EDINBURGH TENANTS FEDERATION SCIO Report and Financial Statements Year ended 31 March2020 Scottish Charity Number: SC048236 Edinburgh Tenants Federation SCIO Report and Financial Statements Yearended 31 March 2020 CONTENTS Page Legal and Administrative Information 3 Report of the Trustees 4-12 lndependent Audito/s Report 13 -15 Stiatement of Financial Activities 16 Balance Sheet 17 Notes to the Financial Statements 18-27 2 Edinburgh Tenants Federation SCIO Report and Financial Statements Yearended 3l March 2020 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATTON Edinburgh Tenants Federation SCIO was incorporated as a Scottish Charitable lncorporated Organisation on 22 March 2018, charity number SC048236. All assets and liabilities from Edinburgh Tenants Federation, an unincorporated organisation, were transferred to Edinburgh Tenants Federation SCIO on 1 April2019. Trustees Principal Office Norton Park 57 Albion Road Edinburgh EH7 sQY Auditor BDO LLP Citypoint 65 Haymarket Terrace Edinburgh EHI2 sHD Bankerc Unity Trust Bank PO Box 7193 Planetary Road Willenhall VW1 gDG 3 Edinburgh Tenants Federation SCIO Report and Financial Statements Yearended 31 March 2020 Report ofthe Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2020 The trustees are pleased to present their annual trustees' report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 March 2020. The financial statements comply with the Charities and Trustee lnvestment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (as amended), the Constitution, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of lreland (FRS 102). The Trustees can confirm they have taken into regard the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. ETF Objectives and Activities Edinburgh Tenants Federation (ETF) was established in 1990 and represents over 19,000 tenants in the social rented sector in Edinburgh. lt is the longest established Federation of its kind in Scotland and works in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC)to represent tenants' views across the city. The organisation is run by a voluntary Executive Committee (EC)of tenant representatives who are elected to serve for three years by members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). ETF was successfully registered as a Scottish Chartable lncorporated Organisation (SCIO) in 2019 and commenced activities on 1 April 2019 following the transfer from the previous unincorporated organisation. The organisation's main objectives are a To advance citizenship and community development in order to safeguard and promote the rights of tenants of rented accommodation (local authority, co-operative, housing associations and private) and in particular of those at risk of discrimination or social exclusion in Edinburgh. a To promote the rights of individuals and associations by providing opportunities for advice and information about the maintenance and improvement of their housing conditions, environment and communities. a To provide opportunities for individuals and associations to influence and participate fully in decisions that affect their housing conditions, environment and communities. a To support the development of associations and providing opportunities for them to work together on matters of common interest for the benefit of their members. a Promoting the improvement of the quality of life of residents and the housing conditions of all tenants of rented accommodation. a To empower and give tenants throughout Edinburgh their voice. We work in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to improve housing services across the City. 4 Edinburgh Tenants Federation SCIO Report and Financial Statements Yearended 3l March 2020 Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2020 (continued) ETF has an excellent partnership relationship with the City of Edinburgh Council to represent the views of tenants across the city at a strategic and local level. ETF provides a range of bespoke training and development opportunities to support local tenants' and residents' groups to participate fully. ETF is funded by the City of Edinburgh Council through an annual Service LevelAgreement (SLA) and a detailed annualwork plan is produced to outline key activities: o Provide independent advice, information and learning opportunities for tenants. o Provide information, advice and support to tenants' and residents' organisations to assist them develop and achieve their goals. o Networking opportunities bringing local organisations together to work on issues of collective interest. r Events to assist people to participate individually and through their groups in decision making about their homes, locality and environment. o Work in partnership with CEC to implement the Tenant Participation Strategy. o A regular training programme is provided to increase tenants' skills and knowledge to participate fully. o Outreach support to existing and new tenants' groups to participate fully. Support to get involved digitally. ETF directly employs staff to support the development of ETF and local tenant and resident groups to have the skills, training and information to participate fully. The staff team are based at Norton Park Business Centre. ETF continues to be committed to working in partnership with statutory agencies and other voluntary organisations throughout Edinburgh. ETF Achievements and Performance ETF have had a successful year in providing information, training and support to empower and give tenants throughout Edinburgh their voice. Our work has a positive and lasting impact on the lives of tenants in Edinburgh. ln particular: o ETF services support over 19,000 tenants in the social rented sector in Edinburgh. o ETF outreach service has supported over 20 tenants'and residents'groups to work in partnership with CEC to improve housing services. o ETF has supported localtenants' and residents' groups to participate online during Covid-19 safety restrictions. 5 Edinburgh Tenants Federation SCIO Report and Financial Statements Yearended 31 March 2020 Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2020 (continuedl Building our Organisation We have undertaken an independent Governance Review to ensure our constitution, policies, procedures and practices are fit for purpose and will assist us develop and thrive in the coming years. Our members meetings, both in person and on-line have ensured tenants are at the heart of everything we do. This year we have hosted members' meetings and events to find out our members'views to enable ETF to review, develop and respond to proposals including: r Homelessness; o Rent affordability and ensuring tenants struggling to pay their rent have support measures in place; o Ensuring tenants feel supported in terms of accessing digital information. ETF have also worked in partnership with the following organisations to develop effective tenant participation practice : o The Poverty Alliance o Scottish Housing Regulator o Shelter Scotland o Scottish Government Regional Networks. Supporting Tenant lnfluence acoss the City ETF have been working in partnership with CEC Senior Managers to discuss key issues and ensure tenants have a say on service delivery and standards. Our representatives played a key role in influencing: r Rent consultation o CEC's Housing Service lmprovement Plan o Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy o Community Planning and the new Neighbourhood Networks . Support to tenants during lockdown. The ETF High Flats Sub-Group have worked with CEC to ensure Fire Safety in High Flats is a priority, even more so now as a result of the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in London a few years ago. The ETF Repairs Sub-Group has worked in partnership with CEC to monitor the Council's Responsive Repairs Budget, the performance targets for Housing Property and tenant satisfaction levels. 6 Edinburgh Tenants Federation SCIO Report and Financial Statements Yearended 31 March 2020 Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2020 (continued) It has been a productive year for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Scrutiny Group which has scrutinised CEC's Standard of Let and made 11 recommendations for improvement including: o CEC to ensure all houses meet the Standard of Let when they are allocated to new tenants; o CEC to complete outstanding repairs within 28 days of the new tenant moving in; r CEC to provide training to Housing Officers on the Standard of LeU o CEC to find out why repair costs are high, but tenant satisfaction is low, including looking at what other councils do; r CEC to listen to the experiences of tenants housed in temporary accommodation and make required changes. ETF's Sheltered Housing Liaison Group continues to advocate on behalf of tenants living in this much needed type of housing and influenced CEC's Sheltered Housing Review. FinancialReview ETF acknowledges the assistance of continued funding from The City of Edinburgh Council to fund the full project costs. We would also like to acknowledge grants and funding received from: o Grant from the City of Edinburgh Council; o Scottish Government's Community Jobs Scotland Scheme; o Donation from Edinburgh Registered Social Landlords Residents Network. The Trustees are satisfied with the financial performance of ETF for the year ended 31 March 2020. The Federation currently has total available funds of f25,847 which is made up of f509 restricted funds and f99,299 unrestricted