_life-changing volunteering opportunities_ **Annual Report & Impact Statement** Year ending 31 December 2024 _One of the many Boost Fund Grants we give to grass-roots community projects each year_ 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 Statement of Financial Activity Page 9 Statement of Assets and Liabilities Page 1 1 Notes to the Accounts Page 1 1-12 _Some of the 30+ volunteers on our panto trip at the start of the year_ 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 2023** ## **Charitable status** Shared Space is a charitable incorporated organisation registered in England, No. 1161862. Registered address: 34 Cranley Road, Westcliff on Sea. SS0 8AL. |**Trustees**|**Office**| |---|---| |Carolyn Butlin|Trustee| |Peter Dominey|Chair of trustees| |Ray Crudgington|Trustee| |Richard Renouf|Trustee| The charity is established by means of a constitution with trustees appointed by the members. In line with Charity Commission guidance. ## **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. _A grant recipient with our Shared Space Southchurch volunteers_ 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. _Two of our volunteers decided to be baptised during the year - our sister charity, Church from Scratch helped out._ ## **Shared Space is an example of Christian business as mission** By re-purposing a charity shop model, we provided life-changing volunteering and training opportunities more than 150 volunteers during 2024. Their volunteering work raises funds to support local charities and initiatives through the Shared Space ‘ **Boost Fund Grants Programme’** with the awarding of grants directed by panels of volunteers. Our shop teams are communities: an example of cohesion through the building of social capital; a place of belonging and a remarkable contributor to volunteer capacity in the area. In both Westcliff and Southchurch, our teams comprise people from a diverse range of backgrounds, volunteering for a range of reasons. A lot of the volunteers are from marginalised groups in society: a high percentage have learning difficulties, physical disabilities, refugees, mental health conditions or are economically disadvantaged. The volunteering helps them to grow in confidence and self-esteem and may assist them in securing paid work, all as they generously give their time and energy to help run the stores. Through groups and other activities all in the team have opportunities to explore Christian faith and spirituality, and hear the stories of Jesus, supported by our sister organisation, Church from Scratch. Whilst faith motivates many of the Shared Space family, we rigorously operate an equal opportunities policy where people of all faiths and none are welcome and contribute. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 3 **During 2024 our work took place mainly at our 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 2024** ## **We are delighted to report the following significant achievements for 2024, despite a challenging retail and volunteering environment.** - **Building strong volunteer teams,** recruiting many new people in an environment where the third sector is reporting great difficulty in attracting volunteers. - **Continuing to keep Shared Space a safe, secure and positive place** for the many vulnerable adults who volunteer with us. - **One-to-one pastoral support from the staff team** through phone calls, visits and activities for volunteers in times of difficulty. _On the way to a residential volunteer weekend in Kent_ - **Working with Church from Scratch** as a close partner, providing opportunities to explore faith and experience Christian spirituality, collaborating on joint initiatives. - **Running a work experience programme** for many pupils from local secondary schools. - **Developing a life enrichment programme** of activities and events for the volunteers including theatre trips, holidays and other opportunities – providing experiences beyond the reach of many in our volunteer family. - **Residential holidays and experiences** to Mersea Island in Essex and Forge Wood in Sussex, with bushcraft and other activities in partnership with Church from Scratch. - **Distributing 30 Boost Fund Grants** to a wide range of grass-roots local charities and organisations, giving away £600 each month. - Implementation of a new **charity CRM** system to improve our ability to measure impact, make us more efficient and co-ordinated and communicate with our stakeholders. - **Sign language training** for groups of volunteers. - **Parties and social events** in store and off site for the volunteers. - **Developing the refugee project** which started 2 years ago, working mainly with people from a breadth of ethnicities, helping them to integrate in Southend, holding a weekly day Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 4 of volunteering, shared meals, support with their accommodation issues and paperwork and delays in the asylum system. - Experimenting with various **online Shared Space sales operations and a pop-up sales event** off-site, which gave volunteers opportunities including places for people in recovery and on probation. - **Developing video-based training** materials for volunteers, shift leaders and staff with a biew to further developing this. - **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. - **Increasing sales income to a record level** despite the difficult trading conditions. - **Increasing the number of volunteers to a record of more than 150 during the year.** _Volunteers at the Shared Space Southchurch Christmas Party_ **----- Start of picture text -----**
One of the 24 weekly teams of volunteers
- this one at Shared Space Westcliff
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## **Church from Scratch our Strategic Partner** A key part of our strategy for growth and development is the ongoing strategic partnerships with other agencies that share our values. Following our charity registration in 2015, we have enjoyed a strong partnership with Church from Scratch, the Baptist church that started Shared Space as a project and then constituted us as the charity it is today. We continue to enjoy a very close working relationship with the church for mutual benefit In pursuit of our charitable objectives. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Shared Space and Church from
Scratch people together
on one of our residential
experiences.
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Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 5 ## **Plans for 2025** ## **In the year ahead, we plan among other things to:** - Continue to be motivated by **Christian faith** , while 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 a **Boost Fund Grants Programme** which is double the size of 2024, increasing to at least £1,200 of grants every month. - Build upon our **partnership with Church from Scratch** and other community organisations and agencies for the good of the area. - **Develop our systems** to improve our operations, analysis and reporting. _Staff members Grace and Julie Grace and Julie, two of our staff team_ - **Celebrate and affirm** our volunteers and staff through regular events. - Hold an **AGM for increasing numbers of 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** . - 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 **print and web,** including producing a triannual Share and Scratch News magazine, to engage with our stakeholders community. - Be **receptive to opportunities** and needs as they present and respond with agility. ## **Summary for the year** We are delighted to present a report which evidences Shared Space as a deeply caring, and agile organisation, which continues to grow, evolve and adapt. We are an example of business as Christian mission, dedicated to the well-being of Southend and the volunteers through effective work which flows from a desire to follow Jesus. Shared Space is well placed with the challenges and opportunities that will lie ahead. Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 6 ## **Accounting basis** Throughout the year our accounts were prepared on a receipts and payments basis. ## **Reserves Policy** Reserves will be maintained to ensure core activities 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 approach in the course of the year, the Trustees believe that for 2024 a reserve equivalent to two months’ running costs should be maintained. Peter Dominey - Chair of Trustees 6 March 2025 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 examlnefs report on the accounts Independent Exarniner s Report Report to th• tru•t•MI m•mb•rn ol SHARED SPACE On ac¢ounts for th• yur •nded 3111 Decemter 2024 Charity no Irf any) 1161862 S•t on 1-12 I rewt to the trustees on my ex￿Ination Of1￿ ￿(M￿￿8 ofthe abovè chanty fthe Tntst") for the year erthd 31112r2024. RMpon$lbilltl•s •nd As the charity trustees Of￿ TWSL you are resportsible for fv prep¥￿￿ ba•18 of rnport of the aecounls in accwdance the requirements of the Char¢ties Ad 2011 Ilhe Acri. I report in resped of my eXaMinb￿ of ts Twst's Kctyjnts carried oul under sec*on 145 of the 2011 Ad and in carying out my examination, I have folk71￿ the aprAicable Directions given ty the Chaiity Commission under sedioll 145(5}Ibl of the Act I have C(￿pleted my examinati￿. I confim that no maienal m•tteTS ha¥0 come to my attention In connection with the examinatw whth gives me caLtse to tdieve thal in. any maten.al respect". ccwntiTh3 records not kept in XC0rd￿ with s&#ion 130 af tr*Aclc Indep•ndent pxaminer's slatement I have r￿ ¢(Yttms and havè c&Ynè ac¥oss M cther matters in conntidion with eXaMinat￿n to whth attentth Should ￿ drawn in ¢ydw to ￿*blE a proper underntsndiw ofthe wxourrts to be reached. S5gn•d: /? REG RAMM Relevant professtonal qu•lffic•lion(sl or body (rfanyl: AAIA AICSA AddrM•: 17 CARLINGFORD DRIVE , WESTCLIFF ON SEA ESSEX SSO OSD S•ctlon B Disclosure ly complet• rf th• ex8minar rnedj to highlighl matters of {s•e CC32, Indeper￿ent examination of chty acC￿￿t8.. th'rgdKm * guidanc• for examirw8). Shared Space is a CIO and.. registered charity in England no 1161862. Page 8 w¥￿￿.£hantySh0p.co **Statement of Financial Activity – Shared Space Up to 31 December 2024** Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 9 **Statement of Assets and Liabilities – Shared Space Up to 31 December 2024** Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 10 **Notes to the Accounts – Shared Space Up to 31 December 2024** Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 11 **Notes to the Accounts – Shared Space Up to 31 December 2024** Shared Space is a CIO and: registered charity in England no 1161862. www.charityshop.co P a g e 12