DOROTHYPARKES Community Centre THE DOROTHY PARKES CENTRE TRUSTEES, REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1093189 THE DOROTHY PARKES CENTRE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Charitable Incorporated Organisation: Conversion dated 14th February 2022 Registered Charity Number: 1093189 Chair: Mr P Martin Trustees: Mrs J Andrews Mr R Harsh Mr D R Ingram Mrs L Johnson Miss J K Jones Ms J Mckirdy Rev S Moore Mrs Z Nembhard Mr A Singh Mr S Williets Resigned 0111012024 Registered Office: The Dorothy Parkes Centre Church Road Smethwick West Midlands B67 6EH Bankers: HSBC 168 Warstone Lane Birmingham B186NP Independent Examiner: Mrs A Madden Curo Chartered Accountants TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 The Board present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT l am delighted to once again write a brief report as an introduction to the Trustee's Report and Financial Statements, this time for the year ended 31 st March 2025. Time passes so very quickly., it seems only yesterday that I compiled a similar report for 2024. Yet so much has happened at the DPC, so many good things in that year. Anyone visiting the DPC, receiving the welcome of those who work there, enjoying the company of others, and using the services the Centre offers can only be grateful for the vision of those from Old Church who saw the need for such a Centre and generated the finance to launch it some twenty-five years ago. Anyone visiting the Centre can only be grateful for those who now together- staff and volunteers, Trustees and professional advisers, Centre users and Centre supporters, those who make the DPC a place of vibrancy, energy, enthusiasm, commitment and service. A place of which we all are so very proud. It is a delight to record our continuing steps in growing the Centre, growing in ambition and delivery to serve increasing numbers of users across diverse projects and services. The Centre currently offers it resources to some forty-seven groups per week including nineteen groups supported directly by the DPC. The Centre is home to some twenty-four projects. Based on continuing consultation with Centre users, we know they all value the resources of the Centre, the qualities of the Centre, the safe space that the Centre offers. The bright, shiny kitchen installed through the generosity of Global's Make Some Noise has become a key resource, used regularly to support those hoping to develop their cooking skills and adopt a healthier eating style. It is so encouraging to see the active link between the activities in the kitchen and the committed work of Paul and Usha and the volunteers at the DPC Community Allotment. And then there is Dottie's Community Fridge supporting with free food some fifty people a week. We are pleased to note that the Conifers Day Nursery that provides a significant community asset has been using parts of the DPC space for some six years. We look forward to a rewarding on-going arrangement. On behalf of the Trustees, I thank Jodie Griffiths as Centre Manager and Christina Murray for their skill and enthusiasm, for keeping the Centre as busy as it is. I thank Trudi for her ever-smiling welcome, Ashley and Carl for being always available, and Nicola for keeping the place shiny. I thank them for their flexibility in challenging times. And I thank over thirty Volunteers for all that they do. Without them, there would be no DPC as we know it now. Tessa Taylor retired this year. We are grateful for her professional support over many years in maintaining the financial records of the Centre. It is important to record, as I did last year, that the Centre has no turn-to source of cash. The DPC receives no regular funding from the Church of England, from Old Church nor from Sandwell Council or other local and national bodies. As such, the DPC is dependent on monies granted from charitable bodies and other sources of funds and on using its own resources, principally the hiring out of the Centre halls and meeting rooms. The funds we receive pay for the projects for which they are given including the salaries of the staff, and the overheads of running the Centre including the continual refurbishment and improvement that is needed to satisfy the needs of our users. A detailed outline of the activities of the Dorothy Parkes Centre together with the sources of funds and their uses is provided in the pages that follow. The financial year 2024125 has been challenging, not least because income and expenditure rarely fit neatly into the accounting year. The DPC has recently partnered with The Funded Team to ensure that our bids for charitable and other funds become increasingly successful. 2025 marks the twenty-fifth year of the Dorothy Parkes Centre, a community asset that has grown in range and ambition to be unrecognisable when compared with the activities in 2000. Nothing stands still. We continue to rely on Rob for his sharp strategic mind, his engaging leadership and his commitment to the Centre. And yes, Rob received the High Sheriff Award this year in recognition of his exceptional community contributions. I'm sure that he will agree that this award was received on behalf of the Centre as a whole. I commend this Report to you. It is a record of good things, of ￿entY-fiVe years of service to Smethwick and beyond. Paul Martin (Chair) TRUSTEES The Trustees are responsible for the administration and management of the Centre and are Trustees for the purposes of Charity Law. The Trustees who served during the period are set out above in the Legal and Administrative Information and are collectively known as the Board of Trustees. Paul Martin has remained as Chair, and we have had one resignation this year, Amardeep Singh, in October 2024. We wish Amardeep well and we thank him for his service to the Dorothy Parkes Centre. No remuneration was paid to any Trustee. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY The principal object of the Dorothy Parkes Centre (DPC) is to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Smethwick, Sandwell, and the neighbourhood by associating together with the Local Authorities and Health Authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for advancement, recreation, and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions and quality of life. ACTIVITIES DURING THE PERIOD REGULAR ACTIVITIES The Dorothy Parkes Centre attracts an average of 950 visit per week. It is a Centre informed by the community being served. There are regular consLrltations and engagements through open days, social media, and a user-friendly website. We host quarterly 'Community Voice, meetings which bring together key members of our local community to help shape the future of our Centre. The DPC secured funding this year for new projects which included Community Fridge, Nature Buddies, Boxclever, Winter Warm Packs, Together We Cook, Soup and Social, Storytelling and Rainbow Health and Wellness. We secured extension and continuation funding for our Older People provision, Art for Wellbeing and Loss Matters. The DPC hosted a celebration event for the opening of our renovated kitchen thanks to th funding from Global's Make Some Noise, a celebration for service users 90 and 100th birthdays, and hosted free Family Law and Wills Clinics in partnership with Talbots Law Solicitors. The regular fundraisers included Raffles, Prize Bingo, Indoor Car Boot Sales, Craft Fayres, Summer and Christmas Fayres. The DPC funded activities and projects which took place at various points throughout the year included: Community Allotment Community Litter Pick Gentle Yoga Knitting & Crochet Nature Buddies Gentle Exercise Art Works for Wellbeing Community Offer Afternoon Tea Loss Matters Places of Welcome Sandwell Welcoming Spaces Jewellery Making Fun Fit Community CinemalTheatre Winter Warm Packages Art in Bloom Chatty Café Fun Fit storytelling Boxclever Community Fridge Community Mile Rainbow Health & Wellness Family Law Clinic Wills & Estates Clinic Grief Kind Space External groups and activities which have been held at the Centre throughout the year include: Taekwondo CMJ Studios GKR Karate Sandwell MBC - Polling Sandwell Childrens Trust Sandwell Parents for Disabled Children PB Fitness Kumon Tutoring Sew with Kim Girls Friendly Society Potters House Church Sandwell MBC Council Surgeries NHS Mental Health Support Let's Talk Hope Slimming World Good Afternoon Club Smethwick Heritage Ghanaian Groups Your Health Sandwell Digi-comm Loveworld Smethwick Living Well Taking Control Cocaine Anonymous Inspiring Fitness Citizens Advice Next Gen Takeover Club Providing the wide range of activities, events, projects and services listed above helps us in our aim to continue the legacy of Miss Dorothy Parkes {1644 - 1727) and provide opportunities to bring people and organisations together in a spirit of friendship and equality, enabling our local community to thrive and enjoy a better quality of life. CENTRE DEVELOPMENTS Our Business Plan, which is a working document, has provided a focus, asking where we are currently and where we strive to be as an organisation after five years and beyond. The Centre aspires to: promote the acceptance by all of all, an inclusive, all-embracing community. increase the visibility of all, thinking particularly of those communities that can be overlooked in the grand plans. rejoice in diversity and develop the instincts of gratitude and celebration. encourage individuals and groups to create a sense of belonging. nurture learning and a proper sense of education. Food Provision This year, we placed a strong emphasis on developing a distinctive and impactful approach to food provision. While recognising the valuable role played by local foodbanks and food pantries in addressing food poverty, our focus has been on education, skills, and sustainable access to healthy food. By linking our Community Allotment with our newly established kitchen, we have been able to offer a programme that combines practical cooking skills with the use of fresh, homegrown produce. Generous funding from Global's Make Some Noise enabled us to install a modern, fully accessible kitchen and deliver ten, six-session cooking courses for adults and families, supporting a total of 76 participants. l-he sessions were facilitated using produce from our Community Allotment and fresh ingredients sourced through a local food surplus initiative. Building on this success, we secured additional grants from charitable trusts to deliver targeted courses for people living with diabetes, individuals who were unemployed, and young families. Our kitchen is now recognised as one of the leading training facilities in the area. It has been hired by the local NHS community team to deliver cooking classes for people affected by mental health conditions, and by Sandwell Parents for Disabled Children to run holiday cooking sessions. In January, we launched the Community Fridge project the first and, to date, only Community Fridge in Sandwell. Supported by start-up funding from Hubbub and the Heart of England - Birmingham & Black Country Fund, we purchased the fridge, established a regular supply of food via Fareshare, and began distributing surplus food free of charge to those who could use it. The fridge is also regularly stocked with fresh produce from our Community Allotment. In its first six months, the Community Fridge supported over 1,110 people and prevented 1.9 tonnes of good-quality food from going to waste, making a tangible difference both environmentally and socially. Awards and Recognition In 2024-25, the Dorothy Parkes Centre was honoured to receive several prestigious awards, recognising both our community impact and our commitment to the wellbeing of our team. Communit Im act Awards High Sheriff Awards dedication.. Two members of our team were formally recognised for their outstanding Robert Bruce, CEO, for transforming the Centre into a vital community hub. Christeen Morton, volunteer, for providing essential bereavement support through the Loss Matters programme. ASDA Community Diamond Award supporting the local community. Presented in recognition of our exceptional contribution to Or anisational and Work lace Excellence We recognise that a healthy, valued, and well-supported team is essential to sustaining our impact. This year, we achieved the following milestones.. Trusted Standard Level One Accreditation - Trusted Standard is delivered by The Growth Company and is the only UK quality standard designed to help third sector organisations operate more effectively and efficiently. The Centre was described as 'A very well-run organisation led by a strong trustee board and a charismatic CEO. The dediGated staff and volunteer team provide a safe and warm welcome to residents in a well-equipped and Comfortable community centre. The team clearly understands the needs of their local community and provides a wide range of services and activities to all ages that help to improve their health, wellbeing and community cohesion. It was very easy to award the Dorothy Parkes Centre the Level One quality mark and the centre's efficiency in preparing for the assessment made the process a very enjoyable experience" Living Wage Employer As an accredited Living Wage Employer, we are voluntarily going above and beyond the government minimum wage and taking a stand to ensure all our employees earn a wage which is enough to live on. This reaffirms our commitment to fairness, equity, and social responsibility. Thrive at Work Bronze Level Award This is a recognition level within the Thrive at Work program, demonstrating our commitment to employee health and wellbeing. It signifies that we are taking steps to provide information and resources that support employees in making healthy choices. The Bronze level focuses on awareness and information, with actions including research into local activities and promoting healthy lifestyles. Partnerships This year saw the conclusion of our formal partnerships with St Albans Community Association and Singlepoint Plus following the successful completion of the Community Offer and Rewire projects. While these collaborations came to a natural close, we have been proud to establish a range of new partnerships that have brought innovative projects to life, including.. William Wilson Turner Foundation & Food for Thought CIC - Soup & Social Breathing Space Therapeutic SeNices - Nature Buddies Talbots Law Solicitors - Family Law Clinic & Wills, Probate & Estates Clinic Boxclever Mentoring - Boxclever Wolverhampton LGBT+ and Bearwood Rainbow Social - Rainbow Health and Wellness Sue Ryder and Bearwood Community Hub- Grief Kind Space Creative Black Country- Storytelling The Recovery College - Together We Cook We deeply value the impact that partnership working brings, enabling u5 to deliver high-quality sewices that respond to the needs of our community. We extend our sincere thanks to all our formal partners for their commitment and collaboration. In addition, we have continued to work closely with a wide range of organisations on a more informal basis, strengthening community networks and extending our reach. We are grateful to". Black Country Touring, Friends of Thimblemill Brook, Bearwood Allotments, SCIPS, Litte￿atCh Sandwell, Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations, Smethwick Police, Sandwell Council, Conifers Day Nursery, Smethwick Old Church, Powered by CAN, Incredible Surplus, Fareshare Midlands, and Uplands Manor Primary School for their support and shared dedication to making a difference. Membership We remain members of Communities in Sync, a dynamic partnership of quality health, social care and well- being providers working together to improve the lives of people in the local community and we are now members of The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands. In November 2024 they carried out an Internal Vulnerability Assessment which came back as 'healthy'. Uplands Manor We have continued to sub-let the facilities at Uplands Manor Primary School during out of school hours. This is a great arrangement for both parties and means that local community groups can hire out the sports hall, playing fields, andlor Multi-use Gaming Areas during evenings and weekends. This is another example of a way in which we have tried to diversify our sources of income. MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING All annual checks including the moveable walls service, PAT testing, emergency lighting, hot water urn, fire equipmenvalarm, intruder alarm, gas safety certificate & pest control seNices have been carried out with any remedial actions completed. The biggest area of development has been in the kitchen. The old kitchen has been completely stripped out and a new, bright, modern, accessible kitchen has been installed. It is more efficient and has been future proofed. The development also saw the introduction of a small café area in the foyer which means that the kitchen now has more privacy for cooking courses. The hall and foyer have been decorated, and 14 new tables have been purchased for the hall and four tables for the meeting room. There is a maintenance plan in place, and subject to funding, we would like to renovate our toilets. Conifers Day Nursery has expressed an interest in developing the small rear car park and extending their outdoor provision into this area. VOLUNTEERS The Board of Trustees extends their thanks to all the volunteers who support the staff team to deliver the service seven days a week. There is a strong team of volunteers all of whom support the Centre in many ways. This year, volunteers have been recruited and supported by our Projects Manager, Christina. In total, 35 volunteers have supported the Centre in the last year. We created a positive link with Neighbourly and participated in their volunteer Christmas card and letter writing campaign which successfully brought festive cheer to our beneficiaries during the holiday season, helping to combat loneliness and isolation. We received a total of 514 cards and letters. At our Centre, we are proud to take on and support work experience placements. This year, we have had five placements from local high schools and colleges. Each placement spends a week with us, learning different roles and gaining a food hygiene certificate via our training provider, valid for three years. STAFFING The Dorothy Parkes Centre is supported by a dedicated team of ten staff, including three full-time members. The team is led by Chief Executive Officer Robert Bruce, supported by.. Jodie Griffiths - Centre Manager Christina Murray - Projects Manager Trudi Blake - Administrator Vince Nelson, Ashley Green, and Carl Harris - Caretakers Nicola Nolan - Cleaner Paul Randall - Community Allotment Plot Lead Usha Chopra - Community Allotment Plot Assistant The Board of Trustees extends its sincere thanks to the entire staff team for their commitment, professionalism, and dedication to serving the local community. During the year, we welcomed two new colleagues. Christina Murray joined us in April 2024 as Projects Manager, a post made possible through funding from the National Lottery. This role has quickly become pivotal in managing our existing programmes and in developing and leading new initiatives. Carl Harris also joined in April 2024 to provide caretaker cover and has continued to be an invaluable member of the team. We also said farewell to two valued colleagues. Fionnuala O'Brien, our Community Navigator for four years, left following the conclusion of the project she led. Tessa Taylor, our Bookkeeper for a decade, retired in April 2025. We are deeply grateful to both for their exceptional service, commitment, and professionalism, and we wish them the very best for the future. FINANCIAL REPORT Charitable Trust Funding None of the work carried out at the Dorothy Parkes Centre would be possible without the generous support of the following grant-making Charitable Trusts and businesses who all supported our Centre between April 2024 and March 2025.. The Grimmitt Trust Goodenough Charitable Trust Global's Make Some Noise Cole Charitable Trust Baron Davenport's Charity George Henry Collins The Limoges Trust Harborne Parish Lands Charity SCVO - V2030 Main Grant The Recovery College Heart of England - Harry Payne Fund W.E.Dunn Trust ASDA - Grassroots Grant Geoff Hill Charitable Trust The Roger & DoLtglas Turner Trust Sandwell Welcoming Spaces The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust The Chance Trust Community Matters Fund The Grantham Yorke Trust Heart of England - Birmingham & Black Country Fund The Saintbury Trust Lord Austin Trust The G.J.W Turner Trust Hubbub The National Lottery SCVO Sports Grant Fund The Bob Willis Fund Hopkinslsayer Charities The Rowlands Trust Sir John Sumner Richard Kilcuppes Charity The financial position at the end of 2024125 was a deficit of £78,580. During the financial year, the Dorothy Parkes Centre secured a total income of £299,264, including £180,514 in unrestricted funds and £118,750 in restricted funding. Income from charitable activities totalled £132,852, representing an increase of £10,757 compared to the previous year. The income from charitable activities equates to 44.390/0 of our total income, compared to 34.150/0 last year and demonstrates our commitment to diversify our income and to not be wholly reliant on grant income. Room hire contributes to just over a third of our total income (£101,216), kitchen sales increased to £3,999, donations and user contributions £17,433, our own fundraising £8,730 and £1,474 from photocopying and other income. Reserves Policy The Charity has no guaranteed source of long-term income and hence aims to maintain reserves at the level required to fund a minimum of three months operations without additional charitable income. The merit of this policy has been seen in the past and we are attempting to rebuild our reserves to the desired level over the next three years. The balance held in unrestricted funds on 31 st March 2025 was £78,419. A further £30,563 was held in restricted funds. ORGANISATION The Charity is governed by a Board of Trustees, which delegates certain decisions to Trustees, Sub- committees, or Employees. The Charity employs a Chief Executive Officer who has delegated authority to take day-to-day decisions on the running and management of the Charity and to act as manager of other employees of the Centre. The Chief Executive Officer reports to the Board at each Board meeting. Risk Management The Trustees have reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have established systems intended to mitigate those risks. These include.. The operation of a scheme of delegation of decision-making between the Board, any subgroups of the Board set up for specific purposes, and the Chief Executive Officer. The monitoring and review of operational decisions at Board meetings, which take place six times a year, now supported by a regular report. The monitoring and review of monthly management accounts by the Board. The maintenance of policies and procedures governing the key areas of activity and financial decision-making are reviewed and updated on an annual basis. The requirement for two named signatories to sign chequeslapprove bank payments on behalf of the Centre. The existence of contracts and service level agreements to govern working arrangements with our most significant partner organisations. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE The DPC strives to have a positive impact on people's lives, and this is central to the priorities for the next five years. To meet the growing needs of the community in these challenging times, over the next five years the DPC aspires to". maintain an income of £250,000 per year with modest increase year by year through restricted and unrestricted grants and trading activities develop relationships with charitable sources that would allow a degree of long-term security in planning To meet the growing needs of the community in these challenging times, the DPC will work to.. maximise the use of resources cash, buildings, facilities, staff and volunteers, experience, and knowledge to the benefit of the community. maximise the impact through beneficial relationships with others in the sector and with those that have appropriate resources. io INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE DOROTHY PARKES CENTRE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 14 to 20. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act,). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act,). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's statement I confirm that l am qualified to undertake the examination because l am a member of the ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act,. or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records,. or 3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination., or 4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practi￿ for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)]. I have no concerns 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.. Name.. Anna Madden lollo IK% Other relevant professional qualification or body.. FCA Address.. Curo Chartered Accountants, Curo House, Greenbox, Weston Hall Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, wor￿sterShire, B60 4AL Date.. 12 Across a range of activities, the DPC strives to achieve the following.. l) to be one of the best places to work in Sandwell 2) to grow and expand services 3) to make key contributions to the community and environment 4) to drive through transformational improvements in our services 5) to be a flagship community centre in Sandwell There are plans to further improve facilities within the Centre and to strengthen and increase staffing capacity. Our community will need support with the cost-of-living crisis. We will continue to consult with our community and local providers to ensure that we are offering as much support as possible. STATEMENT OF BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the financial activities of the charity and of its financial position at the end of that year. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently., Make judgements and estimates that are responsible and prudent,. State whether the policies adopted are in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and with applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements., Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in existence. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for the safeguarding of the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. This report was approved by the Board of Trus annual accounts by the Board of Trustees on ees on Xa%s , following approval of the SS Art for Wellbeing Story Telling Project Art in Bloom 2,440 5,586 7,446 6,508 2,400 460 477 1,460 4,254 2,815 36,676 1,843 52,762 112 4,187 468 3,828 1,600 3,468 1,518 5,046 83 543 477 471 4,254 989 8,000 24,542 5,185 12,134 1,843 (1,738) 54,500 (112) 4,187 296 (172) 172 4,000 500 1,100 3,468 28,765 5,000 17,897 25 1,000 10,868 4.975 1,000 3,000 5,000 118,750 3,000 5,000 64,053 10,000 152,240 30,563 19