**Westway Open Arms (Charity registration number: 1153919)** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report** **1[st] January 2023 - 31[st] December 2023** 1 ## **Welcome from the Chair of Trustees** _Welcome to our Annual Report for 2023._ _Welcome to the Westway Open Arms review of the past year. I hope that you find that this leaflet gives you an insight into the valuable work that takes place. There are so many highlights of the past year including the range of new activities and new faces on the team. It’s been great to welcome new volunteers and new groups and people using the centre. This year we sadly lost one of our Trustees Revd John Wells. John died suddenly and is missed immensely. He was part of the original team that set up the charity and managed client support and food bank for a number of years. John has left behind a wonderful legacy. Thank you to Bernie Brown (Centre Manager) who continues to manage the day to day life of the centre. Westway Open Arms is so blessed to have such a wonderful and dedicated team._ _I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Trustees and their work which is often behind the scenes. Westway Open Arms would not function if was not for the dedication and support of numerous volunteers who give of their time and expertise to make the place such a joy to be part of. – Thank you!_ _Thank you to those individuals, churches, organisations, and businesses that support Westway Open Arms either financially or with ongoing support and encouragement. One of the great aspects of this work is meeting and working alongside a range of people._ _May I therefore commend Westway Open Arms to you; thank all of our supporters in 2023 and encourage you to find out more and get involved._ _God bless_ _Sam_ _Revd Samantha Taylor - Director of the Charity_ ## **About our organisation** This charity’s main focus and mission from the start has been to make a real difference in Eastfield, aiming for the prevention or relief of poverty, and the relief 2 of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage; by operating a Social Action Centre in the heart of the community, providing critical support and interventions to local and vulnerable people in need or crisis in this Area of High Deprivation of Eastfield, Scarborough. Westway Open Arms has Christian ethos and values, supporting and giving hope to all, regardless of age, gender or religion. We operate within and for the benefit of, and with the involvement of, the Community of Eastfield, Scarborough. The main work of the charity is the operation of a Social Action Centre, providing often critical interventions for people within the community, on four days a week offering community services and support through: - Drop-In Services & Support: drop in for tea, coffee, to warm up in the winter months and to simply have a listening ear. Craft and Gardening Clubs. Volunteer Training - basic domestic abuse training, First Aid. Free weekly lunch. - Debt Advice & Support; assisting people with budgeting and managing finances. - Client Support: advice, support, accessing grants assistance; sign-posting and referrals to other agencies; essential household items, baby clothing provided; support for clients in crisis and difficult circumstances; emergency gas and electric assistance. - Foodbank: providing vital Emergency Food parcels for people in crisis. - Christian Faith & Spirituality: Prayers; Listening ear. Events and services for those who wish to take part. ## **Activities & Achievements in 2023** New groups have evolved, there is a weekly lunch club, a monthly choir, soup and social, craft and gardening group continue to be popular. Senses (a toddler group for children with additional needs), IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Service) and the North Yorkshire Refugee Council have all joined the family at Westway. **Food Bank** 3 The foodbank is an integral and vital part of the service we offer. It is designed to help in a crisis and is not a way of sustaining someone indefinitely who has ongoing financial problems. We continue to be grateful to Morrisons and Proudfoots, We are also indebted to all those who donate food on a regular basis. Thank you to Warburtons who supply bread, teacakes and crumpets fortnightly. Special thanks to Richard for the regular donation of fresh eggs. Our grateful thanks are also due to Scarborough Lions, and local churches who have helped us with generous donations over the past year. During the twelve months January to December 2023 we have issued in excess of 7500 food parcels which also include the provision for babies if required. As a Christian organisation we continue to offer to pray with people after we have interviewed them. There is no pressure and not everyone accepts, but those who do accept value what we offer. ## **School Lunches** Throughout the year we have provided lunch packs during the school holidays We have distributed 750 packs this year. A big thank you to NFU for your support it has been invaluable. This service continues through 2023. ## **Client Advice & Support** We continue to be a service entirely provided by volunteers and there have been some changes in personnel during the year. The service is available daily, Monday to Thursday between the hours of 10.00am and 1.00pm, subject to the availability of volunteers. All client records are kept in strictest confidence. Everyone presenting for help is interviewed by one of our trained volunteers and an assessment of need identified. We are keen to signpost clients to the appropriate statutory / nonstatutory agency. Over the year we have helped with a wide range of issues including eviction orders, benefit problems, applying for white goods with the support of SALT. We work closely with our colleagues in Rainbow Money and once a debt issue has been identified we signpost the client to Rainbow Money. Over the year we have built up relationships with various statutory and non-statutory agencies locally and in the town centre. Collaborating with partners is imperative ensuring our clients get the full person centred experience. 4 ## **Debt Advice** Sheila and John, have continued to provide sympathetic support for local people who have found themselves struggling particularly with unaffordable debts. With a few meetings we are able to understand the issues and suggest a way forward. In 2023 we met with 15 people over the 33 weeks we had available – still on Thursdays in the first floor Debt Advice office. From January to March 2024 we have met with 5 people over the 8 days that we were open. It can take several meetings to reach a suitable debt solution gathering paperwork, contacting those who own the debts and understanding a person`s income and expenditure. Generally when We operate as a satellite to Rainbow Money at the Rainbow Centre in Scarborough and we are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We have systems, training and support provided by Community Money Advice, a national charity. In the first quarter 2024 the CMA IT system (called Catalyst) was given a major update to provide even more functionality. Good News for 2024 - one of the debt solutions we can help with is the Debt Relief Order and this year there are some welcome changes to the eligibility. ## **Centre Manager Report** My name is Bernadette Brown (Bernie) I am the Centre Manager at Westway Open Arms and I have been in post since September 2021. Westway open Arms continues to be very busy. On average we have supported over 200 families each month with food, and client support. We continue to increase the number of volunteers in all areas, food bank, client support and activities. Some of these new volunteers are past clients who we have enabled to move forward. As our services see an increase in clients the uplift in volunteering is greatly appreciated. Without the support of our band of wonderful volunteers we would struggle to maintain all our amazing services and activities In the last year we have developed a leaflet to advertise all that we do, this has generated a lot of interest both from new clients and organisations. We continue to have a very vibrant Lunch Club on a Wednesday a beautiful fresh cooked 2 course meal is provided this club is aimed at people experiencing loneliness and isolation, this could be people living on their own or mums or dads whose children have now started school. We continue to be supported by the community, Churches, schools, organisations, and local businesses. The generosity is greatly appreciated. We continue to grow our partnership working which is imperative to give the client a complete person centred approach. 5 ## **Christian Faith & Spirituality** The very reason Westway Open Arms operates effectively is because it is a Christian Charity with values of love, acceptance of ALL people, and a non-judgmental approach which we believe is at the heart of Christianity. We are part of Holy Nativity Church (next door to the centre). We work with people of faith, different faiths and no faiths. ## **ACTS 435** Acts 435 is a charity website available nation wide that allows people to give money directly to others. Managed through a network of churches their goal is to get 100% of donated funds quickly to those in need. If you would like to know more about the support Acts 435 is currently sponsoring or you would like to donate please contact Westway Open Arms. Rosalind P.A. Brewer Acts 435 Advocate on behalf of Westway Open Arms ## **Contributions made by Volunteers** Volunteering time is a very special gift, and all our volunteers are greatly valued. Thanks to our Volunteers for the continuing time and support we have received from them in this challenging couple of years. During 2023 we had a team of approximately 36 volunteers actively covering our available services and support, with some volunteers committing to more than one role. Our volunteers, who come from all walks of life, ages and abilities, are the important foundation and mainstay of our workforce, and they operate within the high level of confidentiality required of the skilled roles they provide. The charity is governed and strategically planned and managed by the voluntary team of professionally qualified and experienced trustees. 6 ## **Our Impact** This past couple of years has demonstrated just how vital the services of this charity in the centre of the community are, and that this is frequently to where the people of this community, and partner agencies, turn for critical help. Our Impact has significantly increased with the increased and often different needs and demands. Westway Open Arms has provided a tremendous and sustained effort under the cost of living crisis, managing the pressures well with emergency measures in the face of great change and need. ## **About us** This charity’s main focus and mission is to make a real difference in Eastfield, aiming for the prevention or relief of poverty, and the relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage; by operating a Social Action Centre in the heart of the community, providing critical support and interventions to local and vulnerable people in need or crisis in this Area of High Deprivation of Eastfield, Scarborough. Westway Open Arms has Christian ethos and values, supporting and giving hope to all, regardless of age, gender or religion. We operate within and for the benefit of, and with the involvement of, the Community of Eastfield, Scarborough. Our main work is the operation of a Social Action Centre within the community, providing often critical interventions for people. In normal times we provide, over four days a week: - Drop-In Services & Support - Debt Advice & Support - Client Support - Foodbank - Christian Faith & Spirituality ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Westway Open Arms is a well-respected and successful independent charity, being founded in July 2013, registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable lncorporated Organisation on 23.9.2013, Registration number 1153919. 7 We are funded mainly through various grants, donations and fundraising. Our costs are kept low because most of our work is done on a voluntary basis, our premises are provided by the Church of England, and we are prudent in our use of funds, closely monitoring our finances on a quarterly basis at the Board of Trustees meeting. ## **Names of the charity trustees who managed the charity in 2023:** Revd. S Taylor Chair Canon R Brewer Vice Chair Mr I Johnston Treasurer (not a Trustee) Mrs M Burton Board Secretary (not a Trustee) Mrs J Wells Mrs R Brewer Mr G White Dr G Hayes Mrs K Hayes Mr Stephen Tate The recruitment and appointment of new Trustees is carried out solely by the Trustees of Westway Open Arms. Selection method chosen is based, as relevant, on seeking either to fill skills/experience gaps in the Trustee team, and/or to include key people who are significantly involved in the development and delivery of the charity’s objectives; allowing for due consideration of good practice principles and equal opportunities. ## **Financial Review – Year Ending 31 December 2023** Westway has enjoyed another very successful year. We are very grateful to all the companies, organisations and individuals who have donated during the year. Donations increased significantly during 2023, as compared to 2022. A total of £75,696 in donations and £7,100 was received. This means that we have been able, in early 2024, to embark on expanding our services to support more clients and increase the ways in which we help existing clients. We have also been able to make plans to repurpose much of our external space into a sensory garden and hope to see this come into fruition during 2024. Our existing services, such as our weekly lunches, provision of food parcels for schoolchildren and the food bank continue, thanks to the generous support received, both financially and by way of provisions from local supermarkets. New initiatives include chair yoga and “soup and social” get togethers. 8 ## **Reserves Policy** The charity has set a policy of ensuring balances equivalent to approximately six months basic costs will be retained. At 31 December 2022 this is set at £14,000 unrestricted balances. Unrestricted funds at bank were £52,896 held in a current account and a linked savings account.. ## **Thanks** There are many who have provided goods and services which aren’t shown in our accounts. We thank all who have given to Westway Open Arms over 2023 helping the centre to help those in need in Eastfield. Independent Examiner of Accounts **2023:** Valerie Hall (Rural Accounting) FIAB Raven Cottage, Silpho, Scarborough, YO13 0JP ## **Declarations:** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees |Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc)
Date|S. Taylor|G. White| |---|---|---| ||Revd. Samantha Taylor|Graham White| ||Charity Director and Chair of
Trustees|Trustee| ||8thOctober 2024|| ||8thOctober 2024|| ## Charity’s principal address: Westway House, Westway, Eastfield, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Y011 3EE 9 Westway Open Ami$, Ea$ff￿1d. Scartjorough 1153919 Recei tsAndPa ments Accounts For the period from 01 Jan 2023 To 31 Dec 2023 Independent Examiners Report Independent Examinor's Report to the membersltruste8s of Westway Open Arnis, Scarborough. l ieport on the acCO￿nIS foi the year ended 31st December 2023. Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independenl Examlner The charity's trustees consider trat an audit is not required for this year under secbon 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Actl and that an independent examination is needed. 11 is my responsibility to • examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act., follow the procedures laid down In the General Directions given by the Charty Commissioners sectK)n 14515llbl of the 2011 Ael,. and ' state whether particular matters have come to n7y attention. Basis of Independent Examinerfs Statement My examination was carried out in accordance with the Generdl Directions given by the Chanty Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting ￿e0rd$ kept by the charity and a companson of the accounts presented wlh those iecords. It also includes coll51derabon of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanatrons from the management committee ￿n￿rnIng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provKle 811 the evkdence that would be required in a full audrt, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Indopondant Examinerfs Statement In ￿nneCtion with my examinab'on. no matters have come lo my attention 1. which gNe me reasonable cause lo believe that in any material respect the requirements lo keep accounting records in accordance wth s.130 of the 2011 Act., or . lo prepare aco)unls which accord wth these accounting records have not trEen met,. or 2. to which, in my opinion, attenb.on should be drawn in order to enable a prO￿r understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Name Address OALEfv) co7fFKÉ, 5C_A£Go&?L¢)rough 1153919 Receipts And Pa ments Accounts For the period from To 01 Jan 2023 31 Dec 2023 Independent Examiners Report Indepndènt Examinorfs Report to th• membersltrustses of Westway Opon Amis, S¢arborough. I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023. Respective respon8ibllities of the Trustees and Indep•nd•nl Examlner The chariws trustees consider Ihal an audit is not required for Ihts year under section 14412} of the Charit￿5 Act 2011 {Ihe 2011 A¢tl and that an independent examination 1$ needed. It is my re$ponsibiSity to ' examine the a￿OuntS under Secti￿ 145 of the 2011 kt,. . follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions grlen by the Charity c￿mIsSIOn￿5 section 14515)Ibl of the 2011 Act,. and ' stste whether pa￿'Cular matteTS have come to my attenlion. Bas18 of Indèpendent Examlnorfs Statement My examination was earried out in accordance the General ￿"TectiOnS given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounb.ng records kept by the charty and a companson of the accounts presented those records. It also irKludes consideth.on of any unusual rtems or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from the manw3ement committee eonceming any such matters. The procedufes undertaken do not provKle all the evhlence that V•wld be required in a fvll audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent Examin•rf8 Statement In connection with my examinat￿￿n, no matters have come lo my attent￿n 1. which give me reasonable cause to telieve that in any material respect the requirements . to keep accounting recofds in accordance vthh s.130 of 2011 Act,. or . to prepare accounts which aC￿d wth theso xo)untry rec£)rds have nol been mel,. or 2. to which, in my opinion, attentmyt should be dra•m in order to enable a proFer understandirKJ of the accounts lo be reach&J. Name L/AL&L'iÉ FIAQ Bccx)uknnAI) Address QhLE7L) C£J7fFK6, KILR￿0 5CAGoKthL