AnnuAl RepoRt 2008 - 2009

Reg. Charity no 298975

To promote, protect and uphold th

e righ

ts of

vulne

rable

people -

To promote, protect and uphold the rights of vulnerable people .

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About us

KAG Advocacy (KAG) exists to help vulnerable people have a say in decisions that affect them, and how they live their lives.

We do this by providing independent advocacy support to individuals and groups at no direct cost to themselves. Advocacy is provided by our specialist employed staff and trained volunteers.

KAG has a number of services available to help. They are:

• Citizen Advocacy for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities

• Specialist Advocacy for people from black and ethnic minority communities

Direct/Crisis Advocacy, in-patient and group advocacy

• Self Advocacy and mentoring for people with mental health problems

• Appropriate Adult scheme

All our services are governed by our core beliefs - social justice, self determination and commitment to the individual. We listen to our clients, understand their needs, ensure they are aware of their rights and provide relevant information. Finally, we support them in speaking up for themselves (self advocacy) or, where this is not possible, we speak for them (advocacy).

More information can be found at:www.kag.org.uk

AnnuAl RepoRt 2008 - 2009To

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ChAiR’s RepoRt

Two years ago I reported that 2006-7 was probably the most successful year that KAG Advocacy had had in terms of the range of services we were able to provide to our client groups. Last year I noted that the pendulum appeared to be swinging in the opposite direction. Against the background of world-wide recession and a re-ordering of funders’ priorities, this adverse swing of the pendulum has gained momentum and, as noted by Helen Clarke in her Director’s report, 2008-9 has been a year of consolidation and re-focussing of our efforts. Derek Ormond’s Treasurer’s report shows that while our financial position remains healthy, the sources of our funding and hence the type of services we provide has shifted with some of our projects having to be scaled back or even dropped altogether.

It is particularly worrying that funding for a project formally devoted to helping those from black and ethnic minority communities has ceased. But I am glad to say that our ever-resourceful Director and her hardworking staff have found ways to continue to serve these communities. No doubt similar imaginative solutions to problems will be required over the coming year. As Helen notes, during times of economic uncertainty, demand for our services increases, but paradoxically, securing funding to provide those services becomes more difficult. Partnership with independent providers and entering into one-off contracts is likely to be an increasingly important part of our funding mix over the next few years.

I am sure that with the continued hard work of our staff and volunteers we can overcome the current uncertainties and I have every confidence that the flexibility which is one of KAG Advocacy’s main strengths will enable us to re-new and re-invent ourselves to meet the forthcoming challenges.

Mike Todd

DiReCtoR’s RepoRt

2008-2009 has been a year of consolidation and development for KAG Advocacy (KAG).

During the year a flexible structure was developed for the delivery of the IMCA (Independent Mental Capacity Advocate) service which ensures a timely and effective response to all IMCA referrals. We provided this service to 206 individuals: 136 in Surrey, 41 in Kingston, 29 in Richmond.

Towards the end of the year all IMCAs undertook further training at the DoH in preparation for the introduction of DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards). This addition to the IMCA service, which resulted from an amendment to the Mental Capacity Act, was introduced to safeguard the liberty and interests of individuals without capacity who are receiving care and treatment.

Training was also undertaken by staff in preparation for the introduction of the IMHA (Independent Mental Health Advocate) service. This is also a new statutory Advocacy service introduced by the amended Mental Health Act, which must be made available to people on Section from 1st April 2009.

Securing sufficient funding to meet the demands for our service continued to be a major challenge. To this end, KAG entered into working partnerships for the delivery of Advocacy with a number of independent providers: Whitepost Independent Hospital in Redhill, Prospect Housing in Surrey. Alongside these contracts a number of spot purchase arrangements were agreed with the Boroughs of Kingston, Richmond, Wandsworth and Surrey.

As in the previous year, demand for our service increased especially from individuals suffering with debts and requiring assistance with budgeting, benefits etc. It became clear that many vulnerable individuals are suffering disproportionately from the credit crunch and in order to maintain their mental health require support and representation even more than in the past. Optimists among us (I must admit to being one of those!) believe that ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ and that the credit crunch is enabling more caring individuals to take up voluntary work. My hope is that a number of these individuals will volunteer for KAG.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and all our volunteers for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.

Helen Clarke

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Why KAG ADvoCACy?

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KAG Advocacy was founded 21 years ago by local people to benefit their local communities. During these years it has built up knowledge, skills and a reputation for ‘delivering the goods’. KAG Advocacy is a professional organisation that delivers its services in an effective and efficient manner. This is achieved by employing skilled staff, using volunteers, where appropriate, and by maintaining very low overheads, KAG can deliver its services in an effective, efficient and economic manner. Above all it delivers a quality service to its end users.

WHy KAG ADVOCACY?

EfficientEffective

Economic

Professional

Flexible

Accessible

Localy based

Knowledge & Skills

Provides a quality service to the end user

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During the year KAG Advocacy provided a range of advocacy services in Kingston, Richmond and Surrey. Many of these were delivered by trained volunteers as follows:

Citizen Advocacy Service : 50 volunteers from the local community were trained to support and • represent individuals with mental health problems and individuals with learning disabilities. The role of the Citizen Advocate is to make sure that the person’s voice is heard, their views are respected and their rights protected.

Mentoring Service: 10 new volunteers were trained to act as mentors for individuals with mental health • problems returning back to the work place. For many of these individuals returning to work is a daunting prospect – they lack confidence, feel deskilled and fear rejection. The help and support of the mentor can make all the difference to the outcome.

Appropriate Adult : 40volunteers covered the rota for attending Kingston Police Station. The role of the • Appropriate Adult is to act as a safeguard to protect the rights of the vulnerable individuals including juveniles when they are held in custody.

Information Trolley Service : A grant was obtained to pilot an information service on Lavender Ward • at Queen Mary’s Hospital. This consisted of a trolley service, providing information on a whole range of topics and services, provided on the ward weekly by two volunteers. Patients on the ward found this service to be very useful.

Other Advocacy Services were delivered by professionally trained Advocates as follows:

Crisis Advocacy Service: Advocates supported and represented individuals during crisis situations and • or with complex issues.

In- Patient Service: Weekly Advocacy and Information surgeries were provided to patients on psychiatric • wards at Tolworth Hospital, Queen Mary’s Hospital and Epsom General Hospital.

Black and Ethnic Minority Advocacy : In Richmond funding was obtained from the Choosing Health • Programme, to continue the BME Advocacy Service which is delivered by our experiences BME Advocate.

IMCA Service [ Independent Mental Capacity Advocate] During 2008-09 , the second year of this • new service, KAG developed a comprehensive structure for delivering the IMCA service. The service assisted 206 individuals who were deemed to have lost their capacity to make decisions with regard to their long-term accommodation or serious medical treatment.

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seRviCes 2008-2009

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tReAsuReR’s RepoRt

Derek OrmondThe Treasurer

Page 6 shows summarised draft accounts. The full audited Financial Statements are available from KAG.

The Statement of Financial Activities shows that KAG was able to operate within our income for the year. Income was some £41000 lower than last year. This was caused by the withdrawal of ALG grant funding in early 2008 (£73000 in the previous year). Staff resources were redeployed to other projects and services phased down accordingly. All expenditure was carefully managed and decreased by £11000 compared with the previous year. Accordingly a small surplus for the year of £1307 was achieved.

Details of the main funders of KAG can be found elsewhere in this report. The ALG grant has largely been replaced by IMCA work contracted by Kingston, Richmond and Surrey and various spot purchase arrangements such that the impact on the financial position has been minimised. However this type of funding relies on cases being referred to KAG and so it is inherently less stable than the grant arrangements that have dominated KAG’s income for many years.

Salaries and related expense of the staff employed by KAG now account for 88% of all expenditure. The financial statements do not include any amount to recognise the time and skills donated by the many volunteers who support KAG’s activities and enable our services to be delivered at low cost to commissioners.

The £1300 surplus is added to funds brought forward of £121000 to leave us with funds of £122500. This amount represents about 5 month’s operating expenditure and so is well within the guidelines. Some of these reserves relate to specific projects and so are “restricted” to activities that meet the funders’ criteria. The ”unrestricted” funds are increased to £ 110000 and are available for the trustees to use in accordance with KAG’s objectives.

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stAtement of finAnCiAl ACtivities

YEAR 2008 / 2009 ACCOUNTS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2009

Descriptions Restricted Funds £

Unrestricted Funds £

2009 Total

2008 Total

Incoming resources

Incoming resources from generated funds

Voluntary income 232,096 18,837 250,933 300,646

Activities for generating funds

- - - -

Investment income

- 5,553 5,553 6,363

Incoming resources from charitable activities

7,260 44,314 51,574 42,495

Other incoming resources (37,879) 37,879 - -

Total incoming resources 201,477

106,583 308,060 349,504

Resources expended

Costs of generating voluntary income

- 9,782 9,782 8,540

Charitable activities 208,044 88,040

296,084 308,708

Governance costs 765 122 887 889

Total resources expended

208,809 97,944 306,753 318,137

Net incoming/outgoing resources (7,332) 8,639,00 1,307 31,367

Net movement in funds (7,332) 8,639 1,307 31,367

Total funds brought forward 19,252

102,030 121,282 89,915

Total funds carried forward 11,920 110,669 122,589 121,282

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ChRis inGRAm, KAG ADvoCACy tRustee 1988 - 2009

KAG Advocacy passed an important landmark in 2009 with the retirement from the Board of Trustees of Chris Ingram. Chris was the last of our ‘founder’ trustees. It was he, together with a few other brave souls, including Helen Clarke, who set -up KAG Advocacy over 20 years ago. Since the, he helped to steer KAG towards being one of the more successful local charities and it was a wrench when ill-health made it necessary for Chris to step down. We were delighted that Chris agreed to be our Honorary President but saddened that he was able to hold this post for only a very short time. Chris died on 24 September 2009.

We remain enormously grateful for all of his efforts and will remember him with affection.

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KAG ADvoCACy oRGAnisAtion ChARt

Management Committee

Director Mrs Helen Clarke

Assistant Director Miss Sue Boakes

Administrator & Accounts Officers

Kingston Office

Citizen Advocacy Mental Health

Citizen Advocacy Learning Disabilities

Generic Advocacy

Appropriate Adult Scheme

Mentoring Scheme

In-Patient Advocacy

IMCA

Surrey Office

Citizen Advocacy

Generic Advocacy

IMCA

IMHA

Richmond Office

Citizen Advocacy

Generic Advocacy

BMER Specialist Advocacy

In-Patient &Group Advocacy

IMCA

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KAG Advocacy would like to thank those who supported us in 2008- 2009

COMMITTEE

Mike ToddChris IngramDerek OrmondNigel PalmerKathy Gardner-BrownClaire GreenfordRichard Mobbs

FUNDERS

Surrey County CouncilSurrey PCTRoyal Borough of KingstonLondon Borough of Richmond upon ThamesRichmond and Twickenham PCTHampton Fuel Allotments CharityRichmond Parish LandsThe Barnes Workhouse FundSpringboard Community EnterpriseWhitepost HealthcareProspect Housing AssociationChurch of the Holy NameSouth West London and St George’s NHS TrustThe Alfred Trust

Individual donations

KAG ADvoCACy

Kingston OfficeSiddeley House50 Canbury Park RoadKingston Upon ThamesKT2 6LXTel: 020 8549 1028email: rights@kag.org.ukwebsite: www.kag.org.uk

Printed by pdc copy print

tRustees

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KAG ADvoCACy

Kingston OfficeSiddeley House

50 Canbury Park Road

Kingston Upon Thames

Surrey KT2 6LX

Tel: 020 8549 1028

email: rights@kag.org.uk

website: www.kag.org.uk

Surrey Office:1st FloorRamsay HouseWest Park, Horton LaneEpsomSurrey KT19 8PBTel: 0188 3383838 ext 5849email: surrey@kag.org.uk

Richmond Office:ETNA13 Rosslyn RoadTwickenhamMiddlesex TW1 2ARTel: 020 8744 9251email: richmond@kag.org.uk

To promote, protect and uphold

the r

ights

of vu

lnera

ble pe

ople -

To promote, protect and uphold the rights of vulnerable people .

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To promote, protect and uphold th

e righ

ts of

vulne

rable

people -

To promote, protect and uphold the rights of vulnerable people .

Reg. Charity no 298975

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