MID & EAST ANTRIM COMMUNITY ADVICE SERVICES LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance wlth the accountlng policles sel out In note I lo th8 financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accountlng and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice appllcable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Flnancial Reporting Slandard appllcable in the UK and Republic of Ire5and (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)" ObJectlves and actSvitSes The company's objectives are to promole any charltable purpose for the benefit of the community in Mid and East Antrim by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and Ihe relief of poverty, slckness and distress. To establish and provide and assist In Ihe provlslon of Mid & East Antrlm Community Advice Services and our outlets supplylng a free, independent. confidential and Impartial servlce of advlce, Information and counsel for Ihe public and to asslst the implementation of such advlce, informatlon, and counsel. To hold meetings and training either alone or with others. to maintain an active link of communication between the public and government, local government. and other public and charitable bodies. Itls our aim lo alone or wSth other organisalions seek to influence publlc oplnlon and make representations to and seek to inlluence governmental and olher bodles regarding the development and Implementalion of appropriate pollcSes. To provide evldence for government and other Inquiries and to co-operate and enler into arrangement wlth any authorities (national, local or othemise) and to obtain from any such authorities any rights, privlleges and concessions lo trade In the course of carrylng out the Objects of tha Company land in partScular lo enter inlo contracts to provlde services to or on behalf of other bodies) and to carry on any other trade which is not expected to give rise lo taxable profits. to accepl granls, subscrlptions and donations. Mid & East Anlrim CommunltyAdvice SeNices Trustee Board of Direclors, led by our chairperson, is responsible for ensuring Ihat our seNices are delivered and meel the need of local people whilst meeting all contractual and legal obligalions in line with charity law. Slaff and volunteers provide practical advice, negotiate on behalf of clients, and represent them formally, such as al tribunal hearings. Our client group consist of, but are not limited to, those in need by reason of youth, age, ill- health, disability, financial hardship, or other disadvantage. We assist clients from the general public, older people, unemployedllow Income, addictions {druglsolvenUalcohol abuse). carers, ethnic minorities, homelessness, mental health. physical disabilities and tenants. Common areas of inquiry for our services include: Benefits - entiflemenls. support with applications and appealing decisions Debt and money advice- how to manage debts, improve your financSal situation and maximise your income Consumer issues - from used cars to difficulties with gas and electrlcity suppliers Work-related problems - terms and conditions, dismlssal, redundancy, and inlimidalion Housing - from renting through to homelessness Relationships - splitting up, children and bereavement
MID & EAST ANTRIM COMMUNITY ADVICE SERVICES LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Mid & East Anlrim Community Servlces have specialist Welfare Reform Advisers in each office provlded by the Welfar8 Reform Support Project. We also have Debt Advisors in each office provided by the Debt Nl project and Penslonwise appointments are available to offer guidance to empower people to make informed decisions about thelr pension. From December 2022 we have been funded by Independent Age to host a Cost of Living Crisis telephone help line for older peopl8 worried or trying to navigate the grant support system available. We work in partnership with Mld & East Antrim Age Well Partnership to provlde our services to thelr clients across the Borough, Including face to face and home appointments. telephone advice and provision of other support. statement from Trusteès On Behalf of the board of Dlrectors of Mid & East Antrim Community Advlce the Chalrperson confirms that the said Board of Directors have Implemented the guldance from Charity Commlssion on publlc benefit. Contributlon of volunteers Although our volunteer numbers were greatly Impacted due to the pandemic. we were able to grow our volunteer force with an additional two volunteers completing training Ihis year, contributing to 3,600 in hours with a value of £39,240 (based on living wage). Achievements and performance Contract In addition to meeting our contraclual obligatlons with Mid & East Anlrim Borough Council for core funding, namely dealing with 42,000 enquiries and identifying £3.5M in unclaimed benefits. Distributlon of slow cookers Mid and East Antrim Community Advice Services identified 300 residents to be offered slow cookers, alr fryers and electric blankets. Ukrainian families were Identified by MEACAS who would benefit from a slow cooker and cookbook provided by NHSCT in their nalive language. These were dlstribuled by MEACAS. MEA Uniform Exchange MEACAS introduced a uniform exchange which serves all the schools in Mid & East Antrlm. Pre-loved second hand and new school uniforms are donated and redistributed free to those who wish to up Cycle and reuse uniforms. During 2022-23 the equivalent in new uniforms of over £40K were distributed lo families throughout Mid & East Anlrim. MEA PovertyA¢tion Group MEACAS continue to chair the MEA Poverty Action Group. We manage an inter-agency referral system to provide a wraparound service for those clients experiencing difficulties. We provide advice, support, and practical help. Our members include NIHE, NHSCT, CAP. Credit Union, PSNI, MEA Council and local food banks. Some of the items we were able to provide to cllents in need were food, eleclric blankets, oil filled radiators, slow cookers, duvets, and pillows as well as vouchers for electricity and gas,
MID & EAST ANTRIM COMMUNITY ADVICE SERVICES LTD TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Flnanclal review The Statement of Flnancial Aclivilies outlines Mid & East Anlrim Community Advice Service Limlted's income, expenditure and funds for the 202212023 year. Income of £651,849 shows an increase of £62,171 on tha previous year mainly due to one-off covid related grants, expenditure increased by £102,651 on the previous year. Roserves policy It is Ihe policy of the charlty that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a speclfic use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and slx months expenditure. The trustees conslder that reserves at thls18vel wlll ansure that, in the event of a signlflcant drop In funding, they will be ablo to continue the charity's current activllles while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raSsed. This current level of free reseNes falls short of this, but the Trustees continue to monitor. Risk assessment The trustees have assessed the major risks to whSch the charity is exposed. and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Structure, governance and management The charity is a company limited by guarantee and acceptable as charitable by HMRC under reference XR39848. The company was incorporated on 25th June 2003, The company was established under a Memorandum of Association whlch established the objects and powers of the company, and is governed by il's Articles of Associallon. The Irustees, who are also Ihe dlrectors for the purpose of company law, and who seNed during the year and up to the dato of slgnature of the financial statements were.. Deborah Neill Rosemary Quinn Rosemary Simpson Marllyn Weekes (Appointed 10 October 2022> (Appointed 10 October 2022) The Directors of the company are also charity Trustees for the purpose of charity law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association unless olheNise determined by the company in General Meeting the number of Truslees shall not be less than three and is nol subject to any maximum. Tuslees are elected lo serve only until the next Annual General Meeting, at whlch Ihey shall then be ellgible for re-election. In agreemenl wilh the Board one new board member was co-opted on lo the board, a further two members will be sought during 2023-24 to ensure Ihat the quota of Iruslees is maintained. All applications to Join the board are advertised in MEA local papers. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of Ihe trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribule £1 in the event of a winding up.
MID & EAST ANTRIM COMMUNITY ADVICE SERVICES LTD TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARGH 2023 statement of trustees, responsibllitles The trustees, who are also Ihe directors of Mid & East Anlrim Community Advice SeNices Ltd for Ihe purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company Law requires the trustees lo prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a Irue and fair vlew of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charilable company for that year. In preparing these financial statements. the trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply Ihem consistently., observe the methods and principles in the Charilies SORP; make judgements and eslimates that are reasonable and prudent. and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unles5 it is inappropriate to presume that the charlty will continue In operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounling records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial positlon of the charily and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Auditor In accordance with the companls articles, a resolution proposlng that MBS Charlered Accountants be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting. The trustees, report was approved by the Board of Trustees. Rosemary Quin Trustee & Director Dated: 19 December 2023