Sociability Annual Report 2022/23 Prepared by JC Barrow ‘Chairman’ & Agreed by Sociability Board Members ## **Contents:** Chairs Summary...……………………………………….… Page 2 Reference and Administrative …………...……………. ….. Page 3 Structure, Governance and Management/Objectives…....... Pages 4-6 Activities/Outcomes.………………………………………….………. Page 7 Funding & Grants………………………………………………………. Page 8 Finance Report………………………………………………………………Page 9 1 ## **Summary** This year has seen Sociability build on our number of service users. And to increase our small but dynamic team of coordinators. Sociability have formed close bounds with the NHS mental health services in this area. Recently this year we were successful with an application to run a pilot concept in conjunction with two other local voluntary service providers. This will run for 18 months and if considered a success, will help make Sociability sustainable for years to come. This year we also agreed a new full term lease agreement with Basildon council for our unique location. After several setbacks, not least the aftermath of the pandemic, Sociability have made remarkable progress in our mission to be both sustainable and a legacy. Regards Jonathan Barrow Chairman, BSc, ACMI, 2 ## **Reference and Administrative Information** Name of charity: Sociability Registration number: 1166862 Principle address: The Guard House Wat Tyler Country Park Pitsea Hall Lane SS16 4UH Management Board: Chairman: Jonathan Barrow Secretary: Charlotte Neale Treasurer: Deborah Barrow Trustees: Kelly-Ann Pacey Alan Bent June Lindsay Colin Jacob 3 ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## Policies & Procedures - Sociability holds a full set of policies and procedures for all the services provided and for the facilitation of the organisation. A copy is held at our venue for anyone to read - Policies and procedures are agreed by the board and are kept up to date by the chairman at 6-month intervals or as and when required - Policies and procedures are decided upon by the Management board and the Service Manager - Once implemented the Service Manager sees that all policies and procedures are upheld and adhered to - It is the duty of each volunteer to make themselves familiar with our policies and procedures as part of their voluntary duty description ## Management - Sociability is fully constituted and registered with the charities commission - Sociability has a small but well experienced governing board - Our staff members include, a former senior manager from a national mental health service provider with years of experience, a business administrator accredited with a master’s degree, a psychotherapist accredited with a hon’s degree and a former senior manager accredited with a degree - Volunteers are provided by way of first being service users, when a person feels ready, they can progress to areas of responsibility within the charity - Volunteers report to the Service Manager - Service Manager reports to the Governing Board - Each new service user completes a membership form and signs up to a code of conduct ## Measuring outcomes - Sociability has a fully qualified psychotherapist who carries out regular wellbeing checks 4 - Sociability carries out regular case study reviews, gathering qualitative & quantitative data from our service users - An evaluation is completed every 6 months by our business administrator and discussed with the board members ## Training - Staff members are trained as Peer Support Workers, with some also as Peer Support Worker Supervisors - A number of volunteers have been trained as Peer Support Workers - Each volunteer has compulsory training composing of ‘Personal Boundaries’ and ‘Safe-guarding vulnerable adults’ - Additional training is provided for volunteers with specific duties including… - ⎯ Fire Warden - ⎯ First Aider - ⎯ Health and Safety - ⎯ Food Hygiene level 2 and 3 - ⎯ Suicide Prevention - ⎯ Self-harm Prevention - ⎯ Data Protection - ⎯ GDPR - Two staff members have been training as cycling leaders and bike maintenance engineers - Further staff training is encouraged and always available, Sociability are supporters of Continuing Professional Development ## Objectives ## Priority 1 To promote social inclusion for the public benefit of those who are or feel excluded from society or part of society and who are, have been or could be affected by mental health distress, or physical ill health, who reside within the borough. ## Priority 2 To relieve those in need for the public benefit by… 5 - Providing support to individuals affected by chronic and or mental health condition - Providing support to family, friends or carers of a person that has or is suffering from mental or physical ill health - Providing support through companionship, peer support, possible coping strategies and models of self-help with the aim of giving members a greater independence, increased wellbeing and preventing the further onset of mental health difficulties - Providing opportunities with an aim of developing skills and knowledge - Providing information, advice, guidance and signposting to work, leisure, health and social opportunities for an improvement to health and wellbeing - Acting as a catalyst for member involvement and participation with the aim of encouraging people to develop their own solutions to challenging problems they may face for their good health and wellbeing ## AND BY - Working collaboratively and/or in partnership with external partners and other voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations, as necessary, all to promote the charity’s objects ## With a particular focus this year on… - Social prescribing, getting people access to the services which best meet their needs - Develop Sociability apps - Increase the number of service user turnaround 6 ## Activities - Crafting - Cycling Trails - Counselling - Loss support - Walk and Talk - Tai Chi - Light Seated Exercise - Movie Review - Gardening - Recycle and Reuse - Bike Repairs - Healthy Eating - Open Group Dialogue - Sewing Bees ## Outcomes - Improve the health and well-being of service users - Build the number of services we see - Match people in need to the best service available to them 7 ## Funding and Grants - ⎯ The National Lottery Community Fund - ⎯ Essex County Council - ⎯ Essex Community Foundation - ⎯ Fords - ⎯ NHS Training Services 8 ## **Accounts 2022-2023** **Opening Balance:** £54,285.45 **Grants Unrestricted** : £54,290.00 (4 grants Morrisons, 2 x Essex County Council, NHS England) **Grants Restricted:** £29,920.00 (1 x grant Lottery) **NHS Payment:** £24,662.00 (Clinical Commissioning Group, services provided) **Total Income: £108,871.55** **Total Balance: £163,157.45** ## **Expenditure** **Project Guard House Renovation Work** : £21,183.91 **Misc/Activities/Expenses:** £10,534.24 **Payroll:** £33,162.21 **Data Plan** : £840.00 **Utilities:** £6,384.89 **Pension:** £1,107.90 **HMRC** : £2,111.90 **Total Spend: £ 75,325.05** **Closing balance for year ending on 05/04/23** **Total Balance: £87,832.40** 9