2023-04-30-accounts

----- Start of picture text -----
REGISTERED CHARITY 1113379
----- End of picture text -----

ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2022 -2023

WRITTEN BY RUTH TYLER – PROJECT MANAGER

Executive Summary

The project has continued to develop ways to help young people and the local community. We have noticed the change in behaviour of young people bought about by lockdown has led to less engagement by upper age group 14 -18 years. One of our focuses is to address the effects of lockdown on the social and emotional wellbeing of young people.

A multi-year National Lottery grant has given financial stability. The need to attract new trustees has been recognised, especially a new treasurer. The Charity would like to improve the diversity of the trust to reflect Folkestone’s community.

The youth team have made good progress on the development of the Urban Wilderness site and engaging the local community.

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 works in a holistic way to provide free activities/preventative education that support the social, emotional, and physical development of young people.

The project is now also 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 during sessions. 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

Although attendances are lower than before Covid, the ‘social value’ and need for a safe space has increased.

There has been a noted increase of the risk of exploitation, especially from County lines.

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 are using this to find ways to reach disengaged young people.

The project provides a free, safe, space for young people which is vital in such a lowincome area. Feedback from participants/parents is positive.

Recently we have began to support young people up to 25 years who are referred from the Early Psychosis Unit. Young people come from as far as Ashford as no other suitable engagement can be found.

We have continued to work closely with Kent Refugee Action Network.

Youth Work and Preventative Education

New 1-2-1 support referral service has continued including young unescorted refugees, young people with Autism/complex needs and clients of the Early Phycosis Services.

Young people took part in activites that were catered to their interests.

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

The youth team did numerous online training and seminars.

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.

Young people have held a Nature Inspired Art Show, held a Jubilee Celebration and recently a cream tea to celebrate the Coronation. We planted trees for the Royal occasions.

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 sessions 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. We have erected a greenhouse, made large planters for trees and recently reinstated our old sculpture with a nature theme.

We continue to work with Butterfly Conservation.

Additional Achievements

The manager has been involved in the Folkestone Sustainability Forum, taking part in Tedex speech training, and delivering a short talk at the FSF convention.

This work brought about partnerships with other businesses most notable a local construction company who now donates wood and industry related items for us to recycle.

The current staff have managed to cover the loss of one staff member to Maternity Leave.

Moving Forward

To continue to promote community engagement and progress in outside space.

Mural planned for workshop wall plus a community wall/mural planned for external wall.

CHAlelTY COMMISSION FOLKESTONE YOUTH PROJECT 11133 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To 07,￿5￿22 Section A Receipts and payments UnrÈ5trÈcted funds Restricted funds Endowtnent Totsl funds Last year Al Recerpts 102 10,20fy 56.387 SOQ 10.200 1113,759 Grants Dorotions Sub total(Gross income for AR) 10,7ty) 5fj.￿7 67,087 11S140 A2 Asset and investment sales. (see tsblel. Sub total 10.700 56,387 67,087 115,140 ktivities Secuniy Wasle Removsl Busines5 Raies Insuiaiite and S￿rity TrO￿lI1￿g Wa9ÈS lnlgrnetrTg￿p￿o￿￿F￿X Stationary 8.311 1.532 1,191 12,369 1.248 1.251 8,672 4,152 1,532 2,011 2,071 44,295 573 573 Sub lotal .973 73.3T4 A4 Asset artd invÈ$tment purchases. Isee tablel Sub lotal 4.176 53.797 57.973 73,374 Net ofrecÈiptsl(p•ymentsJ A5 Transfers botween fund5 A6 Cash fvnds last year end Cash funds thls y￿r gnd 9,114 41.766 21.192 27.71 65,048 67, 86,240 95,354 44,474 86,240 cc￿ R1 Issi

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted fijwtds Restricted fuftds to rwr•st£ Endowment funds to nearest £ 81 Cash funds 27.716 Total cash funds 27.716 67,638 rf511 Unrestricted funds Restricted lunds Endowment funds to n&wpSt£ to ￿ar￿$t£ FU￿ ￿￿h￿kn asset b2Stsn Cost l+tonall onal B3 Inv5tment a55ets Cost loptlwa Currontvah iona B4 Assets retained for the eharity'5 own use Fundto ￿￿￿tdUe When ¢￿ IDria Details B5 Liabi14ties &gned byone ( trustees btrhaifof all the tru$i8es Print Na Dale of roval CCXX R2 ISSI

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report lo the trusteesl members off FOLKESTONE YOUTH PROJECT On accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023 Charlty no (If any) 1113379 Set out on pa9es Annual ReFort and Receipts and payments account pages 1-2 I report to Ihe Iru51ees on my examination of the accounts of the above charty l-the Trust") for the year ended 3010412023 R•sponslbllFtlos and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsiblè for the preparallon basis of report of the accounts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"Ihe Act"). I reFK)rt in respect of my examination of Ihe Trust's accounts c8rried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have fdlowed the applicab￿ Direclions given by the Charity Commission under section 145151{b} of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my altention (other Ihan that disclosed below '} in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material Indepèndent examlnerfs statement accounting records w8re not kept in accordan¢e with seclK)n 130 of thè Act or the accounts do not acc￿d with th8 accountirvj records I have no concems arKJ have oome across no Ot￿r matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in ordèr to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reach8d. . Please delete the words in thè bracke¢s rfthey do not appty. Slgned: Date: Nam•: Mark Minus FCA, Beresfords Relevant professlonal quallfl¢ation{s) or body Irf any): ICAEW Address: 1-2 Rhcxlium Ptint, Spindle Close, Hawkinge. Fdkeslone, Kent CT18 7TQ Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner need5 to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, IndeperKlent examination of chaiity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018

Give here brief details of any Items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018