Chair report March 2022
Jac Guyton
Well, we survived when many other charities didn’t. We have gotten through the trials brought our way recovering from 2021, with more lockdowns and reduced footfall. We haven’t been able to put on activities in the way we’re used to, but we adapted and came together to give it our all.
Since our last AGM, we have adapted to do more via Zoom or other video mediums, we’ve taken the opportunity to utilize the online selling sites which have been a success and we’ve carried on with outside activities. After many months of turmoil, Zellie finally managed to get a charity eBay account set up….how she kept her cool through all the constant misinformation over months from different departments on how to do it, I’ll never know, she truly is one amazing treasurer and the Center and Fort are lucky to have her, it seems like everything she does for us comes with its challenges, nothing is ever straight forward, but she gets it done regardless. So a massive thank you to her.
We have managed to secure further funding from various funders plus another from the Big lottery fund, which has ensured that we keep Lou, Lorenzo and Art Café. Along with being very creative in arts and crafts, Lou has been very busy improving the shop area, how we present it and maximizing the space. She has been staying late and coming in out of hours to be able to get on with it alone or with just a few eager helpers. I am so appreciative that this happens, the dedication to the Centre is amazing and just shows the lengths people will go to, in order to keep us going.
We must ramp up the fundraising ideas, because our current landlord has offered us a great deal if we want to buy the whole building block. This is obviously something that we would love to do, but it will take work and pulling together, we have shown that we can do this, so I feel positive that we can make this happen. There have been several meetings regarding this and some great ideas. Both the Centre and The Fort will be responsible for raising the finances to buy and to repay. Myself
and Lou have put together some bigger events for the summer of 2022. We are planning another fundraiser in the town like we did in 2021, which involved performing with the Bangers & Crashers and demonstrating Groove. We learned a few songs form The Greatest Showman and gave it our all, what an amazing day that was, from the 2 hours fundraising to the obligatory party afterwards. And wasn’t it such a boost when members of the public joined in. We have another planned for May the 11[th] when celebrating the queen’s platinum Jubilee.
Some of our other fundraisers were great too, Sharon’s bake sale day was a great success, she baked so many amazing cakes herself which kept her very busy for a lot of hours by the sound of it and we had other cakes donated. It raised a lot of money.
Our many parties that are organized by Lou, went down a treat too and were great fundraisers with the tombola, food on sale and entry fees. People are always asking when the next one is, so we like to oblige and not disappoint!
Because things were becoming tricky and finances were looking poor, due to Covid restrictions and people being ill with a variety of illnesses, our footfall was reduced. This led to myself, Colin, Lou & Jane setting up a mini team to address the issues. We meet once a month and discuss ways forward. Out of these meetings came more online shopping sites where we sold more items, wonderful window displays and a clearer vison of what the Centre needs. Once we have discussed how we are to move forward, we can then bring it to the rest of the committee too and see who would like to get involved in which activity. Col has started monitoring our income from epos receipts, to give us a visual weekly tally so we are aware of how much we need to raise our game. I have found this a valuable addition to our running the Center.
I have been attending many meetings with Royal Mencap online with their various different topics of learning. I have found them to be very valuable resources of information to support us. These are topics like how to manage volunteers, how to be an effective advice and information Centre, some are chairpersons having a group meeting to support each other and some are general to be able to ask questions on almost
anything. My favourite one being the most recent which is how to podcast, I am eager to get started on this. I have discussed it with Ben and he’s going to support with set up and editing. I am keen to talk on various topics of discussion and you can join in with your topic if you would like to. We are going to video sessions for YouTube too.
One very exciting occurrence this year has been becoming one of the 9 local Mencaps that Royal Mencap Society (RMS) wanted to support as part of their Network partner scheme. I had to put a proposal together, then on acceptance of that, 30 of our Unity family had a group Teams meeting with RMS who loved us. Everyone who took part in that was great, we showed them just how energetic and fun our community is, and the result was that we were successful. Out of this came Phil, he has been a valuable addition to the Unity family with knowledge on how charities run and supporting us with our governance and although he isn’t employed to be with us as such, he is donating many hours of his own time to help out and I for one am extremely grateful for it.
Another new addition to our Centre is a mental health Group renting the Centre social space in the evening once a week, which Col has supported for us. They are a great group and we’re pleased to be able to be there for them. They pay to rent the room and often buy from the shop while here.
I have finally got the website up and running again, as you are all aware, I am not great on computers and I have never done anything like a website before, so it took a while. It is still a work in progress, but at least the information about us is on the internet now. Please let me or Lou know if you have anything that you would like to go on there, it is a website for us all, and your input on what is shown is very important.
I know a lot of people in our town in all walks of life and speak with them regularly about life and business. I have to say, although it has been a struggle at times, we are doing well post covid. Many organizations and businesses have had to close, but we’re hanging on in there. I have been chair for 11 and a half years and I feel that things are pulling together very nicely right now and everyone should be proud of themselves. I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but we’re a family and we get
through any disagreements so that we can be there for our community.
We have taken a good look at our governance, and we know that we need to improve in this area. Things have already been put in motion, we are very pleased to announce that we have a new trustee, Sheila Hyde, who has come onboard to help us with this and guide us into being a more efficient run charity. Her area of expertise is in the financials and has been our accountant for several years, she will continue helping with accounting, HR and guidance in what we need to be doing with the governance. Lou will be taking on the responsibility for staff co-ordinator and will be doing inductions and appraisals. We are also reintroducing the membership register. This is a free membership for us to know details of the service users that we have in on a regular basis.
Other big news is that from October 2022, Lowestoft and District Mencap (LDMS) and Unity Youth Projects (UYP), which was an LDMS initiative from 3 years ago, will become one again. Since we started the initiative, we were given advice to set up as a separate entity which hasn’t worked out to be as beneficial for us as we were led to believe, so we will join together at the start of our new financial year, giving us one set of accounts. At this time, we will be releasing a new constitution to incorporate the new set up that LDMS will have with UYP, this will be agreed on by the trustee board.
I am excited about our future; we have some great plans and some really fun events ahead. We are not open full time still, but this is due to lack of staff, we lost our secretary and with the Fort opening, Ben and Zellie’s time is stretched to there too, so I have had to take on more admin, this takes me away from being able to run sessions. We are working toward getting ourselves on volunteer registers to hopefully recruit some more lead volunteers, opening full time again would be wonderful. Here’s to a great future.
Jac Guyton – Chairwoman Lowestoft & District Mencap.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 23
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year E 30th September 2021 for Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
SGH Services 4 Bodiam Way Carlton Colville Lowestoft NR33 8DN
33331 Ended
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 30 September 2021
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30th September 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommemed Practice 2015 (SORP2015) Accounting and reporting by charities issued in January 2015.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 233331
Principal Address
The Unity Centre Unit 1 6 Milton Road East Lowestoft NR32 1NT
Trustees
Mrs J Guyton Chair Mr C Rose Ms G Czajka Treasurer Mrs T Jackson Ms L Abel
Independent Examiner
Mrs S Hyde SGH Services 4, Bodiam Way, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft. NR33 8DN
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
The Charity is governed by a model constitution for branches of MENCAP. The model constitution was adopted by the branch on 16th November 2007.
Page 1
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Independent examiner's report to the trustees ogf Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Lowestoft and District Mencap Society (the Trust) for the year ended 30th September 2020.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examnation I have followed all 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 repect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act ; or
-
2 the accounts do not accord with those records: or
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3 the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities(Accounts and Report) regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sheila Hyde SGH Services 4 Bodiam Way Carlton Colville Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 8DN
07/04/2022
Page 2
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30th September 2021
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 30-09-21 | 30-09-20 | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | ||||
| Donations | 20 | |||
| Other Trading Activities | 5,819 | 5,819 | 11,940 | |
| Grants | 28,254 | 9,075 | 37,329 | 30,920 |
| Other Income | 247 | 1,320 | 1,567 | 297 |
| TOTAL | 34,320 | 10,395 | 44,715 | 43,177 |
| EXPENDITURE ON | ||||
| Charitable Activities | 18,938 | 22,897 | 41,835 | 34,545 |
| NET INCOME/EXPENDITURE | 15,382 | -12,503 | 2,880 | 8,632 |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | ||||
| TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD | 9,140 | 13,317 | 22,457 | 13,825 |
| TOAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 24,522 | 814 | 25,337 | 22,457 |
Page 3
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Balance Sheet at 30th September 2021
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible Assets 1 2 3 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Bank 24,522 812 25,334 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year NET CURRENT ASSETS 24,523 814 25,337 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS 24,523 814 25,337 FUNDS Unrestricted 24,523 Restricted 814 TOTAL FUNDS 25,337 The fnancial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 19/04/21 and were signed on its behalf by:- Mrs J Guyton - Chair …............................................. Ms G Czajka - Treasurer …............................................ Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 30-09-21 |
166 22,291 0 22,457 Total Funds 30-09-20 |
|---|---|
| 22,457 | |
| 9,140 13,317 |
|
| 22,457 | |
Page 4
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30th September 2021
1ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015), the Charities Act 2011 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommeneed Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Actvities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
| Fixtures and fttings | 25% on cost |
|---|---|
| Computer Equipment | 25% on cost |
| Motor vehicles | 25% on cost |
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance ith the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restricted Funds arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
2OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
| Food and drink takings Gaming takings Bric -a-Brac Takings Centre events Other Total |
09/30/2021 09/30/2020 2518 3,740 612 2771 4,455 39426 34,370 |
|---|---|
| 44715 43,177 |
Page 5
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 30th September 2021
3TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
A total of £19760 was paid to 3 trustees for managing actvities during the year to 30th September 2021. Nothing was paid for the year ended 30th September 2020
Trustees ' Expenses
There were no trustees expenses paid for the year ended 30th September 2021 nor for the year ended 30th September 2020
4STAFF COSTS
| 09/30/2021 £ Wages and salaries 7740 The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows : Staf 2 |
09/30/2020 £ 13793 |
|---|---|
| 2 |
No employee received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
5COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| INCOME & ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies Grants Other trading activities Other income Insurance claim Total EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities NET INCOME /(EXPENDITURE) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
£ 28,254 5,819 247 34,320 18,938 15,382 9,140 24,522 Unrestricted Funds |
£ 9,075 1,320 10,395 11,897 -12,502 13,317 815 Restricted Funds |
£ 37,329 5,819 1,567 Total Funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44,715 41,835 |
|||
| 2,880 22,457 |
|||
| 25,337 |
Page6
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 30th September 2020
6 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| COST At 1st October 2020 Additions At 30th Septmber 2021 DEPRECIATION At 1st October 2020 Charge for year At 30th Septmber 2021 NET BOOK VALUE At 30th September 2021 At 30th September 2020 7 CREDITORS AMOUNTS Other Creditors 8 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Unrestricted funds General funds Closure resserve Restricted funds Big lottery fund grant TOTAL FUNDS |
Computers Vehicles Total 28,011 9,491 650 38,152 Furniture and Fittings |
Computers Vehicles Total 28,011 9,491 650 38,152 Furniture and Fittings |
Computers Vehicles Total 28,011 9,491 650 38,152 Furniture and Fittings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28,011 9,491 650 38,152 |
|||
| 28,010 9,490 486 37,986 163 163 |
|||
| 280,010 9,490 649 38,149 |
|||
| 1 1 1 3 1 1 164 166 |
|||
| FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 09/30/2021 09/30/2020 £ £ 0 0 At 01-10-20 At 30-09-21 2,140 15,382 17,522 7,000 7,000 9,140 15,382 24,522 13,317 -12,502 815 13,317 -12,502 815 22,457 2,880 25,337 Net movement in funds |
|||
| At 30-09-21 15,382 17,522 7,000 Net movement in funds |
|||
| 9,140 13,317 |
15,382 24,522 -12,502 815 |
||
| 13,317 | -12,502 815 |
||
| 22,457 | 2,880 25,337 |
Page 7
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 30th September 2021
8 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Incoming | Resources | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | Expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 34,320 | 18,938 | 15,382 |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Big lottery fund grant | |||
| Sufolk | |||
| MAIN |
9,075 | 21,577 | -12,502 |
| Other |
1,320 | 1,320 | 0 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 44,715 | 41,835 | 2,880 |
| Comparatives for movement in funds | |||
| At | 01/10/20 | Net | At 30/09/21 |
| movement | |||
| in funds | |||
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 2,140 | 15,382 | 17,522 |
| Closure reserve | 7,000 | 7,000 | |
| 9,140 | 15,382 | 24,522 | |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Big lottery fund grant | 13,317 | -12,502 | 815 |
| 6,743 | 6,574 | 13,317 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 13,825 | 8,632 | 22,457 |
Page 8
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 30th September 2021
8MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Big lottery fund grant TOTAL FUNDS |
34,320 -18,938 15,382 10,395 -22,897 -12,502 Incoming resources Resources expended Movement in funds |
|---|---|
| 44,715 -41,835 2,880 |
9RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30th September 2021
Page 9
Lowestoft and District Mencap Society
Detailed statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 30th September 2021
| INCOME & ENDOWMENTS Donations and Legacies Donations Grants Other Trading Activities Food and drink takings Gaming takings Bric-a-Brac takings Centre events Other Other Income Insurance claim Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Charitable Activities Wages Managing activities Rates and water Insurance Light and heat Telephone Consultancy Advertising Sundries Food Purchases Arts & Crafts Art Café Gaming stock Rent Waste disposal Licensing fees Property repairs Travelling Depreciation Governance Costs Independent examiners fee Total Resources expended |
09/30/2021 09/30/2020 £ 20 37329 30,920 37329 30,940 2518 3,741 611 2771 3,455 2097 3,430 44715 43,177 44715 43,177 7740 13,793 19760 840 1,948 2224 1,680 598 1,310 3614 3,762 1475 800 2643 1573 1,766 2,000 719 4,000 294 174 793 958 118 163 1,635 41835 34,545 0 0 41835 34,545 |
|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statement Page 10
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Lowestoft and Dlstrlrt Mencap Society Independent examinerf5 report to the tntstees of LO5t0ft and D15trkt Men¢3p Society I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Lowestoft and District Mencap Society (the Trtsstl for the year ended 30th September 2021 Respon5ibilltles and basls of report % the charity trustees of the Trtsst you a responsible forthe wepafation of the accounts in accordan with the requlrements of the Charities Aci 20111'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of theTrust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Aa and in carrylng out my examnatlon I have followed all applicable direttions 8Nen by the Charity Commission under section 1451Sllbl of the Art. Independent ex•mlnerfs I have completed my e¥amination. I confirni thai no material matters ha come to my atteniion in connection wlth the examination 8iving mè cause to beli th?t in any matthal respttt: ¢countin8 records were not kept In repect of the Tft as required by sectlon 130 of the Act,. or the a¢¢ounts do rt accord with those records: or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requ1ments concemlng the forni and content of acccHJnts set out in the CharftleslAc¢ounts and Report) re8ulations 2LI)8 othw than anv requirement that the accountsgiwe a true and falrvSv* whkh ts not a matter consbdered as part of an Independent examlnatlon. I conflrm that there are no other mattets to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Sheila Hyde SGH Services 4 Bodlam Wav Carlton Colville Lowestoft Suffolk NR33 8DN 0410712022 Page 2