NORMANSFIELD AND RICHMOND FOUNDATION
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2021
Management
This year has been another very difficult year for the whole country with the continuing impact of Covid 19 affecting every section of society. We are very grateful for the amazing work achieved by the scientists in rolling out the vaccination programme which has enabled parts of our daily lives to return to some sort of normality. However, restrictions remain in place for many people – not least for our local learning disabled citizens who continue to receive most of their support either on-line or at a distance, with little or no opportunity for meeting with their friends. We have heard from our colleagues working directly in the sector that although the situation has been very difficult, their clients have generally coped extremely well with the restrictions and have risen to the challenges of living their lives in a very different way.
I am pleased to report that despite the continuing restrictions, our Foundation has continued to receive grant applications and award financial assistance to everyone who has approached us during these difficult times. With the full agreement of the committee, myself and the Treasurer (Denise Carr) have considered each application as they have been submitted to us rather than confining the decisions to our usual four set meeting dates during the year. In this way, we have been able to respond quickly and provide immediate support to individuals and their families during very uncertain times. We have reported to our trustees every grant award we have agreed and received their full support for all the decisions we have made. We conducted two of our committee meetings on Zoom (in March and May 2021) and with the easing of restrictions we were happily able to meet in person for our two committee meetings in June and September 2021.
Our registered Charity address continues to the Richmond Mencap Office, 342 Richmond Road, Twickenham TW1 2DU and our registered Charity Number remains 210144. The composition of our Management Committee currently comprises: Lydia Hansbury – Chair Denise Carr – Treasurer Di Bidwell – Trustee Nicky Rayner – Trustee Deb Carr-Hill - Trustee Pip Butterworth - Trustee Caroline Barratt - Trustee It is with great sadness that I report the death in May of our much admired and respected colleague Richard Jeffries. He had been a long serving member of the committee including holding the chairmanship for many years. In recognition of the huge contribution he made to NRF (and the wider learning disability community in Richmond) the committee decided to make an annual award of £500 in his name. The award will be known as The Richard Jeffries Butterfly Award for Achievement and given to someone who has achieved something significant in their life during the year. (The achievement might be for someone getting a job or moving into their own independent accommodation, but it could also be for someone who has learnt to brush
their teeth or make a sandwich for the first time). If there are several worthy winning
applications, then the committee will consider splitting the award e.g. £150 to each of three winners. The theme of the first award(s) will be achievements that have helped people to cope with Covid. Applications will open for nominations in March 2022 with the winners being decided by the committee. The award(s) will be presented at a local event during Learning Disability Awareness Week in June 2022.
Finance
I am pleased to report that our finances are in a strong position. The value of our investment portfolio at year end was £1,611,919 - an increase on last year of £166,283. Unsure of the effects of Brexit and the pandemic on financial markets, we have been pleasantly surprised at the growth of our investments during the year. However we are aware that the global financial situation is still very uncertain and the real impact of both Brexit and Covid may not be fully realised for some time. Accordingly, it is not our intention to make any changes to our portfolio in 2022 unless it becomes absolutely necessary to do so. The income from our investments was £43,628 which was down on the previous year largely due to the impact of Covid on the financial markets but we did receive a very large donation of £53,000 from The Doreen Smallbone Trust which resulted in an unexpected growth in the amount of money we had immediately available for distribution. However, because services and activities were curtailed due to the pandemic we received fewer grant applications. Accordingly, we decided to hold this cash in the bank (rather than reinvesting it) so that we have it readily available to respond when activities can be restarted.
I am very grateful to our Treasurer Denise Carr who keeps a very close eye on the markets in relation to our Investment Portfolio and provides the trustees with the necessary information required to ensure that our finances are protected from risk to give us the best returns possible. We will endeavour to maximise the funds we have available in 2022 to support as many people as possible.
Grants Agreed
During the financial year to June 30[th] 2021 the Management Committee awarded grants totaling £71,614 – an increase on last year of £52,513. This was made up as follows (and includes £300 admin fee to Richmond Mencap for use of their offices):
| of their offices): | |
|---|---|
| Grants to Organisations | |
| Park Lane Stables Otakar Music Trust United Response : Media Suite True Access RoyalSocietyMencap |
£48,125 |
We have not received applications this year from the organisations we regularly support i.e. Richmond Mencap, Gateway Club, Chirpy Cheeps etc but we understand that this is entirely
due to the enforced restrictions on their usual group and social activity programmes due to Covid and so they have not required funds to pay for venue hire, purchasing of equipment and materials, activity and staff costs. However we have provided funds for a number of new initiatives – Park Lane Stables who needed funds to purchase the stables when their lease expired so that they could continue to provide their services for local disabled children and young people, Otakar Music Trust who provide community and individual music therapy sessions and United Response who are developing a media suite for use by individuals and to provide training in the creative and safe use of technology.
| nology. | |
|---|---|
| Grants to Individuals | |
| Holidays | £5,127 |
| Leisure | £6,828 |
| Furniture | £9,234 |
| Equipment | £2,000 |
The amounts awarded to individuals has increased this year from £13,296 to £23,189. Last year we noted a decline in the number of applications due to Covid but this year we happily saw an increase when restrictions were eased and people were once again able to start taking holidays, enjoying some limited leisure activities and moving into supported accommodation. We have publicised through the local Partnership Board that we are able to accept applications throughout the pandemic and have approached a number of local organisations to encourage them to apply for funds. We understand that more requests for support will be made when the organisations can restart their activity programmes on a more secure and sustainable basis.
General
The Foundation ends the year in a very strong position with a robust investment portfolio and cash in the bank. The Committee have decided in the coming year to encourage more young people with learning disabilities in transition, their families and/or the organisations that support them to apply for funding from NRF. This will be promoted through our web site and via direct contact with organisations involved in transition work. It is unclear what the financial demands might be or the nature of the support required. This will only become known over time but if the demand is greater than the funds we have available, then as a committee we may have to re-visit the scope of our criteria. However our intention is always to make the best use of our funds for as many people with learning disabilities as possible who are in the greatest need who either live within the Richmond borough or have strong family ties with the borough.
I am indebted to my fellow trustees for their continued commitment to the Foundation and I look forward to working with them in 2022.
Lydia Hansbury – Chair December 30[th] 2021
NORMANSFIELD & RICHMOND FOUNDATION
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR TO 30 JUNE 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Income: Donations | 3,875 | 3,885 | |
| Investments | 43,628 | 54,746 | |
| Doreen Smallbone Trust | 53,000 | - | |
| Other |
1,825 | - | |
| Total Income | 102,328 | 58,631 | |
| Direct Charitable Expenditure : |
|||
| Grants to Individuals | 23,189 | 13,296 | |
| Park Lane Stables | 30,000 | - | |
| Otakar Kraus Music Trust | 8,000 | - | |
| United Response: Media Suite | 7,100 | - | |
| True Access | 3,000 | 2,250 | |
| Gateway Club | - | 1,400 | |
| UR Monday Art Group | - | 1,000 | |
| Chirpy Cheeps | - | 630 | |
| Shared Lives | - | 500 | |
| Royal Society Mencap | 25 | 25 | |
| Sub-total 71,314 | 19,101 | ||
| Administration Expenses | 300 | 300 | |
| AGM: refreshments | - | 56 | |
| Total Expenditure | 71,614 | 19,457 | |
| Net surplus (deficit) for the year | 30,714 | (39,174) | |
| Plus Fund Balance at start of year | 1,488,483 | 1,577,523 | |
| Increase (decrease) in investments | 166,283 | (128,214) |
Fund Balance at year end 1, 685,480
1,488,483
NORMANSFIELD & RICHMOND FOUNDATION BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Fixed Assets: | ||
| Investment Portfolio | 1,611,919 | 1,445,636 |
| Current Assets: | ||
| Current Account | 74,582 |
43,616 |
| Current Liabilities: | ||
| Uncleared cheques | 1,021 | 769 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 1, 685,480 | 1,488,483 |
| FUND BALANCE | 1, 685,480 | 1,488,483 |
| 1. | Changes to the Investment Portfolio during the year : £ Portfolio valuation as at 1 July 2020 1,445,636 Plus acquisitions: Nil Less sales: Nil portfolio valuation as at 30 June 2021 (see overleaf) 1,611,919 Net increase (decrease) in value during the year 166,283 |
|---|---|
- Trustees Expenses – No members of the Committee nor any person connected with them received or are due any remuneration for the year directly or indirectly from the charity’s funds.
Approved by the Trustees on: 22 January 2022 Signed on their behalf by: Denise Carr, Treasurer
NORMANSFIELD & RICHMOND FOUNDATION
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO AS AT 30 JUNE 2021
| £ | ||
|---|---|---|
| 274,416 | Newton Growth & Income Fund for Charities | 430,092 |
| 60,208 | Family Investments: Family Charities Ethical Trust | 317,357 |
| 234,119 | Charities Property Fund |
295,388 |
| 163,813 | Diversified Property Fund for Charities | 217,642 |
| 94,554 | Newton SRI Fund for Charities | 175,681 |
| 71,770 | EdenTree, Amity Balanced Fund | 81,172 |
| 2,500 | Prudential shares of 5p | 34,338 |
| 1,922 | United Utilities shares of 5p | 18,728 |
| 996 | WH Smith ordinary shares of 20p | 16,862 |
| 6,880 | Marks & Spencer ordinary shares of 25p | 10,076 |
| 1,312 | Land Securities ordinary shares of 10 2/3p | 8,861 |
| 2,500 | M&G plc ordinary shares of .05p | 5,722 |
| TOTAL PORTFOLIO VALUE AS AT 30 JUNE 2021 | TOTAL PORTFOLIO VALUE AS AT 30 JUNE 2021 | £1,611,919 |
|---|---|---|
| Changes to the Investment Portfolio during the year : |
||
| £ | ||
| Portfolio valuation as at 1 July 2020 | 1,445,636 | |
| Plus acquisitions: | Nil | |
| Less sales: | Nil | |
| Portfolio valuation as at 30 June 2021 | 1,611,919 | |
| Net increase (decrease) in value during the year |
166,283 |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE NORMANSFIELD AND RICHMOND FOUNDATION ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2021, which are attached.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is sufficient.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
-
follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioner under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
-
state whether any particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirement to keep accounting records in accordance with the 2011 Act and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
-
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signature:
Brian Spencer 25 Saville Road, Twickenham TW1 4BQ
Date: 15 November 2021