Family Welfare & Community Guidance Reg Charity Number 1082423
## The THOMAS Project Trustees Annual Report For the Period of 01 Jan 2020 to 31 Dec 2020
Registered Office: 196H Walsall Wood Road, Aldridge, West Midlands, WS9 8HB
## **Mission Statement**
The THOMAS Project is a faith based charity that aims to relieve hardship, need and distress in the community of Aldridge, by providing opportunities and activities to all, to improve confidence, social connections, well being, and purpose.
## **Introduction**
The THOMAS Project is the working name for Family Welfare and Community Guidance.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
During the accounting period the Trustees were:
Keith Farquhar (Chair) - Resigned October 2020
Elizabeth Jones - Secretary
Keith Capp - Treasurer
Clive Thomas - Vice Chair
Tim Wilson - Fundraising Coordinator - Resigned November 2020Resigned November
Marlene Bradburn - Fundraising coordinator
Peter Brentnall - Minutes Secretary
The Charity governing document is a Trust Deed and is constituted as a Trust with 7 Trustees elected by the Trustees.
Trustees hold quarterly meetings which are minuted. During 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions these meetings took place via Zoom.
The Trustees appoint members of staff through the application process. Currently there are 2 members of staff; Project Manager (21 hours per week) Deputy Project Manager (12 hours a week). The Deputy Project Manager post is a 3 year funded post by the National Lottery Community Fund.
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Volunteers are recruited by the Project Manager through the application process. There are currently 20 Volunteers registered with the project.
The THOMAS Project is committed to promoting fairness and eliminating discrmination and bringing people together to bridge the gap across social, generational, digital and cultural divides.
## **Financial Review**
The Trustees aim to maintain cash reserves at no less than the equivalent of 3 months average expenditure.
The main source of income for the charity is through personal and corporate donations.
Fundraising has not been as active this year due to the government restrictions, but some fundraising was untaken in January and by supporters taking part in personal sponsorship challenges.
Grants are applied for when appropriate and required.
A major risk to the charity would be loss of public donations. During this accounting period public donations have increased by £9036 to £27,984
## **Policies and Procedures**
The THOMAS Project has relevant equality and safeguarding policies in place to cover trustees, staff, volunteers and users of the project. The project is Chrisitian based but welcomes people of all faiths and no faith, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, ability or age.
All Trustees, staff and volunteers (18 years of age and over) who are involved in regulated activities have DBS clearance.
The THOMAS Project is a member of The Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS).
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All Trustees have regard to **Public Benefit** (PB1,PB2,PBS) and annually update this knowledge and policies.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Wider Network/Partnerships**
The THOMAS Project is a member of the Black Country Foodbank (BCFB). We work closely with food banks in the network, especially Ablewell Advice Services, who are able to offer our users debt and benefit advice. As members of the Black Country Foodbank we are part of the FareShare and FoodCloud with Aldridge Co-op, Tesco store at Brownhills and Aldridge store of Greggs. We are extremely grateful for the weekly donations of produce we receive from these establishments.
The THOMAS Project is a member of Transforming Communities Together and Places of Welcome. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions the Places of Welcome weekly meetings have not taken place at our premises, but Places of Welcome did make an online platform available for people to join in virtual coffee mornings and prayer.
We work with Walsall Workstations, a Bridges Project offering support for the unemployed. Again due to the unprecedented year the weekly sessions at the project have not been as regular, but we hope to resume these in 2021. Walsall Workstations did offer our users support over the telephone.
The THOMAS Project works closely with local churches, schools, business and charitable organisations to ensure the local community and our users receive the most appropriate support when needed. Working with these organisations increases the benefit to the public. By working together we build a network of support which ensures those that come to us in crisis receive the best and most appropriate support.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
2020 has been one of change for the THOMAS Project, with new staff appointments and volunteers, due in most part to the effects of COVID-19. Most of the usual
4
activities we provide were suspended due to the government restrictions and the unsuitability of the premises for group activities to maintain the 2 metre social distancing rule.
Despite many of our usual volunteers being unable to volunteer, due to shielding or illness, we were still able to operate the twice weekly food bank with a handful of volunteers, some new, who risked their own health to ensure the needs of the community were met.
During 2020 we distributed 5,874kg of food and 1,223 kg of non food ( e.g. toiletries and cleaning products) this went out in 330 food parcels for children (an increase of 58% on 2019) and 492 food parcels for adults (an increase of 66% on 2019). The increase in demand began in March 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic first took hold in England. The demand remained high to the end of December. The increase in need has been more than matched by the incredible acts of generosity from the local community and beyond that has ensured our foodbank never went short of anything.
With the help of volunteers we were able to offer a local delivery service of food parcels which has been much appreciated, not only by the people receiving a food parcel, but also by the professionals who support those in crisis. This is not a service currently offered by other food banks in the area. We aim to continue to offer this service in the future provided we have the volunteers.
During the first lockdown of Spring 2020 it became clear that home schooling was a challenge for some families; children became bored and parents frustrated by the demands of working from home whilst trying to care for a number of children. We responded by providing craft and activity packs containing age appropriate items. These went out with food parcels to those in crisis. Parents were very grateful to have extra supplies to help with the home schooling. We contacted local schools to offer the packs to families the schools knew were struggling. We put out appeals on Social Media for the items we needed and were astonished by the amount donated. Over 200 packs were given out, including those over Christmas which contained small gifts and a fleece blanket. One school head teacher wrote to say ‘ The gratitude of families was palpable’.
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Support to our users was maintained by regular telephone calls by Trustees and staff to ensure they were safe and well and to offer food parcels to those self isolating or vulnerable. Eighty Christmas gift bags containing festive and essential food were delivered to the most isolated elderly residents, either known to us or identified by Walsall Council Housing Officers.
Forty bags containing essential toiletries such as shower gel and shampoo were distributed to the COVID-19 recovery Ward at Walsall Manor Hospital - these were gratefully received at a time when visitors, who would normally bring these items, were not allowed.
The contribution made by volunteers has been especially outstanding this year. Not only have they risked their own health by volunteering at the Food Bank but between them they have clocked up over 38,000 hours. In monetary terms this is worth £361,000 (at the living wage rate of £9.50 per hour) in this financial period. We are immensely grateful and proud of the wonderful work and support of our volunteers, we literally could not provide the service we do without them.
2020 has brought about much change to many lives and to the THOMAS Project. We are thankful to God and proud to have been able to support local people during this challenging and unprecedented year. We look towards the future as we evolve and endeavour to continue to support the needs of our local community and fulfil our commitment to serve our local community.
## **K Capp**
## K Ross
Keith Capp
Trustee - Treasurer
Karen Ross M.B.E. Charity Project Manager
6
**CHARITY OF FAMILY GUIDANCE &**
**COMMUNITY WELFARE**
**trading as the 'THOMAS PROJECT'**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**for the year ended**
**YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020**
**CHARITY OF FAMILY GUIDANCE & COMMUNITY WELFARE**
## **trading as 'THE THOMAS PROJECT' FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED December 31, 2020**
|**GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
**Note**
**RECEIPTS:-**
Donations
_General Fund_
Fundraising
Gift Shop
Tear Fund Sales
Gift Aid claims
Room hire
**Restricted income:-**
Morrisons Voucher
Sundry Sanitary products
Main Grant income|**GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
**Note**
**RECEIPTS:-**
Donations
_General Fund_
Fundraising
Gift Shop
Tear Fund Sales
Gift Aid claims
Room hire
**Restricted income:-**
Morrisons Voucher
Sundry Sanitary products
Main Grant income|**£**
**Restricted**|**£**
**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**RECEIPTS:-**
Donations
_General Fund_
Fundraising
Gift Shop
Tear Fund Sales
Gift Aid claims
Room hire
**Restricted income:-**
Morrisons Voucher
Sundry Sanitary products
Main Grant income||||
||||24,794
1,006
34
3,297
420
25,262|
|**TOTAL RECEIPTS**||0|54,813|
|**PAYMENTS**
Wages and Expenses
Courses - Training for Staff
Activities
-Guys and Gals
Clients Gifts & Loans
Client group trips (coach)
**Walsall Wood:-**
-Insurance
-Rent
-Rates
-Telephone
-Heat and Light
-Pastoral Items
Advertising/Signage
Food Bank + Outreach
-Cleaning + Materials
-Postage + Stationery
Decorating/Maintenance|
**2**
**3**|2,075
367|10,083
608
1,196
7,125
424
730
1,505
132
909
380
574
1,226|
|Worldpay/bank charges (incl hand held device)|||1|
|---|---|---|---|
|Licenses||||
|And tools + Capital Equipment|||852|
|CCPAS|||273|
|-Sundries|||466|
|**TOTAL PAYMENTS**|2,442||26,484|
|EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PMTS|-2,442||28,329|
|||\||
|TRANSFER OF FUNDS|0||0|
|CASH & BANK DEPOSITS||||
|at 1 January 2020|3,941||3,723|
|at 31 December 2020|1,499||32,052|
|**CHARITY OF FAMILY GUIDANCE & COMMUNITY WELFARE**
**trading as'THE THOMAS PROJECT'**
**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS- 31st DECEMBER 2020**
**1) FOODBANK AND OUTREACH**
Foodbank
Helping Hands - Shop
Gift Shop - Stock
Donations : Bible Society
Evangelism Resources
Fundraising - skittles evening
Room hire, food/drink - LP
ACM - Food, stamps
Lichfield Gospel Choir
Tearfund cards
Shoebox appeal
Spring Stall (market)
Christmas tree festival, Lantern Parade
Cook School, Film Faith & Food, Pancakes
Trivial costs
**2) RESTRICTED FUNDS**||||**£**
**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||88
304
451
432|
||||1,275||
||||||
||**Main bank:-**
**Foodbank**||**Grant for**||
||||**Toys**||
||Funds
Balance b/f
67
188
Income
Payments
-63
Funds Balance c/f @ 31/12/20
4
188
CHARITY OF FAMILY GUIDANCE & COMMUNITY WELFARE
trading as'THE THOMAS PROJECT'
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2020
**£**
2020
**CASH FUNDS:-**
Bank Current account
36,356
Petty Cash
115
Less:- Grants refundable
West Midlands Police
-2,920
TOTAL CASH
33,551
ASSETS RETAINED FOR THE CHARITY?S OWN USE:-
Fund
Computers and other equipment
Restricted
Photocopier
Unrestricted|67
188
-63|67
188
-63|67
188
-63|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||4
188|||
||||**£**
2020
36,356
115
-2,920||
||||
33,551||
||||Fund
Restricted
Unrestricted|Fund|
||||||
## Nikki-Dee Haddleton
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
DATE:- ………………………………
|**£**
**2020**
**Total**
24,794
1,006
34
0
3,297
420
0
0
25,262
54,813
12,158
0
0
608
0
1,196
7,125
424
730
1,505
132
0
1,275
380
574
1,226|**Note**|**£**
**2019**
**Total**
18,948
2,437
1,071
44
0
1,640
20
30
2,450
26,640
7,447
0
0
500
0
487
13,375
642
607
1,334
553
0
1,976
248
677
387|
|---|---|---|
|1
0
852
273
466
28,926
25,887
0
7,664
33,551|34
268
0
274
481|
|---|---|
||29,290|
||-2,650
0
10,314|
||7,664|
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||||||
||||||||||||
||**Mrs P Toulouse**||**Rosie's **|**Hhands**||||**Appeal**||**Shenstone**|
|||**For refugees**||**Bursary**||**Asylum**||**Seekers**|**relief- carpets**||
|100|993|108|410|
|---|---|---|---|
||-304|||
|100|689|108|410|
|Cost
1,048
875||**£**
2019
6,653
1,011|
|---|---|---|
|||7,664|
|||Value|
|||1
1|
Granl Income.
Sala
Told
2.075
3.941
-2.075
-2.442
1.499
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examinerfs report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
The Thomas Project (Family Guidan & Communty Welfare )
On accounts for the year
ended
31 Dember 2020
Charity no
(rfany)
1082423
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the aco)unts of the above
charity {he Trusf) for the year ended
Responsibilities and
basrs of report
As the charitys trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
(Yhe Acr).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145{5}{b) of the Ad.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have
examiner's statement come to my attenlion in connection wrth the examination which gives me
cause to believe that in, any material respect:
the accounting records were not kept in accordan Yth section 130
of the Charrties Act: or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records", or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements
conceming the foTh and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no COnmS and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in
order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
2021
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification{s) or body
{if any):
Address:
? 7 Tolioh
frc-
IER
OctX2tsZI
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of conrn
(see CC32, Independent examination of charty accounts: directions and
guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the
examinerwishes to
disclose.
IER
Oct
2oLI