## **REGISTERED CHARITY 1113379** ## **ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2021 -2022** ## **WRITTEN BY RUTH TYLER – PROJECT MANAGER** **Executive Summary** This report covers the period and recovery after the Covid 19 Pandemic. Some restrictions were still in place and precautions to protect staff and project attendees continued. The project managed to sustain a good financial position and looked forward to re establishing old sessions and expanding community work. The project has adapted with the ever-changing climate. We are pleased to have a new website. ## **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 young people smoking Cannabis and trying other drugs. - 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 due to conditions such as ADHD and need help developing better 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. The youth team had to over again to re-engage young people. 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. Since re opening for open access, initially 1 evening per week and now 2, the staff have been able to gather information about the effects of the Pandemic on young people and the community and use this to support emotional, social and physical welfare. The project provides a free, safe, space for young people which is vital in such a low-income area. Feedback from participants/parents is positive. Individual young people have returned to education after 1-2-1 support helped them to overcome issues. Behaviour and skills of other individuals have improved. ## **Youth Work and Preventative Education** New 1-2-1 support referral service has continued including young unescorted refugees and young people with Autism. Young people took part in activites that were catered to their interests. This includes photography, science, music and Sport. One young person held a photographic exhibition which was well attended by local dignitories and general public.After a year of support he went onto college. Preventative education was delivered in the usual non-judgemental and relaxed way. The youth team did numerous online training and seminars. The staff delivered a Jab or No Jab project, finding out young people’s views on Vaccination and looking at conspiracy theories. Local young people were re engaged although numbers are still lower. However, our younger age group have been supported transitioning from Primary to Secondary education. Open access provides numerous free activities which have mainly been outside. Young people have been encouraged to make positive contributions by helping to create outdoor planters etc. The project has opened for extra hours during school holidays. ## **Community Work/Urban Wilderness** We established 2 community mornings for gardening/ DIY and support. This has been slow as expected due to the demographics of the area. The staff, young people and volunteers continued to make progress in the outside. Once able, we worked with Butterfly Conservation to hold 2 family Moth Workshops. With funding, we invested in new potting sheds/greenhouse and cold frames. We were gifted new front gates and make a new pedestrian entrance thanks to Glew Fencing. We established a nature pond and decking area. The site is being developed to allow for any future Covid restrictions. ## **Additional Achievements** The Project was a finalist for The Kent Charity Awards and attended Rochester Cathedral for the finals. We employed a flexi worker to work as and when needed. We created our first website which went live in December 2021. www.originalshed.org.uk Future Plans To continue to promote community engagement and progress in outside space. Hold more community events. To continue to provide a wide range of activities for young people ## **Funding Summary** We secured a large multi-year fund from The National Lottery. Some grants were delayed or extended due to Covid 19. Total Grants came to £103,759 which includes some multiyear funds. Account details can be found on the Charity Commission Website. CHA WIITY COMMISSIO 5Uk l A.".:U v4AiE' Receipts and payments accounts CC16a F¢x the pwod Section A Receipts and payments fvnds Al Receipts Grants 1017 1.281 61.535 1.101 Sub tolal{Gross ffncome for AR) IW.7 Isee lable Sub total 103.7 715.340 71.935 A3Pa 74 ?** 8.6n Trave￿n0 J1485 Sub totsi 54 102 M Asset al￿ investment purchases lsee tab￿) Sub io 67.354 73374 41102 Net t>f receip￿[paY￿entsj A5 Tfan5fef5 tse￿￿ fvnd5 A6 Cash funds last y*ar end ash funds thss ywend 41. 29.83 44A74 ¥47 CCXX R1 *xJy** ISSI Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period 81 Cash funts ?i.i¥ X.192 charity's own use val CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Rèport to Ihe trusteesl members of FOLKESTONE YOUTH PROJECT On accounts for the year ended 30 April 2022 Charlty no (If any 1113379 Set out on pages AnNal ReFKN1 and Receipts and payments account pages 1-2 I rewrt to the trustees C￿ my examination of the aCc￿nts of the abov8 charity Trust") for the year ended 3010412022. Rosponslbllltles and As the charity trustees of Trust. you are res[￿S1b1e for preparation ba518 of report of the accounts in acccydance with the requirements of th8 Charities Act 2011 {Ihe Act-). I rewt in respect of my èxaminath)n of the Trust's acc(yJnts carrf8d ¢￿1 urnyer Sect￿ 145 of the 2011 Act arKI in carying out my examination, I have fdbwed the applical￿e Directhyis given by the Charity CommissK under secticffl 1495)(bl of the Act. I havè cLYnpleled my examinaticffi. I confirni that no material mattérs have ccKne to my attention in conn8Ctth with the examinalh)n which gives me Cause to believè that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in aCCordar￿8 with section 130 of Act or tho ac¢cwnts do accord with the acC￿ntIng records I have no conc8ms arwj have come across no other matters in connectkin wtth the examinatw to which attention should be drawn In order to enable proper undwstsrmling of the accounts to be reached. Independent examlnerfs statement Slgnod: Mark Minus FCA. Beresford5 Rèlevant prOf￿810nal quallficatlon{s) or body (If any): ICAEW Address: 1-2 Rhodium Point. Spir*Jte Ck)se. Hawkinge, FdkeSt￿e. Kent CT18ThQ Section B Disclosure Only c(xnplete rf the examiner needs to highlMJht malters of concem (see CC32. IrKlepend8nt examination of charty accounts: directions and guidanc8 for examinets). IER October 2018 Give here brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018