**www.friendsofembark.org.uk tel.0843 289 4564** Providing quality homes and work experience for adults with learning difficulties **Registered Charity No. 1167878** ## **Friends of Embark TRUSTEES REPORT 2021 (for FY2020/21)** Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic this is a very different Trustees Report compared to previous years. However, I am very pleased and indeed proud to report, that Friends of Embark have been able to adapt to meet the challenges of the various restrictions and lockdowns and have also been able to provide significant support to both Embark and NHS Charities during a very difficult time for all. During the initial lockdown period, the group of adults with learning difficulties that we support, had to isolate in their homes and were unable to access their usual activities e.g. Day Services, as these were closed. This meant that Embark had to provide significant extra staffing, which at the time was not financially supported by the local authority. I am pleased to report that Friends of Embark were able to provide a grant of £4000 to Embark to cover the extra staffing costs for an initial 12 week period and cover the initial cost of PPE, some medical supplies and additional cleaning products. As there were no local markets or fairs during this time we were also unable to sell our products to provide an income and therefore, had to adapt. We achieved this through setting up an online shop which proved to be very successful to the point that we sold all of our stock during the summer months. Above all I am pleased to report that the group of adults that we support have coped very well with the demands and restrictions and shielding required during the lockdowns and have remained happy and healthy through this difficult period in no small part to the dedication and care of all the staff at Embark. ## Work Experience Due to the National Lockdown we were unable to continue with the wood working workshop for the remainder of this financial year. ## Funding Many Thanks to Larry and Janet who generated £200 worth of sales after convincing a campsite owner that his site would be a great setting for our bird boxes. After creating an online shop via our website, we managed to sell all our remaining stock over the summer months generating over £500 in sales. Haywards Heath Town Council gave us a grant for £436.71 to cover the costs of setting up our online shop and to cover packaging materials and postage cost for our online sales. Page | 1 of 2 A really big thank you again to St Wilfrid’s School whose fundraising efforts generated a magnificent £1747.33 to Friends of Embark. This is a remarkable sum considering the difficulties for everyone throughout the year and we are extremely grateful for their ongoing support. So in a very challenging year although, our overall funds have taken a hit, we have managed to provide significant financial support to Embark during a very testing time. With the ability to adapt our sales channel and the fantastic support we have received from our supporters we have managed to recover at least half of the expenditure this year and Friends of Embark remains in a healthy financial position. ## Way forward It is not clear as yet how the pandemic will affect our activities over the next year. However, we look forward to a time when it is safe for our adults to resume their woodworking activities. M. Jennings 03/01/2022 Page | 2 of 2 **www.friendsofembark.org.uk tel.0843 289 4564** _**Providing quality homes and work experience for adults with learning difficulties**_ **Registered Charity No. 1167878** Produced By: Mike Jennings Chairman / Acting Treasurer Signed: M. J. Jennings Date: 03/01/2022