Annual Report: 1[st] January 2022 – 31[st] December 2022.
I am happy to report on an excellent year, for the Wokingham and West Berkshire Mental Health Association.
Drop-In Centre.
The Drop-In Centre was very well used throughout the year – with attendance numbers, and those supported, reaching a total of one thousand, four hundred, and four. In the latter part of the year, we have provided ‘warm places’ for service users who, due to limited income, cannot afford high heating bills. Our beautiful, warm rooms, have proved ideal for this purpose.
Crisis Intervention, Information, and Advocacy.
This service continued successfully, throughout the year. I wish to mention, particularly, a recent incident, which illustrates, perfectly, how vital our crisis intervention service is. One of our long-term service users had been deteriorating in health, and this culminated in his experiencing an attack of mania, in the drop-in centre, itself. His doctor had contacted the statutory crisis team – who took hours to arrive. Since there were two from the team, I assumed that, when they left with him, they would take the patient home, and have one stay with him, while the second organised a hospital bed. Fortunately, I telephoned him to see how things were going. They had left him to go home alone, even though he was deranged, and suicidal. This is where our, first class crisis service, kicked in. Our marvellous volunteer, and charity trustee, Paul Maguire, went to the man’s house immediately, and stayed with him, to look after him, for some eight hours, until nine o’clock at night, when they finally arrived to get him into hospital. It was expected that one, at least, would accompany him to hospital, in the taxi, but he was driven there, by a taxi driver, untrained in mental health, alone. The man, now recovered, says that the only quality crisis service that he received, was Paul Maguire’s. Well done, Paul!
Befriending.
This service also continued, successfully, throughout the year. Our long-term befriender, Bev Norman, has now moved to Kent, but keeps in touch, and visits us whenever she is in Wokingham.
Station House.
Throughout 2022, we have stuck to our policy, of carrying out, only essential repairs to Station House, which, nevertheless, continues to serve our purposes well. Lately, we have had to board up a smashed window, and replace a faulty lock. A bigger job, that of repairing the, partially collapsed, roof in the ladies’ toilet, and consequent, necessary, redecoration, will have to wait until weather conditions are more suitable.
We are currently awaiting the issuing of a new lease on the crisis house. I am, frequently, asked the question, ‘Who owns Station House?’ This is the answer. Our charity, because we have paid for them all, owns the following: a small part of the building’s front wall, and a large section of its left side wall, its front door, back door, the inner door handle, and all locks throughout the building. We own ten of its thirteen windows, the main lounge floor, the kitchen floor, and floor covering, the passage floor, both toilet and cloakroom floors, the floor, roof, and walls of the side covered area, part of the main building’s roof, and part of the side building’s roof. We also own, because we have paid for them, our four toilets, four wash basins, and taps, two showers and shower cubicles, ensuite walls, doors, fittings, and lights, three sinks, taps, and draining boards, both of our kitchens’ fitted cupboards, drawers, and work surfaces, dish washer, washing machine, tumble drier, freezer, fridge, electric cooker, and two microwaves. We also own, because we have paid for them, the telephone, broadband/internet connection, computer, two televisions, electric meter, cable, two fuse boards, all electric heaters, and radiators, and our fire alarm. Furthermore, we own, because we have paid for them, all household equipment – including crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, kettles, household linen, all furniture and furnishings – including dozens of chairs, armchairs, sofas, tables, bookshelves, cabinets, standard lamps, mirrors, clocks, a pool table, a darts board, dozens of table games, hundreds of ornaments, pictures and books, all curtains, curtain rails, and carpets, and all wallpaper and paint. Wokingham Borough Council owns what’s left!
Finances.
We have done well, with very generous donations, throughout the year. In June, we received a donation of five thousand pounds from the Berkshire Community Foundation, and in August we received a donation of three thousand pounds from Newbury Building Society. Wokingham United Charities have invited us to apply for a grant from them, and we are awaiting the result of this application. Throughout the year, we have also received a regular stream of smaller, but nevertheless, very welcome, donations, and these have helped us to keep our finances healthy.
Supporting Individuals.
Good finances enable us to support individuals in private treatment and psychoanalysis – where we think that this can benefit them. We are currently paying for a depressed man to receive such excellent treatment, at the prestigious Cardinal Clinic, in Windsor. We are confident that, as a result, he will be able to continue in his professional job, and turn his life around, for the better.
Obituaries.
We are supporting our service user, Christopher, who lost both his mother, and his brother, within a short time of each other, in the summer of this year. It is also sad to record the death of Timothy Stratford. He left the Wokingham area in January 2002, but we always kept in touch. Sadly, Anna Felice-Cook passed away in December, after a battle with cancer. Anna did the illustrations for both my books on the history of the crisis house, and I am sorry that she will not be able to illustrate the third one – which I am, currently, compiling.
Publication of Book.
This was published in March 2021, the thirty-year anniversary, of the crisis house, and has continued to attract buyers throughout the year. My latest sale of a copy, was on 23[rd] December 2022! I am now compiling material for my third, post pandemic, history of the crisis house. This, appropriately, is entitled, ‘The Continuing of the Same’, and God willing, will be published in March 2026, the thirty-five year history of the crisis house.
President
Lady Elizabeth Godsal has agreed to continue as our President, provided that I am planning for the long-term future of the crisis house, as, indeed, I am. I am not so pessimistic, as many, that there will be no-one to replace me, when I, eventually, retire. Among the many, excellent, volunteers who have served us, over the years, we have included, two chartered accountants, two headmistresses, and the, then, newly retired, managing Director of, the top, engineering company, Racal. A latter day, such volunteer, would fulfil the role, admirably.
Christmas.
Our 2022 Christmas Party was a great success – now, thank God, free of covid restrictions.
Vote of Thanks.
I wish to record thanks to all those who have supported us – either, financially, or as volunteers, carrying out our invaluable work for mental health, throughout Wokingham and West Berkshire – during the year 2022.
Pam Jenkinson, Association President. 31[st] December 2022.
Wokingham & West Berkshire Mental Health Association
Income and Expenditure Account
for the period 1st April 2021 to 31 March 2022
Income
Brought Forward Donations
Total Income
Expenditure
Professional Cleaning Daily & Household Expenses Public Liability Insurance Television Electricity Fire Safety Telephone/Internet Water Rates Business Rates & Rent Repairs
Total Expenditure
Income over expenditure
Bank Accounts as at 31st March 2022
£33,451.53 £6,653.08 £40,104.61
£1,404.00 £2,104.10 £1,684.60 £158.52 £1,032.18 £314.49 £536.60 £171.38 £1,638.40 £560.00 £9,604.27
£30,500.34 £30,500.34
1, Arlington Close, Bracknell, Berks. RG42 1YF 6 April, 2022
To Whom It May Concern:
I have examined the Accounts of The Wokingham & West Berkshire Mental Health Association for the period 1[st] April, 2021 to 31[st] March, 2022.
I confirm that this is an accurate statement of the Association’s income and expenditure for this period.
Dennis M. Jenkinson