Supporting and representing carers in Southwark

Annual Report 2008-09

The objects of the charity as defined in the memorandum and articles of association are:

“To alleviate the conditions of life of carers in necessitous circumstances, who care for the elderly, sick, disabled, mentally ill or otherwise infirm, by any means that is charitable”.

Our Vision - All carers in Southwark have access to the practical and emotional support they need and the recognition and influence they deserve.

Our Mission - To be an organisation run by and for carers, which provides practical and emotional support to increasing numbers of carers from the diverse communities of Southwark, and to obtain recognition of their invaluable contribution and influence policy in their interests.

Our Aims - To turn our “Vision” and “Mission” statements into a practical reality for carers across Southwark. Our Aims are set below:

Services• - to have a range of services accessible to carers throughout Southwark so that they are supported in all areas of need.Communication• - to communicate clearly with a range of people and voluntary and statutory bodies so that they are aware of our organisation and the needs of carers are highlighted.Representation• - to be the voice for carers in Southwark and to speak up for them at places where decisions are made about them.Campaigning• - to put forward publicly the needs of carers and to encourage and empower carers to speak up for themselves.Networking• - to connect with and support other organisations that can support us in our work, or who work with carers.Governance• - to be a well governed and managed organisation, so that everyone can have confidence in the things we do.Quality• - to deliver all of our services and activities within agreed standards, to make sure that our services are of consistent quality.Resources• - to have the appropriate level of resources available, so that we have what we need in order to deliver to carers the best possible service.Development• - to research new and better ways of working to make sure we continue to look at new methods and ways of working to meet the needs of carers.

About our organisation

As ever it’s been a busy year for us. Our staff and volunteer team have been working hard to attain all of our targets, which we have managed to do.

During 2008/09 we received a reduction in our grant, this amounted to an overall decrease of around 5.25% and we are aware of possible further reductions in funding for the next three years. As described elsewhere we will be making efforts to increase the levels of funding from sources other than Southwark Council to make sure that we continue to offer a wide range of services to carers. We aim to maintain the general level of service activity in future years, even if we have a reduced income.

It is the aim of the board and I to further Southwark Carers remit to look after and support as many carers within the Borough of Southwark as possible, wherever we see a need. We always look to develop new services and projects for carers and hope to establish some new activities in the year ahead, such as energy efficiency advise and grants, for which we have just secured two years funding from Scottish Power.

As you can see from the information in this report we have continued to develop the organisation, our services and our approach to working with carers.

David LebonChair, Southwark Carers

Chair’s Report

David Lebon (Chair) Carol Vincent (Vice-Chair)John BlandDan BrennanPeter CatherJune Hollands

Hussain Malik(resigned December 2008)Ben Mshila(resigned October 2008)Abdul Quddus(resigned December 2008)

Trustees during 2008 - 2009

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is the largest provider of comprehensive carers support services in the UK. We are affiliated members of the Trust. Through its unique network of 144 independently managed Carers’ Centres, 85 young carers services and interactive websites, www.carers.org and www.youngcarers.net, the Trust currently provides quality information, advice and support services to over 400,000 carers, including approximately 25,000 young carers.

The Trust also acts independently in the interests of carers through:

research, development and consultation• influence on national, regional and local policy• partnerships with other national organisations• information through interactive websites, providing advice • and access to support groups

Princess Royal Trust for Carers

Southwark Carers aims to continue into 2009 / 10 and beyond by strengthening the organisation, its services and the support it provides to carers. There are developments, locally and nationally, that will have an impact on our work, Southwark is in the process of redrafting its Carers Strategy and there has just been consultation on changes to the care and support currently available throughout the country. The changes that will be developed and implemented as a result of the consultation and the new strategy will have a huge impact on the way that services within the Borough will be delivered, Southwark will be looking at commissioning and the establishment of a Hub that will act as a central point for advocacy, advice and support for carers.

Southwark Carers will be working towards being the lead contender for the hub. We intend to be at the forefront of change and to continue to influence decisions by local and central government by advocating on behalf of carers, placing them on the forefront of the agenda on social change, by ensuring that their voice is heard and that their needs are met.

We are committed to ongoing quality assurance and aim to have completed Level 2 of PQASSO during 2009-10. It is also our intention to look into receiving accreditation as Investors in People.

We also plan to increase the amount of funds we generate and increase the range of funders for our organisation. With increased funding we hope to increase support for new services and projects. A wider portfolio of funders will mean that we are less reliant on one single source of funding and help reduce the adverse impact of possible local reductions in funding. Throughout all the work that we do, we look forward to continued support from you, our members, supporters and funders during the year ahead.

Plans for the future

We provide an integrated set of information services which aim to provide useful and accessible information direct to carers, staff and professionals, to enable them to support and value carers. Our bi-monthly newsletter focuses on a key issue in each edition and includes information and news about events, local and national policies and research which could be of interest to carers.

Carers Forums & EventsCarers Forums are organised every three months and allow carers to meet directly with professionals, gather information and relax socially with other carers to swap information and tips on their experiences of local services.

Resource Library & PackOur Resource Library, based in the Rainbow Room, contains information on a broad range of topics including benefits, housing, employment, carers rights and includes a section dedicated to different health conditions. The resource library will be redeveloped into an online resource. In addition, we offer a weekly drop-in session.

An information pack is sent to all carers when they register with us. It contains a range of information on services available and contact details.

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Information

CounsellingWe offer up to 26 weeks of free, confidential counselling to carers. People can come for counselling about matters related to their caring role. We also offer counselling to carers who are experiencing difficulties or problems which are unrelated to caring and we offer bereavement counselling. We can also see couples, when the caring role is placing a strain on their relationship. The service is for carers - they can come and talk to us about anything they like.

Massage & TherapiesCarers lives can be stressful on every level. Massage and Reiki can relieve the stress that builds up in the body over long periods of time. Holistic therapies help remove the tension that a carers role can bring. Our professional therapists offer weekly sessions to carers in our Rainbow Room.

Positive Thinking GroupThe Positive Thinking Group offers various ways for carers to change the way they think about themselves and others. A variety of methods are used including breathing techniques, visualisation, diet, meditation and aromatherapy; to help carers think differently about their lives.

Counselling & Therapies

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Carers Activity GroupThe Activity Group meets monthly for informal chats, talks from speakers and relaxation sessions. The Activity Group also has regular outings which include trips to the seaside, the theatre, riverboat trips and museums. We also celebrate the Christmas festivities. The group is led by carers and the activities are planned around what they want to do.

The Arts GroupThe Arts Group has taken carers to venues such as art galleries and the ballet. Carers who attend the group said they found it useful and relaxing to focus on something new and different for a couple of hours, and it provided an excellent break from their caring responsibilities.

Former Carers GroupWe also continue to support carers when their caring role ends. Often this period is the first time that those involved in caring can access the support offered by our organisation, as due to the heavy commitments of caring, support cannot be accessed. Also once a carers responsibilities end they can feel vulnerable, alone, isolated and depressed. We provide a source of strength to carers during this period, by offering them counselling, emotional support and practical advise. We also provide a monthly Former Carers Support Group where carers can establish new friendships and take the time to find their own identity again.

Respite & Short BreaksW

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Advice & SupportThe service provides information on welfare rights matters, benefit issues and supports carers in all other areas including housing, education, health services, social services and accessing other statutory and voluntary services.

By providing intense one to one support the Advice & Support Service aims to enable carers, when a need has been identified, to gain extra assistance to deal with the complexity of statutory services.

AdvocacyThe Advocacy Service provides support in dealing with social, health or housing problems that carers might face when accessing services for themselves or the person they care for. Advocacy aims to promote the carers views and protect carers rights by letting their voice be heard. Advocacy also enables carers to challenge decisions made about them or the person they care for by statutory services.

Other ActivitiesFilm ClubWe run a film club on the second and fourth Thursday of the month, with an annual break in July/August. The films shown range from children’s classics through to period dra-mas. The Film Club provides an excellent respite activity for carers and allows them to network with other carers.

Advice, Support & Advocacy

Fix Yourself A BreakThis scheme enables carers to claim funds towards a much deserved holiday or short-break sometimes this can be a contribution towards trips to visit family or friends. These breaks can include a contribution towards holidays, theatre or cinema trips and sporting events. They enable the carer to take a well earned rest from their under valued but much needed caring role.

Transport SupportWe enable carers to get out and about to take a short break from their caring role by providing access to travel via any form of public transport, including using their Oyster cards. The scheme enables carers to claim funds towards the costs of transport to and from respite breaks that have been or-ganised, as well as to and from any health or social services appointment that they may not have been able to attend without the support of this service.

Accessing other grantsOur Advice and Information Services also make details available about other grant schemes that carers can apply for and will support carers to make applications to these schemes.

Health Service LiaisonThe key aim of this service is to raise awareness of carer issues to local health services, such as GP practices, local hospitals and community health services. It encourages health services to identify carers as early as possible and offers carer awareness training to health professionals across the borough.

Carer displays and notice-boards in GP surgeries have been regularly updated and are key in advertising services to carers in the borough. Southwark Carers leaflets and information is made available through all GP practices in the borough. We also display our leaflets in local pharmacies and other health service buildings.

Surgery Based Support GroupsOffering a chance to meet other carers in the neighbourhood and get together for mutual support as well as make the most of the speakers and massage therapists available. These groups run monthly across various venues in the borough.

Volunteers assist with the administration for these groups, without the help of our volunteers we would not be able to sustain this service.

Support and guidance is also offered to other local independent carer support groups.

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Health Service Grants & Financial Support

Despite a loss in our income, and in an environment where many charities are finding it difficult to maintain funding, we have made excellent progress in achieving our aims and objectives.

ServicesWe have sustained our level of service delivery to carers and have made efforts to increase the range of services offered. In 2008 / 09, we launched 3 new surgery support groups, a healthy carers activity group, and successfully launched the Message in a Bottle Emergency Planning Kit.

CommunicationWe have added to and developed the ways that we communicate our key messages. The Carers newsletter continues to be sent to over 5,000 carers and health professionals. We are about to relaunch the Southwark Carers website to include more information about our services and downloadable resources for carers and professionals.

RepresentationSouthwark Carers has continued to represent the views of carers locally and has been a key voluntary sector presence on the Carers Strategy Forum which makes recommendations to commissioners of local health and social services. We have also spoken at public events about carers, their rights and their needs. In addition, we have supported and participated in consultation events to inform and influence the National Carers Strategy.

CampaigningWe have continued to campaign to put the needs and rights of carers into the public realm. We supported Carers Week and Carers Rights Day and provided regular information to health centres and public meeting places.

NetworkingDuring the year we have regularly maintained or established new working relationships with a range of organisations to help us in our work, including Cambridge House, Carers UK, Southwark Community Care Forum and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

Achievements & Performance

GovernanceOur Trustees met monthly throughout the year and continued to consider all the issues relevant to delivering our services, managing staff and developing the organisation in order to continue to serve carers locally and to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of carers.

QualityTo ensure the quality of services Southwark Carers have been following the PQASSO assessment programme. Having completed stage 1 we are looking to continue with the scheme and are implementing Stage 2 of the programme.

ResourcesThe Trustees have, throughout the year, maintained oversight of the financial and practical resources required to ensure that Southwark Carers continues into the future and have taken steps to ensure that we have an appropriate level of staff, financial reserves and the practical resources for the office and carers centre. To improve the quality of the Carers Resource Centre, we have plans to landscape the front garden at Cambridge House and we hope to renovate the Rainbow Room to make it more functional and comfortable for users.

Reserves PolicyThe purpose of this policy is to ensure that Southwark Carers are able to meet their contractual obligations and finance future expansion of the organisation. The level of free reserves (excluding restricted funds) is reviewed annually by the Directors. The Directors consider that the most appropriate level of free reserves at 31st March 2009 is £60,000 which is equivalent to about 6 months operating costs. Unrestricted reserves as at 31st March 2009 were £47552.

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st March 2009

Unrestricted funds (£) Restricted Funds (£) 2009 Total (£) 2008 Total (£)

INCOME & EXPENDITURE

Incoming Resources from generated funds

Voluntary Income 5,177 3,946 9,123 7,606

Activities for generating funds:Local Authority and other contracts 102,468 377,262 479,730 532,727

Investment Income 1,804 - 1,804 4,938

TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 109,449 381,208 490,657 545,271

RESOURCES EXPENDED

Costs of Generating Funds 16,310 - 16,310 10,963

Charitable Activites 73,416 375,032 448,448 476,717

Governance Costs 20,973 - 20,973 17,800

TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 110,699 375,032 485,731 505,480

NET INCOMING REOURCES / EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR (1,250) 6,176 4,926 39,791

BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD 1st APRIL 2008 48,802 155,588 204,390 164,599

BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD 31st MARCH 2009 47,552 161,764 209,316 204,390

Balance sheet at 31st March 2009

2009 (£) 2009 (£) 2008 (£) 2008 (£)

FIXED ASSETS 1,986 8,815

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors - 31,896

Bank & Cash 215,430----------

215,430

171,367----------

203,263

Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year (8,100) (7,688)

NET CURRENT ASSETS 207,330 195,575

NET ASSETS 209,316 204,390

FUNDS

Unrestricted 47,552 48,802

Restricted 161,764 155,588

TOTAL FUNDS 209,316 204,390

Southwark CarersCambridge House131 Camberwell Road London SE5 0HF

Fax: 020 7708 4877

Email: info@southwarkcarers.org.uk

Web: www.southwarkcarers.org.uk

Charity No: 1085300 | Company No: 4146495