Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:33 pm Page 1

annual report and accounts 04-05 Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:33 pm Page 2

Welcome to this year's Annual Report

Council of Management 1 April 2004-31March 2005 The past year has seen & District Mencap Jane has a wealth of relevant experience. She was Ambassador fundraising group and strong links with respond successfully to a number of critical challenges previously Deputy Chief Executive of Harrow Mencap, the local business community have all helped to that were confronting us at the beginning of the where she had responsibility for a range of services generate new sources of income. Mr A Loose, Chairman - resigned Sept 2004 - year. We have emerged at the end of the comparable to those provided by Watford & District There are some exciting new developments planned in elected Vice Chair Sept 2004 year stronger and very optimistic about the Mencap. Jane has already made a major impact on the forthcoming months with the launch of our new logo, Mr D Eungblut Chairman - elected Sept 2004 future - and about our ability to build on the organisation. Trustees, staff, users and partner a fundraising ball and the move to fully accessible Mr P Bull - Treasurer - elected Sept 2004 existing broad range of services we offer to our organisations are highly impressed with the speed at offices in central Rickmansworth. users - although there are always new challenges which she has become established and the positive Mrs P Joy - resigned Sept 2004 Our Children's Services will start to change their focus to be tackled. attitude and insights which she brings to our Mr L Kenny to offer opportunities for drama, music and sport organisation. Mrs G Marcus Following funding shortfalls and management whilst continuing to provide families with respite. The Ms J Putcha departures in the previous year, we were very fortunate As we go forward, there will be new challenges and Advice and Advocacy service will expand to provide Mr P Richards in the first half of this last year to have Pauline Joy, a uncertainties. However the commitment of our more support for older carers and carers from black Mrs P Robertson trustee, step into the role of voluntary Acting Director. management, staff and volunteers to supporting and and ethnic communities and we will be reviewing our Mr R Teague We are indebted to Pauline for introducing a much- campaigning on behalf of people with learning housing provision to ensure it continues to meet local Mr R Tiffin - elected Sept 2004 needed level of stability. Pauline worked with the staff disabilities in South West remains needs. Mr J Whatling - elected Jan 2005 to tackle service, funding and organisational challenges unswerving. We continue to be indebted to our Working in partnership with local day centres we will and we ended the year with the finances in positive funders and supporters on whom much of work Non Board members serving on committees: also be looking at ways of ensuring that people with territory, i.e. with the books balanced, a new depends. We look forward to continuing to meet the Community Services learning disabilities are involved in all aspects of our permanent Director appointed and much good work needs of our users in the best ways that we are able. Mr D Shewry done in meeting the developing needs of our users. So organisation. We will be offering opportunities for work Mr K Weller Don Eungblut experience and paid work within our head office and many thanks to Pauline for all her efforts. Chairman Homes Management will set up a forum for people with learning disabilities We also saw excellent work by the staff in all of the Mrs M Byrne In the months since I joined Watford Mencap I have to help us improve our communication and service areas, both in seeking to maintain existing Mrs E Dickinson been extremely impressed with the commitment, consultation. services, handling pressures on costs and funding, and Mr T Finucane enthusiasm and hard work of everyone involved in the developing the services in line with users' needs and It is clear that there are still many challenges and Mrs C Perahia organisation. external policy changes. You will see examples of this changes ahead of us however the quality of our staff Mrs V Shaw work in this report, demonstrating the range and 2004/5 was a busy year with the completion of our and volunteers has enabled the organisation to Audit Finance Committee quality of the services we provide and the benefits strategic review. The review funded by the Sylvia achieve so much in the past year. I would like to Mr J Good these services deliver. There has also been some Adams Trust enabled us to take close look at our extend my thanks and gratitude to them for their Mr M Morbey brilliant work carried out in fundraising which has services and to develop a robust 2-year business plan. commitment and hard work. been particularly important this year, given the We are now starting to make some practical changes to Thank you also to the Board, our Members, funders financial pressures we have been experiencing. ensure that we retain quality whilst delivering services and supporters for their ongoing and invaluable in the most efficient and cost effective way. Another important development during the year was support that we obtained a grant from the Sylvia Adams Trust The high quality of our services has been recognised by Jane Pattinson to support a review of our overall strategy. This has both the Community Legal Service and Investors in Director been an essential activity in ensuring that our direction People. During the summer of 2004 the advice service matches the evolving needs of our users and the was awarded a Community Legal Services Quality Mark funding bodies. It also provided an important and following successful assessment in January 2005 opportunity to consider how we go about establishing the organisation retained its Investors in People award. priorities and setting direction, while keeping firmly in Tighter financial controls, an expansion in fundraising mind the day-to-day imperatives. and tremendous efforts from staff and volunteers have Also, together with my fellow trustees, I would like to all helped to restore financial stability. There are still say how pleased we are that Jane Pattinson has joined many challenges ahead of us as we continue to work us as our permanent director, taking over the reins with a deficit budget. However the appointment of a from Pauline Joy. fundraising trainee, the formation of a Corporate Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:34 pm Page 4

Children's Services Key Achievements

Profile 1 100 children and young people Branwen & Rohnwen Mann attended a variety of play/activity sessions each week. Both girls go to an after school club session at the Children's The preschool group underwent Centre each week They are also frequent attendees at their first combined Ofsted the holiday play schemes. inspection achieving a she liked coming to When asked why 'good' standard. people the after school club Branwennice wrote; LOADS of things to do, Funding from the Beatrice who look after you and meeting with Laing Foundation supports MEMBER: my friends. STAFF FROM Debra the After school clubs for two COMMENT years. The girls live with their Mum who is a single parent. They have Between 90-105 children and limited social opportunities because of their disabilities and enjoy young people participated in the meeting their friends when they holiday play schemes, enjoying a access our activities Their Mum also benefits from some range of on-site activities and particularly during time to herself outings. Their carers benefiting the School holidays from some respite during the Profile 2 school holidays and time to spend Jane Mitchell with other members of the family. SERVICE USER OF OUR CHILDREN'S CENTRE - HAS TWO BOYS BILLY & JAMIE - BOTH HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES. The Foyle Foundation supports a “Being a single parent, Watford Mencap new staff role that will help us to is helping me to make the most of life by providing respite care. Saturday develop the play schemes and Club has been a other activities for children and godsend boys have been able to attend.since Theboth boys young people. benefit from having a break from me. It's been good for them to build relationships with other adults - especially with the male worker. The boys are interacting with the other children and having different things to do. The relaxedatmosphere at the Children's Centre has benefited the boys. Jamie settled in easily to school , having attended the pre-school group and he was used to being apart from his mum”. Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:34 pm Page 6

Community Services Key Achievements

Profile 61 adults and children received 10,000 hours of one-to-one COLIN LOOSE - SERVICE USER 'person-centred' support in their homes and the local community. “I am living on my own but Mencap help me to be with my mates. because you Leisure Together is GREAT A Day Activity Scheme was can have a one to one mate, and mates launched. This provided 144 days in a group to go out with. We have of varied and stimulating activities been on activities like bowling, Top Golf and discos etc. during the year. On Day Activities Scheme we enjoy the minibus journey to places that we People were enabled to experience choose. We have been to theme parks , also the cinema and and archery group holidays and outings to lots more. All great fun. Venice, the Italian Lakes, Torquay, I have been lucky to go with A While Dublin and Blackpool. Away holidays abroad. I could not have done this by myself. 42 college students participated in I also like to work, shreddingvery papers, in the office. I am made an exciting programme of .” welcome Volunteer's story educational and recreational group STEPHEN EMGE day activities throughout the college holidays. I would like to start by saying that working as a volunteer with Watford Mencap here in Rickmansworth has been a Carers benefited from a total of recent HIGHLIGHT in my life. It gives 2,395 respite breaks, ranging in me a chance to help others in what I hope is a meaningful way. I've been duration from 3 hours to 5 days. interested in getting involved with more volunteer groups and this has served as a very positive experience to go by. As a typically overworked and stressed professional I find that I often don't feel like going out as much as I should so volunteering gets me out where I have truly enjoyed building friendships with the Leisure Together clients and the events that we go to. The events are always well organised and well attended. As well as the clients, its nice working with and getting to know other volunteers. To sum up, I would highly RECOMMEND

TO ANYONE that they should get involved! Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:34 pm Page 8

Residential Services Key Achievements

Funding secured to employ waking Profile 1 night staff at Homeoaks.

Bernadette Robinson Residents chose and enjoyed holidays in Ireland, Denmark, Spain and the UK. “It's (Watford. Mencap)I now work made at me Tesco more independent 5 Staff attain their Learning in Watford. I live in my own house and staff support me if I need them. Disability Award Framework (LDAF). When I first moved to Hillside, I was very unsettled - I didn't like 50% of staff now working towards leaving home but I visit my Mum an NVQ award. every weekend and help her look after my nieces and nephew.” Homeoaks celebrated its 10th COMMENT FROM STAFF MEMBER: Anniversary. Bernadette is a great help to her mum, who needs support now she is getting older. Bernadette has just returned from taking her mum away on holiday to Clacton on Sea.

Profile 2 Jean Howard “I live in my own flat with support from Watford Mencap. I have my own independence which is extremely important to me. I can come and go through my front door when I please. I am now able to go shopping on my own which I love to do. I have just got my first passport and will be going on holiday to Budapest with support from staff. I FEEL LIKE A FLOWER JUST

BLOSSOMING”. Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:34 pm Page 10

Advice & Advocacy Central Support Office Systems

Key achievements are as follows:- Key achievements are Gained CLS Quality Mark Finding new office premises, Despite a reduction in the hours of planning move from Church Street the service it has helped over 100 All Church Street staff upgraded to clients. latest Microsoft Office software Mrs Miles Profile: Older Carer Helped clients to claim over Acquisition of 30 donated high Category: £35,000 a year in benefits specification PCs Worked with Adult Care Services to Four regular volunteer helpers in develop services for people with post [totalling 15 hours per week] I am an older carer and live in Aspergers Syndrome. Watford with my daughter who is 23. Acquisition of office furniture She has a learning disability as well as many severe health needs. I have [equivalent to needs of 4 staff] used the Advice and Advocacy Service in the past but contacted Ruth when we started to be disturbed in my Angus Martin council flat by the noise from our Name: new neighbours in the flat above. volunteer Over the next few months it really Category: began to affect our health and even PROJECT: stopped my daughter attending college RickmansworthCentral Office - full time as she couldn't get enough I took early retirement and am sleep because of the noise. delighted to be able to use the IT Ruth supported me to contact the skills I acquired in my professional council to see if they would move us life to help Watford Mencap because but they did not feel we had enough I know that their limited resources points so Ruth helped me argue our do not extend to full IT cover. This case. She also helped me contact my year I have helped configure and MP for help and after several months install a number of donated PCs we were finally offered a bungalow in which have replaced less performant a quiet area. Moving at my age was hardware. I have also provided user very worrying but Ruth helped me fill training in Word and Excel which has in all the forms and iron out any been problems, which has taken some months. This help we have received very much appreciated from the service has given us freedom staff. It's very satisfying to know and enabled us to start a that the couple of hours I spend each week at Watford Mencap reallyby WONDERFUL contributes to the organisation's performance. new life Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:34 pm Page 12

Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2005

Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2005 2004 Fund Funds Funds Total Total 2005 2004

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE Note £ £ £ £ £ Note £ £ £ £

Incoming Resources FIXED ASSETS

Donations and Similar Income 5,462 - 87,041 92,476 122,619 Tangible Fixed Assets 8 506,140 512,494 From Operating Activities of the Charity: CURRENT ASSETS

Activities in Furtherance 17.1 1,082,484 8,550 248,026 1,339,060 1,348,248 Debtors 9 31,842 64,914 of the Charity's Objects Cash at Bank and In Hand 161,768 93,322

Activities for Generating Funds 17.2 165,630 - 113,453 279,083 168,905 193,610 158,236

Investment Income 6,770 - - 6,770 6,237 Creditors : Amounts falling due within one year 10 (76,858) (68,504)

Profit on Disposal of Fixed Assets ------NET CURRENT ASSETS 116,752 89,732

Total Incoming Resources 1,260,346 8,550 448,493 1,717,389 1,646,009 Total Assets less Current Liabilities 622,892 602,226

Resources Expended Creditors : Amounts falling due after 11 (122,788) (139,283) more than one year Costs of Generating Funds 17.3 84,927 - 6,662 91,589 100,966 NET ASSETS 18 500,104 462,943 Charitable Expenditure: CAPITAL AND RESERVES Grants Payable in Furtherance 700 2,107 - 2,807 2,538 of the Charity's Objects Designated Funds 7 139,043 137,628

Costs of Activities in Furtherance 17.4 963,146 5,028 427,868 1,396,042 1,490,088 Restricted Funds 7 65,082 51,976 of the Charity's Objects Accumulated Fund 12 295,979 273,339 Support Costs 126,457 - 56,800 183,257 160,427 Approved by the Council of Management 500,104 462,943 Resources Expended on Managing 6,513 - - 6,533 6,498 and signed on behalf of the and Administering the Charity Council of Management by Mr A Loose Director Total Resources Expended 1,181,763 7,135 491,330 1,680,228 1,760,517

Net Incoming Resources before Transfers 78,583 1,415 (42,837) 37,161 (114,508) The Statement of Financial Activities and the Balance Sheet are extracts from the full financial statements of Watford and District Society for Mentally Handicapped Children Gross Transfers Between Funds (55,943) - 55,943 - - and Adults for the year ended 31st March 2005.

Net Movement in Funds (22,640) 1,415 13,106 37,161 (114,508) They have been audited by Hillier Hopkins LLP, who have issued an unqualified audit opinion. Total Funds Brought Forward at 1 April 2004 273,339 137,628 51,976 462,943 577,451 Copies of the full report are available on request from Watford and District Mencap, Langwood House Suites 1 and 2, 63-81 High Street Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1EQ Total Funds Carried Forward 295,979 139,043 65,082 500,104 462,943 at 31 March 2005 Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:34 pm Page 14

Fundraising & Communications

Fundraising income including Eileen Davidson grants totalled £155,150. Profile: Bridge to Work Bushey Charity shop income a Project: record £74,600.

-SERVICE USER Bridge to Work Project launched TRAINEE I joined the Bridge to Work Project in following grant from The Key Fund. January. I live on my own with help from my sister and social worker. I have been Best year to date for support from unemployed for over 20 years. I get my own meals at home and attend the Balmoral Day local companies both for Centre. sponsorship and fundraising. I really enjoy the Bridge to Work Project and have learned useful new MJL Advertising provide design things in the kitchen. I have learned how to make the sandwiches and salads. services free of charge to create I can now travel further on my own new logo and Annual Report. across Watford to the Lemarie Centre. I Captain's Charity Golf Day at Moor know how to find things in the supermarket and how to store food and keep the kitchen Park raises over £10,000. clean. I can write the labels for the sandwich and salad boxes.meeting new people when I ESPECIALLY ENJOY YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE we sell the sandwiches. I like to chat to our customers and staff in the offices and Become a volunteer they always remember me. Being part of the Bridge to Work and Lunch Make a donation - with Gift Aid you Bunch team has helped me to learn all these can make it go even further things and to make the most of my life. All these new skills I have learned will Organise a fundraising event with help me to look after my self and to work if I gain enough confidence. friends, colleagues or through your COMMENT FROM STAFF MEMBER: local community group Become a Member - only £5 a year Eileen is a really valuable member of the Lunch Bunch team. She always works very Leave a Legacy in your Will hard and has made excellent progress. She so friendly chats to all the customers and they do Nominate us as your company's remember her as she is 'charity of the year' and helpful. We have a range of opportunities for sponsorship, employee volunteering, services and good in kind. Mencap AR AW 13/9/05 4:34 pm Page 16

OUR DONORS AND FRIENDS Graysons Freight Services We would particularly like to thank the following who Help a Child helped make such a difference to our fundraising Hertfordshire County Council income - without this generous support many of our Key Fund (Hertfordshire Community Foundation) services could not have continued. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts ACL Property Finance Beatrice Laing Trust Allied Irish Bank Irene Lawton Trust Arimathea Charitable Trust Matthew Arnold & Baldwin, Solicitors Argos plc Merchant Taylors School ASDA Stores MFI Bailey Thomas Foundation Middx. County Rugby Memorial Fund Baker Tilly MJL Advertising Barclays Bank Community Fund Dr Mona Mandair Mencap Moor Park Golf Club Marylin Burn, M&J Occasions Nationwide Foundation Cadbury Trebor Basset New Opportunities Fund CBJ Digital Rotary Club - Watford Clarendon Children's Fund Saracens Rugby Club Centurian Press Mrs Smith & Mount Trust CLS Development Fund The Spalding Family Clydesdale Bank Southern Cross Pub Coach & Horses Pub Sylvia Adams Trust The Concept Group Three Rivers Leisure Dept. of Health - Opportunities for Claire Ward, MP Volunteering Scheme Watford Boys Grammar School The Harlequin Centre, Watford Watford Chamber of Commerce European Social Fund Watford Observer Group of Newspapers Freedom Communications And to all the many individuals and local groups - sadly Garfield Weston Foundation too many to mention by name - for all your donations, Glen Haysman, Glen Windows gifts and support in kind.Thank you very much.

FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES, FUNDRAISING Residential/supported housing AND COMMUNICATIONS, CONTACT [email protected] Watford and District Mencap, Leisure Together - Lata Rees Langwood House Suites 1 and 2, 63-81 High Street [email protected] Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1EQ Leisure Together - Brenda Pegg Tel: 01923 779339 Fax: 01923 773976 [email protected] Administration/general enquiries A company limited by guarantee.Company no. 2636705. [email protected] Registered Charity No. 1004431 Advice Tel: 07734 051942 [email protected] Children's Services [email protected] Community Services [email protected] Fundraising/Communications [email protected]