Sefton CVS Impact Report & Accounts 2014

Celebrating 40 years of supporting Sefton’s voluntary, community and faith sector

@SeftonCVS

Contents

Foreword 4

Introduction 5

Strategic leadership/partnership 6

Highlights of the year 8

Support for groups 10

Civil society 12

Volunteering 14

Sefton 4 Good 15

Equalities 16

Health and wellbeing 18

Children, young people & family services 20

Community intelligence 22

Treasurer’s report 23

Financial statement 24

Balance sheet 25

Sefton CVS factfile 26 Foreword

We are experiencing a period of unprecedented change in our communities and VCF sector organisations play an even more important role holding communities together in uncertain and challenging times.

Sefton CVS has been instrumental in CVS is a vocal sector champion, the development of an extensive and representing and promoting the robust VCF sector in Sefton for 40 values, effectiveness and importance years, working with more than 1,000 of the VCF sector and the ongoing local groups each year. potential of local community activity, providing platforms through which CVS provides underpinning support the sector operates, ensuring key for groups, charities and community agencies and commissioners are fully enterprises at all stages of their engaged. development by: We recognise that at a time of Nurturing new groups and initiatives such fundamental change there - supporting, prompting and are huge challenges facing all of us challenging - and ensuring solid, legal living, working and volunteering in foundations are in place. communities. CVS’s forward plan Bringing together diverse groups focuses on our priorities: to network, share knowledge, The promotion of community collaborate; to link people and resilience. recruit and develop volunteers as the lifeblood of local groups. Working harder to support grassroots initiatives, recognising Working with groups to help change requires new thinking and them improve and grow, operate new approaches. effectively, learn from others and increase their reach and impact. Maximising the Sefton pound by promoting philanthropy, local giving Enabling creativity, helping to and corporate engagement. identify opportunities and gaps and supporting the development of Championing and promoting the VCF innovative solutions, strengthening sector by connecting communities, community activity and local service ensuring they are ready to take provision. up opportunities, can evidence service impact and by encouraging innovation and new thinking.

We wish to thank our Trustees, Patrons, President, staff and advisers for their continued involvement and our funders for their support.

Dave Roscoe Chair

Angela White Chief Executive

4 Introduction

Sefton CVS works to improve the quality of life of residents in the borough, in particular those who are marginalised or experiencing disadvantage.

Our key activities are to: Values Pull in others and link it up We operate as a ‘sector champion’, Provide support services to the Our guiding principles are to: bringing together often diverse voluntary, community and faith Put Sefton people, places and groups to share knowledge and (VCF) sector. organisations at the heart of what intelligence, find and support we do. volunteers, access investment and Promote partnerships between collaborate more effectively. VCF organisations and between the Be open and fair in our transactions. VCF sector and other sectors. Do more and do it better Take responsibility and be We support and train local Provide a channel through which the accountable for our actions. community organisations to improve VCF sector is represented. their effectiveness, quality, reach, Promote equality, diversity and sustainability and social impact. Develop new ideas, strategies and cohesion through our activities. organisations. Innovate and pass it on Support the most vulnerable people We help to spot gaps in provision Support and develop volunteering in our communities. and to fill them by brokering creative opportunities. solutions with partners and attracting Seek solutions, not problems. Promote equality of opportunity and resources to develop new initiatives that strengthen community activity. access and the value of diversity. Be prepared to listen and learn. Promote Mission Operate ethically, honestly and with We promote the positive and the highest standards of integrity. Our mission is to promote and progressive values of the VCF sector to public and private sector assist voluntary, community and Approach faith activity. partners, gather and circulate Our approach is based on a social local intelligence and highlight the Vision action model that enables us to potential and value of community- support change and development in led and delivered services. Our vision is to develop a vibrant communities. The key elements of voluntary, community and faith our approach are to: sector that encourages and supports independent, resilient and Start where people are at sustainable communities. We encourage grassroots social action and community-led service delivery by helping local people to set up and develop robust, sustainable and high-impact projects, groups, organisations and social enterprises.

Litherland couple Pat and Stan Martin receive the 2013 Sefton The work of volunteers is recognised at an annual celebration CVS Community Award. event at Town Hall.

5 Strategic leadership/partnership

Sefton CVS works in partnership with and South Sefton and and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) as well as our other statutory partners.

We facilitate VCF sector Developing participation mechanisms Supporting the planning and representation and participation, and and producing reports on key issues implementation of community provide a conduit for community through initiatives including the initiatives to commemorate the intelligence and engagement. parent forums, equalities groups and centenary of the start of World We address key priorities in the the Young Advisors. War One, including the creation of borough and look to work eff ectively a world record human poppy by to identify gaps and initiative Involvement in Sefton Council’s schoolchildren on Southport beach. developments to meet need. ongoing VCF sector Transformation work streams and advocating the Further development of the Armed Highlights of this work in vital role that both the funded and Forces Covenant which links service 2013/14 included: unfunded sector play in providing personnel with the wider community, services and support to Sefton and the announcement of plans to Involvement in a wide range of residents, and supporting the open a one-stop shop led by Expect strategic partnership interventions priorities of statutory partners. at the Bowersdale Centre. and developing work programmes in the borough including the Health Supporting VCF organisations and Acting as the sub-regional lead and Wellbeing Strategy, Joint enterprise with the management in co-ordinating the VCF sector Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), of change and reshaping services interface with the Police and Crime development of the Better Care to meet need and demand Commissioner. Fund, Area Partnerships and the CCG through business and fi nancial commissioning priorities. planning support and customised Establishing Healthwatch Sefton and interventions with individual groups. launching the initiative’s Signposting Being an active partner in the and Information Service. multi-agency Welfare Reform Providing sector intelligence to Plan Partnership Group which support work to mitigate public Advocating, managing and is co-ordinating measures and sector funding reductions and their monitoring the CCGs’ VCF Health interventions to mitigate the impact on frontline service provision. Fund programme which has invested impacts of austerity, including £1.1 million in the local voluntary the development of the four local The development of an online service sector to deliver health interventions. foodbanks. directory and referral mechanism - VCF Direct - created in partnership Negotiating a further £1.3 million Facilitating sector networks and with Vidavia. of investment from the CCGs to forums, involving both groups and develop a successor VCF Health individuals, as a consultation and Developing a new philanthropy Fund beginning in the 2014/15 engagement conduit and to help initiative - Sefton 4 Good - to fi nancial year. develop and shape local services. encourage local giving of money, time, skills and resources. Delivering a high-profi le conference in October 2014 - Hard Times and Great Expectations - focusing on community resilience and anti- poverty issues, with a keynote address by Sir Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive of ACEVO.

Developing and supporting the Sefton Emotional Achievement Service (SEAs) Consortium.

The Hard Times and Great Expectations conference focused on community resilience.

6 Sefton CVS played a key role in organising Sefton’s World War One commemorations.

Quality assurance Recognition Awards Sefton CVS holds the following Sefton CVS received the following quality assurance marks and awards during 2013/14: accreditations: A special recognition certificate from Investors in People (IiP) - Gold Sefton Council for the work of the Standard Young Advisors.

NAVCA Quality Award An award for the Equalities Lead from national organisation Mental Volunteer Centre Quality Assurance Health First Aid (MHFA) for raising mental health literacy in Sefton. Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Health Promoting A trio of awards for Sefton’s Young Organisation Advisors at the initiative’s national conference including Young Advisor Outcomes Framework of the Year. Common Inspection Framework

Open Awards Approved Centre

ABC Approved Centre

Navajo LGBT-friendly Charter Mark

Workplace Wellbeing Charter

7 Highlights of the year

£ £ £ £ £

£1.1m £2,170,317 924 invested into Sefton’s secured for local groups intensive cases of voluntary community from known funding capacity building by the CVS-managed applications supported delivered with CCG VCF Fund by Sefton CVS local groups

£

1,044 1,604 1,600 voluntary, community people took part in funding opportunities and faith records 80 training courses shared via MFIP available online

468 567 2,000+ individuals accessed DBS disclosure checks social media followers and accredited online undertaken for 55 3,200+ messages posted safeguarding training organisations

8 ?

4,647 704 £1.7m individuals accessed volunteering opportunities of economic value volunteer opportunities available online on behalf of contributed to Sefton’s via the Volunteer 454 organisations community through the Centre Sefton volunteer certificate scheme

700 906 104 residents provided offenders engaged with frontline individuals with skills and employment the Merseyside Offender completed debt and through VOLA learning Mentoring Project pre mental health training consortium and post-release

£

246 £24,500 33 referrals received for donated in money VOLA Merseyside members Sefton Health & and goods through contributed to the delivery of Wellbeing Trainers Sefton 4 Good consortium contracts

9 Support for groups

Organisation development Funding Information Service This service supports local people The Funding Information Service and organisations in initiating, provides information and support to strengthening and renewing VCF sector organisations to enable social action and community-led them to access funding opportunities £ service delivery in Sefton. These which will help them become more interventions help the sector to sustainable by improving their become more resilient, effective and financial security and capacity. sustainable. Groups can access this support Highlights of the year included: through funding surgeries and roadshows, one-to-one meetings, Handling 924 cases of intensive training courses, conferences, capacity building support with VCF 52,424 bulletins and the online Merseyside sector groups. Funding Information Portal. visits to the Merseyside Funding Information Portal Delivering a range of seminars, Highlights of the year included: during the year including a charity law update in partnership with specialist charity Helping the VCF sector in Sefton lawyers Brabners Chaffe Street. to secure £2,170,317 from known funding applications, with 77 per Achieving a year’s extension of the cent of funds being raised from Community Organisers programme sources outside the borough. of micro community development activity related to Think Family Managing the Merseyside Funding initiatives in and Information Portal which advertised in Southport. 1,604 funding and tendering opportunities and attracted 52,424 Supporting the creation of four visits during the year. foodbanks in Sefton with the help of Sefton Council, faith groups and the Acting as Panel Partner for the Trussell Trust. Communities First grant scheme which awarded £33,952 of grants to Facilitating the Sefton Community projects in Sefton’s Dukes, Litherland £33,952 Centre Network. and electoral wards. of grants awarded to projects in Sefton’s Dukes, Supporting 15 VCF sector groups in Hosting the Hard Times and Great Litherland and Ford working to achieve the Sefton Star Expectations community resilience electoral wards Standard, a local quality assurance conference attended by 150 framework. delegates.

Introducing NAVCA Essentials to enable VCF groups to access cost- effective schemes from energy, utility and insurance suppliers.

Helping 68 individuals to explore enterprise development opportunities through the ERDF Big Enterprise in Communities Programme, leading to the provision of ongoing support to 18 emerging organisations, social enterprises and community interest companies.

Providing intensive support to 45 existing third sector organisations through the ERDF Merseyside Business Support Programme.

seftoncvs.org.uk/support

Sefton CVS helped to support the creation of the four foodbanks in Sefton.

10 Community Accountancy Key objectives of the service are to: Service Provide capacity building support The Community Accountancy Service to community organisations to provides advice and support on ensure they are legally compliant and financial matters relating to running working to good practice. a not-for-profit organisation, social Ensure a professional and up-to-date enterprise or charity in Sefton. VCF sector workforce. Its services include financial health Ensure organisations are fit for checks, independent examinations, purpose and tender/commission accounts preparation, payroll and ready. bookkeeping services. Develop opportunities supporting 52 It also offers advice on budgets and health and wellbeing. cashflows, internal controls, VAT groups had annual accounts prepared by Sefton CVS and taxation, Gift Aid and full cost CVS is an approved training centre recovery. and offers courses accredited through Open Awards, the Royal Key activities during the year Society for Public Health (RSPH) included: and ABC. It also works to Common Preparing annual accounts for 52 Inspection Framework standards. groups. Non-accredited courses, coaching Carrying out independent and peer learning can be provided in examinations for 43 groups. group training sessions and through masterclasses and bespoke provision. Providing a payroll bureau service for 21 groups. Key activities during the year included: Undertaking contract bookkeeping work for three groups. Delivering 80 training courses to 1,044 individuals. Handling 13 support cases including 75 advice on VAT, provision of company Providing accredited online specialist training secretarial support, financial safeguarding training to 468 people. courses offered by CVS management and governance advice. on a bespoke basis Delivering four accredited courses Supporting four groups in crisis. and achieving 62 individual accreditations.

Training and development Offering a suite of 75 specialist Sefton CVS’s Training and courses that can be offered on a Development Service works to bespoke basis. enhance the skills and knowledge Organising masterclasses on subjects of VCF sector staff, boards and including leaders and managers volunteers in order to build under strain (ACEVO), employment the capacity and capability of law (Brabners Chaffe Street), social organisations to sustain themselves value, becoming a CIO and data and grow. protection.

Developing the Think Differently Cope Differently ‘train the trainer’ programme.

Training 152 people as Dementia Friends.

seftoncvs.org.uk/training

11 Civil society

The aim of the Sefton CVS civil society function is to provide strategic leadership to - and co-ordinate the response of - the VCF sector to initiatives and interventions developed from the Ministries of Communities and Local Government, Justice, Environment and the Office for Civil Society. 55 The Civil Society Lead works with Facilitating the Merseyside Police new prison mentors partner agencies to develop a and Crime Commissioner (PCC) VCF trained including 25 prisoner co-ordinated Sefton response to sector network which enables local peer mentors and 30 policy developments arising from groups to engage with, respond to community mentors legislation in which community and influence the PCC and wider action and civil society leadership are criminal justice agenda. predominant foundation stones. Managing the Sefton VISIT Project, The civil society function has also a sustainable transport project developed local sector responses developed as a partnership between to policies relating to the criminal the local authorities and CVS 20% justice system, reducing reoffending organisations in Sefton and West and community safety challenges, Lancashire. including involvement in Integrated 58% Offender Management and the Organising a multi-agency eco Police and Crime Commissioner summit in Southport to raise programme. awareness of environmental issues in the borough. Key activities in 2013/14 included: Facilitating VCF sector involvement Participating in the strategic groups in emergency planning activity with 20% and supporting VCF interventions Sefton Council. relating to the Safer Communities of offenders involved with Partnership and Sefton Disarm Gun Merseyside Offender Mentoring Co-ordinating the development of return to prison, a third of the and Gang Crime. the Sefton Armed Forces Community national average of 58% Covenant and its associated multi- Facilitating Sefton Faith Network, agency partnership, including the including work with Sefton Council launch of a one-stop shop for the on responding to local priorities armed forces community led by and needs such as developing the Expect Ltd (pictured below). network of foodbanks, providing community activities such as luncheon clubs, asset mapping in and taking part in the Peer Challenge with the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The official launch of the one-stop shop created by Sefton Veterans Project which supports the borough’s armed forces community.

12 Merseyside Offender Mentoring HMP Kennet and Liverpool Key activities during the year included: This project was originally initiated as Sefton CVS’s Partnership Liaison a pilot scheme to provide mentoring Officers work within HMP Running 12 Parenting 2000 Dads support to offenders before and after Liverpool and HMP Kennet to Matter programmes, enabling more release from HMP Liverpool, with the broker relationships with a wide than 120 offenders to reflect on objective of helping them to resettle range of VCF and enterprise their role as a parent and develop in the community in a positive way. sector organisations who can help stronger parenting skills and coping to support the resettlement of techniques. A comprehensive, tailored service is offenders in the community. provided to each offender, helping Organising 14 family day events, them to overcome any barriers they Sefton CVS co-ordinates applications providing a meaningful visiting face with the aim of significantly and referrals to these partnership environment and the opportunity for reducing reoffending and its impact services and also oversees the families to engage with a range of on the wider community. delivery of interventions. local services.

The project is now supported by the This approach combines creative Processing 280 applications for Police and Crime Commissioner’s and innovative VCF sector services bank and credit union facilities, Office and Big Lottery Reaching with existing statutory support, promoting the financial inclusion of Communities funding. resulting in a more collaborative offenders when they return to the approach to helping offenders move wider community, and also providing As a result it is now able to offer on with their lives. a way for prisoners to save up for its services across Merseyside and their release. therefore rebranded during the year Sefton CVS also works strategically from the Informal Mentoring project within HMP Kennet and HMP Handling an average of 50 to Merseyside Offender Mentoring. Liverpool, representing partners and applications a month from offenders attending meetings and events to requesting support with engaging Key activities during 2013/14 support the prisons in responding to with local services. included: Transforming Rehabilitation reforms. This helps the prisons to shape and Overseeing an average of 75 Engaging with 906 offenders pre offenders a day who are contributing and post release. steer this agenda based on their local needs. to a range of local VCF sector organisations via placements. Recruiting and training 55 new mentors including 25 prisoner peer seftoncvs.org.uk/prison mentors and 30 community mentors.

Building up a pool of 60 active community mentors.

Attending Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral and St Helens Integrated Offender Management meetings on a monthly basis as a support service to the reducing reoffending pathways.

Establishing links with the Sefton Youth Offending Team and the Gun and Gang Crime Unit.

A new three-year study has shown that only 20 per cent of offenders involved with Merseyside Offender Mentoring return to prison, a third of the national average of 58 per cent. This represents savings of around £37,000 per prisoner.

seftoncvs.org.uk/mentoring

Merseyside Offender Mentoring expanded the scope of its work during the year.

13 Volunteering

Volunteer Centre Sefton works with individuals and organisations across the borough to promote, develop and deliver high-quality volunteering opportunities through the brokerage of opportunities, organisations and people.

The service includes: The centre has also worked with Working with the Mayor of Sefton’s Sefton Libraries on a Lottery-funded office on providing volunteers for Accreditation and recognition of project to produce educational Remembrance Day and other public volunteers in partnership with the materials about World War One events. Mayor of Sefton’s office. for use by schools and local communities. Working with the Formby Area Developing social action projects Partnership on developing access to with partners and communities in In addition, the Volunteer Centre local information for older people response to need. has been working with Sefton through local faith groups and Council to support groups who community buildings. Providing bespoke support to have been affected by public sector organisations deploying volunteers service reductions, helping them to Undertaking a community mapping on subjects such as training consider alternatives such as self– exercise to ascertain alternative and good practice policies and management, including developing provision as part of the closure of the procedures. new ‘friends of parks’ groups and Community Meals Service. sports clubs. The centre also supported a number Brokering employee volunteering of significant events in Sefton Key activities during 2013/14 schemes with the Health and Safety during 2013/14. included: Executive, the Passport Office, the Ministry of Defence (Payroll) and the These included co-ordinating Helping 4,647 individuals to access Ministry of Justice. Sefton’s contribution to the planting volunteering opportunities. of Jubilee Trees in communities Managing a range of projects and schools, an initiative delivered Advertising 704 volunteering including Sefton Handy Help (which in partnership with the Lord opportunities from 454 organisations transferred to Parenting 2000 Lieutenant’s and High Sheriff’s offices during the year. during the year), North Sefton Social and Mersey Forest. This activity was Inclusion Project (which includes Facilitating the Volunteer captured in a commemorative book Ageing Well Clubs and a local Co-ordinators, Uniformed Groups and presented to Her Majesty The volunteer shopping service) and and Charity Shop forums. Queen. Buddy Up. The centre has also been Producing a Sefton Charity Shops responsible for co-ordinating Directory supporting the Welfare the VCF sector’s involvement in Reform agenda. Sefton’s commemorations to mark the centenary of the start of World Celebrating volunteering at a War One. recognition event attended by the Mayor of Sefton, the High Sheriff This included preparations for a and CVS Patrons during Volunteers’ world record attempt to create Week 2014. Certificates were the biggest-ever human poppy on presented recognising 132,000 hours Southport beach which involved of volunteering, which equates to a more than 5,000 schoolchildren, value of more than £1.7 million based and working with Bootle Strand on the borough’s average earnings. Shopping Centre to develop opportunities for commemoration with local businesses. 132,000 hours of volunteering, @VCSefton equating to a value of more than £1.7 million

seftoncvs.org.uk/volunteering

14 Sefton 4 Good

Sefton CVS launched Sefton 4 Good at Formby Hall in September 2013 - a major new £ initiative focused on developing philanthropy and local giving.

Building on a model developed by Striking an agreement with Proctor Voluntary and Community Action and Gamble to provide washing Tameside, and funded through Big and hygiene products to Sefton Assist, the initiative enables donors foodbanks. to support local causes via payroll £24,500 giving, an online shop and corporate Obtaining the agreement of Sefton has been donated in giving of money, time, skills and Council Tourism and Arts Team to the form of money resources. set up a mechanism for Gift Aid and goods donations to benefit Sefton 4 Good. In its first year £24,500 has been donated via the provision of money Awarding 16 grants to local groups and goods and positive relationships including South Sefton Foodbank, have been developed with many Sefton Children’s Trust, Southport local businesses to pave the way for Soup Kitchen and Seaforth further fundraising opportunities in Community Shop. the future. Organising fundraising evenings in Key activities during the year partnership with Dental included: Practice raising more than £4,000 for local groups. Developing Sefton 4 Good’s eye- catching branding and launching Working in partnership with Sefton its website with an online giving company Arts Family Prints and mechanism. The Atkinson in Southport on a photographic exhibition promoting 16 Working with Sefton CVS and the VCF sector at work as part of grants awarded to Sefton Council to set up payroll Sefton CVS’s 40th anniversary. giving schemes. local groups

@Sefton4Good

sefton4good.org

Smart Storage Liverpool provided heavy-duty boxes for Seaforth Community Shop’s Christmas hamper project via Sefton 4 Good.

15 Equalities

Sefton Equalities Team works to reduce inequalities in the borough by helping its partners to meet their requirements under the Equalities Act 2010 and enabling Sefton’s protected groups gain access to, and participate in, decision making, consultation and engagement.

Key activities undertaken in Participating in the Sefton Multi- Facilitating networks for protected/ 2013/14 included: Agency Risk Assessment Conference marginalised groups covering (MARAC) and contributing disability, black and minority Supporting Sefton Council with equality modules to a joint training ethnicities, sexual orientation and the delivery actions against its programme to address the issue of transgender community. Equality Duties. hate crime. Supporting the development of Facilitating the Sefton Equalities Launching the Sefton Women’s a Merseyside pathway for the Partnership involving agencies Network in January 2014 at an transgender community with NHS and representatives in considering event attended by 50 guests, and Merseyside through the InTrust Sefton Council reviews and JSNA subsequently developing a forward Network. consultation, and escalating work plan for the group. intelligence to appropriate agencies Delivering a myth busting workshop with recommendations. Supporting the Merseyside-wide about the gypsy, traveller and awards ceremony for organisations Romany community to 100 pupils at Supporting Sefton Access Forum achieving the Navajo LGBT-friendly Clarence High School in . which provides advice and Charter Mark following peer recommendations to planning assessments. Providing volunteer interpreters to and development schemes in the 11 agencies and individuals requiring borough regarding physical access Producing accessible materials bilingual support. and improvements, including the utilising the Daisy Disc and Easy King’s Gardens redevelopment in Read formats and audio translation, Southport. to widen participation in consultation and transformation in the borough.

Kevin Donnellon is a member of Sefton Ability Network, and has a long history of campaigning for a variety of causes.

16 Rach O’Brien is the Co-Chair of Embrace, Sefton’s LGB network.

Supporting partner reviews and Providing mental health first aid consultation with protected groups training to 25 VCF sector and partner including: staff. The Equalities Lead received an award from national organisation – Sefton Council’s review and MHFA for raising mental health recommissioning of support literacy in the borough. services for children with disabilities. Developing debt and mental health – Working with Sefton Council awareness training for frontline Fostering and Adoption Service organisations in response to Welfare to increase contact with - and Reform which was delivered to 104 improve the recruitment of - a individuals. diverse range of people interested Developing weekly surgeries held in fostering and adoption. at Parenting 2000 and Holy Trinity – Working to involve people with School working with 30 families learning disabilities in the Sefton from A8 (migrant) communities Accessible Taxi Provision Review, through referrals. End of Life Service Specification and Peer Review with the Health Managing Work-Ability which and Wellbeing Board. provides employment support to disabled people and worked intensively with 61 clients during the year.

seftoncvs.org.uk/equalities

17 Health and wellbeing

Sefton CVS co-ordinates the involvement of the VCF sector in Sefton in addressing local and national health priorities.

CVS also facilitates sector Supporting VCF sector engagement Reablement engagement with key partners and consultation in Sefton’s Joint and commissioners with a view to Strategic Needs Assessment, Sefton’s The Reablement Project supports developing responsive solutions to Primary Care Quality Strategy, people following illness, helping the identified health and wellbeing Dementia Strategy, Sefton Carers them to live independently by priorities in the borough. Strategy and Care Closer to Home regaining their skills and confidence, Pathways and Big Chat events. restoring independent functioning The Health and Social Care Forum and enabling them to do things for is co-ordinated as part of this work, Supporting the development and themselves. and currently has a membership of leadership of the Sefton Adult Mental around 180 VCF sector organisations. Health and Wellbeing Consortium. Key activities undertaken in 2013/14 included: Key activities undertaken in Supporting the engagement of Signposting 231 people to local 2013/14 included: the VCF sector in Sefton MBC services. Transformation reviews, including the Continuing to build partnerships future of adult social care services. with GP consortia, including Introducing Health and Wellbeing Trainers who received 246 referrals to VCF engagement in learning Supporting Sefton Partnership their new service. and development days and for Older Citizens (SPOC) and its commissioning priorities. action plan. Engaging 459 people with the Care4You service and signposting Providing sector intelligence to the Facilitating the Information Advice 221 clients to additional services. Sefton CCGs’ Experience and Patient and Advocacy Forum, Mental Health Engagement Group (EPEG). Service Users Forum and Mental Supporting Sefton Council in liaising Health Working Group. Acting as a representative on with 198 users of the Community Meals Service, prior to its cessation, the Supporting People Review Managing the Health Promotion to find alternative sources of support. Project Board, CCG Experience Project which supports local VCF and Patient Engagement Group, groups in promoting healthy choices Expert Stakeholder Group, Involvement in key groups and and has progressed the Workplace partnerships such as the Integrated Safeguarding Adults Executive and Wellbeing Charter with 25 VCF Homelessness Forum. Care Pathways for Dementia and organisations. Frail Elderly and Sefton Dementia Action Alliance. Facilitating presentations and Co-ordinating the CCG Winter policy updates on important topics Grants Programme enabling 22 including the Better Care Fund, frontline VCF organisations to @SCVSReablement Welfare Reform Provision and the deliver interventions to support New Care Bill. socially isolated older people. seftoncvs.org.uk/reablement Participating in, and providing Producing a bi-weekly health and evidence and VCF representation social care policy and information to, the Health and Wellbeing Peer bulletin. Review.

seftoncvs.org.uk/health

The Reablement Project helps people to live independently.

18 Patient Experiences

1,910 patient experiences collected via Healthwatch Sefton

The official launch of Healthwatch Sefton at Crosby Civic Hall.

Healthwatch Sefton Healthwatch Knowsley From April 1st 2013 Sefton CVS Sefton CVS also provides staffing was commissioned to manage services to Healthwatch Knowsley, Healthwatch Sefton, the borough’s an independent community interest new independent consumer health company set up by Knowsley champion and successor to Sefton Council. 1,008 LINk, which is being delivered through a subsidiary company. Key activities in 2013/14 included: members signed up to Healthwatch Sefton Key activities in 2013/14 included: Signing up 1,000 members during the year. Signing up 1,008 members during the year. Collecting 1,139 patient experiences.

Co-ordinating the involvement of Organising 210 outreach activities. 43 volunteers. Undertaking seven enter and view Collecting 1,910 patient experiences. visits to ascertain the quality of provision. Creating a network of 40 Community Champions to raise the profile of Producing 27 reports containing 38 Healthwatch. Healthwatch recommendations.

Preparing 11 Healthwatch experience reports. @HWKnowsley

@HWatchSefton healthwatchknowsley.co.uk

@HWSFindServices

healthwatchsefton.co.uk

19 Children, young people & family services

The Children, Young People and Family Service facilitates the development of a co-ordinated, strategic approach to local services.

It aims to embed best practice Leading the Sefton Emotional Parent participation and that enables quality outcomes for Achievement Service (SEAS) engagement these groups to be achieved, whilst consortium of six local charities encouraging increased multi-agency engaged in the mental health The work of the Parent Participation working and the incorporation of wellbeing of children and families. and Engagement Project facilitates integrated processes. two-way communication between Representing Sefton’s VCF sector local parents of 0-18 year olds The Every Child Matters Forum in a review of the Children’s Trust (up to 25 if a child has additional facilitates VCF representation, arrangements. needs) and the statutory agencies enabling the sector to provide who influence policy, strategy solutions to needs and priorities Co-ordinating 89 referrals for and services that exist to meet identified locally and nationally. Southport and Birkdale Provident the needs of local children, young More than 500 groups and Society Trust grants for vulnerable people and families. individuals are involved. families. Key activities in 2013/14 included: Key activities in 2013/14 included: Facilitating the work of the Community Organisers in making Facilitating parent engagement in Working proactively with Sefton more use of existing resources in Sefton’s JSNA consultation and Council and the CCGs on key Norwood and Litherland to reduce co-ordinating submissions to the strategic priorities including the child poverty and deprivation. review. Early Life Forum 0-19, children with additional needs, early help Supporting local organisations Developing parental engagement in remodelling, workforce development, through capacity building support the work of the Maternity Services Ofsted inspection activity and and training, including an ongoing Liaison Committee to inform future Troubled Families. programme working with 21 VCF developments and service redesign. providers delivering universal Active involvement in the Local targeted services to 11-18 year olds. Carrying out one-to-one peer reviews Safeguarding Children’s Board with each Children’s Centre to structures. Providing DBS checks for local analyse their performance in relation VCF sector staff and volunteers, to parental involvement. processing 567 disclosures for 55 organisations. Devising a Keeping Kids Safe Programme to enable Sefton residents to access early support @ECMForumSCVS when required.

Supporting local organisations seftoncvs.org.uk/ecm through developing safeguarding policy and practice and customised training. 332 people registered for child awareness NSPCC Safeguarding E-training Level 1.

seftoncvs.org.uk/parents

All smiles at the 2013 Shining Stars awards ceremony.

20 6 local charities involved in the SEAS consortium, led by Sefton CVS

The Young Advisors were honoured with a number of awards during the year.

Sefton Voices Supporting the development of anti-homophobic bullying policies in Sefton Voices works to increase the schools and youth settings. involvement of local children and young people in decision-making by Designing an awareness raising developing their confidence and skills programme to dispel stereotypes to give them a voice. and tackle inequalities faced by care leavers. It also aims to improve services by advising adults how best to engage Working with the Police and Crime and communicate with young people Commissioner on strategies for 89 and work alongside them in the engaging with young people around design and delivery of services. community safety. referrals to Southport and Birkdale Provident Society Trust grants for Facilitating the Sefton Shining Young Advisors vulnerable families Stars awards event recognising the Voices employs 14 young people achievements of local children and aged 15–21 as Young Advisors young people aged 6-16. to show community leaders and decision makers how to engage Producing a welfare reform film young people in community life. They called On The Frontline looking at help organisations ‘youth proof’ their the role of volunteers working in the practices, policies, strategies and Sefton foodbanks and CAB. commissioning.

Key activities undertaken in @SeftonYAs 2013/14 included: Supporting Sefton Council in seftoncvs.org.uk/yas consulting with young people on the Local Plan and use of leisure centres. Noted Initiating a canal clean-up in Ford 4 ward which led to the formation of a Noted worked with VCF groups major awards won by the local action group. to engage children and vulnerable Sefton Young Advisors young people in creative arts. A during 2013/14 Conducting a review of Youth short film - Life = Ltd - was produced Innovation Zone activities on behalf highlighting some of the barriers of Sefton Youth Service. faced by unemployed young people in Sefton. Undertaking ‘mystery shopper’ activity in Sefton social care offices, an initiative which won the Young Advisors a national award.

21 Community intelligence

Sefton CVS provides a central access point for VCF sector intelligence and communication in the borough.

This information is a vital resource Designing and testing the new CVS that all CVS’s services and projects database system VCF Direct which can draw on. stores service-level information providing a more holistic view It also helps CVS, Sefton Council of local sector delivery. This also and other partner organisations to includes an online referral system identify trends and developments enabling frontline professionals to 400-page in the sector, and emerging gaps refer directly into VCF services. printed directory of local and needs. It is also a useful VCF services produced conduit for ongoing consultation Producing and distributing a monthly and engagement with the wider e-bulletin to a mailing list of more VCF sector. than 1,500 contacts.

Key activities undertaken in Acting as a consultation and 2013/14 included: information conduit on issues including the Emergency Limited Refreshing the 1,600 VCF sector Assistance Scheme, the 15-year records published online by CVS. Local Plan for Sefton, Christmas Producing the 400-page 2014 and Emergency Services and the edition of the Sefton CVS Directory Liverpool City and Merseyside containing these records in hard Region Review. copy form. Maintaining a high-profile social Supplying VCF sector information for media presence on Twitter, Instagram inclusion in Sefton Council’s online and Facebook with more than 1,500 Sefton Directory. 2,000 followers and 3,200 tweets generated during the year. contacts received a monthly e-bulletin Supplying VCF sector information to NHS Sefton for inclusion in the Developing a social media presence organisation’s 111 Directory. via Twitter and Facebook for all CVS projects and forums to enhance community messaging facilities.

Redesigning the CVS website with an enhanced and more accessible format.

Priorities

Targeted Resource

Health Wellbeing Transformation Mental

Community Engagement Services Consultation

22 Treasurer’s report

I have pleasure in presenting the The organisation’s core services financial statements of Sefton CVS are highly dependent upon the for the period 2013/2014. continued support of Sefton Council. We thank them for their contribution. Sefton CVS manages various projects and programmes throughout Sefton, The Trustees have re-examined £ and wherever possible, diversifies its the charity’s requirements for free funding sources for the development reserves and have concluded that, £ of specific projects. to allow the charity to be managed efficiently and to provide a buffer The income this financial year saw a for uninterrupted services, a general slight decrease, from £3.169 million to reserve of approximately £237,000 £2.741 million. should be maintained. £2.819m Of this income 92 per cent is The Finance Sub-committee regularly total expenditure by restricted funding, coming with reviews the organisation’s investment Sefton CVS during 2013/14 specific conditions imposed by the policy, and the performance of the donor which are binding on the funds. The organisation has invested organisation. in a five-year fixed bond, a stock market-linked savings account and a Total expenditure during 2013/2014 fixed redemption account as well as was £2.819 million. Of this cash deposit accounts. expenditure, 92 per cent was spent on services to the sector, work that I would like to thank the finance team helps CVS achieve its objectives of for their continued hard work during promoting and assisting voluntary the year. Peter Taaffe and staff from and community activity in the BWMacfarlane LLP are also to be borough. thanked for ensuring our compliance with current legal requirements. I The remaining 8 per cent was spent have proposed their re-election at on support services which include the annual general meeting. audit, governance, rents and other ancillary items. Simon Sharman Treasurer on behalf of the Trustees 92% of this was spent on services to the sector, work that helps CVS achieve its objectives

Sefton CVS would like to thank the following organisations for their funding support during 2013/14:

Sefton Council The Office of the Police Commissioner NHS Southport & Formby CCG European Regional Development NHS South Sefton CCG Fund

Knowsley Council Skills Funding Agency

Big Lottery Fund Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities HM Prison Service

23 Financial statement

Unrestricted Restricted Total 2014 Total 2013 funds (£) funds (£)

Incoming resources

Voluntary income 103,585 103,585 108,518

Investment income 13,734 13,734 16,651

Incoming resources from 2,527,695 2,527,695 2,905,408 charitable activities

Other incoming resources 96,541 96,541 138,122

Total incoming resources 213,860 2,527,695 2,741,555 3,168,699

Resources expended

Charitable activities 192,311 2,609,086 2,801,397 3,197,146

Governance costs 17,779 17,779 16,874

Total resources expended 210,090 2,609,086 2,819,176 3,214,020

Net movement in funds £3,770 (81,391) (77,621) (45,321)

Gross transfers between funds 16,949 (16,949)

Net (expenditure)/income for £20,719 (98,340) (77,621) (45,321) the year/net movement in funds

Fund balances at 1 April 2013 £693,777 1,086,228 1,780,005 1,825,326

Fund balances at 31 March 2014 £714,496 £987,888 £1,702,384 1,780,005

24 Balance sheet

2014 (£) 2014 (£) 2013 (£) 2013 (£)

Fixed Assets

Tangible assets 99,656 74,429

Current assets

Debtors 506,745 348,158

Cash at bank and in hand 1,425,837 1,701,762

1,932,582 2,049,920

Creditors (329,854) (344,344)

Amounts falling due within one year

Net current assets 1,602,728 1,705,576

Total assets less current liabilities 1,702,384 1,780,005

Income funds

Restricted funds 987,888 1,086,228

Unrestricted funds

Designated funds 476,771 443,775

Other charitable funds 237,725 250,002

1,702,384 1,780,005

Sefton Council for Voluntary Service The auditors have confirmed to the Copies of the charity’s full annual Year ended 31st March 2014 Trustees that these summarised accounts and the auditor’s report accounts are consistent with the full on those accounts and the Trustees’ These summarised accounts are an annual accounts of the charity for the report may be obtained from extract from the statutory annual year ended 31st March 2014. Sefton CVS, 3rd Floor North Wing, report and accounts of Sefton Burlington House, Crosby Road Council for Voluntary Service for The full annual accounts and North, Waterloo, Liverpool L22 0LG. the financial year ended 31st March Trustees’ report of the charity 2014 and which have been audited were approved by the Trustees Signed on behalf of the Trustees by BWMacfarlane LLP, who gave and signed on their behalf on Date 24th September 2014 an unqualified audit report on 30th 24th September 2014. They will September 2014. be submitted to the Charity Commission on 2nd October 2014.

25 Sefton CVS factfile

Registered office: Bankers: Board of Directors:

3rd Floor Suite 3B, North Wing, HSBC Dave Roscoe (Chair) Burlington House, 197 Stanley Road Elizabeth Barnett (Vice Chair) Crosby Road North, Bootle, Merseyside Simon Sharman (Treasurer) Waterloo L22 0LG L20 3DX Paul Cummins Mike Homfray T 0151 920 0726 Unity Trust Bank PLC Paulette Lappin E [email protected] Nine Brindley Place David McGregor www.seftoncvs.org.uk Birmingham Ultan Russell B1 2HB Mark Sonne Southport office: Solicitors: Angela White (Company Secretary and Chief Executive) All Souls Hall Norwood Road Middletons Solicitors Southport 135-137 Dale Street Sefton Council representatives Merseyside Liverpool in attendance: PR8 6HQ L2 2JH Cllr Maureen Fearn T 01704 517810 Charity legal advisers Cllr David Robinson Cllr Daren Viedmann Company/charity registration: Brabners Chaffe Street Horton House Patrons Registered in England and Wales Exchange Flags as a Company Limited by Liverpool The Worshipful the Mayor of Sefton Guarantee No: 2832920 L2 3YL Colonel Martin GC Amlôt OBE DL Registered Charity No: 1024546 Professor Helen ML Carty DL Principal insurers: Auditors: President David Edwards BWMacfarlane LLP Insurance Brokers Margaret Hardman MBE Castle Chambers 1 Rotten Row Barns 43 Castle Street 1957 Warwick Road Liverpool Knowle, Solihull L2 9SH West Midlands B93 0DX

VIP guests at a celebration event to recognise Sefton foodbank volunteers.

26

3rd Floor Suite 3B, North Wing, Burlington House, Crosby Road North, Waterloo L22 0LG

T 0151 920 0726 E [email protected] Sefton CVS would like to @SeftonCVS thank chartered accountants www.seftoncvs.org.uk BWMacfarlane for sponsoring this year's annual report. Registered in England and Wales as a Company Limited by Guarantee No: 2832920

Registered Charity No: 1024546

The information contained in this annual report is available in different formats on request.