(Reg Charity No: 1157844)
NR2 Community Skills Share
ANNUAL REPORT January 1[st] 2021 – December 31st 2021
1. Introduction:
As Covid restrictions eased in 2021, our Charity began a return to normal, although we were still affected by the disruption brought about in 2019/2020. We finally tailed off and then closed the Food Bank (which had been necessitated by the pandemic), stepped up the socially distanced work of the Jenny Lind Gardeners, planned and started the new Stretch and Chat group, but were unable to resume the Sunday Socials.
We continue to be rooted in the strengths and needs of our local community. In particular, we are grateful for the support of Norwich Consolidated Charities in 2021, the donations of generous individuals to the NR2 Food Bank, and for the help of volunteers and everyone who has participated in our work.
2. Governance:
None of the existing Trustees resigned and no new Trustees were appointed. Trustees met on eight occasions in 2021, via Zoom.
In 2020, for the first time, our turnover exceeded £25,000 following grant funding and personal donations to the Food Bank. As a result of hitting this threshold, and in accordance with the Charity Commission’s rules for all charities, we needed to have our Annual Accounts for 2020 independently examined in 2021. This was successfully achieved and we are grateful to Samantha Demetriou, FCCA, who kindly provided her services pro bono.
3. NR2 Food Bank:
The work of the Food Bank continued in skeletal form until July 2021. The underlying philosophy was always to build self-confidence for some users who had complex needs and find other sources of longer-term support, so work had to be done with other agencies to that end. Only around five families remained at the beginning of 2021 who continued to receive support until finally they were all referred to other agencies.
Remaining funds from donations were converted into food vouchers and used by Bignold School, the Synagogue and local hostels as necessary to meet emergency need at their discretion.
4. Sunday Socials:
Despite the best endeavours of Emma Corlett and her local knowledge and contacts, we have been unable to find alternative accommodation for the Sunday Socials to replace its previous venue at a local Café. Nevertheless, the 2021 Christmas lunch was held in Sam’s Café, formerly home to the Sunday Socials, by kind permission of the new owners
5. Jenny Lind Gardeners:
Liz Rowles reported that the year got off to a slow start because of Covid restrictions so in the first 3 months of the year it was basic maintenance in socially distanced pairs. By the end of March, we were able to increase numbers and the group was relieved to be able to get out and chat whilst working on the beds. Spring saw a great display in the beds especially along the walkways.
Numbers have been fairly constant since the easing of restrictions on gatherings, and we regularly get 6-8 people. We have managed a total of 170 hours.
6. Stretch and Chat:
This group, organised by Gail Durbin, began in October with an initial group of ten participants. It has been designed to provide gentle exercise and an opportunity to socialise for people who have become immobile because of the pandemic lock downs and health problems. Grant funding has been provided for an initial series of classes by Norwich Consolidated Charities. The classes are led by a Pilates teacher who has adapted her approach to the physical limitations of group members. As well as a local poster campaign, it is hoped to attract referrals from GP surgeries and Social Services to boost numbers. Initial feedback suggests that the participants are benefitting from the group. The group leader is a talented communicator who has designed the classes accurately to meet the needs of participants.
Finding suitable premises proved challenging, but finally, the local Methodist Church Hall provided a suitable room on Fridays.
7. St Stephens Square Community Gardens:
The garden in a small triangle of land off Chapelfield Road has matured and is full of life and colour, used by local people to meet and hold small events. The main organiser of the transformation of the garden, a resident of St Stephens Square, continues to be involved and is supported by her neighbours in her hard work, and we continue to support it through small grants for plants etc when necessary.
8. Speed Cameras:
We provided support to a group of volunteers in the Town Close Road, Hall Road, Lakenham area, (led by two local Councillors, including Emma Corlett) who wanted to use speed cameras to monitor the speed of traffic in their area. The cameras have been ordered and the volunteers will need training in their use.
9. Conclusion:
In common with all charities, communities, and businesses in the UK, we have spent a year returning to something like normality, but still, levels of Covid 19 necessitate continuing measures to protect vulnerable people. We were able to commence the Stretch and Chat group, long planned for and considerably delayed by the pandemic, and pick up our regular activity leading the Jenny Lind Gardening group.
For the future, as we look to expand our activities, finding premises for groups we want to set up can prove challenging, as with the Stretch and Chat group and the Sunday Socials. However, we benefit from being able to be comparatively nimble as we currently have no staffing requirements or costs arising from contracts with local government or other agencies, and no costs arising from owning or renting our own premises.
Emma Corlett (Chair)
Rob Freeman (Treasurer) Sue Gourvish (Secretary) Gail Durbin (Trustee) Liz Rowles (Trustee)
NR2 Community Skills Share (Charity Number – 1157844)
End of Year Financial Accounts January 2021 - December 2021
Income and Expenditure account
| INCOME Norwich Consolidated Charities - Grant for Exercise Group £ 2,600.00 Donations to Earmarked Fund - Food Bank £ 2,551.17 Donations to Earmarked Fund - Sunday Social £ 45.00 Donations to Earmarked Fund - St Stephens Square £ 50.00 Donations to General Fund (Unrestricted) £ 250.00 Total Income £ 5,496.17 EXPENDITURE Restricted Funds Norwich Consolidated Charities - Exercise Grant Capital Costs Operational costs £ 1,345.71 £ 1,345.71 Norfolk Community Foundation - Winter Reslience Fund 20/21 Operational costs £ 3,194.56 £ 3,194.56 Sunday Social Restricted Fund Capital Costs Operational costs £ 46.28 £ 46.28 Earmarked Fund - Food Bank Capital Costs Operational costs £ 5,323.20 £ 5,323.20 Unrestricted Funds £ 0.00 £ 0.00 Total Expenditure £ 9,909.75 Excess of Expenditure over Income 2021 -£ 4,413.58 |
INCOME Norwich Consolidated Charities - Grant for Exercise Group £ 2,600.00 Donations to Earmarked Fund - Food Bank £ 2,551.17 Donations to Earmarked Fund - Sunday Social £ 45.00 Donations to Earmarked Fund - St Stephens Square £ 50.00 Donations to General Fund (Unrestricted) £ 250.00 Total Income £ 5,496.17 EXPENDITURE Restricted Funds Norwich Consolidated Charities - Exercise Grant Capital Costs Operational costs £ 1,345.71 £ 1,345.71 Norfolk Community Foundation - Winter Reslience Fund 20/21 Operational costs £ 3,194.56 £ 3,194.56 Sunday Social Restricted Fund Capital Costs Operational costs £ 46.28 £ 46.28 Earmarked Fund - Food Bank Capital Costs Operational costs £ 5,323.20 £ 5,323.20 Unrestricted Funds £ 0.00 £ 0.00 Total Expenditure £ 9,909.75 Excess of Expenditure over Income 2021 -£ 4,413.58 |
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| Reserves brought forward from 2020: Norfolk Community Foundation - Winter Reslience Fund 20/21 Earmarked Fund - Food Bank Earmarked Fund - Sunday Social Unrestricted General Fund Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021 Cash at Bank Add: Cash to be banked Add: Petty cash Less: Uncashed Cheques Capital Reserves carried forward to 2022 Norwich Consolidated Charities - Grant for Exercise Group Earmarked Fund - Food Bank Earmarked Fund - Sunday Social Earmarked Fund - St Stephen's Square Unrestricted General Fund |
£ 3,194.56 £ 8,009.20 £ 2,352.29 £ 513.56 £ 14,069.61 £ 10,145.20 £ 57.11 £ 546.28 £ 9,656.03 £ 1,254.29 £ 5,237.17 £ 2,351.01 £ 50.00 £ 763.56 £ 9,656.03 |
28/08/2022 19:17
NR2 Accounts 2021 RF