GRANBY_COMMUNITY_MENTAL_H - Accounts

The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2020.

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 charity's memorandum and articles of association, as updated on 14 March 2019, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).

The overall aim of the Granby Community Mental Health Group, widely known as Mary Seacole House, is to provide services to local people who are experiencing mental illness. The area in which GCMHG operates has a high black and racial minority population and the Group's client base and range of services reflect this.

In this context the objectives of Mary Seacole House are:

• To provide an informal multi-racial mental health charity and resource service in Liverpool where people experiencing mental health problems can find support.

• To act as a resource for other mental health services and people interested in mental health services.

• To help service users achieve their maximum potential for independent living by developing effective coping skills and provide supportive networks.

• To actively seek to involve members of the BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic, Refugees) communities.

We have referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will continue to the aims and objectives they have set.

Achievements and events

April 2019 – March 2020

Fundraising / donations

Community Workers from Tesco Park Road donated a hamper for our raffle.

Lush Ltd, Liverpool donated surplus stock for us to distribute to our service users & the local community, products were available at our fundraiser.

We raised £286 from our fundraiser selling cakes, paintings, their untold stories books, and raffle tickets.

National Diversity Awards raised £986 from donations at their ceremony evening.

Our Operations Manager – Reihana Bashir, Health & Wellbeing Coordinator – Julie Roberts, Assistant Administrator – Vanessa Banim and Board Member – Michelle O’Dwyer all ran the legendary Liverpool Scouse 5K!! Big thanks to all our ladies for smashing their target and raising an incredible £1,421 for service users Christmas activities.

Councillor Nathalie Nicholas donated gifts which we used for prizes at our Bingo session.

Babylon Grill Smithdown Road donated lunch for our staff & volunteers Christmas get together thanks to our volunteer, Ahmed.

Kemi Otubu (previous colleague) donated gifts to be used at our next fundraiser.

Bundobust Bold Street Restaurant announced that they had chosen us to be their quarterly charity partnership and £1 from every purchase of their Bhaji Butty will be donated to Mary Seacole House.

Training

Liverpool City College (LCC) Level 1 and Level 2 Interpreting Course.

Eduk8 – We have awarded many certificates for First Aid, Dementia Awareness, Diabetes Awareness, Food Hygiene Level 2, Health and Safety, and Nutrition Level 2.

Advocacy Peer Mentoring Program - two of our service users completed the training programme.

Digital Champion – some of our service users completed the programme and are now supporting us.

Citizens Advice Bureau – some of our service users became volunteers for the service.

Events

Our Patron, Protasia Torkington was interviewed by Ngunan Adamu for the BBC Upfront radio show talking about Their Untold Stories "the book of many authors".

We held an Easter Coffee Morning for service users enjoying nibbles, games & raffle.

We acknowledged Mental Health Awareness Week at our men & women’s group with information on the theme ‘Be Body Kind’ discussing the cultural differences around body ideals & how discrimination based on physical appearance effects our Mental Health.

We acknowledged the campaign '#YouMeUs' by holding a forum with service users to discuss Mental Health in the black community, they spoke about the cultural barriers they faced when trying to access help early on and their experiences of inequalities in the system.

We held an information stall at LCVS’ Volunteer Fair in St Georges Hall showcasing our volunteering opportunities. We recruited two new volunteers from this event.

We held a Get Together for Volunteers Week with new and old volunteers enjoying a lovely sandwich lunch & nibbles with staff. Each volunteer received a thank you certificate.

Operations Manager, Reihana Bashir, Advocacy Development Officer, Simon Torkington & Trustee, Michelle O'Dwyer met with Mick Coyle to talk about our work on Radio City Talk’s Mental Health Monday’s show.

National Diversity Awards announced that Mary Seacole House would be their supported charity for 2019.

Service users attended Knowsley Safari Park for their yearly coach trip. They enjoyed the drive through safari and afterwards explored the foot safari and attended the seal and birds of prey show.

We held an information stall at John Archer Hall’s Community Fun Day selling paintings and their untold stories book.

We acknowledged World Suicide Prevention Day by holding an information stall at Brownlow Princes GP Surgery for their Community Wellbeing Day.

We attended Care Community Culture’s event launching their training tools for care homes & care providers thanks to funding from DEEP UK. The project aims to bring culturally appropriate food to Dementia care patients.

We attended James Place UK to meet their new Executive Director and to celebrate their new volunteer mentoring program.

Acknowledging World Mental Health Day, we held a Wellness Day thanks to funding from LCVS Community Impact Fund. There were talks from professionals highlighting; emotional, physical, social, environmental, financial, and intellectual wellness. 70 attendees enjoyed exercise taster sessions, health lunch and raffle. After the event we had 6 weeks of free chair-based exercise classes. The classes were very successful, we had a total of 45 attendees over the 6-week period. Throughout the sessions our youngest attendee was 22 and our oldest was 94.

We were interviewed by Jermaine from BBC Radio Merseyside he came to hear about the fantastic work we do every day.

We held our Christmas celebration and all members thoroughly enjoyed traditional Christmas dinner from ‘Eat up Gud’ we had a DJ and disco.

We held our Christmas Fun Day and service users enjoyed games, scouse lunch and raffle.

We held a Christmas party for our weekly art class and service users had a lovely buffet lunch.

Saturday Group service users attended Bon Pan Asian restaurant for Christmas lunch.

BME Family Service had their holiday celebration meal at East z East

We acknowledged Brew Monday at our art class with mental health information for service users.

Chair of Trustees, Jannine Antigha organised our team development day.

Louis Emerick agreed to become a Patron for Mary Seacole House.

We held an information stall at Fire Fit Hub for their Body, Mind & Soul Wellness Fair.

Impact of COVID 19 on charitable activities

We announced that sadly due to new government advice regarding Corona Virus we suspended all our group activities until further notice.

We acknowledged International Day of Happiness by sharing some wonderful artwork produced by our service users and encouraging people to get creative at home.

We encouraged people to stay fit and healthy at home by sharing some of our chair-based exercise video clips on social media.

Staff were keeping connected and sharing information with service users via telephone calls, text messages, what’s app, and social media posts.

Throughout the year we have also been provided free tickets to Leap into music events and the Liverpool Philharmonic.

Following government advice regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), Granby Community Mental Health Group - Mary Seacole House had to close all offices until further notice and suspend all group activities, training days and face to face contact with service users and families.

Some of the staff team were furloughed but all are back now and working from home.

The initial first weeks of lockdown were spent getting in touch with all clients helping them to fully understand the risks associated with Covid-19 and why changes had to be made to our services.

To try and alleviate the anxiety and stress for our most vulnerable, and try to ensure that their mental health does not suffer, the staff team have continued to work with them by keeping regular contact by phone and via email, advising on the importance of following the latest government guidance and also the importance of remaining within the safety of their own homes whenever possible.

Many of our service users rely on our group activities as this is the only contact, they will have with others, sadly for some isolation and loneliness could result in the deterioration of their mental health. We are hoping that we can lessen this by continuing to provide vital emotional and where possible practical support and by continuing to work alongside other agencies and services, keeping up to date with the latest assistance and virtual activities available within our communities via email, phone and social media and ensuring that we are able to continue online communication, exercise classes, games, chats, etc.

Staff are utilising video calls on WhatsApp and Imo for those who like human face-to-face contact. WhatsApp and Imo are used a lot with BAMER communities as they can contact family members who live abroad. Mary Seacole House also have a presence on social media including Facebook and Twitter to keep service users and agencies involved and informed on what we are doing and providing.

Returning to building based work

When we feel that it is safe to make the transition back to our offices, we will need to assess if and how this would work in practical terms. Fortunately for us we have been able to identify an organisation who will be carrying out a ‘Professional Risk Assessment’ on our buildings. On completion of the assessment we will receive a report detailing how we may or may not move forward. The welfare of our staff and clients is of the utmost importance and we must be confident that the way we move forward is the most safe and appropriate for all.

We understand that this is an extremely difficult time for us all and especially those already experiencing severe mental illnesses, but we continue to do our best to deliver our necessary services.

The total income for the year was £323,039 (2019: £304,728). The total expenditure for the year was £361,364 (2019: £336,035) giving rise to an overall deficit of £38,325 (2019: deficit of £31,307) consisting of a deficit of £41,325 on the unrestricted funds and a surplus of £3,000 on the restricted funds.

Reserves policy

It is the policy of the charitable company to establish and maintain unrestricted funds which are not committed, invested or designated to a specific service. Unrestricted funds not designated are grants, other income or donations which have and can be used freely and allow the trustees the freedom to work to achieve their objectives in whatever way they think is best without any funder restriction or conditions attached. Unrestricted funds usually go toward the operating expenses of the organisation or to a specific service.

Total funds carried forward at 31 March 2020 were £285,288 and of these, £17,000 were restricted funds and £145,489 were designated funds. The designated fund is to cover staff redundancies and other closure costs in the event that the charitable company has to cease operating. Free reserves amount to £62,750 (2019: £110,931). The target for free reserves is 20% - 30% of current expenditure, which is £70,000 - £104,000 based on unrestricted expenditure in the year ended 31 March 2020. The trustees are looking at ways to increase free reserves.

Risk policy

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:

The directors of the company are also charity trustees. For the purpose of Charity Law and under the company's Articles of Association trustees are also known as members of the Management Committee.

All current trustees will strive to identify good candidates for trusteeship and appoint new trustees on merit. All trustees participate in relevant induction, training and development activities. In order to maintain broad skill mix, members of the management committee provide a list of skill. If a particular skill is lost due to retirement, individuals are approached to offer themselves for election.

Small company provisions

The report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

The trustees, who are also the directors of Granby Community Mental Health Group 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 charity 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 charity 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 charity 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.

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Granby Community Mental Health Group (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2020.

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for my examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.

As the trustees of the charity (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 charity 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 charity’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.

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

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 charity 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.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2020.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the 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 company.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Granby Community Mental Health Group is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 91 Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool, L8 7LB.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity's memorandum and articles of association, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity 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 charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The accounts have been prepared on the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity 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 accounts.

Following a detailed assessment by the Management Team and Board of Trustees and given the level of funds held, it is still appropriate for 2020 accounts to be filed on a going concern basis. 

Restricted funds are used for the purposes specified by the donor. Expenditure which meets the criteria is identified to the fund. The trustees have considered the treatment of funds as restricted and have reclassified certain contracts as unrestricted.

Unrestricted funds are donations and any other income received or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as separate funds.

Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Donations, legacies and other forms of voluntary income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity 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 is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

Grants, including grants for the purchase of fixed assets, are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are receivable.

Expenditure reflects all amounts paid and accrued during the year. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, support costs are apportioned on an appropriate basis.

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 represent costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the independent examination fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include staff salaries, premises and other costs which support the charity's activities. These costs have been allocated to expenditure on charitable activities. The basis on which support costs have been allocated is set out in note 6.

Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

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.

The charity 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 charity's balance sheet when the charity 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 receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

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 charity’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 charity 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.

Taxation

The charity benefits from various exemptions from taxation afforded by tax legislation and is not liable to corporation tax on income or gains falling within those exemptions. The charity is not able to recover Value Added Tax. Expenditure is recorded in the accounts inclusive of VAT.

In the application of the charity’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

Mental health services

Grants received

Mental health services

Staff development and travel

Project costs

Premises costs

Office costs

Miscellaneous

Bank charges

Support and governance costs are allocated to charitable activities.

Governance costs includes payments to the accountants of £1,100 (2019 - £1,100) for independent examination fees and £2,251 (2019 - £2,236) for accountancy services.

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year (2019: none).

During the year there were no trustees' expenses (2019: none).

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

The Designated Fund is to cover staff redundancies and other closure costs in the event that the charitable company has to cease operating.

Granby Community Mental Health Group is incorporated under the Companies Act as a company limited by guarantee. The liability of the members is limited to £1.

The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.

There were no other related party transactions during the year.