Voluntary Action Swindon annual review 2012/13 Charity No: Company No: A charitable company limited by guarantee

Transcription

1 Voluntary Action Swindon annual review 2012/13 Charity No: Company No: A charitable company limited by guarantee

2 Voluntary Action Board of Trustees Mansoor Khan - Chair (Elected November 2010) Nazma Ramruttun - Vice Chair (Elected December 2011) Heather Hunter - (Elected March 2012) Dorothy Brown - (Elected November 2010) Brian Gibbs - (Elected March 2012) Daniel Rose - (Elected March 2012) John Wood - (Elected December 2011) Ram Thiagarajah - (Elected March 2012) Voluntary Action Swindon was formed in 1932 as the Swindon Council of Social Service, administering help to the unemployed and disadvantaged. Voluntary Action Swindon has a unique role serving as a mediator between the public sector and the third sector. Voluntary Action Swindon contributes significantly in bringing the diverse sections of our community together, promoting the wider engagement and participation of the third sector in the Swindon Strategic Partnership and Local Area Agreement. Our Strategic aims are: To improve the capacity and quality of voluntary and community organisations. To facilitate liaison and collaboration within the voluntary and community sector and between the voluntary, public and private sectors. To enable voluntary and community organisations to gain greater access to information, public support services and facilities. To identify and prioritise the needs of local communities and develop appropriate responses. We're up to date and on the web To go to the VAS website The Voluntary Action Swindon online Directory is a comprehensive source of contact information for Voluntary and Community Sector groups in Swindon. Just go to Browse our pictures, info and news Get short, timely messages from VAS

3 From the Chair - Mansoor A Khan Voluntary Action Swindon s main purpose is to serve the Voluntary and Community Sector of the Borough of Swindon. This year was another challenging one and it will be an equally challenging year ahead. The Staff and Volunteers with the leadership of David Wray our Chief Executive Officer have worked hard to achieve the targets set by funders. During the year we continued to provide support to the sector through the Gateway and Voice projects by working in partnership with a number of organisations. In the latter part of the year we also took on providing support and administration to the BME and Sports Forum from Swindon Borough Council. A few new projects were undertaken: ILM (Intermediate Labour Market), Heritage (charting the history of Voluntary and Community Action in Swindon) and the Ovarian Cancer promotion, as well as a breakfast club for networking between various charities. We continue to promote our services: printing, booklet making, and leaflet production, CRB and conference facilities for the Voluntary and Community Sector. Over the course of the last year we have been successful in securing the future of Voluntary Action Swindon by working collaboratively with Volunteer Centre Swindon in securing funding for the next few years through winning the Infrastructure Grant (3 years) and Time Bank (2years). Both organisations will work in partnership to fulfil both contracts. A lot of the support work of Voluntary Action Swindon now and in the past has been to the efforts of our volunteers. The UK Online Centres are completely staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers who run the IT training sessions and our core reception staff are volunteers. Over the next few years, the funding climate will remain challenging due to the government austerity. With the support of our members, we are aiming to provide the services and assistance the voluntary and community sector needs. We need to continue in an affirmative manner, and positive attitude for the voluntary and community sector. I would like to extend my warmest thanks to our volunteers, Trustees and staff for the fantastic work they carry out on behalf of the organisation.

4 From the Chief Executive Officer - David Wray My first full year with VAS has I feel been a successful one with really good progress on a number of fronts. Perhaps the most important were successfully fundraising for a number of contracts that have secured our medium term future. The key one is the 3 year infrastructure contract that started in April 2013 and will be delivered with the Volunteer Centre. We also have secured a Timebank and Volunteering into work (ALiVE) projects that again we will deliver with the Volunteer Centre. We were very happy to celebrate VAS s 80 th Birthday in December and many members joined VAS for a memorable event. With our colleagues in the Swindon Community Infrastructure Partnership (SCIP) we have made a significant contribution to the One Swindon Conference as well as carrying out a State of the sector survey. We also of course continue to provide the support and advice to the sector that we always have done and I d like to thank the staff and volunteers for their individual assistance. Some of last year s achievements: Over 100 individuals attended training sessions, which included Community Assets Matter training, Trustee training, Personal Safety, Fire Safety, Health & Safety and First Aid Over 400 news items communicated via our weekly e-bulletin (VAS id) promoting voluntary and community events and activities Over 55 voluntary and community groups used VAS s printing facilities Over 75 groups received funding advice Over 100 voluntary groups attended the quarterly voluntary and community forums coordinated by the Voice project Over 1500 voluntary and community groups hosted on the VAS online Directory which is maintained by the Voice project. Over 110 people received computer training. Over 400 meetings/events were held at VAS. 2 new groups signed up to VAS as an umbrella organisation to undertake CRB checks. 150 disclosures were actioned. 3 Trustee Networks were held. 3 Trustee network training sessions were held with over 50 participants. 37 groups received one to one support through the Gateway Project. 21 small grant applications were made through the Social Care Committee. 5 organisations were helped through the Swindon Support Budget.

5 What our customers say about us Swindon Pegasus Brass Voluntary Action Swindon printed our event programmes very quickly and efficiently for us. They had said to allow a week for them to be printed but they were ready within a couple of days. Great service and low price, so we will definitely use them again! Swindon Mela The wealth of information sharing and guidance has enabled us to reach out to other local voluntary sector organisations to build on a relationship that encourages community cohesion. The diverse set of services offered at VAS have not only supported the delivery of the prestigious Swindon Mela but nurtured a good working partnership. Witness Service I just wanted to say that the staff at VAS were very helpful. I have always enjoyed training in your building as the staff / volunteers are friendly but this time I felt the professionalism had been upped and it reflected very well to me as a customer. Thank you to everyone for all their support. Swindon Mela/Punjabi Event Club Swindon We were seeking governance advice and guidance to start our group: Punjabi Event Club Swindon. We were able to put together our constitution and utilised the funding advice surgery at VAS. The group has been successful in securing a grant and are now in the process of accessing training opportunities for the management committee including DBS all of which are on offer at VAS. JB Gurung (Nepalese Association of Wiltshire) VAS has given me an opportunity to get my paper work done. I ve also received basic computer knowledge and language skills due to great help from the VAS staff. All the staff at VAS are very kind and always give me assistance. I have not hesitation in bringing this to attention. Without their kind help it would be much harder to get my voluntary jobs.

6 Services We Provide ROOM HIRE: A 50 person Conference Room located right in the centre of Swindon, very flexible room layouts, equipment hire also available. The room allows for small groups and large events. Other rooms are also available. PRINTING SERVICES: Printing services at competitive prices. We can do both small and large print jobs. DBS service: We are a registered DBS Umbrella Body so we are able to check and send off any DBS you require. FUNDING ADVICE: Access to FREE Funding Advice Surgeries. COMPUTER TRAINING: Access to FREE UK online centres computer training targeted at people with disabilities, elderly and unemployed people. NETWORKS/FORUMS: Access to a wide range of forums and networks supported by VAS which include the CEO Network, Trustee Network, Community Buildings Network, Sports Forum, Voluntary & Community Forum and the BME Forum. All providing opportunities to network, share ideas and best practice. COMMUNICATIONS: VAS id, the VAS weekly e-bulletin. Promote your group and the services you provide within this weekly e-bulletin that has a readership of Also a quarterly newsletter and also a Facebook and Twitter account. ACCESS TO NETWORKS: Access to the Trustee Network, Community Buildings Network, the Voluntary and Community Forum, the BME Forum, the CEO Breakfast Meeting and the Swindon Fundraisers Group. All providing opportunities to network, share ideas and best practice. VAS DIRECTORY: an online directory listing over 1500 groups and organisations that provide services to the voluntary and community sector. FREE to register your group. INFORMATION AND ADVICE: FREE information and advice available and access to a wider regional or national network through VAS. GOVERNANCE ADVICE: Advice to groups when they need it. ALiVE PROJECT: a programme of volunteering, training and job seeking support to move people closer to becoming economically active. TRAINING PROGRAM: VAS has a brand new training program in place which will bring more training opportunities to the Voluntary sector in Swindon. For more information on the courses visit

7 Financial Report April 2012 March 2013 This draft summary financial information is taken from the Trustees' annual report and statutory financial statements, which will be approved by the Trustees before the AGM. The statutory financial statements, on which the auditor, Chris Vaughan Reeves & Co will give an unqualified audit report, will be submitted to the Registrar of Companies and the Charity Commission. This summary information may not contain sufficient information to gain a complete understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. The full Trustees' report, statutory financial statements and auditors' report may be obtained from the Company Secretary or in time downloaded from the charity commission website - DRAFT VAS ACCOUNTS SUMMARY: YEAR TO 31 MARCH Income Rent Printing 6 9 Training 1 2 Interest 3 1 Other Projects Voice Basis Link 0 61 UK Online 8 3 Future Job Fund 0 24 SBC/Job Centre (ILM) 24 0 Other Income 19 2 Total Income Auditor: Chris Vaughan - Reeves & Co, Argyle Street, Swindon, SN2 8AR

8 Financial Report April 2012 March 2013 VAS ACCOUNTS SUMMARY: YEAR TO 31 MARCH Expenditure,000,000 Staff Costs Other Costs Depreciation Audit fees -2-2 Total Expenditure Net Deficit -2-6 Balance Sheet Fixed Assets Bank Accounts Other Assets 8 22 TOTAL Liabilities Net Funds Reserves Policy The Trustees have examined the reserves policy in the light of the predominant risks to the charity. The reserves are required to cover late payment, loss of grant aid funding and other shortfalls of income so as to ensure full and timely delivery of, or appropriate exit from, planned programmes and ongoing provision of services. A policy has been established whereby unrestricted funds, not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity, should be four months of running costs. A designated sum of 70,000 has been set aside for the property maintenance fund and a further 55,000 for the operational reserve fund. A designated sum of 10,000 has been set aside for the property fund, which will allow Voluntary Action Swindon to identify new premises and pay for surveyors and architects, when appropriate. Voluntary Action Swindon will continue to build reserves through operating surpluses if available.