REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
Report of the Trustees and |
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
for |
STRONG VOICES |
REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
Report of the Trustees and |
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
for |
STRONG VOICES |
STRONG VOICES |
Contents of the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
Page |
Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 4 |
Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
Balance Sheet | 7 | to | 8 |
Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 | to | 12 |
STRONG VOICES (Registered number: 06032904) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). |
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
Objectives and aims |
The Charity's objects are: |
i) To relieve those children and adults outside the UK, particularly, but not exclusively in Asia, Africa and Europe, who have suffered sexual, physical, mental and emotional distress by the provision of care, guidance, advice, advocacy and counselling as well as provision of advice and support for those responsible for the care of such persons. |
ii) To relieve the needs of socially or economically disadvantaged young persons and/or those who are excluded, or in danger of being excluded, from school in particular by the provision of care, advice, support and advocacy. |
Grantmaking |
The Charity does not make any grants at present but has given donations to individual families as required. |
Volunteering |
In addition to trustees and advisors, other volunteers fund-raise through creative activities and friendship networks. |
STRONG VOICES (Registered number: 06032904) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE |
Charitable activities |
Strong Voices has remained focussed on existing work in UK, Sweden, South Africa, and Lebanon. We have walked alongside individuals and organisations as they faced the distressing challenges of seeking to address long-term needs of child and adult survivors of abuse and illness, and of people's daily struggle to feed their family in the UK, and also in Lebanon where food inflation is more than 350%. |
Fund-raising has continued, though gaining unrestricted funds has proved almost impossible. Conversations are ongoing with individuals and organisations, and we hope that this can be alleviated. |
In the last few weeks Strong Voices celebrated the completion of the apartment restoration in Lebanon that now houses the Antioch Centre. Sanctions remain in place and the local currency has collapsed, the full extent of the disaster being inconceivable for those outside of the country. Many thousands of families struggle to buy food, pay rent, pay school and medical costs and even basic medications, let alone vital lifesaving drugs. |
We can now begin to plan the three Antioch Centre Memorial Libraries of: |
International classical music, in honour of Jane Hanley |
Nubian culture and language, in honour of 'Abd al-Halim Sabbar |
Ornithology and the impact of Climate Change, in honour of Anthony Gibbs |
Strong Voices is pleased to have supported a bereavement support project that is now established in South Africa and is self-sustaining. |
The CEO continues to link with various UK based refugee groups and provides mentoring for women in management positions within charities and NGOs, and those who aspire to progress their careers within the sector. |
Social impact is achieved through the: |
- Alleviation of poverty and distress. |
- Development of daily living and coping strategies for families and professionals |
- Co-ordination and facilitation of support networks, and mentoring, |
- Upskilling volunteers. |
- Enabling of young people to make a difference in their communities through charitable activity, |
- Development of projects as requested by various countries, which once up and running are handed over to the community within which they function. |
Strong Voices would like to thank all our volunteers; trustees, volunteers who raise money for us by knitting, and other creative activities, and those who support us in many practical ways. Without these loyal participants we would not be able to provide support to traumatised individuals, families, and communities. |
Internal and external factors |
Internal risks are minimised by comprehensive guidelines for all financial transactions, criteria and outcomes, quarterly review, and regular reports from projects. Policies and procedures are in place to cover all aspects of health and safety, child protection, complaints etc. |
FINANCIAL REVIEW |
Principal funding sources |
The principal funding sources are disclosed in the notes to the accounts |
Reserves policy |
Strong Voices seeks to achieve a reserve of a total of six months of the expenditure of the organisation, it has not been possible to reach the target date. It is hoped that this will be achieved within two years. |
STRONG VOICES (Registered number: 06032904) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
Governing document |
The organisation was registered as a company on 19.12.06 and was registered as a charity on 9.8.07. The charity is controlled by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 1985. The charity's name was changed from Jigsaw4u International Limited to Strong Voices on 22nd March 2012. |
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees |
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company's Articles, known as the Management Committee. At each annual general meeting one-third or a multiple of three, the number nearest to one third must retire from or be re-elected to office. If there is only one director, he or she must retire. The Directors to retire by rotation shall be those who have been the longest in office since their last appointment. If any Directors became appointed directors on the same day those to retire shall unless otherwise agreed among themselves be determined by lot. |
Nursing, management, sales, marketing, and business skills are represented within the Management Committee with specialist advisors and organisations available for advice as required. To maintain a broad skill mix, members of the Management committee are requested to provide a list of skills (and update it each year) and in the event of specific skills being lost due to retirement or resignation, individuals are approached to offer themselves for election to the Management Committee. No other outside party is entitled to appoint new trustees. |
All trustees give of their time freely and no trustee remuneration, expenses or related party transactions were paid in the year. Trustees are required to disclose relevant interest and register them with the Chief Executive and, in accordance with Strong Voices policy, withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises. |
Organisational structure |
The Management Committee currently has 4 members. They will communicate or meet quarterly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. The key performance indicators for the Chief Executive are agreed annually and reviewed at each Management Committee meeting. |
Induction and training of new trustees |
Trustees are provided with a trustees pack, the Charity Commission guide the 'Essential trustee' and a copy of the Memorandum and Articles and the latest minutes of the Management Committee, financial report, and annual report. Management Committee members will also attend or have access to learning sessions. |
Wider network |
The ethos of Strong Voices has always been to develop projects organically in response to local or national needs and to ensure that we withdraw when it is feasible to let the project continue without our involvement. This is only possible by effective partnerships in the regions. We thank every one of them. |
The network of volunteers and trustees have been integral to all that Strong Voices achieves. We thank them for all. |
At the last AGM Strong Voices elected a new trustee experienced in working with PR/media, we welcome her to the team. |
Related parties |
The CEO continues to support and mentor professionals in several countries. |
Public Benefit |
Benefit is ensured through the provision of: |
- Training for and conversations with professionals supporting families |
- The development of support for children and young people experiencing bereavement, abuse, and displacement, |
- Community engagement for volunteering |
- Developing good practice in organisations to meet the needs of children and young people and their families |
STRONG VOICES (Registered number: 06032904) |
Report of the Trustees |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
Registered Company number |
Registered Charity number |
Registered office |
Trustees |
Company Secretary |
Independent Examiner |
Ark Accountancy |
Chartered Certified Accountant |
31 Cheam Road |
Epsom |
Surrey |
KT17 1QX |
Chief Executive Officer |
Anne Davies |
Bankers |
Barclays plc |
Kingston upon Thames |
COMMENCEMENT OF ACTIVITIES |
The company received charitable status on 9th August 2007 as Jigsaw4u International Limited and commenced charitable activities on that date. |
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. |
Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of |
STRONG VOICES |
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of STRONG VOICES ('the Company') |
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023. |
Responsibilities and basis of report |
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). |
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. |
Independent examiner's statement |
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: |
1. | accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or |
2. | the accounts do not accord with those records; or |
3. | the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or |
4. | the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)). |
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. |
Mary E Ryan |
Ark Accountancy |
Chartered Certified Accountant |
31 Cheam Road |
Epsom |
Surrey |
KT17 1QX |
14 November 2023 |
STRONG VOICES |
Statement of Financial Activities |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
31.3.23 | 31.3.22 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
fund | funds | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Donations and legacies |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Raising funds |
Charitable activities |
Relief of refugees & vulnerable people | 10,539 | - | 10,539 | 12,293 |
Antioch Centre | - | 3,300 | 3,300 | 31,797 |
Total |
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 5,252 |
STRONG VOICES (Registered number: 06032904) |
Balance Sheet |
31 March 2023 |
31.3.23 | 31.3.22 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
fund | funds | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
CURRENT ASSETS |
Debtors | 6 |
Cash at bank |
CREDITORS |
Amounts falling due within one year | 7 | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
NET CURRENT ASSETS |
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
NET ASSETS |
FUNDS | 8 |
Unrestricted funds | 821 |
Restricted funds | 4,431 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 5,252 |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2023. |
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. |
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for |
(a) | ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and |
(b) | preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. |
STRONG VOICES (Registered number: 06032904) |
Balance Sheet - continued |
31 March 2023 |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on |
STRONG VOICES |
Notes to the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
1. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of preparing the financial statements |
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. |
Income |
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. |
Expenditure |
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. 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. |
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure. |
Taxation |
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. |
Fund accounting |
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with 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. Restrictions 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. |
Hire purchase and leasing commitments |
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. |
2. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
31.3.23 | 31.3.22 |
£ | £ |
Other operating leases | 3,250 | 3,137 |
STRONG VOICES |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
3. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022. |
Trustees' expenses |
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022. |
4. | STAFF COSTS |
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
31.3.23 | 31.3.22 |
Management |
5. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
fund | funds | funds |
£ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Donations and legacies |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Raising funds |
Charitable activities |
Relief of refugees & vulnerable people | 12,293 |
Antioch Centre | 31,797 |
Total |
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward | 2,054 | 3,318 |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 821 | 4,431 | 5,252 |
STRONG VOICES |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
6. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
31.3.23 | 31.3.22 |
£ | £ |
Tax refunds on gift aid | 55 | 13 |
7. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
31.3.23 | 31.3.22 |
£ | £ |
Accrued expenses |
8. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
Net |
movement | At |
At 1.4.22 | in funds | 31.3.23 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 821 | (798 | ) | 23 |
Restricted funds |
Near-Middle East | 4,431 | (1,425 | ) | 3,006 |
TOTAL FUNDS | (2,223 | ) | 3,029 |
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Movement |
resources | expended | in funds |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 12,991 | (13,789 | ) | (798 | ) |
Restricted funds |
Near-Middle East | 1,875 | (3,300 | ) | (1,425 | ) |
TOTAL FUNDS | ( |
) | (2,223 | ) |
Comparatives for movement in funds |
Net |
movement | At |
At 1.4.21 | in funds | 31.3.22 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 2,054 | (1,233 | ) | 821 |
Restricted funds |
Near-Middle East | 3,318 | 1,113 | 4,431 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 5,372 | (120 | ) | 5,252 |
STRONG VOICES |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 |
8. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Movement |
resources | expended | in funds |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 14,197 | (15,430 | ) | (1,233 | ) |
Restricted funds |
Near-Middle East | 32,910 | (31,797 | ) | 1,113 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 47,107 | (47,227 | ) | (120 | ) |
9. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |
The value of the services that the CEO gave to the charity was estimated at £7,200 (2022 £7,200). |