_Pursuing transformation in the most challenging year in a generation_ ## **Annual Report and** **Impact Statement** Year ending 31 December 2020 www.charityshop.co Charitable incorporated organisation registered in England No 1161862 ## **Table of Contents** |Table of Contents|Page 1| |---|---| |Annual Report and Impact Statement|Page 2 - 9| |Independent Examiner Report|Page 10 - 11| |Statement of Financial Activity|Page 12| |Statement of Assets and Liabilities|Page 13| |Notes to the Accounts|Page 14| Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 1 ## **Annual Report and Impact Statement for the year ending 31 December 2020** ## **Charitable status** Shared Space is a charitable incorporated organisation registered in England, No. 1161862. Registered address: 43 Christchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 4JW. |**Trustees**|**Office**|**Appointed/Reappointed**| |---|---|---| |Peter Dominey|Chair of trustees|2015| |Siobhan Foley|Trustee/Secretary|2015| |Ivan King|Trustee|2019| The charity is established by means of a constitution with trustees appointed by the members. In line with Charity Commission guidance, during the pandemic we have not held an AGM. We look forward to welcoming 2 new trustees to our board early in 2021. ## **Summary of Objects and Activities** The charitable objects of Shared Space are: 1. To relieve poverty among unemployed persons, in particular by training or assisting them to obtain training in such skills as will fit them for employment; 2. The relief of the poor and needy or to, or for, such other charitable purpose as the trustees shall in duly constituted meeting from time to time direct; 3. To advance the Christian religion. This report sets out the charity’s activities in pursuit of our objects. ## **Public Benefit Statement** The charity’s trustees continue to have regard both for the charitable objects set out in its governing document and to ensuring that the activities of the charity, as described below, meet the public benefit test. In so doing, they take account of the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance. The Trustees of Shared Space are confident that the activities of the charity demonstrate strong evidence of public benefit. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 2 _Volunteers and staff at a 2019 gathering from before the times of COVID-19 when we could gather_ ## **Shared Space is an example of Christian business as mission** Using a charity shop model, we provide life-changing volunteering and training opportunities for many volunteers. We also raise funds to support local charities and initiatives through our grant programmes. Normally our volunteers are busy in the shops learning retail and stock processing skills in a supportive environment which values teamwork and builds resilience and confidence. In a typical four-hour shift, the volunteers contribute to the good of Southend as members of the team: learning, supporting each other and raising money to give away. These shifts also provide our volunteers with opportunity to talk through the big issues of life that they face and to be offered support. Many of our volunteers are from more marginalised groups. Our shops are communities: an example of cohesion through the building of social capital; a significant contributor to volunteer capacity in the area and a place where individuals develop and are empowered. We continue to deeply value our volunteers, encouraging long term team members to develop and explore new roles and challenges, as well as welcoming newcomers. In both Westcliff and Southchurch, our teams comprise people from a diverse range of backgrounds and they volunteer for a range of reasons. A high percentage of them have learning difficulties, physical disabilities, mental health conditions or are economically disadvantaged. They love volunteering: it helps build their confidence and self-esteem and may also assist them into paid work. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 3 **During 2020 our work took place within our two physical sites:** - Shared Space Westcliff, at 453 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LG - Shared Space Southchurch, at 593 Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2PN ## **COVID-19 meant that 2020 was not a normal year...** Shared Space entered the year focused on developing support and new opportunities for our volunteers and we were ready to acquire and open a further Shared Space centre. Then COVID-19 arrived, expansion plans were put on hold and agile adaptation was required as we played a central role in supporting Southend in this time of crisis. In line with good practice and Charity Commission advice we deferred our Annual General Meeting and trustee elections until it is safe and wise to do so. We have mostly held trustee meetings online. ## **Significant actions in 2020** **We are delighted to report the following significant achievements for 2020, despite a very difficult environment:** - Taking volunteers, shops and staff through **3 separate periods of shop closure** due to the COVID-19 crisis. - **Keeping the Shared Space teams COVID-19 secure** through detailed risk assessments leading to adapting the physical stores through building work, reconfiguring systems and providing comprehensive training. **Volunteer Comments** ‘Shared Space: Great! Brilliant! Everything!’ ‘I love the lunch group and everybody who comes.’ ‘Shared Space is a community – really friendly.’ - **Supporting and developing the volunteers** during repeated store closures and difficult periods by: - ! **re-tasking staff** who were not furloughed to volunteer support roles. - ! **provision of emergency food, data and devices to assist volunteers to get online.** - ! variety of **weekly online sessions** to support well-being and maintain a sense of community. (See picture for example invite). - ! **Weekly and sometimes daily reflections and prayer** in partnership with Church from Scratch. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 4 - ! **Distribution of lockdown care packs.** - ! **Online** British Sign Language, cooking & card making, in partnership with Church from Scratch. - ! **Online parties and social events** . - ! **One-to-one support from the staff team** through phone calls, doorstep visits and, when allowed, outdoor activities and accompanied walks. - **Appointing a Shared Space chaplain** for one day a week, provided by Church from Scratch to provide pastoral and spiritual support to volunteers and stores. - **Establishing Southend Emergency Fund** under the auspices of Shared Space to raise many thousands of pounds to support people in Southend affected by COVID-19 and its mitigation (see separate section for information.) - **Reducing financial loss** during store closures, through furloughing staff posts and accessing government and local authority financial support. - Protecting Shared Space’s balance sheet, **ready for expansion of Shared Space** when the time is right. - Completing the **refurbishment of Shared Space Westcliff** - Closing Shared Space eBay until further notice, to **streamline operations** . - Developing a range of **video-based training** materials for volunteers, shift leaders and staff with the first 4 videos completed. - **Developing the store managers** by holding regular meetings to share and develop good practice, as well as giving them opportunities beyond the confines of the physical shop, such as helping to organise outside events and improve relations with local community stakeholders. - **Awarding £2150 of Boost Fund Grants** to many worthy local causes, including regular recipients and new ones. The applications have been assessed by panels of volunteers. (Picture: young carers theatre trip which we loved funding) - **Launching** ‘ **Making Space’ groups** at both physical stores, giving the volunteers opportunities to **explore spirituality from a Christian perspective** , share lunch and spend time talking about key life issues - these groups are in partnership with Church from Scratch and Belle Vue Baptist Church. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 5 ## **Launching Southend Emergency Fund** In March 2020 Shared Space was approached by a local businessperson for advice on establishing an emergency fund to support those affected by the pandemic in Southend. The concept aligned closely with Shared Space’s charitable objectives and we moved quickly to offer Shared Space as the legal vehicle, as well as technical expertise to scale and deliver the concept, enlisting help from a wide range of local organisations. And so Southend Emergency Fund (SEF) was created, as a project of Shared Space in partnership with others. The fund supported those in Southend affected by COVID-19 and its mitigation, by raising and providing money to individuals and families in need, through the conduit of existing local organisations and charities. The first meeting of SEF was on 27 March 2020 and the first grant was awarded on the 16 April, by when a website had been built, a team recruited, and protocols established. This was a community-led initiative from the outset able to work across sometimes more rigid voluntary/ commercial/statutory boundaries in an agile way. ## **At the end of 2020 Southend Emergency Fund was going strong and had:** - Provided 57 emergency grants. - Raised £192,092 to support local organisations and charities. - Recruited 39 local organisations as fund ambassadors. - Built a delivery partnership with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. - Forged a funding partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 6 ## **Strategic partnerships** A key strand of our strategy for growth and development is the creation of strategic partnerships with other agencies that share our values, in whole or in part. Following our charity registration in May 2015, we have affirmed a strong partnership with Church from Scratch, the local Baptist church that launched Shared Space as a project and then constituted it as the separate charity it is today. We have developed a partnership with Belle Vue Baptist Church around the work of Shared Space Southchurch and we have partnered with many other local organisations, especially though our Southend Emergency Fund project. There is a limit to what a local charity can achieve on its own. However, as we engage the energy, resources and knowledge of other charitable and statutory bodies and share our own, we have far greater leverage in bringing about the transformation of the area and in the lives of those who volunteer. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 7 ## **Plans for 2021 include…** ## **In the year ahead, we plan to:** - Continue to be motivated by **Christian concern** , while being open to people of all faiths and none. - Seek the **transformation** of volunteers through training to skill people for life and employment. - Invest in the locality through our **Boost Fund Grant Programme** and **Southend Emergency Fund** grant programmes. - Establish **Southend Emergency Fund** as a work that no longer relies on our resources or governance whilst continuing to champion it, so freeing Shared Space resources and time for other developmental work. - Build upon our **partnership** with **Church from Scratch, Belle Vue Baptist Church** and other churches, community groups and statutory agencies for the good of the area. - **Celebrate and affirm** our volunteers and staff through regular events. - Hold an **AGM** for members to reflect on and celebrate Shared Space progress. - Continue to strengthen the **board of trustees** , through training and recruitment. - Seek to open at least **one new training and retail centre** . - Consider how best to **trade online** , developing an offering that provides volunteer opportunities and generates income. - Continue to develop **relationships within the locality** to support and aid the local community. - Continue a **fair-trade** approach for supplies. - Share news of our work and insights through effective use of **print and web** to continue engaging with the local communities. - Be **receptive to opportunities** and needs as they present and respond with agility. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 8 ## **Summary for the year** The trustees are pleased to present a report which evidences Shared Space as a deeply caring, and agile organisation, dedicated to the well-being of Southend and the volunteers though effective work flowing from a desire to follow Jesus. And shows Shared Space ready for 2021 with the challenges and opportunities that will lie ahead. ## **Accounting basis** Throughout the year our accounts were prepared on a receipts and payments basis. ## **Reserves Policy** Reserves will be maintained to ensure core activity can continue during any period of unforeseen difficulty. A proportion of reserves will be maintained in a readily realisable form. The calculation of the required level of reserves is an integral part of the organisation's planning, budget and forecast cycle. It takes into account: - Risks associated with each stream of income and expenditure being different from that budgeted. - Planned activity levels – including the intended opening of further retail centre(s) which need to be financially pump-primed before costs can be recouped through a return on investment. - The charity’s commitments. On this basis and having reviewed the policy in the course of the year, the Trustees believe that for 2021 a reserve equivalent to two months’ running costs should be maintained. ………………………………………….......(Chair of Trustees) Peter Dominey on behalf of the trustees 26 April 2021 Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 9 Independent Examiner Report CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sèction A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl m•mber5 of SHARED SPACE On a¢eounts forthe year 31# Decerthr 2020 Charity no IW anyl 1161862 S•t out on pages 1￿12 I r8FQrt lo Ihe ITuslee3 on my examination Oftt￿ acuJuntS of above chanty Twsn fortt* ye¥ended 31M212020. R•sponsibllltl•s and As the charity Injstees ofts TrusL you are responsibk foi the preparation baaig of reprAt ofthe xrx)unts in accudaTr￿ wrth thB rEquirements ofthè Charities Aci 2011 fth•Adl. I rep)rt Mi r•sF*d tIrnytyMMn•￿A afthè Tiusfs accounts carried out under *￿10n 145 ofthe 2011 Act and tn out my examination. I have fdlowed the 3pF4￿bk Directions gNen by thè Charity Cornmi5sion uThder sedK)n 145(5llbl ofthe AL#. I have ccmpb*ed my exwThnatw. I confim) that no matèrral matters havè to my attenkn"¢￿ in Connection wilh Ihe examination which gives me caAe to tel*ve th#t in, w material resk*d" countin9 recijrds We￿ not kept in accordance wrth sedÉon 130 of Aca or the ae¢wrts do Trat wLord t•Ah the acrx)unting records Independent tx•minerfs statement I have no concerns and have come acros8 ￿ olher matters in connection with the examination to attention shouhj te drawn in orderto enabfe zth Name: Reg Ramm Relevant prof•ssional qualifTrcatioNs1 or body Ilf any): AICSA Addre•¥: 17 Cartl￿f0rd Drive Èstclrrf ￿ Sea Essex SSO OSD Shared Space is a CIO and= regirtered charity in England no 1161862. Page 10 www.charityshop.co ## **Independent Examiner Report continued** Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 11 ## **Statement of Financial Activity – Shared Space Up to 31 December 2020** Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 12 ## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities – Shared Space Up to 31 December 2020** Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 13 ## **Notes to the Accounts – Shared Space** ## **Up to 31 December 2020** Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 14