TOGETHER TRUST charity Trustees, report and Financial statements Year ended 31 March 2025 Registered charity number 209782 Company registration number 00301722 The Together Trust A Company Limited by Guarantee About the Together Trust Our aims and objectives We are one of the North West's leading disability charities. We help children, adults, parents, and carers. delivering individual care, support and education to thousands of people each year. For over 150 years, we have been championing and caring for people with disabilities, autism, and complex health needs. And providing life-changing support for looked-after children and care-experienced people. Our mission We are the Together Trust. We're here to champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support- they are at the heart of everything we do. We stand by them, and we work together for change. Our vision A society where everyone thrives because they are valued within their communities. Our values We will always strive to be: Positive We take pride in celebrating the difference we make. Professional We act in a fair and respectable way that recognises our collective expertise. Passionate We encourage creative ideas and inspire one another. Supportive We are considerate and caring towards one another. Contents Joint introduction from the Chair and Chief Executive.......................................... Report of the Board of Trustees.... Strategic Report..................................................................................................... What we do................................................................................................................... Our strategic aims....-.........-.......-.........-.........-......-.-................-......................-............. Ourstralegy map.......................................................................................................... Strategic achievements & perfomiance......................................................................... Financial review .15 Principal risks & uncertainties. Future plans................................................................................................................20 .19 Structure, governance and management...........................................................21 Envlronment and Suslalnablllty..........................................................................26 Streamlined Energy and Carbon Re￿rtIng ISECR)....................................................26 How we meet Sectlon 172 of the Companles Act 2006.....................................27 Slatement of Trustees, responslbllltles.... ..29 Independent audltor's report to the members of The Together Trust................30 Financial Statemenls...............................................................................................33 Reference & admlnlstratlve Inforniatlon................................................................62 Joint introduction from the Chair and Chief Executive It's a genuine privilege to be part of an organisation with over 800 amazing. passionate staff and volunteers who work lirelessly to make a real difference to the lives of others. In leading the Together Trust, we see firsthand the detemiination and incredible talents ofthe people we support- those who face addilional challenges in life, who inspire and have so much lo give. We believe we are a richer society because of our differences and all that makes us unique. Achievements There has been plenty to ￿lebrate throughout the year. We continue to achieve good outcomes for the young people we support with long-term placement stability, good educational attainment and personal celebrations with many young people and services achieving awards. We have also extended our work expenences to enhance life skills and our campaign work, leading on making improvements to the longevity of placements in residential care, which seeks to improve the wellbeing and development of children in care up to the age of 18. We are incredibly proud of the achievements of the Together Trust over this past year. supporting over 3,100 children, young people, vulnerable adults and families across over 40 social care, special education, community and family support services. As a trusted partner, we have continued to work collaboratively with other charities and importantly. with the people we support to amplify their voice on policy matters such as the 'What Comes After Education, report, Volunteer Led Research and legislatlV8 and policy reform to ensure safe, regulated care. Our commitment to creating a society where P80ple thrive because they are valued in their communities remains. We stand by the people we support. Championing their rights, needs and ambitions, and providing person- ntred, tailored support to meet their needs, goals and ambitions. Throughout the year, we have cast our net wider to meet rising demand and have laid the foundations for further growth developing a new growth strategy focusing initially on growth and in time impact. We have also worked creatively to maximise fundraising opportunities amidsl a changing landscape; extending our funding base, supporters, local businesses and partnerships with the successful opening of an early intervention and prevention servi￿. This year has been a lime of significant change for the Charity. We said a fond farewell to Mark Lee, Chief Executive, and to Jill Sheldrake. Service Director, who collectively gave an incredible 38 years. service to the Togèther Trust and during that time led the Charily in going from strength to strength despite challenging times. We continue to invest in our staff and have once again achieved the Investors in People 'Gold Award,. Our commitment to being a Real Living Wage employer remains, as does our ambition to build an inclusive workplace working closely with our Staff Council and our four staff networks to further this aim. We welcomed new Trust leaders, including myself as a new Chief Executive, bringing renewed energy and focus lo all that we do. Throughout the year we have continued to deliver against the four slralegic aims in our Stronger Together Plan with a focus on delivering high quality, person-cenlred support, empowering people to make posilive progress, to organically and sustainably grow. and to listen to and develop our diverse lalented staff promoting equity, inclusivity and wellbeing. The wellbeing of our workforce matters. Throughout the year we have continued to enhance our wellbeing offer,. striking a balance between reactive. preventative and proactive support with further developments TOGETHER TRUST RegBtgr9d thatitynumber209782 charity ahead, which includes compassionate leadership. Our learning offer has gone from strength to strength - nurturing talent, embedding inclusive learning principles and extending opportunities for our workforce to grow and develop. position on data and develop plans to become a more dala-driven, data mature charity- one that makes more informed decisions, leading to more effective working practi￿S. The impact of dimate change on the environment is an area of increasing COn￿rn. We have a role to play in helping to achieve environmental sustainability with those who are socially vulnerable- the very young, older people, those in poor health and low personal mobility are affected more than others. In the year ahead. we will seek to better understand and manage the impact of our activities on the environment and will develop a 10-year Estates & Environmental Sustainability Strategy. Our operating environment and the road ahead The uncertain and ever-changing environment in which we operate continues to be a challenge for the Trust, and the people we support. The Gost-of-living crisis remains, local authority funding continues to be squeezed and there is rising demand for support. Conflict and instabilily around the world bring further risk and uncertainty for the charity se¢lor. The world is moving at a pa￿, particularly in technology. Thank you We are moved and humbled by the incredible work of the Together Trust, the breadth of services we provide and the dedication of all who work here, our volunteers- including our Irustees. our partner's and generous donors. Thank you- with your support we continue to achieve a g￿3t deal and importantly make a real difference to the lives ofthe people we support. Working collaboratively and in partnership with other providers, more businesses, commissioners and funders is more important than ever. Working together lo innovate and grow, to raise awareness of the issues and causes that matter, raising much needed funds to address these, sharing skills and ideas to improve services and outcomes, or pooling funds to achieve economies of scale. will influence our thinking and approach as we begin lo lay the foundations for a new 5- year Strategic Plan for 2026 and beyond. Overall. the year ahead involves planning for the future- new leadership brings new ideas and an opportunity to build on the strong foundations of all the good work that has gone before. We have challenging yet ambitious and exciting times ahead and look fomard to expanding our reach and impacl in the years to come. Artificial Intelligen￿ {All will become increasingly relevant to the way we work with many in the charity sector beginning to use Ihis technology. Al presents opportunilies - enabling greater independence for the people we support and improving working praclices to give more time lo what matters most. But Al also poses risks, so we need to continue to develop our approach in the future use and management of Al. We must understand our Gilèkn Gadduili Chair of Trustees Chief Executive 6&¢%S- M J D- TOGETHER TRUST RegBtgr9d thatitynumber209782 charity Report of the Board of Trustees Strategic Report What we do Everyone deserves to lead 3 happy life- together. we make that possible Al the Together Trust, we deliver individual care. support and education services across the North West. We care for and champion the rights, needs and ambitions of care-experienced children and people with disabilities, au115m and mentsl health differences. Every year we support thousands of chil(Jren. young p￿pIe and adults lo lead happy, lulfilletl lives. In Ihg year lo 31 March 2025, the Toggther Trust provided over 40 S￿la1 care. special education. community and family support services to over 3,1 ￿ children, young people. vulnerable adults and families, whose special needs fall within the areas of emotional, behavioural and social difficulties, physical disabilities, learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorders. Like many other charities, demand for the majority of the Tnjst's services continues to grow. The Trust's 5ervice5 were Carried out, on the wtrK)le. on l￿hall of Iwal 8ulhorib"es. public sector bodies and service users in thè North West ol England and surrounding areas, though our onlin8 SUPPOrt presènce is devèloping. All Special Educational Services are Olsled regulated. Residential Care Services, along wrth Domiciliary Care and Community Support SerV￿eS. ale regulated by either Ihe Office for Standards in Education Iofstedl or the Care Quality Commission ICQCI. Durlng the reportlng perlod, the Together Trust's services were.. Spetialist Educational SÈrvi¢es Every young person deserves a chance lo learn and space lo thrive. That's why we break down barriers to education for all young people, helping them learn and grow al their pace, in our specialist learning environments in Greater Manche51er'. Inscape Hou86 Scho¢l- a non-maintsine(I speci81 school. Ihal meets the needs of children and young p8ople, agod 510 19 years, with autism swclwm condilions IASCI and related social communication drfficulties. Inscape Vocatlonal Collego- opened in September 2024, this college welcomes learneTS aged 1 &19 who would benefit from accessing a smaller post 16 provision specialising in working with learners with ASC and social, emotional and mental heatth ISEMHI needs. Brldge College- a specialist knrther education college thal supports students aged up to 25 years with learning difficulties and disabilities, complex needs, communication disorders and autism. Ashcroft S¢hool- this independent special sthool close(J in July 2024. Social & Therapy Care Services- Residential Care Services Everyone deserves a pla￿ to call home - whether that's a place to call your own or sornewhere lo get safety, stsbility and SUPFK>rt. We work wrth children, young people and adults lo build a happy future. We have 12 Ofsled registered homes for Ghildren and young people, offering a mixture of." short break and respita sarvicès for childran with autism, lèaming and physical disabilitiès." mainstrèam homes lor lookèd after children in need of care and support, and- therapeuts'c IK>mes for IIK>ked after children in need of care, support and therapy including for those with complex aulism aThJ leaming disakn'lities. We have 1 CQC registered home for disabled adulls wNh complex heahh needs. TOGETHER TRUST RegBtgr9d thatitynumber209782 charity Social & Therapy Care Services F05tering services We provide a Fostering service, with support and training, so our foster carers can provide safe, caring, nurturing homes for children who need them. Social & Therapy Care Services Domiciliary Care, Helping Families and Community Support Services We offer a iangg of llexible services for young people and adults wilh autism, a leaming disability or ¢ompl8x health needs. We put our ServI￿S at the heart of I(￿1 communities, making sure everyone has a chance to thrive - whether that is helping someone lo live independently. or creating spaces to learn. work and play. We have provided.. supported living services for adults wrth CoM￿eX needs across Botton. Manchester, SaKortl and Slo¢kport weekend club for young people with complex needs in Stockport evening youth activty clubs for young people with disabililieslavti5m in Stockport adult day services lor adults wilh complex needs at the Humphrey Booth Centre in Ordsall, Salford- community space for the people of Salford adult day services lor adults with complex needs al our Newbrityge community c8nlre in Stockport specialist Positive Behaviour Support services in SI(￿kpOrt and Salford SEND mediab'on and dispute resolution services in Blackburn with Da￿8￿, Bolton, Cheshire East. Cheshire Wesl & Chester, Manchester, Oldham. Sallord. Sl Helens, Stoke on Trent and Tellord & Wrekin SENO Information and Advice Service in Stockport and Tameside early Inlervenlion and prtrvenlion serV￿e in Manchester for children and young paopb with a diagnosis of 8ulism and leaming disabilib'es and their families Soclal & Th•rapy Care S•rvlce8- Cllnlcal serv5ces We have mUlt￿dISCiplinary toams working in mainstream and SEND schools and college$ providing a wide range of therapy and iraining programmes including.. observation, assessment. individual and group interventions support to update and deliver on Educab'on and Healthcare Plan IEHCPI recommendations staff coaching and training sleep support speeth and language therapy and cttupali¢)nal therapy Our 8eneflciarle8- the people we 8UPPOrt Wg tske a proactsye approach to influ8ncing local, regional and national policy making. We work ck•sely wrth national organisations such as Ihe Disabled Children's Partnership, the Alliance for Children in Cafe and Care Leavers and the Children, and Young People's Mental Health Coalilion. to help the Pèople we support to influence luture policy and provision in a coordinated and impactful manner. The Charity works determinedly towards a brighter future for the people we support and their families and lo build communities where everyone feels valLJed and can thrive. The people we support tell us that they face daily discrimination, hardship and barriers in their lives. They continue lo find il drfficull lo access the support they need. We recognise the imFK)rtance of listening to arKI amplifying the views of the people we supwrt. sharing knowledge and raising awareness of the issues they face, and building collaborations wilh other organisalions across the sector to tackle those issues. Through these activities, the Board g8ins a comprehensive overview of the lanilsc8pe in which thè Trust operatès, whère fiJtLJre developments and trends are. and how we can increase our impact and soaal value. The Board acbvely engages with ils beneficiaries, both informally and formally, lo understand the impact of its ¢hantable a¢b"vib"es and the interests ol its beneficiaries. ¢)Jr aim is to be a trusted partner to the people we support and empower people to make positive progress lo influence our service development. camp8igns. future policy and provision. We conlinve lo work in partnership with charitable organisations and have strengthened our TOGETHER TRUST RegBtgr9d thatitynumber209782 charity relationships with charities through partnership work including the publication of a powerful book 'Free Loaves on Friday" about the diverse experiences of the care system which saw contributions from several young people suppx)rted by the Together Trust. We were incredibly grateful lo be receiving hair the profits from the bo¢Jk along th our partner Article 39. 5t 8u5 Pull Fundraising Activities Our fundr8ising activities enable us to provid6 the people we support with so much MO￿ than just the contracted minimum. Despite huge amounts of work by Ihe Fundraising team, this year has been particularty challenging. Nevertheless, we were delighted to once more have benefited from the support ol some fantastic ndividuals and organisations each svpwrting our work in a ran98 ol really helpful ways. 41 Notable contribub'ons were received from a diverse group of supporters, both long- stsnding r&l8lionships and friends lo th6 Charity. The Together Trust is extremely grateful lor the generous support received Irom a variety of individuals, community and corporate supporters, and grant-making tnjsts who have chosen to support our young people and families. Our special thanks also go lo our other key partners for their ongoing support throughout 2024125. who include.. Roughley's Bikers, L'oreal, Boohoo, The Booth Charitses. Hospital Salurday Fund, CRH Charitable Trust, John Homiman Children's Trust, Tha Broome Family Charitable Trust, High Lee House Charitable Trust and WNS Assistan￿. VVV.VT TO stival TOGETHER VTRUST charity RegBtgr9d thatitynumber209782 Volunteering The Charity aims to have an effective and inclusive volunteering programme that delivers tangible and valuable outcomes for our beneficiaries, supporting the delwery of the Trust's Stronger Together Plan. Overall. in addition lo govemor5 trustees freely given time, our fantssti¢ volunteers Contributed a total ol 3,310 regular hours. Their contribution equates to over £37,000 if valued in terms of the National Living Wage, however the ieal value of their wide-ranging expertise and deilication is immeasurable. An additional 551 hours was contributèd by ad-hoc volunl6èrs al 8vénls. The focus in 2024125 was on increasing the number of volunteer driverjourneys. These volunteers help our educational services by transporting students to work experience placements and excursions. SUPFK)rting school runs for residential services, as well as doiNJ fundraising collection and delivery trips. Across the year our volunteer drivers completed 489 journeys- a large increase from last year's 177 journeys. The great work of our volunteers saw them being nominaled for the Stockport Rocks Awards 2024. Our horti¢ullure enlhusiasl, Tom Hatton-Jon8s, was a finalist lor the Young Volunteer of the Year Award, while our Volunteer Drivers were contenders for the Volunteering Team of the Year Award. Tom has been praised as a dedicated horticulture enlhusi851 who cares for plants and nurtures our students with his wisdom and palience and his dedi¢ation and positive disrx)sits'on have transfom)ed our horticulture program al Bridge College. "Not only do our Volunteer Drivers provid8 vit81 transport. says Claire Jenkins, Volunteer Serv Manager, 'but their kindness, empathy, and humour mean their passengers, who sometimes struggle lo adjust to new people. feel reassured and look fomard to seeing them.. Yhere's such 8 leel-good f8¢tor that ￿Me$ with volunteering. Getting Involved with the local communlly can make you feel $0 comp*te. Fomiing relationships with people you wouldn't nomially is such a Positive ihing to do and gives you something to get up for in the moming,. shares Tom. Other volunteering activrty included research f Together Trust's Campaigns team, with the publication ol the research paper"Exploring the Link Befv4een Poverty 8nd Children Entering Care in Eng18nd.. Insights from Our Research Volunleerf. This paper, published in October 2024, identified gaps in the existing literature, and proposed meaningful changes to improve ihe care system and address child poverty. TOGETHER VTRUST charity RegBtgr9d thatitynumber209782 Our strategic aims Our strategic charitable aims ale set out in our four year Stronger Together Plan. OUT Stronger Together strategic aims are.. hkjh quality. ￿r$an eenlred sy*)rt. We adapt and evofv• to W• ar• a Intst•d partnw- w• p•W to mak• posrtiv• ress to infvence dtsvebwnent. eatroaigns, lulur• poky 5XOViSh rn•xknlse fiThhl3hy oppJrlynibes¥nd aknb to deffvigtr*e our social. environmental and e¢onG¥nic V¥￿t from everythiry that we (￿r fi•xibb•, tal•nt•d ar#J div•rn• trèat p•opl• •quit* •prfl in¢￿$￿ety. They have £￿ar learnir#J •Thl devekjpmenl unities. W¢ listen to (wr WO￿l0r¢¢, bok after their w•knir¥J aThJ wot1E wth Staff C¢)uncl to •nJurn •ll•ctlvè erya9emenl Our strategy map The Board Is focused on Ils strategic long-term charitable aims as set otjt in its Stronger Together Plan. TOGETHER VTRUST Strategy map 2021122 - 2025126 Éty Is wbo•00•0iff •¥•wir4W•49 wehtty (Wv*ue5 ttshJ*i *KkrttytC￿l¥efjrtffjeO*ne5s rotine ¢¢Jst•m• FU￿ va1uetrt5erv￿estTh Tni# 0￿5 Trry Ur#￿sta￿ I￿1￿ s￿1(￿& (arnfflake Our WL*5 IQ lupport wew10￿eas*b3I￿￿esS 0f￿r.￿lI WNI(e ¢-* e dill *.trk'¢. IThn￿e rw* Owrtaltranjtormxonasan Intwaipartotbusln•siwn TOGETHER VTRUST charity RegBtgr9d thatitynumber209782 Strategic achievements & performance The Trust renewed its comrnrtment to its 51r8legic plan, the Stroruer Together Plan, in 2022 when it updated the plan to 2025126. Thé plan builds on existing èxpertisè as well as cx>mmitting to innovative ways of improving how the Charily works. During 2024125, the Trust continued lo deliver resulls againsl its four key slrategic aims which were originally sel in 2017118. The Board monitors progress against strategic aims in the Stronger Together Plan by rneasuring key performance indicators IKPI) related to specific areas of our operations. as illustrated in our strategy map on the previous page. E8¢h Board subgroup. des¢nbed in the Slruclure. Governan¢e and Management section later in this report. ￿elVeS KPIS ￿latIr¥) to their spe¢ialist area either monthly or quarterly. Stronger Together Alm 1 Our needs led, community based, Integrated services deliver high4Juality, person