SANDERSTEAD NEIGHBOURHOOD CARE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
The Trustees present their annual report and the independently examined Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2021. We are pleased to note that the SNC accounts show a surplus of £8,690.36 for the year.
Objects of the Charity and Organisation of Its Work
The objects of SNC, as set out in the Constitution, are: “To promote, for the benefit of the inhabitants in the general Sanderstead area, friendship, voluntary care and support for those in need, in cooperation with other relevant voluntary and statutory organisations as appropriate.”
The work of SNC is undertaken by volunteers, managed and supported by the Co-ordinator, under the direction of the Executive Committee which meet on a regular basis throughout the year.
Resignation of Chairman
At the end of 2020 Jim Johnson, who had initially been a volunteer and then Chair of SNC for a number of years, decided to resign for personal reasons. Pauline Ainscow volunteered as Acting Chairman until the Committee could meet to discuss the best way forward. Once we were able to get together under Government Guidelines a farewell celebration was arranged to thank Jim for all the time and effort he had put into guiding SNC and he was presented with an engraved memento and restaurant voucher.
Summary of Activities for the Year
Transport, Assistance and Befriending Statistics
This is the core of what we do. The importance to the community of providing this support cannot be underestimated.
This support includes provision of transport for hospital and medical appointments, shopping and other visits. Befriending visits are also made to those who are housebound or lonely. Without the help of our volunteers, many people would be unable to maintain normal day-today activities and may become isolated.
Response to Covid-19
In response to the pandemic Sanderstead Neighbourhood Care introduced a number of initiatives to help support and protect our clients and volunteers.
During this difficult time the Committee’s priority was the safety and wellbeing of its clients, volunteers and staff. Our Co-ordinator, Debbie Clarke, was instrumental in establishing workable protocols and maintaining essential services to ensure that our clients’ needs were catered for with the minimum of risk and the maximum efficiency.
Volunteers
During the 2020/2021 period our services were adapted to the immediate needs resulting from Government rulings for Covid-19 lockdown periods. Strict protocols were put in place to protect those volunteers who felt able to continue, along with those of our vulnerable clients. Shopping, involved collecting lists, going to the supermarkets and delivering the goods directly to the clients. Collecting and delivering prescriptions was also a priority and this was carried out in the same way. We were unable to offer lifts of any description between March
and July 2020 due to Lockdown. However from July onwards we were very fortunate to have a small core of volunteer drivers who were able to take clients to medical appointments. Volunteers who normally man the ‘phones and were able to give a few hours in the office spent time ‘phoning clients, checking on any needs they may have but mainly spending time chatting and ensuring that they were coping and getting whatever help they needed. We cannot over emphasise our sincere gratitude and that of our clients to all those volunteers who gave their time so willingly during this very difficult period. In particular those who volunteered to do shopping, Peter Bruce, Libby Eldridge, Martin Forzani and Glynis Martin.
Takeover of St Edmund’s Care Group
We have for some years now acted as co-ordinators for the St Edmund’s Care Group. We took their calls for assistance and arranged transport/befriending, etc whenever it was needed. Towards the end of 2020 we were asked if we would be prepared to absorb their clients into Sanderstead Neighbourhood Care and following discussions with St Edmunds and our Trustees we agreed to do so. Consequently we are now able to assist those requiring transport, shopping, befriending and social needs in the Riddlesdown area. St Edmunds were able to transfer the balance of their funds over to SNC which was greatly appreciated.
The Stats
Of our 61 volunteers we lost 5 for various reasons – none due to Covid-19. However, during the epidemic 5 others volunteered to join us and in January this year we took over St Edmund’s Care Group and gained a further 20 volunteers bringing the total to 81.
As a result of the epidemic, in April 2020 we gained 29 new clients, 5 of whom were out of our area but desperately needed prescriptions to be collected/delivered. These 5 clients are now able to collect their own medication. Over the year we did however lose 5 clients who moved into Care homes.
Due to the St Edmund’s takeover we also gained a further 43 clients bringing our total number of clients for 2020/21 to 130.
Young at Heart Social Club (YAH)
The Young at Heart Club closed in April 2020 and was unable to re-open until July of 2021.
Newsletter
A quarterly newsletter is sent out by email or delivered by hand to all clients and volunteers. Normally this interesting communication includes details of recent activities, the next Young at Heart programme and forthcoming events such as quiz nights and book sales. However, during 2020/2021 the newsletter was used to up-date our members on the services we were able to offer, the protocols we were putting in place with regards to transport and the availability of masks, sanitizers, wipes, etc. It also gave details of the Fund Draw, details of AmazonSmile and Blue Badge information.
Core Funding
As you are no doubt aware the London Borough of Croydon Council’s finances are not in the best of health and consequently we no longer receive any funding from this source. However, although we have received funding from the Councillors’ Community Fund, this does not make up for the loss of the annual grant we used to receive from the Council.
Fund Raising Activities and Significant Donations
Due to the pandemic there have been no fundraising activities during the year so we are particularly grateful for all the donations we received during this time. Full details are given in the Accounts but some of the organisations who made donations during the year have included:
All Saints PCC - £1,000 Co-op Community Scheme - £1,949.94 Volunteer driver expenses donated - £1,076.80 Croydon Whitgift Rotary Club - £1,000 Councillors’ Community Fund - £1,000 News UK Sun Newspaper - £2,000 Albert Hunt Trust - £1,000
We are very grateful for the generosity of donors and we also appreciate the generosity of the many volunteers who return their expenses to SNC as a donation.
Reserves & Risk Management
Up to March 2020 we have been very fortunate to generate surplus funds. This has been possible through concerted fund raising efforts and the extremely generous donations we receive. Some of these surplus funds were used to meet our out-goings during this past year. The welcome boost of the residual funds from St Edmonds enabled us to generate a surplus we would otherwise have been unable to achieve.
The major threat to the work of SNC is the lack of secure funding to provide for our part time Co-ordinator who also acts as Social Club Organiser. Although made difficult in the past year due to the Covid-19 climate we hope to address this risk by continuing our efforts to seek fund raising opportunities.
Links with other groups
The Co-ordinator maintains contacts with other local Neighbourhood Care organisations which allow a flow and exchange of ideas together with keeping up to date with applicable policy and legislation. Training sessions are attended by Committee members and volunteers whenever needed and available.
Trustees’ Responsibility for and Adoption of the Report and Financial Statements
The Trustees recognise their responsibilities for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, at any time with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the Charity and that they are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence taking any reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of any fraud or other irregularities.
Recently Stanley Lowy, who had agreed to become the Independent Examiner of our accounts, has volunteered to join SNC as a Trustee. Consequently he now has to step down as our Independent Examiner.
We have been very fortunate in that Jim Johnson, our previous Chairman and Joint Treasurer, has agreed to take on this role. A Resolution proposing Jim Johnson be appointed as the Independent Examiner will be put at the AGM.
Committee Membership
All of our existing trustees continue to support the Charity and will all be putting themselves forward for re-election at the AGM.
We are always looking for additional members to join the Committee so would be keen for people who may be interested, to put themselves forward.
Signed for and on behalf of the Trustees
Pauline Ainscow, Acting Chairman th October 2021
SANDERSTEAD NEIGH80URHOOD CARE RegIsted Chwity Number 1039939 CASHFLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENOING31 MARCH 2021 20 Grdnts: London of Crowjon Ros Harding Tntst st Edmunds contrit11 st Edmunds Transfer Inrne from Photoo)pyKig Bank Interest (after of ojsts) Sale of Books sa of Sundries lknr deduclxjn of (Jjsts) Oonations from Clients Youry at Heart 4,000.00 2,1CQ.CKJ 250.IJ) 15.237.33 57.05 24.81 639.76 a35.¢) 1,815.15 1,215.00 796.00 Membership Catering Payroll Refvnd Fundraising aThl Other t>3nati 1,IX19.03 10,588.31 11,331.83 Safaries & PayTdl Costs OffKe Rent Insurar Telpphone 14,451.15 1200.IXI 518.72 58153 1,477.36 1.076.80 13.929.87 1.173.00 509.32 587.53 417.55 785.60 593.60 710.00 Volunteers ThiviThJ expenses. elwTk YourwJ at Hèart Hall Hire Mkscellarthus Costs AGM Hall Hire Vlheel Char 223.00 27.80 109.99 8uvplWO• *)T th• y•ar 890.36
CASH IN HAND AND UNK &4tAN 01-Apr-20 31-M?r-21 Current Account CAF 8ank Gold Account Cash in Hand ISNC & YAHI Total Fund5 Carried/Brou8ht Forward Surplu5 for Year Unpresented cheques Available Funds at 31 March 2021 6.332.80 19.961.17 203.41 26.49738 8.690.36 -273.CKI 34.914.74 14,723.88 20.220.22 150.64 35.094.74 .180.CKJ 34.914.74 Available funds carried fo Unrestricted General Fund Totsl 34,914.74 34.914.74 M.F. Nicholls- Joint Treasurer P.A Ainscow Date= 30 Independent Examinerfs Report I have examined the relevant records and verified the bank accounts and in my opinlon the above statement is proiperly drawn up and shows thetrue financial position of SarKlerstead Neighbourhood Care as at 31 March 2021 S. Lowy Date &zi 2021 2020 Fund Raisi AGM Costs All Saints Donation 8?rclays Matched funding of November Quii Night Book Sale events Bowls and Plates for Fund Raising fur*ctlons cOP Community Scheme Councilk)rs' Community Fund Croydon Whitgift Rotsry Club Direct Line Charities Trftst Albert HuntTrust NEWS UK- Sun Newspaper Inner Wheel Donation fo RNU in Memory of Mr Piers Hubbard Glft Aid Miscellaneous Donatlon Prize Draw Quii Night- Moy Quiz Night- November 5anderstead Residents, As50dation Sander5tead United Refom)ed Churth Volunteers. Driving Expense5 donated to SNC YAH Brlng aNI Buy Sale and -29.40 I.[.C 919.33 398.30 -131.25 2,675.84 i.c.) i.(. I,cK)o. 1349.94 i.0(.) i.Th)o.oo 250.C i.(. 2.000.tXI 165. -25.C¥J 258.47 Is.c 589.CKJ 762.51 919.33 311.57 675.Th) o.(NJ 160.Q) 1.076.80 150.CN) 765.60 63. io