(CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1153919) ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** **1ST JANUARY 2025- 31ST DECEMBER 2025** ## **Welcome from the Chair of Trustees’** ## **Westway Open Arms’ review of the past year 2025** I hope this report offers you a glimpse of the valuable work taking place here. There have been many highlights over the past year, including a wide range of new activities and the arrival of new faces on the team. It’s been a joy to welcome new volunteers, groups, and individuals using the centre. This year, we said goodbye to John Freeman and Sheila Duggall from Debt Advice who retired after many years of valued service. Just to reassure you that the Debit Advice Service continues to be available at Westway Open Arms. We also said farewell to Gweneth Riley who has been part of the Client Support Team for many years They will be greatly missed by us all. I’m truly grateful for each of them and the dedicated service they have given. We have been blessed with many new volunteers who continue the excellent support that Westway Open Arms offers. A warm welcome to Carol Ginn who joined the team in April, Carol is working 12 hours a week alongside the manager and volunteers and will cover holidays when the manager is on holiday. Special thanks to Bernie Brown, who continues to manage the day-today running of the centre with great skill, care and experience. Westway Open Arms is so blessed to have such a wonderful team. I want to take this opportunity to thank all our Trustees, Treasurer and Secretary for their support and diligence in the oversight and vision for the centre. Westway Open Arms simply wouldn’t function without the dedication and support of our incredible Volunteers, who give so generously of their time and skills – thank you! A huge thank you to the individuals, churches, organisations, and businesses who support us through food gifts and financially, your partnership through your prayers and ongoing encouragement means everything to the continued work here. As we look to the future, may I commend Westway Open Arms to you once again, thank all our supporters in 2025/2026 and warmly invite you to get involved. God bless ## _Ros_ Canon Ros Brewer Chair of Trustees Westway Open Arms ## **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 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. Soup Social, Wednesday lunch - Volunteer Training - safeguarding, basic domestic abuse training, First Aid. - Debt Advice & Support; assisting people with budgeting and managing finances. - Client Support: advice, support, accessing grants assistance; signposting 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. ## **Our Impact** Our Impact especially during the past few 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. ## **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 incorporated Organisation on 23.9.2013, Registration number 1153919. 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 Diocese of York 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 2025: Canon R Brewer Chair of Trustees Mr G White Vice Chair of Trustees Mr I Johnston Treasurer. (not a Trustee) Mrs K Boyes Board Secretary. (not a Trustee) Mrs J Wells Dr G Hayes Mrs K Hayes Mr S Tate Mrs K 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. ## **Christian Faith and Spirituality** Westway Open Arms is a Christian Charity, held in prayer even before it came into being and continuously, with values of love and acceptance of ALL people. We have a non-judgmental approach and care for on another which we believe is at the heart of Christianity. We serve people of faith, different faiths and no faith. If you are seeking to find out more about the Christian Faith or how to access Church events and services at Holy Nativity, we will soon be welcoming the Revd. Jennie Adams please do ask to speak with Jennie. ## **Centre Managers Report** Westway Open Arms has had another busy year. Thank you so much to all that donate to the centre, community, churches, organisations and local businesses. We have welcomed a new member of the team Carol as a support worker and several new volunteers. A lot of time and resources this year have gone on the Garden Project. This is now a space for children to play and clients to come and sit to enjoy the environment whilst enjoying a cup of tea. Over the past year it became evident that our vintage CCTV system required replacement. We now have a new CCTV system fully installed. With very little disruption to our everyday working, the whole installation was completed in one day and is working very well, much easier to operate even with the remote access facility. The imaging is much clearer and quicker to search as it only records when incidents of movement occur. Sadly, we have already had to use the system in a serious manner, it has proved to be much easier to use and very effective. In addition, on the general maintenance / replacement schedule, the aging exterior floodlights were becoming unreliable and not providing sufficient lighting for safe access. Most of the individual PIR lighting units have been upgraded / replaced providing a much safer environment both in the car park and rear of the building. The cabling and lighting in the passageway have also been successfully replaced having been faulty since before we moved in. The quality, workmanship and value for money from the contractor has once again has been exceptional. ## **Acts 435** We have Acts 435 Advocate at Westway Open Arms if you need help have a word with the Centre Manager. Acts 435 is a giving website that allows people to give money directly to others, and 100% of what is donated via Acts 435 goes directly to those in need Acts 435 runs through a network of churches and local charities who nominate an Acts 435 representative, called the Advocate, who is trained by Acts 435 and posts requests directly onto our website for people in their community who are in need. When so many people need so much help giving to charities and good causes can sometimes feel overwhelming and hard. Acts 435 puts people who want to help in touch with people who are in need through a network of churches and local charities - this enables donors to give online to support specific needs. Westway Open Arms gives grateful thanks to those who give for their generosity in helping many people throughout the year. ## **Projects** The garden development project at Westway Open Arms continues apace thanks to the fantastic generosity of donors and supporters. The new allotment area is almost completed, with further plans to add a greenhouse, a wraparound tree seat and a memory area. The garden area has progressed enormously. The small shed has been removed, and the garden shed, arbour seat and railings painted. The rear fencing is now screened, and a beech hedge has been planted, both adding extra privacy and security. Multiple wooden seats and planters have been introduced, along with pots, more planting, and some beautiful cherry trees. We have further planned for a solar powered water feature, wind chimes, bird boxes and a sand pit area. The surface of the garden remains a challenge, and we are open to suggestions and input. It really is becoming a beautiful space to be enjoyed by all. Grateful thanks to all our financial and material contributors and to the hardworking garden team, all of whom have enabled the vision to become a reality. ## **Activities** All activities at the centre are well attended and led by our excellent volunteers. This year we have had more gentlemen join us, enjoying helping in the garden and supporting the volunteers with the different groups. We are already planning new groups with the help of suggestions from our clients. **Client Support** We continue to be a service entirely provided by volunteers but 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 12.00pm 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 sign- post clients to the appropriate statutory / non-statutory agency. Over the year we have helped with a wide range of issues including eviction orders, benefit problems, and applying for white goods with the support of Acts 435. We work closely with our colleagues in Rainbow Money and once a debt issue has been identified we refer 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-centered experience. ## **Food Bank** 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. Due to the continuation of the high cost of living as food has been donated it has gone straight out to clients. 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 Warburton’s who supply bread, teacakes, and crumpets fortnightly. Special thanks to Richard and Jean 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. 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 value what we offer. ## **School Holiday Lunches** Throughout the year we have provided lunch packs during the school holidays. We have distributed 450 packs this year. A big thank you to NFU for their support, it has been invaluable. This service has ensured that the children of Eastfield and beyond have a meal when the schools are on holiday. The snack bags include fresh fruit, yoghurt and other nutritious food items. These are very well received. **Debt Advice** There were 11 clients seen at Westway. £72,866 debt. There were 5 Debt Relief Orders and 3 payment plans set up with budgeting advice for the others 4 were unemployed and 4 weren't working due to disability. At the end of December 2025 our debt advice team retired. This service will continue at Westway Open Arms. We are in the process of training four members of our team to become Money Mentors. Any referrals we receive in the meantime are processed and referred into Rainbow Money, so clients are getting support in the interim. **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 2025 we had a team of approximately 38 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. ## **Financial Review – Year Ending 31 December 2025** 2025 has been a very stable year for Westway Open Arms. Total income was very similar to that of 2024, with our supporters continuing to be extremely generous. We remain very grateful to all of them for their continued support. 2025 income does include a grant of £5,000 generously provided by NYCC to help fund our garden redevelopment Despite pressures on costs such as power, insurance and water, we have managed to reduce overall running costs slightly, thanks again to the bank of volunteers who have provided so much of the labour required free of charge. As a result, we have turned the previous year’s small loss into a surplus. This stands us in good stead entering 2026, allowing us to provide much needed support for our Centre Manager and to continue to develop the centre garden, whilst increasing our financial support for the centre Food Bank. ## **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 2024helping the centre to help those in need in Eastfield. Independent Examiner of Accounts 2025: 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 Signatures |||| |---|---|---| |Signatures
Names in full
Position (e.g.
Secretary, Chair etc)|_K A Hayes_|_Rosalind P.A. Brewer_| ||Kathryn Hayes|Rosalind Patricia Anne
Brewer| ||Trustee|Chair Trustees| Date 9[th] June 2026 Charity’s principal address: Westway House, Westway, Eastfield, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Y011 3EE 1153919 Receipts And Pa ments Accounts CC16a For the period To 01 Jan 2025 31 Dec 2025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestficted Restn'cted Endovrtnent funds nds funds Totsl funds La¥t y•ar totr• n••r•st £ io the ￿lest £ A1 Recei Grants (Note 31 Donation$ (Note 31 Fundraisi Sundry Roarn Hire Legacy S.676 45.676 47.685 1220 1.735 2,623 4.410 Bank Interest 4.410 7.131 ross income AR) 54.029 56.550 se an Investmen see table . Sales A3 Pa monts Running Costs (Note 41 Activ1t￿S (Note 51 Velunteers Eyent5 Repair and Renewals Eqijipment Director Expenses cent￿ Manager Travel Debt Ad￿ Client Supwrt Feod Bank Fuel Vouchers 12.520 5,142 12.520 11,610 13.838 13.828 575 2,973 625 328 2.152 2.790 2,1S2 976 1.224 3.100 539 2.307 892 1.230 Sub total 7.160 53.710 5T.556 A4 Asset and Inv•stmert Fridge, M4cTowave Sub total 7.160 53.710 57,556 Not of receipts/(paym•ntsJ A5 Tran$fers from fund8 Transfers into funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 7.479 S.320 1.006 ,507 171.987 12.861 10,701 8,374 1n.368 182.688 1153919 Recei tsAndPa ments Accounts CC16a For the p•riod Jan 2025 To 31 Iyec 2025 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unlesiricted Restricted Endowtnent funds a¥prt£ Cateooriès tr* wwt£ to neareBt£ B1 C•$h fundB 167.644 Total cash funds 171.643 343 funds to r￿r￿le Detai15 ro*t£ to noare8t£ B2 Other mon•tsry as8•ts Fund cu1r￿l¥•￿￿ Ll?Ils NONE Fund to Ctsst IoFé6 Curr•rt￿l¥O 84 Assots r•tained for Ihe charity's I￿n use General Ger￿ra1 Frrm Laptop 215 GeneRI Gerwal 2019. V*wn Ckn3rtt. CCTV 170 7.574 Pnnter. Tatles. F￿th¥j Fund to1*￿ knoufrt du BS Llabllltie8 onal Janua 2025 Si9￿d by one or trustetrs o iehawof all the trustees SYJnature Pn"nt Name Date of roval Westway Opn Arms. Eastfield. Scarl>omugh 1153919 Recei tsAndPa ments Accounts For the poriod To 01 Jan 2025 31 Dec 2025 Independent Examiners Report Inde￿ndent Examinets Report to the membersltrustees of Westway Open Amis, Scarborough. I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st t)ecember 2025 Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner The charity's trustee$ consider that an audrt is not required for this year under section 14412) of the Chanties Act 2011 (the 2011 A¢tl and that an independenl examinat*Jn ￿ needed. It is my responsibility to ' examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act". . follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions gNen by the Chanty Commissionets section 14515llbl of the 2011 Acl,. aTh ' state whether particular matters have come to my attenti(m. Basis of Independent Examinerfs Slatement My examination was carried out in accordance th the General Directions gNen by the Charity Commission. An examinab.on includes a review of the accounb.ng rwJ)rds kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wth those records. 11 also includes consideration of any unusual rtems or disclosures in the aecounts, and seeking explanab.ons from the management commrttee Con￿mIng any such matters. The procedufes undertaken do not provkle all the ev•Jence that woukl be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audrt opinton on the accounts. Independent Examinerfs Statement In Connection with my examinath)n. no matters have come to my attention 1. which gNe me reasonable cause lo L*lieve that in any material respeca the requirements • to keep accountsng records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Art or . to prepare accounts Wh￿ accor(1 these aCcc￿nting records have not been met,. or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should drawn in ordei to enable a proFer underslarKling of the accoLtnts lo be reached. Name Address s* A, YOIS qFT Date q mG/& 2026 WoStway Open Arn￿, Eagffield, Scart)oYough 1153919 Recei tsAndPa ments Accounts For the period from To 01 Jan 2025 31 2026 Independent Examiners Report Independent Examina¢s Report to the m8mbernltrusts0s of Westway Opon Ami8, SrArborough. I report on the accounts for the year end￿ 31st D8¢ember 2025 Respectlve responsiblllties of the Trustees and Independont Examiner The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under sectson 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 {Ihè 2011 Art) and that an independent examination is needed_ It is my resp)nsibillty to examine lh8 accounts undor section 145 of the 2011 Art. • follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions glven by the Charity Commlssioners section 145(5)Ibl of the 2011 Art and . state whether partiCU￿r matters have come to my attention. Bas18 of Indopondent Examlnevs Statement My examination was canied out in accordance with Ihe General Directions gwen by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a rewew of the accounting records kept by the chartty and a comparison of the accounls presented those records. It also includes considerdtK)n of any unusual rtems or discbsures In the accounts. and seeking explanations from the management committee cOn￿mIng any such matters. The prcKedures undertaken do not PfovKle all the eV￿en￿ that would be required in a full audc and C•JnsequenUy I do not express an audf( opinion on the accounts. Indep8ndent EXamine￿S Statomont In rxtrnnection wllh my examinathJn, no matters have come to my attention 1. wh￿￿ give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements . to keep aLxountin9 ￿ordS in accordan￿ with s.130 of the 2011 A¢tr, or . lo prepare accounts which accord wth these accounb'ThJ records have not mel., or 2. to whth. in my opinton, att8nts.on should be drawn in order to enawe a proper understanding of the accounts to be reach￿. Name Address 5- 4 fvm A, LIOIS QFT Date q /MLv6A 2oZ6