Families in Telford Annual Report 2022
Chair’s report
Over the last twelve months Reaching Communities funding has allowed FIT to re-establish ourselves as a primary care partner providing early years support in two of the most disadvantaged areas in Telford. Numbers attending our groups are growing steadily although still slightly below our original targets. The needs of those attending our groups has changed – in part due to post COVID nervousness and anxiety, in part due to new economic stresses and in part due to changes to the personal concerns and challenges faced by those who come to our groups.
We have responded by increasing staff time to allow them to consider more fully issues after groups have finished and by providing office space where they can work in a quiet environment. We have also adjusted group content to help those with neuro-divergent children.
Our Rise and Shine groups have started (using other funding sources) and we are already seeing the benefit with early identification of critical personal issues and suitable interventions and support from our staff.
Our feedback process has improved the data we are now obtaining to measure our impacts – steadily increasing scores over the first 6 months of attendance at our groups. One mother commented
We also have better insight into issues members face that has improved our activity planning and made it more targeted.
Issues of storage and venue quality are being resolved and hopefully will be complete by the end of 2023.
Overall, we spent slightly less than our original budget proposal – partly due to lower staff costs and fewer workshop needs as we focused on settling in new members as we re-established ourselves in the community. With increased staff hours and more workshops, we expect next year’s spend to be on budget.
On 25[th] August 2022 we celebrated 25 years since our original charities were founded and set up a memorial to our founding chair Pat Partridge and her husband and our secretary David in the local Community Orchard in Madeley. It was attended by over 50 people including Pat and David’s children and grandchildren, current and past members and their families, trustees and staff.
More details of FIT activities in 2021 - 2022 are included in the Manager’s Report below.
Manager’s report
We have now had a year of funding from the lottery community fund and the project is in a position where things are feeling settled and stable. This funding has required that all staff increase the amount of data that is collected and additional reports are required but everyone is now getting well practiced at this.
Increasing our membership
Our numbers of users continue to steadily increase and, with word of mouth, increased advertising and a reduction in Covid based anxiety, we believe these numbers will continue to grow.
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Registered users in first year
120
100
80
60 Children
Adults
40
20
0
Sept Oct Nov Jan Feb March April May June July August
Month
Number registered
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Staf f ng
In the last 12 months we have been through quite a few staff changes, but now have a very effective team. Our staffing now consists of two project managers who have a job share, a project facilitator, a play focus worker, a supervisor and two bank staff.
Staff have undergone a huge range of training in the last twelve months including in coercive control, domestic abuse, violence against women, respect toolkit, early years development, advanced safeguarding, adverse childhood experiences, neurodiversity, paediatric first aid, safer sleep and breastfeeding support.
Staff have been working incredibly hard to strengthen our community links and we now work closely with the local church, PCSO’s, Telford crisis support, the baby bank, the breast-feeding network, maternity voices partnership and our councillors.
Activities we provide
The activities provided at each session are noticeably different than they were before our restart and we have had a lot of positive feedback about this. We have had numerous parents tell us that just one of the ways in which we are different to any other group is that we don’t just put a load of toys, we have proper planned activities for everyone to join in with.
Our summer programme was a huge success with high numbers of attendees including those who have moved on to primary school but returned to join us in the holidays. We offered lots of different activities and had excellent feedback on what was provided for our families over a five-week programme and at a very minimal cost to them.
Measuring our performance
There has been a marked improvement in the engagement of members within the project and in the wider community. We are able to see this improvement based on assessment of service users when they join the project and then again, a term later. Within 4 months of joining, staff are seeing changes in children and adults in the way they present at group and in how adults report things are spreading outside of group such as at home, school and work.
Our quantitative analysis of members (scale of 1-5) within 4-5 moths of joining is showing at least a one point improvement in both adults and children in areas such as social engagement, general wellbeing and personal reports relating to mental health.
Average users assessment scores
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5
4.5
4
3.5
Relationship with child
3
Mental Health
2.5
Support Network
2 Child interest in activities
1.5 Child peer communication
1
0.5
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
Months since joining project
Assessment score (1=poor, 5=good)
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Improving our venues
The project is now renting an office space in Sutton Hill which is of huge benefit to the staff. Having a specific place to work together for planning, evaluating and report writing has been incredibly helpful, and it ensured there is a private space for dealing with the more sensitive aspects of our work.
The project has had on going issues this year at both venues with storage facilities and outdoor space. We feel that our storage issues have improved from the start of the year but we continue to try and work with the venues to ensure there is always access to a safe outdoor area for our members and that staff can access equipment without risk.
Diversity and Equality report:
In the last 12 months since re-starting our groups, we have successfully implemented our equal opportunities and diversity policy.
Our client group has a range of ages, genders, races, disabilities, religions, sexualities, marital status and socio-economic backgrounds. Some of these are confirmed in the data we collect with our new starters, other information about diversity is from conversations with our members.
As well as initial introductory training, all project staff have annual in-house equality and diversity training, and a project manager has regular external training with a recognised body.
As a project we offer a fair and inclusive environment for our staff, our committee and for all of our families and members.
Financial report
Our audited Receipts and Payments for the financial year ended 31[st] August 2022 show the income greatly improved since 2021 mainly due to funding being provided from Reaching Communities which finances our core activities. In addition, Trusthouse grants and other funding allowed us to
establish to new Rise and Shine groups for young but more mobile children. We will need to continue raising funds for these groups if they are to continue.
We have spent less than we originally budgeted for the first year of Reaching Communities funding. Staff costs are slightly lower than anticipated and our attendance numbers were lower than anticipated but have steadily increased. Due to the break in activities enforced during Covid many of our families are new to the project and are still developing the confidence to want to attend workshops which were budgeted for, including for creches to support their attendance. A further consequence of the increased complexity of users’ needs and increased documentation to support and safeguard our users is the need to have an office. This has now been achieved but will mean an additional cost of £150 a month. This rent may be reviewed after 3 months by the landlord.
FAMILIES IN TELFORD Registered Charity Number 1130708 56 Hollybush Road,Woodside, Telford TF7 5HS RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31" AUGUST 2022 Together with STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AS AT 31" AUGUST 2022 Page l of5
Rert the Trn8teu of FwiliEq In Telford On ae¢ou#ts for tbe year ellded 31" Augmt 2022 Respee¢ive re8ponsibilitiu ofTru8teu ald ELgJDi•tr The charity's tnle¢S arc reSnSIble for the &ryarnlion of the aLYounts. The charity's trnstees consid¢r that an aTt is not required for this year under section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Aet) and that an indent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: Exarnine the accounts under s¢ctirn 43 of the 1993 A To follow th¢ pr(reS laid down in the gen41 Directions given by Charity Commission (under section 43(7Xb) of the IW3 Act To sta whether Wiitular m•tteTS have CAxne to my thttention Bath ofIDdepeDdeDt Examlner's S¢tement My examination was carried out in accord with g¢n¢ral Directions 8iven by the Charity Commission. An examinaiion includ¢s a review of th¢ a)UntIn8 records kw by the charity and a comparison of the acKA)unts PTesented with re<(ffth. It alg) includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the account& and seeking explanations from the trus¢s concerning any Such matters. The procedures undertaken do n(A pmvide all the evidence that would bc required in an audit and nsequentlY no opinton is given as to wh¢th¢r the accounts presenl a tr and fair- view and ihe re)rt is limited to those matters S out in the exAmination below. IDdepe&de4t ExamiDer'J Sthtemel In connection with my exarninliion. mter has &ime to rny attention: l) Which gives me re&4)nable cause kn Ixlieve that in. any rnaterial respect. the requirements: To k¢epa¢¢ourtin8 re)rdS in 4¢¢(ydw wtth se¢tion 41 of the 1993 Act: and To prepare accA)unts which accoTd with th¢ accounting fttoTd$ Ind comply wilh the aecountin8 requIffMts of 1993 Act Have n(rt bea) m&. Or 2) To which. in my opinion. attention Should bc dr8wn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be Ye4ch. Datv. /¥l,' Mr Paul Clifford. 6. c• Aceouts Examllltr. The MaDs Madelty Ro*d, Irombridge TF8 7QZ Page2of5
unrettedGrathts or Reaching Communlties. F4ation31 Lottery Groundworks UK- Comic Rdief LocalGlving Lld +Community btt+Asfiazon1e+pa Tnthse Gatherwell TnCL ICommunTty Lottuy&jnati¢I Ctrop Grant Vedia Grant UNRESTRICTED FUNDS ReIpts year ended JIA. 2022 Re•chln8 Communltle& NaJon•l Lottery Local0ni On Llne Plèrfonn Domth)raTrJ Glft Akl P.. É Charftable donatloft to cover Eady Years110$e meff Groundwork UK lomic Rellef Grnnt GatherweH TwlnCL {Commun Lottty donat1} CtropGrnnt12021-2022 8rant restrktedl Strlpe Payments UK- donauon NT webslte ¥ton Europe Core Ifromotrllne Am•zon SMILE (u PayPal GIn8 Fund Locblvln8- Magl¢ Llttle Grnnl HMRC- Fudowh Rep•yments IHMRCth •kJ In 201& 33,786.( 2015.48 281.21 103.tsj 2A2177 76.17 73.65 61.97 75 4667.49 Tot41 Re¢¢tyts P•ym•fit$ lf •nd•d 31A 2022 Mana8ement •rtd admiStrI Salarles+HMRC Ilakn'litie5 23259.13 8138.68 Payroll ser¥kes from Teword & WrekinCVS Payroll servkesfrom MathyT0coK stsff DBS cost5 Suppryt Costs Room Hirtr Woodside. Park Lane CeAtre. Wi)od5k HlTrThe Hub un Hill. &Jtton Room Alre- Sutton Hll Church 1826.5 355 1745 461.25 Pre-S¢hfy)l Leamin8A]liarKe-rnemiV5hiptringale wlx.corn (annual wthtefee +Domain wJr¢hasefee2 Toys.Offl¢e and eqUipmersta1aKe costs Coath forsummeractmty Summer actiTrAty+equipmentlrn•twia15costs Other actitS 281.21 126.84 171&5 510 92 Ic
Net Surplu5 on unr¢51rKledfunds 24541 RESTRICYED FUPIDS Retdpts yearended 31J. 2022 Veolya Grantforyoup rtwmptkn IA¢lw41w PPE Trusthouse tha¥itaile FJatIon- 8Trnt Co-op Grant Pat's Memorial Fund 1375.91 674.05 Tot•1 Rt¢elpts Payments yearwdod JIA. 2022 PPE and Eqvlpment for group resumpifjon Salades+MMRC abilitIeS $57.71 L610.93 520 Room Hlre Prtrschool LeaminKAllarKe.MemLSh1p11nrIn staff Tralnlng Office Equlwffit Total Piymwts Net Surplus restricled fvnds 284.79 147 192 5S7.71 Tol•l N•tSurylus B•l•n¢• brwtht ftyw•rd lance cayrled forward 105S6 8471.76 5574.86 is77.32 8471.76 Petty C•sh B•l•c¢ Totsl Balafice carrled foTh¥4rd 8561.76 Funds£¥rl•d Forw¥ 31IV22 unrestr1ctedlLds 16839. Rt5tr1rt¢dfds Cw Cornmunlty8rnnt Trusthousecharftsbklwbthl P•t's memowld lur 674th - Ved P•ttyCash Total B•lno 18.667.32 8561.76 131111$ 15 0&fv4S F(k•M a T /1 12 J ckJ.rknr4.,.
FAMILIES IN TELFORD Registered Charity Number 1130708 56 Hollybush Road,Woodside, Telford TF7 5HS RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31" AUGUST 2022 Together with STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AS AT 31" AUGUST 2022 Page l of5
Rert the Trn8teu of FwiliEq In Telford On ae¢ou#ts for tbe year ellded 31" Augmt 2022 Respee¢ive re8ponsibilitiu ofTru8teu ald ELgJDi•tr The charity's tnle¢S arc reSnSIble for the &ryarnlion of the aLYounts. The charity's trnstees consid¢r that an aTt is not required for this year under section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Aet) and that an indent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: Exarnine the accounts under s¢ctirn 43 of the 1993 A To follow th¢ pr(reS laid down in the gen41 Directions given by Charity Commission (under section 43(7Xb) of the IW3 Act To sta whether Wiitular m•tteTS have CAxne to my thttention Bath ofIDdepeDdeDt Examlner's S¢tement My examination was carried out in accord with g¢n¢ral Directions 8iven by the Charity Commission. An examinaiion includ¢s a review of th¢ a)UntIn8 records kw by the charity and a comparison of the acKA)unts PTesented with re<(ffth. It alg) includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the account& and seeking explanations from the trus¢s concerning any Such matters. The procedures undertaken do n(A pmvide all the evidence that would bc required in an audit and nsequentlY no opinton is given as to wh¢th¢r the accounts presenl a tr and fair- view and ihe re)rt is limited to those matters S out in the exAmination below. IDdepe&de4t ExamiDer'J Sthtemel In connection with my exarninliion. mter has &ime to rny attention: l) Which gives me re&4)nable cause kn Ixlieve that in. any rnaterial respect. the requirements: To k¢epa¢¢ourtin8 re)rdS in 4¢¢(ydw wtth se¢tion 41 of the 1993 Act: and To prepare accA)unts which accoTd with th¢ accounting fttoTd$ Ind comply wilh the aecountin8 requIffMts of 1993 Act Have n(rt bea) m&. Or 2) To which. in my opinion. attention Should bc dr8wn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be Ye4ch. Datv. /¥l,' Mr Paul Clifford. 6. c• Aceouts Examllltr. The MaDs Madelty Ro*d, Irombridge TF8 7QZ Page2of5
unrettedGrathts or Reaching Communlties. F4ation31 Lottery Groundworks UK- Comic Rdief LocalGlving Lld +Community btt+Asfiazon1e+pa Tnthse Gatherwell TnCL ICommunTty Lottuy&jnati¢I Ctrop Grant Vedia Grant UNRESTRICTED FUNDS ReIpts year ended JIA. 2022 Re•chln8 Communltle& NaJon•l Lottery Local0ni On Llne Plèrfonn Domth)raTrJ Glft Akl P.. É Charftable donatloft to cover Eady Years110$e meff Groundwork UK lomic Rellef Grnnt GatherweH TwlnCL {Commun Lottty donat1} CtropGrnnt12021-2022 8rant restrktedl Strlpe Payments UK- donauon NT webslte ¥ton Europe Core Ifromotrllne Am•zon SMILE (u PayPal GIn8 Fund Locblvln8- Magl¢ Llttle Grnnl HMRC- Fudowh Rep•yments IHMRCth •kJ In 201& 33,786.( 2015.48 281.21 103.tsj 2A2177 76.17 73.65 61.97 75 4667.49 Tot41 Re¢¢tyts P•ym•fit$ lf •nd•d 31A 2022 Mana8ement •rtd admiStrI Salarles+HMRC Ilakn'litie5 23259.13 8138.68 Payroll ser¥kes from Teword & WrekinCVS Payroll servkesfrom MathyT0coK stsff DBS cost5 Suppryt Costs Room Hirtr Woodside. Park Lane CeAtre. Wi)od5k HlTrThe Hub un Hill. &Jtton Room Alre- Sutton Hll Church 1826.5 355 1745 461.25 Pre-S¢hfy)l Leamin8A]liarKe-rnemiV5hiptringale wlx.corn (annual wthtefee +Domain wJr¢hasefee2 Toys.Offl¢e and eqUipmersta1aKe costs Coath forsummeractmty Summer actiTrAty+equipmentlrn•twia15costs Other actitS 281.21 126.84 171&5 510 92 Ic
Net Surplu5 on unr¢51rKledfunds 24541 RESTRICYED FUPIDS Retdpts yearended 31J. 2022 Veolya Grantforyoup rtwmptkn IA¢lw41w PPE Trusthouse tha¥itaile FJatIon- 8Trnt Co-op Grant Pat's Memorial Fund 1375.91 674.05 Tot•1 Rt¢elpts Payments yearwdod JIA. 2022 PPE and Eqvlpment for group resumpifjon Salades+MMRC abilitIeS $57.71 L610.93 520 Room Hlre Prtrschool LeaminKAllarKe.MemLSh1p11nrIn staff Tralnlng Office Equlwffit Total Piymwts Net Surplus restricled fvnds 284.79 147 192 5S7.71 Tol•l N•tSurylus B•l•n¢• brwtht ftyw•rd lance cayrled forward 105S6 8471.76 5574.86 is77.32 8471.76 Petty C•sh B•l•c¢ Totsl Balafice carrled foTh¥4rd 8561.76 Funds£¥rl•d Forw¥ 31IV22 unrestr1ctedlLds 16839. Rt5tr1rt¢dfds Cw Cornmunlty8rnnt Trusthousecharftsbklwbthl P•t's memowld lur 674th - Ved P•ttyCash Total B•lno 18.667.32 8561.76 131111$ 15 0&fv4S F(k•M a T /1 12 J ckJ.rknr4.,.