ST GEORGE’S CENTRE – ANNUAL REPORT 2025
## _**Welcome**_
This is our 48[th] AGM and my 21[st] AGM as Chairman. These are genuinely amazing numbers – time passes so quickly!
## _**Executive Committee**_
No changes since our last AGM. Committee members remain as myself as Chairman, Steve Bunker as Treasurer, with the other members being Tony Cottam and John Swarsbrick. 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 thank my fellow committee members for all their continuing hard work.
## _**NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board**_
No changes here either - we continue at present to be commissioned by the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (NHS GMICB) who have been in place for the last three years. We have a good working relationship with our Commissioners through Paula’s hard work together with Steve Bunker, our Treasurer. 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.
I am pleased to be able to report that we have had confirmation from the ICB that our funding is secure and has been authorised through until at least March 2028. This is really good news for whilst a three-year period was hinted at last year, in recent years funding has actually only been guaranteed on a year-to-year basis, and often only to the end of the current year. Funding security for a three -year period has never happened before and is very welcome.
Whilst reporting about our relationship with our Commissioners, I want to cover a point that was raised at last year’s AGM by member Michael Leneghan as noted in the minutes which have been circulated. Michael was concerned about the reduced numbers attending the Centre and asked if steps could be taken to raise awareness of the Centre with local GPs. He was rightly unhappy that no action had been taken following him raising the same point at the previous AGM.
As a result of this we have discussed the point with the ICB representative at one of the regular review meetings, and the system in place to provide information and guidance that is given to local GPs about mental health providers was explained. There is an online system that covers all commissioned services (for all aspects of healthcare, not just mental health). Specifically for mental health there is a flow-chart that gives GPs details of services available depending on the specific needs of a patient so that the GP can make an informed choice as to a referral pathway. Regular bulletins are sent to GPs informing them of any relevant changes to the services provided. It should be noted that we are not allowed to contact GPs directly, and as we are a “referred service” and not a “public facing service” we are not allowed to advertise.
I think it is important to point out that when this Centre started nearly fifty years ago there was very little provision in the community for patients with mental health issues and thankfully over the years that situation has changed and it is good that it has. There are many more services available than there was and it is no surprise at all that the numbers attending the Centre have reduced, but I want to reassure you that there is no minimum attendance figure that we have to reach. The services that we provide will
continue for the foreseeable future, as evidenced by the three-year contract period that I mention above.
## _**Staffing**_
No changes in the year covered by this report - Paula continued as Manager assisted by Pam Spencer, Andrea Farley and Mark Kitchen. Since year end, however, Mark has left us for pastures new and we wish him well in his future career. I am very pleased to welcome his replacement, Patricia Stainton, to our team and to her first AGM.
This is the twenty-first 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 Management 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 2024 to the 31[st] March 2025 and during that period there have been lots and lots of different activities.
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 Members have attended workshops where they brought t-shirts into the Centre and learned how to tie-dye them. There have been sessions on doll-making (with various techniques), making toadstool houses and various activities using air-dry clay to make pinch pots and decorations. There were also sessions in the run up to Christmas making festive decorations. Maddie, Alice and Lee from Stars and Stiches are very popular and Members love the interaction with them. Members continue to take ideas learned in the workshops and are then setting up their own groups as and when they choose to. The workshops are a big part of life in the Centre. Members continue with the upcycling group which they facilitate themselves and this year there have also been woodwork crafting sessions.
Members enjoyed a day trip to St Annes in September. They explored the sea front and town then were entertained 3-4pm by a friendship group that meets every Thurs in The Lord Derby public house. At 4pm they enjoyed a three-course meal. The sun was shining and a great day was had by all.
In October there was a ladies cancer awareness session and there have been two trips to Chorley market with a fish & chip lunch subsidised by the social fund. There have been some afternoon trips to the cinema. Afternoon Teas on the last Thursday afternoon in the month have proved very popular.
St Georges celebrated Halloween and bonfire night as usual and a Christmas Tombola was organised throughout December which raised £432 towards the Social Fund. Members helped to make Christmas Cakes and Mince pies which also raised £268 to the social fund. Members enjoyed a trip to the annual pantomime at the Albert Halls at a reduced cost of £10 each.
Our Christmas Day Celebrations and meal took place on Thursday 19th December – excellent as usual.
January is always a very long and depressing month so Staff decided to organise some activities to look forward to and since then Members have enjoyed a Valentines Day Meal and a St Patricks Day Meal. 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 £443.
We have a wide and interesting range of scheduled activities and there really is a full programme for Members to get involved in. I would encourage everyone to “have-a go” and try something different.
Fareshare (which I mention in some detail last year) continues although it has been a little more haphazard recently. It still enables us 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. Paula and our staff continue to put a lot of time and work into collecting the supplies for our members outside of working hours and this is a good example of how our staff go above and beyond for the benefit of all who come to the Centre.
Other things to mention – there have been various training updates for staff and updating audits of Policy documents. There has again 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 are in a healthy financial position.
## _**Bereavements**_
Very sadly, as there is every year, there is a number of bereavements to note:
- Philip Howarth
- Joseph McAverey (who I’m told played the piano for Members whilst they were doing their artwork)
- Steve Hartley (who worked for us at the Centre for a number of years as a Support Worker)
We remember them all – they will be sadly missed but not forgotten.
## _**Conclusion**_
This is our 48[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.
Thank you.
Jeremy Barker – Chairman
Income and Expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2025
|**Income**||**Mar-24**||**Mar-25**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Funding|£|124,455.00
|£|125,138.18
|
|Donations|£|1,580.00
|||
|Interest|£|1,828.42
|£|8,837.79
|
|Food|£|19,360.40
|£|19,288.10
|
|Sundries|£|26.00
|£|88.15
|
|Social Fund|£|727.05
|||
|Total Income|£|147,976.87
|£|153,352.22
|
|Opening Balance|£|222,497.37
|£|214,000.35
|
|Net Income|£|(8,497.02)
|£|1,950.09
|
|Total Balances|£|214,000.35
|£|215,950.44
|
Steve Bunker
Hon.Treasurer St Georges Day Centre (Bolton)Ltd
|**Expenditure**||**Mar-24**||**Mar-25**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Cleaning|£|129.87
|£|153.62
|
|Equipment|£|2,346.37
|£|1,463.03
|
|Food|£|5,882.54
|£|4,280.41
|
|Insurance|£|3,365.92
|£|3,413.72
|
|Rent|£|36,188.00
|£|36,188.00
|
|Social Fund|£|49.72
|£|27.95
|
|Stationery|£|121.34
|£|130.05
|
|Sundries|£|1,981.65
|£|2,106.66
|
|Telephone|£|2,325.18
|£|2,810.12
|
|Training|£|70.00
|||
|Travel|£|42.00
|£|127.00
|
|Volunteers Expenses|£|1,930.00
|£|2,070.00
|
|Wages/Payroll|£|102,041.30
|£|98,631.57
|
|Total Expenditure|£|156,473.89
|£|151,402.13
|
Jenni Byrne Hon.Auditor
## **St.George’s Day Centre (Bolton) Limited**
## **Financial Year Ended 31 March 2025**
I have pleasure in reporting the Centre’s results for the financial year ended 31 March 2025.
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.
We actually managed a nominal surplus this year, which is nice to see, especially when we’d expected a deficit at the start of the year. Our relationship with Fairshare is clearly having a benefit and this continues to flourish into this year.
Our costs are also slightly lower than 2024, despite the usual increases from the Insurance and BT bills. A testament to how well the Centre is managed.
In summary, the Centre remains financially strong. The funding remains secure, we have a good level of reserves and we manage our costs well. Our projections for the year ending 31 March 2026 suggest a relatively small deficit in the region of £5,000 which, in the present climate, is certainly manageable and will not affect the financial strength of the Centre for the foreseeable future.
Hon.Treasurer, Steve Bunker May 2024 Charity No 1124588 Ltd Company No 05887560