Grantham Poverty Concern – Charity Number 1060003 CHAIRMANS REPORT FOR 2020
I’d like to thank you all for attending the AGM and I hope that you and your families are and continue to stay well. This is a landmark first and hopefully last in the history of Grantham Poverty Concern that this AGM is virtual!
As 2021 is the 25th and silver anniversary since Grantham Poverty Concern was incorporated it is poignant that it has begun with its most difficult time. As you are all more than aware, COVID has restricted, changed, challenged and presented demands that none of us could have imagined at the AGM meeting last year.
When “lockdown one” was officially announced last year none of us could have imagined the length of time that we would be restricted. Because of the emerging situation we had to have a deep, introspective look into the way we operate and figure out a way that we could continue to provide the support for the clients that we care so deeply about. We had a moral, compassionate and charitable requirement to continue to support the clients that we know not only for the food, but also in the physical and mental health aspects of their lives.
Alongside this we needed to plan that we may pick up new individuals and families that would need help. It was decided that a weekly food parcel that would be delivered was the best option, and it was implemented within a few weeks of the lockdown being in place. This has now been our modus operandi since that point and the help that we have given has grown week on week to the point now, at time of writing, where we are providing over 200 food parcels a week with a total just shy of 7,000 parcels given out.
It is at this point that I would like to personally and formally thank and praise Chris Thomas for the tireless work, dedication, thought, compassion, and sleepless nights that he has provided to get this to the stage we are at now. It has turned into a hugely successful model of how to provide support in a way that is totally alien to how we normally operate. This would not have been possible to provide the level of support that we have without his management and guidance of the project, along with the relationships that he has nurtured over the preceding months. It was a running joke between us as co-ordinators about ‘when it gets to 100 parcels a week’ or ‘so, whats the plan when it gets to 200?’ never thinking that we would be at this stage!
The same thanks goes for the other volunteer drivers that we work alongside each week getting the parcels to the clients. I admire and thank you for your dedication to provide such support each week to our ever expanding list of recipients.
Very similar to the way the daily meals had to change to a delivery model, the same had to be said around the Christmas meal. Our meal is well celebrated amongst our clients and as it got closer to the time we did have a number of worried enquiries of if it was going to go ahead or not!. Again, the organisation of the volunteers, food, presents and distribution went flawlessly well for the provision of over 200 meals – triple what we normally provide on a standard year. This all went ahead on the day and everyone got a cooked dinner and generous present pack.
As mentioned before, this is a crucial part of the work that we do for the support for the clients physical and mental health. We have ensured that we have shared the overflow presents with GRACE to make sure that if any families or similar are in need of something, it can be distributed.
I’d like to give GRACE an honourable mention as well for their work alongside the Passage in the last year. I truly value the relationship that we have between ourselves and the referrals and help flow easily and naturally between the two parties. I look forward to continuing and maturing this relationship over the coming months as we both strive to help those most in need.
So, looking towards the future, we have had news recently from the Government that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Despite us moving to a food distribution model this was never our intention to stay like that and neither is it the area where we want to be. Our primary focus will always be the meals held at our various locations and having the clients back with us on a daily basis. We will be looking at this as a Trustee group to ease ourselves back into normality whilst also considering the support of those that would not or could not attend the daily meals. This will take considerable planning to ensure that no-one falls through the net and it is a transition that all parties are aware of well ahead of time.
I will close by thanking Chris and all of my Trustees and volunteers of Grantham Passage for their unceasing support and hard work to get us through this unique and challenging time. Also, it would be remiss of me not to thank all those that have supported us through their donations of time, monetary donations, food donations or that have worked alongside us to help those in Grantham that have so desperately needed it.
The Trustees have not received any emoluments other than authorised expenses.
AGM held on Tuesday 2 March 2021
Andy Maddison, Chair of Trustees
2 March 2021
Grantham & District Poverty Concern Oroup Summary ofaccounts for year 01 Jan to 31 Dec 20 FUND5 Total balance Deb Credlt Balance 48.704.71 16 532.69 46.OS6.65 44.877.63 19,112.72 14353.67 untricted G•n•ral account Resiricied- over 60's Edith M•r•dith B•qu•st Desnated- D•v•lopm•nt FUNDS Totsl balan¢e 48.704.71 19.112.72 30.308.75 Funds- Deb Credlt Balance 1.966.39 1,955.39 Deb6t 931.97 Credll Balan¢e 1871.69 2,103.66 Totals frrffii cash book a5 at 31 Dec 19 Oponlng balan¢e 0101 Jan 20 donaiions. See Ilsi below Repaid loans to clients Supermarket IASDAI bag packi Bank Interest Total- In¢oMe 2020 Lincolnshire Credrt Union- deposrt retumed Expèndlture Discretionary emergency relEf to clEnts- 2020 Food vouchers Passage costs Food parcels & presents for clths Food b8gslconl8iners Donation for use of kntchens Adminl miscellaneous ffraining, st*ionary dc) Stockfo tetrts & sleeping bags Income 30.308 75 74790 | 747.90 31.056.65 15.000 00 31.056.65 IS,000.OD 878.OD 878.00 3.100 tK) 9.160.00 496 51 3,100.DD 9,160.00 496.51 4900 288.00 740 42 792.g6 2780 16 532.69 288.00 1.672.39 792.96 27.BO 16,464.86 4B.704.71 9319T Krtchen equipment, repairs. caning Debt & berEfrt adwce Total. Exp•nditure 2020 A¢¢ounts doslng balan¢e * 31 De¢ 20 Stat•rnont ¢losing balanc• at 31 D•c 20 2020 ¢heques not presented Sn 2020 Adjust•d accounts balane• at 31 20 Bank Staternent balance at 31 Dec 20 931.97 4a.704.71 48,704.71 44,877.63 1.966.39 1,871.69 48,704.71 48.704.71 ststement and ac¢¢unts prepared by Dad Lynn. Independently Examined by Gae Ellis with n¢ corctIOnS necessary 06 February 2021
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
Report to the Trustees of Moldovan Mission
Charity Number 1060003
On the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2020
Respective Responsibilities of trustees and examiner: The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (The Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement: My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
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 Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 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
Signed: Date: 06 February 2021 Gae Ellis
Name: Gae Ellis
12 West Way
Allington
Grantham
Lincs NG32 2FP