**The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust** Reg. Charity 1090166 Annual Report for 2021–2022 In presenting this report, the Trustees are aware of the requirement that the charity’s activities should be for the public benefit. They are satisfied that the activities, available through the Centre, including the provision of workexperience placements, meet this requirement. They also always seek to ensure that volunteers and staff are able to take advantage of suitable training opportunities. ## **Core activities** The resources of the charity are specifically directed to maintaining and developing the 7Corners Centre*, the Hot Spot Outreach, and various other outreach activities in Abergavenny. - The Covid 19 pandemic continued to severely impact on the Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust’s normal activities over the last 12 months. However, with the liberal use of Lateral Flow Tests, and newly installed ventilated windows, we have, month by month, cautiously returned to our new form of normalcy. July saw the reopening of the Centre. The Trustees returned to first face to face meetings in August 2021. Ange and the volunteers, through ingenuity, continued to keep in touch and offer support with our core group – the young people. - Using this forced down time to get our “house” in ship shape order, the Centre checked all electrical fixtures and fittings and signage to ensure they complied with current Health & Safety regulations, a new dishwasher was installed, the downstairs meeting room, office, and café area of the Centre were fitted with new windows, and the cafe was redecorated. - The Friday night “Film Night with Chips” has resumed. - The “café” activities have resumed. - “FareShare and other Grub” activities have continued, with generous donation FareShare goods from Waitrose and Tesco Super Markets. - The I.Y.E. festival will be going to happen in 2022. Previous preparations are being utilised to help make this next festival a bumper one! - King Henry VIII School Mentoring Programme - _7 Corners is taking part in the Starfish Mentoring Programme, currently being delivered in King_ **The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust** Reg. Charity 1090166 Annual Report for 2021–2022 _Henry VIII High School in Abergavenny. This programme was designed by The Salvation Army's Youth & Children's Ministries Unit, and is compatible with 7Corners, i.e. Person-centred, person unique_ . - Two students from the University of South Wales successfully completed their placement with 7 Corners. At a meeting of the Trustees, the students were asked to give their experiences of their placements. - 7 Corners joined the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services. (CWVYS). - Tentative discussions with the Monmouthshire & Torfaen Youth Offending Services have been started. These discussions are centered on examining Reparation activities that may fit in with our core objectives. - Hot Spot Outreach activities have continued to operate in a variety of ways, without the use of the caravan. Hot Spot Outreach Café events in Bailey Park at various times/days have continued to be a success in engaging with the young people. The Gwent Police Commissioner’s funds enabled us to purchase the replacement “up market” Hot Spot Caravan, which has been refitted and resprayed. The hunt is on for a permanent parking place. ## **Partner organisations** Use of 7 Corners meeting rooms by outside agencies has got off to a slow restart, post pandemic, but following our decoration and new furniture, it is expected that this facility will again attract suitable users in the near future. ## **Finance** We have continued to receive generous support from the many individual donors in the local community, who support the charity through regular giving. We have also continued to receive substantial financial support through Grants and the Local Authority. Last year it was decided to apply for a corporate credit card for ease of purchasing goods and services. At the end of this financial year we still have not received it. However, we are confident that, through the continued efforts of our Treasurer, this will happen in the coming few weeks. **The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust** Reg. Charity 1090166 Annual Report for 2021–2022 A sub Committee for Financial Investments has been formed, from our existing Trustees, to examine the feasibility of investing some of our reserves into more profitable areas. ## **Trustees** The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust Chair continues to be Peter Nuttall, ably supported by Alison Stroud as Deputy Chair, Alan Freebury as Treasurer, Michael Marsden as Secretary, and all the other actively supporting Trustees, including Sandy Greenslade, Mary Kennedy, Dr. Huw Morgan, Caroline Woollard, and Andrew Willie. Nick Pryor of the Salvation Army continues to provide much appreciated pastoral support. ## _**Payments to trustees**_ There were no payments to trustees during the year. ## **Employees** Mrs Julie Sussex continues, efficiently and effectively, in the role of Administrator, giving excellent support to the Centre Manager, Chair, and Treasurer. Her efforts have ensured we have obtained financial support from a variety of donors. We are also grateful that she continues to volunteer for some of the activities of the Centre Ange Sampson continues to manage all aspects of the Centre, Hot Spot Outreach, and various other activities with her customary sensitive care and dedication. ## **Volunteers** We are grateful to all the volunteers and helpers who have supported Ange in the various outreach activities and at the Centre. ## **Patron** Our Patron, Andrew Tuggey, the Vice-Lord Lieutenant for Gwent, continues to provide active support, and his presence at Trustees’ meetings is most welcome and appreciated. **The Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust** Reg. Charity 1090166 Annual Report for 2021–2022 ## **Data protection** The Centre does not retain information about casual Centre users. Appropriate data is retained for employees, volunteers and gift-aid donors in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations. ## **Conclusion** Despite the turbulent times we live in, the charity has continued to fulfil its role, albeit in different ways, in providing a safe place where young people can gather in safety, receive support and guidance and, as opportunity offers, be encouraged to develop life and practical skills. P. J. Nuttall MBE, TD, JP Chair of Trustees Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust *The 7Corners Centre is a project funded by the Bridge to Cross Charitable Trust and is dedicated to offering hope and hospitality to all young people and to meet the mission statement of providing ‘a centre where young people can meet in safety, find help for personal development and support if in crisis.’ BkjDGLlO(kU￿SQ￿￿RlIA&LÉIH￿ STATFMEhTOFFIP4AYCIALACTtVlTIES TrTAItFhTJED31 bfARCH2032 2•22 Rttlrf¢ltO P¥Nds ZKI T•l*l F*rds INCDMIY4G HESOURCES 4JOO 23.664 17.951 i.￿0 22,Ul 24.064 48.070 32.J99 548 228 TOTALR¥COhtlNG KU¢JiFf¢¢ES RE8WRtESLVLNDEI) È*l•n¢s•rd 23.895 4.129 6,766 369 4.621 i¥, Z7.934 9.059 6.474 779 552 (MW¢wl J69 532 TOIALklSOUKCE5&VENDED TriET ￿le0￿￿￿￿OUTCOI￿1II&*0I.'Rt.Fs 4498 4J70 3&595 TOTALFLryD5BROUGHT FORWARD 67J25 n,576 TOTALFUNbSCARRIEDFORWARD P4•3 E•AEMDED$1 ILlJiC￿al12