SUPPORT TRAINING ACTIVITIES & RESPITE SERVICES
(Trading as WIGAN STARS)
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YEAR 2024 TO 2025
Charity Number 1134552
Contents
-
Charity’s Objectves
-
Objectves
-
Vision
-
Volunteers
-
Trustees
-
Financial
Hallgate House, Frank Street, Hallgate, Wigan, WN1 1HP www.wiganstars.uk
Address: Website:
Objectves (the Objects)
-
The relief for the public benefit, of people with learning disabilities and their carers, dependents and families by provision of facilities for respite, recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of enhancing their quality of life.
-
The advancement of education and training of people with learning disabilities and their carers, dependents and families, but not exclusively, to develop their work and life skills by developing, delivering and evaluating accessible learning opportunities.
Wigan STARS believe the organisations our motto Wigan Ability not Disability has been developed by the personal advancement and personal development of people with a learning disability through greater leisure opportunities. The opportunities have come about by promoting choice and independence to people with a learning disability, and encouraging full participation, integration and involvement within the community.
In April 2021 due to the pandemic and lack of funding and dwindling membership Wigan STARS and the Hallgate house Project merged into one Charity with Wigan Stars becoming the lead charity and are now solely responsible for the running, maintaining and management of the town centre community building known as Hallgate House.
ACTIVITES and OBJECTIVES In the Year
The continuation of the provision and maintenance of the facilities for the social welfare for people with a learning disability
Evidence suggests the lives of Learning-disabled people continues to be disproportionately affected both through the coronavirus pandemic and economic pressures. We have and are continuing to provide and maintain a specialist building, with services operated through a team of dedicated volunteers and the hire of our community building from a small number of community groups throughout the year.
Wigan Stars services, first and foremost provide our members with opportunities to fulfil their aspirations and potential, but our members contribute to the local economy, the services enable parents and carers to have some valued respite knowing that the members are safe but having a fantastic time, and also the services take pressures off of the very stretched services provided by the local authority and other statutory organisations.
Address: Hallgate House, Frank Street, Hallgate, Wigan, WN1 1HP Website: www.wiganstars.uk
We have accessed community venues within the Wigan borough including meals at the local pub, Ten pin bowling, using a local narrow boat company to enhance further community experience. a fundraising evening at a local social club and using the same venue for our Christmas Disco / Party. We have introduced live music acts into our activity programme by developing friendships with the artists from our fundraising evening,
Vision
Embracing ability. Empowering lives
Our vision is to empower people with learning disabilities to achieve their full potential, by working with them to focus on their abilities, supporting them to take part in a programme of activities and by spending time in an environment that is comfortable, safe and secure enabling them to feel a part of their community, to be valued, to build confidence, feel challenged and take risks.
We want to break down barriers and remove any social discrimination, to empower people with a learning disability to develop plans and aspirations, and to achieve all their ambitions
Wigan Stars achieve this by providing support, encouragement and services embracing the following values:
SAFE
Activities are fully risk assessed and using appropriate equipment and resources.
Volunteers act with professionalism and are vigilant at all times.
Venues and Activities meet our members needs
Trusted
Positive relationships are evidenced.
We deliver on our promises.
Hallgate House, Frank Street, Hallgate, Wigan, WN1 1HP www.wiganstars.uk
Address: Website:
Adaptable
Fun activities, fully inclusive and person-centred.
We involve, listen and respond to the needs of our members.
Resilient
We listen and respond to change in legislation, economic circumstances and individual need and aspiration, whilst maintaining focus on the aims and objectives.
We listen and learn from any mistakes.
Success
Our Volunteers will go the extra mile to consistently meet our high standards
VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTION
The charity is fully dependent on volunteers and the contributions they make to ensure our that the Members Activity Programme along with the administration of the Wigan STARS charity and the care of the building continues in line with the charitable objectives. The Voluntary contributions equate to approx. 30 hours each week.
In February 2025 we were nominated for the Kings Award for Voluntary Services this is equivalent to our charity receiving a MBE but we will not find out the outcome until November 2025.
Hallgate House, Frank Street, Hallgate, Wigan, WN1 1HP www.wiganstars.uk
Address: Website:
The Honorary Officers (Chair, one or more vice-chairs, a treasurer and secretary and other such officers as the Charity may decide) together with trustees are appointed at the annual meeting.
Trustees Positon OFFICERS Karon Swinburn Chairperson Stephen Ramage Vice Chair Joyce Davies Secretary Maureen Ramage Treasurer
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Margaret Bird Suzanne Bird Scot Ramage Marie Walsh Angela Wood
We are actively recruiting younger volunteers and are seeking to introduce younger people on to our management committee to ensure the long term sustainability of Wigan STARS.
Address: Hallgate House, Frank Street, Hallgate, Wigan, WN1 1HP Website: www.wiganstars.uk
FINANACIAL REPORT 2024 – 25
We have increased our user groups hiring our community building from 5 regular user groups to 8 along with other community groups who use our facilities when required, the income from our user groups contributes towards our running cost.
Wigan STARS also received funding from the YAPP Charitable Trust. This has secured the planned activity Programme for the STARS membership.
Wigan STARS have established an excellent working relationship with Wigan Council Communities Team which has resulted in STARS to obtain small grants from local Wigan Council. The Communities Team has also been instrumental in helping STARS to identify pots of funding and other local resources to enable the Management Committee of Wigan STARS to move the organisation forward and look forward to future success.
The Management Committee, the volunteers and the members would like to extend a huge thank you to Wigan Council for all the support that the Communities Team have given Wigan STARS in the last financial years, and we look forward developing our working relationship going forward
The Board of Trustees January 2026
Hallgate House, Frank Street, Hallgate, Wigan, WN1 1HP www.wiganstars.uk
Address: Website:
Statement Date: 4/1/2024 End Due: 3/31/2025
Wigan Stars Support Training Activities & Respite Services Hallgate House Frank St Wigan WN1 1HP
STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT
| WN1 1HP | STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wigan Stars | ||||
| 2024 TO 2025 | ||||
| ACCOUNT | ||||
| DATE | DESCRIPTION | INCOMES | OUTGOING | BALANCE |
| 3/31/2024 | Balance brought forward | £10,928.06 | ||
| CASH IN HAND | £155.00 | |||
| SUBSCRIPTIONS & TUCKSHOP | 5,225.00 | |||
| USER GROUP INCOME | 8,839.00 | |||
| MEMBERSHIP FEES | 415.00 | |||
| FUND RAISING | 1,100.00 | |||
| XMAS ACTIVITIES | 1,031.00 | |||
| DONATIONS | 77.40 | |||
| GRANTS | 3,600.00 | |||
| TRIPS & MEALS OUT | 1,285.00 | |||
| LOTTERY | 5,872.00 | |||
| TOTALS | 27,599.40 | |||
| ADD BALANCE | 38,527.46 | |||
| NEW TOTAL | ||||
| PHONES/ INTERNET WEBSITE QUICKBOOKS | £2,840.17 | |||
| GAS ELECTRIC WATER | £3,709.55 | |||
| COVID BOUNCE BACK REPAYMENTS | £753.54 | |||
| INSURANCE | £2,782.00 | |||
| TUCKSHOP /MEALS PRIZES FOR ACTIVITIES | £2,294.08 | |||
| CLUB & XMAS ACTIVITIES | £4,655.99 | |||
| PAY OUT TO LOTTERY FUNDRISING | ||||
| WINNERS AND FUNDRISING | £2,573.40 | |||
| REPAIRS / SERVICES AND LICENCES | £4,073.55 | |||
| BUSINESS RATES & LICENSE MISC | £333.90 | |||
| STATIONERY | £116.47 | |||
| EQUIPMENT | £864.42 | |||
| CLEANING | £83.85 | |||
| LESS OUTGOING | 25,081.44 | |||
| NEW BALANCE AT BANK TO CARRY | ||||
| 3/31/2025 | FORWARD | £13,446.02 | ||
| SIGNED :Maureen Ramage | ||||
| 10th January 2025 | ||||
| Counter Signed :Joyce Davies 10th | ||||
| January 2025 |
Examiner's unqualified report (for a non-company charfty preparlng accruals accounts) with a gross income of £250.000 or less in the relevant financial year 2023 to 2024 Independent examiner's report to th8• of Supportfvining Actlvlties and Respite Services trading and known as Wigan Stars Charity I reportto the trustees on my examination of the accounts forwigan Stars for the year ended 31" March 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusvs accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have Supporollowed alLthe applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5}(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records: or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairview which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: NhislLIÉ fuLMÉL AcillA L&mA Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (rf any). CHAQrÉiÉn lfyfyf IfUTC OF mfifvJfiG£m tP4J I AccoufvrdNJ I S Address: L HOQSeLF_X AoCvJue (uRLU É*J, In Ar4Jc FSTéL (YIZÉ 3%A Date: JftNV loib