## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 5 May 2021 Period start date To 4 May 2022 Period end date Charity name: Abingdon DAMASCUS Youth Project** ## **Charity registration number: 1098966** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP
reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To promote the development of the
personal, social & educational potential of
all young people between the ages of 11
and 18, and up to 25 years where there are
special circumstances, who live in the area
encompassed by Vale of White Horse and
South Oxfordshire District Councils and in
particular those who are disadvantaged by
adverse social conditions.
Our current work is focussed in the rural
Oxfordshire villages of Drayton, Appleford,
Milton, Sutton Courtenay and Steventon
(DAMASCUS) and the neighbouring
Abingdon town. We also engage and
support young people through the
Abingdon and Didcot secondary schools to
synergise the school and community
support.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17
and 1.19|Rooted within our communities, our
activities promote a shared sense of
belonging with youth advocacy and
leadership in the community as the key
outcomes. Hence, intergenerational
activities led by young people is an integral
part of the development of youth
leadership. Alongside, we run activities
that provide bespoke early intervention to
promote positive mental health through
adolescence and build resilience of young
people vulnerable to exploitation.
Street work by our youth workers and other
volunteers identify needs, before they
escalate, and builds trusting relationships
with disengaged vulnerable young people
in need of support whom we then support
through focused goal-oriented one-to-one
sessions. We also undertake:
•Regular sports, arts, and music fun
activities to raise confidence and self-
esteem.| |||•Young people led participation in county
workshops and forum, presentations at
project AGM, parish council meetings etc.
•Youth Drop-in sessions in village halls.
We liaise with schools and other service
providers to ensure holistic support to our
young people.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|In planning our activities for the year, the
trustees have given due regard to the
Charity Commission’s guidance on public
benefit in deciding what charitable activities
the charity should undertake and they are
evidenced to show achievement of
objectives.
Recognising that ‘one size does not fit all’,
the benefits are delivered through diverse
but holistic and empowering approaches to
young people within their communities and
working in partnership with other statutory
and voluntary bodies that are also involved
in the lives of our young people.
Staff are inducted in policies and
procedures and all activities are risk
assessed. Safeguarding is high on our
agenda with a constantly reviewed culture
of vigilance.
Although the primary beneficiaries are
young people, the wider community also
benefits through our intergenerational
community activities as it helps to build
cohesive communities. The elderly feel less
isolated as young people organise social
activities for them.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|Not Applicable – grant making is not a
material part of our charitable activities| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|Although we do not make grants, the
ultimate outcomes of our work programmes
for which we seek funding, are about
supporting and strengthening young
people’s skills and capacities to participate
fully in education, employment, training and
have a safe, responsible, and fulfilling
social life in cohesive communities.| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Volunteers help in the youth drop ins; when
required with specific study support and
with arts and crafts and music activities.
One volunteer coordinates and ensures
DBS certificates are up to date| |Other||The trustees use their professional skills
and give their time freely to ensure
accountability and management of the
finances, grant conditions, fund raising and| all health and safety and safeguarding obligations. We do not have a paid manager or chief executive. In addition to the chairman, treasurer and secretary, the charity also has a trustee who is the designated voluntary Line Manager and is responsible for managing staff and other volunteers and ensuring the day-to-day operational activities are delivered in line with the objects of the charity as well as raising funds for the charity. ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP
reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the
charity, identifying the
difference the charity’s
work has made to the
circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any
wider benefits to society
as a whole.|Para 1.20|Our core work in meeting the needs of young
people is informed by our regular engagement
with young people through our street and
gazebo sessions and 2021/22 was no exception.
Street work and Gazebo Sessions
These take place through the year in all the
places in which we work even on cold dark
winter evenings.
It is in these spaces we pick up key topical
issues for which we design and deliver
workshops to address (for example) poor life
skills; low self-esteem and aspirations; gender
identity; engagement in multiple risky behaviours
such as substance abuse; antisocial behaviour,
self-harm, or suicidal ideation or being bullied
and at risk of being groomed. In 2021/22, a
particular focus has been using interactive
games and quizzes to address:
• Conflict management and effective
communication.
• Masculinity.
• Gender-based violence.
• "gang culture" impact on everyday lives of
(young) women.
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|| • Young people’s assumptions about the legitimacy and necessity of their offending • Parents’ awareness of the factors and drivers of youth violence. Invariably, many of the above risk factors are also manifested through disengagement with education, employment, and training. We supported 34 young people back into education, employment or further training which also included follow-up support to ensure they do not slip through the net again. We worked with over 250 young people at the risk of disengagement from their communities, engaging them in diversionary activities. Some quotes: _“For a brief moment every time we come to the clumps, I feel like I am on top of the world”. Young Person – 13 “For a while now, I have been feeling very low. The tools I have learned to use over the past few weeks have improved how I feel about myself. Also, I love going to the gym now!”. Young Person - 14_ All young people with whom we worked have reported an increased sense of self-awareness and of belonging within their communities which has had a positive impact on their mental health. Our ongoing inter-generational work has continued to build community cohesion – _Outdoor Bingo run by young people for the elderly – a regular event now._ this is particularly important as all our communities are growing with major new housing developments and concomitant fragmentation of the communities which in turn leads to antisocial behaviour. ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Achievements against|Para 1.41|As above| |---|---|---| |objectives set||| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|Not Applicable| |---|---|---| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|Not Applicable| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|On 4th May 2022, the charity held total
funds of £132,260| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|Trustees place all funds not immediately
required in the project’s gold account with
CAF Bank Limited (CAF Bank Limited is a
subsidiary of the Charities Aid Foundation).
The trustees have a policy of maintaining a
reserve to enable the recruitment and
retention of proficient and credible youth
workers in the event that no new income is
received in the year. Thus, in setting a
level of reserve trustees have regard to the
stability of employment to staff over at least
a one-year period as at the core of our
work is building strong and trusting
relationships with young people. The
trustees are also aware of the elapsed time
from applying for a long-term grant to the
award of such a grant and the need to
ensure that there are sufficient finances to
keep the project going in the interim.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|On 4th May 2022, the charity held total
funds of £132,260 of which £70,000 are
earmarked reserves as described in the
reserves policy above. The remainder is
made up of grants carried over into the new
financial year.| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|Not Applicable| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|Not Applicable| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|In the coming year, trustees will be looking
actively for new trustees as the current set
of trustees have been managing the charity
for some years now.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|The principal sources of funding in
2021/2022 were local and national grant-
giving charities (48%), Parish and Town
and Councils (21%), Home Office, South
and Vale Community Safety Partnerships,
Govt,. Apprenticeship scheme (17%).
Donations from individuals (12%)
Individual donations, receipts and Gift Aid
(2%)| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|
Para 1.25|Constitution| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Unincorporated registered charity| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|All trustees retire from office at the AGM
thought may seek re-election. Nominations
for the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and
Line Manager are invited and elected at the
AGM. Additionally, up to four members
may be elected at the AGM. The
DAMASCUS Parochial Church Council
may appoint a trustee.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|The Charity has a Designated
Safeguarding Lead who ensures all
trustees and other committee members and
workers (voluntary and employed) are DBS
checked. Trustees have a Safeguarding
policy in place and all staff and relevant
volunteers receive safeguarding training| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The Charity employs both qualified and
trainee youth workers (FTE 2.8 in 2021/22)
whose day-to-day work is managed by the
voluntary Line manager who is also a
trustee and responsible for safeguarding
and the induction of new staff and
volunteers.
Young people make an input into the
services through the development of young
community leaders as this is a community-
based project. Positive intergenerational
engagement is key to community cohesion
which in turn provides sustainable support
to young people within their communities
and thus partnership working is integral to
the charity’s work.
The Charity is affiliated to Oxfordshire
Youth through whom the DBS checks are
undertaken.| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|Not Applicable| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Abingdon DAMASCUS Youth Project| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|ADYP| |Registered charity number|1098966| |Charity’s principal address|9 Chapel Lane
Sutton Courtenay
OX14 4AN| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or**
**body) entitled to**
**appoint trustee (if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Mrs. PAT
NAPPER|Chair||Elected at AGM| ||Mrs ANNE
WHITEHEAD|Secretary||Elected at AGM| ||Mr HANS
SUNDIN|Treasurer||Elected at AGM| ||Mrs RITA
ATKINSON|Line Manager||Elected at AGM| ||Mrs AUDREY
HOLLOWAY|Member||Elected at AGM| ||Mr SIMON
MURRAY|Member||Elected at AGM| ||Dr MARK
WHITTAKER|Member||Elected at AGM| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Not Applicable Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| |Not Applicable||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets Not Applicable held in this capacity Name and objects of the Not Applicable charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for Not Applicable safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** |**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**| |---|---|---| |Bank|CAF Bank|25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19
4TA.| |||| |||| |||| **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details Not Applicable ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** Rita Atkinson **Full name(s)** Pat Napper **Position (eg** Chair **Secretary, Chair, etc) Date** 23 January 2023 Abingdon DAMASCUS Youth Project. Registered charity No. 1098966 Income f•xthe p•rtod of May 5. 21Y21 . May { 2￿22 UK Ywth Rausing Home Office lthrough Tharnss Vdlay Pdirn, Reduction Unit) South & Va18 Cotnmunity Safety Partner8htp Indigo Trust Oxlord6hire eommunty FwtKlation (fackle lry*iw*8s. The ￿ter9￿arab.0nal way) Atx'ngdon Town Council Dhlcot Power Hous? Sov•Eign, Cornmunrty Int¥gwwational Prolert Drayion Parish ¢K)u￿11, 2￿2012021 Sutton CuJrt8nay Parish Counol Steventon Parish Council Slew)ton Allotment ￿LI in Newj Ch¥ty A[￿￿tice In¢entNg PayTTtht Total 125 7520 9557 25CI) 279) 15tKI 76321 HC Safety and fllsk The M￿S Lawrence Trust, P8r￿tIng Ihe Adolwent bran Govid, Damasc￿ PGC Christs HosprtJ of Abing(k)n Donation frorn clo￿ Pannicot Cumw Famity Char(tab18 Trust Abrylon ABC Trust Gym Ftmd Distribution Trust R8twl donation ingdon Arts Society an Catvw donation IndivKfjual dc￿at10r sj 3000 2367 820 1249 Totsl Various Gift Doc* and Tu¢k rec￿pts Intwe8t 249 1272 Totsl 2191 Grand T¢)tsl 97965 g'i &AJcD Ov IIALk PIiT HWJ C7uekgL4.2dQ) .// /,,/,, /L )Ingdon Damascus Youth Projoct statsmont of Financlal AcOvlll•s For tho perlod from 05 May 2021 to 04 May 2022 TrAd l*kf J* CQ I￿￿1.14 61 l￿S) 8725824 9).7e8.78 IIKrnS7 17AK7T IIA70&P 17￿&71 IS￿n cHALJ- li )4 Ik9J 4 Cb PAytXQ2*4SJnlPy1 d1 1>259.78 13125*78 121,￿21 121JW1 131X7• 12115321 131ts71 121J5321 1922An 121,5$321 112**78 121ASJ21 l /EEr. P@-, NAppe¢ rp-l HAJJJ J / a '//,. PAytZ22947JnlPy1 rf1 Total O•n•r•l D••lqnat•d P••lA¢t•d Endown*Trt Thhp•r imtst J••r Inwrfng t•*oure•* from0•n•rat•dfw￿* o1(M-git￿￿r0J SYAS IfA126 917T4.12 .714.12 1CQ1.kthwt In￿nIng T•wu￿B from g•n•r•l•d fvnd* Tot 96W28 106,717.75 1.63JAI t852.T*ty.PJTrJra8lr 1J2Q53 1.520 Oth•r r••owM• 97W1 . 97,96U1 10828US Cost of q•n•ratlng fvnd¥ Co•t olyth•r•dng fvh¥l•Tot4• (*•rfl•bl• •thlY•• 7&55T nA87Y) 79042.45 1A16 14.78 1210.kb>JwT 1X3.Pawdl Feo 1*4.CO 1 P*4wt P4•J 1 d2 SIG~ R c TrJ.rfuS a•D•TJI D••lgn*•d R••trlc¢•d Endo*Tmnt Th1• s•ar La•t ￿•r W2.16 4A51A7 1.814Jl 1ffjt4.31 143U> 119 1,(t7A7 1,195.08 I,fa4.03 1X) 1,C¢IAT 1,1%r 1ft34.(13 218m 1￿.72 1701-T￿n￿&m￿WWe 87.2S824 8785024 90.rn78 Oth•r r••0¥￿•$ (Xh•r r••owc•• Mod Tot•l• - 8725824 W,7&1.78 (9Ayl3Y22*ffj￿l1￿2rf2 I report on the a￿oUnts of the Trust for the year ended 4th of May 2022 set out on the above signed pages. The charities trust88s are responsible for the Fyepara1i￿ of the ￿)unts. Th8 chariti8s trustees consider that an audit is not wuitEd for this year (under section 43 {2) of the Charities Act 1993 {the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is ne8Jed. It is the responsibility to: Examine th8 accounts (under section 43 {3) of the 1993 Act). To follow the procedures laid down in tha General Dirertions given by the Charity Commissioners year (under seLtion 43 In(bl of the 1993 Act> To stsle whether particular matters have coma my attention My examination was carried out in the accordance with the Generd Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examinatlon Includes a review of the accounting records k8Pt by th8 charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those rwds. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosure in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees ccKtceming such matt&s. The procedure undwtaken do not prowd8 all the evidence that would be required in an audit and conwuently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the a￿ount$. In connection with ry examination. no matter has corne to my attention: 1. Vlhich gives my r&gsonable cause to believe that in any matwÉd rwect the requirements to keep accounting ￿ordS in accordance wrth $￿tIOn 41 of the 1993 Act: and to prepare accounts which accorrl with the accounting records arKI comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have not been mel: or 2. To which, in my q)inion, attenlion should be drawn in cyder to enable a proper understanding of the a¢counts to be reach&J. Signed: Date: 0,31c7tlzL 2GC 0560R Trj Name: ox/