Sociability Annual Report 2023/24
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
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Summary
This year has seen Sociability have success with a project we took on in partnership with two other local service providers. Providing expert social prescribing in this area. The project was completed and marked as a great success. However, funding for further development of the project was not approved due to insufficient funds available to allocate.
Moving forwards with regards funding, it has become a lot more difficult to source available funding streams, and even more difficult secure credible funding for our future. Therefore, we have begun to discuss other methods of sustainability.
On a positive service user front, 3 of our regular service users went back into full employment after very long-term sicknesses, a genuine success for all 3.
After being allocated a proportion of unrestricted funding, our board decided to invest it in an asset for the charity, transport for wheelchair users, with a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Making our services available to all.
We have also reached out in providing some of our more financially challenged service users with essential products.
Our gardening project began slowly, but picked up just before winter set in, we are hoping for a good year for our volunteers and service users alike. Having built up bookings already through word of mouth.
Regards Jonathan Barrow
Chairman, BSc, ACMI,
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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: Tina Gowers Treasurer: Alan Bent Trustees: Kelly-Ann Pacey - Retired June Lindsay - Retired Colin Jacob – Retired Dave Lovelock Lynda Neale
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Structure, Governance and Management
Policies & Procedures
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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
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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
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Policies and procedures are decided upon by the Management board and the Service Manager
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Once implemented the Service Manager sees that all policies and procedures are upheld and adhered to
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It is the duty of each volunteer to make themselves familiar with our policies and procedures as part of their voluntary duty description
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Sociability updated our policies this year, with particular focus on safeguarding vulnerable adults
Management
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Sociability is fully constituted and registered with the charities commission
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Sociability has a small but well experienced governing board
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Our board members include, a former senior manager from a national mental health service provider with years of experience, a psychotherapist accredited with a hon’s degree and a former senior manager accredited with a degree in Social Science
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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
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Volunteers report to the Service Manager - Service Manager reports to the Governing Board
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Each new service user completes a membership form and signs up to a code of conduct
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Measuring outcomes
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Sociability has a fully qualified psychotherapist who carries out regular wellbeing checks
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Sociability carries out regular case study reviews, gathering qualitative & quantitative data from our service users
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An evaluation is completed every 6 months by our business administrator and discussed with the board members
Training
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Staff members are trained as Peer Support Workers, with some also as Peer Support Worker Supervisors
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A number of volunteers have been trained as Peer Support Workers
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Each volunteer has compulsory training composing of ‘Personal Boundaries’ and ‘Safe-guarding vulnerable adults’
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Additional training is provided for volunteers with specific duties including…
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⎯ Fire Warden
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⎯ First Aider
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⎯ Health and Safety
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⎯ Food Hygiene level 2 and 3
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⎯ Suicide Prevention
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⎯ Self-harm Prevention
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⎯ Data Protection
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⎯ GDPR
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Two staff members have been training as cycling leaders and bike maintenance engineers
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Further staff training is encouraged and always available, Sociability are supporters of Continuing Professional Development
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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…
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Providing support to individuals affected by chronic and or mental health condition
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Providing support to family, friends or carers of a person that has or is suffering from mental or physical ill health
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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
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Providing opportunities with an aim of developing skills and knowledge
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Providing information, advice, guidance and signposting to work, leisure, health and social opportunities for an improvement to health and wellbeing
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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
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- 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…
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Social prescribing, getting people access to the services which best meet their needs
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Develop Sociability apps
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Increase funding, by way of opportunities
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Activities
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Crafting
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Cycling Trails
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Counselling
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Loss support
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Walk and Talk
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Gardening
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Recycle and Reuse
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Bike Repairs
Open Group Dialogue
- Sewing Bees
Outcomes
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Improve the health and well-being of service users
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Build the number of services we see
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Match people in need to the best service available to them
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Support service users into employment
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Provide psychotherapy to people in need of support
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Grants
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⎯ Basildon Council
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⎯ Essex Community Foundation
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⎯ Cycling UK
⎯ NHS Mid and South
Other Sources of Funding
⎯ Personal Health Budgets Mid and South NHS
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Overview of Accounts 2023-2024
Income
Opening Balance: £87,817.41
Grants Unrestricted: £32,754.00
Grants Restricted: £2,956.00
Services provided: £54,970.00
Donations: £2,288.81 Fund raising: £0
Refunds: £13,811.28 (including…£10,000 from 360 Salaries overpayment) Total income £106,894.67
Total balance: £194,712.08
Expenditure
Maintenance and Renovation Work: £8,112.25 Activities: £3,412.55
Special Projects: £56,664.75 General: £1,501.98 Salaries: £80,694.83 Utilities: £6,721.74 Expenses: £1,015.03 Vehicles: £9,195.94 Charitable: £3,119.00 Total Spend: £170,438.07
Closing balance: £24,274.01
Verified by: Lorraine Blundell Position: Accountant
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