghamshire and the surrounding area, in order to improve their quality of lrfe, promote their indu5ion in their local communities and to help and support them to reach their full FQt8ntial. Summary of the maln actlvltles undartaken for the publlc benefft Meeting and liaising with local authority, NHS Integrated Care Board IICB) and other agencies to represent views of parent carers and ensure services are delivered as set out in legislation and guidance. Engaging with parent carers to gather views on local Se￿iceS and other issues effecting children and young people with special educational needs and l or disabilities (SEND). We work alongside local authorities, education, health, and other service providers to ensure the services they plan, commission, deliver and monitor meet the needs of children and families with SEND Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum In Notlinghamshire. Visiting education 8stablishments to establish and support parent forums and deliver the Autism in Schools project. 1. Providing infomiation and signposting to setvices and resources for parent car8rs We keep families infomied about relevant seNices, resources. events, Gonsultations, policy updates, and pertinent ISSU8s. Through our monthly n8wsl<&r. email updates. website, social media page, stalls at community events, peer-to-peer phone calls and parent group engagements, we endeavour to provide families with access to relevant information. This enables families to access the services and support they need to become more informed, connected, active and emp0V￿red citizens and get support tailored to their family's particular needs. 2. Providing pe8r support We connect with support groups and Children's Centres: visit schools. set up and establish new parent groups, receive frequent emails from individual parents seeking advice and support. and deliver participation peer support groups as part of the Autism in Schools and the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversty in Schools projects. Supwrting par8nts of childr8n and young p80p18 With disabilities or additional ne8ds in Nottinghamshire means families meet, share, and leam from each other. It reduces isolation and increases confidence and knowledge and provides a sense of indusion and understanding, building connections with others in similar situations. 3. Engagement and Representation We engage with parent ¢arers through various channels, including holding stalls at relevant parent carer marketplace events, distributing the forum's leaflets out to groups, organising workshopsl engagement sessions on subjects relevant and useful to families with a child or young person with SEND, sharing out information about surveys and other activitles us8d to capture parent carers, challenges and concerns, hear from individual parents through their shared stories. emails, and phone calls, and encourage and actively support the establishment of pa￿nt-1ed support groups. We engage with parent carers in diverse vmys so that different voices are heard, and gather views on the local serviGes and other issues affecting children and young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and their families. We collect feedback and get parents and carers, lived experiences to service commissioners, providers and OFSTED ICQC. These activities mean there is a constructive channel of communication be￿een parents, carers, and strategic partners lo influence positive d)ange, create quality services, and provision that meets the needs of all children and young people with SEND in Nottinghamshire. Nottingharnshire Parent Carer Forum 4. Influencing and transforming services and attitudes We meet and liaise with the local authority, NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB (Integrated Care Board), school staff and other agencies and ensure that the experiences, challenges and ideas of parent carers and their children, are represented and heard, and that they can be used to influence the planning, shaping. commissioning and dellvery of services. As equal partners, we offer constructive feedback, acting as a critical friend while remaining fully independent. We champion parent engagement and the value of hearing directly from families and working together with them. The forum wants as many parent carers as possible to become involved in the way that is possible for them. The fofum consislently encourages parent Carers to get involved whenever possible, whether by participating in surveys or joining focus groups. We advocate for the huge benefits that peer support brings. These opportunities allow families to share their experiences directly with those who can make a dtfference. This is rooted in the knowledge that children and young people. along with their parents, are the most qualified to detemiine the servi￿5 they need in their local area. We undertake evidence gathering projects to enable in41epth data lo be collected to evidence the lived experiences of these families and to validate th8 ne8d for change and improvement. Increasing kno￿edge and awareness of the barri8rs faced by families helps build understanding and an equitable and inclusive quality of life for children with any disability, special educational need, condition, or impainnent in Noth'nghamshire and creates quality seNices that meet the needs of all. Public benefit statement The Trustees confinn that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charitles and Public Benefiv. Summary of the maln achievements durlng the perlod We hosted a number of workshops. for example delivering Makaton taster sessions. and attended several parent carer Marketpla￿ events wth parent numbers of up to 250. Here, we connected with a diverse group of parent carers, distributed informational materials, gained new members, and listened to families, experiences of servi¢&s and concerns. Feedback from these events indiGaled thal participants felt they had gained useful information. were better infomied. heard. and more involved as a result. We maintained a website of relevant infornation. sent out a monthly newsletter, and continued to reply lo emails and phone calls from individual parents who contacted us to seek support, advice and signposting. Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum We attended strategic govemance and Board meetings. Strategic decision-making and planning sessions have continued to expand, and there has been a growing emphasis on attending rn0￿ meetings in person. In January 2023 Nottinghamshire became the first Local Area to be inspected under the new QFSTEDICQC framework. Following the SEND local area inspe¢tion outcome of"widespread andlor systemic failings" the engagement work for the forum has increased considerably. Parent carers from the forum are members of three boards within the new governance structure: the SEND Partnership Assurance and Improvement Group (PAIG), the SEND Executive Leadership Group. and the SEND Partnership Improvement Board. Our parent representatives contributed to numerous service delivery areas, including Short Breaks. the SEND Local Offer Groups, Ihe Neurodevelopmental Assessment Task & Finish Group, the Early Years EHCP Developmenl Group, the Joint Nottinghamshire and City SEND Employment Core Group, the Including Parents confe￿nce Planning Group, and the Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Children and Young People's Integrated Care System Board. Additionally. the forum has be8n actively involved in I￿0 major projects: the Autism in Schools project and the Partnerships for Indusion of Neur(xliversity in Schools (PINS) project. Altogether. we dedicated over 300 hours to participating in work stream meetings, steering groups, and conferences. The Steering Group held monthly meetings. offering a hybrid option to encourage strong parlicipation and support a more diverse team. The Steering Group plans the work of the Charity, coordinates representation, parent participation and engagements, and plans events. Forums work in their local areas but should also connect regionally. Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum are active within the East Midlands network of forums, and we attend regular meetings for our area, discussing dNerse topics and ensuring that local COn￿mS are heard regionally and nationally. At the forum's regular quarterfy meeting with Local Authority colleagues. we address issues that families have shared with forum representatives. One such concern was the increasing use of part-time timetables, which many parent carers had highlighted as a signrficant issue. This prompted the forum to raise the matter fonnally, leading to an invitation to conduct an in4epth review to fLJlly understand the experiences of Children and families affected by part-time timetsbles, provide a ￿mprehenSive overview of the procedures involved, and identify areas for improvement with actionable recommendations. To accomplish this, we conduct8d s8mi-structur8d interviews with k8y Stakeholders, including parents and young people, distributed an online survey with both qua15tative and quantitative questions to parents and carers. analysed data from the Local Authority, and reviewed relevant policies. We are now al the point of sharing and presenting the findings with those in a position to influence potential change and shape meaningful improvement in th8 US8 of part-tim8 timetables. Nottlnghamshire Parent Carer Forum Flnanclal revlew We are in a good financial position at the end of our financial year with a signtficant surplus in funds. We have secured additional funding streams in addition to our annual Department of Education grant which has funded our increased workload and will allow us to increase our engagement parent carers and our influence with statutory bodies. Through the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) project we will have generated additional incom8 which will continue into our next financial year. The charlty's pollcy on reserves The trustees agreed at their meeting in March 2024 an unrestricted ￿SerVe was increased from £6,000 to £10,000 to be maintained in the current account to ensure that the charity has sufficient funds lo withstand financial issues or to accommodate four month winding up period for the charity in an organised manner as required by the Gharty's constitution. This change was made lo reflect in increased wage costs due to increased workload. The designated reserves amount will be reassessed annually at the first business meeting of the trustees following the AGM. Flnanclal risks The majority of our income is received in the form of grants from public bodies. this funding may be effected by changes in national and local government policies. Signed on f of the charity's trustees.. Signed John Bennett. Date 61£/26 Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of Nottlnghamshlre Parent Carer Forum for the year ended 30 September 2024 I rewrt to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum (the charity) for the year ended 30 September 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Yhe Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed 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 matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believ8 that in any material resped: 1. accountlng ￿COrdS We￿ not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act. or 2. the accounts do not accord vlth those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinalion to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Signed Date 1710612025 FAIA, F Employee of Community Accounting Plus Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum Receipts & payments account for the year ended 30 September 2024 2023 Total 2024 Total Funds Unrestricted Restrictrd Fund? Funds Recelpts Bank interest Grants & donations Services l Fees Openiro tra￿fer Total receipts 75 26239 15816 20795 62925 592 20000 15000 592 73440 15000 53440 35592 53440 89032 Paymonts 389 ENenis 875 Meetings 491 Training 9483 staffing costs 441 Seldom H8ard 3028 knfrastrLthse 1022 Development info & resources 434 Web development 2921 Parent Carer e>per6es 2857 Parent Carer remur£ration 21941 Total payments 234 1460 656 24407 3727 111 3961 1571 656 45254 20847 1000 45 205 1877 38 29922 3879 4879 45 205 4095 38 60704 2218 30782 40984 Net receiptsl(payments) Cash furKls at start of ￿S period Cash funds at end of thls period 5670 33741 39411 22658 7243 29901 28328 40984 69312 40984 Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum Statement of assets and liabilities at 30 September 2024 2023 2024 Cash assets Bard( a¢courts Nots 40984 40984 69312 69312 Other monetsry assets Debtors 400 400 2267 2267 Assets retslned for the charity's own us• Laptop, purchased Dec 2022, cost £750. General eqiMpmenL Llabllltles Creditors 3060 (3060) 942 942 These fin nci tat ants ar8 accepted on behalf of the charity by: Signed John Benn Date /é/2 Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024 1. Receipts & payments accounts Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will indude transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand. 2. Grants & donations Unrn*lcted Ro*lcted Total Nottirghamslire Coty COU￿11 NHS Nottiroham arKJ NOltiryhamshi￿ 20000 Departmentfor Education Ma Contact 22050 13890 17500 53440 22050 33890 17500 73440 20000 3. Funds anatysis Oponlng R•￿IPts (Paymenty balane• Closl balanco Restrlcted fundg Department for Education Ma Corrta¢t NottirKJhamslN're County Courcil Ais Pmpct 7292 17500 (15666) 9126 (49) 22050 {12141) 9860 13890 10915 2975 30782 7243 53440 ￿ 29901 Unrestricted funds Gereral 33741 33741 35592 39411 29922 29922 35592 LL 39411 The specific purpos8s for which these funds are held for.. Department for Education via Contact - funding for th8 running of the forum as set out by the Department for Education, through Contact. in the conditions of their grant. Nottinghamshire County Council - funding for additional WO￿ relating to the SEND Improvement Program and targeted research work. Ais Project- funding for parenvcarer resources and training support. 10 Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum 4. Debtors Staffing costs {HMRC) Prepayment- Infrastructure Ilnsurance) Prepayment- Web hosting 1917 114 236 2267 5. Creditors Staffing costs (Pension) PayToII fees Independent examination fee 251 151 540 942 6. Trustees. remuneratlon Trustees received no expenses, remuneration or benefrts in this period. 7. Related party transactlons There were no related party transactions in this period. 8. Glossary of terms Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity. but not paid during the accounting period. Debtors: Thes8 are amounts owed to the charity, but not received in the accounting period. Prepayments: These are services that the charity has paid for in advance. but not used during the accounting period. Restricted funds: These are funds given to the charity, subject to specific restridions set by the donor. but sts'll within the general objects of the charity.