www.vcatrafford.org Registered Charity No. 1098222 / Company No. 4399868

Trustees Report

and Financial

Statements

for the year

October 1 2012 to September 30 2013

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Report & Financial Statements October 2012 – September 2013

1

Contents

Page

Legal and Administrative Details

2

Report of the Directors / Trustees:

Structure, governance and management 3

Objectives and Activities 4

Achievements and Performance 5-16

Financial Review 17

Plans for the Future 17

Appreciation 18

Directors’ responsibilities 19

Independent Examiner’s Report 20 Statement of Financial Activities 21 Balance Sheet 22 Notes to the Financial Statements 23-28

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Report & Financial Statements October 2012 – September 2013

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Trustees and Directors

Sub-Committee

Ralph Rudden (Chair) (T)(F) Christine Aspinall (Vice Chair) (T)(F) Joan Ball (T)(F) Joanne Bennett Philip Gratrix Victor Holding Eddie Kelson (T) Mark Nesbitt Jacki Wilkinson (T)(F)

Company Secretary

David Nunns to September 2013

Members of Staff

Dave Nunns Chief Executive to September 2013 (T)(F) Rose Thompson Office Manager (T)(F) Bernie Connor Community Development Worker Jackie Stott Trafford Mental Health Advocate Muriel Howarth Payroll Administrator Aly Gell Trafford Mental Health Advocate to July 2013 Carol Walmsley Trafford Mental Health Advocate from July 2013 Ruth Walkden LINk Manager to June 2013 Lynsey Cottle Community Engagement Worker to January 2013 Craig Almond Support Worker to February 2013 Sarah Atta HealthWatch & 50+ Support Worker to July 2013 Marilyn Murray HealthWatch Development Worker to September 2013 Adam Webb HealthWatch Communications to September 2013 Eve Volunteer for TMHAS

Registered Office

Park House 73 Northenden Road Sale Cheshire M33 2DG

Independent Examiners & Accountants

Chittenden Horley Limited Chartered Accountants : Charity Specialists 456 Chester Road Old Trafford Manchester M61 9HD

Bankers Sub Committees

The Royal Bank of Scotland 14-16 The Mall Sale Manchester M33 1XZ

Finance (F) Task Group (T)

Charity number 1098222 Company number 4399868

Legal and Administrative Details

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

3

Governing Document

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated March 20 2002, as amended by special resolution to change the name of the charity dated June 5 2003. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The Directors have the power to admit any constituted voluntary or community group or individual to membership and also have the power to remove members. There are currently around 500 members of the company, a limited number of whom have agreed to contribute a sum not exceeding £1 in the event of the charity being wound up. Trustees may permit any member to retire provided that after such retirement the number of members is not less than two.

Appointment of Directors and Trustees

The Directors, who are the Trustees, are appointed by the members at the annual general meeting and are collectively known as the VCAT Board. At each AGM, one third of the Directors retire by rotation, being the longest in office. They are eligible for re-election. Other than a retiring trustee, the only people eligible for election as trustees are those either nominated by the Board or by a member giving not less than 7 and not more than 28 clear days’ notice of the intention to propose a person for election. The Charity, by ordinary resolution, or the Trustees, may appoint a person who is willing to act, to fill a vacancy, providing that a Trustee so appointed shall hold office only until the next AGM. The Trustees who served during the year, together with any changes up to the date of approving this report are listed on page 1.

Trustee recruitment, induction and

training

VCAT has a recruitment and induction policy which includes all new Trustees, involving skills

and knowledge. VCAT has no specific policy for Trustee Training, but training opportunities and governance information is forwarded to Trustees.

Organisation

The Board, which must not be less than three members and not more than nine, administers the Charity and meets as necessary, usually 10 times a year. There are sub-committees which meet more regularly and report to the full Board. The day to day operations of the Charity are the responsibility of the Chief Executive, Dave Nunns, to whom the Trustees have delegated authority for operational matters including finance, employment and development, within the overall strategy agreed by the Board of Trustees.

Risk management

The Board has undertaken a review of the major risks to which the company is exposed and established systems and processes to mitigate those risks. The major financial risks facing the charity are – changes in funding streams, sustainability of projects and changes in local and government policy. Risks to funding are considered as part of the business planning process. The sustainability of projects is to be mitigated by consistent dialogue with partners and funders. Each project has its own business and strategic plan. Internal risks are mitigated by processes that are accountable and monitored. Such procedures are reviewed to ensure the company meets its legal and operational objectives.

Public benefit

The trustees annually review the membership of the organisation and the objectives within the memorandum. This review also looks at the services offered by the charity and the benefits to the public. The trustees have referred to the guidance of the charity commission and in the context of planning future activities to ensure they contribute to the aims and objectives of the organisation. The trustees will refer to the public benefit test against the aims and objectives of the charity and in relation to the specific services the charity offers the public in Trafford.

Structure, Governance and Management

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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The Charity’s objectives, as described in the VCAT Memorandum and Articles of Association are: VCAT aims to develop an effective and highly skilled voluntary and community sector, capable of making a strong contribution towards a fair and open society in Trafford. Benefits: As a result of our work, VCAT Members:

Objectives and Activities

To promote for the benefit of the community in Trafford any charitable purpose, in particular the advancement of education, furtherance of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress

To promote and organise co-operation in the achievement of the above, in particular bringing together representatives of statutory authorities and voluntary organisations

To promote, for the public benefit, urban regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation in Trafford

To develop the capacity and skills of members of the socially and / or economically disadvantaged communities in Trafford, in such a way that they are better able to identify and help to meet their needs and to participate more fully in society

To achieve this, VCAT:

Supports over 500 members drawn from across the diversity of Trafford's Third Sector.

Provides support to our members to assist their resilience, sustainability and their organisational development. This includes fundraising, income diversification, HR advice, constitutions and governance, social enterprise and charity formation and the co-ordination of the local voluntary sector.

Works with new and existing organisations whom seek to address social needs, challenge inequality and promote the sector.

Identifies gaps in the provision of services and work with other agencies to develop a new service or encourages an existing agency to extend its services.

Joins voluntary organisations together to discuss issues of common concern and to avoid duplication of effort.

Brings voluntary, statutory and other agencies together to encourage inter-sector cooperation and involvement in co-production, service delivery and planning, amenities and facilities.

Seeks to represent the views and consults with the wider voluntary sector when appropriate to ensure valid representation at strategic and policy planning level.

Aims to create and sustain opportunities for broader voluntary sector representation.

Provides information and support to enable and empower voluntary sector organisations to represent themselves.

Access a range of development support from VCAT and other service providers

Receive information about current local and national developments

Access a wide range of funding opportunities and sources via the VCAT’s Funding Portal

Are able to access tailored, specialist 1-2-1 support with funding/tendering/resource applications

Benefits from networking, sharing good practice, expertise and/or resources etc.

Works more collaboratively with other agencies and, where relevant, form partnerships or consortia to address particular needs or tasks

Have genuinely accountable members involved on key local strategic initiatives.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Transforming Local Infrastructure

In July 2011, VCAT led on the development of a local partnership This partnership successfully applied to ‘Transforming Local Infrastructure’ (TLI) and was awarded a contract over 18 months. VCAT was working in partnership with BlueSCI, Greater Manchester Volunteering, Trafford Housing Trust, Trafford Volunteer Centre, Trafford College, Trafford Council and Trafford Community Leisure Trust to improve the way that we work collectively to support and develop the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Our proposals focus around the theme of ‘Releasing the Potential’; enabling the sector to play a key role in Trafford's future as an independent and innovative force, delivering services and identifying innovative solutions to the design of future services. Together TLI partners were supported to deliver 13 separate interventions and we are pleased to report that all 13 interventions were successfully delivered and achieved their desired outcomes. Indeed, VCAT and its partners were congratulated by Big Lottery, who were able to sign off our final report, without any further correspondence or queries. The full Trafford TLI report is available by request. However, some notable consequences for Trafford Third Sector following this investment are as follows: A bespoke Trafford VCS Health Check and assessment toolkit has been created and is being maintained, promoted and supported through Thrive, (Trafford Council's Third Sector Infrastructure Development and Support Service). This toolkit is aimed at voluntary, community, faith based organisations and social enterprises to become fit for purpose, more sustainable and better able to deliver quality services.

The State of the Sector report (see below) underlined the need to improve the visibility, presence and voice of the VCS in Trafford through the creation of a ‘VCS Assembly’. After an initial development meeting/launch in September 2013, VCAT have committed resources in the further development and sustainability of the VCS Assembly. The VCS Assembly is supported by TMBC’s Strong Communities Board as part of their Voice and Representation approach. (Read more about the VCS Assembly below.) TLI supported the My-Choice Marketplace consortium which has been established by our TLI Partners, BlueSCI to provide free opportunities for 3rd sector organisations to market their services and access the reconfiguration of social and healthcare service under the personalisation and public services reform agenda. Since June 2012, Partington Library and Wellbeing centre, Old Trafford Wellbeing Centre and more recently, the Broomwood Community and Wellbeing centre has seen these local venues transformed into local community hubs. Supported by our TLI partners, BlueSCI, have supported local groups to access funding to provide wellbeing services, support and advice within in these centres. TLI funded the Releasing Business Potential inititaive, which aimed to increase involvement of the private sector in supporting local communities through targeting engagement and coordinating business support to increase mentoring, professional development, skill sharing, corporate social responsibility and employee volunteering. Our TLI partner, Trafford Housing Trust worked very hard to sucessfully deliver this package of support and continues to support and resource the programme.

Achievements and Performance

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Trafford State of the Voluntary

Sector Research

During the year VCAT, along with other infrastructure support groups in Greater Manchester helped with the research which went into a report produced by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. The report has revealed the true social and economic impact of the voluntary sector in Trafford. The overall findings concluded that in Trafford there are 1336 community and voluntary organisation, co-operatives and social enterprises. 88% of these are local groups or micro organisations with an annual income of less than £10,000 per annum and run almost entirely by volunteers. Other findings included:

o The total income of the voluntary sector in Trafford is £65 million (financial year 2011-2012)

Commenting on the report, Ian Wilson stated:“ It’s clear from our research that the voluntary sector in Trafford is varied and important to the lives of its residents. Our report highlights many impressive markers of the sector’s economic and social impact, for instance, it plays an important role in promoting growth and supporting those in need of assistance. However caution is required: the sector is faced with increased demand but continues to be affected by the economy and public sector cuts”. The report is part of a wider study into the voluntary sector across Greater Manchester. For more information about the Greater Manchester research www.gmcvo.org.uk/true-state-greater-manchesters-voluntary-sector-revealed-new-report. For more information on the Trafford research, visit www.vcatrafford.org/trafford-state-voluntary-sector.

o 83,700 volunteering hours were logged each week

o £75million is the value of volunteer contribution

o 1700 employees within the sector are 27,000 individuals have volunteered

o 1,700 full time paid staff The Chief Executive of VCAT at the time, Dave Nunns, concluded: “VCAT were keen to produce reliable, statistically significant and current data on the state of the sector in Trafford and to identify the key issues affecting the sector. The impression that leapt out at me was of a strong grass-roots movement which makes an impressive contribution to Trafford both socially and economically, and is resilient and responsive in the face of current difficulties. We must not assume however that it is indestructible”.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Information and Guidance

This year VCAT produced 6 bi-monthly newsletters and 12 monthly email bulletins that were distributed to over 900 people across the VCS and public sector. The newsletters and bulletins contain a range of news and events from VCAT, its member organisations, as well as news from partner organisations in the statutory sector across Greater Manchester that are of benefit to local Trafford groups including details of funding opportunities, training courses, and consultations.

VCAT began to tweet in 2011, providing regular updates of interest to the sector to over 1,400 followers to date. Keep up to date by following us @VCAT_Trafford.

We have 115 friends on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/vcatrafford.

www.vcatrafford.org Our website not only has the link to the Trafford Funding Portal but

has lots of guide sheets and information for the voluntary sector in Trafford. There is a search facility which anyone can use to search for local community groups. All our training and events are listed on the site and we have an online booking facility.

To date our website attracts an average of 1389 visitors per month who between them make 3655 page views. 61% of these visitors were brand new to the site.

We post all our video content onto a dedicated YouTube page.

http://www.youtube.com/user/VCATrafford

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Training, workshops, networking and events

During the 12 months, VCAT delivered over 24 training and networking events: Level 1 Safeguarding Children Training Reaching Communities Workshop Managing & Motivating volunteers Awards for All Workshop Launch of Trafford's State of the Sector Report Getting Ready for Volunteers & Recruiting & Selecting 10 Ways to Get 10 Grand Minute Taking Managing & Motivating Volunteers Voluntary Sector Legal Structures Trafford Volunteer Managers Disclosure and Barring Service Information Funding and Support Workshop

Safeguarding Children Managing Successful Meetings Introduction to Fundraising Book Keeping for Beginners Volunteer Managers Forum Getting to Grips with Twitter Trafford Volunteer Coordinators' bi monthly meeting Joining the dots - The future of integrated care in Trafford The Voluntary Sector and the PCC- Information Share It, Swap It, Do It! Trafford Social Media

Quotes taken from the satisfaction surveys

“Glad to gain

support

surrounding child

protection”

“Excellent training and

advice on how to effectively

approach recruiting and

selecting volunteers”

“It will enable me to

hold similar training

sessions for our

volunteers”

“I found the day extremely

beneficial. Disseminated a

large amount of information

with clarity and knowledge.

The practical exercises were

hugely beneficial in

consolidating ideas and

provoking others!”

“A useful opportunity to listen

and think about grant

applications, and access to

available funding.

“Time is very limited when

working hands on therefore

finding time out to think/listen is

very valuable / worthwhile”

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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FASNET is a network of voluntary & community sector (VCS) groups working with children, young people and families in Trafford. We aim to raise the profile and influence of voluntary sector groups with statutory sector partners, provide support and training for our members and celebrate the positive contribution of the voluntary and community sector to the lives of children, young people and their families in Trafford. The FASNET project continued into 2012-2013 in a much reduced state due to no funding for the project for this and the previous years. However, due to the demand from those organisations involved in children, young people and family work we continue to provide the following: Information & Networking FASNET held regular meetings during 2012 -2013 where statutory sector and voluntary sector organisations updated each other on their

activities and discussed policy issues affecting children, young people, and families. FASNET published a bi-monthly newsletter and a regular email bulletin, which contained updates on policy, funding and other relevant matters. Training FASNET organised training courses for members and worked with Trafford Children & Young People's Service (CYPS) and Trafford Safeguarding Children Board to provide access for VCS groups to their training programmes. Representing the Sector FASNET identified opportunities for voluntary sector groups to be represented at a strategic level both locally and regionally, raising the profile of the sector with our statutory sector partners and providing a chance to feedback upon and

influence local policy decisions.

Community Development in Sale West

In addition to the general support and development to the voluntary and community sector across Trafford, VCAT managed a specific project on behalf of the Sale West and Ashton Partnership (SWAP). Thanks to funding from the Strategic Health Authority, VCAT have been able to work with SWAP partners on a series of initiatives aimed at unlocking local community assets. Specifically VCAT have administered a small grants scheme for the area awarding grants of up

to £500 to local groups such as Sale West Urban Trust, Sale West Playgroup, St Martins Community Association, Firs Primary School, Sale West and Ashton Newsletter and Friends of Dainewell Park. We have also supported a number of community events, the local community newsletter and the re-development of the computer suite within the community centre.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Partnership and Strategic Working

VCAT continued to undertake significant work with strategic partners within the public and voluntary sectors both here in Trafford and wider across Greater Manchester. VCAT continued to play a key role with the Trafford Partnership (Trafford’s Local Strategic Partnership), VCAT’s Chair and Chief Executive held places on the Executive and played active roles on the Development Working Group, Stronger Communities Partnership and Diverse Communities Forum. Staff also held places of key groups such as the Most Violent and Serious Crime Group and JSNA Steering Group. In VCAT’s role as host organisation for Trafford LINk VCAT staff and LINk members have been involved in a wide range health initiatives. LINk are also involved in the establishment of the new Health and Wellbeing Board for Trafford. In working with colleagues across Greater Manchester, VCAT Chief Executive held a seat on the board of GMCVO and staff were active within the Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support Steering Group and Greater Manchester

BME Network, Funding Information Group and Information Officers Group. VCAT continues to lead the work of the Greater Manchester Funding Portal.

VCAT has worked in partnership with Citizens Advice Trafford, Trafford Centre for Independent Living (CIL), Age UK Trafford, Trafford Carers Centre, Trafford Law Centre and Stephensons Solicitors to submit a joint bid to the Big Lottery fund. The project is called Trafford Advice Project Plus (TAP), there will be three workers employed on the project

working between all the partners. Recruitment for two of the roles occurred in September 2013, with expected start dates to be October 2013. One of the roles, Marketing and Communications Coordinator will be hosted by VCAT and will be for a fixed term of two years.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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The Assembly

VCAT held the first Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly in September 2013. Charities, community groups, third sector and faith organisations joined together for VCAT’s first meeting to discuss proposals for a voluntary assembly in Trafford. Different boroughs across Greater Manchester have already established VCS assemblies and this first VCAT meeting was a consultation to establish whether this would be a better opportunity for the third sector in Trafford to have their voice heard.

The day was a great success with nearly 100 guests turning up to show their overwhelming support for the proposals put in place by VCAT. The day included key speakers from Trafford’s third sector: Mark Nesbitt (VCAT Interim CEO), Roger Sutton (Chair of Stronger Communities Partnership), and Dave Nunns (Former CEO of VCAT). The day was facilitated by Christine Aspinall of the St John’s Centre. The event included two interactive workshops. This first was to determine what the attendees thought were the priority issues for Trafford’s third sector.

Key themes that emerged were:

Funding

Access to volunteers

Increased demand vs decreased resources

Lack of profile for the VCS

Welfare Reform/Poverty The second workshop was to determine how the attendees suggested the assembly should be organised. Ideas and suggestions included:

A ‘Big Meeting’ twice a year. Sub groups to meet more often if necessary.

Who should be allowed to join? Conversations took place with assembly members suggesting who should join.

Are steering groups necessary? It was suggested that steering groups made up of diverse groups would be appropriate.

Support for organisations to take part. For more information on the VCAT assembly and steering groups, or find out how to get involved, contact VCAT: Tel: 0161 872 8563 email: mailto:assembly@vcatrafford.org.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Greater Manchester Funding Portal

In 2011 VCAT became the lead agency in the development of the Greater Manchester Funding Portal www.GMFunding.net a free to use searchable database of funding opportunities and sources of help and advice for frontline groups across the whole of Greater Manchester

Trafford’s Funding Portal is funded by VCAT and is offered free of charge to Trafford’s Third Sector. The portal holds over 5,000 different funding opportunities and is updated on a daily basis.

The Portal also has a Local Support section which includes: • A list of local funding opportunities specifically for Trafford residents and communities.

• Information to support applications

The Funding Portal is a partnership project led by VCAT, and also includes Bolton CVS, Manchester Community Central, Voluntary Action Oldham, CVS Rochdale, Salford CVS, Anchorpoint Stockport, Community Voluntary Action Tameside and Wigan & Leigh CVS.

The funding portal costs £15,372 per year. VCAT leads on this initiative and in partnership with the other 8 Greater Manchester infrastructure organisations who also share in the cost. Hundreds of groups from Trafford are registered and use the portal every year to access funding opportunities.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Trafford Mental Health Advocacy Service

Trafford Mental Health Advocacy Service (TMHAS) enables people who use mental health services in Trafford to get their voice heard. It helps people exercise and defend their rights and enable them to get their point of view across. TMHAS do not act as an advice service but if people need advice for example, with debt or housing issues, they will support them in getting the specialist help they need. TMHAS offers services to people living in the community as well as patients within hospital settings. This 12 month period has been positive in terms of the maintaining the quality of our service for clients in both community and hospital settings and we aimed to focus community case-work on short term basis to allow greater access for more clients. We continued to offer outside appointments and feel that under the pressure of welfare reforms there will be more demand on this part of the service in the future, in particular with supporting people at benefits tribunals. We continued to offer a service to new referrals up until 19 December 2012, but took the decision to temporarily close to new and returning clients based on funding uncertainties at that time and staff changes in relation to the community advocate reducing hours substantially from February 2013. Our achievements over the last year include the setting up of a new drop in service at The Hub in Altrincham, whilst developing and changing the services at Broome House to offer similar open access in addition to appointments. Additionally we have remained flexible and supportive to clients who are unable to leave their homes and offered home visits as required. The Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) service has continued to be very well used by hospital patients and a number of community clients qualify for this statutory part of our service. The most regular request and need for the IMHA service is clients requiring ward round support and we try at all times to meet this need, but there are times when timings are difficult and there can be delays. We receive very positive feedback from clients who value this level of support and feel they cope better in what can be

a daunting situation when they have an independent advocate to help them express their view points. TMHAS have continued utilising the valued support from TAAG (Trafford Advocacy Advisory Group), including their involvement in the recruitment to vacant advocacy posts. We also benefited from continued support from a volunteer who is undertaking a very active and integral role in the service. We acknowledge very gratefully the very positive impact she has had on the service and we hope to develop this and other volunteer roles in the future. Developments for the Future (as at September 2013): Following successfully recruiting a new community advocate who started the role in July 2013, we plan to invigorate our community advocacy service, by way of looking to provide increased access to drop-in sessions and establishing closer links with other organisations and cross referral pathways. We also began researching a proposed volunteer advocacy project. We plan to complete a feasibility study and apply for funding for the project during the coming year. We continue to liaise closely with VCAT and TMBC commissioners to secure future funding for the service being mindful of the legislative and operational changes in terms of the commissioning of IMHA services. We aim to maintain both the community and hospitals services as far as possible but will be proactive in involving our advisory group and clients in any overall changes when commissioning decisions have been made. Statistical Evidence: During the 12 month period there were over 2,000 contacts to the service with nearly 3,000 issues raised. Of these contacts 1,382 were from a community setting and 1,218 were from Moorside Psychiatric Unit. During the 12 months 141 new people used our service, 75 were men and 66 were female.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Number of people and their main issues dealt with by the advocacy service

Our Customer service When each case is closed by our service, we send out a letter giving details of how to contact us again if needed and inviting everyone to become involved in our advisory body, Trafford Advocacy Advisory Group. We also enclose a customer satisfaction survey, with a stamped addressed envelope to return to our service anonymously with comment and ratings. During the year we received 31 responses for our closed cases all of which were extremely positive

with the majority of ex-clients saying that the service had made a real and important difference to their lives in the 6 key areas we identified:- .

1. Increase in self-confidence,

2. More control of finances,

3. Improvements to where they live,

4. Better understanding of their care and

treatment,

5. More knowledge about their rights,

6. Legal issues being resolved

Example quotes from some of the customer satisfaction surveys include:-

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

“It was nice to have someone

on your side who understood

me. She accompanied me to

my psychiatric appointment

and what a fantastic difference

it made; the psychiatrist

listened.”

“It took the immense anxiety, stress

and panic away; the feeling of being

totally alone, overwhelmed and

powerless. Without the help and

support of the service, the external

problems I was dealing with

would’ve seemed beyond

endurance.”

“The problem I had was a

long term one, without the

help & support of the

advocacy service, I would

have given up.”

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Trafford LINk (to March 2013) Healthwatch Trafford (from April 2013)

Trafford LINk was an independent network of local people, made up of individuals, community groups and organisations providing an innovative way for people to get involved in shaping health and social care. The role of Trafford LINk was to gather people’s views on local health and social care services, working with the people who plan and run them to improve those services. Trafford LINk had the power to influence, make recommendations and bring about change. Changes introduced in the Health and Social Care Act saw Trafford LINk evolve into Healthwatch Trafford in April 2013. Whilst much of the LINk’s role stayed the same, there are

additions such as the provision of information and complaints procedures. Healthwatch Trafford is a completely independent organisation, set up as a company limited by guarantee. The setting up of Healthwatch Trafford was the responsibility of Trafford Council. However, to enable the seamless transition from LINk to Healthwatch as stated in the Health and Social Care Act, LINk worked with Trafford Council wherever possible. As part of the transition process a review was done on the work of LINk by TMBC. This highlighted some excellent work that has been done by Trafford LINk since its inception in 2008.

LINk Consultation event

During the time of the transition it was important for LINk to carry on with its normal activities including developing: New Health Deal for Trafford, Healthier Together, Older Peoples Services and Services for Young People. Areas of new work included Stroke Care and Trafford Voluntary Health Forum. Consultation Events LINk held a consultation event in November 2012 called “Joining the Dots”. The consultation was around the future of integrated care in Trafford. Speakers included:

Claire Heneghan – Chief Nurse Trafford Provider Services

Joanne Willmott – Joint Director of Operations, Communities and Wellbeing

Dr George Kissen - Clinical Director for transformation & reform for the Clinical Commissioning Group

In March 2013 LINk hosted a further consultation event called “A LINk to the Future”. This celebrated the successes of Trafford LINk and looked forward to the future with Healthwatch Trafford. Speakers and topics included:

Dr George Kissen (CCG) speaking about moving forward from LINk to Healthwatch

Gill Galt from Trafford Provider Services

Moving Forward with Healthwatch: Introduction to the Board with Ann Day

How to get involved with Healthwatch Trafford

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Healthwatch Trafford (HWT) from April 2013

Healthwatch Trafford is set up to:-

Provide information about health and care services in Trafford.

Enable people to share their views about Trafford’s health and social care services to help build a picture of where services are doing well and where they can be improved.

Alert Healthwatch England to concerns about specific care providers.

Participate in decision-making via local authority health and wellbeing boards.

Play an integral role in the preparation of the statutory Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and joint health and wellbeing strategies.

Provide evidence-based feedback to organisations responsible for commissioning or delivering Trafford’s health and social care services.

Help the Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (Trafford CCG) to make sure that services really are designed to meet citizens’ needs.

VCAT hosted Healthwatch during its first 6 months of operation, April to September 2013. Healthwatch are now an independent limited company and have their offices within Trafford Housing Trust’s main offices at The Point on Washway Road, Sale. We have no doubt that we shall be working closely with Healthwatch during the coming years and wish them all good luck in their new home.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Overview The charity had a surplus of unrestricted funds for the year, after transfers of £56,587. The charity has been successful in managing the downsizing of its operations in response to reductions in core funding and the project work it undertakes. This reduction in size is not without its costs in terms of the range and depth of services that can be provided to the sector and the charity remains committed to identifying funding to enable it to expand the scale of its activities to meet the needs of the voluntary sector within the borough. Reserves Policy & use of reserves The Board had previously determined that it was appropriate for free reserves (unrestricted funds not designated or invested in fixed assets) to be set at between three and six months of core resources expended (i.e. total costs less grants and direct project costs). Based on historical figures this would equate to between £105k and £210k. Free reserves at such levels would ensure where significant decreases in funding occurred the charity could commit to a strategic initiative to replace funding or manage the reduced delivery. Free reserves at September 30 2012 stood at £177,242.

The demanding financial climate will continue to deliver some stark realities for our sector, but these changing times also provides the sector and our member’s opportunities for those are able to quickly adapt and change to meet these new challenges. VCAT will continue to support our membership to be as resilient, as possible. As a membership-led organisation, the VCAT Board are keen to ensure that our current support is more focussed upon services which meets the exacting and bespoke needs of our members in these challenging times. We will be introducing new bespoke services and products, many of which have been co-produced with our members. VCAT will work in partnership with others to support the delivery of these services. For example, our new ‘Shared Space Initiative’ based at our new offices in Oakland House, Old Trafford provides opportunities to share resources, staff expertise and accommodation. It provides a template in the way that VCAT and members can share and benefit from each other. VCAT, along with many of our colleagues across Greater Manchester, is currently in the process of developing a robust strategy and business plan which will see the organisation through these difficult and challenging times. Across Greater Manchester, infrastructure support organisations have agreed to work more collaboratively to reduce duplication, be more cost effective and deliver more services. VCAT will continue to work closely with our colleagues across Greater Manchester to continue to deliver quality services in Trafford. Our Greater Manchester collaborative work links directly with other potential sources of European funding for Trafford’s VCS and Third Sector. VCAT is working hard to ensure that Trafford’s voluntary sector is able to access resources through this funding opportunity.

Plans for the Future

Financial Review

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Appreciation

Dave Nunns – Development Manager and VCAT Chief Executive VCAT would like to extend our thanks to Dave Nunns who left us this year to take up a new post with Healthwatch Wigan as their Chief Executive. Dave worked for VCAT for 12 years. In this time he worked in development and managerial roles, becoming Deputy Chief Executive in 2010 and Chief Executive in October 2012. Dave was responsible for overseeing all of VCAT's capacity building initiatives such as advice, information, and forum developments focusing on issues such as volunteering, funding, governance and quality. He supervised VCAT's work in priority neighbourhoods. This includes local partnership and community development, and was central to the development of Compact work and Community Engagement initiatives. Dave was responsible for successfully submitting three major lottery bids for VCAT and managing each project from beginning to end. VCAT is very grateful to Dave's contribution to our development and we wish him well in the next phase of his career.

Other staff that moved on due to projects coming to an end were: Ruth Walkden – Manager of LINk Marilyn Murray – LINk and Healthwatch Development Worker Lynsey Cottle – Community Engagement Worker Craig Almond – Support Worker Sarah Atta – LINk and 50+ Support Worker Adam Webb – LINk and HealthWatch Communications We are very sad that such talent and experience has been lost not only to VCAT but to Trafford as a whole. We would like to thank these staff for their dedication and hard work often in the face of difficult circumstances and we give our very best to them for the future.

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Trustees Report October 2012 – September 2013

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Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the Company and of the surplus or deficit of the Company for that period. In preparing those financial statements the Directors have:-

Selected suitable accounting policies and applied them consistently

Made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

Stated whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

Prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Small Company Provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. Approved by the directors and signed on their behalf by: Director Date: June 13 2014

Directors Responsibilities

Voluntary & Community Action Trafford Notes to the accounts for the year October 2012 – September 2013

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