Helping victims of domestic violence Minutes
AGM Online due to covid 19 pandemic
22 high street Calne
SN11 0BS
Monday 4[th] January 2021 at 11am
In attendance
Kevin Thorne, Lea Newman , Amanda Neate , Glynis Smith, Michelle Harris and Elizabeth Thorne.
Apologies from:
Kerry Adey.
Current Business
Chair (Kevin Thorne) welcomes all trustee to online meeting. Unfortunately the trustees were unable to meet in public due to covid. Some of the trustees worked in the same bubble but it was decided that in light of the situation that it was best to conduct the meeting on line.
Kevin explained that it has been a very challenging year with lots more work ahead. We were also helping the local community as well as the victims. Kevin explained how the domestic violence number were increasing due to the lockdown. We were not getting the full effect of this but there would be in the future a knock on effect in the services that we offered.
All trips that we had planned had been cancelled due to covid and it was suggested that until we knew what was going on with covid that it was not worth planning any refuge trips. It was agreed that to keep the risk of covid down for volunteers that only one volunteer would meet with any family/ individual when a referral came in. Liz was tasked as the safeguarding lead to uptake this role. Another volunteer would wait in the car, if this was not possible then we would go back to the
phone system that we used where a phone call would be made when leaving, then again when they arrived with the family and another call when they were leaving. Liz would give a rough amount of time that she would be and then if she had not contacted the office in that time scale a call would be made for a welfare check. If they were unable to contact Liz then we would call in police.
Kevin also proposed that Considering the news from Boris Johnson and being allowed to open last lockdown so survivors and the local community can access the Hvdv New Beginnings food bank. I put to all trustee that we go down to a 3-day week and an hour less a day to help support individuals and families with emergency food and clothing and small items that can be dropped at doorstep level to limit face to face contact or collect from shop where already in place. PPE must be worn at all times we had purchased masks, visors and plastic aprons. There were also suits available at the shop should covid be present in the refuge or safe house.
Proposed by Kevin Thorne a three-day week and one Saturday at month and an hour a day reduced opening times until further updates from Boris Johnson.
Second by Lea Newman.
So far though the pandemic we are still supporting individuals and families providing clothing and items, some items we are having to fund from funds raised by the Hvdv new beginnings shop. We were going to have to possibly pay for more new items as we are unable to collect door to door due to the current risk.
Volunteers have done online training course funded by Chippenham town council and funds raised by the shop has also supported training. There funding has supported volunteer and some even started them on the ladder to paid work.
Kevin has completed a covid course and the correct procedures in line with the government advise
The food bank and food surplus has made such a difference to the survivors of domestic abuse we have supported through the first lock down. The need for food in the local community in the first lockdown the Hvdv New beginnings food bank was opened to the local community who were struggling for food this support has continued. It has certainly highlighted the work that the charity does in the town and also put the shop on the map with lots of people who would normally walk by. There has been a logistical nightmare for some and we have been going door to door with the elderly in the community dropping off fresh fruit and veg as well as bread and milk any other items that were being donated would also be distributed.
The chair has spoke about how the food surplus table outside the shop to help local people in the community has made a difference and this is to continue three days a week.
The Christmas appeal 2021 has helped individuals and families who have fled domestic abuse in the local community and that have moved to our community away from abuse. We have help around 1,400 individuals this Christmas with gifts and food hampers. The chair wanted to note the amount of work that the volunteers had done to make the Christmas appeal a success it was also asked to be noted the amount of work that Liz Thorne had put into the Christmas appeal and that the appeal would not have taken place if it was not for liz. The Chair asked if we could purchase some flowers for liz as a small gesture of thanks for her hard work. The trustees all said that they would put some money in to buy the flowers
Due to covid we have had to travel a lot more to drop food parcels with individuals and families who have no family support or have covid and self-isolating. We have also been using a lot more PPE as we have been changing every time that we have gone to a different home.
Our Thanks goes to Morrison Chippenham for their continued food bank support from 2020 through to 2021 and our food surplus food store for there kind donation of food surplus weekly. Morrison had been buying items in bulk for charities to get out to those in need which was very much needed. We had a lot more phone calls helping for food and it was hard to be able to help them all but we were managing at the moment. It was suggested that we might have to buy more food if the food we have become depleted.
Comments from a couple of our 2020-2021 individual
“Hi HVDV Everything’s sorted now thank you all so much for making such a difference to me and my children.”
“Morning liz your team are bloody Amazing thank you so much for supporting my sister and children I couldn’t have done it without your support”
“Good morning hvdv thank you for funding home furnishings as it made such a difference to my little man he no longer has to crawl on hard floor thank you. D “
The chair finished by thanking all of the volunteer and trustees for all their hard work with the charity and the hard work of getting the shop together. What looked like it was going to be a massive and near impossible mission had been completed and it looked fantastic. It was very well stocked with not only clothes and bric a brac but also with essential items and items that people were finding it had to buy. The chair made it clear that at no point was the shop to increase prices beyond the items value like some shops as everyone should be able to buy items not just those that had lots of money.
Treasurers Report
Treasurer had advised the chair that setting up the shop and paying for shop rent then first lockdown could have been the end of HVDV due to no funds and fundraising event cancel in 2020. But having funds given by Wiltshire council for the sum of 10,000.00 from Wiltshire council has allowed us to continue the work we do by saving us at the last hour. It was advised that the shop needed to be successful if the charity was to continue.
Yearly Rent due end of this month the treasurer also pointed out that the council had waved the business rates until next year. We have been with our utility providers for a few months and we were happy with the service and the price so we did not need to look for any others.
Bank account stands at £18,519.03
Van
We still have not been able to purchase our own van at the moment. We did have the money in the bank but with not knowing what the future holds it was decided that we would not purchase a van but to put the money to use in helping all. But keeping £4,500 ring fenced for the use of buying a van when and if the pandemic is over.
We would look around to see if we could find a cheaper van company as Enterprise had a new manager in the branch that would not offer the same rates as the old one. After liz looking we found that Norman E Webb was local and very competitive with any other company along with being about a 1/3[rd] less than Enterprise.
Easter Egg Appeal
It was asked if the eater egg appeal should go ahead this year. It was the general consensus that the children have been suffering enough and that to increase moral within the community that we would run this easter appeal.
We were already getting offers in from some of the supermarkets with offer of eggs as they are panicking that they are going to be left with a chocolate mountain.
Liz is to head up a team of troops to get as much of the appeal done from home with a few going out in ppe to drop off easter eggs at the door and stepping back to the end of the footpath or at least 3 meters from the door. This year we would not ask for nominations we would go into areas that we knew families were struggling. Which is most of the town at this time.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business bought up as to not knowing what the future held
OTHER EVENTS PLANNED
No events planned due to currant covid 19 pandemic lockdowns.
Next Meeting. TBC Due to currant lockdown we are going into .
Minutes by Elizabeth Thorne
Helping Victims of Domestic Violence New Beginnings Charity 1161380 Accounts for year ending 31/03/2021
| INCOME Refunds Donations Grants Other Shop Income Appeals ___ === EXPENDITURE Premises Expense Travel/Transport Office Direct Support for Victims/Survivors Insurance New/Repair Utility Volunteer Expense Shop Expense ___ === ___ SURPLUS OF FUNDS === CURRENT ASSETS Bank Account Cash ___ === ___ NET ASSETS === |
£ £ . 1,266.85 5,592.76 10,400.00 19.99 32,849.13 1,116.28 _______ 51,245.01 ========================== 7,977.12 3,565.07 1,589.00 4,986.35 462.25 3,516.39 1,919.24 1,039.30 10,473.87 ________ 35,528.59 ========================== ________ 15,716.00 ========================== 17,634.22 186.17 ________ 17,820.00 ========================== ________ 15,716.00 ========================== |
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Jparl<Lane Accountants & Tax Advisors Unil O Cavcsli8r Courl I Chippenhom I WilL%hire I SN14 61H l Tel: 01249 2471601 info@rk]Cn&aCC0Un1Qnt5.CO.Uk www.park-lane-accounlant5.¢0.uk To.. The Trustee5 of Helping Viclims of Domestic Violence Wiltshire Chority Commission 28 February 2018 Inde endent Examination- Hel in Victims of Domestic Violence Wiltshire. Pork Lane Accountants carried out an Independer)l Examination of the records and accounts ol Helping Victims of Domestic Violence Wiltshire for Ihe period 10 30, April 2016. We confirm that we are independent ol the charity and hold no position or responsibility for its actions. Flelping Victims ol Domesl¢c Violence Willshire lias income for the period of less than £250. 000 and is therefore eligible for independent examinaiion raiher ihan an audit. Having completed an Independent Examination we have concluded that no circumstances exist that are of material concern. We are therefore satisfied that the charity meels it5 requirements as set out by the Charity Comm n and that the accolirits are accurate. Barri8 nkins ACMA Direclor Compony ReglslTolio Number". 0583021 Regis*J ID j Wde5 ikiit6Ctytsket Ctyjrt I ChwertFffi I WIlbhi I SN14 OLH I VAT Number.. 886 01 B8 61