Minutes of the 18th AGM held at on 2nd November 2016
Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HQ
The welcome and opening remarks were given by Clinks’ Chair, Dame Anne Owers.
Members Present: 3 Pillars Project, Abandofbrothers, Achieve North West Connect, Addaction, Agenda, Arun and Chichester Citizens Advice Bureau, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG), Bounce Back Project, Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA), Bromley Trust, Buttle UK, Catalyst Stockton on Tees Limited, Catch22, Children's Links, Community Chaplaincy Association, The Education and Training Foundation, Elcena Jeffers Foundation, The Footprints Project , Forgiveness Project, Games for Life, Hibiscus Initiatives, Inspirit Training & Development Ltd, Interserve Justice, Kenward Trust, Key4Life, Khulisa, Lancashire Women's Centres, Langley House Trust, Lincolnshire Action Trust, LVSC (London Voluntary Service Council), Mayday Trust, National Approved Premises Association (NAPA), New Philanthropy Capital, Novus Foundations for Change, P3 Charity, Peace Partners, Porticus UK, The Prince's Trust, Prisoners Abroad, Prisoners Advice Service, Restorative Solutions, Revolving Doors Agency, RISE Mutual , Riverside Care & Support, Safe Ground, Samaritans, Shelter (England), St Giles Trust, St Mungo's, Stand Alone, Together for Mental Wellbeing, Transform Justice, Unlock, for people with convictions, Volteface, Volunteer Centre Dorset, Volunteer Centre Kensington & Chelsea / InsideOut, Resettlement Scheme, Welsh Centre for Crime & Social Justice, Why me? UK, Working Chance, YouTurn Futures.
Clinks Staff: Hazel Alcraft, Kate Aldous, Helen Carter, Louise Clark, Jean Coates, Kate Davey, Nathan Dick, Nicola Drinkwater, Anne Fox, Patrice Lawrence, Isabel Livingstone, Sarah Loader, Rhiannedd Mclean, Jessica Mullen, Natasha Phiri, Jessica Plant, Richard Nicholls, Oonagh Ryder, Ben Watson, Tom Worley
Clinks Trustees: Helen Attewell, Liz Calderbank, Rachael Byrne, Alison Frater, Robert Fulton, Norma Hoyte, Anne Owers (Chair) and Steve Rawlins.
Nominated trustees: Nicola Silverleaf
1. Welcome and Chair’s address
Dame Anne Owers, Chair of Clinks welcomed members and guests to the AGM. She thanked members for the advice, time and support they give to Clinks and without which Clinks would not exist. On behalf of all of the trustees, Anne also thanked the staff of Clinks and noted that their expertise was valued greatly by members.
This AGM is being held earlier than usual. Clinks was keen to ensure that it reported to members much closer to the end of their reporting year. Track TR research is continuing and is providing very important information and intelligence on what is actually going on. Clinks has invested in additional support workers, including one in Wales. Clinks has been involved in the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group, which is an important part of Clinks’ role in reporting upwards on what is happening in the sector. It has been a busy year for Clinks and its members.
2. Apologies from Members
None.3. Minutes of the 17th AGM held on 27 January 2016
The minutes were accepted as a true record. Proposed by Alison Frater and seconded by Norma Hoyte.
4. Presentation of the Annual Report and plans for the future: Anne Fox, CEO
Anne noted the challenges that have been faced by members and partners of Clinks. She highlighted the timeline of the Criminal Justice Sector that Clinks had produced and noted that this shows the great achievements of the sector over the years and how this indicates that it can weather the challenges it faces, as it has done in the past.
Anne identified three themes : 1. Pushing for change to make the criminal justice systems better - Clinks has worked with partners, including User Voice and St Giles on the involvement of users; 2. Challenging discrimination in systems – such as involvement in the Young Review; and 3. Focus on young adults.
Clinks has continued to be a part of the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition, looking at service users with multiple needs. Clinks has also carried out work around the health and well-being of people in the system. Clinks has amplified the voice of members by working with the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). Clinks has focussed support for organisations providing family support. Track TR has been very important for Clinks and “Change and Challenge” the second report looking into the voluntary sector’s role in Transforming Rehabilitation, has been published. Information from Clinks’ State of the Sector research continues to be important and Anne launched the survey for this year’s report. Clinks has supported work around volunteering through the Ministry of Justice and the European Union. This work has looked at how you engage, support and involve volunteers.
Anne noted the internal changes in Clinks. Clinks’ long-standing Director, Clive Martin has retired and Shannon Robinson, Clinks’ Development Officer for Wales has left. Clinks has a fantastic team of staff, trustees and members. Anne has had the pleasure of visiting over 100 organisations since she joined. For the next year, Clinks aims to continue to be an organisation for members to rely on for support and advocacy.
5. Presentation of the Annual Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2016
Robert Fulton, Treasurer of Clinks presented the accounts. He thanked members for staying on after the Annual Conference. He noted that the accounts have again been audited by Sayer Vincent. Robert thanked Anne Taiwo and the financial team at Clinks. Clinks’ financial position is sound with no significant problems. Clinks has a deficit in this financial year, which was planned and expected. Clinks had built up more reserves than was needed and the trustees agreed to use some of the reserves to improve services to members.
The trustees have also considered the reserves policy and tweaked it to give greater flexibility, which was on the advice of the Auditors. The accounts have been approved by the trustees of Clinks. Robert noted that this will be the final time that he will present the accounts as he is stepping down from the Board of Clinks. He thanked his fellow trustees and the Clinks staff, in particular Richard Nicholls, Anne Taiwo and Jean Coates for all their support.
Robert asked members present to receive the accounts. The accounts were received. Proposed by Steve Rawlins and seconded by Alison Frater.
6. Election of Trustees
Robert Fulton, Treasurer is standing down and Nicola Silverleaf is proposed as the new Clinks Treasurer. Nicola has a great deal of experience.
In accordance with Clinks’ constitution, two trustees stood down at the AGM. Robert Fulton was standing down, and Steve Rawlins stood for re-election. Steve was duly re-elected as a trustee by show of hands.
Nicola Silverleaf was duly elected on a show of hands as a trustee and Treasurer.
The AGM was closed.
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Anne Fox then presented the results of the Clinks Impact Assessment 2016, which was an independent study carried out by Helen Shaw and Chris Tully.
The meeting was followed by a drinks reception.
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