NORTH TAUNTON PARTNERSHIP
ANNUAL REPORT
1[st] APRIL 2022
to
31[st] MARCH 2023
Registered Charity no.1078827
NORTH TAUNTON PARTNERSHIP
ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023
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 |
| Treasurer’s Report & Reserves Policy |
18 |
| Statement of financial activities | 19 & 20 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 22 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 23 & 24 |
| Future plans and Trustee’s declaration |
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
“A very, very good evening!!
Thank you for organising such an excellent course” Family History
APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
The constitution governs the appointment of Trustees who are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
| 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 | October 2022 |
| Andrew Glass | Trustee Treasurer |
October 2020 February 2021 |
|
| Carolynn Coleman | Trustee | September 2021 | May 2022 |
| Melanie Butt | Trustee | June 2021 | |
| Gill Harrison | Trustee | September 2021 | |
| Verity Underhill | Trustee | July 2022 |
Pau l has lived in Taunton for over 13 years and works at the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. He represented the area as a district councillor before becoming a trustee.
Brenda grew up in Priorswood, as a mature student gained an Honours Degree in Social Policy. This led to a career in policy research and evaluation projects. She represented the community as a district and county councillor.
Mark grew up in Priorswood. He works in software engineering and helps with youth and children's work at Wellsprings Community Church.
Gill worked in Education as a teacher, head teacher and SENCo before joining the WATCH project as a wellbeing course facilitator. She now works for Spark Somerset as part of The Open Mental Health Community Engagement Project and chairs Taunton Food and Support Alliance.
Verity lives locally and trained as a mental health nurse with the NHS, then in the private sector as an area manager with the responsibility for staff
appointment and retention for 6 nursing homes. She volunteers in the community centre one morning a week on reception.
Mel has lived in North Taunton for over 25 years and has a background in administration. She volunteered in the community centre before becoming a Trustee.
Andrew lives in North Taunton and has spent his working life as an accountant, he also has the role of treasurer at a local church.
STAFF
Lesley Councill – Manager lesleycouncill@priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk Anita Scovell – Finance Administrator anita@priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk Lisa Herd – Office Administrator & Activities Coordinator lisa@priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk Lee-Anne Dew – Cleaner
All staff work part time and equate to 1.9 full time equivalents.
Lesley joined as Manager in 2006, previous roles included PA at an electrical contractors, insurance underwriter and childminder whilst her 3 sons were young, she lives locally and enjoys various hobbies.
Anita joined as a volunteer in 2016 taking on the role as finance administrator in January 2022 after studying throughout the covid pandemic, she lives locally and has 3 sons.
Lisa joined the team in July 2022 having a background in finance and office administration, she is married with 2 sons.
VOLUNTEERS
Management costs are kept to a minimum through the use of volunteers for daily operation of the Community Centre. We have 39 volunteers who gave 3577 hours of time during the year. In addition, 8 Trustees gave 728 hours during the year. This represents £44,858 of unpaid hours .
We had 4 new volunteers, 2 volunteers attained 15-year awards receiving an engraved vase. 29 live within the local area, our eldest volunteer is 86.
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 |
| 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 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 |
“I want to say a big thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the community, I know how hard it all is” Manager Priorswood Coop
OUR COMMUNITY
North Taunton is an area of multiple deprivation with one area being ranked as 10% most deprived in the country.
There is a great community spirit with the Community Centre being seen as the hub of the community.
The population of North Taunton is just under 22,000 and is made up of mainly 90% white British.
Council tenants make up 30% of the population with 1507 Council owned properties.
10.4% of households have no access to a car or van.
Around 30% of the population have either a long-term health condition or disability.
We have 4 primary schools; Lyngford Park Primary, Wellsprings Primary, Priorswood Primary and St Andrews Primary School.
A secondary school: The Taunton Academy.
A special educational needs school: Selworthy School with two campuses and Sky Academy for students in years 5 – 11 who have an EHCP.
POLICY REVIEW
The trustees have a robust system in place for reviewing policies and procedures which are reviewed in line with good practice.
The Governance Code, Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Data Protection are reviewed annually along with others that are either reviewed annually or bi-annually at an executive meeting.
“After being alone and not being able to go out the first place I came to was the community centre” Young Mum
Chair’s Report by Paul Tooze
Over the past year the Community Centre has continued to provide many classes and activities which have helped, educated, and entertained a wide variety of residents. This has ensured that the charity has managed to meet the majority of its objectives laid out in our delivery plan. The ‘Pride in
Priorswood’ events were again delivered in Lyngford Park during the Summer holidays. These events are now firmly established in the North Taunton calendar and provide wonderful days for both children and their parents.
Within this Annual Report, you will be able to read about many of the things that the Community Centre does to support and
improve the local area. You can also read wonderful testaments given by a variety of people who have worked with or been assisted by our charity. These messages reveal just how important the Centre is. We continue to be supported by many volunteers, giving up their time free of charge to enable us to open our doors on a daily basis. As you can see volunteer hours now equate to the equivalent of £44,858 in paid work, a quite phenomenal amount!
This year we have seen significant changes in the structure of local Government, with the establishing of a new unitary council for the whole of Somerset, and as a result, the disbanding of the Somerset West and Taunton Council. Although having a limited lifespan, I would like to thank SW&T for all of the engagement and funding they have provided to the Centre over the past 3 years and seek to forge an equally strong relationship with the unitary authority.
Similarly, looking forward to next year, we will be hoping to work closely with the new Taunton Town Council, which will be in place after elections in May, and especially the councillors who are elected to represent the North Taunton area.
As Chair, I am fortunate to have been supported by a marvelous team of trustees who have a lot of experience and insight. I would like to thank them for their dedication and time. They each bring their own skills and make a unique contribution to the team.
Finally, as always, I am eternally grateful to the Centre’s staff; Lesley, Anita, Lisa and Lee-Anne, for their total commitment and hard work. It is great that we now have new staff working alongside and learning from Lesley, who is passing on her invaluable knowledge and experience garnered over many years.
I look forward to another productive year supporting the local community.
I look forward to coming to the community centre. I do not know what I would do if it was not here.
I read your newsletter page to page as it’s so interesting.
Managers report by Lesley Councill
This year has been a particularly busy year and although we’ve seen a gradual recovery from the pandemic the effects of the cost-of-living crisis has not only hit the Community Centre with increased utility bills but also our community as a whole.
We’ve been busier than ever helping people contact their energy providers and support agencies, giving out food parcels and offering household items free or at low cost to those in real need.
We continued to form links with more partner agencies and have been lucky enough to secure funding through the Open Mental Health Alliance to reach out to those
that need that extra support when their health and wellbeing has been impacted, as part of the project we started a menopause support group and through the tears and frustrations of having no one to turn to we have been able to support those ladies.
All of our groups are now up and running again with new groups been added to the program, our summer activity days took place this year and were a great success with families enjoying the activities in the sunshine.
We had 4 new volunteers replacing 4 that left through employment, retirement or ill health, ladies from the Inner Wheel have been supporting us making teas and helping at events, this has been a real boost to the day to day
running of the Centre and I would like to extend my thanks to all the ladies. 2 volunteers received their 15-year award and gift. When volunteers stay that long you know that they feel supported and enjoy what they do, which is lovely to see, thank you to our amazing team of volunteers, without them the community centre would not be the place it is today.
July saw Lisa, a new member of staff, join the team taking on the role of Events and Activities Coordinator, meaning that we are now able to offer more to the community through these increased staff hours.
In March I attended a thanksgiving ceremony at The Minster and received a certificate of thanks for services to the community from Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support, especially our funders as without their continued support the Community Centre would not be here to impower and serve our community.
We look forward to a positive, active, and happy year ahead.
“Just wanted to say thanks so much for letting us come along today and for looking after us! It was brilliant to meet the people in your community and we're really inspired by what you're doing for them”. Dr Natalie Whitehead, Exeter Science Centre
BREAKDOWN OF SERVICE USERS
| 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 (Ceased April 23) | 0 | 155 | 4669 |
| Zoom Socials (Ceased April 23) | 0 | 114 | 54 |
| Cafe Customers | 4591 | 3165 | 0 |
| Events | 2240 | 859 | 0 |
| Bric-a-Brac | 1828 | 2006 | 0 |
| Scrabble & Games Group | 262 | 123 | 0 |
| Circuits | 285 | 300 | 263 |
| Lunch Club | 461 | 456 | 0 |
| General enquiries | 434 | 1205 | 23 |
| Tai Chi Class | 247 | 222 | 245 |
| Dominoes & Games Group (Ceased 2022) | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Computer Group | 104 | 32 | 0 |
| Knit & Natter | 190 | 106 | 0 |
| Citizens Advice Taunton | 48 | 10 | 0 |
| History Group | 32 | 39 | 0 |
| Thursday Talks (Zoom) (Ceased April 23) | 0 | 36 | 34 |
| Somerset West & Taunton Benefits advisor | 53 | 8 | 0 |
| Cooking Group | 17 | 23 | 0 |
| Job Club (Ceased 2022) | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Write2Read | 48 | 24 | 0 |
| Somerset West & Taunton Housing Advisor (restarted January 2023) |
8 | 0 | 1 |
| Health Walks suspended | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Police | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Credit Union | 24 | 21 | 0 |
| Creative Writers Group | 49 | 16 | 0 |
| Workshops | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| NHS & Health Related | 70 | 128 | 0 |
| Bereavement Support (Ceased 2023) | 2 | 37 | 0 |
| Community Computer (Stats no longer sent by SWT Council) |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Menopause Support Group (Started January 2023) |
24 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALSERVICE USERS | 11073 | **9107 ** | 5,289 |
*Data shows a snapshot of users to the Community Centre. There were 6562 unique visits to our website in 2022-2023. There were 93808 hits on our social media sites 2020 to 2022 numbers decreased due to the Corona Virus Pandemic
| DELIVERY PLAN: | DELIVERY PLAN: | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Plan 2022/2023 | ||||
| Objectives | Desired Outcomes | Measures and Timescale |
Actual Outcome |
|
| 1 | Recruit and train volunteers and trustees to meet the needs of the service. Offer training opportunities. Produce updates through meetings, newsletters and a volunteers manual. |
Recruitment is open to all. Maintain enough volunteers to deliver our services. Reflect our community. Are able to: build self- confidence; use existing knowledge & skills, learn new skills, job satisfaction, seek employment, recognition through awards. Recruit professionally qualified volunteers for specific jobs. |
Increased numbers. Numbers gaining paid employment. |
39 volunteers. 8 trustees. 2 volunteers gained their 15 year award and received an engraved vase. |
| 2 | Operate the Community Centre. |
Gain funding to meet core costs. Maximum potential |
Community Centre Usage |
Footfall 11073 |
| 3 | Host advice surgeries |
Citizens Advice SW&T Benefits SW&T Housing Police Residents have access to advice and support |
All surgeries to be held. |
Footfall 123 |
| 4 | Maintain Hallmark 1 accreditation. |
Maintain Hallmark 1 accreditation. |
Ongoing. | Hallmark 1 maintained. |
| 5 | Provide transport and a hot meal via a Lunch Club |
Provide a hot meal. Ensure sufficient volunteers. Ensure transport is available. Outing once a year. Collect and bank the money. Move towards sustainable self- funding. Residents benefit from: •A regular nutritious, affordable hot meal in a friendly environment •Opportunities for social interaction |
To be attended by a minimum of 10 people. One outing a year Timescale ongoing |
Footfall of 461 Outing to Watchet in July |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Provide fitness classes. |
Provide a venue and tutor. Collect and bank the money. 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 560 |
| 7 | To organise food, nutrition and cookery classes. |
Teach basic skills. Provide education about diet and health. Participants experience improved health through: •increased understanding |
A minimum of 6 people attending. |
Footfall 17 |
| about healthy eating •gain confidence and develop new skills •participating in group learning sessions |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Offer support with mental health |
Work in partnership with the Open Mental Health Alliance to; • To offer support • Guidance • Signposting • Social, health and fitness groups |
Set up new groups. Numbers attending. Referrals made. |
504 Letters sent out through Lyngford Park Doctors Surgery. Menopause support group started January 2023, 24 attendees. Signposting |
| 9 | 1 Deliver open access community events aimed at young people 2. Raise funds to hold the events. |
Access to experiences 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 their children, meet others and talk to a range of public service providers. |
1 day events attended by a minimum of 30 young people. School holidays. |
Footfall 1600 |
| 10 | Work with schools and colleges to |
Participate in a working environment, develop skills to add to their CVs. |
Offer as many opportunities as possible. |
1 silver Duke of Edinburgh volunteer gained 6 |
| offer work experience. |
months engagement |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Organise weekly social groups |
Offer a warm, friendly environment to socialise and enjoy activities facilitated by volunteers. |
To be attended by a minimum of 5 people. To be self- funding |
Footfall 536 |
| 12 | Organise weekly educational groups |
Gain knowledge and learn new skills, facilitated by volunteers and tutors. |
To be attended by a minimum of 5 people. To be self- funding |
Footfall 104 Digital support |
| 13 | Organise •bazaars in Spring and Autumn •Christmas Market •World Book Day event •One off events |
Raise awareness of the Community Centre. Recruit new volunteers. 1. Residents are able to: •learn about services on offer •find volunteering opportunities •buy items at low cost. 2. Raise funds |
To raise: •£750 from bazaars •£1000 from the Christmas Market. |
Bazaars raised £872.15 Christmas Market raised £1193.39 24 Stallholders. World Book Day raised £51.80 sold 259 books Footfall 640 |
| 14 | Host a SW&T community computer. |
On-line access. Volunteer-assisted. Develop IT skills. |
Recruit and train volunteers Timescale – ongoing. |
|
| 15 | To be the voice of the community whilst staying politically neutral. |
Enable those adversely affected by and concerned about current issues or changes to have their say and forward concerns to the appropriate agency. |
Ongoing. | Concerns re-laid to those agencies concerned |
| 16 | Work in partnership with the North Taunton One Team and North Taunton Development Group. |
To work with the coordinator to exchange information. Residents benefit from the ‘joined-up’, inter-agency approach. |
Timescale ongoing. |
Attended North Taunton Development Group Meetings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | To be dementia friendly. |
Deliver training when required. Visitors are greeted in a friendly and welcoming manner. |
On-going | |
| 18 | 1. Produce a community newsletter. 2. To hold information leaflets. 3. Signposting facility. |
Produce 3000 copies annually. Residents are well informed of events, services and opportunities. Offer a signposting facility. |
Spring, Summer and Winter |
3000 hardcopies produced and distributed. Electronic copies emailed |
- “It was fantastic to engage with both adults and young people of the community” Resilience Voyage Ltd – Drugs Bus
We would like to thank our funders, without their support the Community Centre would not be able to function.
“We have reached the end of the Together Again pilot project and I thought I would share some of the outcomes with our trusted partners. I would also like to thank you for your involvement in the project. There have been many partners involved and your help has been crucial in allowing us to reach and work with many more people in the Taunton area”. John French Museum of Somerset
TREASURER’S REPORT
We would like to thank all those organisations and individuals who have generously supported the charity. North Taunton Partnership has continued to support many local residents who have benefitted from our services. 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 2024, 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 2023 were £56,316 (2022 £73,211).
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 2023 to March 2024.
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 Date: 19[th] April 2023
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2023
Receipts and Payment Account
| Analysis of Restricted Funds Unparished Area Fund SCF Somerset Partnership fund SCF Let's Create SCF Somerset Fund Magdalene Trust Open Mental Health SCF High Sheriff SCF lottery ASDA foundation Taunton Rotary SW&T Partners Grant SW&T One Team SW&T Lottery SW&T Youth Initiative Fund SCF High Sheriff TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS |
Balance Receipts Payments Balance Bfwd Cfwd £ £ £ £ 2,500 2,500 0 5,000 5,000 0 5,250 5,250 0 2,000 2,000 0 2,000 2,000 6,568 3,548 3,020 1,500 1,500 0 1,000 1,000 0 450 450 0 500 500 0 14,500 14,500 0 507 1,750 1,757 500 1,000 1,000 0 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 1,500 1,500 1,500 £6,007 £46,018 £43,505 £10,020 |
|---|---|
“I can't tell you how happy I am to receive the information. Thank you so much and please thank the history tutor for me” Brenda
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 2023; this is consistent with previous years.
All Income, including grants, is recorded when received. All Expenditure is recorded when paid.
“I thought the garden looked absolutely beautiful and it seemed so jolly in the sunshine and everyone enjoying themselves. Well done you!”
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 2023.
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;
-
Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
-
To follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, and
-
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention
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.
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
-
To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulation and
-
To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of 2011 Act and section 44(1)(b) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulation.
-
Has not been met or
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: 23rd June 2023
Priorswood Community Centre 13-14 Priorswood Place Eastwick Road Taunton TA2 7JW 01823 353643
Email: lesleycouncill@priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PriorswoodCommunityCentre
www.priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk