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REGISTERED CHARITY 1113379<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **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￿$t£
FU￿ ￿￿h￿kn
asset b2Stsn
Cost l+*tonall
onal
B3 Inv*5tment a55ets
Cost loptlwa
Currontvah
iona
B4 Assets retained for the
eharity'5 own use
Fundto
￿￿￿tdUe
When ¢￿*
IDria
Details
B5 Liabi14ties
&gned byone (* trustees
btrhaifof all the tru$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