## **Annual Report 2022** # **Space2Create is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation** **Registered Charity No. 1159664** Space2Create Studio 31 (Unit 31) The Factory Castle Mills Aynam Road Kendal LA9 7DE (01539) 482540 info@space2create.co.uk www.space2create.co.uk ## **Contents:** |1.|Trustees|3| |---|---|---| |2.|How we provide public benefit|3| |3.|CEO Statement|3| |4.|Operations Manager|4| |5.|Report from the Wellbeing Manager|5| |6.|Activities for the public benefit|5| |7.|Volunteers|7| |8.|Organisational Links|7| |9.|Financial Report|8| |10.|Accounts|9| 2 ## **1. Trustees** This is the Trustees’ Annual Report detailing the activities by Space2Create for the public benefit and its finances during the period 1[st] January 2022 to 31[st] December 2022. Trustees during this period: Julie Tait – Chair Karen Fishwick – Treasurer Jan Write Julie Thomas – Secretary Jamie Barnes Alison Barnes ## **2. How we provide public benefit.** Space2Create offers a range of creative classes and opportunities at our unit and in the wider community to improve the well-being of vulnerable individuals. ‘Research suggests, regardless of skill level, taking part in creative activities like painting or pottery helps people manage their emotions, build confidence and explore solutions to problems,’ Chris Sharrat 2019. Our experience at Space2Create shows sessions: - act as a distraction from individuals issues helping them to avoid stress, keep calm and maintain a positive mood, - give mental space for individuals to contemplate, reassess problems and make plans, - build self-esteem, confidence and resilience, - rebuild social skills, meet new people and make friends reducing isolation, - encourage self-development learning new skills and providing opportunities for new experience, - access and engage with the wider community through visits and projects. Within group sessions we ensure a positive atmosphere with outcomes that boost an individual and incorporate the NHS recommended five ways to wellbeing: to connect with others, to be active, to learn new skills, to give to others and to be mindful. Our goal is to be a safe creative space that individuals can access when they need it. For some service users the long-term goal may be to move onto volunteering, education, employment or other ways they can be useful and participating members of their local community, however, for others living with chronic mental or physical health conditions, Space2Create may be something that they access longer-term. ## **3. CEO Statement** Chief Executive Officer and Lead Artist (As of May 2022, formerly Manager) Report and Lead Artist 2022 saw a period of development and recovery for Space2Create after the complications and restrictions of Covid. Numbers attending slowly recovered over the year though total numbers of individuals benefiting from Space2Create’s services and the use of our Unit were still significantly lower than previous years. The main reasons for this were the reduced use of the unit by external organisations such as the Council and NHS who stopped renting the space preferring in house space and thus reducing numbers benefiting as well as the continued restriction of group size over the year with Service Users less willing to work in close proximity. 3 In 2022 Space2Create received a serious complaint which was passed to the trustees. The Trustees decided to pass this on to an independent Law Firm who investigated the accusations and found no grounds for the complaint though did make a few recommendations regarding policies which were either already under review or were amended. The start of the year saw the final payments of a significant bequest from a Service User who had unfortunately passed away. This money had a major impact on S2C providing the resource to expand and securing the Charity for a couple of years. Initially the Charity reorganised its structure. Up until May 2022 the Manager was the only regular staff member employed on a self-employed basis to run the Charity. Mat Butler (Myself) moved from this Managerial role to the new pay rolled position of Chief Executive Officer for 34 hours taking responsibility overall for the Charity. Two new positions were created. Clare Addison was employed as the Operations Manager on 20 hours with responsibility for the day to day running of the Charity. Joy Stewart was employed as the Wellbeing Manager on 16 hours with responsibility for Service User support and access. I would like to thank both Clare and Joy for the hard work they put in to make Space2Create run better and offer a more welcoming and inclusive environment. Space2Create was able to extend the number of weekly sessions provided and start a community lunch. The lunch came as a result of a project with The Repair Café to turn the existing storeroom into a fully equipped kitchen with An Awards For All grant from the National Lottery. 2022 also saw the 10[th] Anniversary of the founding of Space2Create ## **4. Operations Manager** The Operations Manager (Clare Addison) prioritised reviewing existing S2C Policies and Procedures and adding new ones where gaps were identified. An ongoing process is now in place with an annual review planned to keep policies up to date. Clare also undertook a review of existing resources and was able to reorganise them better and clear out old or unused items. A clear labelling system was put in place. She revised administration arrangements and set up online working and an online system for organising and filing documents. Clare also established regular cleaning routines, particularly in the kitchen. Clare also took over the role of raising invoices for room hire and managing bookings. Clare arranged to have a License from the local council to serve food to service users and organises the weekly Wednesday Community Lunch. Clare has updated the Volunteer arrangements introducing an application process and manages the volunteers ensuring that sessions and general running needs are covered. Clare also liaises with various organisations on collaborations and also takes her part in the face to face work supporting Service Users. Clare introduced the “Hands On Group” on Wednesday afternoons and takes the lead with this group. Clare has also been involved in funding bids. 4 ## **5. Report from Wellbeing Manager** The last year with employed staff members, has at last presented Space2Create with the opportunity & security to put into place ideas which were previously only possible on an ad hoc basis. In my role as the Wellbeing & Service User Manager, I have been able to create and implement a new _**Service User Induction Policy**_ , which ensures that all Service Users are provided with the same information & advice before beginning at S2C, I have also created a new _**Service User Information Form**_ which is completed with all new Service Users at a _**30-minute orientation**_ prior to their first session. The introduction of this new data collection form seemed a good opportunity to refresh all our data, so this new form has also been _**completed by all pre-existing SU’s**_ . I have thus now completed _**interviews/reviews with all current Service Users**_ . A major part of my role is to _**support Service Users on an as-and-when basis**_ , this involves regular chats with service users, being available & sensitive to issues/triggers in sessions & in people’s lives outside of Space2Create & remembering what is going on for multiple individuals, as well as _**offering support/advice/consultation to other staff & volunteers re Mental Health issues**_ . I regularly take the opportunity to _**network with other local charities/organisations and with other potential referrers**_ – e.g. The Lighthouse, The Well, Sight Advice, South Lakeland Carers, Spiral, Inside Out, and KICC. I also have responsibility for _**Safeguarding**_ issues at Space2Create. As a staff team we have also reviewed/created a raft of new policies, and risk assessments. I have also completed the two-day _**Adult Mental Health First Aid**_ training. Joy Stewart ## **6. Activities for the Public Benefit in 2022** Service users and referrers expressed a need for afternoon sessions to cater for individuals who find it difficult to get out in a morning. In response to this, we started a new 3D art group on a Wednesday afternoon called ‘Hands On.’ In addition to this, we have set up a community lunch on a Wednesday which takes place between the morning and afternoon sessions. Both of these have proved very popular. This Wednesday model is a trial and, in the future, we hope to be able to offer more days with both morning and afternoon sessions and a simple lunch. Lakeland Limited kindly donation £500 in vouchers which enabled us to buy kitchen equipment and a £500 cash donation towards weekly food costs. We also ask service users for a minimum donation of £1 for lunch. Booths donation a £20 voucher and Asda provided a donation from the store. Part of the bequest from David Stretch included a wish from him that the members of the Writing Group be given opportunity to publish their work. The group collaborated on this project and were able to publish “Bookshelves of The Mind” in December 2022. ## **a) Group Sessions** ## **Group Sessions in 2022** Tuesday a.m. ‘2 Create’ 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Wednesday a.m. ‘We Create’ 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Wednesday p.m. ‘Hands On’ 12:45 – 2:45 p.m. Thursday a.m. ‘Craft and Chat’ 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. 5 Friday a.m. ‘Well Art’ 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Saturday a.m. ‘Writers Group’ 10:30 – 12:00midday ## **b) Other organisations benefitting from Space2Create support and venue use** Repair Café and Simply Repair Sustainable Workshops – Monthly Repair Café and regular workshops encouraging the general public to repair and recycle items to save waste. People First – Monthly meeting to support adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. Poetry Festival -A Kendal based festival celebrating Poetry in its first year Food Club – A weekly food club supporting 30 families with food redistributed from supermarket excesses. Hub Club- A twice weekly group supporting adults with disabilities and learning difficulties using art and signing. Burneside and Beyond- A local group that meets to talk about Rag Rugging and have creative demonstrations. Greendoor Artists and Art Trail-A Cumbria wide Artists Society using S2C as a venue for meetings and its Annual Art Trail celebrating the art of its members with the general public. Factory Open Weekend- Annual event where all the studios in The Factory open their doors to promote their work to the general public. ## **c) Exhibitions** January-March: **Service User Artwork** April – May **Chaos:** Service User Print Making Exhibition June-July **Flow:** Local Artist Exhibition September **Green Door Art Trail** Nov-December **Creative Directions** : Exhibition of staff and volunteer artwork and SC2 book launch ## **d) Events and shows** S2C took part in the ‘Artworks’ global pompom project. Service users and people from around the globe were asked to make woollen pompoms which they then attached to a wire sculpture and made into a sheep. The wire sheep sculpture was taken to Barrow Park on Saturday 28[th] May and displayed at a Family Festival ‘What the Flock’. S2C had a stand at the show and put on various art activities for children and adults to take part in. S2C had the opportunity to display artwork at a vacant market stall in Kendal Indoor Market. Artwork was put up for sale and our S2C banner was displayed. Staff and volunteers manned the stall on occasions and the opportunity helped raise the profile of S2C, a small number of artwork was sold and a new volunteer was recruited. There was discussion around the possibility of renting a unit following on from this but it was felt it wasn’t a priority and the focus needed to be on running S2C at Unit 31. ## **7. Volunteers** Volunteers continue to play a huge role in the running of Space2Create. We have devised a new volunteer information form, a volunteer code of conduct and a more formal recruitment / enrolment process. Facebook adverts have proved a very successful way of advertising and recruiting new volunteers. 6 We have recruited a new session volunteer to support the Wednesday afternoon ‘Hands On’ group, a new soup making volunteer and a volunteer who comes into batch cook for our community Lunch. ## _**Current Volunteers**_ Tuesday a.m. ‘2 Create’ **Session Volunteer** – Annie Rogers Tuesday a.m. ‘In stitches’ **Session Volunteer** – Kaye Wednesday a.m. ‘We Create’ **Session Volunteer** – Kaye Wednesday Community Lunch – **DIY / Soup Making Volunteer** – Tom Addison Wednesday p.m. ‘Hands On’ **Session Volunteer** – Zena Ashberry Thursday a.m. ‘Craft and Chat’ - **Session Volunteer** – Geraldine Walkden Thursday a.m. **Batch Cooking Volunteer** – Debbie Wilson Friday a.m. ‘Well Art’ - **Session Volunteer** – Kevin Hankey Friday a.m. **Cleaning Volunteers -** Kat and Kyle Thoebald. ## **8. Organisational Links** Space2Create has many links to various organisations including Stautory Authorities, NHS Departments and Third Sector Organisations. These links help support Service Users locally, support us with information, services and advice. - Cumbria Voluntary Service - Kendal Town Council - South Lakeland District Council - Hub Club - Green Door Artists - South Lakeland Arts Community - Many local artists - Kendal Arts Community - Community Mental Health Team - Cumbria County Council - Kendal Integrated Care Community - Food Club - Health and Wellbeing Coaches - Kendal Library - Ingalls Chartered Accountants - The Well - Sight Advice - Waste Into Wellbeing - The Lighthouse - Kendal Library And many private individuals of whom we are grateful for their support. 7 **9. Financial Report** In 2022 Space2Create received income from the following sources: - Cumbria Community Foundation Grant - Public Donations - Private individual donations - Session donations - Income from room hire - Sales of artwork - Estate of David Stretch With the final payment of the bequest from the estate of David Stretch totalling just over £180,000 from the deposit made in the previous financial year and the final deposit in January 2022, there was very little grant funding activity. We saw a slow recovery in donations from sessions after the drastic reductions during Covid restrictions. The same applied to room hire with others slowly getting back to normal and wanting space. The decision to employ three staff significantly increased running costs but the benefits, as detailed above, proved well worth that in terms of service and administration improvements. ## **10. 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