## **REGISTERED CHARITY 1113379 ANNUAL REPORT MAY 2023 – APRIL 2024** WRITTEN BY RUTH TYLER – PROJECT MANAGER. ## Executive Summary There has been continued effort by the Trust and Staff to provide and improve a free safe space for young people. The Youth team have endeavoured to promote the project and increase attendance. Finances have been steady, mainly due to The National Lottery Funds which ends this year. Recently the Trust have bolstered their numbers, gaining two new trustees including a new Treasurer. ## 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 aged 10 -18 years. The Charity now delivers a wide range of activities with a sustainable ethos. The outside space provides opportunity for wildlife garden and community gardening. 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. ## Demographic profle 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. The direct area also has numerous houses of multiple occupancy. The area has still not benefitted from any investment in the town development, however rental prices have increased greatly with many families now facing being homeless due to this. 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, have complex family lives and lack social skills. ## 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. ## 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 will focus on raising the aspirations of young people aged 10-25 and support 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 work together to help young people. ## **Evidence of Impact.** Although attendances are still lower than desired, the cohort of young people that attend every session has been maintained. All these young people started after lockdown and have been supported through the transition from primary to secondary school. All Young people have complex needs. 1-2-1 referrals were busy and had successful outcomes. ## **YOUTH WORK AND PREVENTATIVE EDUCATION.** The project provided two open access sessions per week and continued 1-2-1 support when needed. Throughout the year young people took part in free activities either inside or outside. A second pool table, karaoke machine and safety darts board was purchased to add new activities for the Winter period. In May young people from the project worked together with young unescorted asylum seekers to provide a cream tea to celebrate the Coronation. It was a lovely sunny evening and guests included Rotarians who presented a cheque to go towards activities in the Urban Wilderness space. We also provided two weeks work experience for two students from Folkestone Academy. 1-2-1 support was provided for two young people for the year until they returned to full time education. The youth team supported another three young adults (25 plus years) from the Early Psychosis Centre. One of these clients went from not being able to leave his room to being able to catch a train by himself to get to the project. Two young adults from a local supported housing space with very complex physical /learning needs came each week for 1-2-1 support. One of whom visits to spend time with Forrest, the Shed pup. In July young people held a plant give away and we had a visit from trustees at the Kent Community Foundation. In September two of the youth team attended Turner Free School for a school’s mental health and wellbeing day. In October we hosted the Kent Wildlife team who interviewed the youth team about working with young people on environmental projects. We also had a visit from the Kent Enablement team. They have asked us to do a podcast about this. Late in the year we hosted young people from East Kent College and talked to them about social issues and working with vulnerable young people. Young people helped to design and make a ‘litter picking station’ as part of their environmental work. Housing issues are still one of the increasing worries for young people attending the project. Exclusion from education is increasing and young people are disillusioned with the education process. ## **COMMUNITY AND URBAN WILDERNESS WORK.** Work continued outside aided by our new ‘partnership’ with AW Rail who provide building materials for re use. This is both good for the environment and our finances. Young people built large tree planters and helped paint them. For Halloween they made a sculpture using recycled items from onsite. Volunteers from the community mornings helped to maintain and improve the outside space. Community giving lots of praise but still reluctant to join in. The large sycamore has been trimmed to help light get to the meadow area and a new septic tank installed with new fence shutting off that area. New foxes have appeared in the wildlife area. The young peoples’ toilet was gutted and renovated due to water damage. We installed another PIR Light to light up the multi games area. ## **FUNDING.** We are in the last year of National Lottery funding which allowed stability over the last three years. Other grants included – Rotary £325, Town Marathon £500, Kent Community Foundation £13,570.08, Kent Police £1000, Sport England £500. James Gunn £170. ## **FUTURE PLANS/ACTIONS** Currently looking to advertise for 1 new youth worker to replace Elliot who is going onto work as a zookeeper. Increase attendance by interacting with schools before summer holidays. Increase seating outside. To hold free Yoga/Thia Chi/wellbeing sessions for young people and community. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIANL) AND IVAI IS Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the ￿rIOd To 01105r2023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted fvnds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds La•t y•*r to lh• n•ar••l £ to lh• n•ar•Jt £ t•th• n•ar••t£ to th• n•arnJt É A1 R•¢ol ts Reni81 Grdnls Donations 9,350 9.350 54,782 1037 10.200 56,38T X782 Sub total(Gr08s incom for ARJ A2 Asset and Inv8slmont sales, l•eè tabl&l. 547•2 •¢74• 67,￿7 Sub total 11.987 54.762 16.749 67.087 Acti￿1￿88 Sgcurtly Wasle RemD¥al Busine85 Rates In6urdKe ¥nd Se Travellng 8.311 1,$32 1.191 912 912 4172 2.071 441 InlerneVTelophonelFax St81ionary 576 Sub total 4rn STh32 57.973 A4 A550t and Inveslm•nt purchasgs. {seè tabl8) Sub total 5171)0 57832 57.973 Net of recelptSl(payn￿ftts) AS Transfer5 b8tw8en funds A6 Cash funds last yew end Cash funds thls year end 131 9,114 27.716 71 94354 671 86,240 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted nds Restrictgd funds Endowrngnt funds Categories Details lo n•8r•5t £ B1 Cash funds 35.971 6B.700 Total cash fiinds 3S971 I8g￿ bd8nc8s reCeIpts￿j pa￿ts oceoJrt(sll Unrostrfctod funds Restrfctod lund8 Endowment funds Oelarls to noar•st £ Fund to whkh Cury•nt valu• Dotalls Co•t lop1kn￿) Fur￿ to T*hl¢h Co•t lomknall Curr•nt v•lue on•1 Details B4 Assets r•laln•d for t charlty's own use Fund io *4Trounl du• Details loD•l B5 Llablllllgs Slyr￿d by one or h¥0 trusts$$ on behall of all the trustees Signatu Print Name Dale of val CCXX R2 ISSI CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusto951 m•mbers of FOLKESTONE YOUTH PROJECT On accounts for tha year ended 30 April 2024 Charlty no (If any 1113379 Sot out on pagos Annual Report and Receipts and payments acc￿nt pages 1-2 I report to the trustees on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the at)ove charty ("the Trust.) for the year ended 3010412024. Responslbllltles and As the charlty trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the accounts in accordance with the requlrements of the Charities Act 2011 {'Ihe Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out und8r section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charty Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the AGt. I have completed my examination. I conflmi that no material matters have come to my attention