THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE COMMUNITY PROJECT Registered Office: The Old Schoolhouse, St.John’s Road, Huyton, Liverpool. L36 0UX Registered Company No.:4573384 Registered Charity:1097390 ANNUAL REPORT April 2023 - March 2024 ## THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE COMMUNITY PROJECT ## ANNUAL REPORT April 2023 to March 2024 ## **Chair’s report** ‘Steady as she goes’ might be the best way to describe life at the Old Schoolhouse during this period. All the groups, both ‘home-grown’ and those from outside have remained strong in their respective services. So, the range of activities and meetings carried out at the Old Schoolhouse continues to offer local residents, and some further afield, many opportunities for support and social interaction. The statistics show a slightly contradictory picture. While the number of hours booked has decreased, the number of visitors and meetings have risen. Financially, the fall in hours, has not had a detrimental effect. In fact, our financial performance seems more related to the number of meetings, rather than their duration. The biggest change this year, has been the move by YARS to bigger premises. While it is always a sadness to see any group leave, we are proud of our role in helping the organization develop into a highly reputable day centre service for adults with learning disabilities. Our story with YARS closely follows our ethos – to support new initiatives until they are ready to move on. So, once again, we mark the end of one year and the beginning of another. In truth, though, one day follows on from the one before, and the flow of support, kindness and generosity exhibited by so many continues with no interruption or diminishment. ## **What’s been going on this year** ## **Community** The **Lunchtime Socials** continue to be an important date each month attracting 30-40 people. The membership totals 70. The **Cookery Course** continues with weekly sessions with the YARS group, and women who are supported by The First Step. These lessons have centred more on easily prepared family meals. The volunteers of the **Gardening Group** continue to care for the grounds. Apart from the areas to the rear and side of the building, the group have begun to clear the front area and entrance. As active as they are, the group is ageing. During the year we have endeavoured to recruit new volunteers but without any success. We have not developed the **website** any further this year, but enquiries via this channel are increasing. . ## **Users** The regular groups have continued to deliver a variety of activities. The ‘Friday Friends’ group, which we developed from the Warm Hub initiative in 2022/23, has grown in member numbers. It provides an opportunity for social interaction, and we offer a light lunch of soup and sandwiches at no cost to those attending. We were able to offer space to ‘Aid to All’ for their Christmas Appeal. The place they normally use was flooded. The ‘Kindness Corner’ has proved to be a well-used addition to the services we offer. This is, simply, an area where household items that are unwanted, but still in good condition, can be left for others to take as they need. YARS secured new, and larger premises for their respite service in late 2023. This is still quite close to the Old Schoolhouse, and we maintain links with them through the weekly Cookery Lessons. They also help serve meals at the monthly Lunchtime Social. SHARE Knowsley, and MHM have exclusive use of the Gavin Room for two days each. This has gone some way to alleviating the problems of office/training space. ## Usage statistics ||**2021-22***|**2022-23**|**2023-24**| |---|---|---|---| |Room hire(Hours)|3978|4422|3978| |Meeting Attendance|5896|8822|9670| |General visitors|616|1057|1564| |Total No. of visitors|6512|9879|11234| |No. of meetings|633|1009|1138| N.B: * This covers the latter part of the time of the pandemic and lockdown rules ## **Financial statement** Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 is taken from the audited accounts, and is appended to the report. ||Total Funds 2024 Total Funds 2023|Total Funds 2024 Total Funds 2023| |---|---|---| ||£|£| |Income|275,882|251,093| |Expenditure|215,312|207,750| |Net Income/(Expenditure)|60,570|43,343| The Trustees have taken regard of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. ## **Targets met this year in regard to public benefit** Business Objectives - We have continued to review policies and procedures - The kitchen has a growing reputation making our USP stronger - Continued use of the centre by both community groups and as a meeting/training venue - We have not used any reserves. ## Social Objectives - We continue to use social media as a means of promoting the Centre - The kitchen is continuing to be used for in-house catering, and delivering more basic cooking courses for new groups. This is contributing to supporting improved health, wellbeing, and economic issues. - Supporting yoga/meditation sessions, and fitness classes to provide services to improve mental and physical health. - The Garden Group is delivering a welcoming, natural space to give the opportunity for quiet time. This has been helpful for those with mental health issues, learning disabilities, and refugees accessing the Centre - Lunchtime Socials and Friday Friends are helping to address social isolation ## **Targets for the coming year (2024-25)** ## Business Objectives ## Social Objectives - Continue to review policies and procedures - Kitchen area contributing to sustainability - Increase use of building - Maintain reserves - Build awareness of the Centre - Develop greater community involvement - Continue to promote community use of facilities - Continue to develop kitchen service - Continue to promote well-being services - Review in-house initiatives and evaluate possible development ## APPENDIX 1 ## **Long term rental – taking office and work space** Better Lives advice and help to elderly residents (previously known as Knowsley Pensioners Advocacy and Information Service) Healthwatch Knowsley promotes links between the community and health organizations to encourage good service Knowsley Carers supports carers of spouses, parents and relatives The First Step supports victims of domestic abuse Mental Health Matters supporting those with mental health issues Young Adult Respite Service working with young people who have learning disabilities (moved to new premises in November 2023) SHARe Knowsley supporting asylum seekers and refugees **Regular users during the year** Foys Fitness two evenings Diddi Dance one morning Court Hey Pensioners Bowling one afternoon U3A Science Group one afternoon (monthly) U3A Singing Group one morning (monthly) U3A Creative Writing one afternoon (monthly) U3A Main Meeting one afternoon (monthly) Addvanced Solutions one session per week Care Merseyside one session per week Dogs Trust one session per week Yoga one evening per week ## **Official notices** ## Governing documents Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 15[th] October 2002 Objects of the Charity - a) To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of St.Gabriel’s Ward and the neighbourhood thereof without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organizations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants. - b) To establish or secure the establishment of a Community Centre (hereinafter called The Old Schoolhouse) and to maintain and manage the same, whether alone or in co-operation with any local authority or other person or body in furtherance of these objects. The Association shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian. ## Financial organizations Barclays, Leicester. LE87 2BB Butterworth Barlow, Butterworth Barlow House, 10 Derby Street, Prescot. Merseyside. L34 3LG ## Appointment of new trustees Appointment and removal of trustees is governed by the Articles of Association of the organization, sections 29 to 38. ## Trustees at date of the approval of the Annual Report Stephen Carroll Sr.Mary Kelly Mark Sweeney Honor Ambrose Bryan Blois ## Financial policies Level of income reserves is set at twelve months of normal operating costs The charity has no investments The charity does not offer grants to individuals or organizations ## Date of report ## Signature Position REGISTERED COMPANYNUMOER: 04573384 IEnKlafvd Wales) RE615TEREDCHARITYNUMBER: 109739Q Report of theTru5tees and Unaud5tsd Flnondal Statements forthevear Ended 31 Mar