_life-changing volunteering opportunities_ _Our volunteers receiving a pottery plaque given a by local art group we funded_ ## **Annual Report and** ## **Impact Statement** Year ending 31 December 2022 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 - 7 Independent Examiner Report Page 8 - 9 Statement of Financial Activity Page 10 Statement of Assets and Liabilities Page 11 Notes to the Accounts Page 12-13 _Volunteers at a training meeting_ 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 2022** ## **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**| |---|---| |Carolyn Butlin|Trustee| |Ivan King|Trustee| |Peter Dominey|Chair of trustees| |Richard Renouf|Trustee| 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. **----- Start of picture text -----**
2022 Team Christmas
Party in one of the stores
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## **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. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 2 ## **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 in this report, 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 an example of Christian business as mission** By re-purposing a charity shop model, we provide life-changing volunteering and training opportunities for over 140 volunteers a year. Their good work raises funds to support local charities and initiatives through the Shared Space grants programmes with the awarding of grants directed by panels of volunteers. Our volunteers are busy in the shops learning retail skills in a supportive environment, benefitting from meaningful participation, going on our courses and day and residential trips, which value teamwork and build resilience and confidence. In a typical shift the volunteers contribute to the good of Southend as members of the team: learning, supporting each other and raising money which Shared Space disburses as grants. These shifts also provide our volunteers with opportunity to talk through the big issues of life they face and to receive pastoral support from our workers. The majority of our volunteers are from marginalised groups. _Valentines themed window by a team of volunteers_ Our shop teams are communities: an example of cohesion through the building of social capital; a very 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 many newcomers. In both Westcliff and Southchurch, our teams comprise of people from a diverse range of backgrounds Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 3 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. The volunteering helps them to grow in confidence and self-esteem and may also assist them in securing paid work. ## **During 2022 our work took place mainly at our two volunteering centres:** - Shared Space Westcliff, at 453 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LG - Shared Space Southchurch, at 593 Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2PN - Shared Space Online, rear off 453 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LG ## **Significant actions and impacts in 2022** ## **We are delighted to report the following significant achievements for 2022, despite a** ## **challenging environment as we started to come out of Covid-19 to challenging economic circumstances for volunteers and our stores:** - **Taking volunteers, shops and staff** out of the intense phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, retaining almost 97% of our volunteers as we re-emerged. - **Continuing to keep the Shared Space teams COVID-19 secure** by risk assessment and mitigations, with adaptations to the physical stores, reconfiguring systems and providing comprehensive training. - **One-to-one pastoral support from the staff team** through phone calls, visits and activities for volunteers in times of difficulty. - **Collecting and distributing emergency food** for volunteers and local foodbanks. - **Working with a Shared Space chaplain** for one day a week in partnership with Church from Scratch, providing pastoral and spiritual support and guidance to volunteers and stores. - **Running a work experience programme** and course for pupils from local secondary schools. _Worship event in one of our stores, led by an ex Shared Space volunteer, in partnership with Church from Scratch_ - Giving the volunteers opportunities to **explore Christian spirituality** , share lunch and spend time talking about key life issues through weekly ‘Making Space’ groups in each store. - **A residential holiday** in Medway, Kent for several of the volunteers 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 - **Sign language training** for groups of volunteers to help communication with a deaf volunteer. - **Parties and social events** in store and off site for the volunteers. - **Starting a refugee project** , working mainly with Farsi speaking people, helping them to integrate in Southend, holding a weekly day of volunteering for them and Persian meal which they cook. - **Celebrating the legacy of Southend Emergency Fund** which was started by Shared Space as a Covid-19 fundraiser and passed £500,000 in money raised. Shared Space selected SAVS to operate the fund, so it is not now under Shared Space governance or appearing in our accounts but we celebrate what we started. _Some of the refugees who have become part of our family of volunteers_ - **Launching an online Shared Space sales operation** with volunteering opportunities including places for people in recovery and on probation. - Completing the **refurbishment of Shared Space Southchurch** with new store fittings, flooring, redecoration and signage. - Developing **video-based training** materials for volunteers, shift leaders and staff, including material with Persian subtitles for a cohort of volunteers. - **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, to help organise events and improve relations with local community stakeholders. - **Awarding Boost Fund Grants** to more than 20 worthy local causes, including regular recipients and new ones. The applications were assessed by panels of volunteers. - **Increasing sales income to a record level** despite the difficult trading conditions. - **Increasing the number of volunteers to a record number of over 140 during the year.** _Just some of the volunteers at one of our sites._ Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 5 ## **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 2015, we have enjoyed a strong partnership with Church from Scratch, the local Baptist church that started Shared Space as a project and then constituted it as the separate charity it is today. But 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. _John, one of our longest standing and ex-homeless volunteers who sadly died during 2022. Thank John for everything._ ## **Plans for 2023** ## **In the year ahead, we plan among other things to:** - Continue to be motivated by **Christian faith** , while being open to people of all faiths and none. - Seek the **transformation** of volunteers through training, courses, residentials and events to build their resilience, skills, confidence, spirituality and well-being for life and potentially for employment. - Invest in the locality through our **Boost Fund Grants Programme** . - Build upon our **partnership with Church from Scratch** and other community organisations, churches and statutory agencies for the good of the area. - **Streamline our systems** including the implementation of a computerised EPOS and Retail Gift Aid system. _Michael, another long-standing volunteer._ - **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 Shared Space training and retail centre** . Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 6 - 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. ## **Summary for the year** The trustees are pleased to present a report which evidences Shared Space as a deeply caring, and agile organisation, which continues to evolve and adapt as an example of business as Christian mission, and is dedicated to the well-being of Southend and the volunteers through effective work which flows from a desire to follow Jesus. Shared Space is ready for 2023 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 2022 a reserve equivalent to two months’ running costs should be maintained. Peter Dominey - Chair of Trustees 30 March 2023 Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 7 Independent Examiner Report CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of SHARED SPACE On accounts for the year ended 31￿ December 2022 Charity no (Many) 1161862 Set out on pages 1-13 I report to Ihe trustees on my exarnuiation of the aC￿Unts of the above charity fthe Tntsn for Ihe year ermjed 31112r2022. Responsibili1Ses and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsiblg for the preparation basls of report ofthe accounts in accordan￿ with the requiremerrts ofthe Charii*s Act 2011 ￿ Acn. I report in resFed of my examination of the Trust's accounts Ca￿led out under section 145 of the 2011 Ad and in ￿rying OLrt my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions gr4en by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5llbl of the A I have ¢￿pleted my examination. I c4Jnfimi that no material matters have come lo my attention in connE¢kn"on ￿th the examinati¢)n whith gives me caus& to believe that in. any material respect". accountin9 records were not kept in aeeordance smth section 130 of the Act or the accourt5 do nrA ￿0rd vthh the a¢countwu reccffds Independent examinerfs staternent I have no Concer￿ and have ajme auoss no other matters in c£*nneth th the examination to vthich attention should be drawn in order to enable understaThJing of the ac(x)unts to be reac￿. Signed." ¢Pf -