The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 November 2023.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charitable company's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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).
The objects of the charitable company are to promote equality and diversity for the public benefit.
in particular we aim to achieve this by
- the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation;
- advancing education and raising awareness in equality; and
- diversity in respect of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
The activities undertaken include conducting and/or commissioning research on equality and diversity issues and publishing the useful results to the public, and cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. As well as promoting human rights (as set out in the universal declaration of human rights and subsequent united nations conventions and declarations) and particularly the rights and freedoms of those who face discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charitable company should undertake.
We have engaged with a wide range of people in order to promote equality and eliminate discrimination.
At the end of 2022 we began work on our LGB Archive, an important project that will not only document our history as an organisation, but also preserve the history of LGB people and the gay rights movement. To begin this we made the first film in a series titled ‘Our Heroes’ which focussed on the prominent gay rights activist Fred Sargeant.
At the beginning of the year, we continued our work to make not only the UK but the world as better place for LGB people.
In January we secured a major victory in the case of Fedotova & Others v. Russia, brought by three same-sex couples who were unable to marry or otherwise register their relationships, the 17-judge Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ruled (by 14 to 3) that Russia must create a “legal framework” for same-sex couples, similar to the UK’s Civil Partnership Act 2004.
We also wrote a formal complaint to the President of the UN Human Rights Council, endorsed by many other groups & individuals internationally, about the conduct of Independent Expert for SOGI and his pursuit of his own agenda instead of his mandate.
Closer to home we successfully petitioned the UK government to intervene on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill as this would greatly impact lesbian, gay and bisexual people. This formed part of our national campaign that culminated in the ‘Lesbian Not Criminal’ tour that saw us run events in Edinburgh, Cardiff and London.
In March we successfully launched our Core Supporter programme to offer more to those who give regularly. As part of this programme our supporters receive exclusive content, events and policy briefings.
During this time we wrote to Minister of State for Development and Africa to express horror at Uganda's crackdown on homosexuality.
Also in March we held the premiere of our short film, Very British Gays, which focused on the changing lives of gay men throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
In April we launched our Student Network following on from the success of our Friends of LGB Alliance groups. These networks have continued to grow throughout the year, with groups at 6 universities and over 20 Friends groups across the nation.
In May our CEO, Kate Barker, and co-founder and Trustee, Bev Jackson, travelled to Geneva to meet with the UK Ambassador to the UN, His Excellency Simon Manley CMG. Our co-founder and Trustee, Kate Harris, met with UN's Independent Expert for SOGI during his official visit to the UK.
In June we had our first ‘Big Night Out’ in Newcastle, social events to engage with our supporters and bring them together. We held a second event in Manchester in September. We also launched our ‘LGB Alliance presents...’ series with a live stream all about Pride.
August saw us run our LGB History Month online, which proved to be very popular. This was a series of posts, videos and live streams across platforms to highlight significant cultural and historical moments and figures.
We also ran a successful ‘Save Our Spaces’ campaign to reinstate a regular social event run by one of our supporters after it had been cancelled for her stating it was for lesbian only.
In September we launched a large-scale survey to our supporters on the commonplace language now used to describe them. We produced a report from the data gathered which was launched as our ‘Don’t Call Me Queer’ campaign at our annual conference, calling for the government to provide specific representation and support for same-sex attracted people.
In October we ran our third national Conference that was open to the general public and attended by over 600 people. For this event we also offered a number of free tickets to those who could not afford to purchase their own.
We supported individuals who contacted us, either by engaging directly or by passing their query to other organisations that could help. Importantly, we provided a source of community and support to those who told us they felt isolated. We responded to a steady stream of people who wrote to thank us, to offer support and/or to request advice.
This year we continued to meet with politicians, academics, artists, journalists and healthcare professionals to make them fully aware of our work and we campaigned on a range of issues from international homophobia to the impact of language on LGB people whilst continuing our work on the proposed reforms to the Gender Recognition Act, and proposals to ban two different kinds of “conversion practices”, which would have directly impacted the rights of LGB people.
We attended many meetings and conferences throughout the year including political party conferences, LGBT AGGP meetings and grassroots conference and events to engage with attendees and discuss our work.
We have continued to grow our supporter base and engage with them regularly through our monthly newsletter.
We are satisfied that this, and the range of other activities we have delivered, demonstrate that we have been effective in promoting the rights and freedoms of those who face discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. We look forward to continuing to build on these activities.
The financial results are set out in the following statement of financial activities. The year ended 30 November 2023 shows a net deficit on funds amounting to £105,084 (2022 - surplus of £96,555) giving the charitable company total reserves of £17,568 (2022 - £122,652) to be used in furtherance of its charitable objects.
The in-year deficit was expected due to some of the donations that were accounted for in 2022 year being received in order to be applied towards expenditure within the 2023 year,. At the end of the 2023 year the charity reserves returned to a base foundation which will allow the charity to push forward into the 2024 year.
Given the charitable company has only been established for a short period of time, the Trustees are pleased with how the charitable company has been performing financially and are keen to see its reserves grow in the periods to come.
It is the policy of the charitable company that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charitable company’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The organisation is a company limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 28 November 2019. The organisation was awarded charitable status on 20 April 2021.
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 were:
All trustees are appointed following rigorous interviews based on the guidance issued by the Charity Commission.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
LGB Alliance consists of eight Trustees / Directors, one Chief Executive Office, six voluntary policy team members, one Head of Operations, one freelance Fundraising Co-ordinator, one voluntary Press Officer, one freelance digital marketer and up to 14 volunteers who assist with our social media, shop, website, research, events and fundraising.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of LGB Alliance for the 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 to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
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 estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company 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 charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of LGB Alliance (the charitable company) for the year ended 30 November 2023.
As the trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charitable 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 the charitable company’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
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 that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charitable company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements 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
the financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
LGB Alliance is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Fergusson House, 124-128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charitable company, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)". The charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charitable company has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charitable company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charitable company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charitable company has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory
requirements of the charity and include the audit or independent examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charitable company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charitable company's balance sheet when the charitable company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charitable company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charitable company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charitable company’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Grants receivable
Conference and Events Income
Merchandise Sales
Merchandise costs
Conference and events costs
Administration support costs
Insurance costs
Premises, office and IT costs
Helpline costs
Travel and accomodation costs
General expenses
Legal and professional costs
Bank charges and other finance costs
Governance Costs
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year, but 2 of them were reimbursed a total of £6,222 expenses (2022- 7 were reimbursed £10,214).
Details as follows:
2 Trustees - £6,103 Travelling and Accommodation expenses
1 Trustee - £119 General expenses
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
The National Lottery grant was to fund the setting up of a helpline.
The Legal Expense Fund was to receive donations to fund legal fees incurred by the charity.
The Hadley Trust was to assist with Crowdfunding legal campaigns.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).