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2021-03-31-accounts

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2021

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people in Hertsmere with a learning disability and their families by:

Our vision

Our values

The Trustees are aware of their duty under s.17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Public Benefit Guidance published by the Charity Commission. As such, the Trustees ensure that the activities of the charity are for the public benefit.

This consists of an overview of what was over the last financial If see report happening year. you something that you are particularly interested in and would like to find out more, then please let us know and we will be happy to share further details with you.

Dear Supporter ,

The pandemic took hold right at the beginning of the last financial year and the world of our members was turned upside-down.

We had, of course, to close down all our face-to-face activities and moved quickly to new ways of working and engaging with each other. Zoom became the order of the day; perfect for committee meetings, it could not truly replace our activity sessions or our Jubilee Club.

To avoid isolation, we embarked upon running a Let’s Get Digital group, volunteers giving invaluable advice and a considerable amount of input.

We obtained funding to supply members with tablets and internet connectivity and, most importantly, we trained them in how to use their device, connect to the web, use Zoom and use applications that they were interested in. We put – dance aerobics on Zoom and even Arts & Crafts our sessional leader going round delivering the necessary materials for the sessions.

Volunteers

We were extremely fortunate to recruit a number of new volunteers to start a “Friendship Phone call” scheme to help steer our members away from loneliness and isolation during that difficult time where everyone was missing their daily social interactions.

The scheme involved a volunteer contacting one of our members on a weekly basis for a friendly chat and also to make sure they were ok and had everything they needed, for example shopping and medicine. We were very grateful to all our volunteers - old and new - for their invaluable help with this initiative.

In addition, we sent several Activity Packs out to both Noah’s Ark children and our adult members, designed to keep them motivated and occupied. Staff and volunteers were able to have a chat (at a safe distance!) with some parents/carers, which was really welcomed by them. And, before Christmas, Santa Claus was busy going round to group homes with his super – and beautifully wrapped - gifts!

Outings and the Panto for Noah’s Ark were also not possible. Needless to say, we were not able to hold our Annual Xmas Party, a disappointment to so many members who look forward the whole year to this big event. We couldn’t restart in-person activities again until the end of April, by which time the majority of our members had received at least their first vaccination.

It was indeed a difficult year for everyone; many members relied on us for support and advice throughout the year and our Mission, Vision and Values were exemplified

After 5 years with Hertsmere Mencap, we were very sorry to learn that our Head of Communications, Lucy Sitton, would be leaving us at the end of February. We were, however, pleased to announce that her role was being taken over by Karen Snyder who started on 22 February.

Throughout the year, we had not advertised for a new Activities Coordinator but we employed Andre - – Heymoz who had himself been a volunteer for Hertsmere Mencap in a new Head of Support role; he joined us in April 2021.

We were very sad to report during last year that Rose Langley, mother of our member Aaron, and wife of Michael passed away right at the beginning of the pandemic. We were also very sad to learn that Ivan Kennedy, father to Gavin and husband to Susan passed away.

– More recently, of course, we were all so sad that Teresa Gray passed away she was a shining light in our close group of members

Financial Review

The Trustees believe the charity is operating on a sound financial basis. It had an income in the financial year of £93,395 which was a decrease from the previous year of £125,350. Expenditure was also lower at £87,717 against the previous year’s £107,682. The Trustees therefore report a surplus for the year of £5,678, compared with a surplus of £17,668 in the previous year.

Given the Covid pandemic, these figures have been skewed by a) the absence of fundraising income against previous years, b) the increase in grants received and, c) a decrease in both the income from activities and, conversely, the costs of running our activities which were, of course, locked down for a substantial period of the year. Costs of materials and other costs at £14,312 reflects our sending out activity packs to both adult and children members

Hertsmere me cap Overall Expenditure: April 2020 to March 2021 1Y• Salaries Activities Staffing Costs Activities Materials and Other costs 36% Administrative & Other Costs Minibus Costs Administrative & Other Costs Activiti'es Hall Hire Computer Equipment

Fundraising and Grant Income

We were unable to hold a Golf Day in the year to 31 March 2021, nor any other fundraising events. We were, however, fortunate to receive donations of £17,107.

In addition, the following grants (those over £1,000) were received:

£1,286 in April 2020 from the Hertfordshire Community Foundation for laptops for use by our administrative staff and volunteers.

£15,000 in May 2020 from the Clothworkers Foundation towards the cost of a new minibus. We agreed to enter into a joint venture with Roundabout Transport, a charitable organisation that rents out minibuses to other charities in Hertfordshire and have, on a 50/50 basis, purchased a new minibus. Our 50% share of the cost was £20,754 which is reflected in the balance sheet. The minibus was delivered to us in April 2021.

£4,975 in August 2020 from the Hertfordshire Community Foundation to fund iPads and other equipment to supply and train our members who were otherwise, during lockdown, unable to contact their friends and family or join our activities which we were holding on Zoom for much of the period.

Fundraising and Grant Income

£9,994 in September 2020 from the National Lottery Coronavirus Community Support Fund to support our Activities and Support service . (used for staff and volunteer costs, IT equipment, sessional materials and sessional leaders ???).

£3,800 in November 2020 from Sports England to support activities post lockdown, including hall hire, sessional staff and marketing costs.

£2,500 in November 2020 from Hertsmere Borough Council to support our sending out Xmas packs to our members.

£3,500 in February 2021 from Sports England to support our Healthy Eating project; due to Covid, we embarked on this project earlier in October 2021

£2,000 in February 2021 from the Good Things Foundation (via Royal Mencap Society) to support our Let’s Get Digital project which funded tablets and other equipment to supply and train our members.

£29,385 (in three tranches over the year) for The Provision of Community Short Breaks” framework agreement from Hertfordshire County Council, by our Noah’s Ark Playscheme.

Hertsmere me cap Income: April 2020 to March 2021 2% 0% • cc￿traCt Income & Grants Donations 80°/0 InccArJe from Activities Interest Income

Noah’s Ark

Easter scheme was very successful accommodating 25 children over 5 days, including 5 new children. Covid restrictions meant a reduced number of children on a daily basis and also strict Covid-safety procedures.

We had lots of in-house activities including fabric painting and an Easter egg hunt.

We received a generous donation from one of our families whose daughter celebrated her Bat Mitzvah and requested donations to NA as gifts.

In June we had a fun day at the Meadow Park fair with around 40 children and their families enjoying free rides.

The summer Playscheme accommodated a total of 40 children over 17 days, including 9 new children, with 24 staff and 3 volunteers.

Noah’s Ark

The staff at Noah’s Ark worked incredibly hard to deliver a successful playscheme during an extremely challenging environment. Despite Covid restrictions lifting, we continued to uphold a strict risk assessment policy, in order to keep both our children and the staff as safe as possible.

However, unfortunately we were forced to cancel 4 days of scheme since some of our staff came into contact with Covid. Nevertheless, we still managed to deliver 13 fun-filled days with many activities, including a big trip to Thames Valley and a visit to an ice cream farm. A big thank you to Chris for driving the minibus on both days.

We held 2 days of staff training including a formal Safeguarding training which was invaluable and well received.

Parents were extremely grateful for the respite and we have had some very positive feedback: Our Xmas party is planned for the 19[th] December at the Library.

We are planning 2 activity days during the Christmas break including a sports/swimming day and a trip to the Panto.

Reserves Policy

The reserves that we have set aside provide financial stability and the means for the development and continuation of our principal activities.

We intend to maintain our reserves at a level which is at least equivalent to 12 months expenditure for our Playscheme, 6 months expenditure for our general activities and £25,000 towards funds for property costs.

Trustees

The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements are:

P Moser, Chair, T Walton, Vice-Chair, K Chandak, Treasurer, E Grower and S Moser

The Board of Trustees has the power to appoint and remove trustees on a majority basis, with the chairman P Moser having the deciding vote, where necessary. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the organisation.

The charity is organised so that trustees meet regularly to manage its affairs and oversee other sub-committees, which deal with day-to-day issues.

Paul Moser, Chairman

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CHARlTY COMMISSIOI{
FORENGLANDANDWALES		 Gb
CHARlTY COMMISSIOI{
FORENGLANDANDWALES		 HertsmereMenea 243971 243971
Receipts and ents accounts CG16a
Forthe period
from		 01-Aor-20 To 31-t'lar-21
SectionARece and ts
Unrcstricted
funds		 Restrictedfunds Endowment
funds		 Totalfunds Lastyear
to ltreneareslt to the rEarestt to thenearest f, tothenearestf to lhenearest€
Grants 1,500 73,140 74,640 46,992
Fundraisirlgactiyites 1,617 1,617 45,124
Charitableactivities 12,460
Donations 17,107 17,107 16,736
Subscriptions
lntereston deposits 31 31 38
Subtotal(Grossincome forAR) 20,255 73,1/t0 93,395 125,350
A2Asset and investment sales,
{seetable).
Subtotal
Totatreceipts 20,255 73,140 I
n.,.nuI		 125,350
Chartiableactivies& grant expenditure 15,811 27,131 42,942 39,869
Costof activities 3,201 34,174 37,37s 53,025
N4anagement& administration 2.489 4,910 7,399 8.788
Sub 21,502 66,215 87,717 147,682
A4Asset andinyestment
purchases,(seetable)
Subtotal
Totalpayments 21,5O2 66,215 717 1O7,682
Netofreceipts/(pa ym ents) 1,247 6,9251 5,678 17,668
A5Transfers betweenfunds
AGCashfundslastyear end 109,760 109,760 92,002
Cashfundsthis yearend 108,5{3 6,925 115,438 109,670