ST GEORGE’S CENTRE – ANNUAL REPORT 2022
Welcome
This is our 45[th] AGM and my 18[th] AGM as Chairman. This is a slightly shortened report as due to the continued Coronavirus Pandemic the period covered by this report (March 2021 to March 2022) still included restrictions imposed by the Government to protect the nation. In both of my reports for the last two years I stated that I was hopeful that we could have a more traditional AGM and welcome all of our Members to a more normal meeting process, and it is really great that today we are, at last, able to do just that. Coronavirus has, of course, not gone away but thanks to the vaccination programme (I had my booster jab yesterday) we are certainly in a much better place than we have been.
Executive Committee
No changes since the last AGM and, as always, I am really grateful for everyone’s hard work.
Bolton CCG
During the period covered by this report we were commissioned by the Clinical Commissioning Group (the CCG) although now this organisation has ceased to exist and as from the end of June 2022 all of their functions have been taken over by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care. Commissioning organisations seem to come and go (I think this is the seventh or eighth in the life of the Centre) but we carry on regardless. Through Paula’s hard work together with Steve Bunker, our Treasurer, we have a healthy continuing dialogue with whoever we need to. We continue to fight to ensure the Centre’s core funding provision and to argue that we remain very cost efficient and provide a comprehensive quality service that is value for money for any commissioning body. This has thus far been recognised and we are confident that this will continue to be the case.
Staffing
Paula continues as Manager but there have been changes in the Support Workers with Philomena retiring at Christmas and two new members of staff joining in Andrea Greenhalgh and Mark Kitchen. Welcome to the “family” at St George’s to you both. They join Pam Spencer and Jean Haslam in our merry band.
I really must make special mention and mark our special thanks to Philomena wo retired in December after 25 years of service to the Centre. We held a fabulous retirement party in the Church which was decorated superbly and we were entertained and fed in a royal fashion. It really was a great day and a fitting sendoff to a loyal and faithful servant of the Centre who hopefully is now enjoying her retirement to the full.
This is the eighteenth consecutive year that I have shouted that ALL OF OUR STAFF ARE ABSOLUTE HEROES! and I would like as always to take this opportunity on behalf of the Executive Committee to record publicly and thank them for everything that they have achieved and done this year to keep the Centre moving forward.
I must not forget to mention our dedicated band of Volunteers and helpers from the Church and those members who have felt able to put something back into the Centre by becoming Volunteers themselves. I would also like to thank all of our Tutors from Bolton Community College and indeed anybody else that contributes in some way to the continued success of the Centre.
Life in the Centre
The Centre reopened in April 2021 after closing the previous March. The few months leading up to April 2021 was spent getting the Centre ready to open safely. The lounge was modernised whilst the Centre was closed. Perspex screens were purchased along with masks and the church kindly allowed us to use the disinfecting (fogging) machine. Covid testing kits were on hand for anybody to use.
April saw St Georges start to open one day per week to see how existing members felt and how people would stick to restrictions in place. In June we started trying 2 days per week with a deep clean in between days. From August we were 3 days per week and back to 4 from September. There were limits on numbers of members using various rooms for safety reasons and restrictions in place. Members can be applauded for using the Centre as safely as possible and also for adhering to the restrictions. It was a nervous time for all.
Since reopening fully, the usual activities have returned - Craft Group, C.P.N Surgery, Self-Care and Well-Being group, Weight Management, Wii Fit exercise, Cookery Class, Walk and Talk Group.
Other daily activities include Crocheting and knitting, computers, Card making, jigsaws, Colouring therapy, quizzes, table tennis, darts and pool.
Members enjoy breakfast and healthy hot lunch every day and we also have meals to take home.
This year we have provided over 1300 contact hours per week with our members.
Counselling
During the period covered in this Report Monday Counselling provided a valuable service to the general public of Bolton. The Counselling service was well organised by Philomena and delivered by our excellent team of Counsellors but due to the pandemic the way the service was delivered had to change. Mobile phones and laptops were purchased (funded with the help of a grant) so that our Counsellors could deliver the service remotely. We would like to thank them all for their efforts in making this service a success during this stressful period and delivering some very positive outcomes for their clients.
Sadly, due to the way that Counselling in Bolton is now organised and funded, we have taken the difficult decision that it is simply not viable for us to continue with the service and this is really the end of an era in the life of the Centre. This will feature in next year’s Report in more detail.
Bereavements
Very sadly, as there seems to be every year, there is a long list of bereavements to note:
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Daniel Buxton
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James Duffy
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Valerie Hill
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Clive Owen
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Heather Symon
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Karen Lever
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Brendon Smith
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Bob Whittle
We remember them all – they will be sadly missed but not forgotten.
Conclusion
This is our 45[th] AGM and it is good to get back to a more normal meeting. Despite the difficulties, we have come through the worst of this National Emergency and the Centre has survived and continues to support the Members whose need for that support is probably greater than ever.
“Stay Safe”
Thank you.
Jeremy Barker – Chairman
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St.George’s Day Centre (Bolton) Limited
Financial Year Ended 31 March 2022
I have pleasure in reporting the Centre’s results for the financial year ended 31 March 2022.
A detailed analysis of the Profit & Loss statement is attached which needs little further comment. Thanks again to Paula who has provided the detailed breakdown.
Not knowing whether we were going to continue to receive central funding during lockdown/Covid-19, we quite rightly asked for Government support via the Furlough Scheme and received such in the region of £60,000. The Church also helped out and allowed a holiday on our rental payments which saved us somewhere in the region of £30,000. This effectively underpins the growth in reserves to the tune of £90,000. This has significantly helped the Centre get through this financial period and ensured that we remain on a stable footing for the foreseeable future.
The CCG continue to hold quarterly meetings to ensure that their money is being well spent and their reports in this regard are very favourable.
Commissioning is changing for 2022 and once this process is determined we will of course let everybody know.
In summary, although we were effectively closed for 2020/21 the Centre has financially held its ground and has a good level of reserves.
Hon.Treasurer, Steve Bunker May 2022
Charity No 1124588 Ltd Company No 05887560