## **Community Action Network** ## **Annual Report** **1st April 2020 – 31[st] March 2021** Registered Charity Number 1161986 ## **Introduction** Heathfield Park Community Action Network was formed on July 22[nd] 2014 to replace and continue the work of the Heathfield Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership (Heathfield Park LNP), covering the Heath Town, New Park Village and Springfield areas of Wolverhampton. As one of the 14 Local Neighbourhood Partnerships established by Wolverhampton City Council across Wolverhampton in 2006, Heathfield Park LNP’s purpose was to share a vision for the Heathfield Park Neighbourhood; to develop a collaborative approach to improving local services; to provide a voice for the local community and to make collective decisions about local issues. In 2012 Heathfield Park LNP gained forum status for the purpose of creating a Neighbourhood Plan for the area under the Localism Act 2011, which was made in July 2014 following a successful examination and referendum. Following council budget cuts in April 2014, council financial and officer support was withdrawn, necessitating the reformation of the Heathfield Park LNP as an independent organisation. To enable this to happen, the Council offered a grant of £10,000.00. The grant was awarded in October 2014 and has been paid quarterly over two years. It was agreed by the Heathfield Park LNP Board to re-constitute as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, whose only voting members are trustees, and re-name the organisation as the **Heathfield Park Community Action Network** . A successful application to the Charity Commission was made and the organisation was entered on the Register of Charities on 3[rd] June 2015. As part of the legacy of Headstart (a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing mental health and well-being among 10 - 16year olds, funded by the National Lottery.), the need to work collaboratively across the area was identified to be able to secure future major project funding. With this in mind a consortium between **Heathfield Park CAN, New Park Village Activities Network, Park Village Education Centre, Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara** (Cannock Road) **, Stratton Street Community Centre** and **New Park Village Football Development** was proposed **.** It was agreed that Heathfield Park CAN should become the lead organisation for the consortium. This required minor amendments to the objects of HPCAN’s constitution, agreed by the Charity Commission 8[th] November 2018. An agreement was drawn up, and the **Community Action Network Consortium Agreement** (CAN Consortium) document signed by all parties on 18[th] December 2018. There are currently 10 trustees (max. 12) :- Mr David Cope Mr William Nicholls Mr Daniel Williams Smith Mrs Susan Allen Mrs Elizabeth Cope Mr Yusuf Shafi Rev. Richard Merrick Mr Joshua Charles Mrs Gail Reynolds Mrs Bal Atwal ## **Aims and Objectives** The following aims and objectives were agreed:- ## Aims 1. To promote, for the public benefit the urban regeneration of Heathfield Park, an area of social and economic deprivation. 2. To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by working with people in Heathfield Park who are socially excluded on the grounds of their youth, age, ethnic origin, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstance, to relieve the needs of such people and assist them to integrate into society. ## Objectives 1. To bring together key public agencies, representatives of business, community and voluntary sectors providing a local network group that encourages and enables all to participate more effectively with the wider community. 2. To increase, or co-ordinate opportunities for the socially excluded to engage with service providers, to enable those providers to adapt services to better meet the needs of the community. 3. To promote the relief of poverty in the area. 4. To promote the preservation of buildings or sites of historic or architectural importance as identified in the Neighbourhood plan 5. To promote the provision of recreational facilities for the public at large or those who by reason of their youth, age, ethnic origin, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances, have need of such facilities. 6. To encourage the protection or conservation of the local environment ## **The work to be delivered** Heathfield Park CAN aims to deliver the aims and objectives by:- 1. Developing a web site for the area as a communication network and to promote the area. 2. Supporting local community groups especially those working with youth, identifying gaps in provision and seeking solutions. 3. Supporting the annual International Event held in Heath Town Park and ensuring its delivery. 4. Facilitating consultation events for the area. 5. Organising local public meetings for residents to disseminate information, agree on local priorities and receive feed back. Heathfield Park CAN, as the designated Heathfield Park Neighbourhood Plan Forum, also has three further important roles:- 1. In promoting and ensuring all developments as they come forward in the area are in line with the Neighbourhood Plan through consultation both with developers, planning officers and local residents. 2. Ensuring all section 106 monies raised are allocated in line with the Plan’s priorities for the benefit of the area. 3. Taking a lead, in partnership with other organisations, in improving local community facilities . ## **Activity** The trustees meet bi-monthly, and at other times when needed. The following areas are discussed:- 1. Finance 2. Neighbourhood Plan Monitoring. 3. Community Engagement. 4. Project development. 5. CAN Consortium development. This year has also been overshadowed by the Covid19 pandemic. The restrictions imposed by government to try and limit the spread and health impact, both on individuals and the NHS, have been challenging. In March 2020 ‘Face to face’ meetings and activities were put on hold. Two meetings were held via ‘Zoom’, and one face to face when allowed, combining both trustee and CAN Consortium meetings. Maintaining contact with key Council Officers has continued to be difficult due to the pandemic but will hopefully be restored in some form once normality returns. The Chair continues to attend meetings as a member of the Heath Town Baths Project Team, set up by the Council in 2015. In October 2016, the council agreed a lease agreement with Gaddu Associates to redevelop the baths. Work was progressing to submit a Round 1 lottery bid by June 2020, however, the fund was closed due to the Covid19 pandemic. The fund was re-opened February 2021 and a reapplication has been made, now awaiting a decision, further delaying this Project. Following the successful Community Action Network Consortium’s National Lottery Development Grant application a web site has now been developed. Although progress has been hampered by the Covid19 pandemic, work is ongoing to develop the Consortium within current restrictions and, with the approval of the Lottery, some of the grant has been redirected to help mitigate the impact of Covid 19. A further grant application to the National Lottery Reaching Communities fund was made in March 2021 proposing a three year project across the Consortium, ‘Together for Heathfield Park’, and awaits a decision. The July 2020 ninth International Fun Day Event, held in Heath Town Park was unable to take place due to the Pandemic. It was decided in early 2021 that it would not be possible to run the event again in July 2021. It is hoped to resume the event in July 2022. ## **Looking Ahead** The continued development of the CAN Consortium will be a major priority for the forthcoming year as we recover from the impact Covid19. We will look to enable member organisations to secure funding for future projects for the area, identify issues and needs, manage funding opportunities and improve sustainability. We also look to continue working with Gaddu Associates moving forward with the Heath Town Baths project. We will continue to monitor the progress of the Neighbourhood Plan and Master Plan for the Heath Town Estate and maintain channels of communication and to work with Council Officers to ensure matters are progressed. Independent Examination Heathfield pa￿ Community Action Network IHPCAN) For the accounting period ending 31" March 2021 Having examined the books of accounts and ststement of affairs of HeathfiÈld Park Community Artion Network, I hereby stste that they represent accurate records of affairs of the org3ni53tion for the period stated. The accounts have been produced on income and expenses basis in accordance with the Accounting and Reportin8 by Charities.. SORP applicoble to Chorities preporing accounts in occordance with the Financial Reporting Standardfor SmolleT Entities (FRS5E) 2015 Signed by. Sam Duru Management Accountant Chortered Instltute oAManagementAccountants (CIMAI Independent Examiner 82 Coronation Road Wolverhampton WVIO OQH 12th October 2021 HEATHFIELD COMMUNITY AcfioN NETWORK Accounts for year ¢ndkns 31st Math 2021 Income, eapendlture and balancesfortheyearendlry 3kn M•ffth 2021 ilènk Income Main Grants Main Grants £ 7,ILXJ.QI £ 38.080 (KJ Total £ 45,180.IJ) £ Expen4Ature Insurance Web design Community Group Bank Charges Total 332.40 £ 5,150.ts) £ 18,419.75 71￿? £ 23.974.15 £ B•l•nw expendltuTe over Incotht £ 21.20S.85 £ Balance broughi forward £ 5,521.44 £ 291.85 Balance taken forward (Unfty Bank) £ 26,727.29 £ 291A5 ' Cash held by Chalr Signed.. 21st August 2021 Independent Examlnatlon Heathfield Park Community Action Network {HPCAN) For the accounting period ending 31" March 2021 Ha¥Ang examlned the books of accounts and ststement of affairs of Heathfield Park Community Action Network. I hereby state that they represent accurate records of affairs of the or£anisation for the period stated. The accounts have been produced on income and expenses basis in accordance with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities." SORP opplicoble to Chorities preporlng uccounts in accordOn￿ with the Financiol Reporting 5tondordforSmoller Entities (FR55EJ 2015 Slgned by. Sam Duru mana8ementAcC￿trnt Chorteredlnstltute oAAlonogementAccéxmtttnts (CIMAJ Independent Examiner 82 Coronation Road Wolverhampton WVIO OQH 12th Cttober 2021