**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 03142188 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1051662**
# **Report of the Trustees, Financial Statements and Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 for Training Link**
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
||Page|
|Report of the Trustees|1|
|Independent Examiner's Report|2|
|Statement of Financial Activities|3|
|Balance Sheet|4|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|5 to 10|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|11|
|Annual Report|12 to 14|
Latham Lambourne Ltd 18 Woodlands Park Bexley Kent DA5 2EL
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2021**
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **Achievement and performance**
This report should be read in conjunction with the Training Link Annual Report, included as an annex to this document.
## **Financial review**
## **Reserves policy**
It is expected that reserves of at least £10,000 should be held to maintain an appropriate level of working capital and to protect the future operations of Training Link from the effects of any variations in its income or expenditures as identified in the Risk Policy and any unforeseen events.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its memorandum and articles of association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
## **Reference and administrative details**
## **Registered Company number**
03142188 (England and Wales)
## **Registered Charity number**
1051662
**Registered office** 54-56 Phoenix Road London NW1 1ES
## **Trustees**
Ms B Goring-Moore, Dr E Arnold, Mr C Flower, Ms K Hayes, Ms M Christian (appointed 10.10.20)
## **Company Secretary**
Mr P D Lush
## **Independent Examiner**
John Lambourne FCA Latham Lambourne Ltd 18 Woodlands Park Bexley Kent DA5 2EL
1
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Training Link ('the Company')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2021.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).
2
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2021**
|**Income and endowments from**
Notes
Donations and legacies
**Charitable activities**
Services etc
Room hire
Investment income
2
**Total**
**Expenditure on**
**Charitable activities**
Services etc
**Net income**
**Reconciliation of funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**31.3.21**
**Total**
31.3.20
Total
funds
£
funds
£
**funds**
**£**
funds
£
**472**
**0**
**472**
456
**7,253**
**29,284**
**36,537**
48,202
**0**
**0**
**0**
6,111
**214**
**0**
**214**
268|
|---|---|
||**7,939**
**29,284**
**37,223**
55,037
**7,749**
**29,065**
**36,814**
48,805|
||**190**
**219**
**409**
6,232
**22,601**
**8,723**
**31,324**
25,092|
||**22,791**
**8,942**
**31,733**
31,324|
The
The notes form part of these financial statements
3
## **Balance Sheet 31 March 2021**
|**Balance Sheet**
**31 March 2021**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**31.3.21**|31.3.20|
||||Unrestricted|Restricted|**Total**|Total|
||||fund|funds|**funds**|funds|
||Notes|Notes|£|£|**£**|£|
|**FIXED ASSETS**|||||||
|Tangible assets||7|**717**|**0**|**717**|1,075|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**|||||||
|Cash at bank and in hand|||**23,453**|**8,941**|**32,394**|32,405|
|**CREDITORS**|||||||
|Amounts falling due within one year||8|**(1,378)**|**0**|**(1,378)**|(2,156)|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**|||**22,075**|**8,941**|**31,016**|30,249|
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**|||||||
|**LIABILITIES**|||**22,792**|**8,941**|**31,733**|31,324|
|**NET ASSETS**|||**22,792**|**8,941**|**31,733**|31,324|
|**FUNDS**||9|||||
|Unrestricted funds|||||**22,792**|22,601|
|Restricted funds|||||**8,941**|8,723|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|||||**31,733**|31,324|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2021.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 15 September 2021 and were signed on its behalf by:
continued.
5
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixtures and fittings - 33% on cost Computer equipment - 33% on cost
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Hire purchase and leasing commitments**
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.
## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits**
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
continued.
6
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 – continued**
|**2.**
**Investment income**
Deposit account interest
**3.**
**Net income/(expenditure)**|**31.3.21**
**£**
**214**|31.3.20
£
268|
|---|---|---|
||||
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
||**31.3.21**|31.3.20|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|£|
|Depreciation - owned assets|**359**|359|
|Other operating leases|**4,318**|3,540|
## **4. Trustees' remuneration and benefits**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020.
## **5. Staff costs**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
|Director
IT Coordinator
Cleaner|**31.3.21**
31.3.20
**1**
1
**1**
0
**1**
0|
|---|---|
||**3**
1|
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
## **6. Comparatives for the statement of financial activities**
|**6.**
**Comparatives for the stateme**|**nt of financia**|**l activities**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|Restricted||Total|
|||fund|funds||funds|
|||£|£||£|
|**Income and endowments from**||||||
|Donations and legacies||456||-|456|
|**Charitable activities**||||||
|Services etc||3,919|44,283||48,202|
|Room hire||6,111|0||6,111|
|Investment income||268|0||268|
|**Total**||10,754|44,283||55,037|
|**Expenditure on**||||||
|**Charitable activities**||||||
|Services etc||7,251|41,554||48,805|
||6||||continued.|
6
|**6.**
**Comparatives for the statement of financial activities - continued**
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
£
£
**Net income**
3,503
2,729
**Reconciliation of funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
19,098
5,994
**Total funds carried forward**
22,601
8,723
**7.**
**Tangible fixed assets**
Fixturesand
Computer
fittings
equipment
£
£
**COST**
At 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021
**4,700**
**9,618**
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2020
**4,700**
**8,542**
Charge for year
0
**359**
At 31 March 2021
**4,700**
**8,901**
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2021
0
**717**
At 31 March 2020
0
1,076
**8.**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**31.3.21**
**£**
Social security and other taxes
**55**
Accruals and deferred income
**663**
Accrued expenses
**660**
**1,378**|**6.**
**Comparatives for the statement of financial activities - continued**
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
£
£
**Net income**
3,503
2,729
**Reconciliation of funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
19,098
5,994
**Total funds carried forward**
22,601
8,723
**7.**
**Tangible fixed assets**
Fixturesand
Computer
fittings
equipment
£
£
**COST**
At 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021
**4,700**
**9,618**
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2020
**4,700**
**8,542**
Charge for year
0
**359**
At 31 March 2021
**4,700**
**8,901**
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2021
0
**717**
At 31 March 2020
0
1,076
**8.**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**31.3.21**
**£**
Social security and other taxes
**55**
Accruals and deferred income
**663**
Accrued expenses
**660**
**1,378**|**6.**
**Comparatives for the statement of financial activities - continued**
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
£
£
**Net income**
3,503
2,729
**Reconciliation of funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
19,098
5,994
**Total funds carried forward**
22,601
8,723
**7.**
**Tangible fixed assets**
Fixturesand
Computer
fittings
equipment
£
£
**COST**
At 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021
**4,700**
**9,618**
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2020
**4,700**
**8,542**
Charge for year
0
**359**
At 31 March 2021
**4,700**
**8,901**
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2021
0
**717**
At 31 March 2020
0
1,076
**8.**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**31.3.21**
**£**
Social security and other taxes
**55**
Accruals and deferred income
**663**
Accrued expenses
**660**
**1,378**|Total
funds
£|Total
funds
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||2,729
5,994||6,232
25,092|
|||8,723||31,324|
||||||
||||Totals
£
**14,318**||
||**8,542**
**359**||**13,242**
**359**||
||**8,901**||**13,601**||
||**717**||**717**||
||1,076||1,076||
||**31.3.21**
**£**
**55**
**663**
**660**||31.3.20
£
0
1,496
660||
||**1,378**||2,156||
continued.
7
## **9. Movement in funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Camden Giving
HS2 Groundworks
S106 Camden
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as
follows:
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Camden Giving
HS2 Groundworks
S106 Camden
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Fitzdale Trust
HS2 Groundworks
S106 Camden
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Net
movement
At
At
1.4.20
£
in funds
£
31.3.21
£
**22,601**
**191**
**22,792**
**-**
**2,824**
**2,824**
**7,193**
**(1,076)**
**6,117**
**1,530**
**(1,530)**
**0**|Net
movement
At
At
1.4.20
£
in funds
£
31.3.21
£
**22,601**
**191**
**22,792**
**-**
**2,824**
**2,824**
**7,193**
**(1,076)**
**6,117**
**1,530**
**(1,530)**
**0**|Net
movement
At
At
1.4.20
£
in funds
£
31.3.21
£
**22,601**
**191**
**22,792**
**-**
**2,824**
**2,824**
**7,193**
**(1,076)**
**6,117**
**1,530**
**(1,530)**
**0**|Net
movement
At
At
1.4.20
£
in funds
£
31.3.21
£
**22,601**
**191**
**22,792**
**-**
**2,824**
**2,824**
**7,193**
**(1,076)**
**6,117**
**1,530**
**(1,530)**
**0**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**8,723**|**218**|**8,941**|
||**31,324**||**409**
**31,733**||
||Incoming
resources
£
Resources
expended
£
Movementin
funds
£
**7,939**
**(7,748)**
**191**
**11,391**
**(8,567)**
**2,824**
**17,893**
**(18,969)**
**(1,076)**
**-**
**(1,530)**
**(1,530)**||||
||**29,284**
**(29,066)**
**218**||||
||**37,223**
**(36,814)**
**409**||||
|||At
Net
movement
At
1.4.19
£
in funds
£
31.3.20
£
19,098
3,503
22,601
667
(667)
-
5,327
1,866
7,193
-
~~1,530~~
~~1,530~~|||
|||5,994|2,729|8,723|
|||25,092|6,232|31,324|
continued.
8
## **9. Movement in funds - continued**
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
||Incoming|Resources|Movement|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||resources|expended|in funds||
||£|£|£||
|**Unrestricted**|||||
|**funds**|||||
|General fund|10,754|(7,251)|3,503||
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Fitzdale Trust|0|(667)|(667)|)
|
|Camden Giving|6,548|(6,548)|0||
|HS2 Groundworks|24,745|(22,879)|1,866||
|Woodward Foundation|500|(500)|0||
|S106 Camden|11,140|(9,610)|1,530||
|Camden Rent Subsidy|1,350|(1,350)|0||
||44,283|(41,554)|2,729||
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|55,037|(48,805)|6,232||
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|||Net||
|---|---|---|---|
|||movement|At|
||At 1.4.19|in funds|31.3.21|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|19,098|3,694|22,792|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Fitzdale Trust|667|(667)|0|
|Camden Giving|0|2,824|2,824|
|HS2 Groundworks|5,327|790|6,117|
||5,994|2,947|8,941|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|25,092|6,641|31,733|
continued.
9
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2021**
## **9. Movement in funds - continued**
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Fitzdale Trust
Camden Giving
HS2 Groundworks
Woodward Foundation
S106 Camden
Camden Rent Subsidy
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
Movement
in funds
£
£
£
18,693
(14,999)
3,694
0
(667)
(667)
17,939
(15,115)
2,824
42,638
(41,848)
790
500
(500)
0
11,140
(11,140)
0
1,350
(1,350)
0|
|---|---|
||73,567
(70,620)
2,947|
||92,260
(85,619)
6,641|
## **10. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2021.
10
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2021**
## **INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Donations and legacies**
Donations
**Investment income**
Deposit account interest
**Charitable activities**
Service programme income
Grants
CJRS grants
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable activities**
Staff costs
Pensions
Rent
Water Rates
Insurance
Light and heat
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Advertising
Sundries
Computer expenses
Exam fees
Teaching
Equipment and maintenance
Travel
Volunteers costs
Subscriptions
Cleaning
Repairs
Rates
Bank charges
PQASSO
**Support costs**
**Other**
Computer equipment
**Other Governance costs**
Accountancy and legal fees
Total resources expended
**Net income**|**31.3.21**
**£**
**472**
**214**
**4,715**
**29,284**
**2,538**
**36,537**
**37,223**
**11,182**
**306**
**4,318**
**486**
**575**
**1,117**
**531**
**715**
**826**
**18**
**457**
**680**
**10,346**
**59**
**0**
**6**
**500**
**374**
**1,378**
**1,818**
**104**
**0**
**35,796**
**358**
**660**
**36,814**
**409**|
|31.3.20
£
456
268
3,919
50,394
-
54,313
55,037
12,191
787
3,540
323
535
1,612
575
1,255
1,276
405
1,805
0
12,815
3,178
154
457
35
0
4,701
1,789
101
252
47,786
359
660
48,805
6,232|
|||||
|||||
|||||
11
## **Training Link Annual Report 2020–21**
1. Chair’s Report – Millicent Christian
2. Acting Director’s Report – Peter Lush
3. Courses – Chris Carr
## **1. Chair’s Report**
Welcome to Training Link’s 2020–2021 Annual Report. Last year and this year have been very difficult and challenging because of the COVID-19 pandemic, not only for Training Link (TL) but also for our partners in the community. Overall, the risk assessment for TL was testing with the changing progression of the pandemic and changes in guidance. The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a significant increase in online learning. Much of the face-to-face classroom training has been pursued online. As such, the crisis provided a powerful test of the potential of learning online. It also highlighted its key limitations including its potential to exclude the very group our service targets – those without the prerequisite of adequate digital skills, those without suitable computer equipment and internet access to undertake training online. Those already disadvantaged and most in need and who normally accessed online resources through our drop-in sessions.
So, while, the potential of online learning to increase adult learning opportunities was clear, the crisis also brought into sharp focus some continuing issues of access and equity. Addressing these issues could contribute to expanding online learning provision in the post-crisis period and to making it more inclusive.
The speed and reach of the COVID-19 pandemic also forced rapid changes in how we conduct our Trustees and Management Committee Meetings. These have been taking place online and at times have presented difficulties with technology. However, with perseverance we got through the “rough with the smooth”.
We continued to engage with the users and others helping to keep TL afloat. As TL adapted to the challenges of the pandemic, we are hopeful that the future of TL will be a brighter one. A huge thank you to Brenda for all her support for me as chair. I am grateful for her wise counsel throughout this difficult time. A special thank you to Peter for coming out of retirement to continue supporting us as acting director following resignation of his successor. We are grateful for all his hard work and support which is much appreciated.
Thanks too to all our trustees, MC members, to Chris, Nellie, our volunteer’s and all our funders who are still supporting us during this difficult time. We appreciate the challenges funders themselves may be going through especially at this time with increased support needs. TL is changing and will continue change to keep abreast with the changing world we are living in. As lockdown has now eased it will be delightful to meet everyone face-to-face again as we continue to practice keeping safe.
## **Millicent Christian September 2021**
12
## **Acting Director**
As with many other small charities and voluntary organisations, this has been one of the most challenging years in Training Link’s history.
We had to stop all ‘in person’ activities in March 2020. We had already printed the leaflets for an Open Day in April that we were unable to hold. We did manage to continue to run our ESOL Entry 3 class, which was held remotely. Seven learners completed the course and passed exams. For 2020– 21, four learners completed a Level 1 course mainly run remotely. We also managed to continue to run our online courses, with learners working remotely. We printed their certificates and posted them if they did not have access to a printer. The Adult Literacy project managed to continue, with learners and their volunteer tutors meeting remotely.
Another project that we had to put on hold was our work with people applying to the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS). This started again in July, with COVID precautions in place, and involving very small numbers of people.
We furloughed two members of staff in the initial pandemic period. We were able to hold some drop-in sessions in July and August, but the restrictions on activities from October made that impossible for the rest of the period covered by this report. We did run an Open Day in early September, but encouraging people to apply for courses online or by phone, and only to come to the centre as a last resort.
Millie and Brenda did a lot of work ensuring that we met all the COVID regulations, so that we could continue to run the EUSS support scheme. This was important for the people receiving the support, and for Training Link as it gave us some extra income. We were one of the first centres offering this service to reopen, and had people coming from over 100 miles away in one case to receive support.
An offshoot of this service is that we are now supporting people applying to the Windrush Compensation Scheme. Given Training Link’s origins, it is particularly appropriate that we are involved in this work.
Financially, our main funder continued to be the HS2 Community & Environment Fund. They agreed to extend the period of the grant for at least three months to take account of the time we were closed. We have also lost income through not having room bookings, although we did receive a grant from Camden Giving which covered some of this loss.
I am pleased to say that at the time of writing all our staff team are back working at the centre. We are still doing some work remotely, and this could remain in place in the future. For the Adult Literacy project this way of working can help learners and volunteers who for various reasons find it difficult to travel.
The Management Committee continued to meet, using Zoom, and we held the 2020 AGM using Zoom.
I had planned to retire in August 2020, and a new director was appointed. Sadly, this appointment did not work out, and I agreed to come back to cover the post on a temporary basis. I was always going to continue doing the EUSS and Windrush compensation work, which I enjoy doing and is rewarding, and hope that a new management structure can be created in the near future.
Brenda Goring-Moore also retired as chair at the AGM in September 2020, although she has remained as a trustee. She has given over 30 years service to Training Link, and continues to support our work. I have also enjoyed working with our new chair, Millicent Christian. I would also like to thank all our staff team, Chris, Nelly and Emi for their work for Training Link in a difficult period, and thank Tracey for (remotely) continuing to teach on behalf of Camden Adult Community Learning at Training Link.
Hopefully the worst of the pandemic is now behind us, and we can restore Training Link to the vibrant state it was in before, with learners developing new skills and areas of knowledge, as it has done since 1985.
## **Peter Lush August 2021**
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## **3. Courses – Chris Carr**
Especially during the first few months, the pandemic obviously had a huge impact on what we could offer at the centre and has affected numbers, but we managed to keep a service going – mainly online, with some face-to-face work. The work I do can be divided into three main areas:
## **Literacy Project Co-ordinator**
This involves recruiting volunteers to provide 1 to 1 weekly English lessons-interviewing volunteers, assessing learners, and setting up lessons. A number of volunteers stopped when Covid started , as we could no longer do face to face lessons ,but we turned the project in to online lessons and there has been a demand for this. Over the whole year, more than 40 volunteers worked with learners and it went well. Feedback includes: “I would like to say thank you for the amazing opportunity of teaching English. If possible, I would like to return when I’m back in England “ – “It’s been a rewarding experience “.
## **ESOL work**
I worked with an ESOL Entry 3 group throughout the lockdowns. We managed to finish an ESOL Entry E3 course using Zoom and did face to face exams in September during the brief period the centre was open. 7 people passed exams – just one person did not pass. Learners appreciated it that we could keep the class going in some form . The class turned in to a small Level 1 group- again done on Zoom. Exams to be done in July 2021.
## **Vocational Courses**
This role was previously shared, but I ran the courses independently for most of the year. We provide access to a number of online vocational courses, for example, Food Safety, Customer Care, COSHH, Health and Safety in a Care setting that will hopefully help people get jobs. After a slow start, we also offered the service completely online. I would register and give course information to people via Zoom/e mail/phone. Over 30 courses have been passed – others are still in progress. We will offer computer access to learners at our centre when the lockdown eases.
## **Chris Carr**
## **June 2021**
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