2020 Annual Report of KEY , the Kent Estuary Youth Project
We entered 2020 ready to capitalise on the momentum built up in 2019 and to take forward the development plan that had emerged from our consultation with young people and local communities. Late in 2019 we had been able to appoint a second full-time youth worker and a part-time assistant, making it possible for us to fulfil our ambition of taking our activities into more of the villages and embed them more in local communities. Across the area, our youth workers had contact with expanding numbers of young people. In Milnthorpe, our partnership with Dallam School was creating new opportunities and KEY was an active participant in the ambitious local plans for a community celebration of VE Day. KEY’s services to the community were recognised with an award from the High Sheriff. It was an exciting time, and the Trustees were optimistic about what would be achieved in 2020.
None of us foresaw the Coronavirus. In March, all our activity had abruptly to cease. The Youth Workers were quick to develop an on-line programme offering support and activity, but the unplanned change of style and approach meant that we lost contact with many young people. At the same time, all our community engagement stopped. One of our youth workers and the assistant were furloughed for a period.
As time moved on, restrictions eased but then came back again. Our ever-resourceful youth workers and volunteers sought to find new ways of working that were Covid-compliant. In spite of the challenges, they were able to sustain a programme and the young people involved tell us how much they valued it. It was difficult however to reach out and sustain contact with new young people. This was hugely frustrating, because those we were working with told us how lockdown and the subsequent restrictions were compounding the difficulties they faced and how hard the disruption was.
At a time when what KEY could offer was needed more than ever, we were only able to provide a relatively limited service. We were unable to pursue the planned developments and the expansion we had envisaged for 2020 – and indeed as the financial position became more difficult, our survival into 2021 became more uncertain.
As the year ended, we were successful in gaining funding from UK Youth Fund which meant that, along with that from the Methodist Connexional Fund, with our current 1.5 Youth Workers, most of our core costs are covered for 2021. Clearly Covid restrictions will still be a feature during the year, but we are now able to revisit our development plan and map a way forward. Some of this will be picking up where we left off, but we are also exploring how best we can help young people rebuild and recover from the lasting effects of the unique experience that has faced us all in 2020.
KEY exists to make a difference for young people by unlocking their potential. Our ability actually to do that is dependent on the skills and commitment of our workers and volunteers. The Trustees are hugely grateful for all they do – and all the more so in the challenges of 2020. Our ability to employ staff with those necessary skills is dependent on those who are willing to fund us. It is they who have enabled us to survive and operate in 2020 and who make it possible for us to build on this into 2021 and we very much appreciate their support.
Peter Clarke
Chair of Trustees
KEY is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered number: 1162823
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Youth Work Report
In 2020, as KEY Youth Workers we have had to respond creatively and quickly in an ever-changing way to the pandemic, adapting to the changes and being responsive to the needs of the young people.
In the first two months of the year, we continued our existing programme including:
AsAP (Arnside senior Activity Project): The young people accessed our open provision group. This creates a safe welcoming space for young people where they are able to have a hot drink make snacks and chat to trusted adults around issues important to them.
Milnthorpe youth café: Young people took part in cooking, sports/games, arts and crafts, alongside space for them to be themselves. The group explored issue-based subjects such as Mental Health week and LGBT+ History Month. The Café provides an open space where they feel able to discuss issues relevant to them.
Activity in Dallam School:
1:1 support – offering mentoring support with young people based on person centred approaches.
Drop-in - The drop-in is a safe space for young people to be themselves, have fun or make a difference to others. The group was in its forming stages and were really enjoying various games. They were developing skills around problem solving and leadership; exploring tolerance and understanding and working out fun ways to learn and connect with others.
Alternative Curriculum - Our Dallam Spirit programme continued, working on developing their plan for peer mentoring within the school looking at the logistics and training needs. The group met with key groups within the School, to establish needs, inclusivity and support options.
VE Day: We worked alongside the Milnthorpe community on their VE-Day celebrations for what would have been a great community day of commemoration and celebration. It was to include a wellbeing component in partnership with the NHS and local groups.
However, as the implications of the coronavirus became clear, in March our existing activity was put on hold .
As lockdown was emerging, we used phone calls, email and social media to provide support and connections with young people and to develop a plan to continue KEY’s work in a non-face to face manner.
Digital programme: this weekly programme of sessions went live in mid-March, offering group and 1:1 support options, games and activities on a number of platforms. These have then been developed throughout the various stages of the pandemic, seeking to be reactive to the needs of the young people.
Wellbeing packs: With funding from the Cumbria Community Foundation’s COVID Response Fund, we distributed 200 packs containing an Emotional Wellbeing booklet created by KEY, along with support strategies and various fun items based on the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. These were distributed to year 6 pupils who would be moving to secondary school after the summer. We have also given these packs to young people in KEY’s activities and, in the Autumn, we produced similar packs designed for years 10 and 11 and distributed 334 packs In Dallam School.
One mother wrote: “My Daughter came home from School yesterday with a Wellbeing bag – I can’t tell you what a brilliant thing this was!! She’s been having panicky do’s at school recently so the booklet in particular, will be massively helpful to her! Thank you so much! It also helped me – I’ve been really worried about her! Thank you again, I’m so grateful.”
1:1 support: One to one support took place in various formats, through phone, text and on the doorstep. Young people either referred themselves or referrals came from parents and the school counsellor.
KEY is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered number: 1162823
www.thekeyproject.org.uk
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R’Space: We adapted our Emotional Wellbeing Programme so that it could be delivered on Zoom for small groups. We have run three groups, targeted at vulnerable young people; each programme is adapted to fit their needs.
It has been a privilege to witness their progress as they have developed their own strategies and self-care plans, along with safe boundaries for themselves. They have become more grounded within themselves and better able to manage the inner feelings and the difficulties that come their way.
School work: We delivered digital live stream PDev lessons around emotional wellbeing, to 122 pupils in year10 (as part of the CYA Contract)
Online Youth Activities: The young people have taken part in various escape rooms and challenges; debated world issues and explored Skills Sharing and Film Making. We have also made various arts and crafts and cooking. We created Youth Club-in-a-Bag, which contained the necessary items for each session.
Social Action: Our young people’s work on their social action projects has been inspiring - hearing them make comments like “it makes me happy to see others happy” (H, 16). The projects they delivered included: Family Challenges and the BIG Easter Challenge: Seeds of happiness – involving over 100 sunflower packs and Thank You packs for the Milnthorpe COVID-19 Volunteers.
The young people also led on two community events:
Festival of light: This included a Pumpkin Carving Competition. The young people created the path of light from decorated glass jars, supported the event on the night and helped with the judging. It was a real community event which we hope will become an annual event.
Christmas Elf Hunt : They were keen to build on the previous Christmas events and decided on a Family Elf hunt. These involved children from the village creating elf pictures for the Elf Stations and associated challenges. It involved the young people persuading businesses to display them in their windows, as well as them putting them up around the village.
Transition Work: In the summer we worked with 4 local Primary Schools to deliver transition workshops that looked at supporting year 6’s moving up to secondary school. These covered their fears and expectations and explored support strategies and the support systems in each school.
Face to face Provision: When it has been possible within the NYA guidelines, we have developed fun safe ways to engage the young people. These have included:
Get Creative & Get Active sessions which included social distancing games such as water dodge balloon; challenges like shelter building, and arts and crafts such as graffiti art. A grant from the District Council enabled us to buy a large gazebo and as we moved into autumn, we used it to deliver these sessions, along with hot chocolate etc.
Staying Safe. These after school pop ups on Milnthorpe village green also used the Gazebo. Some of them were in partnership with CADAS. They opened up some new learning areas for the young people. Sessions also included emotional wellbeing activities and looking at self-care and support strategies.
Support Groups which, in line with national guidance, were by invitation for young people facing particular challenges. These were based on our emotional well-being programme, adapted to meet the particular needs of the young people.
KEY is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered number: 1162823 www.thekeyproject.org.uk
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| 2020 Youth Activity | Numbers Reached |
Regular attendees (5 or more sessions) |
|---|---|---|
| AsAP (Arnside senior Activity Project) | 21 | 17 |
| Milnthorpe Youth Café | 27 | 21 |
| Outreach | 31 | 11 |
| Digital Activities | 16 | 12 |
| R’Space | 8 | 8 |
| Face to Face Provision | 27 | 22 |
| Social Action Projects | 9 | 9 |
| One to Ones | 6 | 6 |
| Dallam Alternative Programme Group | 8 | 8 |
| Dallam Lunch Time Drop-ins | 22 | 7 |
| Dallam Digital Work | 122 | N/A |
| Wellbeing Packs | 535 | N/A |
| Milnthorpe Events | 21 | 8 |
| Transition Work | 53 | N/A |
| Total. | 566 |
51 No double counting |
2020 Funders
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Laing Family Trusts
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Bela Masonic lodge
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D allam School
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DCR Allen Charitable Trust
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Trustees
Chair : Peter Clarke; Secretary : Linda Baverstock; Treasurer : Wilf Gill Irene McKay; Greg Tagney (safeguarding); Mary Salter (volunteers) Janet Battye (operations) C/o Eversley Coach House, Leasgill, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7EY Youth Workers
Emma Banks; Lesley Leadbitter (to October); Rachel Twist (from October)
KEY is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered number: 1162823 www.thekeyproject.org.uk
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2020 Financial Report
CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
| CORE FUNDS | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS | ||
| Grants | 34,531 | 26,000 |
| Donations | 0 | 4,550 |
| Donations for Gift Aid Claim | 0 | 83 |
| HMRC Gift Aid Income | 21 | 23 |
| HMRC Job Retention Scheme | 4,091 | 0 |
| Bank Interest | 0 | 0 |
| Total Receipts | 38,643 | 30,656 |
| PAYMENTS | ||
| Employment Costs | 33,560 | 29,281 |
| Overheads | 2,092 | 3,292 |
| Communications | 1,788 | 564 |
| Operations | 2,168 | 1,691 |
| Total Payments | 39,608 | 34,828 |
| Balance of Receipts over Payments | -965 | -4,172 |
| Balance at start of year | 18,204 | 22,376 |
| Cheques Issued but not cleared by year end |
0 | 0 |
| Balance at end of year to carry forward |
17,239 | 18,204 |
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | ||
| RECEIPTS | ||
| Grant Receipts | 27,450 | 13,500 |
| Fund Raising | 0 | 0 |
| Bank Interest | 3 | 10 |
| Total Receipts | 27,453 | 13,510 |
| PAYMENTS | ||
| Total Payments | 20,367 | 2,461 |
| Balance of Receipts over Payments | 7,086 | 11,049 |
| Balance at start of year | 13,412 | 2,363 |
| Cheques Issued but not cleared by year end |
0 | 0 |
| Balance at the end of year to carry forward |
20,366 | 13,413 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 37,605 | 31,617 |
KEY is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered number: 1162823
www.thekeyproject.org.uk
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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2019 | |
| ASSETS | ||
| Core Funds Bank Balance | 17,239 | 18,204 |
| Restricted Funds Bank Balance | 20,366 | 13,413 |
| Total Assets | 37,605 | 31,617 |
| LIABILITIES | ||
| Restricted Funds held | 20,366 | 13,413 |
| Total Liabilities | 20,366 | 13,413 |
| Net Assets less Liabilities | 17,239 | 18,204 |
| Receipts and Payments A/c | -965 | -4,172 |
| Restricted Funds Account | 20,366 | 13,413 |
| Total Funds | 37,605 | 31,617 |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Kent Estuary Youth project (KEY)
I report on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ending 31[st] December 2020.
Responsibilities and basis of report
The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed
Independent Examiner
KEY is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered number: 1162823
www.thekeyproject.org.uk