Charity Number 1168555 # **ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2021/22** STRATEGY SNAPSHOT ROTHERFIELD ST MARTIN STRATEGY SNAPSHOT 2021- 2024 KSM Our Vision: A community where every person enjoys a secure and enjoyable third age Dur Mission: Prevent isolation and loneliness by building a strong and supportive community Our Key Objectives T0￿pport cldtw rtsldÈnts lo be xtNe and ¥alu8d rnber3 01 Ihe¢oMw lo pmhle aUJNM￿￿h Io ￿ppDrt Ir￿ ru￿Bn 1051v 50dJl T•**lty a T•ert*r4È arl surwort wr bers lo cormcl d￿1131 lo se¢ure ipÈmthrtnl hub at ￿118￿ CBnlre 5ilk?nL t•numnity Inspiring and supporting our community lo care for one another Strategic Activities •-o-o- To proYSdE a r*BE ol rdeM( Patr*r *lth keyslthhobler510 ¢51ali5h •5th1 le inl8rpwAliird prohcl& T•thlrfy arl puwei Qfdrf1￿nl Ew4Y*llh crthmunltyto Work wllfv ￿le￿aTrI growi de wactlcal ￿1￿1(￿$10 slakeh￿￿ to se¢w• lfr¢MwtonliM. suilat4B prim15esftf I To recrubt. Irth and relaln a tffjm of lirsl classvoluntsllslo T• hdp deliyei ￿Jr c•rn mlon. l• IT tra￿1￿ rf reqL¥ied •4olr¥ 5UFf lo effKie t￿lL*h Itttr*jl￿ a o¢tsses amj wo¢ethJrns Iwjjnxnled In ¢ase ol lulwe T•trtsur•th81 RSll$ ro￿ Is Irler5tODd wthin thB comrmnily offer education Ir*nlng ReYlEW & dvrtloptk Parish P* portunillp5 *herp rek¥￿t. inilwtrotD dBlerniw rt5 T•champlon WiallBn Chuler in ordw to rnise i*areness and SLWPOrt Ihse h dementth in tyjr ¢omrnnity To offerathjllwral Rwtlryto c Our initiatives Wealden PAIISH PAIS ## ROTHERFIELD ST MARTIN The Trustees of Rotherfield St Martin have pleasure in presenting this Annual Report and independently examined financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31st August 2022. ## **TABLE OF CONTENTS** Page - 2 Strategy Snapshot - 4 Structure Governance & Management - 6 Summary of The Year 2021/2022 - 9 Our Impact - Performance Against Objectives - 12 Our Impact - A Year In Numbers - 13 Our Impact - Achievements - 18 What We Have Learnt This Year - 21 Our Values In Action - 22 Our Volunteers - 23 Fundraising - 25 Financial Accounts for the Year Ended August 2022 - 36 Looking To The Future - 37 Declaration _The RSM Staff Team - From left - Sarah, Fiona, Lou, Vicky and Iona_ 3 ## STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT ## **TRUSTEES** Rotherfield St Martin must have a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 charity trustees. The following people served as charity trustees during the year: Leon Steer Chair (appointed 1 Sept 2018 - re appointed 28 Mar 2022) Sue Taylor Trustee (appointed 4 Feb 2019) John O'Conor Trustee (appointed 30 Oct 2018 - retired 28 Mar 2022) Mark Howard Trustee (appointed 22 Jan 2018 - reappointed 28 Mar 2022) Sharon Bohane Trustee (appointed 27 Jul 2021 - reappointed 28 Mar 2022) Elaine Fraser Trustee (appointed 14 Jul 2020 - retired 28 Mar 2022) Ruth Helliwell Trustee (appointed 28 Mar 2022) Sue Barnett Trustee (appointed 28 Mar 2022) Melanie den Brinker-Darby Trustee (appointed 28 Mar 2022) ## **CHARITY MANAGER:** Mrs Victoria Cheeseman (appointed 1 Feb 2018) ## **CHARITY NUMBER:** 1168555 ## **REGISTERED ADDRESS:** RSM Centre Memorial Institute North Street Rotherfield East Sussex TN6 3LX **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:** Mr G Khan (ACMA) G3J Limited 32 Abinger Drive Redhill Surrey RH1 6SY **BANKERS:** National Westminster Bank Plc CAF Bank 4 The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Rotherfield St Martin, was established on 2 August 2016 and has the registered number 1168555. It assumed the responsibilities and obligations previously carried out by the Charity also known as Rotherfield St Martin (registered number 1119458). The CIO has adopted the "association" model, having voting members other than charity trustees. An AGM must be held at intervals of not more than 15 months and be open to all members of the CIO. At each AGM trustees will stand for election/reelection to be appointed by the members of the CIO. These will be trustees that have served three years since their last appointment at an AGM, or trustees that have been appointed mid year by trustees. New trustees are provided with a copy of the Deed (Constitution dated 2/08/2016) together with any amendments made to it, and a copy of the charity’s latest Annual Report and accounts. They must also acknowledge their acceptance of the office of trustee. ## **Our Charitable Objects:** The charitable objects of the CIO are to promote for the benefit for the inhabitants of Rotherfield, East Sussex and the surrounding area, the provision of facilities for welfare, recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants. ## **Our Vision:** A community where every person in Rotherfield and the surrounding areas, enjoys a secure and enjoyable third age. ## **Our Mission:** To prevent isolation and loneliness by building a strong and supportive community. ## **Our Values:** In addition to the AGM, staff and trustees attend 4 Board Meetings and a planning day each year to review progress against objectives. All staff and trustees are fully vetted before they are appointed. - Community Led Person Centred Inclusive Kind & Respectful Responsive Innovative & Flexible Collaborative 5 ## SUMMARY OF THE YEAR 2021/2022 ## **REPORT BY CHARITY MANAGER, VICKY CHEESEMAN** In the year ending August 2022 we focussed on finding our ‘new normal’ and creating new opportunities. As the world emerged from the restrictions of Covid, at RSM we were faced with some challenges of our own in order to return to normal. We found that our members and volunteers fell into two categories; those that couldn’t wait to get back to socialising and those that were very cautious and worried about re-joining groups and activities. The RSM team therefore had to be flexible and creative to ensure that everyone felt that their concerns were considered and that they felt respected in their choices, whilst remaining connected to their community. ## **RESOURCES** Our team returned to our hub at the heart of the community, re opening for 50 weeks of the year. Our clubs re opened and our therapists returned. With approval from our landlord, we were able to use our building in a flexible manner to support not just our members but also the wider community. As a result we introduced our community wide 'Feed It Back' programme offering surplus food from supermarkets in our lobby and we established a Ukrainian Hub. The team used various methods of IT to communicate with members and volunteers, and we adopted a hybrid approach to some clubs with a mix of online and face to face groups. We also reached out to our community to source smaller alternative venues for our more cautious members to feel comfortable. ## **RESPONDING TO NEEDS** Our core aim of bringing people together to combat isolation and loneliness has never changed, but the way in which we achieved this during the year had to. Coming out of lockdown our members’ core set of needs were; reassurance, regaining physical health, accessing appropriate health care, support in rejoining clubs and activities safely and practical support such as transport to medical appointments and our clubs and activities. Together with a core group of RSM volunteers, the staff team were able to meet these needs by recruiting additional volunteers, adopting an opendoor policy Monday to Friday with a reactionary team, making regular telephone calls to those who didn’t wish to mix in person immediately and by sourcing alternative venues for activities. ‘ **The number of over 50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025/6. This compares to around 1.4 million in 2016/7 – a 49% increase in 10 years’ Campaign to End Loneliness 2022** Our monthly newsletter, with a selection of news items, useful information, games and quizzes, continued to keep all our members and volunteers up to date and to continue to feel part of a community. 6 ## **RAISING AWARENESS** We are a well-established charity and many organisations and individuals are aware that we support older people. However, the breadth of our work is still not widely known. It remains a challenge to raise awareness of all that we offer, due to the vulnerability of some of our members and the nature of the work we undertake to support them. Therefore, rather than using the usual channels to raise awareness of all that we do, we have worked on building professional relationships with professional bodies such as Social Prescribers, Adult Social Care, East Sussex Vision Support, Wealden District Council, 3VA, Action in Rural Sussex and Age UK, who are fully aware of all our services and can therefore signpost older people to us. We continue to engage with our local MP Nus Ghani to raise awareness of our dementia work and to ensure that the challenges faced by older people in our rural community remain on the political radar. I was surprised and pleased to accept an invitation to the East Sussex Women of The Year Lunch in May 2022 celebrating the achievements of women in the county working within charities that promote physical activities for well-being. It was a fantastic opportunity to mix with inspirational women and of course to talk about the work of RSM. ## **FUNDING** We ended the year in a financially robust position largely due to the support of our donors effective strategic planning. However, grants remain our highest source of income. During the year we received several small grants for targeted projects, particularly related to our food waste programme. But with an uncertain economy, it was more difficult to source core funding. We are therefore extremely grateful to the continued support of our long-term supporter, the John Armitage Charitable Trust, who increased their annual grant to support our core costs. We continued to raise income via our own activities and services as well as fundraising events throughout the year. We have also been fortunate to receive two legacies from two of our founding members. _Wealden Council Jubilee Celebration at Pevensey Castle - 2nd June 2022_ In June 2022, the RSM staff and trustees were delighted to accept an invitation to Wealden District Councils Jubilee Celebration at Pevensey Castle, in recognition of our community work during the Covid pandemic. 7 ## **FINDING SOLUTIONS** Following lockdown, it was vital to reconnect and network with other organisations and professionals within our sector. Many changes in working practices had taken place across Wealden during lockdown and, in particular, we saw changes in local healthcare provision. Perhaps one of our biggest challenges was responding to medical drive requests. The NHS, in a bid to catch up on the backlog, issued outpatient appointments across counties, often at unsocial times of day. Being situated near the county border of East Sussex and Kent, we had to respond to an increased request for drives to medical appointments to a far wider number of destinations than prior to lockdown. We responded to this by recruiting new volunteer drivers who were prepared to literally ‘go the extra mile’. ## **SUMMARY** Our clubs and activities are thriving once again. We continue to build our hub at the heart of our community and whilst our core aim continues to be combating isolation and loneliness in older people, we are delighted that we are reaching a younger demographic through our surplus food programme, therefore making our work wider known and understood. I would like to thank our community and supporters, who enable us to to offer friendship, advice and support, and as a team, learn, develop and flourish. _Audrey and driver, Ken_ 8 ## OUR IMPACT - PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES ## **TO SUPPORT OLDER RESIDENTS TO BE ACTIVE AND VALUED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY** We often ask ourselves ‘what is older age’ ? As ours is an ageing population living better than our predecessors, this can be a difficult question to answer. Our members range in age from 44 to 96, meaning that as a person-centred charity, we focus on the person rather than their age and our support is flexible and diverse. We embrace our members wisdom and knowledge, and the friendship and support we offer is very much reciprocated. Our manager will always use our members as sounding boards for new ventures and is always thankful for their experience of past and present local issues which is invaluable. We very much encourage . our members to be 'involved members' rather than a customer being served. Many of our volunteers are recently retired and looking for an opportunity to put their skills to good use and remain connected and valued. These volunteers are an absolute asset to our charity as they grow into their new role, often commenting that they don’t know how they ever had time to work! We were delighted to be invited by the Parish Council to attend the community planting of a tree for the Queen’s Green Canopy, and even more delighted that our volunteer, member and former Chairman, Andy Miller, was asked to represent RSM. R _SM Member & Volunteer Andy Miller Planting a tree for the Queen’s Green Canop_ y 9 ## **TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY HUB TO SUPPORT LOCAL RESIDENTS AND FOSTER SOCIAL CONNECTIONS** We are fortunate to be situated in the heart of our community and consequently witness daily village life through our office windows. We operate an open-door policy and are visited daily by our members, volunteers, therapists, residents and . representatives of other local organisations. We are often the first port of call when there is a crisis, local issue or if help or information is required . Our team have a wealth of local knowledge and if we are unable to help, are very happy to sign post to appropriate services. We have developed an in-house APP where we hold useful local information and details of recommended and trusted local tradespeople, which we can recommend to our members. We have become a ‘safe place’ for vulnerable older people. People living with dementia visit us daily. Although they may not always remember our names, they remember that they are met with friendship and kindness and often use the phrase ‘I know how to find you and I know I can trust you’. We have also welcomed Ukrainian families, setting up a hub with clothing, toiletries, books and toys for children. Alongside this we have worked with 3VA to provide practical support issuing SIM cards, helping with applications for Universal Credit and opening bank accounts. Rotherfield St Martin is very much a place where local people offer help and ask for help. _Anita and Poppy drop by_ In the last year we have also expanded our food waste programme, collecting surplus food from four local supermarkets which we offer to our community via our Feed it Back’ table. This is an essential service for both older people who no longer drive and find it challenging to visit the local supermarket as well as for families who are facing food poverty. 10 ## **TO DEVELOP A FINANCIALLY RESILIENT, COMMUNITY LED CHARITY** As a charity our main source of income is from grants and donations. During the year we have been financially supported by local organisations, trusts, residents and members. Although our membership subscriptions and activities generate some income these are subsidised to make them affordable for older people, particularly for those who are reliant on a State Pension. To diversify our income we have introduced monthly fund-raising events, such as our popular Pub Quiz, a 100 Club and have attend local events throughout the year which help us to raise funds and our profile locally. We were extremely grateful to receive a legacy from a Founding Member in recognition of the friendship they received from RSM. Legacies have such an impact on our charity and moving forward . we will introduce a ‘Leave a Gift in your Will’ campaign. ## **TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT HUB AT THE VILLAGE CENTRE** We investigated the possibility of taking ownership of our current premises under a gift scheme with the Charity Commission. The building is over 200 years old and requires substantial funds to restore it and make it suitable for modern day needs. Taking advice from Action in Rural Sussex and consulting with our community, this initially looked like a viable option. However due to imposed restrictions from the Charity Commission, we took the decision not to proceed due to potential risk to our charity. The Landlord is now in discussion with our Parish Council to determine if they could take on the building as Sole Trustee. Under this scheme we could remain as tenants which would give us security for many years to come. _RSM HQ at Rotherfield Memorial Institute_ ## **TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS TO CONNECT DIGITALLY** Covid highlighted to us how disadvantaged some older people are due to lack of digital accessibility. We have found that many older people have digital tools but lack the experience of how to use them. We have therefore started to help members on a one-to-one basis and will look to extend this to workshops in the coming year if there is demand. With the closure of many banks locally, we have introduced a cashless payment system for all our services and activities for the convenience of our members and community. With many more people now becoming familiar with electronic communication, we have started to use WHATTSAPP so that information can be communicated efficiently and securely. This is particularly popular with our volunteer drivers. 11 ## OUR IMPACT - A YEAR IN NUMBERS **----- Start of picture text -----**
185
Physical Exercise
Classes
3,780
Newsletters
Posted
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
1,089
Volunteer Drives
1,500
Hot Meals
Cooked
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
94
Local Dementia
Friends
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
4,500
Phone Calls
Answered
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12 ## OUR IMPACT - ACHIEVEMENTS ## **LUNCHEON CLUB** At the start of the year we took over the weekly Village Luncheon Club which was at risk of folding following lockdown. This valuable service provides a subsidised three course home cooked meal for older people in the community. We have six wonderful volunteer teams who shop, prepare, cook, serve and clear away the service each week. For many people who live alone, this is a weekly event offering friendship and home cooked food, to look forward to. _Age UK as part of their ‘Eat, Drink, Live Well’ scheme, advise older people to find a local lunch club as they provide a nutritionally well-balanced hot meal._ In the last year we have increased the average weekly meals provided to 35, updated the menus to provide well balanced and nutritious meals and have recruited additional volunteers to help prepare and cook the meals. The clean plates at the end of each club speak for themselves! 13 ## **NEW CLUBS** _Getting Crafty!_ We place high value on input from our members who this year asked us for two new clubs - Craft and Canasta. As a small team we are fortunate that we can be agile in our response and were quickly able to set these clubs up. They are both volunteer led and are a great way for people with similar interests to come together. ## **VOLUNTEER POWER** Our volunteers are instrumental in all that we do and collectively give at least **165** voluntary hours to us each week through an array of roles. Being open for 50 weeks of the year, this equates to **8,250** hours per year, which if paid at the minimum wage equates to **£78,375** (higher than our actual salaries cost). Our volunteers have an amazing set of skills and range from retired GPs to University students. In the summer we held a Volunteer BBQ as a small way to say thank you for all that they do. Many new friendships were made, and it was very rewarding to see so many of our volunteers sharing their positive volunteering experiences. _Our youngest volunteers - Hamish, Alex and Maddie_ 14 ## **JUBILEE COMMUNITY CELEBRATION** The Jubilee gave us a platform to bring our whole community together. We held two successful events - a Jubilee party and an exhibition ‘A Hall Load of Memories’ celebrating our community during the Queen’s reign. The exhibition championed our older residents, many of whom have lived in our community for decades and consequently were able to provide invaluable information about our Parish to visitors. For weeks on end older residents brought in scrap books, photos and even relics for us to exhibit. Some of them took up residence at the exhibition to answer questions posed by younger visitors. This was an empowering experience for older people in our community. The party was a joyful occasion with much dancing, laughter, and reminiscing. We take much pleasure in enabling these types of occasions as they bring much joy to our members. 15 ## **RAISING AWARENESS OF DEMENTIA IN OUR COMMUNITY** We made the bold decision this year to no longer run a dedicated dementia club. Our rationale being that people living with dementia should be able to access all our services or activities and be visible in our community. This was reinforced by feedback from members living with dementia and their families, some of whom had commented that they need the stimulation of a diverse crowd. To ensure that we are Dementia Aware as a team, we attended a fantastic course ‘Learning from Living with Dementia’ which is co-produced by dementia trainers and Educate who are a team of people living with dementia themselves. This had made us aware of how to ensure that people living with dementia feel safe and comfortable at our clubs, whether this be arranging for a driver to collect them, the environment or support from a volunteer. Our Dementia Champion, Iona, ensures that our community is Dementia Aware and has continued to run Dementia Awareness sessions to create over 90 local Dementia Friends. We also held our first ever Memory Walk to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. This was a brilliant day held in the Autumn sunshine, which was attended by supporters, people living with dementia, their families and some four-legged friends. The event raised **£1,600.** _Our First Ever Dementia Memory Walk_ 16 During Dementia Awareness Week we photo bombed the community with facts about dementia. We were dismayed when after a couple of days, many of our cards had been removed. We then learnt that one of our members who lives with dementia had removed them as he thought they were wonderful and had collected them and given them to his friends and family to help them be more dementia aware! _Raising Awareness!_ ## **SUPPORTING A WHOLE COMMUNITY** When news broke of the war in Ukraine, like other community organisations we asked ourselves ‘how can we help’? Our response was to set up a Ukrainian Support Hub with two functions; a store of clothes, toiletries, household items etc. for refugees who needed essentials when first arriving in the UK, often with nothing, and a 'safe space' providing practical advice and support, such as distributing sim cards, applying for Universal credit, bank accounts and how to access other vital services. We engaged with two wonderfully kind local translators to help with this process and 3VA, who are working with our local County Council to home and support Ukrainian refugees across the county. As well as hosting families, the community generously gave funds to support Ukrainian families in the local area and with the help of the Parish Council and local residents, we have managed these funds to provide things such as school uniform, to pay for school trips and holiday clubs for Ukrainian children. This has been essential in helping families integrate into our community. _Ukrainian hosts collecting children's books from our hub_ 17 ## WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT THIS YEAR Throughout the year we provide daily clubs and activities but what had a real impact this year was our Holiday at Home programme that saw us leave our community and travel further afield. The staff team always attend the trips which gives us a real opportunity to chat to our members, find out more about their lives, share experiences together and importantly find out what really matters, so that we can ensure that all that we do has a positive impact. ## Let’s Consider Some Facts About Loneliness: - Half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all Two fifths of all older people (about 3.9 million) say the television is their main company - Loneliness and social isolation put individuals at greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia - Loneliness is likely to increase your risk of death by 26% _Cited by Campaign to End Loneliness (2022)_ So how do we tackle loneliness? It is easy to make assumptions, so we have asked our members and have learnt that: Our members enjoy spending time out of the house and enjoy a change of scenery - They want to meet new people and make new friends - They don’t let poor mobility be a barrier to getting out and about - They enjoy new experiences but also enjoy reminiscing, which promotes happy memories - People living with dementia enjoy our trips if they are supported 1:1 and are well prepared and know where they are going - Our members enjoy a day out and can be independent, but are happier when we organise and manage the day for them from start to finish, as this reduces stress - They enjoy being part of a group - They love having something to look forward to ## Our Solution: We plan trips that all our members can attend. We visit each venue when planning a trip to ensure its safe, friendly, welcoming, and accessible. If there is an obstacle, we find a solution. There is a good ratio of staff and volunteers at all outings to ensure that each trip runs smoothly. Nothing is rushed and as a result everyone can relax, enjoy a happy day out and make new friends and memories. 18 So, what do our days out look like? _Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!_ 19 Lets get physical ## WE LIKE TO MOVE IT - HYDROTHERAPY WITH RSM! Every Tuesday late afternoon, RSM members come to our hydrotherapy exercise class to improve their fitness and mobility. The session is held at a purpose built hydrotherapy pool in Crowborough which is typically 36C (which is about 10 degrees warmer than a normal swimming pool). The warmth of the water allows muscles to relax and eases the pain in joints, aiding exercise. We employ two professional instructors who alternate each week. They are able to adapt to individual limitations and preferences. Also in residence is a trained Life Guard and two members of RSM staff. Hydrotherapy of this sort is particularly good for those with arthritis, stiffness of joints and those recovering from hip or knee surgery Key benefits include the ability to: - Move more easily - Relax your body - Regain fitness following an operation or accident Ease pain - Perform gentle all over body exercise - Improve circulation and breathing - Improve sleep quality ## **CASE STUDY** RSM member, Susan started coming to hydrotherapy about a year ago on the recommendation of her doctor. Susan says "Hydrotherapy was something I wanted to do and my Doctor agreed it would be good for my health. It reduces the pain of fibromyalgia and is improving my fitness and mobility, because the water takes all the weight off my knees. I find I can move in the water in a way I can't on land. The instructors give me alternatives if I can't manage a particular exercise. I find that although I have some pain when I get out the pool, I will have 5 good days afterwards and I sleep better. It's brilliant and really relaxes me. It is a really friendly bunch and I feel very comfortable. I'm not at all self conscious now because they are so kind and understanding - they all have similar problems and I really enjoy their company. It has really helped my mental health too" ## **It's the best thing I've ever done** **I'd encourage anyone to try it** **It's something I really look forward to every week** 20 ## OUR VALUES IN ACTION - (from our members) **“ I would be totally lost without your help” “Its such a comfort to know you are there”** **“I am just having a bad day and you have made me smile again”** **“Where would everyone go if there was no RSM?”** **“I can’t believe how kind you have all been”** **“All the meals at lunch club are delicious” “Your drivers are stars”** **“Thank you all who supplied the hot tea and fish and chips (during Storm Eunice) – extremely grateful”** **“My dear Vicky and all the team, how kind, so much time and care you give to us all”** ## **“By far the best charity I have ever volunteered for – very organised and professional”** **“Many thanks for yet another wonderful day. I am beginning to know the other members who are lovely and the helpers of course”** ## **“You always spoil us”** **“Thank you for just being RSM!!”** **“Well done RSM thank you so much for all the brilliant organising you have done over the last few days, you did a great job and we thoroughly enjoyed everything”** 21 ## OUR VOLUNTEERS - CASE STUDY Our volunteers are integral to all that we do and we love welcoming new volunteers on board. We were delighted to receive a call in April from a chap called Steve. Steve works at Waitrose and after 25 years’ service, the company give its' employees six months paid leave as a thank you for long service. We were on Steve's radar and he was offering to volunteer at RSM for his six months leave. Steve had come across RSM about 5 years ago when he and some colleagues spent time learning about dementia and attended a trip to a Dementia Café. He says “I rang RSM to see what I could do to help two or three days a week to keep me busy”. Well, as you know, RSM doesn’t need asking twice. We immediately accepted his kind offer and once his checks were completed, we set him to work! During his six months with us Steve became a volunteer driver, taking our members to and from medical appointments and clubs. He enjoyed attending our 'Men at Ten' club one morning and came along to help at all our Holiday At Home trips over the summer. Steve also came to the rescue for a member who had to have surgery at a hospital in Medway, making the hour and a half drive there and waiting with his passenger until he was admitted onto the ward. We were told subsequently that the surgery had been life-saving. His family will be forever grateful. _Steve and Paul enjoying a day out!_ ## **What did you most enjoy about your experience?** “I’m a people person and I loved meeting so many new people and hearing about their lives and their stories. They are fascinating". "Volunteering at RSM gave me a sense of achievement and also gave me a peace of mind – in some cases I might be the only person someone had seen that day or even week.” ## **What have you learned about yourself?** I’ve learned to listen more and let another person talk and share their worries or joy. Its more about them than me. I like being in one to one situations or in a small gang as I don’t enjoy being in a big group really. Volunteering at RSM has been easy. The communication is clear and helpful and I never felt pressured into doing something I wasn’t comfortable doing. It’s been a really enjoyable experience and I will come back. If anyone is thinking of volunteering, I’d say give it a go. You’ll meet a variety of people, you’ll go to new places and every day will be different. And you could be making a big difference for someone. Steve is back working full time at Waitrose but hopes he might join us on a trip or two again in the summer. If you see him at work, do say hello! 22 ## OUR VOLUNTEERS (stars) IN ACTION ## Welcoming Helping Hand ## Kindness Ji Generosity Friendship Caring FUNDRAISING ## **TRUSTS** We received grants from a number of trusts and organisations both local and further afield. We are immensely grateful to: - Virgin Media Sainsburys Sussex Police Brian Mitchell 3VA Food Partnership - Rotherfield Parish Council Lidls - 3VA Ukraine - John Armitage (JACT) Masonic Charitable Foundation Grants received from these organisations have enabled us to grow our work, expand experiences for our members and embark on new projects. This includes sourcing and providing surplus food to help ease the continuing cost of living crisis; keeping older vulnerable people informed against potential crime, supporting Ukrainian refugees and offering half day activities with transport for older people to combat isolation and loneliness. Consequently, our members are better connected to their community and are enjoying living in a well supported community. ## **LEGACIES** We have been immensely grateful to receive memoriam donations and a legacy of **£20,000** from a dear member who passed away during the year. These are immensely gratifying to receive as they demonstrate the care and respect that our members and their families have for our charity. ## **DONATIONS** We received both regular and one-off donations throughout the year. In total we received **£25,666** which in the current economic climate, we are extremely grateful to receive. ## **SUPPORTERS** We are also extremely grateful for the goods received in kind from food outlets; Cook, Lidl, Sainsburys, Tesco and Marks and Spencer. These donations support our community Feed it Back table which has increased to twice weekly as a result. Additionally we would like to thank our local pubs for their continued support. The Kings Arms for supporting our Christmas activities and The Catts Inn who let us host a monthly fundraisng quiz. 23 ## **EVENTS & FUNDRAISING** In a difficult climate we have reached out to our immediate community to support us in our fundraising this year. We have held monthly pub quizzes, raffles, attended local fairs and events and have been supported for a third year by a fabulous home-grown initiative ‘The Pop-Up Plant Stall’. We also took part in the annual online Christmas Big Give, which raised **£5,605** . In total (with Gift Aid) we raised **£7,459** through our fundraising. We also are extremely fortunate to have the support of Morag Hockin, who has given so much of her time to raise money for our charity through inspirational initiatives. We would also like to thank Dan Fahy and his team at Le Grys Estate Agents, who donated the takings from their raffle at the Rotherfield Fayre to RSM. _Counting the pennies at the Secret Christmas Garden Fete with Morag_ _Taking part in the monthly RSM Pub Quiz at the Catts Inn, which raised funds for RSM_ _Selling RSM Art at Eridge Fair_ 24 ## FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 25 ## FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2022 ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT** **Rotherfield St Martin** returned a surplus of £40,005 in the financial year compared to a surplus of £23,712 in the previous year. This great result was principally achieved thanks to the generosity of individuals and organisations through legacies and donations and we hope that more people will consider benefitting the charity in this way so that our long-term future can be secured. **Income for the year** was £145,814 which was £34,373 higher than in the previous year. This was mostly due to a legacy of £20,000, grants of £48,000 and donations of £25,666. Following the full reopening of clubs and activities we generated total income from member events of £33,349 compared to £10,549 in the previous year. This is a great achievement and reflects the increasing involvement of members with the charity. **Expenditure** was correspondingly higher than the previous year at £105,809 compared to £87,729, this is largely due to the costs associated with running the clubs and activities during the year. Salary costs have increased slightly to £68,732 from £64,947 and the Trustees are grateful for the service and dedication of the whole team which often extends beyond their contractual commitments. **Bank balances** continue in a strong position showing a total of £240,261 compared to £198,825 in the previous year. This healthy position has been arrived at due to a pattern of legacies having been received over the years and the success in attracting grants and donations to help support the annual running costs. The Trustees are considering the best way to hold funds not required for immediate use but are conscious of the risks inherent in other forms of investment and will be seeking professional advice in this context. **Reserves** are needed to bridge the gap between spending and receiving of resources and to cover unplanned emergency repairs and future planned expenditure. At 31 August 2022 our total reserves amounted to £235,926 which is a strong position and in the absence of specific projects almost safeguards our future for the next 5 years. Our reserves, which are detailed on the Balance Sheet, comprise: **Restricted Funds** of £35,667 which represent funding received for specific projects not yet completed by 31 August 2022 **Unrestricted Funds** of £200,259 which are made up of a **Designated Fund** of £59,416 relating to a legacy received in earlier years which was earmarked for our premises project. Now that the future of our tenancy at The Memorial Institute has become clearer, we will need to decide how to apply this money once the renovations to the building have been completed. The balance of **Undesignated Funds** now amounts to £140,843 and the Trustees are considering how best to utilise these funds for the long-term benefit of the Charity. **The Charity Commission** recommends that, in order to ensure ongoing viability, a charity should hold between 9 and 15 months of total running costs. Rotherfield St Martin’s monthly running costs are now approximately £8,300 and, on this basis, we should be holding between £74,700 and £124,500 and our Unrestricted Funds of £140,843 cover this range with some spare capacity to fund additional projects as necessary. 26 **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2022** **Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st August 2022** **Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st August 2022** **Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st August 2022** **Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31st August 2022** **Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31st August 2022** **Notes to the Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31st August 2022** ANALYSIS OF CHARITY FUNDS Brought Forward Receiv￿ in Year Spend in Year Carried Forward Unr5tricted Funds Recelved In year Rotherfield PC John Armitage MCF Rotherfield PC iooo ioooo 4000 iooo Total Unrestrlcted Surplus for y•ar lexcl unre5trlct•dl Increase in restricted funds Tot*1 106248 16000 122248 24005 -5410 140843 R•$trlct•d Funds R•celved In Year Sainsbury5 Neighbourly Foundation The PCC for Sussex Brian Mitchell Ibullding project) 3VA Lidl 3VA Hfu grant 3VA Hfu grant John Armitage Donation 500 3000 5000 3000 4320 15000 Total Reitrlcted Funds 30257 32000 26590 35667 DeslKnat•d Fund for Premlws 59416 59416 Total Fund$ 235926 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT Rotherfield St Martin - Independent Examiner Report For the Year Ended 31 August 2022 Report to the Trustees of Rotherfield St Martin forthe year ended 31 August 2022 Charity No. 1168555 set out on the p￿VIoUS page5. Respectlve Responsibilitie5 of Trustees and Examiner The Charity's Trustee5 consider that an audit is not ￿quired for this year lunder sectlon 144 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe Actll and that an independent èxamination is neeLled It is my responslbllity to.. Examine the accounts lunder sectlon 145 of the Act).. To follow protedure5 laitl down in the General Directions giveft by the Charities Cominission lunder section 145151 of the act),. and To state whether matters have come to my attention. Basis of independènt examlnees stzternent My examlnatlon was carried out In accordan￿ wlth the General Dlrections given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a fevlew of the accounting records kept by the Charity and in comparison, of the account5 presented with those iecoids. It also Includes a consideration of any unusual item5 or disclosures In the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees toncerning Such niatters. The procedure5 undertaken do mot provide all the evldence that would be requlre in an audit, and r.r)n.5equently I do not express an avdlt oplnion on the accounts. Independent Emaminer Statement Iii the r.ause of my examinatlon, no matter has come lo my attention- l. Whlch glve5 me reason3ble cause to believe that in any material respect, the Trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that.. a. Proper accounting records are kept lin accordan￿ wlth sectlon 130 of the Act),. and b. Accounts are prepared which agree wrth the accounting records and comply within Ihe accounting requlrement of the Act.. or 2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in Order to enable a proper understai)ding of the accounts to be reached. SIEned on l February 2023 Independent Examiner. Mr G Khan G3J Limited 32 Abinger Drive Redhill, Surrey RH 6SY 35 ## **LOOKING TO THE FUTURE** We are living in uncertain times with fears of the ever rising cost of living. Many older people have become fearful of rising costs and are unsure of how to make appropriate adjustments. We are therefore ensuring that we are well placed to offer both support and advice, alongside friendship and companionship. It is equally important to us that our small staff team are well supported, as they support many vulnerable older people, which at times can be stressful, upsetting and challenging. Therefore, we are embarking on a Wellbeing in the Workplace scheme in 2023 to support our staff. Based upon what we have learnt over the last 12 months our immediate plans include: - Ensure our staff team are well supported in the workplace - Support our members with practical advice and support, through fears over cost of living Ensure that we are well placed to offer new experiences to our members and spend quality time with them If you are inspired by our work and would like to get involved either as a volunteer, member, financial supporter or by offering your skills, please call us on **01892 853021** or visit our website www.rotherfieldstmartin.org.uk 36 DECLARATION The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees. report. Signed on behalf of the charit(s trustees Signature{s) Full name{s) Positionls) Date We would like to thank all our staff. volunteers. members, donors and supporters for their continued support of our work. Their support makes a real difference to people's Ilves and ensures that we can continue to build a cornmunrty that cares for one another. 37 _**" A Warm Welcome Awaits You at RSM"**_ Rotherfield St Martin RSM Centre, The Memorial Institute North Street, Rotherfield East Sussex TN6 3LX 01892 853021 www.rotherfieldstmartin.org.uk Registerd Charity No. 1168555 @RSM Centre @rotherfield_st_martin Rotherfield St Martin