Like many charities, the year 2020 – 2021 has been a very challenging one for the Heather Club.
This has been almost entirely due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, which, given the vulnerability of our main demographic and many of our volunteers, caused us to close the club for the first time in our 39-year history.
Having taken the decision to close the club (in advance of the Government’s Lockdown) the Trustees gradually became increasingly aware, that the imposed isolation was having a significant negative impact on the health (both mental and physical) on the lives of our members and their carers.
In addition, for a variety of reasons a number of people who had supported the club, including the post of Treasurer, stepped down, requiring us to recruit to fill major roles. Happily, we have now got people in position to become Trustees and to fill these vacancies and a clearer understanding of the skill gap amongst the current Trustees. This information will be used to inform our advertising for more trustees.
It is a testament to the people that stepped forward, that we were able to continue to operate but it has highlighted the need to recruit more trustees to take the Charity forward.
Having identified the issue, the Trustees considered ways of meeting the challenge and from such discussions ‘The Heather Club at Home’ was borne. We fundraised and rented Grandpads (a relatively new piece of technology able to be simplified for an older and more technology resistant demographic. We employed someone to run the scheme and to deal with the technology. We distributed the Grandpads to the more able members and designed a series of webinar events to allow participation in Heather Club type activities, from home. In addition, volunteers rang members each week for a chat in a bid to entertain the members and allow carers so time for themselves.
This was quite successful although not all members were able to participate and some, who experienced deterioration through this period, began but were unable to continue. We were always clear that this was no substitute to our normal offering but in the circumstances, it was better than nothing.
As the first Lockdown eased, we were able to send volunteers to chat with members in their garden or outside space and also during the year we delivered seasonal gifts, Christmas and easter related.
The Heather Club at home had its own newsletter designed for people at home though we continued with our traditional newsletter as well.
As the Government announced further easing of restrictions and after much deliberation over the level of precautions necessary, we reopened the Heather Club (much to the member’s delight) and mothballed the Heather Club at Home in the hope that we won’t need it again but secure in the knowledge that we have a template should it ever be required.
Sadly, during the time that the Heather Club was closed several the members had died or become more incapacitated and so were no longer able to attend the club.
| Balance in Hand B/FWD Savings Accounts Current Account Petty Cash Donations and Grants Herts CC Carers Annual Grant Herts Comm Foundation (Rowlandson) Rotary Club of Hemel Hempstead National Lottery Grant Kocycle Shanly Foundation Other Donations Members Subscriptions Furlough Bank Account Interest |
2020 2019 Receipts Receipts £ £ 10015.78 10010.77 26460.54 32331.42 150.00 150.00 9728.00 9728.00 5000.00 0.00 250.00 0.00 7425.00 0.00 599.40 0.00 1500.00 0.00 799.95 1887.17 6248.00 27288.55 6759.24 3.61 5.01 74939.52 81400.92 |
Equipment Meals Rent Refreshments Transport Minibus Club Activities Entertainment Outings/Activities Heather Club Outreach Grandpad Activities Gifts Other Expenses Insurance |
2020 2019 Out Out £ £ 0.00 226.76 2180.40 9025.20 491.60 5024.00 92.81 331.15 3140.66 8919.17 140.00 980.00 234.50 779.20 92.48 0.00 23.00 31.5 1776.41 2256.38 339.73 465.25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memberships DBS Post/Tele/Station/Comp/Photoc Salaries Payroll Advert Training Total Expenses Balance in hand c/fwd Savings Accounts Current Account Petty Cash |
96 106 45.00 45.00 156.88 377.57 9588.44 15731.22 352.80 451.20 24.00 0.00 45.00 25.00 18819.71 44774.60 20019.37 10015.78 35950.44 26460.54 150.00 150.00 56119.81 36626.32 74939.52 81400.92 |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE HEATHER CLUB
I report on the accounts of The Heather Club, Registered Charity 1015598 for the year ended 31[st] December 2020 as follows
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
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Examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act);
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To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act); and
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To state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accords with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
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have not been met or
2) to which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
R.M. Sage ACIB, ACIE 8 Saffrons Court Compton Place Road Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1DX Telephone 01323 733840 Email : richardmarksage@aol.com
Date 16th October 2021
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