The Rowan Organisation

 

10th Annual Report 2002

 

 

Chair’s Forward

 

In last years report I asked “where next” and this year the answer has been “Wiltshire”.  The organisation has continued to grow but never at the expense of quality and although we have been unsuccessful in some tenders the feedback has indicated that this is because of price and not the quality of our bids.

 

Financially we continue to be stable with an increase in funding to nearly £700,000.  It is now anticipated that our turnover for the next financial year will approach £1,000,000 and we will be required to register for VAT.

 

With the growth of the organisation accommodation for the administration is an increasing problem and the organisation has continued to seek a solution which would improve the situation at the Rowan Centre in Atherstone.  At long last a solution may be in the offing and it is hoped that we will move to new office accommodation in the near future.

 

Our new Assistant Director, Lindsey Fowler, has proved to be an asset  to the organisation and my thanks to her and all the other staff and volunteers for their hard work during the year.

 

Cliff Warner

 

 

The Rowan Organisation has enjoyed another year of stability and growth in its delivery of services to disabled people.  Our commitment to providing services that are genuinely user led and directly accountable to service users has proved a significant factor in the growth of our work and, more importantly, in the level of satisfaction that service users have with those services.

 

Direct Payment Support Schemes:

 

Direct payments Schemes have made a substantial difference to the degree of choice and control that disabled people have in how they live their lives.  The Direct Payment Support Schemes that the Rowan Organisation provides have continued to grow substantially and new schemes have been brought on-line.  We are now supporting over 500 Direct Payment Users nationally and work with seven Local Authorities.

 

Salary Service:

 

The Salary service provided to Direct Payment Users has been one of our fastest growing areas of work.  Support to deal with the intricacies of PAYE and National Insurance has been identified as a crucial aspect of the support to Direct Payment users with over 240 people currently using the service.

 

Resource Service (Outreach):

 

The Resource Service provides support to disabled people so that they can set realistic and meaningful objectives for themselves and identify the resources necessary to achieve these.  The service works with over 100 people annually, has enabled people to access a wide range of resources including, benefits, housing, education, employment, health care and recreation and leisure. 

 

Information Service:

 

The provision of high quality information continues to underpin the majority of the work of the organisation.  Without the relevant information it is impossible for disabled people to make properly informed choices.  The Information Service provides fact-sheets, leaflets, newsletters and a telephone and e-mail response service, as well as maintaining our web-site.  All of which ensures that we can provide a versatile and responsive information service that is available to all disabled people and supports the work of the organisation as a whole.

 

Day Services:

 

The day services at both The Rowan Centre in Atherstone and Fordsfield in Leamington have continued to provide supported access to a broad range of activities on a self-managing basis.  The services have supported nearly 100 people this year in accessing Education, Art and Crafts, Sport, Recreation and Leisure activities and providing a range of support groups. 

 

Transport:

 

As part of our commitment to ensuring that service users have full access to community resources we have continued to provide fully accessible transport of a high quality.  Two vehicles are provided to each of the Day Services with provision for a rolling programme of replacement.

 

Conclusion

 

The Rowan Organisation has continued to provide high quality services that are valued by our service users.  We are financially sound with adequate provision for our future commitments.  Towards the end of the year we were awarded an additional contract which continues our growth in the field of Direct Payments and demonstrates our credibility as a whole.

 

Income and Expenditure

 

 

Incoming Resource (in pounds)

Local Authorities                    654,425

Other Income                           44,133

Total Income                          698,558

 

 

Resources Expended

Dir’ct Charitable Expenditure 627,791

Management & Admin.             10,255

Total Expend.                          638,046

Operating surplus                      60,512

Transfer to Reserves                56,374

Surplus for the year                     4,138 

 

 

Balance Sheet as at 31.3.02

 

Fixed Assets

Tangible Assets                                           104,499

Current Assets                      

          Stock                                 1,541

          Debtors                          21,995

          Cash at

Bank/hand                    143,926                                                        167,462

Creditors                                                               31,427

                                                                                                             136,035

                                                                                                             240,534

 

Capital & Reserves

 

General Reserve                                                  71,554

Specific Reserve                                                168,980

   240,534