2024-03-31-accounts

Pershore & District Volunteer Centre operating as Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre Charity Number 1166141

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

2023/24

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INDEX

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A WORD FROM THE CHAIR

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO MEET THE TEAM

COMMUNITY MATTERS

COMMUNITY TRANSPORT WHAT DOES THE SERVICE MEAN TO OUR COMMUNITY?

FACTS AND FIGURES

SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

12 VOLUNTEERING 13 VOLUNTEERS RECRUITED

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE WE MAKE!

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15 BECOME A VOLUNTEER

16 FINANCIAL REPORT

18 EXAMINERS REPORT

CHARITY GOVERNANCE 19 INFORMATION

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A WORD FROM THE CHAIR

This year, Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre launched its Strategic Plan for 2023-2028, clearly outlining our goals and the path forward as an organisation. The work we undertake is already an asset to the communities in Pershore and the surrounding villages. Building on the

excellent foundations we have established with our Mission, Vision, and Values in the last financial year, we are now focused on further strengthening our presence.

Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre aims to become firmly established on the map, showcasing the incredible work of our volunteers. We will expand our services, foster collaborations, and build partnerships with other organisations in the surrounding areas. Our goal is to reduce social isolation and loneliness, making Pershore a better place to live and work for everyone.

A special thanks to all our amazing volunteers, staff, and trustees, who work together to make Pershore Volunteer Centre the fantastic and responsive organisation it has become. While we've experienced some changes in both our volunteer and staff teams over the past year, we are confident that we now have the right people in place to ensure our organisation continues moving in the right direction and to successfully implement our strategy.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Pershore Co-op, The Angel Hotel, and Wychavon District Council for their ongoing support of Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre. Their contributions make a significant difference to the work we do and the communities we serve.

It is my intention to step down from the Board of Trustees in the next financial year, and so I would like to take this opportunity to bid farewell to all the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with over the last seven years. I have truly enjoyed my time with Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre, and I believe I leave it in a much more stable position than when I first joined in 2017.

Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre holds a special place in my heart, and I want to extend my best wishes for the future to all the volunteers, trustees and staff. I am confident that the Centre is in ‘safe hands’ and will continue to thrive, ensuring a positive future for what is undoubtedly an invaluable community asset.

Colin

COLIN DAVIDSON CHAIRMAN

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A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

The year 2023-2024 has steadily built on the fantastic achievements of the previous year, but it has also presented even greater challenges. The current success rate for grant applications stands at just 1 in 10, with grant agencies being inundated with requests. Many are having to close their schemes before the deadline, and as such, we have engaged a bid writer to assist with grant applications, which is starting to yield positive results.

We finalised and launched our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan in December 2023, and we would like to express our immense gratitude to Wychavon District Council for their invaluable support in making this possible.

Throughout the cost-of-living crisis, we have been able to assist many individuals and families by distributing grant funding from the Household Support Fund on behalf of the District Council. This support has benefitted over 60 households, including 39 children, providing food and white goods vouchers, school uniform vouchers, and assistance with utility costs.

As a charity competing for limited funding, we have actively sought opportunities to collaborate with other organisations. We’ve organised essential training in Health and Safety, Moving and Handling, and Safeguarding for our staff and volunteers. These sessions were also made available to other local charities, including Wick Care Farm, Pershore Foodbank, Pershore Wellbeing Hub, and Upton Community Transport. We aim to continue growing these collaborative efforts to support all our community colleagues.

Looking ahead to next year, we have some exciting, but challenging initiatives coming up. We will be relaunching our befriending scheme, which will include both telephone and face-to-face sessions. Additionally, we are developing a new initiative aimed at encouraging young people to become volunteers in their local communities.

As we continue the next stage of our journey, working towards the ambitious aims and objectives of our new five-year strategy, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the fantastic staff team at Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre, to the incredible volunteers who selflessly give their time and always go the extra mile, the Board of Trustees for their unwavering commitment, and all our supporters who actively engage in fundraising and promoting the invaluable work we do in our communities.

Karon

KARON SWINBURN CEO

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MEET THE TEAM

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Karon Swinburn Donna King Gabby Thomas
CEO Operations Manager Finance Administrator
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Kim Macdonald Robin Gaden
Volunteer Co-ordinator Administrative Officer
Colin Davidson Amanda Tanfield Andrew Budden
Chair Company Secretary Treasurer
Tony Rowley Tony Wright Jones Jodi Arnold
Trustee Trustee Trustee
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Tony Rowley Tony Wright Jones Jodi Arnold
Trustee Trustee Trustee
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COMMUNITY MATTERS!

Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre (PPVC) is centrally located in the small market town of Pershore.

not guarantee someone will not experience social isolation and loneliness, particularly in old age.

As well as covering the town, we also serve 40 of the surrounding villages, which illustrates our very rural location and all the challenges this brings.

The population of Pershore is approx. 8,500 people, and the total number of people in the surrounding villages is around 27,500, which clearly demonstrates that many of our customers and potential customers live in areas heavily reliant on a car, or the very limited public transport.

Pershore and its surrounding villages are mainly affluent areas with many people being educated to a level 4 qualification or above. However, there are key pockets of low-income households, and affluence does

'Central to our charity’s mission is to tackle loneliness and isolation, by bringing communities together.'

Our membership of the Worcestershire Community Transport Partnership, in conjunction with a strategic grant from Worcestershire County Council, helps to contribute to the overall costs of the services we offer, both locally and across the county. The total funding of £90,000 is shared between the Partners, and the charity acts as the grant administrator for the partnership which has nine partners, and the PPVC receives 5% for acting as the lead body.

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COMMUNITY TRANSPORT

Community transport continues to be at the heart of our mission to ‘Inspire volunteers to create community connections by providing transport and associated services suitable for all needs, with the aim of tackling loneliness and isolation.’

From April 2023 to March 2024, the Social Car Scheme volunteer drivers provided a total of 2683 journeys , a slight decrease from the previous year of 1.43%, or 39 journeys.

The Community Transport Minibus / WAV provided a total of 1678 journeys in the same period, down 477 drives compared to last year (a decrease of 22.13%).

We registered 125 new clients in this period, compared to 157 registrations in the previous year, a decrease of 20%.

Our most visited destination was Evesham with a total of 488 journeys, and we provided regular journeys for 13 of our customers, driving them to day centres and on shopping trips.

The most frequent journeys made during the period April ‘23 to March ’24 were to the following destinations:

• Day Centres & Clubs - 843 Journeys · Hospital visits - 749 Journeys

• Other medical - 413 Journeys

'1162 journeys made were for medical appointments.'

In total, 4361 passenger journeys were made using our Social Car Scheme and Minibus, which was a decrease YOY of 10.5%.

799 journeys were taken by people aged 81-90, 372 journeys were taken by clients aged 71-80 and 380 journeys were requested by those in the 61-70 age bracket.

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Our Vauxhall Vivaro electric vehicle is used to fulfil the WCC contract, transporting three individuals with additional needs to a day service in Bromsgrove, twice daily, five days a week.

Our wheelchair accessible Citroen Berlingo provided 184 journeys from April ‘23 to March ’24, covering a distance of 5725 km.

Our VW minibus is used for our twice monthly lunch club, contract drives, various regular outings and day trips, and bookings are taken from other charities and non-profit organisations.

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FACTS AND FIGURES

The highest percentage of our customer base is between 80 – 90 years of age.

We have nearly 600 registered customers .

125 individuals are registered to use the Social Car Scheme alone!

During the last year, our Social Car Scheme volunteer drivers completed 2683 journeys .

Collectively, our passenger assistants and volunteer drivers completed 2612 journeys in our minibuses and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Due to changes in the way we recruit volunteers, we have seen a 200% increase YOY on interviews completed and volunteers that have started .

We are currently recruiting volunteers for over 100 external charities and non-profit organisations that are registered with us.

During the past year we have completed more than 50 DBS checks.

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SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

WEDNESDAY LUNCH CLUB

This year 707 individuals attended the twice monthly Lunch Club held at St. Andrews Hall.

222 individuals utilised our minibus transport service, which amounted to 46 return trips.

A total of fifteen new customers signed up for the minibus transport service from April ‘23 to March ’24, and we currently have a waiting list for individuals needing minibus transport.

Ten new volunteers joined during the year, and whilst three left, collectively, 219 volunteers supported the lunch club over the course of the year, each volunteering for around three hours, which accounted for a massive 657 voluntary hours.

The customers recently completed a consultation survey based on the menu, the activities, and the entertainment, which this year has included Songster Griff, Worcester Ukulele Group, Hereford & Worcester Fire Safety & Prevention Team and the Pershore Town Voice Choir.

‘219 volunteers supported the Lunch Club from April ‘24 to March ’25, donating over 650 hours of their time.'

ANGEL LUNCH

During the past year, 150 individuals attended the monthly lunch held at the Angel Hotel, which includes a twocourse lunch kindly subsidised by XXX.

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SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT GRANT

The Household Support Grant is awarded over two six month periods, April to September inclusive, and then from October to March.

During the first six month period, the total grant received was for £4,000. After deducting 15% for administration fees, the remaining £3,600 was split between 23 households, and of those, 18 had dependants living in the home.

'The grant has helped over 60 households, 22 adults and 39 children.'

Over the second six month period, the same grant was awarded, and after administration fees, the £3,600 was split between 38 households, 21 of

which has children living in the home.

At the beginning of February, a top-up grant of a further £4,000 was awarded, and to date, there is £1,683 left.

DAY TRIPS

During the past year we have organised 11 day trips, of which two were cancelled due to a lack of interest and a vehicle breakdown.

The trips were promoted online and via social media, to reach a different audience, and proved very popular with the villages and younger people.

A total of 60 individuals attended the trips, with the most popular being a day trip to Bath on the Great Western Railway, which we have been asked to repeat if possible.

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VOLUNTEERING

We have an incredible team of volunteers who give their time freely to deliver the fantastic services we offer. Their commitment, enthusiasm, care and empathy is truly outstanding and we simply couldn’t run our Volunteer Centre without them.

Post COVID, volunteer recruitment has been very challenging, but we are now beginning to see things improving and volunteer numbers increase.

In the last year, our volunteer statistics are as follows:

Volunteer registrations received - 75

Contact made since registration form received - 75 Interviews taken place - 75

Number of potential volunteers who didn’t turn up - 4 Registered external charities - 102

Number of contacts made to external charities - 80

New volunteers who have started - 54

Talks or promotional event given in the community - 7 Visits made to charities - 3

We have reached out to our local communities with newsletters and regular pop-up village events which have been a great success in spreading the word about the services we offer, and the face to face pop-up events have been very successful in recruiting volunteers.

We update our window display frequently with adverts and events, volunteer roles and eye catching displays, and this has resulted in a much greater footfall of interested volunteers and more general enquiries about the services we offer.

Overall, this has resulted in a 200% increase on interviews completed and volunteers that have started.

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VOLUNTEERS RECRUITED APRIL ‘23 TO MARCH ’24

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No. of recruited volunteers
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April May June July AugustSeptember OctoberNovemberDecember January February March
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DISCLOSURE AND BARING SERVICE (DBS)

During the past year we have completed over fifty DBS checks covering either of the following:

• A ‘Standard Check’ which shows any spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings.

• An ‘Enhanced Check’ which shows any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

If you know of someone who would like to get involved with fundraising or volunteer at Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre, or for any of the organisations that we partner with, please take a look at our website for the current opportunities or telephone our centre.

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"Pershore Volunteer Centre is providing a much needed, low cost, transport service for those who are unable to drive themselves to hospital and clinics in the large Worcestershire County where often there is little or no public transport near individual’s homes and where the major hospitals can be many miles from the small villages and market towns in the county." GM

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE WE MAKE!

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VOLUNTEERING IS SO REWARDING

RC came to us as a referral from a local businessman, who felt he needed support and something to fill his time.

The Volunteer Coordinator (VC) interviewed RC in the early part of November 2023. He had recently lost his job as an Architect and was finding adjusting to his new situation hard. He told the VC he was feeling isolated, lonely and was clearly depressed with having no job and an income which he was used to. They had a long chat about volunteering and all the benefits that a volunteer role can make to a person’s wellbeing. The VC explained to him that as well as helping and giving something back, volunteering can also help with social skills, stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness. RC said he felt he had time to give and very much wanted to help. After discussing the kind of role that would be best suited, RC’s volunteering journey began.

After completing the required checks and outstanding references, RC started working on our Transport Desk in our Volunteer Centre, taking calls from new and existing clients, booking transport, entering data and general administrative duties. He was hardworking, friendly, polite, and quickly learnt his role. He seemed so much happier and really enjoyed his volunteering role, and as well as meeting new people and socialising, it was noticed he was smiling again and had a newly found self-confidence, which he didn’t have when we first met him.

After nearly two months of volunteering with us, RC found himself a new paid job which he was overjoyed about and rightly so. Of course, we were very happy for RC, but also sad to say goodbye to such a valued member of our team.

Pershore & District Volunteer Centre 1 Billing House, Pershore. WR10 1EY

Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

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Pershore Plus FINANCIAL REPORT Volunteer Centre Profit and Loss Per5hore and Districtvolunteer Centre Forthe yearended31 March 2024 lth¢•m• INCOME sl LS&ii? 56.957 102.660 OlhErGiifjts 1201 GrinlixpEndilur•.WOC202111022 fjtanl£xpEndllure.Wotce51EnhlreCvmmuhltyFOund•t fjt1nlezpEndll￿rLV￿hC1￿2o19lCOMmun1ty9rojgU5IO10l2l fy•rtIPaythni-WCPT 2.213 &261 77,759 79,472 7&563 47.155 16,2 JJ4,Tg TV73 Othw. Tr4niportChwpi 19.167 41102 1&762 CgffjmunlWRewurce5 DkInt￿ttl TothlOth•v. 721 163 11>4$ Ir<¢m• rwiintoft 17¥,1¥5 JILIII CostolS•l•i 1,679 1,179 Gro$sProfft 173, Admlnlstr•tlv•Costs 91. 12,97É la78S 7,3 41fj1 Telepthne 1,1 1,347 10.135 1,613 10È3 1&652 ONk•ExpthidSiu 17.732 ¥durtttÈrTNNMn8 CornmunltyÈvÈrfs InitujR￿MmIn8Co￿ts 2,132 293 12,501 071 HMRC.ltstw¢ 1$1,519 124IID Oper•t4n¢ Profft li457 iJfjJu) Olhtrln¢omt Ho￿1￿b￿ld$upportF￿￿d 7oLilOthilrKg Proflton OrdlnaryAdYltles Before T7dXatlon Profit•fterTaxoiioD IJS￿ lJ6J 16

Balance Sheet Pershore and Districtvolunteercentre A5 at31 March 2024 3111A9ZDZ4 JLW1023 FixedAs5ets 14otorv•hlcl•J CrthputoiNBV CompLfoiEqvipmeDI 7,926 9.094 (7.9261 rr.9261 573 FuTnltUreandFixtu￿S 164 L64 Mot0rV•hic￿&. 8•rtln80 13,361 12,1$0 12M28 26,S TaLilllotorYthlc 615¥3 Zl,SJ turr•ntNss•ts 1.054 Trt•lSl￿ D¢bl?rJConVolArcovnl Iso 3￿75 Jfv75 BMkDtpMItAc¢oufjl HSPLCuTr•NAccount 10.721 Si,169 27, SSm97 CuhlnH•nd Lunthclybpeitycwh •ttyc•sh Jo ioj 116,174 7ot•lCurr•nlAl•ql 54790 JJ2,lJQ Crqdltors.. amount5falilnJtdu•wlthln on•y•ar 962 293 EmOty¢rtpensl¢Th¢tyiir¥ii¢n YE sbJdentLo•n 2,702 755 Tot4lCr•dkors.'&Tr)ufitshKlnidu•*4thlnoniy•ai

.119 N¢tC¥rr¢ThtA¥xts ILl•bllltlesl 116J14 TotalA5set$1¢$5 Curront Llabllle5 130,534 J53 N•tAsHts IJO,531 111.3M 153 C•pltaland Reser¥s fj¢rer•l RexrYeJ 126h07 47.857 3&683 J16JlO J¢4.034 RulDclqdFunds Re51iKledPe5eryv¥ TotilR4strlttt•dFufids 2QS 20 26500 2ffjYUD 20 lJQ,5J I￿,3•4 17

Pershore Plus EXAMINERS REPORT Volunteer Centre Independent Examlnerfs Report Reportto the trustWslnwmbors ofr. Pershore and Dlstrlct Voluntser Centre On xcounts forthe year ended: 31. March 2024 Charfty No: 1166141 R•sp•ctlv• rnsponslblllts of trustees and examlnor The chariVs trustees are responsSble for the preparatlon of the accounts. The chatitws trustees ¢onsider that an audlt is not requlred for the year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe Charitles Act) and that an Independent examlnatlon Is needed. It Is my responslblllty to: Examine the accounts under sectlon 145 of the Charltles Art To follow the procedures lald down In the general Dlrectlons glven by the Charlty Commission lunder sectlon 14515llbl of the Charltles Act), and To state whether partlcular matters have come to my attentlon B•sls of Independent •x•mln•rs statement My examlnatlon wa5 carried out In accordantr wlth general Dlrectlons 8lven by the Charlty Commlsslon. An examlnation includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a ¢omparlson of the accounts presented wlth those ￿cOrdS. It also Include5 consideration of any unusual Items or dlsclosures In the accounts, and seekin8 explanatlons from the trustees concernlng any such matters. The procedure5 undertaken do not provide all the evidence that wotsld be required In an audlt, and consequently no oplnlon Is glven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and falrf vlew and the report is limited to those matters set out In the statement below. Independent examlnerfs st•t¢ffl•nt In connection with my examlnation, no matter has Come to my attentlon: l. Which glve me rea50nablÈ cause to belleve thaL In any material respect, the requlfements: To keep accounting records in accordance with sectlon 130 of the charities att; b. To prepare accounts which accord wlth the accounting ￿OrdS and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charltles Act have not been met: Of 2. To whlch, In my oplnlon, attentlon should be drawn In ordertoenable a proper under5tandin8 of the accounts to be reached. AC¢OuHPit46 518Tred: Dats: 21# May 2024 Name: Alex Smith ACM& CGMA. for and on behaSfof Athena Accounting SeThlces Ltd Rele¥¥nt professlonal quallfkatlonls) or body (VaThy): aMA Address: I Chester Court, Hi8h Street, Knowle, Solihull 893 OLL 18

CHARITY GOVERNANCE INFORMATION

ADMINISTRATION

PERSHORE & DISTRICT VOLUNTEER CENTRE (working name: Pershore Plus Volunteer Centre)

Registered Charity Number 1166141

Address: 1 Billing House, Cherry Orchard, Pershore WR10 1EY. Tel: [phone]

Email [e-mail] Website www.pershorevolunteers.org.uk

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of Pershore & District Volunteer Centre (the Charity), as set out in the constitution, are to promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community in Pershore and the surrounding villages, and in particular the advancement of education, the protection of health and relief of poverty, distress and sickness.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission. Its Trustees operate under a Constitution which was adopted on 14 March 2016.

The Charity is managed and administered by a Board of at least three and at most ten Trustees (there are currently six). Trustees are appointed at a properlyconvened meeting of Trustees for a term of three years.

New Trustees may be introduced to the Charity in a variety of ways, such as registering/working as a volunteer or recommendation by existing Trustees. It is the Charity’s policy to appoint at least one Trustee from Pershore Town Council and one from Wychavon District Council.

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

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TRUSTEES

The Trustees who served throughout the year were: Colin Davidson (Chair of Trustees), Cllr Tony Rowley (Wychavon District Council), Cllr Tony Wright Jones (Pershore Town Council), Cllr Jodi Arnold Wychavon District Council) (Amanda Tanfield, Andrew Budden.

Tony Rowley and Val Smith were also Trustees of Pershore & District Voluntary Help Centre, which is therefore deemed to be a related party.

There were nine ordinary Board meetings plus the AGM during the year.

NB: John Rees was a trustee from April 2023 – Nov 2023, Katreena Barnes was a staff member from April 2023 – June 2023 and Jo Stylianou, a staff member from April 2023 – January 2024

FINANCES

The Charity’s work is reliant on income from grants, donations and fundraising. The Charity aims to utilise as much of its income as possible to fulfil its objectives, within the year the income is generated. The Charity, therefore, aims to maintain its cash reserves at the level which would, when taken together with expected income, meet its expected out goings for a rolling period of at least 12 months.

The Charity and Pershore & District Voluntary Help Centre had a mutual support understanding, agreed by the Trustees of both charities, whereby staff and resources from either charity could be utilised by the other charity without the need for cross charging. This agreement was put in place to allow

implementation of a longstanding strategy to transfer the operations of Pershore & District Voluntary Help Centre to Pershore & District Volunteer Centre gradually, over a number of years. All operations and staff had transferred by 31 March 2022. The Charity continued to provide such office support and staff time as required by Pershore & District Voluntary Help Centre to complete the winding up of its affairs. Pershore & District Voluntary Help Centre transferred its remaining funds to the Charity in 2022/23 and was deregistered by the Charity Commission on 26 September 2022.

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