ST GEORGE’S CENTRE – ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Welcome
This is our 47[th] AGM and my 20[th] AGM as Chairman. I genuinely cannot believe that I’ve been doing this for twenty years - where do the years go!
Executive Committee
Since our last AGM, Joan Williams has retired from the Committee after countless years of committed and faithful service and I want to mark in this report her contribution to the Centre over many, many years. I am pleased to be able to confirm that the Committee has a new member to replace Joan and I am delighted to welcome John Swarsbrick to our ranks. The Committee works very hard behind the scenes to try to ensure that our Members can enjoy the assistance and help that is provided to them and I want to put on record today that I am very grateful for the Committee’s continuing hard work.
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
We continue at present to be commissioned by the majestically named NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (NHS GMICB) who took over from the Clinical Commissioning Group (the CCG) in 2022. In reality very little changed. However, would you believe that there are now discussions ongoing about the possibility of returning the commissioning of mental health ancillary services back to the CCG! I have mentioned in previous years that Commissioning organisations seem to come and go (there have been too many to count during the life of the Centre) but we carry on regardless. Through Paula’s hard work together with Steve Bunker, our Treasurer, we continue to 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 continues to be recognised and your Executive Committee are confident that this will continue to be the case.
Staffing
No changes this year - Paula continues as Manager assisted by Pam Spencer, Andrea Greenhalgh and Mark Kitchen.
This is the twentieth 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 this 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 anybody else that contributes in some way to the continued success of the Centre.
Life in the Centre
This report covers the period from the 1[st] April 2023 to the 31[st] March 2024 and therefore is the second full report after the lockdowns and closures caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Activities have changed since the pandemic and they are more reliant on staff alongside member volunteers.
Our excellent relationship with 'Stars and Stitches' (who are a Community Interest Company who support people to live their lives to their full potential by overcoming their difficulties through community arts and art therapy) has continued and expanded. We have a very good working relationship with them and members are enjoying activities that they provide both inside and outside of the Centre in the Community. This year they started woodwork craft sessions on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings. Members have made papier-mâché piggy banks (apparently called “George”!) and Members have contributed loose change into them for the Social Fund. Maddie, Alice and Lee from Stars and Stiches are very popular and Members love the interaction with them. Fortunately, they managed to obtain additional funding to carry forward their activities for a further year. In the centre members have taken part in upcycling workshops and Printmaking workshops. Members are taking ideas learned in the workshops and then setting their own groups up as and when they choose to. The workshops are very well attended.
Members have enjoyed various local trips such as Smithills Farm, Haigh Hall, Cinema outings, Ten-Pin Bowling, and picnics in the park. Afternoon Teas on the last Thursday afternoon in the month have proved very popular. Members enjoyed a day-trip to Blackpool to celebrate the Centre’s birthday and enjoyed a meal (paid for through fundraising activities) at Harry Ramsdens.
St Georges celebrated Halloween and bonfire night throughout the week commencing 30[th] October and a Christmas Tombola was organised throughout December which raised just over £500 towards the Social Fund. Members enjoyed a trip to the annual pantomime at the Albert Halls at a reduced cost of £10 each.
The Christmas Lunch was in the week before Christmas - and a super meal it was!
January is always a very long and depressing month so Staff decided to organise some activities to look forward to including a New Years buffet and party games on the 4[th] January. Since then, Members have enjoyed a Valentines Day Meal and St Patricks Day, when they received “care packages” organised and funded by “Stars and Stitches.” Lots of fun is enjoyed by everyone as Staff help to plan a full day of extra activities at our events.
Lots of activities surrounded the build up to Easter week including an Easter Raffle which raised over £400.
We have a wide and interesting range of scheduled activities and there really is a full programme for Members to get involved in including: Craft Group, C.P.N Surgery, Self-Care and Well-Being group, Keep-Fit group, 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.
I don’t often mention any Members by name, but I think I should mention that one of our long-standing members, Nigel Tatlock, kindly donated £500 to the Centre in 2023 to be used as we see fit. He was leaving it in his Will but instead arranged to donate the funds directly to the Centre immediately – thank you Nigel!
I also think it is worth mentioning our relationship with Fareshare.
There are 3 components to Fareshare:
Fareshare Go is where we go and pick up groceries and other supermarket items three times a week from Asda if we are notified that a pick up is available. This is then distributed to members free of charge on Fridays.
Fareshare ad hoc is where we pick up at Smithfield Market in Manchester every 2 weeks. We do pay for the food but at a low cost and pass the items on to members for a small charge or we sometimes use the items for lunches.
Fareshare plus is where we pick up from Smithfield market and we can choose from whatever food has been delivered that day and we are charged 37p per kilo.
The whole idea is to do our part in the saving of food waste and passing the benefits on to our members and keeping costs down in the centre. We have not put the cost of a hot cooked meal up in many years (it is still £3.00 for a hot lunch and has been since before covid). Paula and our staff du put a lot of time and work into collecting the supplies for our members outside of working hours, and I must make a special mention and give thanks to Dave (Paula’s husband) has been volunteering to do the Manchester pick up so it doesn't affect staffing levels in the Centre – many thanks, Dave, it is appreciated!
Other things to mention – we have replaced the Dishwasher for £2,400 with half the cost being kindly donated from the Church. First Aid Training and Mental Health Capacity Act Training for the staff has been brought up to date. Staff have also completed PREVENT training as specifically requested by our Commissioners. There has been a Safeguarding Audit and all documentation in connection with the Charity Commission and Companies House has been updated and is in order. Our Treasurer’s Report will follow shortly, but I can confirm that we received an uplift in our annual funding, which although relatively modest, was appreciated.
Bereavements
Very sadly, as there seems to be every year, there is a list of bereavements to note:
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Irene Stewart
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Betty Wroe
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Sofia Potter
We remember them all – they will be sadly missed but not forgotten.
Conclusion
This is our 47[th] AGM and we recognise that our Members’ needs for help and support are greater than ever and, as always, St George’s is there for all of you to get you through all of your difficulties and problems. The job is never finished and we realise that the need for support will continue long into the future. Rest assured that the Centre is always here for you, and always will be.
Thank you.
Jeremy Barker – Chairman
ST. GEORGE’S DAY CENTRE (BOLTON) LTD.
Income and Expenditure statement for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Income | Mar-23 | Mar-24 | Expenditure | Mar-23 | Mar-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funding | 120,716.84 | 124,455.00 | Cash4chq facility | ||
| Donatons | 855.95 | 1,580.00 | Cleaning | 238.98 | 129.87 |
| Interest | 998.13 | 1 ,828.42 | Equipment | 512.80 | 2,346 37 |
| Food | 19,324.42 | 19,360.40 | Food | 6,929.97 | 5,882.54 |
| GMCA Grant | Insurance | 3,291.13 | 3,365.92 | ||
| Sundries | 807.00 | 26.00 | Health & Wellbeing | ||
| Social Fund | 600.00 | 727.05 | Ambiton of Ageing | ||
| Refurbishment | 250.90 | ||||
| Post-year adjustment | 277.83 | Rent | 36, 188.00 | 36, 188.00 | |
| Social Fund | 612.47 | 49.72 | |||
| Statonery | 67.77 | 121.34 | |||
| Sundry | 1,582.29 | 1,981.65 | |||
| Telephone | 2,053.67 | 2,325.18 | |||
| Therapeutc Earnings | |||||
| Training | 60.00 | 70.00 | |||
| Travel | 540.00 | 42.00 | |||
| Tutor Fees | |||||
| Volunteers Expenses | 2, 144.00 | 1 930.00 |
| Wages/Payroll | 102,246 67 | 102,041 30 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOJ Funding | |||||
| Total Income | 143,580.17 | 147,976.87 | Total Expenditure | 156,718.65 | 156,473.89 |
| Opening Balances | 235 635.85 | 222,497.37 | |||
| Net Income | 13,138.48 | 8,497.02 | |||
| Total Balances | 222,497.37 | 214,000.35 |
Steve Bunker Hon Treasurer
Jenni Byrne Hon Auditor
CHARITY COMMISSION NUMBER 1124588 LTD CO NUMBER 05887560
St.George’s Day Centre (Bolton) Limited
Financial Year Ended 31 March 2024
I have pleasure in reporting the Centre’s results for the financial year ended 31 March 2024.
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.
The funding support remains steady and our expenditure is very well controlled.
As expected we find ourselves with another deficit of around £8000. This is no surprise and unless we see increased funding or further fundraising, this deficit will remain consistent. We have significant reserves which means we can manage this for the foreseeable future.
In the absence of increased funding in the short term, I would suggest that we seek additional fund raising. Such as grants, charity events or third party donations.
In summary, although we are reporting a deficit for 2023/24, the Centre remains financially strong, has secured funding for the next 3 years, has a good level of reserves, but we should be considering how we generate additional funds to alleviate, if not clear, the prevailing deficit.
Hon.Treasurer, Steve Bunker May 2024 Charity No 1124588 Ltd Company No 05887560