## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From Period start date 01.04.21 To Period end date 31.03.22** **Charity name: Activity Station** ## **Charity registration number: 1165502** ## **Objectives and Activities** **----- Start of picture text -----**
SORP reference
Summary of the Para 1.17 Activity Station provide a choice of
purposes of the charity activities and social events for PWLD
as set out in its such as, sports events, music therapy
governing document and music concerts,
drumming, singing, cooking, pottery
and creative arts, dance
and drama, discos, days out, sensory
cinema screenings, sports camp ,
gardening and rambles, free events
i.e. specially adapted
pantomimes, Christmas singalongs.
The exclusive use of hired
venues, all our activities and services
promote the public benefit
of health and wellbeing, social
inclusion, anti-discriminatory
environment, advocacy, equality (free
events for deprived
areas/families), independence, adult
learning; encourages
personal responsibility of financial
budgeting. For some service
users who find interaction with
others difficult our volunteers
can offer social support to avoid them
being socially isolated.
Summary of the main Para 1.17 and By offering a choice of activities and
1.19
activities in relation to for the PWLD to understand
those purposes for the the options, planning routes and
public benefit, in transport to our events and
particular, the activities, making the choice will promote
projects or services advocacy. It will also encourage
identified in the financial budgeting for instance if
accounts. there is more than one
activity to choose from.
AS have the exclusive use of their
venues they hire for most of
their activities. Exclusive use of
venues ensures an
**----- End of picture text -----**
accessible & safe environment for users, carers and their families. Users can enjoy the space and make full use of the activities free from any interaction with the general public. We provide relaxed sensory cinema screenings, with subtitles, lowering of lights, reduction of loud noises During lockdown we had to adapt our service for our service users (please see Section D). This improves health and wellbeing of the PWLD, families and carers and promotes safety by being in a quiet, safe and accessible environment. They will not be rushed when purchasing refreshments at the café, the café staff are all trained and understand to be patient. The families and carers can also relax in the knowledge that the public will not be rushing the service user or reacting to them if any challenging behaviours occur. By having exclusive use of venues and a café area it offers a chance to promote social interaction between service users. We have noticed friendships forming whilst communicating over lunch together. By having private use of the café we are able to promote healthy eating by requesting café staff remove unhealthy food from sight which might be tempting to buy. It also enables PWLD, parents and carers to bring their own packed lunch to eat. We have noticed this helps support those who have a special diet or may choose unhealthy food and perhaps are unable to budget for purchasing any refreshments as well. This would not be possible in a public café. AS help PWLD, families and carers without computers or the internet e.g. registering people for activities. AS download information for them and communicate with the support workers and care homes. Statement confirming Para 1.18 Activity Station trustees receive the whether the trustees latest Charity Commission guidance have had regard to the and adapts the service accordingly. guidance issued by the This included the latest Covid 19 Charity Commission on guidance. public benefit ## **Additional information (optional)** **----- Start of picture text -----**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference
Para 1.38
Policy on grant making
Para 1.38
Policy on social
investment including
program related
investment
Para 1.38 All AS volunteers are inducted and
Contribution made by trained before they start.
volunteers They are expected to read and
understand all aspects of the AS
policies i.e. safeguarding, health and
safety guidance and risk
policies. They contribute significantly
to the success of AS by
offering additional support and
encouragement. With the help of
our volunteers it gives families and
carers respite. The
volunteers know when to support and
when to allow the PWLD
to do a task on their own which
encourages independence and
confidence to grow. They support
with access & registration on
arrival of attendees and work with
our service providers to
ensure activities are well prepared,
inclusive to everyone, & also
help with support encouraging our
users to take part and have
fun.
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Achievements and Performance** SORP reference ||Summary of the main
achievements of the
charity, identifying the
diference the charity’s
work has made to the
circumstances of its
benefciaries and any
wider benefts to society
as a whole.|Para 1.20|We have continued to adapt our
service and depending on restrictions
we have been able to ofer online for
the majority of this year.
Ofering music, singing, drumming,
art, drama, pottery, dancing, cookery
movement and excerise classes and
the Christmas panto. We
developed a new online safeguarding
policy and trained all our
volunteers and trustees to be able to
host and safeguard all the
sessions. We also ran a delivery
service to homes where people
were unable to get out. Our clients
were sufering from social
isolation and this was a safe way to
ofer a service with familiar
teachers and staf providing them
structure to their day which
all carers and parents found
essential.
We were delighted to be able to reach
so many people during Covid. The
feedback from users, parents, carers
and care homes was so
positive and highlighted the
importance of providing our service.
Quantitative results have shown from
our data that there has been an
increase in attendance in the last
year, some being our
regular attendees returning, but also
includes a larger number of
newcomers. Qualitative information
has shown from surveys
sent out what activities PWLD they
would like and their needs, which has
enabled us to introduce two diferent
ways of
delivering our music sessions for
example. We deliberately keep
attendee numbers small to allow for
positive and safe
experiences by all of our service
users. This is especially important for
our online sessions. It enables our
facilitators to
provide more individual teaching
which makes the service users feel
valued and involved. This can so
often be lost in a busier
environment or mainstream activity.
From completed AS evaluation forms,
our service has been described by
users,|| |---|---|---|---|---| parents and carers as excellent and includes very positive comments and feedback. We have had many people give us positive responses from conversation analysis. We have service users attending that have been referred to us by other parents and carers. Existing partners and organisations which includes, Mencap, Crofters Club, RUILS, SEN family support group, social work & disabled teams, Skylarks, Richmond CVS, RHLT & Achieving For Children promote our activities and have recommended us to new organisations and parents/carers increasing our network. By adapting our service and going online with our sessions and for PWLD of different ages, has made our activities more accessible with an increase of service users from other boroughs. Plans for the future  Continue to adapt to ever changing Covid restrictions and to continue when possible ‘face to face’ activities.  Introduce a respite service for SLD service users to help provide respite to families with severe/complex needs.  Increase the number of free events at key calendar dates during the year.  Update our website and research social media  Evaluate user and carer views of our service and identify unmet needs.  Increase our fitness and wellbeing activities.  Increase current programme of days out during school/college holidays. D Achievements and performance Statement of Public Benefit  We ensure service providers/facilitators make reasonable adjustments to their services so PWLD can access them in the same way as other people (sensory screening, panto and all our activities and having exclusive use of venues)  We enable them to choose what activities they would like to undertake.  We promote healthy eating and a choice which also promotes financial budgeting.  We offer wellbeing, social, health and fitness activities and encourage them to participate in a safe and stimulating environment.  We work in partnership with other agencies and providers to improve our service for vulnerable people. The objectives, activities, achievements and performance for the past year addressed throughout this trustee annual report clearly sets out the activities which AS undertakes for the public benefit. The trustees, in setting our aims, objectives and planning our activities have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission general guidance on public benefit. We were delighted that Activity Station received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Achievements against Para 1.41
objectives set
Performance of
fundraising activities Para 1.41
against objectives set
Investment performance Para 1.41
against objectives
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Financial Review** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 We continue to implement our
financial position at the reserve policy. Our activities and
end of the period social events programme is flexible
and can be tailored to run
any number of activities at any given
time out of an annual
‘rolling’ planned programme. In the
event of uncertainty of
future income we can reduce the
number of activities and also
remove activities which are more
expensive to run and
introduce new less expensive ones.
As a small charity that does
not have fixed assets or overheads
such as staffing costs, the
amount put aside in reserves is
considered to be low risk.
Statement explaining Para 1.22 We seek to maintain a reserves policy
the policy for holding of approximately 50% of
reserves stating why the total expenditure used. Currently
they are held £10000 has been agreed
by the trustees to be put aside for
reserves. This will allow for at
least 6 months to develop new
sources of income or to reduce
the number of activities we run
accordingly.
Details of
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £10000
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22
reserves
Details of fund materially Para 1.24
in deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a
going concern
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Fundraising
We made the decision at the
The charity’s principal beginning of lockdown to provide
sources of funds Para 1.47 our online service for free. We have
(including any received generous
fundraising) donations from users and were
successful with grants from RPLC
Grant and Just Giving Donations
which enabled us to do this.
Fundraising events on hold due to
covid 19 restrictions.
Investment policy and
objectives including any Para 1.46
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
social investment policy
adopted
We are in a fortunate position our
funds are currently in a strong
A description of the Para 1.46 position.
principal risks facing the
charity
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Structure, Governance and Management** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing Para 1.25 Activity Station’s governing
document document is a ‘Foundation model
(trust deed, royal constitution
charter) Whose only voting members are the
charity trustees
How is the charity Para 1.25 Activity Station is constituted as a
constituted? Charitable Incorporated
(e.g unincorporated Organisation
association, CIO) (CIO)
Trustee selection Para 1.25
methods including Appointed by charity trustees
details of any
constitutional provisions
e.g. election to post or
name of any person or
body entitled to appoint
one or more trustees
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||Policies and procedures
adopted for the
induction and training of
trustees|Para 1.51|Activity Station (AS) recruit trustees
and volunteers who will
beneft the charity with their
personal knowledge and experience
and further the purposes of the CIO.
All trustees and volunteers
are inducted and receive training
before they start. All trustees &
volunteers (age appropriate) are DBS
cleared before they
commence with the charity. All
volunteers under the age of 18yrs
are vetted with school references.
They are given an induction
pack to read and understand before
their induction and training
day. This includes, a volunteer policy,
safeguarding policy, health
& safety guidelines, risk management
awareness and health
declaration forms to complete.|| |---|---|---|---|---| **----- Start of picture text -----**
The trustees receive a copy of the
charity’s governing document and
The charity’s related material including the
organisational structure Para 1.51 CC publication about being a trustee
and any wider network – CC3 “The Essential
with which the charity Trustee: What you need to know.” All
works Trustees are Safeguarding
trained relevant trustees First Aid
trained.
Trustees meetings are held quarterly,
minutes are taken and
decisions and actions are noted. The
Chair has been appointed
by the charity trustees. The Finance
Manager/ Trustee is present
at meetings and reports quarterly to
the trustees about the
financial position of the charity.
The trustees collaborate with many
service providers who deliver existing
Relationship with any Para 1.51 services to people
related parties with learning disabilities (e.g.Mencap
& AFC) to ensure their
expertise is passed on to Activity
Station activities and social
events. All trustees review and
consider risks regularly. A risk
management plan and procedures
are in place to ensure
maximum safety. A risk register of
individual risks for each event
is also maintained.
The objects of AS CIO are to support
Other the needs of children,
young people and adults with
learning disabilities, their families
and carers in the LBRUT and the
surrounding boroughs in
particular, but not exclusively, by all
or any of the following
means:- 1. Providing activities and
social events for people with
learning disabilities (PWLD), their
families and carers. 2.
Collaborating with other service
providers and public services to
facilitate and deliver activities and
social events. 3. Working to
increase the choice of activities
available to and promoting
social inclusion of PWLD and their
families and carers.
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Reference and Administrative details** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity name Activity Station
Other name the charity
uses
Registered charity 1165502
number
Charity’s principal 30 Lowther Road
address SW13 9ND
**----- End of picture text -----**
N ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee
whole year
(if any)
1 Christine Chittick Chair 30.01.16 Activity Station (AS)
Sam Hurst Founder 30.01.16 Resigned Jan
2
2019
3 Heidi Mansfield 21.04.16
Hester Larkin 24.02.17
4
Coral Allen 11.05.17
5
Humphrey 21.2.20
6
Hawksley
Claire Eaves Founder 30.01.16
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
**----- End of picture text -----**
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Dates acted if not for** **Trustee name** whole ear **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser** ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s) Full name(s)** Christine Chittick **Position (eg** Chair **Secretary, Chair, etc)** **Date** 11.1.23 .-7 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGiAND AND WALES ACTMTY STATION Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th¢ ￿11¢d from To Oln4r2021 Section A Receipts and payments unlestr￿led funds Restr funds Endowmènt lunds T¢)lal funds L4st yèar Ih•M•rtttt A1 Re¢elpts 13,IblS 13Jblfj ?.OF3 470 RPL ts￿nI 8omts Twsi Gmnl CAF tsDn&b¢n oth Natignal L io.ooo io.¢ 274 274 ross in¢ome AR) 2J.I 17,fjQ) nves l$ee tsblel. 23,839 A3P4 ments EwntEZpeodrt￿th CMih••ds 6AIO 16,902 1.070 Q11 Sub tot•1 10,62 10.$29 17J72 A4 Assèt And Investment urchases see labbe Sub 10.629 17,97 Pl•¢ ofree0lpt￿￿￿1tyj A5 Transfers be￿e¢n fvnds A8 Cash funds ￿$t￿ar end Cash lunds thls year end lJJ10 13J10 13,310 lJJl0 CCXX Rl 4¢xwrt8 ISSI Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unre31rKled funds Restrtcted lunds ￿n￿rest£ Endowfflenl funds neafesi E Ldiegowie5 Otiails B1 Cash funds Total e•¥h lund 4•.951 un￿StrICt*d funds ) n¢•ie•l£ Rèstrkled fund5 b) n••thtE Er*dowment fund> Details Oetails Fijrni Cwr•ntvalu Oetalls FUndtO￿kh #•1 be CuFreniv•l Oonè+ 84 Assets ￿trined for the charity's own us• Fund tn Details knwnt¢&Je Vthen d BS LlabllllleB Sgnabjre Pfint Oale or foval Ilts Z021 fti Tl CCXX R2 accfwls ISSI