2021-04-30-accounts - Folkestone Youth Project

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REGISTERED CHARITY 1113379

ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2020 -2021

WRITTEN BY RUTH TYLER – PROJECT MANAGER

Executive Summary

This reporting year started during of the Covid 19 Lock Down which affected every aspect of the project.

March 19[th ] 2020 the project had to close in line with Government Guidelines, staff were furloughed and we waited to see how things would progress.

Until Covid 19 the project was looking good to make a financial recovery after relocation costs depleted funds.

Throughout the next few months the Centre Manager worked with Kent Police to access the effect on local Young People.

New Covid 19 procedures were put in place and PPE installed. Trustee meetings went online.

We established a new referral system and returned to supporting young people face to face (social distanced) in July. 1-2-1 sessions continue.

The project has adapted with the ever-changing climate.

Due to Covid 19 difficulties, the Trustees encountered difficulty securing a local Auditor for the annual account.

Introduction

The Charity established a youth project in Folkestone Harbour in 2006. (Full history can be read in our 2016 Annual Report.)

In 2014 we relocated onsite to modular units due to our old building being demolished for regeneration work.

In 2017 we had to leave that site and put the buildings into storage, leaving the project temporarily homeless.

In 2018 we took over Network Land to establish our new Urban Wilderness site at Bradstone Avenue. The modular units were brought out of storage and have been completely refurbished.

The project is now committed to teaching young people about the environment and conservation. The outside space provides opportunity for wildlife garden and community gardening.

We have maintained our efforts to prevent items going into landfill.

Through working with the Police and Council Crime Reduction Team, the youth team are making an impact on the lives of vulnerable young people in the area.

The project has a no social media onsite policy and discourages the use of mobile phones onsite. This is to reduce stress on young people and to give them opportunity to fully engage in activities.

Activities include – Cookery, Gardening, Board Games, Art/Craft, DIY/Up cycling furniture, Music Technology, Photography, Preventative education and much more.

In 2020,as a response to the pandemic, the Charity set up a new referral service, providing 1-2-1 support to the most vulnerable and at risk Young People.

Demographic profile of the youth population served

The project sits within the East of Folkestone surrounded by the Wards of Folkestone Harbour, Folkestone Foord, Folkestone Harvey Central, Folkestone Foord and Folkestone East, which are recognised as areas of deprivation and need.

The area is in the top 5% Decile for Poverty and deprivation.

Although down for redevelopment, recognised problems in the direct area are –

High drug use/dealing./ risk from County Line gangs.
Anti – social behaviour.
High rates of NEETS/ Young People in Inclusion.
High levels of crime.
Increased number of Knife crime.
High numbers of people smoking Cannabis.
High levels of unemployment
High rates of contact with CAMHS
High levels of Youth Offending.

The direct area has a high quantity of emerging ethnics groups, migrant population and unescorted asylum seekers. The project does not see this as a problem and celebrates the diversity of its members.

We work with 10-25 years

Young people in education mainly attend Folkestone Academy, Folkestone Grammar, Folkestone School for Girls and Brockhill School. At Primary age young people attend Christchurch and Primary Academy. Further education includes Universities such as UCA, university of Kent and K-College.

A high proportion of our members are frequently excluded from school.

A majority of our young people have challenging behaviour either due to conditions such as ADHD and lack social skills.

Much face challenges at home and are already involved with many support services. We have noticed an increase in young people with mental health issues.

We have begun to support older age ranges with mental health issues.

Safeguarding and Policies Summary

The Folkestone Youth Project:

• Recognizes its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all young people involved with the project by protecting them from physical, emotional or sexual harm and from neglect or bullying of any kind.

• Will ensure that all external bodies using the facilities at the centre, providing activities for our members (whether at our centre or at their own premises) exercise a similar approach to their duty of care for the young people they work with.

• Will ensure that all adults who work with young people are aware of their role and responsibilities and that training opportunities are made available to them.

• Will practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks as appropriate

1. Service Outcomes

Service Standards All youth work services should enable young people to demonstrate an increase in the social and emotional capabilities which will then support them in making positive transitions from childhood to adulthood. These capabilities include:

The ability to communicate effectively
Developing self-confidence and self-esteem
Developing resilience and determination
Learning to manage their feelings & relationships well
developing creativity and problem solving skills
Reduce risk to vulnerable young people.
Improve Physical and Mental Health.

This service will also contribute to the following geographic and thematic priorities which have been identified through local needs assessment.

The service for will focus on raising the aspirations of young people aged 10-25 and supporting them in achieving their potential.

General Youth Work Principles

The service must:

Be inclusive; offering an equality of access for young people regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual identity and/or disability;
Offer challenging, fun activities which allow for young people to engage in informal education, develop positive relationships and increase personal and social skills;
Deliver a broad curriculum of activities including (but not exclusively) healthy choices, participation, challenging prejudice, creativity and information and guidance;
Offer the opportunity for young people to gather and socialise in safe spaces during evenings and school holidays.
Develop the participation of young people, involving them in the design, delivery and evaluation of services;
Promote positive relationships between young people and the wider community.
Contribute to a preventative agenda which recognises young people who are more vulnerable and offers pathways to additional support where required;
Demonstrate a partnership approach ensuring that a range of organisations and community sectors.

Evidence of Impact

At the start of the pandemic, the project was working with over 150 young people. Open access was attracting up to 40 young people per session.

There has been a noted increase of the risk of exploitation. Covid 19 has further increased the risk to young people from County Lines and other exploitive activities.

Working closely with the Police, Social Services and safeguarding teams, the youth team supported 20 young people through the pandemic, many on a weekly basis.

Young people worked with included those who on fringes of gang activity, at risk of abuse/violence and out of education. We successfully diverted young people from offending and helped three young people back into appropriate education.

We have extended our work to supporting parents and residents who have experienced mental health issues due to the last year. Feedback from parents is very good.

Youth Work and Preventative Education

New 1-2-1 support referral service established.

Young people took part in activites that were catered to their interests. This includes photography, science, music and Sport. One young person is working towards a photographic exhibition.

Counselling and advice were delivered as part of holistic working.

We hosted (when we could) three Kinfe Crime Workshops in partnership with the Kent Police Violence Reduction team.

Preventative education was delivered in the usual non judgemental and relaxed way.

Community Work

We have only recently been able to re look at community work. We are now supporting older people with mental health issues through offering volunteer opportunity outside.

We look forward to building up to community workshops etc when we are allowed and can safely do so.

Covid 19

What can I say, another year another challenge!

We worked closely with KRAN to devise a system for use of the site safely. This involved a one way system in/out of the building, attending on separate days and putting in place a cleaning procedure.

All visitors onsite have their temperature taken on arrival and use PPE.

Funding Avenues

Covid Response grants from – Kent Police VRU, Kent Community Foundation, Dulverton Trust and Children In Need.

Multiyear grants – Kent Police VRU, Children In Need and The National Lottery.

One off grants from - Folkestone Town Council, FHDC ward grant, Orchard Energy, Rotary Club, Blue Spark Foundation, Woodward CT, Kent Police and Clothworker CT.

Total Income was £71,101.67. Total Expenditure was £42,101.67 A full breakdown is available on the Charity Commission Website.

This period include staff on the Government Furlough scheme at various stages.

Some grants were unspent and extended due to lockdown making it impossible carry out projects. Grant givers have been very supportive to Charities during this time.

Future Plans

Development of the outside space is now funded. This includes an ‘outside classroom’ and living wall areas. This space will be vital to support working through any further Covid 19 restrictions.

Returning to group work and holding workshops.

Continuation of 1-2-1 referral services.

Development of Website.

Upgrade of Music room equipment. New pool table.

.Follow on twitter @folkestoneshed,

FOLKESTONE YOUTH PROJECT

1113379

Receipts and payments accounts

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CC16a
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For the period Period start date Period end date To from 04/01/20 03/30/21

Section A Receipts and payments

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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest to the nearest to the nearest to the nearest to the nearest
£ £ £ £ £
A1 Receipts
RENTAL 10,200 - - 10,200 -
DONATION 200 - - 200 -
GRANTS - 61,535 - 61,535 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
10,400 61,535 - 71,935 -
AR)
A2 Asset and investment
sales, (see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 10,400 61,535 - 71,935 -
A3 Payments
WASTE REMOVAL - 406.24 - 406 -
MISC/ACTIVITIES 3,474 - - 3,474 -
INSURANCE/SECURITY 5,094 - - 5,094 -
TRAVEL 11 - - 11 -
STATIONARY 56 - - 56 -
WAGES - 32,485 - 32,485 -
INTERNET/UTILITY 576 - - 576 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 9,210 ] 32,891 - 42,101 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 9,210 32,891 - 42,101 -
et of receipts/(payments) 1,190 28,643 - 29,833 -
A5 Transfers between funds [ - ] - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 14,641 - - 14,641 -
Cash funds this year end 15,831 28,643 - 44,474 -
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
			Unrestricted	Restricted		Endowment
Categories	Details		funds	funds		funds
B1 Cash funds		*Total cash funds*	to nearest £ - - -	to nearest £	- - -	to nearest £	- - - -
	(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))		Agreement Error	Agreement Error		OK
			Unrestricted	Restricted		Endowment
			funds	funds		funds
B2 Other monetary	Details		to nearest £ -	to nearest £	-	to nearest £	-
assets			- - - - -		- - - - -		- - - - -
B3 Investment assets	Details		Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional) - - - - -		- - - - - Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for	Details		Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional) -		- Current value (optional)
the charity’s own use					- - - - - - - -		- - - - - - - -
			Fund to which	Amount due		When due
B5 Liabilities	Details		liability relates	(optional)	- - - - -	(optional)
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees		Signature	Print	Name		Date of approval

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of ABY Trust.

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Folkestone Youth Project (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material 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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act: or
the accounts do not accord with those records.

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: D Burton

Name: David Burton

Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies : IPFA

Address: 133 Wear Bay Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 6PL.