Hear Us
Annual Report 2015/16
Charity No. 1135535 Company no. 06891337
HEAR US TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016
HEAR US ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016 Charity Number 1135535 Company Number 06891337 This Hear Us Annual Report 2015/16 provides information required by the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for charities. The report also provides a synopsis of the work of Hear Us. CONTENTS Report of the Chair Coordinator’s Comment A Big Thank You Members of the Board Welfare Surgeries Linkworking Project Reachout Challenge Service Users’ Open Forum In Our Shoes and the Guide Membership - Together We Are Stronger The Hear Us Accounts Independent Examiner’s Report Statement of Financial Activities Membership Form
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Hear Us are Funded by Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group
Maudsley Charity Health in Mind
LLOYDS BANK FOUNDATION England & Wales 2
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Report of the chairs of trustees The Trustees of Hear Us meet monthly. They discuss the on-going work of Hear Us with the Coordinator (and other employees from time to time). The Trustees have monthly oversight of the Hear Us Accounts to see if they meet our objectives as a charity. Every two months a sub-committee of Trustees meet to oversee updating our policy Documents and other matters. All the Trustees are volunteers and give their time to Hear Us. Tim, the coordinator of Hear Us manages staff and volunteers in the office. He is responsible for all the accounts and organises each annual report for members, the Charity Commission and Companies House. He also attends external meetings to represent our members as does David, one of our workers) Jane, working with David and Cheryalin who form our Welfare Benefits Team, holds surgeries to help our members with benefit claims. Jane also organises our Summer Wellbeing Event and contributes to the newsletter ‘In Our Shoes’ as does Tim and David Barbra is in charge of our Linkworking Project. We now have 28 Linkworkers working across mental health sites in Croydon. They feed back to management the concerns of service users, to get improvements to services. Barbra also heads up the Reachout Challenge with all the volunteers. They have had particular successes working with the Metropolitan Police as part of the training of Hostage & Crisis Negotiation police training programme. We also have help from our three Project Workers, Carmen, Andy and Al. Also we have help from Ariana our new coordinator’s administrator and volunteers, Martine, Charlie, Tom, Mikalah and Caz. Our Open Forum meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the Croydon Voluntary Action Centre (CVA). Members, carers and other interested members of the public are all welcome. We have speakers on issues of concern to our members Our Newsletter is sent to our members as well as being delivered to mental health centres and other sites around the borough. Our thanks are due to all who make Hear Us such a successful user group. Ruth Govan. Chair of the Trustees Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
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Coordinator’s Comment Hear Us are a group of current and ex-users of the mental health services in the London Borough of Croydon. The group are very passionate about ensuring that the voices of people affected with mental health issues are heard by commissioner and providers and are responded to. This annual report provides a summary of our charities activities during 2015/16. Although Hear Us is small in comparison to other charities in the borough; we make up for this by having fantastic, dedicated and motivated staff and volunteers, who help deliver much needed services that benefit Croydon. Running services that supplement and work alongside statutory and other voluntary services, helping Croydon’s vulnerable mental health community stay safe and live well. Our Linkworking Project, which has been running since 2007, has been raising awareness about service user’s issues and opposes negative service culture and highlights good practice in our mental health services provided by SLaM. We are providing qualitative insight for staff with the aim that they provide us with empowering care that supports our recovery needs. We hold our monthly Mental Health Open Forum at the CVA, at West Croydon. The Forum is a space, dedicated to giving time to service users, so they are able to ask questions and be informed about service changes and developments. We invite guests from Croydon CCG and SLaM and other organisations that provide services to Croydon’s mental health community so that our community can feed into changes to our services. Our forum has been successful in attracting regular attendance of service users but also carers and staff from the voluntary sector. The forum is a great opportunity for service developers to share strategic service changes and to get our opinions and concerns about how changes may affect us. Welfare benefit reforms are increasing pressure and stress upon Croydon’s vulnerable community. Hear Us has a dedicated team led by Jane and supported by David and Cheryalin, that have helped hundreds of service users through changes to their benefits and also access benefits that they are entitled to but were not claiming. Our Reachout Challenge goals are to raise awareness of our aims and challenge mental health stigma and discrimination. Barbra has taken the lead, volunteering her time, to run several events with 4
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the Metropolitan Police helping in the training of Hostage & Crisis Negotiators. We have a highly motivated team of volunteers who engage in face to face conversations with these serving police. This project has continued to run without any direct funding but has received donations from the Met Police. BIG THANK YOU I would like to thank all my staff: Jane, Barbra, Carmen, David, Cheryalin, Andy, Al and Ariana for all the support they have given me during the past year and the help they have given to make Hear Us stronger and more dynamic. I would also like to thank the following for all the work they have put into making Hear Us brilliant: The Welfare Benefits Surgery Team led by Jane: David and Cheryalin with support from Charlie and Tom for getting the team to and back from clients homes, tribunals, assessments and food banks. The Linkworking Team led by Barbra: Abby, Adrian, Andy, Ben, Calbert, Charlie, David, Duncan, Elaine, Emma, Emma, Gavin, John, John, Julie, Kelie, Karen, Martine, Michael, Michele, Mike, Nisha, Richard, Robert, Scott, Sejal, Sharon, Cheryalin, Tim, Tony,Veronica and Zena. The Reachout Team led by Barbra: Adrian, Andy, Angela, Calbert, Caz, David, David, Donavan, Emma, Elliot, Hassan, James, John, Kelie, Kevin, Kris, Letitia, Martine, Mikalah, Nicole, Richard, Scott, Sharon, Cheryalin, Tom, Tony, Wendy and Zena I would like to thank all the Trustees that have helped steer the organisation: Ruth, John, Peter, David, Kato, Adrian, Brian, Katie, Ian, Tom and Felicia.
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And finally I would like to thank everyone that has helped Hear Us grow over the years and blossom to become the charity it is today. Tim Oldham, Coordinator
T R O P P SU ! S U R HEA 5 15 £ G U U Text H 0070 to 7
For Hear Us to continue to provide our services we need your ongoing support: Text HUUG 15 £5 to 70070 or visit our website to make one off donations or to set up regular monthly donations www.hear-us.org/donate-and-support Visit our shop to buy T-Shirts, huddies and an assortive and wear Hear Us with Pride www.shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/hear-us
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HEAR US MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS
The Hear Us Charity Details Registered charity name
Hear Us
Charity number
1135535
Principal office Orchard House 15a Purley Road, South Croydon CR2 6EZ Trustees Ruth Govan John Edwards Peter Rogers David Ashton Katherine Walmsley Adrian Lucas Brian Taylor Independent examiner Mitchell, Rodrigues and Co. Ltd Suite 14, Zeal House, 8, Deer Park Road, London SW19 3GY Bankers Co-operative bank The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 March 2016. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Reference and administrative details are shown in the schedule of members of the board and professional advisers on page 7 of the financial statements.
The Hear Us Trustees The trustees who served the company during the period were as follows: Ruth Govan, Katie Perio-Rigsby, John Edwards, Peter Rogers, David Ashton, Thomas Straw, Adrian Lucas, Felicia Amoye, Katherine Walmsley, Ian Timms and Brian Taylor Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
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Adrian Lucas was appointed as a trustee on 19 November 2015. Brian Taylor was appointed as a trustee on 26 November 2015. Katie Perio-Rigsby retired as a trustee on 7 May 2015. Ian Timms retired as a trustee on 7 May 2015. Thomas Straw retired as a trustee on 10 December 2015. Felicia Amoye retired as a trustee on 8 May 2015.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Formation: Hear Us has been running since 4th October 2001 as a not for profit organisation in Croydon and on 15th April 2010 the Management Committee registered Hear Us with the Charity Commission for charity status (No. 1135535) to give Hear Us a more independent and stronger voice in the community. Management: The constitution in the original form was adopted by resolution at the AGM held on the 27th May 2004. Amendments to the constitution were adopted by resolution at the EGM held on 1st July 2008. The Management Committee are the Steering Group and are listed above. They include a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and the Coordinator Tim Oldham. The Committee has the power to co-opt members as and when they deem it necessary. The Steering Group are responsible for the day to day running of Hear Us and have a responsibility to report to the funders, charity commission and other stakeholders whenever the need arises.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES The objectives of Hear Us are: • To relieve the needs of people living in the London Borough of Croydon and surrounding areas who have mental health problems by provision of services and advice. • To advance education about mental health for public benefit in the London Borough of Croydon and surrounding areas with the object of creating awareness and reducing the stigma attached to mental health.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW Reserves Policy: Hear Us endeavours to maintain reserves equivalent to a minimum of 3 months costs at all times. For the financial year 2015/16 this will be approximately ÂŁ34,000. These should be held in bank accounts with easy withdrawal facilities.
Risk Management The Steering group have identified and reviewed the major risks facing Hear Us and systems have been established to mitigate them. Lack of financial resources to cover expenditure is recognised as the main concern, together with the need to protect our reputation and ensure that all regulatory requirements are adhered to. Measures to reduce risk in these areas include: Review of the Service Level Agreement with Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Annual Review of events. Regular Committee meetings including Financial Report (current & projected) Charity Coordinator Reports and a review of fund-raising activities. Formation of a fund-raising committee who are required to report on all plans and activities to the Steering Group. Regular liaison with officers of the Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Continuation of staff training programmes.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES The charity’s trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
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WELFARE SURGERIES The Hear Us Welfare Benefits Project was set up 3 years ago in response to a growing need for extra support to help the most vulnerable of our service users claim the benefits they are entitled to. The majority of our clients would struggle to access mainstream support and many face additional barriers in addition to having to navigate an already complex and often baffling welfare system. For example, of the 450 clients we have seen so far, many have needed additional support such as help to read their letters or complete forms, due to problems with reading and writing. Others face further problems such as having just left the prison system or dealing with drug and alcohol abuse, which mean they may face more hurdles including the prejudices and judgements of others, which make claiming benefits problematic. Hear Us prides ourselves on helping anyone who needs it – even if that means putting in additional measures such as home visits to people with severe anxiety who are unable to leave their home, accompanying people to assessments outside of the borough and working with people whose emotional and mental health problems mean they struggle to engage with other services. Helping people to secure their benefit entitlements enables them to feel more in control of their lives and be part of their communities and can also relieve some of the burden of poverty and/or debt that so often leads to a downwards spiral of both mental and physical health. We provide a holistic service, signposting people to other resources in the borough, including; Health and Wellbeing opportunities, Voluntary work and Education and counselling and Talking Therapies. Our small project, which is run by one full time and two part time staff, receives referrals from CMHTs, GP surgeries, Jobcentres, Care Homes and Residential Hostels, Probation and other voluntary organisations. Unfortunately demand now far exceeds resources and we are unable to see everyone as quickly as we would like to. However, we aim to assist our service users as quickly as possible as we understand the anxiety created by benefit problems. We can help in the following areas: • Applying for Freedom passes and other concessionary transport schemes • Completing ESA, DLA and PIP forms 10
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Welfare Surgeries
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• Accompanying people to their assessments and, where necessary, tribunals (we have been to over 45 Tribunals to date – and have not lost one yet!) • Successfully supporting people to ask for a Reconsideration if they receive an unfair DWP decision • Seeking supporting letters/evidence from GPs and mental health teams • Applying for grants to help with utility (water, gas and electricity) debts – we have successfully had dozens of utility debts written off in the past 3 years • We have successfully applied to Croydon council to help people who are in arrears with their rent, avoiding eviction in several cases (via the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme) and to acquire essential items for their homes via the CDS (Croydon Discretionary Scheme) Recent years have seen massive changes to our welfare system, including migration from income support and incapacity benefit to Employment and Support Allowance, and more recently from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment. We have recently begun to assist people who have to claim the ‘NEWEST BENEFIT OF ALL – UNIVERSAL CREDIT’ (UC). UC has to be claimed on- line, and since many of our service users don’t have computer skills or access to the internet, this is proving challenging. We can help our clients to overcome many (and all)of the barriers that would otherwise leave them floundering. We provide hands on support to apply for Universal Credit; we accompany service users to jobcentre appointments, assist people to make Universal Credit work for them (as much as is possible) by helping them to apply for fortnightly payments (UC is typically paid once a month) and by requesting alternative payments to secure the rent (for people who would struggle to budget by themselves). As Hear Us is primarily a campaigning organisation we work hard to educate the public and break down stigma and discrimination. Our Reachout Challenge (anti stigma) project, has trained many jobcentre and DWP staff to have a better understanding of the challenges faced by those of us who live with mental illness. We plan to do more campaigning in the coming months and years, highlighting the flaws and injustices in the welfare benefit system and bridging the gap between mental and physical health. Hear Us informs and educates via our popular Monthly Open Forums where we invite along guest speakers to talk on topical issues – we 12
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regularly include talks on Welfare Benefit changes, and these are often our most popular and well attended meetings.
Monday to Friday 10am-5pm Project Manager: Jane White Tel: 020 8681 6888 Email: surgery@hear-us.org Website: www.hear-us.org/welfare-benefit-surgery Referral Form: www.hear-us.org/surgery-referral-form
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LINKWORKING project
Over the last year the Linkworking project has gone from strength to strength, we have 32 Linkworkers, 2 Data Inputters and Admin support to keep up with the workload generated. We are now covering 13 wards/services and running 17 sessions per week, such as The Lishman Ward (neurology) at Bethlem and the Psych Liaison Team at Croydon University Hospital (Mayday). Some of the Linkworkers also get involved in other areas of service development for the South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust (SLaM), through having joined SLaM’s Involvement
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Since coming back to the Linkworking project last year, I have had the opportunity to gain experience of Linkworking on the Triage Unit. This is a short stay assessment ward, which at times can be quite volatile and unpredictable. Over the weeks and months we have spoken to many service users on a wide range of issues which directly affect them, this I feel has been a two way process which has benefited both parties as essentially it is a conversation in which we as Linkworkers listen and then when appropriate, reflect back what has been said and can give the service user assurance that we can raise any issues and concerns they may have, to the ward manager and/or senior staff. Working as part of team is fun and essential, as each person’s lived experience, brings something to the session. I look forward to this challenging but rewarding experience. AK - Linkworker kworking P ro Lin j s
haping Se rv t: S c i e
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All Linkworkers have been in services themselves and by drawing on their own experiences they can empower others to see there is life during and after mental ill health. This helps service users open up to Linkworkers and hold some very meaningful conversations. The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), formally Primary Care Trust (PCT) are now commissioning us to run this service, as well as commissioning all health services in the borough. We meet with them on a regular basis feeding back any trends, concerns or compliments raised with the intention of improving a person’s experience of services.
Linkworking on Triage
The He ar U
Register. The involvemenmt register enables them to sit as a service user representative on interview panels for recruitment, take part in ward inspections and co-deliver training across the trust and beyond. Linkworkers go onto the wards and into the resource centres to talk with current service users listening to their comments and if they so choose, reporting them to the managers and service leads. This ensures that everyone is given the opportunity to have a voice and have input into making services better for all, for today and for the future.
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Some of the benefits of having Linkworkers within services are their ability to; bridge communication and build rapport between service users and SLaM staff, listen to and support service users’ needs and assure service users they are not alone on their journey of recovery. Linkworkers support each other and believe this helps them to stay well.
This is the only service user run Linkworking project within SLaM and as an organisation we are committed to supporting people with lived experience to be able to contribute to the improvements of SLaM services. SLaM staff have fed back that having Linkworkers on the wards and in services reinforces hope for patients and service users and they believe this helps them stay well. The Linkworkers are an excellent source of information and for referral, as they often are not aware of what is available within the community especially at the point of discharge. The CCG benefit from the Linkworkers presence in services because they get sent credible anonymised (identifying details removed) data to help them mould future provision of services and to highlight what is working well and what isn’t working so well.
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HEAR US US HEAR To promote, educate, communicate and empower, TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH For the benefit and interest of people affected by mental health 2016 issues
The Linkworking Project is organic and continues to evolve and grow with changing demands…
If you would be interested in becoming a part of the Linkworking Team, please contact me Barbra Davison; Project Manager 07749 156 828 linkworking@hear-us.org www.hear-us.org/linkworking
Comments from various services including Psych Liaison......... “The Linkworkers were able to establish a rapport with patient with great success; this was something the liaison psychiatry had encountered difficulties with”. “The Linkworkers are very kind respectful and caring towards the patients”. kworking P ro Lin j s
The He ar U
“Very useful interaction with a patient, helped us to discover various ways of supporting the patient with their alcohol issues”
haping Se rv t: S c i e
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“The Linkworkers were able to elicit an extremely positive response from the patients, with excellent engagement. This will form a crucial part of their discharge plan”.
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Reachout Challenge
The Reachout Challenge continues an we have more volunteers starting and we are having discussions around providing more awareness sessions to local police and other organisations. We are approaching an exciting era. After funding ceased in 2014 it was agreed that we would continue to run the project on a voluntary basis as it would be a great loss to both those who are involved as volunteers and the organisations, who benefit from being involved, should the project come to an end. We have delivered four sessions to the Metropolitan Police specialist Crisis and Hostage Negotiators over the last year and they have generously given us a donations for each session. They have also agreed to further five sessions during 2016/17. We have delivered a scaled down version of the session to uniformed officers across the Metropolitan Police of various ranks and roles. Unfortunately they haven’t been able to give us donations to help us to deliver these sessions, however, they are working hard to secure funding. This will mean we can continue to be part of the mental health training that officers receive. There are also plans to include our sessions in the training that all new officers receive when joining the police force. The person responsible for making these decisions has been to some of our sessions and has reviewed the feedback from officers in attendance which states that they appreciate the knowledge they have gained and they agree it is well worth funding. If successful, it will be a big commitment from the team of volunteers but one we shall embrace and deliver with pride and professionalism. We know that by providing these sessions it better equips front line services when coming into contact in their crisis and this is one of our main drivers to continue and manage the journey over to far North London. We recently purchased some more stress balls with Reachout money as these really go down well in our session and have our website address on them so promotes who we are and what we do within our own borough. The steering group met to organise smaller working groups to take on specific tasks such as: Revising and updating the material we use; copy-writing our material; contacting local organisations such as the Job Centre, who in the past have 18
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asked us to run a session. Thinking about what agencies we can approach for future events and what this should look like; finances and promoting the Reachout Challenge. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers past and present for their dedication, determination and time in making this project so successful and long may it continue.
These are some testimonies from Volunteers from the Reachout Challenge: Since joining the Reachout Challenge in 2012 I have attended various organisations and visited a wide variety of places including front-line services this has helped me gain selfconfidence and reduce anxiety when visiting unfamiliar places over the past few years. Currently I attend sessions at the Police training college in Hendon helping train Crisis and Hostage Negotiators at first it was challenging just getting there; having to deal with travelling through Central London at rush hour and the tube network was very difficult but my colleagues supported me and it was nice knowing that somebody was there to help me when things were difficult. I took the opportunity while attending Hendon to say thank you and highlight how invaluable Negotiator training was in saving lives. Being able to talk about my personal story was a breath of fresh air and shows how people with mental health problems are quite normal and can recover with the right support. It has also helped me gain a better understanding of other mental health issues and how people with the same diagnosis can have
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a different experience. The Reachout challenge has been a key element in my recovery and fundamental in improving my well-being and continues to do so. I started volunteering for the Reachout Challenge in 2012 and very quickly felt welcome and more importantly safe to talk about my mental health amongst the other volunteers. I got more and more involved and went along to the events they organised such as the London Ambulance Service, Transport Police and Fire Services and shared what it’s like to live with my mental health with them in small groups. Jane supported me to gain a voice I had lost after my breakdown and I took the lead on one of the presentations which was very empowering for me. Now I often get involved in other events where I tell my life story and although it is sometimes upsetting I have found it has helped my recovery and others gain from my honesty. Thank you Hear Us and Reachout for helping me get my life back and being part of my ‘life-long’ recovery. Hi my name Cheryalin I have been a volunteer as a Reachout member for about four years . What do I get out of Reachout; first of all I got my confidences back I find it easier to talk to people about my mental health illness instead of shying away? I have learnt just like anyone else that I’m just human and I have bad days and good days but my bad days I sometimes can’t get out of bed or I close myself away from the world and I have a voice in my head that tells me a that I’m no good and should not be on this earth But on a good day I can tell other people who doesn’t know too much about mental health what it is like for me to live with this illness on a day to day basics “THERE IS NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH” Our Reachout Challenge Project can; • Increase your understanding of mental health issues • Increase your understanding of what life is like living with a mental health illness 20
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• Enable appropriate earlier intervention for your staff • Make you more effective in your vital role Mental health is an area of health that is important to us all. It is crucial to our ability to lead a fulfilling life
“Health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health is a resource for everyday life, not for the object of living. It is a positive concept emphasising social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities” World Health Organisation
If you and your organisation would be interested in increasing your staff’s understanding of mental health, please contact me Barbra Davison; Project Lead 07763 845 343 reachout.challenge@hear-us.org www.hear-us.org/reach-out-challenge
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HEAR US To promote, educate, communicate and empower, For the benefit and interest of people affected by mental health issues
Hear US Open Forum The Hear Us Mental Health Open Forum is designed so that mental health service users can come together and discuss services that they access and that affect them. This forum gives us a chance to meet, ask questions and debate with commissioner, Croydon CCG and Council, and service providers SLaM (the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust). Also other services, such as the voluntary sector (Mind, Imagine, Status Employment, APCMH and others) are also able to come and discuss their services.
H LUNCVIDED O R IS P
Other issues are also discussed such as the Welfare Benefit Reforms – we invite such guests along to help inform us about how to respond to the changes in reforms. Some of these guest are not responsible for making these changes but come along to help us; by informing us about the processes and how to deal with making new claims. We will endeavour to call upon those that are responsible for the changes to come along and meet the people that their decisions affect. Each meeting will start with a ‘Shout Out’, where organisations can have the floor to announce their activities that our community would benefit from hearing about. We hold ten Open Forums each year which are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month except from August and January when we are closed for holidays. The forum is held at the CVA CVA Resource Centre 82 London Road West Croydon CR0 2TB We have, in the past, held both a wellbeing event and a Christmas party but this year we were not able to secure funding. Fingers crossed for the coming year!
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HEAR US To promote, educate, communicate and empower, For the benefit and interest of people affected by mental health issues
1st Tuesday of each Month ↸ CVA Resource Centre, 82 London Road, CR0 2TB
The Hear Us Open Forum enables the mental health community to have a constructive voice in the design and commissioning of Croydon’s Mental Health Services. Our meetings are designed to bring us together to have a face to face discussion with commissioner and service providers. For More Information Contact david@ hear-us.org or tim@hear-us.org or Tel: 020 8681 6888 Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
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HEAR US To promote, educate, communicate and empower, For the benefit and interest of people affected by mental health issues
‘in our shoes’ and our guide
Hear Us Distributed over 2000 Newsletters each quarter across the borough. Each edition is filled with Mental Health Promotion, Advice & Support . Many Service Users write articles about their view of Croydon Services. We also published the Hear Us Guide to Croydon’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Services. If you, or someone you care for is experiencing mental health problems and: • Need support to meet new people and try new Activities • Need support to access Voluntary Work, Training, Education or Employment • Want to know where to turn in a Crisis • Want information about Support Groups and Self Help • Want advice about Benefit, Debt or Housing issues • Want to know about organisations that can help with specific issues • Are interested in getting involved in planning and improving our Mental Health Services • Want access to useful Telephone Numbers and Websites We will also endeavour to pull together a new version of the Hear Us Guide in the future.
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Hear Us Croydon's Mental Health Service User Group
The Hear Us Guide to Croydon's Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
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Hear Us Membership
Become a Hear Us Member and we’ll keep you up-to-date with all of the latest mental health news. We’ll let you know about Hear Us events and groups in your area. And we’ll support you to get your voice heard and Membership is free. All members receive our quarterly ‘In Our Shoes’ Newsletter, with in-depth features on the big mental health 8 12 African issues, including hear Us members’ own stories 5 12 Any other Asian Background 2
Any other Black Background Any other Ethnic Group
3
4
Any other Mixed Background
4
8
Any other White Background
18
15
Bangladeshi
1
2
Black British
14
31
159
231
16
32
1
2
Indian
18
21
Irish
10
10
Pakistani
10
7
British Caribbean Chinese
6
Sri Lankan White and Asian
3
2
White and Black African
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1
White and Black Caribbean
2
3
Not stated
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3
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Our regular email newsletters, which include the latest Hear Us
Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
HEAR US TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016
news and information about events near you. The chance to vote for our trustees and even to become a trustee yourself. Your very own Hear Us Membership Card. Opportunities for members As a member, you can get involved in the Hear Us’s work in all sorts of ways. There’s no pressure to do anything, but if you are keen to take action we’ll support you every step of the way. Potential options include is becoming a Linkworker and help other service users whilst helping to improve our mental health services. Become Reachout Volunteer and help fight sigma and discrimination. Attend our Open Forum and influence change. Sharing personal experiences to show the truth about mental health, Joining our local campaigns and fund-raising to support Hear Us’s work. At the end of 2015/16 we have 680 members. To become a member complete the form on page 35 of this report of visit our website and complete the online form: www.hear-us.org/membership-form
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HEAR US INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HEAR US YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016
The Hear Us Accounts
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: • Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; • Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; • Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; • State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; • Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. 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.
Signed by order of the trustees
Orchard House, 15a Purley Road, South Croydon CR2 6EZ Mr P Rogers Company Secretary We report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2016 which are set out on pages 7 to 9. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER The company’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The company’s 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 needed.
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Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
HEAR US INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HEAR US YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016
It is our responsibility to: • Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; • To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and • To state whether particular matters have come to our attention. BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT Our 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 company 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 any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT In connection with my examination, no matter has come to our attention: (1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: • To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of 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 (2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mitchell, Rodrigues and Co. Ltd Independent examiner Suite 14, Zeal House, 8 Deer Park Road, London SW19 3GY Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
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HEAR US STATEMENT OF FINICAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016
Total Funds
Total Funds
2016
2015
Note
£
£
Voluntary income
2
190,893
170,797
Activities for generating funds
3
91
161
190,984
170,958
INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generating funds:
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable activities
4
(60,903)
(67,327)
Governance costs
5
(91,853)
(95,200)
(152,756)
(162,527)
38,228
8,431
Total funds brought forward
105,449
97,018
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
143,677
105,449
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR
6
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.
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All of the above amounts relate to continuing activities.
Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
HEAR US STATEMENT OF FINICAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016
2016
2015
£
£
8
420
560
9
75
330
146,746
108,928
146,821
109,258
(3,564)
(4,369)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
143,257
104,889
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
143,677
105,449
NET ASSETS
143,677
97,018
143,677
105,449
143,677
105,449
Note FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank and in hand
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
10
FUNDS Unrestricted income funds TOTAL FUNDS
11
For the year ended 31st March 2016 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. These financial statements were approved by the members of the committee and authorised for issue on the 25th August 2015 and are signed on their behalf by: Ruth Govan Director Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
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HEAR US STATEMENT OF FINICAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in March 2005 (SORP 2005). Depreciation Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows: 25% on reducing balance Incoming Resources Hear Us was commissioned to contribute to the fulfilment of the Sustainable Community Strategy aim of the London Borough of Croydon, to involve service users in the assessment of need, planning, selection of providers and monitoring of services. All material incoming resources from this service level agreement between Hear Us as the provider and Clinical Commissioning Group as the Commissioner, have been included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. 2.
VOLUNTARY INCOME
Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds 2016
Total Funds 2015
Donations
£
£
£
Donations
1,243
1,243
1,098
139,297
139,297
73,899
Grants receivable NHS Croydon (& Croydon Council) - Adult Mental Health Comic Relief Mental Health User Guide Maudsley Charity Reach Out Challenge Youth Philanthropy Linkworking Surgery
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-
-
13,640
1,000
1,000
-
-
-
50,323
1,050
1,050
-
-
-
3,000
32,922
32,922
28,837
15,381
15,381
-
190,893
190,893
170,797
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HEAR US STATEMENT OF FINICAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016 3. INVESTMENT INCOME Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds 2016
Total Funds 2015
£
£
£
91
91
161
Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds 2016
Total Funds 2015
4. COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES BY FUND TYPE
£
£
£
765
765
4,790
2,652
2,652
1,792
67
67
336
Core costs
1,461
1,461
1,254
Reach Out
1,224
1,224
5,967
Training Direct project costs Travel & Subsistence
In Our Shoes Surgery Open Forum Wellbeing Linkworking
1,482
1,482
2,335
21,741
21,741
20,879
6,823
6,823
7,482
-
-
2,844
24,688
24,688
19,648
60,903
60,903
67,327
Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds 2016
Total Funds 2016
6. GOVERNANCE COSTS
Salaries and National Insurance Supervision Rent Accountancy fees Bank charges and interest Companies House Depreciation Computer software Website/Email etc
£
£
£
65,325
65,325
62,622
175
175
315
8,000
8,000
7,998
744
744
720
-
-
12
13
13
13
7,748
1,404
140 7,748
185
313
313
223
Insurance
1,402
1,402
1,382
Telephone
1,810
1,810
4,476
Postage, Printing & Stationery
3,769
3,769
15,850
91,853
91,853
95,200
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HEAR US STATEMENT OF FINICAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016 6. NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR This is stated after charging:
2016
Depreciation
2015
£
£
140
185
2016
2015
7.STAFF COSTS AND EMOLUMENTS Total staff costs were as follows: Wages and salaries
£
£
104,320
104,494
Particulars of employees: The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of full-time equivalents, was as follows:
Number of staff
2016
2015
No
No
9
9
No employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 during the year (2011 - Nil). 8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Equipment
COST At 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016
£ 1,333
DEPRECIATION At 1 April 2015
773
Additions
140
At 31 March 2016
913
NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2016
420
At 31 March 2015
560
9. DEBTORS
2016
2015
75
330
10. CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
2016
2015
Other creditors
1,037
3,637
Accruals
2,527
732
3,564
4,369
Incoming resources
Balance at 31 March 2016
£
£
38,228
143,677
Prepayments
11. UNRESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS Balance at 1 April 2015 £ General Funds
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105,449
Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
HEAR US To promote, educate, communicate and empower, For the benefit and interest of people affected by mental health issues
Hear Us Membership Application Form
ďƒž
Resident in the Borough of Croydon Have a recognisable interest in mental health service user issues in Croydon Have had emotional psychological problems or some form of mental illness Name: Address:
Telephone: Email: Post How would you like to receive our Newsletters and invitations to the forum: Email Age & DOB: Gender: Sexuality: Ethnic Origin: Are you Disabled? Hear Us will not use the information you provide for anything other than the distribution of newsletters, invitations to our meetings and for equal ops monitoring. Please read the form thoroughly and check that the information you have provided is correct before signing. Signature: Working Together for Change and Better Understanding in Mental Health
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Orchard House 15a Purley Road South Croydon CR2 6EZ
020 8681 6888 @ info@hear-us.org www.hear-us.org Company No. 6891337 Charity No.1135535