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2022-03-31-accounts

NORTH TAUNTON PARTNERSHIP

ANNUAL REPORT

1[st] APRIL 2021

to

31[st] MARCH 2022

Registered Charity no.1078827

NORTH TAUNTON PARTNERSHIP

ANNUAL REPORT 2021/2022

CONTENTS

ITEM PAGE
Mission statement 1
Trustees 1
Staff and Volunteers 2
Partnership Members 3
Chair’s Report 4 & 5
Manager’s Report 6 & 7
Breakdown of service users 8
Delivery Plan 9- 17
Our funders 18
Treasurer’s Report & Reserves
Policy		 19
Future plans and Trustee’s
declaration		 20
Statement of financial activities 21 & 22
Notes to the Accounts 23
Independent Examiners Report 24 & 25

MISSION STATEMENT

The Charity’s objects are to promote charitable purposes for the benefit of the community of North Taunton and in particular the advancement of education, the promotion of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress

APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES

The constitution governs the appointment of Trustees who are elected at the Annual General Meeting from partner organisations.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES

NAME POSITION ELECTED RESIGNED
Paul Tooze Trustee
Chair		 April 2011
September 2017
Libby Lisgo Trustee November 2011 September 2021
Chris Mitchell Trustee
Vice Chair		 December 2013
September 2017		 January 2022
Catherine Berry Trustee September 2014 July 2021
Brenda Weston Trustee September 2016
Paul Cram Trustee September 2017 May 2020
Angela Bolitho Trustee February 2020 September 2020
Mark Wood Trustee February 2019
Simon Clarke Trustee September 2020
Andrew Glass Trustee
Treasurer		 October 2020
February 2021
Carolynn
Coleman		 Trustee September 2021
Melanie Butt Trustee June 2021
Gill Harrison Trustee September 2021

“It was so lovely to meet you and what you do there is fantastic”

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STAFF

Lesley Councill – Community Centre Manager Tracy Wood – Finance and Administration Officer replaced by Anita Scovell – Finance and Admin Catherine Beal – Cleaner

All staff work part time and equate to 1.9 full time equivalents.

Contact details:

Mrs Lesley Councill, Priorswood Community Centre, Priorswood Place, Taunton TA2 7JW

Telephone 01823 353643 Email: lesleycouncill@priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk Website: www.priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PriorswoodCommunityCentre

VOLUNTEERS

Management costs are kept to a minimum through the use of volunteers for daily operation of the Community Centre. There are 39 volunteers who gave 2338 hours of time during the year. In addition, 8 Trustees gave around 1080 hours during the year. This represents £34,000 of unpaid hours .

Tracy’s leaving do Volunteers Cream Tea in the community garden

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PARTNERSHIP MEMBERS

Age UK Somerset Avon & Somerset Police
Christians Against
Poverty/Vineyard Church		 Citizens Advice Taunton
Devon & Somerset Fire &
Rescue		 Everyone Active
Friendship & Sons Get Set Services
Housing Associations Leonard Houlden Court
(Housing & Care 21)
LiveWest Housing Lyngford Park Primary School
Lyngford Park Surgery North Taunton One Team
Oakwood Church Priorswood Library
Priorswood Primary School Read Easy Taunton and
Wellington
Rowbarton Church Selworthy School Oakhill and
Hazlebrook Campus
Sky College Somerset Activity and Sports
Partnership (SASP)
Somerset Advice Network Somerset Community Credit
Union
Somerset County Council Somerset Skills & Learning
Somerset U Can Do Somerset West and Taunton
Council
Spaeda St Andrews Church
St Peters Church St Teresa of Lisieux Church
Taunton Academy Taunton Area Debt Advice
Taunton North Youth Club Taunton Street Pastors
Wellsprings Community
Church		 Wellsprings Primary School
Zing Somerset

Pollinators workshop with Somerset Art Works

3

Chair’s Report by Paul Tooze

The year began with the local community and the centre still affected by the restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic. The challenges, disruption and affects of the virus lasted longer than many of us had anticipated when the crisis first began.

However, it was great joy and relief that at the end of May we finally reopened the doors of the Community Centre again, providing local residents with a sense that things were finally returning to normal. As always, our primary focus during this time was keeping the staff, volunteers, and visitors to the centre safe and protected as much as possible.

Re-opening safely meant following and keeping up to date with everchanging Government legislation, involved careful planning, and a huge amount of paperwork. Comprehensive risk assessments were conducted, written-up, and reviewed by the trustees to ensure all aspects of re-opening were assessed. New signage, protective screens and other equipment had to be

purchased; increased cleaning regimes were introduced. Given the amount of effort involved and the extra precautions we took, I believe the Centre was re-opened at the correct time, striking the right balance between the wish to open our doors as soon as possible and the safety of others.

As the year progressed, we slowly began to re-establish many of the events and activities which are valued and enjoyed by local residents. Despite the fact that now many of the restrictions having been relaxed, we have also continued to utilise technology such as Zoom, to allow our meetings to be attend either in person or online.

During a year of many changes, we also said farewell to Tracy Wood,

who had worked with us at the Community Centre since 2011, but decided now was the time to move on to pastures new. Tracy’s commitment, hard work and affinity with the Community Centre was unquestionable, and I

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wanted to use this report to express my personal thanks to her for her years of dedication.

During the Covid crisis we were very fortunate to gain access to various support funds and grants, many of which were set-up to assist charities with their recovery from months of not operating. Looking forward to next year, the trustees are committed to identifying the most appropriate way to use these funds in order to best serve and support the local community. One of these opportunities is to explore the potential of a Community Hub being established at the new Woolaway site. This proposal, if viable, will provide much needed extra space from which to run classes, support groups and activities. Finally, I would like to sincerely thank Lesley and all of the volunteers who have continued to be the real mainstays of the Community Centre and are integral to the support it provides to the North Taunton residents.

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Manager’s Report by Lesley Councill

The year started still in the grips of the pandemic with the community centre closed, we continued to work behind the scenes supporting local residents and preparing for the time we could reopen.

May saw the reopening of the centre to the great relief of volunteers, staff and our regulars and although things only opened slowly it was so nice to see everyone again. We took our time in restarting some of our groups to make sure we kept

everyone safe, by September we were fully reopened and back to capacity.

With all the links we had formed throughout the pandemic we were able to offer more support and advice and now have more surgeries on offer, these range from Citizens Advice, benefits, employment support and NHS health checks. All of our groups returned along with some news ones and although people were reluctant to come back in an enclosed setting, we kept them running with low numbers to encourage people to return to a new normal.

We saw a notable change in people’s health and wellbeing and over the time we had lost some of our long-standing members which was so sad but new people have been popping in for a coffee and chat and joining some of the groups on offer which is lovely to see.

The centre had some changes over the time we were closed, we fitted a new automatic opening front door to make it even more accessible, we had an opening window installed in the top office for ventilation and fans in all rooms, the cleaning schedule was strict to make sure we were doing the best we could so our users felt safe.

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Our Christmas market took place in December after a year’s gap and was well supported.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank

everyone throughout the pandemic for their kind donations, support and messages of goodwill. I would also like to thank our funders who gave grants to enable us to reopen, our loyal band of volunteers, our trustees who through numerous zoom meetings kept the legal structure of the community centre in place whilst meeting new regulations, also to Tracy in the office for her support and hard work. Tracy who after nearly 11 years decided to leave us in February to start a new career path working alongside her husband, I am extremely grateful to her for all she did over those years for the good of the charity and for my sanity.

I would like to welcome Anita to the team as our new finance administrator, Anita had been a volunteer with us for many years and took the leap in applying for the paid role and was successful in the interview process, this just proves the power of volunteering.

Let’s hope 2022 will bring about a safer and less fearful time for everyone.

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BREAKDOWN OF SERVICE USERS

2021/22 2020/21 2019/20
Covid-19 155 4669 -
Zoom Socials 114 54 -
Cafe Customers 3165 0 4518
Events 859 0 2121
Bric-a-Brac 2006 0 1407
Scrabble & Games Group 123 0 513
Circuits 300 263 512
Lunch Club 456 0 382
General enquiries 1205 23 357
Tai Chi Class 222 245 334
Dominoes & Games Group 15 0 301
Computer Group 32 0 286
Knit & Natter 106 0 275
Citizens Advice Taunton 10 0 184
History Project/History Group 39 0 146
Thursday Talks (via Zoom) 36 34 70
Somerset West & Taunton Benefits
Advisor		 8 0 67
Cooking 23 0 54
Job Club 1 0 49
Write2Read 24 0 44
Somerset West & Taunton Housing
Advisor (Advisor no longer supplied)		 0 1 43
Health Walks suspended 0 0 40
Police 6 0 25
Credit Union 21 0 20
Creative Writers Group 16 0 14
NHS & Health Related 128 0 3
Bereavement Support 37 0 8
Community Computer (Stats no longer
sent by SWT Council)		 0 0 -
TOTALSERVICE USERS **9107 ** 5,289 11,958

*Data shows a snapshot of users to the Community Centre. 2020/21 numbers decreased due to the Corona Virus Pandemic Facebook reached 26,584

“It’s his big day out coming to you each morning, he would be lost without you”

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DELIVERY PLAN: DELIVERY PLAN:
Business Plan 2021/2022
Objectives Desired
Outcomes		 Measures and
Timescale		 Actual
Outcome
1 Recruit and
train
volunteers to
meet the
needs of the
service.		 Ensure recruitment
is open to all.
To have enough
volunteers to
maintain our
services.
Volunteers
increasingly reflect
the North Taunton
community.
Volunteers are able
to: build self-
confidence; use
existing knowledge
and skills and learn
new ones;
experience ‘job
satisfaction’; gain
paid employment;
achieve recognition
through awards.
Recruit
professionally
qualified volunteers
for specific jobs.		 Increased
numbers of
volunteers.
Numbers of
volunteers
gaining paid
employment.
Ongoing
timescale.		 35 volunteers.
After 5 years
one of our
volunteers left
to take on a
role as a Lay
Pastoral
assistant.
2 To continue
to operate the
Priorswood
Community
Centre.		 To gain funding to
meet the core
costs.
Ensure the
Centre’s benefit to
the community and
its income
generation potential
are maximised.		 Daily usage of
the Centre.
Ongoing
timescale.		 The Centre
reopened in
May 2021,
with groups
re-starting in
October 9107
footfall

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3 To offer a
facility for
advice
surgeries to
be held.		 To continue to host:
Citizens Advice
SWT Benefits
Police
Inspired to Achieve
Ensure Residents
are enabled to
access advice and
support to:
•Access new
employment and
training
opportunities
•Manage
problems arising
from low income
and debt
•Report crime
and anti-social
incidents.		 All surgeries to
be held.
Ongoing
timescale.		 No surgeries
were able to
be held due to
the Covid-19
restrictions.
Inspired to
Achieve no
longer holding
surgeries.
4 To maintain
the Hallmark
1
accreditation.		 To maintain
Hallmark 1
accreditation.
Existing and
potential funders
are encouraged to
support the North
Taunton
Partnership.		 Ongoing. Hallmark 1
maintained.
5 To provide
transport and
a hot meal
via a Lunch
Club for local
residents.		 To provide a hot
lunch once a week.
Ensure sufficient
volunteers are
available each
week.
Ensure transport is
available.
Provide a warm		 To be attended
by a minimum
of 10 people.
One outing a
year
Timescale
ongoing		 Footfall of 456

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social setting for
eating the meal.
Organise an outing
for lunch club
members.
To collect and bank
the money to move
towards
sustainable self-
funding.
Local residents
benefit from:
•A regular
nutritious,
affordable hot
meal in a friendly
environment
•Opportunities for
social interaction		 No outing was
held this year.
6 To provide
exercise
classes.		 To provide a venue
and tutor for the
classes.
To collect and bank
the income to move
towards
sustainable self-
funding.
Participants benefit
from:
•improved health
and mobility
•the opportunity
for social
interactions		 To be attended
by a minimum
of 6 people
each week.		 Footfall of 522
7 To organise
food, nutrition
and cookery
classes.		 To teach basic
cooking skills for
residents with no or
limited cookery		 A minimum of
6 people
attending.		 Footfall 23

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experience and
provide education
about diet and
health to
encourage better
health.
Participants
experience
improved health
through:
•increased
understanding
about healthy
eating
•gaining
confidence
through
developing new
cookery skills
•participating in
group learning
sessions
8 To organise
and manage
a speaker led
group – Tea
and Talk.		 To organise
speakers.
To ensure
volunteers on hand
to support the
group.
Participants have
the opportunity to
hear from
speakers, talk
about various
topics and share
‘tea time’ in a
facilitated, sociable
environment.		 To be attended
by a minimum
of 8 people
each month.
Timescale
once a month.		 Zoom socials
held footfall
37

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9 1.To organise
and deliver
open access
community
events aimed
at young
people
2. To raise
the funds
required to
hold the
events, to be
held during
the school
holidays.		 To ensure sufficient
volunteers are
available.
To entertain,
educate and
prevent anti-social
behaviour.		 1 day events to
be attended by
a minimum of
30 young
people.		 No PIP
summer
events were
held this year
but alternative
events were
held by One
Team. We
supported the
events.
Children and young
people have
access to
experiences,
facilities and
activities that
entertain, educate
and provide
diversionary
activities aimed at
reducing anti-social
behaviour.
Parents,
grandparents and
carers have
opportunities to
share experiences
with the children,
meet other families
within their local
area, and talk to a
range of public
service providers.
10 To work with
local schools
and colleges
to offer work
experience.		 Young people
participate in a
working
environment and
develop skills that
they can add to
their CVs.		 To give as
many
opportunities
as possible.		 No students
were allowed
to participate
due to Covid-
19
restrictions.
1 Duke of
Edinburgh

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helper at the
Christmas
market.
11 To organise
weekly social
groups
offering
activities
such as
board games.		 To offer a warm,
friendly
environment for
residents to
socialise and play
board games.
Participants enjoy
activities of their
choice in a warm
and friendly
environment
facilitated by
volunteers.		 To be attended
by a minimum
of 5 people
twice a week
To be self-
funding
12 To organise
and hold:
•Annual
community
bazaars in
Spring and
Autumn
•An annual
Christmas
Market		 To raise awareness
of the Community
Centre.
To help recruit new
volunteers.
1. Residents and
visitors to North
Taunton are able
to:
•learn about the
services on offer
at the
community
centre
•find out about
volunteering
opportunities
•buy a variety of
items at low
cost.
2. Raises funds
towards supporting		 To raise:
•£750 from
bazaars
•£1000 from
the
Christmas
Market.		 Bazaars were
not held due
to Covid.
Christmas
Market raised
£1304.72 and
footfall was
350. 17
Stallholders.

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its program of
activities.
13 To host a
community
computer
provided by
SW&T for
use with the
Homefinder
and other
agencies.		 Easy access to on-
line information and
services.
Residents who lack
adequate internet
access are
volunteer-assisted
to undertake online
transactions and/or
enabled to develop
basic IT skills in a
supportive
environment. This
includes
undertaking
necessary job
searches;
completing benefit
forms; seeking
housing
opportunities.		 Recruit and
train volunteers
to assist
residents.
Timescale –
ongoing.
14 To be the
voice of the
community
whilst staying
politically
neutral.		 To enable local
residents to have
their say and to be
able to forward
these concerns to
the appropriate
agency.		 Ongoing. Ongoing.
Residents who are
potentially
adversely affected
by and converned
about current
issues or proposed
changes are
enabled to raise
their concerns with

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the appropriate
agaencies.
15 To organise a
computer
support
group.		 To offer volunteer
led basic computer
help in a social
setting.
Residents are
enabled to develop
basic IT skills with
volunteer support.		 To be attended
by 5 people
each week		 Footfall 32
16 To offer basic
First Aid
training when
required.		 To offer a course
when a need is
highlighted.		 To be attended
by a minimum
of 8 people.		 On-line
training
17 To work in
partnership
with the North
Taunton One
Team.		 To be in
communication with
the Coordinator to
exchange relevant
information.
Residents benefit
from the charity
contributing to a
‘joined-up’, inter-
agency approach to
addressing
problems and
concerns affecting
specific households
and the wider
community.		 Timescale
ongoing.		 On-going.
18 Seek to be
dementia
friendly.		 To facilitate the
appropriate
agencies to deliver
training when
required.
Visitors are met by
volunteers and staff		 Timescale
ongoing		 On-going.

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who have an
understanding of
dementia
19 1. To offer
training
opportunities
as part of
volunteering.
2. To produce
newsletters
for staff and
volunteers to
inform them,
when
required, of
changes and
events.		 To offer all
volunteers the
chance to take part
in training and self-
development
Volunteers and
staff feel confident,
well informed and
valued in delivering
the services they
provide, and in their
contribution to
community
wellbeing.		 Timescale
ongoing		 On-going
20 1. To produce
a newsletter
for the
community
2. To offer
information
leaflets and
signposting
facility e.g.
mental
health,
domestic
abuse
support.		 To produce a
community
newsletter, 1300
copies
Residents across
the North Taunton
area are well
informed about a
wide range of
events, services,
opportunities and
agencies that are
available to provide
support.
To offer a
signpostingfacility.		 Spring,
Summer and
Winter
Timescale
ongoing.		 Newsletter
publication
resumed in
October 2021
with Winter
edition.
Ongoing.

I’m so glad it went well! Thank you for sending the report and photos – they’re brilliant. I’ll pass those on to our comms team. And the beef cobbler sounds delicious!

Megan Food For Life - Cook and share session

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Snapshot of some of our funders in 2021 – 2022

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TREASURER’S REPORT

We would like to thank all those organisations and individuals who have generously supported the charity during this challenging year. Despite the many restrictions NTP has continued to support many local residents benefitting from our services, as far as practical. Details of restricted fund grants are shown in the accounts.

RESERVES POLICY

The Trustees are aware of their obligations under charity law and therefore set out the policy for the use of reserve funds. The intention in establishing this reserves policy is to ensure the continuation of the charity’s normal activities through any medium-term shortfall in funding.

For the financial year to 31 March 2023, the trustees’ policy is to maintain free reserves (defined as unrestricted reserves not invested in fixed assets) equivalent to 4 months’ budgeted expenditure, approximately £25,000. The trustees feel it is also prudent to have a reserve of £2,500 for any substantial unexpected and urgent need for which funding cannot be obtained in the necessary timeframe. Free reserves at 31 March 2022 were £73,211 (2021 £59,944).

The higher than normal reserves arose because of generous grants from Somerset West and Taunton Council’s business recovery fund, monies which were granted to businesses that had to close because of the pandemic, as well as Covid-related grants from other sources. It is the view of the trustees that these reserves will be very necessary to allow the charity to recover from the pandemic and serve the community sustainably over the coming years, when grant funding is likely to be harder to secure.

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FUTURE PLANS

A Business and Development Plan has been produced by the Trustees setting out the objectives for the Partnership and Community Centre for the twelve months April 2022 to March 2023.

The Charity has been invited by Somerset West & Taunton Council to consider the possibility of running a potential new community space within the new Woolaway development in North Taunton, this will require a considerable amount of discussion and planning as to whether this would be a viable proposition for the charity to undertake.

The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above and that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit.

Signed on behalf of the North Taunton Partnership's trustees

Paul Tooze Chairman 3[rd] August 2022

“We are very impressed by your vision and the vibrant community resource you have created”.

Craft Class Cream Tea in the Community Garden

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2022

Receipts and Payments Account

Receipts
Grants
Grants
Furlough grant income
Donations
Interest
Activities
Community Centre Sales
Community Social
Education
Fundraising
Health & Wellbeing
Newsletter
Room Hire
Refunds & Misc
TOTAL RECEIPTS
Payments
Administration
Staff Costs
Heat & Light
Phone & Internet
Water & Rates
Office Costs
Garden
Maintenance
Fees
Newsletter
Garage Rent
Volunteers
Covid expenses
Activities
Health & Wellbeing
Community Social
Fundraising
TOTAL PAYMENTS
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)
Cash Funds brought forward
2020 costs paid
Cash Funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
funds
2022
2021
£
£
£
£
25,552
14,574
40,126
72,104
6,175
6,175
11,327
2,050
2,050
4,859
12
12
17
6,824
6,824
580
2,093
2,093
70
70
378
378
1,772
4,687
4,687
643
383
383
2,756
2,756
300
720
720
15
51,700
14,574
66,274
91,617
22,428
19,113
41,541
39,841
962
962
459
853
853
1,173
380
380
83
3,058
3,058
1,586
286
276
562
212
3,818
3,818
1,795
576
576
1,070
535
535
394
394
229
594
594
28
65
65
2,207
3,444
3,133
6,577
876
1,040
3,343
4,383
0
38,433
25,865
64,298
49,559
13,267
-11,291
1,976
42,058
59,944
17,298
77,242
35,291
-107
£73,211
£6,007
£79,218
£77,242

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Analysis of Restricted Funds Balance Receipts Receipts Payments Balance
Bfwd 2021 Cfwd 2022
£ £ £ £
Unparished Area Fund 2,500 2,500
Covid support 0
SCF Somerset 1,800 1,800 0
Trusthouse CF 9,763 9,763 0
Police & Crime Commissioner 3,000 3,000 0
SAP - circuits tutor 235 235 0
SCF 4,550 4,550 0
SCF SW&T lottery 1,000 1,000 0
ASDA foundation 650 650 0
SASP 748 748 0
NTOT 600 600 0
National Lottery 2,150 2,150 0
Food for Life 150 150 0
SW&T 276 276 0
SW&T 1,450 943 507
SW&T Youth Initiative Fund 3,000 3,000
TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS £17,298 £14,574 £25,865 £6,007

“I would just like to say thank you on behalf of all of us who have based ourselves there for the weekly surgery. We were always welcomed and enjoyed the hospitality your volunteers have shown”.

Volunteers outing to Glastonbury Museum

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

Accounting Policies

Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 permits a charity to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities where gross income in the financial year does not exceed £250,000, therefore receipts and payments accounts and a statement of assets and liabilities has been prepared and presented for the year ended March 31st 2022; this is consistent with previous years.

All Income, including grants, is recorded when received. All Expenditure is recorded when paid.

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NORTH TAUNTON PARTNERSHIP INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

I report on the accounts of North Taunton Partnership for the year ended 31[st] March 2022 which are set out on pages 2 to 3

RESPECTIVE REPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER

The charity trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to;

BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’s REPORT

My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 a consideration of any unusual issues 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 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.

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements

No other matter has come to my attention in accordance with my examination to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Timothy Green FCMA 29 Beechwood Drive Crewkerne TA18 7BY

Date: 8[th] August 2022

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Priorswood Community Centre 13-14 Priorswood Place Eastwick Road Taunton TA2 7JW 01823 353643

Email: lesleycouncill@priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk www.priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk

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